From:	Seth Scott <scotts@******.CS.ORST.EDU>
Subject:	None
Date:	Sun, 4 Oct 92 13:05:56 -0700

I agree with Crisper... Essence is a measure of life force, integrity of
the CNS, etc... and as such isn't really recoverable, IMHO.

Also IMHO, I think that game balance _is_ a justification for a rule--
life isn't balanced, true, but this is a game, not meant to even closely
replicate life-- there are people, ostensibly one's friends, playing
characters, into which they (would seem to) put much of their own energy;
there needs to be a rationale, a rule, so that the power level remains
consistent.

EXAMPLE: My first campaign: Woodsy the Owl Shaman was my character, a
friend played a troll samurai, and there were a few others. Game balance:
by the end of the campaign, I had quickened Increase Reaction +4 to myself,
the Gator Shaman in the group had a pers. combat sense, 21 successes, locked
on himself, the troll, who had wired-2, was _slow_ compared to the magickers!

In addition, the troll had a natural body score of 13; includes three levels
of dermal plating, one of which was natural. He took a hit from an anti-
vehicular missile, and lived with a Serious, chummers.

Game balance????

C'mon, it should be unobtrusive, but IMHO it is vital to have game balance...
>From my own experience, I can say that once the magic and attributes got out
of control, the campaign had that tired old AD&D feeling-- Monty Haul,
or whatever the Shadowrun equivalent would be. The game is for fun, right?
Game balance is an integral part of that fun.

--Flames may be directed to /dev/null,
Seth
scotts@******.cs.orst.edu