Meat for the Hacker, Still trying to absorb... Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Slymoon]

It seems that the Decker from SR3 was taken to an extreme as the Hacker in SR4.

The previous SRs the decker was indeed the oddman out, often times (far more than not) I either ran the decking outside of game time or heavily Houseruled the system basing it off just a few dice rolls. (more than 2 less than 10)

I hardly ever had a dedicated decker in the group, usually they had a decker contact or the sam hybrid also decked. (enough to do some orange to low red systems) That worked well enough.

With SR4 though, since every single character is connected (usually it seems) then it also seems these three things are true:

1. Anyone and everyone can hack to an extent. (I havent gotten into the numbers enough to know the minimum effective skill+ program. However threshold tests seem doable by a 1 logic, 1 skill, 1 rating program? Likely I am missing something)

2. Everyone is meat for the hacker. Why should a hacker go on runs when he can hang out and hack all the legit users. Stealing anything and everything from cars to simple house burglery. To even just Identity theft and draining their accounts. Even on the runner side, no need for guns or magic when you can just forcefeed BTLs to everyone.

3. The Hacker has now gone from, "can do without and story line around it" to "must have or someone might make your toast burn" or "must address or the game mechanic suffers"

I suppose I am saying, it seems that the change is a bit far.

It is largely impossible to build a viable character that does not drop a ton of cash to buy software to protect himself or have a hacker friend or contact.

Lastly, if hacking is indeed such an issue, then why does the books gear not reflect that. Ala note that everything has X level of security or firewall. It seems that it is written so the ignorant unread and uninformed player will create a character with none of the security, just so the GM or Hacker player has someone to F with.

The wireless section says 'you better get a hacker on your side or buy software' while the gear section says 'here buy this un-secure gear'. It seems like a disconnect. Akin to buying a car with no seats or headlights. Still works, but um...

I understand that the world (civilians) at large do not have to deal with that, or just ignore it for some reason. "Oops looks like someone drained my account. Shucky Darn. Time to put more cash in there. la lala lala." But the game is not written for people to play (in game) ignorant civilians. Nor is the book written as an in-game catalog for the population (as was SR2 Street Sam Catalog)

I dunno, it just feels wierd.

(heres your out... Maybe I am old and can't get new concepts.}