QUOTE (Cain @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
The loss of original matrix terminology also hurt. Instead of unique terms, we've got ones that come out of the WinXP user's manual. "Firewall" might be more easily understood by modern computer users, but it doesn't exactly work the same, certainly enough to annoy the programmers I've talked to. It's also boring. More importantly, "Cyberdeck" was unique to Shadowrun; "Commlink" reminds me of the communicators used by C-3PO in the original Star Wars.
Sure. "Security" would be a more appropriate term for what the stat is actually supposed to represent, but that term is also boring. I can't think of a more "Shadowrun-ish" term for that stat right now... I assume you also lament the change from "Decker" to "Hacker?" I can't say as I like the full word "Commlink" but I do think that when shortened to " 'link" it sounds more like "deck" and I have less of a problem with it.
QUOTE (Cain @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
I guess it's the loss of terminology that really hurt the most. Some terms were pointlessly changed, like Technomancer to Otaku. They just swapped on nonsense term for another.
I think the justification was that Technomancers are different "creatures" that Otaku. However the change is not actually that nonsensical because "Technomancer" was one of the "sub-terms" that some Otaku used to refer to themselves, the other was "Cyberadept." (I believe these terms were mentioned in the SR3 book
Matrix)
QUOTE (Cain @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
Others were flat-out lies, such as "splitting" Quickness into Reaction and Agility. What they did was make Reaction a purchasable stat (not a bad idea, in and of itself) and then pointlessly rename Quickness.
*shrug* I think "Agility" is a better word for describing exactly what the stat is, personally.
QUOTE (Cain @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
And some things were changed all out of recognition while leaving the term intact, such as "Dice pool".
I think this was a very calculated decision on their part. I believe (part) of the thinking behind adding the Attribute dice into the tests was to "dilute" the old Dice Pool dice into "everday use."
QUOTE (Cain @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
Shadowslang was a huge loss. I know people here have gone back and forth on it, but "Drek", "Frag", and "Chummer" are as much a part of Shadowrun as "Frak" is to the new BSG or "Smeg" is to Red Dwarf. While you can have an episode of Red Dwarf where no one says "Smeg", if you try to swap it with another word, people *will* notice, and the show won't feel the same.
I 100% agree with this. It makes me very sad to lose the shadowslang as it was one of the things that really helped to make the game feel like it existed in another time/culture. I think "modern" profanity is just so.... dull and the move to strike the shadowslang for real profanity feels like an "Look at us 18+ crowd, we're adult!" move. The inclusion of pointless sexual-related game content reinforces this (penile implant, orgasm spell). I'm totally with you on this one.
QUOTE (Warlordtheft @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
2. Matrix rules are once again changed, I am thinking I am going to have to start mapping the matrix for runs again like in 1.0. Research/wageslave nodes, security, rigger drone networks, would all be on seperate nodes. Considering how cheap the computer tech is, I don't see a corp doing it any other way.
It might seem realistic, but for the sake of fun, please don't. Those "Matrix mazes" were a giant, pointless, time-sink and the reason that no one wanted a Decker in the group... everyone else went out for pizza.
QUOTE (Cain @ Dec 16 2008, 11:43 PM)
3. Evo, Ares, and Horizon, are almost good guys. This changes the feel for a dystopian future. The rest range from apaethetic (MCT/Wuxing) to evil Aztechnology/SK.
Oh man, those guys are far from "good" in my games. How can you call MCT apathetic? "Zero-zone" security (zero penetration, zero survival), the rape of the entire country of Tsimisan, live patient lobotomies of Technomancers? Every megacorp is evil, some just have better PR than others.