No sane person wants strangers rummaging through his stuff. The field of cryptanalysis specializes in studying the hidden

aspects of computer systems, crafting security measures to pro­ tect information, and then working around those measures so you can safeguard yourself while undercutting rival operators. In game terms, the Computer specialty Cryptanalysis helps your character size up potential threats and plans of attack, and the secondary Knowledge Cryptography helps her make and break codes for computerized systems.

Twenty-first century computing employs codes of inhuman complexity. Writing and deciphering those codes, even with a computer and badass cryptography programs, can take days, weeks, months, or more. Therefore, a character who’s trying to make a new code or break a complicated one could be at that task for quite a while. Cryptography almost always requires extended rolls – typically with 20 or 30 successes involved, and perhaps even more than that.

The problem is, security codes often require specific sorts of information… usually rather obscure information. Therefore, a skilled cryptographer needs access to research – systemwise, the Research Skill and Library Background, as well as research-based rolls as per the Dramatic Feats chart. The Esoterica Knowledge and its many specialties can be a huge help in that regard, especially when you’re dealing with mage-crafted codes. The Storyteller may allow, or require, complementary rolls with related skills (see Mage 20, p. 389) before a code may be written or broken to begin with. And if

the character doesn’t have access to the proper information, that code may prove unbreakable.