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Message no. 1
From: shadowrn@*********.com (John Velasco)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 07:15:02 2002
I guess this needs some spoiler space for anyone who hasn't read this module.
*
S
P
O
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L
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R
S
P
A
C
E
*
S
P
O
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L
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P
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E
*

I'm thinking of running Brainscan for my players sometime soon but I have
doubts as to how they will cope towards the end of the adventure. We don't
have any PC deckers only NPC's.

I don't have Brainscan yet, but from what I can gather the final part of
the adventure would involved confronting DEUS in the Matrix after having
been forcibly jacked in, am I right?

What exactly can my players hope to achieve if they don't have a decker,
can they actually do anything in the Matrix, what would their stats be and
is this detailed in the adventure? I want to try and avoid having an NPC
decker doing all the work.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx.

BioNick.
Message no. 2
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Ian Cote)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 08:25:01 2002
> I guess this needs some spoiler space for anyone who hasn't read this
module.
> *
> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
> S
> P
> A
> C
> E
> *
> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
> S
> P
> A
> C
> E
> *
>
> I'm thinking of running Brainscan for my players sometime soon but I have
> doubts as to how they will cope towards the end of the adventure. We don't
> have any PC deckers only NPC's.
>
> I don't have Brainscan yet, but from what I can gather the final part of
> the adventure would involved confronting DEUS in the Matrix after having
> been forcibly jacked in, am I right?
>
> What exactly can my players hope to achieve if they don't have a decker,
> can they actually do anything in the Matrix, what would their stats be and
> is this detailed in the adventure? I want to try and avoid having an NPC
> decker doing all the work.

Haven't run it, but just finished reading it last night. Remember its a UV
host so, its almost like being in the real world with some slight
modifications. Computer skill can double for any skill the character's don't
have, but other than that if the deck they are on doesn't have an attack
utility (which would just be a weapon in the host), have the NPC decker
transfer one to them.

-IanC
Message no. 3
From: shadowrn@*********.com (LeBlanc, Lange)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 08:45:01 2002
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Velasco [mailto:decor.consulting@********.es]
> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 9:12 AM
> To: shadowrn@*********.com
> Subject: Help with Brainscan
>
>
> I guess this needs some spoiler space for anyone who hasn't
> read this module.
> *
> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
> S
> P
> A
> C
> E
> *
> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
> S
> P
> A
> C
> E
> *
>
> I'm thinking of running Brainscan for my players sometime
> soon but I have
> doubts as to how they will cope towards the end of the
> adventure. We don't
> have any PC deckers only NPC's.
>
> I don't have Brainscan yet, but from what I can gather the
> final part of
> the adventure would involved confronting DEUS in the Matrix
> after having
> been forcibly jacked in, am I right?
>
> What exactly can my players hope to achieve if they don't
> have a decker,
> can they actually do anything in the Matrix, what would their
> stats be and
> is this detailed in the adventure? I want to try and avoid
> having an NPC
> decker doing all the work.
>
> Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanx.
>
> BioNick.
>
I'm currently running this game right now, with some side runs between adventure events.
They're just about to go into the Arcology (after wasting about 3 game sessions trying to
get them to meet and trust Overwatch). If we havent' hit the area in question (the UV
host) by the end of Sunday, we should have for sure a week from then. The group got a
decker a few game sessions ago so I won't have the same problem you're coming up with, but
before the decker I had planned on a few of the characters' non-jacked computer skills
giving them some skills within the UV host (at least enough so they can talk others
through). The non-datajack Merc has a computer skill of 4, and the mage has a computer
skill of 2. That was enough to at least equip them with skills, and I wouldn't have had to
outright kill them in the host when DEUS puts a jack into them without the computer skill
...

If you haven't run any of the adventures yet and want some input regarding specific parts,
just email me at lange@***.ca

As a side note, I'm debating whether DEUS implanting the Datajack will make the Merc a
CyberZombie (he has that little essence) or if I should upgrade one of his simpler
implants during surgery to Alphaware to free up the essence (How nice would DEUS be,
really? would he "donate" alphaware to the character, or just make him a
zombie?)
Message no. 4
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Lone Eagle)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 09:20:01 2002
>As a side note, I'm debating whether DEUS implanting the Datajack will
> >make the Merc a CyberZombie (he has that little essence) or if I >should
>upgrade one of his simpler implants during surgery to Alphaware >to free up
>the essence (How nice would DEUS be, really? would . >he "donate"
alphaware
>to the character, or just make him a zombie?)


DEUS would have to upgrade the parts if "he" actually wants the merc in his
host (which it sounds like he does, I haven't read the module although I
have read up on DEUS.) He doesn't have access to Cybermancy and therefore
the merc would die under the knife (effectively) were the essence not freed
up.
If I remember rightly however the Archology contains a Deltaware clinic so
what he might do is free up essence by implanting Deltaware headware,
although I'd recommend that that includes a cranial nuke, one because I
think DEUS would do that and two because it allows you to have the team
hired by DEUS in the future using the nuke as leverage (which from my
understanding is something DEUS would feel he needs (after all that was the
x-factor which switched "him" from SAKB to AI))



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Message no. 5
From: shadowrn@*********.com (LeBlanc, Lange)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 09:30:01 2002
<SNIP>
> DEUS would have to upgrade the parts if "he" actually wants
> the merc in his
> host (which it sounds like he does, I haven't read the module
> although I
> have read up on DEUS.) He doesn't have access to Cybermancy
> and therefore
> the merc would die under the knife (effectively) were the
> essence not freed
> up.
> If I remember rightly however the Archology contains a
> Deltaware clinic so
> what he might do is free up essence by implanting Deltaware headware,
> although I'd recommend that that includes a cranial nuke, one
> because I
> think DEUS would do that and two because it allows you to
> have the team
> hired by DEUS in the future using the nuke as leverage (which from my
> understanding is something DEUS would feel he needs (after
> all that was the
> x-factor which switched "him" from SAKB to AI))
>
>

hehehe love it.

2 months after the run ...
"Your cyber-doc tells you that your Smartlink, Retinal Mods and new Datajack are now
Deltaware. But also informs you he's found an abnormality imbeded deep in your brain. Apon
much deep scanning and probing (extra Nuyen for the equipment use please) he tells you
it's a cortex bomb. Have fun :-)"
Message no. 6
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Meph)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 10:00:01 2002
>As a side note, I'm debating whether DEUS implanting the Datajack will make
the Merc a CyberZombie (he has that little >essence) or if I should upgrade
one of his simpler implants during surgery to Alphaware to free up the
essence (How nice >would DEUS be, really? would he "donate" alphaware to the
character, or just make him a zombie?)

Doesn't a cyberzombie have to be controlled through cybermancy?!?!
Because Deus would definately NOT go there! Deus has no magical presence
and doesn't seem to care. Thruthfully, Deus would have a piece of ware
removed from the Merc if it was in the way, and then have the 'jack put in.
But Deus REC'Q the jack...that what he basis all of his "experiements" on.
All the people who've been touched by Deus have jacks.

Meph
Message no. 7
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Dan Turek)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 11:40:02 2002
>Subject: RE: Help with Brainscan
>
>hehehe love it.
>
>2 months after the run ...
>"Your cyber-doc tells you that your Smartlink, Retinal Mods and new >Datajack
are now Deltaware.

Um, wouldn't it be easier to just take that crap out and put the Delta
datajack in the "Essence Hole" (I think its now a surgery option in M&M). Of

course if the hole is larger than a Delta dj, just stuff it with whatever
nasty stuff is laying around. A kind GM would let his old cyberwear be in a
bloody bag near his body. A ghoulish GM would implant the parts to the
people in the Arcology.

"Your doc tells you your eyes are probably working. They're just not in your
head. Through the socket he says he sees a small package, but with his
flashlight he can only tell it starts with the letter 'C'. Then he notices
your deltagrade datajack which you DID NOT buy from/through him and he
starts getting touchy and asking why don't you go to your favorite Delta
Clinic instead of bothering a poor backstreet butcher."


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Message no. 8
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Rand Ratinac)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Fri Feb 15 19:50:01 2002
> > I guess this needs some spoiler space for anyone
> who hasn't
> > read this module.
> > *
> > S
> > P
> > O
> > I
> > L
> > E
> > R
> > S
> > P
> > A
> > C
> > E
> > *
> > S
> > P
> > O
> > I
> > L
> > E
> > R
> > S
> > P
> > A
> > C
> > E
> > *
> >
<snipt!(TM)>
> As a side note, I'm debating whether DEUS implanting
the Datajack will make the Merc a CyberZombie (he has
that little essence) or if I should upgrade one of his
simpler implants during surgery to Alphaware to free
up the essence (How nice would DEUS be, really? would
he "donate" alphaware to the character, or just make
him a zombie?)

He'd have to, wouldn't he? Making cyberzombies is not
simple matter and requires EXCEPTIONALLY specialised
magical knowledge and lots of magical power. Deus
wouldn't have any of that, so if he wanted to keep the
merc alive to play with, he'd HAVE to keep him above 0 essence.

====Doc'
(aka Mr. Freaky Big, Super-Dynamic Troll of Tomorrow, aka Doc'booner, aka Doc' Vader)

.sig Sauer

If you SMELL what the DOC' is COOKING!!!

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Message no. 9
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Sebastian Wiers)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Sat Feb 16 15:30:01 2002
>> > S
>> > P
>> > O
>> > I
>> > L
>> > E
>> > R
>> > S
>> > P
>> > A
>> > C
>> > E
>> > *
>> > S
>> > P
>> > O
>> > I
>> > L
>> > E
>> > R
>> > S
>> > P
>> > A
>> > C
>> > E
>> > *
>> >
><snipt!(TM)>
>> As a side note, I'm debating whether DEUS implanting
>the Datajack will make the Merc a CyberZombie (he has
>that little essence) or if I should upgrade one of his
>simpler implants during surgery to Alphaware to free
>up the essence (How nice would DEUS be, really? would
>he "donate" alphaware to the character, or just make
>him a zombie?)
>
>He'd have to, wouldn't he? Making cyberzombies is not
>simple matter and requires EXCEPTIONALLY specialised
>magical knowledge and lots of magical power. Deus
>wouldn't have any of that, so if he wanted to keep the
>merc alive to play with, he'd HAVE to keep him above 0 essence.

Not only is making a cyberzombie very difficult, its very time consuming.
The adventure says the procedure takes one hour, which (iirc) is important
to the plot. Deus easily could pop in alpha or betaware eys or smartlinks,
same as the blues have, but if he's pressed for time I don't think he would.
In that short time, the likely route Deus takes would simply be to just
remove some piece of cyber to free up the needed essence hole. Since the
guy is gonna be in a UV host, he won't notice the difference unless its
something that affects computer use, because Deus could just simulate the
effects of the cyber. Make it something your player can afford to replace
with alpha or betaware on thier own, and they shouldn't have any reason to
complain.


-Seb
Message no. 10
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Lars Wagner Hansen)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Sat Feb 16 17:15:02 2002
From: "Lone Eagle" <loneeagle2061@*******.com>
From: "LeBlanc, Lange" <Lange@***.ca>
From: "Meph" <meph@*********.net>

Thanks for deleting the spoiler space... NOT!!!!

There are still players out there that does not want to read subjects from
published adventures!

:-(

Lars
--
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l-hansen@*****.tele.dk http://home4.inet.tele.dk/l-hansen
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Message no. 11
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Meph)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Sun Feb 17 18:20:01 2002
>Thanks for deleting the spoiler space... NOT!!!!
>There are still players out there that does not want to read subjects from
>published adventures!


But I also thought that we were told to only quote the relevant part of
the message! Oh well.

Meph
Message no. 12
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Lone Eagle)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Mon Feb 18 05:00:02 2002
>From: "Dan Turek" <danturek@*******.com>
>>Subject: RE: Help with Brainscan
>>
>>hehehe love it.
>>
>>2 months after the run ...
>>"Your cyber-doc tells you that your Smartlink, Retinal Mods and new
>>Datajack are now Deltaware.
>
>Um, wouldn't it be easier to just take that crap out and put the Delta
>datajack in the "Essence Hole" (I think its now a surgery option in
M&M).
>Of
>course if the hole is larger than a Delta dj, just stuff it with whatever
>nasty stuff is laying around. A kind GM would let his old cyberwear be in a
>bloody bag near his body. A ghoulish GM would implant the parts to the
>people in the Arcology.
>
>"Your doc tells you your eyes are probably working. They're just not in
>your
>head. Through the socket he says he sees a small package, but with his
>flashlight he can only tell it starts with the letter 'C'. Then he notices
>your deltagrade datajack which you DID NOT buy from/through him and he
>starts getting touchy and asking why don't you go to your favorite Delta
>Clinic instead of bothering a poor backstreet butcher."

Mainly because the Merc's player will have put a great deal of thought and
effort into choosing his cyberware, to trash that effort when there are
alternatives which are just as suitable but do not require him to do too
much rewriting of his character sheet is just not cricket.
Call me soft but I'd much rather give with one hand and take back with the
other.

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Message no. 13
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Lone Eagle)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Mon Feb 18 05:35:01 2002
>From: "Lars Wagner Hansen" <l-hansen@*****.tele.dk>
>Thanks for deleting the spoiler space... NOT!!!!


Ooops. Sorry. brain not in gear.

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Message no. 14
From: shadowrn@*********.com (John Velasco)
Subject: Help with Brainscan
Date: Thu Feb 21 03:50:01 2002
Thanx to everyone for the input. I'm kind of relieved I'm not the only one
who thought about Cortex bombs right after reading that particular part of
the module :)

And Lange, I may well take you up on the offer of further assistance
sometime next month when I actually get this thing started.

BioNick.

Further Reading

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