 Karma, What does it represent? |
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 Aug 29 2003, 08:04 PM
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#1
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Shooting Target  Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689  |
I suspect we'd all more or less agree that karma to some extent represents straight experience and the ability to learn from experience. But sometimes karma can be sold (for nuyen), or transferred to others (free spirits). Sometimes it can be purchased. Some house rules and designed spells cover accumulation of karma from others (willing or not) as "life energy" from specific metamagics and ritual magics.
How do you work this? What is the mechanism of transfer? and how do you image it? What do you understand karma to represent, especially in situations which involve its transfer or trade or sale to others? |
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Aug 29 2003, 09:12 PM
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#2
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,222 Joined: 11-October 02 From: Netherlands and Belgium Member No.: 3,437 |
How about it just representing points to make your character better so you actually evolve? No hidden mystery, no in-character meaning, just a GM's way of helping you become more powerful for the next story. :P
Sphynx |
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Aug 29 2003, 09:31 PM
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#3
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Traumatizing players since 1992 Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,282 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 220 |
Well beacuse Sphynx sometimes karma DOES pop up in character, such as free spirits needing to advance and aquire it from outside forces. WHat does the character go through when giving up Karma ro a Free Spirit?
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Aug 29 2003, 10:06 PM
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#4
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Beetle Eater Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,797 Joined: 3-June 02 From: Oblivion City Member No.: 2,826 |
Or Quickening a spell and locking a ward or watcher. I always thought of Karma as Lisa Simpson describes the Soul to Bart, "Some would say that the Soul is really a measure of ones deeds and actions." :ic: "So you agree?" The Oracle asked quietly. "Yes." The whirlwind of light about it spins faster and brighter. Seeming to breath deeply, The Oracle leans forward. A shadow of the emotions you experienced, the pain and joy of the past weeks and month, rises through your mind as if pulled by a ghostly hand. Fleeting away, the sensations die down leaving an almost hollow feeling behind. Before your eyes a myriad of tiny glowing globes float gently towards the whirlwind, seeming to merge with it. "Done," he said, his voice final and firm, "Now, listen well, and I shall answer your three questions." |
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Aug 29 2003, 10:38 PM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 212 Joined: 1-July 02 From: Santa Maria, CA Member No.: 2,921 |
I swear to God, I have to be a player in a game you GM before I die, Kanada. |
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Aug 29 2003, 10:46 PM
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#6
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Target Group: Members Posts: 83 Joined: 26-March 03 Member No.: 4,336 |
karma is a measure of good deeds generally. in most published run, you get a karma bonus for going out of your way to be a 'good guy', yet the run is a bit easier if you go evil. Evil has its own reward, Karma is not one of them.
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Aug 29 2003, 11:01 PM
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#7
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I hate this interpretation! If this were the case, bad guys would never get better at anything. Karma in Shadowrun is an abstract. While it does have various uses, it's main purpose is to represent the effort required to learn and/or improve one's self. |
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Aug 29 2003, 11:24 PM
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#8
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 214 Joined: 8-June 03 Member No.: 4,696 |
Not sure if I'd go with the following model in my own game, but it works well enough that I wouldn't be put out if it were presented as the official definition:
Karma is a measure of a person's ability to determine the course of their life in opposition to the external forces that shape it. This definition explains why it's used by PCs to improve themselves, and why free spirits need it, but isn't so great at explaining where it comes from. C'est la vie. |
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Aug 29 2003, 11:45 PM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 348 Joined: 20-June 03 Member No.: 4,782 |
If you are looking for some spiritual meaning fo karma...
Karma is a powerful force created by the ancient and sometimes forgotton gods that created the 6th world and have now turned over control of the universe to many other gods. Translation: Karma was created by the authors/designers (ancient gods) and is controlled by the GM's (current gods). |
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Aug 29 2003, 11:54 PM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 617 Joined: 28-May 03 From: Orlando Member No.: 4,644 |
No Karma was created by Ancient History. :notworthy: |
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Aug 30 2003, 12:00 AM
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#11
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I like this! :) |
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Aug 30 2003, 12:03 AM
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#12
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 348 Joined: 20-June 03 Member No.: 4,782 |
:notworthy: |
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Aug 31 2003, 12:43 AM
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#13
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Nice description, Kanada Ten. Now, what of karma used to bind a newly-found focus?
So karma is a measure of free will and the ability to act upon free will? |
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Aug 31 2003, 04:43 AM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 214 Joined: 8-June 03 Member No.: 4,696 |
Well, sort of. On one level, I like this idea, because it's a neat explanation of how karma is used: improving skills and stats, binding focuses, granting to free spirits. It has some rather undesireable philosophical consequences, but it's not often that philosophy comes up in Shadowrun anyway. I want to use a nanosecond buyout example, but I can't quite figure out how to phrase it, and it works better with karma pool anyway. |
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