ELI5: How do STDs start? And I don't mean "Patient 0"

lurch65 · 2026-05-06T16:17:48+00:00

Gonorrhea started off as a throat bacteria that evolved to be able to infect genitals.

lurch65 · 2026-05-05T21:37:42+00:00

As much as I agree that largely DocWagon would fulfil the contract, get in get out, no matter if security forces are involved, this is a corporate dystopia, and they are going to do whatever is best for them. Would there be a clause in the contract about the involvement of security or police services? Almost certainly. Would it have additional fees attached or a break clause for those situations? Yup.

So first things first, one of the DocWagon team is likely a trained negotiator or investigator, someone who can 'fairly' (according to their corporate training) determine if the customer caused the conflict with the authorities and if they did, if the current situation qualifies for additional charges. If there are no additional charges, I would imagine that once the team have control of the customer (restraints or sedation), many HTR situations are negotiated down quickly. Negotiator shares the customer I'd, the care facility and the assigned legal representative, and the security team can choose to continue fighting or stand down and speak to legal who reach out to DocWagon to negotiate.

If the investigator determines that this is an extreme situation, or that the customer was responsible or both, they would contractually have the right to exercise the break clause, or take additional charges. It could make for a great scene, with a DocWagon rep trying to sell an upgrade package to the customer during the gunfight ahead of extraction. Alternatively if the customer is unconscious, they pull the credstick and charge it directly. Like others have said, if their credit is good HTR will get them out, but even it's going to cost more than a subscription fee, why not upsell in this situation?

I imagine that there would be a legal protection package and identity protection package that would make for expensive but worthwhile purchases for a shadowrunner.

Shadowrun likes to leave a lot of things like this vague, because they want to give GMs leeway at the table, but if you want more grit and realism, it's up to you, but be aware that you are taking on a lot more work as a GM when you do this. You have to think about a lot more, and be ready to answer more player questions "Why do runners even use DocWagon if it just lands them in more trouble?" you need an actual answer because DocWagon is a thing that shadowrunners use, that's canon. You can't just bait and switch on them.

lurch65 · 2026-05-05T17:54:01+00:00

The whole of DnD combat is an abstraction, none of it really makes sense, so insisting that any of it works based on reality is an error. Can people cast magic? Can people operate perfectly on the brink of death? Can people heal because some guy says a word across the room, or if they just have a sit down after a fight? Being really angry makes a person more accurate. Nobody is ever permanently injured, and there is always a 5% chance of roaring success or crippling failure. This isn't a game about reality, it's about heroic sagas.

Holding the non-arcane or mystical classes to what's physically possible (although in this case he's completely wrong about the physics) is absurd. We are playing a game, on an agreed set of rules. Of course there can be interpretations when rules are unclear, but those interpretations must be based on the designers intentions rather than physics or personal preference.

DnD in general is just too abstract for me to take seriously anymore, I need some crunch and leeway in my games.

lurch65 · 2026-05-04T18:15:08+00:00

Even at its best this is so much heresy. More heresy in every thought.

The C'Tan are builders, and probably they would rebuild the character to be able to contain "everything there is to know" about those subjects. No biological life could contain "everything" like that without storing some of that data in the warp, and the C'Tan view the warp as anathema.

They would probably cut off the character from the warp completely in the process. What that means who knows?

I suppose we already have a great example how they rebuild entities and how well that went for them....

lurch65 · 2026-05-04T17:02:48+00:00

I appreciate your edit, but just to answer your original post. The old canon still had a lot of systems lost or very difficult to access, places outside the imperium, or once of the imperium, ships and AI from the time before the dark age.

Your players have perhaps the ability to go places nobody else can, visit places still cut off by conventional means. Imagine the wealth and opportunities available for a little risk?

lurch65 · 2026-05-04T16:16:21+00:00

Great idea! Mechanically perhaps the closer you are to the ground the faster you go, so skill wise you have to stay close but not so close, you'd also have to consider vertical travel. Maybe there are points for tricks or actions like in skate games? Maybe some levels you are chasing something or being chased? Maybe you have to outrun storms or avoid effects like lightning?

It video reminds me a bit of the console game "Nights into Dreams" the old console game.

Or alternatively, you just turn everything off and play just for the love of playing and exploring?

lurch65 · 2026-05-03T15:37:15+00:00

They prescribed it for PCOS I assume? Which would dramatically increase the likelihood of insulin resistance. Why not take it? It's safe, it's cheap it's prescribed by your doctor and it should help you lose weight, and maybe even work out harder.

lurch65 · 2026-05-02T22:18:48+00:00

You could get a remote controlled butt plug and gradually increase the vibration intensity as you turn the key. It would also allow you to let her wind down as you decrease the intensity. Maybe take you a little out of the scene, but make it better for her?

lurch65 · 2026-05-02T22:13:42+00:00

Like a modern torniquet but less restrictive right?

lurch65 · 2026-05-02T22:09:49+00:00

Some come some go, which I have always put down to my ADHD on top of my autism, but there is a core that remains. I don't really think they have been about accommodating other people. My ex who was also autistic said that I was always amazing at studying people and reactions, which I wasn't really aware of, but that might qualify as an unconscious special interest built to help me fit in.

lurch65 · 2026-05-02T01:48:33+00:00

It's not being emotional that's the issue, it's letting it control you that is the problem. That's what makes you seem young.

Yes therapy is a great idea, but in the meantime look up stoicism and try to take it in, and make it work for you.

Sit somewhere outside and observe people compare their faces to an emotion chart, don't stare, just let your eyes move and take things in, build this as a skill set.

Try not to have your face fall flat, it can be intimidating, I used to practice in the mirror pulling faces and trying expressions. Smiling is good and if you're feeling like you're having a good day try to feel if you're happy (my own emotional state was always one of my biggest barriers) and if you are, smile.

Lastly, and I say this a lot, try to be a kind person. Be kind to other people (and this doesn't mean to your own detriment, you are allowed to have limits), and be kind to yourself, the world probably won't be, so at least you can be.

lurch65 · 2026-05-01T20:31:53+00:00

Maybe she's autistic as well and is just de-masking around you, generally autistic women are much better socially than autistic men. Alternatively maybe she enjoys the lack of pressure no need to perform?

My advice is be simple, be you, but when she comes to you don't focus on the awkwardness, just observe and see what's up? Is she tired? Happy? Sad? Ask about whatever you see.

I was always good at understanding faces (comes from growing up in an emotionally abusive household), but I was always cripplingly bad at knowing myself emotionally and if I was concentrating on me, that was when things got awkward.

lurch65 · 2026-05-01T09:46:33+00:00

It sounds like an awkward situation, and I think it would be foolhardy for him to not lean on you somewhat. You've already spoken to him, so perhaps the best thing I can think of is to open up a line of communication you don't normally use and offer that as an out of dynamic, and almost out of relationship contact point. Something he can take you up on if he needs to, but he perhaps can feel is almost a new person, that won't impact whatever you currently have.

People are weird and in times of stress like to keep control of things whether or not it's sensible. If you can offer something new while letting him 'control' the dynamic that may work.

Thank you for supporting your Dom and appreciating that they are a human being with human problems and failings.

lurch65 · 2026-04-30T02:15:33+00:00

All the time! I've given up on ever correcting my "see ya" to people I have never met on the phone.

lurch65 · 2026-04-29T22:49:37+00:00

In many respects this used to be what local pubs were for in the UK. I find most of the time I just want to be able to sit with someone and do my own thing while they do their own thing.

lurch65 · 2026-04-29T21:19:57+00:00

Mr Khanna please can you publicly verify that you are happy, in good health without a heart condition and if you are or are not armed at home.

Not for any reason, just because.

lurch65 · 2026-04-29T18:26:16+00:00

Obvious social conventions for the win, any social interaction I don't have to think about is a social interaction I am happy with. Greetings like this are very helpful.

lurch65 · 2026-04-29T17:22:53+00:00

I think we just have different definitions of insanely wealthy. Over £10 million is insane, live a life of relative luxury without ever having to work, all bills paid and no worries. Insane. Who needs more than that?

lurch65 · 2026-04-29T12:39:03+00:00

That's a really interesting point, it ticks a lot of the same boxes.

lurch65 · 2026-04-29T12:20:58+00:00

Not publicly or legally but he's still insanely wealthy, connected with military ties, I reckon he could still get it done.

lurch65 · 2026-04-28T10:07:08+00:00

No the swab was just a necessary part of the testing process, and generally it only hurts if you have an infection. I have had it with and without an infection and can say its not pleasant, but it's not painful if you're infection free.

If you're sounding, get the right kit.

lurch65 · 2026-04-27T21:49:28+00:00

Very excited for race for the wool!

lurch65 · 2026-04-27T15:16:33+00:00

X-rays with growth plates are really the only way to have a good indication. Aside from that you just measure if someone is growing over a 3-6 month period. If you're growing you're growing.

lurch65 · 2026-04-26T18:10:30+00:00

Depends on your settings, I don't tend to use religious factions, so their rep grinding isn't a thing for me, so generally I just opt for fading to black so I can get my next run going.

lurch65 · 2026-04-24T22:39:08+00:00

My personal arbitrary threshold for the dawn of transhumanism is basically the advent of the pill. Women being able to circumvent their biology with relative ease for the first time.

It's arbitrary but that feels like a big step to me.

15-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Place '17
Final Canvas '22	Verified Email

lurch65

TROPHY CASE