Back when my friends and I role-played while sitting in the same room, the discussion of game mechanics like Attributes, Skill Ranks, Successes, Condition, etc. by characters was taboo. The same was true of Levels, Armor Class, Hit Points, THAC0, Experience Points (XP) and other mechanics of other games. The one exception was Gold Pieces (or Nuyen).
In some respects Karma is like Experience Points; in other respects Karma is more like Gold Pieces. The most glaring case relates to Initiation. What does a Technomancer , Mage, or Adept know about Karma? How does she discuss the need for Karma?
When she is invited to join a group, how does she explain that she does not have enough Karma? When she is asked to participate in a group initiation, how does she explain that she needs to accumulate 4 more Karma?
How does she know that she is 4 Karma short of what she needs, rather than 2 Karma short? Does she know how Karma is earned? How does she discuss the need to earn Karma? Is that even a valid concept?
Before you answer these questions, please think about them in the context of "in character" posts in the "Welcome to the Shadows" forum. Role-playing the speaker, what would you say? As a reader, what would you find acceptable, and what would you find cheesy?
Thank you in advance!