[adzling]

So we finally have a technomancer in our group and as the resident GM I am trying to put together a crib sheet of common things she might want to do as part of a run.

Would appreciate the community's input on how you handle this at your table.

1). How do you trace a comlink call from someone?

2). You're in a building full of people, how do you find a specific person's comlink location in the building?

3). You're in a building and want to find out how many security guards are present and where they are located, how could you do this?

4). You've gained possession of someone's comlink, how do you crack it so you can access the data on the comlink?

5). You are standing in front of a maglocked door connected to the matrix. How do you find that specific door and unlock it from the matrix?

[Whiskeyjack]

1. If they call you? You have their commcode and, I would think, can basically use Matrix Perception to figure out where they are based on that data. Or get a mark on them and Snoop. Or get a mark on them and Trace Icon.
2. Matrix Perception if you know what you're looking for. Extended Matrix Perception if not, representing kind of sorting through all the icons til you find the one you want.
3. You hack in and find a file describing the guard roster. Or if you know that all of the guards' composed have something in common, you look for that trait with Matrix Perception. Or you hack a host tied to the cameras and use it to look around through the cameras.
4. Spoof Command so it thinks you're the legit user and unlocks/gives access to whatever information you want as if the owner was requesting it. Possibly also Control Device?
5. Is it wireless? Matrix Perception to find the icon and hack it. Or you just direct connect to the door's data port (if it has one) with a cable and hack it that way. If it's not wireless, you need to hack the system (probably a security host) that it's connected to. Then Spoof or Control Device to make it open.

[adzling]

Thanks Whiskey! Replies inline:

>1. If they call you? You have their commcode and, I would think, can basically use Matrix Perception to figure out where they are based on that >data.
What if they are outside 100 meters from you?
Can you still Matrix search for them if you have their commcode?

>Or get a mark on them and Snoop. Or get a mark on them and Trace Icon.
How can you get a mark on them if you can't spot them?

>2. Matrix Perception if you know what you're looking for. Extended Matrix Perception if not, representing kind of sorting through all the icons til >you find the one you want.

If all you know is the person's name can you use matrix perception to find their comlink?
How do you locate them physically once you locate their comlink in the matrix?

>3. You hack in and find a file describing the guard roster. Or if you know that all of the guards' composed have something in common, you look >for that trait with Matrix Perception. Or you hack a host tied to the cameras and use it to look around through the cameras.

Let's assume you know the guards will have smartlinked weapons.
You can do a matrix search for "any smartlinked weapons" within 100 meters but how do you locate them in meatspace?
Also, what happens if they are beyond 100 meters (say a tall building)?

>4. Spoof Command so it thinks you're the legit user and unlocks/gives access to whatever information you want as if the owner was requesting >it. Possibly also Control Device?

So you'd auto spot the comlink in the matrix on account of it being in your hand, right?
Then, you would attempt to get marks on it vs, it's firewall x 2 as the owner is not present, right?
Then, with sufficient marks, you can attempt Spoof Command or Control Device, correct?

>5. Is it wireless? Matrix Perception to find the icon and hack it. Or you just direct connect to the door's data port (if it has one) with a cable and >hack it that way. If it's not wireless, you need to hack the system (probably a security host) that it's connected to. Then Spoof or Control Device >to make it open.

got it, thanks!
if it is wireless don't you have to first find the icon, but how do you know WHICH door it is out of the many doors nearby?

[Whiskeyjack]

1. I read Matrix Search like "Google on crack" or really sophisticated database search algorithms. I would say if you don't have their commcode, Matrix Search might get it, or get you to something that might know it (some public social media site, or a site with private data that you have a worm in or something, or they put a review on Yelp with their real name, etc).

But finding something in meatspace is covered by using Trace Icon on a marked target. Once you have a Mark on it, you us Trace Icon and you know where it is in the meat world.

2. Just their name? Hm, it depends. If they're not running silent you might be able to find that with Matrix Perception, possibly extended. If they're running silent, then you start there. Once you locate their commlink in the Matrix, you locate them in the meat with Hack to Mark it then Trace Icon

3. Again, I don't view Matrix Search as doing that. Matrix Search to me is Google search on crack. What you're describing, looking for smart links, is more Matrix Perception to me. If they're that far away, you take Noise penalties or can't see them if they're running silent (IIRC). The whole deal with the 5e Matrix is needing the decker on-site, and I'm all for it.

4. Unless it's running silent, yes, but then it should be easy to find. Or you just plug a cord into its data port since it's right there and don't even deal with the Wireless Matrix. I believe your 2nd and 3rd entries are correct.

5. Hm, I'm not sure. My suggestion would be using direct cable for that, but you could look for data and cross-reference the location of this door on a schematic or circuit plot of the floor and open the corresponding door.

[Rooks]

Dont you just love these new matrix rules so clearly defined and not at all convuluded 

1). How do you trace a comlink call from someone? get enough marks on the device to run the trace icon matrix action

2). You're in a building full of people, how do you find a specific person's comlink location in the building? if its within 100 meters and its not running silent you automatically find all the icons now its just  a matter of find which icon is the right one, I mean its not like the previous versions you actually had a scan function to figure out if the data store was personal archieves or that new prototype schematics for the novahot whiz deck (oh wait there was, isnt it nice that they took that out?) if its running silent you have to defeat its running silent test to be able to spot it (and every other icon that is running silent) good luck finding out what icon is what in the new matrix which one are we on now 4.0?

3). You're in a building and want to find out how many security guards are present and where they are located, how could you do this? Matrix perception their biomonitors/commlinks to find out their icons and hope to G.O.D. they arent running a wrapper program to change their persona into something different (data trails give examples of what stock commlinks make personas look like on the 'trix like the cheap meta link looks like a normal metahuman on the matrix while the transys avalon has a medeval feudal european look to it while the sensi makes you look like a samurai etc for flavor

4). You've gained possession of someone's comlink, how do you crack it so you can access the data on the comlink? get enough marks so you can access the files within it to use the edit matrix action to download it (watch for data bombs)

5). You are standing in front of a maglocked door connected to the matrix. How do you find that specific door and unlock it from the matrix? matrix perceive to find the right icon (provided you pick the right one, pray that its not running silent vs all the other icons running silent) alternatively you can undo the casing on it splice in a data tap to make it run wirelessly do you can do your technomancer magic to get enough marks to control device it to open

Also worth noting Technomancers dont really have a datajack they can plug into a universal data port so they need to carry data taps to make stuff with wireless off wireless so they can hack or do their initiate thing/submergance and get their meatbody skinlinked enabled so you can just touch the data port with your finger or something and get DNI with a wireless off device (course I personally think it should be standard)

nother thing worth noting matrix search is like using google matrix perception is spotting all the other devices with wireless enabled
[/quote]

[Xenon]

1. You automatically spot the persona that send you (or someone you are currently snooping) a message if he is physically within 100 meters and is not trying to hide. If he is beyond 100 metres then you need at least one hit on a simple matrix perception test. If he is trying to hide you take an opposed Matrix Perception test. If you want to physically trace it you need to force or trick two of your marks on the icon and then succefully use Trace Icon.

2. If you know some unique feature of the device icon you are trying to find  (like it's commcode) then you automatically spot it if it is physically within 100 meters and is not trying to hide. If it is beyond 100 metres then you need at least one hit on a simple matrix perception test. If it is trying to hide you take an opposed Matrix Perception test. If you don't know an unique feature then you can play 20 questions to find the correct icon. If you want to physically trace it you need to force or trick two of your marks on the icon and then succefully use Trace Icon.

3. You need to spot them, mark them and trace them.

4. SR5 is wireless. You don't need physical access to the device where files are located unless the device is not wireless enabled (like a data chip). The file icons will have icons of their own. If they are not protected then you can just spot them and view them. If they are protected then you spot them, mark them, crack them and then view them.

5. You automatically spot it if it is physically within 100 meters and is not trying to hide. If it is beyond 100 metres then you need at least one hit on a simple matrix perception test. If it is trying to hide you take an opposed Matrix Perception test. If you don't know an unique feature then you can play 20 questions to find the correct icon.  Once you find the icon you mark it and spend a free action to open it by using Control Device. If you have a mark on the owner you can also spoof a command to the maglock impersonating as the legit owner. You can also use lock picking to remove the casing and to rewire the inner circuits to open the door.

[Xenon]

2b. If all you know is their real life name or alias then you can't really spot their commlink. You need some legwork  (either physical or matrix search which is the matrix legwork skill).

3b. Yes you can look for all smargun systems within 100 metres. Then mark them one by one and then use Trace icon. This will cause a lot of ripples within the matrix so watch out for GOD.

4b. You automatically spot file icons on a commlink you have in front of you unless they are running silent. You can use matrix perception to "i want to spot all silent running file icons on this device" and then randomly spot them one by one with opposed Matrix perception. You don't need a mark on the actual device....

4c file icons does not have attributes of their own. File icons not located in a host use the firewall attribute on the device they are stored on and mental attributes from their owner.

4d you don't use Control device or spoof command on a file icon. You use actions such as edit file, crack file, disarm data bomb. The file icon is an icon of its own. You don't need a mark on the device where the file icon is located.

5b when you look at a specific maglock you automatically also see its specific device icon. Unless the maglock is very far away.  Then you need one hit on a matrix perception test. And unless its trying to hide in which case you can try to spot it with an opposed Matrix perception test.

Player: "I am trying to spot the silent running icon of the maglock in front of me"
GM "this is resolved with an opposed Matrix Perception test"

[adzling]

excellent Xenon thanks.
more questions to follow ;-)

[adzling]

How do you:

1). Detect an alarm system (or other impediment to your run) if you don't know what to look for specifically?
For example team is attempting to B&E a facility but does not know what detection or alarm systems they may be using (ultrasound, camera, pressure plate, leaf switch on a window etc).
What, if anything, can the matrix jockey do to find and identify these systems in advance?

2). What if you are outside a facility, on the public grid (or other grid), wouldn't the facilities cameras et al be on the relevant corporate grid?
Do you hop grids our put up with the noise?

3). Wouldn't all corporate facilities have their own host, for which all sensors etc reside within?
So therefore to crack a doorlock or fool a sensor you have to breach the host first (assuming you can't direct connect via cable to said device)?

[Whiskeyjack]

1. Matrix Perception to look for hidden wireless icons. More likely, direct connect to an exterior camera to avoid the Host rating then have a look around inside the security system to check out capabilities. Also just checking ShadowSea and asking for tips and the like. This may be a thing that a face is better at discovering.

2. Not if they're wired. Which they probably should be in most cases because corps aren't stupid.

3. Probably, but the host itself is probably wired too, because why not.

[Xenon]

What Whiskeyjack said.

Also,

Knowledge skills of security systems might be a good start. Physical perception by your B&E expert hanging outside the window. Matrix perception like Whiskeyjack explained is probably the primary method..... Face doing legwork using contacts and social skills. Hacker doing legwork using Matrix Search. Etc.

Drawback of wired security is that you can't have a security rigger entering a host from anywhere in the world to get a direct access to all the physical security in the facility... and if someone place a data tap on the wire and turn it wireless on then the two devices connected to either end of the wire will be exposed to a hacker on the grids.

Also; A host cannot, by definition, be wired (or wireless off). A host is an entity that exists within the matrix (so in the example above both wired devices that now is temporary exposed to the matrix will also not be slaved to a host).

All devices will be on the grid the Corp use. Some security devices will be slaved to a host (the device icon is still out on the grid though) but due to the direct connection exploit many of the more public devices will probably not be slaved and just defend with device rating * 2.

You can see and interact with device icons without being on the correct grid and without being inside the host they are slaved to, but you get cross grid penalties and have to fight host ratings if you do.

Jumping to the correct grid is rather easy for a hacker so once you figure out which grid your target is at this is probably one of the first actions (but unless you are a technomancer this will be an illegal matrix action that will start your overwatch score).

Easiest way to ignore host ratings is to establish a physical direct connection with a slaved device. Once you got your mark on the host you can also ignore host ratings by entering the host and there get a direct connection to all slaved devices. Just don't spend too much time in the host. Odds are that Patrol IC will scan your icon within 30 seconds......