Okay, I understand the crunchy bits. I know what cyberware and bioware will make me kill things dead and what skills I need to make my character useful.

But what about setting stuff? How hard is it to get around if I don't have a SIN? Or a fake SIN? Can I still buy gas for my car without purchasing a fake SIN? Do I even need a car? What about comm links?

I know what they all do, but what do I need to survive in the day to day world? Can I still buy a bag of Frito-Soy BBQ Chips without a wireless comm link? Will the store still accept a normal cred stick or cash? I know how to use my negotiation skill to buy Titanium bone lacing but I don't understand all about the wireless commerce, etc.

Sure, but for any weapons you might wanna have someone remove the RFID tags, or random security patrols/club bouncers might just see exactly what you're carrying at all times.

In the fiction though there is the one girl who was almost arrested or whatever for not broadcasting her ID or something. Is that off commlink or what?

Yeah, in places where security is good it is expected that you (if you have a commlink) broadcast your PAN in at least passive mode (some GMs might be mean and say at least active mode).

Like if you walk into a government building and you have your commlink set in hidden mode. That is an offense and for very good reason because you are a "breech" in their security.

On the flip side, it is frowned upon by those in the biz to be in active mode. Say you walk into a common runner haven or bar and you are in active mode. They will think you are a complete asshat.

What if you have NO comlink though? Are you going to be in violation?

That was a high security zone where you get hassled for assinine reasons that don't make you any safer except from perhaps mugging but is the only way the security nazis can get that "tight pants" feeling. Aka "post 9/11 airports."

You have to be able to function for a bit sans Comm for those cases where yours is lost, stolen or broken. Much like losing your wallet, it's a hassle and you won't be flying anywhere on vacation until you get a new one.

To put it in perspective: Stuffer Shack Inc doesn't give a drek if you have a SIN as long as your cred is good. Stuffer Shack may not even query your ID if you make a certified cred transaction. Corp malls won't give a drek if you have a SIN either. Pay the cred to the GAP and they are happy campers. Well, they are a little put out you aren't on their mailing list and don't want a new credit account.

The car dealership doesn't give a drek if you don't have a SIN as long as your credit is good but the government and corps make them care a bit. It is in their best interest to do the least amount of background checks they can get away with. You don't need a driver's license to own a car today. License and registration are taxes paid to the government; you think they are going to look very hard at your background when you are sending them a check?

Government buildings, airports, some mass transit stations, and major corp facilties (which may include gated communities) care about SINs and will force you to ID yourself at all times, like in the fiction. You may need a SIN to get on a subway in Washington DC but won't need one to get on a bus in the suburbs of Philly.

Most of this stuff was lightly covered in the new SR4 BBB. (See stories in front and sidebar p209-210)

I would houserule it that even a SIN person has the right to do an "anonomous" donation/purchase using their bank accounts. A person should be able to do the equivilent of "pay cash" and send funds to a business or vending machine without sending any SIN information. Only purchases that REQUIRE a SIN would not allow this.

Now just because they "pay cash" does not mean that law enforcement or a good hacker could not track that sale. The only person in the dark about that purchase is the store you bought from.

Of course, that might work against the constant marketing/spam of the 2070s.. So I would rule that most stores want you to "sign up!" and join a membership or club.. and purchases with them add up for free giveouts like T-shirts, Stickers, discounts, early-release opportunities, beta accounts, etc.

This way, your PAN can be broadcasting you are "a member of the Horizon MusicFan Club" and sending your "member ID"... so any store that is part of the MusicFan Club can detect that in your PAN and send you offers and buying preferences, without that user having to broadcast their SIN information.

wrong post

"Pay Cash" is a house-rule I use.

to sum it up.

"Pay Cash" with a SIN account makes the purchaser's SIN unknown to the store and anyone except law enforcement (with warrent) or a good hacker.

"Certified Credstick" funds are untracable by anyone.

Most games don't need this level of distinction.. I myself enjoy the details.

Unil they start embedding rfid in all the cash.

[Tinfoil Hat]You mean they haven't? I thought that's what this last wave of "New $20s" was all about.[/Tinfoil Hat]

<copper pot on head> Shhhhhhhhhhh</copper pot on head>

The way I read it, any 'heavy security' area requires you to stay on active mode, broadcasting ID info. As a shadowrunner is VERY RARELY going to be in such a place legitimately, I don't think this will come up as a problem though.

hmm, i wonder what would happen if someone walked into a high sec area wearing unauthorized pants

if everything one buys have atleast one rfid in it, then just the clothes one ones body may contain 5-10+ of them

hell, even that new roll of duct tape in your backpack may have one

Why should there be cash anymore ?

Is anybody 2005 weighting the coin to check he ammount of gold and silver in it? Is anybody using coffee beans as money ?

No, why should cash be used 2070 ?

There is no reason to have certified credstabs when you can transfer your money with a mental command everywhere you want.

Those who create (or more appropriately control) the money system are the ones who would benefit most from anonymous purchases and a lack of a data trail.

So you tell me that Cons use credstabs in large money transfers ?

Let's say, in transfers that are... unofficial.

For your fake ID, yes, you use your commlink because if you aren't a consumer you are suspicious to the system.
For everything else, there's certified cred.