How do I make a mind-boggling Matrix? Options

[TheMadderHatter]

So i finally have the group for which I will GM: hacker, AI, and TM.

Given that they're all Matrix-heavy characters, I'm devoting a lot of thought to how to make a Matrix to hack that's not just a series of Exploit tests and cybercombat. I'd really like to make something that's both thematically appropriate and convoluted/intriguing enough to engage them as players as well as characters; all of the players are intellectual enough to appreciate a puzzle that can't be solved simply by chucking dice at the problem and it seems like a nice way of sucking them into the story in conjunction with an engaging world.

Thus my twofold request: Firstly, if there's any material out there on how to make a convincing Matrix it will be dearly appreciated; I could use as many tips, hints, and pieces of Dumpshock advice as I can find. In particular, any way of conveying an appropriate level of security for any given target, as well as a means of expressing its nature in terms of the security it employs, would be invaluable.

Secondly and perhaps more amusingly, I need Matrix-based puzzles, logic traps, and any other dirty tricks of node linking and agent scripting that I can throw at them sparingly to leave the players scratching their heads and reaching for pencil and paper,and I can think of no better source for such deviousness than here. Any electronic deviousness of the not-necessarily-lethal sort will be given a good home in their nightmares.

[Stahlseele]

make it a private node thought up by a crazy matrix artist named Mc²Escher
http://www.poster.net/escher-mc/escher-mc-...ing-7400019.jpg
http://www.itp.uni-hannover.de/~dragon/stonehenge/escher.jpg
http://www.dertimm.de/wp-content/uploads/2..._Wasserfall.jpg
http://static.twoday.net/BettinaK/images/escher.jpg
http://www.germanposters.de/escher-m-c--ko...nd-konvex-9.jpg
http://www.germanposters.de/escher-m-c--andere-welt-5.jpg
Remember:
It's the Matrix. Things like the Laws of Physics DO NOT APPLY TO YOU!
Edit: and logic is optional.

[hermit]

A tip for the mechanical side, to make that also a challenge:

[ Spoiler ]

Challenging a hacking group made of overkill
The Vault - an ultra secure matrix system

Access to the system
First, make the Matrix isolated. There's only a sattelite connection to the wider grid, and a timed connection at that (this used to be called vanishing SAN). The node can only be accessed during a window of 5 minutes every two days, after that it refuses all connections on principle; established connections are automatically terminated 23:55 hours into the connection. The system is part of Zurich-Orbital, so an inside job is impossible.

This access node acts as a bottleneck. It's resonse is level 6, tricked out for analyse, where 5 agents with home ground on 4 run analyse (2 analyse, 2 teamwork with the analysing agents, one teamworks with the node, which also runs analyse). All programs and agents level 6. The node has a biometrical lock, so they need the brainwave pattern of a registered user to even access this node (it is 20h hard encrypted, which is very tough, but not impossible (that would be 24h)). Only a registered user may bypass this encryption. Verification is via ultra-secure passkey in combination with biometrics. The node itself needs to be two level 6 commlinks (6/0/6/6) clustered to for a 6(12)/0/6/6 node, to accomodate for all the programs running. Each program is optimised (5), all software of individual agents is made into a software suite that is ergonomic (so it goes against the ergonomic tally, which is a second tally 12 processor for all intents and purposes).

Beyond this, there is a 60/0/6/6 Nexus (you need to route there via the vanishing SAN, so mind your connection time!) where you can access goods. It also has 11 agents on standby scanning the node at all times, 5 teams and one who teams with the node also running analyse. the node also has analyse running. All agents carry the scan pack.

On alert, Level 6 Agents with level 8 combat programs in another suite (not ergonomic) appear and attack any non-Agent icon with black knockout programs, and then run a trace on them.

The Reality Filter Stahlseele mentions is a Level 8 (optimised 5) programm running in the System, enforcing it's iconography on all user who fail their resist test. It's the only high-level program in this setup and mainly a storytelling device anyway.

You can do puzzles with a network of nodes that only connectb for limited time among each other and only randomly, forming an ever-changing maze. A persona needs to occupy a node to keep the connections stable, which makes this thtreaded hacking option often forgotten actually sensible. If you feel like being mean (I would), have IC patrol this maze.

Also, this maze only has a starting point that connects wirelessly, all other nodes have wireless removed and are connecting via hardware. The node behind this maze of nodes is a Nexus full of whatever the players are looking for.

Another idea would be ultra-secure access as detailed above. If you need a specific commlink with a built-in codekey and a specific brainwave pattern AND to connect at an exact time to identify yourself to a live spider, getting whatever is needed to hack in becomes a run in itself.

And if the mancer hacks via resonance quest, have his character overwhelmed by Novatech during that quest and used up in some sort of twisted experiment, because that is just not done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

If you're purely going for a weird, otherworldly matric place, try a resonance quest.