[FST_Gemstar]

I thought I remember a discussion on Matrix Assassins, their viability, and how you would go about building one. I don't remember seeing any actual characters. Has anyone made any that they would be willing to post?

[Jack_Spade]

If I remember correctly, the consensus was that it is highly unpractical/almost impossible since someone not in hot sim will have their gear fried before they get into overflow.
So you'd need to do 30+ damage with one strike (or a very controlled strike to fill the matrix condition monitor of the subject up to one before last
All in all it's not doable reliably.

[FST_Gemstar]

Ya it really requires the target to be in VR.

I guess technomancers are the easiest targets, unfortunately. The programs that link-lock and biofeedback would help with that at least.

[Jack_Spade]

That's right.

Paradoxically, people with high end devices are more at risk for such an attack.
If you'd use a Fairlight Caliban with a hardening module, someone could actually fill up your stun track without frying your gear. That person would then be at your mercy for another strike.

[FST_Gemstar]

Kind of wish there were modified databombs that could add biofeedback damage...

[Jack_Spade]

Well, technically you can: Place the data bombed file on your system while you run the biofeedback program and all matrix damage you do inflicts an equal amount of real damage - similarly to the damage someone receives who botches an attack action against you.

You'd need some serious Con to make your victim do that...

[FST_Gemstar]

So you set a databomb file while while you run a biofeedback program, and then con your target to open it?

[Jack_Spade]

Pretty much

[FST_Gemstar]

Doesn't require THAT much of a skillset.

[Whiskeyjack]

Except that's a super niche situation and no competent target will fall for it.

[ScytheKnight]

Getting a target to stay in the Matrix is easy, Link Lock... the issue is, there's no way for a character to deal Biofeedback Damage without dealing Matrix Damage... ICE manages t do it, but Deckers can only piggyback it.

[FST_Gemstar]

Maybe a technomancer/face who actually invests in the Link-lock and biofeedback echoes and use a sprite to sustain a Redundancy complex form to keep someone's deck intact.  Sounds like a lot of work for a niche action.

Oooor... a team effort. A decker locks and hits with biofeedback. A technomancer does the conning and tries to keep the target commlink/deck functioning.

[Jack_Spade]

That probably won't work since you probably can't create enough temporary damage boxes for the device (you'd need around 20 successes)

But a Techno could use puppeteer to force the owners device to access the protected file.

[FST_Gemstar]

That probably won't work since you probably can't create enough temporary damage boxes for the device (you'd need around 20 successes)

But a Techno could use puppeteer to force the owners device to access the protected file.

Hmm... The Redundancy only has to work on the first hit and some physical damage and lock the target. Once a commlink bricks, dumpshock may take care of the rest. Again though... not likely...

[Jack_Spade]

Well, lets calculate it through:

Your target has a Hermes Icon (R5) commlink and above average WIL, INT and BOD (3), while using only cold sim.

The link has a damage track of 11
The victim has 10 stun and 10 physical damage boxes, as well as 3 overflow

Let's say you have dared to cast Redundancy at level 6 (because a registered sprite gave you teamwork dice) and kept all successes: The commlink can now take 15 damage before it breaks.

Best case scenario, you manage to deal exactly that amount with your first attack.

You do 15 DV to his stun track, he resists with WIL+Firewall, averaging 3 successes

His stun track is filled and he is unconscious, while receiving 1 point of physical damage.

That leaves 9+4(overflow)
You now have to deliver at least 20, better 28 matrix damage with one hit.

Still pretty unlikely.

Data bomb method:

You have a cheap deck and use the usual tricks (smoke and mirrors, overclocking, modifications) to raise the Sleaze Attribute to 10 or more. Since you can try to set a databomb with as many files as you like, you are guaranteed to get one that has a rating 10 databomb on it.
On average this bomb will do 35 points of matrix damage.

Now swap out your program for biofeedback and puppeteer the icon of your target to access this file
He receives on average 32 damage after soak - bringing him to 1 overflow. Dumpshock will give him another two on average, pretty likely killing him.

That is still pretty hard to achieve. You'd need at least a R12 databomb to do enough damage against a more robust target.

Still, a starting character could pull it of.