From flashlife-request@kpc.com Fri Oct 16 22:15:24 1992
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 22:15:21 PDT
Message-Id: <9210170515.AA27247@mailbox.kpc.com>
From: flashlife@kpc.com
Reply-To: flashlife@kpc.com
Errors-To: flashlife-request@kpc.com
Subject: Flashlife   V3 #8
To: flashlife@kpc.com

From: Carl Rigney (moderator) <flashlife-request@kpc.com>


Flashlife  Fri, 16 Oct, 1992   Volume 3 : Issue 8

Today's topics:

  A word from the moderator		(Moderator)
  Volume 3 Back Issues available by FTP	(Moderator)
  Re: Flashlife V3 #7:Points System	(Snuggly)
  Re: Points System			(Carl Rigney)
  Re: Bad guys & big guns		(Philip Marlowe)
  Social Trends in the next 40 years	(Brian Bankler)
  LARP: Machina Ex Deo			(Brian Bankler)

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 21:00:00 PST
From: flashlife-request@kpc.com (Moderator)
Subject: A word from the moderator

Flashlife is now up to 316 readers, but only gets 1 submission a month,
which is fairly ridiculous.  Originally I intended Flashlife to be
a small mailing list for Shadowrun GMs to trade ideas on in a timely
manner, away from the noise and volume of rec.games.frp, but it appears
that everyone uses rec.games.frp (and now .misc) instead.

That's fine with me, I don't want to go to all the work of maintaining
a list that's almost never used, so I'd like to ask each subscriber to
come up with one worthwhile thing to say in the next year, and send it
in.  That's a very light request as minac goes, and not unreasonable I
think.  Send in something that you think other Shadowrun GMs would find
interesting or useful.  Of course, if you'd like to send in more than
one item, that's more than fine; just try to keep each topic in its own
message and choose meaningful Subject lines so the index of subjects
will be useful.

Next issue will be the special "Shadowrun II" review & comment issue -
assuming anyone sends in any reviews. :-)

--
Carl Rigney, Flashlife Moderator
flashlife-request@kpc.com


--------------------------


Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 21:00:00 PST
From: flashlife-request@kpc.com (Moderator)
Subject: Volume 3 Back Issues available by FTP

You can now retrieve issues 0 through 7 of Flashlife Volume 3
via anonymous FTP from ftp.kpc.com (144.52.120.9) in the
compressed tar file /pub/list/flashlife/v3.0-7.tar.Z.
Be sure to use binary mode when transferring it.

Also available in the same directory are my house rules in the long
somewhat-obsolete version and the short but not as complete versions,
and a file (16x13) containing the probabilities of getting N successes
rolling 1-16 dice vs. a target number of 2-13.

As soon as I have time to retrieve Volumes 1 & 2 from tape and index
them, they'll appear too and I'll announce it on the list.  I also
hope to have some other useful Shadowrun files available for FTP
eventually.

--
Carl Rigney, Flashlife Moderator
flashlife-request@kpc.com


--------------------------


Date: Sat, 20 Jun 92 17:07:26 BST
From: Snuggly <D.T.M.Gladding@lut.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Flashlife V3 #7:Points System

Just a quick note to query with the points system - what about cyberware ?  

Does this come under the nuyen heading, because if so a lot of samurai are
going to go short of other equipment in order to get that
wires/ smartlink/ muscle boost or whatever.

Another thought - deckers and riggers.  Perhaps an addition should be made to
the points system to cover these.  But all in all it seems good.

Bye for now, JayCee

D.T.M.Gladding@uk.ac.lut



--------------------------


Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 22:00:00 PST
From: cdr@kpc.com (Carl Rigney)
Subject: Re: Points System

Gladding is referring to my 350 point design system for Shadowrun
characters, published in Volume 3 Issue 7.  They're available
via anonymous FTP from ftp.kpc.com (144.52.120.9) under 
/pub/list/flashlife/long-rules.cdr.  I also recommend you get
short-rules.cdr, which is more up-to-date in parts.

> what about cyberware ?  

In the 91/8/30 edition of my house rules for alternative character
design, I suggest:

This is still being tested:
Cyber Rating costs 25 Karma for Rating 1, and can be bought up from
there like any other stat (3x current rating to increase).  The actual
cyberware costs no money during character creation up to your rating,
but requires a check for magic loss.  Alpha and Beta cyberware is
unavailable.  All the Physical Adept powers except automatic successes
and astral perception are available in cyberform as well.

> Another thought - deckers and riggers.  Perhaps an addition should be made to
> the points system to cover these.  But all in all it seems good.

They're already covered by the rules for Cyber Rating and Nuyen Rating.
I think Deckers should all be NPCs anyway, for reasons discussed in
previous issues.

I haven't bought Shadowrun II yet so my house rules are for SR I, but
it shouldn't make much difference in the character design part.

--
Carl Rigney	cdr@kpc.com

"Every technology has it's original sin."


--------------------------


Date: Tue, 7 Jul 92 15:06:04 BST
From: philip marlowe <A.J.Beckett@lut.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Bad guys & big guns

Well well well.

The Combat debate goes on. Are the new rules (black book) better? I
think so. However, they didnt change what I think is one of its major
faults, ie: the action reaction system. As far as I can see, a good 'ol
slash'n'slay would be     made a good deal (wait for the taboo word)
-REALISTIC- (there, I said it) if  the actions in a combat turn went
from the middle outwards instead of fromm the bottom upwards as is
presently the case.

For example, if Lt. Lynch of the space cavalry was four times faster
than - Joe Ped, he would kill him three times before poor old Joe gets
to fall down dead, whereas what ought to happen is Joe gets geeked only
TWICE, ie: he acts in the middle as opposed to the end .

Another important effect is that the mundane player characters get to
at least  draw their guns/wands/pointy sticks before the bad guys are
blown to oblivion by some brain dead cyber knight with more chrome than
you can shake a stick at.

One last point, does anybody agree that since the original SR rules
came out, the street sams & magical types have been made yet MORE
powerful by their respective source books, whereas the deckheads and
riggers have been restricted by their sourcebooks?

Yours Ducking Bullets,
Marlowe.



--------------------------


Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 14:48:23 -0400
From: Brian Bankler <milord@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
Subject: Social Trends in the next 40 years

	As I mentioned, I (along with Jon Rothstein and Mazyar Fallah) are
in the process of writing yet another LARP game.  Right now we are working
on the Matrix and fleshing out the details of the plots.  What I might not
have mentioned is the setting.  This game (if/when it runs) will be set
in Seattle, of course.  But part of the game will be set in Luna I, a joint
Aztech/Renraku research facility on Mare Imbrium (that will possibly be
changed depending on when I can get my hands on a good lunar map).  The
date -- 2093.

	So, the question that I pose to you (and to all flashlife, if you
think it is intersting enough) is this:  What do you forsee in the next 
40 odd years of the Shadowrun Universe?  Newtech, Newmagic etc is nice,
but what I'm looking for is social trends.  Now, the timeline of my game
is already written, but it isn't set in stone (and I doubt that my version
will match the general consensus, because I also changed the timeline leading
up to 2050...although most of it was small details.  I don't want players
coming into the game without a good knowledge of the game to be much less
informed than players who live eat and breath SR, so the changes level the
playing field, in a sense).

	Just as an opening gambit, here is some of what I have done (this
will be common knowledge in the timeline of the game).  From the previous
live action games and my campaign, the following "recent" (2050-55) items
happened:

	Ares attempted to launch a strategic offensive initiative
(possibly in retaliation for the Aztlan expansion war of '44?) in 2052.
However, a running team led by Aztech operatives destroyed the first phase
of the program on the launch pad and released details to the press.

	Renraku's AI project works with a vengence, coming online in 2053,
killing a member of the staff and sending a subprocess into the real world
in his body (for information gathering) while taking control of the Renraku
Matrix and Archology.  Renraku and Prometheus make a deal approx 18 hours
after his birth; but by that time Prometheus has gained control of approx.
30% of the stock available through other deals and gains enough power and
influence to have an AI 'BIll of Rights' passed into law.  Prometheus is
still in the employ of Renraku, and has increased profits, although he
actually devotes very little CPU time to work.

	Seattle is invaded by an mercenary army in 2055.  After three days
of fighting, the invasion ends when the Tir sends troops in on the side of 
UCAS, although losses (esp. civilian) are high.  All MegaCorps post big 
losses in the event (as all corporate HQs are shelled and sometimes
assualted).  No reason is ever discovered, nor any information as to whom
was supporting the mercenaries, although most people assumed that only a 
Megacorp would have the resources to a) organize the invasion and b) cover
up the organization that effectively.

	From these events (the first two are from the two live action games
that I wrote, _Fallen Angel_ and _Domino Dominion_, while the Invasion
of Seattle is from a campaign).  I came to the following conclusions:
decreased consumer confidence and increased governmental regulations.  In
fact, in my timeline, all MegaCorporations have signed the "Second Geneva
Convention" which talks about such wonderful things about restoring the 
environment (there is, of course, nothing left to protect) and "rules of
engagement" as it were.
	I have other changes and predictions, but most of those are minor
and I'm ready to hear any other predictions.

	Remember -- This is material.  If you don't want me to use it (or
abuse and reform it to my tastes) then you wouldn't be mailing it....



--------------------------


Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 00:40:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Brian Bankler <bb2u+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: LARP: Machina Ex Deo

	Carl, the following is an advertisement for the Live action game
that Myself, Jon Rothstein, Maz Fallah, Christopher Gulledge, Alyssa
Gardner, Beth Anderson, and Jonah "Me?" Cohen are running at 
Balticon.

	[I've included the registration form because the questions it asks
	 may be useful for other GMs too.  No endorsement is implied.
	 Since this digest may cross the NSFnet, which forbids
	 commercial usage, I've left off the (very reasonable) cost of
	 the game - please send mail to bb2u@andrew.cmu.edu if you're
	 interested and Brian will tell you how much. --CDR]

	Jonny dodged into a run-down apartment, brushed the water from his
leather jacket, and grabbed his last tanpatch.  He slapped it on his forearm
and could almost, almost, feel the chemicals start to repair the damage that
the sun did.  He rested for a minute, then stepped back out into the street.
His eyes glazed over as he saw, really saw, what was going on.  Punks 
and Posers, the metalmaxxed and the masses were all packed together on the
crowded sidewalks.  He pushed his way through, towards the entrance to the
building that towered over them all.
	The guards at the door stopped him, and were about to throw him back
out into the streets, when he flashed his ID.  They stepped back, apologizing
that they hadn't recognized him, Sir! and he walked past them to the 
elevators.  He strolled past the public elevators, to the last one, the one
that had no buttons.  He put his hand on the metallic plate and stared into
the camera.  
	"Tanaka, Jonathon" he said, as the camera busily confirmed his
identity, while the fingerprints were being doublechecked and his retina 
was being scanned again.  It took about 3 seconds, then the elevator's doors
quietly opened.

	He got out of the elevator, handed the jacket to his secretary and
went into his office, making sure that his suit hadn't gotten wrinkled by
his foray out into the street.  On his desk were files that screamed for 
his attention.  More research notes, progress reports, employee evaluations
and loyalty test results, stock values, economic indicators, monthly sales
figures and all of the rest.  He glanced at them for a few minutes and 
answered an urgent message from Luna I.  He stretched and, then he sighed
and got up to look out the window.
	The streets didn't look real from high above.  They looked clean,
almost serene.  Not the way they were at all.  Tanaka ignored the pressure
of the corporate world for a few minutes, as Jonny stood staring out 
the window of the Pyramid, onto the streets below. 

**************************************************************************

			   _Machina_Ex_Deo_

      A Live-Action Role Playing Game set in the future of Shadowrun(tm).

Place: Balticon at the Hunt Valley Marriot in Baltimore, Md.
Date:  April 9-11, 1993 (Easter Weekend).

**************************************************************************

	Welcome to Seattle, 2093.  The future has radically changed the
look of the world.  Corporations, the dominant power for nearly a century,
have again started to fall under the power of the world's governments.
The Ozone has finished it's predicted collapse, and old enemies have
allied themselves together to produce mankind's boldest colony, Luna I.
The only constants in this ever changing world are the ambitions of those
who plot and scheme for money and power, and those who lurk in their shadows
as the instruments of their actions.
	And who are you, then?  Are you a corporate executive, struggling
to attain the only goal you have ever known--power?  Or are you a shadowrunner,
simply trying to survive in the world and make enough money to let you live
well.  Or even just let you live.  Are you a samurai, augmented with the 
latest implants that technology has to offer?  A decker, riding the dataflow
of the Matrix(tm) for your own ends?  A mage, bending the rules of the world
to suit your own purpose?  
	Or, are you the most dangerous being in the shadows...something new?

	[To information on prices please mail to bb2u@andrew.cmu.edu --CDR]

	If you want to play _Machina_Ex_Deo_ then fill out the following
form, print it out, and send a check (no cash, no money orders) to:

        Machina Ex Deo
	c/o Jon Rothstein
	3900 St. Paul #1104
	Baltimore, Md. 21218

	The price for playing is $XX before March 15, 1993 and $YY after.
	Mini-characters are available (at the door only) for $Z.

	Also, in order for you to play in our game, you will have to become
a paid member of Balticon.  Balticon Membership is $AA until March 13, 1992
and $BB at the door.  Children are half price.  Make checks payable to
Balticon 27.  Send checks, requests for information, etc to:
	Balticon 27
	P.O. Box 686
	Baltimore, MD. 21203-0686

 
			Pre-Registration Form

	When asking for what you would like to be, please remember the
following pieces of information -- 1) Most characters are pregenerated,
so as to allow the GMs to plot the game in more detail, 2) We try to
make at least the pretense of balancing characters. Everyone has something
that makes them dangerous, else they'd be dead.  But, please don't ask for
the ultimate troll-stomping mage/samurai/decker with tons of nuyen and a 
panther assault cannon who's feared by all.  You simply won't get it.
3)  Please put down your second choices, and remember that not
everyone can be a (your favorite character type).  4)  Be creative.  
While we mainly use pregens, if you have a creative, new (and balanced)
concept, we will try to fit it into the game.

Name:				Sex:
email address:			Phone #:
Snail Mail:

	For the following races and character types, please prioratize
everything on a 1 to 10 scale.  1 is a Can't-Stand-it-Eck!, 10 is a 
Oh-Yes-Gotta-Have!, 5 is ambivalent, etc. 

Race:
	Human ___	Ork   ___

	Elf   ___	Troll ___

        Dwarf ___	Other ___ (mixed-breed, non-human, etc).

	Please describe yourself, briefly (Height, weight, hair and 
eye color, any distinctive features).

	What would you like your character's general moral code to be?
		(1 is Sauron, 10 is Superman).

	How do you see your character's style? (Ex: all business?
		flamboyant and cinematic?  Suave?  Sleezoid?  etc)

	What intellect level would ou like for your character?
		(Ex: Brainiac, streetwise, ditzy, braindead, etc.)

	Do you see your character as:
		A leader
		A follower
		Getting out of the way
		A loner
		Couldn't Care Less

Character Concept:

	Corp Exec ___  	Law Enforcement ___	Media   ___

	Mafiaosa  ___	Gang Member     ___     Yakuza  ___

        Samurai   ___   Physical Adept  ___     Shaman  ___

	Mage      ___   Decker          ___     Fixer   ___

	Scientist ___   SimSense Star   ___     Rocker  ___

	Techie    ___   Doctor          ___ 

	Other     ___  (Please list any ideas you have).

	Some characters could easily be "Street" or "Corporate" 
(a WageMage as opposed to a runner, Corporate Decker as compared
to a Cowboy, FBI or walking a beat,  you name it).  
	Specify your preference from 1-10.  (1 is Born-in-a-Suit
	Corp, 10 is Born-in-leather-and-steel street.)

	If you are a decker, or to a lesser extant if you are a Corp
or other character with a SIN, would you consider bringing a personal
computer and a modem to the game?
	[Machina Ex Deo assumes no responsiblity for any equipment
brought by players to the game.  We would not use your, computer it
would be for personal use.]

	What kind of style and attitude would you like?

	
	Since this is 2093, please list any new equipment, spells, or
anything on the cutting edge that you would like to have:   

	What kind of plots would you like to play in:

	How much you intend to play:
		A few hours                           ___
		Off and On, All Weekend               ___
		Most of the Convention                ___
		Nigh Unto Every Waking Moment         ___
		The Vow -- Who needs food or sleep?   ___

	Technical Questions --

	Would you be willing to run a game site from your room?

	Would you like to be part of a team of characters?
		(Ex: a group of characters that has worked
		togehter before, a megacorp, an organized crime
		group, etc).
	
	If yes, what kind?

	Is there anyone with whom you would like to be teamed?

	Is there anyone with whom you would like to avoid being teamed?

	What do you enjoy about live action games (1-10)?   

		The Intrigue ___

		Costuming    ___

		Projecting a strong personality ___

	
	Please feel free to include any comments, statements, etc that
	we stupidly forgot to ask about.

	Shadowrun and The Matrix are Trademarks of FASA, Inc.  Copyright 1990.
	Used with limited permission.



--------------------------

End of Flashlife
**************************

