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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: dhinkley@***.org
Subject: Sam vs Mage vs Phys Ads et al
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 00:04:39 -0700 (PDT)
In many respects arguments of this type are of little value. It is
possible to postulate a situation (and a reasonable sounding one at that) in
which a given character type (or at least a representative of that type) can
defeat all comers with one hand tied behind his back. The character types
ability to do so does not particuly prove anything.

In theory, Shadowrun is a balanced game in terms of character classes.
That is each class has advantages and disadvantages that are intended to balance
them out and make all the classes relatively equal in game value. Like most
human endeavors, the Shadowrun game system is not perfect in that area. FASA is
still tinkering around the edges trying to make it so.

This brings us to possibly the only value of those never ending
(possibly because they are not winnable) arguments, showing up any unbalancing
effect of a new source or rule book from FASA. As I believe there are better
formats for discussions of that type, I don't realy see the need for filling
band width with these never ending arguments. I would not morn their passing
should these argument go the way of discussions on the nature of magic. [Yes,
this a less then subtle hint to the powers that be. :)]

David Hinkley
dhinkley@***.org
Message no. 2
From: TopCat <topcat@******.net>
Subject: Re: Sam vs Mage vs Phys Ads et al
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 18:59:17 -0500
> In theory, Shadowrun is a balanced game in terms of character classes.
>That is each class has advantages and disadvantages that are intended to
balance
>them out and make all the classes relatively equal in game value. Like most
>human endeavors, the Shadowrun game system is not perfect in that area.
FASA is
>still tinkering around the edges trying to make it so.

Shadowrun is pretty close to balanced all around IF (and only if) all
current rules for character creation are employed. If one aspect is limited
in any way, it hurts those who live by it greatly. If one aspect is allowed
to run rampant, it hurts the game all around.

That's one of the things I've been getting at (over and over and over
again), that many GM's let magic run rampant while limiting technology.

Also, side note time...

I noticed that several people have decided that they don't like the thread
and seem to take every moment possible to point out that they do not like
the thread. To this I say two words "kill file".

-------------------------------------
"I was thinking of the immortal words
of Socrates, who said: I drank what?"
-- Real Genius
-------------------------------------
TopCat at the bottom...

Further Reading

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Disclaimer

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.

Thwap!