Hacking

[chummer]

1) Is there a stealth way to collect data? E.G. Mars always hates me as they have the most nodes that I raid. What if they had no Idea I stole the data? Maybe this is a function of hack ability?

2) What do more expensive decks do? Obviously you can store more jobs and have more storage, but is there anything else matrix related?

3) If I buy headware, what is it for? I'd hate to add to dv penalty for being cyber for just a little more storage space.

4) Heat on the Matrix - what does it do? Will it translate to heat in real world? Will anti hacker assassins target the character?

[jeffjway]

Based on what I have gathered from my own hacking:

1) Nope. When sell the data, you lose the rep. Maybe you just need to find the right contact to sell it BACK to them? (This isn't sarcasm...)

2) The more expensive decks provide more storage space for the data you download and they also provide something called "armour" that reduces the amount of online heat you gather each failed action you make online. And the more expensive the deck, the more expensive the data you find. with the starting computer, I get about 1000 cred per trip through the matrix. Now with my current Fairlight, I get 3k per trip through the same nodes

3) The headware memory is like RAM, it's allows better actions and a longer time before you get kicked out of the matrix and the security sent against you.

4) Once found out (and kicked off the Matric) the heat online gets applied to heat in real life (cos they finally traced back to your location). As to whether you get assassins... that's up to your real life stealth

[liath]

Ok, what should I need to start hacking paydata? I'm a cybersword so I am starting much lower and I'd like to know what I need my stats/comp at before I bother bashing the electronic equivalent of my skull against their firewall.

K thanx bai!

PS Not asking for exact values really, just rough range because my attempts so far have been pointless and frustrating.

[fallen]

liath - the best thing to do is start a second character (a Hacker) and give it a quick whirl to see if you get better luck. Keep in mind that the physical terminal that you hack into determines where you land in the matrix node map, so if you are having a hard time with one spot, try another.

Also, =be sure to scroll down the button list= or you will never have fun in the Matrix =) There are buttons hidden below the 5 or 6 you might be able to see that let you do stuff, and if you aren't using them, then you'll never make a credit.

Specifically, I would say try to save up for a Rating 2 data jak and get yourself to 4-6 Hacking and you can crank out some serious credits if you are careful. Also, you need to have a Contact willing to buy the paydata... not good enough to just fetch it. Find a contact, then go hunting for nodes owned by the faction he / she wants and try to get some data!

Good luck!

[nails]

fallen
the only problem with the last statement about getting data for the contacts you have is that until u sell a contact some data, you have no idea which data that contact buys.
Well, you could find it on the forum, but you have to be involved in the forum for that avenue to work as well.
I can see where that aspect of the game could quickly become frustrating for the casual player.
anyway, I know you know this already. Just letting the new guy know that we understand.

[k0rd]

jeffjway: is it the deck and the deck alone that causes contacts to pay more for paydata, or are your skills improving as well?

[jeffjway]

Well, I think it's the deck. I could be wrong.

Am sure I didn't raise Negotiate. But I stand to be corrected.

[k0rd]

i was just curious. i like playing as a decker sometimes.

[fallen]

nails - contact acquisition has a long way to go. There are more and more contacts you can find in the city by being friends with, and talking to the right people very release. There will always be the random contacts, but as the list of interesting and valuable Contacts grows, there will be many other ways to get to fixers, dealers, and buyers than wandering and hoping for the right encounter.

Also, there has been a request bouncing around for a "pawn shop" like place that buys any paydata at a very low value, which may happen soon.

[Cory Trese]

Aug 14, 2011 16:53:34 GMT -5 nails said:

I can see where that aspect of the game could quickly become frustrating for the casual player.
anyway, I know you know this already.

I think you will find, in any BETA, a lot of unfinished features and elements that are incomplete.

I would argue that the BETA flag is intended to scare away casual gamers who WOULD DEFINITELY be frustrated.

I know for a fact that is not working -- I got 42 e-mails yesterday about Cyber Knights and 10 of them were from definite "Casual Players"

Look at this game for an example of how other companies roll:

market.android.com/details?id=appinventor.ai_Stormapps.Plants1

[nails]

@cory
A testament to you guys. Either your beta isn't a typical beta or ST built you guys a rep and people want to be a part of the beta. Its pretty easy to figure out from the forum that there are casual people playing the game and enjoying it but not getting the still in development thing. And those are the ones actively involved in the forum. You must have over 500 who have never set food in the forum.
What was the point of this...o yeah, the whole contacts list...
I don't know that I would want you guys to compile a list of all the contacts and who they work for/want. Maybe a nice start would be to add dialogue when you first make contact where the guy tells you what ye is looking for.
You guys need another Hanson brother to do the busy work.

[Grey Eye]

This one heck of a game guys. There is an old pc game called Decker. I'd really love to see some of the elements from that thrown into the hacking portion of the game. Stuff like fighting ICE, say like combat using your hacking skill and your computer's rating.

[fallen]

@grey Eye - stick with us, and you will see that request come to reality. The Matrix is still in its early days, and will gain many of the features requested here on the forum (including dueling security programs)!

[Cory Trese]

And you know I was a master of the game "Decker" back in the day. Hard as heck but for SR 1st Edition GM it was like, awesome.

I also really liked "Uplink" and "Hacker: Evolution"

[Cory Trese]

nails -- I just realized we're in the related games list on some phones for "Cyber Lords" which is an excellent real-time role playing game by Handygames.

That is probably bringing a lot of new players who are trying CK after playing a really polished professional game.