| From: | hAPPY gUY <FSAJB3@******.BITNET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: PLOT-D Digest - 5 May 1994 to 6 May 1994 |
| Date: | Fri, 6 May 1994 18:03:00 -0800 |
see that someone wants to use animals for PCs (at least it seems
like that is the idea from the brief bit I read). Me personally I have
massive reservations about bringing mutated animals into a setting that,
albeit there is magic, there is at least a tip of the hat to real
science as we currently know it. Some of the characters listed are of
unknown, possibly spontaneous origin. That would be soooooo unlikely for
a single generation mutant to get uppity and take over a corpÙs security
that any possible tie to realistic science is toast. In regards to the
ani-men generated by genetic manipulation, the problems would be
daunting to say the least, and the costs for such experiments would
dwarf the current budgets of the NSF and the NIH. This would pretty
safely remove these experiments from the realm of corp research,
and the feds (military) would be much better served by making
spiffy missiles etc. rather than trying to bio engineer a mutant
animal death machine. If anything the approach would be the
reverse, try to engineer a human with animal traits like night sight,
reflexes, muscle strength. But that is in effect already been done
by cyber/bio ware. I just have a real hard time seeing anyone
going through the effort of engineering an animal to be intelligent
with such overwhelming obstacles. As for the spontaneous origin, it
is much better suited for comic books, not the gritty street world
of shadowtk.
It should also be considered what people will do when
Skippy the Radioactive Samurai Pig steps into a room. They will
scream in fear and loathing, then shoot him. Prejudice would be massive
against any bipedal animal beasties. Humanis would sponsor city
wide critter hunts, with a prize going to the shooter with the largest
ani-man shot within city limits.
As a last note regarding the possibility of science being more
advanced in the year 2055, remember that the shadowrun world suffered
a massive loss of knowledge due to the virus that wiped out the first
computer net. Several FASA publications have touched on the idea,
stating in effect that the crash set science back. This set back
has been pointed to as a reason that knowledge in 2055 isn't
all that far beyond the level of the years preceding the crash.
Just putting in my two cents worth,
hAPPY gUY, hater of furry biped animal things.
