| From: | shadowrn@*********.com (Allen Smith) |
|---|---|
| Subject: | CEDs and Encephalons (was Re: Bioware (and some cyberware) thoughts) |
| Date: | Tue May 22 00:55:01 2001 |
>
>
> DemonPenta@***.com wrote:
Oh, that's what you'd written...
> > In a message dated 5/21/01 10:11:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > easmith@********.rutgers.edu writes:
> >
> > > > I take that as meaning a level 3 is beyond the limits of the
> > > > metahuman brain at its ultimate ability to manipulate data
> > > > ... which may be a little off since someone with an
> > > > Intelligence of 1 can get an Encephalon. That may, however,
> > > > indicate that the ability to manipulate data is not related to
> > > > Intelligence ...
> >
> > > I'm not sure exactly how else I'd define Intelligence!
> >
> > I'm not sure that's what's meant. (This is an utter layman's view,
> > but hey) In this case, it isn't so much that the brain cannot
> > manipulate the data...there's too MUCH data, and it doesn't
> > stop. Same reason Echo Mirage had so many psych cases...pure and
> > simple overload. Your brain will eventually devote so much energy
> > to processing data that it forgets to trigger automatic responses
> > like, oh, breathing.
> >
> > Am I making sense?
>
> Not exactly, no. Different areas of the brain handle different tasks,
> and it's highly unlikely that a case of information overload would make
> someone forget to breathe, as the areas are completely unrelated.
Quite. Besides which, minor side tasks like that are exactly what the
encephalon's supposed to take over... and I can see some that it'd be
possible for it to do (figuring out which way to drive while you're
thinking about something else, for instance, so instead of just
driving where you automatically would you actually go where you want
to go).
> However, a common attribute associated with Intelligence in Shadowrun is
> Perception, as we know.
Yes... and this is given additional weight by that the Encephalon
doesn't enhance magical skills in the SR3/M&M version.
> Enhance perception to a level greater than the
> brain can handle... and you'll probably get autism. Autists don't make
> good shadowrunners.
>
> As for low Intelligence characters with Encephalons, I feel Intelligence
> is the ability to use one's brain, not the ability of one's brain. This
> goes along with the concept of a task pool as well. Data processing in
> a separate optical computer can be fed back to the brain, which despite
> being underutilized, still has an immense amount of capacity. For this
> reason a low Intelligence character should be able to receive the same
> benefits as a more intelligent character. His brain has the power, and
> the Encephalon just provides a tap. But there are limits to what a
> brain, which operates on electricity, can process when compared to an
> optical computer system. The encephalon isn't nearly as flexible as the
> millions of neural pathways, but the pathways are slower.
Hmm... I can see this. This also brings up a thought regarding the
Chipjack Expert Driver debate and Encephalons, partially inspired by
the original Shadowtech description of Encephalons. One thing I've
been unsatisfied with in Shadowrun's skillsoft system is that it
doesn't allow for the use of both native and skillsoft skills, unlike
the GURPS version. Why shouldn't an expert in a Knowledge skill be
able to make use of a Knowsoft's large database of information and
automatic knowledge-cataloging? I therefore suggest that anything that
a Encephalon can help with, it can also run a skillsoft of, with a
maximum effective rating of the Encephalon's rating plus any Chipjack
Expert Driver rating; such skills can in turn be used as complementary
skills to anything you've already got. The Encephalon's Task Pool (but
not the Chipjack Expert Driver's!) can also be used.
> Of course, when low Intelligence is the result of brain damage and not
> of underutilization, then it's a different story, and subject to the
> discretion of the GM.
Quite... I can see allowing Encephalon levels in this context (as
opposed to the CED involvement above) having a maximum of the higher
of:
A. (5 + (Racial Modifiers to Intelligence)) - (Current
Intelligence without Bioware or Spells);
B. 2.
For instance, a troll could get 2 levels max, but a human/elf/dwarf
with Intelligence 1 could get 4 levels max.
-Allen
--
Allen Smith easmith@********.rutgers.edu
