Hey all, I've really enjoyed read the Idiot's Matrix thread (http://forums-temp.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=90&st=0) and was sorry to see it kind of ended abruptly.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in starting a new thread and running me (a Matrix n00b) and my equally newbish decker through a short run.

Sure, I'll give it a shot. Anything in particular you want to work on?

~J

I'm available as well for what ever you need. I'm willing to run a all-decker game in the other thread as a tutorial as well, if that would be desirable.

I might even get in on that. I've never been too familiar with the Decker rules. I always knew the basics, but usually worked with an NPC Decker, so never needed the nitty gritty bits.

I would like to start simple at first if possible. I've only been reading the Matrix rules; I haven't done anything in-game yet although I'm sure I'll have a chance soon. I just figure any time I can get going over the rules the better.

I guess if I had my choice, I would like to do something solo first, then if more people want to jump in after that, all the better. How do runs work with more than one decker anyway?

Quite well, providing that they have good DF.

My question is, do you want to try some matrix runs with a preexisting character? Do you want to try specific operations? Start with a character with a Fairlight and see just what that'll get you? Try to see if you can crack a Red-Hard with an Allegiance Sigma and a Skill of 40? That'll let me know whether to set chargen rules and if so what they should be.

~J

Two comments. One, I'm glad you aren't playing a Validate decker. Those are extremely effective, but they make for very very very poor examples.

Second, since your DF is low remember that you don't have to do everything in one shot. Complete part of your task, get out, wait a bit for things to cool down and then go back for more.

Do you have any specific questions before we get started? (*Draws up some ideas right quick*)

~J

There's not really any way to boost your DF in the BBB, but there are some options in Matrix (modes, assigning HP to increase DF, etc).

It can be. Having alot of stuff in memory means you dont have to do Swap Memory ops to load that cloak program you need right now, but it also means that trace IC can find your jackpoint easier (Unless that is also optional Matrix rules, I can't recall.).

If it is an optional Matrix rule, I'd max out active memory.

If you ever do get to opening this to other players... *puts in a reservation*

There's the Swap Memory operation detailed in SR3.

Post what your icon usually looks like, and we can get started.

~J

A few notes before we start: we're only going to concern ourselves with the meatworld insofar as it involves reaching jackpoints. If and when we do an onsite decking example we'll do a bit more, but for the most part, if the opposition reaches your physical location you are presumed to be dead. Depending on your arrangements you may do better in an actual game, but for now it's a dangerous world out there. You can, of course, survive tracking by leaving immediately for a different jackpoint.

~J

The Man with the Glass Jaw has been called upon by a desperate friend with cred but no other contacts. Not only does this friend's superior have proof of the friend embezzeling money from a small corporation, he has also discovered that this superior has removed him from the promotion computer. He wants you to erase the proof, alter a copy to point to the superior, drop it somewhere where it will be discovered and the supervisor will be unable to erase it, add his name to the promotion computer, and ensure that it is selected. He doesn't know much about the computer system save that it is entirely connected to the matrix save for some backup computers which should not have copies of the incriminating files. He also gives you a password to the building thermostats; this password has no associated username.

You are in your lifestyle. There are doors to the North, South, and East. A window to the West shows a marvelous view of the setting sun. In front of you there is a table with a deck on it, from which a piece of fiber-optic cable trails to a port on the wall.

lol...sounds like one of those old text adventure games. Well...guess I should slip into lurker status and let you two be...but I'm here, ready to learn if you need someone to bail your char out.

You are in Seattle. A simple search of the directory gets you the public access server LTG#.

Are you logging on through a legitimate connection, or decking in?

If you're going to be doing some illegal stuff, going in legitimately is bad. That being said, you can sometimes learn valuable info from their public access servers without doing anything actively illegal. Also keep in mind that decking from home can be risky, but the security on the target was not billed as particularly tight. Your choice.

~J

Can I get the LTG# from the directory legally? If so, would getting the LTG and checking out the place be bad if I later hack into it? It might be a little more than coincidental that I was looking at it and then it was later hacked. I figure they might check the records of who had logged in previuosly, even if it was legal.

Am I overthinking this?

No worries at all. The public access server is the equivalent to a public web site/FTP site nowadays. This particular company isn't particularly large, but it probably still gets a nontrivial number of visitors daily.

Regarding the jackpoint, your other options primarily involve either tapping one yourself, breaking in somewhere (not necessarily the target) to use their access point, or renting one from someone. Roll your starting cash, it might be useful.

With a corp like this, you could probably get away with decking from home if you're careful, but it isn't advisable. Decking from home means that even if you get away cleanly, you lose something if they trace your jackpoint.

~J

That and a fiber-optic trunk. If you have Matrix you might want to look up the rules for that; I, sadly, am at work and won't be able to provide anything I don't have memorized until this evening.

~J

Fair enough. Roll logon to Seattle RTG.

~J

Here's what I have in active memory:

Analyze 6 108
Browse 6 36
Cloak 6 108
Deception 6 72
Decrypt 6 36
Sleaze 6 108
Total: 468

Am I correct in assuming Seattle's security is the same as the UCAS on pg. 203 of SR3?

If so, then I roll my Computer skill (6) plus my Hacking Pool (max 6 out of 9) against a TN of 2 (RTG Access of 6 - Deception 6 = minimum of 2).

I rolled 2, 4, 3, 10, 5, 2, 2, 11, 3, 10, 3, 11 (all successes?).

I’m using a randomly generated grid for right now, but it’s known to be not that difficult.

You slide onto the system with ease, though at one point you feel a slight snag as a piece of data en route gets accidentally altered. The net stretches before you, vast and infinite.

As long as you don’t mind only performing one action per matrix-round (which may or may not be three seconds), you can throw full pool into everything. Keep in mind that your DF is somewhat low, though.

You pass through the grid, stepping on an errant icon on your way. You’ve got a pretty good idea of where to go right off the bat, and with your software helping it is a trivial exercise to reach the LTG.

Okay, before you go further, might I suggest physically relocating? If you are hit with a Trace program you can be tracked down, even if you're logged on illegally. On a high-security run if such a situation occurs you would have to run away quickly because Lone Star or another security team is probably on its way, but even in this case you don't want to be logging in from home, as any subsequent investigation may well track you right to your front door, illegal connection or not. Remember: you're not being paranoid because they really *are* all out to get you.

As a side note, you most definately can raise your DF, if you're using rules in the Matrix book. The first thing you can do is run in what's called "Masking Mode." See page 123 of Matrix for details. The second thing you can do is bribe/beg/plead your DM into letting you use the "Hacking Pool for DF" rules on the right column of page 26. With both of these rules you can get your DF around 10-11, much better than your currently rather dangerous 6.

Also look at the Redirect Datatrail operation. Matrix pg. 100. It helps keep you from being traced. Again, though, this only applies if you're using rules from the Matrix book.

Ok, thanks for the tips. I think I definitely need to check out some of the Matrix options. Perhaps we should put this on pause for the time being...

Since we’re doing this for an example you can use masking mode. I usually forbid it in favor of the hacking pool for DF rule, which is in my opinion altogether more balanced.

~J

Now that I'm reading some of these Matrix options, I'm realizing why you want to jack in from the inside of a corp. Since I'm somewhat ill-equipped to be doing full-out raids remotely, can we do something "from the inside?" I think this is basically what I'm going to be doing in-game until I get some experience and better equipment. I also want to keep it kind of simple and not use a lot of the Matrix options and utilities right off the bat.

Define "from the inside"? I'm more than amenable to doing the first example run from a point after having secured the jackpoint.

~J

I think he means decking into a corp's PLTG from an on-site vending machine or something.

The PLTG is a welcoming, if somewhat overdone, accounting office in a style that hasn't been seen in the meatworld in over a hundred years.

Ok, cool. Can I start with an Analyze Host or do I have to Logon to Host first?

Need to log on first

~J

You wander right in front of a detection system, but you stay very still and it passes by. You receive three pieces of info from the following: Security Rating, Host Colour, Access, Control, Index, Files, Slave. Choose which you want.

Only 3 successes? Hmm, that might not be good. Anyway, I'll take the Security Rating (which gives code and value according to SR3, pg. 215), Files, and Index since I'm going to have to do a lot of searching and file manipulation.

Green 8, */*/11/13/*

Although it obviously won't be shown to us in a real run, maybe it would be instructive to see what rolls and calculations are done on the GM's side of the screen? Perhaps keep them in spoiler tags or somesuch, as done in the Matrix thread?

Sure. I'll start better bookkeeping, for now a rough rundown of what has happened (GlassJaw, please resist reading for now, you can go back and look later):



~J