From: holmes@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Keith Harris)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: SRUN: Australian Outlook, the MDI-
Summary: -just a taste from Down Under...
Keywords: Shadowrun, SR, SRUN, SHADOWRUN
Date: 27 Jul 92 15:51:22 GMT
Organization: the Followers of Geeker's Path


->>[A LONG--------while back, Wigs in Oz asked if anyone had any ideas for
  some stuff for Australia.  He and I worked on some stuff, and this is just
  a taste of what it looked like...]<<
    -Shivowtnoeh (back from the grave for a bit)

THE MANAFIELD DISTORTIONAL INFLUX (MDI)

  HISTORY              : The phenomena known as a Manafield Distortional
       Influx, or Manastorm, has held many theorists in dozens of fields
       in awe for the past 5 decades.  Since the Awakening in 2011, the
       manifestations in the Continental Australian region have been closely
       monitored.  Many governments and corporate scientists have expended
       literally thousands of man-hours on projects related to its study.
       Though none can fully explain it, all will readily admit, it is the
       single most powerful force on the planet to date.

  CHARACTERISTICS      : The MDI effect is actually very easily predicted,
       once the "signs" are verified.  Usually at the beginning of a MDI
       manifestation, one of three signals are witnessed:

	 1. Auditory, usually in the form of a powerful "keening" noise.
	    Many have compared the sounds produced to that of a cinematic
	    ghost or bann-shidhe.

	 2. Visual, usually in the form of VERY rapidly building cloud-
	    cover.  Reports of "stormfronts" covering a 100 kilometer
	    wide region in less than a minute are documented.  The color-
	    ation of the clouds ranges from dull grays to vibrant blues
	    and violets.
  
	 3. Etheric, usually any species or being capable of astral awareness
	    reports the territory gaining a "rampant fogginess."  The
	    ability to percieve the etheric mediums is highly restricted
	    at the beginning of the manifestation and usually persists for
	    its duration.

       There are of course a variety of undocumented accounts, ranging from
       noise levels being that of "thousands" of hounds or wolves baying to
       Visual radiances similar to those of the Aura Borealis found over
       the polar regions of the planet.

       Electrical Manifestations are frequently, if not always, associated
       with the manastorm.  An interesting side note however, is that not all
       of the electrical conductivity reported actually registers on standard
       EM devices.

       Atmospheric violence is also prevalent.  Wind speeds in excess of 
       300 kilometers per hour have been documented.  Cyclonic and Wind Shear
       reports are often witnessed as well.  One undocumented report states
       a Bergen Landtrain Unit (5 units total) was lifted off the ground and
       placed on its nose, main tram at the lowest point, with the other
       units stacked end-on-end upward.

       [GM's Note- the wind speed is measured by rolling 2D6 and adding the
	results, then multiplying this number by 10.  The result is the wind
	speed in kilometers per hour.  Reroll 6's, thus allowing for faster
	wind speeds to be generated.]

       Humidity retention in the air around a manastorm is never stable
       however.  Reports of torrential rains as strong as those found in the
       Amazonian Rainforest have been reported, as have 0% humidity winds
       that literally strip the water off/out of an object.  An undocumented
       report states a research member having been completely dehydrated in
       less than 10 seconds.

  DURATION             : Though most MDI manifestations usually last for 
       less than an hour, documented reports of longer reports do exist.  The
       MDI manifestation in April of 2053 having been the longest lasting to
       date.  A time period of 5 days 11 hours 32 minutes (over 131 hours
       continuous) occurred, with the storm ranging from the central outback
       region to northeast ridge territory.  The standard time however is
       between 5-30 minutes (5D6).

  ETHERIC QUALITIES    : The storm itself has had a number of "documented"
       effects on the abilities of magically capable individuals.  MDI
       manifestations seem to randomly generate "background counts" similar
       to those possessed in numerous locations planetwide.  However, these
       BC's are not stable or standardized by any sense.  Beneficial and
       Malign BC's have been reported, as well as general "enrichments" and
       "drainings" of the ambient regional mana.  The numbers seem to range
       from 1 to 5 (using the Patterson's Scale).  There is also no warning
       of any kind as to whether or not the BC will be beneficial or malign
       in nature.

       [GM's Note- roll a D6 to determine the benign/malign nature, 1-3 will
	indicate benign nature, 4-6 indicates malign.  Roll a D6 again to
	determine the measure of the account.  A 6 indicates a 5, with an
	automatic success put into the system (failure or success, depending
	on the nature of the storm).  Please note that this number indicates
	both a modifier to the dice rolled AND a modifier to the number OF
	dice rolled.  Benign BC of 4 would indicate a +4 to all dice rolls
	as well as 4 extra dice.]

       [GM's Note- Spirit Guard effects and related powers will NOT protect
	an individual from the ensuing MDI manifestation.  In fact, if the
	storm is acting in a malign way, the spirit may make an attempt to
	go free.  If the force of the spirit is higher than the charisma of
	the conjuring magician, the spirit may attempt to "go free" in the
	way an Ally spirit does (see Grimoire for more details).]

  SCIENTIFIC QUALITIES  : The storm also effects technological items/objects
	of all kinds in a manner similar to how it effects magically capable
	individuals.  However, the comparison is not related.  You could
	have malign magic and malign tech at the same time.

	[Gm's Note- the system for determining the effects on technology are
	 the same as mentioned above for etheric effects.  It is possible for
	 a device to operate better than its normal capabilities.  The roll
	 to determine benign/malign nature, and its intensity, is made 
	 seperately from the etheric one.]

  SEASONAL PATTERNS     : The "standard" season for the storms is normally
       from late December (around the 22nd) to the middle of June.  However,
       storms have been documented beyond this boundary, though these MDI
       manifestations tend to be shorter in duration and less dramatic in
       their intensity.

  MDI RANGE             : The manifestations seem to range from the western
       shores of the continent to as far east as the Great Continental Divide.
       Northern and Southern storms have been reported on the respective
       coasts as well.  For some reason, perhaps standard geography, the 
       manifestations do not go beyond the eastern mountain range.  A few
       rapid, mild manifestations have been reported, but as yet remain
       undocumented.


  HISTORY              : The phenomena known as a Manafield Distortional
       Influx, or Manastorm, has held many theorists in dozens of fields
       in awe for the past 5 decades.  Since the Awakening in 2011, the
       manifestations in the Continental Australian region have been closely
       monitored.  Many governments and corporate scientists have expended
       literally thousands of man-hours on projects related to its study.
       Though none can fully explain it, all will readily admit, it is the
       single most powerful force on the planet to date.

  CHARACTERISTICS      : The MDI effect is actually very easily predicted,
       once the "signs" are verified.  Usually at the beginning of a MDI
       manifestation, one of three signals are witnessed:

	 1. Auditory, usually in the form of a powerful "keening" noise.
	    Many have compared the sounds produced to that of a cinematic
	    ghost or bann-shidhe.

	 2. Visual, usually in the form of VERY rapidly building cloud-
	    cover.  Reports of "stormfronts" covering a 100 kilometer
	    wide region in less than a minute are documented.  The color-
	    ation of the clouds ranges from dull grays to vibrant blues
	    and violets.
  
	 3. Etheric, usually any species or being capable of astral awareness
	    reports the territory gaining a "rampant fogginess."  The
	    ability to percieve the etheric mediums is highly restricted
	    at the beginning of the manifestation and usually persists for
	    its duration.

       There are of course a variety of undocumented accounts, ranging from
       noise levels being that of "thousands" of hounds or wolves baying to
       Visual radiances similar to those of the Aura Borealis found over
       the polar regions of the planet.

       Electrical Manifestations are frequently, if not always, associated
       with the manastorm.  An interesting side note however, is that not all
       of the electrical conductivity reported actually registers on standard
       EM devices.

       Atmospheric violence is also prevalent.  Wind speeds in excess of 
       300 kilometers per hour have been documented.  Cyclonic and Wind Shear
       reports are often witnessed as well.  One undocumented report states
       a Bergen Landtrain Unit (5 units total) was lifted off the ground and
       placed on its nose, main tram at the lowest point, with the other
       units stacked end-on-end upward.

       [GM's Note- the wind speed is measured by rolling 2D6 and adding the
	results, then multiplying this number by 10.  The result is the wind
	speed in kilometers per hour.  Reroll 6's, thus allowing for faster
	wind speeds to be generated.]

       Humidity retention in the air around a manastorm is never stable
       however.  Reports of torrential rains as strong as those found in the
       Amazonian Rainforest have been reported, as have 0% humidity winds
       that literally strip the water off/out of an object.  An undocumented
       report states a research member having been completely dehydrated in
       less than 10 seconds.

  DURATION             : Though most MDI manifestations usually last for 
       less than an hour, documented reports of longer reports do exist.  The
       MDI manifestation in April of 2053 having been the longest lasting to
       date.  A time period of 5 days 11 hours 32 minutes (over 131 hours
       continuous) occurred, with the storm ranging from the central outback
       region to northeast ridge territory.  The standard time however is
       between 5-30 minutes (5D6).

  ETHERIC QUALITIES    : The storm itself has had a number of "documented"
       effects on the abilities of magically capable individuals.  MDI
       manifestations seem to randomly generate "background counts" similar
       to those possessed in numerous locations planetwide.  However, these
       BC's are not stable or standardized by any sense.  Beneficial and
       Malign BC's have been reported, as well as general "enrichments" and
       "drainings" of the ambient regional mana.  The numbers seem to range
       from 1 to 5 (using the Patterson's Scale).  There is also no warning
       of any kind as to whether or not the BC will be beneficial or malign
       in nature.

       [GM's Note- roll a D6 to determine the benign/malign nature, 1-3 will
	indicate benign nature, 4-6 indicates malign.  Roll a D6 again to
	determine the measure of the account.  A 6 indicates a 5, with an
	automatic success put into the system (failure or success, depending
	on the nature of the storm).  Please note that this number indicates
	both a modifier to the dice rolled AND a modifier to the number OF
	dice rolled.  Benign BC of 4 would indicate a +4 to all dice rolls
	as well as 4 extra dice.]

       [GM's Note- Spirit Guard effects and related powers will NOT protect
	an individual from the ensuing MDI manifestation.  In fact, if the
	storm is acting in a malign way, the spirit may make an attempt to
	go free.  If the force of the spirit is higher than the charisma of
	the conjuring magician, the spirit may attempt to "go free" in the
	way an Ally spirit does (see Grimoire for more details).]

  SCIENTIFIC QUALITIES  : The storm also effects technological items/objects
	of all kinds in a manner similar to how it effects magically capable
	individuals.  However, the comparison is not related.  You could
	have malign magic and malign tech at the same time.

	[Gm's Note- the system for determining the effects on technology are
	 the same as mentioned above for etheric effects.  It is possible for
	 a device to operate better than its normal capabilities.  The roll
	 to determine benign/malign nature, and its intensity, is made 
	 seperately from the etheric one.]

  SEASONAL PATTERNS     : The "standard" season for the storms is normally
       from late December (around the 22nd) to the middle of June.  However,
       storms have been documented beyond this boundary, though these MDI
       manifestations tend to be shorter in duration and less dramatic in
       their intensity.

  MDI RANGE             : The manifestations seem to range from the western
       shores of the continent to as far east as the Great Continental Divide.
       Northern and Southern storms have been reported on the respective
       coasts as well.  For some reason, perhaps standard geography, the 
       manifestations do not go beyond the eastern mountain range.  A few
       rapid, mild manifestations have been reported, but as yet remain
       undocumented.