| From: | Doctor Doom <JCH8169@***.TAMU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Techno-Shamans = CyberPsi? |
| Date: | Thu, 22 Sep 1994 18:26:12 -0500 |
of accidental deletion of the original:
> Folks, we got beat out. I think that FASA's stealing our ideas.
> Denver sourcebook has some nasty stuff. Techno-shamans. Sounds
>like CyberPsi to me. It even includes, from a 2 page section in the player's
>book, the WorldMind. Now, I'm beginning to think that we're going to have
>to do some major coordination.
Not true. At the very first mention of the phrase "techno-shaman" juxtaposed
to references to upcoming FASA material I immediately sought an telephonic
audience with the Dark Lord entreating him to explain this apparent violation
of a central Commandment of ShadowRun, which has heretofore been observed and
kept most holy, /id est/:
"Thou shalt not mix thy Magic and the Matrix."
What he then began to elucidate upon was that a (seemingly) radical new
approach to technomancing ... it should be pointed out that the following
(admittedly sketchy) explanation is only apparent to readers of the pertinent
regulations in upcoming products, it shall remain a mystery to the actual
inhabitants of the ShadowRun milieu for some time to come.
On the face of it, the anecdote and testimony appear at once fantastic,
disquieting, and awe-inspiring:
Magic, never before possible in Virtual Reality, actually being wielded
effectively by technomancers?
Spirits of computer systems?
A Worldmind phenomena similar to the metaphysical Astral Plane?
Is it actually possible?
NO.
According to my notes from the conversation, the process involves (roughly
speaking, it is probable that he did not relate the entire procedure) an
ASIST rig with an incredibly high-end Reality Filter which permits a manner
of interaction betwixt the technomancer's mind and the Matrix on a level
heretofore unachieved.
In fact, this Reality Filter is such a quantum leap (or so it appeared from the
description) in sophistication, that the Virtual Reality is so compelling a
depiction that practitioners of this new method of technomancing are convinced
they have bridged the gap betwixt Metaphysics and Technology.
THIS IS NOT TRUE.
The /brute fact/ of the matter is that it does NOT constitute Magic within the
Matrix, despite deceptive appearances. It is a technologically-based system,
and as such, no non-technological constructs may come of it, despite how
convincing the resulting Virtual illusions are.
However, this achievement must be muted with the implication by the Dark Lord
that the net effect, the final result of this so-called "decking without a
deck" may be of the equivalent, if slightly more flashy, potency.
I reiterate at this juncture is that this fact is only to the Game Master and
players who read the rules; the differentiation is NOT clear to the
inhabitants of the ShadowRun milieu.
Consequently, while these avant guarde (and gravely deceived) technomancers
shall proudly proclaim they have succeeded in the marriage of Magic and Matrix,
scientists and metaphysicists will vehemently and indignantly claim that Magic
may not function in conjunction with the Matrix, as it is neither alive or even
real.
Colonel Count von Hohenzollern und von Doom, DMSc, DSc, PhD.
Doom Technologies & Weapon Systems -- Dark Thought Publications
>>> Working on solutions best left in the dark.
<<<
[ Doctor Doom : jch8169@********.tamu.edu ]
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
"The sciences ... will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our
frightful position therein, that we shall go mad ... or flee from the deadly
light into ... a new dark age."
-- H. P. Lovecraft
