HappyDaze wrote:

Are you saying that because they don't have Reps and Networks of their own listed in the book that they shouldn't have them? Is this just to stick with what's in the book, or are you trying to say that these other factions really don't have their own Reps and Networks? I do understand that these values are not exclusive - an uplift might have e-rep and still have m-rep (or whatever the Mercurials use among themselves), but I don't think that e-rep really covers the Mercurials too accurately. Likewise while there are both inner system and outer system Ultimates that typically use c-rep and @-rep respectively with their neighbors, shouldn't they have some form of 'u-rep' amongst all fellow Ultimates?

No, I'm saying that you should create social networks for the movements where social networks seem most relevant. The seven existing ones are networks based on very broad categories, not narrow subgroups. @-rep and c-rep measures how known you are amongst either the autonomists or hypercorps... rendering both networks equivalent to "outer system notoriety" and "inner system notoriety". Ecowave represents every green movement there is, even if they might clash (nano-ecologists and preservationists, for example). Fame represents anyone who appears in or is behind any media. Guanxi is a network for every criminal. RNA is a network for every scientific organization or business dealing in research and development. These are all very broad networks (i-rep is a bit of a blacksheep, but in my games I converted it into a network for every covert ops organization). If you know of another group that is broad enough to warrant such a network, I say go for it, but the ones you listed are fairly narrow subgroups. If they had a network, it would likely be a small one at best. To me, giving the ultimates a u-rep seems rather pointless, since the movement is fairly personal in concept (do you get rep for being the most social darwinistic and more into eugenics than everyone else?).

HappyDaze wrote:

I see where you're going. I guess I was taking i-rep as a precedent and trying to make it a standard for making reps for more narrow-focussed groups. Either way would work, but your way is actually easier on the skills and rep points since there are fewer but broader networks and reps. BTW, did your version of i-rep have a different networking name since it applies to agencies outside of Firewall? Something like Networking: Spies or Networking: Intelligencers or perhaps even Networking: Spooks?

That's largely the reason I did it the way I did. If you decide to do miniscule networks, I would recommend allowing players to use a networking skill similar to but for a broader network, perhaps with a mild penalty representing the slight differences. For example, if you decide to make a mercurial network, I would recommend that players with Networking: Autonomists or Networking: Ecologists can use that skill with a -10 penalty instead of having to get a Networking: Mercurials skill. As for i-rep, I call the skill Networking: Intelligence, based on how Networking: Media is named (basically because they are opposites; one measures how famous you are among famous people, while the other measures how much of a ghost you are among ghosts). It also acts as the network for Project Ozma; while the two organizations probably don't stay in contact enough to have an actual unified social network, anything that you do for one agency is likely to be noticed by the other, thus increasing your popularity/notoriety with them similarly.

For what it's worth, I would go with the core book on this one, i.e. that the GM can make up new networks (p. 287). It makes a lot of sense that many identifiable group have their own networks. Such networks could be in respect of solar system wide groupings as well as isolated brinker habs. Generally, I think the networks are way too large and encompassing. Would really Jovians have much in common with Lunars and why would Titanians share a network with Barsoomians? For purposes of game mechanics I can accept this, but as I will mainly roleplay (or at least not use dice) in my games I will use common sense. PS: Good thoughts on i-rep. I will nick them right off and use in my game.