I like the idea of each slicer having their own slicing gear that is unique to their style. One might use a datapad, another might have a belt rig, another might have a case of datachips (or whatever it was DJ used), a special monocle attached to a comlink and a computer woven into the interior of a jacket.
What are some inventive ways you would use to make slicing gear more than the standard description as far as how the gear is carried/worn by the character, and as part of their personality?
In my current campaign, our resident slicer is a musician, so his hacking rig is built into a unique keyboard. He can use it to play (and often busks to make some extra coin during downtime), or he can hook it into a computer or system to slice away. The rig even has lights and sound for entertainment effects that he's used as a minor distraction during combat.
I'm about to introduce a new NPC who's a mechanic/slicer, and her signature gear is a pair of glasses/goggles with a variety of lenses and HUDs, almost like she's wearing that stuff they use when you got for an eye exam.
A few thoughts besides those and the ones you've mentioned: a watch with a HUD or holo-display, a helmet or even glasses with built-in screens, a sleeve unit (look up images for "Mass Effect Omni Tool"), a drone or series of drones, a boardgame with pieces that mask or convert into high-tech gear, or a cybernetic implant with the hacking rig built into it.
I'm partial to the idea of a tiny remote control droid that can sneak around, then input whatever you want into a computer. (Basically the only way to slice without being present)
Concealed data spike in a walking stick handle.
1 hour ago, 2P51 said:Concealed data spike in a walking stick handle.
"THIS DARN CONTRAPTION!!!" *Jams stick into computer*
Great ideas so far thank you guys. I hope no one minds me stealing them 
Great topic - I think slicing is kind of an empty book waiting to be written here.
Of note, the latest Han Solo novel that takes place before TLJ has some slicing in it ... wireless slicing at that. I don't want to spoil anything but this opens doors we've not yet seen in the films. At least the new canon books treat slicing in a sane kinda way ... for the most part.
As a loooooooooong-time cyberpunk fan, I'm reasonably shocked at the lack of this kinda tech in this setting. Sure, it's there - it has to exist, we see it right there on the screen. Hidden weapon compartments, concealed droid brains, why even a cyberleg wetbar, sky's the limit.
On 6/20/2018 at 9:34 PM, gwek said:In my current campaign, our resident slicer is a musician, so his hacking rig is built into a unique keyboard. He can use it to play (and often busks to make some extra coin during downtime), or he can hook it into a computer or system to slice away. The rig even has lights and sound for entertainment effects that he's used as a minor distraction during combat.
So he's a bard?
I always imagine slicer tools resembling a lock pick set.
My character has a series of cards that he keeps in a deck which look like Pazaak Cards. They insert into a wrist mounted data pad and each have a different program they can run. The interface comes complete with a holographic keyboard that he edits the code with on the fly. Each hacking attempt using one of the cards is then described in game... like one time I ran a program designed to mask itself as a personnel review form and then go in and delete the personnel files it was stored with. That had been used to help a Czerka Employee get hired back on a different world with the same corporation. I edited the program later to allow it to go in and delete security footage using the same principles.
My ultimate program is yet to be used and was derived from a conversation on these forums. It changes the baseline code for gender associations within a droid. For example, it would change the gender of C3PO to a female yet it does nothing to change the vocalization. This is a ticking time bomb of programming errors as the associated droid being told that their gender programming doesn’t match their voice will then try and correct the error without the ability to do so. The inherent contradiction in programming breaking down the Droids functions. Upload this to the security droid guarding a VIP to render him defenseless when and if you need it....
2 minutes ago, Khazadune said:My character has a series of cards that he keeps in a deck which look like Pazaak Cards. They insert into a wrist mounted data pad and each have a different program they can run. The interface comes complete with a holographic keyboard that he edits the code with on the fly. Each hacking attempt using one of the cards is then described in game... like one time I ran a program designed to mask itself as a personnel review form and then go in and delete the personnel files it was stored with. That had been used to help a Czerka Employee get hired back on a different world with the same corporation. I edited the program later to allow it to go in and delete security footage using the same principles.
My ultimate program is yet to be used and was derived from a conversation on these forums. It changes the baseline code for gender associations within a droid. For example, it would change the gender of C3PO to a female yet it does nothing to change the vocalization. This is a ticking time bomb of programming errors as the associated droid being told that their gender programming doesn’t match their voice will then try and correct the error without the ability to do so. The inherent contradiction in programming breaking down the Droids functions. Upload this to the security droid guarding a VIP to render him defenseless when and if you need it....
Sounds awful cispicious
On 6/21/2018 at 3:07 PM, themensch said:Great topic - I think slicing is kind of an empty book waiting to be written here.
Of note, the latest Han Solo novel that takes place before TLJ has some slicing in it ... wireless slicing at that. I don't want to spoil anything but this opens doors we've not yet seen in the films. At least the new canon books treat slicing in a sane kinda way ... for the most part.
As a loooooooooong-time cyberpunk fan, I'm reasonably shocked at the lack of this kinda tech in this setting. Sure, it's there - it has to exist, we see it right there on the screen. Hidden weapon compartments, concealed droid brains, why even a cyberleg wetbar, sky's the limit.
I really try to not approach the setting as tech-driven sci-fi but I understand that everyone has their own take so I get that. I think the cartoons have gone more in that direction than the films have for the most part.
5 minutes ago, Archlyte said:I really try to not approach the setting as tech-driven sci-fi but I understand that everyone has their own take so I get that. I think the cartoons have gone more in that direction than the films have for the most part.
I agree regarding the cartoons - and the books & comics throw some interesting tidbits in there too. I'll admit I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, but feasibly, there's nothing in the cyberpunk genre that wouldn't be right at home in Star Wars. The setting has evolved into an asimovian "technology is magic" trope in my mind, for better or worse.