Well, Jason's always keeping an eye out for writers. More than one freelancer started out on DUmpshock. Just sayin'.

Several places. Teh Nano-pocalypse has several buildings collapsing as teh nanites that were in them since they were constructed woke up and went all termite, for example, and mention of assorted nanite-built things falling apart follows a similar path.

I'd have to go book-delving to find mention of it in earlier books, but it was there if you poked around a bit. I don't know WHY, but.

In Shadowrun, the nanites go with the product.

including reprograming them to make more of themselves (possibly using the building for raw materials, killing two bird with one stone!)

In Shadowrun, the nanites go with the product. This allows nano-materials to be rebuilt post-deployment, and gives rise to the "Nano-pocalypse", where someone can hijack the nanites in your building and make them go all cartoon termite, including reprograming them to make more of themselves (possibly using the building for raw materials, killing two bird with one stone!)

I am not so sure about previous editions, I could've easily missed something, but this is absolutely not how I remember the things described in Augmentation. More than just that, describing them this way goes against the concept of nano equipment, invalidates the existence of the Nano Hive implant, etc.
This is why the 5e nanopocalypse was (and still is, I guess) perceived as one more drop in the sea of utter brilliance that the late Fourth and Fifth fluff is.

Be a couple fo days before I can do full research. but take a look at nanotatoos, for example.

Nanotattoos are also designed to be programmable, within artistic limits. It's not so simple to take nanotattoos and reprogram them to function as cutters.

It actually is, which is one of my major problems with SR nanites...but the point remains, nanotattoos work differently than say a nanoforged AK

Too late for that, isn't it? Unless you're given the power to retcon things left and right...

Shelved? "All of the nano-fabricated AK–174s melted to slag", I thought.
As for a new generation after the whole world-wide epidemic, this is about as likely as a megacorp trying to bring insect spirits under its control after Chicago. Completely ridiculous. Absolutely no chance. Oh wait...

Man & Machine, page 83-85
HUMANITY - CAUGHT IN THE GEARS
Nanotech is the key that allows flesh and machine to communicate. Without nanotechnology , all but the most basic cyberware would be so large and bulky that it would defeat its purpose - and, in many cases, would cost more Essence than a being could spar. It is the nanites' task to continually maintain the body's neural system so that impulses of flash and metal do not get rejected by each other. Nanites constantly maintain the neural highways to allow the electrical signals to pass between the body and its cyberware with no delay or impulse rejection, allowing street samurai to move in the blink of an eye, deckers to deck, riggers to rig and so on.
Nanites also control the microscopic circuits that form the retinal displays of cybereyes, weave and reweave the fibers of synthetic polymers used in dermal sheating and are used in nearly every kind of modern surgery.
Outside the body, nanites act as SOTA sensors and controllers in high-temperature engines and as stress sensors and actuators in airframes - and in most if not all, spacecraft and space stations. Modern bearings are polished by nanites to such a degree that if the bearing were earth-sized, the largest imperfection would be smaller than Mt. Everest.
Monofilament is also a product of nanotechnology. Originally intended to ancho ultra-heavy loads when woven into cables, it has instead become best known for the ultra-deadly monowhip.

Human Augmentation and Medecine
The primary value of nanotechnology - from a human perspective - lies in the its application in the medical and para-medical fields. Nanotchnology is the "silent wonder" of the cybernetics and bionics industries and has long been a staple of cyberware installation and implantation procedures. Without nanotechnology, invasive cyberware such as bone lacing, skillwires, dermal platting and even wired reflexes could neve be attempted. And without the fine manipulation of the nanites, even installation of a simple datajack would be impossible. Because of this, the main focus of nanotechnology before Deus was in the medical field.
In the early stages of the cybernetics industry, genetically engineered bacteria, misleadingly nicknamed "nanites," lais the neural bridges during the cybersystem implantation. This "old-world" nanite was responsible for the first implants, and its imprecision limited cyberware to a comparatively basic level and caused significant Essence loss even for the very small implanted devices. The advent of true nanites rendered such clumsy tools unnecessary. True nanites are more precise and versatile, allowing larger devices, including limbs, to be implanted without such a loss of Essence that the body would shut down.
Cybernetics' reliance on nanotechnology is twofold: nanotech is used for implantation of stand-alone items of cyberware, and for producing the desired effects of other items. Nanotechnology is an absolute necessity for all cybernetic surgery, especially for the installation of bone lacing, balance augmentors, retinal duplication, orthoskin and dermal sheating. Nanotech connects all cyberware to the neural pathways that go to the brain. In addition, nanites are directly integrated into many cyberware devices, including cybereyes accessories, filtration systems and chemical immunity and chemical analysis tools.
In the synthetic skin of a cyberarm, there are microscopic pressure, head and cold sensors and monofilament-sized wires that detect cuts and abrasions and transmit "real" pain. In the ultra-high precision world of small mechanics, such as is found in cybernetic muscle replacements, nanomachines form a matrix of invisible motors that mimic natural muscle and provide machine-like strength.

Augmentation, page 96
Nanotechnology is a subtle and pervasive part of the modern world. The nanotechnological revolution has discreetly changed the face of the world and few aspects of our lives remain untouched by some form of nanotech, more so than the average person realizes. More than an enabling technology, it is almost as prevalent as wireless networking. Fields such as cybernetics, aeronautics, smart materials, space exploration and many more would still be in the dark ages without breakthroughs engineered by nanomachines.
The fruits of nanotechnology are omnipresent, but rarely trumpet their origins. Nanotechnology is essential to many things the average person takes for granted from the super-compact optical storage to filtration systems to the humble RFID chip. Those dirt-repelling surfaces on your clothing, furniture, and office building are a product of nanotechnology. Desktop nanoforges are changing the way small industries everywhere operate, and odds are that pretty much any sophisticated gadget you own has nanotech-produced components. Your commlink wouldn’t exist without the nanotech needed to produce the photovoltaic protein pigment in optical chips or etch millions of logic gates in its processor. Nanite sensors act as controllers in high-temperature engines and as stress sensors and actuators in airframes—and in most, if not all, spacecraft and space stations. Monofilament and buckytubes are found in a bewildering number of applications from armor to monowhips.
Even though the role of nanotechnology in manufacturing is impressive, some of the most exciting applications are in the fields of human (and metahuman) enhancement. Without nanoscale engineering and nanites to continually maintain the bridges to the body’s own neural system, cybernetics would be far more invasive. Nanites also control the microscopic circuits that form the retinal displays of cybereyes, weave and reweave the fibers of synthetic polymers used in dermal sheathing, and are used in nearly every kind of modern surgery.

Augmentation, page 103
Nanotechnology is the silent wonder of the cybernetics and biotech industries, and has long been a staple of surgical installation and implantation procedures. Nanotechnology is an absolute necessity for all implant surgery, particularly for the installation of so-called “headware”—neuro-cybernetic interfaces—and pretty much any invasive augmentation be it cybernetic skill-wires and dermal plating or a biotech adrenal pump. Not only is nanotech used for implantation of stand-alone items of cyberware, but it is integral to the functioning of many others including cybereye accessories, filtration systems, chemical analysis tools, and even cyberlimb sensory feedback systems (various nano-sensors are laced into the outer “skin” of a cyberarm; microscopic pressure, heat, and cold sensors and monofilament-sized wires that detect cuts and abrasions and transmit “real” pain).

Nanites as implants or equipment? As long as they're not universally reprogrammable and omnipotent, why not?

Why? What's the issue, invisible robots ruining your day? That can be simply fixed by ruling that nanites have to establish at least a Signal 1 open connection at all times to maintain cohesion. That way, you can just detect them as any other wireless node.

As long as they're not universally reprogrammable and omnipotent, why not?

Why?

Yeah, you might get the same result by spraying nanites onto the surface. How is that a big deal?

Given that these nanites cost times more than a factory-produced electronic device of the same functionality, I don't really see how, no.

A hologram projector costs 200 ¥, that's 25 more than Speak Up. And the projector is not invisible microelectronics straight out of a spray can.

>equipment from late 4e
>not thought through
What an incredible, shocking surprise!

Much like the cost of grenades in any of the Editions. *shrug*

>equipment from late 4e
>not thought through
What an incredible, shocking surprise!

Strap yourselves in, folks, the metaplot's about to get even dumber. Because clearly bug spirits, Shedim, Loa, Psychotropic IC and the like weren't enough of the same tired fragging thing.

I really don't get what they're trying to do with the metaplot at this point.

Well, minding that they cancelled Shadows of Latin America, they have a whole continent as their playground. Africa is barely covered, too, and there's a bunch of places that haven't been revisited in a very long time, or have barely been mentioned before.
Frankly speaking, my problem with the current metaplot is that they've concluded a few long-running arcs (like Aztlan-Amazonia war that has been going since what, second edition?), and haven't produced anything as engaging to replace them.

Oh man, there're several of us who want o *really* go into Africa, but, no luck yet.

And, yeah, we've tied off a few plots (Some willingly, some less so), but there are others burbling up. Can't say which yet, but... stuff is happening. Keep watching.

Yeah, I see stuff brewing, like this here Stolen Souls or the whole Ares bug possession arc. I'm just not sure if I'm as into these as I am into earlier stuff.

I'll just sit here and keep writing my Russo-Yakutian War, then.
Although I am really not sure now is the time.

Yeah, I see stuff brewing, like this here Stolen Souls or the whole Ares bug possession arc. I'm just not sure if I'm as into these as I am into earlier stuff.

Well, the Ares plotline has clear grognard appeal, since it harkens back to a lot of older stuff. And Invae cyberzombies.

Uh, these must be some peculiar grognards, cause I don't exactly remember Ares (or any of the megacorps) this stupid or bug-friendly.

Threats 2, Theresa Montgomery in Augmentation....I guess the fact that it harkens back a lot is part of the charm.

Threats 2, Theresa Montgomery in Augmentation....I guess the fact that it harkens back a lot is part of the charm.

On a 10 point scale, where you get 5 for most-wanted, 4 for next, then 3, 2, 1 and 0, rate the following plot nuggets as something you'd like to see more of: