[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"

o This gives you +2 to all Matrix actions, but NOT Resonance actions

o You can only be in hot-sim VR

Resonance

o "attribute represents how connected you are to the Resonance"

o Resonance max is Essence rounded down

o Whenever Essence is lost, you lose an equal amount of Resonance rounded up

o Hitting zero Resonance means you lose the Technomancer quality and all Resonance
abilities

Resonance Signature

o Whenever a Resonance ability is used, it leaves behind a unique signature = user's

Resonance rating

o Lasts for 1 hour * rating

o 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"

o Resonance beings have their own signatures "on themselves all the time" at the
corresponding rating

o Sprites and their actions leave signatures for their compiling TM

o You can hide anyone's Resonance signature for 1 Combat Turn per hit on Erase
Signature

Resonance Actions

o Only usable in the Matrix but are not Matrix actions (no Overwatch score accrual)

o You do not get bonus VR dice for Resonance actions

 Living Persona

o You cannot store data, you have to store it on a "nearby device" (typically a commlink)

o Matrix Attributes:

Device Rating = Resonance

Attack = Charisma

Sleaze = Intuition

Data Processing = Logic

Firewall = Willpower

o Matrix damage is counted as Stun damage

o You cannot be a slave or a maser, or part of a PAN or WAN

o May add Resonance to Addiction Tests for hot-sim

o You get an additional +2 to Matrix Perception tests

o Resonance abilities cannot be used through other devices like a commlink or a deck

o Can reboot their living persona as Reboot Device, but it doesn't count as a Matrix Action

Threading

o Uses the Resonance Action "Thread Complex Form"

o Must also choose a Level for the effect (up to 3 x Resonance)

o Affected by noise, different grid and public grid modifiers

o Complex Forms only usable on spotted icons

Complex Forms that target Devices can also target Personas (p.252)

o Sustaining a complex form gives you a -2 penalty on all actions per sustained form

o Anything that may break your concentration requires a Resonance + Willpower (2) test

Cannot sustain forms when unconscious

o Complex Forms always cause Fading

o Fading = (Complex form Fade Value) or (DV 2), whichever is higher

 Note that Complex Forms have specific fade values relative to the Level

o Threading test net hits > Resonance rating, damage is Physical

o Threading test net hits <= Resonance rating, damage is Stun

Killing Complex Forms

o Used to kill another technomacner's form without their permission

o Software + Resonance [Mental] vs. (complex form Level) + (threader Resonance)

o Each net hit reduces hits from their threading test, 0 hits ends the complex form

o Must resist Fading as if you threaded the targeted complex form

Learning Complex Forms (p.252)

o Learn a complex by analyzing it with Software + Intuition [Mental]

(# of hits / 12) = days it takes to learn

o Can know up to (Resonance * 2) complex forms

Complex Forms

o 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)}}}

o 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

o 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

o Resisted by Resonance + Willpower

o Damage is only healable naturally through rest

o Caused by threading complex forms or sprite summoning

see "Threading" or "Sprites" for specific damage reules

Sprites

o 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

o 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

o Compiled Sprite Tasks

o 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

o 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

o 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
 o Registered sprites do not count against your compiled sprite limit of one

o You can register # of sprites <= Logic (this is from Errata)

o Sprite will stay with you as long as it owes you at least one task

Registered Sprite Tasks

o 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

o You can dismiss your own sprites {{{for free}}, decompiling is used for other owners's
sprites

o 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

o Using a sprite power is a Standard Resonance action

o Camouflage

o Cookie

o Diagnostics

o Electron Storm
 o Gremlins

o Hash

o Stability

o 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)

o Watermark

Fade damage when compiling/decompiling/registering

o Fading = 2 * (opposed sprite net hits)

o Sprite rating > Resonance, damage is Physical

o Sprite rating <= Resonance, damage is Stun

Submersion

o Strengthens the TM's connection with the Resonance

o Measured in Grades, starting from Grade 1 (cannot exceed your Resonance attribute)

o {{{Cost for submersion is 10 + (Grade * 3)}}}

The original text is 10 x (Grade + 3) but this is a mistake

o If Resonance is ever lowered below Submersion, the Submersion grade goes down as
well

o Resonance can be increased up to 6 + Submersion grade (spending Karma as normal to

do so)

o Allows access to the Resonance Realms

o Each submersion grade gives you a new echo power

o Each Echo cannot be picked more than once unless otherwise stated
 o Echoes

Attack Upgrade: +1 Attack, max(2)

o 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

o Call/Dismiss Sprite (Simple)

o 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.

o Compile Sprite (Complex)

o Decompile Sprite (Complex)

o Kill Complex Form Sprite (Complex)

o Register Sprite (Complex)

o Thread Complex Form (Complex)

Types of sprites (p. 259)

o Courier
 Cookie, Hash

o Crack

Suppression

o Data

Camouflage, Watermark

o Fault

Electron Storm

o Machine

Diagnostics, Gremlins, Stability