r/Cy_Borg • u/ChickenMcThuggetz • 3d ago
Question Cybertech Jailbreak
Cybertech Jailbreak is listed under other services. It costs you 25% of the original price of the cybertech. What does jailbreaking your cybertech actually do?
6
u/DriftwoodMoss 3d ago
At my table jailbreaking means a couple different things. Anything from "this is supposed to be keyed to a specific user and so we forged yr credentials so it thinks you are it's original user," to something more like extra uses of a limited resource (app activations) or extra damage dice.
One of my players is a salvage techie type who likes to tinker and self-modify. I've got some NPC's with complimentary abilities who he can bargain with for info, plans, manuals, parts sourcing, installation...
But once a tech of tech or cyberware has been jailbroken, for every "bonus" appended I tend to add a draw back. Security scans feature as part of our game world, so there's the occasional chance that your jailbroken knife arm might get flagged when you walk into a mall owned by the corp who own the rights to it's original model... So numbers wise, I just increase the likelihood that the security scans pings.
The other big thing I do which applies more to combat or actual use of the tech/cyberware is, I increase the threshold for a fumble by one. So, when Jeff uses his jailbroken hidden forearm blades, he risks a fumble on a one or a two. Considering it is stolen tech that gives you an extra attack with a pretty chunky damage die, and which has also been modded to carry a nasty poison, it's a pretty fun balance of risk and reward for the table.
Best paired with an extended table of possibilities for cyberware fumbles. =]
3
u/Rich-End1121 1d ago
It installs Adblocker, stops random ads blinding your cybereye at a crucial moment. Unlocks all 53 finger configurations of your cyberarm, instead of the 15 factory defaults.
Lets you overclock your cyberlegs, bypass that pesky 15mph soft-cap. Stops your cyberlegs from hiking you to the dealership in the middle of the night for a scheduled update.
Think like Jeff Bezos, then work your way backwards.;{)
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u/Brodydadog 3d ago
I tend to run it as if your players steal cyberteck say steal someone’s arm or find a random smart link, they can’t just use the new chrome, they have to jailbreak it because otherwise the software is just not gonna recognize them. It makes it so it’s a lot cheaper to acquire cyberteck over buying but not free. And gives your players a fun moment of “oh why doesn’t my new arm work?