Shadowrun

Catalyst Game Labs => Catalyst's Shadowrun Products => Topic started by: aimlessfreak on <03-04-11/1007:08>

Title: Next book to get
Post by: aimlessfreak on <03-04-11/1007:08>
I'm gonna order another book this weekend just wondering what I should get.  I have augmentation, arsenal, street magic, unwired, the runners companion, and seattle 2072.  Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: FastJack on <03-04-11/1053:28>
SIXTH WORLD ALMANAC

I cannot stress how awesome this book is (even with the few flaws, it still gives a great "world view").
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: CanRay on <03-04-11/1116:46>
I wouldn't argue with FastJack, as it's great to show the whole history to a group, even if they never leave the UCAS for another country.

But as for which book, depends on your group too much to really be able to suggest.  I do, however, swear by Runner's Companion as useful for almost every group, if for nothing else than the Lifestyle Rules.

The rest of it is good for people that don't know the universe that well, or are used to only Fantasy RPGs, and need to get a feel for Cyberpunk/Dungeonpunk/WhateverthehellShadowrunis.
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Bull on <03-04-11/1225:57>
Shadowrun Missions Adventures (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_187_215&products_id=2673) :)
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: CanRay on <03-04-11/1252:11>
Shadowrun Missions Adventures (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_187_215&products_id=2673) :)
So, how does it feel to be a corporate shill, Bull?  Got an office with your name on the door and a nice desk?  :P
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: JM_Hardy on <03-04-11/1306:49>
Shadowrun Missions Adventures (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_187_215&products_id=2673) :)
So, how does it feel to be a corporate shill, Bull?  Got an office with your name on the door and a nice desk?  :P

Office? Hell, we didn't even give him an e-mail address with his name on it.

Jason H.
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: CanRay on <03-04-11/1326:08>
So, Bull, which Corporation do want to get extracted to in order to get some respect?  I know a few guys...   :P
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Bull on <03-04-11/1329:21>
Shadowrun Missions Adventures (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_187_215&products_id=2673) :)
So, how does it feel to be a corporate shill, Bull?  Got an office with your name on the door and a nice desk?  :P

Ask most folks, I've been a corporate shill for about 15 years now.  *shrug*

But hey, in this case, I wrote the first two Season 4 Missions (04-00 currently out, and 04-01 which will hopefully be out within the next week or so).  And, well, I do Dev the Missions line, so...  It's in my own interest to pimp this. :)

But yeah, as Jason points out, the best I got is the same generic SRMissions@shadowrun4.com email address that the previous Missions Devs used, a little bit of input into one small facet of the SR universe, and a really small, crappy check once every few months. :) 

Plus, a certain amount of pride at seeing products that me and my team work really hard on get published.  :)

Bull
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Bull on <03-04-11/1331:04>
So, Bull, which Corporation do want to get extracted to in order to get some respect?  I know a few guys...   :P

Hrmmm...  I always saw myself wearing an Ares logo. :)  Though I wouldn't be adverse to working for the Big Gold Wyrm either.  Does S-K have an Amish Branch out in the Orwell-Middlefield, Ohio area?
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: PeterSmith on <03-04-11/1704:46>
Hrmmm...  I always saw myself wearing an Ares logo. :)  Though I wouldn't be adverse to working for the Big Gold Wyrm either.  Does S-K have an Amish Branch out in the Orwell-Middlefield, Ohio area?

You think the Germans want to do anything that'll violate Swiss neutrality? ;)
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: aimlessfreak on <03-04-11/2106:27>
well looks like its the almanac then, not really looking for adventures just yet
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: CanRay on <03-04-11/2130:37>
The history bit in it is perfect for players that don't know the universe that well, and was educational even for experienced fellows like myself.

And, if your players want their PCs to come from somewhere other than North America, well, there you go as well.
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Tagz on <03-04-11/2154:41>
Sounds like a fluff book is a good pick.

Sixth World Almanac - Good: Good overview of the Shadowrun timeline and history.  Good for info on various locations.  Bad: A few really bad editing mistakes with a couple sidebars.

Corporate Guide - Good: Good rundown on the AAA corps, the history, important key players in corporate settings, the various corporate cultures, etc.  Bad: Not a ton of content for veterans and older players, but the shadowtalk was fun.

Vice - Good: Rundown on the major crime syndicates and larger gangs.  Lot of plot seeds for GMs.  Nice update since Tempo shook things up in the underworld.

Running Wild - Good: Mix of crunch and fluff on the animal kingdom, more crunch then fluff.  Also goof info for Biodrones, Great Dragons, Infected, Techonocritters, Ghosts, and a few others.
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Angelone on <03-07-11/1616:08>
I'd get 6th World Almanac or Vice, more leaning towards Vice.

How much do you and your players know about the setting?
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: aimlessfreak on <03-07-11/1808:11>
I'd get 6th World Almanac or Vice, more leaning towards Vice.

How much do you and your players know about the setting?

I know a good amount most of the players are new to shadowrun
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: CanRay on <03-07-11/1809:43>
How much do they know about Vice?   :P

If they're new to Shadowrun, I'd suggest 6WA more than Vice.  it's a great way to introduce the universe's history, with the Shadowtalk keeping it from being like a history lesson.

My own teacher put himself to sleep in one of those when I was in High School.  No, wait, that was Geography...
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: aimlessfreak on <03-07-11/1813:30>
well vice was my 2nd choice anyways, I may just get both
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Critias on <03-08-11/0001:23>
Really, what to get is going to come down to your campaign.  "Both" is a fantastic answer, don't get me wrong (Jason will beat me with a wire coat hanger if he hears me telling someone not to buy multiple books), but if you can't get both at once, to decide what order to get them in, I'd suggest thinking about what order you'll need them in.

Is your group sticking to one urban sprawl, getting tangled up in street level crime?  Dealing with gangs, working for the mob, fighting Yakuza thugs, running drugs (or fighting drugrunners), and related "gritty" type stuff?  Vice is very much the way to go.

Are you looking for globe-trotting action, instead?  Do you want to fling them into neighboring countries, and cook up your own epic story arc that's based on the metaplot with little hints and clues from existing SR products and the timeline itself?  Do they have international backgrounds you'd like to flesh out by knowing more about various countries in the Sixth World and global hotspots?  T6W Almanac all the way.
Title: Re: Next book to get
Post by: Angelone on <03-08-11/0913:25>
6WA then, only if they read it though. It is a great introduction to the setting that shows what the world is like and how it got to where it is.