[Casazil]

They make drugs to help with that ya know.

[Tex Muldoon]

EWWW!!!! D20 Shadowrun thats Thats Blaspheme

Hey! I was trying to convince a bunch of gamers that refused to learn a new system to play SR.

Just don't tell them anything. That's how I did it. Just got my group together and said "I am running this, and you will play it,"
The rest is in the shadows.

[Dino]

Let's see, a few of our house rules that I can remember off the top of my head:

• All magical skills are defaultable for magically active characters: Otherwise PCs without Aura Reading can't assense even the simplest of things, and astrally projecting characters who didn't buy Astral Combat are utterly helpless against astral attacks.
• No Arbitrary caps on Qualities: Go ahead and take all the negative qualities you think you can get away with, just be prepared for the ref to use them against you during your adventures. 

[Darkeus]

Let's see, a few of our house rules that I can remember off the top of my head:

• All magical skills are defaultable for magically active characters: Otherwise PCs without Aura Reading can't assense even the simplest of things, and astrally projecting characters who didn't buy Astral Combat are utterly helpless against astral attacks.
• No Arbitrary caps on Qualities: Go ahead and take all the negative qualities you think you can get away with, just be prepared for the ref to use them against you during your adventures. 

Your first one is a very good idea.  I might steal that one.  It makes sense that all awakened should have some "instinctual" ability to use astral combat or assense somebody.

The second rule is pure madness.  Shadowrun already has enough min/maxers in teh community.  That is opening an can of worms!

[Darkeus]

BTW, I do not allow Stick N Shock armor or Emotitoys.  Those have no place in Shadowrun.

[FastJack]

Regarding the qualities, I adjust the caps to say that you can't have a Total ±35BP at character creation (so they're still good for 70 BP of positive qualities, as long as they have at least -35 BP of negative qualities).

Emotitoys I think have their place, same as the personality software for electronics. I see it as non-Technomancers trying to imitate the TM's Sprites...

[Darkeus]

There is no "Noir" or "Dystopia" with a toy that magically hypnotizes marks for social interaction.  Seriously, what kind of Johnson would hire some runner walking around with an empathetic digimon?   Not I said the fly!

Sorry, the tech does not fit teh theme of what I see Shadowrun as being so therefore it is useless.  Not to mention there is more of a tendency of misuse with those things.

Eh, to me they do not fit my "vision" of what Shadowrun is about.  Emotitoys kind of clash with the setting.

[FastJack]

There is no "Noir" or "Dystopia" with a toy that magically hypnotizes marks for social interaction.  Seriously, what kind of Johnson would hire some runner walking around with an empathetic digimon?   Not I said the fly!

Sorry, the tech does not fit teh theme of what I see Shadowrun as being so therefore it is useless.  Not to mention there is more of a tendency of misuse with those things.

Eh, to me they do not fit my "vision" of what Shadowrun is about.  Emotitoys kind of clash with the setting.

Oh, I'd never use one, but I wouldn't turn them down if I was running the game. Too many chances to wreck a character's karma. "Oh, you're sneaking into the Azzie temple?" <rolls dice> "Oops, it looks like your yummi-gachi emotitoy is hungry and begins crying. Loudly."

Nobody's saying you have to use it, but I know a lot of girl gamers (and a couple guy gamers) who would use it, because it makes the setting more real for them.

And, before I leave this, I'd like to point out that among my group of friends, who are highly technologically minded (most own multiple computers, multiple gaming platforms and a smartphone - even though it's not required for their job), the most popular things the download are sound-effect buttons for their Droids, playing Mafia Wars & Farmville on Facebook, and Lego Star Wars on their Xboxes.

Just because life is serious, doesn't mean you don't have fun.

[Doc Chaos]

I'm pretty much with Darkeus on this one. I'd allow the toys in public games if I'd run any (which I don't), but with any new private player/group I talk to them about my views on these things. So far, everyone has agreed to give those buggers the boot for good.

[Darkeus]

There is no "Noir" or "Dystopia" with a toy that magically hypnotizes marks for social interaction.  Seriously, what kind of Johnson would hire some runner walking around with an empathetic digimon?   Not I said the fly!

Sorry, the tech does not fit teh theme of what I see Shadowrun as being so therefore it is useless.  Not to mention there is more of a tendency of misuse with those things.

Eh, to me they do not fit my "vision" of what Shadowrun is about.  Emotitoys kind of clash with the setting.

.
And, before I leave this, I'd like to point out that among my group of friends, who are highly technologically minded (most own multiple computers, multiple gaming platforms and a smartphone - even though it's not required for their job), the most popular things the download are sound-effect buttons for their Droids, playing Mafia Wars & Farmville on Facebook, and Lego Star Wars on their Xboxes.

Just because life is serious, doesn't mean you don't have fun.

And this is further proof that even relatively intelligent people will play or download anything sometimes!   

Seriously, I have been using computers since the Apple IIe, I am one of those "highly technological minded" people and I do not:

Play any game on Facebook (Why when I have REAL games on my PC and 360?)
Download apps (Seriously, some are really useful, most of them are total crap to waste money on)
Play Lego Star Wars.  I prefer the Force Unleashed or maybe the Old Republic MMO when it finally hits. 

And I am still having tons of fun my man.  Like I said, the emotitoy does not add anything except another piece of gear to help min/max.  I am sure you have been playing Shadowrun for a while and as you should know, Shadowrun does not need any more help on the Min/Max department.  Especially in 4th edition (Or do I need to bring up Mr. Lucky, or the Pornomancer?  As worthless as I see those characters, they can still be made.)

Yeah, gotta say again, emotitoys are not Shadowrun.  Some anime RPG setting?  Yeah, maybe.  Shadowrun?  No way....

[FastJack]

I'm not trying to say that you have to use it, or even agree with it being in the game. I'm just saying that it's a flavor item that some people like in the game.

[Casazil]

BTW, I do not allow Stick N Shock armor or Emotitoys.  Those have no place in Shadowrun.

It took one eading of the toy vs. the emotion software and all my players said never to the toys

[Casazil]

Let's see, a few of our house rules that I can remember off the top of my head:

• All magical skills are defaultable for magically active characters: Otherwise PCs without Aura Reading can't assense even the simplest of things, and astrally projecting characters who didn't buy Astral Combat are utterly helpless against astral attacks.
• No Arbitrary caps on Qualities: Go ahead and take all the negative qualities you think you can get away with, just be prepared for the ref to use them against you during your adventures. 

Your first one is a very good idea.  I might steal that one.  It makes sense that all awakened should have some "instinctual" ability to use astral combat or assense somebody.

The second rule is pure madness.  Shadowrun already has enough min/maxers in teh community.  That is opening an can of worms!

I once allowed my players to make I think it was 500 bp characters with as many qualities as they wanted to use so long as the positives = the negitives then I gave them all amniesia

[Casazil]

Seriously, I have been using computers since the Apple IIe, I am one of those "highly technological minded" people and I do not:

Play any game on Facebook (Why when I have REAL games on my PC and 360?)
Download apps (Seriously, some are really useful, most of them are total crap to waste money on)
Play Lego Star Wars.  I prefer the Force Unleashed or maybe the Old Republic MMO when it finally hits. 

Yeah, gotta say again, emotitoys are not Shadowrun.  Some anime RPG setting?  Yeah, maybe.  Shadowrun?  No way....

I also have used computers a long time (although not really that "highly technological minded") but I'm right there with you on not playing facebook games and I don't even own an app capable phone.

My MMO of choice however is World of Warcraft.....For now.

[Darkeus]

Seriously, I have been using computers since the Apple IIe, I am one of those "highly technological minded" people and I do not:

Play any game on Facebook (Why when I have REAL games on my PC and 360?)
Download apps (Seriously, some are really useful, most of them are total crap to waste money on)
Play Lego Star Wars.  I prefer the Force Unleashed or maybe the Old Republic MMO when it finally hits. 

Yeah, gotta say again, emotitoys are not Shadowrun.  Some anime RPG setting?  Yeah, maybe.  Shadowrun?  No way....

I also have used computers a long time (although not really that "highly technological minded") but I'm right there with you on not playing facebook games and I don't even own an app capable phone.

My MMO of choice however is World of Warcraft.....For now.

I resist WoW because I know I will play it for the rest of my days.... 

That is why I really should not play The Old Republic MMO.   I know what is going to happen....