New chat room entered at 6/23/2005 8:40:07 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw23062005.”
Vernjonal has entered the chat room.

terminal handle is online, but is away from the computer, and cannot respond to your invitation right now.

CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

sheepfromthedeep is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (8:40:54 PM): Yarr.
CirclMastr (8:41:06 PM): I'll probably lag a bit, as I'm "buying" some "legal" DVDs at the moment.
Umbrafer (8:42:03 PM): Well, we're still waiting for Matt.
CirclMastr (8:42:15 PM): I'll probably still be lagging.
Umbrafer (8:42:15 PM): And possibly Benton, but signs do not point to yes.
CirclMastr (8:50:26 PM): So.... yarr.
CirclMastr (8:50:39 PM): Anyone want to fill me in on last week's fun-ness?
Thematrian1 (8:50:52 PM): we went pipe hunting, got cut up by kites
Umbrafer (8:51:03 PM): That's most of it, really.
Thematrian1 (8:51:06 PM): Gem's half-asleep in the back, your job is to kill them
CirclMastr (8:51:07 PM): I understood NONE of that.
Thematrian1 (8:51:11 PM): ok
Umbrafer (8:51:11 PM): No one lost any eyes.
Thematrian1 (8:51:18 PM): Blood Kites are these vicious awakened birds
CirclMastr (8:51:31 PM): Fun.
Thematrian1 (8:51:31 PM): the pipe in question is one that might lead us to the monitoring station
Thematrian1 (8:51:40 PM): used for access by maintainence people, and so forth
CirclMastr (8:51:47 PM): Oh, sewer pipe.
Thematrian1 (8:51:57 PM): I kinda suspect that the one we found is a sewage line, given that it's messing up the ground around it, but maybe Glitch won't mind
CirclMastr (8:52:23 PM): We can use the MGS2 method of "grab Glitch around the neck and drag him through the filth"
Umbrafer (8:52:44 PM): There's a clear reference to someone going down into them, so presumably there's a tunnel somewhere in there that's human-traversable.
CirclMastr (8:53:00 PM): Aww, can we drag Glitch through the filth anyway?
Thematrian1 (8:53:15 PM): Yeah, but I'm not sure it's the same pipe
Thematrian1 (8:53:33 PM): well, technically, if we needed someone to go into a full sewer main, the logical choice would be the guy who doesn't have to breathe
Thematrian1 (8:53:34 PM): just sayin'
CirclMastr (8:53:59 PM): Sometimes you need to do the fun thing. Like drag people through filth.
MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (8:56:20 PM): Hey.
MilesMk1 (8:56:36 PM): Sorry I'm late.
CirclMastr (8:56:51 PM): We already killed off Glitch, sorry.
CirclMastr (8:56:56 PM): You brought a backup, right?
MilesMk1 (8:57:18 PM): Yeah, actually. He's got a tranquilizer gun and a surgical saw.
CirclMastr (8:57:59 PM): Where'd I leave Yves's sheet...
MilesMk1 (8:58:33 PM): I'm feelinga bit under the weather, actually... And I just crawled in the door, so I need a few minutes till I'm up and running... BRB.
Umbrafer (8:59:26 PM): Didn't you burn Yves' sheet?
Thematrian1 (8:59:28 PM): sofffff
Thematrian1 (8:59:33 PM): erk, nevermind
Umbrafer (8:59:46 PM): ?
Thematrian1 (9:00:12 PM): (I was testing some input-capturing code I'd writting, didn't remember until too late what 'enter' would do in this window)
Thematrian1 (9:00:20 PM): ( "I'd writting" ?)
Umbrafer (9:00:35 PM): (Getting enough sleep over there?)
Thematrian1 (9:00:37 PM): (I'm gonna go join Matt under all that weather, I think)
CirclMastr (9:00:38 PM): Is writting like, issuing a writ?
Umbrafer (9:02:07 PM): (*Goes and sits on top of all the weather*)
CirclMastr (9:02:34 PM): (That reminds me of a Taoist story)
MilesMk1 (9:09:06 PM): (Back. Largely.)
Umbrafer (9:10:40 PM): When we last left off, one of our intrepid antiheroes was napping in the back of the car/van
Umbrafer (9:11:10 PM): One of the others was applying a bit of bactine to his face.
CirclMastr (9:11:55 PM): "What are those things?"
Thematrian1 (9:12:45 PM): "Birds. About this big, sharp claws, awfully fast. Not terribly strong, thankfully."
CirclMastr (9:13:01 PM): "Ow. What do we do?"
MilesMk1 (9:13:36 PM): "Gem rests, then calls in a spirit to find the damn tunnel for us, was the plan the Blood Kites seemed to prefer."
Thematrian1 (9:14:02 PM): "I rest, I call spirits. Glitch watches for response teams. MacLeod, you kill the birds."
Thematrian1 (9:14:09 PM): "That's my plan."
CirclMastr (9:15:08 PM): "So, I stand outside, wait to get attacked, and hope I kill them before they fly away....."
Thematrian1 (9:15:23 PM): "They're noisy things, you won't have any trouble finding them."
Umbrafer (9:15:47 PM): (For reference, they got a lot less noisy once they stopped posturing and started attacking)
CirclMastr (9:17:42 PM): *sighs a bit* "I'm guessing any objection I have is going to be met with 'you're immortal and we aren't' so I'll just get to it..." *gets out of the van and draws katana*
MilesMk1 (9:18:33 PM): "Well, the cuts are painful, but shallow, if that's any comfort... You might want to put on some glasses if you have any, though."
Umbrafer (9:18:49 PM): Just going to stand around?
CirclMastr (9:19:03 PM): "Either of you have any I could borrow?"
Thematrian1 (9:19:59 PM): "No, sorry."
CirclMastr (9:20:14 PM): *looks at Glitch*
Umbrafer (9:22:02 PM): (Assume no, we can always teleport them in if it was yes)
CirclMastr (9:23:40 PM): "Well, at least I'll find out about regrowth..." *goes out, sword in hand*
MilesMk1 (9:23:45 PM): (Sorry, let me check.)
MilesMk1 (9:25:03 PM): *digs in the back*
MilesMk1 (9:25:21 PM): "Here." *tosses Macleod a Rapid Transit Helmet*
CirclMastr (9:25:49 PM): "...Uh, okay. Thanks." *puts it on, hoping it's not so large I can't see out of it*
MilesMk1 (9:26:12 PM): (As long as you're average-sized for your apparent age, we're nearly identical in size.)
Umbrafer (9:26:51 PM): It's on the large side, but not gigantic.
MilesMk1 (9:26:51 PM): (Two people that look like 12-year olds an beautiful woman walk into a bar...)
CirclMastr (9:27:01 PM): (But your upper body is proportionate to an adult human)
Umbrafer (9:27:01 PM): You do feel slightly silly with it on.
MilesMk1 (9:27:24 PM): (I'm human-looking, my proportions are almost human.)
CirclMastr (9:28:04 PM): (Uh, then you should be significantly taller than a non-human-looking dwarf)
CirclMastr (9:28:12 PM): (Or so I would think, ah well, anyway)
MilesMk1 (9:28:21 PM): (I'm 5' tall.)
CirclMastr (9:28:25 PM): *wanders around a bit, wondering where the birds are*
MilesMk1 (9:28:31 PM): (I am significantly taller.)
MilesMk1 (9:28:55 PM): *takes up a position a little bit away, with clear lines of sight, and watches for response teams*
Umbrafer (9:29:28 PM): Perception for both of you. Where is MacLeod going?
CirclMastr (9:29:30 PM): *does some test slashes at the air, trying to get into the groove*
MilesMk1 (9:29:31 PM): #They always seem to screech before attacking. When they stop, it means they're setting up a surprise attack.#
MilesMk1 (9:29:34 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 1 3 6 6 5
MilesMk1 (9:29:39 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 1 5
CirclMastr (9:29:44 PM): (Er, roughly away from the target facility)
CirclMastr (9:29:51 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 2 5 3
Umbrafer (9:30:43 PM): (Are you staying near the van? Going to the proposed dig site? Going to where the birds started getting aggressive?)
CirclMastr (9:31:33 PM): (I suppose where the birds were aggressive)
MilesMk1 (9:32:19 PM): (Better to go to the dig site.. No need to kill the birds, unless they interfere)
CirclMastr (9:32:57 PM): (I was told to kill the birds)
Thematrian1 (9:33:06 PM): (Yeah, Gem's a bit upset with them
Thematrian1 (9:34:20 PM): (more to the point, we weren't trying to mess with them; they came to us. I predict no trouble finding them)
CirclMastr (9:34:35 PM): *la de da, wonder where the birds are...*
MilesMk1 (9:34:49 PM): (Gem's upset? Hehe... Man, I'm practically a pacifist by SR standards, I guess. ;) )
Umbrafer (9:34:54 PM): (So a confirmation: which place are you going to?)
CirclMastr (9:35:29 PM): (Where they were aggressive)
Umbrafer (9:35:50 PM): (Shadowrunner pacifist: we don't kill people not involved. Shadowrunner Total Pacifist: we only kill guards if they shoot at us.)
Umbrafer (9:36:39 PM): You walk along.
Umbrafer (9:36:44 PM): Walking, walking, walking.
Umbrafer (9:36:47 PM): Perception.
CirclMastr (9:36:51 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 1 2 1
CirclMastr (9:36:55 PM): (Another 5)
Umbrafer (9:38:14 PM): You wander along, oblivious. Reaction.
Umbrafer (9:38:54 PM): Umbrafer rolled 5 6-sided dice: 5 5 3 6 4
CirclMastr (9:39:27 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 5 6 3
CirclMastr (9:39:29 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
MilesMk1 (9:39:33 PM): (BTW, I already rolled my perception before.)
CirclMastr (9:39:56 PM): (I got so raped on that test)
Umbrafer (9:40:09 PM): (Yeah, I saw that. Glitch sees no response teams at this time.)
Umbrafer (9:40:18 PM): MacLeod has been surprised.
Umbrafer (9:40:31 PM): Umbrafer rolled 10 6-sided dice: 4 5 2 2 6 4 3 2 3 6
CirclMastr (9:40:33 PM): *does not produce a red exclaimation point yet*
Umbrafer (9:40:55 PM): Resist 2S
CirclMastr (9:41:03 PM): Holy crap in a hat
CirclMastr (9:41:10 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 6 6 4 4
Thematrian1 (9:41:15 PM): (aw nuts, we sent MacLeod off to die)
CirclMastr (9:41:16 PM): Yeah, NOW I get 6's
Umbrafer (9:41:26 PM): You take L damage.
Umbrafer (9:41:28 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 1
Umbrafer (9:42:01 PM): It's a nasty slash in areas that the helmet doesn't cover, but it doesn't manage to slip under and gash your eye.
CirclMastr (9:42:23 PM): "Gah!"
Umbrafer (9:42:47 PM): What's your maximum initiative?
CirclMastr (9:42:53 PM): 10
Umbrafer (9:43:29 PM): Unfortunately, you can't push it to enough passes to have it not be out of reach before you can act. 25 meters/turn is quick.
Umbrafer (9:43:53 PM): Well
CirclMastr (9:43:55 PM): Well, I can hurt it when it attacks me while I'm not surprised, right?
Umbrafer (9:44:00 PM): Yep
CirclMastr (9:44:05 PM): Whew
Umbrafer (9:44:21 PM): It flies away, leaving you to your pain.
CirclMastr (9:44:33 PM): "Little fuck!"
CirclMastr (9:44:47 PM): "Get the hell back here!"
Umbrafer (9:45:16 PM): It does not, in point of fact, get the hell back there.
CirclMastr (9:45:31 PM): *keeps going in that direction*
Umbrafer (9:46:03 PM): Roll Perception.
CirclMastr (9:46:11 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 1 3 1
CirclMastr (9:46:25 PM): ;_;
Umbrafer (9:46:27 PM): You got nothing.
Umbrafer (9:46:47 PM): What is everyone else doing?
Umbrafer (9:47:02 PM): Let's get another Perception test out of Glitch if he's still keeping watch.
CirclMastr (9:47:04 PM): Watching me die slowly.
Thematrian1 (9:47:05 PM): ::lie down::
MilesMk1 (9:47:09 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 1 6 1 2 2
MilesMk1 (9:47:13 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (9:47:18 PM): Remind me, any vismag?
CirclMastr (9:49:03 PM): Uh, I have none.
Umbrafer (9:49:08 PM): Not you.
MilesMk1 (9:49:13 PM): Rating 3
Umbrafer (9:49:15 PM): MacLeod keeps on walking.
MilesMk1 (9:49:27 PM): Or whatever it's called. Highest level.
CirclMastr (9:49:29 PM): *walk walk walk blind*
Umbrafer (9:50:02 PM): You see a guard at the fence. He's standing still, but you can't really see what he's doing.
Thematrian1 (9:50:13 PM): (the fence?)
MilesMk1 (9:51:04 PM): #Got a guard in sight... Hold on while I see what he's up to.#
Thematrian1 (9:51:11 PM): #Check#
Umbrafer (9:51:16 PM): (Fence of the compound way back in the distance)
CirclMastr (9:51:19 PM): #Uh, okay#
MilesMk1 (9:51:37 PM): *watches the guard intently*
Thematrian1 (9:51:38 PM): (Remember, Glitch is still getting Concealed at force 7 from my happy fun remote spirit)
CirclMastr (9:51:52 PM): (yay)
Umbrafer (9:51:55 PM): Yep
MilesMk1 (9:52:11 PM): (Which makes you wonder... Do Blood Kites perceive astrally? Probably...)
Umbrafer (9:53:12 PM): (They're either capable of using Masking or aren't dual-natured)
Thematrian1 (9:53:38 PM): (They're not awakened. D'oh, flaky memory)
Umbrafer (9:54:23 PM): MacLeod keeps on walking. Perception again.
CirclMastr (9:54:37 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 4 1 6 6
CirclMastr (9:54:39 PM): CirclMastr rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 6
CirclMastr (9:54:42 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
CirclMastr (9:54:48 PM): (Finally, more than one success)
Umbrafer (9:55:50 PM): You think you see something up ahead.
CirclMastr (9:56:00 PM): *squints a bit and goes that way*
CirclMastr (9:56:08 PM): (I guess I didn't get more than one success)
Umbrafer (9:56:52 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 3 2 6 5 2 1 6 6 6 4 3 6 3 2 3
Umbrafer (9:56:59 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 6 3 1
Umbrafer (9:57:04 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (9:57:16 PM): You meander on. Roll Intelligence.
CirclMastr (9:57:38 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 3 5 5
CirclMastr (9:57:44 PM): (Trip fives...)
Umbrafer (9:57:55 PM): *Nods* You walk.
CirclMastr (9:58:13 PM): (I'm going to walk into Puget Sound or something)
Umbrafer (9:58:17 PM): You hear a screeching from slightly off to your right and ahead.
CirclMastr (9:58:25 PM): *looks that way*
Umbrafer (9:58:46 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 1 6 2 6
Umbrafer (9:58:49 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 3
Umbrafer (9:58:54 PM): Trees.
CirclMastr (9:59:48 PM): #This is kinda pointless, guys...# *goes that way anyway*
Umbrafer (10:00:01 PM): Perception.
Thematrian1 (10:00:41 PM): #Well, if it's not working for you come back to the van. You can do bodyguard duty when we're ready to dig#
CirclMastr (10:01:01 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 3 6 4
Thematrian1 (10:01:02 PM): (Speaking of, what about that guard at the fence?)
CirclMastr (10:01:05 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (10:01:21 PM): (Eep, sorry. What was Glitch doing to check up on him (or her)?)
Umbrafer (10:01:40 PM): You see what looks to be a small hawk on a high branch, feathers puffed out and screeching at you.
CirclMastr (10:02:23 PM): "....Little brat. Get down here!" *readies katana*
MilesMk1 (10:02:38 PM): If he's just standing there, move a little closer as stealthily as possible and take a good look. Not too close, though - don't want to lose the cover of trees.
Umbrafer (10:03:29 PM): You can move quite some distance laterally and still be at the tree line, but you don't get all that much closer by doing so.
Umbrafer (10:03:35 PM): Giving it a shot?
MilesMk1 (10:03:50 PM): Hmm...
Umbrafer (10:03:52 PM): The bird squawks some more, then flies away and slightly to the right again.
CirclMastr (10:04:14 PM): *goes after it*
MilesMk1 (10:04:28 PM): No, in that case, I'll just try to see if I can laser-mike a fence post, or something, and see if he's saying something... Talking on a radio, and so on.
MilesMk1 (10:04:40 PM): saying anything
Umbrafer (10:04:49 PM): Roll Intelligence. Glitch: What's the range on laser mics?
CirclMastr (10:04:53 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 6 4 6 2
CirclMastr (10:04:55 PM): CirclMastr rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 3
MilesMk1 (10:04:58 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 6 2 3 3 6 3 1
CirclMastr (10:04:59 PM): (Yay?)
MilesMk1 (10:05:07 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 2
Umbrafer (10:05:43 PM): You walk along. Perception. Gem naps.
CirclMastr (10:06:21 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 4 1 6 2
CirclMastr (10:06:24 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
MilesMk1 (10:06:27 PM): No listed range.
CirclMastr (10:06:33 PM): (Pair of nines got me nothing?)
Umbrafer (10:07:41 PM): Hm. Well, it's probably insanely difficult to keep it on the fencepost at this range, if the laser even reaches that far.
MilesMk1 (10:08:25 PM): No harm in trying, right?
Umbrafer (10:08:36 PM): I guess not. Go for it.
MilesMk1 (10:08:57 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 2 5 6 3 1
MilesMk1 (10:09:02 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
MilesMk1 (10:09:32 PM): If that fails miserably, just watches the guard for visual cues, basically, and scans the surrounding area to see if more come.
Umbrafer (10:09:36 PM): There are a few brief snatches of static, but most of it is silence with a little "no signal" indicator light.
Umbrafer (10:09:56 PM): Perception.
Umbrafer (10:10:14 PM): MacLeod comes to what looks like an old well.
CirclMastr (10:10:21 PM): *peers into it*
Umbrafer (10:10:36 PM): Blackness.
MilesMk1 (10:11:11 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 1 1 6 3 3
MilesMk1 (10:11:15 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 2 2
CirclMastr (10:11:22 PM): *drops a convenient pebble or rock into it*
MilesMk1 (10:11:23 PM): Pair of 8s
Umbrafer (10:12:41 PM): He's just standing at the fence and looking out. It's in the general direction of the van, uncomfortably so, but it isn't really possible to identify if that's his target.
Umbrafer (10:12:54 PM): He does not appear to be running around raising alarms or anything, though.
Thematrian1 (10:13:31 PM): (We'd better withdraw. We don't need to be here, strictly speaking, yet)
CirclMastr (10:13:40 PM): (Does the rock/pebble produce any result?)
Umbrafer (10:13:53 PM): (Perception for that)
CirclMastr (10:14:04 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 4 4 3 4
Umbrafer (10:14:11 PM): There's a little splash.
CirclMastr (10:14:31 PM): #Well this was a complete waste of time.#
Umbrafer (10:14:33 PM): You'd guess it to be a few meters deep.
Thematrian1 (10:14:51 PM): #Might as well come back, then. Glitch, are we secure?#
CirclMastr (10:15:20 PM): *heads back to the van*
Umbrafer (10:16:12 PM): And one last Intelligence test.
CirclMastr (10:16:17 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 1 1 1 4
CirclMastr (10:16:24 PM): (And I just got so lost, didn't I?)
Umbrafer (10:16:29 PM): You've got no idea which direction the van is in.
MilesMk1 (10:16:42 PM): #He's looking in this direction, but that's all he's doing. Looks random to me, unless he's worried about the blood kites, but he's far away, I doubt he heard them.#
CirclMastr (10:16:53 PM): #Um... guys?#
Thematrian1 (10:16:56 PM): #Yes?#
CirclMastr (10:17:07 PM): #Where'd we park?#
Thematrian1 (10:17:27 PM): #....#
Thematrian1 (10:17:35 PM): (Yes, that's different from normal silence)
MilesMk1 (10:17:55 PM): *tries to describe where we parked*
CirclMastr (10:18:27 PM): #Yeah, like... I'm by some trees. And a well.#
Thematrian1 (10:19:02 PM): #A well? We never found that.#
CirclMastr (10:19:15 PM): #That's not good.#
Thematrian1 (10:19:17 PM): Are the directions helpful?
Umbrafer (10:20:07 PM): Since they're based on details mostly visible from outside the trees, not really.
Thematrian1 (10:20:25 PM): "lovely"
Thematrian1 (10:20:31 PM): "Hear me oh deep-swimming gods. Grant me a watcher." (Force 4, Focus dice to Drain)
Thematrian1 (10:20:35 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 5 6 5 2 6
Thematrian1 (10:20:39 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 10 6-sided dice: 6 3 4 1 2 4 3 1 2 6
Umbrafer (10:20:47 PM): You can give some landmarks inside (the hollow, the unhealthy area), but he's not seeing any of them.
Thematrian1 (10:20:59 PM): (Got me a watcher, F4, no drain and a good thing too)
Thematrian1 (10:21:24 PM): (well, assuming the background count is at best a dull roat)
Thematrian1 (10:21:27 PM): (ror)
Thematrian1 (10:21:34 PM): ( ::ritual suicide:: )
Umbrafer (10:21:51 PM): (No background count around here, if that gives you the will to live)
Thematrian1 (10:22:01 PM): (Too late, but thanks)
CirclMastr (10:22:19 PM): #So.... I guess I'll meet you guys later? I'll find my way out eventually.#
Umbrafer (10:22:30 PM): (The part of Gem will now be played by a zombie)
Thematrian1 (10:22:40 PM): #No, no, I'm sending something by to collect you#
CirclMastr (10:22:51 PM): #Okay...#
Umbrafer (10:23:54 PM): The watcher is altogether too bouncy for Gem right now.
Thematrian1 (10:24:06 PM): "You must find MacLeod <detailed astral description>. Remain dematerialized until you find him; once you've done so, materialize and guide him back to me."
CirclMastr (10:25:33 PM): *hangs out, looking around (in place) for birds*
Umbrafer (10:25:34 PM): *Upbeat noise, flies away*
Thematrian1 (10:25:58 PM): Oh, what did it look like?
Umbrafer (10:26:10 PM): A small bird.
CirclMastr (10:26:16 PM): Of course.
Thematrian1 (10:26:34 PM): #All right, I have sent my minion forth. It looks like a small bird. Please don't stab it, though I understand the temptation#
Umbrafer (10:28:01 PM): Time passes. Is anyone doing anything while it searches?
Thematrian1 (10:28:15 PM): ::rest rest rest:: How much time are we talking here?
CirclMastr (10:28:22 PM): #One of those birds got me earlier#
Thematrian1 (10:28:42 PM): #Ugh. Glitch has his first aid gear.#
Umbrafer (10:28:52 PM): Well, right now ten minutes have passed. Any actions?
Thematrian1 (10:29:04 PM): #Glitch, we getting any unhealthy attention?#
MilesMk1 (10:30:04 PM): #Not really.#
Umbrafer (10:30:08 PM): (Perception on that, when you check)
CirclMastr (10:30:58 PM): #Umm...#
CirclMastr (10:31:08 PM): #Where's the someone coming to get me?#
MilesMk1 (10:31:12 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 6 3 6 4 4
MilesMk1 (10:31:17 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 2 1
Umbrafer (10:31:24 PM): The guard isn't at the fence anymore. You didn't see him go.
Thematrian1 (10:31:45 PM): #It's kind of stupid. While you're there, what's in the well?#
MilesMk1 (10:32:04 PM): #The guard left. Still no sign of armed intervention coming our way.#
Umbrafer (10:33:19 PM): (MacLeod's vismods are what again? I really need to memorize this.)
MilesMk1 (10:33:25 PM): (None)
Umbrafer (10:33:29 PM): (I thought so.)
Umbrafer (10:33:36 PM): (Any sources of light on him?)
CirclMastr (10:33:38 PM): #Something wet, it's dark in there#
CirclMastr (10:34:54 PM): (Dad is dragging me off, gotta go >_< )
CirclMastr has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (10:35:31 PM): Another ten minutes pass with no sign of the Watcher.
Umbrafer (10:36:00 PM): (And that's a bit of a blow to the evening… we may have to break early.)
MilesMk1 (10:38:04 PM): (Oh well...)
Umbrafer (10:38:21 PM): Any actions at the continued confirmed nonpresence?
MilesMk1 (10:39:53 PM): #Should I go looking for him?#
Thematrian1 (10:40:30 PM): #These things are slow sometimes. If we're in trouble, sure, but there's no sense in having two people wandering about.#
MilesMk1 (10:41:02 PM): #Ok, I'll hold for now.#
Umbrafer (10:41:05 PM): MacLeod protests that he's following basic woodland safety and staying put to be rescued.
Thematrian1 (10:41:18 PM): good for him
Umbrafer (10:43:06 PM): Another ten minutes pass.
Umbrafer (10:43:23 PM): MacLeod is singing something you don't recognize badly.
Umbrafer (10:45:32 PM): And another ten.
Umbrafer (10:46:11 PM): And unless someone has something to do, we break here.
Thematrian1 (10:46:19 PM): I have a box of stun to get back, IIRC
Thematrian1 (10:46:23 PM): ten minutes ago, even
Umbrafer (10:46:32 PM): Your box is gone.
Thematrian1 (10:46:36 PM): sweet
Thematrian1 (10:46:39 PM): for the next one, TN 3:
Thematrian1 (10:46:42 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 4 2 2 1 1
Thematrian1 (10:46:45 PM): bah
Thematrian1 (10:46:57 PM): half an hour, down to 20 minutes for those last ten. I fail at healing
Thematrian1 (10:47:12 PM): (Hurry up and invent the trauma damper!)
Umbrafer (10:47:29 PM): Well, if you sit around those ten minutes go by.
Thematrian1 (10:48:01 PM): I got mine back around the time he started singing, if I'm counting right. But it'll only make a difference if something jumps us
Umbrafer (10:48:12 PM): Nothing has jumped you.
Thematrian1 (10:48:18 PM): awesome
Thematrian1 (10:48:25 PM): yeah, I've got nothin'
MilesMk1 (10:50:12 PM): *thinks wistfully of cities*
Thematrian1 (10:50:33 PM): ::thinks wistfully of open water and Chinese fruit::
Umbrafer (10:51:22 PM): *Thinks wistfully of having a full complement of players*
Thematrian1 (10:52:32 PM): Yeah, it is awesome. Maybe it's time to recruit, though I could hardly guess from where
Umbrafer (10:53:09 PM): Benton occasionally makes noises about returning, but such has not happened yet. I'd had an idea about recruits, but I've since forgotten it
Thematrian1 (10:53:15 PM): Benton?
Umbrafer (10:53:23 PM): Guy what played Scavengers
Thematrian1 (10:53:31 PM): ah
Umbrafer (10:55:42 PM): Well, if either of you know good folk to potentially introduce, let me know.
MilesMk1 (10:56:50 PM): I don't know... My morale is low, with the threat of my character being cruelly snuffed out hanging over me...
Umbrafer (10:57:01 PM): ?
MilesMk1 (10:57:10 PM): My *other* character. ;)
Umbrafer (10:57:14 PM): Hehehe
Thematrian1 (10:57:19 PM): right, that
Umbrafer (10:57:22 PM): We won't go down without giving them what for.
Thematrian1 (10:57:29 PM): there are all kinds of ways you guys could live through that
MilesMk1 (10:57:37 PM): Well, it's not the four around the van I'm worried about.
Thematrian1 (10:57:57 PM): yeah, it's the ones you can't see. A lot depends on whether they're trying to take you alive
Umbrafer (10:58:01 PM): I guess the question is, do all of them involve spending a Free Action to drop our weapons and surrender?
Thematrian1 (10:58:08 PM): and, of course, whether there are ones you can't see
Umbrafer (10:58:11 PM): The presence of non-lethal rounds is encouraging.
Thematrian1 (10:58:18 PM): heh
MilesMk1 (10:58:24 PM): Over there, I hope it to go something like: First action of surprise round: do to OIC what the blood kites have been doing ot us, except more so.
Umbrafer (10:58:34 PM): Moreover, Blake could potentially kill them all even if they do deal him D
Thematrian1 (10:58:38 PM): I was mindful of your experience wrt narcojet rounds
Umbrafer (10:58:52 PM): Remember, drugs only take effect at the end of the combat turn :D
Thematrian1 (10:59:08 PM): I'll keep that in mind. Also, the rules for stun overflow
Umbrafer (10:59:10 PM): The fact that I get my held action makes me feel very good. If someone has a held action on me, that will make me feel less good, but you pays your money and you takes your chances.
Umbrafer (10:59:12 PM): Indeed.
Umbrafer (10:59:18 PM): That wasn't D Stun I was talking about.
MilesMk1 (10:59:38 PM): As I understand it, unless someone else got more than 10 successes on a reaction test, no one can go against me in the surprise round, right?
Thematrian1 (10:59:43 PM): It's funny; just from externals Alex is the least threatening of the lot
Thematrian1 (10:59:48 PM): That's how it works, yeah
MilesMk1 (10:59:57 PM): Or does that not apply to some sniper taking a bead on me?
Umbrafer (10:59:59 PM): That's correct. Or use combat pool to oppose you, or defend themselves in melee.
Umbrafer (11:00:06 PM): It only applies to them if they're surprised.
Thematrian1 (11:00:07 PM): People with held actions would still get them.
MilesMk1 (11:00:13 PM): Ah.
Thematrian1 (11:00:17 PM): IF OIC had alerted someone to shoot you via radio, that someone would have gone first
Thematrian1 (11:00:26 PM): radio being the kind in your head
Umbrafer (11:00:29 PM): If they've been waiting for you to do this for quite some time, they're not surprised.
MilesMk1 (11:00:46 PM): Well, let's hope that's not the case... But if they do, I still get combat pool to resist, or not?
Umbrafer (11:00:55 PM): But yeah, I'm not sure whether to be pleased or worried at how ignored I've been
Umbrafer (11:01:26 PM): First I get no one specifically watching me, then I get allowed to lie down on the ground out of LOS of the bearded guy. That means either they don't think I'm a threat at all, or they've got at least two snipers on me.
MilesMk1 (11:01:27 PM): They've not been exceedingly competent in respect to anyone... OIC didn't even search me.
Umbrafer (11:02:16 PM): Stressful conditions.
Umbrafer (11:02:27 PM): Probably mixed in with a dose of "they're dead if they try anything".
Thematrian1 (11:02:36 PM): They've had a busy night. I was making up fiction about them on the walk home.
Umbrafer (11:02:42 PM): Ooh, shiny.
Thematrian1 (11:02:47 PM): those poor bastards
Umbrafer (11:02:54 PM): Sometime I want to see. After we've finished killing them or something ;)
Umbrafer (11:03:00 PM): Our best bet is to take a hostage, I think
MilesMk1 (11:03:11 PM): So, yeah, barring snipers, OIC is going down... If I haven't been shot yet, I take his gun, roll under the van, and shoot one of the other cops... Then, maybe another one, if I get a decent init roll. Then we move on to
MilesMk1 (11:03:14 PM): normal combat.
Umbrafer (11:04:00 PM): All I need to do is get into the van and get the door closed.
Umbrafer (11:04:12 PM): Oh, yeah, I recommend not rolling under the van unless absolutely necessary.
Umbrafer (11:04:28 PM): It will probably start moving soon.
MilesMk1 (11:04:50 PM): Mhmm... Good point.
Thematrian1 (11:04:52 PM): heh, that leaves Blake as the purely-hypothetical-sniper's only target
Thematrian1 (11:04:56 PM): well, him and Rock
Thematrian1 (11:04:59 PM): who has no armor
Thematrian1 (11:05:01 PM): ok, and the fox
MilesMk1 (11:05:13 PM): I thought you said his unform looked armored...
Umbrafer (11:05:44 PM): This time I'm really remembering to put loudspeakers on the vans and Stratos.
MilesMk1 (11:05:59 PM): Not that it'll matter, if anyone has a 14S sniper rifle on me, I'm done.
Thematrian1 (11:06:11 PM): armor-y. Not compared to the FFBA-secure jacket-whatever set
Umbrafer (11:06:33 PM): Unless you get Dodge. Plus, if these guys are packing Narcojects there's a chance the guys elsewhere are packing nonlethal.
Umbrafer (11:06:43 PM): I figure we give them the benefit of the doubt.
Umbrafer (11:06:49 PM): If I can get the turret up, we see if they surrender.
Umbrafer (11:07:20 PM): If they do, we go zero-cas. This is not a situation in which wasting them will help unless necessary.
Umbrafer (11:07:28 PM): If they don't, well, that's their own lookout.
MilesMk1 (11:07:50 PM): The big question is... Which direction do we run in?
MilesMk1 (11:08:21 PM): Running back seems more dangerous (though for all we know, the NG might be mobilizing ahead) but gives us more places to hide if we survive.
Umbrafer (11:08:37 PM): Indeed.
Umbrafer (11:08:40 PM): I don't know.
MilesMk1 (11:08:47 PM): Running ahead means we'll be out on a highway in the middle of nowhere with a lot of pissed cops behind us.
Umbrafer (11:08:48 PM): Like I say, though, hostages.
Umbrafer (11:09:36 PM): If they play nice, we don't hurt them. If they don't, we ensure they can't fight back by whatever means. Blowtorching off limbs is a possibility, though that might induce shock too quickly—a gunshot to each knee and each elbow ought
Umbrafer (11:09:43 PM): to accomplish the same thing with less total trauma.
Umbrafer (11:09:49 PM): How are you with a first-aid kit?
Umbrafer (11:12:26 PM): Still worried about those aircraft.
Umbrafer (11:12:33 PM): I can only dodge so many missiles per turn.
Thematrian1 (11:12:46 PM): especially when you have no way to return fire, yeah
MilesMk1 (11:12:47 PM): Sort of the way you are with unarmed combat.
Umbrafer (11:12:59 PM): Oh dear.
MilesMk1 (11:13:11 PM): Well, it's a 3, actually.
Umbrafer (11:13:13 PM): Well, if they're within a kilometer or so I can return MMG fire
Umbrafer (11:13:23 PM): But they're probably not vulnerable
MilesMk1 (11:13:38 PM): But, yeah, Blake doesn't have Glitch's skills there.
MilesMk1 (11:13:51 PM): Glitch should get a job working for Docwagon...
Umbrafer (11:14:37 PM): Well, if we can get more than one hostage we can afford to risk killing one.
MilesMk1 (11:14:46 PM): Damn, I hope we don't die. I've grown to like this character...
Thematrian1 (11:15:02 PM): Music to my ears
Umbrafer (11:15:42 PM): I am in a slight quandary, as some actions that would be more likely to prolong our lifespan might not be actions that Alex would take.
Thematrian1 (11:15:52 PM): ?
Umbrafer (11:16:41 PM): For example, she'd probably immediately start gunning down any standing officers upon entering the vehicles. Though she doesn't have the flaw, she probably floats relatively close to Vindictive on the grand unified scale of forgiven
Umbrafer (11:16:43 PM): *forgiveness
Umbrafer (11:17:11 PM): *vehicle
Thematrian1 (11:17:40 PM): yeah, I can see why that plan would make you nervous
MilesMk1 (11:18:22 PM): Well, we were very good about not metagaming so far and got ourselves into this mess... I think you can be a little out of character if it means we live. :)
Umbrafer (11:18:49 PM): You know, there's something rather fun about walking straight into the lion's jaws with your eyes closed :)
MilesMk1 (11:19:21 PM): I don't have that dilemma, the only means I have of fighting right now are non-lethal.
MilesMk1 (11:19:54 PM): I'm not going to have the time to get my hands on any guns besides the cops' narcojets.
MilesMk1 (11:20:27 PM): BTW, how is getting shot by one resolved? I know narcojet is 6D, but do you first have to take damage from the dart? If not, how does armor factor in?
Thematrian1 (11:20:52 PM): (Jon? I had the book on hand on Tuesday, but didn't need it...)
Umbrafer (11:21:26 PM): *Digs through this damn scanned PDF since the legit book has been lost for over a year now*
Umbrafer (11:21:35 PM): Wait
Umbrafer (11:21:39 PM): Narcoject. Core book.
Umbrafer (11:21:41 PM): Yay!
Umbrafer (11:24:32 PM): *Takes a bus to Frown Town, leaves the scanned PDF there, returns*
Thematrian1 (11:24:54 PM): ::scanned PDF is torn apart by Frownians::
Umbrafer (11:24:58 PM): !!!
Umbrafer (11:25:02 PM): Multiple doses don't stack!
Umbrafer (11:25:06 PM): Well, they do
Umbrafer (11:25:14 PM): But not as much as, say, multiple gunshots
MilesMk1 (11:25:42 PM): (Which book is it in? Page?)
Thematrian1 (11:25:53 PM): wait, what?
Thematrian1 (11:25:55 PM): Elaborate on that?
Umbrafer (11:25:56 PM): P106, Man and Machine
Umbrafer (11:26:05 PM): First, the attack rules:
Umbrafer (11:26:27 PM): Extra successes from the attack increase Power by 1 for every two successes, they don't stage the damage code.
Umbrafer (11:26:38 PM): 1/2 Impact armor applies.
Umbrafer (11:27:05 PM): If the character is exposed to an additional dose before the Speed period has elapsed (before the end of the turn, in this case), stage the Damage Level by one.
Umbrafer (11:27:18 PM): Further doses will not raise the damage level, but will increase the Power by 1 per dose.
Thematrian1 (11:27:25 PM): er? Given that it's D to start with, how does that work? ah
Umbrafer (11:28:01 PM): It's suggested that you add an additional box of physical per (Body) doses, but overdosing is left to the GM.
Thematrian1 (11:28:12 PM): I see
Thematrian1 (11:28:28 PM): so autofire narcojet isn't the silent killer after all?
Umbrafer (11:28:48 PM): It is, but not quite as much as I'd thought.
Umbrafer (11:29:18 PM): It is still definitely the silent killer if your players had recently taken a gas grenade to the face.
Umbrafer (11:29:45 PM): Also, after the Speed period (next combat turn, basically) the ability to do the base damage returns.
Thematrian1 (11:29:55 PM): oh
Umbrafer (11:29:56 PM): Which creates really weird situations.
Thematrian1 (11:29:59 PM): erm
MilesMk1 (11:30:05 PM): Gah... I hate these stupid drug rules. An APDS round from an AR is easier to resist than a narcojet round...
Umbrafer (11:30:22 PM): Get shot twice in 3 seconds? You're down but not dead. Get shot twice in 3.5 seconds? You're now actively visiting the Reaper.
MilesMk1 (11:31:37 PM): All my ballistic armor doesn't help against a dart, but if I just had on a bike messenger's helmet...
MilesMk1 (11:31:53 PM): Oh well, at least it cuts both ways.
Thematrian1 (11:32:24 PM): I'm not sure I see a way to fix it, though, short of tracking the sources of the various boxes of damage
Thematrian1 (11:32:45 PM): (given that we agree that two shots in 3 seconds shouldn't be an invitation to deadly overflow)
Umbrafer (11:33:26 PM): (Actually, I'm not entirely sure on my feelings of that.)
Umbrafer (11:33:49 PM): (If we do go with two shots in 3 seconds == Deadly overflow, though, it should be an absolute market failure as a less-lethal weapon)
Thematrian1 (11:33:56 PM): (Well, that would at least consistentify the rules. It would also...yeah)
Thematrian1 (11:34:10 PM): (Plus, as Matt points out, they abruptly become preferable to APDS)
Umbrafer (11:34:15 PM): (Indeed)
Umbrafer (11:34:52 PM): (No one would use them if they wanted the target alive, just if they'd kinda prefer the target alive but it didn't much matter)
Thematrian1 (11:35:32 PM): (You could simply forbid them to deal overflow I guess, leaving some kind of escape hatch like "vast overdoses are at the GMs discretion")
Umbrafer (11:36:11 PM): (Then you've got the question: what happens if someone takes a Light wound and then two Deadly Stun narcoject attacks? What if it happens the other way 'round?)
Thematrian1 (11:36:47 PM): (in each case, the target has L physical and D stun)
MilesMk1 (11:36:58 PM): (Speaking of toxins... Did I complain about my allergy shots yet?)
Thematrian1 (11:37:08 PM): (unless the L was stun too, in which case they have D stun only)
Thematrian1 (11:37:10 PM): (Nope)
Umbrafer (11:38:08 PM): (Ah, so forbidding it from crossing into Physical period?)
Thematrian1 (11:38:15 PM): (Right)
MilesMk1 (11:38:37 PM): (Once a week, you get injected with whatever it is you're allergic to.)
MilesMk1 (11:38:51 PM): (In some cases, it apparently causes swelling in the immediate area.)
Thematrian1 (11:38:55 PM): (That sounds nothing like fun)
Umbrafer (11:39:21 PM): (Indeed.)
Umbrafer (11:39:47 PM): (Also, if I'm ever looking for a group to playtest something with, you guys available?)
Thematrian1 (11:39:58 PM): (Entirely. SR3R?)
Umbrafer (11:40:18 PM): (Actually, there is some playtesting that's going slowly that I could use your opinion on.)
Umbrafer (11:40:24 PM): (And participation in, if you've the time.)
Thematrian1 (11:40:43 PM): (Sure, but playtesting of what?)
Umbrafer (11:40:44 PM): (But I was speaking more generally, as your skills in breaking or finding holes in things are formidable.)
Umbrafer (11:40:50 PM): (Right now, Matrix rules.)
MilesMk1 (11:41:02 PM): (Yeah, I would be - though it might have to be instead of our usual Thurs. session for me... Other days, I'd definitely try to, but can't guarantee attendance.)
Thematrian1 (11:41:09 PM): (Wellm not this evening, but yes in general)
MilesMk1 (11:41:27 PM): (Surely not MY skills...)
Thematrian1 (11:41:30 PM): (It sounds like a good fall-back for when player flakiness makes it impossible to run the Thursday game)
Umbrafer (11:41:37 PM): (Right now I'm trying to playtest on Dumpshock, but it's going slowly)
Umbrafer (11:41:41 PM): (Indeed, just what I was thinking)
Umbrafer (11:42:03 PM): (Part of the problem is that I tried to keep with the board metaphor and have playtesting go on in Into the Shadows)
Thematrian1 (11:42:14 PM): (Yeah, your skills. Plus, it'd be an excuse to learn the Matrix rules)
Umbrafer (11:42:15 PM): (Many of the people there don't look at the discussion forums much.)
Thematrian1 (11:42:19 PM): (Well, a version of them)
Umbrafer (11:42:26 PM): (It's actually very similar)
Thematrian1 (11:42:29 PM): (And I, for one, never look into ItS)
Umbrafer (11:42:51 PM): (The programs are mercilessly hacked down, but it's mostly changes in details so far)
MilesMk1 (11:43:03 PM): (I have skills at breaking things? When did I break things?)
MilesMk1 (11:43:37 PM): (I guess I ought to look into learning the matrix rules... Though the fact that Matrix is one of the few books I don't have is going to be a problem.)
Thematrian1 (11:43:43 PM): (Never, to my knowledge. But finding holes in things can also mean finding situations the rules don't cover, or pointing out stuff that's absurd)
Umbrafer (11:43:50 PM): (Indeed)
MilesMk1 (11:44:10 PM): (True. I'll just take it as a compliment and shut up about it now. ;))
Umbrafer (11:44:13 PM): (Even though the extremes are the places that need the most playtesting, playtesting with only people who play to the extremes isn't fully playtesting)
Umbrafer (11:44:15 PM): (Hehehe)
Umbrafer (11:44:45 PM): (I've got vague memories of you chiming in on rule-silliness discussions with insightful commentary. If I'm wrong, don't correct me ;) )
MilesMk1 (11:45:41 PM): (lol)
MilesMk1 (11:46:26 PM): (Anyplace I can get the Matrix rules online? And I don't just mean by illegal means.)
Thematrian1 (11:46:49 PM): well, most of it is in the main book
Umbrafer (11:47:44 PM): (Well, if you're going to go legit there's www.stiggybaby.com and www.drivethrurpg.com ; IIRC StiggyBaby's FASA clearance is less expensive than the electronic rules. Also, I'm willing to ship you my copy of the legit PDF rules)
Thematrian1 (11:47:47 PM): as for the stuff in Matrix...the big things are cyberdeck and program creation, a lot on agents, and the rules for the new utilities
Umbrafer (11:48:01 PM): (Since I trust you to not redistribute and to buy the book if you start using it heavily outside of playtesting)
Thematrian1 (11:48:08 PM): (Wait, doesn't that make them illegit?)
Umbrafer (11:48:19 PM): (What illegit?)
Thematrian1 (11:48:20 PM): (Unless you use your real book, I guess)
Umbrafer (11:48:45 PM): (Rephrase? Not clear on what you meant)
Thematrian1 (11:48:58 PM): (And I'm almost sure that FASA wouldn't consider limited distribution of their work to playtest for a competing product fair use ;-))
Umbrafer (11:49:04 PM): (Hehehe)
MilesMk1 (11:49:05 PM): Really? I got the impression Matrix had a lot of stuff that made decking different from what's in SR3, sort of like MitS. That's good, though.
Umbrafer (11:49:17 PM): Matrix does have a decent amount of stuff, IMO
Thematrian1 (11:49:26 PM): (I meant, if you send Matt your pdf, then your copy of the pdf becomes vile and wrong)
Umbrafer (11:49:40 PM): (Not my copy, but the copy I send him)
Thematrian1 (11:49:51 PM): (Yeah, either way)
Umbrafer (11:50:00 PM): (I'm not claiming that that's a legal means, though I am using some things to assauge my conscience)
Thematrian1 (11:50:12 PM): (But if you also own the physical book (and I think I saw it in your house), then you could use that and be in the clear morally)
Thematrian1 (11:50:22 PM): (Maybe legally too, I'm not sure of the details there)
Umbrafer (11:50:36 PM): (I do own the physical book. Two copies, IIRC, plus a copy that Alex never brought with him when he left for Maine)
Thematrian1 (11:50:51 PM): (Ok, you've paid your debts, do what you like ;-))
MilesMk1 (11:51:23 PM): (If I were to buy it, it's just Matrix 3rd Edition, not Target:Matrix, correct?)
Umbrafer (11:51:37 PM): (Correct.)
Umbrafer (11:51:55 PM): (Target: Matrix is awesome as well, but not the same book. It's a flavour/placebook, not a rulebook)
Umbrafer (11:52:24 PM): (Besides, playtesting a competing product is /so/ fair use ;) )
Thematrian1 (11:52:45 PM): (Especially a competing product that undercuts them by infinity percent.)
Thematrian1 (11:53:05 PM): (Well, given that people own SR3 books already)
Umbrafer (11:53:20 PM): (Yes, well, their operating budget overshadows ours by about infinity percent too.)
Umbrafer (11:53:39 PM): (If Adam weren't cool, I'd try to hire him to design the SR3R site ;) )
Umbrafer (11:53:49 PM): (I'm already considering it for Eternal Summer)
Thematrian1 (11:53:58 PM): (Eternal Summer?)
Thematrian1 (11:55:16 PM): (The comic's title, or a sad commentary on the fact that we're never moving into the fall, which bringeth SR4?)
Umbrafer (11:55:27 PM): (Hehehe)
Umbrafer (11:55:39 PM): (The comic's title.)
Thematrian1 (11:55:46 PM): (Pure coincidence, eh?)
Umbrafer (11:55:49 PM): (Though that's an awesome second meaning.)
Umbrafer (11:56:06 PM): (By the by, quick question:)
Umbrafer (11:56:15 PM): (What webcomics do you consider to have good site design?)
Thematrian1 (11:56:28 PM): Ok, I think the side conversation has officially become the main conversation, obviating the need for parenthises
Thematrian1 (11:56:29 PM): hm
Umbrafer (11:56:40 PM): That happens to us a lot.
Thematrian1 (11:57:07 PM): (Well, that's why I use this form; so I can hold two conversations with one person simultaneously without causing confusion. Like this, see? ;-))
Thematrian1 (11:57:12 PM): Good question.
MilesMk1 (11:57:17 PM): I don't really read that many webcomics...
Thematrian1 (11:57:32 PM): I guess the two major things I look for are comics that fit on a single screen, and next/previous buttons that don't move
Umbrafer (11:57:40 PM): (Yeah, that's pretty much the reason for it)
Umbrafer (11:57:55 PM): (Back in the day I'd just have two conversations at once, but it got confusing. No doubt you remember)
Umbrafer (11:58:06 PM): Comics that fit on a single screen we fail in spades.
Thematrian1 (11:58:14 PM): so, when trawling their archives, I can read the comic, then click the mouse to move to the next one, without having to seek the mouse
Umbrafer (11:58:23 PM): Next/previous buttons that don't move we're planning on, as I abhor that as well.
Thematrian1 (11:58:26 PM): at least fit horizontally?
Umbrafer (11:58:31 PM): That we do.
Umbrafer (11:58:53 PM): http://www.eternalsummer.net/ <-- test second page (not all dialogue there will be in the final)
Thematrian1 (11:58:57 PM): Friends keep telling me to read It's Walky!, but I just can't; having to mess with the trackpad for next comic annoys me too much to read the archives
Umbrafer (11:59:03 PM): (And the design is… nonexistent)
Thematrian1 (11:59:14 PM): works for me
Umbrafer (11:59:18 PM): Also, navigation buttons on top are coming.
Thematrian1 (11:59:31 PM): but God knows I'm not the kind of person to ask
Umbrafer (11:59:44 PM): God may know, but I didn't ;)
Thematrian1 (12:00:08 AM): well, it's the lack of design sense
Umbrafer (12:00:12 AM): Nah, just getting an opinion as someone I know who confirmedly reads webcomics and might have an eye out for that sort of thing
Umbrafer (12:00:13 AM): Ah
Thematrian1 (12:00:21 AM): Matt, do you have design sense?
Thematrian1 (12:00:26 AM): even a little?
MilesMk1 (12:01:13 AM): Uh... If I do, I have failed to get in touch with it.
Umbrafer (12:01:22 AM): That makes three, then.
Umbrafer (12:01:24 AM): Rather
Umbrafer (12:01:27 AM): I've got design sense
Umbrafer (12:01:32 AM): A lot of it, but it's all negative.
Umbrafer (12:01:41 AM): I can tell you what doesn't work about all sorts of things, but ask me what works?
Umbrafer (12:01:49 AM): Not so much.
Umbrafer (12:02:56 AM): And even then, I miss stuff in spades. So it goes.
Thematrian1 (12:02:59 AM): Yeah. My mother's online costume store has been hanging fire for almost a year, since I can't/won't design the site without some kind of input
MilesMk1 (12:03:09 AM): Although, I used to be damn good with a box of Legos... Does that count?
Thematrian1 (12:03:27 AM): Sure. I built a mean tinkertoy design, myself
MilesMk1 (12:03:55 AM): I do know someone who designs web pages for a living...
Umbrafer (12:04:45 AM): In your opinion: http://www.questionablecontent.net/ , http://underpower.non-essential.com/ , http://www.megatokyo.com/ : how would you rate the design of those three? What works for you, what doesn't? As of right now, they're my
Umbrafer (12:04:57 AM): three "examples" of things generally like what I'd be looking to create.
Umbrafer (12:06:11 AM): (Incidentally, just a note of thanks to everyone for being a testbed for all sorts of random stuff)
MilesMk1 (12:07:35 AM): First one... I like it fine aside from the fact the main comic area and the sidebar don't line up/differ in size, and the buttons also have a lot of unused space around them - don't see the point in that...
MilesMk1 (12:09:41 AM): It's just not consistent... Either have it all align to the left, or center it all, or something. Just pick one.
Umbrafer (12:09:53 AM): *Nods*
MilesMk1 (12:12:29 AM): Second one... Not crazy about it (though Megatokyo I've read a few times and hated it, so I could be biased...) - you've got the large, clean menu and comic page sections, and then all this other shit sort of hanging around.
MilesMk1 (12:13:02 AM): And none of the fonts match.
Umbrafer (12:13:24 AM): This is very true.
Thematrian1 (12:13:30 AM): (Interesting; most people I know who hate Megatokyo get a hundred strips in and then start hating it.)
MilesMk1 (12:14:06 AM): (Gah. I meant Underpowered.)
MilesMk1 (12:14:12 AM): It being the second one...
Umbrafer (12:14:24 AM): (I figured on the design. Is it the one you tried reading a few times and hated?)
Thematrian1 (12:14:39 AM): (Ah. Note to self: midnight curfew on drawing conclusions from evidence)
MilesMk1 (12:16:14 AM): (I see I'm creating more confusion... Nah, Megatokyo's the one I hated, but I was looking at the design and not the name (which on Underpowered looks like an ad for something else, anyway ;))
Thematrian1 (12:16:42 AM): (Hehehe. Way to sow confusion)
Umbrafer (12:17:11 AM): (True enough. Yeah, my idea is to essentially move rantspace to a second page--it's not important to the comic, and if people want it they can go elsewhere. Only high-importance announcements go on the first page.)
MilesMk1 (12:17:16 AM): (So everything I said as far as design of #2 goes, was about Underpower.)
Umbrafer (12:17:26 AM): (Fair enough)
Thematrian1 (12:17:42 AM): (And since they go on the main page, they won't hurt the archive people anyway)
MilesMk1 (12:18:11 AM): #3, Megatokyo, I like a lot. I'd get rid of all the stuff below the "support" section, though, and move it elsewhere.
Umbrafer (12:18:57 AM): *Nods*
MilesMk1 (12:19:53 AM): Are other opinions being sent via IM, or am I the only one babbling about this? ;)
Thematrian1 (12:20:03 AM): you're all alone, sorry
Thematrian1 (12:20:17 AM): Even in the morning, I wouldn't be qualified to have opinions about this
MilesMk1 (12:20:22 AM): Hehe...
Umbrafer (12:20:34 AM): Ah well.
MilesMk1 (12:20:45 AM): Oh, one thing about Megatokyo... Don't like the first/next/previous buttons.
MilesMk1 (12:21:08 AM): Specifically the fact that there are none at the top of the comic.
Umbrafer (12:21:32 AM): *Nods*
Thematrian1 (12:21:46 AM): Though I'd argue that that's not as big a deal for MT, since you have to scroll down to see the whole thing anyhow unless your screen resolution is vast
Thematrian1 (12:21:55 AM): (dammit fingers, what did I just say?)
MilesMk1 (12:22:16 AM): True, but sometimes you know you just want to go back a few comics to something you've seen before, and don't feel like scrolling.
Umbrafer (12:22:18 AM): Disagreed
Umbrafer (12:22:21 AM): Exactly
Thematrian1 (12:22:37 AM): fair point indeed
MilesMk1 (12:22:50 AM): In this case, every time you go back, you end up looking at the top of the page and need to scroll down to use the buttons.
MilesMk1 (12:23:50 AM): (Wait... Why are you yelling at your fingers? I don't see any mistakes... Does that mean I should get some sleep?)
Thematrian1 (12:24:11 AM): (I'm yelling at them for expressing an opinion without first consulting my brain)
MilesMk1 (12:24:29 AM): (Ah.)
MilesMk1 (12:24:38 AM): (Mine do that all time time, too.)
MilesMk1 (12:25:21 AM): On that note, I believe it's time to go sleep... Hey, Circle's back.
Thematrian1 (12:25:29 AM): haha, no
Thematrian1 (12:25:51 AM): (you'll have to imagine an abrupt change of tone between the two words)
Thematrian1 (12:25:56 AM): (if 'haha' can be so described)
MilesMk1 (12:26:07 AM): Heh... Just saying, I need sleep to. ;)
MilesMk1 (12:26:12 AM): too.
Thematrian1 (12:26:17 AM): heh
Thematrian1 (12:26:25 AM): your fingers knew you were badmouthing them
Umbrafer (12:26:31 AM): You need sleep to . ;), whatever that is.
Thematrian1 (12:26:34 AM): and they will have their revenge, oh yes
Thematrian1 (12:26:41 AM): he needs sleep to wink
Thematrian1 (12:26:49 AM): though I'd htink that, if anything, it'd go the other way
Umbrafer (12:26:55 AM): If it was just the wink, I'd know
Umbrafer (12:27:00 AM): But it's a wink with a period above it.
Thematrian1 (12:27:10 AM): ah, subtleties
Umbrafer (12:27:26 AM): Or perhaps they're two separate entities? He needs sleep to period-wink?
MilesMk1 (12:27:31 AM): Help, I'm surrounded by humorists...
MilesMk1 (12:27:40 AM): Goodnight guys. *waves*
Thematrian1 (12:27:43 AM): surrounded, hell, IIRC we're both far north of you...
Thematrian1 (12:27:45 AM): good night
MilesMk1 (12:27:53 AM): Beset?
Umbrafer (12:27:57 AM): We're all rather disposed to worldplay.
Thematrian1 (12:28:02 AM): yeah, you're totally beset
Thematrian1 (12:28:12 AM): we are besetting
Thematrian1 (12:28:17 AM): we have beset
Umbrafer (12:28:21 AM): Waitaminute, aren't you south of him? Or is my geography just that bad?
Thematrian1 (12:28:23 AM): and will beset
Thematrian1 (12:28:27 AM): dunno. Matt, don't you live in Florida?
Umbrafer (12:28:30 AM): Er, wordplay as well
MilesMk1 (12:28:33 AM): NYC
Thematrian1 (12:28:36 AM): oh
Umbrafer (12:28:42 AM): Though we are both disposed to worldplay as well.
Thematrian1 (12:28:44 AM): ok, you're surrounded on two sides then
Thematrian1 (12:28:48 AM): I take it back
Umbrafer (12:28:55 AM): And I just used "as well" too much.
Thematrian1 (12:28:59 AM): if we could get Dragcrell in here, your only escape would be Canada
MilesMk1 (12:29:02 AM): *shudder* God, I think I'd die in Florida... Even hotter than this damn city.
Thematrian1 (12:29:22 AM): my (apparently not other) friend there is not loving it. But yeah, sleep well
Umbrafer (12:29:41 AM): Our Florida contingent is no longer here. One now works nights at Wal*Mart, the other has moved to Maine.
Umbrafer (12:29:48 AM): *Waves* Sleep well, all.
MilesMk1 (12:29:52 AM): Though the very reasonable gun laws are a plus. They have shooting ranges which rent fully automatic guns. Or so I hear. ;)
Umbrafer (12:30:21 AM): IIRC Florida now includes the right to shoot people if you feel threatened.
Umbrafer (12:30:31 AM): They hit "reasonable" and kept going.
Thematrian1 (12:30:35 AM): in fairness, it's a bit more complex than that
Thematrian1 (12:30:51 AM): I agree, they set the bar for lethal force a little low
Thematrian1 (12:30:56 AM): but this isn't the time
Umbrafer (12:31:05 AM): Indeed.
MilesMk1 (12:31:09 AM): (That was a highlight of a family trip down there... You women, you go to Seaworld, and we'll go to this, uh, store across the highway from it.)
Umbrafer (12:31:19 AM): (Half-asleep political debate!)
Thematrian1 (12:31:22 AM): (hahaha, good times)
Umbrafer (12:31:32 AM): (That sounds fun :) )
MilesMk1 (12:31:58 AM): (My dad and I blew ~ $300 on ammo in about two and a half hours, and lied about it. :P )
Thematrian1 (12:32:15 AM): (whoof. I had no idea it was that pricey)
MilesMk1 (12:32:33 AM): (It's only about $10-$15 for a box of 50...)
Thematrian1 (12:32:56 AM): (Sure, but if the weapon is automatic, a box of fifty represents a fairly short time-span, no?)
MilesMk1 (12:32:59 AM): (Like I said, they rented out stuff like Thompson SMGs and HK MP5s...)
MilesMk1 (12:33:06 AM): (Yep.)
Thematrian1 (12:33:25 AM): (dammit, I'm not intentionally making comments that you have to reply to rather than sleep, it just keeps happening)
Umbrafer (12:33:43 AM): (It
Umbrafer (12:33:53 AM): 's(It's a good thing we don't play in person, no one would ever leave the session)
MilesMk1 (12:34:00 AM): Well, if I was that intent on sleeping, I'd have said bye and logged off... :)
Thematrian1 (12:34:10 AM): (I had that happen IRL. Game ended at ten, we broke at four)
Thematrian1 (12:34:21 AM): (Whoops)
Umbrafer (12:34:28 AM): (That happens with Adam every Saturday, pretty much.)
MilesMk1 (12:34:32 AM): But yeah, it's that time now... You guys have fun talking for another hour or so. ;)
MilesMk1 (12:34:37 AM): Later.
Umbrafer (12:34:40 AM): (Well, usually Sunday by that point)
Umbrafer (12:34:44 AM): *Waves*
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (12:35:16 AM): Tuesday, we see if we need new characters. *Waves*
Thematrian1 (12:35:23 AM): hehe, sleep well then
Chat room exited at 6/24/2005 12:35:38 AM.