Eclipse Phase: Frosted Glass Discussion

[PhoenixFlame]

Originally Posted by Aerozord

manipulate stuff? I'm a giant cyborg crab, using those, what do you call them, doors? Yea screw that, I go kool-aid man on that wall. Whose gonna stop me? I'M A GIANT CYBORG CRAB

A bravery 10 rookie with a hand grenade. Probably on accident.

Sorry, I've spent the morning playing X-Com: Enemy Unknown to come up with some suitably thematic inspiration.

Demo skill covers the planting, maintenance, and use of explosive devices of all colors from grenades to shaped charges to thermite bombs to... But, as the game so handily points out in all the other weapons entries, you need seperate skills (most notably, hardware: explosives, or suitable field, academics: chemistry or suitable field, a nanofabricator and the programming skill, or a researched blueprint for that nanofabricator via the research skill.)

MOST nanofabricators are modified to not make military hardware, but a lot still can. As for equiptment, most of the bombs come with the equiptment to arm and use them.

Of course, it's still fairly trivial to make homeade bombs... I imagine thermobarics are particularly popular.

[Geminex]

you need seperate skills (most notably, hardware: explosives, or suitable field, academics: chemistry or suitable field, a nanofabricator and the programming skill, or a researched blueprint for that nanofabricator via the research skill.)

...
Qua?
Where does it say that in the manual? The section on making explosives just says:

A character trained in Demolitions can make explosives from raw materials. These materials can be gathered the traditional way or they can be manufactured using a nanofabricator. Even nanofabbers with restricted settings to prevent explosives creation can be used, as explosives can be constructed from all manner of mundane chemicals and materials. The timeframe for making explosives is 1 hour per 1d10 points of damage the explosive will inflict. If a critical failure is rolled, the demolitionist may accidentally blow himself up, or the charge may be extremely
weaker or more potent than expected (whichever is more likely to be disastrous).

No mention of needing a hardware skill, no mention of needing chemisty (though my muse has that), no mention of needing even a nanofabricator, except for ingredients. Hell, when you look at the entry on hardware, it doesn't even have "Explosives" as a sample field. One of the reasons I got explosives was that, as far as I could tell, it'd actually let me make the bombs, not just plant them. You say I can't, without spending another 90 skill points on assorted skills?

[Dracorion]

I'm worried I made just made a huge mistake having Ellen tell everyone she's an async, but if admitting that outright doesn't earn her some serious trust, nothing will.

[Geminex]

Wow. Bitch be manipulative.
And coming from me, that's practically a compliment.

Anyway, honesty and forthrightness aside, the fact that she told us about being an async really doesn't guarantee that she won't use said powers. So not too much trust there.

[PhoenixFlame]

Derp, my mistake. I thought demolitions had the same caveats as all the weapon skills. Nevermind, you're right, though chemistry is an adequate link skill.

In other news, welcome to X-Com! I mean, Firewall! Please check your sanity at the door.

[Dracorion]

It should earn her a lot. She could've kept it hidden. Her abilities are subtle enough that the team probably wouldn't notice she was an async without a brain scan. Whether or not she'll use them is an entirely different matter, but I think the fact that she was open about it should reassure the team that she won't be manipulating them.

That, and they also don't know what her sleights are.

[Aerozord]

speaking of, I want to hack/modify/whatever my nanofabber to create weapon grade explosives

[krogothwolf]

Well, I Desmond doesn't really care what Ellen is, just that she can handle herself fairly well But I guess it's a big step for her to admit it in Dez's eyes.

[Krylo]

Originally Posted by Dracorion

think the fact that she was open about it should reassure the team

Did you read the sections on asyncs?

Most people don't know about psi, at all.

Of those who do, most of them think that asyncs are just exsurgent monster sleepers just waiting for the right stimulus before infecting everyone around them with exsurgent and/or killing them in the name of the TITANs.

Saying you're an async is not a good way to reassure anyone of anything.

[PhoenixFlame]

Originally Posted by Krylo

Of those who do, most of them think that asyncs are just exsurgent monster sleepers just waiting for the right stimulus before infecting everyone around them with exsurgent and/or killing them in the name of the TITANs.

They aren't?