Shadowrun - Cybernetics, Magic, Allergies, and Side Effects

I don't think any of this post will make sense to even Shadowrun fans; if you do not know the Hero System, this post is probably just gibberish. But I needed to make it to organize my own thoughts, and hopefully get some input.

 

So far, literally everything has the Limitation: Side Effects - at least almost all Magic and Cybernetics, which is more than half of the game! This is consistent throughout Shadowrun, Cyberpunk, CyberHERO, and Fantasy Hero (and its Companions), but I don't like it:

 

1. This is one of the first things that designers and users would seek to hammer-out. So, by this point (many decades after they were introduced), there should be a lot fewer side effects than there were with earlier versions, whether it be of a spell or article of cybertech.

 

2. Some of this comes off as hystrionic attempts at game balance where it really wasn't needed.

 

3. In Hero, specifically, it seems like they included it to lower Real Cost more than anything. It fits sometimes, and it is exactly right other times, but it's mostly just included with everything even when it doesn't fit.

 

4. Side Effects leads to a lot more math between Phases, which adds to the complexity of keeping up with everything. I want something more elegant and easier to follow, even if this is as simple (though also time-consuming) as Increased END, which doesn't necessarily make sense for a lot of cybernetics but could work for netrunning.

5. Since even the lowest version involves 30 Active Points, I'd really rather avoid Side Effects whenever possible! I can't imagine why anyone would choose a version, make, or model with Side Effects if they could afford the difference and had the choice.

 

One of the issues I'm thinking through is that it is consistent throughout all of these somewhat disparate sources, but all are from the same era (1989-1992 or so). "Side Effects" were one of the first things that were smoothed-out of modern technology, and today's Internet is (despite its problems) faster and more stable, relying far less on the end-user's knowledge of computers or computing (or electrical or fiber-optic) capacity. So I feel justified in making such a sweeping change, I just don't know the best, and most direct, way of going about it yet.

 

Here's my "creative" solution to Side Effects, Cyberpsychosis, and Cybernetics (better known as a rough draft):

Berserk on Burnout - Common, 11, 14- (-15)
Psych. Lim. Cyberpsychosis - Common, Strong (-15)

Magic and Cybernetics are handled separately, but there are going to be a lot of similarities - especially in the Wireless Age. At this point, Side Effects is one of those and I wanted to eliminate it but I am going with this write-up for cybernetics.

© The Weirding, 2025

Cyberpunk RED

So, Gamestop was closing when Cyberpunk 2077 was released and the only place I could have picked it up had locked its doors. And there is nowhere anywhere near here that sells RPG (well, there wasn't then), but I got super-lucky for my birthday and picked up a copy of Cyberpunk RED for right at $10.00, so I'm all-in.

If I ever make enough money to legitimately declare myself a business, I just spent $10 on a business deal. That's the deal. And it's true; you'll be seeing new Cyberpunk-related material here soon -- just as soon as I'm done reading it and start soloing it.

In the meantime, it's $10 well-spent. I'm still referencing Cyberpunk 2013, FFS. TBH, I already invested $10 in the Combat Screen a year ago, just so I could cobble together a d10 combat system I like. Although Gamma World was the first RPG I ever played, Cyberpunk was the RPG I played the most after AD&D, so this worked-out perfectly for me. Plus, it's my birthday, which makes it even sweeter. I picked up that version of Gamma World last week, too.

I'm loving it so far, but let me say this: Seeing the HTML for this makes me want to cry; this is what everything should look like by now, and it's perfect that Cyberpunk would be the product to bring this sort of textualization to life. The roll-over pop-up "hints" sections are perfect and I really envy their online creative department (not their job, just their personnel).

© The Weirding, 2024

Heavy Liquid

Heavy Liquid

© The Weirding, 2019

The Cyberpunk Nexus: Exploring the Blade Runner Universe

The Cyberpunk Nexus: Exploring the Blade Runner Universe

© The Weirding, 2018

The Blackening #1

The Blackening #1

© The Weirding, 2018

Robocop: Citizen's Arrest #3

Robocop: Citizen's Arrest #3

© The Weirding, 2018

Rat Queens: Neon Static

Rat Queens: Neon Static

© The Weirding, 2018

God Complex #1

God Complex #1

© The Weirding, 2017

Deadly Class #26 - Cyberforce Variant

Deadly Class #26 - Cyberforce Variant

© The Weirding, 2017

The Cyberpunk Glossary is Live

After years of hassle having to do with behind-the-scenes coding issues, the Cyberpunk Glossary is finally back online! I found a nice workaround that allows me to present it the way it was originally written, in all its glorious HTMLing and such.

Check it out.

© The Weirding, 2015

The Art of Carbon Grey

This December, the art secrets of Image Comic’s masterpiece will be revealed in THE ART OF CARBON GREY HC. The series' astonishingly talented team of artists, Hoang Nguyen, Khari Evans and Linsun Loh will provide an extensive look at the making of the epic, richly illustrated saga, revealing the concepts, influences and designs that shaped the fantastical yet strangely familiar world of Carbon Grey.

"I'm excited to give readers a behind the scenes look, where we focus on storytelling, character designs, and composition," explained Nguyen. "It's these attention to details that make our book so much fun to work on."

Evans added, "It's a fantastic adventure that I am honored to be a part of!"

THE ART OF CARBON GREY HC will show fans how three talented artists united to create such a uniquely beautiful and kinetic visual style. Readers will get to delve into their working processes and trace the evolution of the characters and worlds that made CARBON GREY one of the most explosive comics of the year. THE ART OF CARBON GREY provides a fascinating insight into the creative process in a series of illustrated essays and tutorials on subjects including “Traditional vs. Digital” and “Recasting Giselle.”

THE ART OF CARBON GREY HC (OCT110448, ISBN: 978-1-60706-474-9), an oversized 128-page full color comic art book for $29.99, will be on sale in stores December 7^th, and will be available for order in the upcoming November issue of Previews. CARBON GREY, VOL. 1: SISTERS AT WAR TP (JUL110459, ISBN: 978-1-60706-448-0), a 96-page trade paperback collecting the first 3 issues of the sold out first story arc and more, is available in stores now for only $9.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Reviews Old City Blues

Old City Blues is as beautiful as it is confusing. Part of this is due to the setting and genre (cyberpunk), which demands gritty, cartoonish realism. Old City Blues is set in Athens, 2049. Cyborgs are common and hold high positions of authority. The old city was washed away by flooding and the new one is falling apart. Appleseed is the most obvious influence and can be seen in every aspect of the book, but Old City Blues is quite original without being so self-involved that it shuts readers out.

Apparently done completely in ink and toner sans pencils, artist Giannis Milonogiannis' major problem is a lack of solids. The toner use is great, but there are literally no solid blacks or negative space, leaving a jumbled mess of lines, dots, and sound effects the reader is forced to wade through. Only the cars are clean and clean-lined, and they are often marred by action lines.

Milonogiannis is best with non-living objects and plants. He needs work in the anatomy department, though his cartooning is great. Every character's personality is evidenced by one or more physical features - just the way it ought to be - however I was left wondering if Giannis can go deeper. He also likes to use hands to relay story, but his hands are not well-rendered. He does overcome this though, as he uses this technique several times and I followed what he was imparting each time.

The fight scenes are sometimes easy to follow, sometimes a mess. Obviously manga-inspired, the clearest ones are action lines and open spaces; the rest are action lines, scrawl, and sound effects.

Speaking of which, Giannis relies far too heavily on sound effects. They are shakily-rendered and often unnecessary. They should be cleaner and clearer, and incorporated into the scene instead of serving in its stead. Not only do they overwhelm, the sound effects sometimes replace the action they are imparting.

The lettering is also an issue. The only way I can describe it is "frenetic." Although I'm one of the most vocal supporters of hand-lettering, Old City Blues would have benefited from straightforward computer text. Even the balloons look shaky and sketchy. All of this is done to affect the mood, tone, and atmosphere Milonogiannis is going for, but it's overwrought.

All that said, Giannis' work is impressive. The story is great and uses no blurbs; Old City Blues is told entirely through art and dialogue (and sound effects), the way a good comic should be. That isn't easy. Milonogiannis' pacing is his best quality. The story flows well, and keeps the reader's attention all the way through. In fact, I read the entire thing in one sitting.

Do not mistake me, I love Milonogiannis' work, it's just too busy, and the subject matter leaves him little room for much else. Giannis needs more solids and negative space, and fewer lines and hatches. I realize what he is going for here, but it needs to be scaled back a bit; you can do "gritty" without scribbling.

As always, Archaia's presentation is rivaled by none. This is one of the few hardcovers I've seen from them without a dustjacket and it doesn't need one. The choice of yellow for the cover sets the tone of the story before you open the book, and the depressioned art is a stroke of pure genius.

Old City Blues is a collection of the webcomic, which can still be found online and actually looks better there. However, the hardbound is an absolute must-have, and I'm proud to have it in my collection. It's prominently displayed on my bookshelf, where it will be read and re-read by myself and others, probably as we play Cyberpunk. I can't wait to see more of Giannis Milonogiannis' work.

Highly recommended!

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Detroit to Get Robocop Statue

Detroit artists, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts raise $50,000 to build a statue of iconic cyberpunk superhero, Robocop. But city officials are not sure if they will allow it to become a public fixture, as it may send the wrong message about Detroit. The group has already commissioned the sculptors. A spokesperson said a nonprofit arts group plans to display the statue if the city refuses.

Jeff Pallendorf sent Detroit city mayor Dave Bing a message through Twitter, asking if the mayor supported the idea of a statue of Robocop. Bing tweeted back that there were no plans for such a project and his remark went viral. A spokesperson for Bing's administration said the city is now looking into how it could display the Robocop statue.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Max Headroom Heads to DVD August 10

The TV show, Max Headroom, starring Matt Frewer (some time Eureka co-star), is finally scheduled for a DVD release this August 10^th (2010). Distributor, Shout! Factory (MST3K), notes the DVD will be loaded with extras, but does not specify what those extras will be.

Though yet to be released, customers can pre-order Max Headroom: The Complete Series (Lenticular Cover) from Amazon at a significant discount, where it is already #9 in Movies & TV - Science-Fiction!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Philip K. Dick's Electric Ant Coming to Marvel

New York, NY- July 25, 2008 -- Electric Ant, Philip K. Dick's seminal science fiction short story, will be adapted by Marvel Comics in the upcoming Electric Ant limited series to be released in 2009, it was announced by Marvel, and Electric Shepherd Productions.

Dick's work, which has revolutionized the world of science fiction, has been adapted into hit films, such as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, and Dick remains one of the genre's most resonant authors.

"We couldn't be happier adapting such a powerful story by Philip K Dick," said Dan Buckley, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. President and Publisher.

The creative team behind this existential thriller includes acclaimed writer David Mack (Daredevil, Kabuki) and artist Pascal Alixe (Ultimate X-Men, 1602: Fantastik Four), joined by Consulting Editor Brian Michael Bendis (award-winning author behind Secret Invasion) and renowned artist Paul Pope, who will provide covers to the series.

"David Mack and Pascal Alixe remain faithful to the work of a man considered by many to be the greatest science fiction writer of all time, while also exploring all the nuances of Electric Ant's fascinating world," said Buckley.

"As the first original adaptation of our father's work into this genre, we are thrilled with the creative team and the support of Marvel in the care they have taken to be true to the integrity of this story," said Laura Leslie, Dick's daughter and a partner with her sister, Isa Dick Hackett, in Electric Shepherd Productions.

One of the most celebrated authors of the last century, Philip K Dick is the winner of the Hugo Award and the John W. Campbell award, both of which honor excellence in science fiction. Inducted into the Library of America in 2007, Dick has received literary recognition unprecedented for a contemporary science fiction writer.

"This is another example of Marvel's commitment to expanding not only the breadth of our products, but in also drawing new readers to the comic medium," explained Marvel Senior Vice President of Sales & Circulation, David Gabriel. "We're proud to be working alongside the Philip K Dick Estate in bringing another best-selling author's work to Marvel for a whole new legion of readers to enjoy. Along with Dark Tower, Anita Blake, and all our Best-Selling Authors titles, Electric Ant is another example of Marvel working to bring popular, mainstream properties to comics for a whole new audience to enjoy."

Electric Shepherd was founded by Leslie and Hackett, who along with their brother, Christopher Dick, own and manage the Philip K Dick Estate. Electric Shepherd is currently working on several other projects based on the works of Philip K. Dick, including the Disney/Pixar animated feature based on King Of The Elves slated for release in 2012, and a Philip K. Dick biopic for HBO Films. Christopher Tricarico handles all business and legal affairs for Electric Shepherd and the Estate.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Cyberpunk Glossary, Champions, Dark Conspiracy

So without access, I am obviously limited as to what I can accomplish, but one thing I have been able to work on is all of the stuff I have been putting-off and running out of time to do lately - such as the Cyberpunk Glossary.

I can't upload it yet (duh!), but I did finish it... more or less. I mean, the actual data is in-place, no I just have to work on the layout and advertising. Depending on when connectivity is restored, I may be able to upload the finished product right away next week; if it is back on before then, I will have plenty of other things to do first. Either way, you can definitely expect it in June.

Also - again, depending on the time issue - I will have at least a suitable mock-up fo the Champions stuff, as well as some opening pages for Dark Conspiracy. I can't say what, exactly, these will consist of, but it's better than nothing, so...

At any rate, there will be new content up in June, I am just not certain what or how much - but the Cyberpunk Glossary is certain.

Since I only have a few minutes left and have been away for several days, I need to do some other stuff. Depending on the weather, I should see you tomorrow. Enjoy the archives!

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Update

Just stopping-by to give you the heads-up on what I'm working on:

You probably noticed a few cosmetic changes here lately. I am still working to get everything the way I want it, so expect minor changes in general. Also, for those of you who are technically-inclined, you'll note the links are now XFN-Friendly. There's no way I can go through the entire blog and make the whole thing XFN-Friendly - not at this point. I still need to go through and remove some of the expired ads and things of that nature, as well as update links and tags. All things in good time.

Today, I am working on the site specifically. I am doing the Cyberpunk Glossary and it is a huge undertaking which will take several days. However, I have made good progress on it so far. I am about to take a brief nap because I have not been sleeping well and I need to take a break before my body gets to hurting because I don't have much to alleviate it once it does.

If I can get an hour or two in, that means I can work on through the evening, which means I may be able to get at least the first few pages published tomorrow. I will send you a link just so you can see what I'm up to later on tonight. It will be a rough mock-up, so most of the links won't work and the elements won't be properly arranged, but it's just so you get the gist of it.

For now, I am going to lie down and rest a bit. Nothing much else is going on, anyway. Beautiful day here - definitely a great day to get outside and enjoy it, if you can !

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Primer Premiering on IFC Tonight!

One of the best sci-fi flicks in the last decade or three premieres tonight on IFC. 

 

Primer is the story of two engineers who get in a little bit over their heads when they create an actual time machine(s). This is one of the movies that I caught, not unlike Hex, one day completely by accident (well, I had been looking forward to seeing Hex, but kept missing it; Primer was a total like, "Nothing else was on" discovery) and just lost my shit over. By far and away, easily, hands-down, the best sci-fi flick since... I don't even know what.

But it's far more than that: Primer is a total cross-genre movie that will flat-out rock your little bean! Albert Einstein would be all like, "Revind that! Vait! There! Right there, stop!" It is a crime-drama, horror, mystery, suspense sci-fi movie that just doesn't stop. It takes a moment or two to really get going, but that's the beauty of it: not only does this kind of "non-"start lull you into an almost dispassionate sense of befuddlement, it manages to engross you in the characters and minutiae of the plot to the extent that you don't really mind that not much is happening. Then it all comes full-circle in a matter of minutes that make you realize how important all that minutiae is to the overall story.

Don't even try to catch everything the first-time around because it just won't happen; relax, enjoy, let it play and wash over you, but I guarantee that after you see it, you'll be all like, "Vait! Revind that!"

Primer is far beyond "brilliance"; this movie is one of the very few films that I openly praise as true genius, and I don't throw that term around lightly.

Primer premieres on IFC at 8:00 PM (CST), followed by New Rose Hotel (based on one of the fathers of the Cyberpunk movement, William Gibson's, short). The replay of both flicks starts at midnight.