Transhuman General Discussion (non-catsuit/pigteat topics)

Sat, 2013-08-10 07:19

#2

Decivre

So I have some new issues

So I have some new issues with Flexbots that have come up with the new mechanics. And it's mostly with the squishbot modification. Are there other limitations to squishbots like the Bouba beyond not having synthmorph armor, or is that it? Because I'm wondering whether a squishbot can have articulated turrets, or attach to non-squishbots, or if they even have the shape adjusting trait that allows you to create new mobility systems on the fly. I mean if they are always soft, they can't go rigid and form things like propellers, can they? Also, am I allowed to make eidolons with a lower maximum aptitude than 40? Because that seems ripe for abuse... any hacker that isn't planning to directly control bots or anything can make an eidolon with crappy SOM, COO, and maybe even REF. Maybe add a couple penalties for fun, and drop the cost of the software significantly. I'd be tempted to say that having a 40 aptitude cap is required for eidolon designs. And why didn't we get a flexbot with a hab brain? I feel cheated, as now I can't create and become Flextopia, the system's first shapeshifting sentient habitat consisting of an ever-growing legion of flexbots.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Sat, 2013-08-10 09:19

#3

Trinary

Watts-MacLeod Reinfection

We know that Watts-MacLeod rewrites the 'software' as well as rewiring the wetware of the biomorph brain in order to enable async powers; because the software's still trying to access those rewired portions and generating error messages when the conciousness is running in a digital format (either as an infomorph or on a cyberbrain), thus the 'Morph Fever' drawback to phenominal cosmic powers. So when an Async farcasts into a new biomorph: 1) How does the 'software' portion of Watts-MacLeod rewire the new biomorphs' brain for powers? Is it part of the standard resleeving shuffle of neurons; and thus detectable to the tech running the bridge as being severely anomalous; or does the virus have to 'reinfect' the new host? (Thus being detectable to public spimes as a fever, ect. Assuming it could even get the new nanites) 2) What happens to the wetware our farcasting Async leaves behind? The 'Memory Artifact', 'Personality Artifact', and 'Skill Artifact' Traits imply that uploading doesn't always completely flush a brain out. If the biomorph's a rental and the broker isn't as careful about the maintenance between customers, what happens to the next poor sap who sleeves into a brain full of inert Watts-MacLeod nanites and Async neural structure with an ego just ripe for infection? And if the Morph Broker does find the 'damage' and goes to ding the rep of the Async for messing up the morph; what happens when they see a string of similar 'voided damage deposit on brokered morph' dings?

Sat, 2013-08-10 10:08

#4

Decivre

Trinary wrote:1) How does the

Trinary wrote:
1) How does the 'software' portion of Watts-MacLeod rewire the new biomorphs' brain for powers? Is it part of the standard resleeving shuffle of neurons; and thus detectable to the tech running the bridge as being severely anomalous; or does the virus have to 'reinfect' the new host? (Thus being detectable to public spimes as a fever, ect. Assuming it could even get the new nanites)

My guess would be #1, otherwise the setting would mention that it's easy to detect an async between farcasts. It's likely that the brain alterations caused by Watts-Macleod are extremely subtle and hard to detect, perhaps even some form of biological encryption that hides it among regular synapses and neurons. The ego-bridge still writes this data into the brain, making the new body generate psi properties, but people cannot detect these properties otherwise... yet.

Trinary wrote:
2) What happens to the wetware our farcasting Async leaves behind? The 'Memory Artifact', 'Personality Artifact', and 'Skill Artifact' Traits imply that uploading doesn't always completely flush a brain out. If the biomorph's a rental and the broker isn't as careful about the maintenance between customers, what happens to the next poor sap who sleeves into a brain full of inert Watts-MacLeod nanites and Async neural structure with an ego just ripe for infection? And if the Morph Broker does find the 'damage' and goes to ding the rep of the Async for messing up the morph; what happens when they see a string of similar 'voided damage deposit on brokered morph' dings?

I don't think that this is the case. Watts-Macleod is a very sensitive component of the brain-state, which is why neural pruning always guarantees the elimination of psi abilities. This implies that the Watts-Macleod strain's effects on the brain are complex enough that significant alterations will render them inert. So any artifacts that might be left in the morph upon leaving it are likely not significant enough to make the next wearer an async.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Sat, 2013-08-10 10:14

#5

Lorsa

Without having read anything

Without having read anything in detail must first impression of Transhuma nis that it is filled with mods or addons to the game that you can choose to use - or not. It seems to be full of new backgrounds (I especially like the new AGI ones), have extra factions (the Sapient one would fit a characte rI am playing now) and more morhps and traits and... lots of stuff. It seem to be presented in a way that is less "this is THE RULES" and more "here are some extra things / special rules / modifications you can use if you like". This is a good thing and it seems the whole book is telling me "it's okay for you to write your own backgrounds, morphs, traits, rules and whatnot, but in case you have creativity problems, here are some ideas". It seems to be filling a few holes that were lacking before (such as general living costs and how to pay for them). I am one of those that really like the core character creation system and its versatility, but in due time I will probably look up the other two to see if they add anything interesting or enjoyable. But again, I think this is the beauty of the book, it's giving you option without telling you that you must use them. Not many systems does that.

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Sat, 2013-08-10 12:04

#6

nick012000 nick012000's picture

Decivre wrote:And why didn't

Decivre wrote:
And why didn't we get a flexbot with a hab brain? I feel cheated, as now I can't create and become Flextopia, the system's first shapeshifting sentient habitat consisting of an ever-growing legion of flexbots.

Just take the Habitat Computer morph from Panopticon, and add on the Shape-Adjusting and Modular Construction augmentations, and you're good to go! ;)

—

+1 r-Rep , +1 @-rep

Sat, 2013-08-10 15:20

#7

Decivre

nick012000 wrote:Just take

nick012000 wrote:
Just take the Habitat Computer morph from Panopticon, and add on the Shape-Adjusting and Modular Construction augmentations, and you're good to go! ;)

It doesn't have a durability rating. Also, no listed size. Both of these things hurt it as an option. I'm thinking about making a massive brain morph for this task.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Sun, 2013-08-11 16:25

#8

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

Decivre wrote:So I have some

Decivre wrote:
So I have some new issues with Flexbots that have come up with the new mechanics. And it's mostly with the squishbot modification. Are there other limitations to squishbots like the Bouba beyond not having synthmorph armor, or is that it? Because I'm wondering whether a squishbot can have articulated turrets, or attach to non-squishbots, or if they even have the shape adjusting trait that allows you to create new mobility systems on the fly. I mean if they are always soft, they can't go rigid and form things like propellers, can they?

If you look at the Bouba morph description, it specifies that it can't form new mobility systems. That language should probably apply to the Squishbot enhancement, as well. As to your other questions, I'd adjudicate based on what a soft, squishy morph could do. If you add something like an articulated turrent, which needs a hard point and rigid materials to work effectively, it's both a waste of the turret (no hard points for mounting mean weapons with recoil lose a ton of accuracy), and a waste of the Squishbot aug (because the rigid turret isn't going to be able to flow through holes like the rest of the morph).

—

J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Sun, 2013-08-11 17:48

#9

Trinary

You can't take it with you

You could always leave the non-squishbot turret-mounting module behind under the care of a device AI while you do your squishy deeds; then pick it up on the way out again...

Sun, 2013-08-11 19:09

#10

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

Trinary wrote:You could

Trinary wrote:
You could always leave the non-squishbot turret-mounting module behind under the care of a device AI while you do your squishy deeds; then pick it up on the way out again...

No, sorry, not actually possible. One thing modularity and shape adjusting don't let you do is split your morph into pieces. (It's in there somewhere; don't remember exactly where I put it). The Bouba itself is the thing that's intended to go off and do aforesaid squishy deeds. Buying a non-squishy module and putting weapon mounts on it is what you'd want to do.

—

J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Sun, 2013-08-11 19:18

#11

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

Decivre wrote:nick012000

Decivre wrote:
nick012000 wrote:
Just take the Habitat Computer morph from Panopticon, and add on the Shape-Adjusting and Modular Construction augmentations, and you're good to go! ;)
It doesn't have a durability rating. Also, no listed size. Both of these things hurt it as an option. I'm thinking about making a massive brain morph for this task.

Yeah, the habitat persona core is meant for installation in something like an O'Neill Cylinder. Physical stats are those of the hab itself, and therefore generally assumed to be off the scale of things for which we currently have stat blocks. What you want to do is take a habitat cyberbrain or ops server and put that in your giant flexbot swarm. Let me know if anyone actually does this in play. I tried to write the rules to support it, but honestly, haven't tested it in play. It seemed like something that ought to be theoretically allowable, though, so why not?

—

J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Sun, 2013-08-18 17:26

#12

zombiak

Any idea when the printed

Any idea when the printed edition will hit the shelves? And will it include the errata from the Errata Thread, or is it going to be *vanilla* Transhuman, i.e. the very first version we got our hands on? I'm asking because it's gonna be a major expense for me (living in Poland kinda sucks), but I still want to save up and support the company since it's one of the best RPGs out there.

Sun, 2013-08-18 18:35

#13

Deadite

jackgraham wrote:Trinary

jackgraham wrote:
Trinary wrote:
You could always leave the non-squishbot turret-mounting module behind under the care of a device AI while you do your squishy deeds; then pick it up on the way out again...
No, sorry, not actually possible. One thing modularity and shape adjusting don't let you do is split your morph into pieces. (It's in there somewhere; don't remember exactly where I put it).

That doesn't appear to be what the rules say, Jack. Page 203 says you can connect or disconnect a module with a Complex Action, and page 204 says physically separated modules can then be remote controlled or controlled by an AI. So you can't break your flex bot apart and run it like a swarmanoid but there doesn't appear to be anything stopping you from dropping individual modules and leaving them under AI care.

Sun, 2013-08-18 19:35

#14

Trinary

But

Deadite wrote:
jackgraham wrote:
Trinary wrote:
You could always leave the non-squishbot turret-mounting module behind under the care of a device AI while you do your squishy deeds; then pick it up on the way out again...
No, sorry, not actually possible. One thing modularity and shape adjusting don't let you do is split your morph into pieces. (It's in there somewhere; don't remember exactly where I put it).
That doesn't appear to be what the rules say, Jack. Page 203 says you can connect or disconnect a module with a Complex Action, and page 204 says physically separated modules can then be remote controlled or controlled by an AI. So you can't break your flex bot apart and run it like a swarmanoid but there doesn't appear to be anything stopping you from dropping individual modules and leaving them under AI care.

Well, right up until you take advantage of Mental speed and such to then Jam your shed modules... So you CAN break your flexbot apart and run it like a really bulky swarmanoid. Poorly.

Mon, 2013-08-19 02:06

#15

Smokeskin

I'm pretty sure there's a

I'm pretty sure there's a misunderstanding here. To me it seems Jack said it wasn't possible then in the very next (not quoted) paragraph he says you can do it. Obviously you can break flexbots into modules, but you can't be sleeved in disconnected parts like swarmanoids, and you can't break modules further down. Btw, the old flexbot wasn't 100% clear on it, but couldn't that separate into smaller parts?

Mon, 2013-08-19 02:39

#16

Decivre

Smokeskin wrote:I'm pretty

Smokeskin wrote:
I'm pretty sure there's a misunderstanding here. To me it seems Jack said it wasn't possible then in the very next (not quoted) paragraph he says you can do it. Obviously you can break flexbots into modules, but you can't be sleeved in disconnected parts like swarmanoids, and you can't break modules further down. Btw, the old flexbot wasn't 100% clear on it, but couldn't that separate into smaller parts?

I think Jack was under the impression that Trinary was saying that a single flexbot could be part squishbot, part hardbot(?), and therefore just eject the hardbot half that has the turret. A flexbot can only be one or the other, and I think Jack might be implying that a squishbot cannot merge with hardbots at all... squishbots can only attach to other squishbots, which would make sense. And no, individual flexbots can't separate into components. A new robotic enhancement allows for flexbots to eject damaged mass in order to eliminate wound penalties, but does not allow for a flexbot to become two separate operating masses... at least as written.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Mon, 2013-08-19 08:13

#17

Smokeskin

Decivre wrote:

Decivre wrote:
And no, individual flexbots can't separate into components. A new robotic enhancement allows for flexbots to eject damaged mass in order to eliminate wound penalties, but does not allow for a flexbot to become two separate operating masses... at least as written.

Yeah, I agree that's how it is written now with Transhuman. I meant the old rules from the core rulebook had it differently: Pg 144: Flexbots Their core frame consists of a half-dozen interlocking and shape-adjustable modules capable of auto-transforming into a variety of shapes: multilegged walker, tentacle, hovercraft, and many others. Each module features its own sensor units and “bush robot” fractal-branching digits (capable of breaking into smaller digits, down to the micrometer scale, allowing for ultra-fine manipulation). The flexbot control computer is also distributed between modules. Pg 311: Modular Design: This shell is designed to lock together with similar modular morphs in different architectural patterns to create larger gestalt forms. When united with other modules, the group is treated as a single unit/morph, with shared capabilities. If damaged and then separated, damage and wounds are distributed evenly between modules; uneven amounts are allocated randomly. It certainly made me think that the flexbot was made up of 6 individual modules that didn't have to stay connected so you could have each module doing different things in different parts of a room, much like a swarmanoid but with 6 instead of 1,000s of drones. Of course, if the "modules" on pg 144 are not the same as "modules" on pg 311, then that's a different story, but I thought they were the same.

Mon, 2013-08-19 21:47

#18

Decivre

Smokeskin wrote:Yeah, I agree

Smokeskin wrote:
Yeah, I agree that's how it is written now with Transhuman. I meant the old rules from the core rulebook had it differently: -snip- It certainly made me think that the flexbot was made up of 6 individual modules that didn't have to stay connected so you could have each module doing different things in different parts of a room, much like a swarmanoid but with 6 instead of 1,000s of drones. Of course, if the "modules" on pg 144 are not the same as "modules" on pg 311, then that's a different story, but I thought they were the same.

Yeah. I think the intention was that they were talking on two different scales; flexbots are made up of around six modules interlinked, and can act as greater modules for a flexbot gestalt (like having compartments made up of smaller compartments). It is admittedly odd, but I think the intention was for individual flexbots to be an inseperable unit. Otherwise, the Mass Transfer upgrade would be rather worthless.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Mon, 2013-08-19 22:58

#19

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

Deadite wrote:jackgraham

Deadite wrote:
jackgraham wrote:
Trinary wrote:
You could always leave the non-squishbot turret-mounting module behind under the care of a device AI while you do your squishy deeds; then pick it up on the way out again...
No, sorry, not actually possible. One thing modularity and shape adjusting don't let you do is split your morph into pieces. (It's in there somewhere; don't remember exactly where I put it).
That doesn't appear to be what the rules say, Jack. Page 203 says you can connect or disconnect a module with a Complex Action, and page 204 says physically separated modules can then be remote controlled or controlled by an AI.

Sorry, you're correct, of course. I misread Trinary's comment. Previous comments had me thinking about a turret actually connected to a squishbot, and I kind of just filled that in when replying. Pre-Gen Con sleep dep strikes again. :)

—

J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Mon, 2013-08-19 22:59

#20

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

Side note: must invent

Side note: must invent squishy turrets!

—

J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Mon, 2013-08-19 23:22

#21

Decivre

jackgraham wrote:Side note:

jackgraham wrote:
Side note: must invent squishy turrets!

"I now have a name for my penis!" said someone reading this thread.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Tue, 2013-08-20 01:02

#22

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

Decivre wrote:jackgraham

Decivre wrote:
jackgraham wrote:
Side note: must invent squishy turrets!
"I now have a name for my penis!" said someone reading this thread.

I just googled "penis turret" and felt failed by Rule 34.

—

J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Tue, 2013-08-20 02:12

#23

Smokeskin

I'm sure if you tell anyone

I'm sure if you tell anyone on 4chan, that failure will quickly be remedied.

Tue, 2013-08-20 12:25

#24

Anarchitect Anarchitect's picture

Rule 35 Jack.

You're in a unique position to make it so yourself. Commission some art. In stark contrast to what we're actually referring to, I picture The Cock! driving a warhammer 40k tank. "Drive me closer so I may hit them with my "Sword!" On the flip side, I'm pretty sure a squishy turret would be quite doable. It's basically a neck, yeah? Nature's made plenty of those. The real issue is making the weapon either small enough not to impede the squishyness, or somehow squishy itself.

Tue, 2013-08-20 14:21

#25

Smokeskin

Microseekers would probably

Microseekers would probably be ideal for a supersmall turret.

Tue, 2013-08-20 19:13

#26

Decivre

Anarchitect wrote:You're in a

Anarchitect wrote:
You're in a unique position to make it so yourself. Commission some art. In stark contrast to what we're actually referring to, I picture The Cock! driving a warhammer 40k tank. "Drive me closer so I may hit them with my "Sword!" On the flip side, I'm pretty sure a squishy turret would be quite doable. It's basically a neck, yeah? Nature's made plenty of those. The real issue is making the weapon either small enough not to impede the squishyness, or somehow squishy itself.

A primitive weapon might do the trick; some sort of trebuchet which uses the morph's squishiness as the means for providing the swinging motion to fire projectiles. Clearly not a great option for modern combat in most cases, but it could be great to get extended range on grenades, or to lob a seeker in the air which then uses its own propulsion. [img]http://i.huffpost.com/gen/716307/original.jpg[/img] You will now forever picture this as a Bouba traveling in snake mode.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Tue, 2013-08-20 21:17

#27

CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture

You ever see what a sling

You ever see what a sling bullet does to an unprotected human head? It's enough to pan then open quite nicely. More than enough to put someone down. It wouldn't work against someone wearing body armour (or a good helmet), but most normal people in Eclipse Phase don't. The mechanics involved are incredibly simple, and the required material to produce a sling like device is low enough that it could be rapidly extruded from a larger squishy body. The only thing you would need to carry with you would be ammo, and those can be as small as marble sized. If it finds someone unprepared without headgear, that person is going to be missing a chunk of their scalp. Sometimes the old weapons are best.

—

-

Tue, 2013-08-20 21:26

#28

nezumi.hebereke nezumi.hebereke's picture

I imagine some sort of a

I imagine some sort of a squirter or sprayer would be more effective.

Tue, 2013-08-20 21:53

#29

Decivre

CodeBreaker wrote:You ever

CodeBreaker wrote:
You ever see what a sling bullet does to an unprotected human head? It's enough to pan then open quite nicely. More than enough to put someone down. It wouldn't work against someone wearing body armour (or a good helmet), but most normal people in Eclipse Phase don't. The mechanics involved are incredibly simple, and the required material to produce a sling like device is low enough that it could be rapidly extruded from a larger squishy body. The only thing you would need to carry with you would be ammo, and those can be as small as marble sized. If it finds someone unprepared without headgear, that person is going to be missing a chunk of their scalp. Sometimes the old weapons are best.

Yeah, but against an actual military threat, it's a largely worthless endeavor. These sorts of weapons would probably be worthless against anyone with bioweave, and limited to ambush tactics against noncombatants. So I could see it being useful for some criminal in the Martian Wastes, but much less so for a professional soldier.

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Wed, 2013-08-21 01:48

#30

nick012000 nick012000's picture

Decivre wrote:CodeBreaker

Decivre wrote:
CodeBreaker wrote:
You ever see what a sling bullet does to an unprotected human head? It's enough to pan then open quite nicely. More than enough to put someone down. It wouldn't work against someone wearing body armour (or a good helmet), but most normal people in Eclipse Phase don't. The mechanics involved are incredibly simple, and the required material to produce a sling like device is low enough that it could be rapidly extruded from a larger squishy body. The only thing you would need to carry with you would be ammo, and those can be as small as marble sized. If it finds someone unprepared without headgear, that person is going to be missing a chunk of their scalp. Sometimes the old weapons are best.
Yeah, but against an actual military threat, it's a largely worthless endeavor. These sorts of weapons would probably be worthless against anyone with bioweave, and limited to ambush tactics against noncombatants. So I could see it being useful for some criminal in the Martian Wastes, but much less so for a professional soldier.

I dunno. Bioweave seems more designed to stop knives and gunfire than blunt impact, the way it's described. If you get headshotted with a sling bullet, it'll still transfer its kinetic energy to your skull, even if it doesn't break the skin. Skeletal Reinforcement might help, though.

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Wed, 2013-08-21 14:34

#31

Decivre

nick012000 wrote:I dunno.

nick012000 wrote:
I dunno. Bioweave seems more designed to stop knives and gunfire than blunt impact, the way it's described. If you get headshotted with a sling bullet, it'll still transfer its kinetic energy to your skull, even if it doesn't break the skin. Skeletal Reinforcement might help, though.

If bioweave doesn't stop a sling bullet, then it will in no way help with gunfire. A bullet has significantly more kinetic force, by merit of replacing mass with more speed, than any sling round ever could hope to achieve. Now if your squishbot mass is big enough to form a giant floppy catapult, then you might have something dangerous. Any bets on rule 34 regarding "giant floppy catapult"?

—

Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]

Thu, 2013-08-22 00:15

#32

Chernoborg Chernoborg's picture

As a stray thought, perhaps

As a stray thought, perhaps it could extrude a whip that releases a projectile at supersonic speed? Since flexible/floppy blades exist (flex cutter pg.34 EP) you could have claws or spikes which deploy when needed but shouldn't hinder the malleability of the morph. Or combine those ideas to make a really nasty scourge!

—

Current Status: Highly Distracted building Gatecrashing systems in Universe Sandbox!

Thu, 2013-08-22 03:29

#33

Smokeskin

You guys are overthinking

You guys are overthinking this. Just use seekers. If it can have a hover fan housing in it, it can certainly have a small launch tube.

Thu, 2013-08-22 08:42

#34

Baalbamoth Baalbamoth's picture

penis turret...

Rule 34 clearly states if you cant find it you must create it so jack, get to sketchin.. but I did see these... (no actual peni) http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSK_GCDvZ9Ru5suXlkaQJASWBFxYfB_M... http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSWKyLWB5VwGlQ6d3OedHqPIuEqPwE5... http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQR8L7gG25qRJj8o3jDRqczaBPb8LwbE... btw just tried out the package deal system, had three new players use it, and two new players go by the book only, book players finished in half the time. I spent more time with the package system because... 1) stats weren't labeled, new players had to guess what they stood for 2) too much choice (spent way too long debating packages) 3) confusion between character points, package points, customization points, etc. 4) confusion about when to buy traits

—

"what do I want? The usual — hundreds of grandchildren, complete dominion over the known worlds, and the pleasure of hearing that all my enemies have died in highly improbable accidents that cannot be connected to me."

Thu, 2013-08-22 13:15

#35

bibliophile20 bibliophile20's picture

I've been slowly digesting

I've been slowly digesting the book--sort of like a Sarlacc, only geekier. Some things I'm wholeheartedly adopting, such as the new traits; since we're only seven sessions in for our gatecrashing campaign, I'm letting people rework their characters slightly if a given trait, background or faction helps with better supporting the character concept; haven't had too many takers so far, but overall, it's worked out great there. The AGI player is having lots of fun with the RP advice for AGIs; ditto the two uplift players, one of whom was playing such a stereotype of the corvid that he took the neo-corvid background and never looked back. We've also started using the Group Motivation and Group Moxie optional rules; for my group of mostly-Firewall gatecrashers, we have +Exploration and +Transhuman Survival, and one point of group Moxie. I've also had a resulting side thought regarding the group; as they're a formalized gatecrashing team, would having some form of Group Rep work? I.e. have the team as a collective unit having it's own rankings in the various rep networks, influenced by but independent from the rep rankings of the individual members?

—

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -Benjamin Franklin

Thu, 2013-08-22 13:35

#36

Smokeskin

Baalbamoth wrote:

Baalbamoth wrote:
btw just tried out the package deal system, had three new players use it, and two new players go by the book only, book players finished in half the time. I spent more time with the package system because... 1) stats weren't labeled, new players had to guess what they stood for 2) too much choice (spent way too long debating packages) 3) confusion between character points, package points, customization points, etc. 4) confusion about when to buy traits

I think you're supposed to pick the packages based on your character concept, not on what is actually in the packages. If you try to design your char in detail with the package system that doesn't make sense.

Sat, 2013-08-24 19:39

#37

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

apropos of nothing...

...Baalbamoth's icon is making me crave Stone Ruination IPA. To the beer store! Oh, and yeah, like Smokeskin said, if you're using the package system, just pick packages by concept. Everyone I explained the package buy system to at Gen Con got it explained to them in terms of, "You can make a character with this system in about fifteen minutes [b]if you don't obsess about the actual numbers[/b]." If you want to do a buy the numbers build, either: 1. Use the mega point buy, or, 2. Breeze your way through the packages and then juggle points around using standard CP costs at the end.

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J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Wed, 2013-08-28 13:58

#38

The Doctor The Doctor's picture

jackgraham wrote:Side note:

jackgraham wrote:
Side note: must invent squishy turrets!

That sounds like a mechanism for firing bioengineered antipersonnel creatures at intruders. H.R.Giger has just put brush to canvas but is unsure why.

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[img]http://drwho.virtadpt.net/graphics/info_userbar.jpg[/img] [img]http://drwho.virtadpt.net/graphics/argo_userbar.jpg[/img] [url=https://drwho.virtadpt.net/graphics/blankbadge.png][img]http://drwho.vir...

Wed, 2013-08-28 14:01

#39

The Doctor The Doctor's picture

Anarchitect wrote:You're in a

Anarchitect]You're in a unique position to make it so yourself. Commission some art.[/quotes] Everybody forgets the corollary to Rule 34. [quote=Anarchitect wrote:
On the flip side, I'm pretty sure a squishy turret would be quite doable. It's basically a neck, yeah? Nature's made plenty of those. The real issue is making the weapon either small enough not to impede the squishyness, or somehow squishy itself.

What about an elephant's trunk?

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[img]http://drwho.virtadpt.net/graphics/info_userbar.jpg[/img] [img]http://drwho.virtadpt.net/graphics/argo_userbar.jpg[/img] [url=https://drwho.virtadpt.net/graphics/blankbadge.png][img]http://drwho.vir...

Fri, 2013-08-30 12:51

#40

Hapax Legomenon Hapax Legomenon's picture

First of all: Love the Pack

First of all: Love the Pack system. Love it. I love the artwork, especially the Flexbot Traceur, Dig Ops Specialist and Machine Hunter. The Hidden Concern Assassin is very freaky looking, and I think the Anarchist Militia Volunteer is a really awesome idea. I used to have a hard time envisioning Flexbots, but that problem has been solved. Two questions: First: Can a flexbot module have a Skin Mask? Can a regular morph with Shape Adjusting have a skin mask? Second: What is the Ultimate Gatecrasher holding? What is that? (Another awesome character, btw) It's awesome! Please write more!

Fri, 2013-08-30 13:57

#41

Baalbamoth Baalbamoth's picture

heh, the quakers called beer "god's most divine creature"

the issue w the package system was players started with a base concept like "I wanna be a lost generation async with DID" but then they saw packages they liked like con man etc, and very quickly their concepts changed to fit the package titles they liked, regardless of if the skills or adjustments were beneficial or not. wound up with a player who's async had skills all over the place, almost no combat skills (no melee or fray to go w psychic stab) and in comparison with the non package deal min/maxed characters seemed like it needed to put on its helmet and ride the small bus to the firewall meeting. I think the package deal system will help me make NPCs, and help as suggestions to the players as to the types of skills a career path should contain, but I don't think I'm going to suggest it to new players again.

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"what do I want? The usual — hundreds of grandchildren, complete dominion over the known worlds, and the pleasure of hearing that all my enemies have died in highly improbable accidents that cannot be connected to me."

Fri, 2013-08-30 14:07

#42

nizkateth

Well, unless I did this wrong

[i]Well[/i], unless I did [url=http://eclipsephase.com/did-i-do-right]this[/url] wrong, I found the package system to be [b]quite[/b] helpful. It just took [i]some[/i] customizing after package purchasing (swapping skills that were redundant and such).

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Reapers: Do Not Taunt Happy Fun Ball. My watch also has a minute hand, millenium hand, and an eon hand.

Fri, 2013-08-30 14:21

#43

davethebrave davethebrave's picture

I'm really looking forward to

I'm really looking forward to Singularity. Snow Dog Labs said on twitter that when you run through either package or life path, it spits you out at the end into regular customization mode so you can tweak and shuffle things. I like that a lot, because I find both the life paths and package mode to be really great [i]guidelines[/i] to make characters that do certain things, and then you can just outright scrap certain skills that don't fit with the more specific character concept and re-allocate where it would better suit you.

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Yours, Dave the Brave