[Ryo]

The standard Technomancer in the core book doesn't quite do it for me, and I've always been the type to change the rules I didn't like to suit my needs better. I'm posting these rules here for easy reference for my own PbP games where they are relevant, and for anyone else to use who may be interested in the way I do things.

1: New Skill Group

Operating
Encoding
Decoding
Programming

In addition to the Tasking Skill Group, Technomancers have the Operating Skill Group, which represents all the skills they use in the Matrix. Being a Technomancer is not the same as being a Decker, and the way they approach problems in the matrix are completely different from one another.

Whenever a Technomancer performs a Matrix Action, they substitute their Encoding skill for any skill in the Electronics Skill Group, and Decoding for any skill in the Cracking Skill Group. So while a Decker rolls Hacking + Logic to perform the Hack on the Fly action and Cybercombat + Logic for a Data Spike, a Technomancer would roll Decoding + Logic for both actions. Likewise, the Technomancer uses Encoding + Intuition for Matrix Perception, instead of Computer + Intuition, and so on.

Programming is used for Complex Forms instead of the Software skill.

2: Matrix Attributes

A Technomancer's Living Persona has 3 natural Matrix Attributes: Device Rating, Firewall and Data Processing.

Device Rating = Resonance
Firewall = Willpower
Data Processing = Charisma, Intuition or Logic, depending on their Stream.

As a result, in every day life a Technomancer's Living Persona appears to the rest of the Matrix as a Commlink, having no Sleaze or Attack rating. When a Technomancer has need for these additional ratings, they have the ability to Thread them, like a complex form. The Technomancer rolls Programming + Resonance [Level], gaining either a Sleaze or an Attack rating equal to the desired Level(up to Resonance+2) for a number of Combat Turns equal to twice their hits. This is a Free Action that they can only perform during their own Action Phase, and causes Fading equal to the desired Level-2.

The unnatural way Technomancers interact with the Matrix makes their actions more noticeable by GOD. Every Attack and Sleaze action a Technomancer performs generates 2 points of OS per hit on the Defense test, instead of the usual 1. Attack and Sleaze actions will also leave Resonance Signatures with a rating equal to half the Attack or Sleaze rating, which can be detected by other Resonance beings.

3. Misc

A Technomancer has the ability to form a Direct Connection with any Device they physically touch. This works best with direct skin contact through the fingertips. Using another part of the body (feet, head, chest, etc) or attempting the connection with something in the way (such as gloves) results in a suitable penalty to all Matrix Actions against that device similar to Noise.

A Technomancer can serve as the Master of a PAN using their Living Persona, but doing so requires a degree of focus. Slaving one or more devices to a Techomancer results in a -2 sustaining penalty. Should the Technomancer stop sustaining their focus, these devices immediately lose their connection and become unslaved. For the purpose of the Focused Concentration quality, the Level is equal to twice the number of devices being slaved. (so 2 devices is Level 1, 4 is level 2, and so on.)

The Matrix Protocols do not know how to properly render the Resonance, making it difficult to notice the resonance actions technomancers and other Resonance beings perform. Any Resonance action that does not qualify as a Matrix Action (that is, using a Matrix Attribute as the Limit) should not be considered obvious, and requires a Matrix Perception test to notice. This includes most complex forms, including Resonance Spike.

4. Complex Forms

Cleaner is L-1

Diffusion of [Matrix Attribute] is L-2

Editor is L. In addition to its normal functions, it can also be used to break Protection or defuse Data Bombs, rolling an opposed test against Protection/Bomb Rating*2. A Data Bomb is still triggered on a failed roll with Editor.

Infusion of [Matrix Attribute] is L-3

Puppeteer
Target: Device • Duration: I • FV: L + 2
You push Resonance commands into a target, forcing it to perform a Matrix action. Pick a target and a Matrix action for it to perform. Make a Programming + Resonance [Level] v. Willpower + Firewall test, with a minimum Level based on the type of action: 1 for a Free Action, 3 for Simple and 5 for Complex. If you succeed, the target performs that Matrix action as its next available action. Personas are obviously aware that they have been targeted by something if they are forced to perform an action against their will, but Devices that are targeted do not notify their owners.

Resonance Channel is L-3, and works on all forms of Noise.

Resonance Veil is L-2.

Static Bomb is L.

Tattletale has a Duration of Instant.

all other Complex Forms are the same.

5. Echoes

Performance Upgrade: You create a Resonance construct that allows you to quickly and efficiently enhance your Living Persona. As a Free Action during your own Action Phase, you may allocate a number of points equal to your Submersion Grade to increase your Matrix Attributes. Therefore, a Grade 2 Technomancer could give himself +2 to one Matrix Attribute, or +1 to two different Matrix Attributes. No single Matrix Attribute can be increased by more than half your Resonance (round down).

Mind over Machine: You gain the benefit of a Control Rig with a rating equal to your Submersion Grade (Up to a maximum of 3), and can jump into any Device, even those that lack a Rigger Adaptation.

NeuroFilter: You create a Resonance buffer along your neural network, allowing you to better protect yourself from the Matrix. You gain a bonus to resist biofeedback damage equal to your Submersion Grade, and while in VR, you can choose to switch between cold-sim and hot-sim as a Free Action on your Action Phase.

Overclocking: Remains the same.

Resonance Link: You gain the ability to create permanent connections through the Resonance between yourself and others, forging a one-way empathic link with a number of people up to your Resonance. You can sever a connection at any time, but forging a new connection requires a Direct Connection with their brain, either through a device connected to a DNI, or by grabbing them firmly by the head. If the target is a Technomancer, the empathic link goes both ways. If both Technomancers have this echo, the link is telepathic, and allows basic communication over it. This connection can be felt so long as both the Technomancer and the target are within range of a Matrix signal.

Resonance Program: This echo lets you run cyberprograms on your Living Persona. You may run 2 + your Submersion Grade programs at a time, and can exchange one program for another as a Free Action during your Action Phase. In order to emulate a program, you must own a copy of it on a Device in your possession. Losing access to this device will prevent you from changing programs, but will not remove programs you are already running.

Resonance Hub: This echo allows you to slave devices with greater ease. You may have a number of devices equal to your Resonance + Submersion Grade slaved to your Living Persona without suffering a Sustaining Penalty. In addition, you are considered to have Noise Reduction equal to your Resonance between yourself and any device slaved to your Living Persona.

[Zweiblumen]

I really dig a lot of these changes.  Especially to the fade levels of threading.  Between that and the OS change, it really incentivizes using complex forms.  That and reducing the number of skills they need to take makes them feasible to do something besides just being a matrix monkey

[Ryo]

Forget doing something besides being a matrix monkey, it lets them be a normal matrix monkey. The main reason I wanted to change Technomancers is because of how Priority starved they are by the standard rules. In order to be an effective matrix specialist, they need high Resonance, max out all 4 mental attributes, and get 2-3 entire Skill Groups. Even with Sum to 10, that's difficult to pull off, and god help you if you want to be something other than Human.

My changes brings down their key Mental Attributes to 2, and they only need 1 or 2 Skill Groups. And really, they can get by with just 1 Skill Group + Compiling, since Decompiling and Registering aren't necessary.

I also strongly disliked the standard array of Echoes, since they're all a flat bonus you're expected to take multiple times, even though the cost of Submersion increases. Metamagic has the right idea, having bonuses that improve with your Initiate Grade, so that the bonus you get at later initiations is improved to warrant the increased cost. So I redesigned all of them to scale accordingly.

Beyond that, it was mostly just tweaking the rules to be more sensible. I've found Complex Form Fading to be absurdly high, especially when compared to similar spells, and there are some basic functions I feel Technomancers needed but completely lacked, like the ability to form PANs (necessary for riggers), form direct connections, and mitigate noise.

[Whiskeyjack]

Part of me feels like it's a bit cheaty to replace whole skill groups with TM-only skills, simply because building a TM by the RAW stretches your resources thin.

But I'm interested in testing this in play or hearing how it worked in play, because yeah, TMs are notoriously point-starved and super narrow due to what they need to buy (in ways that even mages are not), as well as being much more fragile than your average hacker both in the Matrix and in the meat.

So it's a cheat that I give at least one thumb up for, knowing how hard it is to make a TM that is good at anything but Matrix stuff, and even then usually falling behind deckers except within very specific specialties.

I'd also love to see Widgets brought back. Always loved Resonance foci and never understood why they were not a core default as magic foci are.

[Ryo]

Part of me feels like it's a bit cheaty to replace whole skill groups with TM-only skills, simply because building a TM by the RAW stretches your resources thin.

But I'm interested in testing this in play or hearing how it worked in play, because yeah, TMs are notoriously point-starved and super narrow due to what they need to buy (in ways that even mages are not), as well as being much more fragile than your average hacker both in the Matrix and in the meat.

So it's a cheat that I give at least one thumb up for, knowing how hard it is to make a TM that is good at anything but Matrix stuff, and even then usually falling behind deckers except within very specific specialties.

I'd also love to see Widgets brought back. Always loved Resonance foci and never understood why they were not a core default as magic foci are.

It is a bit cheaty, but it serves its mechanical purpose while also making sense in universe. The way a Technomancer interacts with the Matrix is completely unlike a Decker, and its hard to imagine there's any real skill overlap between the two. A Technomancer trying to teach a Decker how to hack would only confuse the shit out of him, and a Decker doing the reverse would just sound inefficient to a Technomancer.

The doubling of OS is there to try to mitigate the obvious advantage a Technomancer has by needing fewer skills.

As for things like Widgets, I have ideas for that, as well as things like Reagent equivalents, but I figure it makes more sense to see what Data Trails has to offer before making up my own versions of the rules.

[8-bit]

I really enjoy these rules, and you might be interested in this thread. Namikaze has done some interesting stuff, and even if you don't pull anything from it, maybe it will give you some ideas.

[firebug]

I like these, but a few things stand out to me.  One is the fact that you'd have to start every hacking attempt or matrix combat by risking damage to yourself--  That's bad.  It's the same reason picking combat programs for complex forms in 4th edition was discouraged.  The last thing you want to do is be vulnerable, and then have to hurt and weaken yourself to be able to respond.

I'm also, personally, not a fan of the skill changes.  Your reasoning behind proposing it is completely legitimate, it's just not something I would do (because it is too much of a change from the printed rules for me to be comfortable). The echo changes are all interesting though.  Some even seem a bit too strong, but that's only a gut reaction.  I just have PTSD-style flashbacks to my bitchy decker player every time I think of something possibly being done more easily than deckers can do it.

[Zweiblumen]

I like these, but a few things stand out to me.  One is the fact that you'd have to start every hacking attempt or matrix combat by risking damage to yourself--  That's bad.  It's the same reason picking combat programs for complex forms in 4th edition was discouraged.  The last thing you want to do is be vulnerable, and then have to hurt and weaken yourself to be able to respond.

The same way you do with magic?  To get an attack rating of 4, you're fading 2 points... Playing a human with 6-res 5-wil you've got 11 dice to soak that with, playing a Gnome with 6-will 6 res you've got 12.  And you can jump to an 8 having to soak 6 points, which while if you roll badly is painful, you can put a hurt on folks.

EDIT: though now that I think about it, with the Infuse [Matrix Attribute] at L -3, you can do a level 4, soak the 2 points, then Infuse at level 4 (again soaking 2) and you'll have an 8.  Or if you're ballsy soak the 6 for Attack/Sleaze 8 and then infuse at level 8 and soak 5 dice and potentially (with good rolls) have a rating of 16.  Do that on an attack and you are one shotting everything.  Though you do have to soak a 6S and 5S in the opening round, so you'll want to get the drop on what ever you're attacking.  Still, with just a single net hit on a Data Spike action the target is going to have to soak 17dv not much out there can stand up to that.  Get a couple of marks first and that's turning into HUGE damage.

[Whiskeyjack]

The same way you do with magic?

Mmm, it's not really the same. A mage in meatspace can still shoot a gun for 0 Drain and contribute to combat. A TM in the Matrix has no real hacking options other than to use Threading to get Attack and Sleaze stats under these rules.

[firebug]

Loading up on them before-hand is one thing, but I'm talking about being caught off-guard.  If you just have them on at all times, then designing them to have a duration with a free-action "cast" is a bit pointless...

And, it is different.  Said mage is less vulnerable in meatspace than the TM is in the matrix.  Comparing the two, these would be like the mage loading up on Increase Attribute spells (like say, STR and AGI or something).  They can do that way ahead of time, and do it once, not every 30 seconds or so.

Finally, these rules also make running silent much harder, since you don't normally have a Sleaze attribute.

[Ryo]

It's more akin to an Adept using Attribute Boost than a mage using a spell. You're risking damage once, but you're covered for the entire encounter, since you've got your stat for multiple combat turns and encounters rarely last more than one or two, especially in the Matrix when you have 3 or 4 passes. It also isn't like a Magician boosting their basic attributes where it's something you need all the time. With Overwatch being a thing, all hacking is done in short bursts in-between reboots, so there's not much need for having a 'set and forget' mentality with Attack and Sleaze.

I agree that the Running Silent thing is an issue, but I would sooner solve that by changing how Running Silent works. The way Running Silent works is kind of awful, but I won't get into broader Matrix changes in this thread.

However, any situation where you need to be Running Silent is a situation where you've probably Threaded a Sleaze rating anyway, such as when trying to hack somebody.

Of course, these are things that will be easier to gauge the impact of with more playtesting. I haven't noticed these things being significant problems yet, but I've admittedly had few opportunities to put these rules to the test. I've considered running a heavy Matrix based campaign just for the sake of balancing my rules, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[firebug]

You've got a fair enough point about how Matrix is supposed to be a quick "between reboots" thing now, which is something I like.  Helps the flow of the game and such.  You've changed my mind about them, then.  I've a few balance concerns, but that's 100% a "needs playtesting" thing.

I think if you were gonna do a test, I'd suggest two things, each done once with a decker, and then again with a TM.  One's a matrix data steal, where the hacker has most of the responsibility, and then the other an extraction, where the hacker has to keep on their toes, keep watch, and be more of a controlling presence.

[Malevolence]

Re: Resonance Program
It says that the Technomancer must own the program on a device in his possession. Does that mean that he needs a cyberdeck that can run the software, or just a datachip that can store it?


Also, do autosofts count as cyberprograms for this skill? It probably doesn't matter since the TM doesn't have the ability to share them like an RCC, but I just wanted to make sure that that was a conscious decision.

[Ryo]

Re: Resonance Program
It says that the Technomancer must own the program on a device in his possession. Does that mean that he needs a cyberdeck that can run the software, or just a datachip that can store it?


Also, do autosofts count as cyberprograms for this skill? It probably doesn't matter since the TM doesn't have the ability to share them like an RCC, but I just wanted to make sure that that was a conscious decision.

A datachip that can store it is sufficient. The intent is to ensure the Technomancer pays the same nuyen cost as a decker for the programs.

I didn't cover the full list of things that would count as cyberprograms since it wasn't directly related to Technomancers, but yes, I would say that autosofts would count, as well as knowsofts, skillsofts and so on. I'd also include Sim-Rig and Smartlink in there, like the complex forms from 4th edition. Of course, you'd need additional Echoes to fully utilize the programs not directly related to the matrix: Biowires for the knowsofts and skillsofts, and Resonance Hub for autosofts. Resonance Hub is basically a Technomancer RCC, so I probably should include a line about sharing programs with your slaved devices if you also have Resonance Program.

[Ryo]

Scratch what I said before. Thinking about it more, it doesn't make a lot of sense for a Technomancer to be able to share a Resonance Program with a drone, since you'd be running something made of Resonance with a mundane piece of electronics. Not only that, I get the feeling there's balance issues there. A standard RCC has to choose between noise reduction or program sharing. I think it makes more thematic sense for the Technomancer to always have the Noise Reduction, while the mundane rigger gets to choose between the two. I don't want to make the Technomancer equivalent inherently better.

On another note, there's something I've been considering when it comes to the fragility of Technomancers in cybercombat. Let me know what you guys think of the following Complex Form. I haven't tested it, so I'm looking for some feedback on the design of it.

RESONANCE BUFFER
Target: Self • Duration: S • FV: L+0
 You create a personal shield out of pure Resonance to protect yourself from harmful Matrix code. For every hit, you gain 1 box of Matrix Condition Monitor, separate from your Stun track. Matrix damage you take is dealt to this damage track instead of your Stun track. This has no effect on biofeedback damage, which bypasses your Matrix Condition Monitor as normal. Should your Buffer track completely fill, it is destroyed, and you must immediately resist an amount of Matrix damage equal to the number of boxes of damage in your Buffer.