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Message no. 1
From: "J. Keith Henry" <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Magical Deckers (was OS something or other)
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 21:12:56 -0400
In a message dated 97-08-05 16:12:33 EDT, W0lfstar@***.COM (George Metz)
writes:

> Actually, I'm not 100% sure what the penalty was, and usually, it's put
> forth that the technology interferes with magic. regardless, with a raise
> intelligence +4 and a raise quickness +4 spell, plus the fact that yer
gonna
> lose a point of magic for .25 essence for the datajack so you might as
well
> load up on some cyber(Math SPU, possibly an Encephalon or some such), the
> penalty can't be that bad. Really inventive ones can turn their deck-case
> into a power focus or something, and after he initiates, anchored detect
and
> treat spells can do all sortsa wonders for neural damage. A
decker/magician
> could be pretty formidable. I'd say that they'de be required to take geasa
> for every point of magic lost to cyberware, instead of a decking
restriction.

The modifier was either + Magic Attribute (OUCH TO THE Initiated) or
something I can't seem to recall. As for "add one thing, might as well add
more" attitude, oh that would be fun, and it works in game mechanics, but the
GM had better step in really quick with something. And btw, there is ALWAYS
the Simdeck variation on the matrix connect. No Essence Loss, just some
slightly bulky hardware on the magicians head.

The only way we found around the modifier here was to literally build a
"Reality Filter" for the magician, with a B/R target number equal to the
magician's Magic Attribute (upgrades required when Initiation or Foci are
added). The RF did NOT add to the reaction attribute, it merely "filtered"
the information in such a way as to allow the magician in question to work in
the matrix "as a mundane".

The +4 Intelligence idea is interesting, but I think you would have to have
at least the +4 Cybered Intelligence variation in order for it to work with
Decking/Matrix.

Making the deck a foci is not big deal, but with the addition of the VR2,
what does the Resonance feel about this? A "Foci Deck" might get the
attention of an Otaku in the area. I can see one of those "Resonance Quests"
that some Otaku have to perform is obtaining such an item for "study".

> Wolfstar

Yeah, we tried this a LONG time ago. The Enchanter I had has gone the full
route of stuff we tried, as the Matrix is one of the BIG keys into surviving
in the SR world/universe.
-K
Message no. 2
From: Loki <daddyjim@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Magical Deckers (was OS something or other)
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 19:13:39 -0700
---"J. Keith Henry" wrote:
>
> The modifier was either + Magic Attribute (OUCH TO THE Initiated) or
> something I can't seem to recall.

VR 1.0 listed the suggested modifiers for the magical in the matrix as:

+ Magic Attribute

-or-

+ Sorcery

Their reasoning was the more someone understood or was in touch with
the magical nature of things, the less they'd be able to relate to the
purely artificial univers presented by the Matrix.

We've done this same thread just a little bit ago.

===
@>--,--'--- Loki

Poisoned Elves: www.primenet.com/~gamemstr/

"You're being held up by a stim patch, Loki's almost a pile of ashes
thanks to that fire elemental, and we've got the Baron running around
screaming assassins...assassins...oh eek, assassins!"
--> Caric to Ook during the Harlequin Campaign

===
@>--,--'--- Loki

Poisoned Elves: www.primenet.com/~gamemstr/

"You're being held up by a stim patch, Loki's almost a pile of ashes
thanks to that fire elemental, and we've got the Baron running around
screaming assassins...assassins...oh eek, assassins!"
--> Caric to Ook during the Harlequin Campaign
_____________________________________________________________________
Sent by RocketMail. Get your free e-mail at http://www.rocketmail.com
Message no. 3
From: George Metz <W0lfstar@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Magical Deckers (was OS something or other)
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 05:17:49 -0400
In a message dated 97-08-06 03:40:31 EDT, you write:

> The modifier was either + Magic Attribute (OUCH TO THE Initiated) or
> something I can't seem to recall. As for "add one thing, might as well
add
> more" attitude, oh that would be fun, and it works in game mechanics, but
the
> GM had better step in really quick with something. And btw, there is
ALWAYS
> the Simdeck variation on the matrix connect. No Essence Loss, just some
> slightly bulky hardware on the magicians head.

No go, that's considered a cool deck or tortoise, which can wreak havoc on a
top-flight decker's ability, because if a simsense rig were considered a
"cool" interface, subtracting 1D6 from initiative above and beyond the
+2/+1D6 Reaction increase a "hot" interface gives. More than likely, it'd be
considered a tortoise, in which case you've got no business decking. It's an
option, just not a real good one for a top-flight decker.

> The only way we found around the modifier here was to literally build a
> "Reality Filter" for the magician, with a B/R target number equal to the
> magician's Magic Attribute (upgrades required when Initiation or Foci are
> added). The RF did NOT add to the reaction attribute, it merely
"filtered"
> the information in such a way as to allow the magician in question to work

> in the matrix "as a mundane".

Now this sounds good. I would say that building it would have to be a joint
effort between the constructor and end-user, so that the builder can get a
feel for what throws the user "off" about the setting. Figure a -2 TN if the
mage does it themself? Whaddaya think?

> The +4 Intelligence idea is interesting, but I think you would have to
have
> at least the +4 Cybered Intelligence variation in order for it to work
with
> Decking/Matrix.

That's a bit tricky. If the character's got Encephalon, then definitely. The
tricky part is with the Math SPU, since half it's rating is an intelligence
bonus. Perhaps Increase Cybered Intelligence for it to have any affect in the
matrix in that case, but it wouldn't affect intelligence outside of the
matrix. Quickness would be Increase Quickness + Whatever, since cyber doesn't
apply in the matrix.(No, I'm not talking about a mage with a datajack and
Wired Reflexes, it was just a side-note)

> Making the deck a foci is not big deal, but with the addition of the VR2,
> what does the Resonance feel about this? A "Foci Deck" might get the
> attention of an Otaku in the area. I can see one of those "Resonance
Quests"
> that some Otaku have to perform is obtaining such an item for "study".

Eek. I meant just the deck casing, not the deck itself(who knows what'd
happen if you tried to use an Orichalcum-plated MPCP! =) ), simply because
it's something a decker always has with him. As to the Deep Resonance, only
the demented mind that came up with it can tell you. Depending on the theory
you believe, I suppose that could happen, if it's what I think it is(Namely,
Mitch, the EFF founder guy). If it's an AI, who knows? It'd probably only
investigate if the deck started having weird affects. I'm dismissing Aliens
out of hand.

Wolfstar

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