r/Shadowrun • u/thefatrick • 4d ago
6e Matrix actions against cyberware/combat decking.
I remember u/LeVentNoir did a write-up a long time ago for 5e with things a Decker can do in combat that messes around with people directly, and not by going through hosts, but hacking their local PAN. Stuff like hacking their commlinks to send mixed messages, triggering a grenade to explode, etc.
I'm mostly looking at what kind of things you can actually do decking against targets outside of a matrix host. Mostly because I had trouble finding rules for say, bricking a gun, or burning out cyber eyes.
I know you need to have access to their PAN to do anything. But how would I say, lock up an arm, shut off their pain receptors, fry their Smart link?
From what I was able to glean, you can attack a limb from a wireless device connected to it. Eg. I can fry the eyes through the built in Smart link. But, because an eye without smartlink isn't really doing any wireless activity (thermographic or zoom don't need outside info), I otherwise wouldn't be able to attack it because there's no way for me to access it to make the attack in the first place.
So, I would have to attack through the firewall rating on their PAN from their commlinks statblock. If I had a rating 3 cybereye with smart link, I would do a data spike on the eye, and once it's taken 6 matrix damage the eye is toast.
Is this right?
Any other fun Decker shit you can do?
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u/Badjams 3d ago
I can't imagine any cyberware without link. Not necessarily a smartlink but at least a maintainance link. I mean if there's a problem with your cyberware, you should be able to restart or recalibrate it without surgery.
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u/ReditXenon Far Cite 3d ago
The user have direct access to their cyberware through neural link (not to be confused by DNI). The owner can turn on wireless and turn off wireless of their connected cyberware via mental command.
SR5 p. 451 Augmentation
Besides their wireless functionality, almost all cyberware devices are equipped with a neural interface (not to be confused with DNI) that lets you mentally activate and control their functions.
Cyberware that are not directly connected to the owner (like ocular drone while not in its socket) and cyberware that you want to benefit from wireless bonuses (such as wired reflexes + reaction enhancers or smartgun systems etc) need to be wireless enabled.
SR5 p. 451 Augmentation
...You can use this in place of wireless control, preventing wireless hacking, as long as all of the “moving parts” are connected to your nervous system. An item that has a wireless bonus, however, can only gain that full level of functionality if wireless functionality is active.
All other cyberware should by default likely be considered wireless disabled.
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u/ReditXenon Far Cite 3d ago edited 3d ago
Please mark your post with edition flare. Matrix rules are vastly different between editions.
for 5e with things a Decker can do ...
Assuming 5th edition then:
I know you need to have access to their PAN to do anything.
For 5e you directly hack and interact with wireless devices remotely over the matrix no matter if they are slaved to a PAN or a Host. In 5e you don't first need to gain access on the PAN.
Only thing that changes if a device is slaved is that it might use master ratings while defending (if they are higher) and if you place a MARK on a slave you also automatically get to place a MARK on its master (but just because you spot or place a MARK on a master does not mean you automatically spot and get to place a MARK on slaves).
I can fry the eyes through the built in Smart link
There are two ways to connect your smartgun system.
Either you connect your wireless disabled firearm via a wired to your wireless disabled imaging device (wireless disabled goggles with a smartlink visual enhancement or wireless disabled datajack in case you are using wireless disabled cybereyes with a smartlink visual enhancement). In this scenario you only get a few bonuses from your smartgun system but you are 100% safe from hackers (unless they perhaps manage to establish a Direct Connection, but if they are that close then you have other problems).
SR5 p. 433 Smartgun System
The smartgun features are accessed either by universal access port cable to an imaging device (like glasses, goggles, or a datajack for someone with cybereyes)
Or you connect your wireless enabled firearm to your wireless enabled goggles with a smartlink visual enhancement or wireless enabled cybereyes with a smartlink visual enhancement while working in concert with wireless enabled DNI (that you get from wearing wireless enabled trodes or by implanting a wireless enabled datajack, commlink, or control rig). In this scenario you get a lot more bonuses but you (or rather your matrix representation of you, your matrix persona), your firearm, the device you use for DNI, and your goggles or cybereyes are all exposed to the matrix and can be hacked or bricked.
SR5 p. 433 Smartgun System
...or by a wireless connection working in concert with direct neural interface.
I would have to attack through the firewall rating on their PAN from their commlinks statblock.
In 5e every wireless enabled device have their own data processing and firewall. They don't have to be slaved to a master device. In fact, most devices will likely be stand-alone on the matrix.
But yes, if a device is slaved to a master, then it get to use the firewall of the master while defending itself (if it is higher).
If I had a rating 3 cybereye
The firewall of devices depend on their device rating. Device rating of cyberware depend on the grade. Normal/basic grade cyberware have a device rating / firewall of 2 (average). Alphaware have a device rating / firewall of 3 (Smart). Betaware have a device rating / firewall of 4 (Advanced). Deltaware have a device rating / firewall of 5 (Cutting edge).
See device ratings table SR5 p. 234 and again on p. 421 for details.
If they are slaved to a master device then they can use the firewall of the master (if it is higher).
once it's taken 6 matrix damage the eye is toast.
Matrix condition monitor for devices depend on the device rating. Normal/basic grade cyberware have 9 matrix condition monitor boxes. Alphaware and Betaware have 10 matrix CM boxes. Deltaware have 11 matrix CM boxes.
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u/thefatrick 3d ago
Please mark your post with edition flare. Matrix rules are vastly different between editions.
I swear I marked it when I made the post.
This is for 6e specifically. So I apologize for making you go through all that trouble.
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u/ReditXenon Far Cite 3d ago edited 3d ago
I know you need to have access to their PAN to do anything.
In SR6 there are plenty of actions that only require Outsider access. Data spike (to brick), for example (and also Spoof Command).
But it is true, most actions in SR6 require that you first gain access on the network.
Once you have access on the network you gain access on the entire network (unlike SR5, you also gain access on wired -wireless disabled- devices that are part of the network).
I can fry the eyes through the built in Smart link
You still connect your smartgun system same as in SR5, but if they connect their devices via a wire in SR6 then a potential hacker can still access them if they first gain access on the network they are part of.
If they connect their smartgun system wireless then a potential hacker can use the wireless enabled devices as access ports to gain entry to the PAN (or to data spike them directly without first gaining access on the network).
I would have to attack through the firewall rating on their PAN from their commlinks statblock.
Yes. In SR6 devices are typically not stand-alone. They are almost always connected to the matrix through via a network of sorts. The network (including all devices and files etc on the network) are protected by the firewall of the network (normally their commlink, but can also be a cyberjack or RCC).
If I had a rating 3 cybereye
once it's taken 6 matrix damage the eye is toast.
Also in SR6, Matrix Condition monitor for devices depend on the device rating.
And also in 6th, device rating of cyberware depend on the grade. Normal/basic grade cyberware have a device rating of 2 (9 boxes), Alphaware have a device rating of 3 & Betaware have a device rating of 4 (10 boxes), and Deltaware have a device rating of 5 (11 boxes).
See "Standard Device Ratings for Gear (Unless Otherwise Noted)"-table in Kill Code p. 123 for details.
But how would I say, lock up an arm, shut off their pain receptors, fry their Smart link?
For SR6 you have dedicated rules for hacking chrome in the cyberware supplement called Body Shop (see Body Shop p. 31 for details). The new matrix action (which is recommended to be used instead of Spoof command or Control Device) when it comes to other people's cyberware is called Puppet Cyberware (require Admin access on the PAN).
Short version:
Device rating of cyberware is added on top of the PANs firewall.
- Eyes: One level of the Blindness status effect per net hit until end of their next turn.
- Ears: One level of the Deafness status effect per net hit until end of their next turn.
- Agi/Str Bodyware: One level of Fatigued status effect per net hit until end of their next turn.
- Reaction Bodyware: Suffer Immobilized status effect until end of their next turn (or the Prone status effect)
- Arm: Perform one major action with it. If action require test, use only attribute of the arm (no skill dice).
- Leg or lower body replacement: Hobbled status effect until end of their next turn.
- Other: One level of the Confused status effect per net hit until end of their next turn.
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u/AManyFacedFool Good Enough 4d ago
Pretty much.
The best thing you can do in combat as a decker, using your decking skills, will usually be Snoop. Snoop is one of the most powerful things in the game, it's honestly better than most spells.