http://datahaven.dumpshock.com/

This has been discussed in other places but I thought I'd drop a thread here as well.

-RJ

Hmmm... Dumpshock is usually not quite so reserved...
No "I really liked X", "I really thought X stank", "I'd like to see more of Y", "I appreciate the effort, but Z really doesn't work for my campaigns"?

Yes well, even if z does not work for someones campaign, it probably still works for somebody elses right? O.o
And as for the liking/disliking and stinking of X and Y, that's entirely subjective, not objective . . ok, i will admit, that never stopped any of us from going into a nerderker rage . .

We are talking about a third issue, focusing on Tacoma. I also have a drone upgrade document I created that references the rules from the various books presenting them in a more cohesive fashion and still staying within RAW.

I'm hoping that this issue generates a little bit of buzz for more submissions. I am interested (good or bad) on people's thoughts on the current issue.

I some how missed this. I'll have to read it and see what's up.

That's really nice.
I hope more people will be reading this and that and want to contribute too.

Come on people, don't let him hanging there.

I like the write-up of the gangs, but i think some of the numbers are a bit off - a 150 ppl gang with nation-wide influence is a bit unrealistic, also the gang with pervasive matrix integration (this is imo in the scope of NeoNet or Renraku)

Thanks for the feedback.

As a clarification: This is the membership of the charter, not the national organization.

We tried to stay true to previously published details. The Reality Hackers have considerable information already about them in various sourcebooks as they have been around since before 2050.

I've said it for the official books and I'm saying it here: Use vector graphics for the login screen, everything else looks like the internet circa 1990...

And?

I'm not familiar with any vector graphic formats that are portable to pdf files. Can you shed some light on suggestions for incorporating that into the pipeline?

I must admit it took me a while to think of one which doesn't save to pdf oO
Even MS has finally gotten round to include it in Visio

Oh, and I'm predicting a massive rise in "freak vacu-drone accidents" in our future sessions

My initial impressions, take them for what they're worth. Just some dude on the web reading a fanfic piece:

• I enjoyed CanRay's short pieces of fiction. Both were enjoyable.
• I briefly looked at the hacking rules, but have little interest in hacking so I can't comment one way or the other if it's simplified or useful.
• Ronin, like the Mary Sue-Bull-presented in the first issue I suppose is a nice way of bragging. From a technical stand point he seems put together correctly. It does provoke some thought from me: Do people really use this many hackers? Also why is it that it seems like all the people who write for the game, and a lot of the freelancers do Hackers? At any rate don't take this comment too personal: I pretty much hate every Prime Runner book out there, so frankly pleasing me would be a pretty tall order, and definitely not too high on your to do list!
• Miniature Rules: I'm not sure what to say here. I would be interested in hearing how it actually plays out for people.
• The Gangs were internally consistent-although I preferred the ones I didn't know to the ones from presented in the books.
• The Organized Crime Section was enjoyable. I want to be more free with my praise, since I was so harsh with some of my criticism. So the highest compliment I can pay some one is to say I'd use some of this in my game.
• I can never get enough interesting places. And Mayday Field was a fun locale. Again the best compliment I can pay someone is to say I'd use this in my game.
• The contacts Section seems solid enough to me.
• Equipment: I can never have enough gear options for my players. be assured I'll rob this.
• I'm still reading through the drones, but my initial impression is favorable.

All in all I'd say that I had an enjoyable experience with the second issue. Thanks.

I have to admit that I wasn't really interested by what was in the first issue, but I like this one better.

The Matrix flowchart is simple, clear and will probably be very helpful for many people and eveything that fleshes out Seattle like the Puyallup guide does (not being afraid to add new things while keeping close to canon) is good to me.

And the layout is better than in the first issue, too.

I look forward to reading the next issues.

Keep in mind, the Layout is what delayed the first issue for almost a year, and I finally gave up trying to get someone to make it pretty and did the whole damn thing in MS Word. And I was very upfront about that at the time. So, giving the issue crap about layout is... *sigh*

I'll be nice, because I'll assume you weren't trying to be a dick. But I put a metric assload of time into Issue #1 and was pissed that it fell apart for almost a year because multiple people screwed me over when it came to getting the layout done. Considering all teh crap I went through, I'm damn proud of how that first issue turned out, content-wise. So giving it shit because of layout is a really, really sore spot with me.

Bull

Just remember, mess with the Bull, get the horns.

As a note, because looking back I don't think I was clear about this... I'm not upset if someone calls the layout into question. The layout sucks, taht's a given. Like i said, i did it in MS Word, of all things, and then used a program to convert the RTF file into PDF.

What irritated me the most was basically blowing it off based on the layout, because a lot of people were involved with the magazine and put a lot of hard work into that first issue, and I'm very, very proud of what they did. You can call my stuff crap all day long, I'll cope. But call the talent of anyone who worked for me into question, and we have a problem.

Bull

No it's the content of the first issue I wasn't interested in. (I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying that I'm not interested in it) But I didn't say that I didn't like it because of the layout.

I've just said that the layout was better in the second issue and that it is good.

We've been there too in the French community too. From this to this to this. It took us a few years (and a helpful designer) to get what we have now (or had, until we ran out of dedicated people with enough time on their hands).

I'd enjoy submitting stuff-I just don't know what you guys are looking for. At any rate if you find yourself needing some material let me know, and my legion of Shadowrun monkey's will go to work! I realize I said thanks earlier but here's what I didn't say and should have: no matter what people may think of the material, you're at least doing something. And that I totally respect, and can get behind totally.

I like to clear the air here just a bit: I want to encourage feed back, including negative feedback that is constructive.

For example, not having worked with vector graphics before I am looking to see what (if any) applications at my disposal support them. I'm not offended that Paul has no use for the hacking article, nor Ronin. I'm glad that other parts of the scan did appeal to him.

Thanks!
-RJ

Also, please take into consideration our budget. Nothing, plus nothing, carry the nothing, divide by nothing, and then find the square root of that...

Thankfully the value far exceeds the budget

Oh, I'd say the hours spent were of considerable value.

OK. My time isn't worth much at least... I'm sure the rest of you would have rather done other things.

Loved them both. I just read through both editions last night, i missed when #1 came out, and have to say that as a new shadowrun GM running new players through our first baby runs that the information will be a big help. The hacking guide alone will allow us to streamline that side of the gameplay, save time, and introduced us to some concepts that we hadn't thought of before like creating a back door in a node.

Please keep these coming.

I also had a questing about Ronin and his use of Activesoft Complex Forms. How does this work? I understand the smartlink CF, this is just a program running that computes data. Activesofts on the other hand, at least in cyber, take over normal reflexes and use the body to perform the skill. How does the Activesoft CF control the TM body?

Thank you again.

Start with the Biowire Echo (Unwired, pg145) and then emulation (Unwired, pg149)

Ahh. Thank you.

Here is a *thread* to talk about what we might have in Issue #3

First let me start by saying thank you for bringing back Data Haven.
I liked the hacking flowchart, I try to walk my players through hacking as we encounter it. Be nice to just drop a chart down on table.
All in all a great first outing here's to seeing Data Haven continue for many issues to come.

Short review: A font of good information. Layout/editing tweaks, though folks should be used to that from me by now - and if you aren't, you will be again.

I'll do a longer review on this later. Suffice it to say, it keeps in tune with the world of Shadowrun I know and love - and the screamsheets and rumors alone are worth issues all by themselves.

I expect I'll be able to look at this a lot closer now that I finally have time. The last semester was brutal, but it's now over. Now I can start thinking about heists again.

(I missed you guys)

Just wanted to say I'm happy (I might even go with "pleasantly surprised") seeing this 'zine being continued. : )

Let me add that the article on basic hacking is particularly awesomely useful.

Lengthier review:

I stand by my initial. The 'zine is good and useful. As a member of the unwashed masses when it comes to Hacking, seeing a flow chart and step-by-step example makes that whole system make sense, and for that I'm quite grateful.

I suppose the word that this issue screams at me is 'Street'. This is what we see at the level most runners start at. This is the stuff that they need to know, and that they do know. There's little jetsetting, little A-listing, and a lot of small-denominations in a back room or shady corner in exchange for someone getting shot in the face. These are the issues that are near and dear to the street-level runner, and the issue fits that bill.

I did like how the fiction pieces reflect life in the area the issue spoke of. I am curious to see how that will look in #3.

I'm also digging the 'centerfolds' on Prime Runners, as well as the contacts at the area hotspots being fleshed out. It's a good combination of crunch and fluff that makes for a balanced diet. Since I'm jumping into the middle of this with the review I'm not sure how the stats for the Primes come about, and hope that if Dumpshocker PC's are the ones constituting all these that they aren't too put out if the stats are tweaked.

The Crime Mall. I remember that place back from the MUDding days, and I'm happy to see it again. I'm happy to see it utilized. SR needs more black-market bazaars.

I have some concerns with the fiction. The flow is good, immersive, and I feel it portrays a good example of the street lifestyle that the 'runner experiences on a day-to-day basis. But for the love of Ghu, which caliber is that damned Manhunter chambered in? I see 10mm in one, .45ACP in the other!

The flow from fiction into the hacking rules is jarring. I understand there may have been some issues getting this to 'print', and I suggest a bit more of a smoother segue into the hacking rules with a bit of a layout switch: Fiction first, then the intro from the editor, who can then make mention of the hacking rules as the issue unfolds. I think that will suit my CDO regarding these matters.

While the issue had a cornucopia of meet locations (I saw the Horn of Plenty on page 26), I found I was also looking for other locations that would be useful. Safehouses. Overnight stopoffs. Places to outright avoid. "Here There Be Ghouls." I didn't really see much on Tarislar, the Kitchen, or the Farm. I think that would've been right spiffy to see non-gang/organized crime threats that people would want to look at.

After all, one man's limb-eating Devil Rat is another man's sausage link.

As I wrote both stories, I can answer that.

By RAW, firearms can be chambered for either Caseless or Cased rounds. And, like many real life firearms, they can be made in multiple calibers. In this case, the first story has someone who bought the pistol new and got it in 10mm Caseless. In the second, the character is far more ghetto and got the pistol from someone else (Example: The laser sight doesn't work), and it's chambered in .45 ACP, a cased round. (The M1911A1 uses .45 ACP.).

Some companies give different names or model numbers to firearms that use different calibers, others don't. That's what makes things confusing.

I've also had one character use a .45 ACCP (The caseless version of the .45 ACP) in a different story. And another that has a revolver in .500 S&W rimmed cased.

I thought that might be the case. I did want to make sure, though.

The step-by-step hacking scenario was SO useful, that I'd seriously consider it as a regular column "Hack this system!"

It would be helpful both for GMs to do system design and as Player hackers for how to defeat them, and what tricks to use. Most importantly to answer that age old question for the newbie hacker "What kind of opposed test is this again?" Heck, even experienced hacker players still ask questions like that all the time.

I'd love to see a column on Astral tracking and detective work.

I just figured you were hassling him about his pet peeve of no calibers in Shadowrun.

I'll wait to see if someone's actually baiting me before I flip out.

Or I'll go cry in my corner as Tech Support memories come back. Depends on my mood.

I don't like it either, TBH. I just always figured the Manhunters to be 10mm/.40S&W, rather than go to .45.

+1000, with the caveat that it should be called, "Hack This!" and should include hacking all sorts of different types of things, like drones, toasters, cyberarms, etc. [Obviously, those are all still "systems," but some of these fall outside of what we typically think of as a system.]

Awesome awesome awesome!

I LOVE all the stuff on Puyallup...been needing this for a while. The map and addresses, especially, will help me out. Not being from Seattle, I have limited concept of the layout up there, and, with my guys being a biker gang, fleshing out some of the smaller crews is tres chic.

Many, many thanks!

Just printed my copy, and noticed that page numbers are a bit off. They go 1-32, 11, 14-19, 40-44.

Looking forwards to actually readin it.

I just opened my copy and tried to see what you are saying and do not...?

Page #33 is the Scream Sheet

Yes it is. I've just downloaded a new copy, and the weird thing is that the PDF is numbered right, but when I print it, my printservere changes the page number on pages 33-39.

So there is nothing wrong with the PDF, the error is on my side.