From: bjbisset@eos.ncsu.edu (BILLY JOE BISSETTE)
Subject: Quick Comment about CP2020, and feelings about the logan (was:Re: Robotech RPG)
Originator: bjbisset@c00536-106ps.eos.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: bjbisset@eos.ncsu.edu (BILLY JOE BISSETTE)
Organization: Raise A Great Old One Foundation
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 04:47:51 GMT


tdunn@ecst.csuchico.edu (Stress Kitty) writes: (with some editting by me)
>Getting to damaing (and the aforementioned armor problems) it is now
>virtually impossible to auto-kill a person.  Without armor, even.  
>With armor, I can generate enough SP that their staggered pen system
>will not touch.  

  At A previous GenCon, the SP build up problem was fixed with a rules addenda.
Now you're lucky to get to 30 SP, with 2 light armours, one heavy, and solid
cover.  As for quick kills, try aiming for the head.  Remember, if it recieves
8 points damage, the character automatically dies.  Don't forget the head takes
double damage, only 4 pts has to get through...  Try using monoweapons, with
a 10, they do double damage, and the aforementioned addenda causes them to
treat armour as 1/3 SP.  Or a shotgun, the saboted slugs(also noted on the
addenda) treat armour as 1/2 SP and deliver a little more damage...

>Now we move on to the tech department, something that should be fairly
>strong in this sort of world: another big fubar.  You know that if I 
>wanted to doctor up a drug or cut some code, all I need do it pay
>everyone $5 to come join me for a while?  Everyone has a min Tech 
>score of 2 (or even 1...)  and they add linearly?!?  That means that
>20 people working on a program will have a 20+ d10 chance.

  You're overlooking things that are actually in the rules.  Those people you
higher must have the skill in question also.  And in the case of drugs, the
skill in question also has a prerequisite in another skill.  As for drugs
without side effects, it can be interpreted that that requires a pharm. of at
least 9, per person.  Secondly, there is the matter of trust.  Even if you paid
them more than $5 dollars, do you truely think that you can trust more than a
couple?  It only takes one to sabatoge...  Heck, this is a game where I don't
trust all the characters I made!  And you are going to find 20, with the
required skills no less?

>I can probably go on... if you care to tell me which section of the
>rules you care to go into, I'll be most happy to try to show up the
>systems flaws.

  You can go on.  But I've found most of the systems flaws already, and some
of the short-comings.  Still I would say its about the best RPG I've seen.


Okay, thats enough CP2020, maybe that discussion should be moved to the proper
news group.

  As for my promised views on the Logan: HA HA HA...  The thing is cannon
fodder, pure and simple...
  Views about the Robotech RPG in general:  Nice idea done in a lousy way.
I can't stand Mega-Damage, and the mecha deviate too much from the show.  I'm
not sure the word munchkin really applies here, because thats what the entire
system is.  I don't even like the character classes in the game, they are too
limiting.  But I will admit that I actually play games(well, game) from the
system,  anyone for some TMNT? 8)
  And what the heck, even some Battletech comments:  I like FASA as much as I
like the Robotech RPG.  I've come to the conclusion that BattleTech requires
a REAL suspension of disbelief.  You have to disregard irritating thing like
rules for designing mecha, cause the stuff that exist didn't follow them.  Not
to mention, a lot of things don't even look like what you would think from the
descriptions.  BTW, did FASA actually come up with any mecha on their own, or
were they all taken from anime?  I could go on, but I'd rather get some sleep...
Xref: sparky rec.games.mecha:1371 rec.arts.anime:30096