From:	"St. Jean, Ricky" <stjeanr@*******.CANADOREC.ON.CA>
Subject:	Re: tactics vs speed
Date:	Wed, 20 Sep 1995 12:22:00 PDT

>Well, I play our groups "speed is everything" Samurai, and let me tell you,
it
>isn't. Yes, obviously, if you are suprised, you are hosed. Nobody in our
>group ever is, however. I think the lowest reaction must be 5, and
everyone
>has a bigger karma pool than me ( I burn it getting in over my head ).
>Sometimes bieng fast just lets you get in trouble before anyone else.

I disagree, I have a fairly fast character and 9/10 times I spoil everything
before something happens. (mostly by accident) If you are fast that means
you have a killer initiative. That means you surprize more ofter than being
surprized.

>Certain things don't care about speed- passive defenses, guards with fixxed
>posts and held actions, etc.

Not true. You can move 1/2 your quickness and still delay. Now if both
sides are delaying at an encounter this is an initiative tie. Quickest
reaction wins. See ya wouldn't wanna be ya, Blam blam.

> Yes, its nice to be able to walk into a room
>full of guards and suprise them all, but one camera runes that, or what if
>they have any sensory improvements

This is where the slower physical people like mages and deckers come into
play.
Imp invis, and shutting down cameras eliminate ambushes. If you have a
well fit party you kick. (everyone is a specialist instead of a generalist).
Also there is technology and magic to counter the sensory improvement.
Invis, silence, daydream etc ...

>(particullarly anoying run with ghouls
>comes to mind- despite stealth, they ambushed me at half the corners).

A high stealth roll means that you avoid detection. If think your GM
rigged the encounters dispite rolls.