From:	Ojaste,James [NCR] James.Ojaste@**.GC.CA
Subject:	A perfectly acceptable reason to test the new list...
Date:	Mon, 8 Feb 1999 14:18:43 -0500

Frank Pelletier (Trinity) wrote:
> We all know how munchie a mage/shama can become once, if his initiation
> rating is high enough, he tries to cram cyber into his body...
>
You mean "powerful", I think. Munchie is what players are...

> So the question is this... We all know there are no rules against
> Mages/Shamans getting cyber... We all know all they must do is leave a
> magic rating of 1 intact, and the initiations will compensate for any loss
> (although I'm obviously talking about high-level characters here).
>
Except for the difficulty in healing them and other essence-related
tests.

> So, should roleplaying dictate the fact that a mage/shaman
> (goddamn...magic-user :) ) cannot get cyber? Should we ostracize any
> player
> with munchie intentions, or, as GMs, make them hard as hell on them to get
> cyber?
>
Nope. The mage goes on a run, something goes wrong, the mage's leg
gets shot off. The mage can't wait for a clonal replacement (or can't
afford one), so he gets a cyber leg. Bang - the mage has an excellent
reason to get cyber, easily within character (at least, within most
characters) - what's the problem? Cyber shouldn't be any harder to
get for mages than non-mages (apart from the +2 TN for surgery).

> I view with much doubt a Magic-user who intends to have himself
> cybered-up,
> since it's obviously not a way to advance his character's
> persona/story/etc,
> but a blatant move to boost his already formidable stats (we're talking
> about a level 2-6 initiate) and powers...
>
What!? Obviously not within character!? That depends *greatly* on
the individual in question. What about mages starting with cyber?
They had to make a decision (or had a decision forced on them) at
some point in their lives to get cybered. Are you now saying that
burnt-out mages shouldn't exist because you think they're overpowered?

> Isn't that the definition of a munckin? Can anyone justify a mage of
> perfect health getting cyber, in the name of "character development"?
>
Well, my last example wasn't "perfect health", so here's another one.
The mage is sick and tired of being target #1 in the party (because
he has no visible cyber). He could get some fake cyber made, but
it's not much of a drain on his abilities so why not get the real
thing? He gets a pair of cybereyes installed along with a smartlink.
Now he fits right in with everybody else, his spells are still
effective (although weaker than before) - but he's generally a better
runner.

Shadowrunners *want* to become more powerful.

James Ojaste