Iron Gaia: Virus
Instruction Booklet/Readme

Introduction:
Iron Gaia: Virus has some unique gameplay features that you won’t see in most rm2k3 games. Hence, I thought it would be best to include a little instruction booklet detailing the rules and mechanics found in Iron Gaia: Virus, to minimize player confusion. I will assume that the reader knows how an rm2k3 RPG basically works: in a sentence, that the arrow keys are used to move the player the menu cursors, that the enter key confirms choices on the menu, speaks to NPCs, and investigates environments, and the the escape button calls the menu, and serves as a ‘back’ button. With that out of the way, I’ll concentrate on Virus’ systems.

Character Advancement:
In Iron Gaia: Virus, exploring your surroundings and defeating enemies will reward you with Nanites. Nanites act as currency and a sort of experience points in Iron Gaia: Virus. At any Gaia Node (there is one in each sector of Block 021, Robotics, Med/Sci, Cryogenics, and Operation, and they are marked by a flashing green swirl near the control panel of a large console) you can spend these nanites to upgrade your character’s abilities. There are for kinds of upgrades: Cyberware, Feats, Technical Skills, and Special Gifts. It is up to you how you spend your nanites, and up to you how your character advances. Guide Sigmus The Fallen on his path of evolution to godhood any way you choose.

Cyberware:
There are four kinds of cyberware in Virus that when purchased increase your basic character statistics.
SmartGun Link: Each level purchased increases attack.
Dermal Plating: Each level purchased increases defense.
Wired Reflexes: Each level purchased increase agility.
Head Computer: Each level purchased increases mental.

Each cyberware has 3 different levels that can be purchased. Each level costs more than the last, and provides a more significant boost to the statistic in question. Once a particular piece of cyberware has been upgraded to Level 3, it is at its maximumum effectiveness.



Feats
Feats are your character’s skills in Iron Gaia. Slade has access to two kinds of feats- Gunslinger Feats and Sigma Celestial Feats. Gunslinger feats are trick shots that inflict various status effects and variable levels of damage on enemies. Sigma Celestial Feats are a variety of disciplines involving the manipulation of Slade’s Personal Nanite Field to a variety of effects.

Gunslinger Feats
The effectiveness of Gunslinger feats is mostly determined by Slade’s Attack Stat.

Headshot- A low accuracy shot that does extremely high damage to a single enemy.
Energy Cost: 12
*Slade begins with this skill at the start of the game.

Lead Hose- A medium accuracy, low damage shot that attacks all enemies.
Energy Cost: 14
*Slade begins with this skill at the start of the game.

Gutshot- A medium accuracyz low damage shot at one enemy that inflicts Poison.
Energy Cost: 21

Kneecap- A medium accuracy, medium damage shot at one enemy that inflicts Limping.
Energy Cost: 30

Disarm- A medium accuracy, medium damage shot at one enemy that inflicts Crippled.
Energy Cost: 30

Heart Attack- A low accuracy, medium damage shot at one enemy that can cause Bleeding or Death
Energy Cost: 40

Sigma Celestial Feats
The effectiveness of Sigma Celestial Feats is mostly determined by Slade’s Mental Stat.

Temper- Uses Slade’s nanite field to increase the quality of his weapons for about 10 turns.
Energy Cost: 10%

Tarnish- Uses Slade’s nanite field to rust and oxidize an enemy’s armor and defenses for about 10 turns.
Energy Cost: 10%

Nox- A high accuracy, low damage attack with Slade’s nanite field that Blinds and damages one enemy.
Energy Cost: 10%

Disrupter- A medium accuracy, medium damage attack with Slade’s nanite field that inflicts EMP Damage and inflicts the Nanited condition.
Energy Cost: 15%

Drain Life- Absorbs a moderate amount of one enemy’s life force. Slade is healed for an amount equal to the damage inflicted.
Energy Cost: 20%


Spawn Shadow- This Feat creates a minor Sigmoid Celestial, using Energy to give a portion of Slade’s Personal Nanite Field sentience, independence, and life. This Celestial Shadow can attack and use items like Slade can, and has three special abilities: Inkdrop, which Blinds one enemy, Shadowshield, which can increase an ally’s evasion by instilling the ‘Shadowed’ condition, and Aetherial Healing, which spends energy to heal one ally. 

The Shadow created with this Feat lasts only for the duration of one battle.
Energy Cost: 40%

Technical Skills
In Iron Gaia: Virus, in addition to his formidable combat skill, Slade has access to two technical skills that are used on the field map, not in combat. He can use his Hacking Skill to access locked doors and password protected consoles, and to disable security cameras and other devices. And the Repair Skill can be used to get various broken machines and consoles back in working order. Hacking is fee, but using Repair has a nanite cost used to replace damaged materials.

Technical Skills are used via a Tech Skill Test. A hundred sided ‘die’ is rolled against a Target Percentage between 50 and 100%, representing the random element involved in using technical skills. 

A bonus equal to Slade’s rating in the Tech Skill used is then added to the result. 

If the result is equal to or higher than the Target Percentage, Slade has succeeded. If it is less, then he has failed.

When hacking, failure usually means that you have tripped an alarm, triggering a battle with security forces, and that you’ll have to try again. When you fail at reparing something, it usually means that the device is permanently broken. Sometimes, you’ll be able to try again.




Special Gifts

Finally, there are a number of Special Gifts you can use to advance Slade’s abilities and his effectiveness. Two, Eldritch and Tank, are offered at every Gaia Node, and can be purchased multiple times. The others are special abilities or benefits only available at one specific Node, and can only be purchased once.

Tank increases Slade’s max health by 100 points.

Eldritch increases Slade’s max energy by 25 points.

Move-By-Wire increase Slade’s move speed on the map dramatically, allowing him to move much faster from place to place, making it easier to race against the clock and avoid pursuing enemies.

Enhanced Adrenal Gland equips Slade with an alien adrenal gland designed for rapid healing and immunity to most pathogens and status effects. The gland bestows the Regen condition, protecting Slade from negative conditions and healing him over time. The gland dies if Slade dies, but it can be restored at a Tissue Regenerator.

Starfall Rage Technique is a powerful special Feat that costs Health as well as Energy to perform. See the ‘Combat and Conditions’ section for details.

Ascension Rage Technique is a powerful special feat that costs health as well as Energy to perform. See the ‘Combat and Conditions’ section for details.

Enemy Encounters And Other Hazards:
Most enemy encounters in Iron Gaia: Virus can be avoided if you so choose. These avoidable encounters typically come in three types:

Patrolling Enemies
Patrolling enemies can clearly be seen on the field map. Some patrol in linear or circular patterns while others will actively chase down the player. To avoid patrolling enemies, simply avoid them on the field map.

Security Cameras
When Slade is spotted by a Security Camera, he will set off an alarm and have battle the camera’s mounted sentry guns, alerted mechs, and other security countermeasures. To avoid being spotted by security cameras temporarily, throw a chaff grenade.(Go to ‘Items’ in your Menu and ‘Use’ a chaff grenade.) To take a security camera offline permanently, press enter when facing the console under the camera to attempt to hack it and disable it.

Security Alarms
When you feel to hack a security camera, door lock, or other system, you will typically trigger an alarm, forcing you to fight mounted guns, a security response team, or other enemies. Typically, these enemies will surprise you from behind while you attempt to hack, inflicting back attack conditions that make the fight even more difficult.

Laser Tripwires
You may see either red lines or blue circles on the floor. Each of these are laser tripwires, which will trigger either Claymore or EMP mines in the floors underneath. This advanced security measure can be defeated temporarily by throwing a chaff grenade.








Special Items:

There are several items you’ll find in your menu at the start of the game that serve a special function.

Digital Watch
Use the digital watch from the Item menu to see how much time you have remaining until the Iron Gaia station enters the orbit of the planet below and crashes. You can use this as many times as you want.

Automap
Use the automap from the Item menu to see the name of your current location. (Useful if you need to locate a specific area of the block.) You can use this as many times as you want.

Portable Datalog
Use a portable datalog from the Item menu to save your game from any location. Normally you can only save from the Gaia node. When a portable datalog is used, it is destroyed. You will only be given 5 to get you through a game of Iron Gaia: Virus. Use them wisely.

Radio
Use a radio to receive calls from your ally and some-time partner, Major Tom Brighton. When you hear a sharp beeping sound, use the Radio from the Item menu quickly to avoid missing a call with important information.  You can use the radio as many times as you want.

Portable Console
The Portable Console can be used from the Item Menu to open the SubMenu, from which you can use to change the system graphics, change the battle BGM, or view your currently installed Cyberware and Technical Skills.











Combat and Conditions
Basic combat in Iron Gaia: Virus, while it uses the DBS, is different than in most rm2k3 RPGs.

First off, combat in Iron Gaia: Virus is very fast based. It is set in active mode for a reason- you must choose your actions and act quickly, and are not permitted to pause to do so. Quick fingers and a quick mind are essential. Secondly, space bar mashing in Iron Gaia: Virus is suicide. You absolutely must pay attention and use your skills to survive even normal encounters. Finally, your enemies can go down in just one or two shots, but you are fragile yourself. Combat is fast and deadly, rather than a war of attrition wearing away tons of HP. 
Understanding the following Rage Techniques and condition will help you emerge victorious.

Rage Techniques
In Iron Gaia: Virus, Rage Techniques represent Slade’s most powerful but most costly skills. Rage Techniques cost both 98% of your energy, and a variable amount of your health to perform, but often have devastating results.

Xero Hour- This Rage Technnique uses Slade’s personal Nanite Field to temporarily manifest his ultimate weapons, the Sigma Xeros, and uses these energy swords to attack the nearest enemy for massive damage and complete accuracy.
Health Cost: 400

Starfall- This Rage Technique pushes Slade’s more-than-human body to its’ limits, using Divine Celerity to allow Slade to deliver four to six regular attacks in the time he can normally deliver one. Your regular attack will be a multi attack for the rest of the battle, hitting between four and six times.
Health Cost: 600

Ascension- This Rage Technique reveals Slade’s true Celestial Form as Sigmus The fallen. Sigmus will begin at full health and energy. Sigmus is immune to most status effects, vastly more powerful than Slade, equipped with nearly all the Sigma Celestial skills, imbued with the “Drawing’ status which heals him every turn at a low energy cost, and finally, armed with the deadly Sigma Xeros, which inflict massive damage, poison, and frequent critical hits. Slade will remain in this form for the rest of the battle.
Health Cost: 1200  
Status Effects

The following is a comprehensive list of the Status Effects in Iron Gaia: Virus, with a description and tatical information about each one.

Death- Character has collapsed and is in critical condition from wounds. He may take no actions. If all characters die, the game is lost.
Type: Special
Duration: Until Healed.

Poisoned- Character’s body is infected with one or more toxins, dealing damage to his organic tissues, dealing damage to Health each turn.
Type: Physical
Duration: Until end of battle or until healed.

Blind- Character’s vision or sensory systems are damaged, reducing basic physical attack accuracy to 20%. (Certain targeted enemy skills bypass being blinded. Typically, enemies that use unarmed attacks are more susceptible to being blinded.)
Type: Physical
Duration: About 5 turns, until end of battle or until healed.

Berserk- Character attacks enemies mindlessly. Mental is halfed, and accuracy is also reduced to 50%.
Type: Mental
Duration: About 5 turns, until end of battle, or until healed.

Confused: Character attacks allies mindlessly. 
Type- Mental
Duration: About 5 turns, until end of battle, or until healed.

Sleep- Character can take no actions. Cured when physical damage is taken.
Type: Mental
Duration: About 3 turns, until end of battle, or until healed.

Paralyze- Character can take no actions.
Type: Special
Duration: Until end of battle.
Shock- Character can act for one turn.
Type: Special
Duration: One turn

Accel- Character’s agility is doubled. Prevents being Shocked. Prevents Tempered status.
Type: Beneficial
Duration: While ‘Synaptic Accelerator’ is equipped.

Crippled- Character’s attack is halved.
Type: Special
Duration: Until healed.

Limping- Character’s agility is halved.
Type: Special
Duration: Until healed.

Bleeding- Character loses a little Health and Energy each turn in battle, and a little Health and Energy with each step on the field map.
Type: Special
Duration: Until healed.

Tempered- Doubles character’s attack.
Type: Beneficial
Duration: About 10 Turns or until end of battle.

Tarnish- Character’s defense is halved.
Type: Special
Duration: About 10 turns or until end of battle.

Nanited- Character’s intelligence is halved, accuracy is reduced to 75%, and a little Energy is lost each turn in battle. 
Type: Special
Duration: About 5 turns, until end of battle, or until healed.

Burning- Character takes 25 damage each turn in battle.
Type:Special
Duration: About 5 turns, until end of battle, or until healed.





Webbed- Character’s agility is halved. 50% chance of physical damage breaking the webbing.
Type: Special
Duration: About 6 turns, until broken by taking damage, or until end of battle.  

Rabid- Character attacks enemies mindlessly. Accuracy is reduced to 80%. Attack is doubled.
Type: Special
Duration: Until healed.

Numb- Character cannot act.
Type: Physical
Duration: About 6 turns, until end of battle, or until healed.

Regen- Protects against all negative status effects. Heals the character for 2% + 14 points of Health each turn in Combat. Absorbs 1 Energy each turn in Combat to maintain.
Type: Beneficial
Duration: Until killed.

Infected- Character is infected with the Chimera virus. 5% of Health is lost each turn in combat, and 10% of energy is regained. Deals 1 Health damage for every step taken on the field map.
Type: Special
Duration: Until cured.

Shielded- Character’s defense is doubled.
Type: Beneficial.
Duration: Until end of battle.

Energize- Character regains 10% Energy each turn.
Type: Beneficial.
Duration: Until end of battle.

Held- Character is held in place by a giant crane. Defense and agility are halved, accuracy is reduced to 75%.
Type: Special
Duration: Until dropped.

Shadowed- Character is concealed by a cloak of shadows, automatically evading all physical attacks.
Type: Beneficial
Duration: Until end of battle.

Conceal- Character is partially hidden. All physical attacks are automatically evaded, and agility is effectively doubled.
Type: Beneficial
Duration: Until end of battle.

Drawing- Character is drawing Energy for healing. 5% of Health is regained each turn at the cost of 1% of Energy being lost. Negtative status effects are automatically prevented by this state.
Type: Beneficial
Duration: Permanent.
*This condition is only found in Slade’s Ascended form, which is always in this state.*

Elements

Different attacks represent different elements or attributes, and different characters and enemies have varying strengths and weaknesses against different types of damage. This is a complete list of the damage types or elements in Iron Gaia: Virus, and their properties.

Slashing- Slashing damage is a type of physical damage dealt by weapons like swords, knives, and axes. Most enemy types are neutral to it. Some mutants show a slight weakness to slashing.

Piercing- Piercing damage is a type of physical damage dealt by weapons like spears and throwing knives. Most enemy types are neutral to it.

Blunt- Blunt damage is a type of physical damage dealt by weapons hammers and bats. Most enemy types are neutral to it.

Gun- Gun damage is a type of physical damage dealt by all types of firearms. Some mutants are strong against gunfire.

Fire- Fire damage is dealt by extreme heat and fire. Mutants have a weakness to Fire, but Robots are strong against it.

Cold- Cold damage is dealt by extreme cold and ice. Mutants have a weakness to Cold, but Robots are strong against it.


Electric- Elecrtic damage is dealt by electricity. Mutants are strong against Electric, but Flying Enemies, Replicants, and Robots, and Celestials are somewhat weak to it.

Toxic- Toxic damage is dealth by poisons. Mutants and Robots are both strong against Toxic damage, for different reasons.

Cyber- Cyber damage is dealth by nanite swarms and electronic interference. Celestials, Robots, and Replicants are weak to it, but it has almost no effect on organic enemies like Mutans.

Air- Air damage is dealt by suffocation and attacks with air. Most enemy types are neutral to it.

Light- Light damage is dealt by Alpha Celestial disciplines and laser weapons. Slade is Weak against light damage.

Dark- Dark damage is dealt by Sigma Celestial disciplines. Alpha Celestials and Aetherial beings are weak against Light damage.

EMP- EMP damage is dealt by electro magnetic pulses. Celestials, Robots, and Replicants are very weak to it, but it has almost no effect on organic enemies like Mutants.

Please send all feedback, questions, comments, praise, criticism, reviews, death threats and marriage proposals to:
Email: Cthulhu2004@yahoo.com
AIM: SublimeEntropy
or PM Legion on Gamingw forums.

Thanks for playing!

