comStar Firewall alert - PhaseThrough

Mute
Program Types: Common, Hacking
The Mute option is intentionally designed to confound
and confuse node alarm systems. If a program
with the Mute option is used in an action which triggers
an alarm, the alarm is temporarily delayed for one full
Combat Turn.
optimization (rating)
Program Types: Common, Hacking, Autosoft, Simsense
Under normal circumstances, a node’s System rating
limits the rating on any software run on that node (see
System, p. 213, SR4). A program with the Optimization
option is more effective at running on a system with limited
resources. Add the Optimization rating to the rating
of the System (to a maximum of twice the System’s rating)
to determine the maximum rating at which the program
can operate.
psychotropic (rating)
Program Types: Black IC-capable combat programs or
Simsense
Psychotropic software uses brute-force simsense
biofeedback to imprint a victim with a certain lasting
psychological effect. Each Psychotropic program inflicts
a specific effect in the form of a Negative quality. In consequence,
the victim’s subconscious is “programmed” with
subliminal messages without his knowledge.
The Psychotropic program option can only be added
to a program that features some kind of biofeedback subroutine
(for example, a Black IC program like Black Hammer
or a program with the Biofeedback program option).
Psychotropic-modified attacks function in the same
manner as normal Black IC attacks (p. 231, SR4), with
the following addition: each time a character takes damage
from a Psychotropic Black IC attack, the user must
engage the program in an Opposed Test pitting Willpower
+ Biofeedback Filter vs. Black IC rating + Psychotropic
rating. If the Psychotropic program scores more hits, the
subroutine implants its psychotropic effect in the character’s
mind. See the Psychotropic-Induced Qualities sidebar
for suggestions on appropriate qualities.
Note that a character afflicted with a psychotropic
effect will not be consciously aware of it. When he first experiences
the effect, his initial response will be to rationalize his behavior.
Others must point out the character’s unusual behavior before he
can grasp the true cause of the effect. At the gamemaster’s discretion,
inflicted qualities may be bought off with Karma (see p. 265,
SR4) or erased with PAB reprogramming (see p. 196).
registration
Program Types: Common, Hacking, Autosoft, Simsense
A program that is equipped with the Registration option was
bought and registered online via a valid (appearing) SIN, which
is written into the registry of the program. As a consequence,
the software is regularly updated by the company that sold the
program and thus is immune to degradation (see Legal vs. Pirated
Software, p. 108).
Unwired
pSYcHotropic-infLicted QUaLitieS
Because psychotropic conditioning has a limited period
of time to imprint a victim’s brain, only the crudest
form of psycho-emotional effects may be applied. Finer
brainwashing techniques require time, expertise, and a
more sophisticated regimen of simsense and drugs (see
Programmable ASIST Biofeedback, p. 189). Instead, psychotropic
IC uses basic cerebral imprints that are effective
on almost all metahumans.
The gamemaster has final say on which qualities psychotropic
IC may inflict on a target. A few suggestions
are provided below. Gamemasters are also encouraged to
create their own, similar, qualities.
• Addiction (Mild or Moderate) p. 80, SR4
• Augmentation Addict p. 21, Augmentation
• Chronic Disassociation
Syndrome p. 163, Augmentation
• Codeblock p. 81, SR4
• Combat Paralysis p. 81, SR4
• Delusion p. 163, Augmentation
• Emotion Leak p. 163, Augmentation
• Incompetent p. 82, SR4
• Mania/Phobia (up to 15 BP) p. 164, Augmentation
• Media Junkie
(Mild or Moderate) p. 37
• Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder p. 164, Augmentation
• Reality Impaired p. 38
• Scorched p. 83, SR4
• Simsense Vertigo p. 83, SR4
• Virtual Personality p. 38
Rather than inflicting a full-blown quality, psychotropic
IC could also inflict a short-term emotional adjustment
lasting for (rating) hours. This may include effects such
as aversions to certain things, desire for a certain product,
complacency or lethargy, guilt, paranoia, phobias, and so
on. These may be associated with a specific trigger, such as
an aversion to the Matrix, an insatiable urge to eat Nerps,
a phobia of trolls, or frothing rage at the sight of Lone Star
officers. Short-term memory loss is also an option.
Since the software is registered, however, it leaves a datatrail
that allows its usage to be more easily tracked. As a result, hackers
have to be more careful about “cleaning up” behind them.
In game terms, decrease the threshold of any attempts to track
a user who has used a registered program by 1 for each registered
program used. Likewise, increase the threshold of any attempt to
Edit the access log (p. 65) or otherwise eliminate traces of the datatrail
by 1 for every registered program used while hacking a node.
timer
Program Types: Common, Hacking, Autosoft, Simsense
The timer option counts down to a specific time or records
the number of times a program was used (or played in case of
BTLs). As soon as the pre-chosen trigger is met, the program
Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9
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