Smart Link 2, A sequal that is better than the first! Options

[Brazila]

Is it just me or is the SL2 on the unbalanced side of the fence. I mean I always thought that the SL was good, but SL2 is nuts. There is no reason to ever get an SL1 anymore, since they have been introduced I have yet to see a PC choose 1 over 2. If you use the bypass armor option for called shots then an SL2 and glazer rounds equal stupid killing machine. I am all in favor of mundanes having some good gear, but in the hands of a gun bunny adept, this is just nuts!!

[kevyn668]

Well, there's the roleplaying factor.

[toturi]

So? It is good gear. It works by increasing the level of lethality in games on both sides. Nothing surprising there.

[Nikoli]

and the nonsensical yet in there for balance aspect of not stacking the benefits of a scope with a smart link.

[kevyn668]

With the addition of a rangefinder.

[Brazila]

For the benefits I just think the $ cost is very low. And if SL2 is that cheap then SL1 seems like it would be way less.

[toturi]

The SL 2 has a street price more than double that of the SL and twice the Availibility.

[Charon]

The cost of the SL2 is negligigle all things considered. Especially since it's usually taken at creation.

That's the result of early Shadowrun gear book mentality. First SSC, then Field of fire... they kept adding gear that frequenlty made what came before obsolete.

Personnally, I'd increase the SL2 cost a little and more importantly I'd raise the essence cost by .1, blaming it on the extra processing power required.

Essence is a better balancing factor than money for anything under 30K or so.

Also, I might have more than 2 grades of SL.

From model I to model II, there is a world of difference and that leaves room for intermediate models. 4 Different models would justify a much bigger range of price and essence cost in terms of game balance.

[Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_*]

[toturi]

Game balance is not an issue. Recognise that the true difference in SL 2 and SL is in the gun attachment not the implants themselves. Unless you rule that the SL 2 called shot function do not function with SL 2 guns and smart goggles, I do not see the reason for any increase.

[kevyn668]

[Tziluthi]

[Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_*]

I said they're "generally pricey."

[Charon]

[Prospero]

But the external link has a lot of poblems of its own, like getting damaged, getting stolen, not being able to be worn in every situation, etc. I dunno - I like magic-type characters, but with everyone bitching about how magic characters are so super bad-arse, why not have something that really whoops hoop for the mundanes? :rotate:

[toturi]

pssst... Because the mundanes are always worried that the magic guys will lose some magic and implant some of their mundane toys too.

[Charon]

[Prospero]

[Sandoval Smith]

What precisley about the Smartlink 2 is nuts? It's a generally better piece of 'ware than the SL1, but you know, that's what happens when a useful piece of equipment is out on the market. It gets upgraded. None of the advantages it provides over the SL1 are really unbalancing, save perhaps if you let players make called shots to bypass armor all the time.

[tisoz]

How do you not let them do it?

[Tziluthi]

Corporal punishment?

[Sandoval Smith]

[Rolemodel]

Really. Seriously. Called shots bypassing armor is perhaps one of the most unbalancing issues I have with ranged combat. The SL-2 just facilitates this, and while the option to call a specific shot of the body/vehicle/etc., is a viable option, and one that should be encouraged in certain circumstances...

...reducing armor to zero is more or less complete shit.

On the flip side, I agree with the concept of gear being refined, and improved in later releases, aka SL-2. Not to mention it's more or less the Samurai bread and butter. And given the pointed castration of our cyberpunk cornerstone, I say give the damn samurai whatever they can get.

-Rolemodel

[Nikoli]

Personally, I'm more likely to use the SL2 to fire for a special effect on a called shot, like maiming the target (blowing off the elbow of the hand holding the gun, then the opposite kneecap) so I'm not left with bodies to dispose of.

[Cray74]