[PirateEye86]

Developed a way to link cyberdecks for more power. Changing modes will require a reset. on twin mode, two of the same programs can be run at once but certain programs wont be able to perform this function. thinking of also using twin mode to get out of Link-Lock. and finally for the purpose of balancing gameplay I am tossing around the idea of Micro Stuttering as a way to randomly throw in a wrench to the decker that wants to live on the edge without paying for higher rated gear. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Erika MCD-1   1   Solo   4   3   2   1   1   3R   ¥49,500      ¥49,500    1   Twin   4   3   2   1   2   3R   ¥99,000   ¥24,750   ¥123,750    1   Siamese Same   6   4   2   0   1   3R   ¥99,000   ¥24,750   ¥123,750    1   Siamese Opposed   3   3   3   3   1   3R   ¥99,000   ¥24,750   ¥123,750                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Microdeck Summit   1   Solo   4   3   3   1   1   3R   ¥58,000      ¥58,000    1   Twin   4   3   3   1   2   3R   ¥116,000   ¥29,000   ¥145,000    1   Siamese Same   6   4   4   0   1   3R   ¥116,000   ¥29,000   ¥145,000    1   Siamese Opposed   3   4   4   3   1   3R   ¥116,000   ¥29,000   ¥145,000                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Microtronica Azteca 200   2   Solo   5   4   3   2   2   6R   ¥110,250      ¥110,250    2   Twin   5   4   3   2   4   6R   ¥220,500   ¥55,125   ¥275,625    2   Siamese Same   8   6   4   2   2   6R   ¥220,500   ¥55,125   ¥275,625    2   Siamese Opposed   5   5   5   5   2   6R   ¥220,500   ¥55,125   ¥275,625                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Hermes Chariot   2   Solo   5   4   4   2   2   6R   ¥123,000      ¥123,000    2   Twin   5   4   4   2   4   6R   ¥246,000   ¥61,500   ¥307,500    2   Siamese Same   8   6   6   2   2   6R   ¥246,000   ¥61,500   ¥307,500    2   Siamese Opposed   5   6   6   5   2   6R   ¥246,000   ¥61,500   ¥307,500                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Novatech Navigator   3   Solo   6   5   4   3   3   6R   ¥205,750      ¥205,750    3   Twin   6   5   4   3   6   6R   ¥411,500   ¥102,875   ¥514,375    3   Siamese Same   10   8   6   4   3   6R   ¥411,500   ¥102,875   ¥514,375    3   Siamese Opposed   7   7   7   7   3   6R   ¥411,500   ¥102,875   ¥514,375                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Renraku Tsurugi   3   Solo   6   5   5   3   3   9R   ¥214,125      ¥214,125    3   Twin   6   5   5   3   6   9R   ¥428,250   ¥107,063   ¥535,313    3   Siamese Same   10   8   8   4   3   9R   ¥428,250   ¥107,063   ¥535,313    3   Siamese Opposed   7   8   8   7   3   9R   ¥428,250   ¥107,063   ¥535,313                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Sony CIY-720   4   Solo   7   6   5   4   4   12R   ¥345,000      ¥345,000    4   Twin   7   6   5   4   8   12R   ¥690,000   ¥172,500   ¥862,500    4   Siamese Same   12   10   8   6   4   12R   ¥690,000   ¥172,500   ¥862,500    4   Siamese Opposed   9   9   9   9   4   12R   ¥690,000   ¥172,500   ¥862,500                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Shiawase Cyber-5   5   Solo   8   7   6   5   5   15R   ¥549,375      ¥549,375    5   Twin   8   7   6   5   10   15R   ¥1,098,750   ¥274,688   ¥1,373,438    5   Siamese Same   14   12   10   8   5   15R   ¥1,098,750   ¥274,688   ¥1,373,438    5   Siamese Opposed   11   11   11   11   5   15R   ¥1,098,750   ¥274,688   ¥1,373,438                                   Cyberdeck   Rating   Mode   Array1   Array2   Array3   Array4   Programs   Avail   Base Cost   Link Cost   Total Cost Fairlight Excalibur   6   Solo   9   8   7   6   6   18R   ¥823,250      ¥823,250    6   Twin   9   8   7   6   12   18R   ¥1,646,500   ¥411,625   ¥2,058,125    6   Siamese Same   16   14   12   10   6   18R   ¥1,646,500   ¥411,625   ¥2,058,125    6   Siamese Opposed   13   13   13   13   6   18R   ¥1,646,500   ¥411,625   ¥2,058,125

[ImaginalDisc]

The tables might be better as an excel file you link to.

Developed a way to link cyberdecks for more power. Changing modes will require a reset. on twin mode, two of the same programs can be run at once but certain programs wont be able to perform this function. thinking of also using twin mode to get out of Link-Lock. and finally for the purpose of balancing gameplay I am tossing around the idea of Micro Stuttering as a way to randomly throw in a wrench to the decker that wants to live on the edge without paying for higher rated gear. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Having a piece of gear be a "get out of link-lock free" card is a bit much.

[PirateEye86]

The idea is that you connect two of the same cyberdecks using a piece of equipment that costs about half of what one of the cyberdecks cost. Once connected they have 4 modes: Solo- only one cyberdeck is active; Twin- both cyberdecks run separately allowing the Decker to launch twice as many programs; Siamese Same- The cyberdecks now work as one where the Attribute=2(Array-1) and gives a larger spread of attribute; Siamese Opposed- The highest and lowest attributes=(Array1-1)+(Array4-1), and the middle attributes=(Array2-1)+(Array3-1) and overall gives a more balanced approach.

Here is a better table

[Michael Chandra]

Given how Firewall is a really big thing in defense, you risk making it near-impossible to hack someone using a Same setup.

[PirateEye86]

I could add a penalty for Firewall to make this an overall high offense, low defense setup?

[PirateEye86]

ok, so far scratch out the idea for Link-Lock. Someone else I'm talking too also said that this can make the Firewall too high. I'm thinking about a penalty where the Firewall always takes a -Rating to the Dice pool. That along with the already low rating of the gear compared to its Array should make this a high offence/low defense strategy. Does this seem balanced enough for the overall price?

[MadBear]

I have to ask, what is the purpose of this piece of equipment?
You need to be careful any time you bring in shiny new gear that can upset the game balance. Something like this can make your Decker unstopable. So to challenge him to start to have opposing Deckers use the same gear, to be on the same level. And now suddenly it becomes the new standard, and every new Decker character has to have one and is going to require Priority A in order to have enough cash to compete. This happens with things like Battle Rifles.
I'm not really sure what your intent is here. I mean, just a quick glance at the stats you provide tells me that running two linked decks gives you about the same stats as just spending that money on one higher end deck.
If you feel your PC Deckers are too limited by the stats of current market decks, then just modify them higher. But keep in mind, if your PCs get the improved stats, so too does the opposition. Be careful of arms races. I tell my players, I'm going to have the enemy use the same tactics you do. Start using sniper rifles? So will they. Grenades? Expect to see a lot of grenades coming your way too.
I like your idea for a one of a kind piece of gear used by a nemesis, a powerful hacker foe that is going to be very, very hard to beat. And of course, predictably, when he's finally taken down his gear is too damaged to be of use by the characters.
If you just feel the number of programs available to Deckers is too small, then it's relatively easy to hand wave a piece of gear about 25% to 50% the cost of a deck that doubles the number of programs running, maybe at a cost of -1 Firewall.
If you want more flexibility in configuring an array, it's just as easy to create another piece of gear that allows you to run one Matrix Attribute 'hot' for a few combat turns, at the risk of taking matrix damage. Available in Rating 1 to 4, gives a bonus to one Attribute equal to it's rating, for D6 Combat Turns(0r D6 + rating, or whaterver), but when it's done you take unresisted matrix damage equal to the rating, or double the rating but resisted normally, or 4 + Rating, or whatever suits you.