QUOTE
The spotlight whore is not the character per se, but the player portraying it. Also, every Runner is special per definition. He has more Cyberware then any normal person even thinks possible, or wields magic most people hope does not exist. Every one of them is per definition "hunted" and they have to conceal their... illigal habits... like killing people without even blinking or thinking twice. The need for essence or flesh is sure not nice, but not really that much worse then what the average Runner does for a living. Also, what do you think notoriorety is for.
You mix up things here good. Vampires (and other infected) are hunted because of what they are and will be shot on sight justr because. They also, in addition to law enforcement, always have dedicated organisations out to kill them (for something they aren't faulty of, a Mary Sue trait). This comes per default. Ordinary runners, on the other hand, neither absolutly have to kill people, nor do have to have some horrific cyberweapons (or whatever you are talking about with cyberwre people would hope doesn't exist). Alsokilling people without thinking it through on a regular basis is more a trait of an idit and less of a shadowrunner ... and notoriety is fairly useless, save as a tool for GM fiat.
QUOTE
Oukay. First, pussy Anne Rice wannabee vampires have feelings. Stupid WoD gamers portray their chars having feelings. But seriously? Vampires are predators. Immortal beeings are assholes. Boiled down to it, it's the players, not the vampires that are wusses. Second, do you mind to name a few Mary Sue characters that have the "oh, I did ghastly things, but I have to, I am still feeling!" factor? I really can't imagine how that works for anything but a few Mary Sue variants.
Yeah, boil it down like that and it's the players, not the Mary Sue characters, who are at fault. That vampires lend themselves like no other race too mary sue-ism (revenge and angsty sues mostly, though a newborn vampure works as a help-me-sue too, I think) still remains an issue. And that I don't really see how, except for an insane or vampire themed campaign, such a character could be integrated into the group without being the constant sucker for attention just because of it's affliction and the needs and troubles that come with it.
As for the characters: I doupt you know Steele, Sue (!) or Moonchild (who since has stopped being a vampire, I heared), as they're all privatly played (rules-breaking) SR characters by two certain players ... as for characters from vampy fiction? Sorry, I don't read fan fiction.
QUOTE
Also, accusing vampires of beeing emo no matter the setting or indivuum is like saying every jew is a baby blood drinking, greedy, hooknosed rat.
So you're saying most jews are? Because, thanks to Anne Rice, movies like Blade, Underworld and UV, and of course oWoD V:TM, yes, most vampires ARE emo by default.
QUOTE
If you think so, I don't feel like changing your mind on that topic. You stick to rape, I stick to psychological abuse.
Like slapping. Eh, right.
QUOTE
Replicate? Did I miss something?
The obvious answer would be "yes". I was talking about creating other infected. Spreading the disease. Make people become vampires. It requires them to completly drain victims, unlike lycantrophes and ghouls, who just need to bite someone to infect them.
QUOTE
And anyway, yes, vampires and wendigoes need Essence to survive, but who says that it has to come from the bodies of innocents ?
Wendigo, for instance, prefer the flesh of cannibals (for whatever reason), and thus will try to corrupt those surrounding them (the other PC), in order to eventually eat them. The other PC would, if I am not mistaken, also become psychologically dependent on their cannibalistic diet. So yes, tthis WOULD fuck up all other PC just because someone really wants to play a Wendigo.
Vampires and Banshees are a little less hard to integrate into a normal runner group without ruining any character they come in contact with, though the dietrary requirement really will drain GM attention and possibly dominate the campaign's plot no matter what, giving the character pretty much the core attribute of a RP Mary Sue.
QUOTE
I'm sure that the corporate executive that has just ordered to dump toxic waste in the middle of the slum and eliminate anyone that objects will be a fine source to provide my Infected character with the lifeforce he needs to survive another half a year, and the world will be a brighter place for the exchange.
Oh, so your infected will be "all nice heroic Robin Hoods that only do runs to protect the innocent or ameliorate the lot of the downtrodden"?