Hi folks,

I tried to figure out how to code software according to SR4A rules. So far i found following pieces. Okay, the table list thresholds and intervalls for extended software tests. Is it correct that you can code a rating 6 common use program during one month with just one test (archiving 6 successes)? Or do you need 6 month to go from rating 1 to rating 6?

Reading through Unwired i found and Does patching only apply to degraded pirated software or can you improve software you coded that way? It looks like you will everytime start with a rating that gives a threshold you can beat in one test and then patch up your programs with a extended test once per week.

Normally i would think it should be best for a hacker to use selfcoded programs but with degrading this does not work very well. As you need at leat 1 week per degraded program you can only upgrade 4 programs per month (in that time all your hacking programs degrade by 1). Also it could be possible that your GM rules that the programs need to be degraded before you can patch them so you have always 4 rating 6 programs that will degrade and 4 rating 5 programs that you patch during that month.

The other way, get software from warez sites and updates there too is not described. Would you use the same rules for warez then for open-source programs?


It seems best for hackers to have a legal rating 6 copy with legal licence for their hacking programs - this seems odd

All the hackers I have encountered do just that...legal programs and deal with the consequences...

Here is a Hacker that does not do that...

Leaving fingerprints on the systems you invade is a bad idea, which is what happens with all of that legal software, very hard to hide and very hard to wipe (read time consuming)...

Spend some time and program your own programs at least to a rating 6 (if not higher)... it will take some time, but eventually you will get there... in the meantime, use hacked software 9remember 10% normal price) and go with it from there...

You do not need to patch programs that you write yourself, as they do not degrade over time... Big Plus here...

And Generally, Open Source is capped at rating 4, useable, but not for the long run... But it is Free...

And Acquisition of programs from Warez sites is left somewhat vague as it is an in-game thing, and would depend upon wether you have access or not (through Contacts or other means)...

Keep the Faith

I read in Unwired that your own coded programs degrade...

So if you want to code your own software you will need time to add program options and need time to patch your programs. As you need 1 week/program you will only have 4 rating 6 programs and the others will fall back with time. If you can archieve many successes - but for most hackers it will be maximum 6 hits for one extended test - you can try to code higher rating programs just to see other own coded software fall back (by RAW). I think this should be houseruled away for hackers. But this is a hacker players view...

Is it okay to posses legal software and only copy cracked software to your hacking comlink or does this make your legal version also a cracked one?

max_rpg

It should be noted that this is errata, and may not show up in the printed copy of the books.

Catalyst doesn't post errata that they don't intend to incorporate into the next printing of the book. The only way for errata to "not show up" is if the company somehow goes out of business before the next printing.

actually, catalyst does not post any errata until they're ready to reprint the book. regardless of whether they have the intention to introduce the errata or not.

Okay, i just downloaded the Unwired errata. You are right about non degrading self coded programs  That is a good news. So my hacker will go the self-code way of hacking.

Does improving software work like patching pirated software?

max_rpg

Patching only applies to Degraded software.

To 'upgrade' a program's rating, you must write a new program of the desired rating.

If there is a discrepancy between what is said in Unwired and SR4a then I would trust SR4a over Unwired (as SR4a has the errata included in it).

Which is entirely irrelevent to anything in this thread.

Reading comprehention for the win!

But you can still have an out of date print.

And, even in the up-to-date print, the first paragraph still says that self-coded programs degrade, while the next (errata'd) paragraph says that they never degrade...

I almost said something about my hard bound copy of Unwired getting magical updates.
But having a half-errata is just too much. XD

There are a few things to take into consideration. You can rush job coding tests, If you have a hefty dice pool, gambling on not rolling a lot of ones and twos can save a ton of time. Second, Coding Environment Access(unwired 118) and a rating 5 software programming suite makes creating your own software a lot more attractive.

In the current game I'm playing, my gm has houseruled that over-succeeding on a software test cuts the total time down proportionally, depending on the threshold and how many you get over it. Twice as many being twice as fast, with only one hit over being just a bit faster. Example from play: I want to create a Mute option(threshold three). I state I'm using the coding access my hacker has talked by way into, making the test two weeks long. I gather my dice, and drop four hits out fourteen dice. Not exactly what I'd been hoping for, but it's enough. Two weeks is roughly 15 days, and 3 hits divided by four successes is .75, chopping the time down to a little over eleven days.

On the other hand, if you want to bust out a stealth 5, you need ten hits, 1400NY per normal non-rushed test(coding environment access charges by the day). and some good rolling.

It basically makes creating and adjusting programs for a regular hacker useful in a game, but not broken. You don't have enough time to make something in a pinch, but if you have enough warning, you can certainly create a program for a given run.

See the Unwired Errata... Self-Programmed programs never degrade...

Besides... even SR4A references Unwired as Advanced Rules, so it is totally irrelevant anyway...

So, I did some calculations for software in SR4. If you buy legal software you pay upfront (and have to deal with using legal software). If you go for pirated copies you only pay 10% and have to patch (possibly with money). After some time legal software is cheaper then pirated software. I calculated how long you have to use pirated software until it cost more money then legal versions of the software: tacsofts: 3 years, hacking: 4.5 years, autosofts: 6 years, all other: 9 years. But before this time is up you can start coding your own non-degrading software (Start with 1 month base time hacking software). And don't forget that after that you can also add options by patching your own software. If you use Nexus coding and rush those test you can get 4 softwares per month.*

Would you allow a hacker with starting virtual contact "Warezhouse 24" to start the game with pirated software? I am not too sure what modifiers "Warezhouse 24" would add to the contact costs...

max_rpg




*I will check the probability for coding rating 6 software in one rushed test later on...

that time goes even longer if you start sharing your own software in exchange for patches from the site (ie if you're a contributing member in terms of something other than money)

Yes, Yes it Does...