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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Blocking a Technomancer
Posted by: Gomez Apr 25 2006, 03:47 PM
How do you keep a technomancer from using is abilities?
Other than killing them or keeping them knocked out that is.
Posted by: Moon-Hawk Apr 25 2006, 03:53 PM
Jammer?
Foil hat? Or would it have to be a full-body foil wrap?
Posted by: James McMurray Apr 25 2006, 03:53 PM
Anything that would stop someone from using a commlink should also stop a technomancer. The easiest method for that is a room without wireless access and/or a jammer.
Posted by: Eryk the Red Apr 25 2006, 03:53 PM
Firewalls.
Really, it's pretty much like dealing with hackers. If they can't get at a device, or within signal range of it or something networked to it, they can't hack it. And if they can, regular security measures will have to do.
But as far as I know, there is no "off switch", nor are there "Otaku-jammer" grenades.
Edit: Too slow, it seems, for my smartass comment to come first. Woe is me.
Posted by: damaleon Apr 25 2006, 04:20 PM
They still need to be able to process the wireless traffic around them, so a jammer should keep them inactive in an area and a head-jammer should be as effective as it would be against someone with a cranial commlink.
Posted by: bustedkarma Apr 25 2006, 04:24 PM
Any sort of physical effects going to manifest over jamming a TM?
Posted by: Geekkake Apr 25 2006, 05:04 PM
| QUOTE (bustedkarma) |
| Any sort of physical effects going to manifest over jamming a TM? |
Nothing other than psychosomatic RP effects.
Posted by: Moon-Hawk Apr 25 2006, 05:09 PM
Not to derail the thread, but what about this:
Rather than blocking them, what about the opposite? It might make for an interesting plot device if there were a drug or something that prevented a TM from going offline, either to sever their wireless link or to reboot. Maybe even a side-effect of an existing drug, like Hyper.
Just a thought for the sadistic GMs.
Posted by: Lagomorph Apr 25 2006, 05:28 PM
The best way to block a TM is with Wifi blocking paint in paintball guns
Posted by: FanGirl Apr 25 2006, 05:30 PM
Why would a TM want to sever his wireless link? If a TM wants to hide from someone, he can use Hidden mode, Stealth, or Spoof. If those measures aren't enough and he's really desperate, he can always go to a dead zone, where it's impossible to get a connection. Also, how do you reboot your own brain? Anyway, I'd expect that a TM would be happy with such a drug.
Posted by: Konsaki Apr 25 2006, 06:07 PM
Isnt a TM's brain always in Hidden mode? Its not like the TM is broadcasting a "Hi. I'm Bob the TM." profile cause he isnt a commlink per say. I would figure that most TM's would need a dummy commlink just to have all the normal data displaying that your street sam would just so he fit in.
Posted by: FanGirl Apr 25 2006, 06:38 PM
Actually, p.233 of SR4 says that few TMs get commlinks, and those who do only get them because they're "retro." Since TMs can switch from AR to VR easily, I can imagine that they're equally able to change modes from Active to Passive to Hidden as well. Also, the only functional differences between a TM's brain and a commlink that SR4 points out are that TMs don't have Condition Monitors or file storage, and are therefore incapable of installing programs into their brains.
Going back to the "rebooting" question, I suppose that you could "reboot" a TM's brain. . .but I'd imagine that the only ways of doing so would be by 1) jamming and then unjamming him, 2) taking him into a dead zone and then out again, or 3) knocking him out and waiting until he regains consiousness.
Posted by: ArchXL Apr 25 2006, 07:30 PM
pg. 221
| QUOTE |
| Rebooting is more complicated for technomancers, as they cannot simply shut their brains off . In order to reboot, a technomancer must sever his Matrix connection completely and make an Extended Logic + Willpower Test (10, 1 hour) while fully resting (no physical, draining, or Matrix activity). Aft er this recovery period has passed, the technomancer may reconnect to the Matrix with his living persona’s attributes fully restored. |
Posted by: hobgoblin Apr 25 2006, 07:33 PM
hmm, how does a technomancer sever his matrix connection...
Posted by: Abschalten Apr 25 2006, 07:37 PM
I want to express an opinion here: A technomancer with a shitty commlink full of innocuous programs has ULTIMATE deniability. They get tracked and busted, arrested, and their commlink confiscated, the people detaining the TM will go through the comm and say "Shit, there's nothing in here!"
When I make a TM, I always go for the Novatech Airware w/ Iris Orb OS. Straight 3's, which makes it a nice middle-of-the-road comm. Put some games on it, some porn, maybe pictures of your family, and when the authorities are rifling through it because you hacked one of their hosts they'll be puzzled.
Technomancers without commlinks? Sure, I can dig it. A technomancer running the shadows without a commlink is just a retard.
Posted by: emo samurai Apr 25 2006, 08:14 PM
That's a great idea!! Now I have to find a way to exploit it when FanGirl uses it.
Posted by: Kyoto Kid Apr 25 2006, 08:59 PM
| QUOTE (hobgoblin) |
| hmm, how does a technomancer sever his matrix connection... |
...go into a WiFi proofed area. The rules mention about WiFi blocking paint & structural materials that companies & corps can use to keep outsiders from hackling into an area.
Beyond that, a Predator round to the brain works well too, but that severs the link permanently.
Posted by: hyzmarca Apr 25 2006, 10:16 PM
Predator to the brain only severs the link permenantly if you don't have a first aid guy standing by. If you do he can stop the major bleeding and then you can sleep the wound off.
Posted by: FanGirl Apr 25 2006, 11:02 PM
| QUOTE (emo samurai) |
| That's a great idea!! Now I have to find a way to exploit it when FanGirl uses it. |
Or I could just not use it. . .and get busted anyway. Damn you, Emo!
| QUOTE (Kyoto Kid) |
| ...go into a WiFi proofed area. The rules mention about WiFi blocking paint & structural materials that companies & corps can use to keep outsiders from hackling into an area. Beyond that, a Predator round to the brain works well too, but that severs the link permanently. |
Actually, anywhere that doesn't have a wireless connection, such as the wilderness or a "feral area," would work.
I should mention that TMs get very agitated when they can't get meshed. SR4 recommends:
| QUOTE |
| Characters should handle [lack of Matrix access] with appropriate roleplaying--their technomancers may get depressed, irritated, or otherwise upset. (p. 210) |
I plan to handle this in a very fun way if my character should have to spend a long time in a dead zone:
Teammate: (notices that FanGirl's eyelid is twitching) Hey, are you okay? You need those sedatives we got for you?
FanGirl: (trying to sound reassuring) No thanks; I'm sure I'll be fine.
(Three hours later. . . .)
FanGirl: GIMMIE THOSE FRAGGING SEDATIVES NOW, YOU GODDAMN SONOFABITCH!
Teammate: Okay, okay, just calm down. . . breathe. . . put down the taser. . . .
FanGirl: I said NOW! (ZAP!)
Posted by: Kanada Ten Apr 25 2006, 11:07 PM
I could see simsense chips designed to simulate VR being useful - both for containing captured technomancers and for easing matrix isolation.
Posted by: emo samurai Apr 25 2006, 11:16 PM
You could also carry a satellite uplink.
Just make sure you don't attack C's character or Johann; those guys will smack you down.
Posted by: Geekkake Apr 25 2006, 11:17 PM
| QUOTE (emo samurai) |
| You could also carry a satellite uplink. Just make sure you don't attack C's character or Johann; those guys will smack you down. |
I'd imagine that 2-second delay would be aggravating.
Posted by: emo samurai Apr 25 2006, 11:23 PM
Yeah, probably.
Posted by: FanGirl Apr 25 2006, 11:26 PM
Either way it's fun for everyone! 
Posted by: Edward Apr 26 2006, 02:00 AM
Fangirl, I would like to recommend a way to relive your matrix isolation aggravation.
Hack Johann’s COM link, smart link, gun, cyber wear, when you have run out of team-mates stuff to hack start modifying structures to make them more efficient and when you get bord of that demand the drugs from Johann with your tzer, he tyres to attack you back, well you already have control of his cyber wear.
Edward
Posted by: Konsaki Apr 26 2006, 02:10 AM
Edward, you are very trusting if you think a hacker/TM hasnt tried to hack your stuff immediatly after meeting you. I wouldnt be surprised if she already hacked all the stuff in the area already and loaded backdoors and IC.
Posted by: FanGirl Apr 26 2006, 02:32 AM
Nope! I actually haven't. But that's pretty much only because Emo threw a bunch of bugs at me before he even gave me the chance to act.
Posted by: Konsaki Apr 26 2006, 02:40 AM
So GM Fait saved your team mates from alot of melicious tampering on your part, smart GM. 
Posted by: Valentinew Apr 26 2006, 03:44 AM
| QUOTE (Geekkake) | ||
I'd imagine that 2-second delay would be aggravating. |
It's better than no access at all. See http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=11373&hl=.
| QUOTE (FanGirl) |
| Actually, p.233 of SR4 says that few TMs get commlinks, and those who do only get them because they're "retro." Since TMs can switch from AR to VR easily, I can imagine that they're equally able to change modes from Active to Passive to Hidden as well. Also, the only functional differences between a TM's brain and a commlink that SR4 points out are that TMs don't have Condition Monitors or file storage, and are therefore incapable of installing programs into their brains. |
| QUOTE (Azralon from Bull's Summary of SR4 @ His Presentation at Gencon, posted 12/09/2005) |
| Technomancers are neat in that they can hack without the use of hardware, if they need to. their brain is configured to detect Augmented Reality and to connect to other systems wirelessly. They would still use a commlink to store data and the link, but they don't need it for programs or anything. |
TMs still need a commlink to store the SIN & other data they must broadcast in certain areas of town.
Also, a lot of these topics have been hashed & rehashed some already. Do a search for technomancer to find most of them...
Posted by: Voran Apr 26 2006, 10:23 AM
Show them pictures of a naked celine dion. That should fark them up for a good half day.
Posted by: CONAN9845 Apr 26 2006, 10:47 AM
Why have you seen naked pictures of Celine Dion?
Posted by: Aku Apr 26 2006, 01:49 PM
i've seen her clothed, and it farks me up...
Posted by: TBRMInsanity Apr 26 2006, 02:02 PM
Bring back the mage mask. But other then that it should be pointed out that Technomancers are a huge rarety in the SR4.0 universe. They are the evolution of the Otaku and as such are a smaller or equal sized group. The fact that they are in the main book I feel is a error on the publishers. They should have been introduced in the matrix add on source book (like Otaku were introduced in 2nd and 3rd). Any GM worth his weight in snack food should enforce a ask first before playing rule (ie if you don't get permission to play you can't play that character). Technomancers will make up less then 1% of the population and they don't make good shadowrunners. They tend to stay in tribes (like the Otaku did) and operate outside of society. They are better suited for NPCs.
Posted by: James McMurray Apr 26 2006, 03:30 PM
Every character is a "if you don't get permission you can't play it" character. It's in the chargen rules. What may be true for your games (technomancers make poor shadowrunners) is most likely not true in most other games.
Posted by: Valentinew Apr 26 2006, 10:40 PM
Did we read the same book? TMs are NOT just the evolution of the otaku. There are many TMs out there who were never otaku, they just happened to get caught up in the madness of the crash & when they woke up, they had these extra abilities.... Therefore there should be more TMs in the world than there were otaku.
Also, where did you get the idea that they run in tribes? 'Cause I have not read or heard that anywhere....
Posted by: FanGirl Apr 26 2006, 10:50 PM
I could see TMs forming groups in order to help each other understand their mutual conditions, but not necessarily "tribes" per se.
Posted by: Shrike30 Apr 26 2006, 11:01 PM
Honestly, it seems like the whole "a reasonable number of Otaku ended up becoming TMs, but not all of them by any means" was really more of a "Hey, uh, here's how to convert your Otaku over into SR4, since we're not supporting them any more" than anything else.
Posted by: TBRMInsanity Apr 27 2006, 02:11 AM
My evidence to state that TMs will most likely form "tribes" is the fact that TMs can only teach other TMs complex forms. TMs are unique and thus in the SR universe segregated. And while there may be some exceptions a lot of otaku did become TMs and they formed tribes.
Posted by: Kanada Ten Apr 27 2006, 02:19 AM
Yeah, but because it's wireless, the "tribe" is always with you, neh? It might even help them keep a lower profile and garner individual protection to join up with runner teams.
Posted by: James McMurray Apr 27 2006, 02:21 AM
So the ex-Otaku may even still have some tribal connections, but it's doubtful that every TM, or even the majority of them, feels a sudden need to join a tribe.
Posted by: emo samurai Apr 27 2006, 02:35 AM
Why did Otaku form tribes in the first place?
Posted by: Kanada Ten Apr 27 2006, 02:40 AM
Birds of a feather, for the most part. Other otaku are the only people who really understand where you're coming from, the only people who will not envy you for your talents or alienate you for being different. They are the people you naturally click with. Plus, they were mostly kids, thus forming support groups. And then the need to find Pools.
I think technomancers will form groups, like mages do, but these will be virtual connections, shadow chat rooms, and the like. Not really physical places so much. Technomancers are always on, so the physical needs can be dealt with and one has no need to leave the virtual tribe to fulfill them.
Posted by: Valentinew Apr 27 2006, 04:59 AM
My TM uses sprites to learn from....
Posted by: Nasrudith Apr 27 2006, 11:32 PM
Just put a jammer on them, and they're blocked.
Posted by: Shrike30 Apr 27 2006, 11:46 PM
I wonder if hitting a TM with a jammer gives them headaches...
Posted by: hobgoblin Apr 28 2006, 01:33 AM
depends. physicaly hitting them or figurativly?
Posted by: TBRMInsanity Apr 28 2006, 03:15 AM
Using a WIFI negator or jammer near a TM will be like a mage astrally perceiving in space.
Posted by: Dranem Apr 28 2006, 06:03 AM
| QUOTE (TBRMInsanity) |
| Using a WIFI negator or jammer near a TM will be like a mage astrally perceiving in space. |
Actually the proper analogy would be like a mage trying to perceive through a high background count.
Jammers, like white noise generators flood the area with noise to scatter any signals.
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