| From: | "S.F. Eley" <gt6877c@*****.GATECH.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Interesting Idea |
| Date: | Wed, 13 Sep 1995 21:47:40 -0400 |
> Huh ??? Why should Snake do this ??? You have to SEEK the totems to
> get the chance to follow them. So if he hasn't TRIED to contact the
> totem they would NEVER talk to him. If he is afraid of snakes, Snake
> would NEVER even consider him to follow her path. A totem and the
> character follow a similar way and have similar attitudes toward most
> things, that's why the totems choses you: you think and behave like it
> does.
Others have already responded to this point very effectively, and in my
opinion they're right. I have always played totem/shaman relationships as
if the totem is the one reaching out. The totem acts as symbol, guide, and
patron to the shaman -- the shaman has two choices, to follow the call or
not to follow the call. I think Snake's offense in this case is a little
strong, BUT it makes for a very nice story and I like it. Totems don't
have to be nice.
I know we have rules against religious and magical proselytizing on the list,
but in this case I think it's relevant and safe. The way of the shaman is
an animistic, paganistic point of view. I know many Pagans in "real life"
(including myself) and if you ask any Pagan "Why did you choose to become a
Pagan?" you will almost universally get an answer like "I didn't. I always
HAVE been a Pagan, it just took time to recognize and accept it." I think
totems in Shadowrun are similar.. Of course, form your own opinions.
> This is a nice idea, but if you want to make it realistic you have to
> remove this "Snake covered me with tattoos" - nonsense.
Realistic? Er, you DO know that Shadowrun is a game, right? A game with
magic?
> [ . . . ] And this immunity stuff is just too dumb. I REALLY like
> some good character quirks and stories, but this is not Shadowrun any
> more. I think you played too many Fantasy RPGs and can't differ
> between AD&D and Shadowrun any more. The concept of totems is, that
> they NEVER show theirselves to non-shamans. They NEVER give prove of
> their existence (all non-shamans think they only exist in the heads of
> the shamans - who knows) and they would NEVER affect something
> directly. This immunity stuff is against all Shadowrun-principles,
> because Shadowrun is based on a "you can increase your chances, but
> you can never be sure/safe" idea and it totally kills the
> game-balance. And totems do not behave like gods in AD&D do.
Whoa. How absolute. I disagree with you for two very strong reasons:
1.) You're making very definite statements about totems, which by their
nature are not SUPPOSED to be understood and exact. Shamanism is a
mystery school. Why should YOU be the one to say what it a totem
will and won't do? Save it for the hermetic mages. THEY reach for
the exact. And more important,
2.) You're telling a Shadowrun GM that what he and his players decide to
do in their campaign is WRONG. How ludicrous. If they want to play
it that way, they WILL play it that way. Getting on a soapbox and
calling them heretics is not going to change their style of play, nor
should it. It's Shadowrun if you role-play something and decide to
call it Shadowrun. There are no unbreachable principles.
> O.K. - enough for now, I hope I didn't offend you too much,
Likewise.
Blessings,
_TNX._
--
Stephen F. Eley (-) gt6877c@*****.gatech.edu )-( Student Pagan Community
http://wc62.residence.gatech.edu|
My opinions are my opinions. | "Somewhere, just out of sight, the
Please don't blame anyone else. | unicorns are gathering."
