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Repairing Implanted Electronics

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baronspam

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« on: <12-25-13/1745:51> »
So, your implanted comlink or cyberdeck gets bricked.  Do you need a bone saw and some Bactine to work on it?  Is there an access port?  I can't find anything specifically in SR5 core rules.  Has this come up in a game for anyone?

Michael Chandra

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« Reply #1 on: <12-25-13/1801:44> »
General concensus seems to be "we assume there's an easy access panel for you to use so let's just handwave it".
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CanRay

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« Reply #2 on: <12-25-13/1838:17> »
Mungo's Implanted Commlink Repair consists of a heavy mallet.  ;D
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baronspam

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« Reply #3 on: <12-25-13/1930:48> »
Was just listening to Critical Glitch podcast, and they mentioned bricking.  Their version was that it was basically a software issues.  A bricked cyberdeck was not literally fried, but basically had its operating system corrupted.  The repair is not getting out a soldering gun an reattaching wires, but was more of an issue of flash the bios, re-install the OS, reconfigure the command options, etc.  For that you wouldn't need to break out the bone saw, just plug into a datajack or maybe even fix it wirelessly if they can get the bios to reset.   

DeathStrobe

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« Reply #4 on: <12-25-13/2013:14> »
Was just listening to Critical Glitch podcast, and they mentioned bricking.  Their version was that it was basically a software issues.  A bricked cyberdeck was not literally fried, but basically had its operating system corrupted.  The repair is not getting out a soldering gun an reattaching wires, but was more of an issue of flash the bios, re-install the OS, reconfigure the command options, etc.  For that you wouldn't need to break out the bone saw, just plug into a datajack or maybe even fix it wirelessly if they can get the bios to reset.

That sounds so boring. I'd go with a panel exploding with sparks flying out of people's heads. And then the decker has to go in with a soldering iron and put in some new fuses, motherboards, or whatever. But I'm a big fan of hollywood hacking and rule of cool.

KarmaInferno

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« Reply #5 on: <12-25-13/2250:32> »
Well, the fluff mentions minor smoke and fried electronics, but the actual rules mechanics don't support that fluff - repairs are just a couple of skill checks.

If they meant it to just be software bricking the fluff probably needs to be changed. Software bricking is kinda more 'realistic' anyway, it's actually very difficult to physically damage most electronics with just hacking.


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All4BigGuns

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« Reply #6 on: <12-25-13/2313:28> »
Well, the fluff mentions minor smoke and fried electronics, but the actual rules mechanics don't support that fluff - repairs are just a couple of skill checks.

If they meant it to just be software bricking the fluff probably needs to be changed. Software bricking is kinda more 'realistic' anyway, it's actually very difficult to physically damage most electronics with just hacking.


-k

A couple of skill checks for things not inside the body. There's no way that you're just doing such a thing on an implant that quick--it's going to require surgery.
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Vidnaut

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« Reply #7 on: <12-25-13/2345:55> »
Well, the fluff mentions minor smoke and fried electronics, but the actual rules mechanics don't support that fluff - repairs are just a couple of skill checks.

If they meant it to just be software bricking the fluff probably needs to be changed. Software bricking is kinda more 'realistic' anyway, it's actually very difficult to physically damage most electronics with just hacking.


-k

A couple of skill checks for things not inside the body. There's no way that you're just doing such a thing on an implant that quick--it's going to require surgery.

So, if it took the Essence option for implanting the cyberdeck/commlink it's some combination of Medicine, Cybertechnology, and Hardware tests?  If Capacity, just Cybertechnology and Hardware?

Ryo

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« Reply #8 on: <12-26-13/0046:03> »
If it was meant to be a software issue and not a hardware issue, then the test to fix bricking should be Software, not Hardware.

Personally though, I've gone with the assumption that an implanted deck or commlink is like a cortical stack from Eclipse Phase. You have a port in the back of your head, and if you need to slide the ware out to make repairs, you can do so without cracking your skull open.

Vidnaut

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« Reply #9 on: <12-26-13/0124:15> »
If it was meant to be a software issue and not a hardware issue, then the test to fix bricking should be Software, not Hardware.

Personally though, I've gone with the assumption that an implanted deck or commlink is like a cortical stack from Eclipse Phase. You have a port in the back of your head, and if you need to slide the ware out to make repairs, you can do so without cracking your skull open.

Well, only a datajack is limited to that kind of thing.  Commlinks and Cyberdecks have the option for taking up capacity in cyber-limbs/torso/skull in lieu of the essence cost.

Xenon

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« Reply #10 on: <12-26-13/0224:43> »
Most people overestimate how much damage bricking do.
A device will have 100% functionality as long as it is got even a single matrix condition box.
To repair a single matrix condition box you only need a single hit on a Hardware + Logic [Mental] test.
Extra hits can be used to cut the repair time in half.
4 hits on the test let you restore full functionality of a bricked internal control rig in less than 8 minutes.

A couple of skill checks for things not inside the body. There's no way that you're just doing such a thing on an implant that quick--it's going to require surgery.
Not according to Aaron.

(and what surgery take less than 8 minutes to perform)
« Last Edit: <12-26-13/0226:37> by Xenon »

Medicineman

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« Reply #11 on: <12-26-13/0316:23> »
ahemm
BBB Page 228 Bricking:
Quote
If the Matrix Condition Monitor of a device is completely
filled, the device ceases functioning. This is
called bricking a device. Devices that are bricked never
fail non-spectacularly. Smoke, sparks, pops, bangs, sizzles,
nasty smells, and occasionally even small fires are
common features
of a device in the process of becoming
a brick.
It seems to mee that anything bricked is in need of Repair  and that its NOT a mere Software problem !
And I think that Ingame consequences of a burnig cerebral Comlink or a Reflexbooster which is connected to your Spiral Cord and gives of electrical Sparks are quite severe

with a sizzling Dance
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firebug

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« Reply #12 on: <12-26-13/0324:16> »
Yeah, with the fact that it's a hardware check and the description of bricking including things short-circuiting and the like, saying how they 'never fail non-spectacularly' it's pretty clearly some physical damage.  However, I also think it's obvious that implanted decks and commlinks are accessable without surgery.  After all, you don't require a datajack implanted alongside it, and it doesn't prevent you from direct-connecting it to stuff, so you likely have a panel of false-skull that can be lifted in order to access its plugs and what not.

It's also not unreasonable to assume you need a Hardware Kit to make the repairs.
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Xenon

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« Reply #13 on: <12-26-13/0455:19> »
fluff make it look a lot more severe than crunch tell us it actually is...

baronspam

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« Reply #14 on: <12-26-13/0955:13> »
fluff make it look a lot more severe than crunch tell us it actually is...

Well said.  Fluff indicates smoke and burned plastic, crunch indicates its closer to re-installing software.