| From: | TopCat <topcat@**.CENCOM.NET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: New Book -- CyberTechnology |
| Date: | Thu, 14 Sep 1995 03:34:05 -0500 |
>From: Demonic Intent <gerrtts@********.UIUC.EDU>
>Subject: Re: New Book -- CyberTechnology
>>[powergaming with samurai]
>Didn't have to before. Just ask Bob (topcat@**.cencom.net), he'll tell ya
>all about how to create the ultimate killing machine on 100 karma and an
>unlimited budget. Professional twinks only need apply.
I don't need 100 karma or unlim budget. Just give me the same thing anyone
else has and permission to go munching and it will be done. Now if I have
to roleplay the beasty, I will end up dumping a lot of the tweaks for stuff
I like to have or things that fit the character. I (as well as pretty much
anyone, I would think) have a rough time playing a supertweaked munchkin
char (a.k.a. toxic roleplaying spirit). With Cybertechnology is tweaking
more effective? Nah, because everyone gets access to the new toys when I
do. And as long as the rule base stays stable, then the best anyone can do
to powergame is tweak what everyone else is able to.
Cybertechnology is a much-needed supplement to the game. Few people seem to
notice that the character becomes dual-natured when essence drops below 0.
Fewer still notice that they need a chip in them to remind themselves that
they are alive. And finally, I personally don't know of a runner YET (in
any game I've played in) who could afford to use Cybertechnology to it's
full potential. Shadowrun was lacking severely in cyberware and increasing
steadily in the realm of magic. Admittedly, I find the fact that magic is
needed to get negative essence quite sickening. I thrive on a more
"Cyberpunk" style cyberware environment, where nearly everyone is juiced
somehow and some are chromed to the gills.
(would quickly like to answer the dreaded "Well, go play Cyberpunk, then!"
thread about to begin) Cyberpunk's rules system is ugly and
oh-so-incredibly tweakable. I don't despise magic in the genre. In fact, I
kinda like it. But to see EVERYONE magic in one way or another is pretty
rough to choke down (I mean... the ratio of magicked chars to chromed in
current campaigns has to be around 60/40, tonight's session didn't have a
single piece of cyberware shown the whole night) Isn't it supposed to be
extremely rare to be a magician? (stops his whining because he nearly went
on forever... go fig)
<thinks....> Oh yeah!!
I was wanting to grump a little about the "no Cybertech chars on the list"
whine from a few days back. If you can't handle the thought of someone
controlling those kind of resources... If it just seems insane to you that
someone might be more resistant to magic... If you cannot fathom why someone
would want to play something powerful... then drop all your chars above
level 3 initiation, all your non-standard race chars, all your corporations
and corporate chars, and pretty much anything of any power whatsoever.
Because man, the cyborgs aren't THAT powerful. They are powerful compared
to baseline samurai and FASA has never published archetypes this mean
before, but they aren't anywhere near the capabilities of about 40 percent
of the chars on the list.
<realizes that he's grumped more than a little and chills...>
As far as me telling anyone how to do the tweaking... mail 5 karma to
topcat@******.net and you'll recieve "TopCat's Tweaks!" a few little tips to
making a little character go a long way.
<wonders if Geoff knew I'd type this much... heheheh>
________
This multipage rant was brought to you by topcat@******.net.
Another product of Mohican Industries "Save the Samurai" Foundation.
Proceeds gained from "TopCat's Tweaks!" will be donated to karmically
impaired street samurai.
