Forum:Some questions about hacking...

OK, truth be told, I have been through the game one time now (and it was AWESOME) but now I want to do a run where I get all the backstory/explore all areas/find a whole heap of Unique Weapons. You know, an exploring run.

But, it occurs to me that I have never used hacking that much. I mean, yes, I have hacked several computers during my earlier game, both average and hard computers. Very Hard seemed like a god damn 43-sided Rubik's Cube at that point, when hacking an average computer took me around 4-5 tries per terminal, and it was always easier to just crack the door open with my bent pre-war bobby pins. When I hacked a terminal, I always used the "use three tries then turn off computer and start over with new tries"-approach. I do not dislike the concept of hacking, I think it's cool (I mean, post-apocalyptic Mastermind? Kick ass!), but I was never really into hacking over lockpicking.

I guess what I am asking is:

1. Does anyone have any valid tips and tricks on hacking? Don't spam this post with the "u gota findd the word taht matches" and "n00b"-messages, I have played this game for some time, and I know the system with the word-matching and numbers. Here I am talking tricks that may help both amateurs and hardcore terminal hackers.

2. It seems, after some research, that the filler letters (like, <> and []) actually might give some answers, or at least help, in hacking the terminals. Is this true, and in that case, what is it all about?

Thanks in advance

Your friendly neighborhood cynic, AngryNorwegianDude 10:31, 15 February 2009 (UTC)

Well, I'd recommend taking a look at Terminal. I usually use the "structured approach", if you do that properly you usually have the correct work in 2-3 guesses. If I don't get it in 3 guesses, I look for matching brackets until I get a refill and continue. // Porter21 U 10:36, 15 February 2009 (UTC)


 * I see... But what is the deal with "The matching brackets" ("the filler letters")? How do you use them? Click on one to refresh chances? Answer, please! AngryNorwegianDude 22:06, 17 February 2009 (UTC)


 * If you have a string of characters, all on one line that is enclosed by matching brackets, you can click on that string to get one of two effects. Most of the time it will cause one of the "Dud" words to be removed, but occasionally it will replenish the number of attempts you have to crack the code.
 * The following are examples of one of the matching-bracket strings: JazzX 20:09, 18 February 2009 (UTC)