Dusting Off the Deck, bringing cyberdecks back into SR4. Options

[Insomnia Bob]

Hey folks. So, I'm running SR4, but I'm taking my group of newbie shadowrunners through the paces (and history) of the setting. Hell of a campaign to run, no?

So, after much review, I've decided to amalgamate SR3 and SR4 matrix rules. Systems are still hardlined. While wireless nets exist, in order to use full VR, and get any real hacking done, you need the bandwidth that only comes from a hardline fiber-op connection.

SO. I need some help. After all, there are only a few commlinks in the book, the most amazing of which only runs 8 grand, and has a response of 4. Sure, there are off the market upgrades, but it's still a long way away from a Fairlight Excalibur.

So, I want to bring cyberdecks back. It's the past, anyway. The question is, how should I make them work in SR4?

Response is pretty easy, it just translates like Wired Reflexes, addint to reaction and IP. The MPCP isn't as bad as it could be...but what should those attirbute points go into?


And how might one translate old system security codes? If you have thoughts, please share.

My big issue with the 4th Ed. Matrix is it gives lots of rules for hacking, and almost no rules for sytems. It's all left far too abstract. Hopefully when Matrix 4 comes out, this will be addressed, but until then, thoughts?