| From: | "Ojaste,James [NCR]" <James.Ojaste@**.GC.CA> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Why is everyone so happy with RBB2? |
| Date: | Fri, 12 Dec 1997 09:03:28 -0500 |
> A captatio benevolentiae first:
> I´ve been off for couple weeks, so please pardon me for repeating =
any
> comments that may have been made on this topic before.
>
>
> Okay, okay.
> We´ve been waiting for a real loooong time for the Rigger Black Book
> 2 to appear. Then, great FASA gave it to us.
> Question: What does it have the old RBB does not?
> Some more vehicles, some redesigned rules, and -- veeeeery important,
> that -- rules for rigging. Gee. I needed them. Really, couldn´t =
stand
> playing SR without 'em.
If you're not interested in Riggers or Rigging, why on earth did
you buy "Rigger 2"?
> But we are all educated people, or so they tell us, and so we say,
> well, it's a sourcebook, y'know, there's gotta be some stuff in it
> that's not *that* interesting for everyone. And we accept it, as
> always.
There are three kinds of sourcebook. There's the Place book,
which describes a place or a setting for a GM to hold a campaign
or adventure, the Current Events book (like PoaD:DS) which
give information on what's happening in the world and the Archetype
book (like Grimmy, FoF, VR2, and R2). If you're not interested
in a) that place, b) those events or c) that archetype, why buy
that book?
> Another question: Are we really, I mean, *really* satisfied with the
> design/construction rules FASA gives us? Can we design really every
I am. I even wrote a program to do the math for me. :-)
> (not necessarily) sensible vehicle we dream of? Without problems?
> Like, six-wheeled autos with steam engines (just for fun), or a blip =
that
works on
> higher-powered variable-bypass jets? No? Or, is it possible to design
> powered roller-skaters? Or ceramic-engine (aka Multifuel) hydrofoils?
> Or amphibic vehicles powered by props and/or diesel engines? Or coal?
> Or wood? Or is it possible to create muscle-powered urban vehicles?
OK, let's get one thing straight. This is Shadowrun. No self
respecting Rigger would drive a coal-powered car. No self
respecting corp would build one. Thus, no problem. "Hey! But
I wanted to build an AT-AT so I could really kick butt!". Yeah,
right.
Corps will only build what they can sell. FASA only produces
rules for things that are likely to pop up. A coal-powered
vehicle is unlikely, but the *system* is flexible enough that
you could just invent your own powerplant. Did FASA make
rules in VR2 for accessing the Matrix with a typewriter? I don't
think so.
> The answer is no. Or, at least, a great many nos. Don´t get me =
wrong:
> they have high-quality stuff there; the FASA sourcebooks belong to
> the best I know. It´d be naive to believe FASA´s in the business =
to
> *not* make money. But both RBB lack the quality I expect to find (and
> have found) in (other) SR sourcebooks.
There are several mistakes in various examples, and there are
some unclear points in the vehicle construction rules (which
Jon Szeto has cleared up quite nicely). All in all, I like R2.
> Same goes for the Virtual Realities books. The FASA guys never
> presented us a good "construction kit" for programs, only different
> classes of programs, or some mixed ones. *Not* well done, definitely
> not.
Haven't read VR2.
> These are the reasons why I use the decking/designing rules for
> Cyberpunk2020 and (TATAH)
> the *GURPS Vehicles* Book. In it, you´ll find
> virtually everything for designing vehicles, not just cars, bikes and
> maybe jet fighters. Really, this book is definitely worth buying. =
I´m truly
> impressed.
But do those vehicles fit in with the SR universe? If not, what's
the point? Sure, Gundam-class mecha are cool toys, but in SR?
'Taint bloody likely. :-)
James Ojaste
<plug mode=on-topic>
You can find The Shop, my vehicle creation program for R2 at:
http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~jojaste/SRII/
</plug>
