📱 Agents
“Your best friend in your pocket.”
Part phone. Part portable computer. All necessity. Your Agent serves as your primary means of communication, a major entertainment source, and it coordinates your life. It makes and takes calls, handles messages, filters news, tracks tasks, orders groceries, and even keeps your clothing selection shiny-chrome.
Edgerunners love their Agents — many treat them like best friends (or even lovers). Fixers especially live and die by them, which is why getting caught hacking someone else’s Agent is a good way to get shot.
⚡ Quick Reference
Agents At A Glance
Feature Details Library Search Agent grants +2 to Library Search (or +3 with Big SAAI app) Communication Voice, video, email, messaging — all via CitiNet AltLink Range 20 m/yds for direct device-to-device transfer Quality Tiers Poor (50eb), Standard (100eb), Excellent (500–1,000eb) Internal Agents Cyberaudio Option, HL 3 (1d6), spoken commands Hacking Requires Breacher + Electronics/Security Tech Check
🧠 The Self-Adaptive AI (SAAI)
The more you use an Agent, the better it gets at predicting your wants and needs. The SAAI (pronounced “sigh”) inside isn’t true artificial intelligence, but its algorithm-driven learning can feel close:
- Learns your schedule, contacts, and preferences
- Prompts you about events related to your contacts
- Filters Data Pool searches into useful summaries
- Personality templates range from 10eb (Cheap) to 100eb (Premium) — the sexier the personality, the more expensive
📡 What Your Agent Does
Communications Hub
Voice, video, email, and instant messaging — all through CitiNet wireless (paid as part of your Lifestyle). Your Agent can even create and send messages using a simulation of your voice and face to screen calls.
Second Brain
Stores your schedule, contacts, and preferences. Can search the Data Pool for personal information about anyone you ask. Automatically reminds you of important events and can send gifts to loved ones if you forget.
Data Pool Access
Crawls the Data Pool and filters mountains of garbage into useful summaries. Downloads text, audio, video, holo, and games. Learns your entertainment preferences over time.
Device Manager (AltLink)
Connects to a wide range of devices via AltLink short-range wireless (20 m/yds with line of sight):
- Printers, refrigerators, cyberware, drones, sex toys
- Other Agents (direct file/money transfer)
- Modern vehicles (one-way performance data)
Accessories
Most Agents come with: screen, speaker, microphone, camera, accessory and power ports, and AltLink. Premium models add flashlights, stereo speakers, or holo-projectors. Specialist models may include laser surveying tools or rudimentary MedScanners.
Built-In vs. Standalone
Agent accessories are usually lower quality than standalone versions. Rockers buy external mics, Techs buy separate Techscanners. A separate device always does better.
🧬 Internal Agents
Why carry when you can implant? Internal Agents connect as an option to your Cyberaudio Suite.
| Feature | Internal Agent |
|---|---|
| Output | Audio only by default. Add Cybereye + Chyron for video. |
| Input | Spoken commands. Can subvocalize for privacy. |
| Accessories | Minimal — no flashlight, holo, etc. |
| Hackable? | No — cannot be hacked via Breacher |
| Apps | Runs apps, but many need visual output or external controller |
Budget Combo
Many Internal Agent users carry a cheap external Agent for easy input and display, connecting via AltLink.
🔓 Hacking Agents
The art of hacking communication devices goes back centuries. In the Time of the Red, many citizens rely on their Agents to manage daily life — making them juicy targets.
Requirements
- You need a Breacher (500eb) — a specialized Agent repurposed for hacking
- Must be within 20 m/yds (10 squares) with line of sight on the Agent or its user
- Can be in a pocket or bag, but not behind a wall
- Cannot hack Internal Agents or disposable cellphones
The Hack Check
Roll Electronics/Security Tech vs the Agent’s quality DV. Takes 1 minute.
| Agent Quality | Remote DV | Physical Access DV |
|---|---|---|
| Poor | 17 | 15 |
| Standard | 21 | 17 |
| Excellent | 24 | 21 |
- If you know the security info (social engineering, etc.): +2 to the Check
- Failed hack: Agent alerts its user at the 30-second mark
Netrunner Bonus
A Crunch Whistle (100eb, Cyberdeck Hardware Option) lets Netrunners add their Interface Rank to the Electronics/Security Tech Check.
Implanting Commands
Once past security, you can implant one command (no Check needed). Additional commands require rehacking.
| Command Type | Examples | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Function | Ring notification tone, activate flashlight, mute, turn off | 1 Round (3s) |
| Core Function | Run app, place call, upload/download file | 1 min (20 Rounds) |
| Secure Function | Lock user out, track location 24h, intercept calls 24h, install backdoor | 5 min (100 Rounds) |
Limitations
- User can attempt to detect intrusion: Electronics/Security Tech Check vs the hacker’s original roll
- System reboot (5 minutes) clears all hacker commands and disconnects the Breacher
- No command lasts longer than 24 hours
- Detection does not reveal the hacker’s identity or location
🛒 Agent Models
External Agents
| Model | Quality | Cost | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segotari Double Agent | Poor | 50eb (Costly) | Classic 2020s styling. Touchscreen + speaker. Camera, mic. |
| Zetatech Grade A | Standard | 100eb (Premium) | Ubiquitous. Touchscreen, speaker, camera, flashlight, mic. |
| Zetatech Grade A-Plus | Excellent | 500eb (Expensive) | Upgraded Grade A + holo-projector. |
| Wyzard Technologies Merlyn | Excellent | 1,000eb (V.Exp) | Wrist-mounted. Holo-display. +1 Wardrobe & Style when visible. |
Internal Agents (Cyberaudio Option)
| Model | Quality | Cost | HL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediaware BrainGen | Poor | 50eb (Costly) | 3 (1d6) | Cheap. Rumored security exploits. |
| Raven Microcybernetics Drake | Standard | 100eb (Premium) | 3 (1d6) | Common, no standout features. |
| EBM PiR2 | Excellent | 500eb (Expensive) | 3 (1d6) | Improved reliability, fewer migraines. |
| Rocklin Augmentics Neuron | Excellent | 1,000eb (V.Exp) | 3 (1d6) | Projects video via optic nerve — no Cybereyes needed. |
📱 Popular Apps
| App | Cost | Source | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask Alex Anything | Free | Ziggurat | Search and display Data Pool info. Pre-installed. |
| BabelChat | Free | Ziggurat | Text, IM, and video chat. Pre-installed. |
| ZPost | Free | Ziggurat | Email client. |
| The Garden | Free | Ziggurat | Social media — post, browse, comment. |
| BangMe! | 10eb | Eurobank | Tap-to-transfer money between Agents. |
| HusTool | 20eb | No/Brainer | Odd jobs: 10eb per 30-min errand. On a 1: no pay. On a 10: encounter trouble. |
| Roach Race | 20eb | CDP S.A. | Pixel-art horse racing game from Poland. |
| Brainwasher | 50eb/mo | No/Brainer | SAAI therapy. Even roll: therapy 1 day early. Odd: therapy 1 day longer. |
| WatchBox | 50eb | No/Brainer | Room alarm (20×20 m max). DV 13 Stealth to evade. Not for Internal Agents. |
| Big SAAI | 100eb | Ziggurat | Boost Library Search to +3. (Also quietly reports on you to Ziggurat.) |
New Gear
| Name | Type | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breacher | Hacking Tool | 500eb (Expensive) | Required for remote Agent hacking. Cannot be used as a normal Agent. |
| Crunch Whistle | Cyberdeck Hardware | 100eb (Premium) | Lets Netrunner add Interface Rank to Agent hacking checks. |
🎭 Agents in Your Game
How do Agents drive story?
- Beloved Friends: Players get attached. Give their Agents personality.
- Out of Service: Dead spots exist — shielded buildings, underground, Hot Zone. Use them for tension.
- Upgrade Bait: A rare app or custom Agent makes a great mission reward.
- SAAI Warnings: The SAAI can offer in-game GM hints: “Boss, 3 of your last 5 Totentanz visits ended with a Trauma Team call. Should I pre-book?”
Can Agents be destroyed?
There’s no automatic cloud backup. All your SAAI’s learned behaviors, preferences, and customizations exist only in the physical device. That makes an Agent a potential target or hostage. Losing an Agent means losing everything it’s learned about you.
What about service outages?
CitiNet coverage is spotty in many places. Shielded buildings, underground spaces, the Hot Zone, and weather events can all knock out your connection. Your Agent still works for offline tasks, but no comms or Data Pool access.
🔗 Related Topics
- Cyberware — Internal Agents require a Cyberaudio Suite
- Drones — Personal drones link to Agents via AltLink
- Netrunning — Netrunners can enhance Agent hacking with a Crunch Whistle
- Skills — Library Search benefits from Agent assistance
- Database — Browse all Agent models and apps
(Source: Interface RED Volume 5, Chapter 3, pp. 23–34)