| From: | Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: The High Seas net.expansion! |
| Date: | Sun, 28 Sep 1997 08:40:27 -0700 |
> not sure that I would be motivated as a player to bother with it when
> my opponent plays one. It's a good idea, I think there just needs to
> be more cards based on it...
There were a lot more gambles in my "official" submission to FASA.
Most of the gambles have counterparts: if you don't gamble, then Boxcar
comes in really weak - or Snake-eyes comes in really strong. (8/8 for
2Y!)
> How about
> Name: Harry
> Type: runner - merc
> Cost: *Y
> Text: 3/3 - firearms1, social1 - gamble (as per rules) if Harry has 4
> or more tokens on him when revealed trash Harry. If less than 4
> tokens deploy Harry at no cost.
Cute. All gambles, however, have a base cost of 2Y. (Otherwise, your
'pone just goes "Okay, 0Y Gamble, it's that Harry guy.) I'll ponder
Harry for a while. Of course, he'll get a counterpart that trashes at
more than 4 tokens..
Here's on that just came to me:
Erys
Runner/Mercenary [all the gambles tend to be mercs - its
fitting]
Cost: 2Y
Text: 4/5 Elf Runner; Athletics-1, Stealth-1. Announec Erys is a
Gamble when first put into play. Whoever pays the most yen gains
control of Erys. (Roll d6 in case of tie).
...Or something like that.
> = Anchorhead Aqualogy - seems a bit cheap for what it can do. I would
> add an upkeep cost, or some sort of Requirement to the objective.
Ahh -- a zero Rep objective that just might eat all your Runners, get
switched with Lofwyr, can be trashed with Cherry Bomb or stopped with
Bomb Threats. It should be noted the location is Unique, definitely.
Not sure about a Requirement for the objective or upkeep -- sheesh, an
upkeep just makes the card useless.
> = Boomers what does a skittish angelfish look like :-)
Well.. y'know.. skittish, like.
> = Coinspinner seems a bit expensive for a weak runner and the 1 shot
> loaded dice ability
...And Razorback, man, I'd never use *his* sleaze ability. Actually,
looking at my pen-and-paper copy, he was supposed to be a 2/5 -- this is
what happens when I use cut and paste. Did you catch the double entry
on Harbormasters? :)
Though about making him only modify the die roll by -1 or -2 (announce
before trashing), since the fictional character had such miserable luck.
> = Divided Loyalties stays in play I take it?
As long as the upkeep is met.
Originally I had thought of having a "solo run" where only one Runner
could go on it (and, like UB, it would replace the challenges with
various tests). Then I realized this combo would be silly...
> = Ghost on the waves - I like this idea. Mind if I expand on it a bit?
> Name: Hell House
> Type: Objective
> Cost: N/A
> Text: 20 Reputation - Any runner that dies while on a run against Hell
> House become a "ghost" runner and is put on Hell House (all gear is
> trashed). Combat against these runner becomes the Requirement for
> scoring Hell House. If the objective is not taken trash runners at
> the end of the turn. +5 rep for each "ghost" runner.
Interesting, but leads to terrible possibilities. (Load it up with
weenies, four Statics, two Foxies.. ) It also should be made clear that
the Runners can't use special abilities (although, think -- Fat Man and
a Ghostly Marek?) or have Specials played on them, either.
Sorry, but I prefer Ghosts.. it even allows for a method of banishing
(although it doesn't require Shamans.)
> = Low Budget - Do you have to repay the X everytime, or is it a one
> shot deal? Seems to have a potential to be "unbalancing" especially
> with a Anchorhead Aqualogy and some of the other cards that have been
> proposed to give you nuyen. 12Y to shut down an oppoenent isn't that
> much, even with the upkeep.
Actually, I like the "living on a shoestring" idea, but it's hard to
work well. A virtual upkeep of 12Y is simply unplayable; even an upkeep
of 4Y makes it a card. (Maybe :) Yeah, it's harsh, but I've enver
played a game where I had ten yen free at once. Maybe increasing the
cap to twelve would solve things. Maybe eliminating the card would..
> = Meistersingers - uh? Not exactly sure I understand the purpose of
> this card. Maybe it's just the differences in our play groups.
Exactly. Useless in two-player, great in four player. You want some
time to plot against the current super-player? Want to make a deal to
share in a run? ...etcet, etcet. Maybe it is a bit too "style of
play", but I've always assumed most places don't allow (too much) table
talk. And it fits in well with the card name.
> = PANICButton - I don't have a card list with me, is "law enforcement"
> a recognized term in the game? If not this will cause problems with
> what exactly is a "law enforement" card. Lone Star is obvious, but
> what about Security Guards.
...Points I thought I had raised on the "Comments" section of the card.
One of the 'promises' of the Underworld expansion is that you'll be able
to play Lone Star groups, which (presumably) means it will become a
keyword.
> = Aqualogies - Throw in statement about only 1 runner per turn,
> instead of the turn location. Just to be consistant with the game
> already.
? I don't find anything inconsistent, actually. The Location turns.
(All Aqualogies do.) The turning bit is key, given the presence of
International Fright Agents.
> = Riverine - does alot for only 5Y. Consider having it only on
> riggers and count toward drone total. I designed a motorcycle like
> this:
A2 might seem a bit much, but then, a Harley gives +1/0 A+1 for 2..
Note that the Riverine gives (A2), not A+2. And the Marine ability is
nothing, though it might be noted the Runner should lose Marine if
he/she becomes not present (GAQ.)
> Name: Harley Kanada
> Type: gear/vehicle
> Cost: 5Y
> Text: +1/+2 (A1) Can only be played on a rigger. Not considered a
> drone but counts as 1 toward total number rigger can control.
> Picture: bike from Aikira
Cf. the Harley. Simply not worth it.
> = Sandbars - what does trashing the gear gain you? sleaze or
> resetting alarm?
Neither. When you encounter Sandbars, the owner can trash a Gear on one
of your Runners. That's it, though -- it's not as powerful as the Elite
Mage's GAQ (well - in a way, it is) but it's as inevitable. Of course,
if it's the owner running against his own Objective he doesn't face it,
or, given Security Consultant and Blindsides, he doesn't use the
ability. He's a bit more familiar with the coastline, let's say.
If you don't sleaze it, then the alarm goes off.
> = Shopping Spree - Does the upkeep cost on this count toward your
> total spent?
Upkeep? What Upkeep? Stays until LotI'd. Allowing an auto-trash by
the user makes it far too weak. I like this card a lot more than Low
Budget, for obvious reasons.. maybe that's the solution to LB -- have
it offer a Rep gain?
> = Taliscat - I would have this roll based instead of choice based
Nah. That's just me.
> = Tallow - Looks like a canidate for a prime runner to me...
Oh. Yeah. :)
> = The Albatross - a bit unclear, I take it this is supposed to be a
> runner not a special? (based on The Gull card)
Paste-and-cut error, again.
> = The Big Red Button - a history eraser button, just what the game
> needs ;-)
> = The Mariner - with how easy it is to get cards into the trash, I
> would add that this card can't be voluntarily discarded (frag to
> remove from hand)
Given how so-so he is, I don't see too much danger.
> = Wiretap - personally I would bump up the cost (or add upkeep) and
> ditch the "trash" statement.
You've *gotta* be kidding. As it stands, it's weaker than a
Microskimmer (which can at least absorb a point of damage). The cost
should adjusted to zero, especially given it's "use only when.." clause.
> Hope that helps
Actually, while I can't say I agreed a lot.. it does help. I'm kind of
surprised on the cards that you didn't comment on (the grenades, the
narcoject, Luckless, Lightning Reflexes...)
-M
