Resonance VR Options

[Garrowolf]

It seems like we have three camps in general. Those that want the computers to make sense based on current technology moved forward. Those who want to keep the VR because it is fundamental to their concept of Shadowrun. Those who want to keep the rules as they are mostly intact and just add explinations.

I think that I have a sort of solution that might satisfy the first and the second and maybe even the third (but probably less so).

We have this idea of a VR that can do magical things and makes more physical sense then computer sense. We have this magical matrix reading people that can control all things computer with their mind but they don't really work out that well. How wbout we marry the two?

Have the resonance no longer the perview of the technomancer only. Make it like some sort of subspace domain. Basically if you have the correct equipment you can communicate into this domain called the Resonance where it is possible to process faster then normal and create electromagnetic fields into walls. You can create objects there in a type of VR that has it's own rules. It has creatures that live there and people can create resonance bodies there as well. It takes a type of transmitter called a cyberdeck to do this. Physical objects and laws are the norm there. The more power coming through the portal you created (called a jackpoint) the more you can do.

Large corporations were the first to discover and make use of this realm. They created constructs in order to use the super processing power of the resonance. They discovered that they could create various levels of AI there and they were stable. They started creating sprites to do various tasks for them. Given a poweful enough cyberdeck you could turn yourself into a type of sprite as well. While you were connected you could be injured, but the resonance became THE place to hide your most secure data.

A technomancer is a person that can operate in both this world and the resonance. They don't need a cyberdeck.

The average user is interacting with the Matrix which is more like the INternet with more features. They can go around just like I have been describing. They don't need to ever interact with the Resonance and probably never will. A commlink only connectsyou with the Matrix. You need a cyberdeck to connect with the resonance unless you are a technomancer. The technomancer is not any good at Matrix level things unless they get a seperate set of skills and equipment.

The intrusion level stuff is Matrix level but usually isolated. The really secret stuff is resonance level. However you can jack into the resonance inside a building that corresponds with the space of the secure resonance site and get in past some of their defences.

How about that?