[Tai-Pan]

My decker-fu is fairly weak. My google skills arent getting the job done on this topic there are a ton of AR references not many cross over with decking. How does one effectively play as an AR focused Decker. What skills? What tactics? What gear?

[Triskavanski]

Well, as I've been told, you only play a decker when hacking a host really. Any other time, its better and faster just to lop off an arm, replace it with a cyberarm and go around wielding a auto-pistol, pretending to be a mini-street sam

Overall though, you do need to try to make sure you get a pretty good going with your initiative dice.You want to get 3d6 as soon as possible, and then go for 4d6 initiative dice, cause all your good actions are going to take up your entire IP, so you want as many as possible.

[Rooks]

Or if you want to get marks on an enemy drone/rig enabled vehicle to jump into and crash/take an opposite turn just before it hits anything, could take physical adept put all the power points into improved reflex +3d6 then use your RCC or Cyberdeck module slot for a Multidimensional Coprocessor for another +1d6 for a total of 5d6 init dice, could also use the remaining Power Points for improved ability Hacking +6 and take the Go big or Go home Quality to hack on the fly for 3 marks and use the remaining init passes to reformat/reboot the device

[Xenon]

You can build a character that is primary a street samurai, magician, physical adept, breaking and entry expert etc. and then pick up a deck and some hacking skills on the side.

Devices (such as elevators and lights  or maglocks and cameras in public areas) are probably not slaved to a host (due to the security risk) so they will only defend with some 4 dice anyway.

Devices (such as maglocks and cameras in restricted areas and drones) are probably slaved to a security host (so that the security rigger can get a direct connection to them no matter where in the world he is physically located) and will thus defend with host ratings if you fight them out on the grid. But since you are hacking from AR you have the option to physically get very close to them. Establishing a direct connection with a wire from your deck to the device. The device will now only defend with some 4 dice and if you get a mark on it you will also get a mark on the host. With a mark on the host you can now enter the host and get a direct connection to all other slaved devices (ignoring host ratings).

Going onto the premises might require a lot of non-hacking skills. Maybe social engineering to get pass guard checkpoints. Stealth. Mundane weapon skills. Meat world initiative.... - but you you don't really need to focus so much on your mental stats or expansive decks. Think of the AR decker as an "aspected" hacker


A dedicated VR decker (or TM) have enough dice to toss around to sit in their apartment or out in the rigger van, hacking a device out on the grid that is protected by host ratings (possible using edge). With a mark on the host he can enter the host and get a direct connection to all slaved devices. A dedicated VR decker (or TM) will also have enough dice to throw around to dig deeper inside hosts. Going into the foundation or extracting pay data files (stuff that a AR decker hybrid cant really do). This decker would focus a lot on mental attributes. High hacking skills. Expansive deck....


Two different play styles.

[Xenon]

...Multidimensional Coprocessor for another +1d6 for a total of 5d6 init dice...

Your meat world initiative does not improve just because you have a high data processing rating or because your deck have a Multidimensional Coprocessor.

The Multidimensional Coprocessor only improve your Matrix (cold-sim or hot-sim VR) Initiative.

[Rooks]

...Multidimensional Coprocessor for another +1d6 for a total of 5d6 init dice...

Your meat world initiative does not improve just because you have a high data processing rating or because your deck have a Multidimensional Coprocessor.

The Multidimensional Coprocessor only improve your Matrix (cold-sim or hot-sim VR) Initiative.

thats your interpretation

[Xenon]

thats your interpretation

DT p. 65 MULTIDIMENSIONAL COPROCESSOR
This tongue-twister of a module speeds up Matrix signals and commands, granting the deck’s operator an additional +1D6 to Matrix Initiative (remember that you can never roll more than 5D6 worth of initiative dice).


SR5 p. 100 Final Calculations
Matrix Initiative is determined by whether a character is in cold-sim or hot-sim.


SR5 p. 229 Augmented Reality
When in AR, you use your normal Initiative and Initiative Dice.

[Triskavanski]

Yep, I'm going to side with Xenon on this one. Its pretty blatant that its only for VR.

It has been ever since the the first book came out and it was an echo called "Overclocking."

[ScytheKnight]

Basically the issue is getting your initiative up.

This can be done magically with spells or adept powers.

This can be done 'ware with wired reflexes/reaction enhancers or synaptic boosters.

or it can be done temporarily with drugs.

[Hibiki54]

Play an Adept Decker if you want to be strong from the get go.

[Tai-Pan]

Play an Adept Decker if you want to be strong from the get go.

Adept anything can be insane at creation... throwing knives averaging 18p -1ap for example...

Think of the AR decker as an "aspected" hacker

Talk about a discouraging descriptor...

[Xenon]

Think of the AR decker as an "aspected" hacker

Talk about a discouraging descriptor...

Aspected magicians are great if you play them as hybrids. You can successfully build a street samurai that is an aspected magician on the side (using physical attributes, chrome, mundane weapons... and some utility spells) or a face that is an aspected conjurer on the side (using social attributes, social skills.... and also commanding spirits).

Same with AR deckers. Physical adept decker, chromed street samurai decker.....

Aspected magicians are only "bad" or "weak" if you try to compete with pure magicians at being really good at being primary a magician. Don't. Use the fact you can be awakened with a D priority in magic as a secondary role to either enhance or complement n complement your primary role and you'll see some really good potential. Both aspected magicians and AR deckers are great as a secondary role to another - primary role. 

[Triskavanski]

One of the Best Aspected Mages, might be an Aspected Alchemist-Rigger.. but that is for another time.

[Hobbes]

My decker-fu is fairly weak. My google skills arent getting the job done on this topic there are a ton of AR references not many cross over with decking. How does one effectively play as an AR focused Decker. What skills? What tactics? What gear?

Pretty much the same as a regular Decker.  Hacking and Computer are the main skills, Electronic Warfare is important too.  Cybercombat is optional, Hardware 1 point with Karma is likely enough.  Software .... totally depends on how fond of Data Bombs your GM is.  But 1 point in Software may be enough with caution and edge. 

Hacking is an opposed test, and Computer often is so 12+ dice pools is recommended for a primary Decker.  If this is a secondary thing, than whatever you scape together will have to do.

For a Decker Primary, Max Logic and a couple levels Cerebral booster.  As a secondary, you might be able to get by with 4 Logic and 6 Skills if you have some edge in your pocket and only pick easy targets.