Finally got around to reading the Sixth World Almanac, Alternatively: can /dev/grrrl please go away? Options

[hermit]

Well, with the application of Social Networking and such that the Wireless Matrix has, you have a lack of censorship

Beg to differ. Social networks are censorable, especially if corp propaganda will coax you into the corp network (because that's where all your corp brat buddies are). If you disappear they will be told you moved away/had kawaru visit you/other random bullshit. It's how China treats the Web, with success. And no newspaper, no blogger and no friendlist will save you.

[CanRay]

Depends on the friendslist. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

Certainly got Netcat out of trouble.

[hermit]

Netcat's not a cop citizen living on corp ground.

[Fatum]

Seriously, you cannot just blather about state secrets in such societies, that WILL come back and bite you. Look at [...] what happened to people who merely read a western news magazine (once) in the Eastern Block.

uh, same thing that happened to Samizdat prohibited literature printers?
As in - nothing, nobody gave a damn?

I was feeling his way to thinking as well... Right up to the point where he sold out one of his own contacts for money. Then I agreed with everyone else on the JackPoint.
"I have to go punch a Clock."

Is said contact Netcat, a techno?

That's pretty much limited to countries withessentially censorship-free media, where anything CAN be reported, and where the state is in no position to intimidate the population into doublethink. In a repressive society, Joe would know to not talk, ask about or even think about this, because /dev/grrrl did and look what happened to her.

Following in this post is a list of countries with free, objective and not (self-)censored media.
Now, let's not go this way any further, and not discuss RL politics.

[CanRay]

Netcat's not a cop citizen living on corp ground.

She was in Corp hands... Heavily armed Corp Hands at that.

[hermit]

uh, same thing that happened to Samizdat prohibited literature printers?
As in - nothing, nobody gave a damn?

Huh. It was common practice in East Germany to blacklist people who read Der Spiegel or watch West German TV for jobs, so that they would not find employment, and for several other niceties. Sure, they were not carted off to Bauzen to have a sitting in front of the Cobalt lamps but it was certainly repression. Doesn't always have to be a gulag.

Is said contact Netcat, a techno?

Yup. I'd probably not turn my back on the guy then, but I'd never anyhow; however, it wasn't nice bot nothing I'd stone him for either.

Following in this post is a list of countries with free, objective and not (self-)censored media.
Now, let's not go this way any further, and not discuss RL politics.

*s* Yeah, sure, let's not go there (never meant self censorship though, but top-down censorship).

She was in Corp hands... Heavily armed Corp Hands at that.

That's not the same.

[ggodo]

Yeah, it was a disaster, and yeah, I agree wholeheartedly that the world being accepting towards the AIs and the technos makes no sense. Putting it short, I'm with Clockwork on this one.
My point was - there were survivors, unlike what ggodo thought.

I was talking about the PCs. That adventure is deathtrap difficulty.

[Angelone]

I miss the arc runs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif) They were a nice change of pace from the usual sneak in sneak out. It was like Aliens as opposed to Oceans 11.

"Game over man! Game Over!"

[Troyminator]

Getting back to SWA, I really liked it. I don't have years of experience with ShadowRun. I've not read all the books in all the editions, nor even read any of the novels. I've played one or two adventures/missions in 2nd edition, maybe one adventure in 3rd, and fell in love with the system. Being able to read SWA and get a broad overview og why the world is the way it is was very useful for me.

As for /dev/grrl, her questions are my questions, just that I'm male, talk differently, and don't wear pink fingernail polish. Also, as stated earlier, I don't have extensive knowledge of the world/system, so she is who she is. I don't know any better.

[Ascalaphus]

I thought the random texts from the year in question were a very nice part of 6WA actually. But then as a history student I tend to like "sources from back then" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I thought that (huge editing mistakes aside), the history section was much more interesting than the country section; those were all too short to be really useful.

Personally, I never really minded the /dev/grrl thing, but it didn't stand out as particularly nice either.

[ggodo]

I thought the random texts from the year in question were a very nice part of 6WA actually. But then as a history student I tend to like "sources from back then" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I thought that (huge editing mistakes aside), the history section was much more interesting than the country section; those were all too short to be really useful.

I liked the random shadowtalk for getting a broader view on the year than just the blurb and timeline, but some of them felt like coming into half of a conversation. There's quite a few that seem like there was another shadowtalker that got slashed in editing, but no one picked out the response.

[CanRay]

I liked the random shadowtalk for getting a broader view on the year than just the blurb and timeline, but some of them felt like coming into half of a conversation. There's quite a few that seem like there was another shadowtalker that got slashed in editing, but no one picked out the response.

I always saw that as the SysOps trimming files for size occasionally. But, then, I rationalize a lot in my head. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[ggodo]

I always saw that as the SysOps trimming files for size occasionally. But, then, I rationalize a lot in my head. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

This is my new operating theory.

[ravensmuse]

But again, my issue was that the articles provided often didn't seem to have a thing to do with the time in question. Here we'd be talking about the Nightwraith strike...but they'd be talking about some politician or something that I hadn't heard of until that point. And I've been reading Shadowrun since early in the 2e days!

Which is fine, as long as some sort of hint is put in the text somewhere. I'd end up relying on the shadowtalk to pick up on what that was, but a few times I had to go to the Sixth World Wiki to even get what year it was. IMO, it was just terribly laid out.

I've pretty much laid out my problems with /d/; not that she's young, or a girl, or acts feminine, it's that there's no justification for a character with her level of ignorance posting on Jackpoint. If they wanted a noob window, I'll repeat again, use a previously established character like GnuB, who gives you the double-shot of being an idiot and being someone from older books for nerds like me to go, "yay, GnuB's back!"

[Fatum]

I've pretty much laid out my problems with /d/; not that she's young, or a girl, or acts feminine, it's that there's no justification for a character with her level of ignorance posting on Jackpoint. If they wanted a noob window, I'll repeat again, use a previously established character like GnuB, who gives you the double-shot of being an idiot and being someone from older books for nerds like me to go, "yay, GnuB's back!"

Beg your pardon, who's GnuB? Where has he been used? Haven't seen him (although I've seen a bunch of different noobs and one-time shadowtalkers in the books...).

[KarmaInferno]

I personally don't have a problem with "clueless" characters. They're great to justify exposition, after all.

However, they need to either wise up over time or get dead right quick. Shadowrunning is not a kind nor forgiving business.

And then get replaced by new clueless characters.



-k

[Critias]

I personally don't have a problem with "clueless" characters. They're great to justify exposition, after all.

However, they need to either wise up over time or get dead right quick. Shadowrunning is not a kind nor forgiving business.

And then get replaced by new clueless characters.



-k

Which is, to an extent, what's happened. Slamm-0!, for instance, used to be the village idiot (the brash young decker who was almost as good as he thought he was), maturity-wise...but time's passed and things change. He's still younger than most of the rest of the JP crowd, but someone else had to fill the "actual youngster" nook. So we got /dev/.

[Saint Sithney]

I miss the arc runs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif) They were a nice change of pace from the usual sneak in sneak out. It was like Aliens as opposed to Oceans 11.

"Game over man! Game Over!"

We'll always have Chicago...

Which is, to an extent, what's happened. Slamm-0!, for instance, used to be the village idiot (the brash young decker who was almost as good as he thought he was), maturity-wise...but time's passed and things change. He's still younger than most of the rest of the JP crowd, but someone else had to fill the "actual youngster" nook. So we got /dev/.

Like I said, a young AI is a better fit for a clueless noob with the kind of power and perspective that would offer something to Jackpoint...

[Critias]

Like I said, a young AI is a better fit for a clueless noob with the kind of power and perspective that would offer something to Jackpoint...

Oh, I'm not arguing, trust me. I'm not a huge /dev/ fan, myself, but writing with inherited characters is part of a freelancer's lot in life. I'm just making a guess as to what the motivation was for her initially being added to the group.

[ravensmuse]

Beg your pardon, who's GnuB? Where has he been used? Haven't seen him (although I've seen a bunch of different noobs and one-time shadowtalkers in the books...).

He's all over 3e material. For instance, in Year of the Comet he talks a lot in the Ibn Isa chapter.

[Angelone]

I personally like /dev/ better than GnuB, but to each their own I suppose.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I personally like /dev/ better than GnuB, but to each their own I suppose.

Indeed...

[CanRay]

I keep saying, hand her character concept over to me. I'll fix those problems right quick. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

And, really, no one could figure out who was on John-117s friendslist, and just how much support he'd get? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Bira]

I like /dev/grrl mostly because I think her online handle is cute. I don't care that much about most of the shadowtalker's bios except when they might be useful in game (which hasn't happened yet).

As for the the Sixth World almanac, I think it was OK, though not great. The Amazonia writeup could have been better (Super-Sayajin Jesus? Really?).

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

I didn't understand the super-sayajin jesus part.