The Matrix

[Starman]

So why isn't there a Matrix RPG.

Steve Darlington (SteveD on rpg.net) wrote There Is No Spoon, a very rules-lite Matrix RPG with some interesting ideas. You can find it here.

 

[Rackhir]

However, it didn't work right this time. My personal belief is that the Oracle has also been subtly manipulating things, specifically in her teaching of Morpheus and Trinity. This time, the One did things a little differently. Perhaps Neo picked up on his powers a little quicker, or found some quirk in the programming... whatever happened, he awakened to his abilities and managed to alter Smith without fully destroying him. In addition, he fell in love with Trinity, altering his purpose.

A couple of observations about Neo, Trinity and the Oracle. This time around at least Trinity was told by the Oracle that the man she would fall in love with would be The One.

Neo was told by the Oracle "You're not The One, maybe in your next life."

Neo didn't become "The One" until after Smith killed him AND Trinity talked to him telling him about what the Oracle told her and that he couldn't be dead since he was The One at which point he got back up and killed Smith until he died from it.

 

[Umbran]

I think it's the other way around, once a certain number of people accumalte the One emerges to reboot the system and all of the malcontents are wipe out in one fell swoop.

Except that what The One does has very little to do with how the free humans get wiped out. If Neo is any measure at all, The One is not a leader of men. He doesn't make them gather in Zion, make them stay put, or anything. All that gets arranged an entire century before The One shows up. So, he personally isn't required for it. He must serve some other purpose.

And there's nothing at all saying that the machines get all the humans when they attack Zion. If they're so bad at tracking down humans as you claim, then there will be those who escape and live on. So, this system doesn't serve the purpose you suggest.

 

[John Crichton]

A couple of observations about Neo, Trinity and the Oracle. This time around at least Trinity was told by the Oracle that the man she would fall in love with would be The One.

Neo was told by the Oracle "You're not The One, maybe in your next life."

Neo didn't become "The One" until after Smith killed him AND Trinity talked to him telling him about what the Oracle told her and that he couldn't be dead since he was The One at which point he got back up and killed Smith until he died from it.

That quote is not accurate. Truncating what she said loses the actual meaning.

She talks about being the One and referring to it as just like being in love: "No one can tell you you're in love you just know it, through and through - balls to bones."

"Well, I'd better have a look at you. Open your mouth and say, ah...

Okay. Now I'm supposed to say: Mmmmm, that's interesting. But... then you say..."

"But what?"

"... but, you already know what I'm going to tell you."

"I'm not the One."

"Sorry kid, you got the gift. But it looks like you're waiting for something."

"What?"

"You're next life maybe. Who knows? That's the way these things go."

The problem with your obervation is that he was already The One, he just didn't know himself. Trinity couldn't tell him, Morpheus couldn't tell him, no one could tell him. He was also exhibiting signs of One powers (dodging bullets) way before Smith took him down near the end. The Oracle was simply telling Neo what he already thought because that's the only way to self discovery: you have to do it yourself. That last sentence was a throw-away line with a tiny bit of meaning behind it. It wasn't referring to an actual other life or rebirth. I guess one could look at it that way but it's a real stretch.

Which is okay. I just disagree.

 

[RangerWickett]

Steve Darlington (SteveD on rpg.net) wrote There Is No Spoon, a very rules-lite Matrix RPG with some interesting ideas. You can find it here.

Whoa.

Nifty, and a fun read. I like it. I've never actually run an RPG with the DM as director, rather than arbiter. Looks intriguing.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Yeah, I read that Matrix RPG a while back, and thought it was really fun-looking. IIRC, Michael Tresca/talien has written a d20 Matrix game, that's available on his site.

EDIT: Yup. Here it is!

 

[Lobo Lurker]

Using the movie logic, you really only need one agent. The only thing that can stand up to an agent is The One and in that circumstance, he is unstoppable anyway. 3 agents = standard operating procedure and overkill.

Maybe, just maybe, there are only three agent programs...

The two agents from the first movie didn't show up in the 2nd/3rd. And I *think* it was the same treo of agents each time they fought Morpheus and the gang in the 2nd/3rd movie.

 

[John Crichton]

Maybe, just maybe, there are only three agent programs...

The two agents from the first movie didn't show up in the 2nd/3rd. And I *think* it was the same treo of agents each time they fought Morpheus and the gang in the 2nd/3rd movie.

Could be. That's really all they need. I suspect there are more (as many as needed) but it's not a bad point.

 

[Kesh]

Keep in mind that the "Twins" and other creepies in the Chataeu were supposedly 'security' programs from earlier incarnations of the Matrix that were marked for deletion & avoided it. Agents are likely what the Architect settled on as the least-intrusive method for enforcing the Matrix rules vs. the rebels.

 

[Welverin]

I'll start by saying it would have been more accurate for me to say the One protocol is initiated once a certain number of humans are freed, than saying he emerges.

Moving on...

Except that what The One does has very little to do with how the free humans get wiped out. If Neo is any measure at all, The One is not a leader of men. He doesn't make them gather in Zion, make them stay put, or anything. All that gets arranged an entire century before The One shows up. So, he personally isn't required for it. He must serve some other purpose.

Um, no, but it is the One's job selects the 21 one people that will found Zion for the next cycle and to reinsert his code and reboot the Matrix.

The One, the prophecy, and the myths surronding them were created by the machines as system of control to keep the humans in line. The One is part of the endgame, not the set up. It is not his responsibility to gather people in Zion, lead them, or any other such thing, that's the responsibility of men like Morpheus.

And there's nothing at all saying that the machines get all the humans when they attack Zion. If they're so bad at tracking down humans as you claim, then there will be those who escape and live on. So, this system doesn't serve the purpose you suggest.

First off, we know there are no more free humans associated with Zion in the Matrix at the beginning of Revolutions, because it is mentioned when they run a search looking for Neo.

Secondly the competance of the machines in hunting down awakened humans in the Matrix is irrelevant, because the humans do all of the work for them, the humans hunt each other down and gather themselves into one place. When the crap hits the fan they all vacate the Matrix and retreat to the one 'safe' place they have, Zion.