From:	Scott W iscottw@*****.nb.ca
Subject:	SR Narrowing of focus
Date:	Mon, 16 Aug 1999 01:40:06 -0300

"And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Twist0059@***.com."
] Because most GMs have to wing the worlds that the shadowrunners pass
through
] in any given shadowrun. Having a whole sourcebook devoted to life in the
] 2050-60s would be a great help in conceptualization for the shadowrun
players
] and planning for the GMs.

Unfortunately, as others have said, it wouldn't sell. That being
said, there's nothing to prevent authors putting the odd "atmospheric"
bit into their rules, place, or situations book. They do it all the
time, as a matter of fact. I agree that it's difficult to form an
entire picture of What Life's Like in the SR world, but have you ever
thought that maybe that's a good thing? Consider: if they nailed down
every social more, every custom, every piece of tech, every trid
broadcast, then there wouldn't be any way for a GM (or writer) to alter
the game universe. Some folks like a darker game, where the corps rule
with an iron hand, others like a heavily magical game. _Not_ defining
everything that makes up the SR world gives GMs some latitude in
detailing their campaign, and that's a good thing, to me at least.
I used to be of the school that thought that if it wasn't written
down, it shouldn't be invented, i.e. if there's not a book on Saudi
Arabia, don't send your runners to Saudi Arabia, because it won't be
canon, and therefore won't be good (aw hell, I'm still mostly of that
school, but I'm trying to change, really I am). Now I think it's okay
to mess with some things. I'm using some House Rules (gasp!), and
describing bits of "atmosphere" that I think might exist in the SR
world (even if they ain't written down in a sourcebook).
It all comes down to how creative you want to be. I really don't
need (or want) FASA to hold my hand throughout my playing career,
telling me exactly how everything shall be. Granted, sometimes I could
use some guidance, and I get that, when possible, from bits and pieces
that authors have tossed into their work. If there's nothing to tell
me about the price of chickens in 2060, well, I make a guess. I'm not
always happy doing that, but I'm not going to wait for FASA to come out
with Target: Livestock :)
Boy, I tend to ramble on. I hope you got what I was saying: you have
a darn good point, but I feel if you looked at it a different way, you
might find things aren't so bad after all.

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