Playtesting: Decking, the SR3R way Options

[Kagetenshi]

This is the playtesting thread for SR3R's Decking rules.

What I need: right now, some people with basic competence in the SR3 Matrix rules who have read over the changes in SR3R. Volunteer and make a character.

Characters: do not need to be made with any chargen system, but we're going to need the following general categories covered:

Dedicated deckers straight out of chargen

Characters with other specialties who deck on the side (probably a lower-rating deck and fewer programs)

Drek-hot tech-wizzes (ranging the power level from competent to giving FastJack a run for his money)

and we should run an altered version of the SR3 sample decker through as well.

Scenarios:

1) Green-Easy host vs. one decker (dedicated chargen or non-dedicated)

2) Orange-Average host vs. one decker (dedicated chargen or non-dedicated)

3) Green-Easy host vs. two deckers (dedicated chargen or non-dedicated)

4) Orange-Average host vs. two deckers (dedicated chargen or non-dedicated)

And we'll add some more after that's done.

Some more notes on generation: like I say there aren't any restrictions, but try to make realistic characters; it might not be a bad idea to use canon chargen anyway just to keep things close to what they'll be. There also won't be anything in these scenarios that doesn't involve decking and matrix access (so for instance you don't have to bother figuring out a Pistols skill or a Strength attribute), but again, try to keep your Resources, Skills, and Attributes down to the point they'd be if you actually did have to bother with all that.

Moreover, I'm going full-disclosure here. I'll be posting the security sheaf, all die rolls, etc. and including next to no descriptions. Later on when we've got a multifaceted system I'll be running testing that looks like actual play, but for now it's just pure rules.

Questions, comments, whatever are welcomed.

~J

[Ecclesiastes]

I haven't read over your rules yet, but I'd love to help out. I dig deckers and otaku as characters. If you want to test out Otaku, I'd love to throw one together to help you test things out.

[Kagetenshi]

I'd love to test out Otaku, but first there has to be something to test about them—as of right now, I don't think a single change we've made affects them.

Well, no, that's not quite true, the balance between them and Deckers has changed, but either way they're mostly untouched.

That said, if there's anything about their interaction with the Matrix that needs to be rebalanced or made less complicated, feel free to suggest it in the Decking thread and we'll have a look.

~J

[Fix-it]

I already have a have-decent Tech wiz I'm using in a game at Underworld93.
He's running a Hyperdeck-6 with expanded storage and active memory.

I'd volunteer to give the new rules a try, I've got plenty of time to try an' figure 'em out. (summer vacation, no job. yet.)
I'll try and figure how he would represent with the new rules you guys cooked up so far.

I like where this whole project is going.

[Kagetenshi]

That's another thing: please post characters on this thread (possibly spoilertagged for flow, but visible to all). Again, feel free to scrap all non-Matrix-related info, so if your character's got a Dark Secret there's no need to tell the world and soforth.

~J

[Shockwave_IIc]

[Kagetenshi]

Any of the above. What their function is outside of the Matrix is mostly irrelevant, only their relative unpreparedness is important. Though the two types you mention are meaningfully distinct, as they're likely to have a variety of programs but less-than-stellar hardware (or potentially vice versa) rather than a balance (whether a weak or strong balance).

~J

[SirBedevere]

I'd like to have a go at playtesting. I too am a frustrated decker as far as SR3 is concerned.

[Kagetenshi]

Just post a character, or the decking-relevant portions thereof (keeping in mind the changes we've made), and we can get started.

Obviously we'll be redoing this once we've got the whole shebang down, but we can probably identify some issues now.

~J

[Lindt]

I got one, but wont have acess to him until monday. Hes the code monkey type.

[Tobias]

I wouldn't mind joining in. I'll get a char up asap. :)

The changes do sound cool btw.

[Lindt]

I FINALLY found him. Rather high powered, came from The Matrix Misfits game a while back.


Ed, the almost otaku.

[ Spoiler ]

System Ed (aka Code Monkey, Sys E, Sissy, or just Ed)
600 Becks 2.0
Ork (20)

Str 4
Bod 5
Qui 5
Int 6(8)
Wil 7
Cha 6


Reaction 6
Initive 1d6+6
Matrix init 3d6+10 (+1d6 for pure DNI)
Essance 5.8?
Bio Index 0.00?
Essance Index 8.80?
Magic:0

Edge/Flaws:
Matrix Addiction:light -2
Surge: Prehensil Tail 5
Common Sense 2
Gremlins 2 -2

Combat Pool 10
Hacking Pool 5 (9)
Task Pool 2

¥1,000,000 (120)

Skills: (Active)
Computer (programming) 8/9
Computer B/R 6
Electronics 6
Electronics B/R 4
Car 2
Car B/R 3
Unarmed 2
Pistol 1
Ediquette(Sleaze) 4/5
Stealth(Theft) 2/3
Athletics 4


Skills:
Programming Suite Design 6
Offensive Utility Design 4
Defensive Utility Design 4
Special Utility Design 4
Operational Utility Design 5
Application Design 3
Cyberterminal Design 5
Cyberterminal Utility Design 4
Comm Satellite System Familiarity 2
Data Archive System Familiarity 2
Safehouse Locations 2


Languges:
English(netspeak) 6/7 (free)
R/W 4/5
Japanese 2 (3)
Korean 1 (1)


Cyber: 1,000,000 (920400)
DataJack (¥1,000) {.2}
+Knowsoft Link ¥1,000 {.1}
Microscopic Vision (retinal mod) ¥5,000 {.1}
Image Link (retinal mod) ¥1,600 {.2}
Math SPU 3 ¥11,000 {.2}
Encephalon 1 ¥40,000 {.75}
Sleep Regulator ¥20,000 {.3}
Cerebral Booster (added IG)

Gear:

Micro Electronics Shop ¥15,000
+Cross Angelic (7) Burner ¥12,000
Aliance Sigma ¥14,000 (aka Bit Basher Box)
+3000 mp offline storage ¥5,100

Contacts:
L1 Rufus (Infobroker)
L2 Shadowland
L1 Twitch (deckminster)

Deck stuff: 'Betrix' *cost 65,491*
MPCP 8
Bod 4
Evasion 8
Masking 4
Sensor 8
Responce Increase 2d6+4
Hardening 8
I/O Speed 800MP
Active Memory 3000MP
FUPS Ports 16
Offline Memory 5000MP


Programs:
Browse 8
Sleaze 8 +sneak 4 (192mp) (aka Invis.Dll)
Cloak 8
Armor 8 +crashguard 2 (192mp)
Medic 4 ¥12,800
Attack 8D +adaptive (288mp) (aka Wack.exe)
Killjoy 4 (160mp)
Programming Suite 7 (495mp) (will be loaded on the Sigma only)
Deception 8 (80mp)
Attack 6m +stealth 4 (252mp)
Shield 8 (256mp)
Lock On 6 (108mp)
Defuse 4 +DINAB 4 (256mp)
Read Write 8 + sneak 4 (384mp) (aka GIGO.ini)
Analize 3 (27mp)
Frame Core 6 (180mp)
Evaulate 6 (72mp) ¥14400
Purge 4 (32mp) ¥6400
Valadate 6 (144mp)¥28800
8L Attack +Penetration +Limit (IC) (128mp) ¥25600

This post has been edited by Lindt: Jun 17 2005, 04:56 PM

[Kagetenshi]

Looking good for a higher-powered test character. You'll just need to tweak your programs some to bring them in line with the new list (some of them have been replaced or merged with other programs), and then we can get started.

~J

[ShadowDragon8685]

I'll help. I'll use Skate, the character I'm making for my upcoming online game. She's not entirely completed yet, but I don't think it matters for the purposes of this playtest just how many sets of 12,000 nuyen custom-tailored raveware dresses she owns, does it? :)

[ Spoiler ]

Skate
(just because I have the attributes all set out already,)
BOD: 4
QCK: 8
STR: 3
INT: 6
WIL: 4

Hacking pool: 4

Computers: 6
Computers B/R: 6
AK(In case it comes up,) Seattle Matrix: 5

Cyberdeck: Renraku Kraftwork-8, unmodified.
(MPCP 8, Hardening 4, Active 1000, Storage 2000, I/O 360, Response 2)
Programs:
(Please note, I'm not positive I understand the way you listed the new skills. It seems to me that you made the ACIFS main headings, and the bold words are the new 'overprograms', which I think is a good idea. The regular words are what those programs can do.)



Access
Deception Rating 8, Multiplier 2, 128 Mp
Logon
Freeze Vanishing SAN
Graceful Logoff

Encrypt/decrypt 8, Multiplier 1, 64 Mp



Control
Analyze 8, Multiplier 3, 192 Mp
Analyze Host
Analyze Icon
Analyze Process
Inject 6, multiplier 3, 108 Mp
Abort Host Shutdown
Block System Operation
Crash Host
Alter Icon*
Redirect 8, Multiplier 2, 128 Mp
Decoy
Redirect Datatrail
Relocate Trace
Validate 6, Multiplier 4, 144 Mp
Dump Log
Invalidate Account
Restrict Icon
Validate Account


Index
Browse 8, multiplier 2, 128 Mp
Locate System Resource
Trace MXP Address
Scanner 7, multiplier 3, 147 Mp
Locate Icon


Files
Read/Write 8, multiplier 2 128 Mp
Manipulate Data


Slave
Spoof 6, multiplier 3, 108 Mp
Control Slave
Edit Slave
Monitor Slave
Commlink 8, multiplier 2, 128 Mp
Make Comcall
Triangulate

(not entirely sure about the below)
Other
Purge 8, multiplier 2, 128
Disarm Data Bomb
Disinfect
Relevant worm
Infect
Sniffer 8, multiplier 3, 192 Mp
Intercept Data

None
Swap Memory


Is that everything? Have I forgot something? Wrong about something?

[Kagetenshi]

In general you interpreted it correctly. The "Other" category was meant to cover uses of above-detailed utilities that do not fall cleanly into a single subsystem (for example, Analyze Subsystem rolls against the subsystem being analyzed rather than Control) as well as new utilities that act differently from others; if a program covered above is repeated, that means they're the same program.

I'll come up with a multiplier for Inject right quick, and then we can get started.

~J

[Lindt]

Im still fuzzy on the new program set up. Mind talking me though it?

[Kagetenshi]

Certainly, busy night tonight but I'll give you a detailed walkthrough either later tonight or tomorrow morning.

~J

[ShadowDragon8685]

Oooooooooooh, me too, me too. Do you have AIM?

[Kagetenshi]

I do indeed. I'll post my SN Saturday (today) at about noonish Eastern Daylight Time, and from then until I need to leave to GM at about 4:00 EDT I'll be available to answer questions on the new rules. My only request is that at least a once-over be given to the linked thread containing said new rules—I assume you all already know that, but I just want to make sure.

~J

[Kagetenshi]

Right, I'm Vernjonal on AIM. Pepper away with questions, and meanwhile I'll write a proper explanation here.

~J

[Kagetenshi]

For the moment, I'm giving Inject a multiplier of 3. This, as well as the other multipliers, is subject to change.

~J

[ShadowDragon8685]

Are you gonna be online anytime? On AIM, I mean?

[Kagetenshi]

Yes. I've been eaten this week by stuff that needs doing (and am actually out of town at the moment), but I'll be available and back up to speed with everything soon.

~J

[Eyeless Blond]

[Eyeless Blond]

Oh, and if noone else wants to put in a starting character I might toss my hat into the ring. He's most emphatically *not* optimized for decking, what with being a full shaman *and* a decker, so he'll be a bit of a counterpoint to all these powerhouses here.