Information

By Constantine Thomas (c.thomas1@lancaster.ac.uk)

Introduction

The Sphere of Information governs the definition of Patterns and Paradigms within Reality. At the lowest levels it can only affect information within Subjective Reality, while at higher levels information can be manipulated in Objective Reality (increasing or decreasing the stability of the target within Reality).

The Sphere of Information can be incorporated into the standard Mage system in one of two ways -- it can either be introduced as the fabled '10th Sphere' of the Virtual Adepts (also known as 'Paradigm'), or it can be incorporated as a subset of the Sphere of Prime if a 9-Sphere system is preferred. In the latter case, the capabilities of the Sphere of Prime would be as follows:

Sphere	Effect
*	Perceive Quintessence / Detect Link.
**	Fuel Pattern / Information Analysis.
***	Affect Free Quintessence / Manipulate Information.
****	Affect Raw Quintessence / Manipulate Reality.
*****	Affect Raw Quintessence Flow / Define Reality.

Information tells reality what an object is; it defines an object. If an object exists but no information is known about it, it is 'fuzzy;' in the subjective reality of Mage its parameters can be defined by observers by creating the information that defines its properties. Hence Information is closely linked to Prime, and so is often considered a subset of the Prime Sphere. Information is rather unusual in that it can affect both Subjective and Objective Reality. At lower levels, Information effects only allow the Mage to observe and process information. Information 3 allows the Mage to actively manipulate information within Subjective Reality -- he can remove or add information to systems and so make him easier or harder to track. The Adepts and Masters of Information break beyond Subjective Reality to affect the underlying True Reality; they can add or remove Information from reality itself, thus making an object more or less 'real' by affecting their definition. Fuzzy objects are those about which True Reality has no information; these 'virtual objects' are extremely vulnerable to destruction or further definition, existing as they do in a realm of 'maybe'. The Technocracy are experts of Information, using it to define their new 'theories' and so also define reality; the Void Engineers are the masters of Information. However, the Traditions have their own Champions of Information, the Virtual Adepts (who refer to it as 'Paradigm'), though they tend to fight on different battlefields.

* Detect Link

This finds the connections between things, and allows the Mage to see what is connected to the target. For example, a cuddly toy is connected to a particular child, or a packet of drugs is connected to both a local dealer (the supplier) and a street rat (the buyer). Note that this does not allow the Mage to determine how the things are connected; it only allows him to sense the connection itself.

The ability to detect links is determined by the number of successes rolled for the effect; this is shown on the table below. Thus, to establish the connections to a gun (an object) requires three successes. In addition, more successes than the number required gleans more accurate information [the number of extra successes rolled does not produce results according to the table below, rather they produce results based on the Storyteller's discretion]. In this example, three successes will reveal who owns the gun, four may reveal who has been shot with it, and five may reveal from whom the gun was purchased.

Successes Required	Effect
Botch	Totally inaccurate information revealed.
0	No information revealed.
1	Sense connection to Mage only.
2	Sense connection to Mage's friends.
3	Sense connection to object.
4	Sense connection to total stranger.
5	Sense connection to concept (eg. love, hate).

** Information Analysis

This examines the connections between things, allowing the Mage to see all the possible outcomes of an event or all the possible influences on the target. While obviously giving him complete mastery over all closed tactical situations (eg. Chess), it also enables him to analyse complex interactions. For example, a Mage using Information 2 on a politician may determine all the groups that influence his opinion. The exact extent of the effect is determined using the table for Information 1. As with Information 1, the table shows the number of successes required to analyse the connection to a target; it does not indicate the amount of information gleaned from such analysis, which is instead left to the Storyteller's discretion.

*** Manipulate Information

This allows the Mage to affect already existing information, and is largely used to affect records and files. The Mage can add, change, or delete information stored on any medium; this is used for many purposes. A Mage can delete data about him in government computers, thus effectively Zeroing him. He can change the amount of money he has in his bank account by altering his credit rating. Note however that this manipulation of information is subjective; data may be altered, but Reality remains intact. Thus the Mage can remove all the records of a person's existence, but the person himself does not become 'fuzzy;' this would only be possible using Information 4. It should be noted however that Information manipulated using Information 3 is affected no matter where it is stored; raw data is being altered, not just signals in a computer. Thus a Mage may Zero himself completely from every database in the world if he scores enough successes!

No table is given for Information 3; the exact results are left to the Storyteller's discretion. It is suggested that the alteration of small aspects of information (eg. appearance, bank credit rating etc) should require only one or two successes. Wider (and more global) changes should require many more successes; at least 6 should be required for completely Zeroing an individual from every database on Earth, and this should necessitate a complex and lengthy ritual (probably involving a lot of computer hacking and negotiation with NetSpiders where applicable).

**** Manipulate Reality

If Information 3 is the subjective manipulation of information, then Information 4 is the objective manipulation of information. Changing information at this level directly changes its connection with Reality itself. Thus, targets can be made 'fuzzy;' living targets are 'forgotten' by their friends, associates, and ultimately Reality. They (and everything directly connected to them) will slowly disappear from existence completely if the effect is sustained for long enough. A Mage's Arcane Rating is a weak, controllable form of this effect.

As above, the precise effects are left to the Storyteller's discretion, though at least 5 successes are required to render a target completely 'fuzzy.'

***** Define Reality

At this level, the Mage can actually define fuzzy Reality. This is done both by the power of his own Will, and also by manipulating information through the Masses so that they understand and accept the new Reality. The Technocracy (especially the NWO and Void Engineers) have mastered this to a fine art, further enforcing their Paradigm. A common example is when something is newly 'discovered;' at that stage, all that is known is that the object exists -- it is fuzzy. Application of Information 5 to the fuzzy object allows a Mage to define its physical parameters, properties and anything else the Mage desires. Information 5 also allows the Mage to manipulate the local Paradigm in an ambiguous situation -- for example, a Sanctum can have its Paradigm reinforced by interconnecting everything within it via a web of influences; effectively, outside influences can be removed completely. It is recommended that 5 successes are required if a fuzzy object is to be completely defined. Less successes only allow limited definition, or the complete definition of specific aspects of the target. For Paradigm Definition, the amount of successes rolled determines how much more attuned to the Mage's desires the Paradigm has become.

Summary of Sphere Effects

Sphere	Effect
*	Detect Link.
**	Information Analysis.
***	Manipulate Information.
****	Manipulate Reality.
*****	Define Reality.