[chris_m2000]

Is otaku fading related to how open/closed the matrix was?

Otaku in Shadowrun 2nd and 3rd Editions begin losing access to resonance (aka fading) after reaching the age of 21.  Much of the most important data of the matrix was isolated in SR2 and SR3.  Shadowrunners had to break into facilities to jack in and get data.

Technomancers in Shadowrun 4th Edition did not seem to experience fading as they aged.  And the matrix nodes in SR4 are much more accessible, open and of course wireless.  Very few matrix nodes mentioned in the SR4 books are completely isolated from the global wireless matrix.

Theory: Perhaps the openness/closedness of the matrix is linked to whether technomancers experience fading as they age.  And with the matrix in Shadowrun 5th edition including more isolated nodes where shadowrunners have to break into a building to grab data, the technomancers of SR5 might start experiencing fading as they age as well.

It's mentioned that the dissonant technomancer Pax was experiencing fading as she aged, and that's one of the reasons she helped cause Crash 2.0.  Perhaps the restrictive matrix of SR5 means she and Ex Pacis will be working on Crash 3.0 to avoid fading as they continue to age once again.

References:
- Matrix book Shadowrun 3rd Edition Page 146 (Mentions fading for otaku starts around the age of 21)
- Threats 2 book Shadowrun 3rd Edition Page 23 (Mentions Pax dealing with Aging and Fading)
- Corporate Intrigue Shadowrun 4th Edition Page 67 (Mentions Pax is still around)

[Namikaze]

Otaku no longer exist in SR.  They were the original technomancers, who helped usher in the Resonance but that was it.  As far as Pax is concerned, someone like Wyrm can probably give you a detailed list of where Pax is located, what Pax is doing, and what she ate for breakfast this morning.  Technomancers do not suffer fading in the same way as Otaku.  Fading is the technomancer equivalent of Drain, and that's it.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

Pre-Crash 2.0, perceiving the Resonance required a neural structure that was highly flexible, adaptable, capable of being touched by something that was far, far 'underwater'.  Otaku were young; the essentially technomantic capabilities they possessed required the highly-adaptable brain structure that is only found in a pre-adult mind, before the neural pathways begin to solidify.  (National Geographic has some fascinating reading regarding this, actually; check 1-2 years ago, looking for an article about teen brains.)  That solidification is what they called 'Fading'.

Crash 2.0 took those deep seas and raised the bottom, so to speak; it was no longer necessary to have quite so incredibly adaptable a neural structure in order to be able to perceive the Resonance.  As even adults (even ancient fogies!) might now be capable of this perception, Fading as a term came to refer to the temporary psychological and physiological exhaustion of bending the Resonance to your will.  So instead of 'Fading' for good, you just 'Faded' for a while.

There are no longer any indicators of age being tied to loss of technomantic abilities.

And Namikaze, everyone knows that Pax likes eggs.  Preferably scrambled. 

[chris_m2000]

Good explanation Wyrm.  Thanks for your thoughts.

[grid_hopper]

Is otaku fading related to how open/closed the matrix was?

Otaku in Shadowrun 2nd and 3rd Editions begin losing access to resonance (aka fading) after reaching the age of 21.  Much of the most important data of the matrix was isolated in SR2 and SR3.  Shadowrunners had to break into facilities to jack in and get data.

Technomancers in Shadowrun 4th Edition did not seem to experience fading as they aged.  And the matrix nodes in SR4 are much more accessible, open and of course wireless.  Very few matrix nodes mentioned in the SR4 books are completely isolated from the global wireless matrix.

Thought on Architcture

Theory: Perhaps the openness/closedness of the matrix is linked to whether technomancers experience fading as they age.  And with the matrix in Shadowrun 5th edition including more isolated nodes where shadowrunners have to break into a building to grab data, the technomancers of SR5 might start experiencing fading as they age as well.

It's mentioned that the dissonant technomancer Pax was experiencing fading as she aged, and that's one of the reasons she helped cause Crash 2.0.  Perhaps the restrictive matrix of SR5 means she and Ex Pacis will be working on Crash 3.0 to avoid fading as they continue to age once again.

References:
- Matrix book Shadowrun 3rd Edition Page 146 (Mentions fading for otaku starts around the age of 21)
- Threats 2 book Shadowrun 3rd Edition Page 23 (Mentions Pax dealing with Aging and Fading)
- Corporate Intrigue Shadowrun 4th Edition Page 67 (Mentions Pax is still around)

 An Imagination on Architecture;

The Matrix I think is built on AI's from the beginning. 
So the crashes were all a correction of sorts.
Brought about by the system (AI's)
 and the planning by whoever, meaning Otaku, Technmancer, whoever, etc,.. was an attempt to find a way to benefit personally from the system and it's 'self-corrections'.

Even further, as the architecture changes for 'self-preservation's' sake, the people with the tightest grip on the 'system' (AI's) loose that grip. Meaning Corps get more democratic, individuals die suddenly anddisappear into the matrix, nanos invade your brain.....

[Wazlethwack]

When you say the Crash 2.0 raised the seas.... is that kind of like the mana level going up over time?  Did the second crash cause the resonance level (or something) of the Matrix to go up?

[Parker]

Here's a whacker, matey!

     If ya want to run with resonance as an analog to manna, consider that technomancers, if powerful enough, could warp reality 'in-system'.  In other words, instead of just reducing Black I.C. to kibble and stealing/rewriting data; how's about techno-rites affecting reality itself?!  I brought it up to a fellow GM and he just rolled his eyes.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

... 'reality itself' being the world of the Matrix, or the physical world?  If the former, that's what they do already; if the latter, considering how interconnected the two are, they already can via causing physical objects to do things for them.

[Crimsondude]

Pax is a southern girl. You know she loves grits.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

You'd be surprised.  I've lived in the ATL for what, eight or more years now?  I haven't had grits once.

[Namikaze]

I lived in Houston for 30 years and never tried grits until I got to Colorado Springs.  Damn tasty though!

[Parker]

... 'reality itself' being the world of the Matrix, or the physical world?  If the former, that's what they do already; if the latter, considering how interconnected the two are, they already can via causing physical objects to do things for them.

  Yeah. the latter.   Imagine!  Then ya can have a techno who treats reality like a common decker would treat the VR of the Matrix....

                                        (NEO shades not required for This..MATRIX.....)

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

... no offense, but that's what you already have.  Deckers have certain rules they cannot break; technomancers have fewer, and more that they can bend, but they still have them.  In the real world, of course, it's called physics.  And I would just say that what you appear to be wanting is a technomancer-mage.  Not going to happen in the general game, but hey, in your home game, go for it.  I can very easily see a technomancer/mage who approaches his magic from a technomantic perspective.  Of course, one can argue that there'd be no functional difference between one's mystic and technomantic Mentor Spirit ...

[Crimsondude]

You'd be surprised.  I've lived in the ATL for what, eight or more years now?  I haven't had grits once.

Your loss.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

Yeah, but the real question is, is eating grits what kept her sane for so long, or is eating grits what turned her psycho?