| From: | Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Matrix Revision? What are you doing MAN? |
| Date: | Mon, 26 Apr 1993 11:09:55 -0400 |
comment here to save my sanity. (And provide a little much needed
diversion.)
I am all for someone changing ANY (EVERY) game to suit there own
styles of play, but I just want to take an objective view of decking
for SR. At least I am going to try to be objective.
Deck: defines persona, and holds programs to execute on other machines,
also stores downloaded files.
Programs: define "special" actions of personas (i.e. Attacks, scans,
etc).
Hacking Pool: A measure of general ability (from skill, deck, etc.).
This allows you to execute a program on the fly. One of my most
treasured possessions is this ability. Programs on the fly take up
very little space and can save your gonads when in a desperate
situation.
Someone, the original poster I think, said that decking really had
very little skill involved. Well, I think it really does. Below is
why.
It seems to me that if a character is played as a TRUE decker, not a
decker wanna-be, then the character would have:
Custom built deck (Computer (B/R) skill)
Custom programs (Computer skill)
Both of these require skill and imagination ("So what does your Attack
4 One-Shot, Area-Effect look like? And what does it do exactly?").
This is where the deckers skill should and does shine in SR.
The character would not BUY a deck, or BUY stock programs. From a GM
stand point, I feel any character who relies on BOUGHT programs and
decks is just playing a decker for purely power purposes. (read "we
need a decker?", "OK, I will use munchy. The guy with Tech A, Atts. B
and Skills C, and Firearms of 6") These are the kinds of characters
who are played just because a decker is needed, but the player would
rather play a Sam. I really dislike this. You have to really WANT to
play a decker. Anything else is just RoLL-Playing.
I feel the SR decking rules are the best option (including GURPS, CP
2020, Cyber HERO, and CyberSpace). I have read through all of these
games and like SR the most. The RoLe Playing is much better in SR for
deckers. Decking involves, running custom programs, being able to
adapt to unusual circumstances (Role-Playing Sculpted Systems or new
IC constructs, etc.), and having the correct tech. ability (Skills).
There could be more skills added to enhance things, Like someone said,
IC recognition, etc. But these might be Special Skills that would say
give extra dice to certain tests. But I think the real power should be
in the programs and deck. The decker has to know how to use them
effectively.
And it is RoLe-Playing after all, More realism can be implemented
easier by the GM than by adding rules. Weigh the rules and realism
carefully. "Let not one over RULE the other".
Well I am done babbling incoherently now. Just needed to post because
I was suffering from list withdrawl, over working, and under sleeping.
CYA, ...Peace!
-- Quiktek
a.k.a. Todd Montgomery
tmont@****.wvu.edu
