| From: | Christina Johnson <johnson1@**.UWP.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | paranormal |
| Date: | Tue, 26 Jan 93 00:10:48 CET |
character of mine is a Tiger shapeshifter. THis in itself, we have
discovered, really isn't *that* bad. it's a bit like running a *really*
powerful physical adept. However, she's a full-blown mage. Casts from
the astral pool *because* it does physical damage... (shapeshifters
regenterate... Fast.) In the group she was in, no problem. All of the
characters were high powered, and we took on some really nasty bad guys.
As new players came in, however, the power level shifted. This character
will be going into retirement very soon, and I'll be introducing a
decker... *grin*
Paranormals are fun. I know. and they have their own sets of problems
beyond the "normal" shadowrunner. I happen to enjoy drama and conflict
when roleplaying. A shapeshifter born in the Tir was born with her own
sets of conflicts. She evolved to be a pacifist of sorts, constantly
questioning her own humanity because of her "beast" side. This was not
decided, it just happened.
To simply say "no paranormals" isn't necessarily a solution, though it is
not an unreasonable response. Consider the player asking for the
paranormal creature. How will he play it? Does he want it just for the
power? If so, limit it in some ways. A paranormal's going to be easy to
spot once he unviels himself. In 18 months of playing a shapeshifter, my
character never once "shifted" to tiger in public while playing. She would
have been hunted and killed.
If, however, the player has a reasonable story and is a relativally
responsible (read: not adolescent and simply power-hungry) it might be a
neat idea. The only problem I found was that one of our players was the
power-hungry sort. And he got upset that my character was as powerful as
his (not more powerful!). A wimpy mage just shouldn't be able to compete
with a Sam was his reasoning. Well, my mage wasn't wimpy, and there are
no rules in shadowrun. You can come accross almost anything, so you need
to expect it.
I'd run a paranormal as an NPC a couple sessions before letting a player
try it though. It'll give you a feel for what's likely to happen. Any
loopholes, etc. I'm sure the GM of our game wouldn't have let my
shapeshifter be a mage if he had thought of the astral thing...
But, all in all, I had a LOT of fun playing that character, and it's
something i would very seriously consider letting other people
attempt. Just because it was so fun.
-Brandywine-
Klein Bottle for rent: Inquire within.
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