| From: | Jeffrey Riordan <JRIORDAN@***.gov> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | sidebars & potty mouth -Reply |
| Date: | Mon, 09 Sep 1996 07:59:42 -0400 |
Faux Pas wrote:
> And I've explained that you cannot take the sidebar
comments as actual
> rules. Find a rule that supports the forced
integration theory.
>
but you didn't give a good reason why not..
<SNIP>
> Yet I can find a rule
> that says forced integration can't happen.
Yes..you can in the core rules written in 1992
according to my softback..4 years ago..things have
changed lots in 4 years..
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Actually if you read on the 1st or second page of (I
believe) all the source books (I can say for sure in
Awakenings, and cybertechnology) there is a page
written by FASA regarding the use of the book. to
paraphrase it states that the first part of the book (for
example awakenings) is comments made by
characters in the "shadowrun universe". The second
section are the actual game mechanics. It also says
that the comments may not be true or accurate. I can't
speak for the Corp. Sec book since I don't own it but I
suspect there is a page like that in the first 2-3 pages
of the book that says a similar thing.
That is the reason why, in general, most people
don't accept comments from the sidebar/story
sections. They are not "game rules" but rather
subjective observations that can lead to great ideas
for runs/new stuff but the GM has to decide if they are
valid or not. Not every GM runs the game the same
way so things that are that open to arbitration
shouldn't be used as proof of something being able to
be done.
You are right that it's now 4 years after the games
2nd generation of rules was written and things do
change. However, as is also stated in all the source
books use of optional rules is up to the GM there are
very few books that actually clarify previous rules. I
can only think of the 1 page section in the Grim about
spell force and foci use relating to the spell force
resist/drain numbers. I for one don't allow
Awakenings and Cybertechnology just because my
campaign time line is still stuck in December 2054
before the "new tech" comes out.
