From:	Jeffrey Mach <mach@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject:	Re: More Fun And Games
Date:	Thu, 27 Mar 1997 13:49:18 -0800

On Thu, 27 Mar 1997, D'Arkan wrote:
> A scheme, which if planned that way, worked to perfection.

Isn't it gratifying to learn that you did a great job annihilating a decoy.
:(

> There are a number of assassins who use
> flechette weapons for killing, because of the intrinsic silence of the
> weapon, but they're mainly European, and to my knowledge there aren't
> any recent European entries into Seattle matching anything in our
> databases.

Hate to be picky about details, but I'm not sure where you go the
"intrinsic silence of the weapon." The Ares Viper slivergun comes
equipped with a silencer, which might be what he is referring to, but I
would assume there are other sliverguns that are not so equipped. There is
nothing about flechette type rounds (available for most any gun) that
would make them inherently any more quiet than normal rounds. In fact, I
would assume they would have to have a higher muzzle velocity (and
therefore a greater chance to be supersonic and generate a sonic boom [the
infamous "crack" of a rifle bullet]) in order to retain most of their
penetrating power.

As for assassins who use flechette weapons being mainly European, how do
you see that? Or did you throw it in because it sounded good? Of the
gun-toting characters I have used, they usually end up having some
flechette rounds for their main weapons of choice for whenever they find
themselves in a situation where they might face less armored opponents
(especially for shot-guns because of the nice spread effect). They are
even more effective than explosive rounds against non-armored targets, and
are decently effective against people in "streetclothes" armor. For
point-blank assassination, where you usually are using the weapon on an
unarmored target or an armor-defeating shot would be easy, they are
definitely the round of choice. In fact, my only assassin character
basically only uses her Viper (if she uses a gun at all) because her
M.O. is to get _very_ close to the target. Besides, a Warhawk would break
her wrist. On the other hand, when playing I've had GM's ban or seriously
alter the Viper because of its rather heinous benefits compared to
relatively low cost.

Heh...D'Arkan might even find in his files for Seattle one unusual case
where a fellow was shot point-blank with a slivergun. Shot was just low
of the heart, but shreaded it and his other nearby organs enough that the
fellow was going to die shortly of internal bleeding, but then somebody
went and put a rifle round through his skull. (This took place outside of
ShadowTk in the background of one of my characters.) The case was labeled
an organized crime hit, because the fellow was rumored to have been
transporting more than just modular furniture across the Tir border. The
only witness, described as a "stunningly beautiful" asian woman, was seen
walking with the man out onto his terrace before the shooting. She
stumbled into the party spattered in blood and clearly in shock moments
later. No such woman was found when the police arrived, nor did anyone
matching her description come up in any criminal or civic databases. I
add this only for the entertainment of the masses, since I figure you guys
are busy as it is and would rather not get myself caught up in it just
yet. Just seems like there isn't much work for good assassins these days.

--My two yen

Jeff