| From: | Robert Hayden <rahayden@*****.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Vampires and Cyberware |
| Date: | Sun, 4 Oct 92 20:35:07 CET |
>
> I think this thread has come up before, if not here then probably on
> rec.games.frp or something. And, as usual, my personal stance is one
> of NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
>
> Reasons:
>
> 1) Game balance. ALWAYS game balance. A Vampire with cyberware would
> transcend the realm of "defeatable". Well, actually, that would depend
> on what kind of campaign you run, I suppose. There are SR campaigns
> out there in which a Vampire with Muscle Rep (4) and Wired Ref (3) would
> barely make a passable corporate security guard. *sigh*
I refuse to accept 'Game Balance' as justification for anything.
Life is not balanced, so why the hell shoudl the game.
>
> 2) I don't think cybernetics are compatible with dead flesh. :) The whole
> point of cyberware is that it works with, and is powered by, your own
> body systems. This is why more cyberware = less ESN; more of your own
> lifeforce is tied up in powering the cyber than in powering your own
> body. A Vampire is, by definition, a zero ESN creature. The only way
> it gets ESN is to drain it from others. I don't think such a creature
> could have cyberware.
I incorporate the rules from GURPS:Cyberpunk for 'powering' cyber
systems. That uses a series of very tiny powercells that last for about a
year or so. Face it, all cyber needs maintanence, so when you go in for
your 10,000 mile checkup, you get the powercells replaced. Now, there are
some systems that are tiny enough that they can probably use "body-power"
to power them (I am thinking of eyes for example) or have a rechargeble
battery that gets continuously charged via motion or something.
>
> 3) Whatcha gonna do the next time it takes mist form? CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK,
> we now have a vampire in mist form, a pile of clothing, and about
> four kilograms of wiring and chipware on the ground. :)
Heh, so someone invent a spell that will turn the target into a mistform.
Great against cyberfreaks.
>
> In general, I think oneof the strengths of Shadowrun's atmosphere is that
> they really really emphasize the incompatibility of science/tech and
> magic/supernatural. Cyberware is the epitome of the first; vampires are
> practically an archetype of the second. Same with the Matrix and spell-
> casting. They just don't interact on any level.
This is the justification I would use for the Cybervamp problem. Tech
does not get along with magic. PERIOD. Sometimes you can strike a tender
balance (a mage with a single datajack or something), but the magic
suffers. A vamp, which is a wholly magical creature would be utterly
incompatible with implanted cyber.
>
> IMHO, etc.
>
> --The Elder Dan
> "Tank you Easter Bunny. BOK! BOK!"
>
IMHO too and all that stuff.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Robert Hayden | Black holes result | My views do not
rahayden@*****.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU | from God dividing the | reflect the views
AQ650@*********.FREENET.EDU | universe by zero | of my employer.
