_ONLINE HACKING

1 versus 1

1 OVERVIEW // Hacking is more than just a crime. It’s a survival trait

Online hacking has an exciting and dangerous premise: The hacking Fixer (aka “hacker”) chooses a victim, appears in the target’s game, locates the target, observes them, and then begins to hack them. He continues until either the hack is successful or he has to break off the hack due to being spotted: acting like a ghost in the machine. Violence against the target corrupts the data and fails the mission.

The target is suddenly invaded and hacked by an unknown human enemy. They must seek out the foe immediately. Anyone could be a potential hacker! But once the foe is profiled, his or her life must end as quickly as possible: like a murder. Violence against the hacker is not only encouraged, but is also vital to your victory.

/// Online Hacking Retaliation

If you’ve been the victim of a hacking or tailing invasion, the perpetrator’s data is stored, and you may receive a prompt to invade that person’s game. The last five players who have attempted to invade your game are stored in this manner.

PHASE 01 /// PREPARATION

Hacking Fixer: After launching the hacking contract, you wait for a random rival player’s data to show up in the top left corner (as shown ). One appears, along with the potential gain and loss of Notoriety points and your foe’s expected level of hacking defense. If the potential gain associated to this foe is too low or his defense looks too strong, search again. The idea here is to maximize your notoriety gain and minimize the enemy difficulty level.

If you want to try hacking this target’s data, accept the contract within 60 seconds.

Target: Here you are, minding your own business, unaware that a hacking Fixer is about to attempt to hack your personal information! However, you need to be between missions for an online hacking to occur. Is the hair on the back of your neck bristling? That might be a Fixer swooping in from the ether, ready to attempt a hack!

/// Enemy Difficulty Levels

Your ability to withstand a hacking invasion is shown on your Online Sessions App. This Defense Rating is a number between 0 and 5, and translates into a note that is visible to everyone:

This rating is based on how good the target is at winning against hackers. The rating also takes in account the amount of Notoriety & XP compared to you. The more victories you accumulate, the better your defense rating becomes!

PHASE 02 /// INFILTRATION

Hacking Fixer: You’re in! You appear in your target’s world. Immediately head to the waypoint indicated on your map. You have five minutes to reach this location (use this time to scout the area, finding the best hiding spots). Access the waypoint; you have another minute to start the hack; spend this time finding several hiding places and escape routes and vehicles to steal. Then begin the hack, though the first time your opponent becomes aware of your actions is when you initiate the backdoor.

Target: You still have no idea that you’re about to be invaded until Phase 3, unless you try to start a Main Mission or other activity. But as soon as Phase 3 starts, prep a Jam Coms, and if you’ve achieved the Security Footage Notoriety skill, a picture of the hacker appears (in Phase 3). Burn this portrait into your brain!

PHASE 03 /// INSTALLING A BACKDOOR

Hacking Fixer: Hack! You can start the backdoor at any time during the second timer countdown (one minute). At this point, an area of effect is shown on both you and your target’s minimaps. It is blue on your map. The message “Installing backdoor” appears. Move directly away from the center of the scanning circle, as this is where you stood when you launched the hack and where the target usually looks first.

Target: Alert! The hack has begun! You need to find that Fixer and fast, as he or she is installing a backdoor. At this point, search area is shown on both your and the Fixer’s minimaps. It is purple on your map. The message “[Fixer name] is trying to hack you” appears, along with a percentage. It’s a good idea to immediately start profiling everyone within the scanning circle, starting at the middle, the Fixer’s last known location.

PHASE 04 /// SEARCH AREA NARROWING!

Hacking Fixer: Continue to hack! Watch as your target gets increasingly desperate at locating your position, as you’ve chosen a particularly wise place to hack from. Remain stationary or maneuver to a safer location as you see fit, and the hack continues. You may be forced to move as the scanning radius shrinks, so always start the hack close to some excellent hiding opportunities. Don’t leave the scanning radius if you can help it, or the hack is temporarily halted.

Target: Where is that Fixer?! Search every nook and cranny within the scanning radius. Keep an eye on the stolen data; if it stops, your foe is outside the scanning radius. You can’t flee, as the hack continues, so profile constantly (especially in the shadows so you catch foes who might be hiding). Search vehicles, alleys, inside buildings, behind fences and walls; look above and below your position and gradually work from the outside of the radius in.

PHASE 05 /// EVASION OR OBLITERATION

Hacking Fixer: Continue to hack as the radius becomes ludicrously small, and you win this hacking mission. Or, if the target discovers you, take evasive, nonviolent action and flee the hacking area and the search area entirely. Escape without being shot for a partial victory, and avoid losing notoriety.

Target: When you finally halt your Fixer’s hacking, it’s usually to chase down the foe and deal death; don’t lose this mission by letting that hack hit 100 percent! Employ every trick you can when removing the threat, which could lead to a vehicle or foot chase, or a game of deadly hide-and-seek. Bring that Fixer down, and hard, to receive the full rewards: Profiling the Fixer is a partial success. Profiling and killing the Fixer is a complete success.

STATISTICAL /// EVIDENCE

Scanning Zone Radii, in Meters

The scanning zone in a hacking contract takes a certain amount of time to narrow, as the data continues to be stolen. Here’s how big the radius of the scanning area is and how many seconds it takes to narrow:

It takes 15 seconds for 10% of the data to be stolen.

It takes 37.5 seconds for 25% of the data to be stolen. The search area narrows.

It takes 75 seconds for 50% of the data to be stolen. The search area narrows again.

It takes 112.5 seconds for 75% of the data to be stolen. The search area narrows once more.

It takes 150 seconds for 100% of the data to be stolen and the hacker to defeat the target.

*Assumes the target has the Precision Scanning Notoriety skill unlocked.

NOTORIETY REWARDS

What kind of Notoriety rewards or losses should you expect from this game mode? The important points to remember are:

The scale of the potential gain or loss is based on the relative notoriety between you and your rival.

Hacking Fixer:

• Major Gain: Fixer has much more lower notoriety than the target.
• Minor Gain or Loss: Fixer and target have notoriety close to each other.
• Major Loss: Fixer has much more higher notoriety than the target.

Target:

• Major Gain: Target has much more lower notoriety than the Fixer.
• Minor Gain or Loss: Fixer and target have notoriety close to each other
• Major Loss: Target has much more higher notoriety than the Fixer.
• Hacking Fixer and Target: Partial Success: This gives to the players a percentage of the potential Gain or Loss based on the progression of the hacking before it was stopped.