| From: | The Great Cornholio <ChemPhD2Be@***.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Specializations (rant included) |
| Date: | Thu, 24 Sep 1998 03:31:54 EDT |
<< As if magicians needed to be any stronger ... sigh.
--Adam >>
You know, this whole thing is a toss-up. If I may compare to D&D, it can be
said that mages there are weak at first, then get wickedly strong as they
advance in levels. Fighters start off buff, but as time goes on, their brawn
only goes so far.
Same seems to be with SR. Sam's have the advantage of cyber. It's fast..
it's cheap.. and it can make you an efficeint killing machine with 20 karma.
A mage has to work at becoming awesome. Spells cost karma, foci cost karma,
saving your ass costs karma, bonding allys costs karma, intitiating costs
karma, going to the toilet costs karma, etc... Sams improve their attributes
or skills or save thier hide with karma. It's the name of the game. And to
keep up, they have to buy more and more cyber, or better and better cyber.
It's all a balancing act.
But don't be misled! Powerful characters have little to do with the number of
spells they have, or the fact that their cyber-modified strength is 25. A
powerful character is one who thinks and roleplays well. Diversity and humor
are the essence of the game, and I can't stress that enough, because that's
when the game is most enjoyable. And likable characters are ones *everyone*
wants to keep around, the GM and players alike. The guy who brings in the
Troll killing machine and grunts alot and rolls dice all night gets bored and
the next night brings in the Ork killing machine. We all know it's the same
character.. Johnny hack & slash. It's a weak character because, survival or
not, he's not going to be around long.
Hmmm.. I seem to be ranting again.. :-) In summary, good characters are
personalities. And powerful characters are powerful personalities, regardless
of who they are. It's the most enjoyable aspect of a roleplaying game.
*getting off the soapbox*
TGC
