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Message no. 1
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 22:58:29 -0400
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

There. That subject line should put the hebee jeebes in anyone. :)

Seriously though, this is an idea that's been kicking around in my
head for quite some time. It was inspired by a classic SNL sketch with
Dan Aykroyd. He was playing the head of Mainway Toys, a toy company
with a reptation for puting out dangerously lethal toys. One of the
toys was an action figure called "Johnny Swtichblade, Action Punk".
When you press a button on the action figure's back, sharp, pointy
springloaded blades would swivel out the side of Johnny Swithcblade's
forearms, with a snap.

This would be an interesting variation on the standard retractable
cyberspur instalation. Instead of withdrawing the blade(s) parallel to
a long bone, mount the blade between the two forearm bones, attached
at a pivot point down where the forearm meets the wrist. When the
blade is extended, the tip of the blade snaps out from back at the
elbow, quickly swinging out until it becomes perpendicular to the arm.
It might ruin a shirt or two, but several of the more conventional
ways of installing spurs do that anyway.

The big problem is that this kind of cyberspur would be much easier to
spot on a bare arm than the regular kind would. It would almost need
some sort of disposable synthetic skin covering to hide the long slit
that the blade would swing out from. Actually, there are other types
of cyberware that could use a synthskin sheath for purposes of
concealment.

So, have I been watching too much Saturday Night Live, or is there
something to this idea?

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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 2
From: "D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 22:57:29 -0500
On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 22:58:29 -0400 Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
writes:
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
>There. That subject line should put the hebee jeebes in anyone. :)
>
>Seriously though, this is an idea that's been kicking around in my
>head for quite some time. It was inspired by a classic SNL sketch with
>Dan Aykroyd. He was playing the head of Mainway Toys, a toy company
>with a reptation for puting out dangerously lethal toys. One of the
>toys was an action figure called "Johnny Swtichblade, Action Punk".
>When you press a button on the action figure's back, sharp, pointy
>springloaded blades would swivel out the side of Johnny Swithcblade's
>forearms, with a snap.

<SNIP>

>So, have I been watching too much Saturday Night Live, or is there
>something to this idea?

I like it ... depending on how you implant it, it could be great for
getting out of (weak) wrist bonds. :)

Of course, you could also have a blade that is implanted parrallel in
your forearm and extends outward so you wind up with a razor along your
forearm ... that'd be unpleasant. :)

--
D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
"Long hair eliminates the need for barbers" -- Einstein

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Message no. 3
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 00:16:14 -0400
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At 10:57 PM 10/2/98 -0500, D.Ghost wrote:
>>So, have I been watching too much Saturday Night Live, or is there
>>something to this idea?
>
>I like it ... depending on how you implant it, it could be great for
>getting out of (weak) wrist bonds. :)

I suppose, but conceptually, I had seen this as mounted further back
along the forearm. I suppose if they can run the typical cyberspurs
past the wristbones though, they might be able to mount this one in
the same area.

>Of course, you could also have a blade that is implanted parrallel in
>your forearm and extends outward so you wind up with a razor along
your
>forearm ... that'd be unpleasant. :)

Another option would be to put the swivel point at the other end, back
up the forearm, near the elbow. To me though, that idea "feels" a bit
more awkward from a fighting standpoint. Moreso than the other two at
least.

The only thing that's been preventing any of these ideas though, is
the size of the slit in the arm that there'd have to be for the blade
to extend out of. It'd be a big, obvious slit running the length of
the forearm, unless there were a way to cover it. With the "Wolverine"
style and the other styles, you've got a couple of smaller holes in
the back of the hand, or whereever the blade slides out from.



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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 4
From: greg basa <demipop@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 22:11:59 -0400
>Seriously though, this is an idea that's been kicking around in my
>head for quite some time. It was inspired by a classic SNL sketch with
>Dan Aykroyd. He was playing the head of Mainway Toys, a toy company
>with a reptation for puting out dangerously lethal toys. One of the
>toys was an action figure called "Johnny Swtichblade, Action Punk".
>When you press a button on the action figure's back, sharp, pointy
>springloaded blades would swivel out the side of Johnny Swithcblade's
>forearms, with a snap.
>
>This would be an interesting variation on the standard retractable
>cyberspur instalation. Instead of withdrawing the blade(s) parallel to
>a long bone, mount the blade between the two forearm bones, attached
>at a pivot point down where the forearm meets the wrist. When the
>blade is extended, the tip of the blade snaps out from back at the
>elbow, quickly swinging out until it becomes perpendicular to the arm.
>It might ruin a shirt or two, but several of the more conventional
>ways of installing spurs do that anyway.
>
>The big problem is that this kind of cyberspur would be much easier to
>spot on a bare arm than the regular kind would. It would almost need
>some sort of disposable synthetic skin covering to hide the long slit
>that the blade would swing out from. Actually, there are other types
>of cyberware that could use a synthskin sheath for purposes of
>concealment.
>
>So, have I been watching too much Saturday Night Live, or is there
>something to this idea?


Actually, I think ol' Hatchetman had the same idea. It's in
Cybertechnology; look it up.
-----

Greg's homepage: angelkiller's domain

http://www.mindspring.com/~demipop/
Message no. 5
From: TillK <kortuem@*******.DE>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 14:54:48 +0200
At 22:11 03.10.98 -0400, greg basa wrote:
>>Seriously though, this is an idea that's been kicking around in my
>>head for quite some time. It was inspired by a classic SNL sketch with
>>Dan Aykroyd. He was playing the head of Mainway Toys, a toy company
>>with a reptation for puting out dangerously lethal toys. One of the
>>toys was an action figure called "Johnny Swtichblade, Action Punk".
>>When you press a button on the action figure's back, sharp, pointy
>>springloaded blades would swivel out the side of Johnny Swithcblade's
>>forearms, with a snap.
>>
>>This would be an interesting variation on the standard retractable
>>cyberspur instalation. Instead of withdrawing the blade(s) parallel to
>>a long bone, mount the blade between the two forearm bones, attached
>>at a pivot point down where the forearm meets the wrist. When the
>>blade is extended, the tip of the blade snaps out from back at the
>>elbow, quickly swinging out until it becomes perpendicular to the arm.
>>It might ruin a shirt or two, but several of the more conventional
>>ways of installing spurs do that anyway.
>>
>>The big problem is that this kind of cyberspur would be much easier to
>>spot on a bare arm than the regular kind would. It would almost need
>>some sort of disposable synthetic skin covering to hide the long slit
>>that the blade would swing out from. Actually, there are other types
>>of cyberware that could use a synthskin sheath for purposes of
>>concealment.
>>
>>So, have I been watching too much Saturday Night Live, or is there
>>something to this idea?
>
>
>Actually, I think ol' Hatchetman had the same idea. It's in
>Cybertechnology; look it up.

Really? I thought he mounted one spur the "normal" way and the second spur
came out of his ellbow instead of his wrist.

btw, your reply-to field overrides the list.

TillK ]B-]
#674 of 1000
------------------------------
-> Into the Darkness <-
http://members.xoom.com/yclept
------------------------------
Message no. 6
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 12:39:26 -0400
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At 10:11 PM 10/3/98 -0400, Greg wrote:
>>toys was an action figure called "Johnny Swtichblade, Action Punk".
>>When you press a button on the action figure's back, sharp, pointy
>>springloaded blades would swivel out the side of Johnny
Swithcblade's
>>forearms, with a snap.
<<Snip>>
>Actually, I think ol' Hatchetman had the same idea. It's in
>Cybertechnology; look it up.

p.13, Cybertechnology
"I was sixteen when I got the spurs. Two of them, both in my right
forearm. One extended past my wrist, the other in the opposite
direction past my elbow. ... Most people's spurs only go one way, to
threaten the guy in front; they guy sneaking up behind isn't expecting
to meet a blade in his gut from your elbow."

I don't know. This sounds a lot like the typical cyberspur, the one
that extends straight out from an internal sheath. It's just mounted
to extend along the forearm, back past the elbow.

The type of spur I'm suggesting swings out the side of the arm, in a
pivoting motion, instead of an in-and-out extension. When the blade on
the one I'm suggesting is extended, it's perpendicular to the long
bone it lies along in the retracted position. Normal spurs, when
extended, remain parallel or only slightly askew from the bone it lies
along in the retracted position.


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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 7
From: Mongoose <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 12:28:35 -0700
:The type of spur I'm suggesting swings out the side of the arm, in a
:pivoting motion, instead of an in-and-out extension. When the blade on
:the one I'm suggesting is extended, it's perpendicular to the long
:bone it lies along in the retracted position. Normal spurs, when
:extended, remain parallel or only slightly askew from the bone it lies
:along in the retracted position.


The "Hand Blade" drawing in cybertechnlogy suggests a mechanism that
might be good here- basically, put a locking pivot in the portion that
extends out of the sheath, then have it pivot AFTER extension to achieve a
perpendicular aspect to the bone / sheath. I don't think the stats would
have to be any different, but it would allow some cool mounts- like a spur
projecting downwards along the tibia that then pivots back to form a "heal
spur". Such a spur could also be used in its normal position as a foot
anchor.

Mongoose
Message no. 8
From: "D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 13:00:31 -0500
--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: dghost
To: demipop@**********.com

Greg Basa, you're going to get this message twice because your reply-to
field overrides the list's (Check your email prog's config options).

On Sat, 3 Oct 1998 22:11:59 -0400 greg basa <demipop@**********.com>
writes:
<SNIP>
>>This would be an interesting variation on the standard retractable
>>cyberspur instalation. Instead of withdrawing the blade(s) parallel to
>>a long bone, mount the blade between the two forearm bones, attached
>>at a pivot point down where the forearm meets the wrist. When the
>>blade is extended, the tip of the blade snaps out from back at the
>>elbow, quickly swinging out until it becomes perpendicular to the arm.
>>It might ruin a shirt or two, but several of the more conventional
>>ways of installing spurs do that anyway.
<SNIP>

>Actually, I think ol' Hatchetman had the same idea. It's in
>Cybertechnology; look it up.

Nope. Hachetman's (second) spur extended from the elbow. The one Paul
is suggesting SWIVELS (AND it swivels from the wrist so it's still
pointing forward.). This is an alternate EXTENSION idea, not an
alternate ORIENTATION idea. :)

(Emphasis added to clarify, not to be rude or anything :)

--
D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
"Long hair eliminates the need for barbers" -- Einstein
--------- End forwarded message ----------

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Message no. 9
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 16:54:12 -0400
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At 01:00 PM 10/4/98 -0500, D.Ghost wrote:
>>Actually, I think ol' Hatchetman had the same idea. It's in
>>Cybertechnology; look it up.
>
>Nope. Hachetman's (second) spur extended from the elbow. The one
Paul
>is suggesting SWIVELS (AND it swivels from the wrist so it's still
>pointing forward.). This is an alternate EXTENSION idea, not an
>alternate ORIENTATION idea. :)

Actually, the mental picture I had only had this swiveling out to
about 90 degrees or so. Think roosters' leg spurs, except on the arm.
This goes back to the blades on the original action figure.

There's absolutely nothing that says that you coudn't swivel the blade
further front so it's angled more like a traditional spur, though.
This is very cool, and something I hadn't considered.

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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 10
From: "D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 16:39:28 -0500
On Sun, 4 Oct 1998 16:54:12 -0400 Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
writes:
<SNIP>
>>Nope. Hachetman's (second) spur extended from the elbow. The onePaul
>>is suggesting SWIVELS (AND it swivels from the wrist so it's still
>>pointing forward.). This is an alternate EXTENSION idea, not an
>>alternate ORIENTATION idea. :)

>Actually, the mental picture I had only had this swiveling out to
>about 90 degrees or so. Think roosters' leg spurs, except on the arm.
>This goes back to the blades on the original action figure.
<SNIP>

Ah. Ok. I see. Hmmm ... would that stress the mounting point more than
a normal mount? In addition, you can't fight in tight spaces. (With a
normal spur, you'd just have difficulty and with one that swings out to a
forward orientation, you'd have difficulty once they are extended but
wouldn't be able to extend/retract them in tight spaces ...

--
D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
"Long hair eliminates the need for barbers" -- Einstein

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Message no. 11
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cyberware idea from an old Saturday Night Live Rerun
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 00:38:40 -0400
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 04:39 PM 10/4/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>Actually, the mental picture I had only had this swiveling out to
>>about 90 degrees or so. Think roosters' leg spurs, except on the
arm.
>>This goes back to the blades on the original action figure.

>Ah. Ok. I see. Hmmm ... would that stress the mounting point more
than
>a normal mount?

Perhaps a little, but I had been thinking perhaps these things would
need some sort of reinforcement down near where it swivels from the
wrist. Some sort of support bar that not only pushes the blade to
swivel it out, but locks into place to add strength. (And as someone
else pointed out, the artwork for the Hand Blade in Cybertechnology
has a locking swivel, and it seems to be strong enough for the
stresses put on the Hand Blade.)

>In addition, you can't fight in tight spaces.

Define "tight spaces". Are we talking airducts here or what? This
isn't a huge blade, it'd be about 20 to 30 cm, extending straight up
from the wrist; after all, when the blade's retracted, it has to fit
into the forearm. The arm movements for this wouldn't have to be too
broad. Slashing moves would be done with a back and forth motion of
the forearm, with a bit of movement at the elbow and shouder. Stabbing
moves would be the same as trying to bash someone with the back of
your forearm and hand, except now you've got a 20cm blade jutting out
from your wrist. Neither type of attack is particularly broad -- if
you've got room to fight with a knife held in your hand, then you
should have room to fight with one of these "Switchblade Spurs" in
most cases.

As for not even being able to extend them in tight places, I can stand
in the middle of a 1m wide door, and have enough clearance from my
wrists to just touch the sides with the tips of 20cm blades extended
from my wrists (alright, I didn't have any blades, so I taped rulers
to my wrists) and I'm a fairly broad shouldered kind of guy.


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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344

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