| From: | Tzeentch tzeentch666@*********.net |
|---|---|
| Subject: | The Matrix: Satellites V2.01 |
| Date: | Sun, 5 Dec 1999 23:02:07 -0800 |
expanded greatly. I'll appreciate any feedback on this since it will be part
of the homebrew Target: Matrix manual I'm working on. Thanks!
------------------------
<Add to GRIDS, p.26>
SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS
The various satellite constellation networks differ from conventional
RTG grids in that they are only given ratings in Access. This represents the
security measures in place on that particular network. Most Ground Stations
for a satellite constellation are either Orange-5 or Red-5 systems depending
on the service provider and location.
All constellations may also have notes on restricted areas. These are
areas that either the constellation does not cover, has poor coverage or is
actively interfered with. They are not hard and fast geographic areas since
an individual satellites footprint (area it an send and receive signals to)
may be quite large. It is up to the individual gamesmaster if the characters
are in a restricted area.
Angel SatComm
Access: 9
Base Bandwidth: 10
Primary Service Zones: UCAS, CAS, NAN (see note), California, Tir Tairngire,
Tsimshian
Limited Service Zones: Germany, Quebec, Trans-Polar Aleut
Restricted Service Zones: Aztlan, Tir na n'Og, Caribbean League, Great
Britain
Renraku GlobalLink
Access: 10
Base Bandwidth: 10
Primary Service Zones: Worldwide
Limited Service Zones: Tir na nOg
Restricted Service Zones: Aztlan
Iridium Global
Access: 10
Base Bandwidth: 20
Primary Service Zones: Worldwide
Limited Service Zones:
Restricted Service Zones: Aztlan
Nova Teledyne
Access: 10
Base Bandwidth: 30
Primary Service Zones: Worldwide
Limited Service Zones: Germany, Great Britain, Tir na nOg
Restricted Service Zones: Aztlan
Iridium Prime
Access: 11
Base Bandwidth: 50
Primary Service Zones: Worldwide
Limited Service Zones: Aztlan
Restricted Service Zones: None
Ares SkyFire
Access: 12
Base Bandwidth: 60
Primary Service Zones: Worldwide
Limited Service Zones: NAN
Restricted Service Zones: Aztlan, Caribbean League
<Replace Satellite Uplink section, p.29 with the following>
Satellite Uplink
Trace Factor: See below.
Access: +0
Base Bandwidth: See constellation description, p. 26
The satellite-uplink jackpoint is described in detail under Satellite
Links, p.30.
<Replace SATELLITE LINKS, p.30 with the following>
SATELLITE LINKS
With the proper hardware and access a decker may use a communications
satellite to access the Matrix. There is no appreciable signal lag for using
a satellite network though the base bandwidth for a satlink connection is
very limited.
While Trace IC can trace the deckers signal back to the satellites
ground station, it cannot pinpoint the deckers physical location or even
what satellite he is using. The other effects of a successful trace still
apply (see Trace IC, p.45).
To access the Matrix via a satellite, a decker must have a deck
equipped with a satlink interface (see Cyberdecks, p.81). The decker must
then attempt to contact an orbiting commsat and lock onto a clear signal.
The decker makes a Computer Test against a target number based on the
conditions of the attempt and the constellation he is trying to use. This
takes a Base Time of 3 minutes, reduced by 1 minute for every additional
success past the first.
Failure to achieve any successes means that the decker has failed to
contact the satellite or maintain a successful connection. As a rule of
thumb, the gamemaster can allow the character to make another attempt after
d6 minutes.
SATLINK CONTACT TABLE
Constellation Target Number
Angel SatComm 2
Renraku GlobalLink 2
Iridium Prime 2
Iridium Global 3
Nova Teledyne 3
Ares SkyFire 4
Location
Primary Service Zone -1
Limited Service Zone +2
Restricted Service Zone +3
Conditions
Open country, clear view -1
Open country, some obstructions +0
Open Country, mountains or heavy obstructions +2
Suburban +1
Downtown Urban +2
Moving slow (>20kph) +1
Moving fast (<20kph) +2
Weather has no appreciable effect
Black Box
Black Boxes are hacked decoder units that allow the end user to access
and decode signals from a satellite constellation network. They are the
primary security device of the networks and are discussed more fully on
p.88.
Accessing the Satellite
For game purposes once the decker has successfully contacted a comsat
he can attempt an Logon to RTG operation to access it if he has a valid
Black Box. If successful then the decker may make a standard Logon to RTG
operation to any other RTG in the world. Note that the decker may ONLY
perform a Logon to RTG operation from a satcomm. He may not perform a Search
RTF or Trace/Tap Call operation.
Legal Access
The above assumes that decker must spoof and sleaze his way past the
account verification and signal scrambling systems used by the various
satcomm providers. If the decker has a legitimate account with a satcomm
constellation then he can ignore the Access test for contacting any
satellite that is part of his service. Once he connects to the commsat he is
immediately logged on. Note however that even if the decker is using a Black
Box to access the constellation, even if he has a valid account, he must
still perform the Logon to RTG operation.
Acessing other Constellations
The various satellite constellations do not communicate with each
other, this makes it impossible for a decker to directly contact any other
constellation from a satellite. Gamesmasters should also note that this
prevents players from directly contacting other space assets such as
Zurich-Orbital.
Losing Connection
The decker will not lose a satellite connection unless his signal is
interfered with in some way (he starts moving, objects get in way of
receiver). As the decker moves out of the footprint of one satellite he will
be automatically handed off to another satellite in the same constellation
without interruption.
<Replace SATLINK INTERFACE, p.88 with the following>
SATLINK INTERFACE
A satlink interface consists of a small satellite antenna and receiver,
usually mounted externally to the cyberdeck. All receivers will have a slot
for Black Boxes or legitimate access cards. Standard fiber-optic cable
connects the deck to the receiver and another fiber optic cable connects the
receiver to an external dish (if one is used).
A standard satellite receiver is about the size of a large cellular
phone, and in most cases is a standard satphone with an I/O port that the
decker can hook his deck up to. A standard unit has a Concealability of 3
and a Weight of 1 though different units vary in actual dimensions and
style. The units standard antenna gives no bonuses or penalties to
contacting a satellite constellation.
Portable dish antennas are one-half meter across when unfolded and
weigh five kilograms, they have a Concealability of 3 when folded and N/A
when deployed. Portable dishes reduce the target number to contact a
constellation by 1.
Larger units are available but they are not portable and of little use
to the average decker. Fixed-base dish arrays reduce target numbers to
contact a constellation network by 2.
SATELLITE GEAR PRICES TABLE
Item Price
Receiver 800Y
Portable Antenna 200Y
Access Card 25Y (no subscriber key, blank)
Fiber-optic cable 10Y/meter
Black Boxes
Black Boxes are hacked decryption cards for a particular constellation.
They allow the receiver to decode data that the commsat sends, as well as
encrypt data in a format that the commsat will accept. Physically a Black
Box consists of a hacked access card and software running on the cyberdeck
that performs the necessary data processing. Each satellite constellation
requires a separate Black Box program. It is also important to note that
SOTA advances often make older Black Boxes obsolete as new access cards and
algorithms come into use.
The deckers Black Box Rating is used in lieu of Sleaze when attempting
an Logon to RTG operation with the constellation.
Characters with valid access cards do not have to run Black Box
software on their machine.
BLACK BOX CONSTRUCTION
Software Task
Black Box Decoder
Multiplier: 5
Cook Task
Time: Ratingx1 day
Test: Computer B/R (Rating) Test
Parts: OCC @ Memory Size/100, round up
PLC @ Rating
DTC @ Rating
Blank decoder card
Tools: Personal Computer (Memory:Program Size), Microtronics Shop
Installation Task: None
----------------------------------
Feedback greatly appreciated. Especially if I should ditch the concept of
service areas (I liked it because it seems logical some areas would not like
easy access to satphones (Atzlan especially). If this seems generally ok
I'll start writing up some stats for satellite receivers based on current
ones (the Iridium units that work as either cellphones or satphones are
especially cool).
Ken
"If some unemployed punk in New Jersey can get a casette to make love to
Elle McPherson for $19.95, this virtual reality stuff is going to make crack
look like Sanka."
-Dennis Miller
