Shadowrun

Shadowrun Play => Rules and such => Previous Editions => Topic started by: theoretical_cat on <03-29-12/2209:04>

Title: Several questions (AR, Knowledge skills, and Adepts) (SR4)
Post by: theoretical_cat on <03-29-12/2209:04>
I'm new to Shadowrun, so I have lots of questions from building my first character (which I'm still working on).

My character, for personal/backstory/RP reasons, does not have any implants.  However, I'd like her to be able to access the Matrix and use AR like pretty much everyone else, though she almost definitely will not use full VR at any point.  Is it possible to use glasses + AR gloves in such a way that others might not be able to tell what she's doing/typing?  For example, could she be playing with a ring (that happens to be an AR ring) and have it interpreted properly by her commlink?  She's largely a face type character, so appearance is important.  Subvocalization mic is fine, but I want to have a silent option.

Can contacts with image link be hacked? If so, what could the hacker do?

Is it possible for my character to have her commlink broadcast her fake SIN, but contact people using her alias (without obviously linking the two)?  Keep in mind that she is not a hacker... so if she can't do it, it won't happen.

In the knowledge skills (I'm looking at page 129 of SR4-20th), are the "Skill Examples" considered skills or skill groups?  Are those examples narrow enough to consider a skill (e.g. UCAS Politics in Street Knowledge vs. Politics in general, as I understand the description on the previous page).

This character is an Adept, and I was wondering... all of these magic sections include adepts in the people who can use them, but do spirit guides and/or foci do any good for an Adept? I'm thinking no, but I'm not sure.

Another question I thought of while writing all that--when it comes do disguises, is there any advantage of nanopaste vs. latex mask?  Am I correct in assuming that the nanopaste is also single-use?
Title: Re: Several questions (AR, Knowledge skills, and Adepts) (SR4)
Post by: rasmusnicolaj on <03-30-12/0142:41>
I'm new to Shadowrun, so I have lots of questions from building my first character (which I'm still working on).
Welcome and have fun  ;D

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My character, for personal/backstory/RP reasons, does not have any implants.  However, I'd like her to be able to access the Matrix and use AR like pretty much everyone else, though she almost definitely will not use full VR at any point.  Is it possible to use glasses + AR gloves in such a way that others might not be able to tell what she's doing/typing?  For example, could she be playing with a ring (that happens to be an AR ring) and have it interpreted properly by her commlink?  She's largely a face type character, so appearance is important.  Subvocalization mic is fine, but I want to have a silent option.
I would say yes. Also use a trode net or simrig for direct mental control of your AR. Also everybody use AR all the time so you really don't need to hide you are doing it.

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Can contacts with image link be hacked? If so, what could the hacker do?
Yes if the hacker get within your signal range. Optional you could just turn the wireless off and skinlink them.
The hacker could send false images and information to you or just drown your vision in spam effectively blinding you etc.

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Is it possible for my character to have her commlink broadcast her fake SIN, but contact people using her alias (without obviously linking the two)?  Keep in mind that she is not a hacker... so if she can't do it, it won't happen.
The obvious choise is owning 2 commlinks. A cheap model just for the Fake SIN and a better one that runs in hidden mode for shadowrunning biz.

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In the knowledge skills (I'm looking at page 129 of SR4-20th), are the "Skill Examples" considered skills or skill groups?  Are those examples narrow enough to consider a skill (e.g. UCAS Politics in Street Knowledge vs. Politics in general, as I understand the description on the previous page).
They are skills. There are no groups for knowledge skills. I would have UCAS Politics as a skill and let it a small amount of general politics be part of it. CAS politics is probably a lot like UCAS politics but Taiwan politics is probably a lot different.

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This character is an Adept, and I was wondering... all of these magic sections include adepts in the people who can use them, but do spirit guides and/or foci do any good for an Adept? I'm thinking no, but I'm not sure.
You do not want a mentor spirit. It is to expensive for a bonus that is mostly geared toward spellslingers. You can use weapon foci but most other types of foci are again made for spellslingers.

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Another question I thought of while writing all that--when it comes do disguises, is there any advantage of nanopaste vs. latex mask?  Am I correct in assuming that the nanopaste is also single-use?
Nanopaste is single use and last 24 hours. They give the same bonus to disguise and when I read the entry on p. 338 I don't se the big difference.

Regards
Rasmus