Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Gamemasters' Lounge => Topic started by: James McMurray on <05-21-11/1545:09>
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I'm pretty unfamiliar with the matrix rules (gonna read them this week) and we've got a new guy in the group who's making a a hacker. Are thre some good threads or advice on integrating the matrix with the real world portion of the game? In the past we've had what we called "the decker effect," where the decker goes into a system to do his thing and the rest of the players sit around bored until he's done.
I know 4th has changed some things around to make it easier to sync the two, but I'm drawing a blank trying to think of ways in game.
Thanks!
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definitely read the matrix rules for 4E.... I don't think you will have the decker effect. I played SR 2 mainly and I just discouraged players from being deckers for that reason right there!
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We have a GM who is knowledgeable of the rules, and a decker who is as well, and our issue is that we have become far too dependent on him for legwork. Sure, a couple of us will swing by meat, someone will check the astral, maybe a call or two to a contact, but for the most part, it's Tracer! Check out this. Check out that. Look here. Look there. It's gotten so predominant that we've got other PC's sticking in datajacks and snagging better comlinks--especially since hacking isn't /that/ dependent on skills.
If I wasn't saving for yet another focus, my mage would probably be right on the bandwagon along with. In fact, when he suggested retiring his hacker, the huge discussion degenerated into A) convincing him to keep Tracer. B) Convincing him to make a new hacker and C) teaching someone else.
We can conceive of teams without a mage, without a face, and without a rigger, but omg please, the decker HAS to show up. May as well play Munchkin otherwise.
For specific examples:
floorplans
buying/spending habits of targets
rumors
spoofing cameras/id checks/mad scanners
hacking systems and programming systems--water sprinklers, cameras, door locks, email, messages, comcalls
Our gm has even gone so far now as to require us to do a 'luck roll' to see if anything goes wrong, since with a well-thought out plan and a good hacker, things are 'too easy'.
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Our gm has even gone so far now as to require us to do a 'luck roll' to see if anything goes wrong, since with a well-thought out plan and a good hacker, things are 'too easy'.
Hacking with finesse takes a long time and hackers cannot find everything. It takes an hour per extended roll to properly hack into a node without brute force. IC and spiders make a hacker's life difficult as possible throwing black hammers around. Meat bodies are always at a threat of being taken/injured/killed while the hacker is in cold or hot sim. Being in hot sim for extended periods of time without food or water could cause dehydration, starvation, or addiction—and not to mention the terrible addiction side effects of a hacker in hot sim for too long.
There are always measures that can be brought against the hacker if he is having an easy time. It is true that no team is complete without a competent hacker or rigger: just as the crew needs a face, combat monster, or some sort of astral combatant. It is all about party dynamics. Other characters can do surveillance, walk a beat and pick up rumours, spy astrally, or bribe security or wageslaves to get access information, floor plans, and target info.
Hackers should also have a tough time following people through the matrix. As Glitch says in the Runner's Companion:
"The saving grace of a total information society is that there’s simply too much data out there—or at least too much data to be sifted in useful time. Yes, a high-end agent will eventually track down what it’s looking for, but, by then, the intel is of no use to anyone. […] The second major factor working to your advantage is data balkanization. What this means is that even if the data is out there, there’s no guarantee a corp can get to it—thanks to those wonderful things, the Business Recognition Accords. […] Hide your digital tracks with excess, contradictory information or pay someone to do it. The next best thing to them not picking up your trail, is giving them a dozen trails to follow." Pg. 23 and 25
This means the hacker has to deal with excess info and (to a lesser extend) data balkanization. It would be insanely difficult to track a single person's buying and spending habits around, especially when they buy a Horizon CaramelCluster bar from the local Stuffer Shack in Downtown Seattle before jogging over to the Rubber Suit in Everett to buy a few drinks. The target has crossed Snohomish, been captured by thousands of cameras, microphones, cybereyes, and all sorts of random equipment from multiple corporations and individuals. To have access to all that information and chew through it all would take months. Not to mention finding a specific commlink, tracing it, hacking it, and following it and sifting through all the information that it piles up would take ages. Time is of the essence, and doing everything is simply not possible.
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I haven't been around for long, but agree with what I've read in the Runner's Companion about too much information! Especially if the Runners are on a timelimit. If it does take that long, the Hacker should have to decide between what the most important information is and prioritize. If you need building plans, potential defenses of a hideout, business associates, spending habits and an idea of where the target may be most vulnerable, all within a few days the hacker probably wouldn't have time to check it all. The other fellows better hustle over and start foot-tracking someone or schmoozing to get a few details.
The group needs a lot of information all in a short span, and relying just on the hacker to tinker away at the matrix may be reliable for what he does find, but if a deadline is fast approaching, the others gotta get into the thick of it and help out with what they do best; chatting, stalking, or punching someone in the gums!
The hacker may also find it hard to concentrate if he's being tracked himself, and has to constantly be on the move physically before he ends up found and killed himself. This would greatly cut down on how much time he has to devote to hackin'.
I hope that helps some!
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The hacker may also find it hard to concentrate if he's being tracked himself, and has to constantly be on the move physically before he ends up found and killed himself. This would greatly cut down on how much time he has to devote to hackin'.
Which is why everyone should have spoofing agents so they have a harder time of being traced. Even then there are fun things hackers can do like hack into an Aztechnology Tres Chic Clothing node then hack into the Ares node. Ares would get into a lot of shit to trace the data through Aztechnology.
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Which should all add even more time to the hackers workload, right right?
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Right, but not by much; a hacker could do this between runs or before a run. Once you hack into a minor node and become a secret admin with a loop hole to always get in, there is little time involved.