Shadowrun Play > Rules and such

Using (and abusing) AROs -- how's it work?

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Beta:
Just based on the fluff, it sounds like making AROs of various sorts is a routing activity for most denizens of SR 2080.  But from the rules point of view I'm less clear on how it works.

First up, a few assumptions that I'd like to check are correct:


* ARO are specific to a grid, so that something posted only on the public net wouldn't be visible from the local net or corporate nets, and vice-versa
* It doesn't take special gear, status, or approval to create AROs.  That is, a commlink or other matrix enabled device should be all that you need.
* It is possible to create ARO that are not easy to erase (why all that ad spam doesn't get cleared out easily).  Although certainly on corporate grids they retain the power to remove innapropriate content, and do so regularly
* When trying to make an ARO look legitimate (as in coming from a particular company or government department) you use the forgery skill.
Now some examples that I think should be possible for runners, based on my reading of the fluff.  Please talk to me about how you'd handle this under the rules.

1) Inside a corporate facility, post an ARO at the door to a staircase announcing that the staircase is closed, and to please use staircases A or C instead.  (or a washroom, or elevator, or other area that runners would like to be briefly empty).  And have it stay up for half an hour

2) Leave a cryptic ARO at a particular place in public as an indication that you are looking for a meet with someone who knows to look for that ARO (like AR graffiti).

3) Post a bunch of bright, splashy, ARO near the entrance of a business that seem to show the VP of Security involved in bestiality (or maybe just smoking drugs with street scum, or taking a meeting with a rival corp, or whatever else might cause an uproar).  Putting them up on the public, local, and appropriate corporate grids.

4) Post numerous ARO around a neighborhood offering payment for information about a certain person/site/business, leaving a link contact number  (maybe your link for information you are truly looking for, maybe the link of someone you want heavily spammed for a while).  Keeping these up for several days.

Xenon:
Interesting topic.... have not really thought about it like that before.

It seem as if you can create your own AROs (on for example RFID-tags) and then spread them around the area for people to see (think spam or graffiti tags), but that people also can choose to filter out so they don't see your AROs. Not sure different grids will affect this tbh...

If a bar have an ARO displaying the name of the bar it seem as if you can see this no matter what grid you are using.

And that you can share images, tactical information and maps etc very easy. Even in the middle of a firefight. No matter what grid you or the rest of your team use.

Book also suggest that you seem to be able to hack existing AROs without explaining how (AROs don't seem to have a matrix icon of their own so this is possible done by gaining a mark on the device that display the ARO and then using the Edit File action to change the ARO?).

A device will be on one grid but you can access it from anywhere in the world and no matter what grid you are on.

Wireless firearms display an ARO that tells you ammo levels and ammo type loaded.

It seems to be possible to flood a local area with invasive or viral AR advertising, causing noise.

Global grids seem to be full of advertising and marketing (favoring the corporation that owns the grid) which seem to imply that different grids have different advertising and marketing.

Seem as if you can get spam and the amount of spam increase if you have a legal SIN (or a fake SIN that been around for a longer time).

Xenon:
Having said that.... trying to answer your questions:

1. Mark on the door. Edit File to place the ARO. Unclear if you can program it to go away on its own after half an hour (but maybe this can be resolved with an opposed Software + Logic [Sleaze] vs. Logic + Firewall test)

2. Edit File on a RFID-tag and place the RFID-tag in the public space. Or mark an existing device at the location you where you want your ARO and edit it to display the ARO you wish for anyone walking pass.

3. Buy a bunch of RFID-tags and make a bunch of Edit File actions and then place them at the location.

4. Buy a bunch of RFID-tags and make a bunch of Edit File actions and then place them at the location.

Beta:
Ah, you are thinking that ARO are mostly anchored to a device (such as an RFID tag).  I was thinking grid related because I figured they were just anchored on the grid somehow.   I already have stuff to go research :)

Xenon:
Doesn't say so directly but it seem as if AROs need to be "anchored" on a device (often a RFID-tag). Book mention the RFID-tag and AROs quite often. As well as Commlink and AROs. Also Every icon in the Matrix is one of six things: a persona, a device, a PAN, a file, a host, or a mark. ARO is not one of them. It doesn't have an Icon of its own, implying that you interact with a device or a file located on a device.


RFID-tag (device):
geo-tagging: Assigning AROs to a specific physical location, often using RFID tags.


Commlink (device):
You don’t have to be an expert to make an ARO. If you want to send directions to your place from the party, you can draw a line on an AR map and share it with your friends. If you want to point out a person in a crowd for a buddy, you can make an ARO highlighting that person and send it.


RFID-tag (device):
You can choose which of your AROs are seen by which people, so you can keep it private or, if you’re feeling impish, put vulgar AROs on RFID tags and scatter them around town for all to see. Of course, other people can filter out the AROs they don’t want to see, and so can you.


RFID-tag (device):
Tags are used for geo-tagging locations and objects, leaving a virtual AR message for anyone who comes by, employee tracking, access control, owner-contact information for everything from vehicles to pets, vehicle and weapon registration, and so on. They can also be used as tracking devices, periodically transmitting GPS data to the Matrix.

RFID tags are devices (p. 234) that can hold one or more files, but not much else. The physical location of a tag can be found via the Matrix (Trace Icon, p. 243). Tag data can be erased with a tag eraser (p. 441) or programmed with an Edit File action (p. 239). RFID tags have owners like all other devices, but unlike other devices a tag’s owner can be changed to “nobody.”


Commlink
As long as you have some way to allow your commlink or cyberdeck to send you visual information—such as cybereyes, eyeglasses, or goggles—then you can see the AR information the Matrix has to offer.


Image Link (working together with a commlink):
Image link: A standard upgrade, this lets you display visual information (text, pictures, movies, the current time, etc.) in your field of vision. This is usually AROs, but you can display pretty much whatever you want on it. You and your team can use it to share tactical and situational info in real time. An image link is what you need to truly “see” AR and participate in the modern world.

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