I'm slowly becoming more familiar with the Hacking rules; I'd appreciate any insights long-term Hackers have developed regarding Program selection.

Response drops when you have have too many Programs loaded (example on p. 212 of the BBB shows System 5 commlink running 10 Programs = Response -2). If you start with a max'd out commlink (Response 5, System 5) can you really only run with four Programs before your Response drops? Does this look right?

01 to 04 Programs = no penalty
05 to 09 Programs = -1 Response
10 to 14 Programs = -2 Response
15 to 19 Programs = -3 Response
20 to 24 Programs = -4 Response

If so, um, ouch.

Given that there are seven (7) Common Use and fifteen (15) Hacking Programs presented in the BBB I figure there's no way a Hacker can do his thang with just four (4) Programs; there are too many different possibly scenarios one might encounter. I'm guessing the challenge for the 400 BP starter Hacker is "which nine Programs do I run with this time and not totally screw myself over"?

Thanks!

(( Sidethought: How does the Average Joe User get anything accomplished on his Average Joe Commlink (Response 3, System 3) running just the seven Common Use Programs (thereby incurring a -2 Response, right?). ))

You've pretty much got it with the numbers. In my games, we usually allow users to run up to System in programs without losing Response, which makes it a little less painful.

The important thing to remember is that the System/Response limitation is only for active programs, i.e., programs loaded into RAM. It's not for all installed applications, and it doesn't state anywhere that you can't swap out programs on the fly. I believe it takes, what, a Simple? So you lose one Combat Turn. As long as you're not in cybercombat without your defense progs, it's not really a big deal. So, on initial intrusion, take your stealth suite, add a defensive prog, and leave a slot or two open. Swap as needed.

Furthermroe, if you're not, once again, stuck in cybercombat, I can't imagine a system in the freaking world that would treat an idle turn or a program change as a suspicious or hostile activity. So unless you're being actively checked out by an Analyze or a security hacker, there's no consequence.

[edit]: Joe Average does exactly what we do: keeps an application open when he needs it, closes it when he doesn't.

I'm not a Hacker, but I believe that the average joe as well as hacker tend to swap programs. It's a complex action to load a program into the persona or swap one for another.

Right now on my desk top, I'm running a web browser, photoshop, iTunes and MSword. my system is junk, probably the equivelant of a Redcap Nix, responce 2. It's already slow. If i open acrobat my photoshop brushes will start ghosting and I can forget about using most filters. So if I wanted to open another program I'd probably quit my music player and browser first.

I think that's pretty much what users in 2070 do; swap programs, essentialy quit one and load a different one into the persona.

It's a good question though, I'd like to know how some hackers set up their progs depending on the situation. Which ones do you load at start up? Which ones do you allways leave loaded? Are there any situations where swaping programs has gotten you busted or slagged?

[edit]Wow, i type slow, Geekkake said it better too.[/edit]

For interception:

Scan, Analyze, Decrypt, Sniffer

For Intrusion:

Analyze, Stealth, Exploit, Agent (Analyze, Stealth, Attack, Armor)

For poking around:

Analyze, Stealth, Browse, Edit

That's off the top of my head. You might need one more for interception, can't remember (at work right now).

I'm in agreement here...the hacker in my group normally has one package when hacking into a system (when Exploit is needed) along with Analyze and Stealth. As soon as he is in, he drops Exploit and adds Edit or Command, depending on what he is trying to accomplish.

Obviously, cybercombat would need some Armor and Attack to be loaded...

Haven't seen anyone use much of the Reality Filter or the Biofeedback filter, but those would be two more that would be useful. But yeah, swapping active programs seems to be the norm.

The only difference I have is that we use a Simple Action to unload an app and a Complex to load and run. Does someone have page references of the exact rules? I seem to remember the only one discussing this has Loading AND running a program as a Complex Action.

what about riggers?

i think how many programs you want to use depends a lot on how your GM interprets the overloaded system rules. if you drop the commlink's response by 1, do you have that limit system, which would limit all your other programs? (ie, if you have 9 programs on a rating 5 commlink, does that mean all programs are limited to 4, or do they still count as 5 and the only effect on the response decrease is a decrease in your matrix initiative?)

if it's just a decrease to initiative, then i could certainly see someone running with 9 programs active. if it's a penalty to the program's ratings, i would consider it much less likely in many situations.

I thought Reality Filer-Software is great because it gives +1 Response. That are many porgrams that you can run more. With Resonse 5,System 5 that are four programs (+ Reality Filter).

Only problem is if you can beat System+Response of the host.

my assumption is that reality filters are, in fact, only supposed to increase initiative, and are not supposed to allow you to run superior programs. it really doesn't make sense that it would boost your commlink's actual response rating based on what it does.

Besides which Reality Filters count as another active program which takes up that extra +1 response slot anyway so all it basically does is increase your initiative without counting against your programs IF it is successful. You could maybe house rule that if it doesn't work it doesn't count against your limit (so you could always have it loaded but it only activates if it makes the check).

For riggers:

Don't forget to encrypt everything!

Drones:

Analyze, Stealth, plus any autosofts you want

EW Drones:

Analyze, Scan, Sniffer, EW Autosoft

Rigger's Commlink:

Satellite Uplink (subscribed), Command, Scan, Decrypt, Stealth

Regular vehicles:

Maneuver Autosoft, Analyze, Stealth, Armor, Agent (Analyze, Blackout, Armor, Medic) and very high firewall

We play it as a virtual reduction for the purpose of tests involving response. The program rating limit stays the same. And I´d rather be slow in combat than without attack and armor.

Much easier that way.

Real life: my pc would happily load AutoCAD for me, but I´d better be patient using it.

yeah, i assume the initiative reduction thing as well.

and incidentally, not only do reality filters count as programs if they don't succeed, but they give you -1 response as well!

on a side note, for riggers... i wouldn't have EW drones. i would have EW agents, which can sit in the controlling commlink instead, and use the drones for doing physical stuff.

in general, for riggers, i recommend also ECCM programs on their own commlink, and for the drones it is very important to remember to give them targetting autosofts, since iirc a drone can't default on a test to shoot stuff...