From:	Dave Mowbray dave_mowbray@*****.com
Subject:	Realism
Date:	Tue, 28 Sep 1999 17:39:59 -0400

<snip>
>For my own part, I prefer realism in all aspects of the game. Now, of
>course, this does not mean that I don't include magic in my game, etc.,
but
>rather that I like the game to be internally consistent. I don't like my
>games to be comic-book like hero-fests where the good guys always win. My
GM
>has traditionally run comic-book type epic action-film adventures. We're
>slowly getting him back around to the way I like to play, which is more a
>creative problem solving, tactical situation and personal interaction
game.

I guess that I wasn't really addressing morality at all, more of the
question of whether your NPC's resemble real people, PC's or it depends on
the situation. Personally, I like to have a nice mix. Strago will tell
you about the agonized screaming (which I love!) when, after getting hosed
by an LMG and taking light to no damage, a PC hoses an NPC with an LMG and
they take similar damage. I mean... you're running the shadows... if you
run up against a corporate hit squad/ other shadow runners isn't it
realistic to assume that they would be on par with the runners, if not
better?

I also like to give my runners challenges which involve creative problem
solving, tactical situations and a chance to use those oft maligned social
skills. The problem with creative problem solving is that the runners often
don't see the answer and begin thinking with their guns. I don't really
care whether or not the runners are "good" or "evil" so to speak, just
how
much of a challenge it is for them to realize their goals. As an occasional
runner myself, I like gunfights as much as the next guy (maybe even more
so), but the intellectual challenges and social skills can be just as much
fun. Ask Strago about situations where some of my characters have spoken
their minds to people/beings who could kill them in an eyeblink.

-Dave