If I have an opticam and cybered hearing, do I need a router to dump the incoming data to headware, or can I write directly?

If memory serves headware is usually all hooked up by default.

Headware and cybereyes are not part of the same system so yes, you need a router to go between your eyes, ears, and memory. If you have a datajack, the datajack acts as a mini router with 3 open ports which can also connect those three things.

Or you can kay-bosh the whole thing and say that within reason all your cyber crap can talk to eachother...Its up your GM.

Get a datajack, that acts like a router in most cases

Talk to your GM. Good ones will completely dismiss the headache that is the Interconnectivity rules and just go back to the way it always was in the past with your brain being the "router."

If not, just get multiple datajacks if you have more than three devices that need to be connected. Routers are a total waste of Essence and nuyen. At least multiple datajacks can come in handy from time to time.

Thanks guys. I forgot about the datajack mini-router trick.
The character in question already has a datajack, as well as cyber eyes, cyber ears, 100mp headware, and a commlink/radio/transducer. If I don't hook the radio in, the rest can be integrated through the datajack. Cool.

IF you have a transducer and a datajack, you'd be better off just plugging a standard transciever/personal comm unit in and working it that way. Saves a ton of Essence and cash, too. And if you use a pocket secretary, you gain an extra 100 Mp (or is it 200 Mp? I can't remember) of storage memory on top of that.

If I were making a troll merc, I would agree with you, but this is a face/infiltration specialist, and the wires sticking out of her head would blow the image.

Depends on where he's infiltrating. Wage Slave/Personal Assistant/Office Manager= no problem.

First of all, who said a datajack has to be in your head (I like putting one on my wrist for comm gear, with the wires hidden under the sleeves). Second of all, it's an entirely common occurance in the 2060's. It's about as weird as seeing someone talking on a cellphone or using a laptop.

Also, induction datajacks work very well with hats, hoods, and other articles of clothing to hide wires.

Ignore the people saying good gms ignore this. Its their opinion, doesnt mean its right. I would think good gms are able to use it, adding a level of realism or complexity... it can be seen either way.

Looks like you already got an answer for the first question, but Id consider getting the router to get the radio/comlink and transducer hooked in (radio/comlink can be installed as a joint package, transducer cant, least as I read it).

May not seem worth it, but being able to record your calls, as well as relay what you hear over the radio, can be invaluble in shadowops; depending on how you play. And would only take .14 essence for the router, a port to the datajack, a port to the radio and transducer, and a port to the device the datajack connection replaced. Less if you alpha.

He asked a rules question, not anyones opinion of the rules. Its obvious thats what you think. I merely pointed out that your opinion isnt the same as everyones, and that theres just as many arguments for as against. You play how you want, Ill play how I want; but neither of those is a response to the original question.

Not to mention Toy essentially broadly flamed all GM's that choose to use routers as bad GM's. Flaming people is bad, mmmkay?

Most of the people who gave their opinion on the subject also answered the technical question.

Kevyn's right, however. The only thing the interconnectively rules do is force you to lose more Essence and add more crap to clutter up your character sheet. It does nothing for the game or for playability. It simply adds complexity for the sake of adding complexity. You may as well advocate the designers including 5+ pages of overly-complex rules for brushing your teeth. It'll add the exact same thing to the game that the interconnectivity rules did -- jack squat.

Enough. You cannot deny that using routers adds a difference between characters that have individual cyberware implants, and those which connect them all to make networks of cyberware. Such a difference causes differences in characters and how they interact in the game. It also allows a doublecheck for players, which lets them see what exactly can talk to what, whether because its connected, or because the different pieces of cyberware need to share a common information technology before being able to exchange data. Because you dont like it and think its silly doesnt mean it is. Play the way you want, fine. But dont profess to know whats best for everyone else and claim its irrelevant.

No one can deny that there is a difference. One can easily deny that that difference is anything more than a flatly insane, completely useless annoyance that adds nothing to the game.

It adds a layer of complexity and detail. Which isnt there without it. Whether or not that is beneficial/detrimental to the game is up to you. And whichever you decide is of no consequence to anyone unless they ask, in which case it should be made clear that it is an individuals opinion and that alone. Blanket statments of opinion without claim should be avoided. That is all.

We do use the connectivity rules, though reluctantly.

There is sense in saying that not everything is automatically connected which everything else that just happens to be located nearby. However, datajack and router being the sole method to connect things feels too inflexible.

We decided therefore to have something in between, the routing datajack. Since a standart datajack simply must have a limited form of router already integrated, we went for the package deal so anybody who wishes more connectivity simply opts for a stronger and extendable version. It may or may not cost more than the plain vanilla datajack, depending on the starting number of ports, but can be upgraded which ports just like the router to a maximum chosen by the GM.

And there may be a Router Plus, which may hold more than 10 ports, if need be.

And there is the datajack lite, an outside port (standart or inducting,) just one internal port and no neural connection, because, if you already have a neural connection like a standart datajack, why put more physical stress on your brain and no benefit. One neural link is enough to handle even boosted simsense load from cyberdecks, so every other input is easily dealt with even when coming in simultaneously.

Before you ask, prices vary according to manufacturer, i.e. GM's discretion.

Do not just say yes or no, be flexible!

One can not be against routers and still stop short of GURPS

~J

Sweet, I've never had a thread degenerate to a flame war on this board. Chalk one up for me

What, never?

~J

I'd like to speak up in favor of routers. They do occasionally add a cool element to the game, specifically when a player comes up with a clever way to use multiple pieces of 'ware. A router makes this explicit, and can make him feel special by knowing that nobody else can do the same trick without having had the same foresight.

However, needing them just to make certain 'ware work at all (headware memory, skillwires, opticams, etc) is something I could do without. My rule is that only highly unusual hookups require routers.