I appreciate the line you've tried to walk between simpler rules and well-done crunch with the Mesh chapter, and from a first peruse I think you've done rather well! Things my players and I are appreciating from a first impression: - The explanations of things like intruder status, privileges, and how to get/change them seem clearer compared to EP1 - We're liking the look of Mesh combat (crashing programs/systems/infomorphs with Mesh attacks), especially those of us who played (and kind of enjoyed) the basics of Shadowrun's 5th ed Matrix rules - As a GM, I appreciate the explanations of things like slaved devices & tiered systems. It being simpler compared to EP1 makes me feel more likely to go out of my way to design Mesh/network systems for my hackers to dig into, rather than wanting to abstract them away during gameplay - The additional information on infomorphs and how they work has made my resident infolife ghost-riding cracker both very pleased, and vaguely concerned for what I'll throw at them - From a first glance, glitches look to be an interesting addition (?), and seems to be a mechanic I didn't know I'd always wanted - Consolidated hacking for the more inconsequential tasks I also quite like as a mechanic, helps get some of the legwork out of the way before a heist/infiltration/etc. I don't think we've read deeply enough or for long enough to notice anything that we particularly dislike/disapprove of, but I'm sure our sessions this weekend will bring any of that to the fore. Otherwise, beyond a few typos I'll flag when I get back home, things are looking fairly good!

APixelShort wrote:

So, here's something my resident cracker pointed out to me. Based on our understanding of the rules, rather than remote hacking a cyberbrain (get into the PAN, take a -30, etc), you can seem to just remote attack it with the new Mesh Combat rules, dealing 2d10 on successful attacks, +1d6 for each superior success, and without active shielding it's not even opposed. Furthermore, given that a Cyberbrain seems to have a lower Mesh DUR (35) than a morph's mesh inserts (Host, 40), it seems like there's little combat/offensive reason to try hacking a cyberbrain and trapping the ego, rebooting/crashing the cyberbrain, or doing much else when you can just crash it remotely 2d10 at a time? Hoping that we're just misreading/misunderstanding the situation, I'm honestly not sure if I'm reading this right, but my players say they are.

I don't think they're right, I'm pretty sure the Mesh Inserts are the Host and that the cyberbrain is directly connected to it, so you'd have to make local attacks in order to interact with a cyberbrain.

No problem! ^_^ I like these rules a lot, and think they're an amazing improvement! Mesh combat is a good way to directly interact that I didn't think I wanted, but is very useful! You guys did a great job of cleaning up the systemic part of the Mesh's presentation and augmented its concept elements with usable elements, I think this is some of my favorite material you've shared with us so far! And since its an integral part of the game, that is AWESOME. One thing I was curious about, I don't recall the actual stats but will Muses also reflect the ALI rules presented here?

First impressions are [i]very[/i] positive. Clear, lots of useful details... just enjoyable to read :) Unfortunately I likely won't have time to actually playtest anything for quite a while, but I still have some thoughts: --- [u]More Important Stuff.[/u] --- - Can we move the "AIs & Muses" and "Infomorphs" sections to before either (a) "Mesh Actions" or (b) "Virtual Reality"? The section before and those after all concern actions within the mesh, and having the details abount mesh-entities where they are breaks the flow a bit. - In the "Aptitides, Skills, and Pools" part of "AIs and Muses", it'd be nice if the 'ALIs can't default' line was expanded and/or given more emphasis. It's almost a throwaway line, but in practice I find this is one of the most visibly defining aspects of ALIs because it creates a [i]strict[/i] boundry as to what they can and cannot do. Depending on how psychosurgery and skillware is going to work, I'd also make the limit to 10 active and know skills a hard cap which can't be bypassed (except maybe bybecoming an AGI), but that depends on rules you haven't published yet. - The ALI Lucidity and Trauma paragraph could use detail regarding the circumstances when and where this comes into play: A security- or vehicle- ALI shouldn't be subject to willpower tests for seeing someone get shot for example, unless it's also supposed to represent the ALI's attempts to process information outside it's wheelhouse. - Regarding 'Zeroing In', I suggest that you move one level if the Defender wins but the Attacker still succeeds, and move to Spotted and Active Alert if the Defender succeeds and the Attacker fails. --- [u]Less Important Stuff.[/u] --- - There are pieces of software-gear spread throughout the document, such as Meshware and Scorchers. Is this just part of the playtest document? If not, then I'd move it to the gear section. Unless gear is supposed to be spread throughout the book in the rlevant chapters, but even then I'd consolidate it within the chapter. - Would it be possible to add a couple of words to the section in Infomorphs on moving devices, specifically that you copy to the new device, activate your mind state, [i]link it to your active processes[/i], and erase yourself from the old device? I assume the line that you don't lose continuity is supposed to imply this or similar, but I get the feeling if it isn't spelled out then we're going to get "you die when you move to a new device!" threads popping up :) - I assume it's planned but just in case it isn't, software and/or infomorph traits that grant armor and/or interact with mesh attacks would be welcome. Likewise having infomorphs' mesh durability/death ratings in thier stat blocks. - Can we rename the 'Tap AR/Senses' actions to 'Intercept AR/Senses' or similar? Whilst accurate, the name sounds... silly somehow. :P ... On a personal note, you know those sidebars about simple hacking? [b]You are wonderful people.[/b]

In acrimony oneshot adventure from the QuickStart EP2 rules it is possible to: Is that a specific rule for the adventure or it will be a standard rule? Thanks in advance

That's totally badass! Thanks