The Gamesmaster's Book

8. Guidelines

8.1 How to run Shifter

8.2 Preparing for a Mission

The only thing you will usually need to prepare in advance is a map of the local variants in the part of the Matrix the mission will be set in. You should start by drawing a dotted line at the top of the page (representing the rim of the Matrix) and a thick line down the centre of the page representing the natural timelines leading to Nexus.

Next, you should choose a handful of natural and deviant timelines. The easiest method is to decide first on the natural structure of the region. In this configuration, no variants should reach the dotted line.

The arrows in the above diagram indicate where the variants collapse into the natural timelines leading to Nexus.

For each variant decide what makes them different from the natural timeline leading to Nexus. Once this initial stage has been determined, you can then decide on events that have caused deviation. These are usually one of the following:

1. A rogue Shifter who has visited the variant for some reason. This could be something for personal enjoyment or as part of some grand plan to create a particular variant.
2. A raider who has altered the history of a timeline by stealing something important or who has altered local history in the cause of doing so.
3. A mistake caused by another Shifter team (you should include details of this failed mission in the briefing, unless you are feeling evil - and let's face it, when aren't you. You're the Gamesmaster).
4. Some spontaneous re-organisation that has carried over from events elsewhere in the Matrix. This option allows you to do what you wish without explanation.

8.3 The Laws of Variant Physics

8.4 Some Guidelines for Variant Physics

The expected behaviour of a set of variants should adhere to the following guidelines, at least most of the time:

1. Premature Collapse: This can happen when the entropy of a timeline drops below what it was in the previous configuration. The variant-space-time used in that variant will `move' to one of the others in the area. Select another variant (usually, but not always the one with the highest entropy at that point in time). Then, at some point forward in time, have that variant either proceed beyond its previous point of collapse or cascade into two or more variants.
2. Extended Life: This occurs when a timeline goes beyond the point in time it previously reached. If no nearby variants have undergone premature collapse, have one of them collapse prematurely to allow this timeline to continue. Alternatively, have the extended timeline collapse, giving extended life to another variant.
3. Cascade: If an event pushes a variant over the Draper Limit, have it split into new timelines. You should then collapse some nearby variant. An illustration of a timeline cascading is given below.

8.5 Labelling

8.6.1 Variant 1,021

1. Cornelius J Moose is a Neo Shifter, working out of Nexus, generally doing what he's told. However, he is a big baseball fan, his team being the New York Yankees. He has illegally used Nexus apparatus to host into the body of baseball player Duke Clemens and help the Yankees win the 1961 World Series, defeating the Red Sox.
2. This is the natural timeline, where the Red Sox won the World Series. Because a black Red Sox player won the game for them, it was the start of a widespread acceptance of black culture. In the early 22nd century, a cancer cure was discovered, using high melanin skin cells as its base (darker skins have a higher melanin content). Curing cancer lead to overcrowding on Earth which in turn led to a need for star travel. In 2753, there was a massacre on Akeli II which triggered what was known as the Sun wars, which were responsible for destroying almost all intelligent life. This consequently caused the timeline to collapse.
3. Due to the Yankees win, Manhattan pride grows, and racism grows. In the 1980s and 90s, `sanitisation' occurs (ethnic cleansing) resulting in the near-complete extinction of black Americans. Cancer wasn't cured, because there were no high melanin skin cells and so there was no rush for star travel to ease overcrowding. This causes the timeline to collapse far earlier than Nexus desires.

8.6.2 Variant 940

1. The Raider, Quentin Marrowbone, has gone back to 8th century China to collect original poetry of the T'ang dynasty. The poet, Tu Fu ("Blue is the smoke of war, White the bones of men") is shot in the process, which in turn inspires him to use gunpowder as a weapon. This causes Variant 975 to be set on a different course (975.4). The fact that gunpowder is used helps increase the entropy levels, as well as the fact that the T'ang dynasty (founded by Li Yuan) sets itself on a path that will lead to world and then galactic domination.

2. Variant 975.2 is where the whole timeline should be headed. In 1802, due to the fact that the steam engine had not been invented, the timeline has less entropy increase than others in the area, and so the Matrix collapses it. Due to the new variant 975.4, which has a high increase in entropy due to wars and technology advances, 975.2 collapses into 975.4 earlier than it should have collapsed into the natural Nexus timeline.
3. If you look at the full map of this timeline, you will notice that the Epochs are marked quite close together. This is due to the T'ang dynasty's war efforts, which require constant new technology to overcome enemies. The other important notes for this part of the timeline are the advances that the T'ang dynasty makes in its war. They take Japan in the 10th century, the Middle East in the 12th century, Turkey in the 13th century, the Byzantine Empire in the 14th century and they have control of all of Europe by the 17th century. By this stage, they have what we might refer to as `steampunk' technology (modern type technology run on steam power and the like), and have made settlements in the USA. By the 18th century they control Africa, and by the 19th century they control the USA and have modern technology. It only takes them one more century to develop star travel.
4. Variant 975.4 splits here as two different choices are made about the type of exploration that should be carried out. One timeline (975.41) explores predominantly in a rimward fashion around the galaxy, and the other (975.42) explores mainly in a coreward fashion. Both timelines reach White Epoch just as they go through the 30th century mark.

8.7 Anthology of Beef Vol. 794

8.7.1 Variant 215 & 225

Society starts to change, and quite quickly almost everybody is employed in amusement park jobs. Production industries are fully automated, and all that there is to occupy peoples lives are either working at an amusement park, or enjoying the park's `pleasures'. Even completely unrelated industries are affected by the amusement park theme; transport is brightly coloured and invariably an exotic, amusement park derivative, food is almost always fast, and people are paid in ride tokens.

Needless to say the general populace is what we might consider `verging on insanity'. For those that cross the verge is the latest in competitive sport: serial killing. Across the internet (or ElvisNet as it's known in this fun variant) aliases claim mass killings and destruction in an attempt to gain the coveted Number 1 Serial Killer slot.

8.7.3 Variant 176.869

This a strange timeline that will be familiar to fans of Antarctic Press. The world is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals of all descriptions. Anthropomorphs are creatures that have been developed into `human' form i.e. they have hands fashioned from their claws and stand upright (generally) on two of their feet. An example of anthropomorphic animals could be almost any famous cartoon character.

These animals are grouped vaguely by their type, into factions which are generally at war with other factions. Many alliances exist, as do many intense feuds. The animals are intelligent, and can communicate.

They are only limited by their knowledge and their physiology. Whilst they are anthropomorphic, they do still have characterisations of their `original' forms i.e. moles will have bad eye sight, most will find it hard to manipulate items if they did not have opposable thumbs in original form etc. They live in feudal systems with basic technology like bows and swords. Occasionally there are pieces of ancient human technology that special Keepers of Knowledge devote their lives to maintaining. They will know how to use the technology, but not how to create it. It will become apparent very quickly to players that there is no sign of important genetech to be found here.

The story behind this is that humans managed to wipe themselves out (surprise, surprise) with various chemtech and biological warfare. Before they were wiped out they built a huge organic computer in a huge underground silo. The computer, who's called Genesis, has a prime directive that is to create a lifeform capable of withstanding all the toxins now present on the world. The anthropomorphs are it's only success to date. It is important to note that Genesis, because he is biological, is also affected by the toxins and radiation. Therefore, he has to constantly fight against the various strains of disease by recreating versions of himself that are more resistant. Genesis is the genetech that Nexus wants, but there are difficulties.

Due to the nature of the computer, it is surrounded by what the natives call the `forbidden zone'. The players will be hard pushed to find any animals willing to go there, and will be fought all the way there. Once they arrive, they will discover the area to be huge and desolate. The area is patrolled by sentinel tanks that fire upon anything that moves.

The traditional method is to call a beer/pizza/fag break and decide what's happened. To make keeping track of changes easy, it is suggested that you either:

1. Write the player's map in pencil, and adjust it with pencil and eraser.
2. Use a whiteboard for the player's map and adjust it with a drymarker and wipe.
3. Have a separate sheet of paper and draw small versions of the configuration (without labels) after each punch out.

1. Arm yourself with alcohol, snacks and anything else you think you'll need.
2. Have the players generate Shifters, or select an existing Shifter to play.
3. Mission Briefing. Have the characters meet the Adept who is supervising their mission. Give them their copy of the map and a description of the mission. Choose, or have the players nominate the mission leader.
4. Loading the Stack. Decide how many slots in the stack the players are allowed (usually 5 per character). Have the players choose what objects they want in the stack, and the Epoch level of each object.
5. First Shift. Have the players decide where, when and which point they are shifting to, select hosts and shift in. Describe the setting, and the details of their hosts and resolve the events in that variant according to the player's actions.
6. First Punch Out. When everyone has punched out, draw a new local map.
7. Repeat steps (v) and (vi) for each subsequent shift.
8. Either wait till the mission is completed, or have the supervising Adept punch them out from Nexus.
9. Mission Interviews. Talk to each character separately as the supervisor, getting them to describe the events of the mission and the performance of the characters.
10. Mission Debriefing. Have the supervisor call everyone together and discuss the team's overall performance, compliment the characters who appeared to perform well (on the basis of the interviews) and chew out the characters who appear to have done badly. Of course, the actual performance of the team isn't important, just how the interviews went.
11. Award Privileges on the basis of the Mission Debriefing. Typical mission pay is 5 - 10 Privileges, but Gamesmasters should make larger awards for exceptional performance of difficult missions. No more than 50 privileges per mission per Shifter should be awarded.
12. Vote for the MVP. Each of the players gets one vote (the GM breaks ties) to determine which player should be awarded the Most Valued Player award.
13. Give two power ups to the MVP, and one power up to each player who hasn't been a pain in the neck to you.

8.10 Field Trips

• If the skill is currently zero, it becomes 1.
• If the ability is 1 or more, the player draws cards equal to the current level of the skill.
• As long as you draw a Royalty or an Ace every time you draw cards, you get to attempt to redraw.
• When redrawing, you discard all the cards that are not Royalties or Aces and draw a replacement card for each one discarded.
• Continue redrawing until all of the drawn cards are Royalties (or Aces) or until none of the cards you have just redrawn are Royalties or Aces.
• If you successfully get all the drawn cards to be Royalties or Aces, the Power up succeeds and the skill goes up by 1, otherwise the Power up fails.
  Example, Barry's player has a skill of 2 in Medical. He spends a Power up on it and draws two cards - a Jack and a three. He puts the Jack to one side and draws a replacement for the three - a nine. The Power up has failed.