by Mateui
The runner needs to at least match the strength of an ice with an ice breaker if he wants that ice breaker to interact with that ice. This is that ice breaker interacting with the ice, and not the runner himself. (This is important to note because there are certain Haas-Bioroid ice which allow the runner to interact with the ice himself by spending clicks, instead of using an ice breaker). Once your ice breaker can interact with the ice, it needs to have the appropriate "break barrier/code gate/sentry" paid ability on it. If you are facing a barrier ice and do not have an ice breaker that specifically breaks barrier subroutines, you won't be able to break any subroutines on that ice regardless of how strong you make any other ice breaker you have.Basically, in simple point form fashion, when facing an ice:
1) Ask yourself, do I have an ice breaker capable of breaking the type of ice I am encountering?
2) If yes, is this ice breaker strong enough to interact with the ice? If not, pay credits until it's strength at least matches the ice in question.
3) Use the break __ ice subroutine ability on the ice breaker to break any subroutines on the ice.
4) Suffer the consequences of any unbroken subroutines.