Ring of Dark

Description

The popular cybercombat cage match trid show Ring of Light attracts many deckers looking to earn fame and fortune in e-sports. However, Ring of Light fighters are required to have specific, very expensive hardware and follow a strict set of rules both in and out of the arena. They are heavily monitored by the authorities, for obvious reasons. This has led to an underground version of the sport known as Ring of Dark (creative, I know). Ring of Dark functions similarly to Ring of Light in that it's a cage match cybercombat sport. However, far more things are permissible under the rules. For example, combatants may bring any hardware or cyberprograms they choose, with the short ban list mostly in place to prevent deaths. Technomancers were originally excluded from Ring of Dark due to a combination of prejudice and concerns over personal injury they may suffer. Ultimately, technomancers were allowed into the games via a set of rule changes.

House Rules

1. Don't be a dick.
2. If you bring someone new in, you're responsible for them.
3. Bets are handled through the bookie for the match. No side bets. Dues are taken out of this pool to keep the place running.
4. You're responsible for your own repair and/or medical bills.
5. Sysadmin is a rotating position. No bitching if you don't like who's up this week, go play something else if you want.
6. Rule-breakers will be kicked, banned, or geeked, depending on how bad it looks. Lives are at stake here. The sysadmin of the week gets final say.
7. No dissonants. Yeah they fight good, but they can't be trusted.
8. Don't leave any files out. The sysadmin will delete them.

Match Rules

1. Three refs watch the match. One of them must be a technomancer.
2. All participating icons must offer 2 marks to the refs for oversight. You can load any programs, thread any forms, or call up any sprite you want before the match, but you will be inspected by the refs. If you load up an agent or call a new sprite in the middle of the match, it must invite marks to the refs before it can act.
3. You and all icons under your control must begin the match not running silent.
4. If you're a spectator, don't fuck with the participants. Don't even send 'em messages.
5. Intentional use of lethal force is not allowed. Use of the Biofeedback and Lockdown programs is explicitly forbidden, though Blackout is allowed.
6. You may only have one agent or sprite under your command at a time. No one wants to watch Golden Boy and his 12 MCD-1s spam attacks all over the arena.
7. If you go offline, you're out.
8. If you go unconscious, you're out.
9. Tracing is not allowed, nor is meatspace interference.
10. Ganging up on someone is allowed, but neither the refs nor the sysadmin will enforce any deals you make in the cage.

Scaffolding

The icon for Ring of Dark looks like a rotating, golden ring bathed in a purple flame. It runs silent, so as not to attract attention from script kiddies, GOD, or casual users. It is a rogue host, so icons inside do not accumulate overwatch score for any reason. Inside, the host looks like a large, Tron-style arena. Floating spectator platforms surround a flat, barren fighting ring covered in a transparent dome. The interior of the dome can be reconfigured to provide various different stage conditions, such as floating platforms, spike pits, or whatever else meets the fancy of the organizers for that match. Gravity is disabled outside of the dome, allowing spectators to float close to the match from any viewing angle. You can summon screens to your personal display to follow specific fighters or view specific angles in the arena up close.

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Type	Rating	Attack	Sleaze	Data Processing	Firewall	IC Tray
Rogue Foundation	7	8	9	5	12	Patrol, Bloodhound, Tar Baby, Black IC, Blaster, Sparky, Killer

This is the only location in the host. The sysadmin of the week acts as the spider, so discipline and capabilities can vary widely, but expect whoever it is to be fairly well-equipped and matrix savvy, but not in a corporate way. The Ring has a strict no-files policy, keeping any necessary operational records archived. Files left by users get deleted as soon as they can be spotted by the IC, who alert the sysadmin. There are no devices slaved to the host, for similar reasons.

Foundation

The foundation of the Ring of Dark host is kept unanchored and checked weekly as part of the sysadmin's duties. Important files are kept in the archive for protection. These include betting books for previous matches and anything the sysadmin of the week should be aware of. The foundation gate is disguised as one of the many dark rings in the ceiling, which appear to be part of the stadium's scaffolding.