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From:	Veskrashen veskrashen@*******.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 01:17:23 -0600

Message no. 1 Good evening all. A few questions...

1) if a character in a masking ward goes invisible via a spell, what
would be seen on the astral plane? since the masking ward makes
everything seem "normal" on the astral plane, would the character show
up without magic traces, not at all, or what?

2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping into
the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
"offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said character had
an encephalon.

3) is the initiative bonuses from cyberware, magic and physad powers
cumulative with defferent drugs?

4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?

5) do physad's increased reactions and such work on the astral plane?
how about spells being sustained?

6) why did they rewrite the spells vs vehicles rules to make it near
impossible to Wreck a Jackrabbit, let alone anything actually tough?

7) does the Doberman really bounce machinegun fire, or is it's armor
rating a typo?

that should do it for now...

Mojo.

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 09:00:37 EST

Message no. 2 In a message dated 2/21/1999 2:18:21 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
veskrashen@*******.com writes:

> 1) if a character in a masking ward goes invisible via a spell, what
> would be seen on the astral plane? since the masking ward makes
> everything seem "normal" on the astral plane, would the character show
> up without magic traces, not at all, or what?

Don't recall ATM.

> 2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping into
> the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
> "offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said character had
> an encephalon.

I am going to make a leap and assume you meant to say "withOUT the
character...". In theory, with an Encephalon, the answer would be a yes, but
it would be the equivalent of a "Cool/Cold" operations, and you would not get
the full benefit of the deck's improved response levels. Additionally,
Reality Filters, IMO, would not work in this case.

R2 would call this "Captain's Chair" mode.

> 3) is the initiative bonuses from cyberware, magic and physad powers
> cumulative with defferent drugs?

I am prone to want to say no, as certain drugs listed in Shadowtech wouldn't
seem likely, but I could see it being done anyway.

Magic and Chemistry, in the case of the Adept (Physical), I would see a
greater likelihood of it working than in any of the other potential cases.

> 4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?

I thought they already had??? Wired Reflexes, Move-by-Wire, Boosted Reflexes,
Reaction Enhancers...

> 5) do physad's increased reactions and such work on the astral plane?
> how about spells being sustained?

IF an adept can somehow be set "free" to work in the astral in a projecting
manner, yes, they would work (such as by the ability of a Free Spirit's
"Astral Gateway" ability).

> 6) why did they rewrite the spells vs vehicles rules to make it near
> impossible to Wreck a Jackrabbit, let alone anything actually tough?

I have no idea, except that with the new vehicle body rules (which are not the
best admittedly), it was meant as a way of balancing things out a bit.

> 7) does the Doberman really bounce machinegun fire, or is it's armor
> rating a typo?

Don't recall the ratings.

-K

From:	Airwasp@*.com Airwasp@*.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 13:10:38 EST

Message no. 3 In a message dated 2/21/1999 2:18:21 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
veskrashen@*******.com writes:

> Good evening all. A few questions...
>
> 1) if a character in a masking ward goes invisible via a spell, what
> would be seen on the astral plane? since the masking ward makes
> everything seem "normal" on the astral plane, would the character show
> up without magic traces, not at all, or what?

Everything in the question depends on the ability of someone in the astral
getting a lucky dice rolling and rolling well enough to pierce the ward. Once
this is done, the assensor would have a chance of noticing the invisible
character, as it is all a matter of how well their dice rolls were.

> 2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping into
> the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
> "offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said character had
> an encephalon.

I don't understand this question at all. Could you explain a little better?
Thanks.

> 3) is the initiative bonuses from cyberware, magic and physad powers
> cumulative with defferent drugs?

Bonuses to initiative from drugs would not affect any bonuses received from
magical or cybernetic enhancement. Bioware implants -might- receive the bonus
as they are still somewhat receptive to the chemicals in the drug, but this is
also a gm discretion thing too.

As for drugs which hinder initiative (like MAO) this drug would affect
magical, cyber, and bioware mods to initiative.

> 4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?

A cybered version of Increase Reflexes is basically Wired Reflexes. And
unless you really want to compare IR to MBW then you are closer, but at the
same time, rumor has it that MBW will not survive Man & Machine also.

> 5) do physad's increased reactions and such work on the astral plane?
> how about spells being sustained?

Yes, an Adept's IR do affect them in the astral. Spell versions of the IR
won't work in the astral unless they are modified to work in the astral
(Please remember that the target number for IR is twice the reaction, and in
the astral that means that the target number jumps either by 10 or 30 points
because of the +5/+15 bonus to initiative that astral travellers receive.

> 6) why did they rewrite the spells vs vehicles rules to make it near
> impossible to Wreck a Jackrabbit, let alone anything actually tough?

Because it was making life impossible for riggers to be considered as a
necessary character in the game. And besides, destroying a vehicle with
combat magic is difficult enough, and why use combat magic when a directed,
point-and-fire manipulation spell will do just nicely and does not need to
worry about the god-awful target number to affect vehicles like combat magic.

> 7) does the Doberman really bounce machinegun fire, or is it's armor
> rating a typo?

Nope, it really does look like the Doberman has that level of armor.

-Herc

From:	Veskrashen veskrashen@*******.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 12:28:31 -0600

Message no. 4 Ereskanti@***.com wrote:

> > 2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping into
> > the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
> > "offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said character
had
> > an encephalon.
>
> I am going to make a leap and assume you meant to say "withOUT the
> character...". In theory, with an Encephalon, the answer would be a yes, but
> it would be the equivalent of a "Cool/Cold" operations, and you would not
get
> the full benefit of the deck's improved response levels. Additionally,
> Reality Filters, IMO, would not work in this case.
>
> R2 would call this "Captain's Chair" mode.
>

Actually, what i had in mind here is the ability to run non-matrix programs in the
background, using the cyberdeck's processing power but not being on the matrix
itself. For example, routing the output of the character's cybereyes (especially
with a rangefinder) into a mapping program/ 3d room renderer to produce map chips
for use with an orientation system, for example.

>> 3) is the initiative bonuses from cyberware, magic and physad powers
> > cumulative with defferent drugs?
>I am prone to want to say no, as certain drugs listed in Shadowtech wouldn't
>seem likely, but I could see it being done anyway.
>Magic and Chemistry, in the case of the Adept (Physical), I would see a
>greater likelihood of it working than in any of the other potential cases.

Though it would be ugly to see a fully cybered character punch in a dose of
Kamikaze and Jazz as a last ditch effort to stay alive....

>> 4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?
>I thought they already had??? Wired Reflexes, Move-by-Wire, Boosted Reflexes,
>Reaction Enhancers...

Actuallly, i meant an increase cybered reflexes spell....

-Mojo.

From:	Schizi@*.com Schizi@*.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 15:53:05 EST

Message no. 5 In a message dated 2/21/99 10:38:31 AM Pacific Standard Time,
veskrashen@*******.com writes:

> > > 2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping into
> > > the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
> > > "offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said
character
had
> > > an encephalon.
<snip most of K's response>>
> > R2 would call this "Captain's Chair" mode.
> >
>
> Actually, what i had in mind here is the ability to run non-matrix programs
> in the
> background, using the cyberdeck's processing power but not being on the
> matrix
> itself. For example, routing the output of the character's cybereyes (
> especially
> with a rangefinder) into a mapping program/ 3d room renderer to produce map
> chips
> for use with an orientation system, for example.

I could see him working on something in headware(perhaps trying to unscramble
something you downloaded earlier) I am not sure of the processing power needed
for your application and whether it would be available on a c².

> >> 4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?
> >I thought they already had??? Wired Reflexes, Move-by-Wire, Boosted
> Reflexes,
> >Reaction Enhancers...
>
> Actuallly, i meant an increase cybered reflexes spell....
>
I doubt they will have this anymore, since they have said that only one bouns
will count for initiative dice.

From:	Veskrashen veskrashen@*******.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 15:41:27 -0600

Message no. 6 Schizi@***.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 2/21/99 10:38:31 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> veskrashen@*******.com writes:
>
> > > > 2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping
into
> > > > the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
> > > > "offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said
character
> had
> > > > an encephalon.
> <snip most of K's response>>
> > > R2 would call this "Captain's Chair" mode.
> > >
> >
> > Actually, what i had in mind here is the ability to run non-matrix programs
> > in the
> > background, using the cyberdeck's processing power but not being on the
> > matrix
> > itself. For example, routing the output of the character's cybereyes (
> > especially
> > with a rangefinder) into a mapping program/ 3d room renderer to produce map
> > chips
> > for use with an orientation system, for example.
>
> I could see him working on something in headware(perhaps trying to unscramble
> something you downloaded earlier) I am not sure of the processing power needed
> for your application and whether it would be available on a c².
From what i remember, a cyberdeck (even a MPCP1) has a great deal
more processing pwer than a regular computer. at least, that's what it
implied in a reference to personal computers in the equipment section,
if i remember right. and besides, if a cyberdeck had to run VR and
brain-modifying type programs all the time, it probably has at least a
little more oomph than a desktop.

-mojo.

From:	Schizi@*.com Schizi@*.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 16:46:54 EST

Message no. 7 In a message dated 2/21/99 1:39:47 PM Pacific Standard Time,
veskrashen@*******.com writes:

> From what i remember, a cyberdeck (even a MPCP1) has a great deal
> more processing pwer than a regular computer. at least, that's what it
> implied in a reference to personal computers in the equipment section,
> if i remember right. and besides, if a cyberdeck had to run VR and
> brain-modifying type programs all the time, it probably has at least a
> little more oomph than a desktop.

Sure it will be much better than a desktop, but do they use a desktop for such
an application? (making nav-chips) Look at the size of the "IC" utilities, and
wonder how many mP is taken up by true IC on a mainframe or network. These
systems would be the processers that I am comparing to.

From:	Mongoose m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 16:04:26 -0600

Message no. 8 :>> 3) is the initiative bonuses from cyberware, magic and physad powers
:> > cumulative with defferent drugs?
:>I am prone to want to say no, as certain drugs listed in Shadowtech
wouldn't
:>seem likely, but I could see it being done anyway.
:>Magic and Chemistry, in the case of the Adept (Physical), I would see a
:>greater likelihood of it working than in any of the other potential
cases.
:
: Though it would be ugly to see a fully cybered character punch in a dose
of
:Kamikaze and Jazz as a last ditch effort to stay alive....

I think those ARE cumulative. I don't see why magic would be "more
compatable"- there are only so many ways to speed a person up and the
methods used by magic are physical (for health spells and for adepts)-
they proably overlap with those used by cyber.
In fact, my character used Kamikazee 3 times, and had a wired 3
reflexes and a load of bioware. One more time, and it would all be gone
(8 body). They wouldn't likely mention that rule and not mention
incompatbilty with other speed boosts.
The effect was pretty extereme, but the real benefit was in the 4
boxes of damage you get to ignore.

Mongoose

From:	Paul Gettle RunnerPaul@*****.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 20:14:03 -0500

Message no. 9 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 09:00 AM 2/21/99 -0500, Ereskanti@***.com wrote:
>> 2) can a cranial cyberdeck run programs with the character jumping
into
>> the ASSIST, and essentially going comatose as usual? sort of an
>> "offline" mode? this would make sense, especially if said
character had
>> an encephalon.
>
>I am going to make a leap and assume you meant to say "withOUT the
>character...". In theory, with an Encephalon, the answer would be a
yes, but
>it would be the equivalent of a "Cool/Cold" operations, and you would
not get
>the full benefit of the deck's improved response levels.
Additionally,
>Reality Filters, IMO, would not work in this case.
>
>R2 would call this "Captain's Chair" mode.

Really? I was under the impression that R2's "Captain's Chair" mode
still involved ASIST immersion.

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Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.0.2

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PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
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From:	Veskrashen veskrashen@*******.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Sun, 21 Feb 1999 19:58:49 -0600

Message no. 10 Schizi@***.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 2/21/99 1:39:47 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> veskrashen@*******.com writes:
>
> > From what i remember, a cyberdeck (even a MPCP1) has a great deal
> > more processing pwer than a regular computer. at least, that's what it
> > implied in a reference to personal computers in the equipment section,
> > if i remember right. and besides, if a cyberdeck had to run VR and
> > brain-modifying type programs all the time, it probably has at least a
> > little more oomph than a desktop.
>
> Sure it will be much better than a desktop, but do they use a desktop for such
> an application? (making nav-chips) Look at the size of the "IC" utilities,
and
> wonder how many mP is taken up by true IC on a mainframe or network. These
> systems would be the processers that I am comparing to.

Well, yes, you have a point in that most rendering systems would need
more oomph than a regular desktop machine, but even today 3d rendering
and computer graphics are done on what ammounts to little more than
high grade desktop systems. even the type of rendering they were doing
2-3 years ago for commercials and such can be done on laptops today.
And given the complexity of the man-machine interface, and dealing
with it on a constant basis, i'd have to believe that they'd be up to
the task. Especially since VR2 states that such systems are
essentially low grade tortises, and all tortise type decks are limited
to MPCP 4, so a C2 deck of MPCP 4 or higher should be able to run
anything they can, right?

Which reminds me, is there any limit to the rating of a program any
certain MPCP rating can run, aside from memory requirements?

-Mojo

From:	Sven De Herdt Sven.DeHerdt@***********.be
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Mon, 22 Feb 1999 11:04:04 +0100

Message no. 11 You wrote:
> Which reminds me, is there any limit to the rating of a program any
>certain MPCP rating can run, aside from memory requirements?

(IIRC) according to VR2.0 the rating of any utility is limited by the
MPCP rating.

Sven ;-)

From:	Airwasp@*.com Airwasp@*.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Mon, 22 Feb 1999 15:32:37 EST

Message no. 12 In a message dated 2/21/1999 1:38:31 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
veskrashen@*******.com writes:

> > I am going to make a leap and assume you meant to say "withOUT the
> > character...". In theory, with an Encephalon, the answer would be a yes,
> but
> > it would be the equivalent of a "Cool/Cold" operations, and you would
not
> get
> > the full benefit of the deck's improved response levels. Additionally,
> > Reality Filters, IMO, would not work in this case.
> >
> > R2 would call this "Captain's Chair" mode.
> >
>
> Actually, what i had in mind here is the ability to run non-matrix programs
> in the
> background, using the cyberdeck's processing power but not being on the
> matrix
> itself. For example, routing the output of the character's cybereyes (
> especially
> with a rangefinder) into a mapping program/ 3d room renderer to produce map
> chips
> for use with an orientation system, for example.

Gee, I was wondering when someone was going to come up with this idea. We;ve
been doing something like this for years now. And we have even come up with a
new piece of cyberware which already does something like this, an SPU: CAD
module.

> >> 3) is the initiative bonuses from cyberware, magic and physad powers
> > > cumulative with defferent drugs?
> >I am prone to want to say no, as certain drugs listed in Shadowtech
wouldn'
> t
> >seem likely, but I could see it being done anyway.
> >Magic and Chemistry, in the case of the Adept (Physical), I would see a
> >greater likelihood of it working than in any of the other potential cases.
>
> Though it would be ugly to see a fully cybered character punch in a dose
of
> Kamikaze and Jazz as a last ditch effort to stay alive....

I don't even want to think about that at all.

> >> 4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?
> >I thought they already had??? Wired Reflexes, Move-by-Wire, Boosted
> Reflexes,
> >Reaction Enhancers...
>
> Actuallly, i meant an increase cybered reflexes spell....

In SR2 there was a Increase Cybered Reflexes spell, the only problem that
existed with it is that the target number is still twice the Reaction of the
individual, and when someone has say Wired Reflexes III, that means the target
number is already 12 points higher due to the +6 to initiative that Wired III
grants, and I don't even want to consider the target number in the case of a
person with Wired III also having Reaction Enhancers too.

-Herc

From:	Mongoose m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Mon, 22 Feb 1999 15:17:52 -0600

Message no. 13 :You wrote:
:> Which reminds me, is there any limit to the rating of a program any
:>certain MPCP rating can run, aside from memory requirements?
:
:(IIRC) according to VR2.0 the rating of any utility is limited by the
:MPCP rating.
:
:Sven ;-)

That is the same limit listed in SR3. The one exception is when
running in a special "mode" that boosts one persona rating 50% at the
expense of halving all the others- which is only mentioned in VR2, not
SR3. The new ratings are based off the old (limited) ratings, but the one
that is boosted can exceed MPCP.

Mongoose

From:	Glenn Royer groyer@********.EDU
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Wed, 24 Feb 1999 20:45:00 -0800

Message no. 14 (snip most questions)
>> 4) will they be releasing a cybered version of increse reflexes?
>
>A cybered version of Increase Reflexes is basically Wired Reflexes. And
>unless you really want to compare IR to MBW then you are closer, but at the
>same time, rumor has it that MBW will not survive Man & Machine also.
> >-Herc
>
perhaps he is talking about an increase reflexes spell. will they be
releasing an increase reflexes spell that works on cybered reflexes.
remember increase cybered attribute...
-Glenn

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	A few new questions...
Date:	Wed, 24 Feb 1999 21:06:43 EST

Message no. 15 In a message dated 2/24/1999 8:44:04 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
groyer@********.EDU writes:

> perhaps he is talking about an increase reflexes spell. will they be
> releasing an increase reflexes spell that works on cybered reflexes.
> remember increase cybered attribute...
> -Glenn

To that end, we'll have to wait to find out...
-K

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