| From: | John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: [SR3] Character Generation |
| Date: | Mon, 7 Jul 1997 21:52:44 EDT |
<<Here's a suggestion for SR3 which I think would be well received
overall...>>
Don't speak too soon, TopCat:)
<<Get rid of the priority-based system and go to the point-based system
from
the Shadowrun Companion for character generation.>>
No. Leave them as-is, with the Points System as an optional rule and
nothing more.
<<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.>>
Well, I agree on that point.
<<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.>>
Don't take this personally, but that is utter BS, IMO. The point system,
as much as I like it, is more open to abuse than the priority system, by
nature of the flexibility it grants the player. If anything, making the
point based system the standard chargen system would only open the game
up to further powergaming tendencies by opening up further loopholes for
munchkins to abuse. It also requires more thought and knowledge on the
part of a new player. And it makes it much easier for a new player to
screw up.
<<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.>>
I disagree. While the point-based system is more flexible, I find that
the Priorities system(s) work well enough for just about anything.
<<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).>>
<shrug> I don't think that making the Points system part of the standard
rules would be a good idea, mainly because it's even more open to abuse
than the basic chargen system. And, as much as I like the Edges and
Flaws, they have the same problem. And abuse is one of the things we're
trying to prevent:)
--
-Canthros
I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud
and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.
--Francis Bacon
http://members.aol.com/canthros1
