Suriel

I have both of them. The drawing, well, they can compete with some of the better Batmans. The story is awfully lame and unimaginative, though.

Two "super-cops" cybered up like hell, of course, fight it out against the faceless evils of the streets...

The main characters are too stereotypical. I wouldn't advise to buy those.

I know... I also worked for FORSA and EMNID before...

"He was our last hope to get into Padme's pants!"

"No! Another there is!"

You can already see banner development here on our forum.

To be true, all the layouts will be redone, too. The first new layouts are already online, but tested for effect by the players...

WHAT? You didn't want to get into Padme's pants?

I'm into the Gibson style myself, too. I like to cross-over with Raymond Chandler's dark and depressive mood. But, well, there's a lot of them out there think that you must be a walking tank to play Cyberpunk (while truly you must RIDE a walking tank to play BattleTech... And wasn't there a guy named Robocop?).

I usually try to give our online players a bit of what they want, but they always pay their price...   I think a bit of cyberware/bioware can be cool, if players also USE it smart, make it part of their descriptions, show how it changes their perceptions...

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Welcome to the hell of callcenter jobs!

As it is, I need a second job atm, too, and guess what's the only one that answered?

Right, Lufthansa international Callcenter...  

At least it's only for about two months.

Hm... Now I should use my tremendous force skills to get my shopping from the store before it closes.

If anyone sees two flying pizzas, some cans of beer, two bottles of water and a red wine...

I would send Darth a six-pack of german beer, but I can't even send this to US legally, so...

How about some marmelade? Short stories? We once had a nice exchange running, I'd like to contribute...

Anything that could spice up army rations? But they don't live on army rations there, I guess.

You can get rid of those extra credits right smartly if you wanna phone me... hehehe...

An example for that would be Spenser, the main character of Robert B. Parker's novels. He retains contacts after he quit the police, of course, but in game terms his own skills would reflect the powerful character he is. Hawk would be a Solo, probably.

Let's state that another way for it doesn't reflect at all what I meant. Callahan is heading a special unit, if he calls in a SWAT team, he will get it instantly. If it later turns out that he called in a SWAT team to arrest a shoplifter, he will be reprimanded. Though, usually, in his line of duty people will believe him that a SWAT team is necessary. Also, if his own life would be in danger, the response would be more drastic.

If Officer Noro would report a situation like a barricaded suspect with hostages, he would get a SWAT team, too.

In my own view of the world, Human Perception, Psychology and Fast Talk are very much different skills and should also be covered by very different approaches by the players.

Human perception is the ability to sense mood changes or detect lies, but to me it's also more of an instinct or a talent you develope.

"I had known Ashton for years and though he tried to act relaxed, I knew that something was very wrong. Perhaps it was his eyes that betrayed him, darting around the room. Perhaps he was too jovial. Whatever it was, I knew then that I was doomed. I'd never make it out of this pub alive. At last all my lies had caught up with me and the syndicate would ask for retribution."

Psychology is based on certain theories, better suited to tell you that a person is derivating from the socially accepted standard and in what way. (Take the Minnesota test, as a bad example...) It works with models and patterns of behavior, not instinct or intuition. Cognitive Psychology has certain theories established that can also help you to detect lies, read body language. Like the well know question: "What did you eat for breakfast yesterday?" or "What's your favorite color?" (People who try to answer truthfully, watch their eyes, they move to the upper left, if they don't think about controlling them... Looking at the mental pic...)

"Yes, he had tendencies towards the manic-depressive. Actually he would have been a textbook example. Professor Lastaire surely never would have asked us to interview a speciman like this one. I watched his shoulders and neck for any kind of reflexive tension, when I told him about the death of his daughter... And while I did, I asked myself, could he still reflect on right and wrong after all the rightful wrong he did in the name of the government?"

Fast Talk is quite another thing still... The art of lying and making "The System" work for you... And in some cases just pleading convincingly. Taking some real life examples here...

"Ah, yes, I know the shop is closed, but, really, I only want two beers, won't hold you a minute. Will you let me in, please?"

"Ah, good day. My name is Lehmann, I'm working for the court in Hannover. We have a case here that seems to have come to the attention of the regional court, too. Could you pass me the office number of judge Stranger, please?"

Human Perception, Diagnostics or Medical tech:

Diagnostics and Medical Tech would probably tell me that there is no physical cause for someone feeling ill. After a physical examination...

Human Perception would perhaps allow me to note that there are different reasons for him feeling unwell, if I know the person.

Psychology could show me the tell-tale signs of a hypochondriac. After some talking.

It's always the way a character approaches a problem... Not just a skill roll.

Authority, though: I guess we can agree on the point that authority doesn't make tough people quake in fear. I guess we can also agree on the point that some of the special skills really are superfluous. I could live without any of them. If you take a look at our FAQ you will see that we use modified roles and modified rules for many of the special skills...

Corporates use the resources of their corporation. Why shouldn't cops use the power government gave them?

Both could be tough guys, the corporate as well as the cop, or even scientists. I would decide on a case to case basis what backup they actually get.

For example, a government agent from the Centre of Disease Control would have authority, too, I guess. He wouldn't know much about "real" copwork, of course. But he would have access to certain resources and could take measures through power of his office.

Also, many GMs tend to forget that "Resources" doesn't always mean combat troops (too which my corporates would have very limited access...) or fighting. It's Cyberpunk, not a Tabletop game. What's more important than physical resources is the ability to get information.

The Solo is always just THE example about how powerful special skills can be and most people who apply at our game want to play one. But what's a Solo, powerful individual he might be, compared to a full-fledged police assault to "arrest the murderer"? If a GM is careful and doesn't play slaughterhouse scenarios all the time, skills are fairly balanced.

They called him a hitman, a cleaner or an assassin. Ashton knew he provided a certain service. And he could tell he wouldn't be able comply with the wishes of his contractor today. His information resources had been wrong, Professor Lastaire wouldn't be here. The trash hadn't been emptied for weeks. The mail box was stuffed. This just wasn't much like his target... (Awareness/Notice?)

After that rant, I must admit I use skills on a fairly intuitive and free basis myself, though. I wouldn't stick to certain rules.

It's a game and if there's a situation that "...reminded Officer Noro of the Lastaire case, just a few month back. Same modus operandi..." I would possibly roll on authority, even...

And, as you said, whatever works is right and I think your approach is as right as mine or any. The main rule is: All should have fun.

One question though, out of curiosity and since it happened in a game I'm taking part in: What happens to a cop who gets fired? Or what about an ex-cop private eye?

/me enjoys this...

I think much of you say here is true, but covered by other skills.

It's not just Authority that makes a good cop/official a good cop/official. It's all his skills that make him good at a certain job and making authority a catch-all skill would be fairly unrealistic. (Seen too many DUMB cops... And good ones stuck at inferior jobs.)

I don't use authority the way it's described in the official rules at all. In our online campaign it's how much power you are authorized to use, how much leverage you got. (For example: Captain Callahan has no problem calling in one or two SWAT teams, without any problem... Officer Noro could call in a few fellows as backup, perhaps.)

Also, unlike other skills, it's possible to have it LOWERED.

(Captain Callahan calls in a SWAT team to arrest a shoplifter... Snipers kill a )

Actually, I have been thinking about allowing other special skills for cops and using Authority just as representation of rank.

Like: SWAT officer: Combat Sense, Narc officer: Street Deal, etc...

I'm paranoid. But the possible answers are lacking.

Happy Birthday, Kountzer0.

Though I don't really mind missing the birthday of someone calling himself "Japanische Fischvotze" which translates as "Japanese #### smelling like fish"...

My most favorite comic character out of the comic books I'll probably ALWAYs like most: Morpheus out of the Sandman Comics by Neil Gaiman...

Yeah, that's my avatar on this board...

Since my own live journal is boring I'll just post this here:

Genre In Which Your Life Story Would Fall i.e., Horror, Romance, Action-Adventure, etc:

Hm... Jump and Run...

Actor That Would Play You:

I'd wish I could say Edward Norton, but more than likely the only one who COULD have played me in certain moments would have been Stan Laurel...

Actor(s) That Would Play Your Lifelong Sidekicks:

Hm... The dog from Scott and Huge as my dog "Julchen" after it went through some gender altering surgery... Ingrid Bergman in her young years as my girl friend... And then that chinese girl from "Tiger and Dragon" and "Hero" and... hm... Let's say a smart version of Winona Ryder as two of the girls haunting me. The third one is an actress herself...

Corny Trailer Voice-Over Opener:

Me waking up on 1st January, blabbering...

And now for the soundtrack...

Songs Playing While You Sweetly Fall In Love:

"Love will save you..." by the Swans

Songs During Your Boisterous Party Scenes:

"Where is my mind?" by the Pixies

Song Playing During Your Romantic Happy Ending:

"The spy in the cab" by Bauhaus

Song To Pine By:

'Where The Wild Roses Grow' by Nick Cave & Kylie (rulez! agreed.)

Song Playing During Your Racy Sex Scene:

"Raverbashing" by Atari Teenage Riot? Or "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak, depends on mood and general fitness...

Tragic Break Up Song:

Oh... Requires dissonance, so I'd say it's that japanese folk songs/pop CD my friends bought me as a birthday gift.

Wacky Hijinks Sequence Song:

Don't know...

Your Traveling Into The Sunset Song:

Don't know...

Death Of A Significant But Terminally Ill Secondary Character Sequence:

"Always look on the bright side of life" by Monty Python

Your Discovery of a Great Life Truth Moment Song:

Mondscheinsonate, by Mozart

Your Life Story's Rolling Credits Song:

None. I'll sing that part myself!

(All data supplied only for 08/19/2003

Good design! I like it! Also, the content I saw so far is better than the usual archive. Keep up the good work!

A player joined Chromechilds after doing a google search on the Yakuza for background info. He thought it was just an info page on the "japanese Mafia". He realized just where he had stranded when he hit the BACK TO MAIN link...

And of course I get orders for the virtual products I offer on my demo pages all the time... But these are answered by auto-responder now.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!

Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level | Score

Purgatory | Very Low

Level 1 - Limbo | Very Low

Level 2 | Very High

Level 3 | Moderate

Level 4 | Moderate

Level 5 | Very High

Level 6 - The City of Dis | High

Level 7 | Moderate

Level 8- the Malebolge | High

Level 9 - Cocytus | High

Oddly, this goes extraordinarily well with my chosen nickname...

Power demand is too high, the US power plants and electricity network is old and this incident has spawned a THOUSAND story ideas in my mind.

Don't worry though, we have localized blackouts here too, lately. The first blackout I ever saw (blacking out a whole street) happened just a week ago. Must be this really cruel summer...

Yes. You don't need to put the whole site offline. If you think it's confusing to keep track of old/new pages, copy the whole site to your local computer and test it there, just as Thumper said.

Upload it all in one single big upload once everything is in working order.

Well, I'm working on a new layout for Chromechilds, too... Can't wait to get it online. *chews nails*

When I made those pages first time I thought CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) would be a waste of time... Now I see it's actually the other way around, but then I made it for about seven people only, back then.

Since your site is an archive and thus constantly expanding, I'd advise you to put some time into stylesheets... Saves you a lot of time next time you redesign, cause almost all cosmetic changes can be simply changed by changing the style-sheet file... On all pages at once.

Lately I met a whole bunch of self-styled crypto experts in the chats I visit. So let's give it a try:

This is the first of three challenges. This one anyone can solve, with a bit of research. The text is written in english. The code includes an email addy. You have to send the complete decyphered text to it, then I'll send you the second challenge. Note: You will not have to break into any servers, etc, and the only thing I can offer in return is the fame you'll earn on the boards...

BNYFY HPCHT ESTWO TCSRW HZTVW CZERK XDJKX PCNNR VUVCV QFTQC FIEIZ JOVPL DVWUS CBENP DOMON BQTVI BUUGP XZZAU ZAWMU PFEJT VKLQR GKQUO AUPFG GXNZU UEYVE XUNSI OF

Good luck!

Think if someone lived life to his/her fullest and got old or if someone suffered for a long time before death, it's easier to cope with it.

Sadly, in the last five to seven years all that died around me were about my age.

And I'm sorry about your grandmother, too.