[firebug]

I was answering another thread and I thought about this...  I'm hoping they'll mention it in Data Trails, but until then it'd be cool to discuss, especially for anyone who plays a technomancer who's been Emerged for more than a year or two.

So, in 4th edition with the advent of the Wireless Matrix, technomancers started to appear.  Similar abilities to the Otaku of yesteryear, but without requiring any augmentations, blah blah blah.  Everyone knows how TMs are, they're "organic commlinks" or what-have-you, able to interact with the matrix totally on their own.  Their brains just learn matrix protocols.  They learned programs and called them complex forms, they could simulate skillsoft in their own bodies, and be a walking PAN with an untouchable master node.

But that changed entirely in 5th edition.  The thing is, though...  It's not like mechanical changes like going from "having a number of IPs" to the 'new' initiative system, or switching how mystic adepts gain power points.  Those have small impact on the world or the characters, and are meta-concepts.  Nobody in Shadowrun talks about an actual fight in terms of "initiative passes" and Adepts don't describe their powers as "costing .25 of a Power Point".

But all that shit from 4th edition happened.  That is how the matrix was, and was specifically changed from that.  Meaning nodes stopped being a thing, technomancers went from complex forms being "how they do anything at all" to "the specific weird stuff only they can do", they can't slave devices to their Living Persona anymore...

The TMs had to have actually experienced that, right?  I mean, reworking the matrix would be for a TM what someone completely rebalancing all the mana in the world would be for magicians.  Do you think it's intended that somehow none of the TMs remember being able to do stuff they can't do now, or that all the technomancers slowly "evolved" to fit the new matrix?  Was there a period of minor-mayhem as all the TMs were disoriented and uncomfortable with their powers for a few weeks?

I don't think it can be just a retcon, since people know the matrix changed and will probably make reference to it.  I mean, you can assume deckers (once they bought the new gear and got used to the new handle) were probably frustrated about having to learn how to crack again.  The ones that didn't get "early access" anyways...

I like the idea of my character being kinda pissed that she had to get comfortable with her powers all over again because The Man decided to shake up the matrix, angry that now she can't slave anything to her now non-existant "bionode", the loss of which was probably a little traumatic, while at the same time just realizing that the new matrix is more "open" to the resonance, allowing her to do crazier stuff than she could before.

[DeathStrobe]

Well, we know GOD hates Technomancers because they can't regulate them at all. At least with deckers they can restrict the sale of decks to help control deckers, and brick a deck.

What can they do to stop TM's? They can knock them out. But they can't do much else to stop them.

Technomancers can also subvert the Matrix in ways that the new protocols are definitely not suppose to let happen, ie Complex Forms.

I think it makes sense that the Deep Resonance doesn't give a damn about what GOD wants, and just wants to see the Matrix expand.

So I have this theory that the Deep Resonance, after becoming self aware, that it realized that its own being and cognition were tied to the size of the Matrix. It wants more devices connected to it, so that it can be "stronger" in whatever abstract sense that's suppose to mean. It was not happy with the rate at which metahumanity was using it (or maybe it needs metahumanity so wants more people online), so it tried to go out and add its own devices. It found some children that were able to commune with it. So it made the Otaku. This is where I start going all Plan 9 on you, but I think Dunkelzahn saw what the Deep Resonance was doing and decided to help it out, so helped orchestrate the events that led up to Crash 2.0. With the wireless Matrix the Deep Resonance was able to reach out to more living things more easily and thus technomancers and technocritters.

So now GOD reworked the entire Matrix to make it a safer and happier place, and restrict users. Deep Resonance isn't going to have any of that. It wants more users. So its probably not happy with the idea of restricting what people can do with the Matrix. Anyway, I'm just saying that the Resonance does what the Resonance wants. I don't think there is any logical way to explain it, other than a Technomancer just knows.

[firebug]

...This is where I start going all Plan 9 on you...

As long as you don't start changing gender mid-conversation I'm sure you'll be able to keep things coherent.

So you prettymuch do believe that TMs did experience a change, and that the Resonance fought against it to keep technomancers existent.  It'd make sense that a major part of the matrix rework was an attempt by the corps to disable TMs, which resulted in a lot of them losing footing and understanding, but since their connection to the Resonance wasn't weakened (because how could it be?) they were "supplied" with new information and abilities.

It certainly gives Clockwork some credit to be fearful of TMs if the Resonance is semi-sentient and could have its own agenda.  I suppose it makes sense, in what TMs are capable of purely through the complex forms and echoes.  Things like the E-sensing echo don't have any place in the matrix, and are purely a construct of the Resonance, after all.

I reiterate that I'd love a short story about how the transitional-period between 4e matrix and 5e matrix was experienced by them.

[Reaver]

I think the change of the matrix protocols on technos would be more like the sudden change in climates are when you go on vacation....


Up here in the Frozen North (and for work), I have gone from -80c to 57c in a little over 20 hours.... add in to that all the elevation changes and your body kinda goes into shock. You wonder around for the first few days and it is hard to concentrate...

[RHat]

For the sake of an interesting reference, check out "Riding the Stream", starting on Unwired 133, for part of why I figure technomancers should be using their Fading attribute for Matrix actions (possibly along with Resonance at times - looking at it, using Fading attribute in place of Logic and Resonance in place of Intuition or Willpower for Matrix Actions seems absolutely perfect).

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

My question for you, firebug, is 'why do you think this happened all at once'?  As any individual in the tech industry can tell you - as any observer of the tech industry knows, and you're probably one of them - a protocol doesn't get accepted overnight.  Negotiations occur, hardware gets upgraded, the entire stuff takes time.  Six months, eight months, a year or so of distribution and seeping into the less-cutting-edge places.

I don't mean to sound like I think your question is silly; I don't think it is.  But at the same time, you're talking about a non-fundamental change.  This isn't the Matrix 3.0; it's more like Matrix 2.1.  People are still able to access information and do most normal things with their commlinks, just as they used to, and so the underlying codebase that's carrying the majority of the load for the AI, E-Ghosts, and Technomancers is still doing the same work.  However, certain security protocols have been significantly upgraded in order to keep closer track on individuals - which requires a certain amount of hardware to circumscribe, and thus decks return for the real hacker (as compared to the script kiddies of 4e).

The Deep Resonance/Dissonance (which all technomancers feel, one way or the other) exists in part as a direct result of The Code That Exists; by simple dint of using the Resonance, the technomancer starts to become 'in tune' with the new code.  Recall that when Jackpoint's resident technomancer (can't remember her name now, dammit) took a look around GOD's test node, she took a little bit to get used to the feel of the place, but then for her it was essentially business as usual.

I might suggest playing out a mild discomfort ("These pants don't fit like they used to!!" level) for a few minutes at the start of each run for a few sessions, but by that time the character should have 'broken back in' to the code.

[martinchaen]

I'm not sure I buy SR5 Matrix not being a major change.

To my mind, it very much is Matrix 3.0, seeing as it's described as a n almost complete redesign. I'll look through some books tomorrow, but to me at least the new Matrix is far, far more than just a few tightened security measures. How else do you explain the complete and utter lack of programs on even a top of the line commlink? How else do you explain the fact that agents are no longer ubiquitous amongst the population, or the fact that GOD suddenly got complete and utter visibility of the entire Matrix as we know it?

Like I said, I'll look through some books to see if I can reaffirm my impression of the redesign as it has been presented.

I too hope the new Matrix book details how the change was for technomancers.

[firebug]

To respond to Wyrm:

It's not really that I think it changed overnight.  But even over the course of a few months would have caused some discomfort I'd feel.  I suppose it could be a minor change; it's seems major because I'm looking at it from the perspective of a shadowrun hacker.  Still, the change from nodes to free-floating devices on a grid had to have been uncomfortable for TMs in some way.  Nothing compared to the transition to wireless, but it definitely changed how people interacted with it.  Keep in mind too, that to a being that's so bound the matrix, saying that wouldn't notice it because Joe Wageslave can still access YouTube fine is a bit dismissive.  Things that seemed small to the populace would inevitably be more noticable to anyone in-tune with the Resonance.

For sure though, I wouldn't think a PC would start the game disoriented.  Presumably they've been changing and adapting with the matrix.  I just wonder what that period was like, and would love to see an official fiction describing it.  Even the ones who weren't runners probably had some kind of apprehension when they heard the corps were going to alter the matrix; at least in a "I wonder how that will affect me?" sense if nothing else.

[RHat]

It did change very rapidly after the incidents in Denver, though, per my memory Storm Front - they spent a bit of time getting everything in place, but the actual switchover was quite fast.

[martinchaen]

RHat has it; read Storm Front beginning on page 156, specifically under the One Grid To Rule Them All heading...

It's pretty clear that with the exception of a very few select individuals (and presumably a whole host of engineers and work personnel), the switch from Matrix 2.0 to x.x was pretty sudden.

[Reaver]

the lead up to the change was a bit quick in my industrial opinion, a little over a year just seems a bit too quick for something that affects the entire world. I have seen industrial jobs on a single site take 5 years, and that is nothing as far reaching as the matrix....


But once all that new hardware was in place? almost a matter of flipping a switch...... (well, not really, but the entire change would have taken hours)

[martinchaen]

Reaver
Consider that the events of the Matrix redesign
a) Is fictional (so likely protected by plot armor (TM)
b) Was undertaken by order of the Corporate Court and the big ten in unison agreement
c) Was mostly implemented secretly much to everyone's surprise

With this in mind, let's examine the text.

So I managed to hack de la Mar’s newest link and found some more interesting things. Looks like the new protocol is watched over by GOD, but every member of the Corporate Court had to agree to be part of the team. They are all playing nice with GOD, and they each will have their own grid along with a public grid and national grid for the countries that can afford one. The public grid will supposedly cover everywhere and, according to de la Mar, will even be accessible via satellite link from any point on the globe! This is huge. How has it not been made public yet? Especially since de la Mar is claiming it will be up on January 1st. 2075 is going to be an interesting year!
>  Slamm-0!

Whispers started in DeeCee and Atlanta shortly after the last election results were finalized. NeoNET, MCT, and Ares all started holding some closed-door congressional meetings in late November on both sides of the border. MCT must have lost out early, but it looks like Ares in the CAS and NeoNET in the UCAS have been sticking around. If there is some new Matrix contract coming around, these two are doing the heavy lifting. Yes. Ares. Not sure how that will work, but they are looking to get firmly entrenched with their new American patrons.
>  Kay St. Irregular

So, we know that the planning began after "last election results were finalized". Unfortunately, it doesn't mention which elections specifically, but we can infer that since DC and Atlanta are mentioned, he's talking about presidential elections. The above from Slamm-O! also makes it pretty clear that most people would have been in the dark about the coming change.

Let's switch to another book for reference.

November 8—UCAS: Incumbant Angela Colloton (R) is elected president.
November 8—CAS: Ramsay McMalkin of the Technocrat party wins the CAS presidential election.

So, we know that at some point on or after November 8th, 2072 is likely when the planning started. And if we go back to Storm Front, we can find that Danielle de la Mar announced the new Matrix launch on December 1st, 2074. That's two years of planning, research and development, and implementation.

Must have been one hell of a security nightmare to manage the thousands of workers. But then again, all of these events take place in the somewhat dystopian 2070's, where corporate wageslaves likely wouldn't bat an eyelash at "upgrading a node here and a node there". Let's face it, if this was executed correctly, the number of people who knew what this REALLY was could have been contained, as is likely to have been the case given the response from the shadowtalkers.

Makes sense to me, at least.

Oh, and Firebug, here's Netcat's description of how the new Matrix affected her personally:

I’m talking about this against my own good judgment because I hate feeding Clockwork and the rest of the technophobes, but I think everyone else could use the data. First off the place feels a little weird to me. Can’t really express the concept in any other way and can’t really describe it further. Sorry. Secondly, the reason none of you are able to access it with your programs and your links is because the whole place is running on new protocols that allow only limited connectibility [SIC] from current commlinks. They changed all the security protocols to block every program we currently have to scramble, sleaze, decipher, and generally wreak havoc on their systems. For all of you this means you are going to need to start putting together new programs. For me it meant I just needed to spend a little time getting to know the new system and then generate a little coding on the fly. I did this a little at a time over the course of a week with a little trial and error. I got the coding right and I even managed to access the new grid and analyze the agent in the accessible node. The agent isn’t even an agent—it’s a piece of IC. I wasn’t successfully running programs for more than 30 seconds before that agent changed its tune and politely asked me to leave. I figured I was in trouble, but I tried to push it a little further. The IC didn’t do a thing, but within another few seconds another icon appeared in the node. It was an angel—I think Michael, flaming sword and all. He didn’t ask me to leave or say anything else. He just looked at me and shook his head. Next thing I knew I woke up with a pounding headache, a bloody nose, and Slamm-0! waving smelling salts under my nose saying we had to go. Whatever the icon was (my guess is a hacker from GOD), it tracked my position at the same time it gave me the boot. Luckily Slamm-0! was in good with the desk clerk at our bolt hole, and we were warned in time to get us clear. Got a quick look and the goons were KE, local Seattle cops. Looks like coordination is part of the new plan.
>  Netcat

Cheers

[Reaver]

OK, 2 plus years I can see.

It would be sloppy work, but it would get you up and running, then do the "cleaning" after.

[firebug]

Neat, so it seems like for Netcat the transition only took her about a week to really get used to and there wasn't really any disorientation--  Though she did mention that none of the old programs worked.  Since she was still testing something before it'd been fully changed though, I think it'd probably take more effort (not a lot, but some) when it was implemented across the whole world over the course of a month (judging by the claim that it would be launched December 1st and up on January 1st) at most.

Whether or not the whole matrix changing would be more rattling to a TM than just them entering a node that is essentially a piece of the new matrix squared off from the rest is in the air.  I could very much see it not mattering, since if you get used to the new global protocols in one place, you're used to them everywhere (that's kinda the point), but once it becomes global, I could see that making the Resonance itself then react to it.

OK, 2 plus years I can see.

It would be sloppy work, but it would get you up and running, then do the "cleaning" after.

Maybe not too sloppy.  I mean with the eradication of untrained labor in the sixth world and the prevalence of drones, the corps could have seriously cut down the time it takes to get stuff done.  I'm not an expert on anything like that though so...  Just speculating.

[martinchaen]

I actually just noticed that further on in her press conference, de la Mar stated that "By April 1st, 2075, this new measure of security will be offered by nations and citystates around the world." She also states that "The worldwide public grid is available now to anyone who downloads the new protocols." Presumably, then, existing hardware is somewhat compatible with the new tech; end users would merely have to "update" their commlinks, I imagine in a fashion similar to how your smartphone upgrades it's own OS when a system update is made available by the carrier. However, FastJack states that he had to cobble together old pieces of tech (essentially building a deck) in order to hack the new "nodes", if we can call them that.

There's also rumors in Conspiracy Theories that Dodger helped develop the new protocols, or was at least approached to do so by an unknown entity/megacorp, in exchange for assistance locating Maegera (or however you spell it's/her name...).

And while I wouldn't necessarily agree with the "sloppy" part due to the time of implementation, Reaver (remember that they could have been, and most likely were from references to de la Mar being involved in R&D before 2074), I will agree that they didn't succeed in their vision to entirely secure the Matrix. Obviously