NEWS

It's (Lethal) Harvest time!

  • 10 Replies
  • 971 Views

Beta

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1976
  • SR1 player, SR5 GM@FtF & player@PbP
« on: <01-22-25/2004:57> »
The sequel to Scotophobia is out (on pdf at least). 

Despite being very eager I've held off buying it for entire hours so far, and am attempting to wait until I can get it in dead trees form (but if there is no sign of that hitting shelves in a few weeks, then I'm sure I'll crack and get the pdf)

While I'm waiting, I'd be delighted to see any reactions or reviews.

Michael Chandra

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 9938
  • Question-slicing ninja
« Reply #1 on: <01-23-25/0157:09> »
I am eagerly awaiting getting my hands on this as well. I should note that the Catalyst store has a book+pdf option for $49.99.

Meanwhile, I went ahead and wrote a fanfic about what the Dutch shadows are up to during Lethal Harvest. While they're not involved in the whole Dis-war, they have other problems at hand, what with Popular Will finding this the right time to kill some mages. The Rule of Beasts is available to read for free, hope people enjoy it. ^_^ I am definitely going to write more Dutch-shadows stuff to tie into the official books, already considering making a security corps write-up soonish.

Quote
Runners make their fair share of enemies during their careers, so when their skills decline, their life is literally on the line. When magic begins failing, mages are about to have a hard time. When an anti-magic terrorist group has its eyes on you, that's even worse. Faced with this existential threat, the mages in the Dutch shadows either stand united, or fall divided.

The Frisian may hide a clever mind behind his brutal acts, but his first rule is and always will be violence for violence. Knowing what is coming, he gets ready to throw the first punch, and seize the moment while he's at it. By the time the dust settles, he intends to have far fewer people standing in his way.
How am I not part of the forum?? O_O I am both active and angry!

FastJack

  • *
  • Administrator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 6412
  • Kids these days...
« Reply #2 on: <01-23-25/0656:59> »
This book is GOOD. Highly recommend!

Beta

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1976
  • SR1 player, SR5 GM@FtF & player@PbP
« Reply #3 on: <01-23-25/0712:15> »
I am eagerly awaiting getting my hands on this as well. I should note that the Catalyst store has a book+pdf option for $49.99.

Meanwhile, I went ahead and wrote a fanfic about what the Dutch shadows are up to during Lethal Harvest. While they're not involved in the whole Dis-war, they have other problems at hand, what with Popular Will finding this the right time to kill some mages. The Rule of Beasts is available to read for free, hope people enjoy it. ^_^ I am definitely going to write more Dutch-shadows stuff to tie into the official books, already considering making a security corps write-up soonish.


The shipping of hard cover books unfortunately makes me wait for a local store to carry it -- it almost doubles the cost of the book plus pdf bundle, taking the price well above buying a pdf and a book at a local store (should I want both).  (the exchange rate right now is also pretty painful!)

I will go read your story when I get a chance, thanks for sharing with the community :)

Michael Chandra

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 9938
  • Question-slicing ninja
« Reply #4 on: <01-23-25/1001:20> »
The shipping of hard cover books unfortunately makes me wait for a local store to carry it -- it almost doubles the cost of the book plus pdf bundle, taking the price well above buying a pdf and a book at a local store (should I want both).  (the exchange rate right now is also pretty painful!)
Ah yeah, I know the pain of shipping costs... Honestly, if I ever decide to buy a lot of books, I'm better off flying to UKGE and buying there. (Or, y'know, Orcs Nest in London.)
How am I not part of the forum?? O_O I am both active and angry!

Aria

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 2269
« Reply #5 on: <01-23-25/1804:52> »
About 40 or so pages into the book and loving it!  Scotophobia set a high bar but this seems to be matching it!
Excel Cha Generators <<CG5.26>> & <CG6.xx> v36

Beta

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1976
  • SR1 player, SR5 GM@FtF & player@PbP
« Reply #6 on: <02-02-25/1706:41> »
I started with high hopes and was enjoying the book, but the farther I went the more I began to feel that I was back in Cutting Black.  Like they were so busy telling this dramatic story that they forgot the part where they made it easy to integrate into campaign.

I thought Scotophobia had been a real step forward in this regard.  Sure there was dramatic things happening in the world, but lots of it had me realizing ways I could use it even as I was still reading.  Lethal Harvest, not so much.  If anything, in parts they almost seemed to go out of their way to make things too big for a shadowrun team to take on.  I'll find ways to make use of it as background and inspiration, but it will all be another step removed from anything written in the book.

OK, one exception, the un-awakening will be a blast to run, that part I loved.  But it is the exception that emphasizes the general nature of the rest of the book.

Three trends in 6e books that have tended to frustrate me all showed up here strongly too:

First, a lot of words dedicated to mercenary groups, and generally a somewhat 'military' approach.  Mercenaries are generally hired for the exact opposite sort of job that shadowrunners are, so what is happening to them seems pretty divorced from anything I'm apt to be doing in my campaign.  And the NPCs who are considered great officers or led a a doomed but brave battle, sure, cool stuff, but again not of much interest to me as GM.  And a certain amount of military jargon, I guess it is in character for some of the posters, but it also seemed to say "hey, this is a situation for the military, not for stealthy thieves, con men, and saboteurs."  I don't know, maybe some of the freelancers do a lot of work for Battletech or Warhammer or something?  It just seems strange to me.

Second, what I think of as "word count-ism."  Like various authors were asked to come up with some number of words for different sections without a ton of structure or instruction on what to cover, so everyone wrote "In this place, this is what is happening now."  Without anyone writing "because of what is going on, here some jobs that teams in the shadows are vitally needed to do."

And finally, what feels like a focus on delivering a plot arc and character development and closure _for_NPCs_.  It may make the book a more satisfying read on its own, but I want a book that helps me deliver a plot arc for the characters in my game.

This book will still provide dramatic back drops for things happening in my game.  However I started reading it with such high hopes to be able to easily play key events, and IMO that just was not what this book delivered.

Aria

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 2269
« Reply #7 on: <02-03-25/0449:23> »
Having more or less finished it now myself I think I share some of your criticisms @Beta... but I did enjoy it very much as a story telling 'read' and background.  The games I am GMing tend to lean towards the higher end prime runner doomsday stuff (as you know  ::)) so I am sure I'll have use for it as a GM (if I can keep the group together long enough in my Night Fears game  :o ;D)
Excel Cha Generators <<CG5.26>> & <CG6.xx> v36

Beta

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1976
  • SR1 player, SR5 GM@FtF & player@PbP
« Reply #8 on: <02-03-25/0951:43> »
... but I did enjoy it very much as a story telling 'read' and background. 

Oh for sure!  I was eagerly reading through to see how things were resolved, there was good work done on providing a nice plot arc.  And for all I know their market analysis says that a lot of former or occasional players pick up these books for the read?

My criticism is sort of the flip-side of it being a good read.  The material that supports GMs the best, IMO, provides good gaming opportunities in the middle of events, and allows for variability in the outcomes.  Which tends to make for a weaker NPC character arcs and overall plot arc and finale, as there is less narration of what happens and more room for variability.

One thing that I did appreciate is that it didn't leave much in the way of mysteries, which is one big change from Cutting Black.  Like, I toyed with the idea of having characters get embedded with Ares for the battle of Detroit and then be present at the big finale -- but we had no idea what actually happened at the finale, so it would not have been very satisfying to run.  PCs are not just grunts on the ground, they have the skills and attitude to work their way towards the centre of events.  The challenge with Cutting Black was that the GM didn't know what was happening at the centre of events.  The challenge with Lethal Harvest is that near the centre of those particular events doesn't give much scope for runners to influence things.

« Last Edit: <02-03-25/0956:32> by Beta »

Aria

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 2269
« Reply #9 on: <02-03-25/1443:47> »
Not that you've read them yet  8) but the two recently released missions give runners an active role... it's crazily dangerous but certainly aimed at stealth rather than overwhelming force
Excel Cha Generators <<CG5.26>> & <CG6.xx> v36

Beta

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1976
  • SR1 player, SR5 GM@FtF & player@PbP
« Reply #10 on: <02-03-25/1616:49> »
Not that you've read them yet  8) but the two recently released missions give runners an active role... it's crazily dangerous but certainly aimed at stealth rather than overwhelming force

Good to hear! 

It feels odd to take that comment and put it in a place that isn't all that obvious to many (won't show up in game stores, kind of have to be paying attention to announcements or know what you are looking for to find it).  But at least they provided something in that line.

 

Register