| From: | Brian Johnson <john0375@****.TC.UMN.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Deckers as NPC's |
| Date: | Wed, 8 Jan 1997 17:42:34 -0600 |
The reason behind this is most computer systems are so complicated, and
(I've ruled) non-compatible, that deckers cannot keep up on a 'general'
level. so they specialize against one system (One Major Corp, say) and
leave off on the rest of the stuff. This makes playing a PC decker
pointless, as most deckers are only good for one corporation, plus
(maybe) the phone system. The convenience of this system is that I never
have to deal with a decker as a PC, and can just rule what the decker
finds or can do without having to run any dice or such. It's kind of a
historical model. It's how hacking started out, so why should it change.
The other nice thing is that the decker can either be given to them by
the corporation, or found by the runners, and in both cases, the
reliability of the decker is in question. Do they really work for you,
or are they trying to run some kind of double deal, where they keep you
from finding what you really want.
Deckers are more of a closed community, and most deckers belong to a
'gang' that all work on the same system (Major Corp.) This gives the
corporation a motive to infiltrate these gangs (to prevent really major
losses, or to find out their weaknesses and fix them, and gives the spy
the chance to sell the information to other corporations. Other
corporations may even sponsor the group, helping them out with hardware,
access time, etc.
---
Matrix 2.0 is nicer, but they deal with the 'time-consuming matrix runs'
in a strange way, by getting rid of the matrix entirely. everything is
just generalized down to a single test. It works, but it isn't really a
matrix system, more of a NoMatrix 2.0 sort of fix. We've solved the
problem by removing the problem. It's like, astral space is too
complicated, so let's get rid of astral space.
The other problem I have with VR2.0 is the system they use to resolve
tests. Now all you really need is a rating 10 program and the world is
yours. Admittedly, you need a lot of programs, but skill isn't as big a
deal as it used to be. In VR1.0 there was some stuff you just couldn't
crack. (Try a TN of 14). But in the new system, you'd have a TN of 4!
(with that rating 10 program). So the stuff that used to be impossible
to get (no matter the equipment) is now just a matter of buying the right
program.
