| From: | David Buehrer dbuehrer@******.carl.org |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Heavy Armor |
| Date: | Fri, 26 Feb 1999 08:46:44 -0700 (MST) |
/
/ > / Further I think the SR3 Armor rules are Crap
/ >
/ > How so?
/
/ I would say that it is kinda crappy that you cant hurt a Bulldog
/ Stepvan BC with a HMG. Sure armor technology has advanced, but my
/ impression is that you can damage a present day APC with 7,62 ball
/ (That would be a MMG). IMHU it was uneccesary and bad for the game to
/ halve weapon power before apying to hardened armor. Now you have to
/ get a friggin' LAW to hurt your neighbourhood pizza delivery van.Not
/ to mention Steel Lynx drones or dudes with heavy armor. A light Mil
/ grade armor can now take non-armor piercing Assault cannon round no
/ sweat. Nosir, i dont like it (And im the one thats making 36D ATGMS)
Ah. That's a reflection of the design philosophy behind Shadowrun,
IMHO. Shadowrun is a game of running and hiding in the shadows. Not
stepping into the spotlight. IMHO heavy armor is a spotlight; avoid
it, go around it, but don't try to go through it.
Also, heavy armor is a wonderful GM tool. When encountered it's the
GM's way of saying, "You're going to have to use your brain to get out
of this one," or "You've been caught. Surrender now, let the bad guy
tell you his plan, make your escape, and *then* defeat him."
If heavy armor was easy to defeat then it would become a ho hum element
of combat. As it stands now when the PCs encounter heavy armor their
first thought is, "Oh shit." It's impressive as hell and demands that the
PCs use their heads. It's a challenge to be embraced.
Also, on the few occasions when the GM gives the PCs those LAWs to take
out the oppositions APCs in the final battle, or let's them drive the
MBT through the city streets in the radical chase scene, it's icing on
the cake. It's special. If you change the armor rules then you turn a
unique flavor into a bland filler ingredient. (Forgive the baking
analogy, my mind is on food this morning :)
-David B.
--
"Earn what you have been given."
--
ShadowRN GridSec
email: dbuehrer@******.carl.org
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
