Hello
 
this is a great discussion. After have read all of your arguments i have come up with my own house rules:
 
 
Hacking/Slicing Rules
 
Remote access
Remote access or wireless entry is possible in some locations and some systems. Mostly open public system. Government and military systems are shielded and decrypt. And will most likely require someone physically be at the location / server / terminal itself.
Unless someone have already installed a dataspike into the terminal already. If so it may be used as a wireless router.
It is possible to use powerful shipboard computers to attempt to disrupt the system of an enemy vehicle/ship from distance. ( EOTE core book, page 237 )  If successful this may happen:
-          Reduce the defense of one zone on the target vehicle/ship for one round pr success.
-          A triumph may be spent to disable a weapon system for one round.
-          Two advantage may be spent to inflict one system strain to enemy vehicle/ship.
 
Access to CPU
In most cases players have to physically be at the CPU/terminal he want to hack/slice. If it is a locked terminal you have to hack through the password first. This require a skill check. GM sets diff.
Some times you need to get a code cylinder off an officer to gain entry to a locked system. This is usually a pen like thing some imperial officers have in their breast pocket. A slicing kit likely has an S-comp tool that allows you to bypass the code cylinder request.
 
In some cases access may be blocked by parts/steel ( Cased inn). If so , they have to first do a mechanic skill check to gain access. GM sets diff. Before any hacking may be done.
 
Avoid detection
Once you managed to enter the enemy system there is a chance for detection. Most CPU have an active artificial security system. It monitors everything that is going on. If it detect anything suspicious it may alert a humanoid operator. In case of detecting an intrusion it will activate security systems. Players can be locked out from their connection or extra blast doors will close around the door they are trying to open. Therefore a  skill check have to be maid to avoid detection and don’t leave any trail of your entry. GM sets diff.
 
 
Stealing info or control the CPU
After the players have gained entry unnoticed they may try to do what they intended. It is possible that players may not do everything they wanted to do from one terminal. You may have to access many terminal on several different places. Example on this is:
-          You can locate the prisoners but can not release them from here.
-          You locate where the force field is. But you cant deactivate it from here.
 
GM sets the difficulty for finding the info/ or manipulate what you want.

You make a very good point. The tech level of Star Wars is very mixed but it is "Star Wars"; not Shadowrun.
 
Another question I got right now that is kind of related.
 
The slicer has a friend, an outlaw tech. She likes to steal droids and order her slicer buddy to rewrite them to become hers. This was charming at first but it is now getting a bit annoying with her stealing everyone she sees, whether they were owned by the government, a private person, or a Hutt. This got especially daunting when an old sith war droid was guarding a shadowport docking bay and she (amazingly) stealthed to it, deactivated it, and used a Destiny point to "stumble upon" a perfectly fit crate to store it in. x_x
 
My new questions:
 
3: How difficult should it be to actually deactivate a droid and get away with it to her ship? What possible repercussion can happen? Are droids typically tracked when stolen (for example a pilot droid).
 
4: How difficult is it to reprogram a droid to become your servant and possibly erase any tracking signals it may give out? I would assume droid, like starships, have a burned-in designation that is difficult to tamper with and even more difficult to remove it from databanks.

Yeah, I knew it was a bad idea but I honestly lack perception when it comes to internet in general. I have seen in SW media both wired and wireless functions so that is why I didn't say no. I also remember one episode of Order 66 podcast that wireless should be allowed but with a setback die (and this is mostly if the slicer wants to hack a door from a distance and avoid notice from sentries; not this massive operation).
 
In any case, I think I will limit it to "wired only until a spike is inserted to allow wireless" from now on. I kind of feel stupid to have allowed that roll. :/

Hey all.
I got a player who is playing a slicer/pilot. We've been playing since Saga edition and there was so little love for slicers so the player got happy they finally got a bigger role and class with FFG's rpg.
 
So I was thinking about the limitations of using slicing methods. Since the Star Wars galaxy has a futuristic technology level than our own it's sometimes difficult to know what is or isn't possible.
 
In our last game, the players needed access into the Senate building. So the slicer tried to hack in from within their parked starship in a docking bay on Coruscant (but first hacking into another ship nearby so if they would be caught, that ship would be traced instead).
Since I figured it would be pretty much impossible to do that, I set the difficulty at 4 red dice and 1 purple. The slicer succeeded. With this entry, they changed the schedule for droid maintenance for a droid they wished to get from in there and they would then have one other player disguise as a technician worker and steal it.
 
So my questions are these:
 
1: Would it be possible to do this kind of hacking so far away from the senate house? I know I should've given some setback die for not having a direct access to it but such an intrusion might have required personal infiltration.
 
2: Did I set the difficulty too high? It's rare to even naturally add a challenge die for a difficulty check without using a Destiny point but my reasoning is that such an intrusion would yield a lot of trouble if they were caught.

Yeah, I knew it was a bad idea but I honestly lack perception when it comes to internet in general. I have seen in SW media both wired and wireless functions so that is why I didn't say no. I also remember one episode of Order 66 podcast that wireless should be allowed but with a setback die (and this is mostly if the slicer wants to hack a door from a distance and avoid notice from sentries; not this massive operation).
 
In any case, I think I will limit it to "wired only until a spike is inserted to allow wireless" from now on. I kind of feel stupid to have allowed that roll. :/

Yes, if you could please let us know how to do this. I've seen mentions to go to the bottom left of the screen near the RSS icon, but I'm not seeing any options to change the theme in either Firefox or Chrome. (It ain't worth it to me to go to Internet Explorer. At that point, I'd just decide to stay away from the forum.)

I asume you have all noticed something different with the site.
 
I also asume you can still read this... I'm starting to fear i'll go snowblind from staring at the new layout to much.
 
5 minutes on a standard monitor and my eyes are starting to hurt! Wich sadist designed this anyway?
 
Hyperbole aside, I'd actually report the designer to the admins. No site should make my eyes water after 5 minutes!
 
 
If you agree with me, or you dislike both me AND the new design, Please send your feedback to FFG and ask them (politly that usaly works better) to either change it back or give us a button to change the theme.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to cry tears of blood.

OK, before things to far out hand here. 
We do have to remember that the Holonet changed a lot from pre-Empire to post-Empire. What could be done by a member of the Jedi Order on the Holonet during the Republic, may not be the same as what can be done by an everyday citizen during the time of the Empire. The Empire is locking down information. Without knowledge, people don't know how bad they have it...
 
No one is questioning transmissions. We all understand that transmissions can be done through a wireless medium in TGFFA. When most people nowadays speaks of wireless it is generic term for a wireless internet network. Not radio/microwave/HAM or other transmissions. 
 
RAW does say that a slicer can attempt to hack another ship...yes. Everyone can interrupt that differently. I take it to mean that maybe cargo ships have WiFI capable systems to allow a port to remote operate a ships maneuvering thrusters and cargo bay doors. Not a TIE fighter. (My iPhone can't talk to an F-22)  I don't see TIE's being able to receive a "WiFi" signal. 
The way I look at Star Wars Tech is that is has become so advanced, that it has actually had to go backwards some. With the advent of super computers, and then intelligent droids, the worlds that carried "wifi" networks were always under a constant bombardment from cyber attacks. Security gets better, the hackers get better...Somewhere along the line wireless data networks became obsolete as they could not protect them very well anymore, so societies reverted back to land-lines and cable networks that are point of use that can be secured much more easily and cheaper. 
 
Real world case in point. In the Air Force all our offices had the coordless handsets back in the early 2000's. Around 2004 we ALL had to switch back to corded handsets due to security issues. Even in the Oval Office, all the phones there are still corded. We do have the SIPERNET, which a secure internet that is both wired and wireless in some places, and to get in that system, that is where cross the line of "real world" hacking and "fantasy" hacking. In the real world an operation like the one done on Sony could takes months of work by a dozen people to pull off, not some dude sitting on in starbucks with an iPad making a RPPP check. You go dumpster diving, infiltrating the offices as "cleaners" to lift up keyboards looking for passwords, taking photos of the cubicles, identifying the people in the photos, cars, license plate numbers to use as passwords.  The Sony op was able to happen because someone got a system admin's password. It was not "broken" or "cracked" they either stole it, or he sold it to them. 
 
Sorry for my ranting...
 
So after the Empire came into power it pretty much shut down the Holonet for the public. The Holonet is not just the "internet", it is faster-than-light means of information sharing. It actually uses Hypersapce to transmit data so there is virtually no time lag in communications. Many worlds will have the "internet" and even some wifi capable areas, but banks, major commerce centers and military/government buildings will not be on that wifi network. 
 
 
Final thoughts: Lets all keep this civil and polite. We are all here to have some fun, and talk about one of our great loves in life; the Star Wars RPG. We can all have a different view on how this imaginary setting works, and all views are good and valid. There is no need for us to get mad at each other over an imaginary concept. This is nowhere near "I MAKE a player at my table attempt to murder a little girl because they used 1 dark side pip on a force die" kind of thing. 

This sure became an interesting read topic. Based on all of this I'd say it's only possible to hack into a central that you have already access to its "router"/spike. Then it doesn't matter how far away you are (to a reasonable limit). In my situation I should have forced them to make a break-in to the tower in order to install the spike before they can have free access in it.
How the "hack an enemy ship" works.... I'd say there are wireless connections in Star Wars but only to a short range. So it would make it possible to mess up the system of the pursuing TIE Fighter, but you would be too far away to hack into a Senate building without standing right next to it. But then we get into a situation of wireless distance since lenghts are abstract between land and space range bands.

This weekend I am going to have a player hack into a satellite orbiting a planet to put in a module that can hijack the Imperial Communications satellite and start broadcasting secret rebel messages across hyperspace. They are being asked to do this by the Senator in Exile Gall Trayvis... 
 
So anyway, I plan on the encounter going something like this, but we all know how plans go.
 
The ship can't get closer than 1 KM or the proximity alarms will go off, but a person should be able to float right on in. 
 
They reach the target and the slicer has to space walk out to it. i am going to ask for an easy Coordination check, which he should pass, Advantages will grant Boost on his next check (Mechanics), Threat will take away Strain, or add setback die to next check. 
 
I will ask for  a Fear Check. I will try to describe the sheer awesomeness of him floating towards this big satellite, as he floats in, the camera pans back showing him floating, the camera keeps moving back, the planet below fills the screen as the now tiny figure keeps floating towards this bus sized object.  As he looks around, he can no longer tell up from down, he feels as though he wants to keep falling to the planet! Roll Discipline. Average. threat will be Strain, Advantage can boost next fear check, after a total of 1 triumph, or 4 CUMULATIVE Advantages, he will no longer make fear checks for the encounter. As he gets to the Imperial Communications Satellite Array (ICSA), it should take about about 20-30 minutes of work. it is a 10 min space walk to it. 
 
His first act (Computers) is to disable the security system. He can get to most it from outside, but does have a strict time limit of 30 seconds. (This would be were the tech crew would input their access codes to let it know they are authorized) 
These are timed rounds at 10 seconds each, so can get three checks in if need be.
Advantages will reduce the time taken, threats will increase the time. 2 Second intervals. Despair, means the message is being prepped to send to indicate trouble. He will have to make an Impossible Mechanics check to get the access panel open super quick, and then next round (not 10 seconds now) he will have to make another Impossible Computer check to shut down the activation of the messaging system. Triumph means that he input the correct codes for the System Administer, granting better access to the ICSA, giving him a boost on Computer checks for the Encounter.
 
Outside Security disabled in about 10-13 seconds I bet with the Slicer I have. 
He has to get the main panel open, Easy/setback mechanics check. (don't let the screwdriver float away--3 threat)
Now he has to squirm his way inside this hulk, and not rip his suit, Average Athletics check, with a setback due to zero G. Threats can reduce his oxygen time, as he is breathing super fast. Each threat will be -1 minute. Suit has 60 mins. 3 threat, and the suit gets a small rip, as a full round action can apply seal, lose -3 min of air. Despair -5 min.
About 15-20 min has gone by now.
 
Now at the main computer junction. 
To open the main access panel to the computer core he will have to pick the lock on it. Average Skulduggery check, with 2 setback, Zero-G, Cramped uncomfortable position he is in. About 1-2 min for this. Threats can indicate a broke lockpick, or increased time. Advantages reduce time taken. 
Now in to the core! 
1. He has to up-link to the computer and let it know he should be doing this. Computers: Hard with a setback for being a brand new top of line ICSA, Setback for protective algorithms, and a setback die for zero G. (He can get rid of two if not all three of them)
2. Establish a link with the ground to let the computers it will be off line for a minute for "re-calibration". This will be a RRPP check with the three setbacks. (Upgrades are for the sentient computer controllers on the ground)
3. Install the new broadcasting hardware module. The more he want is hidden in the jumble of arts and wires the harder the check will be. A mechanics check at the difficulty level of his choosing. If he can beat that, that will be the new difficulty to spot the device. 
4.Bring the system back online. Same as Item 2. 
5 Disengage from the core. Difficulty RR, not hard to do, but if he does not follow Imperial Protocol, the system will know something is amiss. Small chance of Despairs. 
6 Climb back out. Same difficulty as before. 
7 Install the panel back on the correct way. Easy Mech check. 
8. Now float on home.
 
Easy as that! All the while there will be TIE patrols going around scanning the area, the pilot will have to try to avoid them...not likely...Then pick the Slicer back up!
 
I give this encounter a 92% chance of going off with out any problems. That is from the dice side of things. If the encounter will go like this.. I highly doubt it though. 
 
So this a very brief explanation of my first encounter for my next session. I want this to be a fun and somewhat challenging encounter for him. I want him to think the risk of failure is real, but not feel overwhelmed by the dice rolls. His skills are YYYY for both Computer and Mechanics. So out of this encounter, I am only giving him one super hard check at RRPP. But I am building this encounter to be just that, an actual encounter for him. I am having him make a Coordination, Discipline, Mechanics, Athletics, Skulduggery, and Computer checks for this! That is six skills! Oh, and if he feels like he is running low on time and wants to boost away from the ICSA faster, he can make an Athletics check to "jump up" off it to move faster. he has to get 1 klick away from it.
Again, the other part of the crew will be playing hide and seek as this is going on. They may even have to fight off the TIEs. 
Final thoughts:
I do not allow much "wireless" slicing in my games. I do NOT allow a slicer to "hack" into tie fighter to hut down the engines. A slicer could boost the sensors causing a small "overload" (nothing physical) to an enemy ship, perhaps giving the gunner  a boost die to attack. Anyway...
 
I just wanted to show you how I run my computer slicing moments in the game. It is never just one roll. and Slicers are not the GODS of Star Wars tech able to hack into every bank account and military building in the galaxy.  As to your question about adding in the Challenge Dice. I do use them sometimes and not flip a destiny point. I do this when there was some degree of skill that imposed the players actions. A quick example... if it would not be a straight up opposed roll, but a set difficulty, but something more akin to an opposed roll, but I don;t know the guys skill that did...like hide an object. But most compter systems are going to be monitored by living beings and droids who also have great skills, sop not all computer checks will be based just off the books difficulty charts. Well, hope you enjoyed my long rant. (Imagine how my players feel) 

One excellent piece of advice previously given about slicing is to look at A New Hope... Artoo can locate the princess but not release her. He can locate the tractor beam power terminals, but not deactivate them. People have to actually be present and use a terminal to get the work done.
 
Slicing can tell you where you need to go, and maybe make getting there easier, but you still have to physically get someone to the location / server / terminal itself.
 
In the case of Rebels and the dataspike, it shows that wireless is not a default. It's a rarity... so the previous point still stands. If you want to activate stuff remotely, you still have to physically get the dataspike onto the device before remote access is an option.

Yeah, I knew it was a bad idea but I honestly lack perception when it comes to internet in general. I have seen in SW media both wired and wireless functions so that is why I didn't say no. I also remember one episode of Order 66 podcast that wireless should be allowed but with a setback die (and this is mostly if the slicer wants to hack a door from a distance and avoid notice from sentries; not this massive operation).
 
In any case, I think I will limit it to "wired only until a spike is inserted to allow wireless" from now on. I kind of feel stupid to have allowed that roll. :/

Some aspects of the hyperspace flights confuses me and I think it's time to ask you people on the forum so that I can better understand them.
 
How exactly is the travel handled practically?
The movies give the impression that the heroes goes into a straight line toward their destination but that is not true. Do the ship make short stops by planet? If so, are these  handled automatically by the ship or does the captain have to re-adjust the angle of his ship to aim toward the next stop? How often do they have to stop or can they just skip a planet if its still straight forward?
 
How is traffic and checkpoints handled?
Major hyperpace lanes are used as safe paths for starships. But apparently they are not free to use as you please. Are all starships obliged to pay and revise cargo/papers at the custom checkpoint? Do you need a special document to use them? What stops starships from just jumping in a vast space? And with millions of ships going back-and-forth, how is it handled without a mass-collision happening?
 
How safe is hyperspace really?
I am aware of the dangers of flying into a star faster-than-lightspeed. However by making the jump seem to always be the best method to flee a combat in space. But can enemy track you? How exaclty do pirates and imperials become a threat when people can simply jump to safety?
 
Can you fly without sublight drives?
My team's ship engine had taken damage and it couldn't move. Can they still go into hyperspace if the hyperdrive is intact? The movies clearly depicts the ship's burner active so I would assume no. For the game, I ruled it was ok to jump (without setback die) but I am curious to know.
 
How do you stop Hyperspace?
I can only assume there are some kind of roadblocks for starships to reach other planets, or else the Separatists wouldn't have so much trouble reaching the core worlds and vise versa. What exactly hinders these ships to advance through open space?
 
How far can you go?
Does the hyperdrive use a special fuel or is it infinite? Can a team travel across the entire galaxy without refueling? (Assuming they have food and air lasting months).
 
Does communications work in hyperspace?
I would assume no but I've seen in the clone wars that CIS Holonet works (between Grievous and Dooku). Can two starships traveling together speak to each other with comlinks while in hyperspace?

Yeah, I know. I originally wanted to ask, like, 2-3 questions but then I got another, and then another, and another... You get the point. My apologies.
 
Thank you all for your advices.

I am trying to build a character statblock of General Grievous, mostly for fun, but might be used in an alternate future game I'm planning where he survived. Some abilities are missing since I don't know what bonuses a Kaleesh cyborg would get. I haven't chosen a specific career either but mostly built him like one normally would by picking talents.
Another note; I am basing this build on his abilities shown on ep. 3 and the clone wars (both the animated cartoon and the cg), and what I've read on Wookieepedia.
 
So here's my take on him. I will also add small descriptions on why I chose this way.
 
General Grievous
 
Brawn: 6
Agility: 5
Intellect: 4
Cunning: 2
Willpower: 5
Presence: 3
 
Soak: 6
Wounds: 18
Strain: 15
 
 
Skills:
Athletics 4, Brawl 3, Coercion 4, Coordination 4, Discipline 2, Leadership 5, Lightsaber 5, Mechanics 3, Melee 4, Knowledge (Outer Rim), Piloting (Planetary) 4, Piloting (Space) 5, Ranged (heavy) 2, Stealth 3, Vigilance 5, Knowledge (Warfare) 6
 
 
Talents:
Adversary 3, Brilliant Evasion (once per encounter, select 1 opponent and make an oppose Pilot check to stop opponent from attacking you for rounds equal to Agility), Intimidating 2 (may suffer a number of strain to downgrade difficulty of Coercion check equal to number of ranks), Commanding Presence 1 (remove setback die per rank from Leadership and Cool checks), Heroic Fortitude (may spend a Desinty point to ignore effects of critical injuries on Brawn or Agility checks until the end of the encounter), Physical Training 1 (add boost die per rank to Athletics and Resilience checks), Shortcut 1 (during a chase, add boost die per rank to any checks made to catch or escape an opponent), Speaks Binary 2 (when directing NPC droids, may grant them boost die per rank on checks), Swift (do not suffer usual penalties for moving through difficult terrain), + other battle talents
 
 
Abilities: ???
 
 
Equipment: Cybernetic arms (+1 Brawn), cybernetic legs (+1 agility), a bunch of lightsabers, starfighter Soulless One, wheelbike, blaster rifle Annahilator.
 
 
So what do you think? I am very open to hear your opinions. Feel free to criticise.

Uhm... okay, thanks for your replies. I will consider about the turret thing. It would be easier to have it already installed once the heroes owns/steals it. But it's a good point to maybe let the engineer get the idea and accomplish it. Heck, she can get creative and install whatever turrets or gadgets on it during the adventure. That gave me some ideas.

You know that unless you roll an awesome autofire roll you can't 1-shot the x-34 with the 74-z right?
 
 
Anyway, I'm a cynic when it comes to arrow, as the thing started as just an off the shelf SUV that some guys welded gun mounts on, and the EU got butthorny for it and turned it into a light tank.
 
I'd ditch the shields, drop the ht down to 5ish, the speed to 2, up the handling to 0, make the altitude 2 meters so it can clear rough terrain, and give it a good 3 or 4 HP. I think leaving the armor at 1 is ok...That'll leave you with a nice SUV with plenty of room to mount weapons, better armor, better engines, or whatever. 

I would also suggest increasing its size to a silhouette 3.  Most things with a silhouette of 2 have less room in them.  Examples include the airspeeders and cloud cars form ESB both silhouette 2.  The speeder bike from RotJ is also a 2.  While AT-ST is a silhouette 3.  In Dangerous Covenants there is an Invader AA-9 assult airspeeder similar to what your looking at that is also silhouette 3.