[gurps] Mitigators (was Cyberpunk & 4e)

[Michael R. Stork]

Michael Sarno wrote:
> hal at buffnet.net wrote:
>
>> It would seem then, that advantages in and of themselves should be paid
>> for if present at the start of the character generation regardless of 
>> the
>> source.  If it is "meat", it is natural, if it is cybernetic, it is
>> "chrome".  Regardless, if the character starts with it - the player pays
>> the points.  If the player acquires it later in play, it costs money 
>> - not
>> points.
>>
> There seems to be little reason to keep track of character points 
> after character generation with this system. If the players and GM 
> like it, then it makes sense, but I'd never want to play in a game 
> like this. If the character point system isn't broken, then it should 
> be used to regulate game balance.

The problem with what you're saying is that it doesn't take into account 
the non-cyber gadgets that characters can buy with cash rather then CPs. 
Any character with the cash can buy an offensive weapon, say a small 
laser pistol. At some tech levels this might be as small as some of the 
tiny cell phones today. If the same character bought a weapon that does 
the exact same damage but had it built into a cyber-arm, he'd have to 
pay cash AND CPs? Any advantage that can be built into a cyber-eye can 
be added to a helmet, goggles, glasses, or possibly even a contact. Why 
should I pay CPs and cash an eye that has a few advantages when I can 
just as easily get the same in a contact? Using that logic, any 
character with cyber-ware is going to be unbalanced compared to his 
non-cyber buddies. This only applies to settings where cyber-ware and 
high-tech is common, THS for example. If this were a TL7 game and the 
gadgets were super secret sypyware, then I'd say the CP cost would be 
totally reasonable.

-- 

*/Mike S./*

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