The Pseudoplane of Cyberspace

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Persephone Imytholin's picture
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The Pseudoplane of Cyberspace

This is currently work-in-progress, but you already knew that since it's in a forum thread and not going through MyPW. Discussion on any and all aspects appreciated.

The Pseudoplane of Cyberspace

The transitive that leads nowhere, the elemental of information. The plane of Cyberspace is a recent addition to the Great Wheel, and was discovered shortly after the catastrophic 'reboot' of Mechanus. Since then, arguments have erupted over exactly what the plane is. Common theories tend to be that it's a layer of Logos, the Outlands or the Astral, while others contend that it's the theorised Ordial plane. Anyone who knows for certain is keeping it very secret.

Despite leading nowhere, this plane is one of the most heavily travelled, often using 'consciousness streaming' technologies to take a planewalker's mind and soul to places where the body cannot follow.

While the plane may be accessed using other, non-immersive methods, they lack the immediacy, richness and efficiency offered by other technologies. Of course, the risks aren't present either.

Cyberspace Traits

  • Variable Gravity: The virtual representation of gravity may be freely set by networks, subnets, or even individual hosts.
  • Normal Time: As far as the typical user can tell (or needs to know), time flows normally in Cyberspace.
  • Infinite Size: The size of Cyberspace is theoretically infinite, though at any time only a finite amount is addressible. It is currently unknown where this limit lies, or what happens as space becomes limited.
  • Highly Morphic: Virtually anyone with the time and skills can shape an area of cyberspace into a form of their choosing; that said, anyone with the time and skills can reshape other's cyberspace locations, too.
  • Addictive: The depth and richness of experience and information in Cyberspace can be highly addictive. Mechanical+suggestions+invited
  • No Elemental or Energy Traits
  • No Alignment Traits
  • Magic Traits: Owing to the nature of the plane, divination and illusion spells have greatly increased effects. Conversely, spells which rely on physical effects are greatly impeded on this plane except where the spell specifically affects individuals to whom a suitable path has been traced. Be wary of traces - Power Word: Kill is only four characters.
Cyberspace Links

No known portals link to or from Cyberspace, supporting the generally accepted theory that physical existence is impossible within the plane. Conduits seem to form readily wherever significant quantities of information are exchanged electronically; it's currently unknown how, why or exactly where these form, or even how high a level of data transfer is needed. Curiously, even networks completely removed from each other coexist in Cyberspace. It's speculated that some way exists to move between these disjointed networks, though if anyone's discovered it they aren't telling yet.

Cyberspace Inhabitants

Sustained life in cyberspace is practically impossible; virtual food, after all, cannot sustain a physical body. The only true inhabitants of the plane are 'cyberspace constructs'; these creatures come in a number of types, and are discussed elsewhere.

Cyberspace Petitioners
Petitioners of this plane tend to be those who show a marked dedication to computing or related disciplines. These petitioners exist as self-aware artificial intelligences, and tend to appear to others as an idealised self-image, and exhibit odd traits for petitioners - memory retention being the most striking of them, and giving rise to some theories that Cyberspace might be a 'layer' of the Astral.

Cyberspace Features

Cyberspace itself is effectively nothing; not even a blank canvas. It consists of a single layer, upon which various networks are located. Networks themselves can be further divided into subnets, and even individual hosts, though it's rarely necessary to go quite that far.

Each network and subnet can be designed, formatted and presented as its own virtual environment, entirely at the whim of its developers. This level of presentational power is richly exploited for any number of reasons.

Beyond the formatted and controlled areas of cyberspace, odd electrical storms rage. It's uncertain what these are caused by, or even what effect they have on travellers who manage to stray that far.

The Planarnet

Despite the best efforts of some to retain the name 'Internet' for the new Interplanar Network, the name Planarnet stuck. The Planarnet itself is a sprawling collection of smaller, individual networks, linked to each other for any number of reasons. Any Planarnet user with appropriate permissions can access anything linked to it. Detailed operations of this network and locations attached to it are far too much to go into here, though a few sites will be mentioned.

anarchist.fact
This is the cyberspace presence of the Revolutionary League, drawn to its lack of established or enforceable order beyond the standards it's built on. The most commonly used service that the Anarchists provide in cyberspace is an anonymous proxy, used to provide additional protection against some kinds of attack.

revealing-light.fact.ely
One of the largest sources of information on the Planarnet is the openly accessible collection served from the Elysian home of the Revealing Light faction. Its databases contain incredible amounts of data, opinion, observation, theory, and anything else the Shiners have managed to collect from around the Multiverse.

Its design is an immense library, with subnets as wings for major subject areas. Throughout the library there is no gravity, so that reaching texts on higher shelves is as easy as breathing. For those who want help finding things, simple cyberspace constructs are on-hand to provide some search capabilities.

sensate.festhall.sig
The Society of Sensation dedicates this particular network to experience, and faction members can spend months at a time working on detailed virtual reality simulations of things they couldn't possibly experience in the real world. Rumours abound that the Sensates are currently working to duplicate the contents of sensory stones as virtual experiences.

The Festhall network looks and feels exactly like the real Civic Festhall, and provides very similar services. User-created virtual reality environments within the network look, feel and act like sensory stones.

Private Networks

Private networks are a tricky subject to cover, since there's probably quite a large number of them. They'd be far more useful detailed with their locations and/or the organisations that own them anyway, since the only real way to use them is to have physical access.

[/]
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Hm. Addictive, is it? I'd present it as similar to but very different from Entrapping, but, hey, whatever works....

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Entrapping was pretty much the first thing I looked at, but doesn't quite have the right feel.

That said, modified entrapping does add elements of Elysium and the Grey Waste, which multiplies possible theories about where, what and why the plane is.

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OK, so there are these theories about Cyberspace being a 'layer' of the Astral. How would this plane affect someone trying to access it via astral projection, do you think? If, of course, it had any effect at all...

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That's a very interesting question; the observed effect is likely that the spell simply doesn't function, either since Cyberspace isn't an Astral layer or because the astral projection spell is only designed to access the 'default' layer of the Astral, if it does have more than one.

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I absolutely love this concept (Cyberspace pseudoplane). The first thing that came to my mind: an infomental (as in information elemental). Maybe its attacks overload the senses with information. There are a lot of possibilities.

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You could most definitily steal some material from the VRnet web expansion

Urk, I just realized that it is not OGC, but you can still use it for insperation.

Quote:
virtual reality network (VRNet) is, in simple terms, a graphical representation of computer-generated structures placed in various digital locations and configurations. Comparable to the Internet of the 21st century, the VRNet is a nexus for all information accessible via computers. In the VRNet, corporate networks join with public forums, personal domains intersect with top-secret government databases, and users can explore a digital landscape as though moving from place to place in the real world. The difference between a virtual reality network and the Internet of old is that the VRNet immerses its users in a world that seems entirely real rather than simply scrolling text and images across a computer screen. The VRNet functions in three dimensions and is, in essence, another world waiting to be explored.

The VRNet develops toward the end of Progress Level 5 and continues to evolve throughout PL 6 and 7. In many respects, the VRNet exists parallel to the real world, though it is actually just a visual illusion of a three-dimensional space created by an artful combination of data and software. A staple of many science fiction campaigns, the VRNet is the equivalent of the fantasy genre's "alternate dimension" -- a place where heroes can go to continue their adventures beyond the humdrum world in which they exist. Like the modern-day Internet, the VRNet is also a tool for the storage, exchange, and theft of information.

Despite its sophistication, the VRNet is not solely the domain of hackers and network administrators, and high levels of technical savvy are not required to use it. The VRNet is as much an instrument of the masses as it is a mystifying "otherworld" wrapped in billions of lines of computer code. Schoolchildren use the VRNet to take virtual field trips and do research for class projects. Scientists perform complicated and dangerous experiments in the safety of a virtual world in which simulations can predict all possible outcomes. College students meet old friends in computer-generated coffeehouses to chat, even though they are physically separated by thousands (or even millions) of miles.

Any product or activity that can be found or performed on the modern Internet is also available on the VRNet. Research, communication, information warfare, espionage, blackmail, entertainment, and even romance can all be found somewhere in the cyberlanes. However, the VRNet presents a far more interactive experience than the Internet can. The VRNet wraps its users in a complete three-dimensional world that provides a sense of movement and even tactile sensations when used in conjunction with the proper equipment. The VRNet can also be more dangerous to the user's mental stability than the Internet, since long-term immersion in a virtual world can fool the mind and body into thinking it is real. This problem is compounded by the fact that avatars (the virtual online representations of individual users) are not merely vessels for movement and interaction -- they can also be used to attack other avatars and inflict harm upon other VRNet users.

[url][/url]

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I wrote up a Data Elemental for a futuristic campaign I was running one time. I think I threw it away though.

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The VRNet expansion is kinda nice, but not exactly what I had in mind. The avatars bit looks promising, though; I was thinking of something like that, but different in a few key ways.

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"Fenor Aurien" wrote:
I wrote up a Data Elemental for a futuristic campaign I was running one time. I think I threw it away though.
I wouldn't mind seeing that.

I had a similar idea for creating variations of an "information elemental" whereby pieces of data may have become corrupted or gone missing from the information composing the elemental, leading to unique types of the base elemental.

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"Fell" wrote:
I had a similar idea for creating variations of an "information elemental" whereby pieces of data may have become corrupted or gone missing from the information composing the elemental, leading to unique types of the base elemental.

Now I've got this mental image of very simple data elementals being created by rogue processes or objects missed by garbage collectors (or cyberspace constructs that become sentient. Hmmm...). Maybe they gather around, or grow from the influence of, memory leaks.

I've got no idea just what a data elemental would do, though.

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"Persephone Imytholin" wrote:
I've got no idea just what a data elemental would do, though.

What do any elementals do? Mostly they just are. Doing is for Outer Planars.

Mostly they just hang out on their home plane, endlessly recatagorizing the stuff from which they formed.

They might also hang out in stone tablets, books, film, CDs, .mp3 players, web servers, WWII-era encryption machines, human minds... anywhere where data can be found. They might be assigned to protect the data from being corrupted.

There might conceivably be Data Archomentals who muster armies of data elementals devoted to good or evil against one another.

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Cyberspace constructs. Hmmm.....since they are, well, Constructs, they could probably be made sentient by the spell Awaken Construct. If you need a reference, its a level 9 sorcerer/wizard spell in the Savage Species book.

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"Aquarius Alodar" wrote:
Cyberspace constructs. Hmmm.....since they are, well, Constructs, they could probably be made sentient by the spell Awaken Construct.

That too; still, don't constructs still have a chance of gaining sentience all on their own?

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The warforged did, mostly from the byproduct of the magic used in their creation. It was unexpected.

Still, we are talking about "data" elementals/constructs here. Perhaps a "type" of sentience could be derived from the self-awareness that comes with the manipulation or processing of the data that composes their forms... Much like when humans first become self-aware from the knowledge of seeing themselves in a mirror image for the first time. The first notions of "self" become a reality for the child.

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Taking bits from the above, and clarifying the original post:

Cyberspace constructs are intended to work roughly the way standard D&D constructs do (e-golems, if you will), and I imagine they'd need to be built in roughly the same way - ie, with magic involved.

They'd effectively end up as software that's moderately aware of its surroundings and can move about (within set limits) - kinda like Shadowrun ICE, but able to do other things. You might have authentication constructs that drift around and spot-check users, search constructs to look around for various things, or sorting constructs that go about and keep data in order - all without needing supervision. Most constructs don't know how to defend themselves; most will continue to do their job, some will run away, while a few specialist constructs will fight back - with potentially lethal results, should truly dangerous ones be encountered.

Of course, there's a chance a construct could go rogue. Such is the risk of tweaking your software with magic so that it can do its own thing. For such a construct, a few things might happen. Possible effects include:

  • Forgetting how to do job properly; may put sorted data out of order, or report valid users as intrusions
  • Moving elsewhere, and doing its job there
  • Taking up a completely different task
  • Recoding itself as a data elemental
  • Acting entirely normally, until Something Unusual happens
Data elementals themselves will take a little more thought (and further comment is invited)

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"Persephone Imytholin" wrote:
[*]Recoding itself as a data elemental
I would suggest that this is something only a few of the strongest (in terms of data fragmentation) data constructs or data elementals could perform.

Most constructs or elementals would likely only pursue their "core" directive as set down and defined by their "parameters". To effect a total recoding would indicate the need for a certain level of mastering core processes, or even having access to the facilities which "birthed" the constructs or elementals to begin with.

It is not something that they can do on their own. Perhaps merging with lesser data-types enables these constructs to add portions from these lesser types into its core program creating new variables and and granting new abilities.

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Hence magic words like "might" and "possible", in much the same way as a monodrone might be Primus one day. The leap to being an elemental should rightly be a veery long one, and not at all easy.

Assimilating elements of (or whole) other constructs over time sounds interesting, though. The idea of a data elemental being composed of a number of rogue constructs that it's acquired is rather appealing to me, and gives an immense scope for variation - an elemental with a taste for sorter constructs is going to be far 'nicer' than an elemental which has picked up a couple of killer constructs.

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"Persephone Imytholin" wrote:
Assimilating elements of (or whole) other constructs over time sounds interesting, though. The idea of a data elemental being composed of a number of rogue constructs that it's acquired is rather appealing to me, and gives an immense scope for variation - an elemental with a taste for sorter constructs is going to be far 'nicer' than an elemental which has picked up a couple of killer constructs.
I'll admit that my thinking on that was a little influenced by the usage of droid protocols in KoTOR 2... whereby a droid can have its directives altered simply by the application of new data or a complete program outlining certain variables.

In this case though, there may be some elementals who are purposefully raiding the outer reaches of the pseudo-plane... looking for random pieces of code that they can incorporate into their forms to fulfil some grand ideal of "completeness" and perhaps be rewarded with a "promotion" that allows them to facilitate a crucial process in cyberspace.

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"Fell" wrote:
I'll admit that my thinking on that was a little influenced by the usage of droid protocols in KoTOR 2... whereby a droid can have its directives altered simply by the application of new data or a complete program outlining certain variables.

Sounds intriguing, but alas, I have no KotOR2.

On a different note, anyone have things they'd like to add or comment on for the pseudoplane itself?

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Since this is a transitive plane of sorts, should we outline some of the connections it has to other planes, aka parts of the plane "tainted" by hell networks, (The links "near" Stygia could be where Pop-up ads constructs are created) or other parts of the planes.

Also It would be interesting if insidethe cyber plane you could jump to unconnected networks by using cyber portals, by performing some action at a specific location you could acces other networks, i could just see some prime tlaking to a planar hacker.

"How the hell did you enter Modron.mec/45237/874/quadrone.html ???"
"Just hover your cursor right there, and open a new window."
"Ok seriously, how did you do it?"

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"Forged" wrote:
Since this is a transitive plane of sorts, should we outline some of the connections it has to other planes, aka parts of the plane "tainted" by hell networks, (The links "near" Stygia could be where Pop-up ads constructs are created) or other parts of the planes.

It doesn't really have connections to other planes in the traditional sense (apart from the talebleed from Kaelyn's land of stories, which I've yet to figure out an explanation for). There's been no way found to directly enter cyberspace, and there's good reason to believe that physical existence is near enough to impossible there.

Quote:
Also It would be interesting if insidethe cyber plane you could jump to unconnected networks by using cyber portals, by performing some action at a specific location you could acces other networks, i could just see some prime tlaking to a planar hacker.

I'm sure there's a way. Someone's probably found it, too - but no-one's telling just yet. More than a few Shiners would love to get their hands on how it's done.

Not to mention, I like the idea of other systems still using the cyberplane, but users needing physical access to do things with it. A way of getting between otherwise disconnected networks sounds like an interesting thread for a cyberspace module later on, though. *muses*

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I know this may sound rediculous, but have any of you played any of the Megaman Battle Network games (also known as Megaman.EXE)?

Most of those games take place in a cyberspace environment. The darker areas are known as the Undernet, there are crazy restricted areas and a few other things that could be drawn upon.

Alot of the stuff involved wouldn't be very D&Dish, but there are aspects that are pretty neat.

Again, I know that sounds ridiculous . . .

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I know it doesn't have the standard connections, what I meant is certain domains would be affected my the plane their information is from, this would be more like a minor quirk, say a Elysian based forum may actualy give a penalty on social roles of evil characters who posted there.

As for the Megaman thing, it's a interesting way to look at it. Another good insperation for this plane would be the book Digital Dead, I forgot the author, I will post later once I find the book again, then I can explain it better.

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"LegatoX" wrote:
Most of those games take place in a cyberspace environment. The darker areas are known as the Undernet, there are crazy restricted areas and a few other things that could be drawn upon.
That is actually quite interesting.

Certainly, the data constructs would be used to guard against deliberate intrusion or accidental entry into such restricted areas. We'd probably even see constructs designed purely for the exploration of these "darker" regions of the plane. The unknown regions could be areas of the cyberplane which haven't been formed by the underlying code. It is composed entirely of random variables and broken code strings, merging infrequently and creating all manner of bizarre possibilities.

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The way things tend to go in these games is somethign like this:

You have the more open areas, that aren't very dangerous at all (random weak viruses run around here), pathways to get from gathering place to gathering place (and in each of these places there are your standard "town" type things). There are also internet message boards that actually boards that you just walk up to and post on (like "non electronic boards . . .", so you can walk up to them and see all the messages). Cyber vendors are in these areas as well. These areas have almost no danger whatsoever (you could explain that with security stuff).

Undernet is where the really dangerous viruses tend to be located, and über hackers hang out because they know how to get around some of the dangers (or create them). Only a really skilled Navi (that's the name of the program you have running which appears like a creature/person/robot of some sort, the main character of the game's Navi is Megaman), can survive in such areas because of the dangers they present. For being a somewhat cartoony game series, the Undernet always has this really dark feel to it. Not many people even know that the Undernet even exists though. Standard people who just "hop on the net" dont' really do much exploring, and gateways to the Undernet are usually hidden pretty well, or behind security locks that the government or some other agency has put down. So Undernet would be where the higher level characters venture, low level people would have next to no chance there (it'd be like a level 7 character running around on Nessus . . .). I've went there when I was weak in the games, but it tends to be a shortcut to get to somewhere (find portal to undernet, run fast, then run to portal back to the normal net which is your destination). Weaker people could be there, but they wouldnt' be sticking around very long, just trying to use different areas as really risky, but quick shortcuts.

If you wanted to adapt these sorts of things to this Cyberspace Plane, I think it might be cool to have the Undernet (or the area like this) as a "second layer of the plane", even though you can really get there just by walking from the main areas in the game by using different paths, it really has this feel of being it's own entity.

Transition from one layer to the other can be done simply by finding the right paths to take, or by portals.

Also, In the game series there is a Navi that runs around on the net (primarily the Undernet) that has no owner/controller at all (I think he sprang to life spontaneously, it's been a little while since I played one of the games). A being that isnt' a virus, that just "exists". He's stupidly powerful. He's exactly how I see one of these ultra powerful sentient programs you all have been discussing.

These programs spring to life by random data/code and develop their own personalities and cyber-lifestyles. I'd see them like Hordlings in the sense that no two should ever appear to be the same (although not like hordlings in the sense of being totally crazy and being low on intelligence . . .). A Cyber-elemental (I think that's a better term than data-elemental personally), could be formed by random data and programs involving military data, and might end up being disciplined and orderly with efficiency at the top of it's goals (LN). A Cyber-elemental formed of data on torture could be pretty damn evil. Perhaps governments could just create these beings with the right technology.

These games take place in a fairly advanced society where lots of stuff is networked. I've had to jump onto the net by finding a jack in a doghouse and in a dishwasher before. In the real world we are getting to this point pretty quick anyway (ever heard about the networked toaster that puts the weather forecast on your toast while it cooks? look it up on google . . .).

People's webpages are actually places you walk around in. "Links" can be seen as portals that bypass the need to "walk" to where you want to go. Two visitors to one webpage actually see each other and could talk to each other since they are both there.

Just throwing out some random stuff here.

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"LegatoX" wrote:
A Cyber-elemental (I think that's a better term than data-elemental personally)
That may be true, but the name of an elemental usually reflects the material it is made from. What exactly is a "cyber"?

Whereas data elementals are made from... data Eye-wink.

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A cyber-elemental would be a data elemental with a webcam for an eye and a penchant for erotic text messenges.

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And would likely express itself through the use of emoticons...

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The cyber elemental gasped. "That's the biggest I/O library I've ever seen :shock:", it purred.

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That should be a Modern quote hahaha!

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I'm rather considering wrapping this all up neatly and sending it through the articles system. Anything else people would like to see before it goes there?

(Note that the constructs and elementals will probably wind up as Another Article)

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I did expand on a few of the ideas previously mentioned in this thread, but rather than create a chaotic mass of quotes and postings here, I think I will just create an entirely new thread for the purpose of exploring a new interpretation of data elementals.

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That's probably a good idea; I don't think the writeup for a plane is the right place for creature information, anyway.

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Interesting....

Hey all, new to this site. I actually wandered out here looking for info I needed to create a NWN Toolset based Planescape world. Instead I find myself spending hours pawing through the stuff you guys have come up with. AMAZING!!!

As to your cyberspace demi-plane, Consider the following aspects of a "virtual" demiplane. Virtual or projected (however you choose to see them) bodies of players in this world could be subject to mental damage of thier PC bodies. The cyber body is essentially a mental projection, something along the lines of psonics perhaps. One's virtual "hit points" could be an extension of their Intelligence or Wisdom scores (perhaps both). Death could result in "ejection" from the plane, with severe effects (mental trauma, INT score damage) from the worst "cyber-attacks". Abilities scores are turned on thier heads, with Str & Con scores essentially becoming useless. But scores such as Int, Wis, Cha, & Dex becoming the basis of the players interactions in the cyberworld. Consider the dexterous fingers (or lack thereof) of a PC affecting the speeds at which they might be able to interact.

As far as your addictive aspects: Perhaps the longer one spends in the cyberplane the less likely they are to "want" to leave. The effect could be a slowly creeping madness that drains any desire to detach from the cyberplane the more one intereacts with it. This could elist a draining or wasting effect (Con, Wis, Int, Cha point loss) on the PCs real world body as it suffers from constant immersion in the cyberplane.

Viruses enacting numerous effects upon the PCs, Spam attacks which damage the mind...

Also consider the para-cyberplanes of Porn , Spam, Everquest(crack), and the like.

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Wherever it is, it should connect to the Abyss.

If you want reasons why, I'll be more than willing to provide links. :shock:

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It would be cool if VRnet objects looked like textureless grids. Real people might look a bit silly in such a place, but summoned data elementals would look cool Smiling

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I'd be interested in seeing a bunch of Demi/pocketplanes floating in this Pseudo-plane - perhaps somehow tied with the "belief" concept of the Outer Planes:

All the fandoms on the Net with users pouring belief into fictional relationships, writing fan fiction, devotion to "canon" etc. Certainly would see a lot of minor deities and characters....the result of user-interpretation of canon.

Something to think about.

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The... fanfic layer of the Cyberplane? *blink* *grins widely* I could go with that. Eye-wink

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A Flood of Ideas

I believe that it would be interesting if the cyberplane had three distinct "centers" ala the layers found in the Outer Planes. Each center-Overnet, Underspace, and Datafringe-has a different feel to it, and each has different servers and "interplanar network providers". Also, I'll throw around ideas of five cybercreatures, including datacrashers and cyberguardians. You don't have to like it, of course, but don't insult me or anything if you don't.

Overnet-The astral plane of cyberspace, this is a digital bridge of many links, both to well-known areas such as pelor/deities.otr or ash.quas.el.inr, and to less savory centers. Informoids and datamentals are common here. Major providers include (but are by no means limited to) Xaosbeast, Arrowhawk, Myriad, and Orrery.

Underspace-Deep, dark, and violent, Underspace is an area that serves its role as the criminal underbelly of Cyberspace. Informoids without design flaws that make them more powerful or less sane are nonexistant, save the occasional curious (and foolish) stray program. Datamentals are a rarity, though info-inquisitors and crusading cyberguardians are seen frequently, and cybercrashers, evil ones especially, are ubiquitous. This center has the minor chaos-dominant, minor evil dominant trait.

Datafringe-Misprocessed data and malfunctioned experiments drift aimlessly through cyberspace. Though their movement is slow, they reach the remote center of Datafringe, a place where virtual aberrations race in a mind-snapping fasion. The realm of Datafringe is devoid of life other then the off cybercrasher, and even these creatures may eventually succumb to insanity. This center has the major chaos-dominant and maddening traits.

Cybercreatures:

Datamental
CR 5
N Medium Construct (Extraplanar, Lawful)

A digital creature that serves as a mechanic and custodian for cyberspace. It considers efficiency the highest virtue.
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Informoid
CR 3
N Small Construct (Extraplanar, Living)

A digital creature that serves as the eyes and ears of cyberspace. It thirsts for knowledge but does not drink greedily.
---------------------------------------------------------
Cyberguardian
CR 6
LG Large Construct (Extraplanar, Lawful, Good, Living)

A digital creature that guards the ramparts of Cyberspace against threats. It crusades against encroaching evils and braces itself against all dangers.
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Info-Inquisitor
CR 7
NE Medium Construct (Living, Extraplanar, Evil)

A strong, corrupt informoid that ever thirsts for knowledge and power. It considers no method too foul.
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Datacrasher
CR 7
CG, CN, or CE Large Aberration (Extraplanar, Chaotic, Incorporeal)

A strange, unpredictable beast of coalesced programming glitches. Its habits are shifting and its life cycle unknown.
---------------------------------------------------
Possible Methods of Access:

.The microcosm power might have a creature's mind project into cyberspace.
.There might be remote gates in Dream, the Astral, or the Ethereal.
.New spells and/or powers might be created that allow travel.
.Erm.. goodbye?

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The Pseudoplane of Cyberspace

"Almighty Watashi" wrote:
It would be cool if VRnet objects looked like textureless grids. Real people might look a bit silly in such a place, but summoned data elementals would look cool Smiling

How about holograms? I got the image that you can send your soul in viá Neuromancer-like technology, or then just watch the events of the Cyberspace through your computer. A bit like modern day scrying, I'd suppose.
So those hotshots who had the money to get themselves such soul-transmitters would be like 3D images of themselves, or perhaps even their souls - not always the same thing.
The "scryers" would be then just ethereal holograms, which would set the two types of visitors apart.

But the world itself should be old-school 3D with lots of pointy edges. Like in Tron!

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Or we could use the VRnet rules here, and use the "everything can be hacked" rules from d20 Cyberscape.

I could go and whip up rules for the various "cybercreatures". Just use robots, and whip up stats off of them.

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How will Cyberspace combat work? I've never read the Cyberspace supplement, but I'm almost tempted to write my own rules.

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You don't need to. The original rules are strange but simple enough Laughing out loud

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20modern/we/20040914a

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The cybercreatures sound good. I'd keep them!

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'nick012000' wrote:
Wherever it is, it should connect to the Abyss.

The way it was written, it's supposed to be possible for it to connect to everywhere by means unknown, despite not being able to use it to physically go somewhere. For the most part, I wanted to keep the pseudoplane working with the inherent mystery of the other planes. What is it? Where's it from? I, for one, don't know - and no-one ever needs to, because the theories are an endless source of plotbunnies.

In short, mysterious planes are the best things ever.

'bkdelong' wrote:
I'd be interested in seeing a bunch of Demi/pocketplanes floating in this Pseudo-plane - perhaps somehow tied with the "belief" concept of the Outer Planes

That's essentially what the networks and subnets are for - but the idea of a self-updating network spinning itself out of pure belief is damned cool.

'zaikoth' wrote:
You don't have to like it, of course, but don't insult me or anything if you don't.

I argue ideas, not people. Smiling Speaking of which...

'zaikoth' wrote:
I believe that it would be interesting if the cyberplane had three distinct "centers" ala the layers found in the Outer Planes. Each center-Overnet, Underspace, and Datafringe-has a different feel to it, and each has different servers and "interplanar network providers".

It's an idea that I like. I'm drawn to the idea that like networks will link more tightly to each other, and be bound together into regions much like you describe. And there's no reason that others couldn't form. Again, plot ideas. And the 'creatures' looked pretty good, too.

Also,

'zaikoth' wrote:
New spells and/or powers might be created that allow travel

There's two reasons why I wanted to write it in as being impossible. The first was niche protection for Sigil as a hub of physical planar travel. The second is it makes it so much more interesting (and thus plotworthy) when someone actually does find a way to travel through the Pseudoplane.

'unski' wrote:
How about holograms? I got the image that you can send your soul in viá Neuromancer-like technology, or then just watch the events of the Cyberspace through your computer. A bit like modern day scrying, I'd suppose. So those hotshots who had the money to get themselves such soul-transmitters would be like 3D images of themselves, or perhaps even their souls - not always the same thing. The "scryers" would be then just ethereal holograms, which would set the two types of visitors apart.

The Neuromancer/Shadowrun style of hacking was the image I was after, so that's pretty much exactly what I meant. I'd let the more immersive users just decide how they look, possibly allowing them to try to disguise that form if they needed to - like using the Disguise skill outside the cyberplane.

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Personally I like the idea of an MCP-type being who tries to gain dominace. Maybe even take an idea from KH II and have it try to invade the real world. Of course a security program would be around to help the PCs. I also think that viruses should be monsters. Also having a .Hack-like MMORPG might be cool, though you'd have to fudge the technology level to fit it in (It having virtual-reality helmets and all).

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Hey! I think I found how could a data creature function...
Since information is what they´re made of, they should have randomlike abilities... dealing a specific kind of damage, until a specific trigger... for example, worm virii/recording programs dealing bludgeoning damage (due to massivity issues), boot record virii/boot records having a large critical multiplier (due to the paramount importance of their existence), antivirus using maneuvers like feint and disarm (since they incorporate all kinds of weirds to counter the ever-growing amount of malicious codes), evolving virii being able to deal more damage with each attack, a la incarnum golem...

As for Cyberspace being addictive. Entrapping´s right out of the question, it´s addictive, not entrapping. Well, see the addiction rules in BoVD.

Honestly, I´d enjoy collaborating with this so much. If you will, I can think about some abilities for the infomentals and data guardians for monday... but since I´ll be out too soon to wait for a reply, I´ll do it anyway and then ask you if you want it.

Sorry if I´m a bit rude, I´m hasty...

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'Lundi' wrote:
Honestly, I´d enjoy collaborating with this so much. If you will, I can think about some abilities for the infomentals and data guardians for monday... but since I´ll be out too soon to wait for a reply, I´ll do it anyway and then ask you if you want it.

Sorry if I´m a bit rude, I´m hasty...

No, no need to be sorry. If I could, right this moment I'd hug you then cuff you to a keyboard.

And then melt the keys, or something.

Creatures are one of the biggest things that the Pseudoplane's missing, and I rather like your interpretation of them. So, have a shot at them, and post them in a new thread; it'll probably give them a bit more exposure than they'd get on the end of this one.

And on addiction: how does BoVD addiction work? Because that solves another of my woes for this one.

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'Persephone Imytholin' wrote:
No, no need to be sorry. If I could, right this moment I'd hug you then cuff you to a keyboard.
So many times I´ve felt I deserved that for all the promises I´ve made.

'Persephone Imytholin' wrote:
And then melt the keys, or something.
Eh?

'Persephone Imytholin' wrote:
Creatures are one of the biggest things that the Pseudoplane's missing, and I rather like your interpretation of them. So, have a shot at them, and post them in a new thread; it'll probably give them a bit more exposure than they'd get on the end of this one.
I´ll do my best. I also have Races of Destiny; the Illumians (humans with floating words around their head, no relation to the Dabus) will be a big help.

'Persephone Imytholin' wrote:
And on addiction: how does BoVD addiction work? Because that solves another of my woes for this one.
Ah, it´s a Fort DC to see if you get addicted... we´ll make it Will. Then ability damage for every dose you take, and then, there´s the damage for every time you don´t take a dose. Bad if you drink, bad if you don´t, either.

Thanks for making me feel worth your time.

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I'll take all the life we can get back into this project. Doubly so for life with ideas. Laughing out loud

And, thanks. I'm not entirely sure I like that as an addiction mechanic, but it'd be a good start.

Actually, wait- it's giving me an idea to use something like radiation poisoning in reverse: time without exposure determines the effects, and the severity of a character's addiction could determine the severity of the effects.

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