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worms). To match the opposition, however, hackers also integrate
autosofts into their agents and worms.
Agent autosofts follow the same rules for cost and programming
as drone autosofts.
adaptability (1–3)
This autosoft expands the agent’s capabilities for fuzzy logic
and deductive reasoning, factoring in more efficient decisionmaking
algorithms. This adds additional dice equal to the rating
for comprehending orders and making autonomous decisions (see
Agent Competency, p. 111, and Issuing Commands, p. 214, SR4).
cascading (rating 1–3)
Agents with the cascading autosoft are able to analyze a
target’s defenses, pinpoint weaknesses, and improve its attacks
to better exploit those vulnerabilities. When a cascading agent
misses a target in cybercombat or fails to damage a target when
it scores a hit, the cascading smartsoft analyzes the defenses and
optimizes its attack parameters. As a result, after each failed attack,
the agent’s attack dice pool increases by a number of dice equal
to the Cascading rating. This increase is cumulative—each time
the agents misses or the target neutralizes an attack, the dice pool
is increased again. The maximum number of dice gained in this
manner cannot exceed the node’s Response x 2.
The dice pool bonus gained by Cascading is cleared as soon as
cybercombat ends or the combatant leaves the node.
expert defense (rating 1–3)
An agent programmed with the Expert Defense option is quite
good at defending itself. Each point of Expert Defense adds an additional
die to defense rolls made by the agent, up to a maximum
bonus of 3. Expert Defense is incompatible with Expert Offense.
Unwired
expert offense (rating 1–3)
Agents programmed with the Expert Offense option make
more effective attacks. Each point of Expert Offense adds an additional
die to Matrix Attack Tests, to a maximum bonus of 3.
Expert Offense is incompatible with Expert Defense.
Homeground (rating)
Agents that carry the Homeground autosoft are optimized
to function in a specific node on which they are run. Attuned to
the node’s particular characteristics, they will spot any anomalies
or peculiarities like a breach of security more easily. Apply a dice
pool modifier equal to the Homeground rating for all Matrix
Perception Tests undertaken in their home node.
replicate (rating)
Replicate is a malware autosoft usually integrated into worms
so that they can multiply themselves and spawn to other devices and
nodes (see Node Movement and Accounts p. 110). In game terms, a
worm-like agent equipped with this autosoft draws on the system’s
resources to reproduce itself onto another node to which it has access,
including all the programs it has loaded, as long as these can be
copied (i.e. they don’t carry the Copy Protection program option,
p. 114). The worm makes a Pilot + Replicate (Pilot x 4, 1 Combat
Turn) Extended Test to determine how long replication takes.
drone aUtoSoftS
With the integration of drones in different areas of operations
like security, factories, households, or even war zones, the
demand for adaptability and modular enhancement of general
drone designs to specialized tasks is high. Autosofts, which can
be easily loaded and unloaded from a drone, allow the expansion
of drone abilities when not controlled by a rigger, providing them
with greater autonomy and functionality.
aUtoSoftS and daiLY Life
The ubiquitous use of drones has lead to the development
of a plethora of different and often very specialized
autosofts for drones equipped with the proper mechanical
tools to actually execute the task governed by
the software. The most common autosoft suites are
designed for housekeeping tasks such as cooking, cleaning,
groundskeeping, and home maintenance, allowing
drones to skillfully complete household chores without
constant supervision. Other mainstream autosoft
packages include traffic management, construction, firefighting,
pest removal, and farming/crop maintenance.
One interesting new type of autosofts helps a drone
to respond more effectively to human behavioral patterns
based on the input the drone receives from sensor
software (particularly Empathy software, p. 60, Arsenal).
Many drones have benefited from this new advance in
autosoft programming, including creature-like pet drones
that respond to their owner’ emotional states with realistic
animal patterns, robo-nannies that take care of an
infant’s needs, and, of course, anthroform sex bots.
Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9
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