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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Dennis E Watson <dew6171@****.ACNS.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Running and the military
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 00:02:00 EST
Greetings.
Well, now that the big argument about cyber in the military has finally
died, after a long period of lingering, I would like to ask a question.
How much does the military really figure into a shadowrun game, and,
even more importantly, a shadowrunner's life.
It would seem that a reasonable percentage of shadowrunners come from a
military background. Most of these are really just mercs, who rely on
firepower as much as they do stealth and style. Some are the kind of
shadowrunner popularized in corporate myth, the "they came, they stole,
and nobody knew until inventory time" runners who use stealth and style
all the way. But how often are runners up against the military, or even
in contact with it? I can count on one hand the number of times my
runners have interacted with military personell on a run. How about you
guys? What role does the military play in the shadowrun world.
And for the love of god, lets not have this devolve back to that other
argument. I don't think any opinions were changed, and I don't think any
opinions would be changed by a second round of festering on the subject.
We all know where we stand. I'm curious about the role of the military,
not how they carry out that role.
Thanks in advance,

Dennis E. Watson
Message no. 2
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Running and the military
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 00:35:45 -0600
> Well, now that the big argument about cyber in the military has finally
>died, after a long period of lingering, I would like to ask a question.

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

No? OK.

> How much does the military really figure into a shadowrun game, and,
>even more importantly, a shadowrunner's life.

I would say very little except as describing the background (hence providing
a basis by which to judge other elements of your campaign) or specifically
designed as an integral part of a run.

> It would seem that a reasonable percentage of shadowrunners come from a
>military background. Most of these are really just mercs, who rely on

Nah. Most of the Shadowrunners from a military background are pretty
unreasonable :)

>But how often are runners up against the military, or even
>in contact with it?

I would hope not very often. But don't let me discourage you from putting
the 'runners through an industrial-grade Hell.

shadowrun started out with the emphasis on the corps. However, there's no
reason runners can't be hired to do a deal on the government, especially if
the government in quesiton is proscribed as being weaker than the corps.
The runners may have to steal tax records, or steal back data that the
government may intend to reveal to other, rival corp. . .the gov can do
just as many nasty things as any given corp. Furthermore, a run may involve
paramilitary confrontation, such as dealing with the modern day IRA and
having to fight contingents of the British Army. . .

I agree, the full force of the military probably shouldn't be unleashed on
the PCs, but that's no reason for them not to be a target. If anything, it's
an incentive to be Real Quiet about it.

J Roberson
Message no. 3
From: Erik Hultgren <EHULTGRE@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Running and the military
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 18:56:54 EST
My players were smart enough to stay away from the military. And since my
military has elite units that would kick the sh*t out of most runners, they
wouldn't need to hire them. Although it is a possibilty....

The thought of running into the military should intimidate most runners, I thin
k.

-warlok

"..you listen here, Mister Thick-as-a-whale-omelet!!!!!.."
Message no. 4
From: Ben Jordan <jordanbd@***.BELOIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Running and the military
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 20:47:00 +22310502
The party I am with has never had contact with the military at all. Our
cha.'s all came from the streets or from "shadowy backgrounds" that we never
talk about. We tend to try to run parties as if we were young and
inexperenced and just out there to make a name for our selves. I guess we
don't think much of personal backgrounds, just of the experences of the
party as a whole.

We actually don't have much contact with the police either. We just had one
party which kind of fought with then all the time. We avoid them now. We
try not to even start fights unless we are pretty sure we can leave before
the police get there (or corp reinforcements).

Except for trying to get a hold of some military grade equipment some times
we have nothing to do with the military. And we get the equipment from
Fixers, so we never know where it comes from.

Probably best if it stays that way.
--

Ben-ha-meen
--i feel evil. like, that i am evil, not that
i feel an evil presence or something--

james mcculloch

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These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.