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Message no. 1
From: HALOWEEN JACK <SBC3KCB@*******.ac.uk>
Subject: otaku
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 1995 15:07:44 GMT
Has any one out there managed to read VR2 yet. Neat book cuts down
the amount of time it takes to run the matrix 10 fold. Also included
in the book are the otaku, really strange kids that can run the
matrix without a cyberdeck.
Now this is a good idea except one flaw I found in their
mechanics, they have no capability to store data and thus cannot
download any paydata they find in the net. They can sort out the
problem of having no programmes by programming on the fly but how can
you handle the download of data.
In the book they start of with 5000 cash but this is a measily
amount as you would need some headware memory and at 150 nuyen a time
this amounts to 35 mp's which is tiny if not inadequate.
Could you connect to an of line storage facility a download into
that?


matrix----------storage----------otaku

either way any idea's on this subject other than increase the cash to
90000
J...
Message no. 2
From: "Mark Steedman" <RSMS@***.rgu.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 08:42:41 GMT
HALOWEEN JACK writes

> Has any one out there managed to read VR2 yet.
getting there!! Atzlan was a rare read, a 175 page rulebook's even
harder.

> Neat book cuts down
> the amount of time it takes to run the matrix 10 fold. Also included
> in the book are the otaku, really strange kids that can run the
> matrix without a cyberdeck.
The new system does look very good. GM time designing matrix runs
looks like it will be far less, and the 'where does the IC go'
problems of combining matrix1.0 and the layered matrix system have
gone away. The system i did that way had me mapping it 'layered' and
creating node details to matrix 1.0 on the fly, not very easy by
more than, 'i think we'll have....'.

The new IC options look really nasty. Also we now have L,M,S,D
stagings, maybe at last you will be able to get enough successes
against deckers with sensible body to hurt folks with black IC. [not
had the problem in game due to negligable decking but a quick glance
at the ratings of Matrix1.0 IC, hardening and the rules will soon
paint a gloomy picture for the IC if the deckers Body 5 or more]

> Now this is a good idea except one flaw I found in their
> mechanics, they have no capability to store data and thus cannot
> download any paydata they find in the net. They can sort out the
> problem of having no programmes by programming on the fly but how can
> you handle the download of data.
> In the book they start of with 5000 cash but this is a measily
> amount as you would need some headware memory and at 150 nuyen a time
> this amounts to 35 mp's which is tiny if not inadequate.
> Could you connect to an of line storage facility a download into
> that?
>
Write file to datastore is a standard operation. I have not got to
Otaku yet (nearly, i'm in programmes) but one would have thought a
block of storage memory (Optical EEPROM) plugged into thier
'jackpoint' could be treated just as another filestore they have the
passcodes for. (any local filestore like that account they just
created on the computer they started from would also do).

Mark
Message no. 3
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 09:00:47 +0000 (GMT)
On Mon, 27 Nov 1995, HALOWEEN JACK wrote:

> Could you connect to an of line storage facility a download into
> that?
>
>
> matrix----------storage----------otaku
>
Well I haven't got VR2 yet so I don't know exactly how the otaku work
but, I'd say offline storage was okay. My elven decker used program
carriers and although he had a little bit of headware memory he used
offline storage to download paydata. Of course this requires 2 datajacks,
one for the matrix connection, one for the storage.

By the way, regarding program carriers, would it be possible to allocate
a portion of headware memory exclusively for Active Memory ala cranial
cyberdecks and thus use programs? This could make program carrier decking
more viable yet still retain the dangers (ie damage is to person not
deck, willpower as Bod (was it WP?) and I say Intelligence as MPCP (as in
1st ed there wasn't an indication of what to use).

Opinions?


The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"So that which I imagine, is that which I believe" -Rush
Shadowrun Web Site http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun.html
Message no. 4
From: HALOWEEN JACK <SBC3KCB@*******.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 10:20:34 GMT
Under the rules about the Otaku very neat idea I must say the
MPCP is the average of all the mental stats
BOD=will
Hardening=1/2 will
response=average of will+int +3d6

and so on I can't say much more because of copy right but the VR2 has
gotten rid of the load rating and the i/o ratings have increase
dramatically MPCP*SENSOR*10 yes so a 8/6/6/6/6 cyber deck can have a
i/o of 480

must be going bye
J....
Message no. 5
From: Justin Thomas <Justin.C.Thomas-1@**.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 95 12:10:40 -0600
At 05:26 AM 11/28/95 -0500, you wrote:
>Under the rules about the Otaku very neat idea I must say the
>MPCP is the average of all the mental stats
>BOD=will
>Hardening=1/2 will
>response=average of will+int +3d6
>
>and so on I can't say much more because of copy right but the VR2 has
>gotten rid of the load rating and the i/o ratings have increase
>dramatically MPCP*SENSOR*10 yes so a 8/6/6/6/6 cyber deck can have a
>i/o of 480
>
>must be going bye
> J....

How does the info in Shadowtech relate to the new matrix rules? Like data
transfer speed and everything, VR2.0 introduces bandwidth rules... does this
conflict with anything in Shadowtech?
******************************
Justin Thomas
"Farr"
Email:
thom0767@****.tc.umn.edu
or if that doesn't work
Justin.C.Thomas-1@**.umn.edu
or
justin.thomas@*********.mn.org
Message no. 6
From: HALOWEEN JACK <SBC3KCB@*******.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 09:46:36 GMT
The introduction of bandwidth into VR2 will not affect i/o apart from
it becoming much larger. the band width option affects the ease at
which the deckers data trail can be traced. Therefore large band
width huge trail, I think it is limited to the i/o of the cyberdeck.
Message no. 7
From: "Mr. Me" <jlr6@****.ucc.nau.edu>
Subject: otaku
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 10:01:57 -0700 (MST)
Could someone describe the Otaku for me...I haven't read VR2.0 yet and
keep seeing references to them in the magic in the matrix discussion...


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey you! Silly sniper persons! You can't kill the Tick with mere
bullets!!"
-The Tick

"Oh dear! I think I ran over a ninja back there!"
"Well, keep driving we're late as it is! I mean it's not like we hit a
collie or anything."
-From _the Tick_
_______________________________________________________________________
jlr6@****.ucc.nau.edu
Mr.Me High Arch Priest of Tod<gorf gorf gorf> God of Small Frogs
Message no. 8
From: Rick Jones <rick@******.COM>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 12:39:28 -0600 (CST)
Mr. Me wrote:
> Could someone describe the Otaku for me...I haven't read VR2.0 yet and
> keep seeing references to them in the magic in the matrix discussion...

I've only skimmed the section, but, in a nutshell, they're folks who can
deck without a deck. They were essentially "raised" in the Matrix, given
a datajack at an indredibly young age, and learned to use their brains as
decks. They're incredibly good deckers.

Some folks think that they're some kind of "Matrix Adept." IMHO, they're
"simply" kids who have trained their brains to act as cyberdecks.

In my games, you can no more cast a spell in the matrix than you could
deck into astral space.

--
Rick Jones Never stand in, on, above, below, beside, or anywhere
rick@******.com near a grave, tomb, crypt, mausoleum, or other house
Meyrick@***.com of the dead. --The Horror Movie Survival Guide
http://www-ece.rice.edu/~rickj/
Message no. 9
From: "Sedah Drol" <CCRODRIG@****.indstate.edu>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 13:21:51 EST
> Could someone describe the Otaku for me...I haven't read VR2.0 yet and
> keep seeing references to them in the magic in the matrix discussion...

Otaku are deckers that deck without out a deck. Their brain becomes
a sort of living personal, and utitlities are skills or specific
programs that are become part of the otaku's brain. They are often
refered to as techno-mages/shamens.
---Sedah Drol
Message no. 10
From: The Passman <pshryer@*.umn.edu>
Subject: RE: otaku
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 16:32:48 -0600
From: Mr. Me[SMTP:jlr6@****.ucc.nau.edu]
>Could someone describe the Otaku for me...I haven't read VR2.0 yet and
>keep seeing references to them in the magic in the matrix discussion...

The short answer:
Okatu are deckers who deck without decks.

The better answer:
Okatu are children who for some very specific reason are chosen, by
current Okatu, to be introduced into the matrix at a very young age. They
are given datajacks and taught all the ins and outs of computers before
puberty. Sometime shortly after that they undergo a type of awakening
(called the Deep Resonance (I think)) where they suddenly or gradually (it
doesn't really say) comprehend the matrix. At this point they no longer
need to use a physical deck as they can use their minds as a deck.

There are 2 types of Okatu
1. cyber Adepts - see the matrix as a string of numbers to be manipulated

2. TechnoShamans - see the matrix as a friend to be asked and worked with.

Other interresting facts about okatu:

Even though you are required to take resources priority A (or priority B
for a meta if you don't use the more metas rule)
you only get Resources priority D. (you could use the same rule, if there
was no magic priority, to make mages legally)

Okatu must spend Karma to learn programs at a rate of 1 Good Karma /
rating of program.
E.G. a rating 6 program would cost 6 karma



It is because of the above that I think Okatu are in fact actually FASA's
version of mages in the matrix (I think this will become clearer as more
info about the okatu becomes available).

Passman
--
Note: My VR2.0 is currently missing. Therefore the above is from memory,
but it should be fairly accurate as I have read through the area several
times and even made a character (PC technoshaman) following the rules.






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Message no. 11
From: Matti Aistrich <aistrich@********.hkkk.fi>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 12:07:44 +0200 (EET)
On Tue, 20 Feb 1996, Rick Jones wrote:

> Mr. Me wrote:
> > Could someone describe the Otaku for me...I haven't read VR2.0 yet and
> > keep seeing references to them in the magic in the matrix discussion...
>
> I've only skimmed the section, but, in a nutshell, they're folks who can
> deck without a deck. They were essentially "raised" in the Matrix, given
> a datajack at an indredibly young age, and learned to use their brains as
> decks. They're incredibly good deckers.
>
To expand on that, the main idea is that the Matrix is their "primary
reality", they are more at home in it than they are in our reality, the
physical world.

> Some folks think that they're some kind of "Matrix Adept." IMHO, they're
> "simply" kids who have trained their brains to act as cyberdecks.
> In my games, you can no more cast a spell in the matrix than you could
> deck into astral space.
>
Mine neither.

---------------------------------------------
: Perfect is : Matti M. Aistrich :
: only just : :
: good enough! : aistrich@********.hkkk.fi :
---------------------------------------------
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Message no. 12
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 11:11:54 +0100
Rick Jones said on 20 Feb 96...

> I've only skimmed the section, but, in a nutshell, they're folks who can
> deck without a deck. They were essentially "raised" in the Matrix, given
> a datajack at an indredibly young age, and learned to use their brains as
> decks. They're incredibly good deckers.

A thought just came up: is Renny an otaku? He has all the qualifiers, but
AFAIK it is ever explained whether he uses a deck or not.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Stay with us, it's better than the soap operas!
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-

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Message no. 13
From: Robert Watkins <robertdw@*******.ozemail.com.au>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 21:40:52 +1100 (EST)
Gurth wrote:
> A thought just came up: is Renny an otaku? He has all the qualifiers, but
> AFAIK it is ever explained whether he uses a deck or not.

If he uses a deck, it'd have to be a cranial one, for no deck was seen when
the kids were rescued. However, seeing as how he uses programs, I'd say,
yeah, he uses a cranial deck. :)
Message no. 14
From: Larry <lomion@********.net>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 11:49:08 -0500
At 11:11 02/21/96 +0100, Gurth wrote:
>Rick Jones said on 20 Feb 96...
>
>> I've only skimmed the section, but, in a nutshell, they're folks who can
>> deck without a deck. They were essentially "raised" in the Matrix,
given
>> a datajack at an indredibly young age, and learned to use their brains as
>> decks. They're incredibly good deckers.
>
>A thought just came up: is Renny an otaku? He has all the qualifiers, but
>AFAIK it is ever explained whether he uses a deck or not.
>
>--
>Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
> Stay with us, it's better than the soap operas!
> -> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
>-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-
>
Good question, I think he uses a deck and programs, at least that's the
feeling I got from reading the short story. He might be an early,
proto-otaku tho.
Larry
lomion@**.cybernex.net
http://www2.cybernex.net/~lomion
-----------------------------------------------
"I had only to wish that here be a large crowd
of spectators then day of my execution and that
they greet me with cries of hate."
A. Camus, "The Stranger"
-----------------------------------------------
Message no. 15
From: Stefan Struck <struck@******.informatik.uni-bonn.de>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 11:03:25 +0100 (MET)
Larry wrote:
> >
> >A thought just came up: is Renny an otaku? He has all the qualifiers, but
> >AFAIK it is ever explained whether he uses a deck or not.
> >
> >--
> >Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
> >
> Good question, I think he uses a deck and programs, at least that's the
> feeling I got from reading the short story. He might be an early,
> proto-otaku tho.
> Larry

I don't think it's important if he used a deck or not. If I understand the
rules right an otaku uses decks if he likes, but he don't have to. I agree
that Renny is some kind of proto-otaku but what is missing is this being
calle stuff by something in the matrix, the (hard thinking...) deep
resonance? Was it that? I don't know but you do.

I prefer my otakus the william gibson way (lots of voodoo (again!!!) in
the matrix)
bye,
Stefan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail: struck@****.informatik.uni-bonn.de
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
...but there's nothing like having your friends show up with lots of guns.
-Frank Miller, The Big Fat Kill
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 16
From: Larry <lomion@********.net>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 20:55:41 -0500
At 11:03 02/22/96 +0100, Stefan Struck wrote:
>Larry wrote:
>> >
>> >A thought just came up: is Renny an otaku? He has all the qualifiers, but
>> >AFAIK it is ever explained whether he uses a deck or not.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
>> >
>> Good question, I think he uses a deck and programs, at least that's the
>> feeling I got from reading the short story. He might be an early,
>> proto-otaku tho.
>> Larry
>
>I don't think it's important if he used a deck or not. If I understand the
>rules right an otaku uses decks if he likes, but he don't have to. I agree
>that Renny is some kind of proto-otaku but what is missing is this being
>calle stuff by something in the matrix, the (hard thinking...) deep
>resonance? Was it that? I don't know but you do.
>
>I prefer my otakus the william gibson way (lots of voodoo (again!!!) in
>the matrix)
>bye,
>Stefan

Deep Resonance is what certain Otaku( especially the techno-shamanic ones)
call it when they discovr their powers, and they refer to their Persona
programs and such as the Channels.
Larry
lomion@**.cybernex.net
http://www2.cybernex.net/~lomion
-----------------------------------------------
"I had only to wish that here be a large crowd
of spectators then day of my execution and that
they greet me with cries of hate."
A. Camus, "The Stranger"
-----------------------------------------------
Message no. 17
From: nicholch@*****.msu.edu (christy nichols)
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 10:11:13 -0500
Sat, 24 Feb 96 20:58:02 PST, Patrick wrote:

>I have not read VR 2.0. Are these Otaku magically active?
>
>Patrick



According to the rules, no. "There is no known instance of a
magically active otaku." p. 144, Building a Otaku, VR2. However,
otaku are able to run the matrix with no deck after experiencing
"Deep Resonance". The experience is described as similar to a
shaman finding their totem. There are also two 'branches' of
otaku - "Cyberadepts" and "Technoshamans - similar to mages and
shamans.

One the whole, FASA isn't fully explaining just what's going on,
imagine that, with the otaku. I recomend reading VR2, lots of
interesting ideas.



Jason Nichols
"Fireball fun-in-the-Matrix? Gi'me a break." - RAK - dwarf decker
"Watch and learn, greybeard" - Alpha - some 14yr. old kid w/o deck
"Oh my G..." - RAK
Message no. 18
From: Irrilian <SAC5PM@*******.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 18:25:55 GMT
> Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 10:11:13 -0500
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> From: nicholch@*****.msu.edu (christy nichols)
> Subject: Re: Otaku
> Reply-to: shadowrn@********.itribe.net


> According to the rules, no. "There is no known instance of a
> magically active otaku." p. 144, Building a Otaku, VR2. However,
> otaku are able to run the matrix with no deck after experiencing
> "Deep Resonance". The experience is described as similar to a
> shaman finding their totem. There are also two 'branches' of
> otaku - "Cyberadepts" and "Technoshamans - similar to mages and
> shamans.
>
> One the whole, FASA isn't fully explaining just what's going on,
> imagine that, with the otaku. I recomend reading VR2, lots of
> interesting ideas.
>
>
> Jason Nichols
> "Fireball fun-in-the-Matrix? Gi'me a break." - RAK - dwarf decker
> "Watch and learn, greybeard" - Alpha - some 14yr. old kid w/o deck
> "Oh my G..." - RAK

Hello, tis it not possible that IT is playing around with the otaku's
brains, enabling them to change the patterns on their neural net.
Thus perform a number of actions etc...

Piers "Munchkin Elves! Munckin Elves! haha! you thought you sto
<muffleArgggmuffle>" Meynell
Message no. 19
From: Tom Pendergrast <pendergr@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 16:04:25 -0700 (PDT)
> Otaku??? What's an otaku?

An otaku is basically a decker that doesn't need a deck. Everything is
in their head... no 'ware needed. I could go into great detail, but
there is a hecuva lot... see VR2.0 fro more...

---Tom---
Message no. 20
From: Stephen Delear <shadow@***.com>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 23:52:31 -0500 (CDT)
On Thu, 30 May 1996, Tom Pendergrast wrote:

>
>
>
> > Otaku??? What's an otaku?
>
> An otaku is basically a decker that doesn't need a deck. Everything is
> in their head... no 'ware needed. I could go into great detail, but
> there is a hecuva lot... see VR2.0 fro more...
>
> ---Tom---
>

And here I was hopping to get by with out buying a new copy of a book I
all ready have (VR 1.0). Oh well I guess it could be worse...

Stephen
Message no. 21
From: Benjamin <benjamin@*****.com>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 21:57:51 PDT
>And here I was hopping to get by with out buying a new copy of a book I
>all ready have (VR 1.0). Oh well I guess it could be worse...

Actually, the rulesw system has been overhauled. It's actually (TO ME)
comprehensible now.
Message no. 22
From: "Sedah Drol" <ccrodrig@****.indstate.edu>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 02:14:23 EST
> >
> >
> >
> > > Otaku??? What's an otaku?
> >
> > An otaku is basically a decker that doesn't need a deck. Everything is
> > in their head... no 'ware needed. I could go into great detail, but
> > there is a hecuva lot... see VR2.0 fro more...

VR2.0 is nothing like VR1. The matrix system has changed. Trust me
if you like deckers or have them in your campaign, you would want
VR2.0.
---Sedah Drol.
This is a test.....
For the next several lines there will be a test signature.
If this were an actual .sig it would be proceeded with:
a Geek Code script
a Home Page
a quote
and any other information I wish to disclose.
Repeat this was only a test....
Message no. 23
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 11:04:59 +0100
Stephen Delear said on 23:52/30 May 96...

> > An otaku is basically a decker that doesn't need a deck. Everything is
> > in their head... no 'ware needed. I could go into great detail, but
> > there is a hecuva lot... see VR2.0 fro more...
>
> And here I was hopping to get by with out buying a new copy of a book I
> all ready have (VR 1.0). Oh well I guess it could be worse...

VR 2.0 is a must buy if you intend to have deckers, IMHO. After years of
frustration with SRII and VR1's matrix systems (believe it or not, I found
the SR1 matrix rules better and easier to use than those in SRII or VR1)
I'm very impressed with VR 2.0. IMHO it's money well spent.

Now all I need to do is give it a try some time :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Het is geen kunst om te veroordelen, datgeen wat jij niet bent.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 24
From: Ubiquitous <weberm@*******.net>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 23:03:44 -0400 (EDT)
At 11:04 AM 5/31/96 +0100, Gurth wrote:

>VR 2.0 is a must buy if you intend to have deckers, IMHO. After years of
>frustration with SRII and VR1's matrix systems (believe it or not, I found
>the SR1 matrix rules better and easier to use than those in SRII or VR1)
>I'm very impressed with VR 2.0. IMHO it's money well spent.
>
>Now all I need to do is give it a try some time :)

I don't know; I read it and liked they got rid of tome of the stupid parts,
but then added all these "realistic" rules to replace the oone's they
ditched. :-P

Has anyone actually tried decking with the new rules yet?

As for Otaku, don't take me there! *grin*

--
"I remember my first sexual encounter because I kept the recipe."
- Jeff Dahmer
Message no. 25
From: "Dr. Bolthy von Schotz" <bolthy@**.com>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 01:32:39 -0500 (CDT)
On Fri, 31 May 1996, Ubiquitous wrote:

> At 11:04 AM 5/31/96 +0100, Gurth wrote:
>
> >VR 2.0 is a must buy if you intend to have deckers, IMHO. After years of
> >frustration with SRII and VR1's matrix systems (believe it or not, I found
> >the SR1 matrix rules better and easier to use than those in SRII or VR1)
> >I'm very impressed with VR 2.0. IMHO it's money well spent.
> >
> >Now all I need to do is give it a try some time :)
>
> I don't know; I read it and liked they got rid of tome of the stupid parts,
> but then added all these "realistic" rules to replace the oone's they
> ditched. :-P
>
> Has anyone actually tried decking with the new rules yet?
>
> As for Otaku, don't take me there! *grin*
>

I have... it makes decking a little faster... except for systems where
there is just thick glaciers of ice. Like the Mitsuhama Pagoda... My
character has a phobia regarding MCT, though... might have something to
do with him leaving a threat against one of their top programmers as a
calling card on every system he decked ("Bring me the head of High
Mem"). Then we met one of the Yakuza Oyabun. And out of game play my GM
pointed out that the yakuza prolly have tight connections with MCT.
Which means they know who I am. D'oh!




|\ /\ |\ | |\
|/ \/ | \ |\ | \
|\ /\ | |/ \ |
|/ / \ | | \|

http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bolthy
"Remember: Heaven is Blue. Tomorrow, the world."
-Head of the Blue Meanies
Message no. 26
From: "Robert J. Waters" <rjwate01@*****.louisville.edu>
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 18:17:06 -0500 (EDT)
I just got VR2.0 and have not played an otaku yet although I mave made one.
My question is are they weak or powerful in actual playing? Do you have any
house rules/modification of otaku that balance them better compared to other
archetypes or removes some of the errors that the FASA team prolly missed
before sending VR2.0 to the presses? Also could anyone willing to please
email me otaku characters they have made and/or played so I can get an idea
what otaku tend to be like (since once again FASA introduces a new concept and
then dont include examples)?

Luc AKA BobW
Message no. 27
From: Todd Leask <taleask@***.ucalgary.ca>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 17:36:20 -0600 (MDT)
On Sun, 23 Jun 1996, Robert J. Waters wrote:
> I just got VR2.0 and have not played an otaku yet although I mave made one.
> My question is are they weak or powerful in actual playing? Do you have any

Well, I made up one, and I kept her within the spirit that FASA seemed to
convey in VR2.0. She was a human girl, oh about 14. Parapalegic, and shy
(remember H's and Ambrose's conversation, Otaku are often physically
defective.) Again true to FASA I made her really ignorant on all topics
not related to computers. I have yet to run her (our game include some
rather, um, "different" characters (a T'skrang posing as a human
anthropomorph, and a werelepoard physad) hell our former Troll decker was
the most normal character... (life can be quite interesting when you are
part of a race that no one knows exists...)).

I plan to use here as an outside decker, but the fun should come when she
needs to be onsite to do her job. My best guess is that she sil have to be
put in harness for someone to carry (maybe the wereleopard physad...,
dunno just yet) I have yet to decide what other areas she will become
interested in, it will probably depend on what she encounters in her first
few runs away from the otaku community.

Just a few techincal notes, she is a technoshaman, and I employed the
option on halving the physical limits to increase the mental ones (after
all, she is a parapalegic).

Todd



"You take something of yourself and give it free of charge. You take a
part of yourself and do so because you believe you are connected to
everything else. You become aware of yourself as a part of everything. You
suffer momentarily so that someone else will not have to."

Unknown, Winnebago, Before 1945
Message no. 28
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 02:01:38 -0800
> So tell me, has anyone else even considered running an Otaku?
> So, anyone else messing aroung with this archetype?

Yes.
I have built one for myself, and two for other people.
To tell the truth, I think that Orc or Troll Otaku actually work the
best!
Sure they're not as nasty in the matrix, but when they DO get tagged by
the Black stuff, the extra point or two in body gives them a little
extra resistance. :-)

I like the concept of the Otaku, but unfortunately, I really HATE the
SRII Matrix system.
Sure, it's MUCH beter than VR 1.0, but IMHO it still blows cheese!

My main problem is that once a decker adds enough Hardening and Armor to
his deck, he becomes impossible to kill!
I have tried gang-banging the decker with loads of Party IC, but it just
degenerates into a slugfest, wherein the decker toasts the nastiest
stuff he sees, then rides out the rest, and slowly picks them apart,
forcing the host to crash the system.

I still say that no matter how cool deckers and Otaku are, they are best
left as NPC's.

Steven A. Tinner
Punching Code
"Take that you code!"
THWAP!
Message no. 29
From: Allison <ballison@*******.WAM.UMD.EDU>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 11:32:15 -0500
On Sat, 9 Nov 1996, Steven A. Tinner wrote:

> To tell the truth, I think that Orc or Troll Otaku actually work the
> best!
> Sure they're not as nasty in the matrix, but when they DO get tagged by
> the Black stuff, the extra point or two in body gives them a little
> extra resistance. :-)


Well, it's the old trade-off: power or stealth?

IMO the Orc and Troll Otaku are harder to hurt (A troll with a Racial
Max of (B:5 Q:2 S:5 I:6 W:7 C:6) is goign to have an ok Living Persona,
but the maximums will be nowhere near what a human or elf Otaku will do.
So: brute force, or stealth?

> Sure, it's MUCH beter than VR 1.0, but IMHO it still blows cheese!

Sure, *try* to come up with a system that's both *balanced* and
*realistic*, and you'll fail. Realism introduces those loopholes that
current-day hackers can exploit - which means that your players will be
able to make all sorts of unbalancing arguments that are perfectly
logical. So then you either lose game balance and playability, or you
become the GM who says "no - because I said so".

Face it, in the real world, the best hackers slide through just about
any system they want to slide through.


> My main problem is that once a decker adds enough Hardening and Armor to
> his deck, he becomes impossible to kill!

Which is why some systems have Cripplers and low power Killer as
initial IC. The Cripplers lower the BEMS, which can definitely affect the
Detection Factor (which allows more Tally points which triggers more IC),
and the Killer degrades the Armor.
As for Hardening, the cost & time should make it somewhat prohibitive
to have that great of a Hardening for Deckers. If not.. then introduce a
house rule that Hardening is limited to MPCP/2 (round down). That was a
rule with VR1, and makes perfect sense. Then, any permanent damage to the
MPCP can make the effective Hardening lower....



> I have tried gang-banging the decker with loads of Party IC, but it just
> degenerates into a slugfest, wherein the decker toasts the nastiest
> stuff he sees, then rides out the rest, and slowly picks them apart,
> forcing the host to crash the system.

If the Host goes into Shutdown, then the Decker can't very well
complete his mission, neh? That's the point of IC, and if it gets to
damage Deck or Decker in the process then so much the better. But to try
to damage Deck(er) as the primary goal is missing the point IMO.
Or just use a couple of different pieces of Black IC, and use the rule
for multiple opponents from Melee Combat.


Brian W. Allison

Computer Scientist Vocalist Would-be Poet Bicycler Scuba Diver
Hacker(0xca) Nerd(79) GenX(21) #include <witticism.h>
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~ballison
Message no. 30
From: Tomasz Kubacki <josefs@****.POLBOX.PL>
Subject: otaku
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 22:00:40 PST
hoi
Just try to imagine how kid like otaku can co-operate with str-sam?!?
(look at otaku VR2.0)

bye
Message no. 31
From: Andrew Norman <A.J.Norman@******.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 14:22:05 GMT00
>hoi
>Just try to imagine how kid like otaku can co-operate with str-sam?!?
>(look at otaku VR2.0)

Yeh I can just see it now:

SAM: Lets kill that guy
OTAKU: Why ?
SAM: I said so !
OTAKU: Why ?
SAM: He's Bad!
OTAKU: Why ?
.
.
.
Combat ends with a very harassed sam and a confused kid

-Andrew************************************************
Email: a.j.norman@******.ac.nz (Preferred)
or: andrew@*********.massey.ac.nz
"Everything I said could be a lie, but then again
I could be lying"
Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail will incur a
$US500 archiving fee
************************************************
Message no. 32
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 12:06:16 +0000
|SAM: Lets kill that guy
|OTAKU: Why ?
|SAM: I said so !
|OTAKU: Why ?
|SAM: He's Bad!
|OTAKU: Why ?

Been watching animaniacs too much, have we???

--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 33
From: Andrew Norman <A.J.Norman@******.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 11:27:45 GMT00
>|SAM: Lets kill that guy
>|OTAKU: Why ?
>|SAM: I said so !
>|OTAKU: Why ?
>|SAM: He's Bad!
>|OTAKU: Why ?
>
Been watching animaniacs too much, have we???
>
why ?

-Andrew
************************************************
Email: a.j.norman@******.ac.nz (Preferred)
or: andrew@*********.massey.ac.nz
"Everything I said could be a lie, but then again
I could be lying"
Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail will incur a
$US500 archiving fee
************************************************
Message no. 34
From: L Canthros <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 20:15:43 EST
On Mon, 17 Mar 1997 22:00:40 PST Tomasz Kubacki <josefs@****.POLBOX.PL>
writes:
>hoi
>Just try to imagine how kid like otaku can co-operate with str-sam?!?
>(look at otaku VR2.0)
>
>bye
>
It sounds like fun, doesn't it:) You'd have a little kid that acts like a
prick (that's my impression, anyway:) and a street sam that would have to
struggle very hard to keep from throttling him:) Maybe if the sammie has
lots of patience and forbearance.

--
-Canthros
If any man wishes peace, canthros1@***.com
let him prepare for war. lobo1@****.com
--Roman proverb
http://members.aol.com/canthros1/
Message no. 35
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 10:18:16 +0000
|
|>|SAM: Lets kill that guy
|>|OTAKU: Why ?
|>|SAM: I said so !
|>|OTAKU: Why ?
|>|SAM: He's Bad!
|>|OTAKU: Why ?
|>
|Been watching animaniacs too much, have we???
|>
|why ?

"Love ya, see ya later... Bye...."
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 36
From: The Bookworm <Thomas.M.Price@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 12:17:39 -0600
On Wed, 19 Mar 1997, Spike wrote:
> |Been watching animaniacs too much, have we???
> |why ?
> "Love ya, see ya later... Bye...."

NO NO NO NO NO. the proper ending is "OkILoveYouByeBye" said as fast as
possible in a little girl voice. IIRC it comes after 3 Whys by Mindy.
boy i miss seeing that show(no tv in my dorm room:() "Silly Puppy"

Thomas Price
aka The Bookworm
thomas.m.price@*******.edu
tmprice@***********.com
Message no. 37
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 17:32:47 -0800
On Wed, 19 Mar 1997, The Bookworm wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Mar 1997, Spike wrote:
> > |Been watching animaniacs too much, have we???
> > |why ?
> > "Love ya, see ya later... Bye...."
>
> NO NO NO NO NO. the proper ending is "OkILoveYouByeBye" said as fast as
> possible in a little girl voice. IIRC it comes after 3 Whys by Mindy.
> boy i miss seeing that show(no tv in my dorm room:() "Silly Puppy"
>

"OK Lady..."

~Tim
Message no. 38
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 01:39:49 +0000
|"OK Lady..."

"Don't call me lady, call me Mother... MOOOOTHHHER..."

"OK Lady..."

"*sigh* Time for the therapist, I think....."
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 39
From: The Bookworm <Thomas.M.Price@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: otaku
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 10:40:44 -0600
On Wed, 19 Mar 1997, Tim Cooper wrote:

> "OK Lady..."
> ~Tim

(bad New York Pigion accent ON)
"Lady? did you just call me an adult person of the female perswasion?
THATS IT!" (disolves into cloud of dust and feathers)

(bad New York Pigion accent OFF)

definatly to much A!
Thomas Price
aka The Bookworm
thomas.m.price@*******.edu
tmprice@***********.com
Message no. 40
From: Matthew Waddilove <m_waddilove@*******.COM>
Subject: Otaku
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 06:46:47 PST
Does anyone have any ideas on what Otaku actually are/how they manage to
access the Matrix without a deck or if people could point me to some
information about them.

One of my Ideas is that The Otaku can "understand" UMS & the other
Matrix protocols and "talk" them (through a datajack) and that the Deep
Resonance taught the Otaku how. A bit simple I know, but hey Ocam's
Razor must still apply in the 6th world.

TIA
Matthew Waddilove

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 41
From: William Gallas <wgallas@*****.FR>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 17:30:56 +0100
>Does anyone have any ideas on what Otaku actually are/how they manage to
>access the Matrix without a deck or if people could point me to some
>information about them.

Except VR2, I don't remember any other...

>One of my Ideas is that The Otaku can "understand" UMS & the other
>Matrix protocols and "talk" them (through a datajack) and that the Deep
>Resonance taught the Otaku how. A bit simple I know, but hey Ocam's
>Razor must still apply in the 6th world.

I think it's something like this too. The point is that he doesn't do that
consciously IMO. He sees images of the matrix and thinks about what he does
in this environment and the signal is transformed to fit matrix protocols.


Cobra.

E-mail adress : wgallas@*****.fr
Quote : "Never trust an elf"
Message no. 42
From: Matthew Waddilove <m_waddilove@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 09:12:22 PST
On Thu, 29 Jan 1998 at 17:30:56 +0100 William Gallas said

> Matthew Waddilove said
>>Does anyone have any ideas on what Otaku actually are/how they manage
to
>>access the Matrix without a deck or if people could point me to some
>>information about them.
>
>Except VR2, I don't remember any other...
>
>>One of my Ideas is that The Otaku can "understand" UMS & the other
>>Matrix protocols and "talk" them (through a datajack) and that the
Deep
>>Resonance taught the Otaku how. A bit simple I know, but hey Ocam's
>>Razor must still apply in the 6th world.
>
>I think it's something like this too. The point is that he doesn't do
that
>consciously IMO. He sees images of the matrix and thinks about what he
does
>in this environment and the signal is transformed to fit matrix
protocols.
>

That's what I was thinking. I have just looked at fasa's website and
noticed for the first time the novel Technobabel, It looks like we may
soon be enlightened as it's about Renraku and a techno shaman called
Michael Bishop.

When I said understand and talk I mean't like the way that we (at least
most of us ;)) understand English, in that we know what it means and can
convey a meaning to someone else with it but at a deep level we
(generally) don't understand _how_ it works (why letters sound like they
do etc...), unless anyone's a Linguistics/Semiotics student.

Matthew Waddilove

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 43
From: Chris Hayes <chris_hayes@*******.COM>
Subject: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 09:49:52 -0800
Okay, I'm pretty new to the list (only about two or three months), and I've
seen various threads about Otaku's, most recently one by Ereskanti. I'm
just wondering, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE/THINGS/CONTRUCTS? They seem very
interesting, but from what I've been reading from the list, they aren't
anything close to anything that I've read from the sourcebooks, or the few
novels that I've seen. If someone could give me a reference to read, or
maybe just a brief (but detailed) explanation via private e-mail, it would
be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Christopher Hayes
(Previously known as Jag, Wynter, Lupo, and a few other dead runners.)
chris_hayes@*******.com
(Still looking for a deep and thoughtful .sig, or one to just make you fall
out of your seat laughing.)
Message no. 44
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 14:22:23 EST
In a message dated 98-02-12 12:50:22 EST, you write:

> Okay, I'm pretty new to the list (only about two or three months), and I've
> seen various threads about Otaku's, most recently one by Ereskanti. I'm
> just wondering, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE/THINGS/CONTRUCTS? They
> seem very interesting, but from what I've been reading from the list, they
aren't
> anything close to anything that I've read from the sourcebooks, or the few
> novels that I've seen. If someone could give me a reference to read, or
> maybe just a brief (but detailed) explanation via private e-mail, it would
> be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Okay ... I am going to try and explain Keith (Ereskanti) about what we have
considered for the Otaku ...

1 ... The Otaku are masters of their mind and via the Resonance they are
capable of performing miraculous feats in the matrix.

2 ... They have Channels which assist them in addition to their form ratings
(in our home game we changed the Channels into additional dice for certain
operations tests in the nets ... this way the numbers for the BEMS would drop
significantly).

3 ... They say that the human mind is the most complex and sophisticated
living holographic computer on the face of the planet.

4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use of most
types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something required by all
otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).

5 ... A form can duplicate any standard program that a normal decker has, and
as a result also never has to worry about maintaining SOTA.

Now that some of the basis behind the Otaku are up and running ... here is
something to consider.

1 ... Most pieces of hard-cyberware are nothing more than processors and
neural links for the programming within them that dictates what type of
cyberware they are.

2 ... An Otaku through the use of forms can duplicate those very same pieces
of cyberware without the use of a single additional piece of cyberware ...

Some examples of cyberware that can be converted into forms that can be used
by Otaku ... Move-By-Wire, Encephalon, SPU's, Tactical Computer, Senselink,
Simrigs, Vehicle Control Rigs, Photographic Cameras, Digital Enhancement of
something seen, dedicated memory space, and the list goes on ...

This is the truly frightening thing about Otaku ... they are the masters of
the Matrix, but they are also capable of being masters of their own bodies as
well.

Yes, this is something munchkinish ... but it is possible ... the problem with
creating most of the above cyber-forms (as we call them) is that they consume
massive amounts of time and are very karma intensive (most of them are based
off of the rating of the Otaku's MPCP rating) ...

I know some of you will want to carp me for saying all of these things ... but
lets face facts ... it stands within the rules of Shadowrun ...

To support that this is all within the SR canon or optional rules ... here is
the basis ... Cyberware needs some sort of interface between the actual
programming and the person in some way ... this is created by forming some
form of neural linkage (which is the primary downfall of essence - ever
imagine the cost of a piece of cyberware if the person had no access to it or
did not even benefit them in any way .. and did not even have a neural
linkage) ... once the problem of the linkage is solved, then the programming
can be downloaded onto a chip which is contained within the cyberware which
defines the purpose of the piece of cyber ... the key to the entire piece of
cyber is the programming, for without it the person has gotten a piece of
metal (or whatever) put into their body and it does them no good ...

And in the end the whole thing covering the possibility of cyber-forms come
down to it the program of the cyberware ...

And yes, there are a lot of pieces of cyberware that are not capable of being
made as cyber-forms ...

And, yes, an Otaku has many more doors to open up within themselves ...

And, Bull, an Otaku could have solved (with Tinner's grace) Bull's problem of
Wendigoism ... a Virtual Cyberdeck (an extremely complex sprite - either dumb
or smart) could have been made based on Bull's mental attributes (and with a
lot higher construction multiplier than a normal smart sprite) and he could
have jacked himself into the matrix .. let the body die and then become a
Ghost in the Machine ...

And how is this possible ... when an Otaku wants a form to be permanent they
spend twice the rating of the form (and Virtual Decks are expensive in terms
of karma) ... an Otaku can do this to their forms, sprites, and even to
themselves ...

Yes, this is going to cause a fluster in a lot of people ...

Sorry,

Mike

P.S. And, yes, I was the GM that allowed this to happen .. my rulings ... and
Keith did ask for MHO when he thought of them too ...
Message no. 45
From: Da Twink Daddy <twinkie@*******.DMSC.K12.AR.US>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 14:01:18 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>

>In a message dated 98-02-12 12:50:22 EST, you write:
>
>4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use of
most
>types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something required by
all
>otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).


Where in the FUCK is this. It certantly ISN'T in VR2, much cyberware is
better than the human body BECAUSE it is better. The interface is important
but you've GOTTA have the cyberware to get it's advantages.

>5 ... A form can duplicate any standard program that a normal decker has,
and
>as a result also never has to worry about maintaining SOTA.


Well, it's not exaclty duplication. They work the same as far as rules goes
but, tothe character, the are very different things. A form is very much a
PART of the Otaku him(her)self.

>Now that some of the basis behind the Otaku are up and running ... here is
>something to consider.
>
>1 ... Most pieces of hard-cyberware are nothing more than processors and
>neural links for the programming within them that dictates what type of
>cyberware they are.


Well, um, NO. Most often the cyber ware replaces or work alongside body
functions to increase the human beyond him(her)self. the interface is
important but it is NOT, by FAR, a mojrity of the cyberware.

>2 ... An Otaku through the use of forms can duplicate those very same
pieces
>of cyberware without the use of a single additional piece of cyberware ...


WTF? Where in the Hell.... I give up....

>Some examples of cyberware that can be converted into forms that can be
used
>by Otaku ... Move-By-Wire, Encephalon, SPU's, Tactical Computer, Senselink,
>Simrigs, Vehicle Control Rigs, Photographic Cameras, Digital Enhancement of
>something seen, dedicated memory space, and the list goes on ...


BAH, I do hate munchkins.... However, that said, I didn't say you or your
group played munchkins, you might just be power gamers because this
CERTAINTLY isn't supported by rules.

>This is the truly frightening thing about Otaku ... they are the masters of
>the Matrix, but they are also capable of being masters of their own bodies
as
>well.


Well, NO, just their minds....

>Yes, this is something munchkinish ... but it is possible ... the problem
with
>creating most of the above cyber-forms (as we call them) is that they
consume
>massive amounts of time and are very karma intensive (most of them are
based
>off of the rating of the Otaku's MPCP rating) ...


And it is still not enough limitation, your gonna have to use SOME wires,
maybe not as much... as I could imagine a Otaku programing his own
interface, hell he might HAVE to for headware (an Otaku's mind is quite alot
different from a normal human's).

>I know some of you will want to carp me for saying all of these things ...
but
>lets face facts ... it stands within the rules of Shadowrun ...


NO, IT DOESN'T. And I won't carp you or call you a munchkin, just want to
remind you that this ISN'T in the rules.

>To support that this is all within the SR canon or optional rules ... here
is
>the basis ... Cyberware needs some sort of interface between the actual
>programming and the person in some way ... this is created by forming some
>form of neural linkage (which is the primary downfall of essence - ever
>imagine the cost of a piece of cyberware if the person had no access to it
or
>did not even benefit them in any way .. and did not even have a neural
>linkage) ... once the problem of the linkage is solved, then the
programming
>can be downloaded onto a chip which is contained within the cyberware which
>defines the purpose of the piece of cyber ... the key to the entire piece
of
>cyber is the programming, for without it the person has gotten a piece of
>metal (or whatever) put into their body and it does them no good ...


You put way too much emphasis on the interface, an interface doesn't do the
work. it just makes it possible. Otaku's could save alot of essence by
programming thier own interface.

>And in the end the whole thing covering the possibility of cyber-forms come
>down to it the program of the cyberware ...

>And yes, there are a lot of pieces of cyberware that are not capable of
being
>made as cyber-forms ...

>And, yes, an Otaku has many more doors to open up within themselves ...


Oh, yes, very much.

>And, Bull, an Otaku could have solved (with Tinner's grace) Bull's problem
of
>Wendigoism ... a Virtual Cyberdeck (an extremely complex sprite - either
dumb
>or smart) could have been made based on Bull's mental attributes (and with
a
>lot higher construction multiplier than a normal smart sprite) and he could
>have jacked himself into the matrix .. let the body die and then become a
>Ghost in the Machine ...


This, I actually agree with.

>And how is this possible ... when an Otaku wants a form to be permanent
they
>spend twice the rating of the form (and Virtual Decks are expensive in
terms
>of karma) ... an Otaku can do this to their forms, sprites, and even to
>themselves ...


Actually, they would have to make a sprite of themselves (a very hard task
indeed, but not impossible). Otaku can only "make permanent" a sprite. aNd
then, it's not _really_ permanent.

>Yes, this is going to cause a fluster in a lot of people ...


Yep.

>Sorry,


That's alright.

BTW, throughout this message I said that Otakus program thier
forms/sprites/etc. I would like to say that I use program very loosely here
as it applies only on certain levels. Otakus programs are part of
themselves. right now, my mind just crashed, so I'll leave it at that.

Da Twink Daddy ( twinkie@*******.dmsc.k12.ar.us gilmeth@*********.com
UIN:514984)
----------
Sex is like air, it's not important unless you aren't getting any.
---------------
http://vancove.dmsc.k12.ar.us/~twinkie/
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Pines/3759/
Message no. 46
From: s c rose <scrose@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 14:10:20 -0600
Chris Hayes wrote:
>
> Okay, I'm pretty new to the list (only about two or three months), and I've
> seen various threads about Otaku's, most recently one by Ereskanti. I'm
> just wondering, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE/THINGS/CONTRUCTS? They seem very
> interesting, but from what I've been reading from the list, they aren't
> anything close to anything that I've read from the sourcebooks, or the few
> novels that I've seen. If someone could give me a reference to read, or
> maybe just a brief (but detailed) explanation via private e-mail, it would
> be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

VR2 has a whole section about them they are people. I personally don't
allow them in my game and neither do mosy the Game Masters who I play
with. The reasons are assorted but mostly it has to do with how they
work and them not fitting fitting into a shadowrunning team all that
well. I dislike them because of the somewhat odd power curve they have.
These are people who see the matrix as a living thing are able to "Deck"
without a deck which means they are very effective until the cost of
them developing new froms becomes to time consuming. Thing is they
litterally can walk up to any telecom and jack into the matrix. It looks
like munchie magnet IMO so I don't allow them for that reason and regual
deckers are a big enough chore as a GM. This is on of the areas where
the GM has to decide if they want to allow them.

--

You live and learn. Or you don't live long.
Message no. 47
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 21:20:55 +0100
Chris Hayes said on 9:49/12 Feb 98...

> Okay, I'm pretty new to the list (only about two or three months), and I've
> seen various threads about Otaku's, most recently one by Ereskanti. I'm
> just wondering, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE/THINGS/CONTRUCTS? They seem very
> interesting, but from what I've been reading from the list, they aren't
> anything close to anything that I've read from the sourcebooks, or the few
> novels that I've seen. If someone could give me a reference to read, or
> maybe just a brief (but detailed) explanation via private e-mail, it would
> be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Otaku are the "magicians" of the Matrix; they were introduced in
shadowtalk in the players' book of the Denver boxed set, where it was
revealed that the Matrix does what they want without them using
cyberdecks. How was it put again? Ah yes, page 87, a comment by Perri:

"They jack using a simsense translator modified with a simpel digital
pulse converter. That's it--no headware memory, no active memory, no
storage memory, no progs, no MPCP, no nothing. The just do it
"And the Matrix does what they want."

Then there was all kinds of speculation (both in the SR books and out of
them) about whether otaku were magically active, sort of like a new kind
of adept. Virtual Realities 2.0 came out about a year later and revealed
that otaku are mundanes who somehow can communicate directly with the
Matrix, mainly because they've been at it for so long -- most start as
young kids.

That's basically it: deckers without a cyberdeck.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
That's just fine.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
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------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 48
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 16:41:13 -0800
Da Twink Daddy wrote:

> >4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use of
> >most types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something required by
> >all otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).

> Where in the FUCK is this.

I'll agree with Da Twink here.

Software emulation of muscle replacement? Don't think so.

Software emulation of wired reflexes. Nope.

Software emulation so your Encephlaon I (PC-XT) acts like a Encephalon
IV (Pentium II)? Huh-uh.

> >1 ... Most pieces of hard-cyberware are nothing more than processors and
> >neural links for the programming within them that dictates what type of
> >cyberware they are.

See above.

Of course, if an Otaku actually has Muscle Replacement 2, let's say, he
would still benefit from it. What an Otaku is doing with Muscle Rep,
when they spend so much time "out of body", so to speak, is beyond me.


-Matt

------------------------------------
With nomads I am numbered. -- E. MacColl

Teen Poets FAQ: http://pw1.netcom.com/~mbreton/poetry/poetfaq.htm
SRTCG Website: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/2189/ccgtop.htm
Message no. 49
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 15:42:35 -0700
Da Twink Daddy wrote:
/
/ -----Original Message-----
/ From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
/
/ >In a message dated 98-02-12 12:50:22 EST, you write:
/ >
/ >4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use of
/ most
/ >types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something required by
/ all
/ >otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).
/
/ Where in the FUCK is this. It certantly ISN'T in VR2, much cyberware is
/ better than the human body BECAUSE it is better. The interface is important
/ but you've GOTTA have the cyberware to get it's advantages.

TD, chill out man. If you disagree, fine, but try not to get bent
out of shape when someone on the list has a different gaming
philosophy than you do. Debate the issue if you want, but please, no
shouting (CAPS) and try to avoid using derogatory comments.

One of the benefits of this list is that there is a wide range of
viewpoints and philosophies. Mike and his group are very creative
and they should be respected for that.

Thanks,
-David
--
"By the way, this may look like a slab of liver
but it's an external brain pack."
- Ratbert
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 50
From: Brett Borger <bxb121@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 17:46:33 EST
> TD, chill out man. If you disagree, fine, but try not to get bent
> out of shape when someone on the list has a different gaming
> philosophy than you do. Debate the issue if you want, but please,
> no shouting (CAPS) and try to avoid using derogatory comments.

I think the problem isn't with the ideas (well, that too) but that
they were not very clearly indicated as house rules. We do have
newbies showing up all the time, so to everyone out there, please
indicate when house rules are house rules.

> One of the benefits of this list is that there is a wide range of
> viewpoints and philosophies. Mike and his group are very creative
> and they should be respected for that.

<Vigorous nodding>

I love some of the house rules I've seen here.

-=SwiftOne=-
Message no. 51
From: "J. Keith Henry" <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 21:01:17 EST
In a message dated 98-02-12 17:42:10 EST, dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG writes:

> One of the benefits of this list is that there is a wide range of
> viewpoints and philosophies. Mike and his group are very creative
> and they should be respected for that.
>
> Thanks,
> -David
>
GASP!!! (strange noise of Keith falling over backwords, choking on 7-UP,
heard in the background...)

Mike, someone finally called it -YOUR- group...YES!!! I can get out of this
shadow I've made yet!!!

Seriously Dave, thank you...

-K
Message no. 52
From: Matthew Waddilove <m_waddilove@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 02:55:29 PST
On Thu, 12 Feb 1998 Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM> wrote
<SNIP>
>1 ... Most pieces of hard-cyberware are nothing more than processors
and
>neural links for the programming within them that dictates what type of
>cyberware they are.
>
>2 ... An Otaku through the use of forms can duplicate those very same
pieces
>of cyberware without the use of a single additional piece of cyberware
...
>
>Some examples of cyberware that can be converted into forms that can be
used
>by Otaku ... Move-By-Wire, Encephalon, SPU's, Tactical Computer,
Senselink,
>Simrigs, Vehicle Control Rigs,
<SNIP>
>
>Yes, this is something munchkinish ... but it is possible ... the
problem with

I don't think this is particularly munchkinous as long as it is used
with restraint, but then again I suppose that's the point about
munchkinism.

>creating most of the above cyber-forms (as we call them) is that they
consume
>massive amounts of time and are very karma intensive (most of them are
based
>off of the rating of the Otaku's MPCP rating) ...
>
>I know some of you will want to carp me for saying all of these things
... but
>lets face facts ... it stands within the rules of Shadowrun ...
>
>To support that this is all within the SR canon or optional rules ...
here is
>the basis ... Cyberware needs some sort of interface between the actual
>programming and the person in some way ... this is created by forming
some
>form of neural linkage (which is the primary downfall of essence - ever
>imagine the cost of a piece of cyberware if the person had no access to
it or
>did not even benefit them in any way .. and did not even have a neural
>linkage) ... once the problem of the linkage is solved, then the
programming
>can be downloaded onto a chip which is contained within the cyberware
which
>defines the purpose of the piece of cyber ... the key to the entire
piece of
>cyber is the programming, for without it the person has gotten a piece
of
>metal (or whatever) put into their body and it does them no good ...
>
>And in the end the whole thing covering the possibility of cyber-forms
come
>down to it the program of the cyberware ...
>

Mike I'd like to say that I think all that you said was v. good.

On the VCR as you can read in TSS#6 Jon Stezo(sorry if I spelled it
wrong) describes the VCR and in any case I don't see why an Otaku could
not at least emulate a Rigger Protocol Emulation module as If I Recall
It is just a little black box with a program running on it to convert
Decker ASSIST Stuff into Rigger ASSIST Stuff.

A slightly more controversial point I think Otaku could be much better
riggers than Riggers

Let me explain my self.

Lets start by thinking how the signals get from the riggers brain to the
vehicle and back and then think how an Otaku could change that.

Riggers Brain (A bit of WetWare)
|
Vehicle Control Rig('Ware taking brain impulses and converting
| them into electrionic signals and vice versa, OK
| Maybe a bit more complicated but basically there)
|
Rigger Adaption (Computer converting the signals from the VCR into
| controls to the vehicle's controls and collating
| the info from the vechiles sensors and translating
| them into signals for the VCR. simplistically just
| some software)
|
Vehicle Computers, (yet more software with some hardware on
controls, sensors etc the end)


Now I ask you the question, Why with enough datajack leads and some
Forms could an Otaku not plug straight into the Vehicle Computers,
controls, sensors etc bypassing all those slow computer's and 'ware that
a rigger has to rely on?


Just my thoughts ;-)

-Matthew Waddilove

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 53
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 08:47:43 EST
In a message dated 98-02-12 15:02:30 EST, you write:

The Twinkster responded ...

> >4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use of
> most
> >types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something required by
> all
> >otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).
>
>
> Where in the FUCK is this. It certantly ISN'T in VR2, much cyberware is
> better than the human body BECAUSE it is better. The interface is important
> but you've GOTTA have the cyberware to get it's advantages.

In the book Black Madonna (and ignoring the shouting) Leonardo interfaces with
his computer / cyberdeck from fragging hell via some sort of mental interface
using light or something close to that if I remember correctly ... and perhaps
I should have specified that the types of cyberware that an Otaku can mimic is
those types which are neural in nature ...

> >5 ... A form can duplicate any standard program that a normal decker has,
> and
> >as a result also never has to worry about maintaining SOTA.
>
>
> Well, it's not exaclty duplication. They work the same as far as rules goes
> but, tothe character, the are very different things. A form is very much a
> PART of the Otaku him(her)self.

Yes ... they truly are a definite part of themselves ... a reflection of the
experience and need to adapt ... and grow .. and even change .. both
physically and mentally ...

> >Now that some of the basis behind the Otaku are up and running ... here is
> >something to consider.
> >
> >1 ... Most pieces of hard-cyberware are nothing more than processors and
> >neural links for the programming within them that dictates what type of
> >cyberware they are.
>
>
> Well, um, NO. Most often the cyber ware replaces or work alongside body
> functions to increase the human beyond him(her)self. the interface is
> important but it is NOT, by FAR, a mojrity of the cyberware.

Some of the neural cyberware augments or aids most of the body's functions ...
a SPU: Math form would aid the otaku when performing technical tasks and the
like ... an encephalon form would boost intelligence and help with a task pool
of it's own (assuming the bonus to task pools are also programmed in).

> >2 ... An Otaku through the use of forms can duplicate those very same
> pieces
> >of cyberware without the use of a single additional piece of cyberware ...
>
>
> WTF? Where in the Hell.... I give up....

Nope ... just continuing on ... and again .. I should have mentioned neural
cyberware.

> >Some examples of cyberware that can be converted into forms that can be
> used
> >by Otaku ... Move-By-Wire, Encephalon, SPU's, Tactical Computer,
Senselink,
> >Simrigs, Vehicle Control Rigs, Photographic Cameras, Digital Enhancement
of
> >something seen, dedicated memory space, and the list goes on ...
>
>
> BAH, I do hate munchkins.... However, that said, I didn't say you or your
> group played munchkins, you might just be power gamers because this
> CERTAINTLY isn't supported by rules.

You know ... I have tried for so many years to get rid of that appelation from
myself ... and I find that I am beginning to like it again ... since then I
have grown as a gamer ... grown as a GM ... and have learn game balance (since
Rose, a former pc of mine) ... and I believe that I am rather comfortable with
being a munchkin .. it means that the GM must stay one step ahead of me and
that in turn I have to play catch up if I want to remain at my current level
of play ...

And as for power gamers ... compared to most games my (yes, mine now) home
game in Lafayette would be considered power-gamish ... and I won't mind it at
all because we spend most of the time laughing our hind ends off we are having
so much fun ...

> >This is the truly frightening thing about Otaku ... they are the masters
of
> >the Matrix, but they are also capable of being masters of their own bodies
> as
> >well.
>
> Well, NO, just their minds....
>

"Mens sane en corpore sane" (I hope I got that saying right ... my latin is
kind of old) ...

> >Yes, this is something munchkinish ... but it is possible ... the problem
> with
> >creating most of the above cyber-forms (as we call them) is that they
> consume
> >massive amounts of time and are very karma intensive (most of them are
> based
> >off of the rating of the Otaku's MPCP rating) ...
>
>
> And it is still not enough limitation, your gonna have to use SOME wires,
> maybe not as much... as I could imagine a Otaku programing his own
> interface, hell he might HAVE to for headware (an Otaku's mind is quite
alot
> different from a normal human's).

As Keith (Ereskanti) mentioned in another posting ... the human body already
has an extensive wiring system called the nervous system ...

> >I know some of you will want to carp me for saying all of these things ...
> but
> >lets face facts ... it stands within the rules of Shadowrun ...
>
>
> NO, IT DOESN'T. And I won't carp you or call you a munchkin, just want to
> remind you that this ISN'T in the rules.

You are right .. this is not in the rules ... and a note ... there are so many
loop holes in the rules that it is not even funny ... and thank you for not
carping me ...

On a side note, I have found SR to be the best rpg I have ever played in ...
it is the most flexible and has left the room for growth in itself unlike
other rpgs (especially AD&D, though I have heard that they are going back to
basics thanks to WoC) ...

> >To support that this is all within the SR canon or optional rules ... here
> is
> >the basis ... Cyberware needs some sort of interface between the actual
> >programming and the person in some way ... this is created by forming some
> >form of neural linkage (which is the primary downfall of essence - ever
> >imagine the cost of a piece of cyberware if the person had no access to it
> or
> >did not even benefit them in any way .. and did not even have a neural
> >linkage) ... once the problem of the linkage is solved, then the
> programming
> >can be downloaded onto a chip which is contained within the cyberware
which
> >defines the purpose of the piece of cyber ... the key to the entire piece
> of
> >cyber is the programming, for without it the person has gotten a piece of
> >metal (or whatever) put into their body and it does them no good ...
>
>
> You put way too much emphasis on the interface, an interface doesn't do the
> work. it just makes it possible. Otaku's could save alot of essence by
> programming thier own interface.
>
> >And in the end the whole thing covering the possibility of cyber-forms
come
> >down to it the program of the cyberware ...
>
> >And yes, there are a lot of pieces of cyberware that are not capable of
> being
> >made as cyber-forms ...
>
> >And, yes, an Otaku has many more doors to open up within themselves ...
>
>
> Oh, yes, very much.
>
> >And, Bull, an Otaku could have solved (with Tinner's grace) Bull's problem
> of
> >Wendigoism ... a Virtual Cyberdeck (an extremely complex sprite - either
> dumb
> >or smart) could have been made based on Bull's mental attributes (and with
> a
> >lot higher construction multiplier than a normal smart sprite) and he
could
> >have jacked himself into the matrix .. let the body die and then become a
> >Ghost in the Machine ...
>
>
> This, I actually agree with.

Thank you ...

> >And how is this possible ... when an Otaku wants a form to be permanent
> they
> >spend twice the rating of the form (and Virtual Decks are expensive in
> terms
> >of karma) ... an Otaku can do this to their forms, sprites, and even to
> >themselves ...
>
>
> Actually, they would have to make a sprite of themselves (a very hard task
> indeed, but not impossible). Otaku can only "make permanent" a sprite. aNd
> then, it's not _really_ permanent.

Unless the resident host for the permanent form / sprite is something else ..
ever consider something called a "Hard-Form / Sprite" ...

> >Yes, this is going to cause a fluster in a lot of people ...
>
>
> Yep.
>
> >Sorry,
>
>
> That's alright.
>
> BTW, throughout this message I said that Otakus program thier
> forms/sprites/etc. I would like to say that I use program very loosely here
> as it applies only on certain levels. Otakus programs are part of
> themselves. right now, my mind just crashed, so I'll leave it at that.
>
Please reboot your mind before someone else steps on it .

:)

Mike
Message no. 54
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 09:04:28 EST
In a message dated 98-02-12 16:42:59 EST, you write:

Mbreton wrote in response ...

> Da Twink Daddy wrote:
>
> > >4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use
of
> > >most types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something
> required by
> > >all otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).
>
> > Where in the FUCK is this.
>
> I'll agree with Da Twink here.

Sorry, and again .. I should have mentioned neural cyber and not all types of
cyber ...

> Software emulation of muscle replacement? Don't think so.
>
> Software emulation of wired reflexes. Nope.
>
> Software emulation so your Encephlaon I (PC-XT) acts like a Encephalon
> IV (Pentium II)? Huh-uh.

Yep ... a form can act as an Encephalon ... as an encephalon is a neurological
enhancement.

> > >1 ... Most pieces of hard-cyberware are nothing more than processors and
> > >neural links for the programming within them that dictates what type of
> > >cyberware they are.
>
> See above.
>
> Of course, if an Otaku actually has Muscle Replacement 2, let's say, he
> would still benefit from it. What an Otaku is doing with Muscle Rep,
> when they spend so much time "out of body", so to speak, is beyond me.
>
>
> -Matt
>
And again ... only neural cyberware ... not everything else .. that would be
far too munchkinish ...

Mike
Message no. 55
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 09:05:51 EST
In a message dated 98-02-12 17:42:13 EST, you write:

David wrote ...

> Da Twink Daddy wrote:
> /
> / -----Original Message-----
> / From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
> /
> / >In a message dated 98-02-12 12:50:22 EST, you write:
> / >
> / >4 ... The Otaku, can, through forms, better themselves without the use
of
> / most
> / >types of cyberware (except for a datajack which is something required by
> / all
> / >otaku - until the 'datajack from Black Madonna comes out).
> /
> / Where in the FUCK is this. It certantly ISN'T in VR2, much cyberware is
> / better than the human body BECAUSE it is better. The interface is
> important
> / but you've GOTTA have the cyberware to get it's advantages.
>
> TD, chill out man. If you disagree, fine, but try not to get bent
> out of shape when someone on the list has a different gaming
> philosophy than you do. Debate the issue if you want, but please, no
> shouting (CAPS) and try to avoid using derogatory comments.
>
> One of the benefits of this list is that there is a wide range of
> viewpoints and philosophies. Mike and his group are very creative
> and they should be respected for that.
>
> Thanks,
> -David
>
Thank you David for the compliment .. I don't get them very often ...

Thank you from the bottom of my heart ...

Mike
Message no. 56
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 09:08:15 EST
In a message dated 98-02-12 19:02:49 EST, you write:

The Swift One wrote ...

> > TD, chill out man. If you disagree, fine, but try not to get bent
> > out of shape when someone on the list has a different gaming
> > philosophy than you do. Debate the issue if you want, but please,
> > no shouting (CAPS) and try to avoid using derogatory comments.
>
> I think the problem isn't with the ideas (well, that too) but that
> they were not very clearly indicated as house rules. We do have
> newbies showing up all the time, so to everyone out there, please
> indicate when house rules are house rules.

You are correct .. this is a house ruling on something that is a loop hole in
the SR system with regards to Otaku ...

> > One of the benefits of this list is that there is a wide range of
> > viewpoints and philosophies. Mike and his group are very creative
> > and they should be respected for that.
>
> <Vigorous nodding>

Thank you Swift ...

> I love some of the house rules I've seen here.
>
> -=SwiftOne=-
>

Thanks for liking some of the house rules ...

And perhaps you would like to see some of out house rules that we have posted
to our (Keith and I's) website ...

www.members.aol.com/hhackerh/intro.htm

Mike
Message no. 57
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 09:23:09 EST
In a message dated 98-02-13 05:56:27 EST, you write:

Matthew wrote ...

> Mike I'd like to say that I think all that you said was v. good.

Thank you very much also ...

> On the VCR as you can read in TSS#6 Jon Stezo(sorry if I spelled it
> wrong) describes the VCR and in any case I don't see why an Otaku could
> not at least emulate a Rigger Protocol Emulation module as If I Recall
> It is just a little black box with a program running on it to convert
> Decker ASSIST Stuff into Rigger ASSIST Stuff.

Yeah .. from one pov .. limiting an otaku to a RPEM would be nice .. but I
also believe that an Otaku could be a full rigger if they took the time to
program a form which acted as a VCR ... though I would also say that that form
only works on rig adapted vehicles on also ...

> A slightly more controversial point I think Otaku could be much better
> riggers than Riggers

There is also some other type of pc that can also make a better rigger than a
rigger (except for the intiative problem they are limited to) ...

> Let me explain my self.
>
> Lets start by thinking how the signals get from the riggers brain to the
> vehicle and back and then think how an Otaku could change that.
>
> Riggers Brain (A bit of WetWare)
> |
> Vehicle Control Rig('Ware taking brain impulses and converting
> | them into electrionic signals and vice versa, OK
> | Maybe a bit more complicated but basically there)
> |
> Rigger Adaption (Computer converting the signals from the VCR into
> | controls to the vehicle's controls and collating
> | the info from the vechiles sensors and translating
> | them into signals for the VCR. simplistically just
> | some software)
> |
> Vehicle Computers, (yet more software with some hardware on
> controls, sensors etc the end)
>
> Now I ask you the question, Why with enough datajack leads and some
> Forms could an Otaku not plug straight into the Vehicle Computers,
> controls, sensors etc bypassing all those slow computer's and 'ware that
> a rigger has to rely on?
>
> Just my thoughts ;-)
>
I don't know I'm gonna have to think about this one some ...

Mike
Message no. 58
From: losthalo <losthalo@********.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 12:36:28 -0500
At 02:55 AM 2/13/98 PST, you wrote:

>A slightly more controversial point I think Otaku could be much better
>riggers than Riggers
>
>Let me explain my self.
>
>Lets start by thinking how the signals get from the riggers brain to the
>vehicle and back and then think how an Otaku could change that.
>
>Riggers Brain
> |
>Vehicle Control Rig
> |
>Rigger Adaption
> |
>Vehicle Computers,

>Now I ask you the question, Why with enough datajack leads and some
>Forms could an Otaku not plug straight into the Vehicle Computers,
>controls, sensors etc bypassing all those slow computer's and 'ware that
>a rigger has to rely on?

It's possible an Otaku could do it. But faster? All those computers the
Rigger must rely on DO something, they're not just along for the ride.
They help translate what the Rigger wants to do into what exactly the
vehicle needs to know in order to execute the maneuver. An Otaku would be
usinf Forms to mimic all those computers along the way, and that has no
reason to be faster than the hardware the Rigger uses. And you're also
asking the Otaku's brain to do all this work in place of those computers,
since if you're linking it directly, there's nothing else to do the work.
Eliminating the 'middleman' makes the job harder.


losthalo@********.comGoFa6)7(Im6TJt)Fe(7P!ShMoB4/19.2Bk!cBkc8MBV6sM3ZG
oPuTeiClbMehC6a23=n4bSSH173g4L??96FmT1Ea4@*********************
4h7sM8zSsYnk6BSMmpFNN0393NRfmSLusOH1Whileyouarelisteningyourwillingat
tentionismakingyoumoreandmoreintothepersonyouwanttobecome
Message no. 59
From: "Leszek Karlik, aka Mike" <trrkt@*****.ONET.PL>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 15:00:30 +0000
<snip lotsa stuff>

My 2¥ on the Otaku subject:

First - there should some kind of notice that all those "neural
forms" etc. is purely house rules. Sorry, but no matter how you cut
it, there's no mention that otaku can do it.
And I know it does not say anywhere they can't do it - but neither
does it say they can't fly, now does it? ;P

Second - I could see Encephalon etc. But not Wired Reflexes. Why?
Well, sorry, but human nerves are SOO much slower than wires that it
would be impossible to "emulate" Wired reflexes with just some
twinkish form. (;P)
Say, write an emulator of a Pentium for ZX Spectrum.

Third - see above. All the "emulated" cyberware would be painfully
slow. Cyber is fast - it's fiberoptics and electronics. Human nerves
- well, ask Lady J if you don't believe me... It's basic biology
stuff. ;>


Leszek Karlik, aka Mike - trrkt@*****.onet.pl; http://www.wlkp.top.pl/~bea=
r/mike;
Amber fan and Star Wars junkie; UIN 6947998; WTF TKD; FIAWOL; YMMV; IMAO; =
SNAFU; TANJ
Geek Code v3.1 GL/O d- s+: a19 C+++ W-(++) N+++ K? w(---) O@ M- PS+(+++)=
PE Y+
PGP- !t--- 5+(-) X- R*+++>$ tv-- b++++ D+ G-- e h--*! !r-- !y-*
Never tell a woman she has changed, Corwin, unless it's for the better=
. - Fiona
Message no. 60
From: Mike Bobroff <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku....
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:45:47 EST
In a message dated 98-02-15 08:59:46 EST, you write:

> First - there should some kind of notice that all those "neural
> forms" etc. is purely house rules. Sorry, but no matter how you cut
> it, there's no mention that otaku can do it.
> And I know it does not say anywhere they can't do it - but neither
> does it say they can't fly, now does it? ;P

Yes .. thank you for that brief bit of information ...

> Second - I could see Encephalon etc. But not Wired Reflexes. Why?
> Well, sorry, but human nerves are SOO much slower than wires that it
> would be impossible to "emulate" Wired reflexes with just some
> twinkish form. (;P)
> Say, write an emulator of a Pentium for ZX Spectrum.

A note to everyone .. Wired Reflexes does not use the entire human nervous
system ... it is basically a secondary nervous system which is dedicated to
nothing but flight or fight responses from the person ...

> Third - see above. All the "emulated" cyberware would be painfully
> slow. Cyber is fast - it's fiberoptics and electronics. Human nerves
> - well, ask Lady J if you don't believe me... It's basic biology
> stuff. ;>

For an otaku ... everything is fast when in their mind ... consider their MPCP
to be the amount of computing power they have and you will see that the
average otaku is easily the equivalent of a Fuchi Cyber-6 or maybe even better
...

Mike
Message no. 61
From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 16:25:56 -0500
Okay, here's my second attempt at revising Otaku rules ... can I -PLEASE-
get some help? I got little response the first time around and what I
did get wasn't about the majority of the rules ... I would appreciate
even a "Enh, there decent ..." or "They suck" ...

Now our Feature Presentation:
Building an otaku
Using the Priority System:
Humans must assign A priority to Magic (This is to reflect their
non-magical nature and to give more flexibility with resource allocation
[mainly the last one]).
MetaHumans must assign a B priority to Magic (see above :).
Priorities C, D, and E are callocated to Attributes, Skills and
Resources.
Using the Build Point System
All races must allocate 20 pts in order to be an otaku and cannot
allocate any points towards being magically active. Resources cannot
exceed 90,000¥.

Allocating Attributes
Same is VR 2.0 except, Charisma is unaffected and in order to recieve
the higher mental attributes, only 1 point must be allocated towards
Charisma.

Allocating Skills
Unchanged.

Channels
Unchanged except that a starting otaku has a number of points equal to
([Intelligence+Willpower]/2, round up) to allocate towards his/her
channels.

Allocating Resources
This material is superceded by the material in 'Building an otaku'
above.

Programming Days
(Optional rule: If an otaku concentrates in Software or specializes in
Matrix Programming, he/she may use that concentration or specialization
for calculating Programming days.)
Task Bonus = (Intelligence+Computer Theory [or software
concentration])/4.
Any complex forms or Sprites finished during the programming days may be
paid for using Force Points instead of karma.

Living Persona
Unchanged except:
MPCP: (Intelligence + Willpower + Computer Theory [or Hardware
Concentration]) /3 (round up)
Masking: (Willpower + Intelligence)/2 (round up)
(Optional Alternative: Response: [Intelligence+Willpower])

Enhanced Attributes
Unchanged.
Optional Rule: Synaptic Accelerators increase Matrix Intiative. Wired
and Boosted reflexes don't affect Matrix Intiative. Move-By-Wire
subtracts rather than adds to intiative.

Response
The otaku can further increase his/her intiative by programing a
Reality Filter as a complex form. A reality filter is programmed as a
Rating 4 program with a times 8 multiplier. When the Reality Filter is
in effect, increase Matrix intiative by +2+1D6 but reduce MPCP, Bod,
Evasion, Masking, and Sensors by 1.

Armor/Hardening
Unchanged.

Complex Forms
Unchanged except for the Task Bonus listed in the 'Programming Days'
section.
Clarification: Complex form Size = ((Complex form rating^2 + option
rating^2) x Utility multiplier)

Sprites
Unchanged.

Otaku and the SOTA
Unchanged except that in order to benefit from this effect, the otaku
must jack in to the matrix as a whole after it advances. (ie if the SOTA
advances and the otaku jacks into an isolated SOTA system then he/she
suffers appropriately unless he/she jacks into the matrix as whole
first.)

Playing an otaku
Unchanged.

Cyberadept or Technoshaman?
Unchanged, except that a Cyberadept's bonus only applies to the rating
of the utility and not the options. (Optional rule: Cyberadepts may
choose where to put their +1 rating [ie either in the main program or in
one of the options].)

Mystery of the otaku
Unchanged.

What's really going on?
Unchanged.

Okay, Tha-Tha-That's all folks. Please be so kind as to tell me what you
think :)

D.Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, and RuPixel)
"Let he who is without SIN cast the first stone"

_____________________________________________________________________
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Message no. 62
From: K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 01:13:38 EDT
In a message dated 6/20/98 4:39:58 PM US Eastern Standard Time, dghost@=
JUNO.COM writes:

> Okay, here's my second attempt at revising Otaku rules ... can I -PLEA=
SE-
> get some help? I got little response the first time around and what I
> did get wasn't about the majority of the rules ... I would appreciate
> even a "Enh, there decent ..." or "They suck" ...

Okay, I'll put something in this time.

> Now our Feature Presentation:
> Building an otaku
> Using the Priority System:
> Humans must assign A priority to Magic (This is to reflect their
> non-magical nature and to give more flexibility with resource allocati=
on
> [mainly the last one]).
> MetaHumans must assign a B priority to Magic (see above :).
> Priorities C, D, and E are callocated to Attributes, Skills and
> Resources.
> Using the Build Point System
> All races must allocate 20 pts in order to be an otaku and cannot
> allocate any points towards being magically active. Resources cannot
> exceed 90,000¥.

Seems okay, except I would NOT change the priority for Metahumans, and ju=
st the "more metahumans" option of a lower point selection. This would=
indicate that Metahumanity is reflective of the Resonance -AND- Magic,=
and that would make the confusion -FAR- worse.

> Allocating Attributes
> Same is VR 2.0 except, Charisma is unaffected and in order to recieve
> the higher mental attributes, only 1 point must be allocated towards
> Charisma.

I have read ahead, and I understand why you did this from a game mechanic=
s POV, but NOT from a Game Ideology POV.

> Channels
> Unchanged except that a starting otaku has a number of points equal t=
o
> ([Intelligence+Willpower]/2, round up) to allocate towards his/her
> channels.

I think as they are in the book is -just- fine.

> Programming Days
> (Optional rule: If an otaku concentrates in Software or specializes i=
n
> Matrix Programming, he/she may use that concentration or specializatio=
n
> for calculating Programming days.)
> Task Bonus = (Intelligence+Computer Theory [or software
> concentration])/4.
> Any complex forms or Sprites finished during the programming days may=
be
> paid for using Force Points instead of karma.

I do NOT like the idea of the Computer Theory being directly involved. Y=
ES, I have read the original ideas/discussion you gave on this (I think=
it was you D.G.), but I do NOT believe a skill can get into things, es=
pecially when considering that many "Otaku" know nothing about overall =
Computer Theory. To them, they simply do it, don't totally know why or=
how, only that they can and they will continue to do so.

> Living Persona
> Unchanged except:
> MPCP: (Intelligence + Willpower + Computer Theory [or Hardware
> Concentration]) /3 (round up)
> Masking: (Willpower + Intelligence)/2 (round up)
> (Optional Alternative: Response: [Intelligence+Willpower])

You have read my opinions on Computer Theory by now.

> Enhanced Attributes
> Unchanged.
> Optional Rule: Synaptic Accelerators increase Matrix Intiative. Wire=
d
> and Boosted reflexes don't affect Matrix Intiative. Move-By-Wire
> subtracts rather than adds to intiative.

OUCH!!! The Synaptic Accelerator I have tinkered with here, and it is a =
bit much. In our games, None of the latter three mention do anything. =
Simply because they are effecting the physical body's speed, and not t=
hat of the "Unchained Mind".

> Response
> The otaku can further increase his/her intiative by programing a
> Reality Filter as a complex form. A reality filter is programmed as a
> Rating 4 program with a times 8 multiplier. When the Reality Filter i=
s
> in effect, increase Matrix intiative by +2+1D6 but reduce MPCP, Bod,
> Evasion, Masking, and Sensors by 1.

We actually allow for a "Improved Response" to be programmed into the Liv=
ing Persona, using the standard IR rules as they exist currently.

IMO, the Reality Filter is -CRAP- where the Otaku are concerned, as they =
are interacting with the Matrix on an overall level that is far in adva=
nce of anything that we, as norms in the "real world", simply cannot gr=
asp. We have our "world image" colored by our "real world"
fantasy. T=
he Otaku are living within the "Matrix Environment", and playing around=
with their perception of such would interfere with their ability to ma=
nipulate/co-exist with it as they do.


Sorry for what seemed like a Rant, but the Otaku do need a bit of help, j=
ust not something that based upon a "Real World" (meaning a non-Otaku i=
n the SR Universe) translation of things. That, IMO, is what stops mos=
t of us from directly relating to a lot of the terms within the SR Univ=
erse.

Sure, we can imagine ourselves within the "SR Universe", but we normally =
do not allow ourselves to really "play out" the part. Not LARP, but ju=
st really getting into the character. yes, there are always exceptions=
, but NOT for the reasons that you have mentioned with your Otaku sugge=
stions.

Some of what you put forth is interesting though, I really do like it.

The only real change that we did to the Otaku here is made their "Channel=
s" a seperate dice pool that do NOT follow the limitations on skill tow=
ards their application limits. This way they weren't modifiers that we=
re cumulative with given Programs/Forms, they were simply something a b=
it more closely related to the "Totem/Elemental" like advantages.

As a GM, I would prefer giving a PC more dice for a given action than I w=
ould giving them a modifier in their benefit.

-K
Message no. 63
From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 14:52:57 -0500
On Sun, 21 Jun 1998 01:13:38 EDT K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
writes:
>In a message dated 6/20/98 4:39:58 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
>dghost@****.COM writes:
>> Okay, here's my second attempt at revising Otaku rules ... can I
-PLEASE-
>> get some help? I got little response the first time around and what I
>> did get wasn't about the majority of the rules ... I would appreciate
>> even a "Enh, there decent ..." or "They suck" ...

>Okay, I'll put something in this time.

Thanks :) It's appreciated :) (btw, I did some editing to get rid of some
='s and  's, I hope you don't mind :)

>> Now our Feature Presentation:
>> Building an otaku
>> Using the Priority System:
>> Humans must assign A priority to Magic (This is to reflect their
>> non-magical nature and to give more flexibility with resource
allocation
>> [mainly the last one]).
>> MetaHumans must assign a B priority to Magic (see above :).
>> Priorities C, D, and E are callocated to Attributes, Skills and
>> Resources.

Ooops, forgot to mention that Humans Have priorities B,C,D,E to allocate
to Attributes, Skills, Race, and Resources ... with no higher than a C in
Resources.

>> Using the Build Point System
>> All races must allocate 20 pts in order to be an otaku and cannot
>> allocate any points towards being magically active. Resources cannot
>> exceed 90,000.

>Seems okay, except I would NOT change the priority for Metahumans, and
just
>the "more metahumans" option of a lower point selection. This would
indicate
>that Metahumanity is reflective of the Resonance -AND- Magic, and that
would
>make the confusion -FAR- worse.

Okay, whooops. I should have stated that with the "more metahumans"
option, the priority jumps back up to A ... The lower pick was because
metahumans must put an A under normal rules ...

>> Allocating Attributes
>> Same is VR 2.0 except, Charisma is unaffected and in order to
recieve
>> the higher mental attributes, only 1 point must be allocated towards
>> Charisma.

>I have read ahead, and I understand why you did this from a game
mechanics
>POV, but NOT from a Game Ideology POV.

I thought this /was/ from an ideology POV (or at least make the mechanics
match the ideology POV...) Otaku are social rejects and as such, an
incredibly high Charisma doesn't make sense (IMO, of coourse ;). So, I
was trying to take Charisma "out of the picture" as far as the Living
Persona goes ... :/

>> Channels
>> Unchanged except that a starting otaku has a number of points equal
to
>> ([Intelligence+Willpower]/2, round up) to allocate towards his/her
>> channels.

>I think as they are in the book is -just- fine.

I do too except for the bit about Charisma ;P~

>> Programming Days
>> (Optional rule: If an otaku concentrates in Software or specializes
in
>> Matrix Programming, he/she may use that concentration or
specialization
>> for calculating Programming days.)
>> Task Bonus = (Intelligence+Computer Theory [or software
concentration])/4.
>> Any complex forms or Sprites finished during the programming days
may be
>> paid for using Force Points instead of karma.

>I do NOT like the idea of the Computer Theory being directly involved.
YES, I
>have read the original ideas/discussion you gave on this (I think it was
you
>D.G.), but I do NOT believe a skill can get into things, especially when

>considering that many "Otaku" know nothing about overall Computer
Theory. To
>them, they simply do it, don't totally know why or how, only that they
can and
>they will continue to do so.

IMO, otaku habe a deep and passionate understanding of the way things
work. What they "just do" is deck without a deck :) What they don't know
why or how is why/how they can deck w/o a deck. However, they probably
know more about how a server works than the System Administrator does ...
All, IMO, of course :)

>> Living Persona
>> Unchanged except:
>> MPCP: (Intelligence + Willpower + Computer Theory [or Hardware
>> Concentration]) /3 (round up)
>> Masking: (Willpower + Intelligence)/2 (round up)
>> (Optional Alternative: Response: [Intelligence+Willpower])

>You have read my opinions on Computer Theory by now.

And you have read my response :)

>> Enhanced Attributes
>> Unchanged.
>> Optional Rule: Synaptic Accelerators increase Matrix Intiative.
Wired
>> and Boosted reflexes don't affect Matrix Intiative. Move-By-Wire
>> subtracts rather than adds to intiative.

>OUCH!!! The Synaptic Accelerator I have tinkered with here, and it is a
bit
>much. In our games, None of the latter three mention do anything.
Simply
>because they are effecting the physical body's speed, and not that of
the
>"Unchained Mind".

*sigh* yeah, well, IMO MBW should royally frag up the Living Persona
because of the seizures ... btw, was the "OUCH!!!" because of the
synaptic accelerators or because of the MBW? The synaptic Accelerators I
thought might affect the speed of thought ... I also considered something
like Synap Accel 1 give +2 reaction, level 2 gives +2 react & +1D6
Intiative. Also, I meantioned all of the above as an optional rule
because I was rather iffy on it :) Either way, reaction enhancers DO beef
the mind's speed (maybe not as much as the body's though) other wise your
actions from your boosted speed would be pure reflex (They may be a lot
of reflex but they're not pure reflex.). Anyway for a normal decker,
meatbody speed boost don't affect decking because the decking is occuring
inside the deck. With otaku however, decking is inside the brain, so any
meatbody speed boosts that beef the brain's speed of thought, ought to
affect decking ... IMO, of course.

>> Response
>> The otaku can further increase his/her intiative by programing a
>> Reality Filter as a complex form. A reality filter is programmed as
a
>> Rating 4 program with a times 8 multiplier. When the Reality Filter
is
>> in effect, increase Matrix intiative by +2+1D6 but reduce MPCP, Bod,
>> Evasion, Masking, and Sensors by 1.

>We actually allow for a "Improved Response" to be programmed into the
Living
>Persona, using the standard IR rules as they exist currently.
>
>IMO, the Reality Filter is -CRAP- where the Otaku are concerned, as
>they are interacting with the Matrix on an overall level that is far in
>advance of anything that we, as norms in the "real world", simply cannot

>grasp. We have our "world image" colored by our "real world"
fantasy.
The
>Otaku are living within the "Matrix Environment", and playing around
with
>their perception of such would interfere with their ability to
>manipulate/co-exist with it as they do.

D'OH! If I'd thought about it, a reality filter would be useless for
otaku ... grr ... after all what would they be most familiar with? the
matrix. Both this & the earlier bit about meatbody speed boosts were
just attempts to give otaku a help in the intiative department ... Oh
well :/

>Sorry for what seemed like a Rant, but the Otaku do need a bit of help,
just
>not something that based upon a "Real World" (meaning a non-Otaku in the
SR
>Universe) translation of things. That, IMO, is what stops most of us
from
>directly relating to a lot of the terms within the SR Universe.
>
>Sure, we can imagine ourselves within the "SR Universe", but we normally
do
>not allow ourselves to really "play out" the part. Not LARP, but just
really
>getting into the character. yes, there are always exceptions, but NOT
for the
>reasons that you have mentioned with your Otaku suggestions.
>
>Some of what you put forth is interesting though, I really do like it.

Thanks (And, All rants are appreciated :) Hmmm... I think I see what you
mean by a game mechanics POV ... this was an attempt to make an otaku's
game stats match their printed reputation ... every indication given by
FASA is that otaku should be able to wipe the floor with other deckers
(not just in matrix combat but out of `trix combat they don't need help)
... I was thinking of doing a otaku personality and theory without any
game mechanics after I'm done with this ... Is that more what your were
expecting from this post?

>The only real change that we did to the Otaku here is made their
"Channels" a
>seperate dice pool that do NOT follow the limitations on skill towards
their
>application limits. This way they weren't modifiers that were
cumulative with
>given Programs/Forms, they were simply something a bit more closely
related to
>the "Totem/Elemental" like advantages.
>
>As a GM, I would prefer giving a PC more dice for a given action than I
would
>giving them a modifier in their benefit.
>
>-K

Ack! That'd seriously hurt the otaku (The channels as extra dice, I mean
:) ... then again, I just had it suggested that channels & complex forms
were cumulative ... I was using one or the other ... my otaku just got a
-whole- lot better :)

D.Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, and RuPixel)
"Let he who is without SIN cast the first stone"

_____________________________________________________________________
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Message no. 64
From: K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 23:44:37 EDT
In a message dated 6/21/98 2:56:49 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
dghost@****.COM writes:

> ... I was thinking of doing a otaku personality and theory without any
> game mechanics after I'm done with this ... Is that more what your were
> expecting from this post?
>
I actually was expecting nothing from your post, so as to allow for your ideas
to reach me better.

I have found that when we as GM's/Players try and create something that
"matches the reputation" of something else, we often overextend and wreck the
game balance FAR more than anything intentional. That isn't true with what
you are suggesting, but it does lend itself to potential abuse, as "Computer
Theory" as a part of the formulas removes the "Attribute Limits" within the
scope of the overall game mechanics.

-K
Message no. 65
From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 04:17:49 -0500
On Sun, 21 Jun 1998 23:44:37 EDT K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
writes:
>In a message dated 6/21/98 2:56:49 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
>dghost@****.COM writes:
>> ... I was thinking of doing a otaku personality and theory without any
>> game mechanics after I'm done with this ... Is that more what your
were
>> expecting from this post?

>I actually was expecting nothing from your post, so as to allow for your
ideas
>to reach me better.

:P *NYAH* :P

>I have found that when we as GM's/Players try and create something that
>"matches the reputation" of something else, we often overextend and
wreck the
>game balance FAR more than anything intentional. That isn't true with
what
>you are suggesting, but it does lend itself to potential abuse, as
"Computer
>Theory" as a part of the formulas removes the "Attribute Limits" within
the
>scope of the overall game mechanics.
>
>-K

Hmmmm... I worded that wrong .... I mean that FASA described otaku in a
certain manner but then didn't make the game stats match. I tried to fix
that paying careful attention to game balance (I actually, seriously them
in some places, IMO) ... The removing "Attribute Limits" was something I
actually tried to do ... Why should otaku have restrictions that normal
deckers don't? a normal decker could theoretically create & install a
rating 20 MPCP, even with the changes I suggested, an otaku would have
EXTREME difficulty getting his/her Living Persona's MPCP that high
(especially if using the SRCo's Training rules ...) I tried to not leave
more openings for abuse than normal but ... Please, show me how it can be
abused ... :) If it's something that is too blatant I'll work something
up :)

D.Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, and RuPixel)
"Let he who is without SIN cast the first stone"

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Message no. 66
From: K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Otaku
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 21:55:56 EDT
In a message dated 6/22/98 4:26:06 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
dghost@****.COM writes:

> Hmmmm... I worded that wrong .... I mean that FASA described otaku in a
> certain manner but then didn't make the game stats match. I tried to fix
> that paying careful attention to game balance (I actually, seriously them
> in some places, IMO) ... The removing "Attribute Limits" was something I
> actually tried to do ... Why should otaku have restrictions that normal
> deckers don't? a normal decker could theoretically create & install a
> rating 20 MPCP, even with the changes I suggested, an otaku would have
> EXTREME difficulty getting his/her Living Persona's MPCP that high
> (especially if using the SRCo's Training rules ...) I tried to not leave
> more openings for abuse than normal but ... Please, show me how it can be
> abused ... :) If it's something that is too blatant I'll work something
> up :)
>
Okay, try this thought, and please note, I am currently in a LOT of pain, as I
have managed to drop a 36" Zenith upon my foot earlier today...

Anyway...

Computer Theory is a Knowledge Skill, one that has a -potential- concentration
labled as "Matrix Theory" (not all Computer Theory is Matrix, remember). And
the Otaku normally do not get into stuff beyond the matrix. Hence, a cheaper
skill that could be approached and -would- have direct effect upon the Living
Persona given your suggested modification.

Also, knowledge skills have no technical limits per say. If the character has
the Karma, then they can advance to whatever ends they may.

As far as I am concerned, the Otaku do have a MAJOR advantage over a "normal
decker". In the area of resources. After character creation, resources can
be completely diverted towards -anything- the character wants, as his/her
"meat and cheese career" is pretty well established.

Please notice also that a beginning decker has to design a cyberdeck out and
some of those resources that s/he allocates are diverted in the form of the
programs and hardware of the deck.

Armor and Hardening are -two- such programs, that the Otaku get innately as
they stand currently. There are resources and programming time that is
immediately allocatable in another area for the benefit of the Otaku.

the Otaku also gains the Channels/ACIFS points that a decker does NOT gain
without an allowance on the part of the GM (please note, in the book "Black
Madonna", Leonardo says that he is familiar with their Channels, but not their
forms). In addition, the modification to actions on behalf of the Otaku
(cyberadept and/or technoshamanic mods) are also not available to a standard
decker.

Do you remember the comment I made in the post about "as a GM, I would rather
give a player character more dice than I would a target number modifier
benefit?" This is one such place that the example comes full circle into
usage. A single -1 on behalf of the character immediately changes the odds by
a full 16% or better. IF you have 6 Dice that you are rolling, you just
gained an additional potential success on those die rolls for those matrix
operations tests.

And please note, that for most instances, the benefit that a cyberadept and a
technoshaman gain are equal, as the forms function like programs and reduce
the target number for the matrix test.

Oh yeah, in all honesty, the Otaku were printed out just fine IMO as far as
their reputations are concerned. I love them to death because of their
"mysterious ability", and have fun developing possible game and character
hoooks because of it.

-K
Message no. 67
From: Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 11:14:45 +0200
According to IronRaven, at 10:43 on 17 Jul 99, the word on
the street was...

> OK, what are Otaku, for those of us who've never read VR2?

They're deckers who can use the Matrix without a cyberdeck. At some point
in their lives, they experience the Deep Resonance (a kind of awakening
for deckers) and can then do away with their cyberdecks, instead using
only a datajack and an ASIST converter to access the Matrix.


According to Mick Rissling, at 13:59 on 17 Jul 99, the word on
the street was...

> This may seem kinda like a stupid question, but just what exactly
> is an Otaku?

See above.

> I have come across the term several times, including the SRComp, but it
> doesn't explain anything. I surmise that they are some kind of decking
> dealie, but decking isn't a big part of my campaign (usually relegated
> to NPC's, sad but true) and I have not ever seen VR2 which I beleive
> that they are in.

Yep, they are described in VR 2.0; pages 142 through 148, to be precise,
and there is also an update for SR3 in RA:S, but that is not usable if you
don't also own VR 2.0.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Cooking with the devil, frying down in hell.
-> NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
->The Plastic Warriors Page: http://shadowrun.html.com/plasticwarriors/<-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

GC3.1: GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+
PE Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 68
From: Marc Renouf renouf@********.com
Subject: Otaku
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 11:17:11 -0400 (EDT)
On Sat, 17 Jul 1999, Arcady wrote:

> > OK, what are Otaku, for those of us who've never read VR2?
>
> An otaku is a pervert in Japanese.

No. "hentai" is pervert in Japanese. Otaku translates more
accurately as "geek" or "fan boy." This makes it completely
appropriate
for what it describes.
But as pertains to Shadowrun, your definition is clear and
concise. :)

Marc Renouf (ShadowRN GridSec - "Bad Cop" Division)

Other ShadowRN-related addresses and links:
Mark Imbriaco <mark@*********.html.com> List Owner
Adam Jury <adamj@*********.html.com> Assistant List Administrator
DVixen <dvixen@****.com> Keeper of the FAQs
Gurth <gurth@******.nl> GridSec Enforcer Division
David Buehrer <graht@********.att.net> GridSec "Nice Guy" Division
ShadowRN FAQ <http://shadowrun.html.com/hlair/faqindex.php3>;
Message no. 69
From: Richard Tomasso rtomasso@*******.com
Subject: Otaku
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 11:46:08 -0400 (EDT)
> otaku*
> (col) geek; nerd; enthusiast
>
> Seems to be the only reference I can find for it. It's not in any my
> Japanese-English or English-Japanese dictionaries.

That's b/c it's a shortened form of another word. I wrote it down once,
but lost it. I think the "otaku" part was the end of the word.
Message no. 70
From: runnerpaul@*****.com runnerpaul@*****.com
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 21:10:37 -0400 (EDT)
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 11:46 AM 7/23/99 -0400, Richard Tomasso wrote:
:: otaku*
:: (col) geek; nerd; enthusiast
::
::Seems to be the only reference I can find for it. It's not in any
::my Japanese-English or English-Japanese dictionaries.
:
:That's b/c it's a shortened form of another word. I wrote it down
:once, but lost it. I think the "otaku" part was the end of the word.


Otaku-zoku, which translates as "home tribe."


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PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344

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Message no. 71
From: Paul Chamberlain junior@*****.net.au
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 09:12:54 +0800
> :: otaku*
> :: (col) geek; nerd; enthusiast
> ::
> ::Seems to be the only reference I can find for it. It's not in any
> ::my Japanese-English or English-Japanese dictionaries.
> :
> :That's b/c it's a shortened form of another word. I wrote it down
> :once, but lost it. I think the "otaku" part was the end of the word.
>
>
> Otaku-zoku, which translates as "home tribe."

I was under the impression that Otaku was Home Boy... or Fan Boy
used alot for anime fans and such

Regards Arkem
SRGC SR1 SR2+ SR3++ h+ b++ B- UB IE+ RN+ NERPS+++(R.I.P) !W(W+++) dk++ ma+
sh+++ m+ gm M-- p++
Message no. 72
From: Adam .. ruckus@********.rr.com
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 21:42:43 -0400
>> :: otaku*
>> :: (col) geek; nerd; enthusiast
>> ::

according to mr. william gibson, in his latest novel Idoru, otaku is
defined as (actually this is a paraphrased version because i cannot
remember it exactly nor do i want to look the damned quote up from the book):

social deviant techno-fetishist
(there was another line to in in Idoru, but i cannot remember where...)

adam..



"The day was very different from the night. The night
belonged to me and my droogs and all the rest of the
nadsats, and the starry bourgeois lurked indoors drinking
in the gloopy worldcasts, but the day was for the starry
ones, and there always seemed to be more rozzes or
millicents about during the day, too."
--Anthony Burgess "A Clockwork Orange"
Message no. 73
From: runnerpaul@*****.com runnerpaul@*****.com
Subject: Otaku
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 23:50:19 -0400 (EDT)
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 09:12 AM 7/25/99 +0800, Paul Chamberlain wrote:
:::That's b/c it's a shortened form of another word. I wrote it down
:::once, but lost it. I think the "otaku" part was the end of the
:::word.

::Otaku-zoku, which translates as "home tribe."

:I was under the impression that Otaku was Home Boy... or Fan Boy
:used alot for anime fans and such

"Fanboy" is the connotation, the implied meaning, "home tribe" is the
denotation, the literal definition.


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Message no. 74
From: Rand Ratinac docwagon101@*****.com
Subject: Otaku
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 22:54:03 -0800 (PST)
Guys, a friend of mine needs some very official data
on otaku (as in, answers to questions from the people
who've written the otaku material). If anyone knows
the email addresses of ANY of the writers of otaku
material (whether for 2nd or 3rd edition), could you
send them on to me?

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

.sig Sauer

Can you SMELL what THE DOC' is COOKIN'!!!

__________________________________________________
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Message no. 75
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Derek Hyde)
Subject: Otaku?
Date: Thu Nov 29 23:55:02 2001
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Ok..what exactly are Otaku, I've got a player that wants to know before
she goes out and spends the $$ on the Matrix book since she's the only
one that plays a decker and I told her that if she wanted to play more
advanced she's gotta buy the book for the group.



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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span
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since she&#8217;s the only one that plays a <span
class=SpellE>decker</span>
and I told her that if she wanted to play more advanced she&#8217;s <span
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group.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

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Message no. 76
From: shadowrn@*********.com (shadowrn@*********.com)
Subject: Otaku?
Date: Fri Nov 30 05:10:04 2001
On Thu, 29 Nov 2001, Derek Hyde wrote:

> Ok..what exactly are Otaku, I've got a player that wants to know before
> she goes out and spends the $$ on the Matrix book since she's the only
> one that plays a decker and I told her that if she wanted to play more
> advanced she's gotta buy the book for the group.

Otaku are, briefly, kids (ok, people below 25, but usually kids) that can
interface with the matrix without a cyberdeck, or the need to have any
programs. they are magical deckers, if you will, apart from the fact they
have no magic....I could have explained that better....

theres more to them than that, but its all detailed in the book, and if
the player is interested, Id get a copy so you can both read up. theres
enough stuff in the book that it makes playing a decker much, much
better..

--
john@*****.net
"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist..."
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Message no. 77
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Gurth)
Subject: Otaku?
Date: Fri Nov 30 05:50:10 2001
According to Derek Hyde, on Fri, 30 Nov 2001 the word on the street was...

> Ok..what exactly are Otaku, I've got a player that wants to know before
> she goes out and spends the $$ on the Matrix book since she's the only
> one that plays a decker and I told her that if she wanted to play more
> advanced she's gotta buy the book for the group.

Otaku are people (children, really) who can access the Matrix without a
cyberdeck. All they need is a datajack and a little piece of electronics
that lets them interpret the simsense signals, and they can deck with the
best of them. To do this, they use a bunch of special skills instead of a
cyberdeck and software.

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--
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Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Otaku, you may also be interested in:

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Thwap!