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Message no. 1
From: Fastjack <uc298@*****.UNICAN.ES>
Subject: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 10:44:11 +0100
My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.

He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.

But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
Message no. 2
From: "Q (not from Star Trek)" <Scott.E.Meyer@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:43:44 -0600
On Thu, 14 Nov 1996, Fastjack wrote:

> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.
>
> But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
>
Sounds like the exact kind of munchkinism that used to be possible under
the 1st addition rules for adepts. Exactly how high is he planning to
raise his ini? I can't remember the exact figures, since I don't have the
book in front of me, but I know inc. ref. 2 in phys ads costs 4 points,
and doesn't wired ref. 2 cost at least somewhere between 3 and 4? what
would be the point of you can't raise your reflexes any higher using both
methods than you could using only one?

-Q

---------------------------------------
Should "anal-retentive" be hyphenated?

Scott "Q" Meyer
Scott.E.Meyer@*******.edu
http://johnh.wheaton.edu/~smeyer
Message no. 3
From: Midn Daniel O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 13:18:51 -0500
My GM has always played it that way. It would also make sence, since the
Ghosts, even though many of them are PhA, there are probably heavily
chromed. That would be one of the advantages of being a PhA, though it
would take alot of karma to initaite yourself out of the magic loss.

On Thu, 14 Nov 1996, Fastjack wrote:

> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.
>
> But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
>
Message no. 4
From: Timothy P Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 10:21:37 -0800
> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.
>
> But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)

I'd say "no"...magic and cyberware don't mix..

Well, I take that back. If he wants to combine Wired II (or the like) and the
increased Inititive (+xd6) power to add the ratings...Defenitely "NO", but If
he's using something like Increased Body and maybe Dermal sheathing/plating or
Orthoskin, I don't know. Maybe even using Increased Reaction and something that
only grants extra dice would work too..Judgement call. As long as they don't
overlap, maybe it'd work.

Speaking of Phys Ad powers: does anybody actually LIKE the way that SRII splits
the Increased Reaction/Inititive power from SRI, and also makes it a lot more
expensive? Some people complain that it makes it harder for a Phys Ad to even
approach the level of power of conventional chromed muscle.

-Tim
Message no. 5
From: Student <fsljb1@******.ALASKA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 13:10:28 -0800
Does anyone know if I can get any .midi or .wav files for Shadowrun any
where on the net??


Wolf
Message no. 6
From: Midn Daniel O Fredrikson <m992148@****.NAVY.MIL>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 16:24:16 -0500
On Thu, 14 Nov 1996, Timothy P Cooper wrote:

> > My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> > initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
> >
> > He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> > and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.
> >
> > But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
>
> I'd say "no"...magic and cyberware don't mix..
>
> Well, I take that back. If he wants to combine Wired II (or the like) and the
> increased Inititive (+xd6) power to add the ratings...Defenitely "NO", but
If
> he's using something like Increased Body and maybe Dermal sheathing/plating or
> Orthoskin, I don't know. Maybe even using Increased Reaction and something that
> only grants extra dice would work too..Judgement call. As long as they don't
> overlap, maybe it'd work.
>
> Speaking of Phys Ad powers: does anybody actually LIKE the way that SRII splits
> the Increased Reaction/Inititive power from SRI, and also makes it a lot more
> expensive? Some people complain that it makes it harder for a Phys Ad to even
> approach the level of power of conventional chromed muscle.
>
> -Tim
>
Now I know that this topic has been fought over for a long period of time,
but I thought that I would add my two cent's worth. I was wandering
around the net sometime and I found an article comparing sams and PhA's.
Wish I had downloaded, cause I haven't been able to find it since. The
basic jist of the article was that for a PhA to be able to match a
creation level Sam, he would have to have around 14 points of magic. This
may seem unlikely, but lets consider one example...wired reflexes 2. For
a PhA to match it,he will need to invest between 8 and 12 points of
magic...4 for the +2D6 init and 4 to 8 for the +4 reaction, depending on
his begining reaction. If instead he slapped in a set of wired reflexes
2, he would lose 3 points of essence and consiquently 3 points of magic,
but now he would have 5 to 9 more points of magic he could do something
interesting with, like improve his armed combat for example. I agree that
allowing PhA's to mix magic with cyber does allow for abuse, but it is
fairly difficult, just due to the amount of karma it takes to initiate.
If I was playing an adept who was doing this, I would make sure that I
needed each piece I was getting, and buy it at the highest possible
quality, to minimize magic loss. Of cource, this is going to take major
nuyen, so progress would be rather slow. I think that allowing PhA;s to
mix magic and cyber kind of works out in the end, since PhA;s are so much
weaker and slower than sams in the begining. Of course you can say that
PhA's shouldn't try to play on the same field as sams, but then I think
you are limiting the whole player type quite considerably. Your choise
though. I wouldn't worry about abuse too much though. Munchins tend to
want to get really powerful really fast, and while this allows PhA's to
become one of the fastest moving things on the field, it is going to take
a considerable time. For fast, easy power, it is easier to run a sam or
even better, a cyberzombie. This is only my opinion though and I would
like to hear some other views on the subject.
Message no. 7
From: Sight Unseen <toabo@****.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 22:01:19 -0500
At 10:44 AM 11/14/96 +0100, you wrote:
>My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
>initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
>He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
>and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.

Physads can have cyberware, but it reduces their essence, which
reduces their magic. Ditto for bioware; the body index reduces essence in
magic users and adepts. So if he wants to put in Wired Reflexes, fine, but
he'll take a hit to the Magic attribute, so hope he doesn't mind losing an
adept power or three. <g>



Enigma
Message no. 8
From: The Crucible <crucible@******.MUR.CSU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 12:13:49 +1100
> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.
>
> But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
>
I was thinking about this also... and the only major thing I found was
that for each point of essence you use you lose 1 magic... therefore you
-could- do something like wired ref 3 and the phys adept enhanced ref 1
to have 5d6 or some other combination... but the magic point allowance
compared to the essence cost of the cyberware is what I see as stopping
you... one of the character types at the begining of SRII has magic with
cybereyes... combat mage I think... so that would mean that it is possible?


Crucible

/----------------------------------------------------------------\
|email: |
| crucible@******.mur.csu.edu.au (Use this one first)|
| crucible@******.net |
| 94043950@********.mur.csu.edu.au (Student account) |
|homepage: http://itclub.mur.csu.edu.au/~crucible/ |
\----------------------------------------------------------------/
Message no. 9
From: The Crucible <crucible@******.MUR.CSU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 12:29:16 +1100
> Does anyone know if I can get any .midi or .wav files for Shadowrun any
> where on the net??
>
>
> Wolf

Not midi or wav... but I have a s3m (Module) that goes with
screamtracker... it was writen by Purple Motion of the future crew and it
wasnt writen for shadowrun exactly.... but it was named shadowrun and it
has a nice techno beat... so if you want it email me and I will either
send it as an attatchment or shove it and screamtracker on my site for you..

Crucible

/----------------------------------------------------------------\
|email: |
| crucible@******.mur.csu.edu.au (Use this one first)|
| crucible@******.net |
| 94043950@********.mur.csu.edu.au (Student account) |
|homepage: http://itclub.mur.csu.edu.au/~crucible/ |
\----------------------------------------------------------------/
Message no. 10
From: Scam <scam@******.MUR.CSU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 13:59:07 +1100
On Thu, 14 Nov 1996, Midn Daniel O Fredrikson wrote:

[snipitty-snip-snip-snip-nafien]

> Now I know that this topic has been fought over for a long period of time,
> but I thought that I would add my two cent's worth. I was wandering
> around the net sometime and I found an article comparing sams and PhA's.
> Wish I had downloaded, cause I haven't been able to find it since. The
> basic jist of the article was that for a PhA to be able to match a
> creation level Sam, he would have to have around 14 points of magic. This
> may seem unlikely, but lets consider one example...wired reflexes 2. For

[snipified-dag-nabbit]
I saw it too, at SNET, can't remember what issue or which article and
netscape's gone done on me again (can't believe that Uni's gonna charge
me for it next year when it STILL doesn't work right) so I can't go
looking for you but have a poke at this addie:

http://www.t0.or.at/~dkollmer/SN/snet.htm

And actually it was 16.75 Magic Points to get the standard samurai's
bonuses that he gets from cyberware. Meaning of course that you'd need to
be an 11th level initiate to match him.

The author's idea was to allow PhysAds to have double your magic in powers
to even it out a little. But then you get PhysAds walking around with
Increase Reflexes 3, Increase Reaction whatever and Killing Hands D, as
well as a probably a large helping of strength boost. Major munchkin IMO,
although I haven't actually done the math for it yet so that's just a guess

Scam

*******************************************************************
VAMPIRE: I am of the Kindred. I am child of both Night and Pain....
MAGE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now you're a soap bubble.
VAMPIRE: Pop!
*******************************************************************
* scam@**********.mur.csu.edu.au *
* http://itclub.mur.csu.edu.au/~scam *
*******************************************************************
Message no. 11
From: "Robert Pendergrast (Tom)" <3011_3@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 19:16:13 -0700
> The author's idea was to allow PhysAds to have double your magic in powers
> to even it out a little. But then you get PhysAds walking around with
> Increase Reflexes 3, Increase Reaction whatever and Killing Hands D, as
> well as a probably a large helping of strength boost. Major munchkin IMO,
> although I haven't actually done the math for it yet so that's just a guess

The biggest thing that I found was the reflex enhancement, which
(IM humble O), I have corrected to some degree... the only other real
problem with physads, is improving physical attributes... like the
reflexes, it is a helluva lot more expensive than its cyber-bio equivalent.

-Tom-
Message no. 12
From: Student <fsljb1@******.ALASKA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 18:38:51 -0900
My computers are messed up and they can't play music from E-mail right
now but try sending it anyway and putting it on your webpage.


Wolf
Message no. 13
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 11:53:42 +0100
Fastjack said on 10:44/14 Nov 96...

> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.

Only the highest initiative boost applies (said Tom Dowd once). That means
wired reflexes 2 plus 2 extra dice Enhanced Reaction gives only +4+2D6
initiative, not +4+4D6. Within reason, certain combinations should be
allowed to work IMO -- for example, enhanced articulation plus wired
reflexes works.
If you look at it from a number-crunching standpoint, wired reflexes are
easier on the physad than getting the same boost via the enhanced and
increased reflexes powers, though.

Cybertechnology also indicates that you can combine a move-by-wire system
with a level 1 synaptic accelerator, BTW.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
A little bit more on-edge.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
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Message no. 14
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 12:39:36 GMT
Fastjack writes

> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>
some combos work 'officially' as the books don't ban them. I've
posted in depth on this before so not typing it back in now.
Many GM's though follow Tom Dowd's old ruling that only the higest
works.

> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed boy.
>
Taking that approach at least 11D6 is possible.

> But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
>

Mark
Message no. 15
From: John Pederson <Canthros@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 16:30:03 -0500
In a message dated 96-11-15 00:37:46 EST, you write:

>> My PA Player asked me if he could combine the power of increase
>> initiative and the ciberware as cibereflexes,boosted reflexes and bioware.
>>
>> He said me that the rules dont say nothing about combine adepts powers
>> and the bio/ciber-ware.And i answered that he is a PA,not a ciberchromed
>boy.
>>
>> But as always i want to hear your opinions,my web-gurus :-)
>>
>I was thinking about this also... and the only major thing I found was
>that for each point of essence you use you lose 1 magic... therefore you
>-could- do something like wired ref 3 and the phys adept enhanced ref 1
>to have 5d6 or some other combination... but the magic point allowance
>compared to the essence cost of the cyberware is what I see as stopping
>you... one of the character types at the begining of SRII has magic with
>cybereyes... combat mage I think... so that would mean that it is possible?
>
>
Now, the previous ruling has been that you could not stack cyber and Physad
reflexes bonuses, but, working on the assumption that, since Essence was paid
for the item, the Wired Ref. are considered a "natural" part of the
character's body, one could argue that the bonuses would be stackable, OTOH,
since tech and magic don't mix, one could still argue that they
don't...Hopefully FASAMike can help out on this one...


John Pederson "God is dead"
canthros@***.com -Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 to 1900)
lobo1@****.com "Nietzsche is dead"
http://members.gnn.com/lenoj/johns.htm -God (everlasting to everlasting)

"Only dead fish swim with the stream."
Message no. 16
From: The Jestyr <jestyr@*******.DIALIX.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 14:53:46 +1100
> Speaking of Phys Ad powers: does anybody actually LIKE the way that SRII splits
> the Increased Reaction/Inititive power from SRI, and also makes it a lot more
> expensive? Some people complain that it makes it harder for a Phys Ad to even
> approach the level of power of conventional chromed muscle.

It certainly does make it a lot more tempting to go the 'ware route (at
least bioware if not cyberware) - Synaptic Accelerator 1 = bugger all body
cost, put in some more toys to fill up the extra space, and there you've
got the 1 magic you would otherwise have spent on +1d6 initiative. The
discrepancy is exacerbated even further when you're looking at +2d6
initiative. I must say, roleplaying kudos to all those players of adepts
who've been able to resist the temptation of bioware...

Lady Jestyr

--------------------------------------------------
A titanic intellect... in a world full of icebergs
--------------------------------------------------
Elle Holmes jestyr@*******.dialix.oz.au
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1503
--------------------------------------------------
Message no. 17
From: The Jestyr <jestyr@*******.DIALIX.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 14:59:27 +1100
> Of course you can say that
> PhA's shouldn't try to play on the same field as sams, but then I think
> you are limiting the whole player type quite considerably. Your choise
> though. I wouldn't worry about abuse too much though. Munchins tend to
> want to get really powerful really fast, and while this allows PhA's to
> become one of the fastest moving things on the field, it is going to take
> a considerable time. For fast, easy power, it is easier to run a sam or
> even better, a cyberzombie. This is only my opinion though and I would
> like to hear some other views on the subject.

Weve had reasonable success in our group with a whole range of physads
who've specialised in what they do - we've had Xavier, an ex-Tir special
agent. GM's character, totally munchkinised, and a better sam than the
sam...

Hudson - Hamish/Jamie's current character. Burglar extraordinaire.
Ryozu - Elven kickboxer with pain resistance through the roof
Fang - Your archetypal ninja
Corporal Punishment - a phys mage I played. Ex-army bitch.

The scariest one though has to be Chainsaw, the troll phys ad. Troll
physical adepts should NOT be allowed. :)


Lady Jestyr

--------------------------------------------------
A titanic intellect... in a world full of icebergs
--------------------------------------------------
Elle Holmes jestyr@*******.dialix.oz.au
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1503
--------------------------------------------------
Message no. 18
From: Brian W Allison <ballison@*******.WAM.UMD.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 09:54:31 -0500
> Only the highest initiative boost applies (said Tom Dowd once). That means


Gads I hate it when someone says that. "Tom said, Tom said, Tom said",
like a mantra or something.

There are no gods, guys, and Dowd was a Corp Asset. A highly talented
one perhaps, but take that stuff with a grain of salt.

His quote came before Awakenings was even a concept, and when it came
out, at least one of his 'quotes' simply was not substantiated. Those
that were not substantiated are still a "GM's call" kind of thing.



Sorry for the rant.



Shadowtech, p 28 under the description of Synaptic Accelerator, it
states that it may not be combined with either Boosted or Wired.
I believe that in Cybertechnology it states that any of the cybernetic
speed enhancements may not be combined with each other, and that MBW may
only be combined with a Syn.Acc.(1)

But I could be mis-remembering, as I don't own Cybertechnology.


> Cybertechnology also indicates that you can combine a move-by-wire system
> with a level 1 synaptic accelerator, BTW.

Ah. Well good then. :) MBW - another stupid idea.

"Hey John, I can move faster than you if I induce timed seizures in my
body!"
"uh, cool Fred. When we retire, you gonna get that stuff taken out so
you can live normally?"
"Retire? Live normally???"

"Figures...."


Brian W. Allison

Computer Scientist Vocalist Would-be Poet Bicycler Scuba Diver
Hacker(0xca) Nerd(79) GenX(21) #include <witticism.h>
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~ballison

--- Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail is not welcome at this account ---
--- and will result in a US$500 fee per US Code Title 47 Sec 227. ---
Message no. 19
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 19:08:26 -0800
On Sat, 16 Nov 1996, Brian W Allison wrote:
> Shadowtech, p 28 under the description of Synaptic Accelerator, it
> states that it may not be combined with either Boosted or Wired.
> I believe that in Cybertechnology it states that any of the cybernetic
> speed enhancements may not be combined with each other, and that MBW may
> only be combined with a Syn.Acc.(1)
>
> But I could be mis-remembering, as I don't own Cybertechnology.

You're right, that's pretty much exactly what Cybertech. says.

(although I don't see why you NEED to combine MBW with ANYTHING, except to
go for complete munchkinization..)

~Tim
Message no. 20
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 11:47:20 +0100
Brian W Allison said on 9:54/16 Nov 96...

> > Only the highest initiative boost applies (said Tom Dowd once). That means
>
> Gads I hate it when someone says that. "Tom said, Tom said, Tom said",
> like a mantra or something.

Since that's something I wrote, I'll reply... I'm not chanting anything
of that kind, I just as easily ignore DLoH rulings as I do any other rule
in the book. HOWEVER, if I just say that "only the highest initiative
boost applies" without stating where that rule/guideline comes from, the
next message I read about it will be one of the "where did you find that
rule, then?" kind.

> His quote came before Awakenings was even a concept, and when it came
> out, at least one of his 'quotes' simply was not substantiated. Those
> that were not substantiated are still a "GM's call" kind of thing.

OTOH, if there are no rules printed in a book that you would expect to
solve the problem, why not fall back on the previous ruling that you know
of?

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
It's as plain as a Bulgarian stripper.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
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Message no. 21
From: Brian W Allison <ballison@*******.WAM.UMD.EDU>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 10:12:22 -0500
On Sun, 17 Nov 1996, Gurth wrote:
> Brian W Allison said on 9:54/16 Nov 96...
[snip]
> of that kind, I just as easily ignore DLoH rulings as I do any other rule
> in the book. HOWEVER, if I just say that "only the highest initiative
> boost applies" without stating where that rule/guideline comes from, the
> next message I read about it will be one of the "where did you find that
> rule, then?" kind.
>
> > His quote came before Awakenings was even a concept, and when it came
> > out, at least one of his 'quotes' simply was not substantiated. Those
> > that were not substantiated are still a "GM's call" kind of thing.
>
> OTOH, if there are no rules printed in a book that you would expect to
> solve the problem, why not fall back on the previous ruling that you know
> of?

Herein lies the true problem. Just because Dowd (when he was alive)
seemed to be the nexus regarding magic in SR (Hume was IMO), any
off-handed comments that he makes that *dont'* show up in future rulebooks
are still considered 'Rulings'.
A Ruling comes from Rules, guys.
And when FASA had a chance to put the rule in, they withheld.
What's that tell you?

The ruling was only opinion. Not a <angels sing, harps play> "Ruling
Fron On High" <cut music, singing>.

There are a few places where specific things are addressed - for
instance in ShadowTech and in Cybertech there are explicit rules
disallowing the stacking of certain bonuses.
When they exist, they are certainly more germaine than an offhanded
comment (even if on the same topic) made two or three years ago by
*anyone*.
And if there are *no* rules made in those same rulebooks, the very place
they should have shown up in, then there is *no* *official* position.
Either that, or all who assume it was an 'honest omission' believe FASA
perpetuates Blaring Obvious omissions from its sourcebooks.


And one more time, in case my ranting is overcoming my point:

Since FASA has had a chance to back up comments on magic and tech since
they were made, and since they haven't backed them up, then those comments
are *defunct*.

If you want to use them as a house rule, cool. But they are not a part
of the SR rules.


Jeez.... use your own judegment skills why don't you?

And, if your players ask "Where'd you get that rule?" and it's a house
rule (as any comment by Dowd that's not in a Sourcebook by now is) then
just tell them "it's a house rule from a comment by Tom Dowd before he
died", see how easy that is??




Brian W. Allison

Computer Scientist Vocalist Would-be Poet Bicycler Scuba Diver
Hacker(0xca) Nerd(79) GenX(21) #include <witticism.h>
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~ballison

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Message no. 22
From: Droopy <droopy@*******.NB.NET>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 00:54:25 +0000
Brian wrote:

> Herein lies the true problem. Just because Dowd (when he was alive)
> seemed to be the nexus regarding magic in SR (Hume was IMO), any

I must concur, Paul is the magic daddy as well as father of the
current matrix rules.

BTW, Mike? Do you guys still keep in touch with Paul? I haven't
seen him in ages.

> Either that, or all who assume it was an 'honest omission' believe FASA
> perpetuates Blaring Obvious omissions from its sourcebooks.

FASA make mistakes? Nope, couldn't be that. <G>

> And, if your players ask "Where'd you get that rule?" and it's a house
> rule (as any comment by Dowd that's not in a Sourcebook by now is) then
> just tell them "it's a house rule from a comment by Tom Dowd before he
> died", see how easy that is??

Tom died? When did this happen?


--Droopy
Message no. 23
From: "Mike Mulvihill (FASA)" <FASAMike@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Combination:PS powers and Cyberelexes?
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 1996 17:36:27 -0500
Brian W Allison said on Sun, Nov 17, 1996

>"it's a house rule from a comment by Tom Dowd before he died"

Clarification...Tom Dowd is alive. He just isn't working for FASA or on
Shadowrun any longer (while you may consider it a "death" of some sort). I
can attest to his living condidtion because he works in an office on the same
floor as I do and the fact he was in my office this morning talking about the
new Star Trek Movie.

Have Fun!
Play Games!

Mike Mulvihill
Shadowrun Line Developer
FASA
See our web page at www.fasa.com

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Thwap!