Neuroform revision

Neuroform revision

Colin_Fredericks 20 Jun 2011 01:13

Defaults are on the left.

Static vs. Dynamic
This one is familiar from before. Static minds are immune to mesh-hacking but lack the ability to use Lenses.

Physical vs. Dataform
Also from before. Physical minds can survive in the absence of the infosphere, but can also interact (and be assaulted) physically at hazard to themselves.

Single vs. Multiple
"Multiple" covers everything from small group-minds up to continent-wide compositions made up of millions of people. Single minds have a single massive point of failure; multiple minds have many points of failure but can be in lots of places at once.

Fluid vs. Structured
Fluid is the default, where different aspects come to prominence at different times and may even fight for dominance behind the scenes. Structured covers a whole range of things from matryoshka minds to a group-mind with a specific leader to the Logician mindset. Fluid minds have no specific benefit; each Structured mind has its own particular advantage and disadvantage.

Autonomous vs. Parasitic
Autonomous minds run on their own hardware. Parasitic minds run on other hardware. Parasitic minds get Twists when that gets them in trouble.

Sovereign vs. Slaved
Sovereign minds run their own software. Slaved minds run other peoples' software. Slaved minds get Twists when that gets them in trouble.

There are a few things from the neuroform thread that don't show up here, but which would fit under different versions of "Structured."

Last edited on 20 Jun 2011 01:14 by Colin_Fredericks Show more

Re: Neuroform revision

Pilgrim 21 Jun 2011 01:43

OK, I can get all but one of the examples, and that is parasitic. And the nearest I could think of for that would be a Stored who's leeching off the processing power of of others. Am I close?

Re: Neuroform revision

Colin_Fredericks 21 Jun 2011 04:14

"Thank you. It was cold down there on the floor."

Re: Neuroform revision

TauCeti 06 Jul 2011 19:30

I like the breakdown.

Structured looks like a “catch-all” for all of the weird stuff. While “unique advantage and disadvantage” works well rules-wise, I’m not sure that it is in opposition to Fluid. Two examples:

The Aia are clearly Dynamic Dataform Multiple (Slaved) and Structured (Matryoshka). That said, the way I run them, the medium-sized ones are more Fluid than humans. (The small (Familiar) ones are about as Fluid as a human, and the big ones behave like a cross between Q and Nyarlothotep). The mid-sized ones act within the PC’s decision loop, and engage in tactics that blindside them for their weirdness.

(As a specific example, Robert sent a remote control rover into an area with a known Aia presence. He used a hard-line to communicate with it. The Aia simply assumed the line was secure against hacking, and instead 1) welded the rover to the floor, 2) set up nanites around it, faking whatever surroundings it wanted, and 3) fabbed an exact duplicate of the rover to go on ahead. It then relayed everything the duplicate rover saw to Robert’s rover, and relayed Robert’s actions to the duplicate rover… with suitable edits in each direction.)

Similarly, Unbound are some form of Structured in that they’re using weird hardware. On the other hand, an Unbound is about as Fluid as anyone else.
Also, Unbound are sortof Multiple (many small points of failure) but can’t be in several places at once.

Basically, I’m not sure Fluid vs. Structured is the right words for this. Or maybe Structured needs to be broken down? Or maybe just drop it, and have a catch-all “name your whatsit” category where the player can name anything as a neuroform, and define its advantages and disadvantages (with GM permission). Include a few examples here, or elsewhere (say, when talking about the Unbound, explaining their neuroform(s) there).

Last edited on 06 Jul 2011 20:53 by TauCeti Show more

Re: Neuroform revision

Colin_Fredericks 10 Jul 2011 15:09

Yeah, that division was the hardest to make work. I'll play with some different ways to do what that does (fails to do) right now and see what better approach I can find.

Having toyed with some of the other neurotypes in combination, I'm fairly happy with the rest of it.

Re: Neuroform revision

1of3 10 Jul 2011 15:31

What does structured actually mean? Since the Logicians appear to be structured, I'd imagine, such a character behaves in prescribed manner. A Logician isn't good for surprises. Of course, he might trick you, but he wouldn't be spontaneous about it.

What about the other two examples, the ordered group mind and the M thing?

Re: Neuroform revision

Colin_Fredericks 10 Jul 2011 15:53

The idea was that "structured" was an intentionally laid out set of procedures within the mind that told it how to work. You could do that in many different ways, but it always had a particular set of protocols to work by.

If that seems rather broad, it turns out that that's actually a pending issue. :)

Re: Neuroform revision

1of3 11 Jul 2011 07:25

That's not so bad. I understand the definition, I have problems with the extension. What procedures do you imagine a matryoshka to follow? On a related note, would you consider a salmon structered?