I'm trying to stick to RAW (Rules As Written) as much as possible, but we all know they don't cover everything (especially in SR4 with the lack of additional rulebooks), and here's something that I know I've been wondering about:

Can someone hack into another character's sim rig/module and force them into VR?

And a related question: When someone enters VR, what node do they start in?

Sure, but they'll need to break into their commlink first.

To force someone into VR, you'd have to somehow have control of their mental state of mind to an extent, however, you could certainly try to kick it in since it's a function of the commlink, that person is simply able to perceive outside VR, an 'flip the switch' on the commlink to get of that pesky problem with a dump shock.

and yeah, gotta hack the commlink. You'd start in your commlink of course, after that something'd have to force you to surf. Not sure that's the easiest thing around, lol.

and a TM would start in his head as the "node" correct?

IMHO, you couldn't force the person INTO VR... but you could do some other interesting things... like turn on the RAS override, which would paralyze them (until they mentally turn it back off, costing an action). If you messed with their accounts first, that might not be so easy, also - like attaching a data bomb to the RAS Override switch (I think you can do that, anyways) or changing their passcode and forcing them to hack back into their own system first.

If their sim module is modified for hot sim (and come on, whose isn't?) you could flip that switch, putting a cold-sim user into hot-sim, when he didn't intend to be. Not ALL that useful unless the person is prone to matrix addiction, or you're about to blast him with blackout or black hammer or something.

BUt yeah, I think the person still has to WANT to be in VR. At the very worst, it's a free action for them to log out again.

This Shadowrun Universe isn't "Ghost in the Shell," yet, unless you go as far as cybermancy. You can't hack someones ghost yet....I hope


RD

It looks like you can't force-sim someone unless they're already hooked up fully for it, even then they have several options to get right back out unless you somehow get them into a prison of a VR world.

That said, make sure you check your jacks and node paste and so on before wandering out where hackers can get ya, lol. In a twist of things, can you just shut off a person who is going VR and force them into a dumpshock from that act alone??? (obviously not so simple with a technomancer).

Black IC locks people into VR to the point that they must attempt to force their own logout or take dumpshock getting out the crude way. So VR isn't entirely vouluntary. The way I read it in VR you can by force of will see the meat world, but you remain in VR.

The book doesn't explain how you get into VR, but DNI seems the obvious activation method. Unless I missed it, it doesn't even mention definatively that you can switch between hot and cold or even the while you are in VR. I don't recall it even saying that you can switch the RAS Override while in VR. Specifics like this were likely left to Unwired. So it is mostly open to the GM right now.

I would allow both pushing into VR and switching hot-cold, and RAS Override, if the Hacker modified his commlink to allow automated switching instead of just a physical switch because hot-cold and RAS Override are both custom modifications.

But without using Black IC someone who is pushed in and remains conscious could choose to come right back out. It wouldn't be hacking the person. It would requiring access to their commlink and from there activating the SIM module to work with their datajack or trodenet.

hot and cold simming requires alterations to the hardware providing the simming, you can't, to my knowledge, do it on the fly or through the net. it's a mechanical thing.

as for as 'hotwiring' the RAS (I use it figuratively now) I'm not sure you can do that when you sim, but then again, if it's similar to BTL mechanics, it could be done in theory. the simming might not work with the feature off though - failsafe are still used even in 2070(ish).

huh, that is true when I think about it, certainly a possibility.

From here, I believe it's purely a storyteller approval. part of the 'flare' of SR is flexibility in some acts. This is certainly one of them.

But I still wouldn't make it easy, since it would be the paranoia of commlinkers through the world then.

Kinda like materializing a spirit in someone's car during heavy traffic for, recreational, reminders to pay their mob bosses.