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Message no. 1
From: Karl-Andre Skevik <karls@***.UIO.NO>
Subject: Falling
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1993 11:21:39 +0100
I just wondered if anyone has come up with some sensible rules for falling
damage?

And, regarding data storage; how come nobody uses compression?
Seems like at least normal computers could gain som extra storage
if it was used.

I also wondered how many bytes there are in one Mp.
Message no. 2
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1993 08:18:08 -0600
>And, regarding data storage; how come nobody uses compression?

It's called the Compress utility. I think it's in VR. Either that or a
couple of folks here have made it up.

>Seems like at least normal computers could gain som extra storage
>if it was used.

You could also argue that computers in Shadowrun already use compression so
much that it's assumed for moast systems. This is, however, unlikely where
speed is valued over space, since it takes a little time to uncompress a
utility before use.

>I also wondered how many bytes there are in one Mp.

Don't ask. :)
Seriously, this topic comes up every now and again and the answer is that it
isn't listed anywhere, and that it doesn't matter. Mp are the yardstick of
21st century data storage, and you can assume that enough changes are going
to occur in the way documents that a "word processing" file is going to be
very different from the way we define them now.


J Roberson
Message no. 3
From: "Colin R. Heichman" <MS344410@*****.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1993 09:30:38 EST
On Sat, 20 Nov 1993 11:21:39 +0100 Karl-Andre Skevik said:
[Falling stuff deleted]
>And, regarding data storage; how come nobody uses compression?
>Seems like at least normal computers could gain som extra storage
>if it was used.
>
I always assumed that by 2054, data would always be stored in the most
efficient format. Slowing down a deck with on the fly compression/decompressio
wouldn't be a problem because of the relative speed of the decks.

>I also wondered how many bytes there are in one Mp.

I think they define it in VIRTUAL REALITIES...or maybe in the
SRII book.

Run Hard,

Colin
Message no. 4
From: The Reverend <mdb0213@******.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1993 15:55:07 -0600
]I just wondered if anyone has come up with some sensible rules for falling
]damage?
Yup, we have em somewhere around here. Doctor Doom and DLoH worked them up.
All I remember offhand is that it's D damaged, and based on the number of
feet you fell. Tripping over your shoelaces is 1D1.

]And, regarding data storage; how come nobody uses compression?
Because. (*grin*) Basically it's assumed that it's all compressed anyway;
we've had all sorts of theories, up to and including the fact that "basic"
files have all sorts of information on them, (like sound, pictures, movies,
etc) because the optical storage allows it. (LOTS of space!)

]I also wondered how many bytes there are in one Mp.
None. Mp and bytes have NO relationship, and FASA has stated so on numerous
occasions. (Can we add this to the FAQ?) They are based on two totally
different storage systems, and so no direct comparisons can be made. If you
DO want numbers, I can't help you. I tried to figure it out once, but gave
up when I had three VERY conflicting answers.

---
The Reverend "They called me the Reverend when I entered the church unstained"
Fear the Information Revolution...for it has reached the hands of the strange.
PGP 2.2 Public Key Block available upon request
Message no. 5
From: Jacob Collins Haldeman <jch8169@******.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1993 17:44:39 -0600
>From The Reverend:

> ]I just wondered if anyone has come up with some sensible rules for falling
> ]damage?
> Yup, we have em somewhere around here. Doctor Doom and DLoH worked them up.
> All I remember offhand is that it's D damaged, and based on the number of
> feet you fell. Tripping over your shoelace is 1D1.

Not quite right. The Dark Lord on High and I developed rules for jumping
distance; rules regarding falling damage are already written, to wit:

Hydraulic Jack

ShadowTech, pg 43: FALLING

"All falls have a damage code of D2, with the Power Level of the
fall's 'attack' being one-half the number of meters fallen (round down). The
character may use body dice in the Damage Resistance Test to reduce the
damage. Subtract one-half the character's Impact Armor Rating (round down)
directly from the Power Level of the fall. Athletics Skill may also be used.
Make an Athletics Skill Test (or appropriate Concentration/Specialization)
against a Target Number equal to the number of meters fallen. Subtract each
success generated directly from the Power Level of the fall before Damage
Resistance Test. The player cannot make both this test and the Athletics Test
for the hydraulic jack: he must choose one or the other."


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 ]
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
"Attack, attack, and when in doubt, ATTACK!" -- Frederick the Great of Prussia
Message no. 6
From: The Reverend <mdb0213@******.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1993 05:34:32 -0600
]Not quite right. The Dark Lord on High and I developed rules for jumping
]distance; rules regarding falling damage are already written, to wit:
Oops. Sorry. My mistake.

]ShadowTech, pg 43: FALLING ...
]The player cannot make both this test and the Athletics Test
]for the hydraulic jack: he must choose one or the other."
I have a question about this. Why not use both? I've noticed that in a
couple instances (such as this one), for the average PC Shadowrunner, (that's
player character, not the other types of PC) you have to have an ungodly skill
for it to be better than the Stat. Shouldn't it be easier to resist the
damage by using your athletics than just with your body? (either tag on a +2
if using Body, or let the person roll Ath & Bod). The Reason I ask this is
because my current character, Scirocco, has a 5 or 6 body, but only a 4
Athletics. If he jumps, the rules say he should just fall, and deal with it.
My personal experience is that if you roll, you should be able to avert the
damage somehow (i.e. you're doing a roll when you fall, or crumpling, or
somehow changing your momentum. Shouldn't this help with reducing the damage
of a fall? Any ideas anyone?)
Thanks,

Rev
---
The Reverend "They called me the Reverend when I entered the church unstained"
Fear the Information Revolution...for it has reached the hands of the strange.
PGP 2.2 Public Key Block available upon request
Message no. 7
From: "Colin R. Heichman" <MS344410@*****.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1993 16:25:07 EST
>If he jumps, the rules say he should just fall, and deal with it.
>My personal experience is that if you roll, you should be able to avert the
>damage somehow (i.e. you're doing a roll when you fall, or crumpling, or
>somehow changing your momentum. Shouldn't this help with reducing the damage
>of a fall? Any ideas anyone?)
>Thanks,
>
>Rev
Body in not just a measure of the character's physical toughness, it also
reflects the body's reflexes to minimize impending damage (tucking and rolling,
crumpling, etc.). I think that a PC should be able to use part of his combat
pool to avoid falling damage, though. Combat pool also partially reflects the
same instincts.
Run Hard,

Colin
Message no. 8
From: Neal A Porter <nap@*****.PHYSICS.SWIN.OZ.AU>
Subject: Re: Falling
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1993 14:04:31 +1100
On the subject of falling, a couple of different damage systems have been
given, but all have had a base code of D. For example tripping over your
shoe laces gives 1D1 damage, in ShadowTech the number is XD2, where X
depend on the falling hieght. Picture a newly created Mage, with a body
of 1 { Yes an extreme wimp I know }, before she/he can even cast their first
spell they trip over their shoelace. Bye bye Mage.

I think that not only the power of the damage, but also the base rating
should be dependant on the hight fallen. Why not convert the Crash damage
from the Riggers BB into vertical fall hieghts? Figure out the velocity the
subject would be hitting the ground at, and use that for the damage.

Regards
Adeus
Message no. 9
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Falling
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 12:57:56 +0100
>Is it me, or is this excessive? A 1 metre fall will NOT hurt your average
>person!

Which is why I've made a house rule about falling. I don't have it to hand
immediately, but it goes something close to:

fallen distance damage
up to 2 meters 1D6M
2-3 meters (distance)S
over 3 meters (distance)D


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
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