Hacker

New Archetype: Hacker

If the Ages of Man are defined by the level of technology they have, then we are living in the Computer Age. Pretty much everyone has access to a computer and virtually everyone owns at least one smartphone (and what is a smartphone if not a tiny computer?).  With computers and electronics such an important part of modern life, it can’t be long until someone figures out how to manipulate them for their own purposes.

Enter the Hacker.

I’ve chosen to make the Hacker into an Archetype instead of its own class.  There is plenty of room for other classes to already be good at computers, and it makes sense that some of them would also dabble in hacking.  An Investigator who uses a computer to help track down leads that would otherwise be difficult to find, the Rogue who uses them to be better at infiltrating (Rogues would make great real-life Pen Testers), or the Liberator Champion who uses them to help expose criminals on the web.

Also, to be frank, there wasn’t enough here for its own class, and the Advanced Player’s Guide has shown us that Archetypes are the wave of the future.

Without further ado, here is the Hacker Archetype.

Hackers excel at using Computers to manipulate electronics around them, and gain access to devices and locations, both digital and physical.

Hacker Dedication           Feat 2

[Hacker][Dedication]
Prerequisite: Trained in Computers

You are faster and more capable than others when it comes to getting into digital places you aren’t meant to be.  You can use both the Hack and Crack actions faster. These actions are treated as one step less difficult for the purposes of determining time. (Times are listed on Table 2-1 in New Skills) So, an Easy DC, instead of 1 minute is treated as Very Easy and takes 3 Actions, and so forth (minimum 1 Action). 

Ghost                    Feat 4

[Hacker]
Prerequisite: Expert in Computers, Hacker Dedication

You are especially proficient at covering your tracks when you hack into a device.  DC’s to find any trace of your Crack or Hack actions on a device increase by +4 on a success and +8 on a critical success.  You only leave obvious traces on a critical failure.

Everything’s Connected                                Feat 6

[Hacker]
Prerequisite: Expert in Computers, Hacker Dedication

You know that everything is connected to the internet somehow. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5g, etc., are ubiquitous in our modern world and you’ve learned to take advantage of them.

You no longer take a penalty to Crack checks for not having direct access to a device. You still need some way to access a device, such as bluetooth, WiFi, etc.

Explosive Override          Feat 6

[Hacker]
[2 actions]
Prerequisite: Expert in Computers, Hacker Dedication

You cause a battery to overcharge itself, a short in a computer’s power supply, or otherwise cause a device to catastrophically fail.  You must already have access to the device, such as using Crack from a previous action.

Make a two-action Hack check.  If it succeeds the device explodes and gains the Broken Condition, on a Critical Success the device is permanently destroyed, and the saving throw DC is increased by +2.  Creatures within 5 ft must make a basic Reflex Saving Throw against your Computers DC or take 2d10 Electricity damage. At level 11 this becomes 4d10 damage.  At level 17 it is 6d10

Hack the Planet    Feat 8

[Hacker]

You are even better at most than getting passed encryption and strong password protections.

You treat all successes on complex Hack or Crack checks as critical success (thereby gaining two successes instead of one) and gain an additional success on a critical success.

Lightning Fast Hacker     Feat 10

[Hacker]
Prerequisite: Master in Computers, Hacker Dedication

Whether it’ because you have the right software always available to assist you or through sheer skill, you have become almost supernaturally fast at hacking.   For determining the time taken Crack and Hack actions are now treated as one more step easier.  Hard DC’s will now only take 3 actions.

Can’t Stop the Signal       Feat 12

[Hacker]
Prerequisite: Master in Computers, Hacker Dedication

You are constantly plugged into the various electronic signals around you. Because this includes security cameras, microphones on smart devices, etc., you can use this signal to boost your awareness of events around you.

When you are in the proper environment, you can use Computers in place of a Perception check.  You GM will determine when you are able to use this ability, but generally it works anytime you are in an area that might have audio or video devices.