| From: | Lars Ericson lericson@****.edu |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Priorities in the SR2/SR3 |
| Date: | Mon, 27 Sep 1999 10:48:16 -0500 |
> piece of paper don't mean ANYTHING. One of my favorite things to do is play
> the Pedestrian contact as my character without telling anyone, in a crowd of
> munchkins. Guess who ROLEplays the best? And guess who has to be more
> creative in order to survive? The numbers are meaningless; it's the
> creativity that counts. All this "make everyone equal" crap is rediculous.
> Real life doesn't work that way, and I don't like SR to do so. If I'm not as
> smart as the other guy I work with, he's going to get promoted over me. Or I
> might be smarter, but he's more charismatic, and he still gets promoted.
> We're not equal; he is "better," so he gets the benefits of that. And what
> is the end result? I have to try harder, work more, get creative, push my
> own envelope, so that I can keep up with someone better than I am. That's
> one of the reasons I still roleplay, no matter how much older or more busy I
> get; it's an invaluable tool for teaching creative problem solving.
>
> Just a point. Sick of hearing about "game balance," had to vent. How do you
> fellows survive in real life?
First off, I agree with your main point that the numbers aren't the
important thing it's what you do with them. I'm a big fan of actual
role-playing and like a challenge. People shouldn't focus on the numbers
*instead* of role-playing.
However, saying that the character creation shouldn't be fair is just
plain wrong. No one here is wanting to make everyone the same, carbon
copies of each other, but we do want the characters to start off on the
same level. If someone wants to play a character with disadvantages and
obvious shortcomings compared to the other characters (like what you've
described) then any GM is going to allow it. However, nobody should be
forced to play a character that is weaker or with less abilities. That
is why game balance is essential for any game, both in the mechanics and
the character creation. Players need to feel that they are being given
the same opportunities and chances in the game without being forced to
favor a certain style or character. I admire your desire to push the
role-playing envelope, but surely you wouldn't force others to do the
same.
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Lars Ericson: Professional Vagabond
Smalley Research Group, Rice University
E-Mail: lericson@****.edu
WWW: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lericson/
Life is like a Wankel Engine. In between the emptiness of boredom and
despair, and the compression of stress in one's life, there's that one
spark of enjoyment that keeps you going.
