New chat room entered at 5/26/2005 8:45:48 PM.
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You are now in chat room “chat23953789380432192167.”
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MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:46:19 PM): Sorry for the delay, as I mentioned to Seiler I was picking up the mess last night's wind made of our external potted plants.
MilesMk1 (8:46:40 PM): Got stuck all over the camouflage netting?
Umbrafer (8:46:55 PM): Got tangled in the ammo belts.
Umbrafer (8:47:08 PM): I hope I cleaned them off well enough.
MilesMk1 (8:47:23 PM): Heh... Going for a different joke, but ok. :p
MilesMk1 (8:47:48 PM): Nothing broken, I hope?
Umbrafer (8:47:54 PM): Also, sorry about the emails last night. Trying to readjust my sleep schedule is meeting with only partial success.
Umbrafer (8:47:55 PM): Nope
Thematrian1 (8:48:08 PM): emails last night?
Umbrafer (8:48:10 PM): A lot of soil spilled, but not much actual damage
MilesMk1 (8:48:26 PM): Jon sent us e-mail last night apologizing for missing this session.
Umbrafer (8:48:32 PM): I got confused and thought it was Thursday night (or, more accurately, early Friday morning) and that I'd completely—yeah.
Thematrian1 (8:48:35 PM): oh
Umbrafer (8:48:52 PM): In my defense, it's all Dave's fault.
Umbrafer (8:48:55 PM): And he may not be here tonight.
Umbrafer (8:49:55 PM): (He'd sent an email to me apologizing for missing the run, and in my sleep-fogged state I didn't realize that just because it's Thursday at 1:00 AM doesn't mean that the previous evening was also Thursday)
terminal handle is online, but is away from the computer, and cannot respond to your invitation right now.

Umbrafer (8:51:14 PM): Anyway. When we last left off…
Umbrafer (8:51:46 PM): IIRC Gem was still working on finding something to try to get more info out of that mostly-illegible writing in the corner of one of the surveys
Thematrian1 (8:52:08 PM): yeah. I did a search on programs to help with that. All the answer cost money.
Umbrafer (8:53:18 PM): Well, there are a few free ones.
Umbrafer (8:53:24 PM): I think you can guess how well they work.
Thematrian1 (8:53:38 PM): I grab them, and use them.
Thematrian1 (8:53:40 PM): well
Thematrian1 (8:54:00 PM): grab, physically isolate my deck, and use
Umbrafer (8:54:34 PM): You do so. One of them thinks they found an N. Another one tries to redirect you to "All Busty Trolls".
Thematrian1 (8:54:53 PM): I delete them. Then I delete that second one again.
MilesMk1 (8:55:09 PM): So, was there actually a session last week, or did I not in fact miss anything?
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:57:20 PM): Seiler's hav…
Umbrafer (8:57:23 PM): There we go.
Thematrian1 is offline and not available.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (8:58:31 PM): So, "terminal handle" isn't playing tonight? (I actually forgot the character that goes with the handle. Again.)
Thematrian1 (8:59:03 PM): I think that's the ghoul rigger
Umbrafer (8:59:09 PM): (That'd be Scavengers) Unfortunately not, as apparently his computer is being reformatted.
Umbrafer (8:59:10 PM): INdeed
Umbrafer (8:59:27 PM): As for session last week, I'm still trying to remember.
Umbrafer (8:59:31 PM): Did we have one?
Thematrian1 (8:59:44 PM): logs?
Umbrafer (8:59:52 PM): (My memory is going to be more shot than usual, please bear with me) good call.
Umbrafer (9:02:32 PM): I'm not finding a log. I don't think anything ended up happening…
Thematrian1 (9:03:15 PM): that's very possible. So, got paid, got software, saw the software suck. Gem opts not to buy.
Umbrafer (9:04:45 PM): *Software pouts*
MilesMk1 (9:07:16 PM): Mhmm...
Thematrian1 (9:07:43 PM): Did we have contact plans?
MilesMk1 (9:07:51 PM): Well, in the absence of anything else to do, Glitch does more non-destructive testing on the mysterious black box, and waits.
MilesMk1 (9:07:55 PM): Contact plans?
Umbrafer (9:09:12 PM): Any sort of testing in particular?
MilesMk1 (9:11:10 PM): Well, I assume we didn't get access to better tools yet, so I just keep on trying to map the various contacts, try to make sense of the format of the signals they output, analyze all the stuff I alreade recorded, etc.
MilesMk1 (9:11:37 PM): Also, a careful micriscopic scan on the the whole thing - hours long, if need be - to see if I missed anything.
Umbrafer (9:12:39 PM): Roll it.
MilesMk1 (9:13:45 PM): Perception, or electronics?
Umbrafer (9:13:52 PM): Hm. Both.
MilesMk1 (9:13:59 PM): Perception:
MilesMk1 (9:14:03 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 2 6 3 4 2
MilesMk1 (9:14:06 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
MilesMk1 (9:14:11 PM): Electronics:
MilesMk1 (9:14:15 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 3 6 2 4 2 2 1 5
MilesMk1 (9:14:21 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (9:14:24 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
MilesMk1 (9:14:50 PM): This die roller hates us all. Us players, anyway... *glares*
Umbrafer (9:15:05 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 1 2 3 4 5
Umbrafer (9:15:11 PM): Not just players tonight,
Umbrafer (9:15:14 PM): *.
Umbrafer (9:15:19 PM): A remarkable distribution, that.
Umbrafer (9:16:21 PM): You don't find a whole lot, all things considered. The thing seems to be slightly magnetic in places, though.
Umbrafer (9:16:59 PM): Nothing else new shows up.
MilesMk1 (9:17:20 PM): Bah.
Umbrafer (9:18:41 PM): You're both at your respective domiciles?
Thematrian1 (9:19:23 PM): yes
MilesMk1 (9:20:29 PM): Yep.
Umbrafer (9:20:58 PM): Time passes. Unless you do something, it's getting to be Eveningish.
Thematrian1 (9:21:18 PM): and so it is
MilesMk1 (9:22:28 PM): *accidentally makes an AI out of spare parts and a third-rate image recognition program*
Umbrafer (9:23:06 PM): Gem notices the lights in Glitch's part of town flickering ominously.
Umbrafer (9:24:25 PM): Glitch, meanwhile, is wondering where his hunchbacked assistant suddenly came from.
MilesMk1 (9:24:54 PM): In a curious twist, the assistant is named "Stanley".
MilesMk1 (9:25:08 PM): *waits waits waits*
MilesMk1 (9:25:28 PM): *Makes a couple of calls to acquaintances to catch up on the news, then waits some more.*
Thematrian1 (9:26:58 PM): code code code
Umbrafer (9:33:04 PM): Glitch gets a call.
MilesMk1 (9:33:20 PM): "Hello?"
Umbrafer (9:34:26 PM): It's your as-yet-unnamed Fixer.
Umbrafer (9:34:37 PM): "Glitch. You free?"
MilesMk1 (9:35:21 PM): "Oh, hi, Marcus. Yeah, I think I can clear my schedule..."
Umbrafer (9:36:38 PM): "Got a job that needs doing by sundown tomorrow. You interested in hearing more?"
Umbrafer (9:36:54 PM): (It's probably about 9:30 in-game)
MilesMk1 (9:37:43 PM): "Well... I know you wouldn't be calling me to pick up after someone's huge steaming mess, right? Why not."
MilesMk1 (9:39:24 PM): (this is said without any sarcasm, BTW)
MilesMk1 (9:39:40 PM): (maybe just a touch of paranoia)
Umbrafer (9:40:05 PM): "Meet me at Toby Wong's Noodle Palace, and bring anyone you trust. Dinner's on me, if you haven't eaten."
MilesMk1 (9:41:25 PM): "All right. It might end up being a light crew, on this sort of notice - that ok?{"
MilesMk1 (9:41:52 PM): "As long as I stick to people who wouldn't just come for the free dinner, anyway..."
Umbrafer (9:43:29 PM): "Only people you want on the job, and this isn't a big one—there's some extra for short notice, but we're not selling diamonds here."
MilesMk1 (9:43:54 PM): "All right, I'll see you there."
MilesMk1 (9:45:00 PM): ((Now, should I only call people who are playing tonight, or do we assume I contact more of the Thursday people, to include them?))
Thematrian1 (9:45:36 PM): (all one of us)
Umbrafer (9:46:13 PM): (We might want to assume that you can only get in touch with Gem right now, but since it's fixed pay anyway (that is to say, they don't pay by the Shadowrunner) you're free to bring in other players without them being at the meet)
Umbrafer (9:46:17 PM): (If you take my meaning)
MilesMk1 (9:46:28 PM): (Right.)
MilesMk1 (9:46:32 PM): *calls Gem*
MilesMk1 (9:47:08 PM): "Hey... Feel like late dinner, and maybe taking a look at a quick bit of work? Real quick..."
Thematrian1 (9:47:16 PM): "Quick is good. Where and when?"
Thematrian1 (9:47:28 PM): (assuming, for the moment, that I recognize Glitch's voice ;-))
Umbrafer (9:49:23 PM): (You think it's that clown on the other end of the line ;) )
MilesMk1 (9:50:26 PM): "At Toby Wong's Noodle Palace - and as soon as we can get there."
MilesMk1 (9:52:25 PM): "Want me to pick you up?"
Thematrian1 (9:52:49 PM): "Sure, meet me" <a few blocks away>
Thematrian1 (9:53:38 PM): (sorry about that...gaim doesn't consistently report messages)
MilesMk1 (9:54:35 PM): (np)
MilesMk1 (9:55:36 PM): *takes his usual gear - gun, silencer, stun gloves, electronics kit, jukebox - and heads over to pick up Gem and drive to the Palace*
Thematrian1 (9:56:47 PM): (slot unarmed and biotech, carry the linguasofts, deck goes in the bag, unplugged for now)
Thematrian1 (9:56:57 PM): ::greet Gem, get in::
Thematrian1 (9:57:03 PM): ::greet Glitch, get in::
Umbrafer (9:57:27 PM): You drive over. It's a slightly run-down part of town—the actual restaurant is in an otherwise abandoned strip-mall, and as such as an absolutely giant parking lot devoted solely to it at this point—but the restaurant itself looks
Umbrafer (9:57:32 PM): well-maintained.
Umbrafer (9:59:03 PM): It's an all-you-can-eat place. You walk in the door and are waiting by the koi when Marcus waves you over to his booth.
MilesMk1 (9:59:31 PM): *walks over to Marcus, introduces Gem, sits down*
Thematrian1 (10:00:08 PM): ::greet Marcus, get in::
Umbrafer (10:01:14 PM): "Hey. Sorry for the sort notice."
Umbrafer (10:01:25 PM): You notice some hissing around the table.
Thematrian1 (10:01:55 PM): "These things happen."
Umbrafer (10:02:03 PM): *short
MilesMk1 (10:02:42 PM): *looks for the white noise generator, or one of those sizzling-hot dishes that tends to spray oil all over the place*
Umbrafer (10:03:01 PM): He finishes off the last of some lo mein, pushes his plate aside, and then gets up. "Grab some food if you want, then we can get down to business."
Umbrafer (10:03:17 PM): Roll Perception
MilesMk1 (10:03:19 PM): "Takeout?"
Thematrian1 (10:03:19 PM): ::grabs some noodles::
MilesMk1 (10:03:24 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 3 5 2 4 1
Thematrian1 (10:03:34 PM): argh
Thematrian1 (10:03:38 PM): gaim can't roll dice either
MilesMk1 (10:03:46 PM): *gets some beef noodles*
MilesMk1 (10:03:53 PM): Want me to roll for you?
Thematrian1 (10:03:55 PM): please
MilesMk1 (10:04:04 PM): Was that 6 or 7?
MilesMk1 (10:04:26 PM): (how many dice?)
Thematrian1 (10:04:54 PM): 6
MilesMk1 (10:05:07 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 6 5 3 4 2
MilesMk1 (10:05:12 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
MilesMk1 (10:05:23 PM): Can you at least see the rolls?
Thematrian1 (10:05:29 PM): yeah
Thematrian1 (10:05:40 PM): but it doesn't recognize the existance of the //roll-dice command
Umbrafer (10:06:10 PM): You both think the hissing is coming from underneath a small stack of nondescript papers. One of the sides of the stack is tilted up by something underneath.
MilesMk1 (10:08:06 PM): *assumes it's a white noise generator*
MilesMk1 (10:08:14 PM): *Eats some noodles*
Thematrian1 (10:08:15 PM): That seems fair.
Thematrian1 (10:08:23 PM): ::devours noodles::
MilesMk1 (10:08:31 PM): BTW, does he go somewhere when he gets up?
Umbrafer (10:08:36 PM): He comes back with a plate full of more lo mein, some spare ribs, and some kung pao chicken. "So."
Umbrafer (10:08:41 PM): (Great minds)
MilesMk1 (10:09:26 PM): "Yeah?"
MilesMk1 (10:09:31 PM): *slurp*
Umbrafer (10:10:16 PM): "We've got a bit of a problem here. Something for the more… electronically-minded."
Umbrafer (10:11:12 PM): "There's an offsite monitoring station that needs to be taken offline, and a few special measures planted. It needs to be done fast, too."
CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (10:11:36 PM): In-fucking-credible, I'm online
Umbrafer (10:11:50 PM): "Anytime before tomorrow sundown. You might be able to go later, but I wouldn't advise it."
Umbrafer (10:12:32 PM): "And one more thing."
Umbrafer (10:12:47 PM): "It needs to stay done past sundown. The sooner you go, the quieter it has to be."
Umbrafer (10:13:12 PM): Perception for Gem.
Thematrian1 (10:13:25 PM): Matt, six please?
Umbrafer (10:13:47 PM): (Incidentally, does anyone have objection to retconning MacLeod in?)
Thematrian1 (10:13:58 PM): (fine with me, I was going to call him after dinner)
CirclMastr (10:14:21 PM): (Do the calling thing, I have no idea what's going on)
Umbrafer (10:15:27 PM): (Fair enough then)
Umbrafer (10:15:36 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 6 2 3 4 2
MilesMk1 (10:15:37 PM): (Fine with me)
Umbrafer (10:15:42 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 3 2 1 1 3
Umbrafer (10:15:46 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 6 4 6 6 2
Umbrafer (10:15:49 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 3 6 6
Umbrafer (10:15:53 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 1 1
Umbrafer (10:15:57 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 6 6 5 3 2
Umbrafer (10:16:02 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 1
Umbrafer (10:16:04 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
MilesMk1 (10:16:06 PM): Oops... Sorry, all this talk of food made me go grab a snack. Did you roll for Gem, Jon?
MilesMk1 (10:16:32 PM): If not... //roll-dice 6
Umbrafer (10:16:32 PM): Well, yes, but not Perception. Go ahead and roll that.
MilesMk1 (10:16:37 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 3 5 6 1 2
MilesMk1 (10:16:41 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Thematrian1 (10:16:57 PM): I think you guys should roll all my dice from now on
MilesMk1 (10:18:21 PM): Yeah, because I'm doing so well...
CirclMastr (10:18:21 PM): /nick DicMastr
CirclMastr (10:18:34 PM): Actually that could be misconstrued
MilesMk1 (10:18:41 PM): Easily.
MilesMk1 (10:19:06 PM): Actually, "could be" is something of an understatement.
Thematrian1 (10:19:07 PM): Does it count as misconstrual if I can only think of one construance?
CirclMastr (10:19:41 PM): It's supposed to be DiceMaster with the missing e's. Because, y'know, CirclMastr is CircleMaster with missing e's.
Thematrian1 (10:20:37 PM): ah, ok
Thematrian1 (10:21:15 PM): :glance:: "Special measures? Matrix or physical?"
Umbrafer (10:21:53 PM): "Some things that need to be installed quietly. Matrix work would be great if you've got someone that can do it."
Thematrian1 (10:22:50 PM): "Are these things programs, or physical objects that we'd need to transport?"
Umbrafer (10:23:03 PM): "Physical. Small."
Thematrian1 (10:24:35 PM): "And the pay?"
MilesMk1 (10:24:57 PM): "What kind of physical security is there? And yeah, the pay?"
Umbrafer (10:25:57 PM): "Twenty, and sixty on completion."
MilesMk1 (10:26:33 PM): *revises his mental estimate of what "not buying diamonds here" means*
MilesMk1 (10:26:57 PM): Now, is that sort of offer in line with payment for this kind of rush job, or should it be grounds for suspicion?
Thematrian1 (10:27:01 PM): (Well, you have to remember that synthetic diamonds are probably everywhere by now)
Umbrafer (10:27:29 PM): (That's true; even DeBeers-Omnitech wouldn't have been able to keep diamonds worth much this long)
CirclMastr (10:27:40 PM): (Also diamonds in reality are common as hell, it's just the collusion of African diamond mines that drives up prices overseas)
Umbrafer (10:27:58 PM): (More the collusion of DeBeers)
CirclMastr (10:28:00 PM): (Sorta like oil)
Umbrafer (10:28:25 PM): (Except oil is downright nonexistant compared to diamonds, at least once you compare the rate at which they become unusable)
Umbrafer (10:28:40 PM): (Change the reference to diamonds to something still actually worth money)
Thematrian1 (10:28:42 PM): I echo Matt's question, Jon?
Thematrian1 (10:28:47 PM): (meat)
CirclMastr (10:29:14 PM): (Albino gnome otaku deckers)
Umbrafer (10:29:32 PM): That offer is a lowball, you'd guess, probably an opener for negotiation but high enough that he wouldn't reasonably expect you to walk for the pay alone. It sounds like a rush job with relatively low complexity and risk.
Umbrafer (10:29:38 PM): Sounds like pay for, that is
Umbrafer (10:30:37 PM): "There are a few guards and techs in-house, six to eight people at a time. Other than that, just a PanicButton and some cameras."
MilesMk1 (10:31:14 PM): "At the offsite station, or the main facility, whatever that is?"
MilesMk1 (10:31:28 PM): (Wait... He did just offers us a total of 80K, didn't he?)
Umbrafer (10:31:46 PM): (Yep)
CirclMastr (10:31:47 PM): (Split an unknown number of ways)
MilesMk1 (10:31:52 PM): (True...)
Umbrafer (10:31:54 PM): (Yeah)
CirclMastr (10:32:02 PM): (Three + Ghede if he ever shows)
Umbrafer (10:32:16 PM): (Correction: upgrade either the risk or complexity to low/moderate, probably not both)
MilesMk1 (10:32:23 PM): #Well, want to see what you can do with that number? 80K is not bad, but I bet you could talk him higher...#
Umbrafer (10:32:31 PM): (The fact that you have under twenty-four hours to complete significantly affects the price)
Thematrian1 (10:33:14 PM): "And it has to be done in less than twenty-four hours? I understand your reservations, but ninety on completion would be more reasonable."
Thematrian1 (10:33:22 PM): #I bet you're right. Let's see what happens...#
CirclMastr (10:33:58 PM): (You only went up to 90? Lawbreaker)
Umbrafer (10:34:00 PM): "Ninety on completion? Yeah, I could do that, but usually people prefer something up front."
Thematrian1 (10:35:06 PM): (It's half again as much. If it's really bad I suppose Gem would know that, but 110k for that level of risk is fair)
CirclMastr (10:35:31 PM): (80 to 90 isn't half again as much... that'd be 120k...)
Thematrian1 (10:35:42 PM): (I was thinking, 60 to 90. But true)
Umbrafer (10:35:52 PM): (His implication, I think Gem would understand, is that ninety is fine with him if you aren't getting anything up front)
CirclMastr (10:36:03 PM): (Ah well. I'm not there. But you still broke Law #34)
Thematrian1 (10:36:11 PM): (What's that?)
CirclMastr (10:36:28 PM): ("Be royal in your own fashion: act like a king to be treated like one")
CirclMastr (10:36:53 PM): (Don't be timid or hesitant, ask for the moon and you'll be surprised how close you get sometimes)
Thematrian1 (10:37:18 PM): She smiles. "It's important to be forward-looking, but we can't entirely neglect the moment, or it will slip by us. 20 thousand up front is entirely fair."
Umbrafer (10:38:03 PM): "So twenty up front, and seventy on completion?" He looks thoughtful.
Thematrian1 (10:40:12 PM): Gem smiles. "If you'd rather quibble over the price than see the job done correctly and soon, I won't judge. In the meantime...twenty and ninety."
Thematrian1 (10:40:25 PM): #Say, how good a friend is this guy?#
MilesMk1 (10:41:06 PM): #Well... A pretty decent one as fixers go.# (Level 2 contact)
Thematrian1 (10:41:19 PM): #Ok. I'll play nice.#
Umbrafer (10:41:32 PM): "I can tell you right now, my client isn't going to like that."
Thematrian1 (10:43:00 PM): "Your client is already suffering, or the time constraint would be a little looser."
Umbrafer (10:44:39 PM): "I can give him a call, but I can tell you right now he isn't going to approve it. Maybe if you could come down a little, then I'd have a shot at convincing him"
Thematrian1 (10:44:45 PM): (Note: Gem's player got savagely taken in a Spanish bazaar in his one haggling experience. Any time you want to bust out the dice is fine with me)
Umbrafer (10:45:12 PM): (Hehehe)
Umbrafer (10:45:26 PM): (You'll have to tell me the story sometime, if it isn't too traumatizing)
Umbrafer (10:45:55 PM): (You can bust out the dice if you want, but I'd start calculating from the original sum)
Umbrafer (10:45:59 PM): (Original offer, that is)
Thematrian1 (10:46:13 PM): (Well, right. Negotiating up from here would be awesome but silly)
Umbrafer (10:46:41 PM): (I make an offer at one billion, then we roll negotiation from there :D )
Thematrian1 (10:46:43 PM): "We could make it 20/85, cut down on the post-victory party a bit." ::share a look with Glitch::
Umbrafer (10:48:02 PM): (It's your call whether to bust out the dice at any given point up until the deal is settled)
Thematrian1 (10:48:40 PM): (Ah, gotcha. Let's see how he likes this one)
MilesMk1 (10:48:44 PM): #Go for it... Marcus knows the score, and as long as we don't walk and leave him hanging, he won't mind. I think.#
Umbrafer (10:49:19 PM): "I'll be right back." He holds up his pocket secretary to indicate his intentions, then gets up and walks towards the door. You're left with your food for the moment.
Thematrian1 (10:49:32 PM): ::eat food::
Thematrian1 (10:49:37 PM): (Eat noodles!)
Thematrian1 (10:50:02 PM): #Good. Jobs this short make me nervous; if we do it tonight I'll barely have time to summon anything#
Thematrian1 (10:50:22 PM): #There's that about being at sea; usually your contact is on land so you have days to plan everything#
MilesMk1 (10:51:11 PM): #I guess it's one of the few places where instant communication just needs to take a backseat to the reality of how quickly ships move.#
Umbrafer (10:51:22 PM): The food here's pretty tasty. It's nothing exceptional, the prices make you pretty sure that anything meatish that isn't krill is soy, but they do a good job of covering it up.
Thematrian1 (10:52:09 PM): #With the right spirits, the reality of how ships move can be pretty fantastic. But there's no way to get from Japan to the CFS by sunrise#
MilesMk1 (10:53:45 PM): #Sounds like a pretty unique way to travel.#
Thematrian1 (10:54:13 PM): #Nothing like it. Do it right, and the ship barely touches the water...#
Thematrian1 (10:55:24 PM): #Anyway, if we do it tonight I'll need to summon from your car.#
Umbrafer (10:55:43 PM): A few minutes later he comes back in, stopping at the buffet tables before rejoining you.
Umbrafer (10:58:08 PM): "I got the client to agree to 25/75, but I don't think I can push it higher. It's your call."
Thematrian1 (10:58:54 PM): #You know him. Is he sincere?#
Umbrafer (11:00:14 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 4 4 1 1 2
MilesMk1 (11:00:16 PM): #Probably.#
Thematrian1 (11:01:36 PM): "Can we trade five now for ten later?"
Umbrafer (11:02:58 PM): "Sorry. I had to talk him into giving the five at all, and I figured you'd like it more up front."
Thematrian1 (11:03:01 PM): #100 thousand is a good day's work, even split four ways. But that trade is a spinal reflex for me.#
Thematrian1 (11:03:33 PM): #So: we take it?#
MilesMk1 (11:04:42 PM): #Yeah, let's gof for it.#
Thematrian1 (11:05:17 PM): :shrug:: "I've never had problems with getting paid. But we can work under those conditions. 25 now, and 75 on completion: it's a deal."
CirclMastr (11:06:26 PM): (J? Get my IM?)
Umbrafer (11:06:45 PM): He sits back and takes a long drink of water. "What do you want your advance in? Nuyen? UCAS dollars? Mitsuhama scrip?"
Thematrian1 (11:07:55 PM): "Nuyen will be fine."
Umbrafer (11:09:02 PM): "Got it." He slides a small synthleather pouch across the table.
Thematrian1 (11:09:32 PM): Gem grabs it, but doesn't open it.
Thematrian1 (11:09:55 PM): #Safe to not count it, right?#
Umbrafer (11:10:40 PM): (Do I need to point out the sheer lack of sense involved in giving Runners payments that are obviously less than what they should be before they get a job done?)
Umbrafer (11:11:23 PM): (I mean, if you want to check it for forgaries, bombs, or tracking signals, that works, but if you open it up and find only ¥15k (or nothing) before you start the job, then… well…)
Thematrian1 (11:11:24 PM): (Touche)
Thematrian1 (11:11:44 PM): "It's been a pleasure doing business, then."
Umbrafer (11:12:33 PM): He nods. "Glitch knows how to get in touch with me afterwards." He finishes off the last of the lo mein, slots his credstick in the reader in the table, and leaves unless someone detains him.
CirclMastr (11:12:39 PM): (It might be 25k in Monopoly nuyen!)
Thematrian1 (11:13:53 PM): Once he's gone, I pass the bag to Glitch. "Probably it's the J's money. Probably worth checking."
MilesMk1 (11:14:37 PM): "Yeah - I'll do it in the van."
Thematrian1 (11:14:55 PM): ::nod::
Umbrafer (11:15:38 PM): A waiter comes and clears the J's plate, and asks if you want anything to drink.
Thematrian1 (11:16:25 PM): "No thank you."
Thematrian1 (11:17:51 PM): quot;So: you for the site, me for electronics, Scavs for support, MacLeod for in case we screw up?"
Thematrian1 (11:17:57 PM): (this once the water is gone)
CirclMastr (11:18:41 PM): (Dune is a long time coming, I think)
Thematrian1 (11:18:51 PM): (Hah)
Umbrafer (11:19:14 PM): Also, because the J is less asleep than I am, he left a chip with info.
MilesMk1 (11:19:29 PM): "Well... I have a feeling Macleod is going to be bored again, but it seems like he could use the work."
MilesMk1 (11:19:44 PM): "We should at least run it by him."
CirclMastr (11:20:15 PM): (What makes you think I could use the work? I've been on two runs and haven't spent any money yet.)
Thematrian1 (11:20:22 PM): "fair point. I'll call." (When we're out, she does so)
MilesMk1 (11:20:39 PM): I had a question about their physical security, and it sort of just got lost in the flow... I expect that's on the chip?
Umbrafer (11:20:55 PM): IIRC I answered it
CirclMastr (11:21:04 PM): I remember a bit about a couple guards and six to eight people. But I am also tired.
Thematrian1 (11:21:06 PM): yeah. Panic button, guards
MilesMk1 (11:21:53 PM): (Well, you were on two runs, but you wear a ratty trenchcoat, still don't have a transducer, and live somewhere called the "Zoo". Glitch is probably asssuming you have serious expenses and are neglecting yourself. :) )
MilesMk1 (11:22:11 PM): (Mind you, that's Glitch assuming, not me.)
Thematrian1 (11:22:31 PM): (You do fit the profile of crazy street person pretty much to a T)
CirclMastr (11:23:02 PM): (You're just jealous because the voices talk to me.)
MilesMk1 (11:23:46 PM): Now, was it also apparent from the briefing we got that since this needs to stay undetected, just knocking out the guards to gain entry would not be a smart idea? Basically, we need to get in and out without anyone noticing or
Thematrian1 (11:23:52 PM): (I have that shirt. It is a fine shirt.)
MilesMk1 (11:24:15 PM): without causing people to get suspicious about the place?)
CirclMastr (11:24:20 PM): (I don't have it in shirt form. The only worded shirt I have is "Nihonjin kanojo boshu-chu")
MilesMk1 (11:24:57 PM): (I'm afiraid to ask what it means, but I will anyway, because it's late and my judgement is impaired. :p)
Umbrafer (11:25:03 PM): (To be fair, the profile of a crazy street person doesn't usually include a katana)
Thematrian1 (11:25:20 PM): (To corp rats it does)
Thematrian1 (11:25:28 PM): (Granted, we all know better)
MilesMk1 (11:25:45 PM): (...that reminds me of a video of a police standoff I saw on some crappy tv show...)
CirclMastr (11:26:15 PM): (Shirt means "Accepting applications for a Japanese Girlfriend")
Umbrafer (11:26:16 PM): (Do you know better? He wanders around talking about things that happened fifty years ago and claiming to be immortal)
MilesMk1 (11:26:33 PM): (Heh.)
CirclMastr (11:26:50 PM): (Anyway, someone call MacLeod and offer to let him in on it. And to be fair I DID survive an unnaturally long time in a public fountain.)
Thematrian1 (11:26:59 PM): We leave.
Thematrian1 (11:27:04 PM): ::dial dial, call call::
CirclMastr (11:27:18 PM): ::ring ring, pick up pick up:: "Hello?"
Umbrafer (11:27:22 PM): (We all know it's just your internal air tank.)
MilesMk1 (11:27:31 PM): *leave, check the chips for forgery, tampering or tracers*
Umbrafer (11:28:27 PM): Roll Electronics and Build/Repair. A thorough forgery check would require matrix work and probably a verifier.
Thematrian1 (11:28:39 PM): "MacLeod, it's Gem. Want to come visit? It's business rather than pleasure."
CirclMastr (11:29:20 PM): "Hey, a real person. Feels like I've been talking to nothing but walls for a while. Where are you?"
CirclMastr (11:29:42 PM): (Yes, I said I was talking to walls just to add fuel to the crazy homeless person fire)
MilesMk1 (11:30:06 PM): Electronics:
MilesMk1 (11:30:10 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 2 6 6 5 5 3 5 1
MilesMk1 (11:30:15 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 5 5
MilesMk1 (11:30:30 PM): (and did I mention already I have a talent for that?)
Thematrian1 (11:30:35 PM): "Right now we're outside <uh...that place>. We could come get you, though."
MilesMk1 (11:30:38 PM): Electronics B/R:
MilesMk1 (11:30:43 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 5 3 5 3 4 4 4 2
MilesMk1 (11:30:46 PM): Gah!
Thematrian1 (11:30:47 PM): (At last, Glitch outperforms Blake at Electronics
Thematrian1 (11:31:04 PM): (maybe not, usually B/R is TN of like 4 or 6
Thematrian1 (11:31:11 PM): (So with microvision, that roll is awesome)
MilesMk1 (11:31:36 PM): (Well, I do have a -2 TN from microscopic vision, but that still sucked, absolutely speaking... yeah.)
Umbrafer (11:32:09 PM): (You spot no signs of tampering. One of the sticks (five sticks) is scuffed slightly, but you don't think it's suspicious)
CirclMastr (11:33:00 PM): "Eh, I can walk it in maybe half an hour, if you've got the patience. Otherwise pick me up at the bus stop at <corner>."
Thematrian1 (11:33:44 PM): "Will do. We'll fill you in."
Thematrian1 (11:33:50 PM): ::click::
CirclMastr (11:34:25 PM): ::gets all my stuff, being the stuff currently on my person, and heads to the bus stop to await Gem::
Umbrafer (11:34:45 PM): Roll perception.
CirclMastr (11:34:47 PM): ::just for effect, lies down on the bench with a screamsheet blanket::
Thematrian1 (11:34:47 PM): "What's the word, Glitch? Are we doomed?"
CirclMastr (11:34:54 PM): (Who rolls?)
MilesMk1 (11:35:29 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 1 6 5 4
MilesMk1 (11:35:33 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (11:35:55 PM): (MacLeod)
MilesMk1 (11:36:06 PM): Ah, good.
CirclMastr (11:36:20 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 5 4 5
CirclMastr (11:36:27 PM): (Pair of fives. Meh.)
Umbrafer (11:37:16 PM): A couple of toughs come up to the station. They look like they're looking for trouble, but when they see the only person here is some guy sleeping on the bench, they move on.
Umbrafer (11:37:58 PM): Er, stop, not station.
CirclMastr (11:38:21 PM): ::snickers to self::
Umbrafer (11:40:24 PM): Anyone heading to pick up MacLeod gets there.
MilesMk1 (11:42:08 PM): "Do you think we should ask that vagrant if he saw a kid around here?"
Thematrian1 (11:42:36 PM): "Worth a try."
Thematrian1 (11:42:42 PM): ::wanders over::
Umbrafer (11:42:56 PM): (Maybe the vagrant ate MacLeod!)
Thematrian1 (11:42:58 PM): ::peer:: "Hi there."
Umbrafer (11:42:59 PM): MacLeod: Perception.
CirclMastr (11:43:04 PM): ::maintains pose, hiding grin under screamsheet::
CirclMastr (11:43:08 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 6 5 5
CirclMastr (11:43:10 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
CirclMastr (11:43:19 PM): (Ten and a pair of fives this time)
Umbrafer (11:44:13 PM): Ok, so you do identify Gem successfully. Gem, Perception.
Thematrian1 (11:44:21 PM): You roll it.
MilesMk1 (11:44:44 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 6 5 5 4 6
Umbrafer (11:44:47 PM): Yeah, keep forgetting that.
MilesMk1 (11:44:50 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 2 5
CirclMastr (11:44:51 PM): (Oh come on, auto-fail, she has a preconceived notion!)
Thematrian1 (11:44:57 PM): Thanks Matt
Umbrafer (11:45:02 PM): Matt's got you covered, and with better rolls most likely
Thematrian1 (11:45:19 PM): "Blood of the Orca. MacLeod?"
Umbrafer (11:45:21 PM): The vagrant looks smallish, maybe a thin Dwarf or a kid
Thematrian1 (11:45:37 PM): (ok, strike that, sorry)
CirclMastr (11:45:55 PM): ::gives my best noncommittal grumble::
Thematrian1 (11:46:30 PM): "I need a ten-year-old kid, ok? He's...my son. He got lost. You know where he is?"
CirclMastr (11:48:27 PM): ::replies in my best raspy voice, not even bothering to try for deep:: "Yer son, yeah, ye probably wan'im fer 'is organs, back in MY day, we kep'r OWN organs..."
Umbrafer (11:48:41 PM): Roll raspy voice.
Thematrian1 (11:48:42 PM): "To hell with this."
Thematrian1 (11:49:02 PM): Gem summons a watcher, force 3
CirclMastr (11:49:10 PM): (Do I really need to roll Charisma?)
Thematrian1 (11:49:19 PM): and tells it to find MacLeod, supply astral details as needed.
Umbrafer (11:49:50 PM): Roll it
CirclMastr (11:49:56 PM): CirclMastr rolled 3 6-sided dice: 5 1 3
Umbrafer (11:50:04 PM): Six dice?
CirclMastr (11:50:19 PM): (Oh, that was my raspy voice roll)
CirclMastr (11:50:27 PM): CirclMastr rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 3 2 6 2 5
Thematrian1 (11:50:31 PM): yeah
Umbrafer (11:50:32 PM): (Not you)
CirclMastr (11:50:32 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Thematrian1 (11:50:34 PM): (He meant me)
MilesMk1 (11:50:36 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 4 3 3 4 6
Thematrian1 (11:50:40 PM): (and then 7 to drain)
Umbrafer (11:50:41 PM): (I mean, you needed to roll too)
MilesMk1 (11:50:48 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
MilesMk1 (11:50:55 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 4 1 5 2 5 2 3
MilesMk1 (11:51:00 PM): Um...
Umbrafer (11:51:09 PM): The raspy voice sounds kinda familiar. Whether or not this sparks recognition I can't say.
Thematrian1 (11:51:13 PM): I have a spirit. I incur no drain.
Thematrian1 (11:51:20 PM): She doesn't know MacLeod well.
Umbrafer (11:51:31 PM): You've got a spirit. It's bored-looking and slightly drippy.
CirclMastr (11:51:37 PM): (brb)
Thematrian1 (11:52:03 PM): "Find MacLeod. He looks like _this_ <impresses upon it her astral and physical knowledge of MacLeod as needed>. Go fetch."
Umbrafer (11:53:05 PM): The thing nods and then…
CirclMastr (11:53:06 PM): (Back)
Umbrafer (11:53:07 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 5 6 2
Umbrafer (11:53:11 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Umbrafer (11:53:17 PM): Sorta oozes away.
Umbrafer (11:53:47 PM): About eight seconds pass. It oozes back. "Yeah, founim."
Thematrian1 (11:53:55 PM): "Show me."
Umbrafer (11:54:53 PM): It starts oozing away.
Thematrian1 (11:54:57 PM): I follow
CirclMastr (11:55:27 PM): ::is unaware of astral search, instead maintaining pose and waiting to be addressed again::
Umbrafer (11:55:49 PM): It takes you on a path around the bus stop, around the lampost twice (the light is out), and around to the back of the bench.
Umbrafer (11:55:53 PM): "eah."
Thematrian1 (11:56:03 PM): I look at the vagrant.
Thematrian1 (11:56:08 PM): I look at the vagrant some more.
Umbrafer (11:56:28 PM): You notice that thhe vagrant is looking remarkably non-dirty.
CirclMastr (11:56:31 PM): ::raspy:: "Wha'sit? Yer kinda old fer a toss, but wha'evah, how much?"
Thematrian1 (11:56:50 PM): Pleasantly: "I'm going to feed you to the sharks, MacLeod"
CirclMastr (11:57:09 PM): ::chuckles:: "Why's that, my dear?"
Thematrian1 (11:57:55 PM): "Get in the car. Glitch and I will fill you in."
CirclMastr (11:58:05 PM): "Alright. No hard feelings?"
CirclMastr (11:58:24 PM): ::takes screamsheets off, folding one into an airplane on the way to the van::
Thematrian1 (11:58:56 PM): "It does make me wonder about that place you live. The Zoo?"
Thematrian1 (11:59:06 PM): She correctly pronounced the capital letter.
Umbrafer (11:59:22 PM): (Skills)
Thematrian1 (11:59:39 PM): (Gem has got it, believe it)
CirclMastr (11:59:40 PM): "Don't worry, the bench scene is just an act. Worked tonight, in fact. Couple thugs passed me by, saved me the trouble of hiding bodies."
Thematrian1 (12:00:24 AM): "Heh. I didn't figure you for the gentle sort."
CirclMastr (12:00:50 AM): ::shrugs a bit:: "I didn't want to ruin my clothes before seeing you." ::grin::
Thematrian1 (12:02:07 AM): ::climbs in::
CirclMastr (12:02:30 AM): ::does so as well, with airplane::
CirclMastr (12:03:07 AM): "So what's up?"
Umbrafer (12:03:07 AM): MacLeod climbs in with a paper airplane in his hand.
Umbrafer (12:05:01 AM): His breath smells of whisky ;)
MilesMk1 (12:05:05 AM): (I'm sorry, but I'm really damn tired, and will have to bow out very soon.)
Thematrian1 (12:05:36 AM): well, we fill Glitch in. I'll be up for a bit; for logging purposes I'll interrogate the intel chip
CirclMastr (12:05:38 AM): (Then before you go, I'll ask. Would anyone be interested in a PBP game of Role-Player! on the SotSW board?)
Thematrian1 (12:05:48 AM): (What's Role-Player!)
CirclMastr (12:06:21 AM): (Basically an RPG about being a gamer.)
CirclMastr (12:07:03 AM): (The material is scarce but I intend to focus on group dynamics, not things like "Roll Car... you miss the TN by 2, you're late for the game ten minutes.")
Umbrafer (12:07:39 AM): (What's my TN for throwing dice at the players?)
Thematrian1 (12:07:55 AM): (In this game? High)
CirclMastr (12:07:56 AM): (Depends on whether they take any of the Overweight flaws ;) )
MilesMk1 (12:08:50 AM): (Heh...)
CirclMastr (12:09:09 AM): (Well, if there's sufficient curiousity, I'll post info on the board.)
MilesMk1 (12:09:36 AM): (I might be interested, but can't promise anything right now, especially consistent participation - I've had way too much work lately.)
Umbrafer (12:09:45 AM): (What about building MIRV rockets to throw dice at all players simultaneously?
CirclMastr (12:10:02 AM): (Nil. Talking about same? High.)
CirclMastr (12:11:14 AM): (And again, it'd be PBP, so it's low-maintenance as far as time investment goes)
Umbrafer (12:13:16 AM): I'm remembering why combat mechanics were the part of SR3R I dreaded most.
Thematrian1 (12:13:31 AM): hah
MilesMk1 (12:13:36 AM): (Well... I'll take a look at the rules...But I generally have a hard time getting into these weird fringe games... I like to saly things...)
CirclMastr (12:14:03 AM): (Heh, alright. Anyone else?)
Umbrafer (12:14:27 AM): (We can slay dust bunnies and mountain dews)
MilesMk1 (12:14:30 AM): What, you mean the way the thread has degenerated into two people trying to outdo each other proving they know as much about guns as the over-rated Raygun? ;)
Thematrian1 (12:15:17 AM): (I'll look at the rules, historically I haven't done so well at PBP though ::rueful:: )
MilesMk1 (12:15:46 AM): Not that I have anything against Raygun as such, mind you...
CirclMastr (12:15:47 AM): (Nor have I, but there's almost no chance of a chat-based game just based on scheduling)
Umbrafer (12:16:55 AM): Out of interest, why do you say he's overrated? I looked just far enough into his rules to see that they weren't for me and that was the end of it (well, aside from Dave here trying to get an ERASe)
MilesMk1 (12:17:08 AM): I guess the question is, how far you plan on departing from SR3 rules in order to improve on them...\\
CirclMastr (12:17:39 AM): >_>
Umbrafer (12:18:21 AM): In general I'm trying not to depart too far
Umbrafer (12:18:38 AM): I'm still not sure at all whether or not I should fix the heavy pistol/assault rifle problem
MilesMk1 (12:18:45 AM): Meh. He knows a lot, but there are places where I can ask a sniper serving in Iraq a question about guns, or find someone who's an engineer working on ballistics, so I'm just not as impressed with him being an oracle as some people
MilesMk1 (12:18:47 AM): are/
MilesMk1 (12:18:57 AM): That, and I'm just being snarky for no reason. ;)
Umbrafer (12:19:06 AM): And I think it's bulldrek to say that all guns should be base M, at least based on reports I've heard from people who have taken small-caliber bullets.
MilesMk1 (12:19:53 AM): You feel some guns should be L, is what you're saying?
Umbrafer (12:20:05 AM): Basically.
Thematrian1 (12:20:06 AM): some are
Thematrian1 (12:20:13 AM): thing is, they never see play
CirclMastr (12:20:17 AM): Heh
Umbrafer (12:20:37 AM): Then again, it's no surprise that I think an L represents more damage than most people
Umbrafer (12:21:12 AM): I do like the idea of Trolls being all but immune to pistol fire, but it looks like pretty much all Shadowrunners would be from anyone but an adept
CirclMastr (12:21:52 AM): So I guess the session is over.
Umbrafer (12:21:59 AM): Yep
MilesMk1 (12:22:02 AM): I basically agree... What you lose out on by having some guns do 4L is the realism inherent in anyone with a gun being a deadly threat, but the system needs to work best for shadowrunners, not Stuffer Shack clerks...
Thematrian1 (12:22:26 AM): maybe 8-9L would see play?
Umbrafer (12:22:35 AM): That was one of my thoughts
MilesMk1 (12:22:43 AM): Although I can also see the case for making light pistols something other than 4L... I was about to say the same thing about raising power.
Umbrafer (12:23:17 AM): Problem is, making a small-caliber pistol penetrate better than an assault rifle will drive a lot of people into conniptions (which isn't so bad, though I'd like it if SR3R meets the needs of more people than just me), and even both
Umbrafer (12:23:19 AM): *bothers me
Thematrian1 (12:23:24 AM): I mean, if you are expecting 8 successes, you don't care all that much what the base code is
Umbrafer (12:23:36 AM): To some degree.
Thematrian1 (12:23:46 AM): hm. Does that mean 8M is wrong for assault rifles? I know jack about guns.
Umbrafer (12:23:47 AM): Every damage level is another two free successes.
MilesMk1 (12:24:31 AM): Heh... Just tell them all SR light pistols are like the FN 57 http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg18-e.htm :)
CirclMastr (12:24:55 AM): That's FN Five-seveN ;)
Umbrafer (12:25:11 AM): Well, I am rather fond of the 5-7…
MilesMk1 (12:25:40 AM): Well, 8M makes no sense for ARs because heavy pistols have a rating of 9M - basically, pistols have no business penetrating armor better (which power is a major factor in) than ARs.
Umbrafer (12:25:58 AM): The issue is that Power represents two wholly distinct concepts
Umbrafer (12:26:09 AM): Namely, penetration and difficulty of resisting damage.
MilesMk1 (12:26:13 AM): Yeah.
Thematrian1 (12:26:23 AM): go back to SR1 rules for armor?
Thematrian1 (12:26:25 AM): kidding, kidding
MilesMk1 (12:26:28 AM): Heh...
Thematrian1 (12:27:00 AM): I wouldn't mind going back to SR2 for the ability to astrally waft through living matter, but maybe that's too big for the project
MilesMk1 (12:27:05 AM): You *could* add an extra rating to armor and have three - low velocity ballistic, high vellocity ballistic, and impact...
Umbrafer (12:27:13 AM): A five nanometer needle at 20% the speed of light will blow through armor, but neglecting any wake effects probably won't be noticable by the target
CirclMastr (12:27:35 AM): Hydraulic shock would rip you to shreds.
Umbrafer (12:27:40 AM): Likewise, try resisting a civil war era lead ball that will splatter against a modern vest.
Umbrafer (12:27:54 AM): Er, how?
Umbrafer (12:28:42 AM): I'm pretty sure it wouldn't cause significant fluid movement.
CirclMastr (12:28:44 AM): When you (or any fleshy thingy) gets shot, it creates a cavitation effect that damages all the surrounding tissue as well.
Umbrafer (12:28:57 AM): Yeah, and that comes from displaced matter.
Umbrafer (12:29:13 AM): Remember how much matter is being displaced by a five nanometer needle.
CirclMastr (12:29:24 AM): Allegedly (it may be urban legend) some soldiers in Vietnam died from gunshots to the hand.
MilesMk1 (12:29:44 AM): The real issue here is whether something like that (a hell of a lot bigger than, say, a photon) has enough mass to matter at 20% c.
Umbrafer (12:30:05 AM): That's more likely to be physiological shock than anything else, but the fact remains that there's almost nothing actually being displaced by this needle
MilesMk1 (12:30:06 AM): Don't know about those specifically, but there are documented cases from people dying like that.
CirclMastr (12:30:12 AM): Yeah, in reality a 5nm anything won't do shit.
MilesMk1 (12:30:13 AM): Right.
Umbrafer (12:30:23 AM): Except go through things.
CirclMastr (12:30:27 AM): Not really.
CirclMastr (12:30:40 AM): You need mass to penetrate an object, not just speed.
Umbrafer (12:30:47 AM): No, you need pressure
MilesMk1 (12:30:57 AM): You don't need mass if you're nearly firctionless...
MilesMk1 (12:31:15 AM): frictionless, even
Umbrafer (12:31:21 AM): And if one of your ends is negligibly broad
CirclMastr (12:31:30 AM): I'd mostly like to know what the hell this needle is made of to survive traveling at .2c without being destroyed.
MilesMk1 (12:31:55 AM): the same stuff they make superhero uniforms out of.
Umbrafer (12:31:57 AM): That part we aren't talking about. This is a thought experiment to demonstrate the unrelatedness of damage and penetration, remember? ;)
Umbrafer (12:32:06 AM): Dikote!
Umbrafer (12:32:08 AM): That's what.
CirclMastr (12:32:09 AM): And I'd like to use it to travel through time, not shoot people. Well I might shoot people as well.
Umbrafer (12:32:15 AM): The entire needle is pure dikote.
MilesMk1 (12:32:17 AM): It's a really small dikoted ally spirit?
CirclMastr (12:32:26 AM): Force .2c?
CirclMastr (12:32:32 AM): Talk about a karma sinkhole.
CirclMastr (12:33:16 AM): Let's see, c = 286,282 miles per second...
CirclMastr (12:33:43 AM): *Opens le web browser*
MilesMk1 (12:33:44 AM): So... Yeah. The penetration issue is a problem, it's actually one thing GURPS handled pretty well, with damage multipliers based on caliber....
MilesMk1 (12:33:56 AM): It is not 286,000+ miles per second...
MilesMk1 (12:34:18 AM): It's 300,000 km per second, it has to be a lot less in mps.
Umbrafer (12:34:23 AM): Indeed
CirclMastr (12:34:54 AM): According to Google
MilesMk1 (12:35:05 AM): It should be ~186,000 mps.
CirclMastr (12:35:13 AM): c = 299,792,458 m/s
Thematrian1 (12:35:16 AM): yeah
Thematrian1 (12:35:28 AM): what's the conversion from meters to miles though?
Thematrian1 (12:35:32 AM): 186 sounds right
CirclMastr (12:35:41 AM): Well, I'm after meters anyway
MilesMk1 (12:35:43 AM): Divide by 1.609
Thematrian1 (12:35:45 AM): but I've never done serious physics in miles, so...
Umbrafer (12:35:51 AM): Has anyone?
CirclMastr (12:35:56 AM): So
CirclMastr (12:36:06 AM): An SR turn is 3 seconds, right? So divide by 3
Thematrian1 (12:36:22 AM): 100,000 km/turn
Thematrian1 (12:36:25 AM): sure
CirclMastr (12:36:39 AM): 999,30,819
MilesMk1 (12:36:40 AM): Umm... No, 900,000 km per turn.
CirclMastr (12:36:44 AM): Er
CirclMastr (12:36:57 AM): 99,930,819
Thematrian1 (12:37:06 AM): right, sorry
CirclMastr (12:37:08 AM): meters every 3 seconds
CirclMastr (12:37:21 AM): And we want 20%, so .2
CirclMastr (12:37:49 AM): 19,986,163
MilesMk1 (12:37:51 AM): Missed a digit there.
CirclMastr (12:37:56 AM): That's the Force needed of a spirit
CirclMastr (12:38:37 AM): No one will ever get 20 million karma needed to raise a spirit from x - 1 to x
CirclMastr (12:38:48 AM): Let alone even close to X - 1
Umbrafer (12:38:54 AM): So Ghostwalker's ally spirit, basically?
MilesMk1 (12:39:04 AM): It's actually ~ 180 million.
MilesMk1 (12:39:31 AM): I think.
MilesMk1 (12:39:35 AM): Must sleep...
Umbrafer (12:39:38 AM): So Verjigorm.
MilesMk1 (12:39:42 AM): See you guys Tuesday.
Umbrafer (12:39:46 AM): *Waves*
CirclMastr (12:39:48 AM): Night
MilesMk1 (12:39:49 AM): Verjigorm?
Thematrian1 (12:39:53 AM): yeah
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (12:40:59 AM): Ah well
CirclMastr (12:41:54 AM): How much Force would it take to make a spirit infinitely long and infinitely narrow?
Thematrian1 (12:42:09 AM): either all of it or zero
CirclMastr (12:42:26 AM): *Summons a Force 0 spirit, travels through time*
Thematrian1 (12:43:31 AM): such a being would just disrupt instantly, though
Thematrian1 (12:43:41 AM): you need a Force -1 spirit with a point of spirit energy
Umbrafer (12:43:57 AM): :)
Umbrafer (12:44:08 AM): Or a Force 1 spirit with a point of negative spirit energy?
Umbrafer (12:44:15 AM): How about a force i spirit?
Thematrian1 (12:44:17 AM): yeah, or that
Thematrian1 (12:44:33 AM): well, how do you know if you succeeded in summoning it?
Thematrian1 (12:44:41 AM): I mean, if you project onto the reals your TN is zero
Thematrian1 (12:44:50 AM): but in a complex plane...
CirclMastr (12:45:32 AM): I want someone in D&D or SR or something to build a Houseyverse.
Umbrafer (12:45:36 AM): The answer is clear: you need complex dice.
Thematrian1 (12:46:06 AM): that's fair. You could just double the number of dice you roll, to get a coordinate
Thematrian1 (12:46:13 AM): In Nomine does something like that already
CirclMastr (12:46:46 AM): I have In Nomine.
Umbrafer (12:46:53 AM): That's what SR3R needs: imaginary TNs.
CirclMastr (12:46:53 AM): No one actually plays or runs it.
Thematrian1 (12:47:30 AM): Heh, I've played it
Thematrian1 (12:47:43 AM): It's awesome. But...yeah, it is hard to find games.
Thematrian1 (12:47:55 AM): We had to resort to playing with some of the writers
CirclMastr (12:47:57 AM): I even have a character already.
CirclMastr (12:48:01 AM): You should run it.
Thematrian1 (12:48:15 AM): Haha, I should. But I barely have time for one game anymore
CirclMastr (12:48:23 AM): Quit your job. ;)
Thematrian1 (12:48:32 AM): Tell you what. If there's an unexpected TPK in my SR game, I'll switch to In Nomine
Umbrafer (12:48:34 AM): Freelance GM doesn't pay well ;)
Thematrian1 (12:49:09 AM): what I need is a job with SJ Games
Thematrian1 (12:49:14 AM): then I could have my cake and eat it too
CirclMastr (12:49:16 AM): *Shojo wires the van to blow with all 16 IPE-HE 'nades when it starts up and runs off with Martha*
Umbrafer (12:49:19 AM): Hehehe
CirclMastr (12:49:19 AM): There.
Thematrian1 (12:49:35 AM): That _was_ unexpected
Umbrafer (12:49:43 AM): MacLeod wakes up to the sound of a buzzsaw near his ear.
CirclMastr (12:49:44 AM): My work is done. :)
CirclMastr (12:50:00 AM): Who is it, Yves?
Umbrafer (12:50:06 AM): Probably.
CirclMastr (12:50:12 AM): One of my many other short-lived characters?
Thematrian1 (12:50:14 AM): after that? I'd say Kobal.
Umbrafer (12:50:37 AM): Kobal?
Thematrian1 (12:51:13 AM): Demon Prince of Dark Humor
Thematrian1 (12:51:18 AM): the former Angel of Laughter
Umbrafer (12:51:56 AM): I must admit, I have not actually gotten a chance to read the rules. Or for that matter even seen a physical copy of the rules, IIRC.
Thematrian1 (12:54:23 AM): It's a pretty nice system, given how simple it is
Thematrian1 (12:54:29 AM): hit points are sort of broken
Thematrian1 (12:54:35 AM): and Kyriotate of JEan are very broken
Umbrafer (12:54:59 AM): I've heard nothing but good things about it from everyone I've talked to about it (but you just ruined the streak). All three of them.
Thematrian1 (12:55:24 AM): Don't get me wrong, it is _awesome_
Umbrafer (12:55:33 AM): Oh, I know
Thematrian1 (12:55:41 AM): And Kyriotate of JEan are a lot better since the version I played
Thematrian1 (12:55:43 AM): or so I hear
Umbrafer (12:55:52 AM): But it takes a remarkable amount of not-hearing-about-something to have heard only good things.
Thematrian1 (12:56:27 AM): well, I feel bad about ruining the streak, then
Umbrafer (12:56:32 AM): How broken are the aforementioned?
Thematrian1 (12:57:20 AM): hit points, only a little. Kyrio of Jean...were incredible, but the holes I exploited were all closed, or so I hear.
CirclMastr (12:57:50 AM): What holes were those?
Umbrafer (12:58:11 AM): Don't suppose you'd be up for giving details?
Thematrian1 (12:58:18 AM): basically, it was Bezzek + Numinous Corpus: Acid 6 + Kyrio of Jean don't need to protect inanimate hosts
CirclMastr (12:58:35 AM): Bezzek?
Thematrian1 (12:58:40 AM): and the ability of KoJ to manipulate their inanimate hosts has gone down a lot
Thematrian1 (12:58:43 AM): My Kyrio
Thematrian1 (12:58:53 AM): Plus, after the first game the GM invented Force Catchers
Thematrian1 (12:59:01 AM): which have since made their way into canon
Thematrian1 (12:59:14 AM): (basically, Force Catchers sit on an item. When you try to possess it, it sucks you in)
Thematrian1 (12:59:33 AM): bad times, though it can be avoided
Thematrian1 (12:59:42 AM): Jon: Kyriotate can possess people
Thematrian1 (12:59:50 AM): Jean is the Archangel of Lightning, and implicitly of Technology
Thematrian1 (12:59:56 AM): so KoJ can possess items too
Thematrian1 (1:00:07 AM): potentially many items at once, since each only costs one Force and you start with nine
CirclMastr (1:00:18 AM): I always liked my character idea.
Thematrian1 (1:00:31 AM): ?
Umbrafer (1:00:32 AM): Reminds me of Aazvhat Many-Eyes.
CirclMastr (1:00:36 AM): Shedim of Asmodeus, demon-hunter, who secretly wants to defect.
Thematrian1 (1:01:25 AM): So many good memories from that character. Possessing the Balseraph's underwear, then using my acid-spraying power
Thematrian1 (1:01:28 AM): that was cool
Thematrian1 (1:01:39 AM): later did the same thing with a sprinkler system
Thematrian1 (1:01:41 AM): that
Thematrian1 (1:01:47 AM): is an intersting conflict, Dave
CirclMastr (1:01:56 AM): I thought so.
Umbrafer (1:01:58 AM): I think you told me about that before
Umbrafer (1:02:03 AM): (The underpants acid)
CirclMastr (1:02:04 AM): Possibly.
Umbrafer (1:02:15 AM): Indeed wonderful.
Thematrian1 (1:02:27 AM): or possessing the police radio and puttng out a call on his van
CirclMastr (1:02:29 AM): There's always the chance Asmodeus just gives me the evil eye and then eats me, or something.
Thematrian1 (1:02:53 AM): yeah, IIRC you can't lie to him, so I guess you avoid him really carefully
CirclMastr (1:03:33 AM): Well, what does the shedim do? He hunts demons. So do angels. Not his fault, and not directly pertinent to the job, if he ran across an angel or two and didn't start a fight...
Umbrafer (1:04:05 AM): Someday I need to get an Earthdawn game started.
CirclMastr (1:05:23 AM): So I can kill all the stupid IEs?
Umbrafer (1:05:42 AM): No, so you can find out you created IEs and then get eaten by a Horror.
Umbrafer (1:06:01 AM): Either that or so you can kill Steven Kenson's ancestor.
CirclMastr (1:06:18 AM): And all the novelists.
Umbrafer (1:07:14 AM): It's mostly his novels that he balloons the roles of IEs in.
CirclMastr (1:08:18 AM): Whoever conceived Ryan Mercury needs to die too.
CirclMastr (1:08:41 AM): You should run a modern day game so we can form a team of assassins to take out these people.
Umbrafer (1:08:49 AM): I can't remember if it's the same guy. Talon was Kenson's fault, though.
Umbrafer (1:11:08 AM): I'm still not clear what kind of power-level starting characters have, but I get the impression that if the GM uses Major Horrors in any meaningful way the game gets to be a lot like Call of Cthulhu, survival-wise.
Thematrian1 (1:12:06 AM): hah
Umbrafer (1:12:43 AM): Doubly so unless the GM goes out of his or her way to make unusual information known to the players.
Umbrafer (1:13:29 AM): I could easily see Nebis, one of the weakest Major Horrors, taking out half a group before anyone knew what was going on.
CirclMastr (1:17:02 AM): *Makes a mana-nuke to destroy all life in the universe*
Umbrafer (1:18:03 AM): Really, all nukes are mana-nukes.
Umbrafer (1:18:10 AM): Look at how messed up they leave astral space.
CirclMastr (1:20:58 AM): So much silence.
Thematrian1 (1:21:15 AM): I'm just counting hours until the bakery opens
Umbrafer (1:22:18 AM): Any particular reason?
Thematrian1 (1:22:33 AM): well, to buy bread
Umbrafer (1:22:39 AM): Soybread?
Thematrian1 (1:22:42 AM): I know that wasn't really your question, but it's the only answer I have
Thematrian1 (1:22:43 AM): no
Thematrian1 (1:22:46 AM): I am not that far reduced
Umbrafer (1:22:59 AM): I'm reveling in the contrast of neat atmosphere and story and utterly horrid controls that is the first Silent Hill game, and working up the courage to face the Ranged Combat thread before I go to sleep.
CirclMastr (1:24:53 AM): I'm reveling in nothing.
Thematrian1 (1:25:01 AM): I'm revealing nothing
Umbrafer (1:25:18 AM): Except that you're waiting to buy bread.
CirclMastr (1:25:21 AM): So, I started reading The Art of Seduction today.
CirclMastr (1:25:29 AM): So he's reveling in anticipation
CirclMastr (1:26:21 AM): Going just by the preface, I don't think I can use whatever wisdom it contains.
Umbrafer (1:26:32 AM): What does the preface say?
CirclMastr (1:27:17 AM): Reading between the lines? That I need money and confidence and abilities as a stalker.
Umbrafer (1:27:41 AM): Heh. Also, question about the author:
Umbrafer (1:27:56 AM): Is he particularly powerful, influential, or prestigious?
CirclMastr (1:28:30 AM): He's gotten at least two books published, so he has to have SOME degree of influence.
CirclMastr (1:28:36 AM): Since publishers are evil.
Umbrafer (1:29:15 AM): Dude.
Umbrafer (1:29:22 AM): That doesn't take much other than luck.
Umbrafer (1:29:26 AM): Or an inside connection.
CirclMastr (1:30:01 AM): An inside connection I would believe. I think it would take more than luck to get a second book published after the first flopped.
Umbrafer (1:30:22 AM): Or, at the least reputable of places, money. There's a published book out there the cover to which is Orlando Bloom with vampire fangs and blood photoshopped onto him.
CirclMastr (1:30:32 AM): (The 48 Laws of Power is copyright 1998, The Art of Seduction is 2001)
CirclMastr (1:31:00 AM): Publisher is Penguin Books
Umbrafer (1:32:12 AM): Still, if the 48 laws of power were really laws of power, I suspect the bearer wouldn't be a writer. At least not writing about the 48 laws of power.
CirclMastr (1:33:07 AM): It IS mostly drawn from established texts.
CirclMastr (1:33:24 AM): The Prince, The Art of War, Book of Five Rings...
Umbrafer (1:34:20 AM): Regardless, one would think the author better server by putting the laws to practice. While they may be each based on sound reasoning, they are at the least presumably incomplete.
CirclMastr (1:36:02 AM): So where's the line between "has power" and "doesn't have power"? Since clearly authors don't have power in your mind.
Umbrafer (1:37:03 AM): Speaking as a writer, it's somewhere else. Unless you mean propaganda writer.
CirclMastr (1:37:25 AM): So J. K. Rowling is a terrible failure. Gotcha.
Thematrian1 (1:38:01 AM): You guys are tired.
Umbrafer (1:38:14 AM): Well, I was going to say that that isn't quite true insofar as, for instance, Tolkien has significantly… yeah, pretty much
Umbrafer (1:39:47 AM): Dude, vi is so much better than emacs…
Umbrafer (1:39:54 AM): (Sign #1 that it is time for sleep)
CirclMastr (1:41:23 AM): Ah well
Umbrafer (1:42:28 AM): Anyway. I'll see you all Tuesday. Or some reasonable facsimile thereof.
Thematrian1 (1:43:35 AM): ok
Chat room exited at 5/27/2005 1:44:05 AM.