ITERATION X: Another perspective

By: Alexander Shearer (alex@apogee.nosc.mil)
HTML By: Arthur Muzzarelli (theshadw@industrynet.net)

Author's Note: What follows is another view of the Iteration X perspective on things, like spheres, and supernatural effects...it may be very different from what one expects - but that's the point, because a lot of what has been written about this Convention has been, in my opinion, poorly done.



1. MAGICK

First big step here: You don't use it.

Repeat that: You don't use magick.

That's good. Now...there is magick, but I'll cover that when I get to discussing the Traditions and such. Iteration X members never use magick. They are well-equipped with high technology items and built-in cyberware. Unfortunately, to appease the game rules, these things must be quantified in terms of the Sphere-based Magick system. An explanation, then, of just what each Sphere represents will follow...but first:

One final note (extension of "First Big Step"): You NEVER use Vulgar magick, because you don't use magick. Keep that in mind. You aren't "restricting yourself" or anything like that - you use cyberware and external tech. Thus - no vulgar magick, even if it could save your life - you don't do magick.

2. SPHERES

This is the discussion of what particular technologies each Sphere covers. Note that this is done solely to work within the Mage rules, as written. Iteration X members will /never/ talk about "Spheres" of "Magick" when they operate. I have split the Spheres into two categories:

1). General (most of them)
2). Restricted (dangerous/experimental ones - you'll see)

3. GENERAL SPHERES

Entropy
This is based upon a very powerful expert system implanted within the processing unit. It is capable of calculating patterns and probabilities in heinously complex systems (Entropy •). As complexity increases, the expert system tells the user how to effect the system - little things...like flipping a card or two around in that deck, or barely distracting the shuffler at the proper moment (Entropy ••). At higher levels, this system becomes more active, releasing minor amounts of stored energy and manipulating ther energy with very low-power fields to produce a cornucopia of seemingly random effects. This is a complex and expensive system, so the distribution among Iteration members is not so high.

Forces
At the basic level, this is a full scanning package, covering electromagnetics (and its constituent parts), gravitics, kinetics, quantum energies, and so on. It is built into all of the user, and is very effective. Electromagnetic, magnet, and electrical devices can be built in as well. Personal lasers can be added, as can full holographic projection systems. Electrical field projection is easily handled, as is magnetic (many Iteration X members have a built-in series of high-powered electromagnets, and can manipulate/create many fields around themselves). The most advanced items cover gravitics, kinetics, and subtle energy systems. The first and third are subject to internal controller/generator systems (same idea as the prior field systems). There is no "kinetic system." Specific devices cover some aspects of this - most are based on accelerating matter. Note that many of the standard Mage's Forces effects are not possible with Iteration X systems...flight, as a kinetic effect is not possible, though gravitic release is available for levitation. The user can walk on water - but only if she is wearing boots specifically designed to increase the bond energies below her (a complex multi-spectra operation).


Life
The lifesystem is another expert system, with additional components. At its most basic level, it is a diagnostic. The user will have built-in sample sights, able to retrieve tissue samples from targets. Note that the lifesystem can do some things without samples - many diagnoses can be made from sensory cues, such as respiration, listening to heart beat, looking at subject, and so on. For in-depth analysis, a sample is required. Of course, any necessary genetic work can be done with the help of the Iteration X system, which is easily accessible when needed. The core of all higher-level lifesystem operations is nanites. The nanite system is a large neural net gestalt system of molecule-sized robots. It has replication/creation sites for more nanites (since violence and outside work can reduce the overall number). Any operation in another living system requires the exuding of nanites - thus, the user must be reasonably close to its target, usually touching. Note that with proper materials (Carbon is the most important) the nanites can be exuded into raw material and create a living system, though this takes time. The Transmutation nanite package is suggested as an important "helper" package for use with the Lifesystem.

Matter
The basic matter-scanning system uses spectro-analysis to determine composition of matter (it has scanner systems in the user's eyes). It also employs special high-power EM beams and ultrasonics to determine density of an item, and possible inner permutations. The actual manipulation of matter is done by another nanite system, similar to the Lifesystem. The Transmutation nanites are able to restructure matter, and even, with the use of low-power dedicated electromagnetic/gravitic systems, change the atoms themselves. Note that the Transmutation system cannot make matter do impossible things...thus, an Iteration X user cannot make an object's boiling point change any more than its environment can make it change. However, the Transmutation system also has access to the full group of Iteration-discovered elements, up to atomic number 122. Many of these have unique properties (which can be extrapolated from their position on the periodic table) which prove useful...of course, many are also highly unstable. Note that even when you "pull a gun out of nowhere" you are not truly creating matter. In reality, the rest
of your nanite system has been grabbing any available atoms for use/conversion (breathing and eating are useful for this). Additionally, though it is exceptionally fast for what the nanites have to do, matter processes some times take multiple turns (though one can speed the process at the expense of exactitude).

Mind
Eventually, most Iteration X members will have their CPU upgraded. The current top-of-the-line model can cut out mental processes in the user, multitask, enable total recall, and other mental feats. Once the initial CPU add-on is in place, then the other systems can be added. These include ultrasensitive electromagnetic field scanners, capable of tracking the activity of nearby brains/neural systems. That, along with a special expert system that tracks body language and non-voluntary responses, can be used to extrapolate mood and even thoughts of a target. The highest-level system is even capable of powerful electromagnetic manipulations - certain parts of the brain can be "poked" to elicit responses. Emotions are easily done, but certain thoughts can be implanted - the addition of pheromone exuding assemblies helps in this. Note that Mind 5 is not a part of any Iteration X mental systems, except for the fact that a person's engram can be downloaded into a computer system - this requires Mind 5 for the engram to be able to become an operating intelligence within the computer.

Prime
Many of the systems used by Iteration X members are energy-intensive. For that reason, there is a whole system of sub-assemblies devoted to absorbing free energy from the environment (heat sinks, and so on). Additionally, the user will have high-capacity energy storage systems implanted to keep all of this energy (note that many Iteration members have batteries [see below] but only some of them, the ones with the highest energy demands, have the energy collection and use systems). In addition to the collectors, energy converters and directors are included, allowing the user to recharge other systems, including the batteries of other Iteration members. A user must be near the area to be affected (depletion or addition) to use the energy systems. "Aggressive" energy-sinking can be consciously used to detrimental effect on other systems, including even organic systems.

4. RESTRICTED SPHERES

Correspondence
There has been some experimentation with personal version of Void-Engineer "jump" or "hyperdrive" systems. While these concepts seem nonscientific and possibly magick-related to Iteration X, they have experimented with "Hypermodules" in some of their operatives. A user with a hypermodule has full access to space-bending technology, and can extend their sensing/tracking systems over great distance, as well as "jumping" from place to place. Note that even with a Hypermodule, a user cannot be in more than one place at a time and cannot take more than about twice their own mass to another location. This module is only used due to current need, and may soon be taken out of use.

Spirit
The concept of a spirit world is one that Iteration X knows holds a primary place in the destructive attempt by the Traditions and others to make a new reality. It is only the flooding in of these forces that allows for magick at all. Unfortunately, the Gauntlet, a once-weakened, now stronger, natural barrier is still not sufficiently restored to keep other dimensions from flooding in on occasion. It is for this purpose that a few well-trusted operatives are given Spirit upgrades. These expert systems operate with special, other-dimensional materials to let the user "deal" with spirits. Note that there are very few of these in existence, as the materials used for the actual upgrades is dangerous to the natural barrier that walls this reality. Iteration X knows and understands the dangers of letting the Gauntlet fall, as the physics of other dimensions are, perhaps logically, unlike ours, and interaction poses an enormous danger to humanity.

Time
Another item based on possibly corrupt Void-Engineer devices, the Warpmodule is similar to the Hypermodule. It allows the "warping" of time, slowing it or speeding it up in certain areas. It also allows the halting of time advance, for a while, in some areas. There have been shown, experimentally, to be bad side effects in terms of energy build-up and release when this is used. This module is almost never allowed to Iteration members - usually, it is added as a defensive measure against Tradition mages, since it can counteract their dramatic Time magicks. Note that time sensing is not allowed by the Warpmodule - only manipulation.

5. OTHER

There are certain other things that should be explained in terms of Iteration X, so that the Mage system can still be used...

Quintessence
This is energy. In Tass, it is Potential Energy. Free Quintessence is a particular region of higher-than-normal Free
Energy. The Quintessence supply within a user is stored energy - usually in high-capacity batteries.

Paradox
System errors. Often, the glitches caused by paradox are due to other errors made by the complex expert systems that keep Iteration members running. For instance - the Iteration member engages his Gravitics to ditch a potentially nasty brawl in an alley (game terms - - Vulgar with Witness, one Paradox). The system made a slight error in power allocation, and the user suffers a nasty fluttering of his visual systems as the regulators try to even it out (a one point flaw).

Awareness
This Talent represents a combination of bred-in alertness for the supernatural and a data-processing expert system that alerts the user of potential supernatural events and items. It can also handle a bit of body-language reading, useful for determining a target's emotional state (similar to reading an aura...).

Arcane
ECM/ECCM, as well as sound-stealthing systems, scent-dampers, and an expert system linked to the main Iteration system that attempts to track and delete references to the user. At high operative levels, the system will even try to cause events that will lead to deletion of non-accessible information - such as sending email to a secretary to shred documents.

Avatar
This is basically a measure of power storage capacity. An Iteration member will never talk to their Avatar, or anything else. At most, the power systems, being the most basic system in a user's body, will guide the user, trying to keep the user alive and properly powered.

Destiny, Dream
Nope. Well, not for a normal Iteration member.

Influence
This is a behavioral expert system that works to tailor the user's activities for maximum impact. It also includes pheromonic systems that draw attention to the user and makes them appealing to the target.

Node
A place that gives off a relatively constant supply of Free Energy (hot spring, etc).

Talisman
You may explain external Iteration devices as Talismans, if you wish. I wouldn't.

Arete
This is system complexity/processing power. It determines the maximum complexity of additional systems, as well as their operative capabilities in defense of the user. Note that a rise in Arete is not a wholly predetermined event. Following the Iteration X idea, the system is constantly upgrading itself. At some point, it has reached a new plateau of complexity, and more emergent properties develop.

6. EVERYONE ELSE

This includes a few quick notes on how the Convention sees other, non-convention types.

Other Mages
This is one solid group because the same is true of all of them - they are organisms corrupted/damage by the influx of other-dimensional creatures or energies through the faulty Gauntlet. They themselves try to damage the Gauntlet - perhaps as a result of "possession" (subconscious coercion) by other-dimensional beings. They should be studied, cleansed if possible, and purged if not.

Weres
This is a hideous example of dimensional bleed. Here, a warped amalgam of human and wolf was created. The Convention knows that at other times in the past, strange combinations of creatures were forged, but only the weres bred true. They are, however, an unnatural addition to the ecosystem, as damaging as rabbits in Australia. The Convention kills them at every opportunity.

Wraiths
Though study of Wraiths is less common, the Convention's research has indicated that Wraiths are engrams copied from dying people, whose habits and activities are continued by the "imprinted" other-dimensional creatures. They are to be ignored, if possible, exterminated if not.

Changelings
See Mages.

Vampires
The debate still rages in the Iteration X system about Vampires. It is still not known whether they are a facet of the dimensional bleed, or a biological occurrence. Not enough information has been gathered to indicate which is true. One faction believes they are, in a way, the Iteration ideal - life carried into machinery - as they change from a normal organic creature to one that is clinically dead. Vampires hold a unique status - killing is to be avoided where possible, and extensive study is the imperative for all members.

7. FINAL NOTES

I only really have one thing I'd like to add on here. There is just this one thing that anyone who reads this needs to remember, because it's why I wrote it. This is most emphatically not supposed to be how Iteration X "justifies" it's use of magick. They
are not using magick. True, their high-science would have been well-nigh impossible in years past, but that does not mean they are so shallow as in the books - they don't make up technobabble to "explain away" magick - they have nothing to explain. If you can play them and see them with that attitude, I think I have succeeded a bit in making my point to you.