So.... Yeah. The Holonet.

Its a confusing beast isnt it?

While I do not want to devolving into a Cannon/EU debate, I am wondering if it really is as restricted as it seems?

I will note, I have not seen the Episodes of Rebels (That I can recall) that mention the Holonet yet.

But according to Wikipedia. Canon sources are few and far between, and simply list is as a communications network used by the "the citizens of the Galactic Republic and its successor state, the Galactic Empire" and that the Holonet News was broadcast on it.

Now.. in the Books, the Holonet is mentioned only a few times.

EotE:
Pg 69 "Explorers scour the Holonet"

Pg 95 Fame entry... their actions "to make the Holonet" (Possibly Infamy)

Pg 107 Computers to access the Holonet for Communications

Pg 369 (OK, a 'wholly re purposed holonet)

AoR:

Pg 143 (Not relevant)

Pg 194 Com Jammers (Not relevant)

Pg 196 Data Pads... for connecting to the Holonet

It seems certainly, the the average Joe can access the Holonet... so while I conceed that the Empire may well monitor the major news channels and such for propaganda purposes, is it really entirely "shut off" for everyone else?

Surely the Banking systems must use it to update transactions across their various branches?

Surely public infomation must be disseminated via the Holonet?

There must be some kind of state news service advertising Empire-centric news stories

How restricted do you depict the Holonet in your games?

How much would it 'break' the game to have it less restricted?

I would imagine it would be more like a highly monitored internet service. With the right knowhow, you may well be able to find the really illegal information, the pirated TV shows and programs etc, access the 'Dark Net' and such, but your average Joe probably doesnt know this stuff.... and probably isnt aware (or doesnt care) that their daily use goes monitored by their "ISP" or local Government or the equivalent of the Imperial NSA.

While Rebel cells may well avoid using it to prevent information being caught by said NSA type organisation, would the general public be limited in so much sense?

(I use the NSA purely as an example, as its in the media for monitoring Phonecalls, Emails, and Net use. I do no accuse them, simply using the media stories as examples!)

Thoughts?

RD

Well the holonet is heavily monitored but there has been shown that there is some sort of BBS systems set-up and there are planetary networks as well that are separate from the holonet.

Our group has sullustan that always start digging around a planet's network for the darknet type forums and BBS. Of course if it is sensitive or illegal there is always the chance that the Empire was paying attention or just the local authorities which what the red dice represent in these scenarios.

The holonet is like a cross between TV and the internet. The Holonet used to be open and anyone could access it. But once the empire took over access was far far more restricted and expensive. There are those who slice the holonet like a pirate radio station to broadcast what they want.

BBS?

BBS?

old school speak, Bulletin board system

Star Wars , much like Alien , Blade Runner , and other SF franchises from the 1970s and 1980s, depicts an analog future. Technology still requires a great deal of physical interface, often in the form of human involvement. Think of the Death Star's superlaser, with several crews working at each junction of the machine to make sure it's working. Compare to today, when there would be a simple set of keyboard commands and everything handled automatically after that.

For that reason, I think it's inappropriate to think of the Holonet as analogous to the Internet. As others have said, it's probably a lot closer to a television network in that it's non-interactive. You might take note of bounty postings, but you won't be able to like said postings on Spacebook. The information generally flows in one direction, towards the viewer, rather than there being a lot of give and take and other social mechanics.

For that reason, it's a suspect service, thus the Alliance's shadowfeeds, which would operate in much the same way as pirate radio or television. Again, non-interactive and mostly used to convey information based on the opinions of those running the show, rather than involving the viewers in the process.

Star Wars , much like Alien , Blade Runner , and other SF franchises from the 1970s and 1980s, depicts an analog future. Technology still requires a great deal of physical interface, often in the form of human involvement. Think of the Death Star's superlaser, with several crews working at each junction of the machine to make sure it's working. Compare to today, when there would be a simple set of keyboard commands and everything handled automatically after that.

For that reason, I think it's inappropriate to think of the Holonet as analogous to the Internet. As others have said, it's probably a lot closer to a television network in that it's non-interactive. You might take note of bounty postings, but you won't be able to like said postings on Spacebook. The information generally flows in one direction, towards the viewer, rather than there being a lot of give and take and other social mechanics.

For that reason, it's a suspect service, thus the Alliance's shadowfeeds, which would operate in much the same way as pirate radio or television. Again, non-interactive and mostly used to convey information based on the opinions of those running the show, rather than involving the viewers in the process.

I was using the Internet as an simple example.

The Holonet clearly allows for two way communication in real time.

My example was to illustrate how others might use it. The Internet it is not, but transmitting Baking information and stock market data would not be a stretch.

(Everyone will interpret it differently to others of course, and whatever works for your view is not "wrong" just throwing ideas around)

I always saw the holonet as the '80s Internet. It is available to the select few—government, academia, big business—and to those who knew how to get in—hackers and the financially well-off who could afford the expense.

-EF

BBS?

This post makes me sad

There are other threads you can find that have discussion on this very topic, but I think the general consensus is that it's best not to consider the Holonet to be the Star Wars analog of the Internet.

That said - I think the Holonet is whatever your plot dictates. (yes, that's not a helpful answer)

BBS?

There are other threads you can find that have discussion on this very topic, but I think the general consensus is that it's best not to consider the Holonet to be the Star Wars analog of the Internet.

Why not? Works perfectly fine in my games, in fact it's "best" for me. My players aren't SW nerds, and so would be bored to death by having to know the difference, and I would be bored to death having to explain it. If I have to explain how the Empire controls things, I just say it's like the Internet in China. Besides, I think TCW makes it pretty clear the internet model is quite suitable.

Unless it's a specific plot point, and the GM and players are people who really love this stuff, I really don't see how detailing the ins and outs of the Holonet helps anyone. The internet model is just as plot-rich, and doesn't get bogged down in arcane details.

There are other threads you can find that have discussion on this very topic, but I think the general consensus is that it's best not to consider the Holonet to be the Star Wars analog of the Internet.

That said - I think the Holonet is whatever your plot dictates. (yes, that's not a helpful answer)

I think that's a perfect answer.. A lot of the things we have ideas and opinions about are usually things that can go any way possible depending on the plot we create.

I always saw the holonet as the '80s Internet. It is available to the select few—government, academia, big business—and to those who knew how to get in—hackers and the financially well-off who could afford the expense.

-EF

I would think more early Chinese internet with ridgid military control. With old republic holonet being like 80s internet. More open but expensive and elitist.

My take has always been that the use of the Holonet is in general not restricted, its use in extra planetary (especially extra solar system) communications is. The cost of communications at that kind of distance is restrictive, but also I take the opinion that it is also restricted by the Empire for official use only. That said, it should be possible to hack into it though that would not be easy, and if you have access to rich and powerful people you will probably find that they can access it too.

If you simply wish to access the planetary net or watch the Holonews then that is not an issue, it will be monitored for traitors but otherwise usable.

You could keep it to the feel from the classic movie era which is based on the technological understanding of the late 70's and early 80's and therefore limited in access, but players these days are used to being able to access the internet and entertainment networks with little or no restriction and I see no point in following a viewpoint based on a tech level which is now defunct. I have been in games of Star Trek and Star Wars where the GM kept to the classic feel but some players just found it ridiculous that we can do things now that the characters couldn't do 'in the future'.

E

My take has always been that the use of the Holonet is in general not restricted, its use in extra planetary (especially extra solar system) communications is. The cost of communications at that kind of distance is restrictive, but also I take the opinion that it is also restricted by the Empire for official use only. That said, it should be possible to hack into it though that would not be easy, and if you have access to rich and powerful people you will probably find that they can access it too.

If you simply wish to access the planetary net or watch the Holonews then that is not an issue, it will be monitored for traitors but otherwise usable.

You could keep it to the feel from the classic movie era which is based on the technological understanding of the late 70's and early 80's and therefore limited in access, but players these days are used to being able to access the internet and entertainment networks with little or no restriction and I see no point in following a viewpoint based on a tech level which is now defunct. I have been in games of Star Trek and Star Wars where the GM kept to the classic feel but some players just found it ridiculous that we can do things now that the characters couldn't do 'in the future'.

The Holonet is the extra system stuff. local communications is not the holonet.

Follow up question.

Assuming PCs have access to the Holonet in a civilian basis, receiving Galactic News Channel for example.

Would they have access while in Hyperspace?

My take has always been that the use of the Holonet is in general not restricted, its use in extra planetary (especially extra solar system) communications is.

The Holonet is the extra system stuff. local communications is not the holonet.

Fair enough, I run it as all part of the same thing.

Follow up question.

Assuming PCs have access to the Holonet in a civilian basis, receiving Galactic News Channel for example.

Would they have access while in Hyperspace?

In my game I'd have it require some serious military grade hardware.

I'm in the process of upgrading the HoloNet for our current campaign. Set after the fall of the Empire, during a short burst of technological advancement (due to a lack of organized restrictions), the HoloNet has been replaced by The Grid, a galactic system of computer networks that utilize a standardized connectivity protocol to link trillions of devices galaxy-wide. The idea is indeed to recreate the internet in the Star Wars universe, right down to having wireless access for hacking.

In doing so, however, I'm massively overhauling how Slicing works, so that Slicers will have more to do than just a couple computer checks. We'll see how well it works.

Follow up question.

Assuming PCs have access to the Holonet in a civilian basis, receiving Galactic News Channel for example.

Would they have access while in Hyperspace?

Possibly. The HoloNet is transmitted via transcievers interspersed across hyperspace, so it's possible. But as they're narrow-beam transmissions, I would rule against it unless:

1. They possessed some sort of gear allowing them to send/receive communication while in hyperspace themselves.

   -or-

2. You had some plot reason for them needing to have hyperspace access to the HoloNet.