From: | The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU> |
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Subject: | Response to the New Matrix |
Date: | Thu, 22 Jul 1993 21:08:01 -0500 |
Matrix rules submitted by Jason Carter. Let me preface this by saying that
even though I played a decker, I rarely engaged in direct combat, and thus
cannot comment from experience how drastic the changes are.
1: IC have hardening based on rating. This is nice, since it no longer
has to depend on the security rating for defense. It doesn't ad much
(1/4 rating) but will take down the "six-shooter" decker type.
2: Attack program is now essentially a straight "hack attack"; it's now
based on the decker's computer skill rather than a program. I assume the
reason is because in your view, an attack against the program HAS to be
hacked; you can't buy something off the shelf that will effectively nail
encountered IC at the same rate. While I agree that it makes sense, I still
think that Attack should be available as a program, like a general purpose
virus. Hacking dice (or, in your case, Matrix Combat Dice) are used to
reflect the decker's hacking abilities in conjunction with the program.
3: Ah here it is, as I type it in from the printout:
Damage resistance Target Number: Force-Hardening
Ack! Ack! *Force* used as a term in the Matrix? Why not just "Rating"
or even Power Level? I wasn't confused, I just thought it was a little
odd. Magic & the Matrix do not mix. ;)
Overall, it looks pretty good. Just as convoluted as the original
Matrix rules. But they do make sense. I'll decide later if I'll use
them or not, because, as I said before, I don't have much experience
with EITHER set of rules.
J Roberson
If the Net of popular fiction is based on the Internet of today, then
the "New Frontier" that so many hang ten on is over 20 years old.