Late Game Netrunning

[Mevik1023]

I've had a minor late-game concern for 2077's Netrunner class, which is the build I plan on sticking with.

Games have a tendency to, over time, dilute or outright disable non-combat options as a viable means of progressing through the game. I can see higher level bosses, whether it be from side content or the main game, railroading players into a more shooty playstyle. That'd take some of the air out of a Netrunner's build and customization options. Is anyone else tiptoeing towards a Netrunner preference with this same concern? Or do we think there'll be ways to complete 2077 with some melee moves and a taste for hacking?

 

[Guest 3847602]

I am slightly worried about netrunning not being as viable as gunplay throughout the entire game, not just near the end, but that's mostly due to CDPR complete lack of experience in balancing action and stealth. Worst case scenario for me is to have a cutscene that forces stupidity on my character and basically tells me enough was enough, go out of hiding and have fun (like Hitman: Abomination).
I believe the demo was the way it was because marketing team wanted to impress the crowd who likes fireworks on their screen, so that's not a big cause of concern for me.

 

[EngryEngineer]

I am absolutely playing a netrunner, and I have this concern a little, but my bigger concern is that the netrunner's alternatives to direct combat will be assumed to be pacifistic. Like my netrunner will not have an aversion to frying someone, causing a lethal vehicle crash, etc, but in many games having some way to avoid combat implies a moral choice to avoid harm.

 

[Guest 4211861]

but that's mostly due to CDPR complete lack of experience in balancing action and stealth.

I don't know about that. They didn't make any shooters before, either. They may yet surprise.

 

[Mevik1023]

I don't know about that. They didn't make any shooters before, either. They may yet surprise.

I have faith in whatever gameplay CDPR puts on their menu. There's a lot of apparent love and attention in what they do. I'm sure 2077's shooting mechanics will be solid and a good time.

I just hope certain, well-made styles aren't taken off that menu as things progress. To echo the other comments here, netrunning might be tossed aside either as a non-violent option, or as a non-option altogether when some big bullet sponge stands in the way of completing a quest.

 

[Guest 3847602]

I don't know about that. They didn't make any shooters before, either. They may yet surprise.

Maybe it's just my bias speaking, but I think it's much easier to make competent shooter than stealth+hacking game. We'll see.

 

[Mevik1023]

Maybe it's just my bias speaking, but I think it's much easier to make competent shooter than stealth+hacking game. We'll see.

I just hope CDPR can successfully cater to any combination of the two as well. Maybe someone wants a netrunner who barges into the room and takes control of any/all available weaponry. Maybe someone wants stealth, or even nonviolent. And of course we know they'll take care of the shoot 'em up types. Any game that equally rewards shooting, stealth, and whatever you call sprinting into a room with arm blades while mindflaying enemies, is going to be a big win for anyone.

The issue I could see happening is if netrunning is reduced to a glorified stun mechanic that doesn't even apply to tougher enemies. Cyberpunk's universe has so much more potential for hacking mechanics than your standard issue "get into this room, sneak around, turn off that guy's gun. Oh and none of this will work against the boss coming up so we hope you've got a solo tree filled out as well."

 

[Rawls]

Yeah Netrunning is probably the biggest unknown currently for me (maybe along with how they're going to hand humanity cost). If it lives up to:

Netrunner skills will allow a more pacifist playstyle, using viruses and causing weapons to jam. Hacking is an interactive and immersive experience where you will “jack in” and run the Net. Night City is an omnipresent network, offering countless cyberspace access terminals. Within them you will find layers of hidden systems, firewalls and security programs deployed to fry your brain. Missions will stack you against other hostile Netrunners who defend corporations both in cyberspace and the real world.

https://techraptor.net/content/cyberpunk-2077-everything-we-know-so-far

I think it will be fine. The challenge is twofold: (1) I hope netrunning is a viable way to handle most situations including boss fights; (2) I hope netrunning is fun, dangerous and challenging from a gameplay perspective. We shall see what they do with it ...

 

[Snowflakez]

I am slightly worried about netrunning not being as viable as gunplay throughout the entire game, not just near the end, but that's mostly due to CDPR complete lack of experience in balancing action and stealth. Worst case scenario for me is to have a cutscene that forces stupidity on my character and basically tells me enough was enough, go out of hiding and have fun (like Hitman: Abomination).
I believe the demo was the way it was because marketing team wanted to impress the crowd who likes fireworks on their screen, so that's not a big cause of concern for me.

Well said.

I'm interested in netrunning, but moreso stealthy playstyles in general (whether it's through engineering, knockouts/takedowns, etc.).

Few RPGs manage to make stealth viable into the late game, and CDPR has never made immersive sim-like stealth before (or really stealth period, aside from some very bad sections in the Witcher 2).

 

[animalfather]

you're not a fullblown netrunner in this game. for that you need a completely new game from the ground up designed to be played as a netrunner. my hopes for the DLC is for you to play as different characters/roles in the game eg netrunner, rockerboy.
In this game you are basically a Solo that does a bit of netrunning.

 

[Marquis_deShade]

There's a video of someone trying to beat Skyrim with a fork.

CDPR and CP2077 isn't that developer, but, considering the makeup of the gaming community, I'm pretty sure someone will try something similar with CP2077.

 

[DoomBlackDragon]

As much as I would love netrunning in this game. I am bettering it will not happen. As They already have to create the city of Night City. With all the many buildings you can go into. Adding in hundreds of maps for Netrunning would be way to much. A net running DLC would be great. Sadly I feel we will pretty much get a WatchDogs like hacking. Where a single push of a button will do all the work for us.

 

[Mevik1023]

As much as I would love netrunning in this game. I am bettering it will not happen. As They already have to create the city of Night City. With all the many buildings you can go into. Adding in hundreds of maps for Netrunning would be way to much. A net running DLC would be great. Sadly I feel we will pretty much get a WatchDogs like hacking. Where a single push of a button will do all the work for us.

I'm thinking the same thing. It'll be a shame if we feel railroaded into a solo role because it's the only skill tree that's actually fleshed out. I don't doubt that Night City will elevate 2077 above your average shooters. But from a gameplay perspective, this'll likely be a game we've played several times before.

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2019

As much as I would love netrunning in this game. I am bettering it will not happen. As They already have to create the city of Night City. With all the many buildings you can go into. Adding in hundreds of maps for Netrunning would be way to much. A net running DLC would be great. Sadly I feel we will pretty much get a WatchDogs like hacking. Where a single push of a button will do all the work for us.

It's a lot to take on for sure. Then again 2077 is supposed to be a game-changer, so we can expect CDPR to be working on nuanced gameplay in addition to their nuanced world. There's a balance our expectations have to strike, and I know not to get ridiculous or ask for everything ever in one game. But we should also anticipate something that's more than just a great RPG with average gameplay and/or a great shooter with average world building.

And since CDPR have repeatedly stressed being able to complete quests on your own terms, one would hope that technologically violent approaches are just as satisfying as shooty ones.

 

[EngryEngineer]

As much as I would love netrunning in this game. I am bettering it will not happen. As They already have to create the city of Night City. With all the many buildings you can go into. Adding in hundreds of maps for Netrunning would be way to much. A net running DLC would be great. Sadly I feel we will pretty much get a WatchDogs like hacking. Where a single push of a button will do all the work for us.

They have been teasing this game for nearly 10 years, netrunning is a core aspect of Cyberpunk, waiting for DLC is not adequate, it is either included in core or the game is an abject failure.

 

[Sardukhar]

They have been teasing this game for nearly 10 years, netrunning is a core aspect of Cyberpunk, waiting for DLC is not adequate, it is either included in core or the game is an abject failure.

Wellllllllllllllllllllllll

Most (? I dunno how you quantify this so MOST Refs I know) massively alter Netrunning or leave it out as a player otpion because it's not to compatible with group play.

So it may be a Cyberpunk staple, but in 2020, it's generally the first thing to get the chop.

If it's not in the game ( it is as last planned) the game is hardly an abject failure. You can absolutely play Cyberpunk without Netrunning and plenty have.

 

[DoomBlackDragon]

They have been teasing this game for nearly 10 years, netrunning is a core aspect of Cyberpunk, waiting for DLC is not adequate, it is either included in core or the game is an abject failure.

While yes it is one of the core aspects of the game. It also one of the most complex aspects of the game. Playing many games of Cyber 2020. It one of those aspects that most games rarely touch. As it requires a lot of work to do properly. Plus a lot of party members do not like playing baby sister as you dive into the net for half if not the full 4+ hours of a game.

Wellllllllllllllllllllllll

Most (? I dunno how you quantify this so MOST Refs I know) massively alter Netrunning or leave it out as a player otpion because it's not to compatible with group play.

So it may be a Cyberpunk staple, but in 2020, it's generally the first thing to get the chop.

If it's not in the game ( it is as last planned) the game is hardly an abject failure. You can absolutely play Cyberpunk without Netrunning and plenty have.

Yes, I have played many 2020 campaigns with no player net runners. Hell I have had many times where the GM just had a side character doing net running for us like in the 2077 47 min demo we got last year. It something I would expect more for a DLC. As it is a complex system. Plus the many many maps the devs would have to create as each server is build different.

Do not get me wrong. I would love to see the many different programs the netrunner can use. Summoning creator and that stuff. As the same time. Would we really enjoy playing a more passive roll while we summon programs to do all the work for us. Even more so how would we control the many many programs we have to use to do the who netrunning stuff.

In a way I would love it and hate it. As I really do not want to playing a Cyberpunk version of an escort quest.

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2019

I'm thinking the same thing. It'll be a shame if we feel railroaded into a solo role because it's the only skill tree that's actually fleshed out. I don't doubt that Night City will elevate 2077 above your average shooters. But from a gameplay perspective, this'll likely be a game we've played several times before.

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2019

It's a lot to take on for sure. Then again 2077 is supposed to be a game-changer, so we can expect CDPR to be working on nuanced gameplay in addition to their nuanced world. There's a balance our expectations have to strike, and I know not to get ridiculous or ask for everything ever in one game. But we should also anticipate something that's more than just a great RPG with average gameplay and/or a great shooter with average world building.

And since CDPR have repeatedly stressed being able to complete quests on your own terms, one would hope that technologically violent approaches are just as satisfying as shooty ones.

It would be neat to see how they handle net running. I done a few 2020 games as a net runner and it can be fun. It can also be very frustrating being just a person who summons programs and watching them do all the work for you. I do want net running as that sounds like a super cool thing. Specially if we get to create our own pets like you do as a net runner. Yet I have a feeling it might be coming out as a DLC. Remember they can not spend forever developing this game. They will run out of Witcher 3 money sooner or later.

 

[Shavod]

Wellllllllllllllllllllllll

Most (? I dunno how you quantify this so MOST Refs I know) massively alter Netrunning or leave it out as a player otpion because it's not to compatible with group play.

So it may be a Cyberpunk staple, but in 2020, it's generally the first thing to get the chop.

If it's not in the game ( it is as last planned) the game is hardly an abject failure. You can absolutely play Cyberpunk without Netrunning and plenty have.

Regarding the presence of netrunning in the game or not, while I believe it will definitely appear in some form, that particular form depends a lot on Mike Pondsmith idea as well, since he noted that in Cyberpunk Red he wants to change it from the way it has been depicted by Cyberpunk 2020, because back then he had no idea about how real life Net actually worked, so in the new edition he wants to implement something much closer to the real life. As Cyberpunk 2077 and Red take place in the same universe, we can definitely expect a Netrunning that will be much different then the original one, but hopefully still will be much more exciting then your everyday web browsing.

 

[Mevik1023]

Regarding the presence of netrunning in the game or not, while I believe it will definitely appear in some form, that particular form depends a lot on Mike Pondsmith idea as well, since he noted that in Cyberpunk Red he wants to change it from the way it has been depicted by Cyberpunk 2020, because back then he had no idea about how real life Net actually worked, so in the new edition he wants to implement something much closer to the real life. As Cyberpunk 2077 and Red take place in the same universe, we can definitely expect a Netrunning that will be much different then the original one, but hopefully still will be much more exciting then your everyday web browsing.

An implementation I could see working would involve how quests are framed. Netrunners may have access to certain dialogue options that don't necessarily equate to pacifism, but can influence ally and enemy characters in your favor. Then once you're in the field, it doesn't have to boil down to much more than manipulating the available technology.

The game's selling cybernetic augmentations pretty hard, so the chance for a science fiction version of summoning/possession gameplay is there for the taking. Shadow of Mordor was most fun when taking over your opponents, not just killing them. A netrunner may enter a quest with advanced options and leave with an army of people and tools.

 

[Suhiira]

Currently I plan to run a 50% Netrunner, 25% Techie, 25% Solo my first time thru.

While I have no clue (at the moment) how netrunning will work it will be important to me for my playthru.

 

[CybrisPunk]

As much as I would love netrunning in this game. I am bettering it will not happen. As They already have to create the city of Night City. With all the many buildings you can go into. Adding in hundreds of maps for Netrunning would be way to much. A net running DLC would be great. Sadly I feel we will pretty much get a WatchDogs like hacking. Where a single push of a button will do all the work for us.

Would love to see net running like real hacking in the late 80's..
mono colour screens and 'simple' lines..

impossible to do if you dont know shit.. but easy if you know.. or buy mods/flashdrives with hackware on it

or... when you are skilled enough... make your own hackware.