From:	"Paul J. Adam" <shadowrn@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:	Re: [SR3] Drain
Date:	Sat, 5 Jul 1997 01:50:55 +0100

In message <199707031827.LAA10149@*****.oce.orst.edu>, Brett Barksdale
<brett@***.ORST.EDU> writes
>That's why I believe strongly in not allowing a player to generate their
>characters freely. If so, they tend to choose a min/max profile. At the
>very least, they go for a WP of 6 because it is SO important - even to a
>sammie.

Isn't it a hint that magic is over-dominant where Willpower 5 or 6 is
seen as a _prerequisite_ for a character, because anything less leaves
the PC dead against magical attack? It's not quite as extreme as SR1,
but still I feel very exposed even with a Willpower 5 character, because
magic is extremely powerful and you _must_ design your character in
accordance with that.

(Kudos to Pete Sims and his lower-magic campaign where PC Willpowers
dropped from a 5.5 average to something like 3.7: because magic was
rare, and even NPC magicians had to step carefully).

Given what proper use of magic can do, I don't see the need for
magicians to be able to conveniently defeat wired and trained military
or security personnel in a stand-up fight: rather, to use illusion or
manipulation to get themselves or others into a position to attack by
surprise.

> I try to throw some variability into the process. And then I
>try to create a world (and game system) where there are distinct advantages
>to having better "side" (non combat) skills and higher INT and CHAR
>attributes. That way, they don't feel "shafted".

Charisma is the great neglected attribute. How many PCs were generated
as Body 6, Quickness 6, Strength 6, Willpower 6, Intelligence 5,
Charisma 1 or some minor variation thereof, because slashing Charisma
was essentially free? Intelligence at least affects Reaction. When does
Charisma ever come into play?

I've played a PC with Charisma 8: but let me tell you, under SR1 and SR2
it's a waste of generation points compared to putting them into Strength
(melee damage), Willpower (survive hostile magic), or Quickness (run
fast). It made sense for roleplaying that particular character, but SR3
needs to make the Charisma attribute useful in the same way that others
can be.

--
There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable and
praiseworthy...

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk