Re: [HOE] Sawbones: Forgotten class?

[Brett Dixon <balance@tubas.net>]

On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 12:01  AM, C M Hylton wrote:

> I was re-reading the section about the Sawbones (ok, the archtype) in 
> the
> Player's guide.  The thing is:  they don't get much more mention.  They
> carry medicines but after that, nothing more.  I was wondering where 
> they
> get these medications.  Scrounging is the first answer.  After that 
> though,
> they don't seem to have any real purpose.  Is it possible to find more 
> meds.
> With all that in the guide and in Brainburners.  Where would they get
> production aparatus?  Do Junkers make them?  Do they dabble in alchemy?
>
> Just wondered if anyone has any ideas.  I hate to see something like
> Sawbones fall by the wayside since everyone seems to have some mystical
> person by their side to save their keysters.

I think the sawbones is one of those character concepts you don't 
realize the value of until it's gone.

The Posse I Marshall for went through Infestations, and the lack of 
anyone with serious medical training really hurt them. They had a 
Harrowed (who i at least made afraid he was infected) and a Syker (who 
could heal himself) butt he rest of the posse was SOL, as their only 
healing came from a Templar... No one had more than one or two levels 
in medicine.

If your group uses the radiation rules, this may be even worse, As I 
remember, Lay On Hands only does actual wounds, and can't help 
mutations, and the doomsayer healing abilities are, well, interesting...

So a good true 'Doctor' is pretty useful.