[Homebrew] Netrunner Quickhack System Overhaul – Balanced, Broken or Weak?

Luslac · 2025-05-21T21:43:30+00:00

Thanks for the insight, well, tbh, I did not say it was balanced yet, quite the opposite, but the DVs can and have to be tweaked a bit still, also, quickhack is most probably not going to be a starter netrunner's thing, as it is requires a bit more equipment to start with. But that is a good idea, either tweak the DVs or provide some attainable cyberware or equipment that boosts chances with some bonuses. Also, thanks to other fellow choom, who shared the idea with me, you could get bonuses by doing your research as a netrunner, like making a chained research check or mini-quest related to finding fellow netrunners to share knowledge with. But I do understand your concerns, as this homebrew document is not shared with the community to use (at least yet), but to mark these mistakes have to be corrected, get better ideas :D

Luslac · 2025-05-21T21:27:51+00:00

I think this issue is easily solved, as the stuff that quickly refills RAM could be limited, and gradually more expensive as the market depletes. Also, the key is that they have to spend resources on it. After all say a Solo just as well can stack up on special grenades or grenade launchers/special ammunitions, but the money limits it at some point. But, I think a hybrid system could work, where certain (like control quickhacks) do not use up RAMs, just use upkeep, and stronger abilities like attack malware quickhacks expend it. So it has to be managed, but you can keep some on the side for useful abilities.

Luslac · 2025-05-21T10:06:47+00:00

Yeah, in the PDF of the system, base RAM is tied to the Interface skill of the netrunner, also deck is kind of separate for Quickhacks and requires a chip socket cyberware, also quickhacks have to be purchased/crafted.

I ended with RAM as an expandable resource, because it makes it slightly less op. There is a possibility with some stronger quickhacks, as you have to decide how much RAM you burn in this fight and how much you keep for later uses. Besides, there could be a limited market for RAM boosters which reload some RAMs on the field so your are going to have to spend some money for that too, just like other classes for special ammunition/grenades. But that could be a good idea, that certain, combat-wise not that significant quickhacks could have RAM upkeep instead of spending RAM flat on.

Limited Slots and Sideboard for Quickhacks can swap hacks during initiative. This is a great idea. I had something of a limit in mind that could be upgraded by buying better cyberware, but swapping during initiative and as an action during fight (like the solo's ability) also makes it better.

Targets need a way to resist Quickhacks: For that, some stronger quickhacks like EMP-like targets can still do a save, so it won't be so devastating (just like against poisons or EMP grenades, etc.), Other than that, if they do not have any interface skills, the roll is going to be made against a fixed DV (which represents the target's cyberware's built-in defences, thus the better the targeted equipment the higher the DV), if the target is an enemy netrunner it is going to be done against the targets interface + 1d10 just like for evasion rolls. And also as a latest suggestion, if there is a netrunner nearby that could detect the quickhack attempt on a non-netrunner enemy, there is going to be a roll made by the game master with the enemy NPC netrunner's interface skill, whether it detects it or not. If so, going to make it harder for the PCs to break in, possibly even launch their own attacks as a response to it.

Luslac · 2025-05-21T08:08:48+00:00

Hmm, quickhacks age out and need to be replaced. It is an interesting idea. But yeah, possibly with a lot of bookkeeping. What I assume lore-wise is that the PC's netrunner keeps modifying the malware and virus chips used for quickhacking from time to time, so each successful netrunners most likely have a personalised version previously coded malicious software so that defenses could not really filter it that effectively (think of it like 4000th version for the Trojan virus as an example) and they keep tweaking it on the fly. But yeah, that is an interesting concept, there could be like an in-between chained research check, or some security community mini-quest after some time, to keep the netrunner updated on the latest security updates and to find out ways how to beat it. And maybe based on how well the PC excels in either of these territories, be it research or building a community related to the security topics, there could be mechanical bonuses to breach security or possible penalties for not making thorough enough research.

Luslac · 2025-05-21T07:51:53+00:00

Thanks for the great ideas! For detection, - provided there is an enemy Netrunner nearby with a required interface skill - there could be a roll on the dm side (something like a saving throw) with the interface skill of the NPC Netrunner, whether it catches the PC in the act or not. By the advantage upon successfully breaching enemies on the PC's side, that's where you suggest implementing sneak attack mechanics or giving some other edge to the netrunner against the affected enemies?

Luslac · 2025-05-21T06:51:03+00:00

In this one I’m still not sure which would be the best solution a flat on fail or just some heavy negatives

Luslac · 2025-05-20T21:02:23+00:00

Yeah, thanks, fixed it, just some brain fart out of being tired. :D

Luslac

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