Wired reflex question Options

[Rad]

Well, part of it is that I just can't see a runner installing a kill-switch into themselves--seems like anybody successful enough to afford the thing would know better than to make all their motor-functions dependent on a single piece of 'ware...

...but then you've got the whole cyberlimb crowd so who knows.

Ultimately I'd say it's more of a metagame balance issue, and I don't see being able to turn your MBW system off as particularly gamebreaking. The only real concern is that the tremors mentioned in the fluff could be a way of spotting a MBW user, and with the ability to turn it off you could hide that.

Thing is, there's no in-game stats for noticing the tremors or recognizing them for what they are, so it's not that big a deal. You'll still have the tell-tale shakes when it's activated, and when it's off you don't get any of the benefits. Seems like it could offer some good tactical/roleplaying opportunities that way--where a character has to choose between the discomfort and risk of tipping off security or the risk of not having it on when you need it.

"I hate using this thing. It makes me tense, and edgy--but not as edgy as staring down the barrel of a gun I didn't see coming."

That kinda thing.

[Seraph Kast]

Actually, the book does mention that users tend to develop tremors, that could indicate that they still shake a bit with the system not on anymore. After all, you've been sitting there muscles tensing for three hours. If you turn it off, your body actually would probably keep trying to do that subconsciously.

Edit: For example, I once had to use a weedwacker to trim a hill, took me about three hours or so before I decided to take a break. So, I had this chunk of metal just sitting, in the exact same position for about three hours. When I stopped, I went over to grab a soda. Pull it out of the machine, pop the top, and notice my arms are really tired. No big deal, right?

Wrong! I couldn't force my arms to bend to reach my face. The muscles had been so stressed for long enough without a break, that they refused to do anything but try and stay straight out. After a couple minutes I managed to force the drink up, my arm shaking like I was arm wrestling someone, and drink some soda.

One of the oddest experiences of my life, heh.

[Rad]

Hmm, looking at the book again, the line about tremors says:

"Move-by-wire users frequently suffer from slight, but uncontrollable, muscle tremors in certain muscle groups when they are at rest, mostly due to errors in the system's seizure compensation."

The "at rest" seems to imply you can't turn it off. You could take it to mean "with the system on, but not moving", but that seems like creative interpretation...

[Stahlseele]

since when does MBW come with an on/off switch?
i thought only wired reflexes had something like that with the (stepped) trigger?
at least that's how i allways explained the stress points in SR3 to myself O.o
and that would be more or less the only advantage to wired reflexes i think . .

[Sir_Psycho]

Hmm, looking at the book again, the line about tremors says:

"Move-by-wire users frequently suffer from slight, but uncontrollable, muscle tremors in certain muscle groups when they are at rest, mostly due to errors in the system's seizure compensation."

The "at rest" seems to imply you can't turn it off. You could take it to mean "with the system on, but not moving", but that seems like creative interpretation...

I'm glad you owned up to noticing that, because I sure could have used that in supporting my interpretation of MBW.