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Old 03-11-2020, 06:44 AM   #1
Anders
 
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Default IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

How would you cover finding and downloading software and other files in a Cyberpunk game? Streetwise? Area Knowledge (the Net)? Computer Operation?

Obviously, don't do this in real life.
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Old 03-11-2020, 06:58 AM   #2
Aldric
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

I do remember some setting where chips with illegal software were sold just like drungs, so Streetwise might help there.
Area Knowledge would help you find places within the cyberspace where such software is available.
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Old 03-11-2020, 07:03 AM   #3
coronatiger
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Trondheim, Norway
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

I'd use Computer Operation for both finding and downloading such software. Streetwise or other social skills can be used as complementary skills, representing asking around for what software exists that solves your use case. If you're good/lucky, someone will give you a download link.

For stealing software, you may have to use Computer Hacking. This will be necessary if the software isn't publicly available (you have to break into a private server) or if you normally would need a license key to use the software.

Obviously, I don't do these things in real life, either.
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Old 03-11-2020, 07:58 AM   #4
The Colonel
 
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Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

Contacts might work if you're getting it from something like "The Dark Web" where you're relying on being given an address...
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Old 03-11-2020, 09:27 AM   #5
malloyd
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

Well if you weren't downloading it but finding a copy on physical media it'd obviously be Streetwise, just like locating anything else on the black market.

If I were running a game where this sort of thing is going to be a major issue, and cyberpunk does tend that way, I'd be tempted to call it a new required specialization of Streetwise - covering all the shady or illegal sorts of things Streetwise normally does - finding black markets, making contacts, identifying the gangs, finding buyers for stuff you stole, impressing the local toughs etc. but in or with respect to virtual space.
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Old 03-11-2020, 09:37 AM   #6
Stormcrow
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ronkonkoma, NY
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

Quote:
Originally Posted by coronatiger View Post
For stealing software, you may have to use Computer Hacking. This will be necessary if the software isn't publicly available (you have to break into a private server) or if you normally would need a license key to use the software.
Since Computer Hacking is strictly a cinematic skill, in a more realistic setting you'd probably need to fall back on Streetwise (to get yourself into Dark Web sites where they'll hook you up with what you want), Cryptography (to crack encryption), or Research (to find obscure information or downloads). Actually accessing a restricted server might use Cryptography, Computer Programming (to engineer scams to trick someone into giving you access), or even Fast-Talk (to convince someone to give you a password).
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Old 03-11-2020, 09:40 AM   #7
WingedKagouti
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

Research/TL8-9 could also be an option for finding such software as an alternative to Streetwise (The Net) or Area Knowledge (The Net). In any case, I might ask for a Computer Operations roll to download the software and making sure it isn't a trojan/malware.
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Old 03-11-2020, 10:05 AM   #8
Kalzazz
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

I'd use the Stealing rules from DF but computer operations instead of Filch. Success get it free, fail and get hit by Black ICE, the law or malware
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Old 03-11-2020, 10:11 AM   #9
Varyon
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

A specialization of Streetwise - Streetwise (Cyberspace), which I'll call Cyberwise for short - for navigating things like warez sites, torret sites, etc without getting your system riddled with malware or rooted, or attracting the authorities, may be appropriate as a skill. This may share a default with Research. A system with particularly strong security software (or running an operating system with particularly strong built-in security, even if it's just "security through obscurity") will make you less likely to get infected/rooted, as would running things off of a virtual machine. Use of an anonymization strategy of some sort - the classic running off of unofficial proxies, bot-nets, or something akin to TOR - would make it less likely for you to be discovered by law enforcement. Either would be appropriate to give a (potentially rather-sizable) bonus.

Roughly speaking, roll against Cyberwise to find the software for illegal download. Success means you find it, Failure means you don't. On anything but a Success with MoS 5+ or Critical Success, the GM should roll 3d6 on the Complication Table, below. Using a highly-secure system gives a bonus of +1 to +2, while using an anonymizer gives a similar bonus; these normally do not stack, but using 2 +2 systems is good for a total of +3. Note this is simply due to the fact that your more secured/obscured system allows you to browse more freely. This bonus does not directly reduce the chance of a Complication (so it doesn't improve your chance of a Critical Success or reduce your chance of a Critical Failure, and it should be ignored when determining Margin of Success/Failure).

3-4: Your machine is exposed to a zero-day root exploit, giving malicious characters full access to your machine without your awareness. You functionally gain Enemy (Watcher; Secret) while using this machine in the future. Optionally, roll 1d; on a 1 or 2, the software you downloaded is the vector, affecting any machine you put it on (if you get this result on a Failure, the software you downloaded doesn't work aside from infecting your machine). Otherwise, you were exposed at some point while browsing.
5-6: Your machine is infected with ransomware, and locks you out unless you pay a large sum of money to get access again. As with 3-4, this may be linked to the software downloaded.
7-8: Your machine is infected with generic malware/viruses. This functions as a program running at one Complexity level lower than your computer's Complexity level, and there's a chance of files going missing or becoming corrupted. As with 3-4, this may be linked to the software downloaded.
9-12: No Complication. If you get this result on a Failure with MoF 5+, or any Critical Failure, reroll. If you get this result again, treat as 7-8, above.
13-16: You attract the attention of the authorities, but only in the form of a fine for copyright violation or similar.
17-18: You stumble into a law enforcement honeypot without realizing it, and are now being pursued by Enemy (Hunter; Secret) for arrest.

If using a highly-secure system, you are less likely to be infected. This takes the form of a retroactive bonus from +1 to +5. If you get a result of 3-8 on the Complication Table, and the retroactive bonus would have given you MoS 5+, there is no Complication (unless the software itself is affected, in which case you are informed the software has a problem, but can run it safely on this system or any other with a similar level of protection). If using an anonymizer, you are less likely to be detected by the authorities; this functions much like the above, but only to prevent results 13-18. In cases where you have MoF 5+ and roll 9-12, if the retroactive bonus would have put MoF below 5, no reroll is necessary. If using a virtual machine, a Critical Failure (only) and a result of 3-4 means your main machine is affected, in all other cases any sort of security-related Complication only affects the virtual machine.
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Old 03-11-2020, 11:34 AM   #10
Anthony
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
Default Re: IN-GAME ONLY: Downloading software illegally

If you need to actually interact (probably electronically) with another person to find the thing that's streetwise, but area knowledge would cover knowing the location of popular torrent sites and the like.
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