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--- khai_deckbuilding [2023/03/13 14:38] – [Highly recommended 'ware] khai
+++ khai_deckbuilding [2024/04/13 15:03] (current) – Reduce sidelining of optional programs/parts khai
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 The programming suite, when installed on our computer (not in the cyberdeck!), adds dice to the programming step of program creation. Whether we start with a store-bought cyberdeck or aim to make our own custom deck, this is the first program we should create; it will help us in all our future programing, including making higher rating programming suites.
-In general, we want to create programs in category (2) at the highest rating our deck can handle, as reducing TNs can often have a greater impact on our success in the Matrix than adding more dice. An exception is the sleaze program, which is averaged with our masking persona (round up) to form our "detection factor" (see: HELP DETECTION FACTOR). Because of SR3 dice probability distributions, a detection factor of 6 (e.g., sleaze 5 + masking 6) is just as effective as a detection factor of 7.
+In general, we want to create programs in category (2) at the highest rating our deck can handle, as reducing TNs can often have a greater impact on our success in the Matrix than adding more dice. An exception is the sleaze program, which is averaged with our masking persona (round up) to form our "detection factor" (see: HELP DETECTION FACTOR). This lets us save a bit on memory usage, e.g. by using sleaze 5 with masking 6, or sleaze 11 with masking 12. Also, because of SR3 dice probability distributions, a detection factor of 6 (e.g., sleaze 5 + masking 6) is just as effective as a detection factor of 7; with a CMT Avatar, we can use sleaze 4 + masking 7 = detection factor 6, though unfortunately masking 7 is not available in chargen.
-There are really only two relevant programs that fall in category (3): attack and medic. For the attack program, rating 6 is generally sufficient because IC don't appear to have armor. The rating of medic determines how many times we can run medic before needing to reload it.
+There are really only two relevant programs that fall in category (3): attack and medic. For the attack program, rating 6 is generally sufficient because most IC don't appear to have armor. Some IC may have the +2 armor option, so the only real argument for an attack program higher than rating 8 is to better avoid needing to reload the program due to tarbaby/tarpit. The rating of medic determines how many times we can run medic before needing to reload it and how many dice it rolls, so it also doesn't need to be maxed.
 Programs that belong to category (4), including personas (see: HELP PERSONAS), are only used when we're building our own custom deck. Store-bought decks are not compatible with custom built parts. To clarify a specific point of confusion: only store-bought persona programs work with store-bought decks, though they do have the minor benefit of not needing to be cooked.
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 **Intelligence** contributes to our hacking pool, and if we didn't pick up the design skills, our design tests default to this attribute.
-==== Mandatory 'ware ====
-A **datajack**, because we can't jack-in without one.
-==== Highly Recommended 'ware ====
-**Enhanced Articulation** provides +1 to a variety of non-Matrix tests, including technical and build/repair skill checks.
-**Cerebral Booster II** provides +2 int and +1 task pool.
-**Encephalon II** provides +2 task pool and +2 hacking pool.
-**Math SPU III** provides +3 hacking pool.
-==== Notable optional 'ware  ====
-A **Chipjack** (any rating) is all that's needed to use the design skills in skillsoft form. A **Chipjack Expert Driver III** gives us +3 dice when using chipped skills (though note that no other dice pools apply). We can combine the chipjack and expert driver with **Skillwires** to cover any active skills that we don't need to max out (e.g., athletics, electronics, vehicle and vehicle b/r skills, etc. Maybe also etiquettes to make the initial purchases easier, though you'll likely want to max those out as real skills eventually.). Rating III or V matches the activesofts available in chargen (all the rating V softs are also available in-game).
 ==== Mandatory Skills ====
 **Computers** is what we use for matrix actions, programming tests, and caps the ratings of the programs we make (except Evaluate).
@@ Line 65: / Line 54: @@
 Because cyberterminal design tests have TN = MPCP/2 whereas programming design tests have TN = 4, and because programming tests also get bonuses from a sufficiently large computer and from a programming suite, the cyberterminal design skill is much more valuable than the five program design skills when considering MPCP and program ratings of 8 or higher.
+==== Highly Recommended 'ware ====
+While we can connect by wearing an electrode net, a **Datajack** won't penalize your Matrix reaction or initiative.
+**Enhanced Articulation** provides +1 to a variety of non-Matrix tests, including technical and build/repair skill checks. **Cerebral Booster II** provides +2 int and +1 task pool. **Encephalon II** provides +2 task pool and +2 hacking pool. The hacking pool does not matter if starting with a store-bought deck, but if aiming to immediately build a custom deck, also consider the **Math SPU III** for its +3 hacking pool.
+==== Notable Optional 'ware  ====
+As optional items for consideration, a **Chipjack** (any rating) is all that's needed to use the //skillsoft// versions of the design skills. A **Chipjack Expert Driver III** gives us +3 dice when using chipped skills (though note that no other dice pools apply). We can combine the chipjack and expert driver with **Skillwires** to use the skillsoft versions of any active skills that we might want to have on a temporary basis, and that we might not intend to max out, e.g., athletics, electronics, vehicle and vehicle b/r skills, maybe also etiquettes to make the initial purchases easier (though there's also an argument for maxing out etiquettes as real skills eventually). Rating III or V matches the skillsofts available in chargen (all the rating V softs are also available in-game).
 ==== Other CharGen Comments ====
-All the highly recommended 'ware can be picked up with resources at priority B, and the skills at priority E, so we have quite a bit of room for the rest of the character. NOTE: because melee is only defended against by melee, it is a very good idea for all characters to pick up a melee skill. If we're using a firearm, we use clubs for melee defense. If we put a bayonet on the firearm, then we use polearms for melee defense.
+All the highly recommended 'ware can be picked up with resources at priority B, and the mandatory skills at priority E, so we have quite a bit of room for the rest of the character. NOTE: because melee is only defended against by melee, it is a very good idea for all characters to pick up a melee skill. If we're using a firearm, we use clubs for melee defense. If we put a bayonet on the firearm, then we use polearms for melee defense.
 WRT magical characters: picking up everthing on the highly recommended 'ware list means starting with magic 3. For mages, this means we'll want to grind paydata for at least a rating 3 power focus before we start spamming stunbolt 6. For adepts, it may be worth using those 3 power points for kinesics; we'll be lacking combat abilities until we get in a few addpoints and initiations, but we'll also be able to buy truck-loads of APDS ammo much earlier than any other character concept.
@@ Line 74: / Line 70: @@
 ===== Starting With a Custom Cyberdeck ====
-We can't immediately begin building a custom deck on leaving chargen because we need to obtain a few things that are only available in-game:
+We can't immediately begin building a custom deck on leaving chargen because we need to obtain a few things that are only available in-game. To build a functionally complete MPCP 6 cyberdeck, we will want to buy:
-  * optical chips: 32 units for minimum parts and programs (6.4k)
-  * cyberdeck parts: 36 units for minimum parts (14.4k)
-  * microtronics workshop (15k nuyen)
-Between these, we'll need around 36k nuyen to build a deck that can hunt for paydata. This can be covered by doing all the newbie Neophyte Guild autoruns, plus "idle nuyen" while programming and deck building, making it perfectly reasonable for a decker to start the game without having spent chargen resources on a store-bought cyberdeck. This assumes we picked up a Mitsuhama Z4 computer and a cooker in chargen. We should probably buy the optical chips first so we can get the cooking started as we complete each program. NOTE: Making the cyberdeck components will require the workshop and cyberdeck parts, as well as cooked programs for those parts that require them.
+  * optical chips: 44 units (8.8k nuyen)
+  * cyberdeck parts: 44 units (17.6k nuyen)
+  * microtronics workshop (15k nuyen)
-For the purpose of harvesting paydata, we want at least the following:
+This totals 41.4k nuyen, which can be covered by doing all the newbie Neophyte Guild autoruns, plus "idle nuyen" while programming and deck building, making it perfectly reasonable for a decker to start the game without having spent chargen resources on a store-bought cyberdeck. This assumes we picked up a Mitsuhama Z4 computer and a cooker in chargen. We should probably buy the optical chips first so we can get the cooking started as we complete each program.\\ NOTE: Making the cyberdeck components will require the workshop and cyberdeck parts, as well as cooked programs for those parts that require them.\\
+NOTE: There are a number of parts and programs included here that aren't necessary for bare-bones paydata farming, though the cost difference is only 5k nuyen.
 ==== The Cyberdeck ====
-**The Recommended Minimum Deck**
 ^Name of Part^Why^
 |MPCP 6              |the deck's cpu                                       |
@@ Line 92: / Line 86: @@
 |RAS                 |without one, we take a big penalty to target numbers |
 |Matrix Interface    |so we can connect to the matrix                      |
-|Active Memory 687   |so we can run the entire minimum program set         |
+|Active Memory 1500  |so we can have all our programs available to run     |
 |Storage Memory 3600 |so we can store programs and paydata                 |
 |Bod 6               |so we can exist in the matrix                        |
 |Sensor 6            |so we can see in the matrix                          |
 |Masking 6           |so the host is less able to resist us                |
+|Hardening 6         |to protect our MPCP/programs from permanent damage   |
-With a bit more nuyen, from paydata or otherwise, we can then add:
+|Response Increase 1 |so we can act more often (see: HELP INITIATIVE)      |
-^Name of Part^Why^
+|Reality Filter      |so we can act more often (see: HELP INITIATIVE)      |
-|Active Memory 1500  |(upgrade) so we have room to load every other program|
+|ICCM                |to protect our brain from sparky or black IC         |
-|Hardening 6         |to protect our MPCP from getting fried               |
+NOTE: response increase, reality filter, and ICCM aren't relevant when farming blue/green paydata, and hardening is only relevant in a few such hosts. But when exploring or completing autoruns, you may unexpectedly find yourself in more difficult situations.
-These parts can be useful, but are lower priority:
-^Name of Part^Why^
-|Response Increase 1 |so we can act more often (see: help initiative)      |
-|Reality Filter      |so we can act more often (see: help initiative)      |
-|ICCM                |in case we run into sparky or black IC               |
 ==== The Programs ====
-**The Recommended Minimum Program Set**
 ^Name of Program^Why^
 |Armor 6             |so we can survive longer                             |
@@ Line 122: / Line 108: @@
 |Evaluate 6          |to find paydata                                      |
 |Attack 6 (D)        |so we can clear out IC                               |
-NOTE: The lack of an analyze program is acceptable because newbie hosts are common knowledge, there's no real penalty for attempting to decrypt or disarm paydata that turns out to not be encrypted or trapped, and because we don't have to dig around for "tricks" just yet. The lack of medic and lock-on will reduce the amount of time we can survive fighting IC, but that just means we need to log back in more often.
-After the active memory upgrade so we can keep everything loaded, we add:
-^Name of Program^Why^
 |Lock-On 6           |so IC are less able to maneuver                      |
 |Medic 6             |so we can repair our icon without having to log out  |
-|Analyze 6           |so we can get more details on things                 |
+|Analyze 6           |so we can reveal hidden passive IC, trapdoors, etc   |
+NOTE: dealing with IC and finding trapdoors are optional when farming blue/green paydata, but trapdoors are featured in early tutorial autoruns.

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