Concerning the Drone Rigger example character on p. 92:

I can't figure out how the essence came out to be 4.4, I came up with 4.3.

0.5 Control Rig
0.4 Cybereyes (w/ extras that take up capacity in the eyes)
0.1 Datajack
0.6 Reaction Enhancers (2)
0.1 Touchlink
___
1.7 from 6 = 4.3

Where did I go wrong? I was using blakkie's SR4Chargen.xls and saw the discrepancy. Thanks.

Looks like the book's math is wrong and yours is correct. I don't see anything that could reflect the difference of 0.1 essence.

Several of the sample characters violate the RaW

Thanks, I was thinking maybe the datajack having a Capacity of [1] would have been in the Cybereyes (which has Capacity to spare), but I don't think that would work. And the gross-out factor for other people watching me stick a connection in my eyesocket would be high, IMO.

There was such a thing in SR2~3, the eye mounted datajack.

Hmm, perhaps that was the intent of the designer of the Drone Rigger then, to have the Datajack in the Cybereye. That would make the essence correct.

Thanks.

Somehow an eye-datajack always gives me the willies Sorry for the delay guys. I meant to post yesterday over lunch after a meeting, but then that meeting went from 11:45 to close to 3:00 and I had to get back to work. I hate working with people. Machines are so much more ..... compliant

'cept when they're not.
But yeah, meetings blow fetid goats in the bitter cold.

Just want to check, but I think Boris is not getting the full relay of everything coming out of the meeting room, so the question asked would be the first thing Boris hears about an offer?

hrmm, good point. Well, if you click on the "Morgan" icon, you'll see the various Tivo like feeds. You'll even be able to smell Bear if you go full VR or have an olfactory booster.

Ya know, Boris is reminding me why I don't do technical classes anymore for my users.
What I wanted to say to him, but decided it's not in character was "Act like a halfer and at least pretend you know which end of a commlink to tap on."

Don't worry too much, I will make sure Boris won't do anything too stupid, like he would have had to check on where everyone actually was before barging into the Socket.

We definately need a best insult of Boris contest.

@Slacker
Hacking + Exploit (5) extended test to hack Bear's commlink. I assume you're doing it AR so you don't slump into uncosciousness in the middle of the room

Well, he does have low blood sugar

Checking out the scents in the room (same # of dice minus the observe in detail), 7 hits.

Yes, I'll be hacking in while in AR. Currently I have Analyze, Armor, Exploit, and Stealth running on my commlink (I switched out the Scan program prior to trying to hack in).
To minimize the chance of him detecting me, I'll go ahead and add Edge to the roll: 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6 = 5 successes

Assuming he didn't detect me, I will switch out the Exploit Program with the Browse Program. And then I am going to Analyze his commlink: 1, 1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 = 4 successes.
Looking for information regarding the registered owner/SIN of the commlink first and then information such as what the alert status is and what the device's rating is.

Next I will set the Browse program to scan for files relating to this job, Bear's employer, etc.
First Test: 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5 = 3 successes
Second Test: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6 = 3 successes
Third Test: 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6 = 5 successes
Fourth Test: 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6 = 3 successes

That should be plenty to find the pertinent info.

This assumes the data is on the commlink? If the data is actually stored elsewhere, then finding it would be a bit different?

Just asking as I am trying to get a feel for what's can be done.

That is correct DireRadiant, if the data is not on the commlink I would not be able to find it by browsing his commlink.
Unless he has a photographic memory though, he probably has files with information regarding the run so that he could reference it if as we ask him questions.
An intelligent Johnson would probably have false information regarding himself and his employer just in case a runner did exactly what I am doing, but it doesn't hurt to look for it anyways.

Doesn't mean all the important (by that I mean stuff that might get him killed (by that I mean might get us killed so we'd take offense to it(by that I mean getting shot at for no good reason is pretty darned offensive to me))) data is in the printouts.

@Slacker

Damn .. I forgot to increase the Extended Test threshold because commlinks don't have accounts other than admin. Oh well, my fault, your benefit You do successfully infiltrate the commlink. It's currently not on alert status and it's device rating is 4. It's registered as owned by a Bradley Cooper. There are also four programs running on the commlink. If you wish to know more about the programs, give me another matrix perception test (Computer + Analyze) each hit will tell you about one program.

I'm going to hold off on giving you more information about your data search until after I hear whether you care about what programs Bear is currently running.

@BaronKen: Come come now, I may be a slacker, but hacking is what I do best. Also, after the initial hacking attempt to gain access, I'm not doing anything that would arrouse suspicion from the device.
Once you gets access to a device the "system will generally treat you as a legitimate user and will not challenge everything you do."

@Dashifen: Sure, I guess knowing what programs he has running would be important. Tell me if I need to roll any more Analyze tests.
Also, I'll go ahead and order my search Agent to search the Matrix for information on the name Bradley Cooper.
First Test: 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 = 6 successes
Second Test: 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 6 = 2 successes
Third Test: 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = 2 successes
Fourth Test: 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6 = 3 successes

I'll need a matrix perception test for information about the programs. As for Bradley Cooper you get about 2500 hits of information about the name. Seem's it's relatively common. Seems that there's about 106 in Seattle alone.

Matrix Perception Test: 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6 = 3 successes
Second Roll if needed: 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 = 5 successes

I'll also tell the Agent to refine the search in three separate ways: first checking for the name appearing in the news within the last 6 months, second checking for references to illegal/shadowrunning activity, third checking for references connecting the name with the streetname Bear.

Once you have access to the node, you have all the rights of whatever account level you gained. For example, if you only got personal account access you wouldn't have the privileges to add a new admin username/password so if you tried to do that the system would have a chance to detect you.
As an admin you can do pretty much anything. Of course, there are other things to worry about such as security hackers (the reason I scanned for other wireless signals before I tried hacking his commlink) or roaming IC (the reason I want to know what programs he has running).

I think you will still need to erase audit logs etc before logging out of the commlink?

It strikes me that one risk is if the Bear actually monitors his own commlink at any time while you are hacking into it, he may notice activity he didn't initiate

He doesn't strike me as a gear-head. A lot of systems spike when cut off from the network, he might read it as little more than that.

Okay, I'm going to ask how much Monday morning unless someone chimes in.

Why wait till Monday, someone has to ask anyway.

@Slacker
Currently, Bear seems to be running two instances of a Data Bomb program as well as the Sniffer and Scan programs. There is a Pilot program running as well.

NOTE: Here's how I've been doing Data Bombs. Since Data Bomb is a program it seems like you could crash it with a Crash Program/OS action. However, this seems to invalidate the need for the Diffuse program. Thus, I've decided that to "crash" data bombs you need to diffuse them. Crashing the data bomb program simply kills the program and then it immediately restarts so that the files remain protected. Diffusing a Data Bomb doesn't crash the program, just convinces it that you can read the file that it's protecting.

The agent's refined search for Bradley Cooper doesn't seem to turn up anything important. Who ever he is, it doesn't appear as if he's got much of a history at all. No news about him in the past 6 months, legal or illegal and no connection between him and the streetname Bear. If you have any matrix contacts within the online shadow community you might be able to find more information than on the general matrix.

Interesting...no Analyze program means that he will have a seriously difficult time noticing me since Matrix Perception is based on Computer skill + Analyze program.

Question...since I am logged into the commlink as an admin would I be able to simply use a Command program to order the Pilot/Agent program to ignore my presence, or would I have to use the Spoof program. If its running within his commlink, I would think Command would work, but I wanted to double check.

As far as the search goes, I'll have to talk to my contact later if it becomes necessary. That was just my agent doing the grunt work for me.

You're hacked into his commlink as an admin, so you could use command to make the commlink perform actions. If you were hacked in as a different level of user, then I'd say spoof would be necessary to convince the system that you were the correct level of user.

The other time spoof is necessary is if you're trying to send a command to a drone or agent that is not under your control. Thus, to tell his agent to ignore you, you'll still need spoof because the agent requires the correct identifiying information from Bear to follow commands on the spot.

the question we should ask is why is there a pilot program on his commlink? Agent I could see.

@Nikoli: Based on the programs running on the commlink, my assumption is that the agent is there to spy on our private commlink conversations. The Scan program is there to detect our commlinks and the Sniffer program is there to listen in/capture on the commlink traffic.

@Dashifen: Ok, guess I will load up the Command program in place of the Browse program and tell the agent and Sniffer program to ignore me.

Then I will switch it out for the Defuse program and Try to defuse the first Data Bomb. (Damn I hate all the program switching that I have to do if I don't want my Response rating reduced).
Hacking + Defuse Test: 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6 = 7 successes, now that is what I call a nice roll

Assuming I succeeded I will attempt to Diffuse the second Data Bomb.
Hacking + Defuse Test: 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 = 6 successes , again a very good roll

Regarding your dice roller, Dashifen:

That's the problem with random number generation, you just never know if it really is.

re: dice-roller
It seems fine to me. I've seen primarily 2-5 successs in dice pools from 4 to 8 with it. Thus, perhaps you're just getting lucky. Python uses the Mersenne Twister for its random number generator which is pretty standard so it's probably about as good as I can do. Plus, if it does tend toward higher numbers, it'll even out in the end since I'll be using it for my rolls as well.

re: data bombs
You defuesed them both. Also, just using the dice roller with a dice pool of 6 I got 4 and 2 hits, so it's probably just luck on your end.

Are you going to re-load Browse and then continue with your data search as posted above?

Dash has informed me that it's 2500 per person, a little low unles syou take into account a lack of expected violence (since the run needs to be quiet to accomplish the desired goal) and the travel expense coverage, this should seem like a good deal to us. I'm not going to negotiate for a better deal.

@Dashifen: Guess I'm just lucky with the dice roller.
Since there doesn't seem to be anything that I have to worry about attacking me, I'll go ahead and load up Browse, Edit, and Decrypt.
Since Data Bomb's are attached to a specific file/device I should already know where those files are. I'll go ahead and use the Edit program to look at those two files.
After that I will do a Browse to regarding this job using words like interception, medical supplies, and transport to refine the search as needed. I'll also search for info on Bradley Cooper and another to find info on his employer.
Search #1:
Search #2:
Search #3:

@Nikoli: The pay sounds ok to me. A bit low, but ok. Though, normally I'd say always negotiate a better price, but Slacker is too lazy to try doing. Besides, he's a little bit busy right now.

I'm not comfortable with going at this with 6 dice, not when it's more than my share on the line.
There is a reason why I don't like to play the face, and this is part of it.

That's cool.

Ive got the skill group negotiations is in at 2, and a 3 charisma. So I am going to roll that...


05 05 04 02 02

two hits it looks like.

Shadow, last I checked I was acting as the face. If you want to take over and be the negotiator, you should have said something prior. Now we, as a team, look unprofessional having switched negotiators mid-meet. if you had a roblem with my descision about begotiation a better deal, you could have raised it through your commlink. I waited several days to give everyone ample time.

keep in mind that everything costs less in SR4, SR3 guidelines kept character near or below the poverty line if you used the MrJLBB. In SR4 those guidelines make sense as the rigger can actually replace some gear at those rates. 3500 per person is huge in SR4.

You've gotten the sense that Bear is a pretty laid-back fixer and doesn't seem to mind a mid-stream switch in people who're acting on behalf of the team. You can yell at Sundown IC if you want to but Bear isn't going to become anymore hostile towards the team as some other fixers may have.

That's cool. It just struck me wrong is all.

Plus, I think it threw Bear off having someone else speak up. Like you thought Nikoli, he is probably used to dealing with a single negotiator for a team, and having someone else chime in might have made him think that he wasn't offering enough....he did up the amount.

I was going to have Stig do some grumbling on the comm, but I didn't know what was a fair rate in SR4.