Techno's....I thought I knew Options

[Ryu]

Hackers are not to cheap, everyone should dabble in matrix stuff a bit. A wireless world. REAL hacker stuff should be more expensive than JoeAverage stuff. I like Moon-Hawks rules, were RAW hardware costs are multiplied by the hardware rating. Gives lower ratings a place in the world. At the same time it does away with software costs. The groups hacker was always supposed to give copies of his programs out, not fair.

TMs are too expensive. I´d say one could do away with CFs. Say:

Every CF is automatically at (Response) rating. There is no "support operation" service. Living persona ratings are the average of attribute and response, no longer limited by response.


Combined effect: Hackers pay around 30k for their comlink, but don´t need software. 80 BP in two groups, so 86 BP. Technomancers 5 buy Resonance 5 /40BP, 120 BP in two groups and two skill ratings 5 (compile, register), 165 BP. Roughly the double, but access to sprites and all programs running at once.

Seems balanced to me.

[Nightwalker450]

I just noticed that Sprites in general can't affect sensor. So Target (Autosoft) + Sensor, compiling a machine sprite to scout, or to targeting, will only replace the autosoft, you'll have to upgrade the sensor (software). I'd always thought they would have effectively 2 x Rating for these... Disappointing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Malicant]

Ever noticed fault sprites are effectivly blind?

[Fortune]

Ever noticed fault sprites are effectivly blind?

Does that make the average bartender, mechanic, corporate manager, hate group member, ID manufacturer, pirate, slum lord, snitch, stripper and Vory Shestiorka all effectively blind as well?

[nathanross]

Does that make the average bartender, mechanic, corporate manager, hate group member, ID manufacturer, pirate, slum lord, snitch, stripper and Vory Shestiorka all effectively blind as well?

Yes.

[Malicant]

Actually, no. They can default on INT. What can a fault sprite default on? How do you default in the Matrix?

He sure as hell can see anything without a stealth program, but what without said program is worth attacking? Joe Average?

[nathanross]

I was hoping it would be understood that I was being sarcastic. I guess its harder to pull off with just text.

[Malicant]

Yeah it is. I should know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohplease.gif)

More smileys help, sometimes. Unfortunatly I'm lazy. So I appear like a jerk. Which is not wrong, but not always intended (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Btw, my previous post was directed at Fortune, so, once again, me lazy, not quoting or specifing = confusion. BAM! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Mr. Unpronouncea...]

Actually, no. They can default on INT. What can a fault sprite default on? How do you default in the Matrix?

He sure as hell can see anything without a stealth program, but what without said program is worth attacking? Joe Average?

IC, normal users (in unusual circumstances,) and riggers who forget that there isn't a difference between hacking & rigging.

Riggers especially seem to forget they're vulnerable to matrix attack even while jumped in, and jumped-in piloting & gunnery are matrix actions.

[Ryu]

I am of the opinion that stealth disguises you as something else, but does not make you invisible. So it would be possible to give attack orders to a sprite once one has detected a target. You can´t hide your whole existance from a node without spoofing each and every signal - a legitimate and in my experience underused alternative to establishing user accounts for one-shot device access.

[hobgoblin]

im guessing people are referring to matrix perception? given that a agent or sprite would replace computer with pilot. beyond that...

also, i recall a similar conversation when SR4 was new about your default human being unable to spot his own hands (3 in the stat, no perception skill or something like that).

[nathanross]

also, i recall a similar conversation when SR4 was new about your default human being unable to spot his own hands (3 in the stat, no perception skill or something like that).

How often do you perceive your hands? Sure you know they are there, but that doesn't mean you perceive them. Just thinking about it, I hardly ever perceive my hands. When I am cutting my nails or feel some pain originating from the area, I might look over them in detail (+3 DP if I remember correctly). Even if I have no perception skill, I am still able to look at things that are necessary when I have to.

Sure, I probably wont notice a sniper about to take a shot at me by seeing his reflection in a window (or something), but I can do all the normal everyday things I have to do without thinking at all. That is one of the great things about being an adult.

[Brol_The_Mighty]

Okay, so now, Unwired is FINALLY out. What's changed for the Techno? I honestly don't have it yet....I'd lost my SR group when I moved to Japan, and am just now finding a new one....and they're wanting a TM in the group...and I'm still fascinated. SO, have any of the problems been addressed? Are there NEW problems? New solutions? Hit me with the best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Lets nip this in the bud.

[hobgoblin]

there goes the neighborhood...

[Brol_The_Mighty]

Lol....and that means?

[hobgoblin]

the opinions on TM's, as just about any other topic here on dumpshock, is divided, and seriously vocal...

[Brol_The_Mighty]

Gotcha, and I completely agree. I was just hoping that Unwired had come out with some solutions to the whole problem of TM's being Karma whores, and all that. Basically addressing the problems that were brought forth in this thread.

[hobgoblin]

if anything, TM's are even more karma hungry. but being the wizards of the matrix, it would really have surprised me if that had changed.

[ElFenrir]

I'm sort of tempted, reading about this, to try to build a fully viable Combat Technomancer instead of a Combat Hacker(the latter is extremely easy to do.) I'd be using the 750 Karma method from RC for this no doubt, but the Karmagen I found helps Technomancers a LOT. I wonder if it's possible.

[hobgoblin]

i suspect he would be sprite focused rather then software focused.

[ElFenrir]

Probably. I'm just starting to learn the ropes more of the Technomancer bit; he'll have CFs for sure, but I'm definitely leaning more to Sprites for this, which means I might buy the skills there separate. Compiling/Registering at 5, Decompiling at 4(though I've heard the latter isn't the most important-i might have heard wrong, though.)

For race, I'm actually leaning toward Dwarf. They have the Willpower and Body boosts that are nice, since he needs Physical damage meter, and no mental caps otherwise. Reaction will be a little lower. I don't think I'm going to give him ware...I'd like to keep his Resonance at 6, but if it were a 5, I don't think he'd be completely crippled, since I am trying to build a hybrid Techno here.

[Brol_The_Mighty]

I would be highly interested to see the results.

[hobgoblin]

a submerged TM can gain some nice equivalents to common cyberware.

for example, biowire gives the equivalent of skillwire.

and from that one can gain acceleration, or the TM's answer to wired reflexes.

one can also emulate a smartlink (this one do not require submersion tho), gain skinlink (thats even more useful then normal, as the device used dont need to be skinlink equipped!), and fry the comlink of bothersome hackers using sparky.

[ElFenrir]

One thing I'm debating is an extra meat-pass. I'm trying to think of both sides of him. His Technomancer side isn't too hard; but trying to get some other skills around is the more challenging part.

On one hand, it would be useful. On the other hand, I could use the nuyen from Synaptic Boosters for Karma to pump Edge to buy extra passes if needed. I wouldn't get more than one level, but he'd be looking at Resonance 5 out of the gate. Well, much like the cybered adept, he can submerge and buy this back, at least. I'm leaning more toward actually getting the second pass.

[Tiger Eyes]

A combat techno becomes very possible with several of the Unwired echos. Accelerationx3 is very fun. Esensing is very handy (too much so, our group has gotten overly dependent on it and last session got screwed by a spirit that didn't show up on esensing-- "okay, no one there, let's go in" -- "aaaah! Where'd that come from!!! I thought you said no one was th-- *snore*") Register a few high level machine sprites, put them in your teammate's smartguns (yes, there is a debate, basically it's up to each GM on how to interpret that rule), and give them a nice dice pool bonus for their firearms. Same with the med-kit or vehicles. Biowires makes a great multi-skilled character. And Resonance Trodes make you a close-combat monster (or stealth assassin) - especially when your blackhammer CF becomes a rating 15 due to threading and sprite assistance.

Basically, you can create an almost-physical adept like technomancer with the right echos.