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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Richard Pieri <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: The Matrix
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1993 13:01:24 EDT
Don't take my comments the wrong way. When I say that the Matrix (or any
other VR cyberspace) couldn't exist in the real world, I'm not saying that
it's wrong within the context of the game, just wrong within the context of
the real world.

--Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> Northeastern's Stainless Steel Rat
PGP Public Key Block available upon request Ask about rat-pgp.el
||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Shape shift/Nose to the wind/Shape shift/Feeling I've been
Move swift/All senses clean/Earth's gift/Back to the meaning of wolf and man
--Metallica, Of Wolf and Man
Message no. 2
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: The Matrix
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1993 12:56:43 -0500
First of all, I agree with Girardot that GURPS Cyberpunk does the best job
of relating real networks with cyberspace. Check it out; it's a good and
informative read.

Secondly, Quiktek is correct when he says that the command line interface can
be faster than full graphics representation, if the end user knows what it
means. DOS is faster than Windows. However, remember that since in either case
the command would be issued by thought, it's the display that will suffer the
lag.
Strike that last paragraph. I think that a lot of this discussion will depend
on how you define cyberspace, which was the point of the original question.

One of the things that originally annoyed me about Shadowrun was that there
was one, and only one definition of the Matrix. Where every other game let
you purchase "Environmental Modules" or persona programs to let you define
cyberspace, Shadowrun had a Universal Representation. That would require an
agreement between so many corps and nations to adhere to one standard that
one could argue it would never happen. On the other hand, one could also
argue that a single standard is the only the Matrix could exist in any
practical form.

The UMS also ignores the history of networks (or rather, erases the past and
starts anew with the rather overdramatic Crash of '29). Take Internet, for
example. Several regional networks tied into a gateway node (UW in the
Northwest, for example). How do we move from the way Internet is now? Trace
the very steps you take to log on and put them in Shadowrun. I operate from
home; I dial (signal goes to a diverter) and connect with the TU system, which
is four different computers; Ilog on with my acount and password (call it
Barrier or whatever IC can be sleazed against) and I'm on either an SPU or
CPU (remember, it's one computer but crashing it won't neccesarily crash the
other nodes of the TU "system". But Internet doesn't use phone numbers
between computers; there's no LTG for Hayden, Carter, or myself.

I always assumed that if cyberspace exists, it will be based in the user's computer
(oops).
The user will have a program that takes the appropriate prompt or signal from
the net and puts a graphic around it. This means that all these mainframes
won't be running graphics-heavy UMS defaults, but YOUR machine will be slowed down. (oops
again).

Cyberspace is escapist fantasy. People will use VR as a toy, not a ser


serious tool for hacking. A good hacker will beat out a decker any day; the
Matrix just looks good in movies.

Reality Check: As Rat said, it works for Shadowrun, not real life. But let's
take it as far as we can.
Message no. 3
From: Richard Pieri <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: The Matrix
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1993 15:53:46 EDT
[There's no phone numbers on the Internet]

There is an equivalent, several actually. Every node on the Internet has a
name, which is just a convenience for an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
For example, "splinter.coe.neu.edu" is an alias for "129.10.22.22".
Each
address in unique.

Further, machines on an Ethernet network have an Ethernet ID number, the
format of which I don't really remember since I never use it.

[there are no logs for foo, bar, etc]

Also incorrect. It is possible to "listen" on an ethernet, trap packets,
and do what you like with them. From a privacy perspective, the Internet
most certainly isn't private.

--Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> Northeastern's Stainless Steel Rat
PGP Public Key Block available upon request Ask about rat-pgp.el v1.5
||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Shape shift/Nose to the wind/Shape shift/Feeling I've been
Move swift/All senses clean/Earth's gift/Back to the meaning of wolf and man
--Metallica, Of Wolf and Man
Message no. 4
From: PAULETTE SOLOMON <PAULETTE_SOLOMON@****.CC.USM.EDU>
Subject: the matrix
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1993 18:48:00 CDT
I thought that all the grafix were done in the deck anyway. The way I
pictured it, was that the mainframes had a program that ran all the
time that contained the commands for the grafix, kinda like RIP or
NAPLPS grafix systems used on BBS's now. I can't see how it would
work any other way...

Ghost Rider <paulette_solomon@****.cc.usm.edu>
Message no. 5
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@************.ORG>
Subject: The Matrix (fwd)
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 12:17:37 -0400
Sent just to me...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 06:59:35 -0700
From: Michael Mattson <mmattson@***.net>
To: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.cais.com>
Subject: The Matrix

This may sound tedious and boring but I ask if there is someone out there
who will amuse me.

I have had a problem with the Matrix since I started Game Mastering
ShadowRun. I think another post stated it best, "I usually get frustrated
and say 'Here's the data, now jack out.'" I want my Matrix runs to be
meaningful and necessary. I'm getting tired of the PC's just "calling a
decker and paying him cash." Granted I make my unknown deckers quite
expensive, and the PC's are talking about one of them trying to become one.
I just want to have some idea of what to do to keep them busy. My last
decker simply got bored with what was going on, they didn't feel "involved"
in the action.

What is entailed in a Matrix Cover mission? What do deckers do? I've read
several books (VR, and a few of the Novels), but just don't seem to grasp
what it is (in game terms) they should be doing.

My question is this. Could someone please describe a Matrix Cover run from
the point of view of the decker. In parenthesis put the skills that were
used (you don't need to mention what rolls they got or anything. I just
want to get some ideas and see how others handle this part.

Please reply by private mail if someone deems this inappropriate for the list.

<==========================================>
Michael Mattson -------- Game Master, et al.
Post all flames to ------- someone@***.cares
Post all private mail to -- mmattson@***.net
Message no. 6
From: Gary Carroll <gary@****.COM>
Subject: Re: The Matrix (fwd)
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 10:13:13 -0700
>Michael
>What is entailed in a Matrix Cover mission? What do deckers do?
>I've read several books (VR, and a few of the Novels), but just
>don't seem to grasp what it is (in game terms) they should be doing.
>
>My question is this. Could someone please describe a Matrix Cover
>run from the point of view of the decker. In parenthesis put the
>skills that were used (you don't need to mention what rolls they
>got or anything. I just want to get some ideas and see how others
>handle this part.
>
>Please reply by private mail if someone deems this inappropriate
>for the list.

No actually I also do not have any players that are deckers so I
have never had the need to run them, but this also means that I
would be uncomfortable with having one start playing a decker.

So seeing it from a player/DM perspective would be very helpful.

Thanks
Gary C.
Message no. 7
From: Tzeentch tzeentch666@*********.net
Subject: The Matrix
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 14:12:01 -0800
From: <HHackerH@***.com>
> > > Well there are certainly enough submissions in for the project! Maybe
all
> > > the people who submitted for the book can have a big game of Unreal
> > > Tournament or have a contest for who knows the most hacker trivia ;)
> >
> > Well, somewhere among those submissions I hope there's one thing in
> > particular to be included in The Matrix: rules for the use and creation
of
> > IC by characters or others in the know about such programs. Simply
having
> > them as these amorphous shapes coming at you isn't enough for this
> > decker. I wanna make the stuff! =)
>
> I somehow have to agree with you. Don't suppose you have any ideas
yourself
> as to what would be the difference between IC and "Frames" do ya???

Erm. Like everything? ;) Really, as presented Frames are pretty lame and
don't terribly make a lot of sense. I've rewrote them to be more like smart
.BAT files. Frames are MUCH stupider (even smart frames) then most IC - much
less Black IC and the like. In fact, that's another thing I'll have to think
about - if Frames can in fact perform manuevers if acting
independently...hmm.

IC is not terribly hard to figure out their Multiplier in VR2 terms - just
look at Track and Black Hammer and extrapolate. Essentially the persona
running them is the host itself.

The base VR2 system is pretty easy to mess with, it's even somewhat
compatible with GURPS if you view Complexity in GURPS as a Multiplier in SR
(though obviously that does not work for the computers themselves!).

Ken
---------------------------
There's a war out there, old friend, a world war. And it's not about who's
got the most bullets, it's about who controls the information. What we see
and hear, how we work, what we think, it's all about the information!
Cosmo, 'Sneakers'
Message no. 8
From: docwagon101@*****.com (Rand Ratinac)
Subject: The Matrix?
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:03:13 +0000 (GMT)
The book, not the movie. :)

Can anyone tell me if FanPro's put out a corrected
edition of the Matrix yet, or is the FASA edition(s?)
still the most up-to-date?

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

.sig Sauer

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

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Message no. 9
From: anders@**********.com (Anders Swenson)
Subject: The Matrix?
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 08:20:12 -0800
On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:03:13 +0000 (GMT)
Rand Ratinac <docwagon101@*****.com> wrote:
> The book, not the movie. :)
>
> Can anyone tell me if FanPro's put out a corrected
> edition of the Matrix yet, or is the FASA edition(s?)
> still the most up-to-date?
>
They still have the same old book. The Matrix appears to be quite the
backwater.
--Anders
Message no. 10
From: docwagon101@*****.com (Rand Ratinac)
Subject: The Matrix?
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 09:17:09 +0000 (GMT)
> They still have the same old book. The Matrix
> appears to be quite the
> backwater.
> --Anders

Cool! Then I'll get that $44 copy I saw the other day. :)

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

.sig Sauer

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

________________________________________________________________________
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Messenger http://mail.messenger.yahoo.co.uk
Message no. 11
From: owen@***.edu.au (Owen McKerrow)
Subject: The "Matrix"
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:08:55 +1000
Software that maps your network traffic in real time in 3D. Very cool
software, but also cool SR illustration.
Looks very much like something you would see on a net run inside some
large corps.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtC6ZM0_m8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNJBT7zkzps&NR=1

Owen McKerrow
WebMaster, emlab
Ph : +61 02 4221 5517
http://emlab.uow.edu.au

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"I like the way this project has somehow, against all common sense,
got itself made."
- Peter Jackson, "The Lord of The Rings"

Further Reading

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

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These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

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