House Rules · 3D6 Stats
Netrunning
The Net vs Sift, three-track play, skills, programs-as-Techniques, host zones, scene procedures. Cyberware optional.
Netrunning — 3D6 Stats hybrid
Game: Orion Corridor — 2277 · Setting: Khesret · Rules: 3D6 Stats Status: Table canon (Jul 2026) — naming, three-plane pools, mage interfaces locked.
Companions: Three-Plane Pools & Black ICE · Mage Net Interfaces · Khesret Magic
Naming (do not collide)
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The Net | Digital infrastructure — hosts, stacks, corp clouds, undercity mesh. Where netrunning happens. |
| Sift | Public search + screamsheet index on this site (/net). Sift the corridor. Not a dive. |
| Astral | Magic plane. Parallel track — not the Net. |
| AR | Augmented overlay on meatspace. Low stakes; often no dive. |
| Dive / hot sim | Full sensory Net access. Body vulnerable on meat. |
| Cold sim / trode | Safer, slower (−2 offensive Techniques). Biofeedback → FP only. |
Runner slang: netrunner, diver, overwatch, ghost thread, host, ICE.
> Retired: Lattice (old name for the Net). Do not use in new copy.
Design goal
Blend Shadowrun (programs, IC, overwatch, hosts, biofeedback), Cyberpunk (depth, meat vulnerability), and 3D6 Stats (skills, contests, injury) without replacing 3D6 Stats combat.
- 3D6 Stats stays the engine
- Programs → Techniques defaulting to Computer Programming
- Overwatch + legwork + on-the-fly hacking as scene procedures
- Diver’s body is a fixed target — team holds the room
Three-track table model
MEAT TRACK NET TRACK ASTRAL TRACK (optional)
(3D6 Stats 1-sec) (Pulse or abstract) (if awakened PC)
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Team combat Diver in host Mage on astral overwatch
Social / stealth Overwatch defender Spirit probe (separate)
Driver waiting Legwork (extended) —| Situation | Meat | Net | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR scan, read public profile | Maybe | AR only — Computer Operation | No dive |
| Hack door while team talks | Social | Quick Contest Command/Decrypt | 1–2 rolls |
| Steal file during firefight | Combat | Dive + overwatch | Classic split |
| Week of research | Downtime | Extended legwork | Research / Browse |
| Mage hunts data spirit | — | Net | Astral separate — no same plane |
GM rule of thumb: One diver → one Net action per meat turn (or 3-sec pulse). Full table invested → host map (3–7 zones).
Access modes
| Mode | Gear | Net speed | Meat risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR | Commlink, glasses | Overlay only | Normal |
| Cold sim | Trodes, safe jack, Vivified Trodes | −2 offensive Techniques | Biofeedback → FP |
| Hot sim | Sim rig, neural jack, Weavejack Circlet | Normal | Biofeedback → meat pool / HP |
| Full VR (illegal) | Depth-era rig | +1 horror optional | HP + disorientation |
Cyberware optional. Mages deck with enchanted interfaces — see Mage Net Interfaces.
Skills
| Job | Primary skills |
|---|---|
| Interface / navigate | Computer Operation |
| Code / programs | Computer Programming |
| Crypto | Cryptography |
| Hardware | Electronics Repair, Engineer |
| Jamming | Electronics Operation (EW) |
| Legwork | Research, Computer Operation |
| Meat team | Stealth, Guns, etc. |
Do not use 3D6 Stats Hacking as a single skill — Programming + Techniques.
Optional advantages
- Digital Mind / Compartmentalized Mind (−50% Virtual Reality) — Net scenes only
- Resistant (Biofeedback) — filter quality
- Access Credentials — legal Net keys
- Net Conduit [1] — mage perk; see Mage Net Interfaces
Programs = Techniques
Default to Computer Programming −N. Roll Technique; margin = effect.
| Technique | Default | Hard? | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze | Prog−2 | Avg | Perception; spoof / data bomb |
| Browse | Prog−1 | Avg | Legwork / data search |
| Command | Prog−3 | Avg | Control device via Net |
| Decrypt | Prog−4 | Avg | vs Encrypt |
| Encrypt | Prog−4 | Avg | Defense margin |
| Armor | Prog−4 | Avg | Ablative DR on persona |
| Attack | Prog−5 | Hard | Digital damage |
| Blackout | Prog−6 | Hard | FP (nonlethal) |
| Black Hammer | Prog−7 | Hard | Lethal biofeedback — companion doc |
| Biofeedback Filter | Prog−5 | Avg | Active defense vs Attack / Black* |
| Data Bomb | Prog−4 | Avg | Trap |
| Defuse Data Bomb | Prog−4 | Avg | vs Data Bomb |
| ECCM | Prog−4 | Avg | vs ECM |
| Sniffer | Prog−1 | Avg | Find wireless hosts |
| Spoof | Prog−3 | Avg | Fake credentials |
| Track | Prog−4 | Avg | Trace intruder |
| Stealth | Prog−4 | Avg | Hide persona |
Running programs: Armor + Analyze = two actions per pulse unless deck multitasks.
Host topology
Sketch 3–7 zones. Example Meridian Legal Relay:
[Public Lobby] — [Security Queue] — [File Vault] — [Admin Core]
│ │ │
Patrol ICE Scramble ICE Black Hammer ICE| Zone trait | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Patrol ICE | Skill 12–14; Analyze contests |
| Scramble ICE | −2 Techniques until defeated |
| Killer ICE | Attack or Black Hammer |
| Data bomb | Failed Decrypt; Defuse or Analyze first |
Deeper zone = +1 noise or −1 overwatch reach.
ICE summary
Full damage rules: Three-Plane Pools & Black ICE.
| ICE tier | Skill | DR | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol | 11–13 | 0–2 | Alert only |
| Probe | 13–15 | 2–4 | Attack−1 |
| Scramble | 14–16 | 4 | Debuff zone |
| Killer | 15–17 | 6 | Attack or Black Hammer−2 |
Overwatch holds reactions: Filter, Track, Attack vs traced ICE.
Scene procedures
Overwatch
- Meat plan declared.
- Diver picks entry (Sniffer, credential, physical tap).
- Overwatch posture: Passive / Active / Aggressive.
- Meat round; diver gets one Net action.
- Alert → ICE or meat security.
Hacking on the fly
Extended test; each failure +1 heat; third failure = ICE or security.
Legwork (prep)
Days of Research / Browse → clues or false leads.
AR micro-actions
Computer Operation on public hosts; Spoof contests if hidden.
Khesret hooks
| Canon | Hook |
|---|---|
| Concord | Registry stacks, tariff APIs, escrow logs |
| BHL | Bounties with Net trace clauses |
| Astral Court | Separate plane — no default astral hacking of hosts |
| Dermidine / Depth | Illegal blur of VR/Net/Astral — not default mage gear |
| Sift | Journalists scrape public; divers steal non-public |
Tone: cool, wry, tired — not Tron neon unless the host demands it.
Session prep
- Host name + 3 zones + one secret
- ICE tier (+ optional data bomb)
- Meat complication (who guards the diver?)
- Overwatch assigned
- Legwork clue if prep happened
- Heat clock 0–6 (optional)
Scope lock
- No Shadowrun initiative-pass import
- No Net-only sessions replacing combat
- No merged Astral + Net
- No mandatory cyberware
- No 3D6 Stats Hacking single skill
- No free Technomancer “I am the Net”