A few recent threads (particularly
here and
here) have got me re-examining the Matrix rules with a critical eye, going over things I thought I already knew.
Something I found is that of the 6 types of matrix icons, IC is not one of them as I thought. Apparently IC have Personas.. but more to the point: to my amazement I realized PANs are one of the six possible matrix icon types. And in reading up on PANs as a matrix icon as opposed to a wireless functionality, I've just been becoming less and less sure how they work. As matrix icons.
So, here's another "how does it work" thread... A PAN icon is neither the master (a Persona icon) nor the slaves (device icons) but it's prima facie that it must have something to do with a PAN... so WTF
is it, matrix-wise?
As a point of illumination, here are some questions I can't answer:
1) I
presume, but I can't find confirmation, that the PAN master must be the piece of gear running the PAN icon. Your commlink isn't both a device and a persona (only a persona!) but there is precedent for your cyberdeck to run multiple icons (your Persona, and your Agent's Persona). So presumably, it's possible for your commlink to run both your Persona icon and your PAN icon?
2) What physical gear, if any, suffers Matrix Damage/gets Bricked by matrix attacks on the PAN icon? Hell, what do you use for values for a PAN icon to
defend against matrix actions? (if I'm correct on #1, I guess it has to be your PAN master device)
3) What's the rules purpose for PAN icons even existing as distinct from the Persona icon? There's no provision for marks flowing upstream from PAN icon to Persona icon like there are for marks on slaved Devices up to Persona... plus there appears to be no mechanical reason to ever hack a PAN anyway.. you'd just hack the Persona (master of PAN) or the Devices (slaves in PAN).