Nerps, nerps, NERPS!
Nerps?
What are NERPS?
That's the question that's on my mind.
Out-of-game, they were Net Enhancements for Role-Playing Shadowrun. Quasi in-character, at least according to the Shadowrun wiki, they are New Exciting Retail ProductS.
And of course, all veteran Shadowrun players know them to be Non-Essential RolePlaying Stuff.
But... What.... Are they? In-character, I mean?
Well, in Shadowrun Returns, we see vivid artwork depicting that NERPS are advertised in all sorts of places, from city streets to inside bars. They seem to have a massive, cross-sectional appeal, as evidenced by the dealer-of-stuff in SRR who was out of NERPS. He had Novacoke and Jazz, but not NERPS.
What, then, could they be? Obviously something small enough and desirable enough for a drug dealer working a Maria Mercurial concert to bring some, rather than more novacoke. But they're also advertised openly, too.
My theory is that NERPS are incredibly alcoholic hard candies, Everlasting Gobstopper style. Pop one in your mouth and it lasts for ages, and as the different fruity flavored layers dissolve, you're getting a buzz.
[e]Typo fixed.
