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Hacking (and control) systems


Dr Divago

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Ok that's the main problem of a cyberpunk setting: the hacker (decker, netrunner, whatever)

i mean "the one who can connect to the internet and do things"

it's the main and MASSIVELY HUGE time sink of old cp2020 rpg, and the mother of all boringness for players; so in attempt to create a new game in a cyberpunk setting i will need to change something. The only viable idea is to play it in a completely narrative idea and use some little "effect" (talents? powers? equipments?) to create what can be defined with the special effect "you enter the net, go inside the data fortress, bypass firewall, hide from security... and finally after 7-8 hour of boring play who made all other player leave and go home, you can turn on the light of the house"

 

Luckily, none of my player whanna play the old-school-netrunner, the one who run inside data fortress across the globe to steal data. Ok. Lucky for me, i can think about it later

However, a player whanna play the "watchdog style" netrunner, the one who can hack street control cameras, following a car hacking inside traffic control center, or disabling an home alarm cracking wifi and turning off the alarm from home automation control center

 

so long, the main problem is: how can a player afford it?

this can be done in two different ways:

a- using talents; if you have talent "control the camera" you can turn off the camera (or spin it and point to another section). If you haven't the talent, you can't.

b- using equipment: if you have the deck/computer/phone/whatever with the right software you can do it; if you haven't you can't

 

either way, they are constructed as low-to-medium level powers (the former one are bought as talent, the latter one as powers in a vpp called "your-personal-hacking-computer")

so main problem is "solved" (not really solved, but no longer a main problem)

 

other bigger problem is: what can you do and how?

i mean: what power i will need and how to build them?

 

so far i thought about that:

- scanning for wifi, dataconnection, radio connection, etc -> enhanced perception, 360°

- controlling cameras/doors/systems connected -> mind control (with cyberkinesis from APG)

- streaming what cameras are seeing -> clarisentience (with postcognition for data stored)

- opening/locking doors -> lockpicking + range OR tk "only to lock doors/gates connected to the LAN" OR a security systems + a lot of PSL/SL on it

- turning off/putting to sleep turrets/security systems -> mind control OR mental entangle

- block a car with robobrain (IA computer inside vehicle) -> drain movement OR mental entangle

- turn a drone/military platform/titan from hostile to friendly -> mind control vs IA of the drone/platform/titan

 

and that's some ideas i got but dunno how to create

- hacking wifi [basic to connect to systems and start doing some more complex hack] -> mind link?? mmmhhh :\ seems a bit odd

- searching/following someone by using pubblic cameras and/or face recon system -> mind scan?? clairsentience megascaled? enhanced perception?

- searching for some clue (ie "search everyone with a blue hat on this area") -> mind scan? enhanced perception?

- hacking a car with robobrain (IA computer inside vehicle) -> mind control? possession? or something more subtle like teleport "only to go where the car go, must pass through intervening spaces, continuative, etc"?

- turning off cyberware of people connected to an hacked wireless network -> suppress cyberware (it could be too powerful x_x )

- wreak havoc in an area and create chaos (turning on fire prevention system, turning off traffic light, etc) to create distraction -> environmental control? darkness?

 

what do you think about?

do you have some ideas?

can someone help me/giving me suggestion on how to build those powers/talents/equipments/whatever?

 

tyvm for your help!

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The way I handled it is sorta like my interpretation of skill-based magical effects.

 

13 INT +30; only for net-running (-1/2), IIF (Cyberdeck and DNI Implants; -1/4), Concentration (0 DCV, -1/2)

11 Netrunning (INT-Based) 21-

 

Player makes his Netrunning skill check with a penalty ranging from -1 for a lightly secured system to a -10 for a military grade system.

 

Then for every point they make their check, they get 20 Active Points of mental Powers to use against the computer being hacked.

 

So if the target computer has an INT of 20, is considered a Mega-Corp data-net (penalty at -8), then a net runner would need to roll less than a 7 to effectively "own" that computer system.

 

I have found this considerably eliminates the "yawn-factor" of net runs and simplifies things considerably.

 

You can also grant complimentary skill bonuses for Computers, Security Systems, and SCI: Mathematics (for algorithm-based security).

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Interesting way to handle running

i was thinking about something similar with a pool of three-four different skills (ie: informatic security system, net navigation, firewall breaching, etc)

in this way you can use it as a fast and play "roll those skills, let me know your result" or for an hard way run (you know, if or when you have a party full of runners)

 

however, what about the simple talent/powers i told on the first post? do you think can handle the "watchdog" hacking?

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I do it all with Mental powers. Just substitute Int for Ego and give the computer an DMCV depending on the strength of the Firewall and Anti Intrusion programs. OMCV would be if the system had active Black ICE programs that were designed to harm hackers.


- hacking wifi [basic to connect to systems and start doing some more complex hack] -> mind link?? mmmhhh :\ seems a bit odd

- searching/following someone by using pubblic cameras and/or face recon system -> mind scan?? clairsentience megascaled? enhanced perception?

- searching for some clue (ie "search everyone with a blue hat on this area") -> mind scan? enhanced perception?

- hacking a car with robobrain (IA computer inside vehicle) -> mind control? possession? or something more subtle like teleport "only to go where the car go, must pass through intervening spaces, continuative, etc"?

- turning off cyberware of people connected to an hacked wireless network -> suppress cyberware (it could be too powerful x_x )

- wreak havoc in an area and create chaos (turning on fire prevention system, turning off traffic light, etc) to create distraction -> environmental control? darkness?


Hacking Wifi, Mind Scan would do it
Searching Following would be Clairvoyance based on Computer Programing roll (requires a successful Mind Control roll)
Searching for a clue (probably would just have the hacker make a CompProg roll, or use Telepathy)
Hacking a car with a robobrain =Telekinesis to hit based on OMCV
Turning off Cyberware= Dispel Cyberware (for all Cyberware would be VERY VERY Expensive) based on OMCV
Create Chaos would probably be mind controling the correct computer to do chaotic things.

I HIGHLY recommend Kazei 5 for Cyberpunk stuff. Just ignore the Superheroic Anime stuff (Mike made it VERY easy to separate the Superheroic stuff out of the low level CyberPunk stuff)
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It turns out they whant something less heroic and more superheroic...

i'm not really sure everyone understand what that's means, but they are all adult and with a lot of roleplaying experience on their shoulder so i don't think this would be really a problem

 

 

and that's means all my concern about hacking is gone: it will be just a form of cyberkinesis, summon drones, and of course an hell of special effect for whatever they would pay with their Characther Points

 

however, thanks for your help... :)

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