Preference: I have been playing since '89. I have pretty strong opinions on this game. I am what some would call a Grognard. I don't call myself one due to the connotations.
Preference 2: I only have the Sixth World Beginner Box Set, not full rule book.
I run a game on Saturday nights for my teenage son and his friends. This has been D&D up till this point. They have never played another RPG. Not that I haven't tried several games. They just haven't found a game that makes them want to change from D&D.
After last night that has changed, they don't want to play anything but Shadowrun now. The atmosphere and pace of the game suits them. They consider themselves edgy.
I am in no way associated with Catalyst, but I believe that this is the purpose of many of the changes in 6e. Shadowrun is quicker and more exciting to play. 6e has followed the current trend in RPGs and modernized, yet kept the same bones. This is a good thing. The game has changed yet not thrown the baby out with the bath water. Shadowrun needed to change in order to survive. It was time. I do like the current trend of getting away from simulation. RPGs have never been realistic, that would be fairly boring. They are rules system for a group storytelling. Anything that encourages action and faster pace is excellent, as long as it doesn't take away from the group escape and storytelling. The group loved the new Edge system. These changes are meant to appeal to the video game generation as I call them. I enjoyed most of them myself.
Last night we just did an all out brawl, so they could get the rules system down. The team was in Stuffer Shack, armored plates dropped over the windows, and a voice over the intercom announced that the survivor would become rich beyond their dreams. I don't want to give blow by blow account, just highlights.
The group picked up the new Edge system quickly and loved it. There were times I forgot to give edge and the players reminded me. I wish there were more circumstances to give edge. The group loved that dynamic. It felt like the Edge system was put on top of the existing 5e rules system. That is a good thing, see baby with bath water above.
The group had some issue the whole AR versus DR mechanic. There was some debate of why Rude would even use a sword if his pistol was better, until Yu tried to steal it, it was better than his pistol. I am trying hard to like this mechanic. It simplifies combat and plays to edge. It's hard to get away from my simulation roots at times I guess. The teenagers love it so far, with the exception of sword.
The clear winner was Zipfile, he stayed out of combat, hacked the system. He let himself out, shut the lights off and called Ares. In combat the Mage won but that was due to the politics of the group.
Just a quick post, comments and questions welcome.
