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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Frames, the Matrix, Cyberware. . .
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1993 18:09:46 -0500
First Off: Electrode Net Thingies (what Carter referred to) are established in
Shadowrun. They were used in 2XS (the only SRun novel I ever read). I don't
have the page reference handy but I'm prety sure they're mentioned in the]
main rules. Their existence is why so many can use simsense without getting
cybered up (especially if you take Doc X's assesment as gospel truth).

Frames: I think Quiktek and the Rat brought up a few points about Firewalls
and Frames that I thought I had pointed out. One-a firewall swithch is
hardware based and not controllable from the system. Two-I was under the
impression tha Smart Frames do NOT ned to remain in constant contact with
the deck, that the decision-making routines that made them smart made them
free-roaming, as they load and unload themselves from node to node. Sine
I don't have VR, I freely admit I could be wrong. Three-I don't recall a
passage saying that they are in constant contact.

Firewall Defined: Green-2 sounds dine, but I think any security rating will
do. Although, unless the system does an extensive amount of other work,
there probably isn't a reason to make it particularly powerful. And I meant
"sounds fine" :).

Cyberware: That's an awfully small percentage of people. I don't think to many
people will get big-ticket items like arms and legs, but little things that
don't cost a lot (datajacks) may be far more common.

Security Question: Is it possible that the security rating of a node doesn't
have anything to do with the processing power? That is, after IC is installed.
A lot of people assume a Green-2 is the latter-day equivalent of a TRS-80;
It could very well be a Unix with really BAD security.


J Roberson
Message no. 2
From: Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.EDU>
Subject: Frames, the Matrix, Cyberware. . .
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1993 14:23:07 -0400
> From: RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU
>
> From: J Roberson
>

> First Off: Electrode Net Thingies (what Carter referred to) are established in
> Shadowrun. They were used in 2XS (the only SRun novel I ever read). I don't
> have the page reference handy but I'm prety sure they're mentioned in the]
> main rules. Their existence is why so many can use simsense without getting
> cybered up (especially if you take Doc X's assesment as gospel truth).
>

Look in SRII under Tortuises in the Matrix. It says people with
terminals or electrodes are tortuises in the Matrix (exact quote to
handy).

> Cyberware: That's an awfully small percentage of people. I don't think to many
> people will get big-ticket items like arms and legs, but little things that
> don't cost a lot (datajacks) may be far more common.
>

Very, VERY much agree :)

I include surgery costs in the price of cyberware and I made up my
brand Name cyberware to give people incentive to upgrade and get low
impact, low cost cyberware. I am also working on making fashion 'ware
for my next Brand Name post. I just like using cyberware I guess.

> Security Question: Is it possible that the security rating of a node doesn't
> have anything to do with the processing power? That is, after IC is installed.
> A lot of people assume a Green-2 is the latter-day equivalent of a TRS-80;
> It could very well be a Unix with really BAD security.
>

I was under the impression that the Security rating and the color had
nothing to do with processing power. Reason: Load is not affected by
number of messages, etc. Just by IC, Personas, etc. If security rating
was an indication of the processing power of a node then the PUBLIC
access stuff, like public databases, which have a LOT of traffic,
would have a high security rating and color.
Message no. 3
From: Curtis W Patrick <cpatri@**.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Frames, the Matrix, Cyberware. . .
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1993 19:17:19 CDT
With respect to (my tech writing teacher hates it when students start
a sentence with that cr*p) the percentage of users of cyber wear and
what-not... J Roberson made a comment
>>>>[ Cyberware: That's an awfully small percentage of people. I don't think
to
many
people will get big-ticket items like arms and legs, but little things that
don't cost a lot (datajacks) may be far more common.
]<<<<<

Is simsense a cyberware hookup job or not? The guide book to Tir Tira...(sp)
makes reference to the problem of keep simsense stuff out, evidently it
is a problem in Seattle, and there are atleast two modules that center
on them!!! If they require a datajack to use them, then I think that
datajacks would be pretty common to cause such a fuss.
Message no. 4
From: "Dylan Norhtup (PHY)" <norhtup@*****.CAS.USF.EDU>
Subject: Re: Frames, the Matrix, Cyberware. . .
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1993 02:22:11 -0400
On Tue, 13 Jul 1993, Curtis W Patrick wrote:

> Is simsense a cyberware hookup job or not? The guide book to Tir Tira...(sp)
> makes reference to the problem of keep simsense stuff out, evidently it
> is a problem in Seattle, and there are atleast two modules that center
> on them!!! If they require a datajack to use them, then I think that
> datajacks would be pretty common to cause such a fuss.

To quote from _Shadowbeat_ (Yes I bought it. Don't hate me ;) ) page 98:

"Most sense decks [playback units] can interface with the user through
standard datajacks or induction 'trodes. The signal through a 'trodeset
is diffuser and less intense: a real simhead will get a jack implanted if
he can possibly afford it."

If you are of the assumption that cyberware is relatively rare then one
could conclude that the primary demographic group for simsense addiction
is that of mid to upper-level corporate employees, and deckers.
Also, I have a hard time believing that anyone would go out and plop down
1700 =Y= for invasive surgery for something that they are not addicted to
yet! Shadowbeat states that simsense is diffuse through 'trodesets and if
large numbers of people can become addicted to simsense via 'trodes then A)
the government and corporations want the masses docile and dependent on
their MTV or B) the 'trodes don't diffuse the signal very much (being a
very paranoid sort I would place more than even money on A).

If you are running a very cyber-rich campaign then the point is pretty
much moot.
****************************************************************************
* Witty Remark * Dylan Northrup <norhtup@*****.cas.usf.edu> * This space *
* Here * (Yeah I know they spelled my name wrong) * for rent *
****************************************************************************
"The poin is moot. Who get's the car? I get the car because it's my show"
-- Jesse Jackson on SNL

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Frames, the Matrix, Cyberware. . ., you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!