Immersion, InLink, and the World Within


     The internet, by the mid twentyfirst century, had become the spine of all media, all information, all entertainment, all commerce, all civilization. Nothing in society existed apart from it, nothing was unaffected, all things were intimately intertwined with all other things in the world

     Right now, you sit, reading off a phosphor screen, capable of spinning out, almost randomly, and interacting with scripts and text from a hundred million other people. You can see weathermaps updated hourly, you can read news constantly, see people move, hear people talk, shop, immerse yourself immediately in the affairs of the world.
     Of course, eventually you turn away, focus on day to day affairs, let the chaotic noise continue without you. The net is hard to navigate, and the noise is irritating.

     Turn it up 100 times. Every second, 3D realtime maps of the weather, of traffic patterns, of commerce, waterflow, barometric pressure, stock prices, minute by minute food purchases, every radio program concerning pastry, graphs analysing market activity as related to temperature, twenty billion voices filtered and spinning past at high speed.
     You can be anywhere, doing anything. In the back of your head, images and voices continue, filtered, tuned down, but never out.


     It did not take long for entire segments of the population to immerse themselves completely, constantly, to InLink, for a global consciousness, of sorts, to grow and become powerful.
     And, at the same time, some chose to isolate themselves. Not from the information overload, but within it. Virtual worlds expanded, offering the best, as far as their users were concerned, of all things. Virtual realities where things were simpler, quieter, more focused, more happy, more meaningful, more... more.


     Most PCs in the Endtime will have equipment giving them access to InLink. All will be very familiar with InLink, barring some unusual types of PCs. Check out Link gear for relevant information.

     Terms: InLink is used much like the word 'online', Link is used as 'connect'. A character would establish a Link (connection) to get InLink (online). InLink activities would be online activities, InLink news, and so on. In the 2040s, there are no terms distinguishing between 'the Internet' and 'being online'. InLink is handled as noun and adjective.


LinkWar

     Although most of the time a Linkrunner will only need LiSE or Computer User skill to perform normal operations, there comes a time when an opponent is met, either a software construct or a sentient adversary. At that point, LinkWar begins.

LinkWar Stats
     LinkWar rating = ((LiSe + Computer Use)/10 + Int) x Devotion
     Devotion is how much focus the LinkWar is given, based on speed and actions. One level of devotion can be dedicated per 10 points of Dex (which is affected by speed).
     LinkWar initiative = Devotion x10
     Note that Link rating is the maximum value of either LinkWar rating or LinkWar initiative.

LinkWar Actions
     LinkWar consists of rapid firing of software and restructuring environments. Rounds of LinkWar are at the same basic speed as realtime, with the same general rules. One action may be taken per phase of the round. If a character wishes, actions may be split, splitting LinkWar rating between different actions. Also, a character may pool unused LinkWar rating forward into future actions. Note that link rating still limits LinkWar rating, regardless of pooling.
     Regular actions, in realtime, may take place. Effective Dex is whatever has not been piped to LinkWar.
     LinkWar attacks are rolled as tests against defensive values, or LinkWar rating used x 5% if uncontested. High LiSe indicates a familiarity and facility with the InLink environment and Link in general, while Computer Use indicates a wide variety and skillful use of applications to change or crash such systems.
     Characters may also choose to perform other actions, similar to Spot Hidden, Hide, Sneak, Conceal, Track, and so forth. Note that Spot Hidden is valuable for sentry duty or to determine just what sort of opponent you face.
     General conditions (opponent is big/powerful, damaged, retreating, etc) can be noticed by rolling LinkWar rating x5%, without requiring an action (if an action is taken to do so, roll x2).

Software Constructs

     Software constructs generally have the following characteristics, bought as described in gear:
     Intelligence = 1-4
          Though rumors of fully sentient software exist, most Link professionals are convinced that these rumors come from misidentification of MIs or clever Linkrunners.
     LiSe = 30-90
          Constructs are generally very well adapted to their environment, but cannot grasp intricacies as well as sentients do.
     Computer Use = 20-60
          Constructs are generally much poorer at manipulating their environment in new and original ways.
     Dex = 1-5
          Constructs are designed with a variety of basic acceleration.
     Speed = 1+((year of design-1980)/2)
          Software constructs often rely on speed over complexity.
     Link rating = 30-100
          By definition, software constructs are very connected to InLink, dwelling there full time. The biggest problem and expense with designing software constructs is bandwidth. It is cheaper to have a single construct function with different links for a variety of tasks, then to have a single port it can access at full speed.
     As a simple guesstimate, assume that a software construct has an initiative of D3 x 10 and a rating of (1D6+2) x10.

LinkWar Damage
     A successful hit causes a variable amount of damage directly to the target instrument. The target's link rating/10 is the number of D6s rolled for damage. LinkWar rating can be used to provide armor, reducing damage directly, or can be devoted to increasing damage. A soft attack can be launched, with a +1 rating per -2 dice of damage. The result depends on the type of attack chosen. An impale result means the damage should be rolled twice, greater result is used.
     Note that an inapplicable sort of damage will have no effect, and the attacker, with a successful LinkWar roll, will notice. This information can be quite valuable, beyond choosing a different attack type.
     The damage may target the brain directly, though this will fail if the target turns out to be an MI or is not linked via the brain. This type of damage will reduce 1 Int per 10 points of damage, and require a KO check (Con vs damage). No HP are lost. Int can be restored via very expensive neuroreconstruction (facility with Hypertech medical equipment, Medicine roll at 1/2 to restore 2D3 Int per week)
     The damage can be directed at an MI directly, which will generally cause Int damage as above. However, restoring Int will be difficult for MIs.
     Damage can be directed at the physical body, again depending on a brain link. Con is tested against damage. Failure means the character goes into cardiac arrest and requires immediate medical attention or will die, and takes the damage as systemic damage. A success still results in the character taking 1/3 damage as systemic damage.
     Damage can be directed at perceptions and ability to keep a grasp of reality. In this situation, damage is translated as SAN loss.
     Damage can be targetted at the Link itself. Any damage reduces the connection rating of the Link. Unlike normal attacks, regular success causes software damage, impale results cause hardware damage. Software damage can be easily repaired with a Computer Use roll and damage rounds of time. Hardware damage requires either Electronics or Hypertech roll and damage hours of time.
     Damage can be targetted at a software construct. Constructs have Link rating/10 (round down) hit points. When HP reach 0, the software has been destroyed. For software constructs, Computer Use functions as Medicine, but healing times are per day (that is, a construct can 'heal' 2D3 per day).

Examples: