Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Discussing both methods of netrunning in GURPS

hal · 09-23-2021, 07:19 AM

So, why my ending thought of "Seemingly simpler"?

If you have a Tiny Computer with a Fast Chip in it. Base cost is $50 x 20 for the chip and you have a computer that cost $1,000. Complexity is now 4.

Our hacker, with the exception of one program (Damage), can run all of the other software available for his deck. If such a player character has say, an IQ of 14 and a Talent for Computers at +4 - said individual starts with what amounts to an IQ of 18 for his derived mental skills involving hacking. That +4 bonus usually only costs 20 character points for the talent.

Now, with but 1 character point in Hacking, Computer security, Computer programming etc. our hero has the following:

Hacking 15
Programming 16
Computer Operations 18
Expert Skill(Computer Security) 16
Research 17

Skill with the following software will be, assuming that they are at base complexity value:

Breach (13) Base Complexity: 3.
Control (15) Base Complexity: 4.
ICE (16) Base Complexity: 3.
Jam (13) Base Complexity: 2.
Listen (16) Base Complexity: 2.
Search (16) Base Complexity: 3.
Spoof (12) Base Complexity: 4.
Stealth (13) Base Complexity: 4.
Trigger (18) Base Complexity: 3.

Now, against a BAD 5 computer system, our hacker will have some problems. Considering that skill 14 is well trained and 16 is deemed to be expert, this isn't really all that bad. The Hacker will be fighting against a blanket 15 skill in all aspects of the computer's defenses.

But the question remains - what is a reasonable "BAD" for a complexity 4 target computer vs that of a complexity 9 computer? If ICE is a base complexity 3 software package, why can't the computer be treated as if it had a skill of 15 base + Program complexity-base complexity 9-3) or 21?

The rules do not take into account the actual complexity value of the target system.

In the end, the GM has to struggle with some questions as to what is reasonable, why can't a given "Banking computer" with a complexity 9 have far superior skills that make it very tough for even an Expert to crack?

I get it - Net running is cinematic, and the rules are weighted heavily in a cinematic fashion for the player characters. None the less - there are no real guidelines on how to handle higher complexity target computer systems in the 4e method, that the 3e method does in its own fashion, address.

09-23-2021, 07:19 AM	#4
hal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Buffalo, New York	Re: Discussing both methods of netrunning in GURPS So, why my ending thought of "Seemingly simpler"? If you have a Tiny Computer with a Fast Chip in it. Base cost is $50 x 20 for the chip and you have a computer that cost $1,000. Complexity is now 4. Our hacker, with the exception of one program (Damage), can run all of the other software available for his deck. If such a player character has say, an IQ of 14 and a Talent for Computers at +4 - said individual starts with what amounts to an IQ of 18 for his derived mental skills involving hacking. That +4 bonus usually only costs 20 character points for the talent. Now, with but 1 character point in Hacking, Computer security, Computer programming etc. our hero has the following: Hacking 15 Programming 16 Computer Operations 18 Expert Skill(Computer Security) 16 Research 17 Skill with the following software will be, assuming that they are at base complexity value: Breach (13) Base Complexity: 3. Control (15) Base Complexity: 4. ICE (16) Base Complexity: 3. Jam (13) Base Complexity: 2. Listen (16) Base Complexity: 2. Search (16) Base Complexity: 3. Spoof (12) Base Complexity: 4. Stealth (13) Base Complexity: 4. Trigger (18) Base Complexity: 3. Now, against a BAD 5 computer system, our hacker will have some problems. Considering that skill 14 is well trained and 16 is deemed to be expert, this isn't really all that bad. The Hacker will be fighting against a blanket 15 skill in all aspects of the computer's defenses. But the question remains - what is a reasonable "BAD" for a complexity 4 target computer vs that of a complexity 9 computer? If ICE is a base complexity 3 software package, why can't the computer be treated as if it had a skill of 15 base + Program complexity-base complexity 9-3) or 21? The rules do not take into account the actual complexity value of the target system. In the end, the GM has to struggle with some questions as to what is reasonable, why can't a given "Banking computer" with a complexity 9 have far superior skills that make it very tough for even an Expert to crack? I get it - Net running is cinematic, and the rules are weighted heavily in a cinematic fashion for the player characters. None the less - there are no real guidelines on how to handle higher complexity target computer systems in the 4e method, that the 3e method does in its own fashion, address.