| From: | Doctor Doom <JCH8169@*****.TAMU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Magic & the Matrix...*shudder* |
| Date: | Fri, 26 Feb 93 06:40:46 CET |
>quest. I was a decker who was introduced to the power of magic by a conjurer.
>This changed my life. He explained a theory of his that said that the nergy we
>call the astral plane is really just the energy of all the dead. When someone
>dies whatever they were concentrating on is where their energy goes. Since
>many believe in another plane of spiritual existence people energy has been
>collecting into an astral space for centuries spirits were born there. Well as
>many of you know people die in the matrix all the time, and many of their last
>thoughts are of the matrix. I theorized that if enough of the "death
energy"
>were to be concentrated in one spot in the Matrix a matrix spirit might evolve.
Meine Kamaraden:
As loathe as I am to draw the old argument, "Magic & the Matrix, it may
not just for Astral Space Anymore?", I feel obligated to comment on this last
statement, as this theory has been put forth before, and neither I nor anyone
else responded to it [although, considering the week(s) before had been swamped
with questions regarding magical computers and other unpleasantness, I can
hardly blame them]
I see three problems in your argument...
1) Your entire justification of Matrix spirits stands on the rather shaky
foundation of your postulation that the Astral Plane, and hence Free Spirits,
elementals and other spirits draw their power, their existence, from the energy
of the dead. Not only have I been unable to find any text in the ShadowRun
books to support this theory, but I find it entirely subjective--if anything,
it is more associated with the energy of life...more associated with the
description of the Force: "It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the
Universe together." or "Life creates it, makes it grow."
2) You appear to be misled regarding technomancers in the Matrix. When a
technomancer enters Matrix Space, his spirit (essence, soul, or whatever) does
NOT leave his body. One cannot be TRAPPED in the Matrix as a Magician or
Shaman could become in the Astral Plane. One's consciousness never leaves
one's body. Were one to die there, one does NOT become a "ghost in the
machine", so to speak.
3) Another flaw resides in the nature of the Matrix itself...
The Matrix is not an parallel or alternate reality (as the Astral Plane
undoubtedly is), it is VIRTUAL reality: a computer-generated ASIST construct
(Artificial Sensory Induction Technology, the operative word being ARTIFICIAL)
It does not occupy any space. It is not REAL...
Thus, how can a spirit reside there, even if its former "host" expired whilst
in this un-reality? And from what shall one summon these spirits?
Will they inhabit the optical chips of a system, as they are, after all, the
only "real" aspect of the Matrix? I should think not.
The motivation behind my argument is this: If one is to allow for
Matrix spirits, soon people are going to start summoning these VIOLATIONS for
assistance in 'decking', say burn a spirit (or even, possibly, Matrix
elementals...*shudder*) for extra dice. Or even start using them in lieu of
programs, flygrams, and the utilities. Fairly soon, one is not 'decking' at
all...but has succeeded in completely re-working the Matrix as we presently
know it.
The game designers at FASA (such as The Dark Lord on High, Tom Dowd)
wanted to avoid this, naturally. As a result, they penned a phrase that is
much-repeated, but nevertheless quite valid:
VIRTUAL REALITIES
MAGIC IN THE MATRIX
page 52
"Many questions have been raised concerning whether magic can interface
with the Matrix. Right now, the answer is that it cannot. Period.
Why? Remember, the Matrix does not exist. It is an artificial reality
of computer-generated simsense impressions. It offers nothing to do with which
magic, inherently associated with LIVING things, can interface."
Further, as all the magic users in my group are fond of saying:
"Magic does not work IN the Matrix, but it works ON the Matrix." *ZAP*
Colonel Count von Hohenzollern und von Doom, DMSc, DSc, PhD.
Thaumaturgical Advisor:
Darkwatch, Doctor of Metaphysics
Doom Technologies & Weapon Systems -- Dark Thought Publications
>>> Working on solutions best left in the dark.
<<<
[ Doctor Doom : jch8169@********.tamu.edu ]
