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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: MC23 <mc23@****.NET>
Subject: SOTA and Availablity
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 00:41:01 -0500
I've started wondering when technology (or SOTA in general) becomes
available timewise. In timeline specific campaigns it is important to
know when such things are available to know what is allowable. We've seen
how Shadowrun's technology has been improving along a general guideline
with the release of sourcebooks but the full ramifications can still be
fleshed out further. Things like alphaware and betaware are now being
outshadowed by gammaware. Bioware was once cutting edge enhancement is
slowly becoming more commonplace. What I am proposing is that available
resources at CharGen should start to consider SOTA for availablity. In a
2058 campaign alphaware and possibly betaware and even bioware could be
valid options at CharGen. During campaign play SOTA should also affect
street cost and avialabity target numbers when it first becomes
available. I am going to try to add a SOTA timeline to the master
equipment list (as well as a line for what book the item appeared in) for
these reasons.
Of course I would appreciate feedback on how these things could have
effect. And I would only recommend it for those who like the extra detail
you would get with all the extra bookkeeping.

>>NOT SO SUBTLE HINT FOR THOSE FASA GUYS<<

It would be great is there was a Shadowrun Companion every, let's
say, 2 years roughly that had such a full equipment list with a SOTA and
sourcebook referencing chart included in it. Don't be confused by me
requesting future Shadowrun Companions. I liked what the first one tried
to do, I just believe it failed in it's delivery. I don't think the idea
of a companion should be a one shot deal. Of course the Rolemaster system
does illustrate when such an idea can be overdone.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Ancient cultures believed that names held great power, personal names
more so and they were guarded very closely. To protect themselves, they
answered to another name, because if another discovered their real name,
it could be used against them.
History repeats itself.
Welcome to the Digital Age.
I am MC23
Message no. 2
From: Lady Jestyr <jestyr@*******.DIALIX.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: SOTA and Availablity
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:03:25 +1100
> fleshed out further. Things like alphaware and betaware are now being
> outshadowed by gammaware. Bioware was once cutting edge enhancement is

Gammaware? Only if you're REALLY rich. I've never seen a PC with it...

> 2058 campaign alphaware and possibly betaware and even bioware could be
> valid options at CharGen. During campaign play SOTA should also affect

I think they're valid options at chargen even if they're earlier than
2058. S/Tech is based in what? 2054? That means any starting campaign
from 2054 should theoretically have access to them.

Of course, we're a very self-limiting group - we try to stay within the
realms of fairness and limit ourselves, instead of the GM having to be
exceptionally tough. Still, we start out generally with full access to
the gear available for the time - provided one's character background
has a very valid excuse for having it...


Lady Jestyr

-----------------------------------------------
A titanic intellect in a world full of icebergs
-----------------------------------------------
Elle Holmes jestyr@*******.dialix.com.au
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1503/
http://jestyr.home.ml.org/
-----------------------------------------------
Now a Geocities Times Square Community Leader!
-----------------------------------------------
Message no. 3
From: "Faux Pas (Thomas)" <thomas@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: SOTA and Availablity
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:18:21 -0600
On 12:41 AM 3/23/97 -0500, MC23 screamed at the world:
> >>NOT SO SUBTLE HINT FOR THOSE FASA GUYS<<
>
> It would be great is there was a Shadowrun Companion every, let's
>say, 2 years roughly that had such a full equipment list with a SOTA and
>sourcebook referencing chart included in it. Don't be confused by me
>requesting future Shadowrun Companions. I liked what the first one tried
>to do, I just believe it failed in it's delivery. I don't think the idea
>of a companion should be a one shot deal. Of course the Rolemaster system
>does illustrate when such an idea can be overdone.

FASAMike, this also would work well with that shelved Sixth World Almanac
idea you mentioned about a year ago.


-Thomas Deeny
telltale.hart.org

"He weeps for he has one small tongue with which to taste the world."
Message no. 4
From: MC23 <mc23@****.NET>
Subject: Re: SOTA and Availablity
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 09:08:28 -0500
Lady Jestyr wrote,
>I think they're valid options at chargen even if they're earlier than
>2058. S/Tech is based in what? 2054? That means any starting campaign
>from 2054 should theoretically have access to them.

I've never allowed starting characters to buy alphaware and betaware
since originally you had to hunt to find a clinic that could even do it.
Bioware, since Shadowtech first said to never allow it at CharGen, I have
only allowed after the game began. With Smartlink 2, why would anyone one
have a regular smartlink. I don't veiw most new characters as being fresh
out of the clinic, so how could they have access to what just hit the
shelf so to speak.

>Of course, we're a very self-limiting group - we try to stay within the
>realms of fairness and limit ourselves, instead of the GM having to be
>exceptionally tough. Still, we start out generally with full access to
>the gear available for the time - provided one's character background
>has a very valid excuse for having it...

There you go, a _valid_ excuse. That would consider SOTA and it's
accessability. What I am proposing is a sort of an optional guideline to
help determine what fits that realm. Sourcebook dates are a quick
reference but some things have been around longer than when the
sourcebook was "issued". Items from Fields of Fire and the Rigger's Black
Book (and the upcoming RBB2 should as well) have material that isn't
cutting edge but standard material that wasn't covered until FASA wrote a
sourcebook on it.
The other thing this SOTA chart would help create would have an
option besides what is available and what isn't, which would be creating
a difficulty in aquiring the latest in SOTA (higher target numbers and
price depending on location and time). Mass production takes a while
before all the street docs have access to it. After a while this would
level out and normal availablities would apply.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Ancient cultures believed that names held great power, personal names
more so and they were guarded very closely. To protect themselves, they
answered to another name, because if another discovered their real name,
it could be used against them.
History repeats itself.
Welcome to the Digital Age.
I am MC23
Message no. 5
From: David Hinkley <dhinkley@***.ORG>
Subject: Re: SOTA and Availablity
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 00:16:34 +0000
> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:18:21 -0600
> From: "Faux Pas (Thomas)" <thomas@*******.COM>
> Subject: Re: SOTA and Availablity

> On 12:41 AM 3/23/97 -0500, MC23 screamed at the world:
> > >>NOT SO SUBTLE HINT FOR THOSE FASA GUYS<<
> >
> > It would be great is there was a Shadowrun Companion every, let's
> >say, 2 years roughly that had such a full equipment list with a SOTA and
> >sourcebook referencing chart included in it.[SNIP]

> FASAMike, this also would work well with that shelved Sixth World Almanac
> idea you mentioned about a year ago.
>
Add some new gear, vehicles, weapons and other toys (Like the gear
in NAGRL or Cyberpunks Chromebooks) and you would have a real winner.



David Hinkley
dhinkley@***.org

====================================================
Those who are too intelligent to engage in politics
are punished by being governed by those who are not
--Plato

Further Reading

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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.

Thwap!