Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Meghan Fox <mfox@******.SMCM.EDU>
Subject: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1993 20:29:13 -0500
Hello all!
I have a small question..What is the lowest one's essance can be at before they are
permenently psyco? I haven't read SRll, so I don't know if this was addressed.
Thanx in advace!
Megh
Message no. 2
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1993 20:06:34 -0600
>I have a small question..What is the lowest one's essance can be at before they are
>permenently psyco? I haven't read SRll, so I don't know if this was addressed.
>Thanx in advace!

Officially, people do not go psycho when their Esence runs low. Their
spirit/essence/soul/lifepez simply doesnot stay with the body, so they
aren't actually human. I would postulate that this means they are still alive,
but acting as machines; the person who it once one is gone, their esence of
their personality having departed the mortal world, leaving an automaton
devoid of anything approaching humanity.

Nontehless, cyberpsychosis rules are being developed by Tom as a mid to long
range project.

BTW, regarding Dowd's comment to the effect that he doesn't want cyberpsychosis
to be an excuse for indiscriminate slaughter: I always thought cyberpsycho
characters in R Talsorian's Cyberpunk game became NPCs. His statement doesn't
make sense. Could someone illuminate me?


J Roberson
Message no. 3
From: Eric Christopher Trager <etrager@***.GWU.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1993 22:29:59 -0500
Megh,

No, no THWAPPING here. If I remember correctly, SR I rules said something
like that when essence reaches 0 or below, the PC become schizoid or
psycho or whatever tickles the GM's fancy and goes to NPC status. Then
again, various modules from our boys at FASA have NPCs w/ essence 0 or
less that aren't totally robotic, something else suggested in I.

Like everything else, it's up to Commander GameMaster. Don't forget to
salute.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

/////// "Kids come running for the rich taste of sampo."
/// -Joel Hodgson as Joel Robinson,
///// "Mystery Science Theater 3000", 1992.
///
//////// // _E_Rasputin_Roy Watt_The Carrier_Captain Cadillac_

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////





On Sat, 4 Dec 1993, Meghan Fox wrote:

> Hello all!
> I have a small question..What is the lowest one's essance can be at before they are
> permenently psyco? I haven't read SRll, so I don't know if this was addressed.
> Thanx in advace!
> Megh
Message no. 4
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1993 21:50:33 -0600
What I do is not worry about it UNTIL the player gets to 0.0.

Then, they start seeing things. Little paranoia and phobias start to
come into play (you awaken in a cold sweat dreaming of being chased down
by a vicious spider). They start to see things and hallucinate.

As they approach -1.0, they suffer short-term memory loss, aphasia,
muscle spasms, hallucinations like as if they were having a really bad
acid trip.

If they reach -1.5 to -2.0, their mind and their bodies have become so
fritzed out that they are little more than a vegetable of their former self.

Now, I believe (and most everyone on this list doesn't :-) that essence
will heal itself over time. I heal it at a rate of .1 point per month.
During this month, the character cannot undergo surgery of ANY kind, nor
suffer any injuries heavier that a single light wound (normal accidental
bumps and bangs, or what have you). Total essence will never exceed 6.0.

Thus, if you turn your character into a veggie with a -1.0 essence, it
will take about a year to get them back in touch with reality

This is all IMHO, of course :-)

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 5
From: Erik Hultgren <EHULTGRE@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 12:28:44 EST
Wait a minute!! Since when can you lower a character's essence below 0????
I thought that was the be-all-end-all limit on cyberware. How can you drop him
down to negative essence???

-warlok
Message no. 6
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 11:39:10 -0600
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

On Sun, 5 Dec 1993, Erik Hultgren wrote:

> Wait a minute!! Since when can you lower a character's essence below 0????
> I thought that was the be-all-end-all limit on cyberware. How can you drop him
> down to negative essence???

It's called a house rule. I read 0.0 as being the lowest limit you can
SAFELY go to, showing why there are archtypes acting normal at 0.1. If
you choose to go below 0.0, you do so at great peril to you own well-being.


____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.3a

iQCVAgUBLQIcnZ3BsrEqkf9NAQG2oAP8CdreXVNXutJSn7GT0f9mCOTIX217aO5N
9q2L7ODsiSd/jXJSzv2C0Icwow3tNVaJvXc+CIt3eo230obA/y6Oci7YikicdPas
FW0es1V0NhF+7BM62EZbweSNbUhMWdgH8neS3/sXuI3X/BB+UnXcQrqufyW3P4iB
esdh9a7vb3A=
=KFkA
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Message no. 7
From: Erik Hultgren <EHULTGRE@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 12:46:03 EST
Yeah, but Rob, wouldn't that make any Player who did that extremely dangerous?
I, fo one, would not want my character in a group with some Sammie who was bare
ly human and could go schizo and lopp my head of for no reason at all.
Imagine a Troll Samurai with essence of -1.5. I wouldn't want to be anywhere
around him.

Personally, I use the essence rule to limit the amount of cyberware a character
can have. This is just to prevent my players,including a couple of munchkins,
from having every single piece of ware they might ever need. Remember, you
can always go to a shadowclinic and get the stuff there. Yeah, it's expensive,
but it doesn't cost as much essence.
On another note, have any of you ever dragged your runners off to Japan? My
group is going there, and I am planning mischief. The only background I have
is from Mona-Lisa Overdrive, when they talk about futuristic Japan. Any
suggestions??? They'd be most appreciated? How about you, Messr Hayden?

-Warlok
*We few, we happy few*
Message no. 8
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 12:07:59 -0600
On Sun, 5 Dec 1993, Erik Hultgren wrote:

> Yeah, but Rob, wouldn't that make any Player who did that extremely dangerous?
> I, fo one, would not want my character in a group with some Sammie who was bare
> ly human and could go schizo and lopp my head of for no reason at all.
> Imagine a Troll Samurai with essence of -1.5. I wouldn't want to be anywhere
> around him.

Right. And I pity the fool who does hang out. Time for a little
creative ROLE-playing.

> Personally, I use the essence rule to limit the amount of cyberware a character
> can have. This is just to prevent my players,including a couple of munchkins,
> from having every single piece of ware they might ever need. Remember, you
> can always go to a shadowclinic and get the stuff there. Yeah, it's expensive,
> but it doesn't cost as much essence.

This still limits the amount of cyber you can get, but it also is
realistic consider there are persons in the rulebook with next to no
essence that are still perfecctly sane.

> suggestions??? They'd be most appreciated? How about you, Messr Hayden?

Never done the japan thing.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 9
From: Erik Hultgren <EHULTGRE@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 13:18:08 EST
I'll keep you posted how it goes. Ever read the Tick comic?? Ninja Hedge, man!

Also, how many people out there would be interested in a Shadowrun BBS??
It'd be kinda like Shadowland, you know? I'm thinking of putting one up from my
computer, but I need a show of hands to tell me if this is the "flavor" I shoul
d use. Feel free to reply privately.

-Warlok
--ehultgre@******.kent.edu

--------------------------------
ºRunning on an Amiga4000/040 º
º and a 14.4 modem º
ºThat oughta be fast enough! º
--------------------------------
Message no. 10
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 12:29:04 -0600
On Sun, 5 Dec 1993, Erik Hultgren wrote:

> Also, how many people out there would be interested in a Shadowrun BBS??
> It'd be kinda like Shadowland, you know? I'm thinking of putting one up from my
> computer, but I need a show of hands to tell me if this is the "flavor" I
shoul
> d use. Feel free to reply privately.

I wouldn't use it cuz I have no $$$ for the phone call.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 11
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 13:31:11 -0600
>Yeah, but Rob, wouldn't that make any Player who did that extremely dangerous?
>I, fo one, would not want my character in a group with some Sammie who was bare
>ly human and could go schizo and lopp my head of for no reason at all.

That's the point.

J Roberson
Message no. 12
From: "C. Paul Douglas" <granite@********.CLARK.NET>
Subject: Re: a side question.... THWAP at will
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 15:56:12 -0500
On Sun, 5 Dec 1993, Erik Hultgren wrote:

> Wait a minute!! Since when can you lower a character's essence below 0????
> I thought that was the be-all-end-all limit on cyberware. How can you drop him
> down to negative essence???
>
> -warlok
>
ACCOrding to the rumors i've been hearing [and the source is inside fasa
- sort of] they are going to come out with rules on 0 and below essance
ratings i would guess that a -3 will be as low as you can go and remain a pc
------------------------------------GRANITE

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about a side question.... THWAP at will, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.