NEWS

Internal Rrouter and implanted Cyberdeck

  • 21 Replies
  • 4254 Views

kyoto kid

  • *
  • Omae
  • ***
  • Posts: 925
  • Bushido Cowgirl
« on: <01-29-19/1648:27> »
...so let's say a decker has a Cyberdeck installed in her Cyberarm, would the Internal Router augmentation allow her to interact with the deck without giving her away as being the decker (particularly if she also has a Commlink running as well?).
Forsaken daughter is watching you

Kiirnodel

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Ace Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 1471
« Reply #1 on: <01-29-19/1707:32> »
Assuming a Cyberdeck can be installed in a cyberarm (it has a Capacity cost), then an internal router isn't even necessary. You already have a DNI to the device. The cyberdeck is controlled mentally.

Now, an internal router would potentially do other things, like guarantee that an installed datajack will give Noise Reduction. But an internal router isn't required to use implants.

kyoto kid

  • *
  • Omae
  • ***
  • Posts: 925
  • Bushido Cowgirl
« Reply #2 on: <01-29-19/1712:10> »
...so you don't need wireless to control it?
Forsaken daughter is watching you

Kiirnodel

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Ace Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 1471
« Reply #3 on: <01-29-19/1728:15> »
No more so than if it were implanted in your head or even being held in your hands.

Why would you need wireless to control an implanted device?

kyoto kid

  • *
  • Omae
  • ***
  • Posts: 925
  • Bushido Cowgirl
« Reply #4 on: <01-29-19/1749:16> »
...sill figuring out all this wireless jazz and so many descriptions of technology seem to tout "wireless bonuses ".   

Last time I played/GM'd Shadowrun for a significant length of time was in 3e and then yes, everything was hardwired (including Smartlinks, and you got the full bonus) 
Forsaken daughter is watching you

Stainless Steel Devil Rat

  • *
  • Errata Coordinator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 4572
« Reply #5 on: <01-29-19/1757:20> »
An assumption in the matrix as of 5th edition is that everything talks to everything.  Wirelessly.  Things that don't are wierd (and called "throwbacks").

Wireless bonuses are over and above the general assumption that your gear/implant is already wirelessly communicating with everything else around it... they're literally a bonus for doing so.

Of course being wireless means you can be hacked wirelessly, so wireless bonuses also serve as a meta incentive to keep them running wirelessly despite the threat.  The game wouldn't be any fun if everyone just shut wireless off on everything now would it?
RPG mechanics exist to give structure and consistency to the game world, true, but at the end of the day, you’re fighting dragons with algebra and random number generators.

Hobbes

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 3078
« Reply #6 on: <01-29-19/1910:13> »
I'm not sure what you're going to do on your Cyberdeck with the Wireless turned off.  You could only hack stuff you're Directly Connected to via a UDP cable and you wouldn't need an Internal Router for that.

And Commlink plus Cyberdeck is usually of questionable utility as a Cyberdeck literally functions as a Commlink.  If you need to create a PAN for your team's wireless gear a Commlink is usually needed as your Cyberdeck runs out of slots.  But the new Custom Cyber Decks from Kill Code may wind up with a decent Rating though, depending on your budget.

And if you're a Decker you don't need an Internal Router, you should be invisible when running silent anyway.  True story.  Even the high threat rating NPC Spiders don't get much above 16 dice for Matrix Perception.  Logic + Sleaze should be around 20, even on a budget.  (Mostly because Smoke and Mirrors is bah-ro-ken..)   

Stainless Steel Devil Rat

  • *
  • Errata Coordinator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 4572
« Reply #7 on: <01-29-19/1929:54> »
Yeah when I GM I basically pretend that turning wireless off isn't even a thing.

Having NPCs do it is nothing but a screw-you to deckers (and TMs).
RPG mechanics exist to give structure and consistency to the game world, true, but at the end of the day, you’re fighting dragons with algebra and random number generators.

Marcus

  • *
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2802
  • Success always demands a greater effort.
« Reply #8 on: <01-29-19/2007:54> »
I agree that wireless active is default and even 100% most common state. Ever character need a link, ever character needs an ID. No question asked.
Odds are overwhelmingly that tech character will be active. But many magic concept don't require more wireless activity then their link.

Where capacity rating of deck? Clearly form factor not really a meaningful issue.

*Play-by-Post color guide*
Thinking
com
speaking

Kiirnodel

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Ace Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 1471
« Reply #9 on: <01-29-19/2123:12> »
Core Rulebook, Headware. Cyberdecks are 3 capacity in cyberlimbs if I remember correctly. 4 capacity.
« Last Edit: <01-29-19/2216:55> by Kiirnodel »

Hobbes

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 3078
« Reply #10 on: <01-29-19/2123:27> »

Where capacity rating of deck? Clearly form factor not really a meaningful issue.

Core book, implanted Deck is 4.  P. 453

Marcus

  • *
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2802
  • Success always demands a greater effort.
« Reply #11 on: <01-29-19/2323:32> »
I was expecting more 4's not bad.
*Play-by-Post color guide*
Thinking
com
speaking

kyoto kid

  • *
  • Omae
  • ***
  • Posts: 925
  • Bushido Cowgirl
« Reply #12 on: <02-03-19/1830:39> »
...I looked at the ""custom decks but attributes are fixed and cannot be swapped (making the Quick Config quality the character has moot).  The other drawback is Firewall as at chargen for the EX series (if you want it to run more than one programme) it is capped at 3 due to availability (rating x4).  So neither is a very good option without blowing 10 Karma on the Restricted Gear quality (which only affects availability, not gear rating at chargen).   

As to using a commlink and a deck there is some sense to that, having a firewall that doesn't need to be swapped or use a deck slot to protect wireless gear.  This way the character has a rating 6 firewall up all the time protecting augmentations and gear.  Also as mentioned she can also slave her team's gear through the commlink without sacrificing deck slots (the current deck she has only has 2 programme slots plus 2 if running a VM [I really miss 3e's resources allowance sometimes]). 

For a starting character a Sleaze + Logic of 20 is not easy to attain. Violet has a maximum sleaze rating of 7 (5 on the deck +1 using the Sneak Programme and +1 for the Overclocker quality) including her Logic of 9 (amped up on Psyche with the Narco Genemod) yield a 16. Yes she can get higher with Smoke & Mirrors but that is another programme slot (she currently has 6: 3 on the DatajackPlus and 2 on the deck and one fixed on a programme carrier).  She has 9 Noise reduction (3 antennae, Deck rating [2], Datajack Plus 3 [2], and Vectored Signal Filter [2])
« Last Edit: <02-03-19/1844:39> by kyoto kid »
Forsaken daughter is watching you

Hobbes

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 3078
« Reply #13 on: <02-03-19/2209:54> »
Sleaze 4 Erika, Smoke and Mirrors of 5, program carrier with Virtual machine running Stealth and Signal Scrub.  10 Sleaze.  6 Logic, 2 levels Cerebral Booster, Narco and Psyche.  20. 

Also to consider, Data Anomaly can add another 2.  Overclocker is another +1.  Could theoretically mod the deck for another +1 Sleaze.  24 Dice.  Just sayin.  Totally doable.  Mostly because Smoke and Mirrors is silly.

Gets easier with a Datajack plus as you don't need the program carrier and could stick a Vectored Signal Filter or something else on the deck. 

If +5 Sleaze isn't worth a Program slot I don't know what is.

Stainless Steel Devil Rat

  • *
  • Errata Coordinator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 4572
« Reply #14 on: <02-03-19/2213:58> »
A problem with 20 (or 24) dice pools is you're starting an arms race with the Gamemaster, and the loser is the rest of the party.  Or ghost forbid, another hacker in the party who's gotta deal with those same hosts that challenge with your  20 (or 24) dice pool decker.

Honestly, 12 dice is normally enough to overpower NPCs. 16 or more is just pointlessly showing off.
« Last Edit: <02-03-19/2221:10> by Stainless Steel Devil Rat »
RPG mechanics exist to give structure and consistency to the game world, true, but at the end of the day, you’re fighting dragons with algebra and random number generators.