Hacking/Cybercombat in SR4, Help/Critique needed Options

[LakotaWolf]

Does anyone have, or know of, examples of cybercombat/node hacking/combat with IC?

I seem to be especially fail at figuring out the process and coming up with lines that don't suck. ("The IC zaps you...")

Thanks :D

Also - I typed up an "example" of a hacking attempt + Matrix combat. It's a bit long, but if anyone wants to skim it and point out any glaring errors or issues, I'd appreciate it immensely :} Thanks again!



((Obviously, all the stats/Ratings are completely made-up and probably aren't realistic.))

Hacker Jack: assume programs all at Rating 4. (Except Stealth, which is Rating 2.)
Node: Small A-level Corp’s regional office data storage node, assume all programs at Rating 3.
IC: Assume all of its stats are the same as the parent node’s.

Jack attempts to hack into the node on the fly. He is in VR, hotsimming. He rolls Hacking + Exploit (8 dice), threshold = node’s Firewall rating (3). Jack rolls 4 successes. He has successfully hacked into the node. The node may now make a free Analyze + Firewall roll to detect Jack’s intrusion, threshold is Jack’s Stealth (2). Node gets 2 successes and detects Jack. The node is alerted to the intrusion and begins countermeasures. It alerts the node’s IC agent.

In the meantime, the node attempts to terminate Jack’s connection. It rolls its Firewall + System (6 dice) in an Opposed Test versus Jack’s Exploit + Hacking (8 dice). The node gets one success; Jack gets two. The node cannot terminate his connection.

The IC agent arrives. It immediately attacks using Blackout. It rolls Rating + Blackout (6 dice) versus Jack’s Response + Firewall (8 dice). The IC gets 3 successes; Jack gets 2. The IC’s Blackout program hits, and Jack resists with his Willpower (3). Jack gets one success, which reduces the Blackout’s damage to 3 Stun boxes.

Jack strikes back with his own Attack program. He rolls Rating + Attack (8 dice) versus the IC’s Response + Firewall (6 dice). Jack scores 3 hits; the IC scores 1. Jack’s attack hits. The IC makes a resistance test using only its Rating (3) as it does not have an Armor program. The IC gets two successes. Jack’s attack would be doing 4 (his Attack program’s rating) + 2 (net hits). The IC’s resistance test reduces this damage by 2. It takes 4 damage. It has 6 boxes remaining on its Matrix Condition Monitor.

Meanwhile, Jack is attempting to copy data from the node. He rolls his Hacking + Edit (8 dice) and scores 3 successes. He begins to transfer the data. The node, detecting this, attempts to encrypt its files as Jack is copying them. Jack must now run a Decrypt program to attempt to brute-force decrypt the files before he can copy them. (As a note, he is now running three programs: Edit, Decrypt, and Attack, since he is still in combat with the IC.) Jack rolls a Response + Decrypt (8 dice) Extended Test where the threshold is the node’s Encryption rating x 2 (6). Jack gets 3 successes. He is unable to brute-force decrypt the files.

The IC, meanwhile, is attacking again. It rolls Rating + Blackout vs. Jack’s Response + Firewall. The IC scores 3 hits; Jack scores 4. The Blackout attack does not hit.

Jack attacks back, rolling his Rating + Attack versus the IC’s Response + Firewall. Jack scores 1 hit; the IC scores 3. Jack’s attack does not hit.

Meanwhile, the IC begins to run a Track program on Jack. It rolls its Rating + Track (6 dice) as an Extended Test (10, 1 Initiative Pass). It rolls 4 successes. It’s beginning to track Jack.

Jack, noticing this, attempts to jack out of the Matrix. Because the IC has scored a successful attack on him prior to this, his connection is jammed open. He must make an Opposed test rolling his Willpower (3) vs. the IC’s Rating + Response (6 dice). Jack rolls 3 successes; the IC rolls only 1. Jack gets lucky and jacks out, but he immediately suffers Dumpshock.

Because he was hotsimming, the dumpshock’s base DV is 5P. He rolls his Willpower in an attempt to resist. He rolls 2 successes, and ends up taking 3P and is disoriented for 7 minutes.

All in all, Jack’s hacking attempt was unsuccessful. He was not able to download all of the information he needed, and ended up getting his butt kicked a bit in the process.

...
Now all I need to do is actually make it FUN for the players... >_>

Anyway XD Any critiques/help/advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks again!