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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Chris Siebenmann <cks@********.UTCS.TORONTO.EDU>
Subject: Economics of Shadowrun (was Re: Ivy's Replies)
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1993 16:45:41 -0500
I suppose I have two fundamental problems with the 'FASA model' of
the typical person on the street:

We are told (over and over) that most of Seattle lives in rather
grinding poverty, or fairly close to it. Where is the money for this
sort of cyberware et al coming from? If it exists, why does everyone
seem to be so poor?

Maybe I don't know enough about economics -- anyone care to enlighten
me?

I'm not sure Earl's figures ignore corporate and covert people; they
drive themselves from overall population figures and guesses at how
much of the population will have various attributes. I see two potential
attacks on it: the overall population figure and the percentage breakdown,
but I'm not really convinced by either of them (for reasons above).

60% of the population with combat cyberware seems highly unstable to
me; it's hard to see how Seattle would work without barriers to divide
the haves from the have-nots in this case. The Shadowrun violence level
seems odd to me; people are ultra-violent in some spots (eg, go gangs),
but basically non-violent in others (most of the middle class).

- cks
Message no. 2
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Economics of Shadowrun (was Re: Ivy's Replies)
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1993 08:23:46 -0600
> I'm not sure Earl's figures ignore corporate and covert people; they
>drive themselves from overall population figures and guesses at how

I don't like that report either; the numbers are too neat and clean. BTW it
was printed in NAGEE some time ago.

The article's a good reason I try to model cyberpunk on real life: I figure
there is still something to a middle class, as well as a very rich extreme
and a very poor extreme.

> 60% of the population with combat cyberware seems highly unstable to
>me; it's hard to see how Seattle would work without barriers to divide

The don't define "combat cyber"; some people might qualify cyberarms as
such. And things like razors aren't too dificult to implant. Full-fledged
spurs and smartlinks, let alone cyberguns, I agree would be rare.


J Roberson
Message no. 3
From: The Reverend <mdb0213@******.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Economics of Shadowrun (was Re: Ivy's Replies)
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 21:54:51 -0600
]> I'm not sure Earl's figures ignore corporate and covert people; they
]>drive themselves from overall population figures and guesses at how
]
]I don't like that report either; the numbers are too neat and clean. BTW it
]was printed in NAGEE some time ago.

And I think we (ie listmembers, or those on rec.games.frp [back when it was
around, at any rate]) nailed this guy on almost every point he brought up in
the article. It's fun reading, I'll give you that; but it lacks any
substantiation and basis. Sorry, kids.

Rev
---
The Reverend "They called me the Reverend when I entered the church unstained"
Fear the Information Revolution...for it has reached the hands of the strange.
PGP 2.2 Public Key Block available upon request

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