 vampires and essance drain |
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 Feb 13 2006, 02:00 AM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 332 Joined: 19-September 05 From: Nashville, Tn Member No.: 7,761  |
simple enough question.
what do vampires get out of essence draining. Why do they do it? i've read the critters' vampire description, and the powers. mabe i'm just missing it. |
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Feb 13 2006, 02:46 AM
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#2
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Chrome to the Core Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,152 Joined: 14-October 03 From: ::1 Member No.: 5,715 |
They get lunch.
Oh, and added Essence. Which, for vampires, means getting an extra point (or two. Or three. Et cetera) for their Enhanced Physical Attributes. |
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Feb 13 2006, 03:37 AM
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#3
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
Vampires lose a point of essence every month. If they go too long without feeding they die to essence loss. Also, many of their powers depend on their essence level, meaning they are strongest when they are well fed.
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Feb 13 2006, 02:54 PM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 993 Joined: 5-December 05 From: Crying in the wilderness Member No.: 8,047 |
A max of +12 on all physical stats, so an average of 15. On a theatrical note vampires run faster than meta humans (at x5) so with Quickness in double digits you can use all the usual movie tricks and hit&run tactics for suspense.
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Feb 13 2006, 07:12 PM
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#5
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,589 Joined: 28-November 05 Member No.: 8,019 |
They're WAY too fucking powerful.
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Feb 13 2006, 07:17 PM
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#6
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Genuine Artificial Intelligence Group: Members Posts: 4,019 Joined: 12-June 03 Member No.: 4,715 |
SR vampires have always been OMFG-powerful.
Wait, so do vampire's magically augmented stats get to ignore the modified limit of 1.5xbase? I don't see any reason why they should get to break that particular rule. |
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Feb 13 2006, 07:50 PM
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#7
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Chrome to the Core Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,152 Joined: 14-October 03 From: ::1 Member No.: 5,715 |
Enhanced Physical Attributes isn't magical, per se. It's magic-based, yes, but it isn't a spell or a spell-like. It's simply an innate ability. The rules for those are kinda wishy-washy. I've never seen it stated that vampires couldn't hit 18-21 with EPA. |
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Feb 13 2006, 08:05 PM
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#8
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Genuine Artificial Intelligence Group: Members Posts: 4,019 Joined: 12-June 03 Member No.: 4,715 |
Tanka, I'm not disagreeing with you, I agree that it does not explicitly say one way or the other.
However, I'm going to point to pg 62: "....augmented by cyberware, bioware, adept powers, and magic." and later "The maximum augmented attribute value for each metatype is equal to 1.5 times this figure, rounded down..." We also have, from the section of Critter powers, pg 286 "Some powers are are natural in nature, such as claws or armor. Others, such as concealment or engulf, are magical." Nothing concretely saying that essense drain (and the accompanying attribute boost) are magical, exactly, or that the augmented limit applies to this critter power, but to me it seems that this power is not natural, it is somehow magic, and it is restricted by the augmented maximum. I don't have a quote that specifically says it does, and no one else has one that specifically says it doesn't (to my knowledge), so I'm going to rule that the augmented maximum applies. I don't think it's quote worth of errata, but I'd like to see it show up in a FAQ, one way or the other. |
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Feb 13 2006, 08:13 PM
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#9
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Shadowrun Setting Nerd Group: Banned Posts: 3,632 Joined: 28-June 05 From: Pissing on pedestrians from my electronic ivory tower. Member No.: 7,473 |
That's why Blade is such a fucking badass. Also it's why Martin de Vries' Force 4 Essence Focus makes him even more hardcore than Blade. His maximum Quickness is 26, Strength is 24. Fully charged, he could beat up Quicksilver. |
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Feb 13 2006, 08:35 PM
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#10
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Chrome to the Core Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,152 Joined: 14-October 03 From: ::1 Member No.: 5,715 |
Moon-Hawk: Fair points, all around. I think EPA and vampires in general were simply carried over from 2nd Ed and not one consideration to the rule-breaking that EPA is.
Also, I'm not finding the p. 62 quote. SR3 core, right? I'm aware that the max includes Bio/Magic, but I was under the impression that Cyber surpassed the limitation (if need be). |
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Feb 13 2006, 08:36 PM
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#11
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,548 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 |
Moon-hawk - I would question whether a vampire is still considered a member of the original metatype or should be considered a new species.
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Feb 13 2006, 08:47 PM
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#12
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Genuine Artificial Intelligence Group: Members Posts: 4,019 Joined: 12-June 03 Member No.: 4,715 |
Tanka: No, my quotes are crap. SR4. I got confused which room I was in and I looked at the wrong book. *puts on b00b hat* I would happily look up and give relevent quotes for the correct book, but I only have that one in dead tree format and, sadly, not with me.
Nezumi: Good point about vampires being considered a new species. I can see strong arguments either way. They're definitely no longer human, but their powers, impressive as they may be, still have to function through what was originally a human "chassis". Okay, so my above post is mostly crap, so I'm not so sure anymore. Maybe their stats really can get that insanely high. Sorry to clutter the discussion with off-edition quotes. I'm going to go sit in my dumbass corner and think of something useful to add. |
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Feb 13 2006, 09:19 PM
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#13
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Shadowrun Setting Nerd Group: Banned Posts: 3,632 Joined: 28-June 05 From: Pissing on pedestrians from my electronic ivory tower. Member No.: 7,473 |
It's not described in SR3, but in the previous editions vampires are listed taxonomically as a distinct species separate from (meta)humanity.
Vampires are Sanguisuga europa Nosferatu are Sanguisuga europa caecus Banshees are Noxplorator letalis ... And so on. HMHVV is just that hardcore a virus. It doesn't just turn you into a beast, it kicks you out of the human Genus. |
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Feb 14 2006, 08:23 PM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 993 Joined: 5-December 05 From: Crying in the wilderness Member No.: 8,047 |
Here one from cannon fiction, vampires have a higher density that metahumans, so its hard for them to swim BUT they have a different sonic frequency for their soft tissue. One wealthy vamp had a sonic security device rigged in his abode, which of course was set to meta human. So inspired you should of seen the face of my players :D
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Feb 14 2006, 09:24 PM
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#15
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,548 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 |
Humor me, what is the 'sonic frequency for soft flesh'? I've heard of the resonating frequency for a chicken's skull and the ultra-low frequency sounds that cause an upset stomach, but not the frequency of soft flesh.
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Feb 14 2006, 10:32 PM
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#16
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Shadowrun Setting Nerd Group: Banned Posts: 3,632 Joined: 28-June 05 From: Pissing on pedestrians from my electronic ivory tower. Member No.: 7,473 |
They have less buoyancy, but I don't recall it ever being because they are more dense.
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 Feb 14 2006, 11:35 PM
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#17
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,408 Joined: 31-January 04 From: Reston VA, USA Member No.: 6,046 |
Related topic: The critters book says that vampires go into dormancy when cut off from oxygen. How long do you think this would take? If I 'shrink-wrapped' a [meta-]human or put them underwater, they'd flail around for a minute or two before going unconscious and dying. Is it the same for vampires, or do they go dormant instantly? Does the vamp have to be completely submerged, or would dunking his head do? If his legs go into the water, do they go to sleep?
(Pictures freshly-made [stupid] vamp jumping into the pool for a midnight swim, and immediately sinking to the bottom. :P ) |
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Feb 15 2006, 12:27 AM
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#18
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Chrome to the Core Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,152 Joined: 14-October 03 From: ::1 Member No.: 5,715 |
I'd imagine they'd have to be without oxygen for what's standard for their Body attribute (including EPA, my guess). It takes a while, but if you happen to be able to sink one (tying lead weights with monowire?) and keep it down there long enough, it'll stay down until retrieved.
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Feb 15 2006, 02:19 AM
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#19
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,073 Joined: 23-August 04 Member No.: 6,587 |
If they have less buoyancy then they must be more dense. Buoyancy is a function of density in the real world. I guess it could be a function of magic but /why/. Edward |
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Feb 15 2006, 02:22 AM
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#20
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Chrome to the Core Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,152 Joined: 14-October 03 From: ::1 Member No.: 5,715 |
Since when did real world physics have anything to do with Shadowrun? :grinbig: |
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Feb 15 2006, 02:31 AM
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#21
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King of the Hobos Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,117 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 127 |
Which is what I always loved about them. Except when the GM threw one at a group I was in of course. :D When the sammy has Delta Wired-3, the decker can seemingly crash an AA corp without much difficulty, the magicians have initiated six or seven times and the rigger takes a Panzer down to the local store for some shopping it's nice to be able to throw one of these guys against them. Keeps them on their toes and aware of the fact that they're not the top pf the food chain, making them have to really work to beat them. |
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Feb 15 2006, 03:48 AM
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#22
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,640 Joined: 6-June 04 Member No.: 6,383 |
My question is what does a vampire need to do to suck essence out of a PC? Ha ha, pwned, cry Mr. Mage!
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Feb 15 2006, 04:17 AM
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#23
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
A few minutes alone, some chains, ropes, or silk scarves, and an attractive figure or a bullwhip.
According to critters, permenant essence drain requires an unspecified number of unintrupted minutes, for the victim to be unable or unwilling to resist, and for there to be a strong emotional connection such as lust or hatred which is most easily established by sex or torture. This, I suppose, is why most female vampires are dominatrices. It won't happen in combat but it could happen if the magician in question is captured or hires the wrong joytoy. The nasty thing is that that addiction rules apply to recieving essence drain. Being drained causes unimaginable pleasure and the magician will be psycologically compelled seek out that pleasure after the first time. |
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Feb 15 2006, 05:39 AM
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#24
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Shadowrun Setting Nerd Group: Banned Posts: 3,632 Joined: 28-June 05 From: Pissing on pedestrians from my electronic ivory tower. Member No.: 7,473 |
Aside from the Initiation thing (It's not like hitting Grades 6-7 makes you God or anything) I'm dumbfuzzled at such a caricature. |
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Feb 15 2006, 06:01 AM
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#25
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,283 Joined: 17-May 05 Member No.: 7,398 |
Of course, if you have an implanted commlink (SR4) or simrig, you could just run a BTL moodchip that creates calmness...
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