Team Commlinks, Possible without a nexus? Options

[IceKatze]

hi hi

I was thinking, there are plenty of situations where a shadowrun team collectively uses the super tricked out gear of one of the specialists. Rather than having everyone buy their own high powered assault cannon, everyone just stands behind the troll. Rather than having everyone buy their own eurocar westwind, everyone just hops in the rigger's.

My question is thus: Is there a way for a group of people to all access the matrix through the hacker's SOTA commlink rather than everyone having to buy their own? (edit for clarity: I meant to say "buy their own SOTA commlink," not just a regular one.) I can't seem to find information about the persona limits of regular commlinks.

[SpellBinder]

A commlink can run only one persona (Unwired, page 48).

Besides, there are more advantages to the team having a commlink for everyone, as opposed to passing one SOTA commlink around like the town bicycle. Check out tacnets in Unwired, page 126.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

A commlink can run only one persona (Unwired, page 48).

Besides, there are more advantages to the team having a commlink for everyone, as opposed to passing one SOTA commlink around like the town bicycle. Check out tacnets in Unwired, page 126.

Tacnets can be controlled by a single player (Centralised Control rather than distributed; but this has its own drawbacks), not everyone needs to have an uber comlink to benefit from the tacnet...

Keep the Faith

[SpellBinder]

I know that. And if I meant that everyone needed a SOTA commlink for a tacnet, I'd've said "... having a SOTA commlink for everyone..." instead.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I know that. And if I meant that everyone needed a SOTA commlink for a tacnet, I'd've said "... having a SOTA commlink for everyone..." instead.

point taken...

Keep the Faith

[IceKatze]

hi hi

It is unfortunate that commlinks can only host one persona, oh well.

TacNets have nothing to do with this, I was talking about accessing the matrix in a manner that requires high commlink stats, i.e. hacking, a possibility that would not have precluded everyone having their own comlink as well. Neither was I talking about passing around a single commlink, I was suggesting that everyone use the same commlink simultaneously. My intent was to find a way to help characters who are not specialized in hacking to participate and aid in hacking attempts in much the same way that a face can participate and help in a firefight even though she may not be a decked out street sam killing machine.

[SpellBinder]

Thanks for the bit of clarification.

In that case, might want to consider investing in Agent programs to run off of your friend's commlinks. Depending on the quality they carry, the Agents might be more limited, but they'll be able to [indirectly] contribute to hacking.

And don't discount peripherals as well. They too can run a persona, though they may be worse off than your friend's commlinks. But if you're aiming for quantity over quality, every drone and vehicle (and maybe then some) can help.

[IceKatze]

hi hi

Agent programs might work, as long as the GM allows the players to play them rather than just sitting back and watching. While the primary hacker is dealing with IC and spiders, the agents could be doing things like erasing logs, repairing the hacker's icon, encrypting the enemy's files or setting data bombs in the enemy's security systems (cameras, drones etc.)

[SpellBinder]

Players playing the Agents on their commlinks for the hack job? I don't see why not. Gives the players that sense of accomplishment to make the game fun and cuts down the dice pools and bookkeeping the GM and controlling hacker would otherwise be rolling.

Just as long as the players understand that Agents are more single minded than an organic mind is. I'd allow it.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Players playing the Agents on their commlinks for the hack job? I don't see why not. Gives the players that sense of accomplishment to make the game fun and cuts down the dice pools and bookkeeping the GM and controlling hacker would otherwise be rolling.

Just as long as the players understand that Agents are more single minded than an organic mind is. I'd allow it.

Indeed... In fact, this happens oftentimes at our table...

Keep the Faith

[Banaticus]

Commlinks are (now) basically iPhones. Everyone has an iPhone - you can call someone, you can text, you can run apps, you can watch little videos, you can take photos with one... And some people have special jacks that allow them to hook up their iPhone/commlinks directly to their brain (or they're technomancers and can magically connect). So while you could get by on one commlink (iPhone), they're so cheap and public wi-fi is so prevalent in Shadowrun that everyone should have one.

Edit: it's probably a Google Droid, since you can upload without going through the app store, although my brother jailbroke his iPhone and it's been pretty amazing since.

[IceKatze]

hi hi

Perhaps, when I said "everyone having to buy their own?" I should have clarified that I was referring to Adjective+Noun, instead of just Noun.

Additionally, perhaps a simple "operating procedure" could be created for each agent, preemptively giving it goals and conditions in order to limit the amount of free reign players would have? Or would that be too much like alignments (lawful good).