OOC: Denver Missions Team 2 Options

[J. Packer]

This is the place for Team 2 (Kim, Klinktastic, Black Hat, SleepIncarnate and Zyerne) to post their out of character ramblings.

I will stick with the format I've seen used before -
[[]] and orange time/location stamp.
<<>> and yellow to indicate anything that's said by way of comms that's not being heard, either by typing or subvocal mic.
If it's in "" it's actually being said, regardless of color. Bold any character names.

Anything else I'm missing, let me know.

Please post a little about yourself, if you'd like, but I mean about *you* not your character. One thing in particular I would like to know about each of you is from which time zone you will be posting. It will make me less crazy if I'm waiting on a post from one of you, and I know that while I'm awake, it's 3am your time.

We'll start the IC posts once everyone is ready to start with the full campaign, with a description of you opening the door to the room you've been led to (ooh, nebulous!) and describing what you do. I'll give a general layout of what you see first, and then we'll go from there. Please take it in order, and describe your character as they are currently. No need to tell us anything we wouldn't be able to see being there. If someone has beaten you to the punch, you'll see them in the room, however they describe themselves (in a chair, leaning against a wall, whatever) when you arrive.

Useful links:
Team 2 Character Wiki
Team 2 IC Thread

[Zyerne]

I'm GMT and yes, it's 4am here. My times are weird.

[J. Packer]

I'm GMT and yes, it's 4am here. My times are weird.

Do you sleep odd hours then? I've got a GMT+1 in the first team. Maybe I should have asked this before I built the teams! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Kim]

GMT+1 for me too

[klinktastic]

I'm at GMT-6, or Central time. I'm an internal auditor, so I'm nearly always online. I'm 3 years out of college (26 yrs old) and on my 2nd job (by choice). More pay for less work is always nice. I had been playing soccer a couple times a week, but just tore my ACL 2 weeks ago and will be having surgery on it at some point too.

[SleepIncarnate]

Right now I'm at GMT +4:30 (yes, there's an actual half hour difference) while deployed in Afghanistan (I'm in the Air Force) for the next couple months, then I go back home to being at GMT-6 for a few more months then I get out and not sure where I'll be after that, probably GMT-8 or GMT-5, depending on if I get a job straight out from here or go full time back to school. And no, my character is not the only female part of me (chick gamers ftw).

And no worries about 3 in the morning for me, I work night shifts for now, so my sleep schedule actually aligns pretty close to American time (i.e. I've only been up about 30-40 minutes as I type this).

[BlackHat]

GMT-5 (Eastern). I work at a software company (work in AI research), so I'm almost always online during the day (although they occasionally want me to prioritize work over PBP RPGs). I also got a shiny new phone recently (my first smartphone, sad), so if my IC posts are particularly short, they are probably coming from that.

[J. Packer]

Okay, team 2, I've posted the IC thread. Please reply to it as your character enters the room. Pay attention to who has posted before you, as they will already be in the room.

The thread is here.

[klinktastic]

Right now I'm at GMT +4:30 (yes, there's an actual half hour difference) while deployed in Afghanistan (I'm in the Air Force) for the next couple months, then I go back home to being at GMT-6 for a few more months then I get out and not sure where I'll be after that, probably GMT-8 or GMT-5, depending on if I get a job straight out from here or go full time back to school. And no, my character is not the only female part of me (chick gamers ftw).

And no worries about 3 in the morning for me, I work night shifts for now, so my sleep schedule actually aligns pretty close to American time (i.e. I've only been up about 30-40 minutes as I type this).

First of, thank you for you service to our country. I know we all appreciate it.

GMT-5 (Eastern). I work at a software company (work in AI research), so I'm almost always online during the day (although they occasionally want me to prioritize work over PBP RPGs). I also got a shiny new phone recently (my first smartphone, sad), so if my IC posts are particularly short, they are probably coming from that.

How dare they want you to priorize work over PbP RPGing? A happy worker is a productive worker!!!

[J. Packer]

GMT-5 (Eastern). I work at a software company (work in AI research), so I'm almost always online during the day (although they occasionally want me to prioritize work over PBP RPGs). I also got a shiny new phone recently (my first smartphone, sad), so if my IC posts are particularly short, they are probably coming from that.

I did my undergrad work in AI, actually, but I'm a little rusty by now. That was sixteen years ago. Are they still arguing over neural nets versus expert systems, and using genetic algorithms to grow your own code by fitness?

And is it still assumed that in five years, ten at the most, we'll have a real functioning AI model that can mimic human intelligence?

[sabs]

We won't have a real funcitoning Ai model that can mimic human intelligence until we have a breakthough in non-binary computing.

[BlackHat]

I did my undergrad work in AI, actually, but I'm a little rusty by now. That was sixteen years ago. Are they still arguing over neural nets versus expert systems, and using genetic algorithms to grow your own code by fitness?

I think some problems suggest a particular approach over another (although I haven't seen anything with neural nets since I used one in a project in grad school), and most scientists in the field seem to have their personal preferences. They haven't found one solution to rule them all, if that's what you're asking. In fact, the place where I work focuses on rule-based systems, and despite being a separate company is very closely tied to a nearby university that developed such a rule-based system. So, ya know what they say, "when your only tool is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail."

And is it still assumed that in five years, ten at the most, we'll have a real functioning AI model that can mimic human intelligence?

Sadly, yes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I don't think it will happen, but I keep reading things like this, and think to myself "Yeah, but 10-15 years ago, people thought we would all have personal hover-boards and robot-butlers by now." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[BlackHat]

Considering my IC post over lunch (first impressions are everything, after all - especially for a guy with the First Impression quality). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Should have something up soon, though.

[J. Packer]

I think some problems suggest a particular approach over another (although I haven't seen anything with neural nets since I used one in a project in grad school), and most scientists in the field seem to have their personal preferences. They haven't found one solution to rule them all, if that's what you're asking. In fact, the place where I work focuses on rule-based systems, and despite being a separate company is very closely tied to a nearby university that developed such a rule-based system. So, ya know what they say, "when your only tool is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail."

Human nature, I guess. I was an expert systems guy, my cohorts were mostly neural net people. Even more fun back then were the wars over which language to program in. the LISP people versus the C people versus the one guy who insisted upon hand-optimized x86 assembly!

And yes, sabs, I was definitely one of the people who wanted a full analog one-to-one neural mapping of the brain as I was sure that was the only way we'd be able to replicate human intelligence. I was in the minority then, I don't know if I still am.

Sadly, yes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I don't think it will happen, but I keep reading things like this, and think to myself "Yeah, but 10-15 years ago, people thought we would all have personal hover-boards and robot-butlers by now." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

You don't even have to leave the AI realm to see, as far back as the sixties for sure, that they were claiming that "AI is just five years away. Ten at the most" and the window has moved steadily forward year by year. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Zyerne]

Before I post IC, can I have a NAN Customs roll on the authenticity of the Lodge?

[J. Packer]

Before I post IC, can I have a NAN Customs roll on the authenticity of the Lodge?

By all means. Fling me some dice.

[Zyerne]

NAN Customs (7d6.hits(5)=6)

I'd imagine that'll be enough (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[J. Packer]

NAN Customs (7d6.hits(5)=6)

I'd imagine that'll be enough (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Your buckskin is showing, NAN boy...

The artifice on the outside of the building may have been a blend of a few authentic pieces combined with knock off reproductions, but the room into which you find yourself sent is the real deal. The man that waits there may be in a suit, but he speak from a place of high authority. The mask he's wearing is that of Raven, and is fully authentic. Other than being in the basement of a bar in Denver, this would not have felt out of place anywhere in the Pueblo portion of the native american nations.

[Zyerne]

Analyzing the Ork, Riot noted the obvious cyber and that he guy had a native american flare to him.

What obvious cyber? His arm is synthetic and I can't think of anything else that would classify as obvious.

[klinktastic]

Opps, missed that one. Thought it was obvious cyberarm.

[Zyerne]

No problem. Probably the first time I've used a synthetic arm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[BlackHat]

Cody will buy a couple of hits (with his 8 dice) on an etiquette roll to do his best to fit into the scene - despite not being a native American, or an ork, or really much of a Runner. Might only end up being 1 hit, assuming there is some situational penalty. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As we wait (in silence?) for the others to arrive, he'll scope everyone out, just to see who/what he'll be working with:
Intuition 3 + Perception (Visual) 3 + Visual Enhancement 3 = 9 dice, and I'll just buy two hits (or more likely one after concealability modifiers)... if there is anything non-obvious that either of you think that would notice.

[J. Packer]

Your First Impression lets you come off as cool and collected, comfortable in an environment replete with native americans and orks.

I'll let the other two decide which features they wish to share specifically with you, given one hit after the warm smoke in the room and the awkwardness (to you, at least) of sitting on cushions.

[klinktastic]

You'd be able to see the stun baton in my biker's suit since I'm not actively trying to hide it. I have a backpack on, not too full. My biker's helmet is on the floor, off to the side slightly. The biker's gear that I have on looks pretty bad ass, or well it does if you think motorcycles and go gangers are intimidating. It's got Texas Rattlers' logos and emblems all over it, which is a pro Combat Biker team (which I think is in the PCC). Instead of eyes, or cyber eyes, he has a cyber eyeband, which is pretty crazy, since not too many people have those.

@J. Packer - would a scan roll detect passive commlink and ID's attached to those commlinks??

Pre-emptive Ettiquette roll

[ Spoiler ]

2 success (rolled 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 6, 5) - see http://www.catchyourhare.com/diceroller/ Password: Armor

[BlackHat]

I'll let the other two decide which features they wish to share specifically with you, given one hit after the warm smoke in the room and the awkwardness (to you, at least) of sitting on cushions.

Sounds good. I figured there would be some penalty, somewhere, and he's not exactly a champion percept-er, either. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That does remind me of a question I had though. In the rules for using stealth skills, it mentions that they're usually against intuition+perception of the viewer, but at the GMs descression a viewer skilled in the same stealth skill can replace perception with the stealth skill involved. (So someone good at tailing people might know what to look for if he's being tailed, himself or someone good at hiding might know the best places to look, if someone were hiding from him, etc).

I was curious if (in theory) Cody could replace perception with palming to use what he knows about hiding gear on himself to spot hidden gear on other people? I'm imagining it also being a useful part of eying a mark for what they might have that's worth taking before pickpocketing (otherwise his mediocre perception would have to suffice), but on a run it might be useful for him to notice concealed weapons or something. *shrugs* No biggie either way.