As a bit of fun I want to simulate a matrix game in the 2072 pbp thread. Ideally I want to establish what rolls a legitimate subscriber would use (computer+game rt?) and what hacking programs might reasonably affect it (hacking+exploit?) without ruining it for a PC who isn’t focused on hacking.

There would need to be some way of simulating combat without relying on cyber combat skill and attack programs too…presumably computer games in the 2070s would be as immersive (or more so) than current games and wouldn’t require any ‘real world’ skills to play them.

Has anyone done anything like this before? Any thoughts / suggestions / comments very welcome!

It would depend on if the game was VR or AR related. VR would mean that the response and system of your commlink would be very important. Typical rigger skills would be of the utmost importance.

For AR, your meat attributes and skills will far outweight the hacking side of things. I'm thinking an AR version of urban brawl could be cool, with AR and laser-tag-esque guns. It would almost make sense from that perspective, because most people in the 6th world have some sort of self defense skills.

OK how about this; create matrix game characters using the standard rules and invent any relevant skills and abilities that fit the the type of game being played. that way you can just use the standard combat system.

If I had to GM that, I'd say the PC can use their skills but their physical attributes would be replaced by the one of their character in the game, some 'ware and powers wouldn't apply and I'd also add modifiers to simulate the difference between the game and real life (higher modifiers if the game is highly unrealistic).

People without RL skills can use a "Video Game" skill instead.

And of course, hackers can just use their hacking skill.

My old gm had an mmo game that was prevalent(think WoW) in game. VR high fantasy game. for normal people, it was knowledge skill (game name). Tm's had to get/make a special cf for the game, or download it and play like normal, to mimic the client.

As for the skills, I'd probably go along the route of LOG+Hacking for hackers, make normals use log+ the knowledge skill, and for technos, either of the two, or some combo of attributes(log+res? Log+int?)

Sorry for lack of thought cohesivness. 10 hours of driving, plus another 6 hours of work, fueled by 3 monsters and two hours of sleep.

Why would a hacker use different skillset ? Using his hacking skill would mean he's using cheats, bots or whatnot - if he merely plays the game as intended there's no reason why he would use other skills than joe average player.

Because in the Matrix, he's not a player, he's a god.

Well, if he wants he can play like other players, but where's the fun in that?

Saints Row The Third is supposed to have a nice Matrix Game...

...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, wrong thing.

Obviously you've never been a god. Gods get really bored after a while and decide to spice things up and play by the mortal rules.

Well, on topic, one of my players made his Shadowrun MMORPG Guild a contact...

Yep, I had a character of mine do that as well. Good Times...

My .02 Nuyen: If the game is really just meant to add some flavor to the game world make the game itself a knowledge skill and have them test it at skill + appropriate attribute

It would be its own skill.

I'm fairly sure this is even an example knowledge skill in the core book. Both in knowledge skill sections, and in one of the starting character examples.

Remember playing a VR game is not simply being in the node. I can roll Analyze+Computer to know if DarkPhax67 is online on the same node as I am. Depending on the number of successes, I may know which character is playing and which area is in. But it shouldn't tell me his character is right behind my character with an Invisibility spell on. And stopping him with a PBAoE spell is not the same as trying to terminate his connection or fry his brain with Cybercombat.

I would go for something like this :
- when using the game interface, roll Computer (Game specialization)+Game rating
- when using your real skill, roll appropriate skill+Game rating
- when hacking the game, roll Hacking+Exploit (hacker will then have to roll Hacking+Stealth to evade the cheat buster Rating+Analyze roll)

I would use Computer skill because people actually jump easily from an interface to another. Of course, every hardcore gamer would spend the karma to acquire the skill specialization for the latest hit (too bad the rule only allow one spec on a skill). A knowledge skill may comes in hand as to provide some bonus as a complementary skill, with possible specializations being PVE/Raid Strategies, PVP Strategies, Bug Exploit (which is different from outright hacking)...

The game may have different ratings for using the game interface and using a real skill, depending on how many times the game lead designer said "we wanted to make the experience as immersive as possible" during the press conference. The game may also not allow to use some skill. For instance, casting a spell in a game is probably not going to be like casting a spell in real life. And astral sight is probably just a visual display. The same goes for hacking in a modern game. Such action will have to be performed with the game interface, with the Computer skill.

Initiative and IP would be the same as in the rest of the Matrix, providing an incentive for using a good comlink.

I'm liking the suggestions! I've got a semi working model going now, I've told my players:

Matrix Game:

I’m trying for an abstract system that doesn’t get overly complicated.

The Citadel Game Zone has already been established IC as the best new game of 2072 and so I’d like to expand on that. So that it potentially appeals to everyone I will say that it has multiple realms inside it (with portals between them) that allow you to play in a high fantasy genre or move to a space theme or a cyberpunk one as you choose (or any other type that you come up with…). You can play solo or in groups and PvP is perfectly acceptable as there is no risk to real characters. You can change your avatar as you see fit but need to buy a new copy of the game to change your stats (see below):

Skill: Computer or knowledge ‘Matrix Games’ used to play it legally. Hacking can be substituted if you want to cheat

Program: When you buy (pirated copies available) the game (50¥) you get a total of 20D that have to be split up over the following 5 stats, max is 6 min is 1:

•Attack skill [covers ranged and melee attacks, spells etc]
•Attack strength [as above]
•Defence skill [for dodging all incoming attacks]
•Toughness [for then resisting incoming attacks]
•Technical skill [covers lock picking, scroll reading, taunting, anything else that gets dreamed up…]

That should cover the broad list of likely actions. When I’m feeling braver I will add in some adept like abilities that can be gained during game play as advancement incentives.

I haven’t yet considered what the in-game objectives might be, most MMOs seem to be about levelling your character up but I think something more shadowrunny might be better here?!? I might steal the idea of ‘NewCap City’ from the Caprica series and have the objective obscure – you just need to live the game…or survive it

Thoughts?