From:	Mark Steedman <RSMS@******.EEE.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: Geasa and physical adepts?
Date:	Thu, 21 Sep 1995 08:47:36 GMT

Eve Forward writes

> Could you post some alternatives to "Speed=Everything"? Speed and
> reaction and not-being-surprised pretty much -are- everything in
> just about every combat I've seen.
well several folks got there before me but comments comming up.

> The only things I've found that
> can help to even the odds are: Vehicle Armor, and Being a Regenerating
> Paranormal. Not everyone is a vampire, and not everyone can drag
> that Westwind into a corp building. Any suggestions for us slow
> types?
how about.
Ambushes, delayed actions have been covered. but

you can always throw an IPE stun grenade round the corner before you
go (16M before overpressure, night folks1), but it is noisey. You
could try poking periscopes round corners to find out whats there.

> (Esp. mundane types that can't toss up a Barrier; I'm thinking
> specifically of Deckers and Riggers that aren't decking and rigging
> and usually thus fall into the category of "easy target" for wired-3
> sammie grunts)

Assuming your GM allows it you can put things like synaptic
accelerators in otherwise slow characters, but you won't catch wired
3 that way. Magicians with a couple of spell locks (reac and reflexes
+ 3D6) can easily go that fast but unless you want accidents
involving grounding fireballs get initiated and mask them.

Your best bet is stealth, probably why i rate 'Masking' as probably
the hardest power in SR, the ability to wander in as an unarmed
mundane and suddenly start dropping manabolts, barrier spells and
fireballs, let alone the initative form masked spell locks!!, hard!!
Its fairly simple if you 'creep round corner and open fire' initatve
should not come in, note that 'fof' cover partial cover up to +6 for
head/weapon exposed, wear appropriate camoflague (same book) for +4
to spot and add improved invis and is he going to spot you NO! [base
4, +6 cover +4 camo, +6 (3 success invis) = 20 yeah right!] ok the
mage with asral up will but get yours to spot incoming, combine
defenses, bounce!, (same +6 cover) now shoot the git with APDS (yes
its expensive but 3 rounds = no mage probably).

>
> -E (when will I learn.... NEVER GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE!)
>
When you fly a micro skimmer with 4Kg of C12 round the corner, add a
few smoke genades and stun grenades, at about 3K each inc load thats
IPE stun for light stuff, smoke for cover and 24D self destruct! [you
may have to use C4, as the availability of C12 can get rather low!, i
for one am very causious with the stuff]

Mark