A wwWizard2k Mini-Essay - Hackers and SuperPhysics

Hello Redpills:

No, this isn't one my textbook rants on the enemy organizations (that's next week).  On the advice of my therapist (AwakenedPotato), I have decided to use my unique writing style to contribute a little to forum community.

I would like to talk to you for a moment about the imbalances in this game.  There are many, many imbalances, from hacker all the way to knife thrower, but for this post, I shall focus on *one* *single* attack.

It is my hope to get people thinking, using a very concrete example, so maybe we can come up with some ... unique suggestions (other than "OMG, delete hacker and spy and coder and patcher!!!!").

In the world of the Matrix, people with evolved minds break the rules of of physics.  This makes nearly anything possible.  Yet, this is not so easy when TWO people with evolved minds attempt to break the rules, against EACH OTHER.  This causes the rules to re-apply themselves, in a more general way - something I have dubbed "super-physics".  IE:  If my mind is better at breaking the rules than yours is, I can punch you through a wall, even though you can usually dodge punches.

The code, the clothes, the punch... it's not real.  You think that's my fist?  No.  It's simply my mind versus yours.

But, then, how can we explain... devastation field?  A devastation field, used against one person, I can underrated.  It's a pretty heavy attack, that needs a pretty high level person to launch it.  So I can understand taking 1000 damage.  But what about in a crowd of 5?  Of 10?  Of 100?  How do you explain it in terms of the matrix?

Probably explanation 1:  Hackers are supreme beings.  Their minds are evolved so far, that they can overpower the will of 100 of their peers.
Refutation:  If this were so, a hacker wouldn't die after a few punches from an MA (assuming he doesn't roll out).

Possible explanation 2:  The way area hacks are designed is wrong.

Explanation:

Many hackers will be complaining at this point, saying "It's a virus, it can move to anyone".  Yes, if this was Windows XP and a common worm.  But the Matrix is a bio-computer system - it's aggregate parts (RedPills) are made up of minds, not common software.  AND - it is the HACKER that is powering the attack.  When you launch it, you LOSE IS.  It is your strength that makes the code move.

Thus, I suggest a change, to bring devastation field more in-line with the rest of the Matrix universe.  Like when an MA fights multiple people, his tactics go down... the more minds oppose him, the more his mind suffers.

If a devastation field hits 10 people, then ONE of two things needs to happen (not both - that's cruel)
1)  The hacker will lose 10 x the casting IS for the attack.
2)  The devastation field strength will be divided between its hit targets.  (1000 damage, 10 targets, 5 hits = 200 damage per hit - not counting absorption).  (Note:  I do not count missed/deflected targets, to make it fair)

This is nothing new, either.  Hackers are the archmage class of MxO.  In almost every piece of literature on mages, from Raistlin to Sauromon to Emperor Palpatine, a mage using his power against armies pays a heavy toll.  Repelling hordes of attackers with his magic leaves the mage weak, broken, and aged.

A notice to hackers:  Don't **bleep**, and don't flame.  Read this post and THINK.  You can roll out after hit.  You can active hyperdodge, and you get full VD as part of your own class (as opposed to losing 20 memory spaces like us MA's do to load it).  You are far more protected against everyone than we are.  It's time to sweep the floor, and clean house with this unbalanced crap.

Comments are welcome.