GM: “We are going to discuss what the Matrix looks like, for you.”
Decker: “What you mean?”
GM: “In the Original ShadowRun universe, The Matrix is a systems interface device which uses the wetware of your brain as a part of the computer system circuit. Software interacts with the optical cortex, so the imagery it generates is pulled directly from the Deckers own imagination. The experience is thematically personal to every individual. ”
Not-Ready-Player Two: “I thought it looks like in the Matrix movies.”
GM: "It's always difficult to get people to use their own imaginations,. People expect it to be like interacting with somebody else's design."
Decker: “Yeah for sure.”
GM: “Thats what you want? You want your Matrix to look like scrolling green numbers. You sure about that?”
Decker: “Well… the Japanese Kanji texts and Chinese writing scrolling down in the Matrix is so much cooler than seeing numbers.”
GM: “Can you read it?”
Decker: “What? Me or my character?”
GM: “Can your character read Kanji?”
Decker: “Er… no. Does not have languages skill.”
GM: “If your character is a big fan of the Matrix movies, it’s possible they would experience the Matrix in ShadowRun the same way, if he is influenced by it. Everybody used to imagine it looked like Tron, before the Matrix movies."
Not-Ready-Player Two: "Or Jonny Mnemonic."
Decker: "Or Lawnmower Man."
Not-Ready-Player Two: "Suicide Room. And Ready Player One."
Decker: "Valerian: City of A Thousand Planets.”
GM: "Yeah, any of that. If you’re basing it on movies which base it on videogames."
Decker: “Like Spaghetti Western or Dungeons & Dragons?”
GM: “For sure.
Not-Ready-Player Two: "Or a book. As long as we all know the source material well enough to do it justice.”
Decker: “Ok. I decided.”
GM: “What are you going with?”
Decker: “Hentai. I want my Matrix to be Hentai.”
GM: “We might have to ask the other Players if they’re okay with that.”
Not-Ready-Player Two: "I'm good with it."
Decker: “I can charge them rental to borrow my Hentai Deck”
GM: “I might not be that sort of a GamesMaster. Are you okay with Fade To Black?”
Decker: “Is it like Black ICE?”
GM: “Er, not exactly.”