[SR5] Technomancer Rules Summary

Entries in curly braces {{{ }}} are house rules, typically because the existing rules are unclear.

• TMs are constantly in AR mode
• Dropping into VR mode puts them into a "trance"
• This gives you +2 to all Matrix actions, but NOT Resonance actions
• You can only be in hot-sim VR
• Resonance
• "attribute represents how connected you are to the Resonance"
• Resonance max is Essence rounded down
• Whenever Essence is lost, you lose an equal amount of Resonance rounded up
• Hitting zero Resonance means you lose the Technomancer quality and all Resonance abilities
• Resonance Signature
• Whenever a Resonance ability is used, it leaves behiind a unique signature = user's Resonance rating
• Lasts for 1 hour * rating
• Resonance beings can detect a signature as long as they get 3 hits on a Matrix Perception test
• If you've seen it before you recognize it (or do a Memory Test, GM discretion)
• 5+ hits = "you get an impression of what kind of being or ability left it there"
• Resonance beings have their own signatures "on themselves all the time" at the corresponding rating
• Sprites and their actions leave signatures for their compiling TM
• You can hide anyone's Resonance signature for 1 Combat Turn per hit on Erase Signature
• Resonance Actions
• Only usable in the Matrix but are not Matrix actions (no Overwatch score accrual)
• You do not get bonus VR dice for Resonance actions
• Living Persona
• You cannot store data, you have to store it on a "nearby device" (typically a commlink)
• Matrix Attributes:
• Device Rating = Resonance
• Attack = Charisma
• Sleaze = Intuition
• Data Processing = Logic
• Firewall = Willpower
• Matrix damage is counted as Stun damage
• You cannot be a slave or a matser, or part of a PAN or WAN
• May add Resonance to Addiction Tests for hot-sim
• You get an additional +2 to Matrix Perception tests
• Resonance abilities cannot be used through other devices like a commlink or a deck
• Can reboot their living persona as Reboot Device, but it doesn't count as a Matrix Action
• Threading
• Uses the Resonance Action "Thread Complex Form"
• Must also choose a Level for the effect (up to 3 x Resonance)
• Affected by noise, different grid and public grid modifiers
• Complex Forms only usable on spotted icons
• Complex Forms that target Devices can also target Personas (p.252)
• Sustaining a complex form gives you a -2 penalty on all actions per sustained form
• Anything that may break your concentration requires a Resonance + Willpower (2) test
• Cannot sustain forms when unconscious
• Complex Forms always cause Fading
• Fading = (Complex form Fade Value) or (DV 2), whichever is higher
• Note that Complex Forms have specific fade values relative to the Level
• Threading test net hits > Resonance rating, damage is Physical
• Threading test net hits <= Resonance rating, damage is Stun
• Killing Complex Forms
• Used to kill another technomacner's form without their permission
• Software + Resonance [Mental] vs. (complex form Level) + (threader Resonance)
• Each net hit reduces hits from their threading test, 0 hits ends the complex form
• Must resist Fading as if you threaded the targeted complex form
• Learning Complex Forms (p.252)
• Learn a complex by analyzing it with Software + Intuition [Mental]
• (# of hits / 12) = days it takes to learn
• Can know up to (Resonance * 2) complex forms
• Complex Forms
• Diffusion of (Matrix Attribute)
• Target = Device|Persona
• Duration = Sustained
• Force value = Level + 1
• Software + Resonance[Level] vs. Willpower + Data Firewall
• Their attribute is reduced by net hits (cannot drop below 1)
• {{{Threading another Diffusion for the same attribute replaces the old Diffusion (they do not stack)}}}
• Puppeteer
• Target = Device|Persona
• Duration = immediate
• Force value = Level + 4
• Software + Resonance[Level] vs. Willpower + Firewall (1|2|3)
• Free/Simple/Complex Action = 1/2/3 threshold
• Success means the target does specified Matrix action as their next action
• Resonance Veil
• Target = Device|Persona
• Duration = Sustained
• Force value = Level - 1
• Software + Resonance[Level] vs. Intuition + Data Processing
• Target "believes something has happened in the Matrix"
• If the target has reason to believe it's fake, they get Matrix Perception vs. (net hits)
• Fading
• Resisted by Resonance + Willpower
• Damage is only healable naturally through rest
• Caused by threading complex forms or sprite summoning
• see "Threading" or "Sprites" for specific damage reules
• Sprites
• General
• Device Rating and Resonance = Level
• Matrix Atributes are based on level and type of sprite
• If Sprite is physically tracked, it gives location of the owner (same for Convergence)
• Matrix Condition = 8 + (Level / 2)
• Sprites are personas, and cnanot be part of a PAN or WAN
• Commanded using the "Command Sprite" Resonance Simple Action (see Command Sprite Resonance Action for more details)
• Sprite-Technomancer Link (p.256)
• Can communicate with your sprite through the Matrix (text, images, etc.)
• Losing connection to the Matrix also loses connection to the sprites (but is restored when you're back online)
• Registered sprites will wait for you to come back, but compiled sprites will vanish
• Compiling a Sprite
• May be compiled at a Level up to (2 * Resonance)
• Every net hit on the Compile Sprite (Resonance) action is one task the sprite will do
• Limit of one compiled sprite at a time
• When compiled, Overwatch Score starts
• Convergence makes the sprite vanish immediately
• Owner is the TM who compiled it, and has their Resonance signature
• Compiled Sprite Tasks
• Task can be one of
• single use of a sprite power
• one Combat Turn worth of Matrix actions to the same job
• participation in cybercombat until all enemy combatants have been defeated or you escape safely
• (Sustaining a power counts as 1 task indefinitely unless you change it in some way)
• Registering a Sprite
• Registering requires (# of hours) = sprite Level
• Sprite Overwatch Score does not increase due to time while it is being registered
• Neither you nor the sprite can take other actions during this period
• Registering + Resonance [Level] v. (Sprite Level * 2)
• One net hit will result in successful registering
• Each net hit will also add to that sprite's # of tasks
• OS is erased immediately
• Registered sprites do not count against your compiled sprite limit of one
• You can register # of sprites <= Logic (this is from Errata)
• Sprite will stay with you as long as it owes you at least one task
• Registered Sprite Tasks
• Special task list only for registered sprites:
• Compiled Sprite Task
• Aid Study
• Assist Threading
• Loaned Task
• Remote Task
• Re-register Sprite
• Standby
• Sustain Complex Form
• Decompiling
• You can dismiss your own sprites {{{for free}}, decompiling is used for other owners's sprites
• Decompiling + Resonance [Social] vs. (sprite Level) + (compiler's Resonance only if sprite is registered)
• Net hits reduce # of owed sprite tasks by 1
• When the sprite reaches 0 tasks, it returns to the Resonance on its next action
• Sprite powers
• Using a sprite power is a Standard Resonance action
• Camouflage
• Cookie
• Diagnostics
• Electron Storm
• Gremlins
• Hash
• Stability
• Suppression
• {{{The exact implementation of the rules for this are unclear. What lies below is my own interpretation.}}}
• Sprite uses it to "stun" the next IC to be spawned for (Level / 2) turns. This takes up one power usage.
• The IC will still spawn and be visible, it just can't (and no one can act against it)
• Watermark
• Fade damage when compiling/decompiling/registering
• Fading = 2 * (opposed sprite net hits)
• Sprite rating > Resonance, damage is Physical
• Sprite rating <= Resonance, damage is Stun
• Submersion
• Strengthens the TM's connection with the Resonance
• Measured in Grades, starting from Grade 1 (cannot exceed your Resonance attribute)
• {{{Cost for submersion is 10 + (Grade * 3)}}}
• The original text is 10 x (Grade + 3) but this is a mistake
• If Resonance is ever lowered below Submersion, the Submersion grade goes down as well
• Resonance can be increased up to 6 + Submersion grade (spending Karma as normal to do so)
• Allows access to the Resonance Realms
• Each submersion grade gives you a new echo power
• Each Echo cannot be picked more than once unless otherwise stated
• Echoes
• Attack Upgrade: +1 Attack, max(2)
• Data Processing Upgrade: +1 Data Processing, max(2)
• Firewall Upgrade: +1 Firewall, max(2)
• Mind over Machine: +1 Rating control rig, max(3)
• NeuroFilter: +1 biofeedback resist, max(2)
• Note that this does not protect against Fade damage.
• Overclocking: +1d6 hot-sim VR
• Resonance Link: Establishes a one-way empathic link with another TM.
• Resonance [Program]: This echo lets you copy the effects of one common or hacking program (p. 245). Can be taken once per type of program
• Sleaze Upgrade: +1 Sleaze, max(2)
• Resonance Actions
• Call/Dismiss Sprite (Simple)
• Command Sprite (Simple)
• Sprites are intelligent and will follow orders to the best of their ability.
• If the command is complex or confusing, the sprite rolls a (Level * 2) test against a threshold set by the GM to see if it understands.
• Compile Sprite (Complex)
• Decompile Sprite (Complex)
• Kill Complex Form Sprite (Complex)
• Register Sprite (Complex)
• Thread Complex Form (Complex)
• Types of sprites (p. 259)
• Courier
• Cookie, Hash
• Crack
• Suppression
• Data
• Camouflage, Watermark
• Fault
• Electron Storm
• Machine
• Diagnostics, Gremlins, Stability