| From: | Lehlan Decker <decker@****.FSU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: SRII Lethality |
| Date: | Wed, 17 Dec 1997 13:04:53 -0500 |
> <ACK! Snip your replies! you know better than that!>
>
> > I can argue this a couple of ways. First if the pistol does 5L, compare
> > it to a .22. Unless I hit you in the head or the heart. A .22
> > is far from fatal or even serious (not counting shock of course).
> > I do agree that knives are useless unless you have a strength of 3+
> > but that is due to the way Melee works, and we all know those
> > rules need to be fixed. (And have been by most of us).
>
> I still hold that a gun, (Say even a light pistol, not a hold out) or
> a knife should have a much higher base damage. And how about those
> SMG's? 5M? Granted, bursts increase damage, but you acheive so
> fewer successes because of recoil....
>
> Try this. you get into a nice bullet-proof vest (we'll use Armored
> Jacket, 5/3) and I'll pick up a Predator. You stand 5 meters away,
> and I'll shoot you a few times. I'm not much of a gun-guy (line up
> the sights, squeeze the trigger, right? I've read all about it :) )
> so I'd say by SR standards I'm probably a 2 skill. (being generous).
> I'll assume you are an average guy, body 3.
>
> Not giving me bonuses for careful aim, I just point and pull the
> trigger a bunch of times. You stand there and try to look tough.
>
> 9M: target 4, skill 2, average 1 success. 5 armor, body 3, 2
> success average damage/shot: L
>
> Okay, so I'm plinking you with a bunch of light wounds. You DO have
> that nifty jacket on. So I convince you to lose the jacket (I guess
> you're kind of gullible :) )and fire a few more times.
>
> This time the base damage is Moderate.
>
> In a world where children and adults all too often bring out guns and
> kill each other, I find it hard to accept a system where it takes so
> many shots to do the same thing.
>
> SR has always talked about the "gritty world, where some punk with a
> light pistol can ruin your day". I can't see it. No punk (skill <
> 6) with a LIGHT pistol (What is that, 6L?) is going to bother anyone
> but the wussy mage in the group without being a cunning and tricky
> bastard.
>
> I'm all for cunning and tricky bastards, but the simple truth is
> players don't fear getting shot as much as they should.
>
Interesting example that's hard to dispute. The other part shadowrun
doesn't deal with, is yes the Armor Vest makes it so you only
suffer an Moderate wound. But the stun damage is another
thing entirely. The problem, as I see it anyway, is how do you
fix the base system without rewriting. Anything besides slight modifications, seem to make
it fall apart.
You also have to remember any runner in the group is usually above
average. In my campaign, alot of gangers don't even have much more
then lined coats and smgs. But 15 of them, can make your life difficult.
--
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Lehlan Decker 644-4534 Systems Development
decker@****.fsu.edu http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~decker
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Time is the best teacher. Unfortunately it kills all of its students.
