Screamsheet nº4 Drones, part 1/3 ?

Well, got the final push to begin working again on the screamsheets I had in the oven.

Here goes Screamsheet nº 4

Its the first on a few one that should extend on drones. First one is mainly rules on how to operate them, detect, interfere or whatever. Its mostly a recompilation of rules on the official books, but this way it gets in a more accessible place.

And serves as a foundation for next screamsheets, so I don't have to tell what is a CCD or whatever.

Exoskeleton, Exosuit, Linear frame ... so many names for one thing. New Screamsheet 003

So here goes a polished version of a previous entry of mine, this time in the Screamsheet format.

Number 3 is here! Only 5ed! :P

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KKIXujIaXXhTdqfEfaaAYeqYfg7eWbD8/view?usp=sharing

Mobile hacking

I already made a post about this, but thought to make it into a screamsheet too.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tYZP6WCejCjrzJ-2RnmUtsYzxVpPX8Xa/view?usp=sharing

Have fun :P

We have started playing the Land of the Free module for Cyberpunk with my game group. It all begun as a forum game but quickly developed to real world sessions as we finished our Edge of the Empire introductory module.

The first part, Adriana extraction, was smooth ... maybe to smooth (thanks to the Netrunner). After the game I thought of a dozen ways to spice up that session but, alas, it was too late. I been out of "real space" DMing for quite a long time and I find myself a bit rusty doing it.

But anyways, I've returned to directing Cyberpunk 2020 and that's what matters.

At the same time, Watch Dogs have been released and I have been having some fun with it ... one of the main tools the protagonist (Aiden Pearce) uses is a mobile phone which he uses to hack remote operated machines.

I been thinking if it was possible to do the same in Cyberpunk ... yes, it can be done. 

Let's take a look into it, but take into account that those rules are not mine, most of them comes from Rache Bartmoss Guide to the Net.

First, you need to program a new interface since you won't use normal I-G algorithms (Very difficult task on Programming skill or Difficult task on Expert:Complex Computer Language). Or modify standard modem routines to handle cyberdeck programs (Difficult or Average task, same skills).

Alternatively, someone else can do it for you for a 150-200 credits fee.

As we don't plan to netrun with a little pocket PC, we don't need to make further change to it's programs or interface. Which means we are ready to go and wreak some havoc.

Heres a completely illegal piece of hardware already rigged for remote controlling:

• Zetatech "E-Book" Microcomp (1CPU, 1INT, 12 MU with a 15.4cmx7.6cmx1.3cm size) 100cr
• Cellular upgrade (similar to the Cybermodem Interface) +500cr
• Custom netrunning interface +200cr

• Crystal ball (4STR, 1MU) 140cr
• Dee-2 (3STR, 1MU) 130cr
• Genie (5STR, 1MU) 150cr
• Hotwire (3STR, 1MU) 130cr
• News at 8 (4STR, 1MU) 140cr
• Soundmachine (4STR, 1MU) 140cr
• Terminator (4STR, 2MU) 260cr
• Phone Home (2/5STR, 1UM)150cr

Which amounts to 2040cr ... but remember, its illegal, so the price should be more like 4000cr

And voila! Ready to hack some remotes.

It's debatable if PDA and Microcomps  should already have cellular SIMs and ports. When Cyberpunk was created the FAX was the tool of the future ... but they have become little more than a gimmick while most people simply send e-mail/documentation from his portable smartphone or paper thin tabletops with more processing power than old mainframes and access to cloud databases that extend far and beyond.

Even the pay per time travelled on the net and it's LDC seem obsolete in the face of the networks and competing corps trying to offer the best and cheapest way to connect around the world.

So our generic Zetatech clone smartphone (1CPU, 1INT, 10MU) should cost around 200 or 300 credits, while the top of the line models (1CPU, 2INT, 20MU) should be around 500 or 600 cr.

Also, we need to put a bit of attention to Remotes and its accessibility ... should any hacker wannabe walk nearby to an Arasaka building and take a sneak peek over its camera system? 

When letting players (and NPC) use his remote hacking tools make yourself a question ... is that remote inside a datafortress?

• Is a robotaxi behind a datawall? Most probably, not.
• Is a Dataterm behind a datawall? Surely not.
• Is an Arasaka camera behind a datawall? Yes, you can bet about it.
• Are public traffic cams behind datawalls? Nope.

To control a remote behind a datafortress you will need to gain access to it. You can wreak it's datawalls previously (but they will repair them in a small amount of time) or you can brute hack the Codegate to attain the password (but most datafortress change it's passwords periodically).

The better way to do it, is to assault a datafortress, get inside, access to the users database, and add a new user for you and leave before somebody notices you and could suspect something. Until someone supect that account is compromised, your safe to go.

Once you have a way around the datawalls you can use the remote tools freely.

Cyberdecks

My player's tend to have difficulties to find the section about cyberdeck prices.

The next document resumes all the options in the core book taking into account the previous implants and modifications (spider processors, wireless links, etc.). The price for armored decks have been lowered, and cellular decks have been removed entirely.

Referees need to take into account these changes for previous published cyberdecks with those properties.


CP2020 - House Rules - Cybedecks Revised Prices

New Cyberware

The following implants and chips where made trying to update the feeling of the setting to more a modern standards. It also serves as a preparation for netrunning other people brains, or ghosting if you prefer.

Remember that a character can only use as many chips as his INT score, every MU of his spider processor counts as a chip. Spider processors cannot be used for netrunning, you still need a cyberdeck.

CP2020 - House Rules - Neural & Chipware

ACPA Base Suit

I find ACPA designs quite questionable ... if you draw one of the models presented and a human silhouette on top of it, there is no way it can be operated without crushing every bone of that unfortunate pilot.

Landmates, from Masamune Shirow, are a more realistic approach.

Datafortress have some interpretations on Landmates using Maximun Metal rules. But I found them to exaggerated ... if you read some of the data notes about Landmates by Masamune, you can read a 20 mm canon is a serious menace for a Landmate.

I don't think a 50SP, -11 Toughness "light" Landmate has that much of a problem with a 20mm auto-canon (8d10) which average 44 points of damage (you should do a 8 on every d10 to do something).

Even more, I find them expensive ... I know it's cool to pack the better gear when mounting something. But haven seen how real manufacturers work, is safer to assume the designers will go for the cheapest components.

So here comes my approximation for a basic Landmate without extras, with the following annotations : Pilot resides only on the torso+legs area of the Landmate. Impacts on arms/head won't touch the pilot. Likewise, while I'm not posting control arms as external devices, they are considered part of the torso ... if the impact touch a pilot arm, it is supposed to impact the control arm (with the same SP as the torso).

CARIOCCO
Chassis : STR 25 Militech's Gunslinger
Toughness : -7
Punch : 3d10; Kick : 4d10; Crush : 4d10
Capacity : 1250; Carry : 375
Trooper Size : 110 kg reserved space.
Weight : 413 kg
SIB/DFB : -2/+1

Armor : Militech's KromGear (SP 30)

Head : SP 30, SDP 6 (2 spaces)
- Wideband aperture SDP 15 (1/2 space)
- Sensory Extensions (external) SP 15, SDP 15 (1/2 space)

Torso : SP 30, SDP 19 (4 spaces)
- Advanced control system (no space)
- RussianArms KwikFix SDP 15 (1/2 space)
- Escape Hatch SDP 30 (1/2 space)
- Military radio SDP 10 (1/2 space)

Arms : SP 30, SDP 6 (3 spaces)

Legs : SP 30, SDP 13 (3 spaces)

Price : 48.000 eb

That's it. I find in a more manageable price range, and combat wise it isn't that powerful it could obliterate a whole city. After all, a STR 52, SP 100 machine is impressive, but boring.

It's important to note that usually I tend to halve SP numbers on most armor because they are to powerful compared to the examples provided in the book. This Landmate is made with low SP in mind ... if you want to halve SP remember to equip it with a heavier armor or it will be vulnerable to small arms fire.

Wireless plugs

So let's begin ...

Technology wise, it my seem strange that in a not to far future people plug to his gadgets (guns, cars, etc) ... and it is. So ...

Wireless switch - Surg:N - Cost:100ed - H.L.:1
This implant let you connect wirelessly to any device prepared for it (50-500ed). The Wireless Switch must be used in along an appropriate link (cybermodem, vehicle, smartgun, etc) and have a 5m range.

That's all? Not exactly. This technology is useful for the average Joe, but anybody who expect to be in daily firefights would be wiser to pack old interface plugs. "Why?" you should ask. Because wireless signals can be disrupted, or worse, hacked.

Signal disrupter - Cost 295ed
This small gadget (the size of and old PDA) has the capability to disrupt signals in a 30m radius. His rechargeable batteries last for 3 hours of continual use. Ideal to disable phones on theaters, cinemas and the like.


Hacking a wireless connection.

Now, you are wondering how you can hack a wireless smartgun or smartcar. It's quite easy, really.

You will need to locate wireless spots (LOCATE REMOTE), sniff the wireless signals, decrypt them and fake them so the device believes you are the legitimate proprietary. Or you could assault it's datawalls and the use a CONTROL REMOTE command.

To sniff signals you need a specialized program, and have to succeed in a STR test (1D10 <= Program STR), then you need to decrypt the acquired data as usual, finally fake the signal with another specialized program and succeed on an opposed test (1d10+Attack STR vs 1d10+Defense INT).

Programs:
Sniffer v1 - STR 3; UM 1; Cost 300ed
Sniffer v2 - STR 5; UM 2; Cost 500ed
Signal faker v1 - STR 3; UM 2; Cost 400ed
Signal faker v2 - STR 4; UM 3; Cost 600ed
Signal faker v3 - STR 5; UM 4; Cost 850ed

To randomly determine the defenses of a wireless ready item, roll 1d6+2+nº CPU as the Datawall STR. Most wireless apparels use a single CPU to manage the comunication between devices, so it's INT is +3. Secure devices use more than one CPU, strengthening it's defenses and improving it's capabilities.

So ... wireless things not that cool anymore, uh?