 The Commlink, What's really the minimum? |
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 Oct 12 2006, 02:12 AM
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#26
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 289 Joined: 20-February 04 From: in the matrix Member No.: 6,091  |
most of my players have a single commlink of the best they can buy (ratings wise). Most of them havent gone hogwild on the programs yet.
My runners have always had a really good one for what they do, then a "burner" one on a fake id. This is the one that I let the corps scan when running a mission. cheap commlink and cheap fake license is the cost of doing business. My guys always throw their "burner" comms/ids away when they think they are caught or potentially caught. "Bubba Joe Earl" the demolitions guy, would actually blow up the commlinks using plastiq-12 and enough to destroy the unit 10x over. on purpose. everyone will be different.... dog |
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Oct 12 2006, 02:55 AM
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#27
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Old Man Jones Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,415 Joined: 26-February 02 From: New York Member No.: 1,699 |
You know what?
In SR3 I used to have encrypted transponders so my character's drones had a friend-or-foe identification that was easy to pick up. What I never told the other characters when I handed them out is about the chunk of C-14 embedded inside each one, with a remote detonator. You know, just in case. I may just have to invest in high rating commlinks with the same setup... "What are you using? That's crap, won't stop anyone hacking in, use this one." :D -karma |
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Oct 12 2006, 04:58 AM
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#28
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 9-July 04 From: Modesto, CA Member No.: 6,465 |
SR4.226 |
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Oct 12 2006, 06:11 AM
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#29
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,000 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Halifax, Canada Member No.: 7,975 |
With the current wireless networks and cheapass commlinks, I would go for just having 'better than standard' will protect your average runner from wanna-be hackers. Why? cause there's easier targets out there. After all, why would a hacker go after a runner, when rich mr. corpslave might have some interesting information - or at least an real identity to steal.. going after a well protected comm can get you into more trouble that most want.
Seeing as the description lists that the commlinks come as a package OS. As a GM I offer the common programs with a commlink at the system rating.. cause (in my opinion) that's a standard OS. The hacking programs have to be purchased seperately - they are also not available at your local electronics store... meaning that if you want to upgrade your hacking tools later, you need an underground contact. For my non-tech runners, I actually suggest they run the lowest signal rating possible.. the harder it is to find their commcode the safer they are. Signal rating equals broadcast range, the lower your signal, the closer an opponent has to be to locate their commcode through a random network search. (mind you that also means they sometimes get dropped calls in weak signal areas, but that's life chummer.) |
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Oct 12 2006, 07:00 AM
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#30
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Can a person voluntarily run their Commlink at a lower Signal than they actually have? For example, if Mary Sue Retton has a 'link with a Signal Rating of 4, could she somehow choose to have the 'link run at Signal Rating 2?
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Oct 12 2006, 07:05 AM
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#31
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 870 Joined: 2-October 06 From: Athens Ga Member No.: 9,517 |
I would assume so. You can probably lower most of your settings if you wanted to. |
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Oct 12 2006, 09:22 AM
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#32
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Until your team's gargolye noticies the chemical traces of the explosive with the olfactory booster or gas spectromemter and responds with a bullet to the head when you aren't looking... Besides you can't really pack that much explosives into a small bit of kit like that. |
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Oct 12 2006, 09:29 AM
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#33
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Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
Minimum runner programs:
-encryption (not useful by the rules, but cheap and required by gameworld logic). cheap -sneak? (If thats what it´s called in english) to give hidden mode a meaning. -basic ICE for anyone not possessing matrix combat. That one needs armor and attack programs. |
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Oct 12 2006, 10:32 AM
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#34
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,498 Joined: 4-August 05 From: ADL Member No.: 7,534 |
After the game has started every runner will have every programm at rating 6 availible.
Resoning: Every SR4 runner group neads a hacker (even morethan it needs a mage). Every hacker worth his salt will have every programm at 6 from start Every hacker will crack his programmes q.e.d. |
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Oct 12 2006, 10:44 AM
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#35
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
And, as most runners have already paid for ~3 months lifestyle, thier first run together should net every member of the team some 6 across the board commlinks and a lvl 6 agent.
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Oct 12 2006, 10:50 AM
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#36
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
As a non-Hacker PC, exactly what do I want an Agent doing on my Commlink? What's neccessary, and what's gravy?
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Oct 12 2006, 11:06 AM
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#37
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Agetns, when loaded up with the appropriate programs are IC. As any hacker can gain access to your commlink, basically at will, you need more active defenses (the agents) which will hopefully kick him out before he gets too far. Having firewall 6 just keeps the riff-raf out.
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Oct 12 2006, 11:10 AM
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#38
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Yeah, I gather that much. My question was more towards specific program needs within the Agents themselves. For example, how many Agents do I, Average Joe McSammy need, and what should be loaded into them? Am I cool with just Analyze and Attack, or do I need a whole spectrum?
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Oct 12 2006, 11:14 AM
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#39
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
The programs are cheap/free once you get a rating 6 agent, probably: analyze, trace, attack, armor, erm dunno about the last one.
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Oct 12 2006, 02:41 PM
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#40
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 398 Joined: 16-August 06 Member No.: 9,130 |
So if I understand your reasoning correctly, if I am sure there is going to be a hacker in my party I don't have to even worry about buying programs. I can just get them from my hacker when he cracks all of his. |
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Oct 12 2006, 03:08 PM
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#41
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,498 Joined: 4-August 05 From: ADL Member No.: 7,534 |
yes.
Though you will have to worry about the following: Is your hacker friend loyal? He could have modified the programmes a little and couild use them to easily get admin access to your comlink and trace everything you do and such. Be sure you can trust your hacker. He can own you more than any mage could. |
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Oct 12 2006, 03:41 PM
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#42
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Well, your mage buddy could have control thoughts, influence, and alter memory... For all you know your memory of watchin the big game last night could have just been hacked in, what really happed is that you got used as bondage furniture for those 4 hours.
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Oct 12 2006, 04:03 PM
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#43
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,526 Joined: 9-April 06 From: McGuire AFB, NJ Member No.: 8,445 |
Who says Phycotropic (sp?) IC couldnt do the same thing? You just have to knock out someone, throw some trodes on their head and have at it. Hell, you can inflict permanent changes in their brain. :vegm:
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Oct 12 2006, 07:39 PM
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#44
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
An ounce of C4 going off in contact with your torso is going to typically put you in ICU or the ground. It's not too bad at a few feet, but in skin contact, with the case fragements driven into you? Double plus ungood. |
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Oct 12 2006, 08:57 PM
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#45
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Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490 |
...as a fun aside related to this, in the last session our new Orc Adept [with no computer skill, Logic of 2, and the Uneducated quality] had quite a struggle just trying to place a call to one of his contacts. Every time it ended up that Violet [our hacker] had to walk him through turning the unit's comm feature on and dialing up everytime he made a call. Meanwhile KK [Logic of 1, Computer 1, and Uneducated] had only slightly better luck, for when trying to send an image to her detective contact, she accidentally linked to and uploaded a Dwarven Porn site to everyone (including our Shaman who just happened to follow the Christian Tradition). It was definitely comedy. :D Yes, it pays to have a good and loyal hacker on the team. |
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Oct 12 2006, 10:29 PM
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#46
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,498 Joined: 4-August 05 From: ADL Member No.: 7,534 |
The mage has to see you, know where you are. The hacker does not. You can, with luck and assistance, run away from mages, but ou can almost not run away from hackers. Not in the 2070 sensors, data trail and wireless everywhere world. |
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Oct 12 2006, 10:37 PM
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#47
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Target Group: Members Posts: 56 Joined: 14-August 06 Member No.: 9,113 |
Why all the agents and no command program? |
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Oct 12 2006, 10:53 PM
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#48
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 9-July 04 From: Modesto, CA Member No.: 6,465 |
Command is used to control devices not Agents/IC. |
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Oct 12 2006, 10:56 PM
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#49
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Target Group: Members Posts: 56 Joined: 14-August 06 Member No.: 9,113 |
I'd argue it's pretty clear you have to command an agent just like a drone. |
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Oct 12 2006, 11:11 PM
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#50
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 9-July 04 From: Modesto, CA Member No.: 6,465 |
Hmm. Isn't that for taking control of an Agent that's not your own? I would think you can tell an Agent to do something w/o needing a special interface. I'll have to hit my book once I get home. |
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