Am I right in thinking that at present whilst a character can immerse themselves in the matrix and perceive everything within 100m, and learn huge amounts about other search areas with matrix perception, they can somehow either know, process and recognise anything within 100m instantly. I'm not entirely comfortable with this. They are always within 100m of their commlink, deck or rig whilst in the matrix, so this would mean they'd instantly know marks were on them (if not where they come from), which doesn't seem to fit with the note on pg 236 that with Attack you know you are under attack, but with Sleaze you do not.
If this is right, I'm considering a house rule along the following lines:
Whilst you can see anything within 100m in the Matrix, it doesn't follow that you notice every change in it (just as Perception isn't just whether you can see/hear/etc something, but whether you notice it).
As such I'd allow a perception test, using Matrix Perception dice pool (ie Computer+Intuition [Data Processing]) to notice changes within 100m (or on any icon on which you have a mark).
Perception test modifiers are based on both perception and matrix rules:
Perceiver is distracted (eg currently focussing on a matrix target, involved in non-matrix activity) : -2
Perciever is specifically looking for it (eg looking for a mark appearing on a particular icon) : +3
Noise (from jammers, distance to icon, area type ) : -Noise Rating, after adjusting for Noise Reduction
On Public Grid (note, applies even if you are noticing something on your own device, those adverts are distracting) : -2
In Hot Sim VR : +2
Running silent : -2
Perception Thresholds would be:
Obvious - 1 - eg New Icon appearing or existing one disappearing
Normal - 2 - Icon carrying out matrix action
Small - 3 - Mark appearing or disappearing on any icon
For me the most important thing about this is probably dealing with the whole "set up agents to monitor my devices constantly" issue that comes up, turning it into a single dice roll like any other perception test. It also gives you a chance to notice you are being hacked before you get blown away, which can otherwise easily happen. Or things like noticing a matrix alarm has gone off.
Thoughts? (note, not playtested at all)
