From:	TopCat <topcat@***.NET>
Subject:	[SR3] Character Generation
Date:	Mon, 7 Jul 1997 20:09:53 -0500

Here's a suggestion for SR3 which I think would be well received overall...

Get rid of the priority-based system and go to the point-based system from
the Shadowrun Companion for character generation.

It allows for a more diverse sort of character by not confining players to
"X" points worth of skills, "Y" points worth of attributes, and
"Z" amount
of starting nuyen and force points. The cost for magical ability is
balanced with the benefits afforded by it as is the cost of metahumanity.
Also, Edges and Flaws can be better worked into characters if this system is
used.

A good degree of the powergaming problems inherent to SR would be solved and
character diversity would be achieved with the players getting a chargen
system that can truly be tailored to create an original concept instead of
one that caters to cookie-cutter character design. Mages suddenly don't
*have* to have high resources if they want a decent amount of spells or
force points. Cyberware users aren't locked into one million or four
hundred thousand nuyen, they can choose between a few new options. The
system simply works well, while the priority-based system does not.

My biggest peeve of all with SR was character generation and when I saw the
point-based system in the Shadowrun Companion, I damn near cried with
happiness. I know that a lot of players haven't seen or used this system
yet, but I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to use it once they got a
chance to look at it (detractors of the system feel free to chime in here).
--
Bob Ooton
topcat@***.net