From:	Sebastian Wiers m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject:	Otaku questions
Date:	Sat, 4 Sep 1999 04:36:06 -0700

> >> What do otaku use for Hacking Pool? Do they even get a hacking
> pool?

The certainly get one, and it is calculated as normal, based off MPCP and
Int. That means it will be large, by hacking pool standards.

> >Besides, he's also applied things like "DINAB" to the MPCP chips on
> some of
> >the cyberdecks, turning *them* into Frames.
>
>
> Oooo....I might just try that. Nothing like making an MPCP-12 deck
> with a DINAB option to see a young otaku through puberty...
>
> Actually, I didn't know you *could* put DINAB on an MPCP.

Kieth is likely "expanding" the rules a bit. You could do this, but DINAB
is not inteded to work this way- what tests would it perform? Theres no
rules covering that, unless you write them yourself. I don't think it
would do any good, myself- what you'd be trying to do is make a SKB, not a
cyberdeck.
On the other hand, putting "optimization" on MPCP and other "hardware
code" would make the programming take a lot longer, but would cut cook time
and chip costs in half. I could see that being used by cyberdeck
manufacturers.

And no, you can't have one shot forms. Cute idea (it would let you get a
few more at character creation) but it goes against the concept of a
complex form. A lot of options are pointless on forms- they shrink actual
size (which Otaku don't care about) but increase the amount of code that
must be written (which is what your Otaku would have to do).

>
> >> How many complex forms can an otaku start off with, max?
> >
> >Uhm,,,,ermm....as many as they can afford or build/design?
>
> Well, I mean, as a guideline. Does the GM have to watch the PC roll
> out as many Complex Forms as he can, or is there a straight value?

By VR2.0 rules, yes, the GM has to watch you do rolls to program them out
until you run out of programming days. RAS apends that yu can only have
one uncompleted
form- otherwise, theres no point in charging karma for them, since you
could start programming on as many as you wanted during game play and
finish tme later.

> The errata says a base Computer (Software) x 50Mp of Complex Forms.
> What do they mean by "base?" Can the player still roll for more
> complex forms or what?

This is as a replacement for all the rolling. It is intended as a simpler
alternative, and removes the dependance on luck for character creation, and
is an optional rule.
You get the stated MP amount worth of utlities, no more, with no rolling
required. It may say "base" because you could sink a portion of that total
into your one "unfinished" utility.
If using utility options, you would use the source code size, not the
"actual" size.
>
> Yeah, you can tell I'm new to the world of the otaku...
>

Hell, I don't play them, I just do the math for fun...

Mongoose