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[Wakshaani]

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/176342...src=slider_view

Lots more to read than usual, so it might take a few days for discussion to start rolling.

[Beta]

See, I just went home. So when you're on a conference in Vegas, the people in Berlin who filed the ticket will have long gone home by the time their issue gets handed through to level 3...

If our supplier project lead, in Bucharest, can conference us (eastern north america) and their head office (California) and manufacturing monitoring office (Taiwan), I'm sure you could all figure it out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

But realistically, email, or better yet a mailing list or private forum, would probably be easier the vast majority of the time. But once in a while a few minutes of conversation can avoid days of writing!

[Sascha Morlok]

I skyped with Michael Witch (Albuquerque?), Scott Schletz and Jason Hardy and i live in Hamburg, Germany. But as oyu said there are plenty of possibilities to communicate.

[binarywraith]

They do upstairs, so that the leads can stay in contact and handle big stuff. The Freelancers are just typewriters for hire. That kind of thing is technically above our pay grade. Having access to financials ia *useful* for Engineering, so that you can know what level of pricing your design can handle, but as long as the guys upstairs give you a target, you don't really need to know. Same thing here: We don't *have* to know this, but it'd be handy.

I suppose at the very least it's the kind of thing the guys responsible for the editing passes before publication should probably twig to, rather than waiting for the fanbase to point it out every time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Sengir]

If our supplier project lead, in Bucharest, can conference us (eastern north america) and their head office (California) and manufacturing monitoring office (Taiwan), I'm sure you could all figure it out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I raise to California, Central Europe. and Japan, that's an extra hour spread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

It's all a question of the right tool for the right task, sometimes scheduling a call with Toyko is less burdensome than another 200 mails.


To get this a least partially back on topic, how is Ares' bug problem?

[Sascha Morlok]

Dunno, when we left of, hermit wanted to skip Ares and go on to Aztech.

[Sascha Morlok]

Anyway, I would appreciate any review or correction of my Saeder-Krupp chapter.

[hermit]

In fact, hermit lied and read through Ares anyway. This running review is brought to you by Havana Club International, S.A.

The Ares chapter gets better, but not much.

I'll start with something nice. On page 48, we get a box of corp-specific lingo. While it is supposed to be military slang but doesn't nearly contain enough acronyms (and bad language hidden behind them) like actual military slang, feeling kinda bowdlerized, I have wanted to see something like this for quite some time now - to breathe some life into the sociolect idea Shadowrun never went anywhere with. I'd really have liked to see this for all megas.

Also, if the authors really want to merge Ares and Horizon, well, why not. It's about time someone consolidated the American corps a bit and got SR a little less American-focused. Maybe give a second chinese company a shot, one that owns a bit of the Coastal Provinces perhaps? There are More people living inside than are outside this circle in Shadowrun, too. How about current 3A megacorps? (hint: 4/10)

Now, for the bad stuff. Apparently, it's actually bugs are behind the Excalibur debacle (what) because one in 10 Ares employees is a bug (what?!), and this made the public go wild about their GMCs and iComs and American Airlines flight tickets (WHAT?! Because one in 10 of their customers also are bugs?!). Really, the author's dedication to sticking with a bad idea is almost commendable. I hear Cunard is looking for Violinists. That may be his kind of job! Whether it's Ares or the general public is "depending on which crackpot conspiracy theorist" we believe (because that's where the real real news are - with truthers conspiracy theorists. I'll refrain from further exploration of this).

Someone with potential ties to great dragons, is who. No way could Knight have pulled off the Nanosecond Buyout alone.

Actually, someone just pulled what appears a test run for such an operation in Russia. And why "can't pull it alone" signifies "great dragons", the author never explains. This is an arbitrary example of a massive problem that permeates the entire article: causality between random things is just claimed, and then sentences that read like proof or facts in support are added that are just more random claims, really. The moon is made of cheese because bananas, and Damien Knight is in league with great dragons (plural!) because nobody could have done the Nanosecond buyout alone. Nevermind that he probably could, with the aid of a more advanced version of Corkow (maybe with a more evil name, like CzernoBog?), but hey, not everyone can follow IT security insiders when there're so many crackpot truthers conspiracy theorists to choose your truth from.

But it seems to me the author has no idea how the method of proof by facts works, or just can't be bothered. And the in-world voice - Cosmo is supposed to be a "cynical corp raider/disillusioned anarchist who works as a Johnson and a fixer" - goes on a tangent about HMHVV, Bugs or CFD with literally everybody. The entire article reads like one of those bizarre, self-published books about UFO bioroid sex bot Men in Black written by someone whose mental issues are so painfully obvious it hurts to read.

That is not how you should write a text that contains worthwhile information, even in and about a fictional world.

Ah crap, bottle's empty. Next review tomorrow soon whenever.

[hermit]

The hermit returns, wooohoo! And only slightly drunk! This running review is brought to you by Havana Club International, S.A.

Now, for Aztechnology. It seems Cosmo has been cured of his (her?) momentary madness during the Ares chapter and is more or less back to cynical corporate raider Johnson.

There are some issues here, initially. Issues that probably are not only the author's fault. The chief issue is: What became of Médicarro? ChromeFlesh was all about how Aztech launched a DocWagon-like service called QuetzalCare. Now, Aztlan has had a joint-venture DocWagon-like service (with DocWagon) ever since the Aztlan book. Has this cooperation been severed and MédiCarro's assets been consolidated into QuetzalCare? That was my assumption. Then why is Médicarro listed as one of Aztechnology's chief divisions? Why does MédiCarro get a long-ish writeup in Aztech North America? I assume the author drew mostly on the Corp Dossier book and little to no coordination happened between them and the ChromeFlesh author responsible for the relevant bits of ChromeFlesh, but ... well, could an author say something about this? Is QuetzalCare MédiCarro's street-level new name, or is it a different services provider under the same corporate umbrella?

The first paragraphs are nicely written. Also, nice pokes towards Silicon Valley culture. Some typos (Dasault [sic]) but not many. And Cosmo doesn't remind me of self-published rants of people who need professional help.

The chapter offers a lot of value to flesh out a campaign, from the Shack's P2.1 account and the things it tweets (shouldn't that be 'beep'?), like the 2 am Burrito Koan, they offer examples of how Aztechnology PR works as opposed to Horizons, and they make the notion that Aztechnology, the designated evil corporation, is actually pretty popular. And why do they love the big A? A combination of a good media strategy and diversifying their spider's web of subsidiaries' media strategies, rather than banking on their central brand, solid PR damage control, and making good quality products. Hey, that explanation works!

The history part seems accurate for the most part (I really should reread the Aztechnology book), the focus on VITAS is nice, since VITAS is a pitoval, cataclysmic event in the Shadowrun timeline that usually is just totally neglected, and gives a good, concise, rundown of how David, Medellin and Massaya, three Mesoamerican drug gangs, became a Megacorp. The events of stormfront are surprisingly well handled, all things considered, and the Fanboy Much? Corps is not mentioned even once (+1).

The people section is where the first major mistake is to be found, though: So Dzitbalchén is the dragon owning Motecuhzoma, head of Aztech magic R&D? Really? After having been executed for murder by Aztlan/Aztech and dissected, the recording of which was a hit simsense in 2073? really? Again, a fluff bible seems desperately in order. Still, it updates well on other board members (J.J. Harvn jr!), and offers Aztech's very own version of Hans Brackhaus, which is actually really nice and again a detail helpful for GMs to flesh out their games. However, on the topic of J.J. Harvin, will we ever learn what became of Gunderson's deep-sea arcology, the one with the highly addictive and toxic undersea tobacco?

The chapter rounds out with information on what running for and Aztech is like. Ares did that too, but it's done better here, I feel, instead of "they really like the military, like, a lot, so you gotta balance between pleasing Sgt. Johnson and how you like to do jobs", you get how Aztech jobs tend to naturally be dirtier than other corps' jobs, and how running against the big A is like a box of chocolates.

All in all, nice chapter with a few flaws, the biggest being part of a larger problem the author is probably not him/herself to blame.

Hey, that was only one Mojito, and that mainly because this Moroccan spearmint is so damn good!

[binarywraith]

Now, for the bad stuff. Apparently, it's actually bugs are behind the Excalibur debacle (what) because one in 10 Ares employees is a bug (what?!), and this made the public go wild about their GMCs and iComs and American Airlines flight tickets (WHAT?! Because one in 10 of their customers also are bugs?!). Really, the author's dedication to sticking with a bad idea is almost commendable. I hear Cunard is looking for Violinists. That may be his kind of job! Whether it's Ares or the general public is "depending on which crackpot conspiracy theorist" we believe (because that's where the real real news are - with truthers conspiracy theorists. I'll refrain from further exploration of this).

Jebus Fraggin' Crabst.

Did they even do the math on how may fragging bug spirits that is? All this with nary a one being caught out, with Bug City a thing that happened and was highly publicized?

This approaches 'Sailing Out Of Bogota' on the 'Did they even say this out loud to see if it sounded plausible' scale. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[hermit]

This approaches 'Sailing Out Of Bogota' on the 'Did they even say this out loud to see if it sounded plausible' scale.

Yes, though the chapter is such an incoherent rant, it's hard to take it serious (and I suppose Cosmo's a headcase).

From the Evo chapter:

Despite Plan 9’s prognostication skills, his rampant acceptance of coincidentally connected evidence was too much of a verbal vomit risk

Cue Alanis Morissette ... Seriously, lay off Plan 9 for once and look at the Ares chapter! As a quick fix, you could just re-attribute the chapter to Plan 9 as an in-game author, actually. That'd explain a LOT.

In better news, the following chapters are much more fun to read and offer a lot more useful material.

[Blade]

Thanks for your reviews, very informative and well written. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Sendaz]

Jebus Fraggin' Crabst.

Did they even do the math on how may fragging bug spirits that is? All this with nary a one being caught out, with Bug City a thing that happened and was highly publicized?

This approaches 'Sailing Out Of Bogota' on the 'Did they even say this out loud to see if it sounded plausible' scale. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

On the plus side, rumour has it 6th edition will have Bug as a Player Option when you get an Ares Corp SIN. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Renard]

Screw bugs !
Those monsters from Harlequin's back are the rage now among th cool kids or so I heard !

[Sengir]

Apparently, it's actually bugs are behind the Excalibur debacle (what) because one in 10 Ares employees is a bug (what?!), and this made the public go wild

So the Ares bug thing is public knowledge now?

[hermit]

So the Ares bug thing is public knowledge now?

Depending on which crackpot you ask?

[Sengir]

Depending on which crackpot you ask?

Crackpot rumors about bug invasion hurting Ares sounds believable, but how does the Excalibur project factor in, then? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[hermit]

but how does the Excalibur project factor in, then?

By the power of "rampant acceptance of coincidentally connected evidence".

[Sendaz]

but how does the Excalibur project factor in, then? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

if you go with a bit of Plan 9 thinking, you could see it as the bugs trying to integrate into their various departments with only a partial understanding of what they are doing.

Kind of like the 1989 movie 'The Experts' where the Russians have created a town simulating America so as to better train their spies, but in their case they realize they are a bit out of touch basically living like the 50's and bring in Travolta & Arye Gross characters as 'experts' to bring them up to date.

In our situation, the bugs are operating on half gained knowledge from their merging while not necessarily getting the full life experience to integrate it all.
So they are making a lot of rookie level mistakes and probably are just as confused by the results as we are.

Hmmm..... a run where the bugs hire the Runners to kidnap them some experts of their own to show them what they need to be doing....

[lokii]

Isn't it more or less common knowledge that Dunkelzahn bankrolled the Nanosecond Buyout after dropping this unsubtle hint in his will?

To Damien Knight, [..] It was only 60 seconds, old friend, but what a ride!

But drunken reviews, referring to yourself in the third person? Market Panic gets to you, man.

[hermit]

Isn't it more or less common knowledge that Dunkelzahn bankrolled the Nanosecond Buyout after dropping this unsubtle hint in his will?

Sure, that's mythos knowledge (he only ever was one great dragon, not more, which is why I signified the plural). I doubt it's common enough knowledge, especially when the CFD AI who used Cosmo's body to write it doesn't seem to know it was Dunkelzahn. But it was only an arbitrary example of the kind of broken reasoning the author used all the time, anyway.

But drunken reviews, referring to yourself in the third person? Market Panic gets to you, man.

More like the Ares chapter. The rest (I'm through Evo and into Horizon now) seems actually pretty good. It's quite the roller coaster ride.

So they are making a lot of rookie level mistakes and probably are just as confused by the results as we are.

The greatest problem I have with the Ares storyline is the reaction from customers. Bonkers business decisions, like a super expensive advertisement campaign for a product that is illegal virtually everywhere aside, and that product being utter crap aside, why would that make someone spontaneously torch their car, stomp their commlink and quit their bank account? It's Ares Arms gone mad, maybe, but why distrust an entire incredibly wide spread company, over a product most of their customers couldn't care less about? Or did you burn your lawn mower over the G36 debacle (let's leave the viability of the G36 aside)?

[Sendaz]

Yeah, the consumer reaction was pretty weird.

Or did you burn your lawn mower over the G36 debacle (let's leave the viability of the G36 aside)?

*pushes the remains of his still smouldering lawn mower under the car*
Ummm.. maybe? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/embarrassed.gif)

[lokii]

Sure, that's mythos knowledge (he only ever was one great dragon, not more, which is why I signified the plural). I doubt it's common enough knowledge, especially when the CFD AI who used Cosmo's body to write it doesn't seem to know it was Dunkelzahn.

It was also discussed openly in Corporate Download. But maybe the info was eaten by Jormungand.

[hermit]

It was also discussed openly in Corporate Download. But maybe the info was eaten by Jormungand.

Or Dev//grrl's teacher confiscated that comment.

[binarywraith]

Or the writer, as distressingly usual, just doensn't know the fluff.

[hermit]

I've been thinking about the Ares chapter, and I might have misjudged the author. All this rests on one premise: The chapter was intended as Plan 9's POV.

If that was the intent, well executed - the chapter captures the rambling, incoherent, at the same time paranoid (don't trust the news!) and obedient (ufologists say it was aliens, what else could it be?!) madness of conspiracy nuts far better than the actual Plan 9 narrative in the Evo chapter. And, in that case, sorry for the overly harsh review. Maybe take it as that your writeup is a bit too good and works too well.

Of course, then that would beg the questuion why this obviously Plan 9 POV writeup wasn't assigned to Plan 9, but to Cosmo, and why there never was a "the real deal on Ares" add-on because one cannot trust "Plan 9's (...) rampant acceptance of coincidentally connected evidence"- and why this was done to the surprisingly sane Evo chapter. Miscommunication?