| From: | Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: riggers and other probs. |
| Date: | Thu, 20 May 1993 11:01:59 -0400 |
am just trying to shed a little light on how I view things.
> Date: Thu, 20 May 1993 00:10:00 PDT
> From: Dave The Shade <IZZYUX2@*******.BITNET>
> Why do riggers need different cyberware than deckers. After all you'd think
> that being in VR and having piloting (I include driving, flying, etc.. in the
> word piloting) skills would be all thats needed. Deckers use jacks in order to
> recieve instant VR conceptual views of the matrix and their actions in it.
> Riggers also use jacks for the same reason - but just like deckers still have
t
> o program, riggers still pilot in the same way as regular. If the jack allows
> brain/machine interface why do you need a whole rig along the nerves ? what I'
m
> suggesting is that it seems Deckers and Riggers should have the same cyberware
> - different skills - thats all.
I think you don't quite see what a Vehicle Control Rig and a Rigged
Vehicle really are. From the SR books (Blue, Black, and etc.), the VCR
(Vehicle Control Rig) contains sensors, and such to detect muscular
and neural impulses. Rigged Vehicles contain hardware to control
vehicle functions, everything from lights to doors. The rigger
interface is much more complex than the decker (simsense) interface.
The decker only has a one direction link (to him from the deck). Were
as a rigger has a two way interface (to/from him to/from vehicle). The
standard controls for rigged vehicles differ greatly from non-rigged
vehicles. This is evident from the books also. Both the Rigger Black
Book, SRI and II big books, and the novels. Rigged vehicles have
pretty much just jacks to connect to. Maybe I am misinterpreting this,
but I don't think so. My group has always played it like this. And it
seems to make sense with the definition of VCRs.
> Second, how do you GMs incorporate Riggers in your games. To me Riggers
> pose many of the same problems as Deckers. You have to create the scenario,
> then go back and add on things for a rigger to do. Riggers, as characters with
> a certain menu of skills, don't seem to be easily incorporated into an adventu
r
> e or Shadow group. How do you create a unified team/game where the rigger is
> not an "add-on".
As a GM you should not MAKE things for the rigger/decker/mage to do.
Let the player find what to do. Riggers can use drones, drive a get
away vehicle, or be Mr. Fixit. (They should have some B/R skills). GMs
should make up the scenario and let the players figure out how to use
there skills the best. After all, this is what players are supposed to
do.
> Speaking about character problems. I would like to talk about strategies of
> character advancement. In my games, after a long while, the characters eventua
l
> ly become very important internationally influential figures. For instance, in
> the longest game I ever ran, 3 years straight, the PCs eventually grew very po
w
> erful. One became a noble of the Tir and was even apponted as the Dark Sentine
l
> - the guardian of all the ancient elven lore in the catacombs below the main
> palace. Another found that he was a hereditary Chieftain of a powerful Scottis
h
> tribe, another became president of a large megacorp, etc...
> What do you guys think about this Player vs. Cog strategy. Should PCs becom
e
> Major Players in the world eventually or remain Cogs in the machine. What are
> the advantages or disadvantages of these PC advancement strategies. I'd really
> like to here from you guys - maybe start a little discussion on this topic.
>
I see no real big problem with letting characters become big in the
world. But I think the GM could really make this the ultimate
Role-Playing take off. If people become directors of megacorps, major
royalty, or such, the headaches should be there. As a head of a corp,
the player would have to deal with backstabbing unders, other
shadorunners, people from the past looking for a free ride, keeping
the company above water, making a profit to keep the board happy, and
most of all OTHER corps. As royalty, much of the same, but add in
public opinion, scandal, etc. These are great for making kill puppy
characters settle down. "Sir, being the Duke of Wendshire does not
allow you to tell the Queen she needs to loose a few pounds!" I think
it is more fitting for characters to stay Cogs in that great wheel.
Because a history of shadowrunning could be a big element for
blackmail. Image the head of Renraku being known publicly as an
ex-Mercenary. I hear the board of directors clamouring for upheaval
and the stock dropping a few points.
> >_>_>_>>KHANx>>>_>>_>
> Absolute Power . . . the Ambrosia of the Gods
>
-- Quiktek
a.k.a. Todd Montgomery
tmont@****.wvu.edu
tmont@***.wvu.edu
un032507@*******.wvnet.edu
