Matrix House Rules, Att + skill for all matrix actions??? Options

[kigmatzomat]

[Brahm]

[The Horror]

Today I sat down and decided to rewrite the entire technomancer section. Currently it will work perfectly as is with my matrix house rules, but I still felt like it could be made more consistent with the rest of the magic rules. I don't know if I've succeeded, but it does seem ok.

Once again, any and all comments are welcome. If you see anything that seems wrong or unbalanced please point it out.


The Horror


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Modification to OP on Matrix House Rules

Changed use of Stealth program when defending from attacks to use of Firewall rating according to the latest errata.


Technomancers

System = Logic
Signal = Resonance/2 round up.
Firewall = Willpower
Response = Intuition


Threading and using Complex Forms

Note:
- For the purposes of these house rules, the definition of threading has changed. Threading is now defined as ‘loading’ or ‘casting’ complex forms.
- All complex forms must now be threaded on the fly.
- Biofeedback filter is now a complex form.

Complex Forms now function similarly to spells. They each cost 3 BP, and can be used at a variable Force. Given that according to the hacking house rules programs are a cap on the number of successes, the Force allocated to a complex form is the cap on the number of successes. Using a complex form incurs stun fading that is resisted with Intuition and Willpower. ‘Overcasting’, or using a complex form at a Force greater than the Resonance attribute, inflicts physical fading.

Once a complex form is threaded, it will remain active at the selected force until the Technomancer chooses to unthread it (ie. Unload it). A Technomancer may have a number of active complex forms equal to their Response rating (Intuition attribute). Additional complex forms beyond the Response rating of a technomancer must be sustained. Sustaining a complex form incurs a –2 dice penalty to all actions.

Unthreading a complex form is a free action. Threading a complex form does not take an action, and is automatically performed as part of another matrix action.


Example of how to use complex forms

Jameson
- Resonance 5, Logic 5, Willpower 4, Intuition 3
- Cybercombat 5, Matrix Perception 4
- Learned complex forms Analyse, Command, Edit, Scan, Armor, Attack, Biofeedback Filter, Defuse, Exploit, Stealth, Track
- Threaded complex forms: Exploit 4, Stealth 6

IC
- Rating 4
- Analyse 4, Armor 2, Stealth 2, Blackhammer 3


note: I have added hot sim dice to attack and defense rolls, not to Fading resistance or to damage soaking.

Jameson attacks the IC. Jameson rolls Logic + Cybercombat (10 dice) using his Attack complex form. He sets the Force to 5 and rolls 12 dice (10 + 2 for hot sim), obtaining 4 successes (which was not capped since the Force of the complex form was 5). The IC rolls Intuition (replaced by its Rating) using its Firewall rating as a cap on the successes. Rolling 4 dice, it scores 2 successes. Overall, Jameson scores 2 net hits. His Attack inflicts 5 damage (Force of Attack complex form) + 2 net successes. The IC attempts to resist by rolling its Willpower (replaced by its Rating) using its Armor program. Rolling 4 dice, the IC rolls 2 successes (matching its cap of 2 on the roll). Overall the IC takes 5 damage. Now Jameson must resist Fading of 2 (Force/2 round down). Rolling 7 dice (Willpower + Intuition), Jameson scores 2 successes resisting the Fading completely.

Jameson is now considered to have a threaded Attack complex form at his disposal, of Force = 5. During the next IP, Jameson will not have to thread the complex form again. His Attack Complex form will remain threaded until he chooses to remove it from his list as a free action.

The IC now attacks Jameson. The IC rolls Rating x 2 dice (8 dice) using its Blackhammer program. Rolling the dice, the IC scores 4 successes, which are capped to 3 due to its program rating. Jameson rolls Intuition to defend, using his Firewall as a cap on the number of successes. Jameson rolls his Intuition (3 dice) + 2 dice for hot sim and scores 1 hit. The IC scores one net success, dealing 5 damage (rating 3 Blackhammer + two net successes).

Jameson must now resist this damage by rolling Willpower (4 dice) and using his Biofeedback Filter complex form. Since Jameson has not previously threaded Biofeedback filter, he must thread this complex form right now. Selecting a Force of 3, Jameson resists the damage by rolling Willpower (4 dice) and capping his successes at 3. He scores 2 successes, and takes 3 physical damage from the black IC. Jameson must now also resist Fading of 1 (F/2 round down) because he threaded a complex form. To resist Fading Jameson would roll 7 dice (Willpower + Intuition), so he just buys his success and takes zero Fading.

Now Jameson has another problem. He currently has 4 complex forms threaded (Exploit 4, Stealth 6, Attack 5, Biofeedback Filter 3). To keep all of these complex forms threaded Jameson will have to incur a –2 sustaining penalty to all further actions. Alternatively, during the next IP Jameson may use a free action to unthread one of the complex forms that are currently threaded. Another alternative in turn would be for Jameson to utilize the services of a registered Sprite and have it sustain the complex form for him.


Summary of Complex Forms
Cost: 3 BP
Fading: F/2
Duration: S

Optional Rule: Technomancers may thread a complex form they have not yet learned, but to do so they put their very lives at risk. The Fading for threading unlearned complex forms is much higher (F/2 + 5).


List of Complex Forms

Analyse
Command
Edit
Encrypt
Scan
Armor
Attack
Biofeedback Filter
Black Hammer
Blackout
Data Bomb
Decrypt
Defuse
ECCM
Exploit
Medic
Sniffer
Spoof
Stealth
Track

Browse and Reality Filter have been removed from all of my posted matrix house rules. Browse was removed because I removed the Data Search matrix action. Reality Filter was removed for no good reason (didn’t remember to type it up).


Compiling
Compiling a Sprite is a complex action. Roll Resonance + Compiling in an opposed test against the selected Rating for the Sprite. Net hits determine the number of services the Sprite owes. The services of a summoned Sprite remain only for a period of 8 hours after being compiled, unless the Sprite is registered to the Technomancer. The fading value suffered by the technomancer is equal to 2x the number of hits (not net hits) scored by the Sprite. If the Sprites Rating is higher than the technomancers Resonance, the fading is physical instead of stun.

Unregistered Sprite Services
A Sprite can be commanded to perform any one task, or to perform a continual use of a specific Complex Form. Eg. A Sprite ordered to destroy an icon will continue to do so until the icon is destroyed, at which point a service will be used up. A Sprite ordered to Track an icon will continue to do so until the icon is traced or until it fails in its task, at which point a service will be used up.


Registering

To Register a Sprite roll an opposed Resonance + Registering test against the Sprites Rating x 2. Additional net hits beyond the first add to the number of services owed by the Sprite.

A Technomancer may have a number of registered sprites equal to his Charisma attribute.

Registering a Sprite takes one combat turn. The Sprite-Technomancer link is automatically reestablished the moment a Technomancer reenters the Matrix.


Registered Sprite Services
- Extended Services: a registered Sprite will not automatically decompile after 8 hours, but will remain registered to the technomancer until all services are utilized.
- Loaned Services: a registered Sprite may be ordered to obey another hackers or technomancers commands. It still remains bound to the technomancer that compiled it however.
- Hacking Services: a registered Sprite may be used to sustain a complex form for a period of time equal to the Sprites Rating in Combat Turns, utilizing one service.
- Aid Study: a registered Sprite may add its Rating in dice to the extended complex form learning test.

Sprites may be re-registered. Roll to register the Sprite as normal. Each net hit adds to the number of services the Sprite owes the technomancer.


Decompiling

To decompile a Sprite, roll an opposed Resonance + Decompiling test against the Sprite’s Rating (+ Resonance if registered). Each net hit reduces the number of owed services by one. Fading is 2x the number of hits rolled by the Sprite.

[Churl Beck]

[The Horror]

It also destroys consistency with the rest of the system. That's why I plan to stick to attribute + skill myself.

[kigmatzomat]