For the longest time I have been under the impression that sprites could manifest in any node that they have had prior access to, regardless of wether it was currently connected to the matrix or even had its wireless on. For quite some time this is what has made technomancers so amazeing. (riggers in particular)\
Recently however, one of my friends was working on a technomancer and he was unable to find proof of this rule, I myself checked was unable to find if there was actualy any truth in this element that we have been playing with for quite a while.
So dumpshock, were we crazy, or are we just missing something? Is this actualy anywear in the rules?

I've not seen anything that suggests they can form in a node that isn't connected to the matrix (and in fact thought they had to form in the node of the TM who called them).

I do however remember reading on the forums about resonance gateways or something that would allow a sprite to use resonance to 'teleport' into a node that it had some level of account in (or maybe it was bring others into its own node)

I did just read through the sprite section though and don't remember seeing anything like that. It might be in the part that talks about resonance realms though which I haven't given a through looking over.

That section is in Unwired, and basically says they can shortcut into the node the TM is in, or any node they have legitimate access to or a backdoor in without going through nodes to get to it. It doesn't say one way or the other wether that node has to be connected to the matrix when they do so. Though since a node is defined as a "virtual space in the Matrix" (SR4A, pg. 224) I would rule that they cannot shortcut into anything not connected to the matrix, either wirelessly or wired.

A node doesn't have to be connected to the matrix to be a node, it is just that nodes tend to be part of the matrix, and if you want to get technical, a single node is its own (very small) matrix.

That said, I'd say it needs to be in some way (no matter how remotely) connected to the matrix at large, even if that connection is via a bunch of heavily defended choke points, bounced around a few satellites, and then run through a fiberoptic cable to your own re-transmitter deep in your underground base.

Well... here is something to throw a wrench into the mix...

The Resonance never forgets... so if a system, that has never been on the matrix ever, is reformatted, you will still be able to find any data that was on that System somewhere in the Matrix. It has always been my interpretation, that if a Sprite has ever been inside of any system, they could access it directly from the Resonance, without ever having to have access to the Matrix. They must have already been there though.

Does this make a Sprite powerful... Why yes it does... But no more powerful than the Spirit who has the exact same ability to manifest into any room he has ever occupied at least once, even if that room is portected by a Ward... Same basic ability in my opinion...

Yep and you needed a TM can eneter said node via the resonance. I really want some TMs to have a club house that is a off-line nexus in the middle of no where. Practicably impossible to reach via meat nowhere.

Personally I'd rather TM's be kept firmly on the scifi side of scifi vs magic. Also i find the concept of loading a machine sprite on a drone and then offlining the drone and maintaining the TM link rather cheesy and I'm normally as big a TM cheerleader as your going to find.

Heheheh... Go Sprite Go...

It does indeed say that. But the question is does that node still have to be connected to anything? I know that they can access data that has been erased through the resonance realms, but it seems to me that if I format my drone after a sprite has been in it, change the access ID, and take it offline, then a sprite should not just be able to pop back into it with no issues. (Not being argumentative, just want to see if it is in the RAW)

Page 154 of Unwired... SPRITES AND NODE ACCESS Paragraph...
First Full Paragraph...

Essentially, the Resonance allows Sprites to take a Resonance shortcut to a node in which their registered Technomancer is actually present in, or in which they have a legitimate account or backdoor access. Otherwise they must Hack it like everyone else.

My interpretation is that if there is an account that has been hacked (and backdoored) by a Technomancer, and the doorway still exists, then the Resonance shortcut will allow them to enter without going through the Matrix. This is very handy. And is very similar to the Ability of a Spirit to enter any place that tehy have been to by taking a Metaplanar Shortcut... Same Principle.

The Only caveat (for the Resonance Shortcut) is that eventually, those backdoors will degrade and disappear unless the Technomancer creates a hidden legitimate account (which may also disappear after some time depending upon the System), or otherwise maintains hidden access to the system.

This would still allow the rigger trick that if the technomancer owns the drone and has made a legitimate account for the sprite his sprite can access any of his nodes even if the wireless to them is cut off, makeing them quite deadly

If you've formatted it and given it a new access ID, is it still the same node? I would say that it's not. Also, presumably, doing all that cleanup would take care of any backdoor a TM might have hacked into it. I don't think a sprite could access it at that point.

On the other hand, if you just shut off its wireless without cleaning up the backdoors or giving it a new ID, it's probably still accessible.

Indeed it does...

TMs seem to be one of those archetypes that just get cooler and cooler the more you really look at them. Unwired helped a ton for that though.

That is the Truth... Unwired was a Big Boon for the Technomancer Revolution...

I read the actual paragraph again and my take is no, it still must be connected and have some kind of signal path, otherwise the system wouldn't require them to even have a account or backdoor access.

I dunno if 'tons of random magic powers' is the same as 'cooler'. :/

The Resonance Shortcut ability makes a lot more sense when you realize its an Internet Version of a mages ability to call his spirits to his person. You know, like all the other rules similiarities between mages and technomancers.

However, it means anything with a Public account type is free game for a sprite to just BAMF! resonance-teleport into it. Like, you know, a mall, retail store, net cafe or other examples on 4a 225.

Indeed it does, it seems like we are in agreement...

I have to disagree as well. The shortcut allows the to bypass the need to hack. Nothing more. It's all about context.

Not really, because in order to use the shortcut you have to have access, which means you either have a legitimate account or have already hacked it.

You can have access to a node without having access to the intervening nodes.

Yeah, but you don't need access to the intervening nodes. There isn't a tiered structure to the matrix any more. With very few exceptions there isn't a "You must have access to A before you can have access to B" setup in place any more.

With the SHortcut, you do not need acces to the intervening Nodes... That is what the Resonance Shortcut is for...

Indeed.