I did a search for matrix and have dug around a bit, but have not found this question to be asked. If it has before, I am sorry for not being able to locate it, I must have glitched my search program.

We are brand new to Shadowrun and I am attempting to play a hacker.

1) Matrix – Augmented Reality Vs. Virtual Reality – Your ‘matrix” initiative is defined as the same as your real life init in AR, but different in VR. Augmented Reality is 24 times slower than full Virtual reality. Since it takes so long to do anything in AR, who cares how many init passes you have? You are always waiting on AR to catch up with your requests. It’s kind of like waiting on an old dial up modem. You can click on three different things (3 initiative passes), but because the bandwidth is so slow, you can only go as fast as the bandwidth, no matter how many different things you click on.

I can see that having three init passes is good for combat and the like, but I don't see its benefit in AR matrix.

2) Matrix – Computer skills and programs – I found this to be very odd. Let’s say you have a logic of 5 and a computer skill of 5, making your total 10. When you go to actually use the computer skill in the matrix, your logic is not included in the dice pool! Only the program is. So if you want to use a exploit program, you use your base hacking skill and the strength of the program, no more. Is that correct? If so, why place very many build points on higher level Logic and other Matrix style attributes, honestly?

3) Comlink Upgrades - I found that it was much cheaper to upgrade a junky comlink than it was to take an expensive one and upgrade it. I am not sure if I did it right. Basically I paid for a comlink that had a 2 for its stats, then paid for programs to up its signal strength, response, etc to 5. That was cheaper than purchasing a comlink with a 4, then upgrading it to a 5. Did I do something wrong?

Thanks for the help guys, we are really starting to enjoy this game. (Any word on when the base book will be available again?)

Take Care,
Gnomish Mustard

Your search fu must be weak, since there are so many threads on these topics .

1) Actually, most things are as fast in AR as they are in VR. The cautious hacking attempt (what is it called, probing? can't remember) is the one exception I can think of right now.

2) You are correct, and other people (like me) have also wondered about this .

3) Also correct.

Let me clarify some information on the AR vs VR.

I can't find the page right now, but I seem to recall something about the AR version always being slower than VR. I know on page 228 it says that "more importantly, VR is fast" allowing you to move at digital speeds.

I can look more in to detail later. I am sure we saw that it was slower, but I am not sure where now.

I would be pretty amazed if you'd find more than that piece of fluff text.

Yeah, VR should be faster than AR, but the rules actually doesn't support this (except for the probing).

I see what you mean here. On one page it says that probing takes 1 hour for virtual, but 24 for AR.

I think that we applied that rule to other matrix style actions, and thus thought that all actions in AR are 24 times slower. It doesn't make sense that only this particular action is slower, to me, but if there are no other instances to support AR being slower, then this changes everything.

Let me review:
Basically the book states that VR is faster, for hackers that want that "extra edge," however, the rules only support this idea in probing.

Does that sound correct?

What is the benfit to running VR instead of AR, besides when probing?

Thanks!

You might want to ask Synner. IIRC, he is the Matrix Freelancer and the one overseeing 'Unwired'.

ah, the debates that never dies.

time to cue serbitar i guess...

As always, I stand ready.

If you're referring to the thread I'm thinking of, then that was probably me making the comparison to script kiddies. I found the simplest way to bring mental attributes back in is to use caps, much like Force in a spell. So it returns to Attribute + Skill like everything else already is, but like magic and spells, you need the program in the first place to actually make the roll and your successes are capped by the rating of the program.

That works for most play, but might be a little harsh. Easily remedied by allowing either higher rating programs or setting the cap as rating x1.5 or x2 (not quite as silly as it first looks for hackers with high edge).

It wont effect the costs to hackers or gameplay, but it will discourage low-logic script kiddy flavour in your game. Which I see as a good thing.

So that scene in The Matrix where Joe Pantoliano points at the data feeds and says, "I look at these and I see Blonde, Brunette, Redhead." isn't how the SR matrix works?

Well, anyone with knowledge of code can do that, I can look at a Java program block and tell what a line of code does pretty quickly, but it would take me hours to fully read and compile even a simple program when a computer can do it in a few seconds, computers > your brain.

It is theortically possible with wired reflexes 3 to manually input data into your comlink in AR faster then the simsense unit on your comlink can interprate your neural pulses in the virtual world, just something to keep in mind.

Speed in AR can make a difference... magically jacked up speeds usually dont apply in full VR so when you are trying to shutdown a camera or jam an enemy drone, the more chances the better off you'll be.

I had a strictly-AR based hacker who was a physad with Increase Reflexes-3 so he had 4 passes and max human Reaction. He could shoot, drive, hack, or whatever blindingly fast. He didnt have TM tricks or typical Adept-Hacker bonus dice from Improved Ability (Technical) but he was quick and multipurpose.

My perspective, of course, YMMV.