Hacker vs Decker Terminology, Are we reading too much into it? Options

[RunnerPaul]

One thing I've seen, people have latched onto the fact that the press release blurb uses the term hacker instead of decker, and run with it. I'm wondering if this might be premature. After all, that press release was most likely written for people who only have a passing familiarity with the Shadowrun setting.

I could understand if it was a concious choice to rename the archtype, to drive home the point that this isn't the old Matrix, but I would think it's too soon to tell if they've actually done that based on the info we have so far.

I'm taking a wait and see on this one.

[GrinderTheTroll]

Maybe they are just trying to intice people with Hacker, since Decker needs some inside explaination. The term "Hacker" markets itself.

[RunnerPaul]

Exactly my point. Hacker is a term that evokes a particular mental image in the general populace. Retail Store Owners, Distribution Warehouse Managers, and the general gaming public seem to be the target audience for the press release, and they're most likely not familiar with our jargon.

[Backgammon]

Obviously it's a marketing thing. That blurb is most likely what's going to be on the back cover of the book. So what's the point of writting "Decker" and "face"? People are gonna go "I can play a guy who's good at cards? And a face? A covert-ops guy maybe? I dunno"

[Eyeless Blond]

No, see "decker" and "face" are both playing card terms. See, SR4 is ripping off Deadlands and the Hoyle method of demon-summoning/hexslinging, and these must be the class names. :D

[moosegod]

You know, we wouldn't be very good shadowrunners... I mean players... if we didn't read into the game too much.

[SuperSpy]

[Kai]

Besides, deckers are more analogous with crackers ;7

[mintcar]

Perhaps we are reading too much into it. But there´s also the statement from one of our resident freelancers that they will break down the wall between riggers and deckers. What would that do to the terms?

[mfb]

i have no problem with the term "deckers" being made obsolete. to be honest, i've always had to fight replacing it with "hackers" when i talk about them--not out of any real malice towards the word "decker", but because "hacker" seems more natural.

[mintcar]

Do you think these new techno wizards will be using decks? Can´t really call them deckers if they don´t use decks, can you? :)

[mfb]

i think they'll use decks, yeah. i think, however, that there will be only one type of deck--a multipurpose computer, basically, which you can upgrade with different modules. one module allows you to deck; another allows you to send commands to drones. a third module might allow you to manage communications. maybe other modules i haven't thought of.

or, the deck might come with all those abilities built-in, and you can upgrade them as desired. or... hell, i dunno what else.

[mintcar]

The cover art (if indeed it is the cover art) does not seem to have a deck in it. All the previous editions have had a deck somewere on the cover. Maybe its the little thing the dwarf is holding?

[GrinderTheTroll]

I wonder how much Cyberware decks will have shrunk or become very commonplace. I'd guess since "wireless" seems to be the big push, that most devices like that would probably be implanted, and hopefully beta or delta is more common and affordable.

EDIT - If SR4 held to Moore's Law even remotely, then we'd see about a 2.5 times increase in MPCP capabilities for the same amount of physical space, so you could shrink and keep the same MPCP rating....more or less.

[Crimson Jack]

[Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_*]

[Wireknight]

Characters in campaigns I've been involved with have been using cranial cyberdecks in PDA-sized cases, or distributed about worn equipment, rather than actual decks. They use the more expensive cranial-to-ultraportable for on-the-fly decking, and tend to have massively powerful breadboard-style decks as part of vehicles, sort of mobile command stations. It would be good if that's the real and true evolution of the rules, and not just a convenient method of making do with what's available, come Shadowrun 4th Edition. Miniaturization and the proliferation of wireless should result in an evolution of the cyberdeck to the eighth generation.

[Akai Sokata]

[mfb]

eh, yeah. depends on your definition of "hacker". just to clarify, though, i'm not really rooting for "hacker" over the term "decker"--i'm fine with either one.

[Kanada Ten]

Carzy Trixster.

[Lindt]

Quick bit of info. Originally a 'Hack' was something both subtle and effective. Originally from MIT oddly. A few years ago they built a campus securety car on the roof of a building. It has been called one of their better hacks. Even today, no one knows how they got it there, and where they stole the light bar it used.

[Sharaloth]

I like that multipurpose computer idea, mfb...
I'd see it as a cranial cyberdeck melded with the Vehicle Control Rig. Not really either, but akin to both. Maybe you could plug modules in like using a chipjack, or the basic interface for all of the systsems (com, deck, rig, etc) is the implant, and you can jack in a small computer that allows you to perform better on the specialized stuff. (I.E. jacking into a rigged car to access the rigger possibilities of the implant, jacking into a computer for the non-wireless portions of the decking side of the implant, or a com computer for the com side, etc, etc).

hmmm. It needs developing, but I think that sounds really cool.

[Jrayjoker]

Modularity makes the most sense, especially if the lines are going to be blurred. Heck the military has been doing it for years. A board fries, pull it, replace it, ship it back to HQ for refab or junking. Also, just think about how integrated TVs are becoming these days: monitor, ports for data chips (photo memory cards), etc..

[Penta]

Problem.

Decks...Cranial.

Really now, how many people are going to want to plug their brain straight into the electric socket?

That, to me, is why cranial cyberdecks never made sense. The only people who would use them are shadowrunners, for one. Two, most people, simply by having survived the age of 3, are going to be leery about plugging themselves into their computers directly. I mean, it's one of those things you learn: Not to put your finger, tongue, etc. into the electric socket. (Never mind that it took me a few times to figure it out at age 2, but anyway. :) )

You are now asking people to violate one of those fundamental rules of survival.

Whaa?

[Jrayjoker]