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Message no. 1
From: Hahns Shin Hahns_Shin@*******.com
Subject: Versatility/Specialization was Re: Decker Mage
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 16:24:56 -0500
>An anesthesiologist always has work. How many medical procedures require
>anesthesia? On the otherside, does every `run require a decker, or a
>rigger? Or even a mage?
Umm, did you even READ my post? I said don't take the metaphor too
seriously. I'm not trying to support an argument here... I'm just giving
examples out of my ass. If in your campaign, you think versatility is
better, then have at it. That's not how all SR campaigns work, and that's
not how all situations in real life works, either. If people didn't
specialize, this world and the 6th world would be in trouble. Same thing
with versatility. If people didn't diversify, both worlds would be missing
a lot.
I agree with you in many aspects of your argument... but there is something
to be said about specialization. When a character in the books or novels
says "I need a decker", they don't run off to find a decker/rigger/mage...
they find the best damned decker who ever punched electrons. Mages are
supposedly so rare, that people take what they can get because the Talent
alone makes them valuable. Your characters sound like the independent type,
and I respect that. But there is something to be said about relying on
others. Trust, loyalty, all these are attributes that are put to the test
when roleplaying SR. I, personally, create versatile characters (to the
point of cheese). But some players in my group specialize into their role
and become even more useful than if they picked up Unarmed combat off-hand
or a couple points of Pistols.

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