Download Program: Combat (WIP)

[Saber]

Downloadable Programs - Combat

The most common form of downloadable program; combat downloads are meant to boost an avatar's offensive and defensive capabilities, when going against any potential enemy in the unprotected regions of cyberspace, or in official battles in the cyber city arenas. Due to the various uses of this specific category of programs, and the excessive number of different styles of combat programs on the market, they have been organized by how their offensive boosts benefit the avatar. Below are the different categories of combat programs:

Forms of Combat Programs

Strike: Typically in the form of a handheld weapon, like a sword, or a hammer. These styles of combat programs are designed for close-quarters and mid-ranged combat. Their 'hit box', damage, and ease of use for these weapons are dependent on the size and complexity of the weapon's design that the program mimics.

For example: a dagger is smaller and faster than a greatsword, but has a shorter reach and deals less damage. But a greatsword would be more difficult to wield, and due to the size, would be recommended for 2-handed use, meaning flexibility in combat would be reduced, in favor of more damage per hit. Uncommon methods of melee uses are available as well, such as remotely controlled melee weapons, or afterimage strike weaponry.

Block: This is a defensive form of combat program, usually taking the form of barriers, shields, barricades, and walls of many different makes. The size of the block program indicated its defensive capability, but also helps in knowing it's compile rate (the speed it constructs), its stability (how much damage it can take), and how long it will take to reacquire resources to compile it again (the time between remaking the wall). The bigger the structure, the more damage it can take, and the longer it takes to finish loading the program up.

Due to their excessive uses in official combat, and the lack of action during tournaments with defensive competitors, the WNSC (World Network Security Council) has issued countdown timers for how long a program can stay active, before it shuts down and has to cool down before reuse. Each program will have different durabilities, different build times, and different cooldowns, depending on its complexity.

Range: Usually in the form of a handheld firearm or thrown object, guns, bows, and throwing knives for example. These combat programs are more effective at long range, and some mid-ranged combat, where the user prefers to keep their distance from the enemy. The size, frequency, and damage of the projectiles are reliant heavily on the weapon that the program is designed after.

For example: A pistol is smaller fires faster, and is more accurate than a shotgun, but overall damage per shot is much lower, allowing for a greater distance. However, shotguns, while dealing much more overall damage per shot, has a higher kickback, slower firing rate, and is less effective at long distance. Other, less common methods of ranged attacks are possible as well, such as using elemental projectiles in place of a firearm.

Boost: This is often similar to interface programs that allow for increases in combative potential for unarmed combat. This can be an increase in strikes per second, or increasing overall striking damage per hit. Unfortunately, only one combat boosting ability can be active at any given time, and does not transfer its effects to any strike or ranged combat programs.

Unlike Strike and Ranged, who could have an indefinite, or limited use, depending on the program, Boost programs have a time duration, and will eventually will shut down automatically, if the battle wages on for too long.

Shift: This form of combat program follows some more 'unnatural' forms of combat, usually depicted in movies and comic books in the real world. Shift combat programs do exactly what the name implies, it will allow the user to 'shift' any part of their code, allowing for altered, or possibly improved combat. This can follow methods like altering or copying weaponry, or altering one's body shape to offer more means of inflicting damage.

Like strike and range combat programs, shift programs don't usually have a time delay for use, but some of these programs, depending on the severity of the changes, or how they may affect the avatar, might result in restrictive regulations by the WNSC, to keep lasting effects that could damage either the user or the target.

Strat: Short for 'strategy'. Strat programs are more tactical than direct assault styles of programs, like the above mentioned. This is a category that encompasses all of the other forms of combat that don't involve swinging a weapon or firing a gun. Examples of these types of programs include trip mines, snare/bear traps, grenades (of all types), tools meant to disorient and/or distract, for tactical retreats and strategic victories.

Due to their complexity, and potential 'game-breaking' effects in combat, strat programs are heavily restricted in use by the WNSC, both in frequency and in quantity, but this is strictly in official tournaments. When civilian safety is on the line, no holds are barred, but it is asked that damage is left to a minimum by law officials who enjoy heavy use of these programs.