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Message no. 1
From: "Mattson, Michael" <E2X@*****.WA.GOV>
Subject: Bugs and Blood
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:54:00 PDT
Having been away from ShadowRun for nearly a year now, I have fallen behind
in the latest tech/trends of the new Sourcebooks. I have noticed that quite
a bit of the conversation seems to center around the insertion of Blood
Magic and Bugs.

Am I to understand that Blood Magic is referring to Druidic Magic?

Am I to understand that Bugs is referring to Insect Shaman and their ilk?

If I am correct. My resources tell me that quite a bit of info can be
gleaned from the Black Book and the Grimmy-thingy. I have heard mention of
the Aztlan Sourcebook and some interesting factoids have come from posts
relating thus (I'll be rushing to find this a.s.a.p.).

My question follows: Are there any other sources of info I should be
seeking. It seems that ShadowRun is heading for an influx of some really
bad stuff. I want my (previously quite sheltered from new stuff) party to
be hit full in the face with it. };->

Any suggested reading, ideas, directions and such?

Please enlighten me.

Thanks in advance...

Michael Mattson
Message no. 2
From: Walter Stim <wstim%avma27@*************.ARMY.MIL>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:11:40 CDT
Mattson, Michael <E2X@*****.WA.GOV> asked

>Am I to understand that Blood Magic is referring to Druidic Magic?

No, it refers to Aztechnology and their attempts to allow the
horrors from Harlequin's Back (HB) to reappear early. The
horrors are super nasty things. They are supposed to be able to
eat the toughest bugs like the bugs were popcorn! All this
appears in the Aztlan Sourcebook.

>Am I to understand that Bugs is referring to Insect Shaman and their ilk?

The recent posts about bugs generally refer to Bug City aka
Chicago. A large hive erupts and part of the city is
quarantined to prevent the spread. It is passed off as a new
VITAS outbreak. Read Burning Bright by Tom Dowd for more info.

Mike Stim
Message no. 3
From: Andrew <wadycki@********.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:26:13 -0500
> Am I to understand that Blood Magic is referring to Druidic Magic?

Blood magic refers to any magic that does physically damage or kills
people in its drain, it is also very powerful magic. The Ghost Dance is
a type of blood magic, as is sacrificing people in casting spells. Some
blood magic is worse than others.

> Am I to understand that Bugs is referring to Insect Shaman and their ilk?

Bugs refers to the Insects spirits and shamans.

> If I am correct. My resources tell me that quite a bit of info can be
> gleaned from the Black Book and the Grimmy-thingy. I have heard mention of
> the Aztlan Sourcebook and some interesting factoids have come from posts
> relating thus (I'll be rushing to find this a.s.a.p.).

Bug City has tons of stuff on the bugs, the Tir books have lots of little
things about magic.

> My question follows: Are there any other sources of info I should be
> seeking. It seems that ShadowRun is heading for an influx of some really
> bad stuff. I want my (previously quite sheltered from new stuff) party to
> be hit full in the face with it. };->
>
> Any suggested reading, ideas, directions and such?

Harlequin's Back has stuff, Burning Bright has stuff, and there are a
couple other books have bug spirit stuff.

-Andrew
Message no. 4
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@************.ORG>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 19:16:09 -0400
On Wed, 19 Jul 1995, Walter Stim wrote:

> The recent posts about bugs generally refer to Bug City aka
> Chicago. A large hive erupts and part of the city is
> quarantined to prevent the spread. It is passed off as a new
> VITAS outbreak. Read Burning Bright by Tom Dowd for more info.

If, after reading Burning Bright, you come to the conclusion (as,
thank GHOD, we didn't) that you want to add bugs to your campaign, you
should grab the recently-released Bug City sourcebook as well.

---------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@************.org> =========---------
| "Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot." |
| -- Anon. |
----========== http://www.cybernothing.org/jdfalk/home.html ==========----
Message no. 5
From: Paolo Marcucci <marcucci@**.ASTRO.IT>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 08:37:31 +0000
On Jul 19, 12:54pm, Mattson, Michael wrote:
> Subject: Bugs and Blood
>
> Am I to understand that Blood Magic is referring to Druidic Magic?

Not quite. Blood magic seems to be covered in the Aztlan srcbk (that I don't
have :(

> Am I to understand that Bugs is referring to Insect Shaman and their ilk?

Bugs are insect spirits. Rather wimpy until someone decided to give the Shared
Willpower power to their queens. That was a bad move.

> If I am correct. My resources tell me that quite a bit of info can be
> gleaned from the Black Book and the Grimmy-thingy. I have heard mention of
> the Aztlan Sourcebook and some interesting factoids have come from posts
> relating thus (I'll be rushing to find this a.s.a.p.).

Me too.

> My question follows: Are there any other sources of info I should be
> seeking. It seems that ShadowRun is heading for an influx of some really
> bad stuff. I want my (previously quite sheltered from new stuff) party to
> be hit full in the face with it. };->

Go buy and read Burning Bright (a novel from Tom Dowd) and Bug City. Then ask
your players if they can find a lost girl in Chicago, around sep/oct 2055....

Heh...

Bye, Paolo

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paolo Marcucci
marcucci@**.astro.it
http://www.oat.ts.astro.it/~marcucci/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, a big TV with a hi-fi VCR and a nice
stereo, a full fridge, a microwave, a UNIX system, two phone lines,
a high speed modem, internet access.... and thou."
Message no. 6
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 11:55:37 +0200
>Am I to understand that Blood Magic is referring to Druidic Magic?

No, blood magic appears to be that practiced in Aztlan (the former Mexico),
as described in the Aztlan sourcebook which I haven't read, so I can't
comment on it.

>Am I to understand that Bugs is referring to Insect Shaman and their ilk?

Yes. This is due to the appearance of the Bug City sourcebook.

>My question follows: Are there any other sources of info I should be
>seeking. It seems that ShadowRun is heading for an influx of some really
>bad stuff.

If you're a GM (from the next sentence, I take it you are), buy Harlequin's
Back and you'll see just how bad it is.

>I want my (previously quite sheltered from new stuff) party to
>be hit full in the face with it. };->

They will be...


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
It's tv-speak, Andycam!
GC3.0: GS/AT/! dpu s:- !a>? C+(++) U P L E? W(++) N K- w+ O V? PS+ PE Y
PGP- t(+) 5 X R+++>? tv+(++) b+@ DI? D+ G++ e h! !r(--) y? Unofficial
Shadowrun Guru :)
Message no. 7
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 11:55:52 +0200
>Bugs are insect spirits. Rather wimpy until someone decided to give the Shared
>Willpower power to their queens. That was a bad move.

Actually, read the power description in Bug City. It says "This power
enables a Queen to envelop her subjects in a protective blanket of sheer
Willpower. Anyone attempting to use a mind-controlling or mind-reading spell
on a protected subject insect must overcome the Willpower barrier."

So what it does is up to the GM. Does it mean all insects have a Willpower
equal to that of their Queen, or does it mean you have to roll more
successes than the Queen's Willpower, and so on. Plus it only works against
mind-controlling etc. spells -- which suddenly made Mana Bolt a mind-reading
spell in my game :)


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
It's tv-speak, Andycam!
GC3.0: GS/AT/! dpu s:- !a>? C+(++) U P L E? W(++) N K- w+ O V? PS+ PE Y
PGP- t(+) 5 X R+++>? tv+(++) b+@ DI? D+ G++ e h! !r(--) y? Unofficial
Shadowrun Guru :)
Message no. 8
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 19:32:39 +0930
Gurth wrote:
>
> Plus it only works against
> mind-controlling etc. spells -- which suddenly made Mana Bolt a mind-reading
> spell in my game :)

Mana Bolt IS a mind-reading spell. It's in the same class as tea-readers,
or palm readers, but instead of using conventional techniques, you see the
future in the patterns of the blood seeping out of the victim's ears. For
example, you may see that you forgot to put up the Bullet Barrier, and that
a collection of 9mm objects is about to head your way VERY fast...

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers
are around at 9 am, it's because they were up all night.
*** Finger me for my geek code ***
Message no. 9
From: Mark Steedman <RSMS@******.EEE.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 11:24:37 GMT
> From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>

> >Bugs are insect spirits. Rather wimpy until someone decided to give the Shared
> >Willpower power to their queens. That was a bad move.
>
> Actually, read the power description in Bug City. It says "This power
> enables a Queen to envelop her subjects in a protective blanket of sheer
> Willpower. Anyone attempting to use a mind-controlling or mind-reading spell
> on a protected subject insect must overcome the Willpower barrier."
>
There is also the version given in the adventure 'Double Exposure'
where it works against all 'mind affecting' magic, i.e. anything
target willpower. Yes every bug in sight willpower 10!. No it was not
a bad move as wathching critters that were supposed to be very scary
and occasionally used at most explode at the first sign of a manabolt
(let alone a decent one) was a bit trying. When FASA put flesh form
of this variety in security armour and handed them assualt rifles
they became very powerful indeed. (burst fire with APDS - what do you
mean it still standing!!, and the firer did have firearms 6, smart)
Needless to say if you don't have wired two, smartguned, heavily
equiped characters with magicains to match, these things are far best
avoided.

> So what it does is up to the GM. Does it mean all insects have a
> Willpower
> equal to that of their Queen, or does it mean you have to roll more
> successes than the Queen's Willpower, and so on. Plus it only works against
> mind-controlling etc. spells -- which suddenly made Mana Bolt a mind-reading
> spell in my game :)
>
Very needed. :)

>
> Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html

Mark
Message no. 10
From: Sebastian Wiers <seb@***.RIPCO.COM>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 12:38:04 -0500
>
> Having been away from ShadowRun for nearly a year now, I have fallen behind
> in the latest tech/trends of the new Sourcebooks. I have noticed that quite
> a bit of the conversation seems to center around the insertion of Blood
> Magic and Bugs.
>
> Am I to understand that Blood Magic is referring to Druidic Magic?
Sort of. The sacrifice Geas+ druidic magic is just the start. The Aztlan
Sorcebook has rules for full blood magic; a whole new class of spirits called
blood spirits. Haven't read it, but I'm going shopping soon. I don't think
Azzy mages are druids, though.
>
> Am I to understand that Bugs is referring to Insect Shaman and their ilk?
>
> If I am correct. My resources tell me that quite a bit of info can be
> gleaned from the Black Book and the Grimmy-thingy. I have heard mention of
> the Aztlan Sourcebook and some interesting factoids have come from posts
> relating thus (I'll be rushing to find this a.s.a.p.).
>
Correct. Bug city makes them tougher by adding "share willpower" to the list
of insect queen powers. So, If there is an insect queen around, those
manaballs get castrated.

> My question follows: Are there any other sources of info I should be
> seeking. It seems that ShadowRun is heading for an influx of some really
> bad stuff. I want my (previously quite sheltered from new stuff) party to be
> hit full in the face with it. };->
>

Well, how expierienced are the caracters and players? Cause Our gm has us
living in chicago, It is halloween 2055, and He is pouring Karma down our
throats (3 weeks game time= 3 moduals). We should have 2 initiated mages and
a very expirienced Phys ad by the BE day.

But what worries me is that most of these new threats are combat monsters.
Are Shadowrun Moduals lossing that (sometimes maddening) Puzzle like
intreuge? Are we headed for a world of munchkins? Or are the threats still
subtle and brainpower important? (our least favorite modual: dragonhunt.
Ther only way to win is by repeated smash and grabs. Everyone died.)

Sebastian
Message no. 11
From: Dave Stone <dstone@******.DREAMSCAPE.COM>
Subject: Re: Bugs and Blood
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 16:43:48 -0400
On Thu, 20 Jul 1995, Sebastian Wiers wrote:
> But what worries me is that most of these new threats are combat monsters.
> Are Shadowrun Moduals lossing that (sometimes maddening) Puzzle like
> intreuge? Are we headed for a world of munchkins? Or are the threats still
> subtle and brainpower important? (our least favorite modual: dragonhunt.
> Ther only way to win is by repeated smash and grabs. Everyone died.)
> Sebastian

Don't worry, there're lots of good things in Bug City besides
Hack'n'Slash... For instance, my players were looking for a kid who
lived next door to them who ran screaming into the night shouting
'they're coming, they're coming, they're coming!!!!' on the night the
Bugs came, and they wanted to know how, and stuff...became quite cool
when they discovered he had become a Troll, but not a stupid dumb
one...he became one that was actually intelligent...(ED thing, I think,
as a guy in the ED list said, that only the stupid Cave Trolls survived
to Srun...until the kid did...;) And the kid knew stuff he shouldn't
have known...if you want details, I'll email ya...just ask;)

Dave

| David Stone -- dstone@******.dreamscape.com |
| "Five ride forth, and four return. Above the watchers shall he |
| proclaim himself, bannered across the sky in fire..." |

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Bugs and Blood, you may also be interested in:

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