From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of MurfNMurf@aol.com Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 2:57 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG:Cry havoc, and let slip the NPCs! Hey gang, I really enjoyed fnawing through the DG Archieves a while back, and thought that whole thing where everyone had worked themselves up as NPCs was a hoot! So here I am. And I encourage the other newbies to the list do the same : Ken Murphy Librarian at heart, age 38 Affiliation: Friendly Race: Caucasian STR 12 CON 14 SIZ 20 INT 15 POW 12 DEX 9 APP 11 EDU 16 SAN 33 HP 17 Damage Bonus: +1D4 Education: HS graduate. 3 years of community college off-and-on; no degree. Occupation: Unacredited Thinkologist/ Stay-at-home Dad Skills: Accounting 15%, Ancient Irish History 25%, Art-Cook grilled cheese sandwich 78%, Art-Drawing 65%, Art-Pen & Ink 68%, Art-Write 28%, Art History 25%, Ask for extra condiments at drive-through 75%, Bargain 25%, Book History 20%, Bowling 15%, Celtic Mythology 30%, Cheesey Impressions 63%[1], Collect various Celtic & Hearts of Space CDs 30%, Collect Comics 48%, Collect Statues of different Deities 58%, Computer Use 1%, Conceal 68%, Craft-Babysitting 55%, Craft-Copy Editing 20%, Craft-Janitor 50%, Craft-Housekeeping 55%, Craft-Paste-up 78%, Craft-Photo Manipulation 84%, Crazy Magnet 55%[2], Credit Rating 10%, Darts 23%, Dodge 18%, Drive Auto 5%, Drive Motorcycle 30%, Embody that Beloved American Icon The Smartass 70%, Fiddle with car radio to find NPR 50%, Have to re-tie left shoelace 65%, Hide 15%, History 40%, Jones for more books 80%, Library Use 74%, Listen 45%, Obscure trivia , themes & jingles 85%[3], Occult 15%, Persuade 25%, Pharmacy 22%, Play Cards 30%, Play Pinball 45%, Play Quake 40%, Precognition 12%[4] , Procrastinate 60%, Psychology 22%, Puns & Jokes 58%, Roleplaying Games 76%, Sarcasm 75%, Shadow 25%, Shoot Pool 20%, Smell 78%[5] , Sneak 21%, Spot Hidden 40%, Spot Women 85%[10], Swim ( or even float ) 0%, Throw 15%, Twelve-Step Lore 24%, Wants to stop at Fast Food joint that has just been passed up 65%, Watch Bad TV & Movies 60%, Wicca 20%, Write cryptic notes in spiral-bound notebook 85%. Languages: English 80%, Spanish 14%[6] Attacks: Fist/Punch 50%, 1D3 (+2)+db [7] Kick 25%, 1D6+db Grapple 25%, Special Rifle attack 25%[8] Shotgun attack 30%[8] Archery attack 20%, 1D6+1/2db 30yds/240yds[9] [1] Ken's Cpt. Kirk is mind-numbing ( 1/ 1D3 SAN ). [2] If there's a nut in a crowd, he'll gravitate to Ken; whether thanking him for saving their life in 'Nam, or imparting some tidbit of arcana Ken apparently just can't do without. [3] Ken watched entirely too much TV growing up. Pretty much anything he might've seen on the tube or heard on the radio as a kid went right into his head and never came out. This gives an edge when playing trivia games. As scary as it sounds, some friends have come to depend on Ken's obviously wonky knowledge as relevant in certian RW situations. [4] An auto accident left Ken with severe Epileptic seizures. During really bad ones, Ken has occasionally seen images he is convinced have actually happened later ( at least a 1/2 dozen times so far ).The problem is when he comes out of it, he rarely remembers anything more than the odd sliver (since its difficult taking effective notes when you're flopping like a fish ).Medication has pretty much nipped this marginally useful skill in the bud; though going off-meds for a month or more should kickstart it back to the occasional game-useful level . [5] An odd side-effect of receiving a head injury, Ken now has what he likes to call Supersmell. [6] Four years of spanish classes in both JH & HS, as well as growing up in the barrio have done nothing for Ken; knowing only enough to either order food or get popped in the nose. [7] A decorative solid-brass paperweight resembling brass knuckles. [8] Ken's had some exposure to firearms, but owns none. His healthy respect-for and fear-of firearms combine to assure he'll give them a wide berth. [9] A fair archer as a kid, but hasn't done any in 20+ years. [10] An ability acquired at the onset of puberty. Physical Description: Ken is 1.8m tall and weighs a decidedly unhealthy 137kg. His dark brown hair, once long enough to peg him as a hippie or biker is now short, though still shaggy , and has started graying at the temples just like his hero Doctor Strange. Ken's unkept beard has contributed to him being mistaken for a Menennite on several occasions. He has a mustache and dark brown ( almost black ) eyes behind little round glasses. Ken is usually dressed in "Pizza-Hut casual " (dressed well enough to get into Pizza Hut without hassle ); usually covered by either a navy-blue, zippered & hooded sweater, or a too-big , green Field & Stream jacket. He's been wearing cheap, black-leather dress shoes pretty-much-continually since his days as a Security Guard in the mid '80s. Equipment Carried: A beige Israeli Paratrooper Medical Bag packed with game stuff ( RQ & CoC mostly ), calculator, bag of dice, papers, pencil, and whatever novel he's reading at the time ( Sharpe's Battle, right now ). A large set of keys with several handy little tools attached; folding scissors, bottle openener, nail clippers, and an old-fashioned Spam key ( y'never know ). Cheap plastic lighter. A couple dollars in quarters. Wallet with non-license MS State I.D, an old college newspaper Press Card from '82, ATM Card, individually-wrapped alcohol pad, a couple of toothpicks, a single-edged razor blade, and at least seven dollars in bills. Equipment at Home: Three bookcases: Two full of books and magazines; mostly history and mythology, but also including art; as well as a big stack of National Geographics dealing mostly with the Amazon & the Incas; the third bookcase being packed with assorted gamestuff, including a dozen notebooks filled with page after page of tiny, scrawled, SAN-blasting ( 1/1D6 ) usually game-related arcana, and several drawing pads. Three wooden crates of old classical records inherited from his wife's grandmother, and a plastic milk crate full of '80s records. A rotating plastic carosel with around 80 CDs, an updated second-hand IBM knockoff, a shelf packed with videotapes ( mostly Sci-Fi ), and a Pirouline can full of assorted art equipment; including non-photo blue pen and pencils, border tape, and three working Rapidographs. Notes: Ken was born & raised in Orange, California ( Orange, BTW, has been featured in the films Gumball Rally and That Thing You Do, as well as being a regular location for filming the old '80s show Quincy.Runner Mary Decker, as well as brother & sister pornstars Buck Adams & Amber Lynn are also natives of Orange ). After a practically feral upbringing , Ken grew up living a life like something out of Clerks, Mallrats, Wayne's World, and Rush all rolled into one. During this period he managed to become an unacredited Art & Journalism major; flying through the major-related courses, yet tanking the General Ed requirements. In the late '80s he met his girlfriend Joolz; a Cajun Critical Care Nurse working in Los Angeles. After 3 years they relocated to her hometown in MS; spending the last 8 in The South. After 10 years together Ken & Joolz married, and have recently had a daughter, Kaitlin. Initially shy and quiet around strangers, Ken is usually thought of as a nice guy by people who don't know him very well. His friends, however, think of him equally as a nice guy and a smart ass. Known for his odd sense of humor ( which has gotten him pegged a "trip" more times than he can remember ) and sacrastic wit , Ken is generally easygoing ; usually joking around in all but the most serious circumstances ( or when he's angry ).The flip side: Ken can be moody and often gets depressed; and can occasionly be an obnoxious, vindictive jerk. A few friends are convinced Ken was born about 600 years too late for his true calling; that of Scribe. Use as an NPC: None that are immediately obvious. The most likely reason for contacting Ken would be for his contacts; over the years getting to know a pretty diverse assortment of people. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Adam Marler [adam_marler@hotmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 6:46 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Cc: cthulu2000@aol.com; MrManSir18@aol.com; Ognazdreg@aol.com; timmyg88@aol.com Subject: Re: DG:Cry havoc, and let slip the NPCs! Yes yes, heres my shot at this. Name: Adam Marler Age: 18 Sex: M Occupation: Misanthropic Teenage Loner with a deathwish, or Student. Affiliation: Friendly Race: Caucasian STR 12 CON 14 SIZ 15 INT 15 POW 13 Idea 85 DEX 13 APP 11 EDU 13 SAN 65 HP 15 Luck 85[1] Know 70 Damage Bonus: +1D4 Education: HS grad. Skills: Art(music) 45%, Biology 10%, Carpentry 20%, Computer Use 58%, Dodge 15%, Drive Auito 50%[2], Electronics 20%, Fast Talk 40%, History 30%, Navigation Land 5%, Occult 20%, Program Cheesy Techno Music 30%, Opt. Heavy Machine(tractor) 40%, Psychology 15%, Anthropology 15%, Guitar 25%, Goldeneye 007(for N64) 55%, Any other videogame 12%, Languages: English 80%, Spanish 5%, German 10% Attacks: Paralyze Gaming group(with laughter, unless I've had taco bell): 85% Shotgun: 64%[3] Shovel: 40%[4] [1] Amazing luck, first slot machine I ever pulled came up 777. Too bad all it gave me was 50+ M&M's. [2] I learned how to drive on a '86 Ford F150 4x4 that had just about lost the fight. Any other vehicle seems like a toy. [3] Based on statistical analysis of my records from a trap league I was in. [4] From years of swinging a shovel at everything except what I was supposed to be digging. Physical Description: Around 5'11" and 200lbs. Lately weight has been fluctuating from around 200-210 during the span of a few days. Dark blonde hair, kept in a very boring style. Clothing is typically standard issue Jeans & T-shirt. Clothing color rarely strays far from black and blue. Equipment Carried: Wallet, Asthma Inhaler, loose change, guitar picks, various keys, Glasses. Shoes. Other Possessions: 140+ CD's, Fender Stratocaster, 100W Marshall Amplifier, 1986 Demon Possesed Ford F-150 4x4(its filled with Hasturvian goodness), Too many RPG books. Access to a Ruger 10/22 (ooooh!) and a Remington 180 express. Background: Born in Fresno CA, now resides out in the middle of no where on 30 acres of grapes and plums near the town of Centerville CA, pop 600. Ummm... thats about it. Personality and that junk: Generally amiable, has an odd sense of humor that can put off people that don't know him well. Use as an NPC: Well, if A Cell needs any tractor work done i'd be the one to call. Other than that, practically useless. Except as cannon fodder. -Adam ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Timothy Betz [vag@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au] Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:54 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG:Cry havoc, and let slip the NPCs! Having nothing better to do today, here I am... Name: Tim Betz Age: 23 Sex: M Occupation: Network Repair Officer (since I was the fourth person hired to do this does that make me NRO: Delta?) Affiliation: Majestic-12^H^H^H^H er, friendly. Race: Caucasian STR 14 CON 13 SIZ 15 INT 14 POW 12 Idea 70 DEX 13 APP 12 EDU 15 SAN 77[1] HP 14 Luck 60 Know 75 Damage Bonus: +1D4 Education: I could graduate and get my BSc, but I'm working on a second Major. Birthplace: Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Mental Disorders: Claustraphobia.[2] Skills: Art (Drawing) 30%, Astronomy 12%, Biology 25%, Chemistry 45%[3], Computer Use 50%, Cthulhu Mythos 22%[4], Dodge 35%, Drive Auto 30%, Electrical Repair 25%, Fast Talk 40%[5], Library Use 55%, Listen 40%, Martial Arts 4%, Mechanical Repair 40%, Occult 45%, Other Languagues (various programming languages) 10% - 50%, Physics 25%, Pilot: Flight Sim 25%, Spot Hidden 45%, Cook 40%, Attacks: Fist: 65% damage 1d6 + 1d4 + 2 (steel caps) Kick: 45% Grapple: 75% Alloy Baseball Bat: 30% 1d8 + 1d4 + 1 Pistol: 55% [6] [1] - Whilst I've never considered myself particularly lucky, I am certainly more mentally resiliant than a lot of those around me. [2] - My girlfriend keeps calling me a violent little psycopath, she could well be right. [3] - This should be more considering I majored in it but I've forgotten a whole heap. Give me some text books to work from and it probably goes up by 20% or so. [4] - I know far more about the Mythos than any of my characters ever have, and I've had a character with 15% before. I figure 22% is probably fair... [5] - I'm brilliant at confusing the computer in Paranoia. How well it would work in real life I've no idea. Although I've been told I instill a sense of trust in people a couple of times before. [6] - I've never fired a real gun before but I'm addicted to stuff like virtura cop etc. I think the amount of time I've spent playing it with both guns simultaneously and just going for head shots, I've at least got the aiming at stuff part down... Physical Description: Standing 6'2" and weighing in at around 100 kg. Black hair (dye job) that is almost down to his shoulders and getting longer, with a Goatee. Almost always dressed in Black dress pants with a black T-shirt or dark coloured shirt, and wearing a pair of dress shoes with steel caps. Equipment / Possessions: '79 Honda Accord (okay condition), Alloy Baseball bat (in car boot), One working PC (plus lots of bits, working and not), A Cage (2m x 1m x 1m, bars about STR 10 - 12), Not enough RPG books (has a copy of Countdown, but no copy of Delta-Green), Plastic Baretta (spray painted black) Background: Born in Geelong, he has since moved to Melbourne to study Chemistry and computing at Monash University. He works as a computer technician for the University at a nearby hospital (Monash Medical Center). Personality: Reasonably friendly and easy going. Occasionally irritable when roleplaying at 2 in the morning. :) If he gets really angry it will probably end in a fatality. Use as an NPC: Owing to a combination of poor security procedures and lack of knowledge on behalf of the hospital staff, he has access to a large amount of potentialy sensitive information and is able to monitor all e-mail traffic through the hospital network. Whilst not generally useful this information might be needed in a specific instance. -- Tim From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Austin S Chamberlain [achamber@crg.ee.uct.ac.za] Sent: Friday, July 10, 2893 5:44 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG:Cry havoc, and let slip the NPCs! Hey, why not. It's probably about time. Name: Austin Chamberlain Age: 23 Sex: M Occupation: Systems Software Operator Affiliation: Friendly Race: Caucasian STR 13 CON 11 SIZ 13 INT 13 POW 12 Idea 65 DEX 13 APP 10 EDU 16 SAN 60 [1] HP 12 Luck 60 Know 80 Damage Bonus: +1d4 Education: BSc (Computer science, maths, electronics) Birthplace: Durban, Natal, South Africa Mental disorders: Paranoia (mild) Skills: Biology 5%, Climb 50%, Computer use 65%, Cryptography 5%, Cthulhu Mythos 20%, Demolitions 5%, Drive auto 40%, Elec repair 50%, Electronics 20% [2], First aid 40%, History 50%, Martial arts 30% [3], Mathematics 50%, Military Science 50% [4], Occult 20%, Physics 15% Languages: English 80%, Afrikaans 40%, Welsh 5%, German 5% Attacks: Fist: 60% Kick: 40% Grapple: 50% Nightstick: 60% 2d4 Crowbar: 40% 1d6 + 1d4 + 1 Pistol: 40% [5] [1] Mostly harmless - actually fairly stable, generally, despite a few unpleasant experiences. [2] Goes up to about 40% with a textbook, and even higher with a rough plan. [3] Have tried Karate, Ju-jitsu, and Kung Fu. This just makes me confused. [4] Gunfondler 001. [5] Have only fired an actual firearm a few times, but have lots of theoretical knowledge (see [4]) Appearance: 5'11" and a bit, around 73 kg. Brown hair, either cut really short or growing back from that. Clean-shaven, pale, green eyes behind small black-framed glasses. Clothing is always black (except for his DG Tshirt) - usually 14-hole Docs, jeans, T-shirt or Bundeswehr shirt dyed black. In winter, wears a trenchcoat. All the time. Equipment carried: (see Mental disorders) On person: Leatherman, pen-knife, mini-maglite, Spyderco knife (thanks to the DGML :> ), wallet (some cash, cards, band-aids, metal survival tool), keys, belt pouch (pen, notepad, survival booklet, more band-aids, work access card, South African ID document, compass, lighter). Bag (small khaki army rucksack): wool knit cap (Cape Town weather is very unpredictable), even more band-aids, surgical gloves and CPR mask, cellphone, diskbox (boot/repair/utility disks for Linux, FreeBSD, DOS, WinNT, Win98), batteries, duct tape, two more notepads, pencil-case (calculator, more tape, dice, scissors, pens'n'pencils), Kershaw knife. Other possessions: Crowbar, Nightstick, numerous computer parts (~ 2 complete computers), plenty of RPGs, SCA fighting stuff (bits of armour, weapons), lots of books. Background: Born in Durban, South Africa, went to university in Cape Town, South Africa. Now works at said university, doing general sysadmin stuff. Use: Well, theoretically has access to a large portion of the net traffic of Southern Africa, especially the West/South of South Africa. Has a fair knowledge of Cape Town/Durban specifically, and South Africa generally, which is probably rare in DG. :) Austin -- These hands!! I can't get them off my wrists!! Oh, God!! - Happy Noodle Boy From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Jérôme Flament [flament.jerome@wanadoo.fr] Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 11:44 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Snowcrash ideas About virtual world I am thinking to a scenario where players get cautgh in a illusion created by N.O.R.B.E.R.T a terrific software created by a cultist with good knolwedge in computer programing and working for MJ 12 (which is not aware of his cultists nature). PCs arrive in Alaska and then find a lost village (which appears on no maps) as they enter a house they find it full of electronics stuff. The inhabitant is being watch and control by OUTLOOK agents. Suddenly the PCs are arrested and druged. They woke up in a plane leaving Hawaii and going to L.A. without knowledge of what they are doing there. In fact it is an illusion and they are still in Alaska guiena pig of MJ 12... -----Message d'origine----- De : Shane Ivey À : dgrpg@delta-green.com Date : vendredi 7 janvier 2000 23:20 Objet : RE: DG: Snowcrash ideas >What would such a virtual world look like, in Delta Green? Would it be the >newest thing in virtual reality, the height of interactive software, fresh >out of the labs of OUTLOOK, along the lines of Gibson's SimSense and all its >edgy progeny? If that's too science-fictiony, drop the direct sensory >hookup and go with an interactive variation of YELLOW (described at >Delta-Green.com, http://www.delta-green.com/opint/anomolies/im_8421.html). > >Or, better yet, synthesize: MicroMyth, Inc. (a subsidiary of a company >owned by Justin Kroft and working hand-in-hand with the OUTLOOK group and >the GARNET project), releases InterSoft Online, the latest in online >interactive entertainment, designed to gauge, report, and subtly manipulate >users' reactions to various visual, aural, and psychological stimuli. But >they hardly expected the disturbing game, YELLOW, to be followed by the >"Yellow Virus," a program which infiltrates and slowly replaces the reality >created by InterSoft and its users with the YELLOW system. Who is the >hacker behind the virus? Or is there one? > >: : : : > >Jesper invoked the name of MUD: A few years ago (1994?) I joined >CthulhuMUSH, then in development by Jason Thompson and a couple of others. >At the time I knew nothing about M***s, so I was no help; I just poked >around the enormous Dreamlands area that Jason had coded. It folded pretty >quickly, sad to say. I've heard here that BarbaryMUSH (an 1890s [?] >Lovecraftian game) is still going strong. > > >Shane Ivey >Writer & Webmaster: Zealot.com - Delta-Green.com - GameJudge.com (coming >soon) >ZEALOT.COM IS HIRING: Writers, Artists, Programmers, Marketing: >Zealot.com/jobs > >-----Original Message----- > From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com [mailto:owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com]On >Behalf Of Jesper Anderson >Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 2:14 PM >To: dgrpg@delta-green.com >Subject: Re: DG: Snowcrash ideas > > >On Thu, Jan 06, 2000 at 10:04:19AM +0900, David Farnell wrote: >> From: Jesper Anderson >> >> >> >> OK, some people liked it, some didn't. I have to agree (qualified) with >the >> MiB here--this isn't LitCrit 101. > >True. apologies for going nuts. It just irks me to no end that >intelligent, well read people who have played multiplayer first person >shooters, surfed the web and maybe even tried MUDs, and who have >studied cold war mind manipulation techniques, can praise Snowcrash as >being not only original, but groundbreaking. > >On a more DG relevant side: > >Virtual worlds have been around for many years. Early text based >examples are MUDs, MOSHs and similar text based worlds. More advanced >kinds include WorldsAway, Isle Caribe and Everquest. Some are more >game based, some are social worlds. > >Imagine a world like this, made around a Mythos theme. Dreamlands or >The King In Yellow. Participants are subject to a lot of fluff, and >are slowly subjected to more and more Mythos influence. They get to >read excerpts from relevant scriptures. As part of a game mechanic >they learn simple spells, maybe only designed to drain SAN and/or MP. >As participants are drawn deeper, they're strongly tied to the cult. > >Virtual worlds in existence today gather a lot of people with little >or no other social context. Single mothers, people stuck at home for >medical reasons, people who for some reason don't like where they are. >Perfect targets for Mythos influence. > >I'll brew together some scenario pieces, if there's any interest. > >Jesper > >> PS: Sorry to use you as an example Mr. Anderson. > >No hard feelings, I felt out of line myself. > >-- >Assassination can seldom be employed with a clear conscience. >Persons who are morally squeamish should not attempt it. >-- CIA, "Operation PB Success" training files > > From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Jesper Anderson [jesper@pobox.com] Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 12:26 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Snowcrash ideas On Mon, Jan 10, 2000 at 06:44:10PM +0100, Jérôme Flament wrote: > About virtual world I am thinking to a scenario where players get cautgh in > a illusion created by N.O.R.B.E.R.T a terrific software created by a cultist > with good knolwedge in computer programing and working for MJ 12 (which is > not aware of his cultists nature). < snip > > In fact it is an illusion and they are still in Alaska guiena pig of MJ > 12... This isn't a virtual world; it's a reality simulation, way beyond even what the Mi-Go have shown themselves capable of (which of course doesn't mean we know for sure they can't do it). Replacing all sensory impulses with simulations is computationally intensive and very error prone. The idea is very interesting; with mind control, neural surgery and skillful manipulation of what the characters senses pick up a lot of disinformation can be fed them. It may be possible to create memories of events that never happened, or condition the characters to hate a certain person to the point of doing everything to kill him etc. This could give the characters some very "interesting" problems to deal with when released; they "know" one of their contacts is a turncoat because they "remember" how things went awry. They can't quite pin down who it is but they're determined to root the leak out. Hours of fun and entertainment as the paranoia increases on all levels - all without even giving any characters SAN loss. Jesper -- Assassination can seldom be employed with a clear conscience. Persons who are morally squeamish should not attempt it. -- CIA, "Operation PB Success" training files From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Janusz A. Urbanowicz [alex@bofh.torun.pl] Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 10:31 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Toxins (was Putin) > In a message dated 1/4/00 11:53:45 AM Central Standard Time, > alex@bofh.torun.pl writes: > > << > You are mixing two things: microwaves kill because they heat your body > water. EMP won't kill you, for its on another frequencies, and has too less > power (it works by inducing currents in electrical equipments). >> > > And how do you divorce one from the other using microwaves? Excuse me ? EMP is multifrequency 'blast' of electromagnetic radiation. It induces strong chaotical currents in conductive materials, frying electronics in effects. In general those are much lower frequencies (kHz, MHz) than microwaves. They don't have much direct effect on people because people cannot be considered conductive, ferromagnetical materials (its impossible to induct a current in human flesh). Microwaves (as in microwave oven) are much higher nad narrower frequency limit (GHz and more, narrower band) and affect material things by interacting on quantum level with water (or other molecules) within - by passing its energy to water molecules and make them warmer (up to the point of boiling/denaturing body around). It ALSO induces currents in metal things, but its the heating effect that will affect people. Alex -- * | Janusz A. "Alex" Urbanowicz, \ Home: --+~| | http://eris.phys.uni.torun.pl/~alex/ \ Work: `_|/ | \____ RSA: 512/0xAB425659 | | "If it doesn't move, eat it. If it moves, kill it. Then eat it." From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Davide Mana [doctor.dee@iol.it] Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 4:02 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: DG: Interesting initiative Greetings. For reasons long to explain (but known to some members) I asked my brother to scour the net for British underground rumblings and assorted weirdness. He just stumbled on the following.... http://www.stonix.demon.co.uk/sub-brit/ Check out these guys, gentlemen. Davide Mana Torino, Italy doctor.dee@iol.it The Ice Cave - http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/leiber/50/ice_cave.htm From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Gilbert Mariën [gilbert.marien@pandora.be] Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:09 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG:Cry havoc, and let slip the NPCs! Name: Ken Marien Age: 16 Sex: M Occupation: Student Affiliation: friendly Race: Caucasian STR 14 CON 12 SIZ 10 INT 15 POW 10 IDEA 75 DEX 6 APP 6 EDU 16 SAN 50 HP 12 LUCK 50 KNOW 80 Education: studying Latin/Modern Languages Birthplace: Brasschaat, Antwerp, Belgium Mental disorders: multiple personalities Skills: Art-modern arts 25%, Bargain 10%, Biology 3%, Climb 5% (1), Computer Use 50%, Conceal 2% (2), Fast Talk 75%, First Aid 50%, Hide 50%, History 30%,Insult 75%, Jump 15%, Law 30% (3), Library Use 50%, Listen 75% (4), Mathematics 5% (5), Occult 50% (6), Persuade 75%, Physics 25%, Psychology 50% (7), Ride 15% (8), Spot Hidden 10% (9),Swear 85%, Throw 75% (10), Use Charms On Woman Because Look Like Hell 50% Languages: Dutch (own) 100%, English 95%, German 75%, French 65%, Latin 55% Attacks: Fist: 60% Kick (in the family jewels): 75% Kick (other): 15% Grapple: 35% Bat: 85% (1) I ALWAYS seem to fall down and hurt myself really bad in the process (2) They always find out, and I don't know why (3) I used to watch 'Matlock' when I was little (4) I have some weird ear-condition and almost hear everything said about me (5) I just can't, ok? I just can't. (6) Seen every episode of The X-files (7) I know almost everyone of my friends inside-out, but I really hate it when they try to do the same with me (8) Horseback-riding, give me some time with the horse and it could go up to 35% (9) I always seem to miss details (10) Always have to pitch when we play Appearance: 1.70m tall and about 60kg. Brown, long hair and brown eyes. Depends on the situation if I'm shaven or not. But mostly I'm not. Wear glasses if I can find them. But, again, mostly not. Always dressed in black. Equipment carried: Large knife, 3 lighters, wallet (with cash), pen (black), Snicker-wraps, all sorts of to-do notes which had to be done like two months ago, Machine Head tape, dice, pack of L&M cigs, Bad Math tests At home: Bat, Ball, more to-do notes Use: Great for use as shool bully. Or to pass by in the middle of a gunfight. Don't make him too important, he'll stalk you. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Paul Hazen [ashmodai@earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 6:18 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG:Cry havoc, and let slip the NPCs! I've been putting this off for far too long... Name: Paul Hazen Age: 24 Sex: M Occupation: Student/ Retail Sales (Electronics) Affiliation: Friendly Race: Caucasian STR 11 CON 9 SIZ 10 INT 17 POW 11 IDEA 85 DEX 8 APP10 EDU 17 SAN 55 HP 10 LUCK 55 KNOW 85 Education: BA English (almost, one quarter left) Birthplace: Longview, WA Mental Disorders: Skills: Art-Drawing 45%, Art-Writing 45%, Attract Underage Goth Chick 75% (1), Cthulhu Mythos 35%, Demonology 65% (2), Dismiss Underage Goth Chick 25% (1), Drive Auto 25%, Library Use 85%, Listen 65%, Mathematics 40%, Occult 65%, Physics 25%, Psychology 30%, Quote Useless Facts 85%, Spot Hidden 55% Languages: English 99%, Latin 40%, German 30%, Spanish 5% (3), Khmer 1% (3) Attacks: Fist/Punch 50%, Kick 25%, Grapple 35%, Handgun (Glock 17) 35%, Rifle (Galil, FN FAL) 45%, Evil Eye 75% (4) (1) It's my curse. (2) A Catholic (Cthuluic?) upbringing combined with my own teenage intellectual pursuits. (3) Enough to swear in. (4) Capable of knocking a man down at up to 50 feet. The same evil eye may be part of the afore-mentioned curse. Appearance: About 5' 6" and stoutly built, normally with a shaven head and a goatee. During daylight sunglasses will always be worn, otherwise eyes vary from pale green to dark brown. Most often seen in business casual attire (at work) or wearing East German surplus fatigue trousers with Bad Religion sweatshirt. Black trenchcoat and watch cap are optional depending on the season. Equipment: Wallet, lighter, smokes, keychain screwdriver, and frequently a backpack which contains: a novel, granola bars, extra lighter, pens and paper, etc. Use: Investigators in need of mundane electronic equipment will probably come to my store first. "Hmm, that transmitter seems to generate exactly the frequency which is said to disorient the Shan. With this kit and a few additional components, you could have yourself a 1500-watt amplifier, which would compliment it nicely." Having spent two years working in a university library, he could also be useful as a researcher. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Jesper Anderson [jesper@pobox.com] Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2000 12:55 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Snowcrash ideas On Thu, Jan 06, 2000 at 03:05:29PM -0500, Colin Creitz wrote: > > I can't help but think that Stephenson was aware of the status of > Chomsky's old theory, and when he chose to ignore the idea of the > language learner built into the brain, he did so in sympathy with > genetically-motivated thinking which points out that there's not > enough room in the genome to code for such a thing. Actually, what gets at me is the way he _hasn't_ ignored this, but given it even more weight by building in a meta language in humans. This is even more in violation of what we've learned about the genome, human speech and thought and how we communicate. > And the synaesthetic school of art criticism seems to have inspired > Stephenson, this being the idea that art should capture the totality > of some experience, often that of being the artist at some particular > moment and looking through his/her eyes. This is accomplished within the confines of culture, social programming and mental language, not outside of and in spite of it. A native bushman and a native New Yorker will get completely different impulses from experiencing the same art. > Hearing words in the Ur-metalanguage is like loading a core dump onto > a computer - it gives the experience of belief, of necessity, of > desire. The problem with this is that no two computers are exactly the same; when we start adding complexities like operating systems on top the problem is intensified. Different human brains are tremendously much more unique than, say, a Mac and a Windows computer, meaning a UR-language on the level suggested in Snowcrash is infeasible from that perspective. The most likely result with even the most minor fidgeting, no matter how skillfully done, is complete loss of coherent functionality in the subject. Even if this can be avoided, subtle effects and ripple changes would be impossible to predict. A much more believable meta language would build on social and cultural context, be tailored as closely as possible to the target group and have much more subtle effects (commercials anyone?). This has been attemped with subliminal information, various torture methods and other experiments (MKULTRA etc.) for many years. Of course, for mythos purposes it's much more FUN with a Snowcrash style language. Justifying it with current scientific research or even making the effects look believable will prove extremely difficult though. Jesper -- Assassination can seldom be employed with a clear conscience. Persons who are morally squeamish should not attempt it. -- CIA, "Operation PB Success" training files From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Popeyesays@aol.com Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2000 3:44 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Toxins (was Putin) But using a radar (a microwave) gives you microwaves, to divorce this from the EMP and apply ONLY the EMP as damage . . . How? That;s what I meant by divorce one from the other. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of USFORREC1@aol.com Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 6:20 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets In a message dated 1/10/00 3:49:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, dug96@hampshire.edu writes: << I'm no expert... but... as I understand it it... Green is Army rangers. Black is Airborne and Red is something else entirly, that I can't think of right now... >> Actually, Red (Maroon) is Airborne (82nd Airborne Division), Black is mostly equated with the US Army Rangers though some SEALs have taken to wearing them over the years (unofficially) and Green is for US Army Special Forces. -Dave K From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Steven Kaye [box_nine@ix.netcom.com] Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 7:20 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: DG: OSS in China A few resources that might be handy for fleshing out Alphonse in your simulations (no jokes about pizza and ranch dressing): Yale University Press published a book in 1997, THE OSS IN CHINA: PRELUDE TO COLD WAR. It's a university press hardcover, so you might want to see if you can get it through your local library or Inter-Library Loan unless your campaign's going to focus heavily on WWII-era China. Check out a description and reviews: http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=1OTYK 47LU8&mscssid=9N9LS4DAQXS12J8A001PQUW690P68HDA&srefer=&isbn=0300066988 A useful annotated bibliography on OSS operations in China, Burma, and India: http://intellit.muskingum.edu/intellsite/wwiioss_folder/wwiiosscbiops.html Information on WWII operations in the Chinese, Burmese, and Indian theaters generally, including OSS Detachment 101: http://www.cbiinfo.com/ And just so Shane knows that someone reads his stuff - checked out JACK FROST parts I & II. I'd recommend the scenario for experienced players only, with high skills and plenty of contacts - don't recall whether this was mentioned in the intro to part I or not. Otherwise, players are likely to be shredded like wheat germ. Some nice set-pieces, like the discovery of the townspeople. Now get that Ithaqua story on delta-green.com published in a revision of THE ITHAQUA CYCLE, so future generations are spared the horror of a Pierre Comtois story. Steven Steven ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Steven Kaye box_nine@ix.NOSPAM.netcom.com "You've been trying hard not to think about me and you're doing it with considerable success," said someone, where there was no one. John Shirley, CITY COME A-WALKIN' From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Don Juneau [djuneau@io.com] Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 1:55 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets On Mon, 10 Jan 2000 USFORREC1@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 1/10/00 3:49:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, > dug96@hampshire.edu writes: > > << I'm no expert... > but... > as I understand it it... > > Green is Army rangers. > Black is Airborne > and Red is something else entirly, that I can't think of right now... > >> > > Actually, Red (Maroon) is Airborne (82nd Airborne Division), Black is mostly > equated with the US Army Rangers though some SEALs have taken to wearing them > over the years (unofficially) and Green is for US Army Special Forces. Yup - don't really recall any Marines in frou-frou headgear, but the Air Farce uses blue for Security Police. They might also issue 'em to their own "in-house" mud-puppies (forget the name - Pathfinders, mebbe?), but I've never run into them. Don From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Popeyesays@aol.com Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 2:05 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: DG: Here's a conspiracy website for you! Underground Bases: A lecture by Phil Schnieder- reposted by watcher website - Phil Schnieder, Utah, Dulce, Area 51, aliens, Reference to this appeared on the AOL Military History forums under World War II topics. I thought I wuuld pass it along. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Joseph Camp [alphonse@delta-green.com] Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 3:18 PM To: dgrpg Subject: Re: DG: QUESTION : PRODUCT RELEASE DATES >Does anyone know when the REPRINT of DG:EO1 - Machinations of the Mi-Go will >be available again? Also is there an official release date for DGEO3 - >Project Rainbow? Both should be out in the coming months, beginning with RAINBOW. The reprint of EO1 is being expanded with a new scenario that is currently awaiting playtesting at the Pagan offices. When either goes to press, there'll be an announcement up on the Pagan web site, I expect. >Just curious. Also what other goodies come out this year? Some more DG chapbooks are in the works, but won't be announced until they are closer to completion. be seeing you, Alphonse From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of USFORREC1@aol.com Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 4:53 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets In a message dated 1/10/00 3:00:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, djuneau@io.com writes: << Yup - don't really recall any Marines in frou-frou headgear, but the Air Farce uses blue for Security Police. They might also issue 'em to their own "in-house" mud-puppies (forget the name - Pathfinders, mebbe?), but I've never run into them. >> Yes, most Marine Spec Ops units use the floppy, boonie-style hat as their head gear with some variation based on the mission (FAST wears those famous black tactical outfits when performing ops against terrorists for example). The USAF uses (in addition to the already mentioned Security Police): Para-Rescue: Maroon Combat Controller Teams: Scarlet Special Operations Meteorologists: Gray Hope that all helped a bit, -Dave K From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Scott Eaker [joneqst@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 7:28 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 4:53 PM Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets > The USAF uses (in addition to the already mentioned Security Police): > Para-Rescue: Maroon > Combat Controller Teams: Scarlet > Special Operations Meteorologists: Gray > Air Force Tactical Air Control Parties also wear black berets. Scott (who was issued a maroon one) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Nick Brownlow [stabernide@netscape.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 6:26 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: DG: Book recommendation Just finished 'Slaughtermatic' by Steve Aylett. Excellent inspiration for a Cyberpunk-esque dreamlands setting, as discussed a month or two back. ISBN- 0-75380-740-8 "Beerlight was a blown circuit, where to kill a man was less a murder than a mannerism." Described by the back cover blurb as "like Dashiel Hammett scripting a story for 2000AD" ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of The Man in Black [mib@cyberspace.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 6:30 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re:Biowarfare in NYC? On Fri, 7 Jan 2000, Stephen Joseph Ellis wrote: > Funny you should be mentioning biowarfare in NYC, as my > Christmas reading was Richard Prestons 'The Cobra Event' a fictionalised > account of the federal governments response to biological terrorism in New > York. Its by the same guy who wrote the (non-fiction) 'Hot Zone' about > Ebola in Reston. Uhh... Big AL instructed us to read this tome for our edification like, way back in the last millenium. The Man in Black is : Kenneth Scroggins Novus Ordo Seclorum : Annuit Coeptus : E Pluribus Unum "Don't make me take off my sunglasses!" - Griss, Bringing Out the Dead http://www.carnwyffa.u-net.com [EMERALD HAMMER] From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Crossingham, Adam [Adam.Crossingham@Octavian1009.E-MAIL.COM] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 7:11 AM To: 'dgrpg@delta-green.com' Subject: DG: RE: DERA Just depends what exactly you mean by "any hot gossip/inside gen" because you could end up straying into the remit of the Official Secrets Act really quickly. I know people who work there, and they don't talk about work at-all full-stop. You have to listen closely and ask appropriate questions; they won't tell you any more then they want to, or can. DERA for the uninitiated on the DGML is the UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. They have a web site at: http://www.dra.hmg.gb/dera.htm (with a News section). There is an agency template in Delta Green: Countdown for DERA and scientific occupations. It's sort of right, enough to play with anyway. There was a good C4 documentary about DERA weapons development last year. -- Adam Crossingham War/English = Wanting more cows/Sanskrit Home e-mail: tigger@the-wolery.demon.co.uk Any opinions expressed in this email are those of the individual From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of The Man in Black [mib@cyberspace.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 8:10 AM To: The MiB's Mailing List Subject: DG: Top Ten Signs That Your Delta Green Campaign is Slipping Top Ten Signs Your Delta Green Campaign is Slipping: 10) Stephan Alzis announces that the Fate will henceforth be known as "The Butt-Fate." 9) Scenario revolves around preventing the Karotechia from adopting a highway. 8) Cthulhu comes to Monster Island and is soundly thrashed by Godzilla and the G-Force. 7) ALPHONSE retires to Florida. New member of A-Cell: The Man in Black. 6) Professional wrestlers on the indy circuit form a hardcore cult as they travel about the territory. 5) Professional wrestlers on the indy circuit bodyslam hardcore cults as they travel about the territory. 4) All Shan exterminated by the toxin-spraying, powered armor equipped Orkin Man. 3) Your GM uses Dieties and Demigods for monster statistics. 2) Your social skills are so lowdown and undeveloped that you are playing by email. 1) Didn't buy Delta Green: Eyes Only Vol. 2.1 : The Butt-Fate The Man in Black is : Kenneth Scroggins Novus Ordo Seclorum : Annuit Coeptus : E Pluribus Unum "Don't make me take off my sunglasses!" - Griss, Bringing Out the Dead http://www.carnwyffa.u-net.com [EMERALD HAMMER] From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Doug Iannelli [djiannelli@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 9:40 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets --- The Man in Black wrote: > On Mon, 10 Jan 2000, Duran wrote: > > > I'm no expert... > > [section redacted] > > > Green is Army rangers. > > Black is Airborne > > and Red is something else entirly, that I can't > think of right now... > > Yes, you are no expert :) > > Green is Special Forces. > Red is 82nd Airborne (and maybe 101st too, I forget) > Black is Rangers... THIS is the beret schematic for US armed forces: Green: US Army Special Forces Maroon: US Army Airborne units (ALL airborne units) Black: US Army Ranger Battalions (officially) USN Seals (unofficially) Red: USAF Pararescue Navy Blue: USAF Security Police (boy, did they earn theirs) Powder Blue: UN Peacekeeper (makes the best target) The differentiating factor among like units (in the Army) is the beret flash - the shield-shaped patch upon which is fixed the unit crest. Since all beret-wearing Army units are airborne qualified, the color scheme of the flash is also found on an oval backer secured to their dress uniform beneath their jump wings. USAF units wear the patch of their individual unit on their beret. SFOD-Delta would wear a general SF uniform for a dress occasion - but NOT with some readily identifiable Delta insignia. They wear the electric butterknife patch just like the rest of the SF guys,a green beret, and dress slacks bloused amd tucked in jump boots rather than plain low quarter shoes. However, it is not frequent that you would see these operatives in such dress. A Yankees baseball cap is more normal a headgear for those guys. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of LizardRoi@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 2:45 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: DG: Conduct Unbecoming In a message dated 1/11/00 8:35:30 AM Pacific Standard Time, ewing@postbox.csi.cuny.edu writes: << I recall reading a book review of Randy Shilts' book on gays in the military (_Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military_, ISBN: 0449909174) which indicated that the "gayest ship in the Navy" was an intelligence gathering vessel, btw. >> Excellent book. The peculiar zeal of the Naval Investigative Service in rooting out, threatening and framing gay personnel documented in Shilts' book provided a little DG relevance for me, I just substituted Dagon worship for homosexuality and let my imagination wander. The method to NIS madness makes some good and inflammatory reading. Do you realize that Holland extended political asylum to US Navy personnel being investigated for homosexuality? Because of the NIS methods. And the highly publicized (essentially successful) attempt to blame the ordnance explosion on the USS Iowa on a gay suicide pact in spite of the forensic evidence shows what leaps of illogic an organization with a grudge will make to see things the way they want to. Textbook reading for the Machiavellian Keeper. Mark McFadden Doesn't ask, has nothing much to tell. From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Scott Eaker [joneqst@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 7:28 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Iannelli To: Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 9:40 AM Subject: Re: DG: Re: Berets > THIS is the beret schematic for US armed forces: > > Green: US Army Special Forces > Maroon: US Army Airborne units (ALL airborne units) > Black: US Army Ranger Battalions (officially) USN > Seals (unofficially) > Red: USAF Pararescue > Navy Blue: USAF Security Police (boy, did they earn > theirs) > Powder Blue: UN Peacekeeper (makes the best target) At the risk of continuing this thread past its life, USAF Pararescue wears MAROON berets. I know this. I have one. Scott __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Joseph Camp [alphonse@delta-green.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 7:39 PM To: dgrpg Subject: DG: FYI: New Semi-DG Supplement Fantasy Flight Games, publishers of the Cthulhu Live 2nd edition rulebook, have just released a sourcebook called SHADES OF GRAY. It covers noir-era live-action Cthulhu gaming in the 1930s-1950s. Thanks to an arrangement with Pagan Publishing, the book includes material on Delta Green and the Karotechia during those years. This material was generated by Fantasy Flight's authors and is not "official" as such, but certainly could be useful to case officers interested in either period simulations or live-action fieldwork. The book is now in stores. A review appeared today at rpg.net: http://rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_2706.html The company's web site is at: http://www.rpg.net/ffg/ Further DG material is slated to appear in an upcoming Cthulhu Live guide to cults and secret societies. be seeing you, Alphonse From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of David Farnell [daf@iwa.att.ne.jp] Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 7:41 PM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Biowarfare in NYC? From: The Man in Black > Facinating. But ET viruses/Virii/viru-lama-ding-dong don't have to be > Majestic related. An iceball can drop and deliver. This could be random > cometary, Yuggothian, Elder Thingy or whatever. And then you've got DG and Majestic scrambling to solve the problem first (with MJ trying to capture it for further analysis and possible use, and DG trying to destroy it forever--a bit like Mr. Ivey's excellent 2-part adventure, "Jack Frost"). Dave From: owner-dgrpg@delta-green.com on behalf of Jesper Anderson [jesper@pobox.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 12:06 AM To: dgrpg@delta-green.com Subject: Re: DG: Snowcrash ideas On Tue, Jan 11, 2000 at 05:44:11PM -0500, Colin Creitz wrote: > > > Hearing words in the Ur-metalanguage is like loading a core dump onto > > > a computer - it gives the experience of belief, of necessity, of > > > desire. > > > > The problem with this is that no two computers are exactly the same; > > when we start adding complexities like operating systems on top the > > problem is intensified. Different human brains are tremendously much > > more unique than, say, a Mac and a Windows computer, meaning a > > UR-language on the level suggested in Snowcrash is infeasible from > > that perspective. The most likely result with even the most minor > > fidgeting, no matter how skillfully done, is complete loss of coherent > > functionality in the subject. Even if this can be avoided, subtle > > effects and ripple changes would be impossible to predict. > > Actually, any two computers capable of loading the same core dump will > behave identically from a processor standpoint - it includes the OS, the > works, everything that is in the computer's state. ANY computer will load ANY coredump, if it can fit in the available memory. Running it is a different matter, and the result will be different depending on hardware available. Yes, the processor might execute the same machine code, but it will attempt to access various peripherals with varying levels of success. The end result will be messy with similar, but not equivalent, computers, and complete loss of functionality when differences are greater. The point isn't the processor's standpoint; it may be running the code, but if the screen is black and the computer doesn't respond the run of the core dump can hardly be called a success. Humans are no different; if the end result in the subject is a blank look and no movement, it's called a failure. Also, this is really about a "partial" core dump, used as a patch applied to a running system. In computer science it's witchcraft at it's best; and that is in a system that is completely predictable (when not running MS software, that is :). > Point being here that a synaesthetic experience, Cartesian-demon > style, could be induced by any number of as-yet unpredicted clues, > and language (say, a Mythos spell?) could very well be one of them in > an only slughtly rubbery scifi setting. Definitely. Commercials, for example, attempt this to some statistical effect, with little or no Mythos help. However, larger and more permanent changes and "pumping in" knowledge, skills and experiences would require either skilled, individual adaption to what's already in the subject or more or less replacing the subject. > A play (King in Yellow?), a painting (lots of possibilities here), a > movie, a poem - all these things can be made vectors of madness working > with this mechanism. Most of the effects caused by experiences like these are purely detrimental - SAN loss. The Ur-language described was primarily used for constructive purposes, which is what makes it a lot less believable. Knowledge is so different in different brains that augmenting it by re-programming is very hairy. To reduce it, OTOH, is dead simple. My point is, subtle and/or destructive codes are not only feasible, but demonstrated to work in practice. Far reaching, less subtle effects such as dumping in knowledge on how to harvest rye or rebuilding a personality requires either great care or simply the destruction and recreation of the personality (or MiB influence). It's hardly feasible it can be done by reading a few pages of text, no matter how Ur the language it's written in. Jesper -- Assassination can seldom be employed with a clear conscience. Persons who are morally squeamish should not attempt it. -- CIA, "Operation PB Success" training files