The concept and how the matrix and Hosts work is a good deal different, and the mechanics are vastly different, but IC and Agents are still around. I'm assuming you mean "Searches", as in searching for information, and that is still there. The Security Sheave is now gone, however.

Similar to how it worked pre-VR2.0. Basically, if you fail to proparly sneak into a host, or you alert the host through your actions (Like destroying things), there are several responses the host can make. One of them is to have IC on hand to attack the intruder. It's more freeform now, and this sort of thing is basically at the GM's disctrection (Though there is a random d6 chart of responses in the book for lazy GMs ).

Other possible actions include calling in a security hacker, attempting to terminate the hacker's connection, or shutting down the system altogether.

Bull

This has to be at least Restricted if not Illegal, legality of the weapon aside.

What are the mechanics for The Man casually/actively spotting gear with Black Ice on it? Keeping in mind that there are lots an lots of devices walking around for causual checking.

The main question i have about that is the state of the meat body during VR? Limp noodle?

So a decker/techno has to go through my commlink (breaking into it as a 'host' first) to access my firearm's controls? Or is it that my commlink automatically attacks any attempt to directly connect to the firearm?

In game mechanics, anyone who wants to access your devices must be able to access your commlink first. p212 This assumes that you have your network set up in such a way that you have your commlink as your main wireless access point for your PAN.

Ah, so the connections between devices and the PAN's controller (normally the commlink) are considered imprenerable to man-in-the-middle attacks? EDIT: At least going towards the device. Can you spoof a device to the commlink, or is it secure that way too?

So we can assume the same for building security? You can't actually directly jump into a security camera. Instead you have to go through the building host, just like an SR3 overwatch operation? Only now you can do it while walking around in the building?

While I wouldn't say impenetrable, it would be difficult to do a Hacker attack on an item that doesn't even have stats associated with it. It's simply easier to do PAN attacks using the Commlink route, from a GM's perspective, I guess. Besides which, the flux on most PAN wireless devices is so low that you would have to be within 2 meters of a target, which might get uncomfortable. I'd say that if it has stats, you can hack it.

Security for non-PAN devices is different. You hack into them either through a central node or through the device's node itself.

Ah, ok. So i can't fire my weapon from across the room?

What does it take to change which PAN a weapon is on? Say i am grappling with someone, so i'm will within the 2m range. Or does it have to go outside the PAN range (get dropped) and then any PAN can hook up to it?

Also, i assume that if a device has stats that it can have Ice local to it?

You can, if the device was upgraded to have a stronger signal, I guess. Seems kinda pointless unless it's a Smart sentry gun.

First of all, how the heck are you going to hack while you are grappling? You have to have all of your concentration devoted to hacking his gear, and grappling definitely isn't one of those situations. 2m is just a ballpark figure, I think the max effective range of a Signal 0 device is 3m. It definitely requires much more than simply "getting into range" and doing a Complex Action to steal the gun (assuming that it's smartlinked to begin with). I think brute force hacking (or hacking on the fly) is a Hacking + Exploit (Firewall rating, 1 Initiative Pass) Extended test for the access (which, depending on the Firewall, might delay you for a bit), then you have to engage in an appropriate action (depending on what you want to do), with the risk of triggering an alert both on the above Extended test and the Hacking actions. An alert can scramble a VR security Decker (if you are hacking into a sec guard's item), patrolling VR IC on a node nearby, Terminate all connections (locking everyone out of the item) or shutdown (rebooting the item). Still, I wouldn't make any speculations about the Hacking system until you get a copy of the book and can slog through it, and then playtest it multiple times (I'm still in the process of doing so in my group).

You can't take penalties for two simultaneous actions? I thought there weren't any exclusive actions anymore? As long as you can do this while in AR mode (since VR mode doesn't allow meat body control) and have the $k!llz to work past the penalty.

If you have to go VR then ammend my example to be in a Decker Bag™ strapped on the back of a Troll that is **grabbling the opponent.

P.S. You do still fall over if standing when you go into VR mode, right?

**EDIT: Grabbling - (verb) similar to grappling, but done with the grace of a virgin juniorhigh school boy trying to unhook a bra for the first time

If you are using Augmented Reality, you will have to be able to manipulate AR somehow. I'm not sure if having "just" a cybernetic commlink would be sufficient for this, as you have to be able to manipulate the AR symbols and such. As it stands, to grapple an opponent, you would need to use a Complex Action each action phase, thus limiting your ability to do anything else. Likewise, most Hacking actions are either Simple Actions or Complex Actions. Just like you can't grapple someone AND cast a spell unless it's happens to be a touch-based attack spell of some sort.

Going "VR" is just like jacking into an old-time Cyberdeck and the old Matrix.

It's just like SR3. In other words, no.

So the reports of the death of the exclusive action are highly exagerated. There just aren't any exclusive action spells.

There was never a time when you could do a Complex Action and simultaneously do another different Complex Action. You couldn't fire a gun fully auto and then cast a spell at a penalty, or use Athletics to increase your running speed while shooting. There are no Exclusive Actions, under the definition given by SR3, but that definition only really fit a handful of things, all of them magical.

Under SR3:

Personal Area Network, the wireless and wired connections that connect all of a single person's devices, usually with a Commlink as the hub.

Personal Area Network. The small virtual universe of wireless devices on you all talking to each other. Plus the commlink router that lets you connect your PAN to other hosts (whether PANs or bigger hosts) out in the Matrix.

Are these mandatory as part of your ID? (As seems to be hinted by the comlink in the ID section of the book)?

If you have an active Commlink, you have a PAN, albeit with a single member (population: 1 Commlink). I guess technically it isn't really a network without at least one device attached to your Commlink, but you get the idea. It's simply all of the devices on your body that have been linked together, that's it. It's an easy way to designate a unit in the WiFi version of the Matrix, so you don't have to say "My smartlink wired to my Commlink going through the NeoNET node, blah blah blah". You just say "My PAN is connecting and heading to Shadowland".

Commlinks are 0.2 essence or they take up 2 capacity units in a cyberlimb.
Sim Modules are 0.2 essence or they take up 2 capacity units in a cyberlimb.
Datajacks are 0.1 essence or they take up 1 capacity unit in a cyberlimb.
Simrigs are 0.5 essence.

All of these are available in non-cyber versions, and cybered/non-cybered versions can be linked together either wirelessly or other connections.

There are other non-cyber accessories, like AR gloves, Biometric Readers, Nanopaste/regular trodes, printers, satellite links, subvocal mics, etc.

You need a Sim Module or datajack to use Knowsofts or Linguasoft. Activesofts require a skillwire system.

hey, this made things very interesting in europe. no more trouble with the diffrent languages. just get a comlink with a sim module and make sure you can access a whole lot of linguasofts

very nice, very nice indeed

it will be fun to hack some friends comlink while he is trying to charm that elf lady at dantes, making sure to replace his copy of sperethiel with one designed by the swedish chef

Google the swedish chef understands <-------------Link

Sorry, couldn´t resist =)

You just need a way to get the Skillsoft to your Skillwires, which would mean either a Datajack or a Commlink or some other method. Hardwiring a datajack to a commlink could be useful if you intend to do some work with your datajack that needs to share information with data stored in your commlink. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to access your commlink information through a datajack transfer. *shrugs* I'll admit, it's not too terribly useful but it's a consideration.

So... I download the skillsofts to my commlink, then my commlink loads them into my skillwires directly - no datajack or physical connections required. Is that about right?

Also, is there any mention of used cyberware?