[Razhul]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone is really good at crafting and would see a way to craft this:

Cyberdeck aid:

• Needs program slide slots so that you can slide printed slides of the Programs into the Deck from the side
• Needs 4 dials at the top so that you can easily read and change your Matrix Attributes (like http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFohT5s9eDU/UZ4ztDhpkBI/AAAAAAAAAxI/cbHLT6HQXlI/s1600/X-Wing+3.jpg built into the top)

I attached a rough mock-up of what I think would be totally cool to have at the table.

[T-Hatchet]

I love this idea.
here is another take on it.
As a SR5 deck looks like a tablet PC could someone program a similar play aid as an app for a tablet?
Come to think of it something programed in html so that it would run in a web browser on a tablet would fit the bill as well.

[SoulGambit]

I feel like a tablet or phone app is the way to go with this.

[Razhul]

That would be nice, too, but would also require you to activate the tablet every time you want to look at it, no? I'd like my deck to be on the table, visible for the GM and me at all times without having to manipulate it first.

[Valashar]

I'm with Razhul on this. A physical object is preferable to an app or program. It doesn't even need to be that large. If you made it roughly the size of (or a bit smaller than) the tablets the SR5 'deck is patterned after it wouldn't be difficult to use. Perhaps put a stand like is on the back of stand-up picture frames on the back to keep it upright (and to lower the complexity of construction).

As for finding someone to make it, Razhul, have you considered checking crafting-for-hire sites like Etsy?

[Elektrycerze3]

Now that is something I'd back on Kickstarter! Might try to craft it myself though...

Thanks for this awesome idea! =)

[Lagoruthon]

Any sign company should be able to make you one of these.  Also you go to local hardware store and get some lexan/plastic sheets and build it yourself.  The spinning attribute wheels look the hardest part of this design, but still possible with a little thought.

[T-Hatchet]

I don't think you need the spiny wheals for the deck attributes as you have 4 values you can place in 4 stats so something more akin to the slots for the programs would be better.
the virtual machine cyber program messes with your design as that is a cyberprogram that lets you put 2 other cyberporgrams inside it. no idea at present how to handle that. (maybe have 2 more program slots than the highest program rating on a cyberdeck and and a stat slot for the programs stat?)
having some sort of track to monitor your decks matrix condition would also be nice.

[Wakshaani]

That a Cyberdeck is about the size of a tablet, and someone making an app that'd let this be done as part of Shadowrun costuming for a LARP, might have been taken under consideration when the in-game size was discussed. If someone made an app (Android or Apple), that would be AWESOME.

(Heck, who knows? You might be able to talk to the higher-ups and get permission to sell the thing!)

[Razhul]

I don't think you need the spiny wheals for the deck attributes as you have 4 values you can place in 4 stats so something more akin to the slots for the programs would be better.
the virtual machine cyber program messes with your design as that is a cyberprogram that lets you put 2 other cyberporgrams inside it. no idea at present how to handle that. (maybe have 2 more program slots than the highest program rating on a cyberdeck and and a stat slot for the programs stat?)
having some sort of track to monitor your decks matrix condition would also be nice.

Just add more program slots to the front. I drew 7 without counting. Should have drawn 8 to accommodate for that

[PittsburghRPGA]

I think something like the GameMastery Combat Pad (or its subsequent iteration the Pathfinder Combat Pad) would be easier to produce. 

The Combat Pad initiative tracker is the ultimate tool for managing combat in your favorite roleplaying game. It is a wet- and dry-erasable board with a steel core, so the included magnets stick right to it! It is portable—about the size of a sheet of paper—so you can take it anywhere you're gaming.

Use it to quickly and easily track turns. Write the PC's, enemies', and friendly NPC's names on the player magnets using a wet- or dry-erase marker, then place them in initiative order. Use the blue magnets for PCs, black magnets for enemies, and green magnets for NPCs. Hash marks label positions 0–35, making it easy to put the magnets in the correct initiative order. When the order changes, simply slide the magnets to their new places.

The turn indicator magnet points to whose turn it is; never accidentally skip someone again! As the round progresses, slide the turn indicator to point to the next player; it's now that player's turn. At the end of the round, the turn indicator will point to the next round magnet.

The next round magnet serves as a reminder to move the round indicator magnet. The round indicator points to the current round number, so you'll always know exactly which round it is! Write which round spells and effects expire in the notes section of the Combat Pad (e.g. "haste ends round 10"). Additionally, the notes section is a great place to record damage or anything else necessary to make combat run smoothly.

For tactical groups, delaying and readying guides make it simple to synchronize attacks—enemies beware! Slide the player magnet to the proper guide and avoid the confusion common with other initiative tracking methods.

Basically, have preprinted magnets with the various program names, some blank wet/dry eraseable ones for when the new Matrix book comes out and introduces new programs.  Have a bunch of magnetic numbers for the 4 attributes so you can slide them around easily.

But it would still be neat to see this on a tablet or smartphone.

Cordially,

Eric

[thinklibertarian]

I think I just found my next woodworking project...

[Sendaz]

I am thinking MDF board would be ideal as a base and then carved and painted afterwards.

Just need to find the wood router and checking the local hobby shop to see what kind of counter wheels can be had, want something more clicky feeling.

Had a thought, if the board is thick enough, you could drill a hole or two in the side and glue some input jacks for that wired look.

[Razhul]

Absolutely. If I was good at woodworking, I'd make one the size of an Ipad Mini or so and then carve / paint it to look like a proper cyberdeck, themed as a tombstone for my Scythe Hacker character. Oh, one can dream...

[FR34K-$H0W]

So I found this thread after sitting down for character creation at my first ever shadowrun missions game. I had planned to play a pistol slinger street samurai that just dabbled in Decking, until I realized how expensive that was (One does not simply 'dabble' in decking...). So I ended up being the dedicated decker for the group. As I'm completely new to Shadowrun I quickly became overwhelmed by the options and rules for the deckers in the matrix. So I too am trying to build a cyberdeck aid to both look cool and help me remember what everything does.

I'm planning to use a magnetic board concept with a peel and stick magnetic sheet attached directly to the back of some high quality glossy photo paper the deck screen will be printed on. This will allow me to use magnets and magnetic receptive pieces to attach to the board in temporary configurations. So the programs section will have whatever 3 program cards slapped onto it that are currently in use, and the ASDF stats will have small 1" magnetic markers with numbers on them to represent what attribute is where at any given point in time . Attach the whole thing to a bluish translucent clipboard that will hang over the sides in the back, and I'll have a cool grip on either side of the board to hold onto. 

I've attached copies of the board image and the first programs I've created cards for to get some feedback on what people think, or to get any additional advice on useful things I should add. I'm considering adding a small box that contains the numbers for the attribute array, programs, and rating just in case I forget them.

I should also mention that I used a deviantart snapshot that another user had created using a program called rainmeter that creates real desktop interfaces like this for your computer. Because time is a factor in building the first one, I figured it would be easier to edit with gimp/paint to get what I want rather than make a true snapshot of my desktop with only the features I want.