Neon Server
Neon is a city that lives up to its name, full of colorful light lines that contrast with the endless night. Being very populous and data-dense, there is limited wilderness around the city compared to other servers. Traveling along the right paths, however, can lead one to The Far Lands, regions of strange Glitched cityscapes. The Adventurers Guild's Neon Chapter is often interested in exploring these "dungeons" but have limited means to find and reach them.
Demographics
Like most servers, Process make up the largest portion of the population, at about 75% at any given time. Most are anthropomorphic in shape and fill various roles, many of which are simply making Neon Server look lively most of the cycle. Given their sheer numbers and higher social functions, rogue Process tend to be more common in Neon compared to other servers.
Users make up about 20% of the remaining population and are stereotyped as rough-mannered but fiercely loyal to their friends. A plurality of Users make their home in The Hive, usually venturing to other districts for entertainment and business. More ambitious Users tend to buy or carve out a home in the other districts.
The remaining 5% consists of Daemons and Shades. Picodaemons, such as Viral Imps tend to spread out to the numerous hidden corners of Neon, while other Daemons typically remain in the Boneyard, away from Troubleshooter eyes. Shades generally linger in the areas they were derezzed in, especially The Hive.
Districts
Entertainment District, AKA Sensate Central
Home to countless small memory and vice purveyors, ranging from simple to strange. If you know the right people to ask or spend enough Coin, Snow, Slurry, and unique designer Code Drugs are easy to find. The district tends to resist intrusion by larger entertainment factions, seeing the diversity of purveyors and products as part of their cultural identity, or in most cases, they simply see mainstream entertainment as too boring to consume.
District Trait: By spending 2 Coin, you may clear your entire stress tracker during one downtime action. You will, however overindulge unless you resist with a Resolution roll. For Users with high Drift, this may carry the additional risk of being reiterated as an Innocent and being retired as a PC.
The Boneyard, AKA The Recycling Bin
This is where all the data-dense junk in Neon goes to be recycled into freed memory. It's a popular spot for historians and archivists who can find lost treasures in the refuse. The Neon City Debuggers try to maintain a tight hold on this district to contain the spread of Glitch, often with great difficulty. Because of the ugliness of the Boneyard, relatively few Users live here, making it a haven for Daemons and rogue Process. The ReCyclers are a cycle gang that call this district home, commonly recruiting Neon's outcast AIs into their ranks.
District Trait: You may make a Desperate Restore function roll during downtime or flashbacks to acquire nearly any kind of gear. 1-3: You are infected with a Glitch while rummaging. 4/5: The item you find is infected. 6: The item is normal and just needs some touch-ups. In either case of infection, start a Danger Clock with 4 ticks representing the Glitch's activation.
The Hive
This is a district dedicated primarily to high density residences, and the relatively crowded conditions have given rise to numerous gangs vying for turf, with varying rationales. For the immortal Users (thanks in part to Argon Entertainment), this has practically become a spectator sport with ritualistic rumbles and colorful gangs trying to stand out. Many larger factions recruit local Users as mercenaries, and more than one Dynasty (HW crew type) has formed from coalitions that started in The Hive.
District Trait: A PC may visit the park as an alternative recall. Roll 2d for fortune to determine the weather for the downtime period:
- Crit: The weather settings are perfectly optimal. Clear 5 Stress with no penalty from Drift
- 4-6: Fair Weather. Clear 3 Stress for the cost of 1 MEM.
- 1-3: Inclement Weather. You may pick a different downtime activity instead of going to the park.
Firewall Street
Memory is one of the few scarce resources in the world. Basic needs are met for every citizen, but that simply isn't enough for some. Here is where the cutthroat business Users try to satisfy their greed, speculating on the ebb and flow of business factions, the artificially scarce resources of Cobalt, and trade favors in hopes of influencing which factions gain or hold a grip on the coveted Helium Server. Many attempts are made at currencies competing with Admin-backed Coin, but few have any lasting power since someone always finds a way to counterfeit these lesser currencies. Because of the need for processing power, true cryptocurrencies tend to be rare, but are still hustled, if only as collector's items for the world's numismatists. Citizens suspicious of cryptocurrency see it as little more than junk data fit for reclamation in the Boneyard.
District Trait: Players can make a Daemon's Bargain to obtain Coin from speculators. They will, however, expect some manner of return on investment. Start a 4-tick "Owe a Favor" clock, representing some manner of repayment with interest in proportion to the amount of Coin borrowed by or invested in your crew. Naturally, failure to repay tends to prevent future use of this action.
The Peer-to-Pier
Neon's dockyards are the primary launch point for vehicles traveling to and from other servers. Traffic here is strongly regulated, requiring regular contact with dockyard control until reaching The Gate or going ashore. The Debuggers maintain a vigilant customs office to make sure that no Glitch enters or leaves Neon Server.
District Trait: A Crew with 0-1 Heat or a member with a Courier License can pay 1 Coin to gain +1 to engagement rolls for Transport scores starting in this district.
Biblio Sector
Given how much Users forget as memories are overwritten, there's always a need for educational facilities. Frequented by Users who've styled themselves as teenagers, the district contains numerous educational facilities, many of which have only loose control of their students. Hijinks in the sector run the gamut from minor pranks to out-of-control Legend University "heroes" wielding Glitch-fueled powers spilling out of the training arena.
District Trait: By spending 1 Coin, a player character may Frame a Scene here to gain 2 xp instead of the standard 1 xp. Expect shenanigans.
Research and Novelty District, A.K.A. The RND
Though technology in Soulbank has largely stagnated, there still is room for innovation and rediscovery of lost methods. The RND exists for this purpose. Authority functions are more readily invoked here, but activities are more heavily monitored by Administration as a result.
District Trait: As an alternative to Acquire an Asset, you may spend 3 Reputation and take on 2 Heat to Compile and "test" an artifact of up to Magnitude 6. Afterwards, expect to return the artifact and fill out paperwork on the results.
Average Server Traits
Data Struture:
Stable (3 / 1) Chaotic
Monitoring:
Security (2 / 2) Freedom
Server Traffic:
Global (3 / 1) Local
Products:
Volume (1 / 3) Value
Comments