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Newb question on Technomancy.

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Vid

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« on: <05-17-12/1630:21> »
Greetings Chummers,
My group and I recently got back into Shadowrun and I'm currently in the process of untangling the logic that is playing a Technomancer. In search of new information these forums were my first stop. I have a questions in hopes of increasing my usefulness in meat body combat using my Technomacers abilities to turn tech against my foes. As my first attempt at this didn't go so well x_x.  After reading these forums I hoped you guys could give me pointers on the best way to go about utilizing techmonacer powers in combat with out the use of drones.
Malware is mentioned several times in these forums and in SR4A and UN. However I can't find a reference to what effects they have in game. I've read that I can attach malware to a Comm or a Smartlink or even wifi enabled cyberware...sounds fabulous! That's the kind of shenanigans my techmancer would enjoy. However the rules for what malware actually does eludes me. :-[

I am completely open to any reference to rules or tools I may be missing.

Fyi: I have SR4A, UN, AU, RC. I've also recently come across Smoo's "Hacking the Matrix" guide.
« Last Edit: <05-17-12/1636:09> by Vid »
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NinthSphere

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« Reply #1 on: <05-17-12/1656:17> »
Unwired pg. 120-124

UmaroVI

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« Reply #2 on: <05-17-12/1713:07> »
As a general rule, you really aren't going to be much use in meatspace combat as a technomancer without using rigging in some way, being a very specific type of Logic stream technomancer, or bombing your ability to do technomancy to the point that you really should have just been a mundane hacker. Can I ask why you're avoiding rigging?

The most useful thing you can do that's not rigging is going to be using Machine sprites to rig for you, followed by using Machine sprites to Diagnostics things your teammates use (eg, Diagnostics on a smartlinked gun for a bonus to shooting people).

If your opponents are very, very dumb you can make a nuisance of yourself by hacking their stuff, but if they aren't brain-damaged you are probably not going to be able to hack them on the time-scale of a combat. In the event that your opponents ARE that stupid, what you want for combat hacking is not malware, but Spoof. If they're dumb enough to not be running in Hidden (and especially if they are dumb enough to have wireless enabled on things like their cyberware that really, really shouldn't be online) you can Spoof them to make them waste actions.

Other things to check out: the technomancers in the first link of my sig, and Squee's hacking example here.
« Last Edit: <05-17-12/1715:59> by UmaroVI »

Vid

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« Reply #3 on: <05-17-12/1846:38> »
Unwired pg. 120-124
Thanks!
*Reads Sidebar "Technomancers and Malware" UN pg 121
d0h!
Okay. So the sidebar alludes that it simply hasn't been done yet. (Except by Dissonants and Entropic Sprites.) But SR4A pg 240 says that you can only learn new Complex Forms from other Technomancers and Sprites. Meaning I have to go to one of the Dissonants or Entropic Sprite to learn such things or am I over looking the rules to make your own Complex Forums?
being a very specific type of Logic stream technomancer
I don't know what that means. I know what you mean by "stream" I've just never seen the "Logic stream" before.
Can I ask why you're avoiding rigging?
No reason other than thematic imagery. The character is also the groups Face. With a Charisma of 6 I guess have no excuses for him not to use Sprites to do the rigging for him.

Other things to check out: the technomancers in the first link of my sig, and Squee's hacking example here.
On your Technoshaman character you don't say where the drones you suggest using are listed. Could you cite the books for me please, just so I can look at the ones I can't find?

Thank you for the information.
« Last Edit: <05-17-12/1851:40> by Vid »
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Henzington

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« Reply #4 on: <05-17-12/1920:09> »
I think he might be talking Sourcerors which get Machine sprites
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Vid

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« Reply #5 on: <05-17-12/1923:17> »
I think he might be talking Sourcerors which get Machine sprites
Ooooh that makes more sense.
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UmaroVI

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« Reply #6 on: <05-17-12/1956:57> »
Logic stream meaning a stream that uses Logic+Resonance to resist fade.

Dobermans are in SR4A. Lone Star Strato-9 is from This Old Drone. Flying Eye drones are from Spycraft. Repeater drones are from Unwired.

A few other good drones: pistol-sized weapons with the Pilot upgrade (Arsenal), because they are easy to hide on yourself but still riggable and have (are) a weapon. Ford LEBD-1 (Arsenal) is similar to the Lone-Star Strato-9, but R rather than F if you care about that, and you might not have This Old Drone. The Wuxing Hussar (WAR!) is very high availability (32F) but not very expensive and really good at fighting because of its huge armor score.

All4BigGuns

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« Reply #7 on: <05-17-12/1958:28> »
Flying Eye drones are from Spycraft.

Shouldn't that be Spy Games?
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NinthSphere

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« Reply #8 on: <05-17-12/2214:15> »
Yeah, it's from Spy Games.

UmaroVI

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Vid

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« Reply #10 on: <05-17-12/2354:55> »
Logic stream meaning a stream that uses Logic+Resonance to resist fade.
Oh. Okay.
Quote
Dobermans are in SR4A. Lone Star Strato-9 is from This Old Drone. Flying Eye drones are from Spycraft. Repeater drones are from Unwired.

A few other good drones: pistol-sized weapons with the Pilot upgrade (Arsenal), because they are easy to hide on yourself but still riggable and have (are) a weapon. Ford LEBD-1 (Arsenal) is similar to the Lone-Star Strato-9, but R rather than F if you care about that, and you might not have This Old Drone. The Wuxing Hussar (WAR!) is very high availability (32F) but not very expensive and really good at fighting because of its huge armor score.
Wait...I can put a pilot program in my pistol and have a sprite fire it? How does that even work? Cause I'm at a loss.
Thank you very much for the drone information. The character will have to do a run to get the funds for these things(I'll also have to wait for a paycheck to buy Arsenal, Spy Games and This Old Drone), but the sprites I can do now.

Also are there rules for creating your own Complex Forms other than what's on  SR4A pg 240?
« Last Edit: <05-18-12/0003:04> by Vid »
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TheNarrator

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« Reply #11 on: <05-18-12/0205:47> »
Wait...I can put a pilot program in my pistol and have a sprite fire it? How does that even work? Cause I'm at a loss.
There's a weapon mod in Arsenal that adds a means of propulsion, so the gun will either crawl or fly around and aim itself at people. At that point, the gun is considered a drone.

Psikerlord

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« Reply #12 on: <05-18-12/0649:59> »
that.... is damn cool !

UmaroVI

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« Reply #13 on: <05-18-12/1013:18> »

Also are there rules for creating your own Complex Forms other than what's on  SR4A pg 240?
There's some vague mumblings in Unwired but no, not really. Do note the Biowires echo in Unwired that lets you emulate skillsofts. You do still have to buy the skillsoft, though, so unless piracy is allowed it's far too expensive to really work.

Mirikon

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« Reply #14 on: <05-18-12/1054:56> »
Which is why Biowires isn't broken as all hell.

As for custom forms, it can pretty much be assumed that for most programs you can find a suitable complex form. The problem is finding someone to teach it to you. Where are you going to find a Personafix complex form, or a BTL complex form, for instance?
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