E-Breach and Hacking

Currently the only way to hack a Terminal is by using an E-Breach. They have pretty much only one use though...override Access Rank.
I think it would be fun if there would be a way to manually hack things too - with a higher risk. If you are seen while you are in the hacking-interface, you will gain a Fine/Bounty, similar to how it is with cutting Panels or copying Identity already.

To enter a Building (without E-Breach) you can...
  • Copy Access Ranks until you are high enough
  • Cut open the Door and overcharge it
  • Wait for someone to open it for you by causing a distraction near it
  • Disable the Authorisation Scans

To acces a Terminal (without E-Breach) you can...
  • Copy Access Ranks until you are high enough

To open a Keypad-Crate you can...
  • Copy Access Ranks until you are high enough for a Terminal
But if there is no Terminal? Nothing. You can only use an E-Breach.

Our Minigame for opening doors is pretty much just a "draw a Square". Its easy to learn and you can learn and master it to cut even faster. While i would wish for some different shapes and uses in the future, it is fine as it is at the moment.

So what could be used for Hacking?
Personally my favourite would be something like this:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feiOA4wSAvQ

Easy to learn, usable on Keyboard, Controller and Hotas, and it looks fitting. In lore it could be explained as a "Hacking Suite" that assembles different Code-Segments to breach through a Firewall.

But why? Simply because it would add another way to do things, and it would allow us to get into Consoles and Numpads without using an E-Breach. There are situations where you cant get an Access Level, where you dont have a Terminal to find a Code, so the only way is using an E-Breach. So an alternative way to get into them would be neat.

But there could be more!
Instead of just accessing those things, there could be a way to manipulate them.

Hack the Alarm Terminal:
Guards can no longer call in reinforcement. Their Communication is jammed.

Hack the Turrets:
Turrets become Hostile. They now Attack eveything on sight - even you. Great for clearing those Massaker-Settlements in a sneaky way, wouldnt it?

Hack a Reactor Console:
Energy Ports now shock nearby Targets (not the Kill-Type) which disables Shields and Weapons for a short Time

Hack the Authentification Terminal:
You gain Administrator Access. You no longer count as "Trespassing".

Hack a Data-Port:
Download more Data (like x2 or x3)
 
Wasn't hacking something that was promised last year and then quietly forgotten about?
I think e-breaching is the hacking gameplay that was hinted at.

I will say, I'm okay with how the current gameplay trade off works out in populated settlements. In that situation, you have to pick between cloning a profile and then running around avoiding being scanned while you make use of it, versus a technique that is fast and guaranteed to work but that consumes a relatively expensive item and will get you in trouble if you are seen using it. That's an interesting choice, that meaningfully impacts how you play out a given mission.

At unpopulated settlements, by contrast, the only option is to use the magic hacking consumable, and since there's nobody to see you do it, nobody cares. This produces a very predictable pattern - if something is mag locked, you obviously cut it since that's free, and otherwise the only choice you have to make is whether the thing you want to steal is valuable enough to justify using up an e-breach. So I think there's a case to be made for adding an additional branch there.
 
At unpopulated settlements, by contrast, the only option is to use the magic hacking consumable, and since there's nobody to see you do it, nobody cares. This produces a very predictable pattern - if something is mag locked, you obviously cut it since that's free, and otherwise the only choice you have to make is whether the thing you want to steal is valuable enough to justify using up an e-breach. So I think there's a case to be made for adding an additional branch there.
Like scanning the dead bodies and using their codes. Ofc there aren't always dead bodies.
 
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