Expectations for Unwired, The Tally of Things That Need Fixing Options

[W@geMage]

Currently the technomancer's IWIN™ button seems to be horribly abusing high-level sprites, while he significantly lacks on his own. I'd rather see a nerf to that in favor of gaining more strength otherwise. Being reliant on compiling and registering force 12 sprites until you wake up in hospital from fading damage is not, what I'd consider intended gameplay.

They don't even need to abuse Sprites to get huge dice pools.
Our Technomancer threads Exploit to 10 and uses a registered Sprite to increase his Stealth to 10. This means he can hack even secure nodes on-the-fly for admin rights without being spotted.

Once he gets in he threads his Attack to 10 which is autokill for most IC.

So far this hasn't been a problem as the good paydata is hardly accessible through the Matrix, so he has to physically be onsite to get it.
But most datasteals are easy once the infiltration succeeds.

[M.Fillmore.1138]

Currently the technomancer's IWIN™ button seems to be horribly abusing high-level sprites, while he significantly lacks on his own.

I run a TM and he never has a sprite higher than 6, and does quite nicely. He cannot do everything, but can certainly break into nodes, find the pay data, etc. pretty well. Threading lets you do a lot with what you have, and certainly makes the difference. Sprites are nice, don't get me wrong, but I don't see the point in compiling sprites that huge in most cases. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)

Given the richness of options with Initiation, it would be nice if there were some more options with Submergence. There are only a few options to choose from that really matter. Bringing in the concepts of resonance pools and dissonance areas would be the equivalent of aspected background and would be fun to play with.

I do agree that most of the sprites seem incomplete. I think they should be a bit more specialized (pilot sprites for running drones for instance, with other machine sprites for more general systems) and thus better at their tasks. It would be nice if a sprite did not have to be rating 9 to stand any chance or really running a drone.

Since RAW basically gives a hand-wave over the wireless matrix as a giant mesh-net, it might be interesting to add some flavor for things such as "nothing in your immediate range is very powerful, and there are a lot of people using the matrix here, so you get -2 dice for lag if you are trying to hit a node on the other side of town". Congestion on the local networks are likely, since I don't see the corporate tendency to over-subscribe their equipment going away any time soon, and it is not part of general human nature to buy something much more powerful than what you need just to have spare bandwidth to allow other folks to use for free (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Maybe not to the level of the older matrix systems, but could be interesting situational modifiers to dice pools.

I also agree that it seems a shame that a hacker is pretty much fully formed at char-gen, and the rest of the time is spend developing skills in other areas. There is just not that much for them to shoot for that is in their characters main "theme". That goes doubly for the fact that stats do not figure into anything on the net, and that seems wrong. It would be nice if someone can have hacker goals for character development (things to spend the karma on).

Take that for what its worth. I have a declared bias towards TMs, but I do not find them as broken as so many folks see them to be. Not saying I am right and they are wrong, but we must have different play styles.

[M.Fillmore.1138]

They don't even need to abuse Sprites to get huge dice pools.
Our Technomancer threads Exploit to 10 and uses a registered Sprite to increase his Stealth to 10. This means he can hack even secure nodes on-the-fly for admin rights without being spotted.

Now that is my style of play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

If we have the time, my TM just threads the Stealth and probes... it is much less likely someone is going to get by a Stealth of 12 if they only get one shot at the roll.

[Eyeless Blond]

Hm, I guess something else to add to Unwired:

-Clear up the confusion over how Riggers work

[Earlydawn]

I think quite a few of you are going to be happy. Riggers are getting some new programs and capabilities, and I think Technomancers are getting a good deal of attention, too.

[Muskie]

I want Sixth World Cybersex.

Haven't they had that since SR1? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Fortune]

And I'm supposed to be satisfied with that? I want more Sixth World Cybersex! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[FrankTrollman]

The original list on this thread does not yet include:

- Dropout: currently you don't have to open yourself to any meaningful hacking at all. You can basically just decide to not get hacked. AR hacking isn't any worse than VR hacking so there's no real reason to allow any incoming signals access to you or anything you care about.

- Hackastack: related to Agent Smith, but slightly different. "You" can get multiple lives in the Matrix by running a separate persona on multiple commlinks simultaneously. Switch between them when you take Matrix damage or you need a clean IP Address or whatever.

-Frank

[hermit]

Why exactly would having some protection against hacking need fixing?

[Cthulhudreams]

the problem is not that it is 'some protection' it is 'total protection' and the problem is not when the players do it (who cares) its just that it makes no sense for people manning highly secure installations to really do the wireless thing, rather than running some cables. If you want the hacker to hack the cameras, gun turrets, electric fences, doors, cars and whatever the hell else, you need to answer that question.

Edit: It protects against everything except having your tactical radio jammed, but that is a part of the rules that doesn't obviously work, and you don't need hackers either (ECCM autosoft ftw! woo!)

[hermit]

its just that it makes no sense for people manning highly secure installations to really do the wireless thing, rather than running some cables. If you want the hacker to hack the cameras, gun turrets, electric fences, doors, cars and whatever the hell else, you need to answer that question.

Common sense has always been the SR4 wifi bonanza's worst enemy.

[Cthulhudreams]

That is what frank was getting at. We want the wifi bonaza to make sense, so unwired needs to provide a compelling reason to be unwired (like, you know, the name)

[hermit]

Point taken.

[Eyeless Blond]

The original list on this thread does not yet include:

- Dropout: currently you don't have to open yourself to any meaningful hacking at all. You can basically just decide to not get hacked. AR hacking isn't any worse than VR hacking so there's no real reason to allow any incoming signals access to you or anything you care about.

- Hackastack: related to Agent Smith, but slightly different. "You" can get multiple lives in the Matrix by running a separate persona on multiple commlinks simultaneously. Switch between them when you take Matrix damage or you need a clean IP Address or whatever.

-Frank

RIGHT! I knew I was forgetting a few important exploit-y things. Thanks Frank!

[FrankTrollman]

Oh, also:

- Nesting Dolls - the limits on subscription are pretty close to meaningless when one of the things on your subscription list can be a Commlink with its own subscription list.

-Frank

[hermit]

Slaving in general would need definite rules and explanations.

Also, above-level-6 computers would be a nice idea (I read somewhere that was planned), and even more if there were portable versions. That would cost a heap, but actually give mundane hackers soemthing to work for - decks. Besides, with the computing power in earring-sized level 6 thru commlinks, I have a hard time imagining level 7 to 10 supercomputers as larger than keyboard sized.

[Grinder]

Re-introducing Cyberdecks in SR4 would be awesome! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

[hermit]

Yes, wouldn't it? And there should be a Fuchi Nostalgia collection, too ...

[Zen Shooter01]

Here's something I want in Unwired...

When?

[Aaron]

Here's something I want in Unwired...
When?

Why would that be in Unwired? I mean, if you're reading it, you probably already know.

[Edge2054]

- Explain what the hell Technomancers are, tie them into the world. Maybe they'll feel less like a "K3WL IZ T3H NEO" than they do now then. And don't boost them more, they're enough of a pain in the ass as is.

They're basically matrix adepts, and by adepts I'm using the Earthdawn definition of the word and not the Shadowrun one.

It's also interesting to note that they've learned to consciencly thread which is something other adepts have tapped into but haven't really understood the implications of.

[hermit]

They're basically matrix adepts, and by adepts I'm using the Earthdawn definition of the word and not the Shadowrun one.

Uhm ... no. That would be the hacker adept, because that's how the ED adept has been translated into SR. Remember, they do NOT use magic.

It's also interesting to note that they've learned to consciencly thread which is something other adepts have tapped into but haven't really understood the implications of.

Mind to explain that further, please? Because I don't really see what you're getting at.

[Edge2054]

Uhm ... no. That would be the hacker adept, because that's how the ED adept has been translated into SR. Remember, they do NOT use magic.

By Earthdawn definitions Mages are also adepts. An adept in ED is someone who uses pattern magic. Just because TMs don't use magic as mages and more typical awakened define it doesn't mean they don't tap into it.

To break it down, TMs manipulate the pattern of the matrix in a similar way as mages manipulate the pattern of astral space. They both manipulate patterns, they just manipulate different patterns.

Mind to explain that further, please? Because I don't really see what you're getting at.

Threading, the TM ability bears a strong resemblance not just in name but also in function to ED threading practiced by ED adepts. ED adepts use threads to tie their own pattern to items (similar to how bonding works), to tie threads to a groups pattern (magical groups do something similar), and to even alter their own abilities (which is were the TMs come in).

There's more examples of why TMs are in fact adepts. Both mages and TMs leave signatures on the patterns they manipulate. Both suffer drain from manipulating patterns. Both 'lose touch' with the pattern they alter from essence loss. Both require extra care from doctors less their touch be disrupted.

The only argument I can really see for saying that TMs aren't a new form of awakened is the fact that mages can't assense them as such... but considering the patterns they manipulate are entirely separate from each other why should a TM leave any sort of special imprint on the pattern of astral space?

Keep in mind that in every instance of using the word adept I'm following the ED definition and not the SR one.

*edit* I wanted to add that this isn't canon and it's not written anywhere but the correlations are pretty plane for anyone that wants to read between the lines.

[swirler]

so, is there some equivalent of initiation for technos? if not, maybe there should be.

[Eyeless Blond]

There is. It's called Submersion, but frankly the metamagics it grants suck horribly compared to what you get as mages for the same karma.