Roleplaying Game of Transhuman Conspiracy and Horror, Eclipse Phase HUH? Options

[eidolon]

I generally don't worry overly much about whether devs will answer stuff I can just make a decision about. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[crizh]

Just remember: the Devs for EP will not answer the most burning question on the forums over there(I have seen no less then 3 separate threads asking about it): do the Lost start at Level 1 or Level 2 Psi?

Yes, one could argue that because they start off with 2 Disorders, they have Psi at Level 2, but it could also be argued
that because of their circumstances growing up, that one of those Disorders could be caused by the psychological stressors of the environment and, though their latent psi ability, not detecting the "people" there, thus starting them at Psi level 1, with an extra disorder.

I'm pretty sure I saw Rob answer this in something I was reading yesterday. I'm positive he said it was level 2, hold on I'll go check....

edit

Yup, it's here in the errata thread.

[Grinder]

Having read the core rulebook twice now, I have to say that the game is solid and very appealing, with a lot of open questions and possibilities aka plot hooks. But I find the social-political undertone a bit annoying: the game is clearly written in a pro-anarchist-movement tone and marks them as the good guys, while the hypercorps are the grey ones (with tendencies to black) and bioconservatives like the Jovians the bad guys. Or is it just me who thinks so?

[hobgoblin]

could be that its the tone coming from the main book, but may change given time...

still, transhumanism is potentially anarchistic, in the "everything is allowed as a means of self-improvement" way.

[Tanegar]

Having read the core rulebook twice now, I have to say that the game is solid and very appealing, with a lot of open questions and possibilities aka plot hooks. But I find the social-political undertone a bit annoying: the game is clearly written in a pro-anarchist-movement tone and marks them as the good guys, while the hypercorps are the grey ones (with tendencies to black) and bioconservatives like the Jovians the bad guys. Or is it just me who thinks so?

No, it's not just you. But the Jovians aren't the bad guys because they're bioconservative, they're the bad guys because they're oppressive fascist bastards. The hypercorps tend toward black because they indenture (and occasionally outright enslave) people, demonize autonomists through propaganda, engage in research and business practices of questionable ethicality, etc. Basically, they're exactly what you'd expect from profit-oriented organizations with no legal oversight.

[Grinder]

You're right, but why has the facist regime also be the largest bioconservate faction too?

[hobgoblin]

a comment on the current day stem-cell issue?

or maybe that facists love wrapping themselves in history? and therefor goes hand in hand with conservative concepts of all kinds?

[Grinder]

That doesn't convince me, sorry. It would be cool if the setting had another facist state that is not bioconservative and - as a contrast - a bioconservative anarchist habitat.

Another question: why did the TITANs used forced uploadings during the war with humanity? Why did they grabbed people, beheaded them and resort to destructive uploadings when non-harmful upolading via an ego brdige just takes ten minutes and doesn't kill the uploader?

[hobgoblin]

i do not have the book handy, but quick guess is that the ego bridge got developed later...

[Grinder]

Good point, even though I didn't find anything about it in the book.

[Tanegar]

In combat, ten minutes is an eternity. I don't know why the TITANs wanted so many human egos to begin with, but I can easily envision scenarios in which ten minutes is an unacceptably long time for an uploading drone to be stationary and exposed to enemy (human) fire. So much easier to just slice off the head and carry it away, especially since the TITANs presumably didn't give a damn about the fact that they were killing people.

[Grinder]

Instead of capturing people, sawing off their heads and dispose the body the TITANs could have just snatched the people, carry them away and upload the minds later. It's not like their modus operandi is the fastest one in combat. What bugs me most is simply the fact that there's no need for them to use this crude method of destructive uploading.

[PBTHHHHT]

No, it's not just you. But the Jovians aren't the bad guys because they're bioconservative, they're the bad guys because they're oppressive fascist bastards. The hypercorps tend toward black because they indenture (and occasionally outright enslave) people, demonize autonomists through propaganda, engage in research and business practices of questionable ethicality, etc. Basically, they're exactly what you'd expect from profit-oriented organizations with no legal oversight.

I had a chuckle when I saw this in the rulesbook, mainly since I'm a Jovian Chronicles fan in which they're the 'good guys' with democracy and such and the Earth folks were the oppressive totalitarian regime.

Instead of capturing people, sawing off their heads and dispose the body the TITANs could have just snatched the people, carry them away and upload the minds later. It's not like their modus operandi is the fastest one in combat. What bugs me most is simply the fact that there's no need for them to use this crude method of destructive uploading.

Maybe cause it's fun for them?
One benefit is that they don't have to worry about having holding pens where the enemies can either raid or just destroy (someone might view it better to sacrifice the folks rather than let the TITANS reap them), basically less worries about having a infrastructure that a military can strike.

[Blade]

the game is clearly written in a pro-anarchist-movement tone and marks them as the good guys, while the hypercorps are the grey ones (with tendencies to black) and bioconservatives like the Jovians the bad guys. Or is it just me who thinks so?

The game is written by a pro-transhumanism anarchist. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Heath Robinson]

Instead of capturing people, sawing off their heads and dispose the body the TITANs could have just snatched the people, carry them away and upload the minds later. It's not like their modus operandi is the fastest one in combat. What bugs me most is simply the fact that there's no need for them to use this crude method of destructive uploading.

Lifting more mass involves more energy, which lowers your operational range. Since your opponents are unlikely to come to you, you have to extend your zones of influence far enough that they cannot escape. Carrying struggling humans also requires far more stability, which impacts maneuverability.