Network Configuration

Network Configuration

Level progression, difficulty settings, and resource distribution.

Network Levels

Rogue Signal Protocol has 3 progressive network levels with escalating difficulty.

Level 1: Corporate Network

Threat Level:

• Enemies: 19
• Blind Spot Coverage: 8%
• Background Trace: 1/25 turns
• Trace Alert -> Hostile: 1%
• Trace Continuous Hostile: 0.2%/turn

Resources:

• Cooling Nodes: 6
• CPU Recovery Nodes: 6
• Ghost Nodes: 6
• Data Codes: 12
• Exploit Pickups: 4
• Permanent Upgrades: 1

Strategic Notes:

• Easiest level with most resources
• Use to learn mechanics and collect exploits
• Low enemy count allows exploration
• Stock up on upgrades before advancing

Level 2: Government System

Threat Level:

• Enemies: 28
• Blind Spot Coverage: 7%
• Background Trace: 2/25 turns
• Trace Alert -> Hostile: 2%
• Trace Continuous Hostile: 0.4%/turn

Resources:

• Cooling Nodes: 4
• CPU Recovery Nodes: 4
• Ghost Nodes: 4
• Data Codes: 10
• Exploit Pickups: 3
• Permanent Upgrades: 2

Strategic Notes:

• Moderate difficulty spike
• Fewer resources require careful management
• More enemies increase stealth importance
• Critical upgrade opportunities

Level 3: Military Backbone

Threat Level:

• Enemies: 38
• Blind Spot Coverage: 6%
• Background Trace: 3/25 turns
• Trace Alert -> Hostile: 3%
• Trace Continuous Hostile: 0.6%/turn

Resources:

• Cooling Nodes: 2
• CPU Recovery Nodes: 2
• Ghost Nodes: 2
• Data Codes: 5
• Exploit Pickups: 2
• Permanent Upgrades: 3

Strategic Notes:

• Hardest level - minimal resources
• Admin Avatar can spawn at high trace
• 38 enemies make stealth essential
• Final upgrades before victory
• Consider going loud if well-equipped

Difficulty Multipliers

Four difficulty settings affect enemy stats and resource availability.

Difficulty	Multiplier	Effect
Easy	0.8x	20% easier
Normal	1.0x	Baseline
Hard	1.3x	30% harder
Nightmare	1.6x	60% harder

What Difficulty Affects:

• Enemy CPU (health)
• Enemy damage
• Enemy vision range
• Trace accumulation rate
• Resource spawn rates

Progression Strategy

Early Game (Corporate Network)

Goals:

• Learn enemy patterns and movement queues
• Collect all exploit pickups (4 available)
• Find permanent upgrade (prioritize RAM or Heat)
• Discover as many story fragments as possible
• Practice stealth mechanics in low-pressure environment

Resource Management:

• Use cooling nodes liberally (6 available)
• Save CPU nodes for emergencies
• Use ghost nodes to reduce trace proactively
• Collect all 12 data codes for buffs

Mid Game (Government System)

Goals:

• Solidify your loadout with 3 more exploits
• Obtain 2 permanent upgrades
• Master blind spot usage and enemy prediction
• Manage limited resources carefully

Resource Management:

• Only 4 cooling nodes - conserve heat
• 4 CPU nodes - avoid unnecessary damage
• 4 ghost nodes - use strategically for trace reduction
• 10 data codes - prioritize heat/CPU restoration

Late Game (Military Backbone)

Goals:

• Survive to gateway with minimal trace
• Avoid Admin Avatar spawn (keep trace below 70%)
• Collect final 3 permanent upgrades
• Complete the run and exfiltrate

Resource Management:

• Scarce resources! Only 2 of each node type
• Stealth is mandatory - combat too expensive
• 5 data codes must be used optimally
• 2 exploit pickups - final loadout decisions
• Log Wiper essential for trace management

Tips for Success

1. Don't rush Level 1: Collect everything before advancing
2. Upgrade priority: RAM > Heat > CPU
3. Trace management: Use ghost nodes and Log Wiper
4. Resource conservation: Harder levels have fewer nodes
5. Admin Avatar: If spawned on Level 3, avoid at all costs
6. Difficulty scaling: Start with Easy, master Normal, attempt Hard
7. Learning curve: Each network teaches new lessons
8. Permadeath: Your decisions matter - plan carefully