| From: | Hahns Shin Hahns_Shin@*******.com |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Decker Mage |
| Date: | Thu, 1 Jun 2000 02:57:02 -0500 |
>little cyberware, the temptation is always there for more.' Why?
>Why is it more tempting once you've gotten a little. That's like
>saying 'Once you've bought a car, you always want a new one.'
>I have a car, and I don't want a new one. I'm not attached to it,
>but it's a car. I only need one car. I won't go buy another one,
>just because I have one now. Why would a mage
>get more cyberware, just because they've gotten a little.
Read the old SR2 Magic book "Awakenings" on the path of the
Burnout. That's where all this comes from (that and the original
SR archetype of the Burnout mage). Your reasoning is justifiable,
but cyberware is not just a car. In many ways, it's a way of
keeping up with the Joneses (only the Joneses just happen to
have a bullet with your name on it). I think the reasoning is that
if you get a little cyberware, it does not affect you much... but if
you start getting more, then you lose your magical "edge". When
that happens, to compensate you get more cyberware to gain a
cybernetic "edge", until it is too late. Also remember that Deadly
damage can also nuke your magic rating...
Not all mages will go down the path of Burnout... just as not all
shamans will go toxic or Adepts follow the Twisted Path. But a
significant portion do, probably due to psychological effects that
are caused by cyberware on certain magically actives. Very
little is mentioned in the books about how cyber affects one's
personality, and we cannot even begin to comprehend those
issues (no implants here in the year 2000... yet). We are on the
outside looking in, so to speak. The books and novels show
that both types (Burnouts and mages who can deal with cyber)
exist... and that is probably how it should remain.
Hahns
