SR5 grid access?

[jeffhartsell]

How do you pay for grid access? It seems like your lifestyle gives you access to certain grids, but that is not clear.

Possibly everyone by default has public grid access, medium lifestyle local grids, and high+ lifestyles all grids. But I don't see RAW explaining this information. It is just alluded to in and example story that lifestyles impact grid access.

I know you can hack into grids.

 

[thewok]

Your lifestyle determines which grids you have legal access to. The table is in the sidebar on p. 222, but I'll put it here:

Squatter, Low: Public
Middle: Local
High: Global (pick one of the Big Ten)
Luxury: Whatever you want

That sidebar also mentions buying upgrades for grid access, but I can't find that chart anywhere. But, I don't take to PDFs too well. I'll look harder when I get the actual book.

 

[CAFRedblade]

I'd say everyone has basic access since it's somewhat required for a syn, commlink/ID. Now, how much/well you can access it depends on lifestyle level. Lower levels you can access it via a method similar to today's internet, and maybe lower/default Matrix Avatars, the higher the lifestyle, the more exclusives you have access to/pay for.

Also affects what kind of Gear you might use to interface with the Matrix as well.

 

[jeffhartsell]

Thanks! I totally missed that sidebar rule on page 222.

 

[CAFRedblade]

Also, For hackers they have the ability to Hop from Level to Level with some skills. Otherwise, you're restricted via your lifestyle, so unless you upgrade or downgrade your lifestyle at a point past character creation, you're stuck at the level you started with for access.

 

[Derren]

If it works like in previous editions there will be a "options" book, likely named Runners Companion, which, among other things, will have a more complex system of lifestyles where you do not buy complete packages but can buy individual levels of security, luxury, etc. Grid access will likely be one of the extras.

Alternatively, guides for specifically buying grid access will be in the Matrix splatbook.