Hi all,

I was just reading the Matrix section about AR and VR and all the differences between them. SR4 (sorry no page reference) says while in Cybercombat in AR use your non-matrix initiative, in VR(cold) use your matrix initiative and add +1 IP and in VR(hot) use matrix initiative +1 and add +2 IP. I realized that fighting in the matrix would be best done in VR since IC/Agents act at digital speed (+2 IP, etc) while you move at meatbody speeds.

This got me thinking, could a hacker use Wired 2 (or some other method) to boost their non-matrix iniative up to get +2 or +3 IP while still only in AR mode? You'd forfit the other benefits (or hazzards) of VR but could obviously fight like a champ while on the move and not all noodly.

Please, your comments are welcome!

Thanks,

~GTT

Seems that way, and why not? Imagine a man with extremely fast fingers typing at a keyboard. There is a theoretical speed that he types that matches someone who is full VR.

The real crime is that someone with wired 3 will be more effective in AR than VR.

except for the other full VR modifiers.

which can make a pretty hefty difference.

I have issues with a wired hacker being almost as effective as a hot sim hacker (he doesn't get the +2 hot sim dice, but can't get fried by Black IC either).

To handle that I houseruled that a character can only use 1 IP per combat turn to manipulate the matrix via AR. Cold sim allows 2 IP per combat turn, hot sim 3 IP. The wired hacker is still great as he can do other actions whilst hacking with AR (ie fire a gun, run for cover, etc).

but at a -6 penalty no?

Considering any hacking is still mostly mental gymnastics, I wouldn't give any bonuses for a hacker with wired reflexes. Hacking uses your logic attribute, not your agility or reaction, so it is not a physical task and can not benefit from reflex enhancements.

By RAW, yes, they do.

If you're smart, though, you'll be playing a Hacking Adept, rather than a Wired Reflexes sammie. That way, you'll get Improved Ability bonus dice to your hacking skills, and 4 IPs when you start out.

But using Improved Ability to enhance matrix skills is so cheesy...

Yeah, it's allowed in the BBB, but you don't have to like it.

In my games I GMfiated it out of existance due to personal distaste.

Cheers,

Max

who probes? real men brute force

darn imortal daisy eaters!
you could have a probe set in years, and a firewall in the tripple digits and they would still get in (alltho the chance of a glitch, never mind a critical glitch, makes things interesting)

i dont see any reason to try to force the new rules to mimic the old rules. under old rules, cyberdecks were incredibly comples machines, and now we have these simple commlinks.

wired reflex are good for a LOT of things. and they are expensive to get. if someone sinks the resources into the cyber, it should work as per the rules. cold and hot sim provide a simple way for non-cybered characters to be effective hackers. you just face higher risk when you run with less augmentation.

really, you have a choice of moving at meat speeds (which can get you up to 4 actions a round), or at digital speed (which can get you 3 actions per turn, and extra dice, but is higher risk). AR will be the only option in many situations, now that the standard is for the hacker to go in physicaly with the rest of the team, instead of staying safe at home where only the black IC and trace programs can get him killed. do we really want to force someone to use hot sim in the middle of a gunfight, with bullets, gernades, magic, and spirits all put your meatbody in mortal danger? a smart hacker will have wired reflexes.

I still think there's an excellent case to up the Interval for Hacking on-the-fly through AR. I don't care how Wired you are, if you are using physical movements to manipulate your Commlink you will never be faster than someone using "pure" mental commands. And no, AR mode always uses some "physical" commands, it can never be "purely" mental.

If you make the AR interval = 1 Combat Round (and assuming that Hacking is not an "exclusive" action) then that is the same as the houserule of "1 Matrix action per round".