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Message no. 1
From: Marek Telgarsky <mtelgars@**.NMSU.EDU>
Subject: question on <0 essence
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 18:43:08 -0600
hola.
somebody dropped a hint a few messages back about negative essence.
where can i find rules for this. the essence system never did make
that much sense to me. less essence, more magic is cool, but i dont
see why you cant make yourself into a complete cyborg. do cyborgs
exist? I unfortunately dont have enough money to buy all the
sourcebooks I feel I need, (I've got SRII, Shadowtech, and FoF), so
could someone post a quick explanation?
Mucho Thankso
Marek

-- Alazar@#linux.linuxnet.IRC #include <std_disclaimer.h>
-- SCF Admin marek@***.nmsu.edu
-- CS Computer Operations Group mtelgars@**.nmsu.edu
Message no. 2
From: Chris Scott <cmsco2@*****.CC.MONASH.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 11:03:24 +1000
>hola.
>somebody dropped a hint a few messages back about negative essence.
>where can i find rules for this. the essence system never did make
>that much sense to me. less essence, more magic is cool, but i dont
>see why you cant make yourself into a complete cyborg. do cyborgs
>exist? I unfortunately dont have enough money to buy all the
>sourcebooks I feel I need, (I've got SRII, Shadowtech, and FoF), so
>could someone post a quick explanation?
>Mucho Thankso
>Marek
>
>-- Alazar@#linux.linuxnet.IRC #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>-- SCF Admin marek@***.nmsu.edu
>-- CS Computer Operations Group mtelgars@**.nmsu.edu
>
>
Having not seen the notes on essence posted before I can't draw fact from
them. However to me essence is very important. When GM'ing I base a whole
character personality on their essence. Since essence is your humanity as
you chip away from it you lose your life, you become more machine. To me
anyone with essence less than 1 is a manic-depressent who would kill you
just a soon as look at you. Anyone at 0 essence is psychotic in my opinion.
I don't know the rules set down by ShadowRun, but in my opinion if you have
less than 0 essence you are dead. Your body can no longer survive the
punishment you are subjecting it to. Remember, the mind is delicate, and
nothing that delicate can withstand so much trauma.

Chris e-mail: cmsco2@*****.cc.monash.edu.au

I rig therefore I am
Iceman (Rigger/Mechanic)
Message no. 3
From: Marek Telgarsky <mtelgars@**.NMSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 21:07:20 -0600
>>>>> " " == Chris Scott <cmsco2@*****.CC.MONASH.EDU.AU>
writes:
> I don't know the rules set down by ShadowRun, but in my opinion if you have
> less than 0 essence you are dead. Your body can no longer survive the
> punishment you are subjecting it to. Remember, the mind is delicate, and
> nothing that delicate can withstand so much trauma.

I disagree. If you ever saw one of the AD Police japanimations, one of
them is about a police officer who had everything replaced except for
his tongue. All damage he takes no longer hurts, it is only damage...
he has turned into a machine. He is psychologically unstable, yet he
is still alive within his shell. Perhaps it would not do to have PC's
be a cybermonster (like the guy from the movie Nemesis), but perhaps
they do exist, thats why I am wondering about those rules.

Also, there is something in the Aliens comic book (i think) called a
Berserker. This is a human (sortof) who is drugged all the time except
when taken to the middle of a Alien hive. At that point, he "turns on"
and destroys everything in sight. Such things are possible in
shadowrun..

Marek

-- Alazar@#linux.linuxnet.IRC #include <std_disclaimer.h>
-- SCF Admin marek@***.nmsu.edu
-- CS Computer Operations Group mtelgars@**.nmsu.edu
Message no. 4
From: Mercenary X <ken@*****.STANFORD.EDU>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 20:22:10 -0700
On Sun, 30 Apr 1995, Chris Scott wrote:

> >hola.
> >somebody dropped a hint a few messages back about negative essence.
> >where can i find rules for this. the essence system never did make
> >that much sense to me. less essence, more magic is cool, but i dont
> >see why you cant make yourself into a complete cyborg. do cyborgs
> >exist? I unfortunately dont have enough money to buy all the
> >sourcebooks I feel I need, (I've got SRII, Shadowtech, and FoF), so
> >could someone post a quick explanation?
> >Mucho Thankso
> >Marek
> >
> >-- Alazar@#linux.linuxnet.IRC #include <std_disclaimer.h>
> >-- SCF Admin marek@***.nmsu.edu
> >-- CS Computer Operations Group mtelgars@**.nmsu.edu
> >
> >
> Having not seen the notes on essence posted before I can't draw fact from
> them. However to me essence is very important. When GM'ing I base a whole
> character personality on their essence. Since essence is your humanity as
> you chip away from it you lose your life, you become more machine. To me
> anyone with essence less than 1 is a manic-depressent who would kill you
> just a soon as look at you. Anyone at 0 essence is psychotic in my opinion.
> I don't know the rules set down by ShadowRun, but in my opinion if you have
> less than 0 essence you are dead. Your body can no longer survive the
> punishment you are subjecting it to. Remember, the mind is delicate, and
> nothing that delicate can withstand so much trauma.
>
> Chris e-mail: cmsco2@*****.cc.monash.edu.au

So what wrong with being psycotic? :-) Just because you have a
cyberfreak doesn't mean you have to play him as one.
Anyway, none answered his question. Rules for negative essence will be in
an upcoming sourcebook called cyborgs. It will include rules on creating
characters with negative essence. You also might wanna check out "A few
notes concering cyborgs" on Paolo Marcucci's Web page.
Message no. 5
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 14:31:53 +0200
>somebody dropped a hint a few messages back about negative essence.
>where can i find rules for this.

In the to-be-released Cybertech sourcebook. It's coming out this fall, I
think, so you'll have to wait until then (unless somebody's got a playtest
version... :)

>the essence system never did make
>that much sense to me. less essence, more magic is cool, but i dont
>see why you cant make yourself into a complete cyborg.

Essence is very simply a game balance tool, introduced so players won't go
stash _too_ much cyberware into their characters. Since it's explained
pretty well within the game history, I'd say keep using it -- unlike
CP2020's "Humanity" which, as Rat is so keen to point out, makes no sense
whatsoever. I must say that Essence wouldn't make much sense either if it
weren't for the magically-active world of the 21st century.


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Beware of unfamiliar chickens
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. 6
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 14:31:56 +0200
>Since essence is your humanity as
>you chip away from it you lose your life, you become more machine. To me
>anyone with essence less than 1 is a manic-depressent who would kill you
>just a soon as look at you.
[snip]
>Anyone at 0 essence is psychotic in my opinion.

I never bother with psychotics or whatever. As long as your Essence is not
lower than 0, you're alive. Less than 0 and you're not. Any fruitcakes with
low Essence were already crazy if you ask me, I don't rule that they go
crazy _because_ of the Essence loss.

>I don't know the rules set down by ShadowRun, but in my opinion if you have
>less than 0 essence you are dead.

That's what the rules (currently) say, yes.


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Beware of unfamiliar chickens
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. 7
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 08:51:20 -0400
>>>>> "Marek" == Marek Telgarsky <mtelgars@**.NMSU.EDU>
writes:

Marek> I disagree. If you ever saw one of the AD Police japanimations,

1) ADPolice Files is not Shadowrun
2) ADPolice Files postdates Cyberpunk (the game) by quite a number of
years.
3) See my previous rant on the topic.

--
Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> | Do not use Happy Fun Ball on concrete.
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/ratinox |
PGP Public Key: Ask for one today! |
Message no. 8
From: Jani Fikouras <feanor@**********.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 15:35:31 +0200
> somebody dropped a hint a few messages back about negative essence.
> where can i find rules for this. the essence system never did make
> that much sense to me. less essence, more magic is cool, but i dont
> see why you cant make yourself into a complete cyborg. do cyborgs
> exist? I unfortunately dont have enough money to buy all the
> sourcebooks I feel I need, (I've got SRII, Shadowtech, and FoF), so
> could someone post a quick explanation?
> Mucho Thankso
> Marek

I mentioned negative essence, it apeared in a module called
"Elven Fire". In this run the runners went up against a character
with negative essence, he no longer had a free will - he was
a robot and was as stable as a chair standing on one leg.

--
"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. 9
From: Brett Ryan Brown <calvinoi@*******.SCRI.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 13:44:19 18000
> In the to-be-released Cybertech sourcebook. It's coming out this fall, I
> think, so you'll have to wait until then (unless somebody's got a playtest
> version... :)

Actually, if I remember correctly, Mike said that it is currently planned
for a summer release. Possibly as early as late May, but likely later.

-L8TR,
-Calvinoi MindFlyer

--
_/_/_/_/ _ calvinoi@*******.scri.fsu.edu
_/ | | _ _
_/ __ _ | | __ __ (_) _ _ ___ (_) Fight the War.
_/ / _` | | | \ V / | | | ' \ / _ \ | | Fuck the Norm.
_/_/_/_/ \__,_| |_| \_/ |_| |_||_\ \___/ |_| Don't Conform.
================================================ --------------
Message no. 10
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Mon, 1 May 1995 11:43:50 +0200
> I mentioned negative essence, it apeared in a module called
>"Elven Fire". In this run the runners went up against a character
>with negative essence, he no longer had a free will - he was
>a robot and was as stable as a chair standing on one leg.

He was very unstable, yes, but I don't think he had a negative Essence
value. It was a little above 0, I think, and his unstable condition was also
the result from him being brainwashed in the Tir.


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Too many problems... Why am I here?
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. 11
From: Jani Fikouras <feanor@**********.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Mon, 1 May 1995 17:43:05 +0200
> > I mentioned negative essence, it apeared in a module called
> >"Elven Fire". In this run the runners went up against a character
> >with negative essence, he no longer had a free will - he was
> >a robot and was as stable as a chair standing on one leg.
>
> He was very unstable, yes, but I don't think he had a negative Essence
> value. It was a little above 0, I think, and his unstable condition was also
> the result from him being brainwashed in the Tir.

I checked him, he actually had around -2, and by the time I was through
with him he was more like -8 :)

--
"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. 12
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: question on <0 essence
Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 12:18:47 +0200
> I checked him, he actually had around -2, and by the time I was through
>with him he was more like -8 :)

I checked too, and it came out as about 8.5 points of Essence spent on
cyberware. The drugs would have taken off some more, I think...


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Too many problems... Why am I here?
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 :)

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