[CanRay]

OK, so now we have good fluff, but bad crunch going on.

Back in the oven?

[Teknodragon]

Spy Games, page 150 (153 of the PDF):
"Terahertz waves exist at the very upper end of radio waves,
just below the very bottom of optical frequencies. They straddle
the region between waves and particles, and they are an ideal
energy source for surveillance."

A quick double-check of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum shows that there is the entire microwave band between radio frequencies and frequencies around 10^12 Hz. Further, it is halfway between the thermal infared region and the far infared region, a bit more than 'just below' the very bottom of optical frequencies.

This is also hardly "straddling the region between waves and particles". That which is electromagnetic radiation behaves as both particle and wave, over the entire spectrum.

I have a serious urge to slap the writer, as well as those who proofed that section. This falls below even Star-Trek level blather.

[CanRay]

Maybe the in-game character was an idiot and didn't do the research instead of the writer?

Just saying, it's a possibility.

[Crimsondude]

Just as a FYI, it was written by Plan 9; a character who has always been described generously as a conspiracy theorist and into fringe nonsense science who, in Attitude, has admitted to implanting all divergent cyber for no logical reason. IOW, he's a crank, but a useful one at times. Other times he's spouting nonsense.

[Patrick Goodman]

Yeah, but the line in question is in one of Dr. Cross's memos, and theoretically, she should know better.

Still going to sit on my hands to avoid getting a shooting war started about the Star Trek remark....

[Crimsondude]

I stand corrected.

[Chrona]

Spy Games, page 150 (153 of the PDF):
"Terahertz waves exist at the very upper end of radio waves,
just below the very bottom of optical frequencies. They straddle
the region between waves and particles, and they are an ideal
energy source for surveillance."

I'm a physics undergrad so that paragraph makes me weep

[Simagal]

Maybe the physics in a world with magic are different than the real world. 

[Ryo]

Mini Rocket Cigarettes
These short-range rockets are narrow enough to fit in
a cigarette. They require Exotic Weapon skill, as the mini
rockets have a short fuse hidden in the tobacco and fire in
the direction of the filter. Range is comparable to hold-out
pistols. Damage is 4P.

This is an amazing item, but 4P? I imagine that's if I use it at range, but what if I were to, say, discreetly place one of these puppies into a target's pack of cigarettes? Surely having a mini rocket fired into their mouth does more than 4P.

[Chrona]

I imagine their throat can't resist damage well, instant glitch?

[Chrona]

Maybe the physics in a world with magic are different than the real world. 

If the spectrum changed magic would be the least of your worries

[Charybdis]

Mini Rocket Cigarettes
These short-range rockets are narrow enough to fit in
a cigarette. They require Exotic Weapon skill, as the mini
rockets have a short fuse hidden in the tobacco and fire in
the direction of the filter. Range is comparable to hold-out
pistols. Damage is 4P.

This is an amazing item, but 4P? I imagine that's if I use it at range, but what if I were to, say, discreetly place one of these puppies into a target's pack of cigarettes? Surely having a mini rocket fired into their mouth does more than 4P.

+4 DV for a called shot perhaps?
And I'm guessing a complete lack of defense tests due to surprise

[Crimsondude]

I love it when people focus on part of one thirty-page chapter in 176-page book as broad as this book's scope is.

That being said, in case I didn't make it clear earlier there is now a list of Sixth World intelligence agencies and a glossary with "industry" terms. For example, there are now names for the intelligence subsidiaries of the Big Ten and several corporations and nations, and others, including the UCAS. Though I did forget every g-d time up to the time of the print release to include the IRS in the UCAS intelligence community (which is canon per Runner Havens). It is actually smaller than the current one (in number of agencies and sheer size, natch). But I thought you might want to know. You're getting the inside information here. There are also a couple not listed that just aren't for various reasons. And, of course, it is not a comprehensive global list. However, considering the small scope and size of most nations' and corps' intelligence goals and operations (There are only really three countries in the world IRL that have had a global presence in decades) it is fair to assume and play out the idea that the ones listed, even if they aren't Aegis, Argus, or SIS are probably service providers to smaller players. Even IRL many small agencies have often been little more than proxies or fronts for big agencies.

[hobgoblin]

I love it when people focus on part of one thirty-page chapter in 176-page book as broad as this book's scope is.

Crunch are always easier to rules lawyer then fluff...

[CanRay]

It's the old Role Playing Versus Roll Playing argument.

Me, I'm heaving into Role, so...  That said, I am a bit upset that the Crunch was so poorly documented and implemented, as a lot of it seems very interesting and useful without being overpowered.