From:	Nightfox <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject:	Re: American culture?
Date:	Tue, 15 Nov 1994 17:45:26 -0700

>1. Magic does not exist. Sorry to break it to you, but there is NO
>magic in the real world. Shadowrun is really a very realistic game,
>albeit with high technology. Magic destroys that realism, and makes
>the game no more real than AD&D. OK, this is a personal thing only,
>and please feel free to give your opinion on this.

This is never a good one to bring up on the list - we have a lot of people
believe in magic on it. I tend to be middle of the road on magic - in that I
have had experience in things the Science can't explain (YET). I still do not
trully believe in magic, though I would like to. But as I said - this topic is
real kindling.


>2. Magic severely distorts the game balance. Examples:
>
>Any of this sound familiar????????????
>
> With all apologies to the mages out there, the mage in Shadowrun
>simply is too powerful for the scope of this game--one good mage
>against an entire party is sometimes a fair fight. And even worse,
>almost every player I know of ALWAYS wants to play one.


Rigger one - I doubt that punk-mage would be able to cast such a good Barrier
spell - especially with no drain. The rating is raised by success vs TN 6,
which means that he MIGHT get an 8 if he has a force 6 barrier and 2 success.
But then his drain would be (5 S), and I then doubt he would have much magic
pool left. Especially since a punk mage should only have will and Sorcery at 3.

On the other hand - the wajanda could sneak up on him, or just blast the barrier
with bullets before it hit (you can see a barrier). Also - if it was rigged at
the moment - it would most likely beat the punk-mage in initiative and blast a
few holes into him.

On the third hand (?) - a ganger friend of his could possibly just blast the
thing out of the sky with a rifle


Sammie in Armor - Mage sees Sammie - Sammie sees Mage. Sammie pulls out Tooth
pick to clean his teeth. picks his teeth. Mage starts to react and while Sammie
proceeds to pul out a gun and blow holes in him.

Haven't you ever heard the common mage complaint - "I can't use my magic because
the bloody Sam's keep on killing everyone off before I can react."

Everything has its strength and weaknesses - and if played as such - they even
out.

Nightfox