Artifacts: Motherboard Redux-RPG Notes

Motherboard, Fan Fiction 1, Fan Fiction 2, Definitions 

And right about here, this all stops being interesting.  No, there’s no Character Generation or Combat Rules to come.  That would have made too much sense.  Unfortunately, what my past self focused on was the economics and other random minutiae of the setting.  Do not expect all of this material to be coherent or consistent.  Little wonder my interest petered out.  Honestly, the setting is too esoteric and limited to merit the work to make playable, which is probably what I concluded back in the day.  It’s unlikely I’ll ever revisit this, but I’ll post it if I do.  

SKILLS

p+    

Warrior, Executioner, Wrecker/Demolition, Builder, Shield Smith, Armorer/Weaponer

e-      

Messenger, Spy, Assassin

n0     

Arranger, Locksmith, Legend Lore, Logic Probe, Encryptor, Tammer/Herder,

coder/decoder (company messages), data reader

TRADE TRICKS

e-      

Shadow, Circuit Breaker, Circuit Trailer, Current Reader, charge

tapper/discharger (illegal breaks in circuits to steal power)   

n0     

Ghost/Deadly Data, Charger/Uncharger, Lock Cracker

                                     

p+    

False/Deadly Construction, Shield Cracker, construction/demolition

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SPECIAL EVENTS TABLE

Shock Invulnerability

Mass Blast Invulnerability

Radiation Invulnerability

Ghost

Circuit Scrambler

Hybrid

Circuit Breaker

Circuit Trailer

Current Reader

Telepath (Cybernetic)

Invisibility

Charge Tapper/Discharger

Shape Changer

Shield Cracker

Non-Racial Skill/Ability

Supernatural Ability

MICRONIAN DIVERSIONS

Inertia: Killer salom with an obstacle course.  Four Electronians set on course by linear accelerator, shoot at each other, launch one at a time, dodging miniature phenomenon, survivor/best time wins.

Crush: Like boxing, Protonians, magnetic forces

Mind Bender: Psi combat, Neutronians, alter-egos battle on giant video screen, different types of combat, kung-fu, swords, gunfight

Spider: Like Photon (Boy, there’s a blast from the past, pay Laser Tag), all races

Wormhole: Low power, like a black hole, sucks up energy, thrill-seeker sport, racing around the edge.

Warp: high power waves, thrill-seeker sport, riding the waves.

Collider: Donut shaped (like a super collider), team sport, Electronian, one tries to go around track the fastest, another controls several giant grid balls trying to knock racer off track.

Grid Ball: Like football, different types play different positions

Betting: Done on Data transactions and various games.  Everyone plays.

VIRUSES

Loop: String joined at ends, check digit lost, or beginning and end points lost

Crunched: Strings jumbled

Randomized: Changes data (0 to 1 or 1 to 0) or type

Trojan Horse: Created virus by Neutronian, inside normal data

Worm: Duplicates data randomly

Reactor: Cell that reacts to virus

PHENOMENON

Wormhole: Low energy, flux in grid (black hole)

Warp: High-energy flux in grid (hurricane)

Crash: Earthquake

Crash & Burn: A major crash, a volcano

COMPANIES

Trader: Buys data, arranges it, and puts it in storage or sells it to an Output Tower.

Safari: An outfit that catches, tames, and herds grid bugs.

Bounty Hunter: Searches for lost or stolen data.

Guard Service: Mercenaries that protect company holdings and personnel.

Lender (Loan Shark): A part of a large company that lends charge for a fee.

Spy: Steals/copies data and observes other companies.

Delivery: Delivers data and messages.

Bandit: Steals data outright.

Detective/Assassin: Finds and/or kills desired targets.

TYPICAL DATA PROCESSING CYCLE

1. Data is received at Input Tower.

2. It is auctioned off to the highest bidder.

3. The data is transported to the company at the Core.

4. Related data from other Towers are brought in.

5. The data bits are arranged into a string.  9 Bits, 8 data, 1 check

6. The string is transported, piece by piece, to storage or to an Output Tower to be sold.

STRING CLASSIFICATIONS

Immediate Sell (prices per bit)

Alpha buy 50          x number class (1-9) sell 300-600 x number class

Beta buy 60 x number class (1-9) sell 400-700 x number class

Storage (prices per string)

Tau buy 10 x number class (1-9) sell 10-300 x number class

Zeta buy 20 x number class (1-9) sell 100-400 x number class

Omega buy 50 x number class (1-9) sell 200-500 x number class

BUYING AND SELLING

Bought by a broker (who buys for only one company, only one classification), Protonian guard announces price, brokers that are interested bid, and it goes to the highest.  Brokers try to figure which data will be the hottest.  It is transported to the company.

Bits are bought individually by companies, but sold in 9's (eight bits plus check bit) at the Output Tower.  Bits come in at random times and its worth may go up or down until the last bit comes in.  Approximate price is not known until the last bit.  Protonian guardians receive buy/sell prices from Direct Input and are very secret, but often follow patterns. 

After the ninth bit comes in, a sell order comes from the Output Tower to whoever holds the most bits (or to the first holder).  The other bits can be sold to the company at no more than twice what they paid or the five bits may be sold off provided the other company holds the other four.  Must be sold in one cycle or all bits are gathered and sold at 50% list.  Unsold data goes into storage.

Storage data is often sold in string piles (two or more strings).  In 10 to 100 cycles the string pile is called for.  Companies have one cycle to deliver what they have.  A company may try to buy all strings.  A company holding one and offered a good price will often give it up.  Also given as tips to Neutronian guardians for future favors.

(I warned you up front, this wasn’t all going to make sense.)

[The good news is that I've been working every day on the Cyber-Pulp game and enjoying it.  The bad news is that I've had very little time to devote to it, so it's not ready.  The way things interconnect in it, I think I'll have to finish the whole thing before posting any of it.  The worse news is that I'm out of RPG posts.  I have some other assorted stuff to post though for now, starting Monday.]

Artifacts: Motherboard Redux-Definitions

Motherboard, Fan Fiction 1, Fan Fiction 2, RPG Notes

Here’s where some of the terms used in the Fan Fiction might make some sense.

DEFINITIONS

Anomaly (Glitch): Defects in the system that can cause random death and destruction like a natural disaster.  (Anti-Proton Storm, Grid Quake, Neutrino Blast)

Data Sheet: List supplied to players that shows what data is hot.

Circuit: A smooth roadway for high-speed travel.

Micronian: An Electronian, Protonian, or Neutronian.

Motherboard (The Grid): A small portion of a microchip upon which its inhabitants receive, arrange, and output data.

Input Tower: Huge tower to which data is transmitted.  Unusually large Protonian Guardians keep this data safe and award it to the highest bidder.

Bugs: Small creatures which live upon the Grid.  Most are fairly harmless, but they are wild.  Some Neutronians are trained in the art of taming them, so that data may be imprinted and stored on them (called cells).  They can only be imprinted once.

Electronian: Smallest of Micronians, with the ability to produce an electric shock and accelerate to high speeds on or off a circuit.  They are primarily used as messengers transporting bugs, and delivering power.  They are also used as scouts, spies, and assassins.

Neutronian: Large Micronians with high intelligence that can read or mentally attack other minds.  Neutronians have one of two basic disciplines.  Arrangers place delivered data into strings.  Tamers control and herd grid bugs.  Saboteur Neutronians of either discipline can be hired for various destructive acts.

Protonian: Largest of the Micronians.  They can magnetically manipulate the Grid for building (circuits and stores) and are capable of restraining and crushing other Micronians (mass blasts).  Protonians are natural leaders and some also serve as warriors.

Output Tower: Like Input Towers, except that arranged data is delivered here for sale to the Protonian Guardians.  Large price tags are often contested and haggled over.

Charge: 1. Basic unit of currency.  2. Refers to the hit points of Micronians.

Logic Probe: Neutronian with the power to detect defects and sabotage in a bug, building structure, or data.  Not always scrupulous.

Protonian Guardian: Huge Protonians selected by previous Guardians to serve the Towers.  They are incorruptible and very well taken care of.  In spite of the power they wield, they almost always treat fellow Micronians fairly (part of the selection criterion).

Cycle: Day, basic unit of time, broken down metrically.

Data Store: Locked (by Neutronian numbers), encrypted, and/or shielded (by Protonian grid manipulation) places for data.

Phenomenon: Random dangerous events (like weather or natural forces).

Virus: Corrupts data (like plagues and disease).

Encoded Flash Message: An encrypted message sent by Electronian courier.

Metron: Basic unit of length.

Meton: Basic unit of weight

Micronian Names: Name, letter type, letter batch, number model.  Electronian (e-) Z, Protonian (p+) S, Neutronians (n0) O.  Name starts with these letters and are their type.  Zepher ZB3, Soloman SR10, Orly OK1

Input/Output Wire: Linear accelerators, parts-injector releases Electronians one at a time, as one reaches halfway, another is released, vacuum tube-airless circuit, magnetic coils-which surround the circuit, first part of trip acceleration coils push and pull forward, second coils push forward, third coils push back to decelerate.

Neutronian Clearing House: Unsold, unwanted data is brought here for 50% last price and then given to the Protonian guards for tips, which are sold to companies.

Artifacts: Motherboard Redux-Fan Fiction 2

Motherboard, Fan Fiction 1, Definitions, RPG Notes

One more piece of fan fiction for this setting.

Flashman-Raiders

          It felt odd.  Zepher ZB3, Pieces of Eight's best runner, trudging along the slower public access circuit under armed escort.  The eight bits in his memory lock comprised a Beta Z9 string worth 6300 charge.  Not only the most expensive string in five mega-cycles, but the most expensive ever handled by the company.  Costs for the transaction, including Neutronian tips, the buy price, paying off other companies to shut out other buyers, and the Power Play guards was at least 4000 charge.  But at the end of the circuit, at the output tower, was a projected 2300 charge of pure profit!

          "How you doin,' little buddy?" said Power Play captain Soloman SR10, "Nerves ain't getting to ya, are they?"

          "I'd feel a lot better, if there was a backup plan."

          Casually, Sol remarked, "If it gets too hot for us to handle, you just get to a junction and take-off on an output wire."

          Zepher wasn't impressed by the Protonian's "run like hell" tactics.  However, he did feel safer, surrounded by four guards and four more scouting their front and rear.  Even his memory lock had been affixed to his body in such a way that his arms would have to be removed before it would come off without the proper codes.  Zepher hoped it wouldn't come to that.

          A low rumbling reverberated along the circuit tunnel.  The sound became louder and Soloman brought the column to a halt.  Shaking into pieces, the circuit walls on either side crumbled to reveal four large Protonians.

          (Shoot first, ask questions later.)  The hiss and pop of Power Play's mass drives exploded the attackers.  Suddenly, Zepher realized the rumbling wasn't coming from the Protonians.  A familiar sounding crackling thunderstorm was coming from the output circuit running parallel to their own.

          Eight or more Electronians leapt through the fissure in the output circuit wall.  The raiders' shock rods reduced the four rear guards to burning embers.  The messenger group was quickly encircled.

          "Looks like it's time for Plan B!" yelled Sol.

          "Yeah," Zepher nodded.

          The guards moved in mass towards the fissure.  Under the Protonian's concentrated fire, the Electronian ring cracked.  Zepher jumped through the crack.  A slick, smooth surface for high- speed travel, he fell, rear first, onto the output circuit.  Another Electronian stood on the track in front of Zepher.  Recovering quickly, he charged.  With the sound of a sonic boom and the eruption of a volcanno, the circuit was torn apart.   Blown backward, Zepher went back through the hole.

          Power Play was still holding out.  "There's a circuit breaker in the tunnel and not enough time to get back to the buffer!"  Sol was about to reply by Zepher, when an explosion rocked them all.  The circuit breaker had snapped their line.  Seizing the advantage, the Electronians made quick work of the guards.  Alone, Sol prepared to defend the messenger, "Better take off!" Zepher had already made up his mind to make his stand with the captain, but instead found himself being tossed out the grid-side crack.

          The tunnel echoed thunder.  On the grid, Zepher was then struck to the ground by a nerve-breaking headache.  He looked up.  (Neutronian!)  Already, the Micronian was reaching for the memory lock.  Putting his hand to his attacker's face, Zepher delivered a large shock to the Neutronian.  As he fell backwards, several raiders came out of the tunnel.  Zepher sped off along the grid.  Two M Metrons away west was a cluster local circuit to the tower.  Twenty C Cylces until the string was due.  Several attackers and wild grid bugs in his way, Zepher poured it on.  (Some workout!)

(Hey, that was actually somewhat exciting.  I should have finished this at the time when I actually knew the setting better.)

Artifacts: Motherboard Redux-Fan Fiction 1

Motherboard,Fan Fiction 2, Definitions, RPG Notes

When I made the original Motherboard post, I knew that all of the other original notes about it had been tossed.  What I’d forgotten was that I did that because I’d actually typed them up first.  (I wonder what else is on my hard drive?)  So, just for fun, here it is.  We’ll start with the fiction.  I wrote this in high school.  Be kind. 

(“What’s your excuse for your current writing, J?”)

(“Shut the F*** up!”)

CIRCUIT RUNNER

Flashman

          The Motherboard alighted.  Energy surged among her many circuits bringing life to Ring City and its inhabitants.  In his cell, Zepher ZB3 materialized into being.  An Electronian, Zepher and his ilk are first among the Motherboard's races to be charged, even on D7's when the board is turned on only for routine maintenance.  Already the Electronian guardians were delivering charge to the Protonian and Neutronian guardians and then to the cells of their races.  The cycle begins.

          While those in the Nucleus must complete housekeeping functions before idle time, out in the Data Stores, there are few responsibilities.

          "It's gonna be a beautiful day here in Ring City," boomed the overhead speaker, "Only high, scattered warps in the area, with clean, pure, power surges expected all cycle.  Sorry to all you thrillers and wormers."

          "Damn!  I wanted to run a worm after the match," thought Zepher as he sped on a local circuit to the Speedball Arena.  Several of this cycle's participants were already there.  Making a flashy skid-stop, Zepher attracted the attention of a pretty, young Electronian.

          "Hi," Zepher said in a glowing tone, "What's your level?"

          She gave him a freeze, "I'm Level Five, hot-zip.  You'd better watch yourself or you'll be eating circuit."  She stalked off.  Somehow, she no longer looked so pretty.  So much for the pre-race chatter.

          Above, a floating camera spoke with a deep Protonian voice broke up with the roll call.  "Zeela ZA8 in white.  Zepher ZB3 in black.  Racers to the line.  The oval raceway was as smooth as an Output Circuit and pitched at almost 20 degrees.  Scuffing across the surface, Zepher got a feel for the surface.  Sparks flew wherever he touched the track as it was designed to amplify Electronian shock.

          "Ready to feel the agony of defeat?"  It was the girl again, whom the announcer had identified as Zeela.  She stood at the line with an almost intolerable air of smugness.  Zepher said nothing, concentrating fully on the track before him.   A holographic drag racing start post appeared before them and quickly clicked down to green.

          A glassy ball, three feet in diameter, materialized in front of the racers.  Lightning suddenly struck Zepher and he was blown off the track.  Zeela prepared another charge in order to secure the ball.

          "So much for a clean game," muttering, Zepher hopped back on the track and peeled.  Using a light charge, he sped passed Zeela and shocked her into a daze.  The ball fell into his field.  His speed slowed with the ball consuming part of his charge, but he still cleared half a lap before she caught up.  Like a localized thunderstorm, the racers charged around the track. 

          Edging close, Zeela yelled, "Eat this!"  Zepher was swatted to the track by a violent elbow check.  His field disrupted, Zeela snagged the ball and flew away.  Preparing a massive charge, Zepher waited for her to complete the lap.  She boomed towards him.

(This reminds me of the movie, Rollerball, which I had not seen while I saw in high school.  This race would have been a lot more interesting if it was more like Rollerball.)

Artifacts: Motherboard

I’m not sure if I got the idea before or after watching Tron, but I had this notion to make up an RPG based on life inside of a computer. This was during high school, so frankly I don’t remember the exact origin. The setting revolved around transporting data from the outside to the Nucleus, where it was carefully processed, and then transported out. All the while the data had to be guarded and kept secure.

The map is labeled, starting at the 12:00 position and moving clockwise, we have an Input Wire, Access, an Output Wire, Junction, Ring City, Binary, Matrix, Cluster, Dead Zone, Melt-Town, and Nucleus in the center. Buffer stations are located at the end of each wire.  The red areas that some towns have are high-glitch rate fields.

There were three types of beings (character classes) living on the Motherboard. There were the Electronians: small, speedy data bit couriers, who had an electric charge. There were the Protonians: large, security personnel, with gravitational powers. And finally, there were the Neutronians: large, data manipulators, with mental powers. They lived in Data Stores (cities) and sometimes held data for later sale there. There were even recreational activities, such as Electronian racing, Protonian wrestling, and Neutronian chess.

I don’t actually still have any of the notes, just the map. What I can remember is that most of the material involved how the data trading market worked. Little wonder I didn’t develop this further. I remember writing a little bit of fan-fiction to go with it, probably trying to figure out how any adventuring happened in the setting. It starred a little Electronian, trying to make his way in the world. There were natural hazards on the board, like random warp zones, and plenty of dangerous, unscrupulous competition for the data.

All in all, I think I’d rather have a Tron RPG.

I found my old notes.
Fan Fiction 1, Fan Fiction 2, Definitions, RPG Notes