Matrix Overwatch, Validated Accounts & You Options

[Erebus]

After following much of the idiot's guide to the matrix thread, and re-reading the bit on validated accounts in the Matrix books, why on earth would anyone attempt (or want )to do overwatch without a "validated" security account?

It seems to me that the only time you would run without "validated" accounts is for the recon runs when you want to go get one, or if you only need to do something relatively straight forward in the system, and don't plan on being there that long.

Validated accounts allow deckers to perform system operations without having to make system tests.... which means no buildup of security tallys, unless of course the action your doing isn't allowed via that type of account.

Never underestimate the power of an illegally "Validated" Security-Level account.... And if you want to go for the Gold and show what your really made of, snag a Super-User level one instead.... :cyber:

[Moon-Hawk]

Yep, validating is pretty keen. If you're popping in and out real quick it's usually not worth the bother, but any extended amount of time it's definitely worth a try. There is, maybe, a bit of ambiguity about what a security level passcode allows, so if a GM is being troubled by their players doing this this they can try to push them toward the superuser account, but being a valid icon really helps combat on those red hosts.
It's basically one really hard test to replace a lot of easier ones. Whenever I design a host, control is almost always one of the better subsystem ratings.

p.s. I apologize for my grossly inarticulate thoughts, it's almost time to go home.

[Shockwave_IIc]

The reason why it isn't done so often is because frequently "Control" is the highest sub system on a host and Validating Add's 2 the that figure and Superuser adds 6.

[Gorath]

Whats the best starting overwatch decker?

Skills:

Computer 6

Utilities:

Spoof 6 (if you did not get a account that gives you access to all cameras, doors, etc.)
Deception 6
Validate 6 [Sneak 6 option] (validate an account on recon, return with your team an account)
Remote Control X (use some drones in captains chair mode...)

Deck:

MPCP-8 Deck (if allowed, else a MPCP-6)
Masking 6

Anything else that would improve overwatch?

[mfb]

spoof. for overwatch, you'll be hitting the slave subsystem a lot.

[Digital Heroin]

Battletac Matrix Link is only for sharing info with other deckers, neh?

[mfb]

stupid, but true. personally, i don't see why the decker--drawing feeds from multiple security cameras--can't use it to shoot orders and warnings to his meat teammates, but them's the rules.

[Kanada Ten]

[Gorath]

Oh my god, its true:

[Voran]

I think in a wierd way it might be related to different time frames in matrix vs real combat settings. It may be difficult to sync them up. Then again, I dunno :) It may be one of those random rules.

[mfb]

the TN would be 6. -2 if you've got a BattleTac cyberlink.

[Namergon]

[Dashifen]

[Gorath]

But IF a decker can make one account, he can jack out. Come back without tally and get other accounts easy.

[mfb]

theoretically, yes. however, i never allow this--if a decker causes enough of a ruckus to activate IC, then the account will be shut down in (successes)d6 hours, rather than days. activating IC is something that a security decker will investigate--maybe not immediately, but at some point during the day. it's just common sense.

[Gorath]

of course, if a decker starts to get a tally with his account it will get check very soon. But if you just go in to validate an norma caaount. You get a tally before you got the account. Then you log in with this account and don't have a tally. Now you can try to get a harder (security or superuser) account. So this starting account may be detected soon. BUt perhaps you have enough time to use the su-account for overwatch.

[mfb]

hm. these security tally rules get dumber every time i look at them. each character that logs onto a host supposedly generates a seperate security tally, and IC activated by one decker's sec tal generally only attacks that decker (Matrix p110). however, any decker that logs onto a host after another decker has run up any amount of security tally automatically starts off with a security tally equal to the first decker's (SR3 p212).

what kind of insane gabbldygook is that? if A and B are decking a host at the same time, any sec tal A generates doesn't apply to B. but if C logs on while A and B are doing their thang, he gets gangraped by fresh copies of any IC that A and B activated--even though the only thing he's done is log on!

[Shockwave_IIc]

Starting to make more sense, by saying the very decker has it's own tally, but can get effected by Ic that other deckers activate.

Example: Noob decker N and Hot shot Decker H are both in a system, N starts doing their thing and makes a ruckus, activating IC left right and center, H now has to tread even more carefully cos there's IC looking for anomlies any in fact.

Just a thought.

[mfb]

nope. IC activated by N doesn't bother H unless H decides to attack said IC, or otherwise unmask his presence to it. i suppose you could have the IC roll to notice H's icon, but that means rolling against H's Masking plus Sleaze. most IC will have a hard time detecting N, much less H.

[Shockwave_IIc]

Actually i was thinking more about the effcets of Probe, my bad should of said that. But i know N activating IC doesn't bother H, it just seems like H should have to be a little more carefull.

[mfb]

same problem--Probe won't affect H unless it's detected him, which is improbable at best.

i agree--H should have to be a little more careful. but, by the rules, he doesn't have to be. unless, of course, he's just logging on, in which case he'll be mobbed by god knows how many pieces of IC.

[Dashifen]

I generally ignore that rule (the one about new deckers getting the same tally as the system) because of the rule in Matrix that says that each decker gets their own tally. I've always concidered that the Matrix rule supercedes the SR3 rule because they don't make sense at the same time.

However, the exception -- there's always one -- is system alerts. If the host is on Passive alert because of Stoopid Newbie Decker A and Whiz-Bang Decker B logs on, the TNs are still +2 for B even though B doesn't have a tally (IMNSOHO).

[Moon-Hawk]

I agree. One decker's tally has no effect on the other's, but universal things like alert status and security deckers still make it a bad day for the second decker.

[Eyeless Blond]

[Gorath]

Why, did i calcualte wrong? It has a 12 for size, and 6 for price. ==> 12^2*200=144*200=28800

Please check in your Matrix Sourcebook for adding options to programs too. What is the maximum rating a starting option can have? NO? 6? Any?