The Host (comments thread)

[contributor]

I'm excited. I made some time the last couple of days to sit down and really flesh out more of the rest of the story. I was starting to get behind a little and just finishing chapters before posting, plus I was getting closer to the meaty part of the story and I wasn't sure how I was going to move everything along and then resolve it. The next chapter, fortunately, has been done for weeks so I had no pressure to write and now that I have a more fleshed out plot and some pretty fun stuff coming I'm excited about writing again.

[contributor]

I'm curious about feedback from the last chapter. If you haven't read it yet, do that first.

startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/97062/thread

The main thing I'm curious about is the role-playing done by Williams and Shroud. Was it clear from the beginning who the executive and decker were? Or did it only make sense at the end when I mentioned their names? Or was the whole thing just confusing? Initially I had no intention of putting in the comment at the end of the previous chapterette, but I didn't want this one to be too hard to follow. I guess ideally I would like it to take a little while to sink in on people or even for them not to get it to till the end, but for all of it to still make sense.

[Brutus Aurelius]

I liked it. I made a guess that the executive was Williams, which was confirmed when the "decker" walked in. At first, I thought it was Zep and Williams, because for me, decker connotates a thugger.

[CdrPlatypus]

contributor Impressive formatting. Makes it much easier to read compared to wall of text and shows dedication.

You're characters and the dialect used make it feel very ck.

A question: Do you see a matrix host as an akami server (infustructure) or a term for any server connected to the global matrix?

[contributor]

CdrPlatypus, good question. You're going to force me to reveal that I actually have a fairly limited knowledge of programming, computer network infrastructure, and hacking. In fact "hacking" applied to what I do on computers would have the same sense as "hacking" applied to how I play golf (the few times I've played it). I'm taking a fairly simple approach to the term host and using Wikipedia's definition;

"A network host is a computer or other device connected to a computer network. A network host may offer information resources, services, and applications to users or other nodes on the network. A network host is a network node that is assigned a network layer host address."

I probably need to do some more research before I write the chapter where the team will meet Dalvig Cash, a character who will be able to give them much more information about the Host. I should probably get myself a technical consultant.

[CdrPlatypus]

contributor there are a few gigantic servers that form the backbone of the internet. Then big corporate servers and so on an so forth down to small hobby servers connected to form the "web" of the internet. I think the question you need to answer for your story development is: is this host an unremovable part of the matix's backbone or something else connected into the matrix but not necessary to its opperation

[contributor]

It is definitely the latter.

[CdrPlatypus]

I look forward to learning more about this host in your next chapter.

[contributor]

Ha! So it's been awhile since I played CK and I felt like I should just to sort of keep my head in the world while I write The Host. It's funny, but I really do get inspiration for scenes from playing the game and seeing what happens.

Well anyways, look what happened. Anyone recognize this scene from the story?

[Brutus Aurelius]

The fight at the edge of the black water

[contributor]

This was a messed up Phracking job which set up a scene remarkably similar to chapter 3.0.1

[fallen]

Wow, that is really amazing. Hahaha... I wish I could claim some responsibility for setting that up, but its just great.

[contributor]

I did look at that location when I wrote that part of the story. So the shipping containers and barrels etc. were all written in according to the map. It was funny to actually spawn a battle there though and see Shroud all tucked in behind the containers and the enemies basically being the ones I had written in. This is the team that inspired the story so their names are all per the story except that the Knight is actually named Suzie Q.

[CdrPlatypus]

contributor thx for sharing the screen shot. Pretty amazing where you can find inspiration

[CdrPlatypus]

contributor I can't wait for more. I've gotta know what Suzan is going to do with the hair product on an intimidate contract