=Simulspaces= 
Simulspaces are virtual reality environments where the resolution advances beyond realistic high definition and into the hyper-real. The environments they create are comprehensive and authentic illusions, from aspects like lighting, day or lunar cycles, and weather down to minute details and sensations. Jacking into a simulspace is much like crossing over into a alternate world or reality, which is why simulspaces have become increasingly popular in entertainment.
While simulspaces usually cannot harm characters immersed in them as the sensory algorithms are not intended to be offensive programs or routines, experiences in simulspaces can have a strong psychological impact on an ego, as the simulation is as close to reality as you can get. A character who is “physically” tortured within a simulspace will not be physically harmed, but the mental stress of the experience might still be sufficient to cause permanent traumas.
==Simulmorphs== 
Characters access simulspace using an avatar-like persona called a simulmorph. This simulmorph is created by the simulspace, based on the domain rules of the simulation and certain characteristics of the morph or ego accessing the simulation. Depending on the simulation, this simulmorph may be customizable to varying degrees. While interacting with the simulation, treat simulmorphs as basic infomorphs for all rules purposes, even if the egos are still possessing another morph body in reality.
When accessing a simulspace, muses are usually not transferred into the simulation, though they can potentially come along if domain rules permit it. In this case, muses are treated as separate characters within the simulspace with their own simulmorph body.
Depending on the role a simulspace is intended to play in the story, the gamemaster may want to invent “physical stats” for the simulmorph bodies, especially if the characters are likely to spend a lot of time in the simulation. These statistics can literally be made up—it is a virtual reality after all, and anything goes. Alternately, the gamemaster can simply wing it and invent any necessary statistics on the fly as the need for them comes up.
==Immersion== 
When a character immerses themselves in a simulspace, they “become” the simulmorph. The character’s physical body, typically secluded and protected in a vat or couch, slumps inertly. While immersed, they suffer –60 on all [[Perception]] Tests or attempts to take action with their physical morph. Characters can enter and leave the simulspace as will, but toggling in or out takes a Complex Action.
If the simulspace crashes or the character is otherwise dumped from it, they immediately resume control of their own morph as normal. VR dumpshock is extremely jarring, and the character suffers 1d10 ÷ 2 mental stress.
==External Mesh Interaction== 
A character accessing a simulspace may still interact with the mesh (and through it, the outside world) assuming the domain rules allow for it. Any outside interactions are subject to time dilation issues, however. For example, in a simulspace running faster than real time, holding a chat with someone in outside meatspace is excruciatingly slow, as real-world seconds translate into minutes in VR. If a character wishes to directly access other mesh nodes, they must toggle or log out of the simulspace.
==Simulspace Rules== 
Since a simulspace is an alternate world whose realism matches reality, characters use their physical skills and aptitudes as if they were acting in the real world with few exceptions:
* Though intrusion and hacking can be represented as another layer of the simulation, there is no actual hacking within the simulspace (see Hacking Simulspaces).
* Asyncs cannot use their psi abilities in simulspace, though such abilities can be simulated.
* Any “physical” damage taken in the simulspace is treated as “virtual” damage. While virtual injuries and wounds use the same mechanics, characters that die in a simulspace are usually simply ejected from the simulation. In some cases “dead” characters are brought into a white room and can re-enter or just watch the simulation, depending on the domain rules.
* Mental stress or trauma inflicted during a simulation carries over to the ego as real Lucidity damage. At the gamemaster’s discretion, some mental stress may be reduced if the character is aware that they are in a simulation.
==Domain Rules== 
Anything goes in a simulspace, as dictated by the domain rules. A simulspace may range from approximating reality very closely to differing drastically. Gravity might fluctuate, the visual light spectrum might not exist, characters might heal virtual damage effortlessly, simulmorphs may be capable of transmogrifying into other creatures, everything might be underwater—the possibilities are endless, limited only by imagination. In game terms, this allows the gamemaster to make up rules on the fly.
==Cheating== 
As with any good game, simulspaces provide ways to cheat. Cheats are either built into the simulspace software or (externally) programmed in by a hacker. Cheats allow for a character to break the domain rules in some way. This may be a special power, a way to alter some environmental factor (like flying), altering the time dilation, some sort of power-up ability, a way to get info on other simulmorphs, or a short-cut through part of the simulation. In game terms, cheats might provide bonus modifiers to certain skill or stat tests made by a simulmorph. Cheating is usually forbidden. Players who cheat in a simulspace game and who get caught may face eviction from the simulspace.
==Hacking Simulspaces== 
Since simulspaces are complex virtual environments and often run on time dilation, hackers cannot hack them in a normal manner when they participate in the simulation. There are ways to affect and influence the simulation from within, but the degree of subversion that is achievable is limited. For this reason, hackers rarely enter into VR to hack. Hacking into the external system running a simulspace is just like breaking into any other system. Use all of the standard rules for intrusion and subversion.
===Meddling From The Inside=== 
Within a simulspace, a hacker’s only choice for interacting with the VR controls is through the standard interface that any simulmorph can pull up. Typically used for standard user features like adjusting your simulmorph or chatting with or checking the status of other users, a clever hacker might find some ways to subvert the system. Such options are usually limited, however, as a number of system controls and processes cannot be accessed and manipulated from the inside.
Most of the hacker’s options are going to involve meddling with the simulation and its specific domain rules or possibly gaining access to cheats. To make a change requires a successful Interface Test. Ultimately the gamemaster decides what the hacker can and cannot get away with, based on the limitations of that particular simulspace.
Most simulspaces are monitored to prevent cheating and abuse, though the monitors are typically preoccupied with maintaining the simulspace as a whole, dealing with other users, etc. At the gamemaster’s discretion, such a monitor might get to make an Interface Test (possibly with a modifier for distraction) to notice the hacker’s efforts
||||~ Hacking Simulspace From Within ||
|| **Modifier** || **Task** ||
|| -0 || Analyze simulation parameters, view domain rules, shape appearance of simulmorph, switch simulmorph character or morph type ||
|| -10 || Change probability of test outcomes, become invisible (“out-game”) to others ||
|| -20 || Interfere with simulation (e.g. make it rain, generate earthquakes), generate items, ignore domain rules, kill or lockout other simulmorphs ||
|| -30 || Go into god mode, command simulated characters, take over the simulation ||

=See Also= 
[[Interfacing_ AR VR, and XP]]
[[Intrusion]]

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