A job that focuses on short, semi-offstation combat and puzzle solving to generate materials for the station. It emphasizes team play and can get considerably difficult depending on the domain chosen.
Bare minimum requirements: Load up domains in the server, drag yourself into a netpod, complete domains. When finished, exit via alert or hololadder, shut the domain down, and deliver the cache to cargo.
Your workplace
The Bitrunning Den is the home of all bitrunning equipment. Sweaty, dimly lit, and poorly decorated; you'll find an assortment of machines to link yourself to a virtual domain here. Bitrunning uses the following equipment:
- Quantum servers
- Quantum consoles
- Netpods
Quantum Server
The driving force behind bitrunning is called a "quantum server", a hunk of metal crudely wired together inside the den. The quantum server loads domains in one at a time and must cool down between operation. These virtual domains generally tend to focus puzzle solving or combat elements where you find and deliver a sealed crate back to the safehouse where you loaded in. It is then materialized in its processed form on the station for redemption.
Upgrading the server can be beneficial, for instance:
- Capacitors: Reduce the amount of cooldown time required
- Scanners: Detect more information in the domain selection screen
- Servos: Reduce the injury taken from severing connections.
Virtual domains loaded in can be incredibly realistic - you are using your mind to pilot another person, after all. The damage you incur inside a virtual domain is often reflected back to your physical body. There are some forms of damage which do not directly translate, like toxin and suffocation. Netpods can attempt to sluggishly heal damage, but should you incur it too quickly to heal or if you die outright, you will be ejected from the netpod.
Quantum Consoles
The quantum console interfaces with server operations. Due to poor craftsmanship, it must be placed adjacent to a server in order to function. In the quantum console UI, you can see four key elements:
- The number of points in the top left, these are rewarded on domain completion. Domain rewards dictate the amount of materials awarded, NP awarded to your account, and the raw points are used to purchase new domains. You do not get points for stopping a domain before the cache is retrieved. You are never locked out of loading in new domains, as there are free and entry level ones to choose from. Choosing a random domain grants extra reward points, but is not available for entry level domains.
- The domain list. This iterates over every available domain, but without proper components, you will be limited to seeing simpler domain info while the rest are obscured. Expanding domain info can give you an overview of the task and the rewards it may present.
- Connection info. This section highlights the number of connections remaining (the radio towers), then the avatars connected. While not always accurate or up to date, it can give you a quick glance at the wellbeing of the hosted avatars within the domain, as well as a breakdown of the damage they may have received.
- The currently loaded domain. This is available if the domain selected is within scanner potential, otherwise is redacted. You can also halt the current domain here. If there are currently connected avatars, the system will attempt to alert them before their connection is severed.
Netpod
The devices which each bitrunner uses to connect into the virtual domain. Netpods are clunky, coffin-like contraptions which you must link into then submerge your body so that you don't overheat. To access one, drag your character into the unit while a domain is loaded. Some features of netpods:
- Simple security: Not impervious, but resistant to damage and external environmental threats. If the pod takes considerable damage or is being pried open by crowbar, the occupant is alerted to the event and is given a brief moment to respond.
- Rudimentary healing: Netpods slowly heal damage over time. This is done to prevent avatars from dying from mysterious causes while inside the domain. However, it is not equipped for full cycle healing, and will eject its occupant once it runs out of power.
- Disconnection & Severance: Using a netpod generates an object representative of the method to disconnect to your physical body. The hololadder it creates upon entry can be walked over or clicked to return. You are also offered the chance to disconnect safely when the cache is recovered. Should you, the server, or the netpod you're using sustain critical damage or lose power, you will be ejected unsafely from the machine, which can cause brain damage.
