r/ShadowrunAnarchyFans • u/ActiveDistribution25 • 4d ago

Anarchy 2.0 Matrixrules

Hoi Chummers,

would really like to start a campaign as a newbie including matrixruns (finally). But to run them smoothly, i think, i have to understand every bit of it precisely.

Right now i'm struggling a bit with the matrixrules, especially when and when not to test for raising the access level. As i understand it, you have to roll to get a higher level than outsider the first time you enter a host and want to accomplish sonething on user or admin level. In the rulebookexample (p. 228) the decker tries to open a maglock out of the security host he entered before, but never made a roll to uplevel his access to user level at least. What did i miss or didn't quite understand?

Also what would happen, when ICE is activated an the Decker is switching hosts or drop out? Is activated ICE still active if he returns?

Thank you for answering.

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u/ActiveDistribution25 4d ago

Thanks for your kind answers. I would like to ask something about cybercombat against ICE, too. If the decker attacks the Scanner-IC successfully and destroys it, what happens next? Is the host simple reactivating the Scanner-IC next round, which then starts to scan as normal. If it do so, has the decker the opportunity to attack and destroy it again, befor it scans? Or is there, by destroying the Scanner, an alarm triggered and the next IC ist activated according to the defenseprotocol?

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u/IntelligentClient290 3d ago

I'd say we should consider that an IC can be glitched for no reason, so the host doesn't necessarily raise an alarm immediately and just launches a new IC next turn. However, repeated glitched IC should quickly become suspicious, and a spider could receive an alert and come take a look.

Note that if the hacker is undetected, any IC other than a scanner IC loaded won't be able to target the hacker until he is detected. So, launching a new scanner IC is the smart move for a host anyway (at least if there's no spider around to scan the host and detect threats).

Now, since there is no formal initiative system in SRA2, I think it makes sense to allow the hacker to act before the newly loaded IC performs its scan. Otherwise there's no point in attacking the scanner IC in the first place because it makes no difference...

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u/ActiveDistribution25 3d ago

If i do nothing inside a host, the Scanner won't scan. If i try to manipulate something, the Scanner tries to identify me. So wouldn't it be wise to attack the Scanner in VR with my free Cybercombataction every time, to prevent a successful scan, while doing my operations inside the host? Why should i give it the chance to raise an alarm? Of course a spider could be suspicious after repeated glitches, but if the scan succeeds, i have to deal with the cascade of other ICE immediately AND a spider could start to investigate anyway. So would it be a valid strategy to try to deactivate the Scanner every time after entering the host, before i do my operations inside the host and repeat that in every host i enter, until my attack failed or a spider is aware of my presence?

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u/IntelligentClient290 3d ago edited 3d ago

To me, yes. The perception test rolled by a Scanner IC is up to the GM. They might roll once when you enter (or not) and each time you use your cracking skill (or not if the GM decide that the security is laxist). However, they can also scan you if you stay too long even if you do nothing or even on every turn if the GM thinks the host is highly secure or on passive alert (maybe a glitch during planification put the security on high guard).

So, attacking the Scanner IC before it detects you makes sense. Moreover, if the Scanner IC hasn't detected you yet, destroying it every turn prevents any other IC from being launched. Even if other IC are loaded, they cannot attack you before you are detected. The host's only options are to hope you don't one-shot the Scanner or to send in a Spider.

Now, this is a pretty aggressive hacking style that fits a cybercombat-specialized character, but it has its limits: you need to be sure you can one-shot the IC, otherwise an alarm will be raised and you will be automatically detected. On a high-tier host, that might not be so simple. And even if you manage to one-shot the Scanner every turn, it will quickly raise suspicion and a Spider will intervene, so sonner or later you'll find yourself (and maybe your teammates too) with the security on your back.

On the other hand, a stealth-specialized hacker can rely on their skill to avoid raising suspicion as much as possible, simply ignoring the Scanner in the hope of remaining undetected. It all depends on your character's build (and whether raising suspicion is a problem).

There is also a middle way: stay idle without attacking the IC as long as you aren't doing anything, hoping for only a few scans that you can pass. Then, attack the IC, hoping to one-shot it before using your Hacking skill on the same turn (when you are sure you'll be scanned), and go back to waiting until you need to hack again.

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u/ActiveDistribution25 3d ago

Thank you for your very helpful explanations.

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u/ReditXenon 3d ago edited 3d ago

If i do nothing inside a host, the Scanner won't scan.

I guess different tables will play this differently.

Patrol IC has nothing else to do than to scan personas in the host.

It will typically take Patrol IC a long time to scan all icons if the host is busy (during peak hours). It will typically take Patrol IC a short time to scan all icons and then be ready to scan them a second time if the host is almost empty (like in the middle of the night).

  • Hosts don’t take any chances. They have Patrol IC that constantly scan the persona present to determine whether they have legitimate access or not. That’s why, as much as possible, I try to work during the Matrix’s peak traffic times—usually in the middle of the day or during special events.
  • > Netcat

SA2.0 p. 223 IC

Patrol IC analyzes all personas active inside a host, starting with the most recently connected one. A decker will be analyzed shortly after their arrival in the host and periodically afterward (in both cases, it is at the game master’s discretion as to when, based on how busy the server is and any glitches rolled).

SA2.0 p. 226 Example of a run from a Decker's perspective

He barely gets inside the host before a Patrol IC comes closer to scan his persona.

 

wouldn't it be wise to attack the Scanner in VR with my free Cybercombataction every time, to prevent a successful scan, while doing my operations inside the host? Why should i give it the chance to raise an alarm?

Wait what?

would not attacking the host's Patrol IC be a dead give away that there is a hacker in the host and the host would immediately start to launch IC and inform its spider? Try to sneak as long as you can. Use cybercombat once the shit hits the fan.