comStar Firewall alert - PhaseThrough

tweaking tHe rULeS
Gamemasters and players may agree to alter some of the rules of Shadowrun to better fit their playing style. These suggestions
may be appealing to your group.
Using attributes
Rather than relying on technology to determine a character’s
efficacy in the Matrix, Attributes may be factored back into the
various tests in the Matrix. To do this, replace the program or
complex form in each Success, Opposed, or Extended Test with
the appropriate attribute (usually Logic). The maximum number
of hits (not net hits) that can be generated by each Matrix Test is
limited to the rating of the program or complex form in a manner
similar to the way Spellcasting hits are limited by the Force of
a spell (see Force, p. 171, SR4). Agents, IC, and sprites would use
their Pilot rating in place of the attribute required.
Alternatively, the various Matrix Tests can remain unchanged.
Instead, the attribute (again, usually Logic) limits
the hits (not net hits) of every test in the same manner
described above. In either case, each Matrix Action requires
the use of the appropriate program.
Limiting ar passes
To make VR Matrix use even more advantageous over AR,
the number of Initiative Passes allowed to AR users may be
limited as far as Matrix use is concerned. To use this option, only
one Matrix Action per Combat Turn may be performed when
using AR, regardless of the actual number of Initiative Passes
the character may have.
Harder encryption
In the world of Shadowrun, cryptanalysis (the study of
cracking encryption) is far more advanced than cryptography.
To bring the encryption of the 2070s into line with current,
modern cryptography, simply increase the interval for all
Decrypt Extended Tests from one Combat Turn to one minute,
or one hour, or even one day or one week.
Unless it is intended to make secure subscription links very
safe, this should not be applied to signal encryption (p. 65).
tactical cybercombat
For games that would benefit from more tactical options
in cybercombat, change the interval of the Extended Test for
the Crash Program action to one Complex Action. Note that
this does not apply to the Crash OS action.
Security tally
Some groups may want to simulate Matrix systems that
slowly become aware of an unauthorized user, rather than
using the “breaking into a warehouse” analogy. The node
accumulates hits toward an Extended Test threshold; the
number of hits accumulated in this test is called the security
tally. When an intruder first successfully hacks into a node,
add the number of hits the node had accumulated in its
Analyze + Firewall roll(s) to the security tally. Then, every time
the hacker performs actions for which she uses the Hacking
skill, the node makes an Analyze + Firewall Success Test and
adds the number of hits to the security tally. If at any point the
Unwired
security tally reaches the threshold of (14 – node’s System), an
active alert is initiated against the hacker.
A hacker may reduce the security tally by Editing the access
log, as she would normally. Under the security tally rules,
however, rather than making a specific Edit Test, every hit on
the test reduces the security tally by one. If the security tally
is greater than zero when the hacker logs out, there is enough
information to Track the hacker (as in The Access Log, p. 65).
complex forms
While technomancers are not magicians, some players
and gamemasters may wish to bring the rules for the two
closer together. To accomplish this, treat each complex form
as though it were a spell, with no ratings and with the same
cost in BP and Karma as spells for magicians. Then, when
performing Matrix actions with the complex forms, the technomancer
chooses a rating for the complex form, up to twice
his Resonance. The technomancer uses the complex form normally,
and resists a Fading DV equal to half the rating chosen
(rounded down); this Fading is stun unless the rating chosen
was greater than the technomancer’s Resonance, in which
case it is physical.
fading from tasking Skills
Compiling, Decompiling, and Registering can have capricious
consequences when it comes to Fading. Sprite ratings normally
considered safe for a technomancer can occasionally
cripple him. To “smooth out the curve” of Fading due to
the use of Tasking skills, change the Fading DV to half the
sprite’s rating (rounded up) plus the number of hits generated
by the sprite in the Opposed Test.
alternate ar Bonus
Instead of a straight bonus determined by the gamemaster,
the bonus granted by augmented reality is dependent on a
character’s commlink. Rather than taking a set bonus, make
a System + Response Test. Every hit garnered grants a +1
bonus from the character’s AR, as a Teamwork Test (see p.
59, SR4). A glitch may indicate anything from slightly faulty
information to a spam ad opening over an important part of
the heads-up display.
Loss of resonance
Like otaku before them, technomancers’ abilities may be
tenuous. For a game that is harder on technomancers,
gamemasters may include the risk of Resonance loss due
to any or all of a number of conditions: rolling a glitch while
resisting Physical damage or Fading, being the victim of a
glitch by someone performing medical treatment on the
technomancer, severe electrical trauma, excessive disconnection
from the Matrix, or even aging further and further
beyond puberty. This loss affects both the current and maximum
Resonance rating.
Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9
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the Matrix user . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .