Semak-samun feels like “red Turing” (a design I love). They both:
- can't be broken by AI (though Turing can be broken by Botulus, which Semak-samun is immune to).
- end the run unless the runner pays three “units-of-value” (though Turing’s clicks are generally more valuable than Semak-samun’s cards).
In particular, while protecting Fujii Asset Retrieval, its End the Run or Lose Cards-in-Grip becomes “hardened” into just an EtR; ditto Turing’s End the Run or Lose Clicks while protecting Ikawah Project. This makes it a “true Barrier” (the ice-type defined by almost always having at least one Hard-EtR subroutine). And its 1inf/5
(like Wraparound) makes it a splashable as tech/hate.
The Runner cannot break the printed subroutine on this ice except using a fracter.
is invulnerable to:
- Boomerang(!)
- Botulus
- AIs: like Audrey v2 or Matryoshka.
- “Painting”: like Chromatophores (since it makes this Barrier into a Code-Gate, it won't make your Decoder into a Fracter).
- Physarum Entangler (just by being Barrier).
but is still vulnerable to:
- Tsakhia "Bankhar" Gantulga
- an Arruaceiras Crew pair
- Malandragem (having 3 strength or less).
AFAICT, semak samun means “thicket” (and the plural is initially-reduplicated: “semak-semak samun”).
@Krams Great point! Turing, but very "redshifted".
— D4v1d-Gr43b3r
Three clicks might be generally more valueable than three cards, but paying Semak-samun's tax is risky in a way, Turing never was. And I like that design, it's very Jinteki.
— Krams