This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revision | ||
khai_deckbuilding [2023/03/13 14:39] – 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!), | The programming suite, when installed on our computer (not in the cyberdeck!), | ||
- | 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 " | + | 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 " |
- | 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 |
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. | 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 50: | Line 50: | ||
**Data Brokerage** is used when fencing paydata, and caps what Evaluate program rating we can make. | **Data Brokerage** is used when fencing paydata, and caps what Evaluate program rating we can make. | ||
- | ==== Notable | + | ==== Notable Optional Skills ==== |
**Cyberterminal Design** and the five **Program Design** skills are optional for early deck-building and programming. Without these skills, we default to Intelligence for design tests, but if we picked up everything on the the highly recommended 'ware list, our likelihood of failure without these skills for rating 6-8 parts/ | **Cyberterminal Design** and the five **Program Design** skills are optional for early deck-building and programming. Without these skills, we default to Intelligence for design tests, but if we picked up everything on the the highly recommended 'ware list, our likelihood of failure without these skills for rating 6-8 parts/ | ||
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. | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | ==== Mandatory 'ware ==== | ||
- | A **datajack**, | ||
==== Highly Recommended 'ware ==== | ==== Highly Recommended 'ware ==== | ||
- | **Enhanced Articulation** provides +1 to a variety of non-Matrix tests, including technical and build/ | + | While we can connect by wearing an electrode net, a **Datajack** won't penalize your Matrix reaction or initiative. |
- | **Cerebral Booster II** provides +2 int and +1 task pool. | + | **Enhanced Articulation** provides +1 to a variety of non-Matrix tests, including technical and build/ |
- | **Encephalon II** provides +2 task pool and +2 hacking pool. | + | |
- | **Math SPU III** provides | + | |
- | ==== Notable | + | ==== Notable Optional ' |
- | A **Chipjack** (any rating) is all that's needed to use the design skills | + | As optional items for consideration, |
==== Other CharGen Comments ==== | ==== 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 |
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, | 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, | ||
Line 75: | Line 70: | ||
===== Starting With a Custom Cyberdeck ==== | ===== 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 | + | |
- | * 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 |
+ | 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 Cyberdeck ==== | ||
- | |||
- | **The Recommended Minimum Deck** | ||
^Name of Part^Why^ | ^Name of Part^Why^ | ||
|MPCP 6 |the deck's cpu | | |MPCP 6 |the deck's cpu | | ||
Line 93: | Line 86: | ||
|RAS | |RAS | ||
|Matrix Interface | |Matrix Interface | ||
- | |Active Memory | + | |Active Memory |
|Storage Memory 3600 |so we can store programs and paydata | |Storage Memory 3600 |so we can store programs and paydata | ||
|Bod 6 |so we can exist in the matrix | |Bod 6 |so we can exist in the matrix | ||
|Sensor 6 |so we can see in the matrix | |Sensor 6 |so we can see in the matrix | ||
|Masking 6 |so the host is less able to resist us | | |Masking 6 |so the host is less able to resist us | | ||
- | + | |Hardening 6 |to protect our MPCP/ | |
- | 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 |
- | |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 | + | |
- | |ICCM |in case we run into sparky or black IC | + | |
==== The Programs ==== | ==== The Programs ==== | ||
- | |||
- | **The Recommended Minimum Program Set** | ||
^Name of Program^Why^ | ^Name of Program^Why^ | ||
|Armor 6 |so we can survive longer | |Armor 6 |so we can survive longer | ||
Line 123: | Line 108: | ||
|Evaluate 6 |to find paydata | |Evaluate 6 |to find paydata | ||
|Attack 6 (D) |so we can clear out IC | | |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' | ||
- | |||
- | 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 | |Lock-On 6 |so IC are less able to maneuver | ||
|Medic 6 |so we can repair our icon without having to log out | | |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. |