From:	Damion Milliken <u9467882@***.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Change
Date:	Wed, 2 Nov 1994 18:51:32 +1100

Wes writes:

> Well, if you're hitting civvies, then you *ain't* hitting your target
> _are_ you? So why give Karma(XP) to chars for screwing up???

If it is a well planned and exectuted run, such as that originally
described, then I don't see a problem (besides the moral ones) of cleaning
up a few civies when you get the target. If the target is that difficult to
obtain a hit on, then the runenrs must've done mighty well to pull of the
assasination without having to resort to motar bombing the entire building.

> If they don't like his morals, they don't have to play under him, do
> they? It's his game.

This is one thing Ivy has thourouly converted me on. I used to believe most
exactly the same as you do. We run the game for our players, so we should
tailor the game to suit them. If your players get bored easily, then you
don't go and give huge descriptions to them (and you're not going to tell me
that if they did, and you wanted to give big descriptions then you would,
who cares about the players. As if you did, then you're a dick). If your
players go for the violence ala cart type style of running, then they're
allowed. If they like (um, whata those super violent and hugely gory
Japanese animations?) type of play, then let them. If on the other hand, you
run your game with the local church youth group, then things might be a
litle different, and you may not want to run your game around ritual
assasinations and murders. A GM can nudge, like with permits, and rep, and
loss of jobs, but he should not push.

Note this is not meant to be taken as a flame (unless you are in the "dick"
class from above, in which case it is).

> Someone starts shooting in the streets, just how far away *are* several
> LoneStar officers and how long do you think it will take them to get there?

Depends entirely on where you are. The runners could open up with most
anything they like in the barrens, and there ain't no cop gunna do shit. Any
runner with half a brain (which is probably not too many, admittedly) will
be somewhat careful when and where to pull out weapons. Even in more secure
sectors, it is still relatively simple to fire a shot or two and escape
police detection, it isn't as if LS has officers pacing every block. Give
them a response time. That is realistic, not like a case of "You fire a
shot, and three seconds later the swap team arrives". Someone who knew
someone in some special response military team (buggered if I know who or
where) said that even with them, the reponse time was measured in the
minutes. Plenty of time for criminal little runners to escape.

> There some good punishment. Death cures the dumbest of characters.

This is true. But it is not advisable. After all, if you have no players,
then that is the end of you, no matter how good a GM you are if no one wants
to play on your table because you kill their characters if they don't agree
with your philosophy, then you are useless.

Spellslinger writes:

> Right. If your characters are minions of chaos and think, "Well, the
> target is within that building, so let's blow up the block just to make
> sure we get him", then they shouldn't get much if not none of the Karma
> coming them. Shadowrunners have an air of professionalism around them.
> And they should be able to recognize situations where someone can be used
> rather than axed. Wasting resources isn't getting better-- it's shooting
> yourself in the foot. Besides, what Johnson is going to hire characters
> who leave a swath of destruction in their wake? Not many, that's for
> sure. You can expect your guys are going to be running for cheap 'cause
> they'll be starving from lack of work.

This is also true. Those kind of things are the subtle and gentle nudge that
GMs can very easily give players who do such things. Unless they were hired
to do that (I have a very fun super violent psycho run designed around
"level this complex, and kill everyone in it" which is quite good for a
change from the normal stealth type runs.)

> This reminds me. Cops don't like Trolls walking around town in Heavy
> Security armor. Espc. stupid Trolls. and runners don't like cops
> stopping by their holes asking if they've seen a troll in heavy security
> armor walking around.

Good advice.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong e-mail: u9467882@***.edu.au

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