From:	Norman McLeod <mcleodn@***********.NET>
Subject:	Re: The guard trait
Date:	Thu, 23 Apr 1998 04:30:16 -0400

>> >" I beg to differ. Though it doesn't explicitly say Guard may only be
>> > used once per turn, the RBT does say like Biotech a Runner has to turn
>> > to use unless on a run."
>>
>> ...And, strangely enough, this is exactly why I assume Guard can be used
>> as often as desired :)
>
>At least only on a shadowrun.On page 30, the RB says : "at all other times
(when not on a SR), he is
>required to turn".
> So why guard would be used only once per turn when the bodyguard is in the
safehouse
>(where he must turn) and could be used several times during a shadowrun ?
>Seems a bit illogical to me.

Because if he didn't have to turn to guard outside a run the trait would be
far too strong, and if he could only use it once per run, it would be far
too weak. I there any reason that Knuckles could not guard his charge from
Sabatoged Controls a second time? It is not too powerful, but it is
certainly a nice ability to have. Imagine if Knuckles could take all damage
headed for runners in the safehouse (limited by his body of course), but he
has a Heavy Armor Full, a Dermal plating, and muscle replacement. His rating
is 9/10 (A4). Can you see how it would be imbalancing for him to be able to
fend off every attack from everybody possible source, one after another? He
is not so limited anymore by one at a time, for aside from Riots, most
sources of damage in the Safehouse effect one runner at a time. No matter
what you throw at the runners, and how many times you throw it, it's going
to bounce off Knuckles everytime.

>> Guard is self-limiting in a way Biotech isn't (with perhaps the
>> exception of Knuckles deflecting a lot of Shurkien shots). Seems to me
>> a Runner using Guard twice in a row is just a guy with a death wish.
>> (And, hey, it gives a little for the low-Body, high-sleaze, one-Guard
>> type decks.)
>
> And that makes Mr Torgo almost immortal...


Indeed it does. Of course, if used properly the whole point is to make
everyone almost immortal, at least while on a run.