The following are Common TV Programs, which are available when resting when you have an Antique Plasma TV at home or a Shared TV/Bank of TVs in your hideout. If you have a Descrambled TV, there are additional Descrambled TV Programs or a Shorted TV gives Static TV Programs.
The TV results always begin:
The TV warms you with its soothing glow as you rest in front of it, flipping through channels.
One of the following are picked at random. They all also provide the normal healing bonus while resting.
Towards the end of your rest, you find an exercise program inspired by the Ultimate Deathmatch Championships. You follow along for a bit, then go back to resting before you pull something.
You've earned 1 XP in Strength
You find a rather persuasive infomercial for some Zaibatsu knives. They're amazing, but you manage to pull yourself away at the last moment.
You've earned 1 XP in Will
Or, if you've been to Downtown?:
You find a rather persuasive infomercial for some Zaibatsu knives. But you feel like if they were that amazing they'd probably sell them Downtown.
You've earned 1 XP in Perception
You've earned 1 XP in Will
You find some old-fashioned nature programming. Lions stalking gazelles. Sharks stalking people. People stalking lions and sharks.
You've gained 5 duration of Feeling Primal
You find an old slasher film. It's not good, by any means, but you think you picked up some good stabbing technique from the main character.
You learned a new Technique: Cruel Slash
You catch a bit of Rachel from Channel 2 News.
(Then one of the following:)
She's interviewing a Midgard lawyer about their patent infringement suit against a Hong Kong-based corporation. The disdain in his voice while discussing the smaller corp is almost tactile.
She's interviewing a local scientist about the spread of terrible new diseases, requiring the development of new and better drugs.
She's interviewing a Midgard security officer about the rise of new drug gangs throughout the city.
She's interviewing a bland administrator about Metroplex University's plans to have a university-sponsored Halloween party.
She's interviewing a local Zaibatsu rep. Apparently the massive corp is assisting Midgard in legal action against a Hong Kong-based company.
When pressed for Zaibatsu's reason, she insists it's to "protect the common good." Rachel's tone grows increasingly incredulous as the discussion winds down.
She's interviewing a Midgard lawyer, who's explaining how Midgard's lawsuit against HKGames has nothing to do with their main research facility exploding mysteriously. He insists Midgard and Zaibatsu were both merely concerned with the return of Midgard's patented designs.
She's interviewing a twitchy administrator about the growing crimewave on Metroplex University's campus.
(Pre-halloween Halloween 2010:)
She's interviewing a bland administrator about Metroplex University's announcement today, unveiling their university-sponsored Halloween party.(Pre-halloween Halloween 2010:)
She's interviewing a bland administrator about Metroplex University's plans for a university-sponsored Halloween party including an appearance by the reclusive band 'Emerald Gift.'(Post-halloween Halloween 2010:)
She's interviewing a proud administrator about the success of Metroplex University's Halloween party. He laughs off Rachel's questions about continuing Midgard presence in the dorms.(Pre-Virus Event 2011:)
She's interviewing a Midgard network specialist about recent virus outbreaks. He suggests picking up a copy of the Midard Protection Suite as soon as possible.(During Virus Event 2011:)
She's interviewing a twitchy administrator, who spends the whole interview dodging questions about Metroplex University's role in spreading a pervasive new computer virus. He eventually storms off when Rachel asks him about reports that the University's computer lab is serving as a vector for the virus.(During Virus Event 2011:)
She's interviewing a twitchy administrator, who spends the whole interview dodging questions about Metroplex University students' role in spreading OmniTech viral marketing over the holiday season.(July 2011 - coincides with release of antique floor mirror? :)
She's interviewing a local gossip blogger. He's talking about the sudden death of someone named 'Leandra Silver' and generally acting rather aghast that the staff and her extended family have already started selling off her possessions, but is obviously rather pleased with himself. Rachel adeptly steers the conversation towards theories on the cause of death. The blogger flatly insists its suicide, as if he had just been asked if the sky was blue.(During August 2011:)
She's interviewing a twitchy administrator about hundreds of fireworks being set off on Metroplex University's campus, damaging property and waking up residents kilometers away.(During November 2011:)
She's interviewing a local scientist about strange tremors near the waterfront. He insists that they're merely the result of settling, but Rachel keeps digging for a deeper answer, to no avail.(Post-Halloween 2012:)
She's interviewing a local scientist about the Metroplex University's dorm collapse. She's trying to get him to elaborate on possible dangers to the city or Midgard's involvement, but he sticks carefully to his talking points.(Post-Halloween 2012:)
She's interviewing a twitchy administrator about the tragic collapse of Metroplex University's dorms. He spends most of his time lauding Midgard's rescue efforts.(During January 2013:)
She's interviewing a Midgard network specialist about a inter-corporate project called "Novos." He denies knowing anything about it the first three ways she phrases the question, but breaks down and tells her to talk to OmniTech and Zaibatsu because they have the "controlling interest." <line break>It's hard to say what that's about, but there's nothing like a good corporate mystery to drive the ratings. (January 2013)(February 2013 onwards:)*
She's interviewing a Midgard middle manager about a inter-corporate project called "Novos." He hedges around the details, but mentions that Metroplex University is one of the test sites and, once they can get enough people trained in its use, it'll be rolling out on Midgard internal systems.(March 2013 onwards:)*
She's interviewing a twitchy administrator about the progress rebuilding Metroplex University's collapsed dorm. He focuses on Midgard's assistance providing funds and drones to help the rebuilding.(October 2014 onwards:)
She's interviewing a Midgard executive about a collision between two shipping drones downtown. He gives a long-winded explanation about how they are rerouting drones through less populated areas and mandating updated software in shipping drones, starting with the low-altitude models.Rachel takes a moment after the interview to explain that "they" refers to the city council, not Midgard corporate, and that the changes are expected to impact all shipping companies within Metroplex.
She's good at ferreting out the truth, but you feel a lurking dread by the time she's done… like something terrible is just over the horizon.
(October 2014 onwards:)
Rachel from Channel 2 News wrapping up an interview with a local teacher. She does a good job ferreting out the truth, but there's still that lurking dread by the time she's done.She looks towards the camera and solemnly intones "Next up: Requests for aid from Southside have tapered off with claims that they have resolved their problems internally."
Or: "Next up: The Golden Chip, hacker haven or urban legend?" (I would suspect these are drawn from the same pool of messages on the News Updates page)
Or: "Next up: University students complain of gang activity and pool hustlers in the Happy Hour."
There's also a ticker at the bottom with a number to call if you want to sign up for "breaking news alerts."
You've gained a new contact: News Updates
(And if you have Programmed Terror)
At least she's less scary than Midgard's world news.You've earned 1 XP in Perception
* Still exist as of June 2014
You catch the tail end of a soccer match. The players are crazy-good. You pick up a few moves from their offense.
You've earned 1 XP in Reflexes
There's a classic movie on about the Orbital Wars. It's a great watch, with epic battles offsetting the tragic plotline.
You've earned 1 XP in <random stat>
(Or if you have read History of the Orbital Wars)
There's a classic movie on about the Orbital Wars. It's hard to watch them now, knowing that nobody actually fought in orbit.
It's a shame, the space battles were a great offset to the main tragic plotline.
You've earned 1 XP in Reflexes and Will(Or if you've read about it on the internetz)
There's a classic movie on about the Orbital Wars. It's a great watch, with epic battles offsetting the tragic plotline.
It's nice to finally see it after reading all that commentary on it, though.
You've earned 3 XP in Perception
You stumble onto a Matsuo the Demonslayer marathon one of the local stations. You get to watch him triumph over <two of the following>.
- Baba Yaga
- Chaos
- his own dark reflection
- the Cackling Skull
- the Dragonmaster
- the Kappa Lord
- the Lady of Snows
- the Lord of Blood
- the Master of the Deathtouch
- the Mountain Oni
- the Nameless Race
- the One-Eyed Wanderer
- the Ooze Beast
- the Queen of Death
- the Rag Man
- the River God
- the Serpentine Dragon
- the Spider Woman
- the Stone Beast
- the Three-Eyed King
- the White Worm
- the Worldsoul
- the Zombie Lord
- Vlad Tepes
- <one of the above> and <x>'s more powerful ultimate form.
(And if you have a fanmod Idoru equipped and one of the opponents is the Zombie Lord:)
Oh! This doll you've been carrying around is totally a My Little Idoru version of the Zombie Lord. Just, you know… female.(And if you have a Rag Man's cape equipped and one of the opponents is the Rag Man:)
Wow, you totally have that guy's cape. You're pretty sure it's not a tie in, just… eerie. You pick up some good moves watching him, though.You learned a new Technique: Ragged Dodge
(And if you have a Blade of the Snows equipped and one of the opponents is the Lady of Snows:)
Wow, you totally have her knife! That makes this episode way cooler!(And then one of the following:)
(Losing:)
Between episodes, they have a call-in contest for a particularly sweet looking replica sword to the lucky twenty-third caller. You try your luck but don't get it.Ah well, better luck next time.
(Or, losing with Channeling Matsuo active:)
Between episodes, they have a call-in contest for a particularly sweet looking replica sword to the lucky twenty-third caller. You try your luck and don't get it, but watching Matsuo is its own reward.You've earned 3 XP in Will
(Or, losing with Journey of Heroes active:)
Between episodes, they have a call-in contest for a particularly sweet looking replica sword to the lucky twenty-third caller. You try your luck and don't get it, but they do give you a code to download his sword for Journey of Heroes!You've earned 4 XP in Will
(Winning:)
Between episodes, they have a call-in contest for a particularly sweet looking replica sword to the lucky twenty-third caller. You try your luck and actually get it! Lucky day!You found: replica sword
(Or, winning with Channeling Matsuo active:)
Between episodes, they have a call-in contest for a particularly sweet looking replica sword to the lucky twenty-third caller. You try your luck and land it! Matsuo is with you. Woooooooo!You found: replica sword
You've earned 5 XP in Will
You stumble onto a few episodes of "Supernatural Stellar Defense Team Omega." The quality's actually a little off, like it might be a bootleg.
(And one of the following:)
From what little you can tell, it's about a bunch of high school girls with brightly colored hair battling ghosts and vampires.
You watch a nice arc about the fighting the Clockwork Dragon, which is totally out of place in their pseudo-modern setting, but lovingly animated.
These episodes seem to be about the blue-haired captain hunting down the werewolf that killed her father.
These episodes seem to be about the blue-haired captain hunting down the demon that turned her mother into a vampire.
This arc seems to be about the whole team falling in love with a new and shockingly boring male character.
You think you came into the middle of a plot arc, because the first episode you find is about how the team actually came through a temporal portal from the distant future. Which is actually pretty normal compared to the next episode where you find out the quiet green-haired girl can apparently turn into a spaceship.
(And with an Zalian defense tool equipped or upgraded form:)
The team's captain still has a hightech bracer that shoots knives and has a hidden flamethrower. So that's awesome at least.
(And from all of above:)
You spend a little longer than you'd like to admit watching it, but eventually the channel fades back to static.
You regain <6 extra> hit points!
You stumble across a strange show on Public Access. A high-strung, thin man speaks rapid fire about the horrors that have befallen Metroplex. He begins with a long intro presenting hazy evidence.
Then he launches into a tirade, screaming about (insert three of the below)! It's the end! The end of times!
- UFOs over the lake
- mutant children in the sewers
- flamethrower-wielding cultists stalking dark terrors
- maggots the size of your arm
- out of place sharks prowling the lake
- giant cats stalking the night
- a dark presence in Southside
- rats that can speak and control terrible powers
- voodoo zombies from beneath the waves
- yetis wandering the forests
- face-stealing skinwalkers
- cast-off experiments in nanotechnology
- terrible hell hounds prowling beneath the University
- angry spirits forming piles of garbage into a mockery of human form
- comms that whisper with the voices of the dead
- flesh-hungry ghouls on the waterfront
- lab-bred chimerae
- rogue AIs
- faeries in the sewers
- lizard people that took over Midgard management
- blood-sucking monsters
- subliminal messages in Zaibatsu TV shows
- terrible winged eyes
- singing fishmen that lure dock workers to their doom
- sea serpents in Lake Metroplex
- ghosts in the machine
<and, since June 14, 2019 update?>
He doesn't seem very convincing and you're fairly sure there aren't any subliminal messages.
You flip through the channels the entire time you're resting and don't find a single thing worth watching. About the most entertaining thing you find is an uninteractive ad for <one of the following>.
- My Little Idoru dolls
- Extreme Fishing Sunken Ruins
- classes in Net security
- OmniCola
- a Supernatural Stellar Defense Team Omega dating sim
- car insurance for the one person rich enough to own a car that apparently still watches TV
- silver bullion
- gold coins
- the Happy Hour down near campus
- Benny Smith commemorative figurines
- a mood-altering medication named Arzac
- cyberinsurance for all your nonexistent cybernetics (if you don't have any cyberware)
- overpriced cyberinsurance (if you do have cyberware)
- Midgard Home Defense drones
- Zaibatsu Satellite Stations
- OmniTech trauma bandages
- the newest blockbuster action movie
- a movie collection
The whole experience almost physically painful.
You catch a classic detective flick. It's good, really thought-provoking and worth being called a classic.
You've earned 1 XP in <random stat>
(And, with ardent investigator active)
You catch a classic detective flick. You jump about a dozen steps ahead of the main character and identify the villain halfway through.Near-superhuman intelligence, fah!
earn an additional 1 XP
(And, with some condition (Novos hacking?))
It's nice to finally see it after reading all that commentary on it, though.
earn an additional 2 XP