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Message no. 1
From: Zach Hall <fdelirium@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places )
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 1997 12:43:40 -0500
>It should take a while to set up a self sustaining nation-state with it's
>own culture. The elves accomplished that overnight.

Ah well, I've never had a problem with the elves at all, because in
general if I don't want to use them I don't and if I do I do. I think it's
important (this goes to everybody) to remember that you can write the elves
out of the picture if you want. FASA won't shit a brick if you change
stuff for your campaign.

Just had to say that because of all the 'I hate elves posting' :)

>Details??? Where are they? I'm personally leery of taking my players
>somewhere that hasn't been developed because I like the SR world
>development, with a few reservations, and I don't want to contradict
>anything.
>
>It's also a HUGE pain in the arse writing a whole countries material for
>one or two sessions only..... And if you don't spend the time thinking
>about it, it doesn't make any cohesive sense.

Ah it's easy. You don't have to come up with something spectacular. Most
of my players are in Europe right now, did I change anything? Not really,
in my game Europe is pretty much the same as it is now. A lot more
firearms, a lot less laws, and the cops carry assualt rifles.. but beyond
that it's the same for the most part. My players haven't noticed. :)

me :)
Message no. 2
From: "Fisher, Victor" <Victor-Fisher@******.COM>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places )
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 08:54:15 -0500
>Zach Hall transcribed:
>>Details??? Where are they? I'm personally leery of taking my players
>>somewhere that hasn't been developed because I like the SR world
>>development, with a few reservations, and I don't want to contradict
>>anything.
>>
>>It's also a HUGE pain in the arse writing a whole countries material for
>>one or two sessions only..... And if you don't spend the time thinking
>>about it, it doesn't make any cohesive sense.
>
> Ah it's easy. You don't have to come up with something spectacular.
>Most
>of my players are in Europe right now, did I change anything? Not really,
>in my game Europe is pretty much the same as it is now. A lot more
>firearms, a lot less laws, and the cops carry assualt rifles.. but beyond
>that it's the same for the most part. My players haven't noticed. :)

I agree. I like playing in Europe because it's somewhere new and
different from just touring the NorAm continent all the time.
And it's not that difficult to work up a cohesive background for a
country FASA hasn't gotten around to detailing yet [which from the looks
of this thread, somebody would just bash anyway]. Just pick up a travel
book or two [I prefer Insight Guides. They offer short, concise info,
and have lots of color pictures allowing you and your players to get a
better 'feel' of the place.] Browse bookstores, and peruse books about
different aspects of that countries' culture off the shelves [you don't
have to buy a whole library <guilty grin>]. Piece together whatever
references you may have picked up from movies, other sourcebooks, and
the like, and away you go. If, when FASA does come out with a sourcebook
on your area, try to incorporate it into your own, or ignore it all
together. Just make sure what ever version you chose is COHESIVE and
makes sense to YOUR world, or you risk losing your players.
[I will admit, I enjoy doing research for my games, and my players
like the amount of detail it injects into them, but not everyone is up
for this]
You can't be expected to get EVERY aspect of another country
correct; most people can't even do it for their own.[unless you're James
Michener, who spins a globe, stabs a point, and writes an encyclopedia
about it.]. If one of your players has a gripe with how you portray his
area, ask him why, and incorporate into yours. It may only be his
opinion, but it still adds a little more authenticity to the whole
thing. { I apologise if what I'm saying seeming blaringly odvious, and
I'm ranting. I'm just getting over a violent flu, and my head's still a
little groggy :-[
Just go for as much detail as you need for the time your players
will be spending 'in country'. And for those who are disgruntled with
how their respective lands are described, WRITE SOMETHING! I, for one,
would love to hear it from a native's POV.
Message no. 3
From: Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places )
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 07:56:27 -0500
Date: 2 Apr 97 Time: 12:43
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places )

TO: Zach Hall

> Ah well, I've never had a problem with the elves at all,
> because in general if I don't want to use them I don't and if I do
> I do. I think it's important (this goes to everybody) to remember
> that you can write the elves out of the picture if you want. FASA
> won't shit a brick if you change stuff for your campaign.

Something that's always given me a bit of confusion is the fact that
the Elves seem to be so bloody potent, yet when I try to make an Elf
character, he isn't worth a damn because of having to make meta the
top priority. :)

a chaoidh teabadaich,

Shaun Sides
arch@****.net
http://www.abts.net/~arch

Guns don't kill people -- geez, do you know how many times you
have to hit someone with a gun to kill them?!?
-- Smilin' Jack
Message no. 4
From: L Canthros <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 12:30:53 EDT
On Sat, 12 Apr 1997 10:07:05 -0500 Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
writes:

>Hmm. Ok. I've only played SR, never GM'ed it. Never bought any of
>the source material (though I'd like to). So I haven't come across
>this on my own.

Has you been in a cave for the past year and a half? No offense intended,
but this information is very nearly common knowledge...and I'd think that
GM's would have picked up on it first...BTW...have you heard about the
Big D? (just checking)

>Does this mean that there's some sort of Avalon or what have you
>where these immortals awaited the onset of the sixth world? Any info
>appreciated.

It just means the Immortals laid low (sort of) during the Fifth World,
masquerading as humans.

--
-Canthros
If any man wishes peace, lobo1@****.com
let him prepare for war. canthros1@***.com
--Roman proverb
http://members.aol.com/canthros1/
Message no. 5
From: Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 14:50:55 -0500
Date: 12 Apr 97 Time: 12:30
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))

TO: L Canthros

> Has you been in a cave for the past year and a half? No offense
> intended, but this information is very nearly common
> knowledge...and I'd think that GM's would have picked up on it
> first...BTW...have you heard about the Big D? (just checking)

That would be the death of Dunkelzahn, I think? I heard about it,
but don't know any details.

> It just means the Immortals laid low (sort of) during the Fifth
> World, masquerading as humans.

Hmm. Seems Avalon'd be easier. Gotta get tiring, keeping all those
spells going all the time.

a chaoidh teabadaich,

Shaun Sides
arch@****.net
http://www.abts.net/~arch

Thought for the day:
Communist (n): one who has given up all hope
of becoming a Capitalist.
Message no. 6
From: Court Schuett <schuett@*****.IVCC.EDU>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 14:24:01 -0500
>> It just means the Immortals laid low (sort of) during the Fifth
>> World, masquerading as humans.
>
>Hmm. Seems Avalon'd be easier. Gotta get tiring, keeping all those
>spells going all the time.
>
Not really. The way I figured it, when the mana levels dropped, they
started reverting back into humans. Sorta like a backwards UGE. Then they
could have lived 'normal' lives as humans. When the mana levels went back
up, they turned back into elves. And besides spell casting the 5th world
is extrmely limited. Almost none at all.
-Court

/* Court Schuett, a totally modern boy.

schuett@*****.ivcc.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~
When I was driving once I saw this painted on a bridge:
"I don't want the world, I just want your half"
-They Might Be Giants

****************************************************************************
***/
Message no. 7
From: L Canthros <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:20:18 EDT
On Sat, 12 Apr 1997 14:50:55 -0500 Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
writes:
>Date: 12 Apr 97 Time: 12:30
>Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
>
>TO: L Canthros
>
>> Has you been in a cave for the past year and a half? No offense
>> intended, but this information is very nearly common
>> knowledge...and I'd think that GM's would have picked up on it
>> first...BTW...have you heard about the Big D? (just checking)
>
>That would be the death of Dunkelzahn, I think? I heard about it,
>but don't know any details.
>

Wow. You really have been out of touch with the SR world...

SPOILER SPACE

























<spoilers-maybe>
the Big D got elected as da prez of the UCAS when the original 2057 was
declared invalid because of some sort of tampering...on the eve(?) of his
inauguration there was some sort of big-time magical explosion which
presumably destroyed him and anyone else in the limo...his VP (Nadja
Daviar, I think) was inaugurated in his place and daviar now owns 27% of
Ares stock... there's apparently been some big time shake-ups as far as
voting sotck is concerned in several of the other Big Eight, specifically
Fuchi, Aztechnology, and Renraku, I think. Biggest speculation deals with
who offed the Big D (if he's actually dead:). Some say it was the
Horrors, some say it was the IE, some (myself included) say he's not dead
at all. What is known: whoever did it has access to some big-ass mojo.
</spoilers>


>> It just means the Immortals laid low (sort of) during the Fifth
>> World, masquerading as humans.
>
>Hmm. Seems Avalon'd be easier. Gotta get tiring, keeping all those
>spells going all the time.
>

Eh? They'd just have to keep people from seeing their ears...
Message no. 8
From: Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 09:11:39 -0500
Date: 12 Apr 97 Time: 14:24
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))

TO: Court Schuett

> Not really. The way I figured it, when the mana levels dropped,
> they started reverting back into humans. Sorta like a backwards
> UGE. Then they could have lived 'normal' lives as humans. When
> the mana levels went back up, they turned back into elves. And
> besides spell casting the 5th world is extrmely limited. Almost
> none at all. -Court

Yeah, I guess that'd be true. Just seems to be something of a
cheesey way out, to me. Course I guess they still run into problems
keeping the populace at large from finding out that they're immortal.

Hehehe. Interesting thought. The Highlander Immortals are really
immortal elves, not normal old homo sapiens at all. Just a thought.

a chaoidh teabadaich,

Shaun Sides
arch@****.net
http://www.abts.net/~arch

Thought for the day:
A penny saved is ridiculous.
Message no. 9
From: Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 09:21:38 -0500
Date: 13 Apr 97 Time: 0:20
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))

TO: L Canthros

> Wow. You really have been out of touch with the SR world...

For the most part, yes. I don't own any of the source material
(though I have a good working knowledge of how the game works), and
the only play I've been involved in for about 4 years is a friend's
PBEM game (which I host at my web site). That's a lot of fun, but
not the same as getting into it every week.
<see below>















> the Big D got elected as da prez of the UCAS when the original 2057
> was declared invalid because of some sort of tampering...

I remember when they were having the election, but I never heard the
results of it.

> Big D (if he's actually dead:). Some say it was the Horrors, some

I've seen the term "horrors" several times. What does that refer to?

> Eh? They'd just have to keep people from seeing their ears...

And the fact that they continue to live for centuries. :)

a chaoidh teabadaich,

Shaun Sides
arch@****.net
http://www.abts.net/~arch

I hired you to help me start a war. It's a prestigious line
of work!
-- Fezinni, from The Princess Bride
Message no. 10
From: L Canthros <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 13:30:05 EDT
On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 09:21:38 -0500 Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
writes:
>Date: 13 Apr 97 Time: 0:20
>Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
>
>TO: L Canthros
>
>> Wow. You really have been out of touch with the SR world...
>
>For the most part, yes. I don't own any of the source material

Neither did I, for quite some time. I got most of what I currently have
at Christmas...bought VR2 and Grimmy 2 a while later and my friend gave
me Seattle Sourcebook (which I had borrowed from him and he decided I
might as well keep:) I don't own the main book:( nor any of the stuff on
the IE (I'd really like to have some of it, though)

>(though I have a good working knowledge of how the game works), and
>the only play I've been involved in for about 4 years is a friend's
>PBEM game (which I host at my web site). That's a lot of fun, but
>not the same as getting into it every week.

Yeah. I only get to play less than once a month :( and then I'm the GM :(

><see below>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> the Big D got elected as da prez of the UCAS when the original 2057
>> was declared invalid because of some sort of tampering...
>
>I remember when they were having the election, but I never heard the
>results of it.

Well, now you know. Hope I haven't spoiled something for you.


>> Big D (if he's actually dead:). Some say it was the Horrors, some
>
>I've seen the term "horrors" several times. What does that refer to?


I don't know much here, but they are big-time super-nasty spirit-like
things from ED...imagine the nastiest Bug you can, then go farther.


>> Eh? They'd just have to keep people from seeing their ears...
>
>And the fact that they continue to live for centuries. :)

Well, that would be a problem, I suppose:)

--
-Canthros
If any man wishes peace, lobo1@****.com
let him prepare for war. canthros1@***.com
--Roman proverb
http://members.aol.com/canthros1/
Message no. 11
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 00:03:05 +0100
Shaun Sides said on 9:21/13 Apr 97...

Follwoign is a spoiler space that's mostly unnecessary, as almost everyone
on this list will know about what's being discussed.

I left it in anyway.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Big D (if he's actually dead:). Some say it was the Horrors, some
>
> I've seen the term "horrors" several times. What does that refer to?

They're the major enemy in Earthdawn. They're Big and Bad creatures coming
from a metaplane (the next step beyond astral space, see the Grimoire for
details) into the physical and "normal" astral world when the mana level
gets high enough: a window of about 200 years to either side of the top of
the mana curve. They seem to live only to destroy; some simply destroy
everything that gets in their way, while the more sophisticated ones live
on negative/painful emotions they induce themselves into their victims.

If you want to know all the details, take a look in an Earthdawn rulebook
and/or the Horrors sourcebook for that game when you get the chance.

> > Eh? They'd just have to keep people from seeing their ears...
>
> And the fact that they continue to live for centuries. :)

Easy enough to do in most times up until now. With all these computerized
records getting linked together, it should become pretty hard to do...

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
"Winner?"
"You know, it's another word for 'loser'."
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
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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. 12
From: Shaun Sides <arch@****.ABTS.NET>
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 09:44:45 -0500
Date: 13 Apr 97 Time: 13:30
Subject: Re: World Map ( creating places ))

TO: L Canthros

> Well, now you know. Hope I haven't spoiled something for you.

Naw. I've bee curious about who won, anyway. :) I stay so busy, I
never have time to do regular checks of all the cool SR web sites
that are on my links page. :)

> I don't know much here, but they are big-time super-nasty
> spirit-like things from ED...imagine the nastiest Bug you can,
> then go farther.

Yikes.

> >And the fact that they continue to live for centuries. :)
>
> Well, that would be a problem, I suppose:)

One would think so.

a chaoidh teabadaich,

Shaun Sides
arch@****.net
http://www.abts.net/~arch

No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force
of arms forever. There is no greater power in the Universe than the
need for freedom. Against that power, governments and tyrants and
armies cannot stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once; we will
teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be
free.
-- G'Kar, Babylon 5: The Long, Twilight Struggle

Further Reading

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