| From: | K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | [SR3]MC's Incessent Ranting/Speed vs. Skill |
| Date: | Wed, 12 Aug 1998 13:40:51 EDT |
DeckerL@******.COM writes:
> > The use of pool dice changed.
> >Yea, they only refresh at the beginning of the turn, but other than
> >that, no. It's a tactical decision. No rules need to be changed.
> Not to defend MC23 (he doesn't need it). We've all complained
> about the melee combat system. I think the biggest gripe is
> not that we don't agree with the changes, but that they didn't
> try and fix it. The pool dice refresh makes sense, and personally
> I go for skill over speed. Since speed in this case is reaction, not
> pure speed (as someone else commented). Skilled can become
> learned and become reaction, but even if you are incredibly fast
> but your skill level makes you wrong, you have problems.
> What I'm saying is even if you react 20 times, for my 1 action.
> If your skill level lets you do the wrong thing 20 times, and mine
> lets me due the right thing once, you loose. (The counterattack
> is the problem, but is realistic to me..so)
> Damn, I'm rambling. This is all IMHO, and I've only read SR3
> and not tested it yet..so ignore me at your leisure.
Lehlan, MC, everyone, may I suggest that all involved in the "Speed vs. Skill"
thread consider this please.
The game mechanics of combat, any game mechanics, are not going to be able to
mimic to a believable sense any real combat situation. They are meant to
replicate, or give a desired feel, to a game system. That is why so many
concepts that are found in Martial Arts (various forms) are simply not
recognizable. Listening (reading) what people put into this stuff is so
heavily tainted by all of your own personal bias/opinion, that it is no wonder
Mike and the others have left this stuff out of the SR3 book. It would get
heavily lost to any of the newer player potential.
Yes, it would get their attention (ah, cool, I can do a roundhouse kick that
does +1 damage level to the guy). But it also degrades the basic intent and
form of the game itself. Yes, it would add color. Yes, it could attract more
people. But then you would not be playing shadowrun in the eyes of the
designers and developers. You would be playing a combat simulations game.
Shadowrun has combat within it, and yes, it does keep people's attention. But
as Mike says..."we don't play the game for the rules, we play it for the
world." This is one major example of such.
He openly admitted at least once that I caught that the new combat system in
SR3 is designed to get more people involved, and to create a back-and-forth
dynamic, not a "I can slay you before you move dynamic".
That is probably what is getting to Tim (Drekhead) in some part. By ranting
and raving about speed MC, you are definitely putting yourself in the "Scene
Stealer" aspect as I once said. You want more realism to the game IYV (in
your view), but in so doing, you are actually removing what would, to the
greater gaming community, merely be a continuation of the group
enjoyment/involvement theme. By moving so blindingly, terrifyingly, fast,
especially in the SR2 rules, you were without a doubt having a character or
few characters that would do everything, while the rest of the group sat back
and got utterly bored, or worse still, frustrated.
Ranks right up there with Matrix Activities in my book actually....
So my suggestion would be to well and truly go beyond the perceived desire for
realism, and go for the better enjoyment of all involved. I think that is why
so many of the "TWWTGC" group actually seemed to enjoy the newer combat (not
all, just several of them), and those that didn't, at least comprehended that
the new system would get more people involved.
And be glad this ain't First Ed...you would be absolutely limited to 4
actions, regardless of how high everyone went on those dice rolls...
-K
