decking complexity, SUPER MEGA DECKING THROWDOWN! Options

[mfb]

ranged combat
-number of base TNs: 4, plus the power of the weapons involved; and except for those, the base TNs don't change at all.
-number of possible actions: ~21
-types of rolls: 3
-modifiers: 32

decking
-number of base TNs: 25, counting ACIFS as 1 TN each; most of the TNs changed every time you change hosts or meet up with a different opponent.
-number of possible actions: 31, using only SR3, not counting program-specific actions such as Medic
-types of rolls: 9, i think, possibly more
-modifiers: 14, most of which must be matched up to specific action types

while decking has fewer modifiers, it's worth pointing out that matching up the modifier to the TN is more complex than it is with ranged combat--that is, in ranged combat, you just pick what modifiers apply and add them up, rather than having to cross-index the modifier to your desired action. decking also has nearly as many base TNs as ranged combat does modifiers. decking has only a few more possible actions, but those actions are severely limited, depending on what programs you've bought. in ranged combat, the question of whether or not you've got the right program loaded (in addition to all the other factors) never comes up, as it does all the time in decking.

decking is not, by any possible definition of the word, easier than ranged combat.