Runners form 'extreme-MENSA' league, Does anyone else think Reaction's silly? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Velocity]

Does anyone else have an issue with Reaction being figured from Quickness and Intelligence?

My problem is that, like most game systems I've played (White Wolf, HERO, AD&D, etc.), combat emphasizes--and rightly so--acting quickly and often. The combatant with the most frequent opportunities to act usually wins (duh). Naturally then, Shadowrun PCs bend over backwards to maximize their Initiative, since this does two things:

1. Places them higher up the initiative totem pole (i.e. who acts first, second, third, etc.);

2. Provides them with more opportunities to act.

As a result, Reaction tends to be a priority Attribute. Since it's figured from Quickness and (more problematically) Intelligence, I find that PCs end up looking like a bunch of pulitzer-prize-winning chess grandmasters. Apparently, when Nobel laureates get tired of the spotlight, they run the shadows.

In theory, I understand why Reaction is figured from these two stats. I follow the logic, I just don't like what happens when one follows the logic all the way to its conclusion: characters (PCs and NPCs alike) with a whopping high Intelligence that doesn't suit their personality or background, just so that they can keep up in combat, which is an integral part of SR games.

My (tentative) solution would be to make Reaction an Attribute like the others: have the PCs spend Attribute points on it at character creation. This would require tweaking the priority system a bit, to give them more points at each level, but should be manageable.

Questions, comments? Am I completely out to lunch on this?