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Message no. 1
From: Vincent Pellerin <Vincent.Pellerin@***.GMC.ULAVAL.CA>
Subject: my questions
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 17:05:38 -0500
--=====================_796280738==_
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Jani Fikouras, you suggested me to send my question to
FASATom@***.com , FASALou@***.com, FASAPaul@***.com. my question is : can
they give me the "official answer", the aol in the adress make me think of
the group who make the KAGE magazine
(am i right on this ?). Since you seem eager to see these questions i will
attach parts of the document (about 2-3 questions plus the original text i
send) to this, i'm sorry for the crappy lines that will appears (a saw them
on the first posting i send here), but i am computer inept, and the only way
a found to send the text is to "attach document" (i'm using Eudora). A
strange thought just crossed my mind, i did send them the text with "attach
document" and some of my friend have problem getting what i send them with
this command maybe they never saw the text attached to the e-mail ?

Damion Milliken, you asked when i did send these questions : Around
the third march . And same thing about the AOL (is this aol or AOL in the
adress ?), is this the "official source?". Since you've been collecting
fuzzy bits about SR, some of mine are bound to be the same, if the answer
ever come i could send them to you (or to everybody ?).

Calvinoi "Mindflyer", thank's for the idea to send them to FL, i
just did.


So, here are the first pages of the text i send FASA, let's have your 0.2
'yen about them.....

Vince (still can't attach a signature on is e-mail) :-)

--=====================_796280738==_
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Q1.DOS"

Hello, my name is Vincent Pellerin and i have been happily
playing Shadowrun for about 3 years. During most of this time a
lot of questions have lead to endless argumetations between game
masters and players. So, i'm sending you a little compilation of
some of the questions that have arisen during this time. I have
written some of the possible answers below the questions to save
you time. Just delete the innapropriate, and complete or comment
the others. What i would like are the official answers, if you
can't provide them or send them to someone who can, i would be glad
if you could give me the adress (E-mail) of someone who can. I am
not sending this to bug you or to make you loose your time, but,
this is something i wanted to do for a long time (now i got the
time and an Internet access). I am very grateful in advance for
any help you can provide me, and this, so i can continue to enjoy
one of the best games i have ever played.

Vincent.Pellerin@***.gmc.ulaval.ca
Shadowrun player & game master

P.S. English is not my native tongue, i am sorry for any spelling
or grammatical mistakes.

*************************Questions List***************************

This is my list of questions for you to answer, please erase the
answers not appropriate or write them after the questions. An
asterisk "*" mean i think this is the best answer.

Shadowrun II Rule Book

SRII.45&72 Creating a character

During the creation of the character, the skills etiquette
automaticly require concentration. Do we still get the +1 for
concentration ?

Yes
*No (This seems to be the case with all the archetypes)

SRII.72 Vehicle skills

What is the difference between the two-wheeler and Racing
concentration of the bike skill (a little clarification would be
good for the car too).

A)Racing is a condition not regulary encountered on the street
(special types of bikes and roads).
B)Racing is used in pursuit with some of the vehicles
encountered in the game (specify).

SRII.104 Rigger/Vehicle initiative

How is calculated the initiative of a rigger who is
disconnecting in the middle of a turn?

A)He is disoriented and cannot act until next turn.
*B)If his non-rigged initiative would permit him to act normaly
at is next action, he follow standard initiative procedure.

SRII.104

Is a rigger immerse in Virtual reality while rigging, can he
dodge, talk and take actions ? Can he act with is body while
rigged with a rigger deck ?

A)He is in virtual reality only if presently directly
controlling, if he is just giving order to his drones or not
using his rigging pool in any ways, he can act and defend
himself. (In that case he would just have to plug himself
on is remote control deck and would act as if he had wired
reflex ?)
B)Virtual reality only demand a datajack, that's why a V.C.R.
cost so much. He is concious at all times and act
accordingly.
C)He is always in a virtual environnement when jacked in, and
he cannot act, just like a decker.

What is the use of an autopilot on a motorcycle ?

A)It can drive it by itself (I seriously doubt that it can
maintain the motorcycle balance).
B)Help an untrained driver to control it (with the autopilot
rating and skill).
C)Just anti-collision system and map access (in this case, why
the +1 Modifier on handling for the servos and other
controlling equipement ?)

*****That's it for now, ill send the rest later *****
--=====================_796280738==_--
Message no. 2
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 17:50:11 -0500
On Sun, 26 Mar 1995, Vincent Pellerin wrote:

> Jani Fikouras, you suggested me to send my question to
> FASATom@***.com , FASALou@***.com, FASAPaul@***.com. my question is : can
> they give me the "official answer"

As listed in the ShadowRN FAQ, FASATom and FASALou are both from
FASA, and it don't get no more official than that. The "aol" stands for
America OnLine, an overpriced online service which offers extremely
limited access to the Internet.

> So, here are the first pages of the text i send FASA, let's have your 0.2
> 'yen about them.....

They didn't show up. If you need help on attaching files, etc.,
with your specific mailer or configuration, you might want to contact
your system administrator.

-------------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@****.com> =========-------------
| "Information's pretty thin stuff unless mixed with experience." |
| -Clarence Day |
--------========== http://www.cais.com/jdfalk/home.html ==========--------
Message no. 3
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 11:39:20 +0200
>a found to send the text is to "attach document" (i'm using Eudora). A
>strange thought just crossed my mind, i did send them the text with "attach
>document" and some of my friend have problem getting what i send them with
>this command maybe they never saw the text attached to the e-mail ?

You use Eudora and actually manage to attach a document that comes through
to the person you're sending it to? Maybe I'm doing something wrong, then...
I use PC Eudora, and every time I've tried attaching a file it came through
all wrong :(

> Damion Milliken, you asked when i did send these questions : Around
>the third march . And same thing about the AOL (is this aol or AOL in the
>adress ?), is this the "official source?". Since you've been collecting
>fuzzy bits about SR, some of mine are bound to be the same, if the answer
>ever come i could send them to you (or to everybody ?).

Just send the answers to the entire mailing list -- they're SR-related, right?

> Vince (still can't attach a signature on is e-mail) :-)

Using Eudora? Try selecting "Signature" in the "Window" menu.

[the questions]
> During the creation of the character, the skills etiquette
>automaticly require concentration. Do we still get the +1 for
>concentration ?
>
> Yes
> *No (This seems to be the case with all the archetypes)

Same problem here -- I always ruled "no" but it seems like most other people
say "yes."

> What is the difference between the two-wheeler and Racing
>concentration of the bike skill (a little clarification would be
>good for the car too).
>
> A)Racing is a condition not regulary encountered on the street
> (special types of bikes and roads).

I'd say A. Racing bikes are, IMHO, more powerful and less easy to control
than street-legal bikes.

> How is calculated the initiative of a rigger who is
>disconnecting in the middle of a turn?
>
> A)He is disoriented and cannot act until next turn.
> *B)If his non-rigged initiative would permit him to act normaly
> at is next action, he follow standard initiative procedure.

I'd say in the same way as a magician who goes from astral projection back
to his body in the middle of a turn -- put 20 phases between actions instead
of 10.

> Is a rigger immerse in Virtual reality while rigging, can he
>dodge, talk and take actions ? Can he act with is body while
>rigged with a rigger deck ?
>
> B)Virtual reality only demand a datajack, that's why a V.C.R.
> cost so much. He is concious at all times and act
> accordingly.

This would be the one I'd go for. From one of the novels, riggers can talk
etc. while jacked in, but they seem a bit "robotic" when doing so.

> What is the use of an autopilot on a motorcycle ?
>
> B)Help an untrained driver to control it (with the autopilot
> rating and skill).

Probably this one, though I could see a sophisticated autopilot control a
motorcycle completely.


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
There's no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end
Geek Code v2.1: GS/AT/! -d+ H s:- !g p?(3) !au a>? w+(+++) v*(---) C+(++) U
P? !L !3 E? N++ K- W+ -po+(po) Y+ t(+) 5 !j R+(++)>+++$ tv+(++) b+@ D+(++)
B? e+ u+@ h! f--(?) !r(--)(*) n---->!n y? Unofficial Shadowrun Guru :)
Message no. 4
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 11:39:32 +0200
>> So, here are the first pages of the text i send FASA, let's have your 0.2
>> 'yen about them.....
>
> They didn't show up. If you need help on attaching files, etc.,
>with your specific mailer or configuration, you might want to contact
>your system administrator.

Hey! They did show up on my mailer -- simply the end of the message
consisted of his questions... it's starting to look like Eudora can only
mail files to other Eudoras...


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
There's no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end
Geek Code v2.1: GS/AT/! -d+ H s:- !g p?(3) !au a>? w+(+++) v*(---) C+(++) U
P? !L !3 E? N++ K- W+ -po+(po) Y+ t(+) 5 !j R+(++)>+++$ tv+(++) b+@ D+(++)
B? e+ u+@ h! f--(?) !r(--)(*) n---->!n y? Unofficial Shadowrun Guru :)
Message no. 5
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 20:01:00 +1000
Vincent Pellerin writes:

> Jani Fikouras, you suggested me to send my question to
> FASATom@***.com , FASALou@***.com, FASAPaul@***.com. my question is : can
> they give me the "official answer", the aol in the adress make me think of
> the group who make the KAGE magazine

As J.D. said, these are the folks who wrote tha game at FASA, so you don't
get much more official than that (FASATom is Tom Dowd, aka the Dark Lord on
High, check the credits on your SRII book).

> strange thought just crossed my mind, i did send them the text with "attach
> document" and some of my friend have problem getting what i send them with
> this command maybe they never saw the text attached to the e-mail ?

Well, I got them (as you'll se when I put on my thoughts), but J.D.
indicated that he did not receive the attatched text, so perhaps that is
the source of your problem.

> Damion Milliken, you asked when i did send these questions : Around
> the third march.

Hmm, even if the attatched text was not with the message, I'd have expected
at least some sort of notification ater about a month.

> Since you've been collecting fuzzy bits about SR, some of mine are bound
> to be the same, if the answer exit ever come i could send them to you (or to
> everybody ?).

I'm planning on posting the answers I get to the list (and informing Mike
and whoever answers the questions that I plan to). I think it'd be a good
idea, since then others of us won't go and send them the same questions.
BTW, if anyone (Doom?) has an archive of DLoH et al rulings, could you
either post them or make them available for us?

> SRII.45&72 Creating a character
>
> During the creation of the character, the skills etiquette
> automaticly require concentration. Do we still get the +1 for
> concentration ?

Hmm, I agree, good question (not one I'd had). Well, I've always run it so
that each separate concentration was a separate skill (but wait you say,
that means we get ripped off big time). Yes, that is true, but I gave the +1
for concentration as a free point. So if you chose Etiquette (Street) and
put in 4 skill points, you get a skill rating of 5 in Etiquette (Street). I
interpreted it this way because all the archetypes (and NPCs) only ever have
one Etiquette type (ie they have street, or corp, or maybe both, but as
different skills). They never seem to have Etiquette 5
Street 7
as one would expect if they had concentrated as the rules indicated was
required.

> SRII.72 Vehicle skills
>
> What is the difference between the two-wheeler and Racing
> concentration of the bike skill (a little clarification would be
> good for the car too).

Yeah, I've noticed some of the concentrations for vehicle skills are a
little hazy. I don't really know on this one.

> SRII.104 Rigger/Vehicle initiative
>
> How is calculated the initiative of a rigger who is
> disconnecting in the middle of a turn?
>
> A)He is disoriented and cannot act until next turn.
> *B)If his non-rigged initiative would permit him to act normaly
> at is next action, he follow standard initiative procedure.

I'd rule the same as an astrally projecting magician who returns to his body
during the turn. ie, instead of having their next action at 10 less phases,
they get it at 20 less phases (page 147 SRII). If, OTOH, they begin with
their physical initiative, and jack in part way through the turn, then they
stick with their physical initiative for the rest of the turn (same as a
magician who goes astral during his go).

> SRII.104
>
> Is a rigger immerse in Virtual reality while rigging, can he
> dodge, talk and take actions ? Can he act with is body while
> rigged with a rigger deck ?

The idea behind the VCR is that the riggers normal senses and physical
movements are instead remapped and re-routed to the vehicle. So instead of a
twitch of the left hand, the VCR remaps the nervous impulse to equal a
firing of the left chain gun. Only by a seemingly "natural" re-mapping of
the human nervous system responses could such an intimate level of
experience for the rigger be achieved. This will result in the rigger being
out of touch with the real world. In one of the short stories in "Into the
Shadows", a rigger jacks into a remote deck while her team is fleeing a corp
compound, and she instantly stops moving, and has to be carried by the other
team members.

> What is the use of an autopilot on a motorcycle ?
>
> A)It can drive it by itself (I seriously doubt that it can
> maintain the motorcycle balance).
> B)Help an untrained driver to control it (with the autopilot
> rating and skill).
> C)Just anti-collision system and map access (in this case, why
> the +1 Modifier on handling for the servos and other
> controlling equipement ?)

I've never ridden a motorcycle, so I can't vouch for or refute the first one
(although your reasoning sounds ok to me). The second and third ones sound
probable though to me, and since the autopilot still cause the +1 handling,
then I'd have to go for the second one.

Was this all you sent? I assume you have the other 43 hanging around and you
haven't sent them yet, 'cause if you had anymore questions than what I
quoted above attached to the message you sent us, then I'm afraid they
didn't make it through.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au
Nominee for the title of _Shadowrun Guru_
(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a18 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 6
From: Jani Fikouras <feanor@**********.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 15:24:49 +0200
> Jani Fikouras, you suggested me to send my question to
> FASATom@***.com , FASALou@***.com, FASAPaul@***.com. my question is : can
> they give me the "official answer", the aol in the adress make me think of
> the group who make the KAGE magazine

They are the original ShadowRun dudes :) FASATom is Tom Down, FASALou is
Lou Prosperi, FASAMike is Mike Mulvehill (sp?)

> Damion Milliken, you asked when i did send these questions : Around
> the third march . And same thing about the AOL (is this aol or AOL in the

AOL and aol are one and the same.

> Shadowrun II Rule Book
>
> SRII.45&72 Creating a character
>
> During the creation of the character, the skills etiquette
> automaticly require concentration. Do we still get the +1 for
> concentration ?
>
> Yes
> *No (This seems to be the case with all the archetypes)

I agree with you. BTW maybe this would be a good idea for the physical
sciences skill - remember that thread last week ?

> SRII.104
>
> Is a rigger immerse in Virtual reality while rigging, can he
> dodge, talk and take actions ? Can he act with is body while
> rigged with a rigger deck ?

Judging from the novels there are different degrees of immersion in
the VR - I's say they are just like the deckers (full VR mode means
an extra D6 for their initiative or something)

> What is the use of an autopilot on a motorcycle ?
>
> A)It can drive it by itself (I seriously doubt that it can
> maintain the motorcycle balance).
> B)Help an untrained driver to control it (with the autopilot
> rating and skill).
> C)Just anti-collision system and map access (in this case, why
> the +1 Modifier on handling for the servos and other
> controlling equipement ?)

I'd go for A (though I have the same reservations as you do) it should
be no problem as far as cars (4 wheelers) are concerned.

--
"Believe in Angels." -- The Crow

GCS d H s+: !g p1 !au a- w+ v-(?) C++++ UA++S++L+>++++ L+>+++ E--- N++ W(+)(---)
M-- !V(--) -po+(---) Y+ t++ 5++ R+++ tv b++ e+ u++(-) h*(+) f+ r- n!(-) y?
Message no. 7
From: Craig S Dohmen <dohmen@*******.CSE.PSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 12:34:12 -0500
On Sun, 26 Mar 1995, J.D. Falk wrote:

> On Sun, 26 Mar 1995, Vincent Pellerin wrote:
> > So, here are the first pages of the text i send FASA, let's have your 0.2
> > 'yen about them.....
>
> They didn't show up. If you need help on attaching files, etc.,
> with your specific mailer or configuration, you might want to contact
> your system administrator.

They showed up here (I'm using Pine). Maybe it's something at your end, J.D.

--Craig, who _finally_ got his copy of Bug City he won at GenCon.
Message no. 8
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 13:48:49 -0500
On Mon, 27 Mar 1995, Craig S Dohmen wrote:

> They showed up here (I'm using Pine). Maybe it's something at your end, J.D.

Curiouser and curiouser...especially since I'm using Pine as well
(version 3.91 for BSD.) Maybe the NSA grabbed my copy.

-------------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@****.com> =========-------------
| "The First Amendment was designed to protect offensive speech, |
| because nobody ever tries to ban the other kind." |
| -- Mike Godwin, staff counsel, EFF |
--------========== http://www.cais.com/jdfalk/home.html ==========--------
Message no. 9
From: Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 15:49:02 -0500
On Mon, 27 Mar 1995, J.D. Falk wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Mar 1995, Craig S Dohmen wrote:
>
> > They showed up here (I'm using Pine). Maybe it's something at your end, J.D.
>
> Curiouser and curiouser...especially since I'm using Pine as well
> (version 3.91 for BSD.) Maybe the NSA grabbed my copy.

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. They're probably keeping
it in that unused movie studio where they faked the moon landings... ;)

Marc (just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that everyone ISN'T out to
get me...)
Message no. 10
From: Louis Barrera <lbarrera@****.NASA.GOV>
Subject: Re: my questions -Reply
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 15:43:35 -0700
On Monday, somewhere, sometime, it was written,
> Curiouser and curiouser...especially since I'm using Pine as well
> (version 3.91 for BSD.) Maybe the NSA grabbed my copy.

> Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. They're probably keeping it in
>that unused movie studio where they faked the moon landings... ;)

>Marc (just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that everyone ISN'T out to
>get me...)

We know who you are and we will get you......
Message no. 11
From: Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: my questions -Reply
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 21:26:16 -0500
On Mon, 27 Mar 1995 lbarrera@****.nasa.gov wrote:

> >Marc (just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that everyone ISN'T out to
> >get me...)

> We know who you are and we will get you......

Yipe!

Marc
Message no. 12
From: Brent Fisher <tsmu@*****.LSA.UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 23:57:10 -0500
Oh come on Marc, even paranoids have enemies <grin>.
Message no. 13
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Re: my questions -Reply
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 08:07:19 -0500
On Mon, 27 Mar 1995, Marc A Renouf wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Mar 1995 lbarrera@****.nasa.gov wrote:
>
> > >Marc (just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that everyone ISN'T out to
> > >get me...)
>
> > We know who you are and we will get you......
>
(Clearly fake thick Russian accent)
You stop right now or I tell Fearless Leader....




[That's a Boris Badinoff joke, BTW]

-------------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@****.com> =========-------------
| "I may be as bad as the worst, but, thank God, |
| I am as good as the best." -Walt Whitman |
--------========== http://www.cais.com/jdfalk/home.html ==========--------
Message no. 14
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: my questions
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 11:20:33 -0700
>SRII.72 Vehicle skills
>
> What is the difference between the two-wheeler and Racing
>concentration of the bike skill (a little clarification would be
>good for the car too).
>
> A)Racing is a condition not regulary encountered on the street
> (special types of bikes and roads).
> B)Racing is used in pursuit with some of the vehicles
> encountered in the game (specify).

Its the difference between a cruising bike - ie meant for long travel and a
crotch rocket. They handle differently.

same with cars - racing vehicles ahndle differently.

>SRII.104 Rigger/Vehicle initiative
>
> How is calculated the initiative of a rigger who is
>disconnecting in the middle of a turn?
>
> A)He is disoriented and cannot act until next turn.
> *B)If his non-rigged initiative would permit him to act normaly
> at is next action, he follow standard initiative procedure.

Dissoriented probably - basically wing it.

>SRII.104
>
> Is a rigger immerse in Virtual reality while rigging, can he
>dodge, talk and take actions ? Can he act with is body while
>rigged with a rigger deck ?
>
> A)He is in virtual reality only if presently directly
> controlling, if he is just giving order to his drones or not
> using his rigging pool in any ways, he can act and defend
> himself. (In that case he would just have to plug himself
> on is remote control deck and would act as if he had wired
> reflex ?)
> B)Virtual reality only demand a datajack, that's why a V.C.R.
> cost so much. He is concious at all times and act
> accordingly.
> C)He is always in a virtual environnement when jacked in, and
> he cannot act, just like a decker.

From the novels it would seem that he is dead to the world and drooling onto his
shirt.

> What is the use of an autopilot on a motorcycle ?
>
> A)It can drive it by itself (I seriously doubt that it can
> maintain the motorcycle balance).
> B)Help an untrained driver to control it (with the autopilot
> rating and skill).
> C)Just anti-collision system and map access (in this case, why
> the +1 Modifier on handling for the servos and other
> controlling equipement ?)

Actually - many of the larger bikes in SR come with an internal gyroscope that
will keep them stable and allow the bike to lean into a turn.

This is mention briefly in the Novel - "ShadowPlay"

and yes - it probably would help the driver some.


Nightfox

DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU - Daniel Waisley HTTP://DANA.UCC.NAU.EDU/~DJW2/
- Insanity is such a delightful state of mind.
BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!
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U(-) p? L !3 E? N K- W M+ V+ -po+(---) Y+ t+ 5+++! j-x R+(++) G' tv
b+(+++) D(+) B--- e+ u+*(++)(**) h(*) f+(*) r-->+++ !n- y+*>++

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about my questions, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!