From:	Angelkiller 404 angelkiller404@**********.com
Subject:	SR Narrowing of focus
Date:	Mon, 16 Aug 1999 00:29:54 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Goodman <remo@***.net>
To: shadowrn@*********.org <shadowrn@*********.org>
Date: Sunday, August 15, 1999 12:49 PM
Subject: RE: SR Narrowing of focus


>> >Straw poll time here.
>> >
>> >Is anyone out there satisfied with the narrowing of focus down
>> >to criminals only?
>>
>> Umm, ok, maybe I missed something here, but... The only "Non
Criminal"
>> SR characters, when you want to get right down to it, came under
Mike's
>> command: Playing Doc Wagon from the Companion and Missions. Other
than
>> that, everything else is pretty much justa different type of
>> Shadowrunner, which, when you break it down, is nothing but a
Criminal
>> at his core. A Shadowrunner is a mercenary who breaks the law for
money.
>
><major snip>
>
><2-Step stands up and applauds Bull> Man, you got it in one. If I
might be
>allowed to quote from the original Big Blue Book, where it gives the
>definition of "shadowrun" <rummages around finding BBB>:
>
>"SHADOWRUN n. Any movement, action, or series of such made in
carrying
>outplans which are illegal or quasilegal." -- WorldWide WordWatch,
2050
>update
>
>That's on page 8 of the BBB (the original one).
>
>The focus has *always* been on criminals. I don't understand what
most of
>you are griping about, since if anything it's a return to the
*original*
>focus.


The question being, what does the group do when crime just isn't fun
anymore? you have all the toys, you have all the skills, you have all
the spells, and regardless of what the GM throws at you at the street
level, it's no longer a challenge, no longer exciting. Like when
insect shamans get boring. When the Mafia owes YOU favors. When you
can command the big bucks per run just because you can? Even if you
retire your characters and start all over again, you're still stuck at
the street-criminal level. What's next?

As much as I'd hate to bring up AD&D, I think they had something of a
good idea there: there comes a time when you outgrow your foes, you've
realized your goals, but something still beckons to you. I don't have
a problem with the street-level focus myself, but where do we go
beyond that?

-----
AK404

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