[halflingmage]

Hey all,

I am considering starting a once a month shadowrun game at the local game shop.  I have experienced gamers, but everyone but myself will be new to shadowrun.  Is there anything published for helping new players build characters and do a basic run to learn the rules?  I know there used to something the missions folks used called "Welcome to the Sixth World", but I have seen a couple of references that said it is no longer available.  Is there something to replace it, and can you get it anyway other than becoming a member of the demo team?

[Reaver]

I believe there is the 'Food Fight' mission on the main page download section. Its set up to be a primer and introduces combat.

But it may have been for 4e...

[Pendemon]

The quick start rules including food fight is here:
http://cdn.shadowruntabletop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/E-CAT27QSR_SR5-Quick-Start-Rules.pdf

What I did with my new group was sit each one down and go through the character creation process in chummer
https://github.com/chummer5a/chummer5a/releases/tag/5.182.0

It is all a bit daunting at first though so maybe don't lock them down with that character, let them make changes after having a bit of a play through.

[Joabe]

Pendemon's way is probably the best in my opinion. Set your players down and knock out some characters. Foodfight (which I believe is in the Quick Start Rules) is a good way to introduce them to the core mechanics in Shadowrun and gives you as the GM a lot of leeway of what you introduce them to. Have a decker? The Stuffer Shack cameras most likely just recorded the runners killing some people and it needs to be scrubbed. Have a magician or adept? Throw in an awakened ganger (maybe even have him or her summon a spirit - immunity to physical weapons is no joke) to give the party a taste. Feel free to change up the introduction however you see fit to introduce as many aspects of the Sixth World as you're comfortable with in a first session.

A mulligan afterwards will let them change their characters a bit with better working knowledge of the rules and mechanics.