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Message no. 1
From: Tim Serpas <wretch@**.COM>
Subject: Power up the Phys ads
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 17:51:49 -0500
I have my own particular contribution. This is the system used by our GM,
who started out in 1st ed. with its auto-successes and all, and I would
say that phys ads are still lacking as compared to cyber dudes.

Magic priority C (B for metahumans, and we do use more metahumans)

Shielding and masking for initiates

(and the big part)
all adept powers cost *half* of what they are listed at in the main book
and the Grimoire.

What do ya think, sirs?
Tim Serpas, II Dan
wretch@**.com
Geek Code v.2: GS d- H++>+++ s:- !g p1 auVW a- w+ v+ C+(++++) U 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. 2
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Power up the Phys ads
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 21:02:01 -0400
>>>>> "Tim" == Tim Serpas <wretch@**.COM> writes:

Tim> (and the big part)
Tim> all adept powers cost *half* of what they are listed at in the main book
Tim> and the Grimoire.

Tim> What do ya think, sirs?

I think it's totally unnecessary if you play up a PhysAd's strengths rather
than complain about how weak they are compared to sammis. I've had human
and elven PhysAds who could take out a troll samurai in a one-on-one. It's
very simple: use your brain and play against the sammi's weaknesses rather
than trying to fight on his home turf.

--
Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> | Ingredients of Happy Fun Ball include an
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/ratinox | unknown glowing substance which fell to
PGP Public Key: Ask for one today! | Earth, presumably from outer space.
Message no. 3
From: Bob Ooton <topcat@**.CENCOM.NET>
Subject: Re: Power up the Phys ads
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 23:51:25 -0500
>I have my own particular contribution. This is the system used by our GM,
>who started out in 1st ed. with its auto-successes and all, and I would
>say that phys ads are still lacking as compared to cyber dudes.
>
>Magic priority C (B for metahumans, and we do use more metahumans)
>
>Shielding and masking for initiates
>
>(and the big part)
>all adept powers cost *half* of what they are listed at in the main book
> and the Grimoire.
>
>What do ya think, sirs?

I think there's a serious munchkin watch out for the month of April...

Maybe I should make spell guns for my samurai?

This is getting f*cking ludicrous, people...


-- Bob Ooton <topcat@******.net>
Message no. 4
From: Bob Ooton <topcat@**.CENCOM.NET>
Subject: Re: Power up the Phys ads
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 00:00:11 -0500
Magic priority B is still B, people, not A. It's the difference between 40
and 30 for skills. It's the difference between 30 and 24 for stats. It's
also the difference between a full-fledged mage and a half-powered phys
ad/mage adept! The absolutely obscene modifications to the rules that I
have seen in this last rash of posting might have some basis IF the
character set magic at A and wasn't allowed a B and had to take another E
instead.

(wonders if these people - those who posted that trash - realize that
priority B doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot)

If I needed more money could I just kinda make a B tech level into an A,
just because I'd like it? If my GM were to allow it, I'd tell him to take a
vacation for a year or two. Or you know...maybe I would like to initiate a
level for every 2 karma instead of the way it goes now. Blah!

It makes me ill to think that a (fairly) stable rules system would be raped
like that...


-- Bob Ooton <topcat@******.net>

(wondering if these people are really serious....)
Message no. 5
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Power up the Phys ads
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 21:55:09 +1000
Bob Ooton writes:

> [Rant on new phys adept powers being unneccessary and munchkinous]

Hey, hey, you won't believe this, but <drum roll>...I agree! <much clapping,
joyous rejoicing, partying, and jumping up and down>.

Well, more or less anyhow. Most people on here know that I think phys
adepts are pretty well balanced as they are (same as you), and I still think
so. I don't feel that they need any extra boosts to help them say, for
example, better take a sammy toe to toe <grin>. They are fine as they are.
And yes, I feel that most of the new powers suggested generally delve into
the realms that only those more capable in the arts (ie FULL magicians, like
priority A at character creation) should be capable of.

But, there is the other side to this. Everybody's game is different, in some
people's games (for any number of reasons, the first that pops to mind is a
nuyen rich campaign), phys adepts may end up underpowered. So, the answer?
Change them, like new powers! Or alter the costs of the powers. Similarly,
if, for example, some house rule or something alters the balance between
different character types, then it is fine to make an alteration to one or
more of the character types. But as far as the base rules go, phys adepts
seem perfectly OK to me. It is only individual games which would alter the
relative power of phys adepts (or any other charcter type for that matter),
and as such, then individual rules for those games are fine. It doesn't mean
that those modifications are suited in all games though.

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 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: Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Power up the Phys ads
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 20:39:21 GMT
> Tim> (and the big part)
> Tim> all adept powers cost *half* of what they are listed at in the main book
> Tim> and the Grimoire.
>
> Tim> What do ya think, sirs?
>
> I think it's totally unnecessary if you play up a PhysAd's strengths rather
> than complain about how weak they are compared to sammis. I've had human
> and elven PhysAds who could take out a troll samurai in a one-on-one. It's
> very simple: use your brain and play against the sammi's weaknesses rather
> than trying to fight on his home turf.

Agreed. First Ed adepts were too munchkin for my taste - the powergamers
played them, so they had to be bad news and I resisted for a long time.
When I did create one, he was fun to play: his strengths (as you'd expect)
were stealth and armed combat. So I had the challenge of getting into
sword range of a samurai... Not easy.

Although Storm did succeed once - he'd just butchered two bad guys, when
two more came out to see what the noise was. Thirty yards of corridor and
they had HK227s... he just charged, swinging a bloodied two-handed
claymore around his head and screaming "RANGERRRS!!!!" (he was from Aberdeen).
The GM rolled, and they just froze in terror for a second, and then he
was busy dismantling them.

Point being, though, a physad shouldn't try to win a gun battle with a samurai
just like a samurai shouldn't try going toe-to-toe with a magician. Use
teamwork and combine the group's strengths against the enemy's weaknesses.
A physad sniper is absolutely deadly, for instance, especially since she used
a Ranger compound bow. Against a magician who thought he was safe - because
he had an anti-bullet barrier. Shishkebab... The enemy never did find out where
she was shooting from, her stealth was too good, and while they were looking
for her the samurai were slaughtering them. If they tried to pin the sammies,
Fletcher skewered another one or two.

Besides - why *should* an adept be able to outfight a samurai? What would be
the point of playing a samurai then? :-) (Except to rejoice in being a
Mohican among the magical Huron...)

--
When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better or
for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him.

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk

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