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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Brain Damage
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 10:25:55 -0600
Mike Elkins wrote:
|
| Neural information is an electro-chemical signal.
| It does not work anything like a copper wire,
| more like lighting a fuse and having it burn its
| way down the length of the nerve cell (with the
| addition having the fuse ashes rebuild
| themselves a bit behind the flame...) When the
| signal gets to the end of a cell, it causes the cell
| to dump little chemicals into the spaces between
| the cells, which the other cells are looking for,
| and when they see them, _they_ fire off a signal.

Okay, I'll go out on a limb <creaking of a branch>. So if a
VCR/Datajack interface transfers data with electro-chemical signals
and an overload occurs maybe that overload confuses the brain
temporarily as all the unrecognizable data is misrouted and
misinterpreted to such an extent that brain function is temporarily
impaired (the rigger/decker takes stun damage). The data can be
specifically tailored (Black IC) to create a self-destructive
environment in the brain where electro-chemical signals clash with
eachother (something like a brain seizure) which results in long term
disruption of brain activity without actually killing brain cells
(the decker is affected as if he took a physical wound). Brain
function can be disrupted to a point where the brain ceases to
function which results in death.

How does that sound? And how does it apply to riggers taking
physical damage?

-David
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
--
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep."
Message no. 2
From: Lehlan Decker <decker@****.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Brain Damage
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 12:48:55 -0400
David Buehrer writes:
>
> Okay, I'll go out on a limb <creaking of a branch>. So if a
> VCR/Datajack interface transfers data with electro-chemical signals
> and an overload occurs maybe that overload confuses the brain
> temporarily as all the unrecognizable data is misrouted and
> misinterpreted to such an extent that brain function is temporarily
> impaired (the rigger/decker takes stun damage). The data can be
> specifically tailored (Black IC) to create a self-destructive
> environment in the brain where electro-chemical signals clash with
> eachother (something like a brain seizure) which results in long term
> disruption of brain activity without actually killing brain cells
> (the decker is affected as if he took a physical wound). Brain
> function can be disrupted to a point where the brain ceases to
> function which results in death.
>
> How does that sound? And how does it apply to riggers taking
> physical damage?
>
I'll buy that explanation. I would say Riggers take physical
damage because sensor overload causes a similiar problem.
But since a VCR feeds into their motor system, it doesn't
have to be specifically tailored like Black IC.
Heh..I'll join you on the limb and hope it doesn't break.



--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehlan Decker 644-4534 Systems Development
decker@****.fsu.edu http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~decker
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The nice thing about standards,is there are so many to choose from.
Message no. 3
From: Jim Riegel <riegelja@*****.MSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Brain Damage
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 15:54:23 -0300
> I'll buy that explanation. I would say Riggers take physical
>damage because sensor overload causes a similiar problem.
>But since a VCR feeds into their motor system, it doesn't
>have to be specifically tailored like Black IC.
>Heh..I'll join you on the limb and hope it doesn't break.


Sigh...time to hop into the fray. There is a precedent for the concept of
brain damage being caused by ASIST---Black IC. There is also BTL's...but
I'm not entirely sure how closely simsense is related to Black IC (anyone
with ShadowBeat care to comment?)
I'm going to have to review it myself now that I have the book, but I'm
thinking already my house rule will be to allow 'hot' and 'cool' running
modes...basically exatcly like a deck. The VCR is a very very bizarre
concept. But the bonuses it gives you are pretty damn nice. It makes sense
that to make it happen the rigger uses a very odd interface... one that
makes the vehicle seem as much a part of him as possible. Give the rigger
the option.... risk damage for supernormal performance from a vehicle...at
the risk of lethal overload (ala Black IC) or run much cooler....lose a
reaction die and say +1/-1 (as damaging to #TN)...I'd have to compare it
with the VR 2 cool running deck, but it strikes me as fair and justifiable.
For people who just think their meat is more precious than the machine...go
cool. For people who really enjoy being closer to a machine then they have
ever been to a sexual partner... run hot. IMHO the reason to run hot is
this.... A normal human drives a car...when he wants to turn he sends the
commands to his arms to turn the steering wheel. A cool rigger turns by
sending the command directly to the car in mentally formed command of "Turn
left". A hot runner acts like Nike(tm) and Just Does It. On a final
note...while crippling and damaging pain is a really harsh thing, those who
live will definitely learn. Pain is natures greatest motivator. If
something hurts you, you try like hell to make sure it can't hurt you again
and that you avoid that thing hurting you in the future...why keep rigging?
Because just like decking, it is an addictive alternate reality...better
than life for some...kinda like RPG's. (Let's see you LARP a rigger now,
buddy *EGMG*)

Rumpleteaser
.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-._.-^-
._
Warning: Be on the look out for a high speed free spirit. It's preferred
form is a small Native American boy.
Known Aliases: Little Running Joke
Welcome to the Shadows of Washington, DCLXVI Chummer! We got more
demoncrats
and Sinators than you can shake a stun baton at. --Anonymous
----- BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK -----
version:3.1
GAT d@ S++:+ a-- c++++(++$) US>++ P+ L E- W+(--) N+ o-- K- w(--) O- M-- V
PS+ PE Y+ PGP t(+) 5+++ X+ R++ tv+ b+++ DI++++ D+ G+ e>++ h---- r+++
y++++*
------ END GEEK CODE BLOCK ------
Message no. 4
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Brain Damage
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 12:19:11 -0600
Lehlan Decker wrote:
|
[snip: scrambled brain]
|
| > How does that sound? And how does it apply to riggers taking
| > physical damage?
|
| I'll buy that explanation. I would say Riggers take physical
| damage because sensor overload causes a similiar problem.

I'm starting to feel that it isn't sensor overload, but bad data that
confuses the riggers brain and sets up cascades, epileptic attacks, or
something similar.

| But since a VCR feeds into their motor system, it doesn't
| have to be specifically tailored like Black IC.

Right. Black IC has to go through the front door whereas a VCR is kinda
allready in the house.

| Heh..I'll join you on the limb and hope it doesn't break.

It's holding up well so far :)

-David
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
--
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep."
Message no. 5
From: Lehlan Decker <decker@****.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Brain Damage
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 10:05:56 -0400
David Buehrer writes:
> Lehlan Decker wrote:
> |
> [snip: scrambled brain]
> |
> | > How does that sound? And how does it apply to riggers taking
> | > physical damage?
> |
> | I'll buy that explanation. I would say Riggers take physical
> | damage because sensor overload causes a similiar problem.
>
> I'm starting to feel that it isn't sensor overload, but bad data that
> confuses the riggers brain and sets up cascades, epileptic attacks, or
> something similar.

That could work as well. Once again, the game system is going
for abstraction. A headache (stun) maybe for sensor overload.
(i.e. work :)), where a light physical wound may be from
a seizure etc....

>
> | But since a VCR feeds into their motor system, it doesn't
> | have to be specifically tailored like Black IC.
>
> Right. Black IC has to go through the front door whereas a VCR is kinda
> allready in the house.
>
> | Heh..I'll join you on the limb and hope it doesn't break.
>
> It's holding up well so far :)
>
When in doubt bluff (or is that bulls*&t, I can never remember. :))


--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehlan Decker 644-4534 Systems Development
decker@****.fsu.edu http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~decker
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The nice thing about standards,is there are so many to choose from.
Message no. 6
From: Mon goose <landsquid@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Brain Damage
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 14:05:08 PDT
>> I'll buy that explanation. I would say Riggers take physical
>>damage because sensor overload causes a similiar problem.
>>But since a VCR feeds into their motor system, it doesn't
>>have to be specifically tailored like Black IC.
>>Heh..I'll join you on the limb and hope it doesn't break.
>
>
>Sigh...time to hop into the fray. There is a precedent for the concept
of
>brain damage being caused by ASIST---Black IC. There is also
BTL's...but
>I'm not entirely sure how closely simsense is related to Black IC
(anyone
>with ShadowBeat care to comment?)


GAAHH. I just got done search / deleting that ENTIRE topic because it
was such noise.

OKAY. BTL is simsense. Just at a much higher "volume", and without
any of the signals altered to avoid creating side effects- hell, those
side effects are the half the point.
Simsense can create a physiological response. In fact, simsense
basically overides your brains functioning, to the extant that the play
back equipment can, and the sim software is designed to.
"hot" decking is a form of simsense that runs at near BTL levels to
create a senses of realism and involvement (on concious and unconcious
levels) that enhances performance. Rigging is very similar, except that
it depends almost entirely on "instinct", so tapps deaper into the
riggers brain (physically and metaphorically). That interaction is what
lets the rigger do what he does. Its the intensity of the expierience
AND the vulnerabilities of the equipment expose him to some risk,
including physical damage (I'd figure from cardiac fibralation, sudden
arterail dialtion, endocrinal imbalance, "brainburn", muscle ripping
siezures, etc). BTL can cause ALL those effects. BTL can also be used
as a NASTY kind of combat drug. Note that not all BTL is a chip you can
put in a jack- most times you need a modified sim player, also.
After reading "Shadowbeat", I had the fealing that a LOT of
cyberware incorporated simsense like effects, or spinoffs from the
technology. Skillsofts are just simsense recordings of people doing a
task, with no RAS overide, and a program that lets the user splice and
edit to acess only the parts he wants, as well as having a lot of
useless info cut (like anything relating to the original models body or
environment not pertanent to usingthe skill). Even wired reflexes
probably incorporate some sort of "time stretching" effect when needed;
it is mentioned as a possible simsens (and decking) effect.


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