So, I was making a Technomancer, and wanted to specialize in a use of Software that would aid in threading, but I couldn't think of a way that was balanced.

Specializing in "threading" seems cheesy as all hell, but thinking of a more narrow use makes me think of individual complex forms, though that is very narrow.

As I was writing this, I just thought...what about specializing in threading complex forms that are keyed off a certain skill? Like threading complex forms for use with the Electronic Warfare skill? Seems to be about in line with Spellcasting specialization in schools of magic, to me at least.

NOTE: I am the GM, so you guys are my only moral compass for this one on what's too far and what's not.

Any thoughts?

(Sorry if this has been discussed recently, I fail at search.)

I'd allow it. If Assault Rifles can be a spec of automatics, then threading can be a spec of software. The rules are set up so you your spec can apply to pretty much all rolls you would normally use a skill for, blades has knives and swords, pistols has revolvers or semi-auto, and so on.

I would allow a specialization of Threading. It's already limited to use only by the TM him/herself, and is of limited duration--most TMs thread and then drop the complex form quickly--where most hackers are using the skill to create valuable programs for longterm use.

If you want to be more restrictive, limit it by type of complex form (ie, Offensive, Defensive, etc) like the example in the book. Limiting it by associated skill opens it up for Hacking associated complex forms...

I love the internet. Other points of view, delivered to your home in thirty minutes or less.

Thanks!

Anybody else have a differing opinion?

Differing from whom´s opinion? I´m with Tiger Eyes and TheOOB. There are quite a few "all you´ll ever want" specialisations. Compare to Gunnery/Ballistic Weapons, Dodge/Ranged, or Pistols/Semi-Auto.

I allowed it in a game, and had absolutely no problems with it. Some other specs seem to make people pop a cork, such as Gymnastics/Dodging.

Anybody's. Or everybody's. I love it when I get new perspectives, though it seems like we're all leaning in the one direction, so I guess I won't feel weird about it.

Id have to disagree, i think specializing in threading would be to much, considering everything a technomancer can do, and as the GM, you will fudge your rolls anyhow, its not like i can see what your rolling from the table when your in the far corner of the living room. er, uh, that may have been to oddly specific to remain anon, so yeah, stop it. (im the face, well, first time face, in his ninja killing campaign, poor guy never thought of a gas mask. also, my post is a joke)

I would like to apologize on behalf of the Public School System of America. We try to make our children literate...we try!



Also, the ninja shouldn't have gone into the vent used to vent toxic fumes from the research facility. This is what legwork is for.

hey, this is getting off topic, but thats his fault. I had a plan worked out, he didnt like it. Though my plan required more of an "add-hoc" attitude, but thats cause the hacker couldnt get the ranged needed to hack the cameras, being an AI and all.

Nobody said it wasn't his fault. Getting a wee bit defensive, aren't we?

And the AI had no trouble getting in range. He just didn't want to give away his position to the Spider.

Also, the face's player falling asleep during the run probably didn't help.

And if it's getting off topic, stop posting. I'm on messenger right now. Talk to me over that.

Back on topic, looks like there's no (legitimate) opposition to the specialization in Threading, so I'll run with it.

I think the original post has been answered, and the new direction of the thread sounds lots more interesting, why don't the rest of us get to hear all the cool highlights



Max,
Dunedin, NZ

hijacking your thread. rolled 1 (logic) + 6 (hijacking skill) + 2 (specialization: annoying the GM) for a total of 4 hits.

anywho, lets start at the begining. my characters on vacation, in bakersfeild (its an inside joke). he gets a call from his fixer, sam, and he says he has a job. He knows no details besides a meeting place, the local starbucks (another inside joke). the next day my character shows up at the starbucks. Bunch of regular people sitting around. now, my character tries to make himself look inconspicous, hes wearing a basic brown suit and a derby hat. As i scope the place out, i see an orc sitting in the corner. Now, this orc is sitting in the back of the starbucks with a katana and a sniper rifle tied to his back, drinking a coffee. This orc will now be refered to as "very subtle ninja" "Great, this will be fun" my character thinks. He goes in the back room, basic meet. he wants us to get someone out, and kill the head of security, no biggy. one catch though, we have no idea, nor does the johnson, who the cheif is. After finding a hideout, we start planning. Now, my character is all about improv. Go in at first, non-hostile of course, and see how far i can go. the hacker in the group is an AI character, and as stated above, couldnt do anything without alerting the spider. After about an hour (play time) of some back n forth between me and very subtle ninja, we decide to go with this plan. The hacker sets up a "job" for security that needs filling imidiately, and i send in a forged resume (thanks to a 6/4 forger contact i had, also, i have him make us some pass keys.) i also have the hacker set up two small containers of my nanopaste disguse to look like the same guy (mr. spears, the fake man thats going for the interveiw) the plan was, i go in wearing a nano paste disgues as mr. spears, the ninja sneaks in the back, finds the doctor, gives him the other nano paste disguse, and he walks out the building like he just got lost looking for the interveiw. my job as the face was to try and figure out who the cheif was and keep whoever it was busy long enough to get stuff done. we do this in two parts, i went first, did the interveiw well enough for them to want me back, then i left. it was very sublte ninjas turn, and as i began to fall asleep, i remember hearing something about the ninja getting stuck in the poisonous gas vents? idk, thats how i remember it at least.

Yeah, that's about the size of it.

It should be noted, I wasn't aware that the ninja had the sniper rifle and katana strapped to his back until they were already in the back room.

Specialisations you can take are specified under the specific skill. ()

Software allows you to specialize in: Defensive Utilities, Offensive Utilities, Masking Utilities, Operational Utilities, Special Utilities (specify)

If you pick one for your Software (Resonance) skill, it allows you to use it when threading that kind of CF. (Yes, TMs can have two sets of matrix skills: One based on their Resonance abilities that only they can understand and that aren't available as skillsofts, either, and the standard skills.)

Ok, haven't read much in the way of AIs, or hacking actually, but I am slowly getting up to speed with hacking. What would alert the spider to the AI's presence? Good spider, or bad AI? I have no idea how powerful AIs are compared to hackers or technomancers for example.


Max,
Dunedin, NZ

Had nothing to do with the fact that I was an AI. We had reason to believe they were actively scanning for wireless signals, so we were running in hidden mode. But, according to the rules, if you access a node, you are no longer hidden from the node you access. If the spider were rigging, subscribed to the system, and we accessed a node in that system, we'd no longer be hidden to him.

Or something like that. I'm quite tired.