From: | Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM> |
---|---|
Subject: | [RA:S] ASIST Converter and Datajacks |
Date: | Mon, 23 Nov 1998 21:42:51 -0500 |
A few days back, someone posted a note wondering why there hasn't been
much discussion of Renraku Arcology: Shutdown. Having just gotten my
copy recently (and just having it rebound with the unpublished
chapters on the website added back in, in the proper places) I've
noticed that, in providing errata to the Otaku rules and bringing them
up to the SR3 level, FASA has also tightened up the functioning of the
common Datajack, defining it in terms of what it can't do.
This was done with the introduction of a new piece of equipment called
the ASIST Converter. "An ASIST Converter converts simsense signals
into something understandable to the metahuman brain, and vice versa."
Apparently, this is a standard piece of hardware in most anything
you'd plug into your Datajack, i.e.: "simdecks, cyberdecks and RC
decks". From the way it is described I assume that not only does the
ASIST Converter handle standard ASIST functions such as RAS Override,
it also functions as a Direct Neural Interface, taking commands from
the brain, and processing them into signals that machines would
understand.
This strikes me as a bit of a departure from the Datajacks of old.
Maybe it's just a misconception that I've had from all the way back in
First Edition, but I always thought it was the off-the-shelf Datajack
hardware itself that handled the functions now described as being
performed by the ASIST Converter.
Of course, many of the Datajack tricks that were possible in First
Edition, such as plugging into a Smartgun equipped weapon, and of
course, "Decking Naked" haven't been possible in the game in any of
the subsequent editions. This new piece of equipment simply formalizes
the conceptual change of the Datajack from being the Swiss Army Knife
of headware to being a mere data transfer port.
This does have some repercussions on the game world, especially given
the ubiquitousness of the Datajack in SR society. We now have a
concrete Nuyen price for modifying electronic devices (such as pocket
secretaries, pagers and the like) to be datajack compatable: 50Y, the
price of an ASIST Converter. Also, all Otaku must use ASIST
Converters, or ASIST Converter-modified Datajacks to plug into the
matrix without using a cyberdeck. (Since an ASIST Converter-modified
Datajack doesn't cost any more Essence, and previous material hinted
that the Otaku use specialized Datajacks, this isn't too signifigant a
change.)
For those who would like a Datajack that is a little more than just a
hole in the head, there is the ASIST Converter-modification that can
be added to any Datajack. It doesn't cost any Essence, but the price
is 1000Y, with a street index of 1.5. Essentially, it doubles the
price of the standard Datajack, with an even bigger price increase if
you buy it through the street.
Who would go to the expense to get a Datajack with an ASIST Converter
built in, other than the Otaku? Scientists and technicians who might
need to connect their Datajacks to non-Datajack compatible equipment
for one. BTL addicted chipheads might also find this helpful, though
nearly all Datajack-direct BTLs would already have ASIST Converter
circuitry built in. Finally, even though the days of being able to
connect a cable straight from one's datajack into the networked soykaf
pot to be able to access the matrix are long gone, I can imagine that
non-Otaku deckers would also find this sort of datajack a must-have
item. (Forget the Deep Resonance for a moment, there would also be a
distinct "Deep Geek" appeal.)
Perhaps there should be a houserule giving an intangible, role-play
only, benefit for using an ASIST Converter-Modified Datajack while
connected to a device such as a cyberdeck, or RC deck, that already
has ASIST Converter circutry. No actual game-mechanic bonuses (or
perhaps just a token one) just more vivid colors. The logic behind
this being that a second set of ASIST circuits adds processing power,
much the same way having two 3D Accelerator Cards installed into a PC
can provide better results over just one.
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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
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