[Reminder]

What is your current noise modifier on ultra given the distance?

[Csjarrat]

Depends how you play the matrix. If it's done as a mesh network then I'm really close, so very little noise, but if going with static zones and such then all bets are off! He's got a datajack for -1 noise though

[JackVII]

We really haven't been playing noise much up to this point, from what I recall.

Distance, I figure he has a noise of 3 if they're still more than a kilometer away. Static zones... if applied per the table, I'd assume this would be at least rural if not wilderness, which is a 3 or 4. Running Signal Scrub could get him up to 3 points of noise reduction including his datajack.

[Csjarrat]

Apparently they're only 200-400m away so shouldn't be that bad on noise

[JackVII]

Oh, that's a plus. I probably should check the IC thread. Getting a bit behind on where exactly these guys are.

[Reminder]

You are probably on the tail end of rural atm. You probably still succeed, but I was trying to figure out what your total noise reduction was. It maybe should be wilderness, especially given the locals lack of affinity for the matrix

[JackVII]

Awesome, I'm sure y'all will notice that...

the spoiler tag seems to not work anymore

While I prefer spoiler tagging rolls in the OC thread, I guess we should move it all over here since there isn't an easy way to separate it for the moment.

[Csjarrat]

that sucks, why would they do that?
anyways, i'm forwarding the audio grab i got to the team, whoever has their link just on running silent mode can have a listen and tell me what they are speaking in. hopefully (or not) its maasai.
@GM, i'll probably leave the recording running for 30mins and review it later. i'll need to reboot around the 30-40min mark to avoid convergence (any sleaze action creates OS, even if successful right?)

[Reminder]

Yes. The opposed roll gets the counter running.

I made the language rolls where/if relevant, and about all you can tell is that it is probably a tribal language but isn't Kikuyu or Kiswahili.

[JackVII]

@Reminder: Need a rules clarification here. Mlinzi and Mwindaji turned the wireless on their commlinks off. Per Aaron's ruling of how turning Wireless On/Off works, this somehow doesn't affect their ability to send/receive communications. I know I (and others) think that ruling is a little dumb, but can have some significant consequences (not being able to use most commlinks to send/receive messages in a Sprawl Downtown for instance).

Since all of the communications from Ultra to the team are going through comm chatter, this has a bearing on whether we can actually receive his messages or not.

[Reminder]

If their wireless is off, they really shouldn't be able to receive messages. Some of his "rulings" don't make much common sense while others do. In order to have a presence in the matrix, a device should have to be findable on the matrix to receive the message, hence require an icon. The same kind of goes for something like a jammer not affecting comlinks, which is something in my table top game doesn't apply. Granted, that decision came after more experience with the system, and when we started, sr5 was still fairly new.

As for the background noise, I kind of ignore that for any non-matrix actions. Going one step beyond your example, a fair portion of the populations cyber eyes would go offline in a commercial district, preventing them from seeing any of the advertisements that are creating the noise in the first place...

So, if this works, background noise affects matrix actions, jammers affect everything (including communications). Yes, you need to be wirelessly active to send and receive communications. The only exception would be if you get so far out you honestly need something like an uplink (which some of you have anyway). Does this work for everyone?

Also, of course, since you never specified, you might be sitting right next to Ultra hiding, and the point about receiving wireless would be moot anyway.

I suggest all getting datajacks and setting up a wired network between yourselves at all times just to be sure That would be the most elegant solution.

[JackVII]

All matrix actions or just those that require a test? I ask since Send Message is technically a Matrix Action. I am good with the ruling though, it makes way more sense than what we otherwise have, IMO.

[Reminder]

Actions that require tests. Things that are basic functionality (and lets lump send message in with it) aren't affected by background noise unless otherwise specified.

[JackVII]

Cool. I think as it stands, we're basically not able to really communicate other than through hand signals and possibly Mlinzi and Ultra whispering to one another. Not sure if we can do much other than watch them (hopefully) go by. If Ultra was confident, I think he could try and spot the icon the commlink is communicating with and then try to do a trace on it. If it's from west of our location, probably Masaai. But getting the MARKs through noise distance might make that really challenging.

[Csjarrat]

Int 4, computer 2, hot sim 2 (8d6.hits(5)=2)
matrix perception check on the commlink, looking for files/folders that kind of stuff if possible

EDIT forgot to say, just bought run and gun, seems like there's plenty in it. any word on whether it'll be allowed in our game reminder?