[samoth]

Aside from always having it with you, what are the benefits of an implanted commlink?

1. You can buy a Fairlight Caliban at Used grade at chargen for less than its list cost (7500) and .24 essence
2. It comes with a Sim Module installed
3. Assumedly has an access port to get to the listed functions of a standard commlink (chipjack, etc.)
4. Adding a datajack gives DNI and one level of noise reduction

Am I missing anything?  Seems like if you are getting some cyber you may as well get one of these assuming you can squeeze it in.

[JackVII]

1) The main reason you can't get the Caliban at chargen is due to its DR of 7. Also, someone somewhere with some amount of authority ruled that the mount benefits from the Used price, but the commlink/deck does not. So, you would get the price discount on the 5K mount but not on the commlink.
2) Yup
3) Not sure on that one. I would think it would be all wireless. With that said, I think a lot of us have the understanding that there is some kind of access hatch to get at it simply to eliminate the pain in the ass of significant surgery to have an installed cyberdeck repaired after suffering matrix damage.
4) You already get a DNI from the installed commlink, but the noise reduction is def handy.

[samoth]

Good catch on the Caliban device rating.  Assume you can start with any other implant and switch it out after chargen, though.

[martinchaen]

Also note that Aaron has clarified that the ware grade does not affect implanted commlinks and cyberdecks; I believe the term he used was something akin to slots, as in you get an implant and slot in the deck. As such, only the slot itself is modified by the grade.

This means that you don't get to buy used grade cyberdecks at 80% of list, at least not according to the designers, nor does a delta grade link cost 2.5 times list...

[Namikaze]

Also note that Aaron has clarified that the ware grade does not affect implanted commlinks and cyberdecks; I believe the term he used was something akin to slots, as in you get an implant and slot in the deck. As such, only the slot itself is modified by the grade.

This means that you don't get to buy used grade cyberdecks at 80% of list, at least not according to the designers, nor does a delta grade link cost 2.5 times list...

A slot system would be awesome - my head could be a rack mount for a server!

[ProfessorCirno]

It's also easier to sneak in a commlink that is literally inside your body then one in your pockets.

[JimmyCrisis]

>shudder<  I replace my cell phone every year.  Could you imagine have an out-of-date headware commlink?  This is bad, bad news for someone who expects to live for another 5 years.

[firebug]

>shudder<  I replace my cell phone every year.  Could you imagine have an out-of-date headware commlink?  This is bad, bad news for someone who expects to live for another 5 years.

Replacing your cellphone?  The whole damn matrix gets redesigned every decade or so.  XD  It's less "going from 4s to 5s" and more "going from rotary phone to smartphone".

[ZeConster]

To be fair, that happens in a lot of things. In Megaman Battle Network, for example, they completely restructure the internet every few months.

[Voltron64]

To be fair, that happens in a lot of things. In Megaman Battle Network, for example, they completely restructure the internet every few months.

Battle Network, now there's a good example of how to decking in the Matrix would look like.

[firebug]

To be fair, that happens in a lot of things. In Megaman Battle Network, for example, they completely restructure the internet every few months.

Battle Network, now there's a good example of how to decking in the Matrix would look like.

Damn straight.  Net Navi are just your Persona.  And you just blast (data spike) viruses (agents doing bad stuff).  Now I need to see a hacker who's persona is Guts Man.

[Xenon]

Basically, this is what the designers intended:


A Cyberdeck headware is just a slot for a internal cyberdeck.
The slot take up 0.4 essence and cost 5 000 nuyen.
It will only fit an internal cyberdeck.

You are then free to eject, repair and insert an internal cyberdeck whenever you want.
If you buy a new internal cyberdeck you eject the old and insert the new deck in the existing slot.


You can also buy a cyberlimb with capacity.
You can buy a cyberlimb cyberdeck docking station that only fit an internal cyberdeck
The slot will cost you 4 capacity of your cyberlimb and 5 000 nuyen.
You can eject, repair and insert an internal cyberdeck into the docking station in your cyberlimb whenever you want.
You can also remove the cyberdeck docking station, this will free up 4 capacity points in your cyberlimb that you can use for something else.
If you buy a new internal cyberdeck you eject the old and insert the new deck in the existing cyberdeck docking station.

[firebug]

Basically, this is what the designers intended:


A Cyberdeck headware is just a slot for a internal cyberdeck.
The slot take up 0.4 essence and cost 5 000 nuyen.
It will only fit an internal cyberdeck.

You are then free to eject, repair and insert an internal cyberdeck whenever you want.
If you buy a new internal cyberdeck you eject the old and insert the new deck in the existing slot.


You can also buy a cyberlimb with capacity.
You can buy a cyberlimb cyberdeck docking station that only fit an internal cyberdeck
The slot will cost you 4 capacity of your cyberlimb and 5 000 nuyen.
You can eject, repair and insert an internal cyberdeck into the docking station in your cyberlimb whenever you want.
You can also remove the cyberdeck docking station, this will free up 4 capacity points in your cyberlimb that you can use for something else.
If you buy a new internal cyberdeck you eject the old and insert the new deck in the existing cyberdeck docking station.

I agree completely.  Don't forget that the commlink or cyberdeck loses no functionality, either.  You can still presumably plug things into it (likely a dock on your head like a datajack, but not the same) in order to get a direct connection.

[SmilinIrish]

One character concept I was working on coupled a skin pocket with implanted comm or cyberdeck.  The concept was having the device in the sking pocket (removable/upgradeable) with the datajack wired to the spine.  That way you got the benefits of implanted, without having a device bulging out the side of your head.  Ended up playing an adept though.