From:	Nightwinder nightwinder.geo@*****.com
Subject:	New campaign - with a dog?
Date:	Sun, 11 Jun 2000 21:49:48 +1000

Carsten Gehling wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Just starting a new campaign up, and one of my players wants to play a guy
> who runs a guard company on the side. No problem in that. The problem arised
> when he said: "I also want a trained dog, that is very close to me, and
> follows me on runs." Add to that his wish to implant some cyberware in the
> dog.
>
> Now, I'm the kind of guy, that would never say no to a great idea. Knowing
> the player, however, I have the nagging feeling, that he tries to get to run
> "two" characters, i.e. have to fighters in a fight.
>
> So my questions are:
>
> 1) Should I let him decide for himself, the dogs actions, since it's trained
> or should I as GM run it?

Do both. He gives the dog a command (e.g. "kill" *points at guard*) and then
you take over, running the dogs exact actions.

> 2) Are there any special rules regarding cyberware in animals? (I read one
> Shadowrun novel once, that described some guard dogs with implants)

Critters has what happens to Para's that get cybered (Psychotic tendencies
controlled by headware), but that's probably more a factor of the chrome
degrading/destroying their natural abilities.

Other than that, none that I can think of. Depending how the surgery went, the
dog would either be nuts or fairly normal. Think of the aftereffects of
vetinary surgery, but boost the poor doggie's speed/strength up the wazoo.

> 3) Does anyone have some stats for a big bad ugly Rottweiler? :-) I figured
> that the "dog" described in BBB 2nd ed. is just that; a standard dog.

The Critters book has the stats for Big Dogs.

> 4) Should I dismiss the idea completely, and if so: why?

I don't see why you should. I mean, he's going to have to pay for the dog and
the dog's cyberware isn't he?

> 5) Does any of you have similar experiences and can warn me about what to
> expect?

One of my PC's/fellow GM's has a Voudoun mambo with a German Shepherd. She uses
a Dikoted sword. ('Nuff said).
In combat situations, she possesses the dog with a work loa. The results are
frightening, since the dog is faster, stronger and tougher than the average ork
is. This also overrides the dog's natural tendencies, since the work loa is in
control.

> - Carsten
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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