| From: | Jason <reynoldj@*****.IT.GVSU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Speed=everything (Was Re:Geasa and Physical Adepts) |
| Date: | Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:26:02 -0400 |
> It just makes sense [that people specialize]. Now, what has started
> happening more often in my group
> is that people aren't specializing near as much (except the mages/shamans).
> Which means that overall, we don't have the intense skill concentration that
> other groups might have. But what we DO have is variety. If the prime
> driver goes down, the secondary can step up. Deckers are starting to use
> reflex enhancements and a smartlink so they don't curl up into a ball at the
> sight of a gun. Samurai *gasp* can do pretty much anything mundane that's
> needed (the all-purpose third man) by slotting a chip and juicing up the
> skillwires. Mages & shamans still tend to specialize, but with 2 or more in
> the group it isn't a problem.
....
> What I'm saying is this, although it happens... specialization to the degree
> of the SRII archetypes is a very rare thing indeed in real life. People
> pick up bits here, bits there, and make the most of it all. Build the chars
> to reflect that...
I absolutely agree with Topcat here. If a character went to school,
why not throw in some hobby/subject they were really good at, such as
"Seattle History" or "Needlecraft" or "Shoplifting" (okay
that might
be under Stealth)? Heck, they might come in handy sometime- what if
you want to sew up your own alpine harnesses or parachutes (unlikely,
because you can buy them, but it could happen) - or you are trying
to impress a potential contact who happens to be an historian
(unlikely, but it could happen)? While some people in my group were more
than happy to play the "solid wall o'cyberdeath," it never much interested
me. I would often play generalists, with skills scattered all over, usually
picking a non combat skill as primary. They might not be the fastest,
nor the strongest, nor the toughest, but when things get really ugly it was
nice to have someone who could disarm the security alarms, open the maglocks,
steal a car and drive it away. Then again, it all comes down to a
group's (and even an individual's) playing style. If the speed demon
cyberzombie (see "Cybertechnology") or whatever else is your cup of tea,
that's more than cool by me (sometimes it is my cup of tea as well).
"I'm OK, you're OK." Just don't try to put Armor: 6 on a civilian vehicle
with a starting max speed of 45 mph.
Re: Speed=Everything. One word for the slowpokes (you know who you are):
COVER.
(lots of it)
(snide word counting will not be allowed)
All of the above is, of course, MHO,
.jason
"Habit is a great deadener." S. Beckett
