| From: | "J. Earl Williams" <IH46@****.BITNET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Initiation & Beta clinics |
| Date: | Thu, 29 Oct 92 12:07:09 MST |
Shadowrun world, according to many stories that I have read, and some
rules, Initiation should be fairly rare. Kinda like a beta clinic.
The beta clinic effectively allows a SS to implant more cyberware into
his body. However, beta clinics are (a) expensive (b) rare and (c) VERY
hard to find. The rules give a very high target number to find a alpha
or beta clinic. Why? Because it gives these people an Edge. It begins
to disturb game balance if it's too easy to get. Too many runners have
a plethora of money and (for the SS) beta ware. Beta ware is a definite
edge, and should be hard to find. Any well run campaign makes it fairly
difficult to get any betaware unless (a)the character is VERY rich, or
(b) gets it from Roleplaying, or (c) GM's option. For the ideal SR
world view, alpha and beta should be rare. Most people wouldn't even
KNOW of it (why? What self-respecting SS would tell people about his
advantage?) Why should initiation, which is the magical equivalent of a
beta clinic, be any different? Mages already have many advantages of
their own. The average mage gets spell for Karma, and can either design
them, learn them from their totem (here is where Owl gets nasty), steal
or just damn "gets" a spell (I wanna spend X karma to get Slay All....)
Why should it be easy for him to become an initiate? It's a real bitch
to get cyberware, why should it be easy to initiate? The rules mention
masking. If you can Mask yourself as a normal mage, why would you tell
ANYONE else know that you have this advantage? It would almost be a
lodge, only instead of handshakes the other would try to break the mask.
You would not want anyone else to know about this, since it would lessen
your advantage. So, to all the GM's...if your players aren't already
initiates, don't let them initiate immediately! Have them role-play
it out. How did they find out? The published Grimoire? Gee, chummer,
the version that exists in 2050 doesn't give any details. So, how're
you gonna find out? Join a group? Well, they might tell you after a
few months of membership. If you deserve it. If you earn it. From
your totem? Why should they tell you? You have to earn the privilege.
>From other mages? Why should they tell you? Money? Get serious,
chummer. Ain't enough mages willing to sell their advantage for a few
measly Nuyen. So, good luck on becoming an initiate, chummer. You're
gonna need it.]<<<<<
--Jew <12:05:52/10-29-53>
---
J. Earl Williams
Up the Brotherhood!
