SR5: Internal vs External Smartgun Systems, Brick the Gun or Brick the Smartgun Options

[BlackJaw]

So all guns have basic wireless bonuses, unless you buy a Throwback. That means most guns have their own Matrix Icon when online It can be bricked, keeping the gun from firing at all until someone with the Hardware skill has a chance to clean up the electronics. It's a good reason for a runner to keep their gun offline, especially because many of the wireless options of the gun are duplicated when you add in a Smartgun.

An internal Smartgun, like those found in an Ares Predator V or that you retrofit to your weapon with the Accessory option, would add the smartgun and it's wireless bonuses to the gun. If online, it's all one Icon that can be bricked or hacked as whole.

An External Smartgun is a separate device you attach to the gun. It should have its own Matrix Icon. If someone bricks your Smartgun, your gun should still be fine, as it has its own separate electronics and systems.

In theory, you should be able to turn the wireless off on your gun, and hook an external smartgun to the gun with it's wifi on. If someone bricks your smartgun, you loose the accuracy and bonus dice, but the gun is intact.

Mind you, this isn't any protection against hacking instead of matrix damage. If someone gets a few marks on your Smartgun, it's enough to eject the clip, turn the safety on, or fire the gun remotely. It only protects against outright bricking.

EDIT: Smartgun systems, not smartlink systems.