[HoE] Math

[Dusarat@aol.com]

It's not that the junker math is complex mathematics... but...
   Those of you who think 'it's not that bad', look at 'Marvelous Marv's 
motorcycle'. You have a FULL PAGE of boring arithmetic with slots, weight, 
power requirements, and after doing all the math, you ask yourself... 'is 
this really worth it?'.  

    And when you're done, and you have your motorcycle with a plasma pistol 
attatched to it, and you realize the arithmetic would be better spent with 
eight words, "Buy motorcycle, get plasma pistol, get duct tape", it's just 
too time consuming for too little payoff.  The original junker rules worked 
well (My junker was able to make up an exoskeleton before the game in a good 
amount of time and was able to rig up a monster detector in game without 
sucking away everyone's time).  

    Playability is the key.  Complex rules are OK when you're alone at night 
with the junker book and there's nothing on the SPICE channel, but in game, 
Lord help you if you want to make a gadget in game or if you want something 
snazzy without doing endless arithmetic.