Don't mind me, just using this page for notes because I can't figure out what I want to do.
[EDIT: This system is gonna be turned into not-shadowrun. Please stand by.]
//That's cute. No it's not.
//Avatars
//Ethernet IDs
//Reality Overlay?
//VR Hideouts (needs a name)
//Networks
//Social Networking
//Illegal Networks
//Programs
//Firewalls
//Guardians
//Malware
//Network Accounts
////Are we really gonna use User/Security/Admin?
//Network Status
////Hidden/Disguised/Detected/Discovered
//Equipment Rating
//Encrypted Transmissions
//Hardware Hacking
//Research
//Tracking
////Local
////EID
//Wireless Device Detection
//Stealth
//Spoofing EID
//This is gonna be modified.
VR vs. AR: Virtual Reality is completely inside the Ethernet. With the Ethernet, you can connect and send data over extremely long distances. Even between planets using the Ethereal plane, which connects all of reality as a kind of mirror of our universe, with the added bonus of being able to use magic-like powers. It's magic I don't gotta explain SHIT! Most of the important high-security networks that even a lot of player-run corporation and factions use are not connected to the Ethernet, and are on local area private networks. Luckily for you, your implants or even external computer (which I need to think of a cool name for) can connect to both kinds of network, even a hard-wired local network, or machine unhooked entirely (mostly used for security purposes). In virtual reality, you appear as an Avatar, which can look like anything you want. You appear in a space, which can also look like anything. Most networks have preset definitions, but if you're connecting to the Ethernet, it by default looks like the Ethereal plane. Your own machine can override this and make the world appear how you want it to. Traveling to a network, say on Terra, when you're on Sithrugam takes almost no time at all (something like a round or two. Literal instant travel is difficult, but possible with experimental tech.)
Beyond visual distinctions, the time it takes to complete actions is significantly reduced in VR, as well as you getting a bonus to your relevant attribute while using skills to perform VR actions (usually intellect), and the experience, being that it hooks up to your mind directly, is much more real. You can feel, smell and even taste things on the Ethernet while in VR. Of course this is all a product of electronic signals to your brain. These things don't actually exist, but the pleasure receptors are all there (even drugs exist, which do have some lasting effects such as addiction.) Your brain can make it real, and even give you pleasures, but your body cannot receive sustenance, for example. You can't feed yourself in the Ethernet, taste it, and receive the nutrients to go without food in the real world. Most of the distinctions will be made by the GM, but use some common sense in the rulings.
The downside to this direct hookup, is that while your implant doesn't input pain by normal methods, cyberwarfare is a thing and a vagrant AI, hacker, or network admin who doesn't like you breaking in will use programs to override that. Your Avatar's health and your health are calculated separately, except for these programs which attack your health directly. Your Avatar's armor, which is a program that defends against both kinds of damage, will apply, seeing as it's job is to block all programs, but if it's overwhelmed, biofeedback hurts like a motherfucker.
The alternate to VR is Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality is a holographic interface, from implants just a sort of HUD, signaled to your brain to show over your vision, but with an external unit, it can be a display on the device, either worn on your arm, or connected to a visor that displays a HUD over the real world. A HUD gives you a bonus ((not sure what yet, probably a +1 die bonus or a smaller speed bonus than VR)), and a display is just that, the lowest form of connection, but still incredibly useful, and almost required for life in the world. Would you live in today's world without ever connecting to the internet? Of course not, how would you get this system otherwise?
All devices come with a basic OS, which can be upgraded, and a suite of basic programs. But to make it truly useful in cyberwarfare or hacking, you'll want some advanced programs, which can be bought with credits, or with the right skills and investment of time, created yourself. Programs only go up to a certain rating, which are treated slightly differently than skills. They (and your device and OS) each have their own rating. You roll as normal, using that rating as your dice pool, and rolling against your hacking, computers or cyberwarfare skill. Yes, this means with a skill of 10, it is only possible to fail on a 1, and with a skill of 1, it is only possible to succeed on a 10. You should not try to be the group's hacker if you only have a skill of one, it's really for dabblers or people who plan to spend your Awesomeness on the skill in the future.
//Pods, Comlinks, Computers, Etherbox, Scrap Metal... There are lots of possible names for your device. And I don't know which would be the best to use.
//Thanks Tristan for giving me Linkset. I like it. External devices are Linksets, implants that hook up to the brain directly are Femtolinks. (I'll be honest, I really just wanted to use the Femto- prefix in the game.) I'll fix the name in the final version of this page, when it isn't brainvomit.
//Because a femtometer is really goddamn small, nanolinks it is. Makes me sad, though, it's an awesome word.
The Ethernet: So, there are some implications, using the Ether for networking technology. The biggest is that because people can use the Ether to use magic, they should be able to manifest powers inside of it. I don't really have somatic components like D&D, and it behaves more like psionics than any real magic. The mind of a Connected seems to be all that I require. Well, not quite. Physical manifestation of powers is far different than, say, having an Avatar throw a power at someone. Also visually and effectively, while in VR that's exactly what programs do anyhow. I would say, though, that with an implant (Ether 2.0 will use descriptor tags the same way weapons do. Having an ability affect VR users can just be a bonus tag), you should be able to use powers to assault a mind directly. This would only work on characters in VR, because of how close the mind connection is anyhow, and I might make it it's own skill, or something else. Maybe instead of a program, it uses cyberwarfare compared against connection instead of it's normal stat. it uses Ether projection as its primary skill. It doesn't use a program, but There are two kinds of Ether projection, but the one that can be used via VR, and thus on users connected to the Ethernet as opposed to using an Ether power to bring their body into the Ethereal Plane requires a specific implant. If you bring your body into the Ethereal Plane via magic being a Connected, you cannot attack or be attacked by VR users. They just appear as wisps of light moving REALLY fast. It feels excessive to make a separate skill for ether warfare. ...Unless there could be an Ether projection, metaphysically bringing you into the Ethereal Plane. That could use the same skill and- And this system is looking more and more like SR4. Not that SR4 is bad, but I kinda want this to be its own thing. Hmm. BOY DO I LOVE STEALING GAME DESIGN IDEAS! MM-MMM!
Simulated Memory Synchronization: An ability available to VR users. Most people with implants will keep records of their lives, for at least two weeks, but important events are often saved. If the implant detects an emotional surge, anything from traumatic stress to ecstasy, it will automatically put these into a long-term storage for review. Some people go into the folder to relive, review or delete these files, but the vast majority don't look at most of what's in there. Well that's just fine if you want some information, because it's likely that the information you're looking for is in there. And what's better, you get thrust into the memory and experience everything they were feeling at the moment. Well, almost everything. Your biofeedback filter does its job and filters out all the physical pain it detects, as well as dulling the traumatic ones like mind-numbing fear and trauma. But you are certainly aware it's happening, and sometimes just knowing it's there is enough. This is mostly up to roleplay, but if the GM gives you a penalty for being shaken after seeing something awful, I wouldn't blame him.
This same concept applies to those drugs I was talking about earlier. It's just data that the implant uses to make you feel a certain way, or relive stuff that's been coded into the damn program. They also simulate addiction, because the guys that make these things want one more reason for you to come back for more. As you might guess, there are varying levels, and the best stuff is in the addictive, and did I mention illegal ones.
AI: So, AI as a race is pretty freakin' cool. I have ALWAYS liked the idea. And I'm trying to work extra hard to not make this my pet race, because that's no fun for anyone. But; there are a few kinds of AI.
The kind that's a player race is the free-willed, evolving program capable of autonomous action. What you might think of when you think of AI to begin with. They have morals, emotions and thoughts. Imagine that, they have THOUGHTS. As far as things go, they act kind of like a Ghost in the Machine, the only distinction being that Ghosts in the Machine are a subset of this AI where an actual person is stuck in VR. You want the science behind it? The Ether copies their personality as they die, and they're stuck in the Ethernet forever. You want a better explanation? It's magic, I don't gotta explain SHIT. By which I mean I like the idea, but scientifically it's impossible to explain, because the idea is supernatural. Kinda like the Ether. Whodathunk? Anyhow, this personality follows all the rules of AI. Once the Ether records their personality, apart from them not initially understanding what they are- Did you ever play Analogue: A Hate Story? Probably not, but maybe you've watched .hack//SIGN. Tsukasa is TOTALLY a Ghost in the Machine- Anyhow, they can from there download themselves to LAN networks, through the help of external devices and even get inside disconnected machines, although a friend would probably have to store them inside a linkset until then.
The next (last?) kind of AI is kind of a slave to people. They're Personal Artificial Assistants. They follow the laws of robotics and are programmed to follow orders and help as best they can. They can use programs, but are not able to think, do not have morals. They aren't "alive" so to speak. They run subroutines that allow them to carry a conversation, they can sound like people, and some people (usually the socially awkward nerd type) fall in love with their PAAs and put them into pleasure dolls and- I'm gonna stop right there.
PAAs can act as an extra man on the field in cybercombat, assuming they've been programmed to be able to use Cybercombat. All PAAs have a set number of skills equal to, and that cannot go higher than, their rating. Keep in mind that they and the programs they run count against your processor's capacity.
Keep in mind that ALL AI are programs, and thus run by a machine somewhere, who's processor can only handle so much before getting overloaded.
//Infomorphs technically would fall under AI, although it's a digital imprint of your own consciousness, and now we're falling into the realm of meta-humanism, which is a fascinating topic for conversation and research, brings up the question of the definition of a person, as well as morally questionable and thus makes for amazing debates, but I don't yet know if it'll exist in the Dark Tidings setting. It's a decision I'll make later.
Also brought into question, because of the questionable definition of a person, are the rights of an AI. The official statement from the United Council of Races is that the decision is left to local planetary governments, but they would suggest that AI with a consciousness are allowed freedoms and rights. Thus, PAAs don't count under that. It's a really touchy subject, and if you have an AI character, you should think about how you feel about PAAs and the governments that disallow free AI. On the one hand, PAAs are slaves to their master, which is morally questionable, seeing as most governments have abolished slavery (Of course, that doesn't stop the criminal element from using it, also not EVERY government takes the same stance). On the flipside, they really don't have a consciousness, and can certainly be classified differently. Elitist AI can certainly be a thing, and the thought for some that the ability to think for themselves makes them some kind of master race is not uncommon. There are mountains of other arguments for both sides, and your personal stance on the subject, be you an AI or an organic meatbag is certainly something to think about.
Skillsofts: Skill Software. The very idea that you'd let a program run on your implant and control your actions is terrifying, especially to those who have seen a vagrant AI. But with the ability to send signals directly into your brain, a nanolink can run a program that tells it to tell your muscles how to move to perform an action, or just what to say in a given situation, or to understand and speak a language you didn't know. Skillsofts take up a lot of processing power. They have to be constantly taking in and spitting out information. Without experimental technology, they're only available up to rating 3. They take up as much processing power as their rating. As for what they do, they let you perform actions from a skill UP TO THEIR RATING. This means that if you have no ranks of Con, for example, and you use a rating 3 Con Skillsoft, you will be able to make a check as if you had three ranks of the skill. If you have one rank of pistols, and you use a rank 2 Pistols Skillsoft, you would be able to make the check as if you had 2 ranks of Pistols. It isn't bonus dice, but it allows you to perform a skill you don't have any or enough points in.