[1337shinobi]

Ahoy there fellow matrix pirates! I have a quick question about programs. I know that program rating is limited by system rating but if I were to have an insane system score like say system rating 8 would it be possible to code a program with a rating of 8?

[Casazil]

Yes it just takes ALOT of in game time months to years depending on tools work space yada yada...

[Kontact]

Don't forget that Optimization can be added equal to the system rating.

So, with a System of 8, you could potentially run a rating 16 program with 8 levels of Optimization.
It would just be ridiculous.

[Doc Chaos]

It would just be ridiculous.

Ridiculous like, for example, Technomancers with Stealth CF threaded at 12?

[Kontact]

Starting CF 6 - Exploit
+6 Threading
Skill 7 Hacking (with Exploit specialization and Aptitude quality)
+2 Specialization
+6 Rating 6 Sprite - Assist Operation
+2 Hot sim
+2 Codeslinger (exploit)
+3 Probability Distribution applied to the Exploit by a Code sprite
Total: 34 dice for an Exploit.

A single rating 12 sprite instead of 2 rating 6 sprites can take that up to 37, just below the cap ((12 prog + 7 skill)x2) of 38 dice.

Technomancers will always be too much...

[voydangel]

...
+2 Hot sim
...

Are you sure they get the 2 die bonus for hot sim since this is their "default" mode?

[Beansidhe]

Technomancers are said to always be in Hot Sim and get the dice bonus.

[voydangel]

I know they are considered to always be in hot sim, i just don't recall seeing that they get the bonus for it... guess I'll have to look it up real quick

[Doc Chaos]

...
+2 Hot sim
...

Are you sure they get the 2 die bonus for hot sim since this is their "default" mode?

Yes. Their default is "damn fraggin' fast"

[Ultra Violet]

Btw: I'm searching for a source, where is the passage that said that the max sprite rating is limited by the (Resonance x2)?

[FastJack]

Sprites
Technomancers have the ability to compile and register entities called sprites in the Matrix during gameplay. A technomancer can also choose to begin gameplay with registered sprites. Registered sprites cost a number of BP equal to the number of tasks owed. The number of tasks it owes may not be greater than the technomancer’s Compiling skill. The registered sprite’s rating equals the technomancer’s Resonance. The maximum number of sprites a technomancer may have registered into service is equal to his Charisma attribute.

If you're compiling/registering a Sprite, there is no limit on the rating, it just makes the Fading worse. You may also be thinking of the Registering Opposed test between the Technomancer's Registering + Resonance versus the Sprite's Rating x 2 (SR4A, p. 241).

[Bradd]

SR4A only lists device & program ratings up to 6 (pages 222 & 232). How do you get ratings higher than that?

[Casazil]

SR4A only lists device & program ratings up to 6 (pages 222 & 232). How do you get ratings higher than that?

the book has it built in (build and repair section I think) that you can upgrade things 2 levels above what you buy/make.

In unwired are rules and tests to make higher rated stuff over 6 just takes massive time to do so.

[Ultra Violet]

@FastJack
I was really sure that it was written in some book, but I can't remember where. If somebody find the passage please tell me.

[Bradd]

Yeah, that's SR4A p. 222, but the upgrade modules only go up to rating 6 (and you can only get rating 5 as a starting character).

Apparently the rating 6 limit for software only applies to purchased software, because the coding rules (SR4A p. 228, Unwired p. 118) don't mention any limits or costs. I figured it worked like hardware & mechanical skills, where you can generally only make existing things at half cost, but apparently software is different, and requires only time. Therefore, if you have the time and skill, you could code your own software with Rating 12 + Optimization 6 to run on System 6 devices.