How do you deal with the panopticon in sci-fi RPG ? - eviltoast

In High technology setting, the hacking skill is incredibly powerful, and a shortcut in many investigation scenarios. By hacking the CCTV camera, I could see that Joe did it, by checkin [insert social media] I know were the evil gad guys live.

Either you go old shadowrun-style with a whole mini game where decker can be killed by AI but it’s pretty heavy and weird, or you end-up with 3 success on my roll and give a lot of info for just one roll.

What are your trick/house-rules to prevent that ? And how would you actually protect from panopticon. Especially looking how stupid people are in today’s real world

  • trashheap@social.avoidbig.tech
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    1 month ago

    @Ziggurat I don’t know of any system which does this. BUT my gut reaction is to simply make any kind of “hacking” skill less broad.

    Requiring the player to either gain profeciency with the hacking skill towards different kinds of tech; as they advance.

    OR

    Breaking it down into less broad skills. I.E.
    * Cryptography (decrypting encrypted data)
    * Network Access/Device Penetration (getting into a device at a distance)
    * Privilege Escalation (Your into the system, but now you need to trick it your an admin.)
    * Scripting/Programming (Your miscellaneous reprogramming a device skill).

    • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I’d just like to add with more than an upvote that I do this and it works well. Also I set up points for cameras. Some are stationary, some are PTZ that change their view over time, and SOMEONE has to stay at the cameras with accessible communication to give the whole team info about it. Hacking and computer stuff is less of a problem the more you know about it in real life.