                      SHADOWRUN MATRIX 2.0 HOST GENERATOR

                         version 1.0: 10 December 1995


This program allows gamemasters to quickly generate random hosts for matrix
runs under the revised decking rules found in the Virtual Realities 2.0
sourcebook for the Shadowrun RPG.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
To run the Matrix 2.0 Host Generator, you need a PC with Windows 3.1 or higher
-- the program was written under Windows 95 -- and the file VBRUN300.DLL
located somewhere where Windows can find it (in your \windows\system directory
for instance).
Everything should work fine on any PC that complies to these requirements.


HOW TO USE IT
It's easy enough: start up MS Windows, and then the program called Matrix
Host Generator.EXE (Matrix~1.EXE under Windows/DOS versions other than Windows
95). On your screen will be a window with the following options:

HOST NAME: here you can enter any name you like for the host you're about to
           design. A few words can activate hidden features like a scroller...
SYSTEM RATINGS: in these two boxes you can indicate the host's Security Code
                and Intrusion Difficulty; pressing the Generate System Ratings
                button then rolls for the various system ratings as per the
                Random Host System-Rating Table on page 31 of Virtual Realities
                2.0. Pressing the Random button does the same, but also selects
                a random host color and difficulty level.
TRIGGER STEP SETTINGS: behind Number Of Steps you can enter the number of
                       trigger steps you want the security sheaf to have. In the
                       Passive Alert and Active Alert entries you can indicate
                       the highest trigger step at which you want these allerts
                       to occur. Pressing the Generate Trigger Steps button will
                       roll for the security steps and the IC that is activated
                       at each step, following the Random IC Allocation rules on
                       pages 63-64 of Virtual Realities 2.0. The Random button
                       generates a random number of trigger steps, and random
                       Passive and Active alert levels, in addition to creating
                       the actual steps.
                       Note: if you have not yet generated system ratings, these
                       are automatically created when you press either button
                       in the Trigger Step Settings section.
TRIGGER STEPS: all generated trigger steps appear here. If you don't like what
               comes up, you can edit the text simply by placing your mouse
               pointer in the text area and pressing the left button; a cursor
               will then appear in the text.
PAYDATA: any Paydata Points that may be found on the system can be seen here.
         On start-up, the word "None" is here, meaning no paydata is present.
         Pressing the Generate... button brings up a different window, which is
         explained under PAYDATA WINDOW, below.
BUTTONS: at the left-bottom of the window are two buttons: Generate All Ratings
         does all of the above by the press of one button, while Quit instantly
         closes down the Host Generator. Any data in it is LOST if you press the
         Quit button, so be careful.
MENU BAR: the menu bar is at the top of the screen, and has three options: File,
          Ratings, and About.
          FILE: this menu has three options: Save Host Data, Print Host Data,
                an Exit. Save host data opens the SAVE HOST WINDOW, for which
                see below. Print Host Data brings up the PRINT HOST DATA WINDOW,
                also see below. Exit closes the program in the same way as
                pressing the Quit button (see above) does.
          RATINGS: the functions here duplicate the Generate All Ratings,
                   Generate System Ratings, and Generate Triger Steps buttons,
                   and the Generate button in the Paydata section.
          ABOUT: the only option here brings up a window with information about
                 the Matrix 2.0 Host Generator.

PAYDATA WINDOW: this is brought up by pressing the Generate... button in the
                Host Generator window, or by selecting Paydata... from the
                Ratings menu. Here you can  either randomly roll to see if
                paydata can be found (as on pages 66 and 67 of Virtual Realities
                2.0), or manually enter the number of points and/or data
                density. Pressing Roll generates random values, pressing OK
                returns you to the Host Generator using the values current
                values, while pressing Cancel returns you to the Host Generator
                without changing the old values.
                Also indicated in this window is the value of the paydata, in
                nuyen, and any defenses that might be present. This is entirely
                following the rules on page 67 of Virtual Realities 2.0.

SAVE HOST DATA WINDOW: here you can select a file to save the host data into;
                       this is done in the normal Windows style, so it needs
                       little explanation here. One thing to keep in mind is
                       that it WILL NOT ask you whether you want to overwrite
                       existing files, so there is a danger that you destroy
                       important files if you are not careful. Use this at your
                       own risk.
                       Host data is saved as a plain ASCII file, and if multiple
                       sets of host data are saved in the same file, each
                       is placed after the previous.
PRINT HOST DATA WINDOW: not much explanation is needed here -- pressing the OK
                        button prints out the current host data to your standard
                        printer (make sure it's switched on), while pressing
                        Cancel returns you to the Host Generator.


WHAT IT DOESN'T DO
The most important thing the Matrix 2.0 Host Generator is lacking is that it
will not generate constructs or party IC. If any are rolled up for a trigger
step, the text "Construct/Party" will be listed instead, with the color of the
IC in question.

Also, if you're still using the decking rules found in the original Virtual
Realities sourcebook and the Shadowrun Second Edition rulebook, this program
is of no use to you. It is not able to generate random matrix systems per the
rules on pages 192 and 193 of the Shadowrun Second Edition rules.


DESIGN HISTORY
071295	Got the idea for the designer and started programming
101295	Version 1.0 finished


FEEDBACK
Let me know what you think of it, what you'd like to see improved, altered,
left out, added, and so on. Send email to gurth@xs4all.nl, and visit the
Plastic Warriors homepage at http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html.


COPYRIGHT CRAP
Shadowrun and Matrix are registered trademarks owned by FASA Corporation.
Virtual Realities 2.0 is a trademark owned by FASA Corporation. Used without
permission.

The Matrix 2.0 Host Generator may be copied and distributed freely -- consider
it freeware -- as long as neither the host generator file nor this text file
are modified in any way, and both are distributed together.

The Matrix 2.0 Host Generator is copyright 1995 by Gurth.


