Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.ac.uk>
Subject: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 14:36:50 +0100 (BST)
On Tue, 24 Sep 1996, Sascha Pabst wrote:

> You can even go higher, even a force 4 Watcher should be doable. After all,
> you need 2 fours in your willpower test. And show me the magician who doesn't
> manage _this_ :-)
Yes but not many magicians have a conjuring of 8 (necessary to get a Force
4 Watcher, 1 point of force per 2 successes) :)
Thats why my house rule is 1 point of force per success.

> > My mage eldritch uses watchers all teh time, as he never astrally
> > perceives or projects (he's paranoid of attacks and groundings), they see
> > the astral and tell eldritch what they see. They usually appear as cats,
> > crows, and rats.
> You are lucky - mine appear as the blops described in "Burning Bright" -
just
> spheres with _large_ eyes and mouthes. I am always happy if at least my nature
> spirits choose a somewhat serious form... :-/
I remember teh first Watcher I described in a non-human form. The runners
were doing Harlequin and were in teh Amazon, they were approaching some
natives on teh river (both PCs and natives were in boats) and teh shaman
sent a watcher in teh form of a humming bird to communicate teh intentions
of teh natives.


The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"Life is a choice, Death....an obligation."-Me
Shadowrun WWW site at http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun
Message no. 2
From: chaos@*****.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 17:16:08 -0500 (EST)
>> > My mage eldritch uses watchers all teh time, as he never astrally
>> > perceives or projects (he's paranoid of attacks and groundings), they see
>> > the astral and tell eldritch what they see. They usually appear as cats,
>> > crows, and rats.
>> You are lucky - mine appear as the blops described in "Burning Bright"
-
just
>> spheres with _large_ eyes and mouthes. I am always happy if at least my
nature
>> spirits choose a somewhat serious form... :-/
>I remember teh first Watcher I described in a non-human form. The runners
>were doing Harlequin and were in teh Amazon, they were approaching some
>natives on teh river (both PCs and natives were in boats) and teh shaman
>sent a watcher in teh form of a humming bird to communicate teh intentions
>of teh natives.
>
In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always have a
distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that week,
And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
personality...:)


#######################################################
# -Bull, aka Chaos, aka Rak, aka Steven Ratkovich #
# chaos@*****.com #
# Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any fours? #
#######################################################

"You do more damage out of simple irritation than most
men can do in a towering rage."
-David Eddings, "Demon Lord of Karanda
Message no. 3
From: "Sascha Pabst" <Sascha.Pabst@**********.Uni-Oldenburg.DE>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 06:41:14 +0000
On 25 Sep 96 at 14:36, The Digital Mage wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Sep 1996, Sascha Pabst wrote:
> > You can even go higher, even a force 4 Watcher should be doable. After all,
> > you need 2 fours in your willpower test. And show me the magician who doesn't
> > manage _this_ :-)
> Yes but not many magicians have a conjuring of 8 (necessary to get a Force
> 4 Watcher, 1 point of force per 2 successes) :)
> Thats why my house rule is 1 point of force per success.
_Good_ house rule! Hello, GM, can we... oh, I am GM right now? Naw, stupid
rule, we stay by the book! :-)


Sascha
--
+---___---------+----------------------------------------+--------------------+
| / / _______ | Jhary-a-Conel aka Sascha Pabst |The one who does not|
| / /_/ ____/ |Sascha.Pabst@**********.Uni-Oldenburg.de| learn from history |
| \___ __/ | | is bound to live |
|==== \_/ ======| *Wearing hats is just a way of life* | through it again. |
|LOGOUT FASCISM!| - Me | G. Santayana |
+------------- http://www.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de/~jhary -----------------+
Message no. 4
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 22:56:16 -0700
The Digital Mage wrote:
>
> On Tue, 24 Sep 1996, Sascha Pabst wrote:
>
> > You can even go higher, even a force 4 Watcher should be doable. After all,
> > you need 2 fours in your willpower test. And show me the magician who doesn't
> > manage _this_ :-)
> Yes but not many magicians have a conjuring of 8 (necessary to get a Force
> 4 Watcher, 1 point of force per 2 successes) :)
> Thats why my house rule is 1 point of force per success.

Grimoire II says you can use centering on the drain for wathcers, how
about for successes?


@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 5
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 23:49:59 -0700
Steven Ratkovich wrote:
>
> >> > My mage eldritch uses watchers all teh time, as he never astrally
> >> > perceives or projects (he's paranoid of attacks and groundings), they
see
> >> > the astral and tell eldritch what they see. They usually appear as
cats,
> >> > crows, and rats.
> >> You are lucky - mine appear as the blops described in "Burning
Bright" -
> just
> >> spheres with _large_ eyes and mouthes. I am always happy if at least my
> nature
> >> spirits choose a somewhat serious form... :-/
> >I remember teh first Watcher I described in a non-human form. The runners
> >were doing Harlequin and were in teh Amazon, they were approaching some
> >natives on teh river (both PCs and natives were in boats) and teh shaman
> >sent a watcher in teh form of a humming bird to communicate teh intentions
> >of teh natives.
> >
> In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always have a
> distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that week,
> And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
> personality...:)

Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
of Bonus Fricks...

Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
consciousness???)
@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 6
From: The Jestyr <s421539@*******.gu.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 16:57:57 +1000 (EST)
> Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> of Bonus Fricks...

*falling over laughing*

I love your GM. If you're the GM, I love you. :) *giggle*


Lady Jestyr

------------------------------------------------------
A titanic intellect... in a world full of icebergs
------------------------------------------------------
Elle Holmes s421539@*****.student.gu.edu.au
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1503
------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 7
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 00:10:41 -0700
The Jestyr wrote:
>
> > Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> > with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> > one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> > and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> > encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> > baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> > Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> > unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> > of Bonus Fricks...
>
> *falling over laughing*
>
> I love your GM. If you're the GM, I love you. :) *giggle*
>
> Lady Jestyr

I am the GM...and I appreciate the compliment.

Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
think I've found I like GMing more...


@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 8
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 14:17:52 +0100 (BST)
On Thu, 26 Sep 1996, Loki wrote:

> Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
> or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
> think I've found I like GMing more...
>
Please, please, you're all making me feel old. :)

The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"Life is a choice, Death....an obligation."-Me
Shadowrun WWW site at http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun
Message no. 9
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 16:25:20 +0100
Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...

> Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
> or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
> think I've found I like GMing more...

Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and I
can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad as
once in seven years, I admit :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
I have another stupid question.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 10
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 10:07:09 -0700
> Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> of Bonus Fricks...
>
> Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
> Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
> consciousness???)


Actually that explains alot. And yes the Orc bartender I believe it was
knocked himself unconscious trying to kill Squib. It was beautiful. :)


Caric
Message no. 11
From: chaos@*****.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 12:57:46 -0500 (EST)
>> In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always have a
>> distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that week,
>> And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
>> particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
>> personality...:)
>
>Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
>with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
>one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
>and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
>encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
>baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
>Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
>unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
>of Bonus Fricks...
>
ROTFL!!!!:)

Sounds like a watcher my characters daughter summoned up once. It showed
up as a yellow smiley face with little tennis shoes...:)

>Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
>Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
>over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
>consciousness???)
> @>-,--'--- Loki
>
Ya know Loki, between Caric and Rookie, sounds like you got an interesting
group...:)


#######################################################
# -Bull, aka Chaos, aka Rak, aka Steven Ratkovich #
# chaos@*****.com #
# Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any fours? #
#######################################################

"You do more damage out of simple irritation than most
men can do in a towering rage."
-David Eddings, "Demon Lord of Karanda
Message no. 12
From: chaos@*****.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 13:50:36 -0500 (EST)
>Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
>
>> Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
>> or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
>> think I've found I like GMing more...
>
>Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and I
>can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad as
>once in seven years, I admit :)
>
>
Actually, I [played for 2 1/2 years before I started GMing 6 months ago...
Now I play about as often as I GM...:)


#######################################################
# -Bull, aka Chaos, aka Rak, aka Steven Ratkovich #
# chaos@*****.com #
# Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any fours? #
#######################################################

"You do more damage out of simple irritation than most
men can do in a towering rage."
-David Eddings, "Demon Lord of Karanda
Message no. 13
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 12:11:49 -0700
----------
> From: Steven Ratkovich <chaos@*****.com>
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
> Date: Thursday, September 26, 1996 10:57 AM
>
> >> In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always
have a
> >> distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that
week,
> >> And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> >> particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
> >> personality...:)
> >
> >Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> >with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> >one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> >and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> >encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> >baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> >Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> >unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> >of Bonus Fricks...
> >
> ROTFL!!!!:)
>
> Sounds like a watcher my characters daughter summoned up once. It
showed
> up as a yellow smiley face with little tennis shoes...:)
>
> >Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
> >Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> >over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
> >consciousness???)
> > @>-,--'--- Loki
> >
> Ya know Loki, between Caric and Rookie, sounds like you got an
interesting
> group...:)
>
Thanks for the compliment Steve, but you don't know the half of it.

nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean know what I mean


:p~~


Caric
Message no. 14
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 11:14:56 -0700
Gurth wrote:
>
> Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
>
> > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
> > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
> > think I've found I like GMing more...
>
> Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and I
> can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad as
> once in seven years, I admit :)

I wouldn't say it's bad I have only PC'd Shadowrun once in seven years,
just found my calling I guess. :o) I did get to play a Windling Thief
in Earthdawn all of about four times before or GM for it just proved
totally unreliable...

@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 15
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 12:23:08 -0700
----------
> From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
> Date: Thursday, September 26, 1996 11:14 AM
>
> Gurth wrote:
> >
> > Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
> >
> > > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is
that...6
> > > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night.
I
> > > think I've found I like GMing more...
> >
> > Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and
I
> > can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad
as
> > once in seven years, I admit :)
>
> I wouldn't say it's bad I have only PC'd Shadowrun once in seven years,
> just found my calling I guess. :o) I did get to play a Windling Thief
> in Earthdawn all of about four times before or GM for it just proved
> totally unreliable...
>
> @>-,--'--- Loki
>
Your calling.....? Hmmm interesting way to put it o-great and powerful Oz



Caric of the Kookie Brotherhood of the Moon
Message no. 16
From: Rookie <rookie@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 11:29:13 -0600
> > Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
> >
> > > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
> > > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
> > > think I've found I like GMing more...

Loki wasn't the time you PC'ed when I was the GM at ASU?
Message no. 17
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 11:49:09 -0700
Steven Ratkovich wrote:
>
> >> In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always have a
> >> distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that week,
> >> And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> >> particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
> >> personality...:)
> >
> >Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> >with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> >one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> >and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> >encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> >baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> >Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> >unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> >of Bonus Fricks...
> >
> ROTFL!!!!:)
>
> Sounds like a watcher my characters daughter summoned up once. It showed
> up as a yellow smiley face with little tennis shoes...:)
>
> >Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
> >Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> >over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
> >consciousness???)
> > @>-,--'--- Loki
> >
> Ya know Loki, between Caric and Rookie, sounds like you got an interesting
> group...:)

Yup, I've lucked out. Our core group consists of Caric, Rookie and Seth
(not on the mailing list). We've been together about three years and the
guys are into actually role-playing, comic relief at times, and know the
ends and outs of the game enough to help keep things running and let me
focus more on GM duties. It's a good mix.

@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 18
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 12:01:45 -0700
Caric wrote:
<SNIP comments on GMing more than playing>
> > > > think I've found I like GMing more...
> > >
> > > Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and
> I
> > > can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad
> as
> > > once in seven years, I admit :)
> >
> > I wouldn't say it's bad I have only PC'd Shadowrun once in seven years,
> > just found my calling I guess. :o) I did get to play a Windling Thief
> > in Earthdawn all of about four times before or GM for it just proved
> > totally unreliable...
> >
> > @>-,--'--- Loki
> >
> Your calling.....? Hmmm interesting way to put it o-great and powerful Oz
>
> Caric of the Kookie Brotherhood of the Moon

Afterall I am the story teller...or was that the walrus?


@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 19
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 12:03:13 -0700
Rookie wrote:
>
> > > Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
> > >
> > > > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is
that...6
> > > > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
> > > > think I've found I like GMing more...
>
> Loki wasn't the time you PC'ed when I was the GM at ASU?

<Nod> And I spent about 1/3 the game harrassing the vampire slitch the
P!ssed Loki me off...<wink>

I've noticed my PCing style falls mostly into the role-payer/loonie
category...

@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 20
From: bluewizard@*****.com (Steven A. Tinner)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 16:10:18 -0500 (EST)
>I've noticed my PCing style falls mostly into the role-payer/loonie
>category...

I've noticed that the closer to Loony the GM gets, the more fun the game
becomes.
Unless he goes all the way over to loony, then things get ugly. :-)

(Oh yeah, I AM a loony both IC and RL)

WHoohoohoohoohoo!!!!! <daffy duck noises>
Message no. 21
From: Caric <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 14:16:10 -0700
Loki wrote:
>
> Steven Ratkovich wrote:
> >
> > >> In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always
have a
> > >> distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that
week,
> > >> And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> > >> particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
> > >> personality...:)
> > >
> > >Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> > >with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> > >one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> > >and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> > >encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> > >baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> > >Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> > >unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> > >of Bonus Fricks...
> > >
> > ROTFL!!!!:)
> >
> > Sounds like a watcher my characters daughter summoned up once. It showed
> > up as a yellow smiley face with little tennis shoes...:)
> >
> > >Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
> > >Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> > >over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
> > >consciousness???)
> > > @>-,--'--- Loki
> > >
> > Ya know Loki, between Caric and Rookie, sounds like you got an interesting
> > group...:)
>
> Yup, I've lucked out. Our core group consists of Caric, Rookie and Seth
> (not on the mailing list). We've been together about three years and the
> guys are into actually role-playing, comic relief at times, and know the
> ends and outs of the game enough to help keep things running and let me
> focus more on GM duties. It's a good mix.
>
> @>-,--'--- Loki
>
Garsh <blush>


Caric
Message no. 22
From: Caric <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 14:19:17 -0700
Loki wrote:
>
> Caric wrote:
> <SNIP comments on GMing more than playing>
> > > > > think I've found I like GMing more...
> > > >
> > > > Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and
> > I
> > > > can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as
bad
> > as
> > > > once in seven years, I admit :)
> > >
> > > I wouldn't say it's bad I have only PC'd Shadowrun once in seven years,
> > > just found my calling I guess. :o) I did get to play a Windling Thief
> > > in Earthdawn all of about four times before or GM for it just proved
> > > totally unreliable...
> > >
> > > @>-,--'--- Loki
> > >
> > Your calling.....? Hmmm interesting way to put it o-great and powerful Oz
> >
> > Caric of the Kookie Brotherhood of the Moon
>
> Afterall I am the story teller...or was that the walrus?
>
> @>-,--'--- Loki
Coo Coo Cah Choo

Caric
Message no. 23
From: Rookie <rookie@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 13:30:59 -0600
Loki wrote:
>
> Rookie wrote:
> >
> > > > Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
> > > >
> > > > > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is
that...6
> > > > > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming
night. I
> > > > > think I've found I like GMing more...
> >
> > Loki wasn't the time you PC'ed when I was the GM at ASU?
>
> <Nod> And I spent about 1/3 the game harrassing the vampire slitch the
> P!ssed Loki me off...<wink>
>
> I've noticed my PCing style falls mostly into the role-payer/loonie
> category...
>


The Vampire chick was supposed to be the nice one. You made her the bad
person. After all that was the first time GMing Shadowrun..It was sortta
fun thought I didn't do to bad. But then again look who I learned from.

-Rookie
Message no. 24
From: Jamie Houston <s430472@*******.gu.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 11:03:06 +1000 (EST)
On Wed, 25 Sep 1996, Loki wrote:

> Steven Ratkovich wrote:
> >
> > >> > My mage eldritch uses watchers all teh time, as he never astrally
> > >> > perceives or projects (he's paranoid of attacks and groundings),
they see
> > >> > the astral and tell eldritch what they see. They usually appear as
cats,
> > >> > crows, and rats.
> > >> You are lucky - mine appear as the blops described in "Burning
Bright" -
> > just
> > >> spheres with _large_ eyes and mouthes. I am always happy if at least my
> > nature
> > >> spirits choose a somewhat serious form... :-/
> > >I remember teh first Watcher I described in a non-human form. The runners
> > >were doing Harlequin and were in teh Amazon, they were approaching some
> > >natives on teh river (both PCs and natives were in boats) and teh shaman
> > >sent a watcher in teh form of a humming bird to communicate teh intentions
> > >of teh natives.
> > >
> > In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always have a
> > distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that week,
> > And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> > particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
> > personality...:)
>
> Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> of Bonus Fricks...
>
> Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
> Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
> consciousness???)
> @>-,--'--- Loki
>

ROTFLOL!! I just scared everyone in this computer lab by laughing so loud!
Are you taking notes Craig? *grin*

What is the importance of bonus fricks?

Hamish, the cackling Scot


______________________________________________________________________
Jamie Houston * "If a kid asks why it's raining,
aka Bollox, Hamish,(and * a cute thing to tell him is "God is
lots of other unmentionable * crying"...And if he asks why God is
pseudonyms) * crying, another cute thing to tell
s430472@*****.student.gu.edu.au * him is "It's probably something
Griffith Uni * you did!"
______________________________________________________________________
Message no. 25
From: Jamie Houston <s430472@*******.gu.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 11:10:45 +1000 (EST)
On Thu, 26 Sep 1996, Gurth wrote:

> Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96... > > > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since
it's first release. What is that...6 > > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only
been a PC once for one gaming night. I > > think I've found I like GMing
more... > > Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years
now, and I > can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers...
Not as bad as > once in seven years, I admit :)

> I've been playing for
over a year now and I haven't GMed yet...I don't think I ever will
really....I much prefer to be a player, and GMing really doesn't suit me.
Also, I think if I became a GM it would take all the fun out of whinging
at GM's cos then I'd know how annoying it really is *grin*

Hamish

______________________________________________________________________
Jamie Houston * "If a kid asks why it's raining,
aka Bollox, Hamish,(and * a cute thing to tell him is "God is
lots of other unmentionable * crying"...And if he asks why God is
pseudonyms) * crying, another cute thing to tell
s430472@*****.student.gu.edu.au * him is "It's probably something
Griffith Uni * you did!"
______________________________________________________________________
Message no. 26
From: Jamie Houston <s430472@*******.gu.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 11:28:40 +1000 (EST)
On Thu, 26 Sep 1996, Steven A. Tinner wrote:

> >I've noticed my PCing style falls mostly into the role-payer/loonie
> >category...
>
> I've noticed that the closer to Loony the GM gets, the more fun the game
> becomes.

Have to agree there....we're working on loonyfying old Craig...is that a
word? Loonyfying? Anyway...we are trying to make him nuts! we're getting
there *grin*

> Unless he goes all the way over to loony, then things get ugly. :-)
>
could be interesting though *thoughtful, yet doubtful look*

> (Oh yeah, I AM a loony both IC and RL)

Sounds familiar =-]
>
> WHoohoohoohoohoo!!!!! <daffy duck noises>
>
Wokka wokka wokka....

Hamish, the loony Scot


______________________________________________________________________
Jamie Houston * "If a kid asks why it's raining,
aka Bollox, Hamish,(and * a cute thing to tell him is "God is
lots of other unmentionable * crying"...And if he asks why God is
pseudonyms) * crying, another cute thing to tell
s430472@*****.student.gu.edu.au * him is "It's probably something
Griffith Uni * you did!"
______________________________________________________________________
Message no. 27
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 22:07:41 -0700
Rookie wrote:
>
> Loki wrote:
> >
> > Rookie wrote:
> > >
> > > > > Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
> > > > >
> > > > > > Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What
is that...6
> > > > > > or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one
gaming night. I
> > > > > > think I've found I like GMing more...
> > >
> > > Loki wasn't the time you PC'ed when I was the GM at ASU?
> >
> > <Nod> And I spent about 1/3 the game harrassing the vampire slitch the
> > P!ssed Loki me off...<wink>
> >
> > I've noticed my PCing style falls mostly into the role-payer/loonie
> > category...
> >
>
> The Vampire chick was supposed to be the nice one. You made her the bad
> person. After all that was the first time GMing Shadowrun..It was sortta
> fun thought I didn't do to bad. But then again look who I learned from.
>
> -Rookie

Flattery will get you everwhere. ;o)


@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 28
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 22:23:58 -0700
Steven A. Tinner wrote:
>
> >I've noticed my PCing style falls mostly into the role-payer/loonie
> >category...
>
> I've noticed that the closer to Loony the GM gets, the more fun the game
> becomes.
> Unless he goes all the way over to loony, then things get ugly. :-)
>
> (Oh yeah, I AM a loony both IC and RL)
>
> WHoohoohoohoohoo!!!!! <daffy duck noises>



WARNING: GM whimsical when bored.


@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 29
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 22:46:38 -0700
Jamie Houston wrote:
>
> On Wed, 25 Sep 1996, Loki wrote:
>
> > Steven Ratkovich wrote:
> > >
> > > >> > My mage eldritch uses watchers all teh time, as he never
astrally
> > > >> > perceives or projects (he's paranoid of attacks and
groundings), they see
> > > >> > the astral and tell eldritch what they see. They usually
appear as cats,
> > > >> > crows, and rats.
> > > >> You are lucky - mine appear as the blops described in
"Burning Bright" -
> > > just
> > > >> spheres with _large_ eyes and mouthes. I am always happy if at
least my
> > > nature
> > > >> spirits choose a somewhat serious form... :-/
> > > >I remember teh first Watcher I described in a non-human form. The
runners
> > > >were doing Harlequin and were in teh Amazon, they were approaching some
> > > >natives on teh river (both PCs and natives were in boats) and teh
shaman
> > > >sent a watcher in teh form of a humming bird to communicate teh
intentions
> > > >of teh natives.
> > > >
> > > In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits always have a
> > > distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that week,
> > > And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> > > particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops a
> > > personality...:)
> >
> > Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one time
> > with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys during
> > one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> > and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> > encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the nearest
> > baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> > Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> > unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the importance
> > of Bonus Fricks...
> >
> > Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a watcher
> > Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> > over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your own
> > consciousness???)
> > @>-,--'--- Loki
> >
>
> ROTFLOL!! I just scared everyone in this computer lab by laughing so loud!
> Are you taking notes Craig? *grin*
>
> What is the importance of bonus fricks?

Bonus Fricks often come to be the deciding factor for victory in a
Rumbly Game as a Quet of Fricks allows a chance at the Blint Point
Conversion...

Squib was best able to explain it all, but alas when Caric perished
Squib was lost to us. <Growing misty eyed>

@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 30
From: Ferri_Pagano_at_STRM__Amsterdam1@******.com
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 96 09:40:09 EST
At 12:29 26-09-96 EST, you wrote:
>The Digital Mage wrote:
>>
>> On Tue, 24 Sep 1996, Sascha Pabst wrote:
>>
>> > You can even go higher, even a force 4 Watcher should be doable. After all,
>> > you need 2 fours in your willpower test. And show me the magician who
>doesn't
>> > manage _this_ :-)
>> Yes but not many magicians have a conjuring of 8 (necessary to get a Force
>> 4 Watcher, 1 point of force per 2 successes) :)
>> Thats why my house rule is 1 point of force per success.

Now you're talking house rules. If you get house rules into discussions like
this you'll NEVER see the end of it!
Paul
Message no. 31
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 12:43:55 +0100
Steven Ratkovich said on 13:50/26 Sep 96...

> Actually, I [played for 2 1/2 years before I started GMing 6 months ago...
> Now I play about as often as I GM...:)

Yeah, but you don't count :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
I have another stupid question.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 32
From: chaos@*****.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 10:59:37 -0500 (EST)
>Steven Ratkovich said on 13:50/26 Sep 96...
>
>> Actually, I [played for 2 1/2 years before I started GMing 6 months ago...
>> Now I play about as often as I GM...:)
>
>Yeah, but you don't count :)
>
<sigh>
Damn, I knew I was missing something here...:)


#######################################################
# -Bull, aka Chaos, aka Rak, aka Steven Ratkovich #
# chaos@*****.com #
# Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any fours? #
#######################################################

"You do more damage out of simple irritation than most
men can do in a towering rage."
-David Eddings, "Demon Lord of Karanda
Message no. 33
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 11:29:31 -0700
----------
> From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
> Date: Thursday, September 26, 1996 10:46 PM
>
> Jamie Houston wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, 25 Sep 1996, Loki wrote:
> >
> > > Steven Ratkovich wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >> > My mage eldritch uses watchers all teh time, as he never
astrally
> > > > >> > perceives or projects (he's paranoid of attacks and
groundings), they see
> > > > >> > the astral and tell eldritch what they see. They usually
appear as cats,
> > > > >> > crows, and rats.
> > > > >> You are lucky - mine appear as the blops described in
"Burning
Bright" -
> > > > just
> > > > >> spheres with _large_ eyes and mouthes. I am always happy if
at
least my
> > > > nature
> > > > >> spirits choose a somewhat serious form... :-/
> > > > >I remember teh first Watcher I described in a non-human form. The
runners
> > > > >were doing Harlequin and were in teh Amazon, they were approaching
some
> > > > >natives on teh river (both PCs and natives were in boats) and teh
shaman
> > > > >sent a watcher in teh form of a humming bird to communicate teh
intentions
> > > > >of teh natives.
> > > > >
> > > > In our campiagn, the watchers are blobs (usually...), spirits
always have a
> > > > distinct personality, usually based on whatever we had watched that
week,
> > > > And elementals have no personality to start, but the more you use a
> > > > particular one, and the longer you keep it in service, it develops
a
> > > > personality...:)
> > >
> > > Ask Caric about Squib, he was a watcher his Dog Shaman summoned one
time
> > > with the simple command of distracting and annoying the bad guys
during
> > > one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of
blue
> > > and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The
> > > encounter was a bar fight, so squib bounded down the bar to the
nearest
> > > baddy and eagerly launched into a loud expose of the rules for the
> > > Rumbly Games on the Meta-plane of Wet, I believe the baddy was
> > > unconcious by the time Squib had gotten to re-iterating the
importance
> > > of Bonus Fricks...
> > >
> > > Any way Squib was so much fun, whenever it came to conjuring a
watcher
> > > Caric would usually try to bring him back. (BTW Caric, did we ever go
> > > over the fact that a watcher is supposed to be an extension of your
own
> > > consciousness???)
> > > @>-,--'--- Loki
> > >
> >
> > ROTFLOL!! I just scared everyone in this computer lab by laughing so
loud!
> > Are you taking notes Craig? *grin*
> >
> > What is the importance of bonus fricks?
>
> Bonus Fricks often come to be the deciding factor for victory in a
> Rumbly Game as a Quet of Fricks allows a chance at the Blint Point
> Conversion...
>
> Squib was best able to explain it all, but alas when Caric perished
> Squib was lost to us. <Growing misty eyed>
>
> @>-,--'--- Loki
>
Many a Rumbly game has been decided by the mere margine of the Blint point.
Indeed it was a sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad
sad
sad sad sad sad sad sad....etc. day when the mighty Caric finally fell, er,
shattered or whatever <shrug>

;~(


Caric-The-Extra-Sniffley(sp?)
Message no. 34
From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 11:55:07 -0700
Caric wrote:
<SNIP verbose section on the Rumbly Games>
> > Squib was best able to explain it all, but alas when Caric perished
> > Squib was lost to us. <Growing misty eyed>
> >
> > @>-,--'--- Loki
> >
> Many a Rumbly game has been decided by the mere margine of the Blint point.
> Indeed it was a sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad
> sad
> sad sad sad sad sad sad....etc. day when the mighty Caric finally fell, er,
> shattered or whatever <shrug>
>
> ;~(
>
> Caric-The-Extra-Sniffley(sp?)

Now you must see to it that a new legend is born...


@>-,--'--- Loki

CLARKE'S THIRD LAW:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

*********************************************
Poisoned Elves
http://www.netzone.com/~loki/
*********************************************
Message no. 35
From: chaos@*****.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 15:17:01 -0500 (EST)
>> ;~(
>>
>> Caric-The-Extra-Sniffley(sp?)

Here's a hanky, Caric, and it's even clean...;-)


#######################################################
# -Bull, aka Chaos, aka Rak, aka Steven Ratkovich #
# chaos@*****.com #
# Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any fours? #
#######################################################

"You do more damage out of simple irritation than most
men can do in a towering rage."
-David Eddings, "Demon Lord of Karanda
Message no. 36
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 13:36:47 -0700
----------
> From: Steven Ratkovich <chaos@*****.com>
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
> Date: Friday, September 27, 1996 1:17 PM
>
> >> ;~(
> >>
> >> Caric-The-Extra-Sniffley(sp?)
>
> Here's a hanky, Caric, and it's even clean...;-)
>
What a guy.


<wipe a tear>

Caric
Message no. 37
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 13:36:05 -0700
----------
> From: Loki <loki@*******.com>
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
> Date: Friday, September 27, 1996 11:55 AM
>
> Caric wrote:
> <SNIP verbose section on the Rumbly Games>
> > > Squib was best able to explain it all, but alas when Caric perished
> > > Squib was lost to us. <Growing misty eyed>
> > >
> > > @>-,--'--- Loki
> > >
> > Many a Rumbly game has been decided by the mere margine of the Blint
point.
> > Indeed it was a sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad
sad
> > sad
> > sad sad sad sad sad sad....etc. day when the mighty Caric finally fell,
er,
> > shattered or whatever <shrug>
> >
> > ;~(
> >
> > Caric-The-Extra-Sniffley(sp?)
>
> Now you must see to it that a new legend is born...
>
>
> @>-,--'--- Loki
>
You got it boss.

Caric
Message no. 38
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 13:41:59 +0100
Steven Ratkovich said on 10:59/27 Sep 96...

> <sigh>
> Damn, I knew I was missing something here...:)

All the fun involved in being a GM all the time, probably :) (Like trying
to come up with adventure ideas at two minutes' notice, because you
haven't given it any thought all week...)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
It's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 39
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 13:42:00 +0100
Caric said on 13:36/27 Sep 96...

> What a guy.

Smoke him a kipper :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
It's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 40
From: Pete Sims <petesims@********.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 16:56:34 +0100
In article <199609281140.NAA29849@**********.xs4all.nl>, Gurth
<gurth@******.nl> writes
>Steven Ratkovich said on 10:59/27 Sep 96...
>
>> <sigh>
>> Damn, I knew I was missing something here...:)
>
>All the fun involved in being a GM all the time, probably :) (Like trying
>to come up with adventure ideas at two minutes' notice, because you
>haven't given it any thought all week...)
>
Yep, been there, done that. I've always found the worst part of this,
is manically scribbling notes, and then trying to find the baslted paper
afterward. I guess I *really* ought to tidy up around the computer :-(

I don't know about anyone, else, but I've often found that the players
seem to enjoy these impromptu sessions better than the pre-prepared
ones, I don't know if that's because the prepared adventure is more
linear, or the chaos and anarchy prevalent in off the cuff wing it
types.

TTYL
Pete
--
Pete Sims
Heroes or Fools? That's a determination others will make in hindsight. But by
being here now, we make that determination for ourselves, and it's neither.
Lt.Col.T.C.McQueen
Message no. 41
From: Dvixen Vidi Vici <dvixen@****.spydernet.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 13:25:11 -0700 (PDT)
On Sat, 28 Sep 1996, Gurth wrote:

> Caric said on 13:36/27 Sep 96...
>
> > What a guy.
>
> Smoke him a kipper :)

He'll be back for breakfast, neh?


--
AJ Schaafsma Dvixen@****.spydernet.com
Message no. 42
From: Pete Sims <petesims@********.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 03:56:15 +0100
In article <199609261850.NAA10079@***.ncweb.com>, Steven Ratkovich
<chaos@*****.com> writes
>>Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
>>
>>> Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
>>> or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
>>> think I've found I like GMing more...
>>
>>Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and I
>>can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad as
>>once in seven years, I admit :)
>>
>>
>Actually, I [played for 2 1/2 years before I started GMing 6 months ago...
>Now I play about as often as I GM...:)
>
GM'ed SR for three years, never played, I think the last time I actually
played a character was about 10 years ago, oh no, I had a Elf
swordmaster in ED, two years ago, but he got eaten by a horror in the
opening sequence, though the GM never did explain how it got into a
crowded bar without anyone noticing, oh well....

People keep asking me to run games for them, so I don't get to play.
(weep, whinge, grizzle, whime..) :-(

Though I suppose, that running as a second GM, using NPCs in someone
else's game might qualify as "playing". ???

Pete
--
Pete Sims
Heroes or Fools? That's a determination others will make in hindsight. But by
being here now, we make that determination for ourselves, and it's neither.
Lt.Col.T.C.McQueen
Message no. 43
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 11:48:51 +0100
Dvixen Vidi Vici said on 13:25/28 Sep 96...

> > > What a guy.
> >
> > Smoke him a kipper :)
>
> He'll be back for breakfast, neh?

Exactly :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
It's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 44
From: dbuehrer@****.org (David Buehrer)
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 17:56:16 -0600 (MDT)
Pete Sims wrote:
|
|In article <199609261850.NAA10079@***.ncweb.com>, Steven Ratkovich
|<chaos@*****.com> writes
|>>Loki said on 0:10/26 Sep 96...
|>>
|>>> Actually I've GM'd Shadowrun since it's first release. What is that...6
|>>> or 7 years now? Eeeeeesh! Only been a PC once for one gaming night. I
|>>> think I've found I like GMing more...
|>>
|>>Doesn't that go for most GMs? I've played SR for over 4 years now, and I
|>>can count the number of times I've not GMed on my fingers... Not as bad as
|>>once in seven years, I admit :)
|>>
|>Actually, I [played for 2 1/2 years before I started GMing 6 months ago...
|>Now I play about as often as I GM...:)
|>
|GM'ed SR for three years, never played, I think the last time I actually
|played a character was about 10 years ago, oh no, I had a Elf
|swordmaster in ED, two years ago, but he got eaten by a horror in the
|opening sequence, though the GM never did explain how it got into a

I'm lucky enough to be in a group were we take turns GMing (Me SR, another
DarkSun, another DC, and the other this wierd GURPS game). The downside is
that it take's awhile for our games to develop.

-David

/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\ dbuehrer@****.org /^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\
"His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking
alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free."
~~~http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm~~~~
Message no. 45
From: "Caric" <caric@*******.com>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 11:03:21 -0700
----------
> From: Gurth <gurth@******.nl>
> To: shadowrn@********.itribe.net
> Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
> Date: Saturday, September 28, 1996 5:42 AM
>
> Caric said on 13:36/27 Sep 96...
>
> > What a guy.
>
> Smoke him a kipper :)
>
Uh yeah what he said :p~~


Caric
Message no. 46
From: Peter Leitch <pleitch_hpcs@*******.com.au>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 1996 21:31:10 +1000
>>All the fun involved in being a GM all the time, probably :) (Like trying
>>to come up with adventure ideas at two minutes' notice, because you
>>haven't given it any thought all week...)
>>
>Yep, been there, done that. I've always found the worst part of this,
>is manically scribbling notes, and then trying to find the baslted paper
>afterward. I guess I *really* ought to tidy up around the computer :-(

In our group, the GMs usually have copious notes; ie, a list of names
(because names are the damndest things to come up with on the fly).
Everything else is in their heads. There's often no point in putting pen
to paper because the players will almost ALWAYS head off on a
completely different, and unexpected, tangent.

>I don't know about anyone, else, but I've often found that the players
>seem to enjoy these impromptu sessions better than the pre-prepared
>ones, I don't know if that's because the prepared adventure is more
>linear, or the chaos and anarchy prevalent in off the cuff wing it
>types.

If a GM prepares a game plan in advance, and (as described above)
the players head off in some other direction, the GM sometimes feels
obliged to drag them back to the prepared plot line. This can make
players feel they're being manipulated and lessens their enjoyment
of the game. Better to have an idea of what the background plot is,
and where the PCs should end up. Leave everything else to the
players. After all, it's their game too! In fact, make them resonsible
for the entire game.

I have a fantasy game which only I GM (based on Shadowrun rules,
heavily modified in some places) and I know the background, but
let the players decide on the path their characters want to take in
my world. They are writing the game. As it happens, they're going
to be in the middle of a political bloodbath, but the bloodbath would
have taken place even without them there. They would have just heard
about it, instead of being in the thick of it. That's the way I believe all
campaigns should be run.
PML

***************************************
Peter Leitch
<pleitch_hpcs@*******.com.au>
Canberra, Australia
Message no. 47
From: Pete Sims <petesims@********.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996 21:42:31 +0100
In article <2.2.32.19961005113110.009d9ffc@*****>, Peter Leitch
<pleitch_hpcs@*******.com.au> writes
>>>All the fun involved in being a GM all the time, probably :) (Like trying
>>>to come up with adventure ideas at two minutes' notice, because you
>>>haven't given it any thought all week...)
>>>
>>Yep, been there, done that. I've always found the worst part of this,
>>is manically scribbling notes, and then trying to find the baslted paper
>>afterward. I guess I *really* ought to tidy up around the computer :-(
>
>In our group, the GMs usually have copious notes; ie, a list of names
>(because names are the damndest things to come up with on the fly).
>Everything else is in their heads. There's often no point in putting pen
>to paper because the players will almost ALWAYS head off on a
>completely different, and unexpected, tangent.
>
That's a distinct - I can't say problem because I deliberately throw red
herrings and hooks at the players to drag them off at tangents, so I
*expect* them not to follow the game, though they will usually get back
on track eventually. The problem I have with the aforementioned notes,
is the rather huge pile of paperwork around my desk and computer, that
usually results in any notes I make during the game (when they are off
at a tangent) getting lost and buried and otherwise diguised as
something else, like a coffee mat or something.

>>I don't know about anyone, else, but I've often found that the players
>>seem to enjoy these impromptu sessions better than the pre-prepared
>>ones, I don't know if that's because the prepared adventure is more
>>linear, or the chaos and anarchy prevalent in off the cuff wing it
>>types.
>
>If a GM prepares a game plan in advance, and (as described above)
>the players head off in some other direction, the GM sometimes feels
>obliged to drag them back to the prepared plot line. This can make
>players feel they're being manipulated and lessens their enjoyment
>of the game. Better to have an idea of what the background plot is,
>and where the PCs should end up. Leave everything else to the
>players. After all, it's their game too! In fact, make them resonsible
>for the entire game.
I do :).
We've played a couple of the module games supplied by FASA, through the
method they suggest, from the first part to the end. We've played a lot
of the others through in a completely chaotic manner that bears
absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to the written page. It is usually
these latter games that the players enjoy more and will discuss and
complement me on. I realise that it is extremely hard for any writer of
a scenario to accurately predict PC reactions, as not one person thinks
alike, but I do find it curious, the rigidity that some GMs stick to
pre-prepared and pre-printed material. The one game my players seem to
remember the most - for several reasons - was Elven Fire, that one got
so warped and so far off the beaten track, it ended up with three or
four different things coming to a head at the end of EF, which didn't
end quite the way it suggested in the module, aside from the final
battle in the warehouse, but even that got rearranged hopelessly.
Although Dark Angel will probably go down in their history books as the
toughest and most dangerous of their runs, also the most violent to
date.

It's nice to see FASA release pre-written modules for Shadwrun as it
takes some of the load off us GM types, but it would be nice if they
would release these books more as adventure ideas, than the linear "Go
to Page **" type books. I remeber the bad old days of another game
system, where the biggest accusation was manipulating the players and
not so much guiding them along a path, as beating them down it. The few
occassions that I tried to let the players decide for themselves, the
failed dismally. For some reason I haven't been having that problem
with Shadowrun, the players are at their happiest when doing their own
thing and tend to actually think about down time, investigation and such
like. :)

They hate it when I have to open the module, and there's usually an
expression of "oh dear we're back on track again" passed around, we have
played three modules where the only time the book was opened was at the
introduction and plot synopsis, so I could give them Johnson's spiele.
After that the book got put down, and we all had a memorable series of
games sessions as they tried to figure out what the thing was about. :)

>
>I have a fantasy game which only I GM (based on Shadowrun rules,
>heavily modified in some places) and I know the background, but
>let the players decide on the path their characters want to take in
>my world. They are writing the game. As it happens, they're going
>to be in the middle of a political bloodbath, but the bloodbath would
>have taken place even without them there. They would have just heard
>about it, instead of being in the thick of it. That's the way I believe all
>campaigns should be run.
>PML

You are very lucky, it has been my experience, from speaking to other
GMs in my area, that they dream of players who will decide on actions
inside a game world. The majority of players seem to think city
adventures should be visist tavern, visit armourer, leave. Wilderness
adventures are just short breaks between tavedrns, and only underground
is something to really concentrate on. I only know of one Earthdawn
game in my area, (but that's a *really* closed shop:( ) and that seems
to be going well, but the majority of gamers in my area have now gone
over to Scifi wargames, American Civil War table top, or CCGs (which I
passionately hate). The RP fraternity is slowly dying, the groups that
are still playing, are little closed circles and don't welcome too much
new player interference which is a real shame.

One enterprising chap on the Island decided to turn his shop into a RPG
universe, encouraging players and GMs to mix games and styles, but this
turned into the usual locked up little clique that this sort of thing
tends to devolve into. The rest turned almost religiously towards CCG
in all its forms, and we have some very sad people over here who
absolutely have *got* to have the latest thing, and will buy this stuff
by the box load - just to get *one* card. Geez, I long for the days of
my youth, when RP was a thing to be enjoyed and shared. It's *very*
hard to get new blood over here, although where I play on a Saturday
night/Sunday Morning, and that of course interferes with pubs and clubs
night, it becomes even harder. If I'd only run a game for two hours one
evening during the working week I could get a couple of players, A
Couple Of Hours???? Slap head in frustration - Oh, yes, a CCG only
takes a couple of hours so RP games must also. :( I really, really
hate CCGs. }:[

Hey, wait a minute how did I get onto this, sorry guys and gals. It's
just a bit of a battle to get new players down here on the island, and
those that do want to play are severely munchkinised ex AD&D players and
take a lot of work to train. I don't mind the training, but the
desertion later on for the lure of the Magic/Netrunner/Star Wars, Beavis
and Butthead CCG is really beginning to **&"% me off. :(

Sorry for my rant, I should have kept sensible. I'll go away now and
eat a jar of coffee. :)

Pete
--
Pete Sims
Heroes or Fools? That's a determination others will make in hindsight. But by
being here now, we make that determination for ourselves, and it's neither.
Lt.Col.T.C.McQueen
Message no. 48
From: The Jestyr <s421539@*******.gu.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p])
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 08:54:47 +1000 (EST)
> >one encounter (to give them modifiers). Squib appeared as a ball of blue
> >and yellow yarn with two eyestalks and bright red tennis shoes. The

> ROTFL!!!!:)
>
> Sounds like a watcher my characters daughter summoned up once. It showed
> up as a yellow smiley face with little tennis shoes...:)

In our game yesterday we assaulted a Shiawase compound (stupid us, you'd
think we'd learn) and the four (yes, FOUR!) conjuring-capable mages in
the team racked up 28 watchers to go get the elementals. :) 8 were Star
Trek red-shirts (you know, the ones who always die before the first
commercial break), 6 (belonging to the Wolf shaman) were little balls of
fur with over-exaggerated teeth and claws, 6 (the Snake Shaman's) were
little snakes, and 8 (the rich-boy hermetic mage's) were little balls of
bright light with top hats and canes. :) Made for lots of fun GM
descriptions!



Lady Jestyr

------------------------------------------------------
A titanic intellect... in a world full of icebergs
------------------------------------------------------
Elle Holmes s421539@*****.student.gu.edu.au
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1503
------------------------------------------------------

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Watchers (was Re: Re[2]: Bugs [p]), you may also be interested in:

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!