Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ A commlink for every occasion
Posted by: Crusher Bob Jan 19 2006, 03:25 PM
From the http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=10435&hl=hacking+example the hacker often has to spend time switching between loadouts when he wants to do something different. Why not just have several commlinks, each with a different loadout of programs? So, carrying two or three commlinks will allow you to have, say, one setup for dealing with all your tapped called, spoofing comm systems or whatever, one for your 'fast attack' loadout, and a general commlink that you switch things around on.
So for example: you are tapping the Johnson's phone, from this you learn that he has sent a squad of doorkickers to your hideout who should be arriving... <thump>, well, there they are. You have to spend your actions getting away, leaving your commlink loaded up with your 'phone tapping' program loadout. But now, the door-kickers are chasing you in a car, which you want to hack, and send straight into the river. Normally, you'd have to completly chage your phone tapping loadout to your fast attack loadout, then try to hack the car. But instead, you just 'switch over' to your pre-preapred fast attack commlink and lay into them.
Now that the door kickers are safely sinking into the river, you want to hack thier commlinks and see if they have any info on where the johnson might be. Seconds count here as their commlinks are busy taking on water, so you break into the commlink with your fast attack loadout, then hand your recently aquired login info over to your phone tapping loadout, and start digging around for what his commlink knows.
Posted by: Azralon Jan 19 2006, 03:30 PM
| QUOTE (Crusher Bob) |
| Why not just have several commlinks, each with a different loadout of programs? |
Expense.
Posted by: BlackHat Jan 19 2006, 03:35 PM
Seconded.
Any hacker is going to want a rating 5 (responce->system->programs) commlink for whatever serious hacking he's going to do. A rating 5 responce chip is expensive enough that you're probably not going to be carying around 10 modded commlinks.
Of course, given enough resources, its not a bad idea - but probably cost-prohibative for most runners.
Posted by: Crusher Bob Jan 19 2006, 03:43 PM
A system 5, firewall 5, response 5, signal 5 commlink seem to cost around 10K. If your hacker can afford high lifestyle, he can afford a second (or third) commlink.
Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 19 2006, 03:49 PM
I get a commlink with buying lifestyle?
Posted by: BlackHat Jan 19 2006, 04:01 PM
| QUOTE (Crusher Bob) |
| A system 5, firewall 5, response 5, signal 5 commlink seem to cost around 10K. If your hacker can afford high lifestyle, he can afford a second (or third) commlink. |
I don't think two commlinks is crazy (playing a guy with like 8 right now, but they are not all top of the line) - but a rating 5 commlink for EVERY occation is probably asking too much.
Posted by: Azralon Jan 19 2006, 04:06 PM
| QUOTE (Azralon) | ||
Expense. |
Note that I didn't say it couldn't be done, I'm just saying you'd be spending more money.
Posted by: Reprisal Jan 19 2006, 06:26 PM
| QUOTE (DireRadiant) |
| I get a commlink with buying lifestyle? |
Nope, but you do get an amount of starting cash based on what lifestyle you buy into; therefore, getting a higher lifestyle for your character could fund the purchase of another commlink with fairly good statistics.
Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 19 2006, 06:54 PM
| QUOTE (Reprisal) | ||
Nope, but you do get an amount of starting cash based on what lifestyle you buy into; therefore, getting a higher lifestyle for your character could fund the purchase of another commlink with fairly good statistics. |
Hardly seems efficient.
10,000 a month gives me 4D6 x 500¥ starting money, or
100,000 a month gives me 4D6 x 1,000¥ starting money
And you need to consider the following;
P. 87
"Starting nuyen cannot come
in gear (magical or otherwise), weapons, cyberware, contacts, or
anything that must be bought. Characters can purchase things
immediately upon entering the game, but any items bought are
subject to Availability and the whim of the gamemaster."
Commlinks need to be bought, and if you want extra 10,000 nuyen commlinks, they will come at the expense of your lifestyle. You don't get both out of the same money.
Posted by: Jaid Jan 19 2006, 11:16 PM
actually, for a high lifestyle, if you choose to leave 1200 nuyen alone to boost your starting cash, you get (4d6 + 12) * 500 nuyen...
which assuming you roll average comes out to 13,000 nuyen. gaining you 2800 nuyen in the process.
so, getting enough starting cash from your lifestyle to buy a 10k 
commlink isn't as hard as you seem to think. plus you get a month of high lifestyle out of the deal 
Posted by: The Jopp Jan 20 2006, 04:11 PM
What kind of action would it be to "Switch Device" when on the matrix?
Free? Simple? Complex?
One simple action per device?
It should be free sicne it is on your persona subscription list.
Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 20 2006, 05:40 PM
| QUOTE (Jaid) |
| actually, for a high lifestyle, if you choose to leave 1200 nuyen alone to boost your starting cash, you get (4d6 + 12) * 500 nuyen... which assuming you roll average comes out to 13,000 nuyen. gaining you 2800 nuyen in the process. so, getting enough starting cash from your lifestyle to buy a 10k commlink isn't as hard as you seem to think. plus you get a month of high lifestyle out of the deal |
That just leaves you coming out of chargen needing to make a Negotiation + Charisma Extended Test (Threshold 15) and a one week interval, for each of the commlink, Agent, and your hacking programs.
Posted by: BlackHat Jan 20 2006, 05:58 PM
| QUOTE (DireRadiant) | ||
That just leaves you coming out of chargen needing to make a Negotiation + Charisma Extended Test (Threshold 15) and a one week interval, for each of the commlink, Agent, and your hacking programs. |
And don't forget the responce chip and radio transmitter parts to upgrade it to rating 5.
Though if he's talking about multiple commlinks, he could just buy one (and all his programs) at chargen, and then buy more when the game starts and make free copies. So he really only needs the basic commlink, plus the hardware to mod it up to a respectable level.
Posted by: Jaid Jan 20 2006, 10:53 PM
yes, i was presuming that you wouldn't be paying for all the programs out of chargen. crack them all and go to town 
and i can't imagine why anyone would ever boost the signal on their commlink to 5 for however much it is (4 is 500 iirc, can't recall what 5 is though) when you can pay 500 to get signal 8 instead. in fact, you could just use your first commlink as a relay commlink with no penalties AFAICT.
so really, all you're looking at is the response rating cost for your extra commlinks, if you have all the programs you need at chargen. pretty cheap, when it comes down to it. half of that cost, if you have the hardware skill at a decent level and some downtime.
Posted by: BlackHat Jan 21 2006, 03:04 AM
How do you get signal 8 for 500???
Posted by: nick012000 Jan 21 2006, 03:55 AM
Satellite uplink dish.
Posted by: BlackHat Jan 21 2006, 04:43 AM
Oh, lol, I'm a retard. 
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)