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From:	Eve Forward <lutra@******.COM>
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Thu, 6 Apr 1995 05:30:35 -0700

Message no. 1 From what I've seen, the Critters section might want a bit of "pumping".
Having been on the wrong end of, or seen people who have been on the
wrong end of, some of those real animals, I think a few of those
damage codes are a bit low. There's some pretty impressive stuff out
there; your average hawk exterts a force of 350 pounds of pressure per
talon when he bears down on you, for example... and I've seen a dog
attack that left the victim's arm looking like one of those rotating
meat haunches they have at the taco stands in Tiajuana.
Anyone interested in various animal stuff, pertaining to
Shadowrun or whatever, can mail me.

-E

From:	Philip Hayward <Philip.Hayward@***.UK>
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Fri, 7 Apr 1995 09:27:11 +6000

Message no. 2 > There's a lot of shapeshifter-like legends that don't always fit into
> the standard werewolf-style rules of lycanthropy; selkies (seal shape-
> shifters in Scottish and Irish legend, for example) don't have an
> infectious bite, for example.

True, but then myth only goes so far.

> I've long thought about doing some research and compiling a
> list of various different shapeshifters, based on actual legends, with
> references as to sources and what they supposable can and can't do.
> Would anyone else be interested in this?

Sure, I'm interested, and I agree - legends make the best sources for
this sort of thing. I believe the current NERPS is all critters
as well as just Dragons.

> From what I've seen, the Critters section might want a bit of "pumping".
> Having been on the wrong end of, or seen people who have been on the
> wrong end of, some of those real animals, I think a few of those
> damage codes are a bit low. There's some pretty impressive stuff out
> there; your average hawk exterts a force of 350 pounds of pressure per
> talon when he bears down on you, for example... and I've seen a dog

Thats for sure. My brother is keen on falconry and I've seen his Buzzard
put her talons through a (thick) leather glove and put a hole through
someones hand. We were changing her jessies (Leather cord on her legs.)
it took two people to hold her down while the third hand his hand pierced.
They are really strong for their size, and that was without the momentum
they have when hunting prey.

> attack that left the victim's arm looking like one of those rotating
> meat haunches they have at the taco stands in Tiajuana.
> Anyone interested in various animal stuff, pertaining to
> Shadowrun or whatever, can mail me.

Well I don't get to read headers so I can't take this privately as I
haven't got your address, but count me as interested

Phil
<Philip.Hayward@***.UK>

From:	Even_TÃ�mte etomte@******.no
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Wed, 30 Jun 1999 16:18:14 +0200

Message no. 3 What critters are detailed in the the SRIII GM's screen?
The same as in the SRII book, or more?

->Even.

From:	00DNA mcmanus@******.albany.edu
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Wed, 30 Jun 1999 11:25:21 -0400

Message no. 4 At 04:18 PM 6/30/99 +0200, you wrote:
>What critters are detailed in the the SRIII GM's screen?
>The same as in the SRII book, or more?

The took some critters out that the folks at FASA thought were a wee bit
rediculous...wasn't there some flying squirrel or something that would drop
rocks on people's head?? And then basically it's a compilation of all the
animals from other sourcebooks. For example, Target Smuggler's Haven has
some critters from New Orleans and from Vladistock. I don't know if there
are any new critters that were not in any book before. It also lists all
of the powers and such in the front along with the rules for making mutant
(from California Free State sourcebook) and para critters.

--00DNA
"...user connection terminated."

From:	Schizi@*.com Schizi@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Wed, 30 Jun 1999 11:47:00 EDT

Message no. 5 In a message dated 6/30/99 10:40:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
etomte@******.no writes:

> What critters are detailed in the the SRIII GM's screen?
> The same as in the SRII book, or more?
>
there is a list on the FASA-site
http://www.fasa.com/Preview/10451/preview10451.html

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Mon, 11 Oct 1999 12:18:55 EDT

Message no. 6 In a message dated 10/11/1999 9:31:05 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
grim_shear@*******.com writes:

> Why let the player take them (the critter/pet) on runs?

For the most part, I actually do agree here. In the vast majority of cases,
no critter is going to handle a "run" very well. However, given various
environments and gaming situations, they become perfect.

Case in point. Party members are trying to track down something of a
particularly nasty effect. They wind up following said target into a VERY
bad situation. Kray (Padre's barghest, and father of the breedline that
Billie has come from) is with the group and they are wandering around within
the Chicago CZ. Kray was of immense help in the tracking, working in
conjunction with the Adept's own sense of "enhanced smell". In fact, it
proved to be yet another one of the "Purely Fun Moments(TM)" in the game by
the time it was all over.

> Sure you could train a hellhound or such to attack intruders in your
home,
> but could you actually train it well enough so that you could take it on a
> nice walk in Bellevue?

In all honesty, YES! Especially if the situation can develop it.
Experienced trainers do this for Hunting and Tracking animals all the time.
Police and Seeing Eye dogs are incredibly well trained and very dynamic in
their thinking processes (I'm not going into the details behind the training
of a certain sibengal tiger named Hercules I once knew either).

Also, this may seem strange, and I do agree that Paranormal Animals are
probably very hard to deal with on the long run, but in an age with Magic,
the options open farther along for those that have the resources.
Specialized Detection and Mental Manipulation spells can augment the training
process and create what IMO, would be staggering effects in the hands of or
in conjunction with, a skilled handler. I'm more than certain that Lone Star
and Knight Errant both have such in their arenas ... especially given the
former's penchant for keeping its' magical assets safe and yet usable.
Personally, I think a guy with some form of Empathic Augmentation or
Animallink spell would be stunning in conjunction with a trained Police
Hellhound or Barghest. It could really change the effects of "criminal
apprehension".

Handler says "freeze", to the goon ... Barghest says "FREEZE" to the
goon
with its' eyes... (Fear LOS or Paralyzing Howl...and the Handler has a Select
Sound Filter with Selected Audionic Dampening) ... yes, more money, but
damn-well more worth it.

> IMHO You could keep it as a _pet_. Like a nice little kitty who'll bite
you
> head off if it doesn't like you being in _its house_.

This entirely depends upon the definition of "House", now doesn't it... ;-P

-K
[Hoosier Hacker House]
[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/intro.htm]
ICQ#-51511837

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Mon, 11 Oct 1999 12:24:53 EDT

Message no. 7 In a message dated 10/11/1999 11:06:29 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
strago@***.com writes:

>
> That sounds like a very good idea, K. But are you saying
Body+Essence/2,
> or
> Body+Essence? That'd make a HUGE difference in the cost. But if you are
> talking
> about having an attack barghest, that'd also be a large advantage in a
> combat,
> similar to the PCs having an LMG, IMO.

Sorry for the confusion, I was saying "Body + Essence" (Average of the Two).
However, the idea of just straight up adding would be pretty nasty, and MIGHT
make more sense, depending on the situation.

And you want to get hilarious, try applying all those "Improve Attribute"
spells onto a Critter and seeing what kind of "tank" you can come up!!! My
favorite has always been "Improved Intelligence" and "Improved
Reflexes" upon
the Barghests when and where possible (Kray had such, Billie only has the
Reflexes). Took some time and some heavy thinking, but has paid out in the
long run. The couple of times Billie took damage was also some of the few
times Donny (the decker who owns Billie) has ever come close to freaking out
as well..."Boy and His Dog" syndrome).

Hell, there are times when I simply am so amazed people have realized just
HOW nasty an "Animal Rights Activist" group can be if they get involved with
the animals they are trying to save. One or two good magicians and a couple
of Birdman critters can go a LONG way towards finding an annoyance scale
against the party. And hell, the group has *never* been to certain parts of
India where "elephants" are more than revered, they are spellcasters at times
themselves (like the Meistersingers from the Paranormals books), and work
stuff like "Increased Reflexes" upon themselves...!!!!

-K
[Hoosier Hacker House]
[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/intro.htm]
ICQ#-51511837

From:	Grim Shear grim_shear@*******.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:59:16 CDT

Message no. 8 >This entirely depends upon the definition of "House", now doesn't it...
>;-P

Actually by house I meant what the animal considers "home". My cat hisses
and spits at anyone it doesn't know who comes onto the property. I was
thinking something along that line.
And yes they would be trainable, but personally, I think it should be
something of a pain to do. Maybe an empathic linkage (I doubt such a spell
exists, but its something you could make up).

Grim Shear
"Dammit man, I thought I told you to throw the _Grenade_
not the pin." Spoken soon after telling a _really_ stupid
(and well roleplayed Troll), to pull the pin and throw it.

______________________________________________________
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From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Mon, 11 Oct 1999 22:47:19 EDT

Message no. 9 In a message dated 10/11/1999 7:00:41 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
grim_shear@*******.com writes:

> Actually by house I meant what the animal considers "home". My cat hisses

> and spits at anyone it doesn't know who comes onto the property. I was
> thinking something along that line.
> And yes they would be trainable, but personally, I think it should be
> something of a pain to do. Maybe an empathic linkage (I doubt such a spell
> exists, but its something you could make up).

Actually, the rule ideas for "Handling" of Critters I have thrown up to HHH
now after the original portion of this conversation. Associated spell ideas
are also up there as well, all of which can be found under the "Paranormal's
Guide" link on the front page.

-K
[Hoosier Hacker House]
[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/intro.htm]
ICQ#-51511837

From:	Jett zmjett@*********.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Tue, 12 Oct 1999 08:02:19 -0400

Message no. 10 Ereskanti@***.com wrote:

> In a message dated 10/11/1999 11:06:29 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
> strago@***.com writes:
>
> >
> > That sounds like a very good idea, K. But are you saying
> Body+Essence/2,
> > or
> > Body+Essence? That'd make a HUGE difference in the cost. But if you are
> > talking
> > about having an attack barghest, that'd also be a large advantage in a
> > combat,
> > similar to the PCs having an LMG, IMO.
>
>
> And you want to get hilarious, try applying all those "Improve Attribute"
> spells onto a Critter and seeing what kind of "tank" you can come up!!! My
> favorite has always been "Improved Intelligence" and "Improved
Reflexes" upon
> the Barghests when and where possible (Kray had such, Billie only has the
> Reflexes). Took some time and some heavy thinking, but has paid out in the
> long run. The couple of times Billie took damage was also some of the few
> times Donny (the decker who owns Billie) has ever come close to freaking out
> as well..."Boy and His Dog" syndrome).

You know, this is all really interesting. My rigger/mage Scratch has two dogs.
One of them is a hellhound that she found injured as a puppy and nursed back to
health. And she would never dream of using Blitz as cannon fodder. She's too damn
attached to the dog, despite the fact that it's probably a better fighter than
she is. She pampers him, spoiling him and her rottweiler Bauser absolutely
rotten. Blitz is also completely useless in a fight, normally, anyway, unless
licking the bad guys to death is an effective measure...
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree with K...it's got a LOT of
potential for RP without it being unbalancing...but I guess it all depends on the
player. I was never interested in the pet hellhound for any reason but I thought
it would be funny to have a nasty-mean-badass paranimal as a lap-dog...plus,
Scratch is a bleeding heart for anything with puppy-eyes...

Also remember when considering the balance is that barghests and hellhounds don't
have any sort of armor. Sure, the inventive runner who insists on taking his
doggy on a shadowrun could come up with an armored doggie coat...but generally,
the heavy pistol round that the street sam shrugs off thanks to his armored
jacket does his pet in easily. This is spoken by a GM who, as a novice, tossed a
Fenrir wolf at her players and watched them kill it in the first combat round
with one shot from an Ares Pred...

Hmm. That does bring to mind another question, actually, for when things DO get
bad...do normal Treat and Heal spells work on animals and paranimals, provided
the shaman or mage doing the healing can coerce the animal in question to hold
still for it? (Yes, harder than it seems...considering wounded animals often lash
out, even to familiar people when dazed with pain and half-panicked. And holding
down a 150-lb dog, even when you weight twice that, while trying to concentrate
on sustaining a spell is damn tricky, IMO...)

--Jett, paranimal-handler extraordinaire....
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

The new improved Shadowrun page: Shadow's Edge.
http://www.scifi-fantasy.com/~zmjett/shadow/

Jett's Elfwood page
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/zone47/artists/jesgrota/jesgrota.html

"This is the worst place in the world. You shouldn't have come here. You'll die
here."
"Stay in the best place in the world, darling, and you'll die there, too."
-Lord Fanny, to Quimper, The Invisibles

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:39:58 EDT

Message no. 11 In a message dated 10/12/1999 7:00:59 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
zmjett@*********.com writes:

> This is spoken by a GM who, as a novice, tossed a
> Fenrir wolf at her players and watched them kill it in the first combat
> round
> with one shot from an Ares Pred...

Oh and that just *PISSES* me off to no end also. I try and make sure to get
a "Mutant Fenrir" involved that has the Paralyzing Howl or Gaze/Stare type
power involved so as to get things down to par a bit first. Not always, but
whenever possible. I also like the Fear and related abilities. And then of
course, there is something FAR nastier we've done to animals like the Fenrir
Wolf and the Piasma (any bear for that matter).

We've given them a "Will to Live" type of ability, a sort of "Beyond
Death"
battle-rage, that often freaks out the players to no end and makes them draw
BIG guns in a BIG hurry.

> Hmm. That does bring to mind another question, actually, for when things
DO
> get
> bad...do normal Treat and Heal spells work on animals and paranimals,
> provided
> the shaman or mage doing the healing can coerce the animal in question to
> hold
> still for it? (Yes, harder than it seems...considering wounded animals
often
> lash
> out, even to familiar people when dazed with pain and half-panicked. And
> holding
> down a 150-lb dog, even when you weight twice that, while trying to
> concentrate
> on sustaining a spell is damn tricky, IMO...)

IMO, All the Health magics work normally on animals. They are not
"restricted target" spells in most cases, which in regards to SR Magic means
(normally) by racial restriction.

As for handling the animal while its' wounded, as I think I said before, the
beginning rules for Handling I put up on HHH, but dealing with an animal in
the midst of combat I left out. That's because of a conflict in agreement I
have with the rules of SR(any version) with regards to animals and
"Willpower". SR uses Willpower to resist crap like that, and then promptly
shafts the critter in question with piss-poor willpower attributes most, if
not all, of the time.

I do agree, wounded animals do tend to lash out. Personally, I'd make it a
Perception test modified by the wound modifiers (or perhaps twice those if
the breed qualifies for such) to "notice" its' the "Master" or
"Friend"
trying to be helpful to it. If the test is successful, then the animal
allows itself to be approached accordingly, if just a bit overcautiously
(ever watched your wounded pet dog react to you when you touched the wounded
area??? You get the idea).

I also agree with something else Jett mentioned earlier on in the post (a
part I snipped for this one). Keeping the balance is, like so many other
things, a matter of recognizing the Role Playing value, and not succumbing to
the Roll Playing mechanics. Critters can be powerful (a barghest in downtown
Seattle howling once in fear or on command can be a *REAL* treat to witness)
addition to any game. Sure, if they are treated as "dumb animals", then
things are just kind of ho-hum, oh look its' *another* Fenrir....get the
drone to kill it would you? I can't be bothered with it.... remember,
animals are placed strategically by their Handlers. The "HANDLERS" had
better not be stupid, and most often are not. Placement allows for a Critter
to have Impact value.

You want strange? Try this for a twist. The book was kind of "so-so", but
the "Forever Drug" mentioned something that just irked me sideways ...
(*spoiler spaces here*)....

that's enough for this...

Romulus is a shapeshifter that is working as an outside contractor for Lone
Star in their Paranormal's Division. Half the time, the character keeps
making comments about "having worked in the K-9 division". I thought
originally, that'd be cool, use a shaper to communicate with the animals
you're training..., then it hit me. He was referring to *being* the -K9- in
question. Since they are treated as "animals", that concept of "employing
paranormals" suddenly really just stunned me. Lone Star could list them as
"work animals of a controllable paranormal nature" and go about their merry
way. *DAMN* said I.

Anyway, back on track now ... IF the GM is just afraid of critters as pets
getting out of control, then by all means don't use them. However, if you
want to get involved in some really cool stuff, that's entirely different.
Just use the suggestion I made on the Handling page of HHH ... 'no Behemoths
and lord forbid, no Juggernauts!!!!' Personally, I'm curious about elephants
now.....

> --Jett, paranimal-handler extraordinaire....

Yeah, we'll see how "extraordinaire" you are there young lady........ ;-P

-K
[Hoosier Hacker House]
[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/intro.htm]
ICQ#-51511837

From:	Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Tue, 12 Oct 1999 19:54:11 +0200

Message no. 12 According to Ereskanti@***.com, at 12:39 on 12 Oct 99, the word on
the street was...

> > This is spoken by a GM who, as a novice, tossed a
> > Fenrir wolf at her players and watched them kill it in the first combat
> > round
> > with one shot from an Ares Pred...
>
> Oh and that just *PISSES* me off to no end also. I try and make sure to get
> a "Mutant Fenrir" involved that has the Paralyzing Howl or Gaze/Stare type
> power involved so as to get things down to par a bit first. Not always, but
> whenever possible.

The thing to do with critters, if you want to make them serious opponents
and not something to waste one or two bullets on, is to make sure they
surprise (some of) the PCs. Else, you get situations like that mentioned
above -- PCs spot critter, everybody rolls initiative, street sam draws a
gun and shoots the critter dead. With surprise working for the critter, it
will be able to use some of its powers to alter the situation in its
advantage, preventing the players from killing it instantly.

Alternatively, take away the PCs' guns and force them to take on the
critter bare-handed. We once had a lot of fun hunting critters in one of
the HB chapters armed with nothing but spears, bows, and swords. Since
those weapons didn't work very well to kill an animal with one blow, one
character eventually just grabbed a fleeing animal by the throat and
strangled it :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
I would have it all if I'd only have this much
-> NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
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Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998

From:	dbuehrer@**.org dbuehrer@**.org
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Tue, 12 Oct 1999 14:25:51 -0600

Message no. 13 Gurth wrote:
\ According to Ereskanti@***.com, at 12:39 on 12 Oct 99, the word on
\ the street was...
\
\ > > This is spoken by a GM who, as a novice, tossed a
\ > > Fenrir wolf at her players and watched them kill it in the first combat
\ > > round
\ > > with one shot from an Ares Pred...
\ >
\ > Oh and that just *PISSES* me off to no end also. I try and make sure
to get
\ > a "Mutant Fenrir" involved that has the Paralyzing Howl or Gaze/Stare
type
\ > power involved so as to get things down to par a bit first. Not
always, but
\ > whenever possible.
\
\ The thing to do with critters, if you want to make them serious opponents
\ and not something to waste one or two bullets on, is to make sure they
\ surprise (some of) the PCs. Else, you get situations like that mentioned
\ above -- PCs spot critter, everybody rolls initiative, street sam draws a
\ gun and shoots the critter dead. With surprise working for the critter, it
\ will be able to use some of its powers to alter the situation in its
\ advantage, preventing the players from killing it instantly.

Or, don't use the critters directly against the PCs, or swarm the PCs with
them.

The PCs are trecking through the jungle when their guide is attacked and
killed by the awakened panther (the party is suprised). On the following
round the PCs take out the panther in short order, but now their in the
middle of the jungle with no idea of how to get where they're going.

The PCs have set up an ambush in the park and are patiently waiting for
their target to enter the kill zone when a rat nibbles on the Sam's left
buttock, causing him to cry out in pain and spoil a perfect plan. After
surviving the encounter the Sam notices that his ass is starting to swell
from an infection and he has to find a street doc quickly.

The awakened raven decides he wants the PC's shiny nose ring.

The *pack* (friends/enemies in melee) of fenris wolfs attack the PCs from
behind trees (partial cover) at night (vision modifiers).

-Graht
--
"Apparently I'm insane. But I'm one of the happy kinds!"
-Wally

From:	Jett zmjett@*********.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Tue, 12 Oct 1999 23:59:16 -0400

Message no. 14 dbuehrer@****.org wrote:

> The awakened raven decides he wants the PC's shiny nose ring.

This had me rolling on the floor laughing for some odd reason. I have an eyebrow
ring, and once while in a pet store had a parrot jump onto my shoulder and grab
hold of that nice, shiny steel ring. It took three pet store employees to convince
him to let go of it. A raven the size of a buzzard trying to make off with your
body adornment? Eeek.
I have this image now of a flock of stormcrows trying to carry off an
obviously-chromed samurai...

Oh, and K? Come over sometime and I'll show you my whip and chair if you don't
believe me. ;)

--Jett
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

The new improved Shadowrun page: Shadow's Edge.
http://www.scifi-fantasy.com/~zmjett/shadow/

Jett's Elfwood page
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/zone47/artists/jesgrota/jesgrota.html

"This is the worst place in the world. You shouldn't have come here. You'll die
here."
"Stay in the best place in the world, darling, and you'll die there, too."
-Lord Fanny, to Quimper, The Invisibles

From:	Grim Shear grim_shear@*******.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Wed, 13 Oct 1999 09:11:32 CDT

Message no. 15 >I have this image now of a flock of stormcrows trying to carry off an
>obviously-chromed samurai...

Magpies would be more likely. They love shiny things. There's five or
six around here, so no one leaves watches, jewlery, or change lying around.
Its the funniest thing to see the next door neighbor chasing a bird
down the road screaming "Give me back my watch you stupid f'ing bird!"
especially since the guy is a pain in the butt.

Grim Shear
"Dammit man, I thought I told you to throw the _Grenade_
not the pin." Spoken soon after telling a _really_ stupid
(and well roleplayed Troll), to pull the pin and throw it.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Wed, 13 Oct 1999 13:27:13 EDT

Message no. 16 In a message dated 10/12/1999 3:26:42 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
dbuehrer@****.org writes:

>
> The awakened raven decides he wants the PC's shiny nose ring.
>
> The *pack* (friends/enemies in melee) of fenris wolfs attack the PCs from
> behind trees (partial cover) at night (vision modifiers).

No actually, I think my favorite here still remains the most recent *epic* to
unleash itself. Flock of Stormcrows are hunkered down in a sheltered area,
where the shamans' who are using magic to communicate/control 'em are
performing a ritual. In come wandering group of heroes to stop the ritual.
With no small amount of effort, the group *really* decides it wants to leave
that "flock of dual natured, tempermental, birds" alone. Kill the group, but
in the midst of things, someone shoots *one* bird. Due to the "flock
mentality", the nearest birds (roll randomly on "x" number of D6 to
determine
the number in total involved here, GM fiendishness encouraged), and the net
thing the party is aware of is the largest thunderbolt from *GOD* coming
crashing down on top of their location, incinerating damn near everything.

Talk about Karma flowing like a rampaging river by the PC's to get out of the
way...

And, just to make matters worse, that's when the Barghest howled once
(Billie, who'd been standing on the sidelines after helping the Merc
(Fortune--Greg for everyone who met the guy at Gencon) get past the couple of
Fenrir "guard dogs" outside the chamber but was too wounded to do anything
else physically).

Yep, one really big amount of mayhem, and one character died, 6 were sent
through a months' intensive care....

-K

From:	Ereskanti@*.com Ereskanti@*.com
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Wed, 13 Oct 1999 13:50:00 EDT

Message no. 17 In a message dated 10/12/1999 10:57:58 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
zmjett@*********.com writes:

> I have this image now of a flock of stormcrows trying to carry off an
> obviously-chromed samurai...

Now *that* is an image. Hey, here's a twisted game. Runner's are hired to
retrieve Maria Mercurial, who was doing a show down in Amazonia (Stop the
Rainforest instead of Save it). She's swiped on stage by a bunch of awakened
parrots, who carry her away.

Agents fear it is some kind of statement by a bunch of toxic shamans.

Truth?

She's been hijacked by the birds because of all that glittering chrome as
adornments to their nesting territories. Hell, knowing her, she'd come out
of it with a whole slew of new song ideas....

> Oh, and K? Come over sometime and I'll show you my whip and chair if you
don'
> t
> believe me. ;)

I'll send Peter the Cat Jett ... he's aquiring a continental reputation and
is *more* than capable of dealing it out with the best of them. Hell, he'd
have you on the ground using your own whip before it all over, I'm sure.

-K (no, I'm NOT kidding)

From:	Raije murk@****.org.au
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Thu, 14 Oct 1999 18:52:10 +1000

Message no. 18 > Also remember when considering the balance is that barghests and
hellhounds don't
> have any sort of armor. Sure, the inventive runner who insists on taking
his
> doggy on a shadowrun could come up with an armored doggie coat...but
generally,
> the heavy pistol round that the street sam shrugs off thanks to his
armored
> jacket does his pet in easily. This is spoken by a GM who, as a novice,
tossed a
> Fenrir wolf at her players and watched them kill it in the first combat
round
> with one shot from an Ares Pred...

I know how you feel there, I did a run where most of the (real) day was
spent building up to a massive showdown with the Prime Villian, I had the
runners wetting themselves, especially when they turned up and he was about
to decapitate their Johnson. Well wasn't I a little miffed when the mage
geeked him with a simple Deadly Manabolt...the Villian hadn't even had a
chance to geek anyone yet! It was the second turn in the combat round (the
villian had gone first but had hit them with a serious manaball...I don't
like killing PCs)

_____________________sabrepunk@**********.net_
Raije
sabrepunk@**********.net
UIN-2799894
~Simple Guide to Cyberpunk~
http://gateway.to/cyberpunk/
"Shit Happens, So Carry Toilet Paper"

From:	Raije murk@****.org.au
Subject:	Critters
Date:	Thu, 14 Oct 1999 19:40:43 +1000

Message no. 19 > >I have this image now of a flock of stormcrows trying to carry off an
> >obviously-chromed samurai...
>
> Magpies would be more likely. They love shiny things. There's five or
> six around here, so no one leaves watches, jewlery, or change lying
around.
> Its the funniest thing to see the next door neighbor chasing a bird
> down the road screaming "Give me back my watch you stupid f'ing bird!"
> especially since the guy is a pain in the butt.
>

Ah yes, I was going to craete a magpie totem at one stage, then decided that
I couldn't be bothered. I think I was put off because it was swooping
season...a time when public transport in Australia becomes strangely moe
popular...

_____________________sabrepunk@**********.net_
Raije
sabrepunk@**********.net
UIN-2799894
~Simple Guide to Cyberpunk~
http://gateway.to/cyberpunk/
"Shit Happens, So Carry Toilet Paper"

From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Matthew Foley)
Subject:	critters
Date:	Fri Mar 16 16:40:01 2001

Message no. 20 I suggest Wil-O-Wisps.. Large numbers of awakened
creatures have a tendency to draw these out of the
woodwork..

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From:	shadowrn@*********.com (David Buehrer)
Subject:	critters
Date:	Fri Mar 16 16:55:01 2001

Message no. 21 At 01:40 PM 3/16/01 -0800, Matthew Foley wrote:
>I suggest Wil-O-Wisps.. Large numbers of awakened
>creatures have a tendency to draw these out of the
>woodwork..

why?

To Life,
-David Buehrer, aka Graht
ShadowRN Gridsec, Nice Guy Division
--
"Be kind; for everyone is having a hard battle."
-Plato

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