A part of my Let’s Read “Stars without Number” series. Go grab your free copy of SWN and join in.

Systems

Stars without Number details:

• combat and healing
• scenes, durations, skill checks, saving throws

Remaining are:

• Hacking
• Character Advancement
• Environmental Hazards

Hacking

A quick discussion about accessing computers. You can hack in a Main Action if you spend an hour planning, or spend 10 minutes for an off-the-cuff. If you don’t have 10 minutes, you can spend a single Main Action at an increased penalty.

You can acquire data or control a system (for a short period of time). Progressive hacking attempts get harder. And failure means there is a chance of triggering an alarm.

And if you are hacking something corporate or government, you’ll need to have direct access to a line and sometimes through two points (via line shunt).

From hacking you can:

• Answer a specific question
• Get general information
• Complete database acquisition
• Suppress a system
• Subvert a system
• Sabotage a system

What I like about this system, is planning matters, but also sneaking in to gain access to a terminal or plant a line shunt matters. The planning of a hack is a team affair, and the skill check for hacking is a quick matter.

Character Advancement

Characters advance quick during the early levels – a session or two per level – up until level 4, then advancement begins slowing down. So that by level 11 you’ll need 12 or so sessions for advancement.

When you level up you:

• Roll your hit points again. Take the new result if its higher, or take the previous result + 1 if its lower.
• Increase your attack bonus, if applicable. Warriors increase each level, others gain a bonus every even level
• Improve each saving throw by 1.
• Gain and spend 3 skill points; Experts get 1 extra skill point.
• Choose a new Foci at level 2, 5, 7, and 10. If the Foci grants a skill rank, check the additional considerations.

Psychic’s may buy additional discipline techniques with their skill points.

Characters may buy, at most, 5 attribute boosts.

Environmental Hazards

SWN details the dangers of space:

• Falling
• Poisons
• Diseases
• Radiation
• Hard Vacuum

Training in Heal or Biopsionics can make all the difference in treating exposure to these hazards.

Conclusion

The Hacking system reminds me of Divination spells in D&D. Consider the availability of a tremendous amount of information, and its possible impact. Characters will most certainly seek information in their planning.