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Message no. 1
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Developing the Line (Re: RA:S Deus' ultimate goal)
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 11:10:18 EDT
In a message dated 6/19/1999 7:34:53 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
barbie@********.de writes:

> That would include eliminating every great dragon, every IE, the history of
> the gameworld, undo several novels, plotlines and the rest of atmosphere SR
> had.
> What a nice goal.
> Why is he not writing a new game instead? Oh sorry thats what he is doing.
> Sadly its not my game anymore.


Ya know Barbie, you are a nice person on occasion and all, but there are
points where statements simply collapse one's perspective entirely. IF it's
not *your* game anymore as you say, then why on earth are we still hearing
from you? (have patience, I'm going to explain).

The game is being streamlined, altered, and yes, even drastically changed as
time goes on. BUT, and please listen (read?) this. It does NOT change the
game as you would play it. Anyone going into the games of IRC (what? You
mean you guys still don't know??? ;-) for an evening could tell you that a
game is what the gamers make it into.

Personally, I like the changes that are headed this way for the Shadowrun
Universe. They open up FAR more potential for things on both the magical and
mundane sides of the SR coin, than say "oh look, it's an adventure about this
dragon that has a plot to keep the Horrors coming and stealing all its'
gold." Come on, I like big bad nasties as much as the next player, but there
comes a time (for me, it was WAY back in AD&D and First Ed SR) when you just
gotta have more development in the overall gaming universe than that.

I know, I know, "Barbie" as a character, played or otherwise, is a nightmare
to behold for most GM's. I'm not most. She doesn't bother me at all ... I
just make sure to entertain characters' like that, and make adjustments for
everyone elses' benefit. That is what ALL GM's do anyway, so it really isn't
any big deal what power level the characters of a group are.

What, you don't like not being in the spotlight for 5 action sets before
everyone else? You mean that to you having a superfast, supergodlike,
character means that your enjoyment comes before everyone elses? Too bad,
SOOOO sad. I want to play with a group. I do NOT want to carry the whole
load of the games' action. I want to interact with others in a way that does
NOT threaten them into submission because they aren't sure if it's my current
characters' "Time of the Month (Hour?)" or not.

(Example Time) Is Padre' (formerly Binder) more powerful than everyone else
in the game? Strictly speaking, NO, he is not. And to be honest, the way I
play him, he does NOT want to be. Sure, I have more experience than most of
the players here, and that gives me more confidence to play. But it also
lets me know that I'm not here to "do it all" anymore.

SR3 is a game for the *GROUP* of players, NOT for the *INDIVIDUAL* player.
Sure, it has highlights for everyones' character type of preference, but it
is designed with the attitude in mind that the game is for several people to
play...not for one person to play and several others to sit back and watch
(GOD I HATE THAT MENTALITY IN A PLAYER!!!).

-K (who is getting off his rant box now)
Message no. 2
From: Bob Tockley arkham@*******.com.au
Subject: Developing the Line (Re: RA:S Deus' ultimate goal)
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 02:40:27 +1000
>What, you don't like not being in the spotlight for 5 action sets before
>everyone else? You mean that to you having a superfast, supergodlike,
>character means that your enjoyment comes before everyone elses? Too bad,
>SOOOO sad. I want to play with a group. I do NOT want to carry the whole
>load of the games' action. I want to interact with others in a way that
does
>NOT threaten them into submission because they aren't sure if it's my
current
>characters' "Time of the Month (Hour?)" or not.

Erm... You're obviously not playing with the SR3 initiative system then.
it's got the same old "I have five actions while you guys sit around doing
nothing" problem as did SR1/SR2. The only difference it makes is for lower
initiative characters at the beginning of the combat -- NOT at the
beginning of the Combat Turn.

The way the initiative system works now, everyone does their stuff at the
beginning of the combat turn (including the now hideously over-powered
magical characters with their arse-kicking Combat Spells... No, I'm not
going there...) and then sits around waiting for those 'super-samurai' to
finish resolving their actions.

All SR3 has succeeded in doing is reduced the need for cybered initiative
boosts and swapped the waiting period for those low-initiative characters
from the beginning, to the end of the Combat Turn. This becomes especially
apparent if your combat lasts more than one Combat Turn (which given Barb's
stats, I'm surprised it ever does...)

(>) ARKHAM
"T'sze na; tji m'chiir-na. K'raet-me cha'i'm tji."

Further Reading

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Thwap!