Routine
| Image |  |
| Type | ?? |
Responses to Functions
| Function | Message | U | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense = 2 | The program deflects your attack, with enough processor cycles left over to make it look good. | ? | |
| Offense = 4-5? | The program barely deflects your attack, momentarily revealing the wirework underlying its icon. | ? | Stuns routine. |
| Offense = 5 (or sometimes 3-4?*) |
The program shatters, tightly looped bits of code scattering throughout the virtual hall. | ? | Gain 5 XP (removes routine) |
| Command | You command the program to stand down, but it starts up a self-diagnostic instead. | 2-4 | Stuns routine. |
| Command, with all four Reforged effects active | You command the program to stand down, but it shakes its head. "You may look like the master, but your weakness betrays you." It launches into a self-diagnostic instead. The program trash-talking aside, it's sort of creepy how human it looks. It's obviously motion-captured, but something doesn't quite synch up. |
? | |
| Command, with all four Reforged effects active, and weakened swordsman | You command the program to stand down. It pauses for a moment and kneels before your avatar. | ? | Gain 10 XP, You've unlocked the Student of Roy Avatar |
| View | This program is sealed up tight. You can't even send basic file queries through its hardening. | 0 | |
| View, after revealing the wirework underlying its icon | This program is a nasty piece of work, but it's thankfully a little ahead of its time. Most hackers, even professionals, don't use Zaibatsu neural links to do their work. It's probably a good thing in this case. The program seems intended to hijack those links and use them to access the user's brain directly. Only the programmers know what it might do once it's in there. |
? | |
| Defense | The program glances at your batch with a well-modeled sneer. | ? | |
| Other | ? |
*Perhaps 2 offence is enough if you have reforged sword active? But I guess you must be able to do it without that since someone had to get the first staring code.
Active Responses
Every round, you also get:
If you tried to Command it or expose wirework:
The swordsman program is running some sort of self-diagnostic and apparently doesn't have time to swing at your avatar.
Otherwise, if you used Defense:
The swordsman program swings at your avatar, its blade burning with pixelated fire, but you deflect the blow.
or
The swordsman program swings weakly at your avatar, but you deflect the blow.
Otherwise, if you have Hardening:
The swordsman program swings at your avatar, its blade burning with pixelated fire. You take 2-3 Hardening damage.
Otherwise, if you have no Neural Link:
The swordsman program swings at your avatar, its blade burning with pixelated fire, deftly severing your connection.
Otherwise, if your Neural Recordings limit limit not exceeded: (Damages remaining neural recording limit rather than severing connection)
The swordsman program swings at your avatar, its blade burning with pixelated fire. You feel the blade as a strange presence, like an itch in a limb you've never had.
followed by:
The side of your face goes numb. Good thing you don't need your face to type.
or
Whatever's going on, the nosebleed is probably a bad sign.
or
One of your hands shakes uncontrollably for a moment and you're forced to wait for it to return to your control.
Or, with no Hardening, a neural link, and ???:
Your vision blurs momentarily and you can see the schematics of your coat, as though they're burning on the inside of your eyelids. There's so much more there than you ever imagined, pouring into your mind.
and after alert raise message:
You upgraded your equipped shirt to coat of masterful circuitry.
Or, with no Hardening, a neural link, and your Neural Recordings limit limit exceeded:
The swordsman program swings at your avatar, its blade burning with pixelated fire. You feel the blade as a strange presence, like an itch in a limb you've never had, then wake up with a splitting headache.
(Disconnect. Lose all HP and gain 10-30 duration of Chip Headache.)