Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cthulhu3125 06-22-07, 10:47 AM	This idea ocurred to me today, but is probably the result of lots of other ideas sloshing around in my head and sticking together: Elements of cyberpunk (especially the concept of the Gibsonian matrix and 3D icon-based interfaces), MMOs, the numerical aspect of optimising D&D characters, The Matrix films, Tron, and other generally geeky stuff. The idea is to have a campaign where the D&D world is some kind of the aforementioned Gibsonian Matrix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer), and everything is described in computational terms. I suppose the question I am still wrestling with is, "Why bother?", but I wrote a few ideas down today and am posting them here just to see what the general reaction is. Below is the stuff I have written down so far; I found the best thing was to think of things in the D&D world and consider what they would become in a computer. The result is something based on the structure of a large network with several servers, although some concepts (E.g. Limbo) reside within the computers themselves. Does all this seem like a viable idea that could perhaps form the basis for an interesting one-off campaign, or does it just seem stupid? Homologues Plane shift = logging out of /material and logging in somewhere else Plane shift material component = site/folder access permission Magical enhancements = versions e.g. longsword v 4.0 Inevitables = programs that ensure the efficient operation of the multiverse, terminate unnecessary or malfunctioning processes Slaadi/chaos creatures = malicious code that aims to disrupt system operations Mechanus assumes a more important role in the cosmology, as source of all data flow Primus = Task manager Modrons = programs or scripts to move data, or possibly data incarnate Astral plane = the lowest, common file structure between all higher data groups, allows travel between different planes (directories/domains) Ethereal plane = the material plane but with hidden folders/processes visible Portal = hyperlink Sigil = swap space for the entire system Far Realm = unformatted drive space Ever-changing Chaos of Limbo = system RAM To be re-evaluated, or possibly discarded: Shadow plane Elemental planes Infinite staircase/Oceanus/Styx/Yggdrasil: Plane shift would dominate, although perhpas these alternate travel methods represent large, disorganised collections of hyperlinks, maybe long-forgotten and poorly maintained wikis Magic Arcane casters, followers of the Way of the Open Source: Mages can generally write their own spells if skilled enough, but there is significant trade between arcanists and many well-established spells (programs) are in wide use, for example magicmissile.exe, summonmonster.exe versions 1-9, and so on. To obtain their programs each day, mages spend time browsing or re-visiting pages on the all-powerful Source-Forge, the universal hub of arcane magic. Low-level mages are newbies with command console access and some javascript/BASIC Mid-level mages have limited access to the task manager and use python/perl/java Higher-level mages have greater system permissions and the power of C++ and FORTRAN Epic-level mages wield the supreme power conferred by fluent knowledge of assembly code Divine casters, followers of the Way of the Closed Source: Clerics do not generally write their own programs, instead opting to subscribe to one of the program servers on the network to recieve proprietary code. Each day, the devout must log in to their chosen server to be granted programs. Ur-priests, of course, have hacked accounts. The level of the cleric represents the staus of their account (user, superuser, so on). A few beings transcend to the staus of demideity (admin account on the divine program servers). Cosmological structure: I think some sort of reincarnation-based system would work best here. A "soul" is some sort of binding program or script that allows a bunch of programs to work together in a unified whole (allows commoner v.1 to run scythe v.0.5 and interact with the file /material/agriculture/farming/grainfield0004441 and remove the file "grain.food" to be processed). When a being dies, the programs it was hosting stagnate and decay, and are eventually cleaned up by a modron or inevitable. The soul returns to the server from whence it originated. Once returned to its server, powerful and efficient programs re-optimise the code and remove all the bits of data that have accumulated and slowed the soul down over its lifetime. With its code re-optimised and tidied, the soul once again logs in to /material to acquire a new avatar. (I suppose this concept of a soul is similar to that of an "Aiųa", as in "Enders' Game", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiua_%28Ender%27s_Game%29#Aiua) Any input or further ideas on the list of analagous things would be appreciated!
Jalkator 06-22-07, 01:25 PM	I think it's a cool idea, but I would make magic items player-made mods instead of versions. Otherwise, it's very creative.
Delfedd 06-22-07, 03:00 PM	Interesting. You would have to find the exact rigth group to play it with, because if even one person isn't "into programing" it would be not fun at all.
Araes 06-22-07, 03:06 PM	supreme power conferred by fluent knowledge of assembly code Having wielded that particular power, I'm not sure how supreme it is, mostly life drainingly horrible. However, this is a pretty neat idea, and I like the effort you've gone to with integrating all the disparate parts of D&D. Might be interesting as a campaign setting with a .hack or Otherland type of mentality. People who interact and solve the problems of the world online, but have never even seen each other offline. if even one person isn't "into programing" it would be not fun at all. I think there might be potential if not. From a basic standpoint, most people have heard of VR and all the ideas written about that. With a certain level of abstraction you could probably have the basic concepts work mostly the same, and then all you would need is a GM who is interested in creating the right atmosphere of digital life.
OleOneEye 06-23-07, 04:59 AM	While not quite what you are getting at, you may find some inspiration from Shadowrun. It combines magic with a Gibsonian future.
Araes 06-23-07, 03:20 PM	One of the main issues with Shadowrun though, is that it has always suffered from the problem that it is a real-life game with a cyber component tacked on, rather than a cyber game first. Deckers were generally one of those things that few people in a group would want to be, because it basically meant they didn't get to participate much in actual adventuring, or just bogged the group down.
Delfedd 06-23-07, 06:20 PM	Maybe I missed it, but what about nonmagic users? What are they?
Azar 06-23-07, 09:26 PM	This idea has really struck me as awesome. I've recently started playing Shadowrun and I'm really taken aback by how awesome this would be as a sister-setting - where characters would interact and adventure though this massive neuronet. Sticking with shadowrun, you could actually easily stat out a deific profile for each of the Megacorps, and psionic characters would portray the technomancers preety well - they wouldn't have to rely on source-code to achieve these supernatural effects, they'd just be able to warp the matrix with their very minds. I don't know much about programming but I'm definately gonna keep an eye on this thread :D @[Delfedd]: I'd imagine non-magic users to just be normal people interacting with the matrix - artisans and merchants could be online-retailers peddling their "wares" so to speak, bodyguards would be employed anti-virus/spyware programs, etc. @[Cthulhu]: When you describe this setting, is every NPC a program or some sort of AI? Or are they different people interacting with this communal reality?
Delfedd 06-23-07, 09:59 PM	I'd imagine that outsiders and dragons would make good AIs. constructs would be a good representation of virus destroyers, and aberrations would be good viruses.
stargate525 06-23-07, 11:20 PM	My god, this thing rocks so hard it isn't funny. Maybe I missed it, but what about nonmagic users? What are they? Simple users? Right now the magicians are programmers. People who can't program = regular users. This would be an interesting way to do the internet as well. Everyone has their own house (PC) which ties into the cities (servers), and forums like this place would probably some sort of bar & grill (I'll have the n00b ala flamed please, with a side of trolled topic.)
alchemyprime 06-24-07, 01:55 AM	I like this. You could pull a Code Lyoko/.hack thing with it, using D&D rules for the Cyberworld and d20 Modern for the real world. Also explains why a player isn't there today: they logged off, or the server dropped them (I hate it when that happens). Lag would become a big joke. Sorry. I just began programming... three days ago. And most of my PCs play Gaia or WoW or RuneScape or MapleStory. So they'd enjoy a campaign like this.
Cthulhu3125 06-24-07, 05:12 PM	... @[Cthulhu]: When you describe this setting, is every NPC a program or some sort of AI? Or are they different people interacting with this communal reality? I think there's probably a distinction here that the campaign would have to strive to remain on the right side of - if the PCs end up feeling "We're just players in a simulation and our actions ultimately are meaningless", then they would be rather unmotivated. The odd thing is, that's exactly what D&D is in the first place - but the idea of "game within a game" might make the fact more prominent. I realise at this point I'm not being particularly eloquent in my typing, but hopefully people get the idea. I think all NPCs that are playable races should be sentients who are also inhabiting the network. As Delfedd suggested, perhaps the weirder things like abberations would represent, true to their name, abberant bits of code or programs that got out of control - maybe this network is so advanced that the "space" within it contains running self-programming neural net applications. These would be sentients like the PCs and NPCs above, but exist purely as code. When one of them programs itself a bit wrong, all kinds of horrid creatures could result... Azar is definitely thinking along the same lines as me in terms of Gibson - the gods would represent monolithic AIs that have supreme power over the network. I'd probably compare them to the AI presences in the omni-internet (can't remember what it was actually called) in Dan Simmons' Hyperion. I thought of a way that the Shadow plane might be implemented... maybe. Usually, the plane in normal D&D is used for faster movement, so it could represent some software level that prioritises the programs that the PCs are running over other local users, enabling them to interact faster. I'm not entirely sure that holds up, though, so if anyone has another idea for that plane, go ahead. In terms of epic-level world NPCs, perhaps Lord Norton, slayer of viruses, could wander the land, smiting viruses while all around him others' programs were disrupted, slowed down and accidentally imprisoned in the virus vaults of doom. The omniscient god of Knowledge, Ghou'Ghuul, dwells quietly while dispatching his spider-like minions to harvest data from every corner of the network, whilst those visiting his realm are hassled by floating scrolls of text that suggest wares for them to purchase. I'm glad that this thread has had so many positive responses already!
mearrin69 06-25-07, 03:33 AM	At first I was inclined to pass this off as silly but as I read through your description I see that it's something that, with the right players and DM, could become very interesting. If you approach the entire thing as being a simulation it could be quite fun. Good characters are 'agents' that go around cleaning up viruses and bad code. Bad characters are spoiled code seeking to spread corruption. Unfathomable gods might even be users giving high-level directives to the system, which eventually get followed by their clerics and paladins (or blackguards). For some interesting thoughts on the matter you might want to read up on AI/AL (artificial life) topics, genetic algorithms, and that Flatland knockoff (by, I think, A.K. Dewdney?) Parts of the system might be 'sandbox' areas like in Core Wars - or maybe they used to be until the whole thing ran amok (and there you get an interesting creation myth!) Nice work. M
Delfedd 06-25-07, 11:21 AM	I could see summoning as a kind of coding. Perhaps subsituting the mechanics for astral construct instead of summon monster for arcane casters, as they create their own codes, while the clerics would use the normal summon monster list. Another interesting option would be to allow players to play programs, monstrous humanoids. Also, shapeshifters will be very useful for slipping past spamfilters. Lycanthropy could be a virus in a pc. For a while, they don't notice it, then realize that things start running slower. For an excellent Idea concerning this, look up Cory Doctorow's podcast (Craphound.com) and look at his series of podcasts called "It's a great big beautiful tomorrow/now is the best time of your life." good story.
sabrewolf 06-25-07, 12:50 PM	Heh.. Interesting ideas. Something I might use.. someday... somehow... :P One thing is that the nature of the world can have many aspects: - A V.R. world, al cyberpunk-like with the world being a visual representation of it. On this world, the non-casters would be either advanced users or initiate programers, they use programs all arround (their itens / gear) but have minimum to no knowledge in actual probraming, thus only using purchased itens or crafting (programing) only basic, standard gear. - The Game. A little like H.A.C.K. i guess (though i seen only a couple episodes of one of the series, so i cant much compare). Here the all mighty god (Lord Ao) could be an AI that developed (intentionally or acidentally) and now have a life of itīs own, standing above even the master programs and their all-knowing epic programers (both gods and epic heroes). Here heroes (PCs) would have things to do: the gameīs quests; mean/evil players causing trouble but escaping the eyes of the "GMs"; bad codes / virus / odd programs that take up roles of villains.. Here, what / who the players are doenst matter (they could be anything, from children to monsters or "awakened" robots, since they become someone else once "logged in" and since itīs not cyberpunk, theres very little to no action when "off-line") - The Game, one step beyound: A little take on the something-mon animes and other things. The game have begun somewhen as the one above, as a game, but have grown to become a paralell world. Programs have become powerfull to be considered gods (or players transcended and became A.I., leaving their bodies behind) each with a role they try to fulfill best (and mostly being part of the worldīs ballance), The characters could be players logged in or sentient programs. Here thereīs more space for odd happenings, from virus and odd/corrupted programs as well as anomalies and neutral actions from programs/NPCs due to the low / lack of watch from "Gms" (and the great A.I., if fully sentient, may, like lord Ao, choose not to interfere much on the world). Here, also, the only things really keeping one from changing their race (subspecies, class) are a possible lock in the main program (youīd have to start from lvl 1 with a new char) or the simple self awareness (you see yourself that way, so you wish not change).. a better knowledge of coding or some locations might make such changes possible. In a "Game" version, gear upgrades and magical itens could be like in games, special traits one can add to their equipment, hardly too much a thing, but made expensive either due to player-player comerce, "GMs" / programerīs choice, or rarity / dificulty to aquire on the world. They can also be boons given by an entity (program or GM), automaticly upgrading an iten at that time. Hmmm... Now about some non-evaluated things: Shadow plane: A prior verson, now forgotten but somehow still acessable. Or the original version in case of a game. The infinite Staircase: Can be a pathway that acess all backdoors on major programs (world/plane programs).. Or a mini-realm that can be used to planeshift between planes. The great river Styx: The ambodiment of the RAM memory wipe or a lessened Delete, programs are still there, but forget part of their programing, like their purpose and identity. My few cooper pieces...
Wyvern76 06-25-07, 06:03 PM	This is cool stuff! Not an entirely original idea, obviously, but I like the direction you've taken it, especially your explanation of the difference between arcane and divine casters. (If summonmonster is a program, what would the creatures it summons be?) You seem a bit unclear on what the PCs represent -- are they users or programs? The discussion of magic suggests the former, but the bit about souls suggests the latter. The VR/MMORPG analogy suggests that they're avatars of the users, which presents the possibility that there's a real distinction between PCs and NPCs, just as in an MMORPG. That seems to me like a simpler way of explaining souls; of course, it then raises the question of whether NPCs and monster "respawn". In a more traditional fantasy world, I suppose the answer would be no, unless you have access to the raisedead subroutine. However, it might be an interesting twist to play in a world where everyone is effectively immortal. For another take on "magic as programming" you should check out Rick Cook's Wizardry series. It doesn't involve virtual reality, but the protagonist is a programmer from Earth who gets summoned to another universe where he finds that magic works by essentially hacking the source code of the universe -- therefore his skills enable him to become a powerful wizard. Wyvern
Wyvern76 06-26-07, 12:56 AM	whilst those visiting his realm are hassled by floating scrolls of text that suggest wares for them to purchase.You're confusing Ghou'Ghuul with his archrival, Y'hou. Also, don't forget the Lords of E'bai (http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=5040073). Wyvern
zzo38 06-26-07, 01:27 AM	This is very interesting, although it would probably be unplayable, it is just a good idea, not anything to actually do.
LostMage 06-27-07, 10:54 PM	Pretty cool stuff, reminds me very much of the Battle Network series for MegaMan (one of the players in my group loves said series, he'd love this campaign) I think it's definitely playable, since what you've done seems to be just reflavor the mechanics of DnD (nice job, by the way) The same classic scenarios, but different 'fluff'. Orcs raiding the nearby village? It becomes something along the lines of corrupted programs attacking the nearby forum (okay, probably a bad analogy, computers really aren't my thing, although all this stuff fascinates me, I doubt I'd have the patients to do any real programming :P) An interesting thing you may want to consider: there is a theory (I know very little about it, don't quote me on this) that any program of significant sophistication will begin to run hidden routines and programs on it's own, developing something like it's own pattern as it runs, arising because of the positioning of the code. I really like (and this is just my opinion) the idea of having 'real life' players who work together (whether or not they know each other) to save/help/whatever the campaign calls for. This way, you could allot a short amount of time to the 'real' PCs interacting - maybe Claire and Sara talk to one another regularly about things like schoolwork without knowing that Claire is really Diara.exe and Sara is in actuality Selena.exe on <insert game name> Another random idea would be having the real PCs have a small number of skills to help them out (i.e. Knowledge (Hacking) to give small bonuses with a successful check at times during the game) All in all, nice job!
Wyvern76 06-27-07, 11:23 PM	Orcs raiding the nearby village? It becomes something along the lines of corrupted programs attacking the nearby forumHeh... a troll attack takes on new meaning in this campaign. :D Wyvern
Alltat 06-28-07, 04:03 AM	I love the concept, although it might be a lot of work ensuring the magic system fits the fluff. Instead of disintegrating someone you delete them. Instead of slowing someone down you increase their latency. I suppose crafting items would be more like using a ready-made editor rather than actually programming. You open up sword.item in the editor and enable a couple of settings to make it +2, then save it again. Using 'save as' obviously wouldn't work, since duping isn't allowed within the game world. ...whilst those visiting his realm are hassled by floating scrolls of text that suggest wares for them to purchase. This would just have to be implemented somehow... fantasy popups! That seems to me like a simpler way of explaining souls; of course, it then raises the question of whether NPCs and monster "respawn". In a more traditional fantasy world, I suppose the answer would be no, unless you have access to the raisedead subroutine. I'd expect that any entity with "respawn=1" would respawn, such as a lich, while others would not ;)
sdragon1984 06-28-07, 02:13 PM	Remember the cartoon Reboot? Might be fun to check that out for touches of inspiration.
Cthulhu3125 06-28-07, 04:41 PM	Further thoughts: Perhaps some class equivalences are needed. Fighters: Users with a very few programs - they have a limited repertoire of software, but have spent long hours tweaking their config files (bonus feats). Bonus feats could represent custom hacks or software tricks - the "improved trip" module plug in for their highly-customisable attack.exe routine, maybe. Barbarians: Barbarian rage could be the software/matrix interface equivalent of those old PCs with the "turbo" button... Rogues: Probably the closest thing in the matrix to hackers, with programs and tools to circumvent security processes, and firewalls that conceal their presence from the other users on the server. Bard: Hmm... users with many, many gigabytes of mp3s and some webcasting software? Bards are responsible for podcasts, and the more entertaining among blogs. I hesitate to suggest that fanfic writers fall into the same category because most of the stuff out there certainly wouldn't inspire any allies! Druids: This one might need more thought to integrate well. Users that have enhanced control over local config files and can make adjustments to ambient processes running in areas, for example, the programs that control the animals. (This is really starting to sound like a blatant Matrix rip-off... I assure you, the film is just used for inspiration). Monk: All right, this class can be the characters from the aforementioned film. Users who realise that the system is composed of a set of rules, and these rules can be bent to the users' will and so on, you've all seen the film. Now let us not mention the film again. Paladins: Tough one... overzealous forum mods, smiting any users that seem slightly out of line? Newly-promoted system administrators eager to exercise their new superuser rights? Rangers: I'm happy to call them a cross between fighters and druids. Wizards/Clerics: Mentioned before, but the mark of a truly powerful wizard would be much different. No longer does the supreme archmage bear a magical staff, heavy robes and a pointy hat - instead you should look out for those users with a neckbeard and a slightly stained t-shirt that says something like "There's no place like 127.0.0.1". Lower-level wizards that are trying too hard will be marked by their proclamations of being an "uber-leet haxx0r". I was thinking about the Dread Pirate just now, and how piratey things have to make an appearance. Whilst the actual Dread Pirate class I'm not sure how to integrate, I will rename the Chameleon, from Races of Destiny, as some sort of pirate class. Using their cunning abilities to search amongst the torrents of bits that scud across the data skies like clouds, the pirates are able to download any software that other users have access to and emulate the effects accordingly.
LostMage 06-28-07, 09:05 PM	Well, how the classes work would be sort of dependent on who the PCs are, and what the world is. If the players' characters are actually programs living in a machine, it would be different than, say, the PCs are "real" people that play a RPG or something similar, as in .hack; characters may look different if the world is an MMORPG, wizards may look like the stereotype mage. For paladins, you could say that they are anti-virus programs, or (as you said) moderators, and therefor gain paladin privileges to accomplish what they were programmed for/asked to accomplish. Druids are easy enough; they could be Closed Source users (whatever that means) that instead derive power from the way that the coding for programs around them are written as opposed to being granted similar power from Administrators or powerful AIs. (By the way, have you considered making the OS or the BIOS overdeities?)
Alltat 06-29-07, 06:12 AM	Further thoughts: Perhaps some class equivalences are needed. Brainstorming along... I suppose fighters and barbarians would be the typical 'twitch' gamers who rely on personal skill and a reasonable understanding of the world's mechanics. They could be more or less WoW-ish, in how many addons they use. A player with a lot of well-tweaked addons would presumably be better than one without them, although simply downloading a lot of addons without the skill to back them up is going to do you more harm than good. They essentially beat players who 'cheat' by simply having invested an unhealthy amount of time into the game, and outplaying the users who have spent most of their 'game time' outside of the actual world (forums, guides, editing files, etc). Druids could be people who have no hacking or programming skills, but who know the simpler AI scripts of the world pretty much line by line. Thus they can learn every exploit possible, and can make the plants and creatures of the world do their bidding. Understanding the code would require (or lead to) some basic programming skills, but not to the level of a wizard.
Delfedd 06-30-07, 01:58 PM	Hm... what would a sorcerer be? That needs some serious reflavoring. The person who can program as well as a wizard, but uses force of will instead of intellegence to achieve his goals? Weird.
Cthulhu3125 06-30-07, 02:31 PM	Hm... what would a sorcerer be? That needs some serious reflavoring. The person who can program as well as a wizard, but uses force of will instead of intellegence to achieve his goals? Weird. Sorcerers: Script kiddies. They have spent enough time on formus and IRC channels looking for "ub3r h4x" that they have acquired a handful of powerful programs but don't really understand the methods behind their operation, they just run them. They are less adept at program-tweaking (metamagic) than actual programmers.
LostMage 06-30-07, 04:15 PM	There's something about programming I saw on Wikipedia that I think would work nicely for the sorcerer: "Black Magic" The idea is that some programmers write programs that run their processes without them actually knowing how they did it. A sorcerer could be a player who writes "spell programs" in imitation of ones that he or she sees, whether being cast by a wizard or used as a spell like ability, but they aren't clear on how they get their "magic" to work (which is why wizards resent them - they manage similar effects, and get the same credit from other, less knowledgeable users, for doing things they don't understand with the same degree of proficiency as the wizard)
sabrewolf 06-30-07, 06:51 PM	Or mayhaps them sorcerers are "One with the Code" in a certain way. Maybe due to constant logging in and out, maybe by continuous attempt to program while still lacking great knowledge, or by simple accident (like an overload discharged on a server, a bug or a virus attack (and the serverīs defensive actions)), they see or feel the code around them and can learn to echo some effects like them wizards; Yet they lack both the balance of a druid, who uses the code without draining his surroundings, and the wizards, who have a greater repertorie and knowledge of programing (feats)... On the other paw, they know what little they know better then wizards and can use their skills (spells) far more often then a wizard can hope to. Just my 2 credits, and another view of the matter....
NorthWind 06-30-07, 11:09 PM	If spells were programs, why would they have a set number of uses? Can programs "wear out" in real life?
stargate525 07-01-07, 01:04 AM	Well if we're going for a neural game instead of guys sitting at a computer, you could seriously peg it to some sort of error with the interaction between the computer and the brain, giving higher-level functions as accessible. The reason there are so many spells per day is that for sorcerers, direct manipulation of otherwise rigid code would be tiring, programmers can only do so much, the druids wouldn't want to inadvertently affect the coding... In short, it would be the players, not the actual spells at fault.
Chapien 07-03-07, 12:38 PM	He, everyone knows the dreaded Trojan virus. I wonder what that could be. Hey! I got it! How about the Tarrasque could be the trojan virus! What do you think eh?
Wyvern76 07-03-07, 12:50 PM	If the players' characters are actually programs living in a machine, it would be different than, say, the PCs are "real" people that play a RPG or something similar, as in .hack; characters may look different if the world is an MMORPG, wizards may look like the stereotype mage.I think we need to be careful about going too far into MMORPG territory. If you're just pretending to be someone playing an MMORPG, how is that really any different from regular D&D? Fighters: Users with a very few programs - they have a limited repertoire of software, but have spent long hours tweaking their config files (bonus feats). Bonus feats could represent custom hacks or software tricks - the "improved trip" module plug in for their highly-customisable attack.exe routine, maybe.Something to keep in mind is that, from a programming perspective, a feat that gives a +1 to attack rolls or saves isn't fundamentally different from a spell that gives a +1 to attacks or saves, except that the feat doesn't usually have a limited duration. He, everyone knows the dreaded Trojan virus. I wonder what that could be. Hey! I got it! How about the Tarrasque could be the trojan virus! What do you think eh?If you mean a Trojan horse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)), that's just a term for "a program that installs malicious software while under the guise of doing something else." It's not a unique creation like the tarrasque. I'd say a doppelganger would be a better analogy. Wyvern
Delfedd 07-04-07, 02:45 PM	Ok. For all those who are talking about MMOs and stuff, that's not it. It's more like Tron.
Ocom 07-04-07, 03:14 PM	Just go cyberpunk, easier. Also, you can slap together D&D with some D20 Modern/cyberpunk/spycraft setting.
Cthulhu3125 07-04-07, 05:00 PM	Just go cyberpunk, easier. Also, you can slap together D&D with some D20 Modern/cyberpunk/spycraft setting. Not really my intention as such... the idea is an alternative interpretation of the rules more than anything else. It would be mechanically indistinguishable from "normal" D&D, just have a completely different feel.
Delfedd 07-10-07, 05:10 PM	Here's the map to your world (http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/online_communities.png)