Blackhat Perks
These can also be found in Pyramid #3/85
The following special perks further expand a hacker’s options. All require Quick Gadgeteer, though it may be limited to computers (e.g., with the H4XX0R limitation.
You may have no more than 1 point in Blackhat Perks per 10 points in Area Knowledge (Cyberspace), Computer Hacking, Computer Operation, Computer Programming, Current Affairs (Cyberspace), Electronics Repair (Computers), and Expert (Computer Security).
As a reminder, a ‡ symbol means the perk comes in levels, exactly like an advantage that comes in levels. Each level is effectively its own perk and costs 1 point, but for compactness’ sake, write it on your character sheet only once, along with level and total point cost; e.g., Flatliner 3 [3].
Codehead
There isn’t a code language out there that you don’t know, and even if you don’t know it now, given enough time, you will. The GM should allow you to know just about any programming language in his setting. Furthermore, you only suffer unfamiliarity penalties for not knowing a programming language if (and only if) the code is so alien (or new) it couldn’t possibly be known by the general public. Even then, you become familiar with new computer code at twice the normal speed. This is similar to Cross-Trained (Computer Languages) (GURPS Power-Ups 2: Perks, p. 16), but is better in that you can learn entirely new code by studying it; this is balanced by the need for Quick Gadgeteer.
Console Monkey
You’re a master of tab completion, argument expansion, piping, and other advanced command line techniques. You can control systems you are familiar with at an incredible speed and without needing a GUI. This allows you to act much faster than others. When jacked in, you may calculate your order in the initiative based on (IQ + HT)/4 if better than your normal Basic Speed.
Cyberspace Samurai‡
You’ve either toughened yourself against neural damage or someone already burnt out all the vital bits . . . Either way, when determining how much harm you suffer from someone using the Damage program against you, reduce it by your level of this perk. This is simply DR (Limited, Damage Programs, -80%).
Flatliner‡
You’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s fiber optic, baby! When incapacitated, you retain a semblance of consciousness in cyberspace and suffer less of a penalty than other blackhats. Your level of this perk (maximum five) offsets the -5 for resisting additional uses of the Damage program against you. You can never gain a net bonus.
Internal Firewall
Maybe you’re stubborn, hardheaded, or you’ve been “brain burnt” so often that it just doesn’t bother you much anymore. You make HT rolls to resist Damage programs at +3, just as if you had a hardened deck.
Keyboard Cowboy‡
Your level of this perk (maximum four) offsets the -4 for improvising a program from scratch (see Default Use, Pyramid #3/21, p. 7). You can never gain a net bonus.
Motif
Your programs all have a motif of some sort. Pick a theme such as “classic arcade games” or “70s-era sci-fi movies”; all of your programs are coded with visual themes from this category, making it not only look cool but giving you +1 in Quick Contests against other blackhats unfamiliar with your given theme. At the GM’s option, a Hobby Skill or related Motif might negate this bonus or even gain a bonus.