From:	Mike & Linda Frankl mlfrankl@***.com
Subject:	Burnout or Realism? was Re: Decker Mage
Date:	Thu, 1 Jun 2000 18:08:25 -0400

Gurth replied:
> So? This character would become a prime target for any opponents
> the group
> are going to go up against. The street sam/mage will be able to
> get rid of
> incidental opponents (with that I mean people who come looking
> for a fight
> and make the mistake of picking him) really quickly, but longer-term
> enemies, who have the ability to observe and plan, will not have so much
> of a problem with that. And these latter enemies are the ones who will
> take out this kind of character first of all, because it's the biggest
> threat in the group.
>
> A good quote here is the Warning To Power Gamers from the Over The Edge
> rulebook, page 13: "Just let me warn you that the more powerful you are,
> the deeper you get into trouble before you realize you are in serious
> danger. Consistently, the most powerful characters tend to be the
> shortest
> lived."

As I said in a previous e-mail, I'm just not interested in taking the time
to "teach a lesson" to people who do not have the capacity to grasp why
there is a problem with munchkiny/power game type characters. If it was a
new player, sure, but a guy who has been doing the same thing for the last
10 years isn't going to get it (even if you hit him with a wet carp).

> YOU can't conceive of that -- I'm fairly sure that there would be plenty
> of mages in SR who disagree with that. IRL, I can't conceive of
> why people
> see the need to hate others who happen to be of a different religion or
> ethnical group, but it happens all the time. (<GridSec>My use of that
> example is not a reason for anyone to start a thread that will get out of
> hand, BTW.</GridSec>)

Hey if I take the time to run a regular campaign for years I think I deserve
an opinion. As I said, my players rarely bump into my house rules as they
are like minded (and assisted in creating them). I've had enough grief from
people that want to wreck gaming tables over the years. I'm just not going
to put up with it anymore. If a player does not like my game they can
exercise the right to leave. I've yet to drag anyone to my table (my biggest
problem is keeping the group under 6 players).

> There's a big difference between a character who is both a magician and
> has cyberware, and a munchkin. Many people lump them all
> together, but IMO
> they're making a big mistake doing that.

I mentioned a wee bit more power in the front of that e-mail, not just
knick-knack cyberware, but big stuff. I was not conveying what you say
above. I may sound a bit rough on this issue, but I really do not mean to
offend any of you. I'm actually hoping the flames might burn some of the
poison ivy off of me.

;)

Smilin' Jack
Franklin Isshinryu School of Karate
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/RallyRd/mlfrankl/fiskhome.htm