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From:	John Pederson <Canthros@***.COM>
Subject:	Questions and an apology
Date:	Fri, 18 Oct 1996 21:51:13 -0400

Message no. 1 First, I'd like to say that I'm sorry for spamming up the list with the
response to the chicken-egg debate. I'm afraid we just got finished studying
that at school and between that, lack of experience in matters of e-mail
ettiquette, and sudden excitement of suddenly having a full mailbox again, I
couldn't manage to think past my keyboard.
That having been said, I would also like to ask a few questions:

1)First, do Insect spirits retain certain characteristics of their hosts?
Specifically does a flesh form which emerged from mage still have spell
tossing ability (assuming the spirit knows any spells)?

2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the
reference twice, but I've never seen anywhere that such an occurence is
actually explained. Admittedly, I haven't been over either the SRII manual
or the Grimmy II, but I haven't seen it in either, except for a reference to
the possibility in a section in Grimoire about talismans.

3)Third, uh...I _know_ there was a third question. Oh, well. I'll ask when
I remember it, I guess. Oh yeah, now I know! I need some advice on how to
run a game involving an infiltration into a bug hive-having not played any of
the adventures or read any of the books you guys mentioned, some help would
be appreciated.

4)Would you allow the regeneration power to apply to an astrally projecting
shapeshifter? I figure that some portion of the projecting person would have
to remain in their body and that, since the powers of dual beings result from
the interaction between their auras and the mundane plane and because healing
in one body applies to the other, it was my assumption that a regenerate that
was projecting onto the astral would still regenerate damage because the
physical body would still regenerate due to the reactions between the
remainder between the being's remaining aura and the mundane world, and thus
the damage done to the astral body would be passed on to the physical body,
which would then regenerate the damage, passing the healing on to the astral
form... One could also rule that because only a portion of the projecting
being's aura resides within the physical body, and because the physical body,
w/o the being's active conciousness, is not dual that the interaction between
plane and aura does not exist-therefore regenerates wouldn't regen on the
astral (which makes it safer for PCs).

5)Only one more...when viewed from the astral, a shapeshifter's aura appears
as the true (animal) form of the being. When projecting, would a
shapeshifter then project as it's true form, rather than it's human or
whichever form is it's current one?

Hope some one can help me...
(and boy do I need help...is there a psychiatrist in the house? :)

John Pederson
canthros@***.com
http://members.gnn.com/lenoj/johns.htm

From:	Steven Ratkovich <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Fri, 18 Oct 1996 22:23:12 -0500

Message no. 2 >That having been said, I would also like to ask a few questions:
>
>1)First, do Insect spirits retain certain characteristics of their hosts?
> Specifically does a flesh form which emerged from mage still have spell
>tossing ability (assuming the spirit knows any spells)?
>
I would have to say yes to this, as the spirit (if it's a good merge) will
still have memories of it's former self, including spell capabilities.

>3)Third, uh...I _know_ there was a third question. Oh, well. I'll ask when
>I remember it, I guess. Oh yeah, now I know! I need some advice on how to
>run a game involving an infiltration into a bug hive-having not played any of
>the adventures or read any of the books you guys mentioned, some help would
>be appreciated.
>
Ummm, leave fast??? (as a player, that is...) I have no idea how you would
go about trying to infiltrate an insect hive. They have a hive mind, which
means they would know whether you were a member of the hive or not, and if
you weren't, you would be lunch. Going into a hive guns blazing is
suicidal, but going trying to infiltrate it is masochistic suicide.

>5)Only one more...when viewed from the astral, a shapeshifter's aura appears
>as the true (animal) form of the being. When projecting, would a
>shapeshifter then project as it's true form, rather than it's human or
>whichever form is it's current one?
>
Probably whatever it saw itself as... after all, the astral image is an
idealized version of the mage. If it saw itself as an animal, it would be
an animal. If it thought of itself as a human, then it would appear human.

>Hope some one can help me...
>(and boy do I need help...is there a psychiatrist in the house? :)
>

Umm, sorry... Not I,and I hope it helped some...

(Still not sure what you are thinking, though... number 3 is downright
impossible...:(

-Bull-the-not-going-anywhere-near-MORE-FRAGGIN-BUGS-decker-turned-GM

From:	Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 12:24:59 +1000

Message no. 3 > 2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the
> reference twice, but I've never seen anywhere that such an occurence is
> actually explained. Admittedly, I haven't been over either the SRII manual
> or the Grimmy II, but I haven't seen it in either, except for a reference to
> the possibility in a section in Grimoire about talismans.
>

Burn them like Karma pool. One rating point for one auto success.

Gets kid of expensive, but if you need to, why the hell not.

From:	John Pederson <Canthros@***.COM>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Fri, 18 Oct 1996 23:07:15 -0400

Message no. 4 In a message dated 96-10-18 22:08:12 EDT, you write:

>>That having been said, I would also like to ask a few questions:
>>
>>1)First, do Insect spirits retain certain characteristics of their hosts?
>> Specifically does a flesh form which emerged from mage still have spell
>>tossing ability (assuming the spirit knows any spells)?
>>
>I would have to say yes to this, as the spirit (if it's a good merge) will
>still have memories of it's former self, including spell capabilities.
>
>>3)Third, uh...I _know_ there was a third question. Oh, well. I'll ask
when
>>I remember it, I guess. Oh yeah, now I know! I need some advice on how to
>>run a game involving an infiltration into a bug hive-having not played any
>of
>>the adventures or read any of the books you guys mentioned, some help would
>>be appreciated.
>>
>Ummm, leave fast??? (as a player, that is...) I have no idea how you would
>go about trying to infiltrate an insect hive. They have a hive mind, which
>means they would know whether you were a member of the hive or not, and if
>you weren't, you would be lunch. Going into a hive guns blazing is
>suicidal, but going trying to infiltrate it is masochistic suicide.
>
>>5)Only one more...when viewed from the astral, a shapeshifter's aura
appears
>>as the true (animal) form of the being. When projecting, would a
>>shapeshifter then project as it's true form, rather than it's human or
>>whichever form is it's current one?
>>
>Probably whatever it saw itself as... after all, the astral image is an
>idealized version of the mage. If it saw itself as an animal, it would be
>an animal. If it thought of itself as a human, then it would appear human.
>
>>Hope some one can help me...
>>(and boy do I need help...is there a psychiatrist in the house? :)
>>
>
>Umm, sorry... Not I,and I hope it helped some...
>
>(Still not sure what you are thinking, though... number 3 is downright
>impossible...:(
>
>-Bull-the-not-going-anywhere-near-MORE-FRAGGIN-BUGS-decker-turned-GM

Well, to be quite honest, I'm working on an adventure involving a (small)
hive of bugs and I was hoping for some way to force my player to use their
brains instead of their guns to get in, so I was hoping to be able to get
some ideas on how to do this. I am afraid that I am being _extremely_ mean
in that the area the bug hive would be in would negate the possibility of
making use of the sammies. I think, though, what I'll do is reduce it from
an actual hive to an insect shaman and a few true and flesh forms-won't be
easy, even so, but it will be easier than a full hive-and it ought to do one
of two things: instill fear of Invae in the PCs souls, or cause the players
to start taking out hit contracts on me :( So, I need a way for them to
nearly have their heads handed to them, but not quite.
As for flesh forms and spell tossing ability, I was really wondering more
about the less perfect merges, the ones that are very nearly a true form. I
figure they still would, they just wouldn't retain any knowledge of how to
use it.

Does that help some?

John Pederson
canthros@***.com
http://members.gnn.com/lenoj/johns.htm

From:	Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 13:50:10 +1000

Message no. 5 > Well, to be quite honest, I'm working on an adventure involving a (small)
> hive of bugs and I was hoping for some way to force my player to use their
> brains instead of their guns to get in, so I was hoping to be able to get
> some ideas on how to do this. I am afraid that I am being _extremely_ mean
> in that the area the bug hive would be in would negate the possibility of
> making use of the sammies. I think, though, what I'll do is reduce it from
> an actual hive to an insect shaman and a few true and flesh forms-won't be
> easy, even so, but it will be easier than a full hive-and it ought to do one
> of two things: instill fear of Invae in the PCs souls, or cause the players
> to start taking out hit contracts on me :( So, I need a way for them to
> nearly have their heads handed to them, but not quite.

If there isn't a queen present, the hive-mind may not work as well....
(Kinda like real-life wasps after you've fried their queen with a butane
torch. *grin*)

The shaman could be in control of a corporation, or other
business/industrial entity. He could have a number of nearly perfect flesh
form merges under his control, as well as a few true forms. Any of the
worse merges would be killed (and maybe eaten). If the shaman can't find
anywhere suitable to build a hive or doesn't want to summon a queen (smart
guy), then having the flesh forms all look nearly human makes a lot of sense.

Only after the PCs begin penetrating the facility should they encounter the
less-human flesh forms.... Should scare 'em no end if they aren't
expecting bugs.

Another thing about using flesh forms; The better merges can wear armour,
carry guns and still use most of their previously implanted cyberware. Now,
that will really scare your players. *evil grin* A bug with wired
reflexes and dermal armour.

Bleach

From:	Steven Ratkovich <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 00:09:45 -0500

Message no. 6 [Snip original questions and my reply]

>Well, to be quite honest, I'm working on an adventure involving a (small)
>hive of bugs and I was hoping for some way to force my player to use their
>brains instead of their guns to get in, so I was hoping to be able to get
>some ideas on how to do this. I am afraid that I am being _extremely_ mean
>in that the area the bug hive would be in would negate the possibility of
>making use of the sammies. I think, though, what I'll do is reduce it from
>an actual hive to an insect shaman and a few true and flesh forms-won't be
>easy, even so, but it will be easier than a full hive-and it ought to do one
>of two things: instill fear of Invae in the PCs souls, or cause the players
>to start taking out hit contracts on me :( So, I need a way for them to
>nearly have their heads handed to them, but not quite.
>
Hmmm, well, I really have no clue what to tell you here then... the bugs
are the GM's answer to Munchkins (I have something that can just shred teh
munchies!), and a Munchkins wet dream (I can kill them all with whatever I
can get my hands on and STILL be the good guy!). If there were a LOT of
fleshforms and very few (read: none patrolling) true spirits, then I would
say that the runners could probably slip in unnoticed and unseen if tehy are
_very_ good and _very_ lucky.

Hmmm, Do your runners have family? Or very close friends? Or _anyone_ that
they care about (other than themselves?)?? If teh answer is no to these,
then you are playing with munchies and need new players...:):) If they do
have a weakness like this, have the family member/loved one/whatever get
captured by the hive, and the runners have only so long to rescue him/her/it
before they are bugged. And remind them that going in guns blazing sill
only get this person killed.

There's a reason tehy call it a bug hunt...:):)

>As for flesh forms and spell tossing ability, I was really wondering more
>about the less perfect merges, the ones that are very nearly a true form. I
>figure they still would, they just wouldn't retain any knowledge of how to
>use it.
>
Ok, see, the problem with the bad merges isn't that they become closer to a
true form... Quiet the opposite... they are just closer to there true
nature... the worse the merge, the more mindless teh bug becomes, and teh
human host is completely destroyed. these are the true drones of the hive.
Automatons only. True Spirits have a rudimenmtary intelligence,
supplemented by teh queen, while the good merges are probably the most
independatnt and intelligence of the bunch, as they have their hosts
intelligence, as well as a link to teh hive mind. these will be the most
creative and devious, and the most likely to be spell casters...

>Does that help some?
>
Yes, Does mine?

>John Pederson
>
-Bull-the-answering-ork-decker-turned-GM

From:	Dvixen <dvixen@****.SPYDERNET.COM>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Fri, 18 Oct 1996 23:31:56 -0700

Message no. 7 On Fri, 18 Oct 1996, John Pederson wrote:

> 2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the

Huh? Use up rating points? I didn't think that could be done...
Somebody help!

> 4)Would you allow the regeneration power to apply to an astrally projecting
> shapeshifter? I figure that some portion of the projecting person would have

My first response is no. the aura is not directly connected to the
physical body (except for the silver cord. see second answer) Withou
the aura, the physical body could only be healed by external means.

Second answer. A real tiny amount. Much slower than usual, because the
only connection between the aura and the physical is a cord. (I have no
idea if the cord is mentioned in any rulebook, I'm going on personal
interpretation. We've never had a shapeshifter in any of our groups.)

> 5)Only one more...when viewed from the astral, a shapeshifter's aura appears
> as the true (animal) form of the being. When projecting, would a
> shapeshifter then project as it's true form, rather than it's human or
> whichever form is it's current one?

I'd say they would project as the one they were born with (true form)
Unless of course, the shapeshifter was an initiate...

-Dvixen
I'm really bored with sigs lately....

From:	Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 13:08:51 +0100

Message no. 8 John Pederson said on 21:51/18 Oct 96...

> 1)First, do Insect spirits retain certain characteristics of their hosts?
> Specifically does a flesh form which emerged from mage still have spell
> tossing ability (assuming the spirit knows any spells)?

Only if it's a perfect merge -- that is, if the body does not change at
all. In game terms, the spirit needs to roll 5 or more net successes for
this to happen on the test to take over th host's body. In such a case,
the spirit retains all the host's memories and abilities, and can pass for
him or her in daily life. Note that in worker spirits, these abilities are
usually ignored.
So I'd say yes, a flesh form spirit that gets a magician's body can cast
spells if the merge is perfect.

> 2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the
> reference twice, but I've never seen anywhere that such an occurence is
> actually explained. Admittedly, I haven't been over either the SRII manual
> or the Grimmy II, but I haven't seen it in either, except for a reference to
> the possibility in a section in Grimoire about talismans.

I don't understand what you mean with "use up rating points on a focus",
so I can't answer this.

> 4)Would you allow the regeneration power to apply to an astrally projecting
> shapeshifter?

I think it does, but I can't quote you a rule that says it can or can't.

> 5)Only one more...when viewed from the astral, a shapeshifter's aura appears
> as the true (animal) form of the being. When projecting, would a
> shapeshifter then project as it's true form, rather than it's human or
> whichever form is it's current one?

I guess it would appear as the animal, but once again I don't think it's
specifically mentioned anywhere.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Save the Earth -- eat Jupiter.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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From:	A Halliwell <u5a77@**.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 12:34:48 +0100

Message no. 9 |That having been said, I would also like to ask a few questions:
|
|1)First, do Insect spirits retain certain characteristics of their hosts?
| Specifically does a flesh form which emerged from mage still have spell
|tossing ability (assuming the spirit knows any spells)?

No. All the mystical skills of the original character are lost, even if some
memory (in the case of true forms) survives...

|2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the
|reference twice, but I've never seen anywhere that such an occurence is
|actually explained. Admittedly, I haven't been over either the SRII manual
|or the Grimmy II, but I haven't seen it in either, except for a reference to
|the possibility in a section in Grimoire about talismans.

You normally use a focus to add dice to your pool and magic points to your
rating.
When you "burn" focus rating points, you gain automatic successes in
whichever test you were trying in a similar way to the fetish-focus.
1 rating point per success.
Of course, this is VERY expensive and an act of last resort....

|3)Third, uh...I _know_ there was a third question. Oh, well. I'll ask when
|I remember it, I guess. Oh yeah, now I know! I need some advice on how to
|run a game involving an infiltration into a bug hive-having not played any of
|the adventures or read any of the books you guys mentioned, some help would
|be appreciated.

Sorry, can't help you there. The only thing on bugs I have is the Grimthingy
(and grimthingy II).

Other questions snipped.... Can't anwer them either.... Sorry...
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@**.keele.ac.uk | |
|Andrew Halliwell | "ARSE! GERLS!! DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!!!" |
|Principal subjects in:-| "THAT WOULD BE AN ECCLESIASTICAL MATTER!...FECK!!!!|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | - Father Jack in "Father Ted"
|
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|X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! >*SULK*<|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:	Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sun, 20 Oct 1996 11:10:23 +1000

Message no. 10 > |2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the
> |reference twice, but I've never seen anywhere that such an occurence is
> |actually explained. Admittedly, I haven't been over either the SRII manual
> |or the Grimmy II, but I haven't seen it in either, except for a reference to
> |the possibility in a section in Grimoire about talismans.
>
> You normally use a focus to add dice to your pool and magic points to your
> rating.
> When you "burn" focus rating points, you gain automatic successes in
> whichever test you were trying in a similar way to the fetish-focus.
> 1 rating point per success.
> Of course, this is VERY expensive and an act of last resort....
>
It can be very useful for certain things, ie; You're conjuring a force 15
earth elemenatal and don't want to die from drain, so you burn your
spirit focus to get some useful services..... If you've designed the
focus youself and done it right, it costs you one equivalent karma per
rating point, and the cost of the focus is kind of compensated by the
about of summoning materials you woyuld otherwise have to use.

I've never done the above example personally (Too munchkin style), but the
principle holds.... Think of it kind of like a major offering to get the
spirit to turn up... Should work for shamans too (Hoo boy; Greater Form
storm spirit force 15).

Bleach

From:	John Pederson <Canthros@***.COM>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 23:23:47 -0400

Message no. 11 In a message dated 96-10-18 23:53:56 EDT, Bleach wrote:

>If there isn't a queen present, the hive-mind may not work as well....
>(Kinda like real-life wasps after you've fried their queen with a butane
>torch. *grin*)

Uh...actually, I never did any of that. I was usually bright enough to avoid
wasps as a kid, and they (my friends and relatives) are smart enough to not
let me play with my dad's butane torch:)

>The shaman could be in control of a corporation, or other
>business/industrial entity. He could have a number of nearly perfect flesh
>form merges under his control, as well as a few true forms. Any of the
>worse merges would be killed (and maybe eaten). If the shaman can't find
>anywhere suitable to build a hive or doesn't want to summon a queen (smart
>guy), then having the flesh forms all look nearly human makes a lot of
sense.

Well, to be quite honest, the adventure wouldn't be thrown at my characters
for quite a while, since we'll be starting with new characters before very
long, so I promised to myself to be kind and not kill them off-especially
since I'm trying to set an example to running a lower-power, lower-munchie
game this time through. I guess I've got to get together with my players
before long in order to make sure all the charachters jive with each other
and my game's (fictional) reality. I'm really not too worried about what
kind of character that they play, it's really more about how they play them,
I guess.

>Only after the PCs begin penetrating the facility should they encounter the
>less-human flesh forms.... Should scare 'em no end if they aren't
>expecting bugs.

That ought to work rather well...

>Another thing about using flesh forms; The better merges can wear armour,
>carry guns and still use most of their previously implanted cyberware. Now,
>that will really scare your players. *evil grin* A bug with wired
>reflexes and dermal armour.

I was thinking about having them encounter a free female mantid. I'm
reasonably certain at least one PC will try to hit on her...from there, it'll
depend on how well they think and what kind of mood/condition I'm in
(late-night gaming really kills my creativity, it's hard for me to think of
much beyond bed at 11:30 pm after a 12-hour day, even if it wasn't *work*)

>Bleach

Thanks for the ideas, I'm sure it'll help.

John Pederson
canthros@***.com
http://members.gnn.com

From:	John Pederson <Canthros@***.COM>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 23:23:53 -0400

Message no. 12 In a message dated 96-10-18 23:54:30 EDT, you write:

>>Well, to be quite honest, I'm working on an adventure involving a (small)
>>hive of bugs and I was hoping for some way to force my player to use their
>>brains instead of their guns to get in, so I was hoping to be able to get
>>some ideas on how to do this. I am afraid that I am being _extremely_ mean
>>in that the area the bug hive would be in would negate the possibility of
>>making use of the sammies. I think, though, what I'll do is reduce it from
>>an actual hive to an insect shaman and a few true and flesh forms-won't be
>>easy, even so, but it will be easier than a full hive-and it ought to do
one
>>of two things: instill fear of Invae in the PCs souls, or cause the players
>>to start taking out hit contracts on me :( So, I need a way for them to
>>nearly have their heads handed to them, but not quite.
>>
>Hmmm, well, I really have no clue what to tell you here then... the bugs
>are the GM's answer to Munchkins (I have something that can just shred teh
>munchies!), and a Munchkins wet dream (I can kill them all with whatever I
>can get my hands on and STILL be the good guy!). If there were a LOT of
>fleshforms and very few (read: none patrolling) true spirits, then I would
>say that the runners could probably slip in unnoticed and unseen if tehy are
>_very_ good and _very_ lucky.

That ought to help for the adventure...after all, I don't want them to leave
as players, but I would like for them to feel challenged

>Hmmm, Do your runners have family? Or very close friends? Or _anyone_ that
>they care about (other than themselves?)?? If teh answer is no to these,
>then you are playing with munchies and need new players...:):) If they do

I really don't know that yet. The character that I'll be running to use with
them doesn't have much, but I guess I'll see how things work out. The others
will all depend upon what I can get them to work out to---and if nothing
else, by the time I actually use the idea, they will have some sort of
family/love interest/etc. Just haven't gotten there yet.

>have a weakness like this, have the family member/loved one/whatever get
>captured by the hive, and the runners have only so long to rescue him/her/it
>before they are bugged. And remind them that going in guns blazing sill
>only get this person killed.

Funny...going in guns blazing should only get them killed...after all, if the
runners have to use their brains and Stealth skills to survive, then i think
I will have succeeded, provided that they survive...

>There's a reason tehy call it a bug hunt...:):)

That could be an adventure in and of itself...they wouldn't like much more of
the bugs than they can deal with though...which is why I'll give them just
enough to make them worry...:)

>>As for flesh forms and spell tossing ability, I was really wondering more
>>about the less perfect merges, the ones that are very nearly a true form.
I
>>figure they still would, they just wouldn't retain any knowledge of how to
>>use it.
>>
>Ok, see, the problem with the bad merges isn't that they become closer to a
>true form... Quiet the opposite... they are just closer to there true
>nature... the worse the merge, the more mindless teh bug becomes, and teh
>human host is completely destroyed. these are the true drones of the hive.
>Automatons only. True Spirits have a rudimenmtary intelligence,
>supplemented by teh queen, while the good merges are probably the most
>independatnt and intelligence of the bunch, as they have their hosts
>intelligence, as well as a link to teh hive mind. these will be the most
>creative and devious, and the most likely to be spell casters...

Goooood....heh, heh, heh....

>>Does that help some?
>>
>Yes, Does mine?

Yeah, it does help some.

>>John Pederson
>>
>-Bull-the-answering-ork-decker-turned-GM

Now, the character I've decided to use is an ork, previously a gang member,
with no cyber, no magic, no bike. His big advantage? Skills and Attributes.
I'd have given him a buddy or three but at Resources D, I didn't have the
nuyen to buy much more than what he got...Do you think I should post him for
comments and advice?

John Pederson
canthros@***.com
http://members.gnn.com/lenoj/johns.htm

From:	Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sun, 20 Oct 1996 15:27:20 +1000

Message no. 13 > >If there isn't a queen present, the hive-mind may not work as well....
> >(Kinda like real-life wasps after you've fried their queen with a butane
> >torch. *grin*)
>
> Uh...actually, I never did any of that. I was usually bright enough to avoid
> wasps as a kid, and they (my friends and relatives) are smart enough to not
> let me play with my dad's butane torch:)
>
Just get any aerosol can; It doesn't have to be your dad's butane torch
*grin* But be careful.

> >Another thing about using flesh forms; The better merges can wear armour,
> >carry guns and still use most of their previously implanted cyberware. Now,
> >that will really scare your players. *evil grin* A bug with wired
> >reflexes and dermal armour.
>
> I was thinking about having them encounter a free female mantid. I'm
> reasonably certain at least one PC will try to hit on her...from there, it'll
> depend on how well they think and what kind of mood/condition I'm in
> (late-night gaming really kills my creativity, it's hard for me to think of
> much beyond bed at 11:30 pm after a 12-hour day, even if it wasn't *work*)
>

Be very careful picking the force of the mantid spirit, or make sure that
she isn't going to get into a fight with the team.

Those things get Forcex3 reaction, and Equivalent unarmed combat dice to
their reaction attribute.

..... It slices, it dices, it makes hundreds and thousands of julienne fries!

Bleach

From:	Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Sat, 19 Oct 1996 17:50:26 +0000

From:	Rook <woneal@*******.NET>
Subject:	Re: Questions and an apology
Date:	Mon, 21 Oct 1996 02:36:11 -0005

Message no. 15 On 18 Oct 96 at 23:31, Dvixen wrote:

> On Fri, 18 Oct 1996, John Pederson wrote:
>
> > 2)Second, how do you use up rating points on a focus? I've only seen the
>
> Huh? Use up rating points? I didn't think that could be done...
> Somebody help!

It took me awhile to find the original rule for this, I knew I'd seen it
before but could immediately recall where. It goes back to the Blue Book (1st
Edition rules). You could "burn" rating points off a focus for automatic
successes. This rule wasn't included in 2nd Edition and techinically if you go
by strict tournament rules it isn't allowable. I'd probably allow it in my own
game if a runner was dumb enough to use it. Generally it's a really bad idea
because once those rating points are gone, their gone permanently. Only case
where it would make sense is a life or death situation. BTW, you can only buy
success for tests that the focus could normally affect, and yes this means
weapon foci affect combat.

Rook
(woneal@*******.net)

--- When the Man with the Hoe rises up to judge this world after the Silence of the
centuries, let
him not find me lacking in merit.

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