Message no. 1

From:	The Reverend <mdb0213@******.TAMU.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Q: How to power cyberware (who cares)
Date:	Sun, 14 Nov 1993 01:26:07 -0600

] Actually, this response for DLoH is what has me really irked about FASA's
] responses to the system. Obviously, if we didn't give a shit, we
] wouldn't ask, and to have (for all intents and purposes) FASA telling us
] that we shouldn't care, is just stupid.

] Sorry, DLoH, but this response DOES tick me off.
At times, I know how you feel, Hayden, but here's my take on the matter. It's
come up several times, and my "predictions", based on what I'm about to say,
has been eerily correct.

(like usual, this ain't a flame. a statement)
SHADOWRUN IS A CINEMATIC GAME! IT IS MEANT TO TELL A STORY.
Okay, now that I've got that off my chest, here's what it means:
When they designed SR, FASA decided that, instead of making a combat-oriented
system, they would rely on the judgement that many veteran-role-players have,
and give SR a "storyteller" approach. SR was never meant to be a combat game.
While it _does_ utilize combat occasionally, the traditional SR philosophy is:
"if you have to shoot your way out, you did something wrong". While this is
true, we all know how often everything goes right. This is part of the reason,
IMHO, that SR2 is so much deadlier. Rather than emphasize (and possibly fix)
the problems with the combat system, they decided to re-emphasize their point,
that combat should be the last option. By making combat deadly, they are
encouraging people to solve problems via brain, not brawn. This also carries
over to the current argument about cyberware. The cyberware is used to help
develop the story, instead of becoming the story. So who cares how it works?
Of course, I think that DLoH going "who cares" on stuff gets old after awhile,
but I'll also admit that he's given us a lot of info as to the workings of
the CREATION of the system. They were going after a story-telling system.
They did that. Whether it is what you want or not is a WHOLE other ball-game.

BCNU, 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.
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