From:	ANANDA%BSU.DECNET@*****
Subject:	char creation system
Date:	Tue, 28 Apr 92 22:06:00 CST

> is from The Mongoose

>Look, you all are complaining about the character creation system and the need
>to use 0,1,2,3, and 4 each.
EVERYONE I know who's ever played the system has complained about it.

>There must be a reason for it, you know.
But they don't tell us what it is!

>Tom Dowd told me to my face that the reason for this rule in creation was to
>keep people from "Monty Haul"ing their characters.
Well, if they would have said so *in the text*, maybe it'd be a bit easier to
stomach. As it is, there is nothing to alleviate the feeling that you "waste"
three points if you're human and a non-mage.

Mages are *inherently* powerful. In my world, I let the non-mages spend those
extra points in the interests of maintaining some semblance of game balance.

Besides, I think people who want to Monty Haul their characters will find
a way to do so anyhow.

{Tom Dowd has also said that the metas' attribute adjustment averages to +3, and
that's part of the reason for the priority cost of 4. One more priority point
spent in attributes, and that's covered. Most metas also get a vision
enhancement; 8000Y and .2 essence and that's covered, too.}

>Could you imagine a samurai with a tech of 4 and a skill of 4. This guy would
>run rampant through any campaign using archetypes and contacts from the
>Shadowrun books.

Yep, I've seen a few. Somewhat nasty, but with only 20 points for attributes,
they really aren't that bad; street sams, mercs, and the like seem to tend to
low scores in the Willpower department. Judicious use of mages -- even the
ones in the books -- and they don't look so hot after all. {The street sam
archetype has a willpower of 5, but then he has 28 points in attributes.}

>And and FASA published adventure would be a joke.
Yikes. Somehow, I don't think either UB or Euphoria would be a joke for
any starting character...

>Using the method FASA put forth reminds characters that they are mortal.

But it's so much more fun to do that in play...
If you start out with characters that are just a bit tougher, you can give them
enemies that are that much nastier... *evil grin*


What bugs me is that so many people dislike and gripe about the 43210 system,
and many don't use it; nevertheless, FASA isn't changing it for the 2nd ed.

That was going to be one of the reasons I'd get the second ed...


>I hunt, therefore I am.
I like this...fits the Hunters {a gang, btw} perfectly.


--Ananda

ananda%bsu.decnet@*****.msus.edu /ananda%bsu@*****.msus.edu \__if the .decnet
ananda%bsu.decnet@*****.bitnet \ananda%bsu@*****.bitnet / causes problems