The Shadowrun Thread

[Silva]

I can't stand it's rules anymore but oh boy it's setting and gameplay concept are still among my favorites ever. Getting paid to shoot people in the face in different tactical roles in a crazy cyberpunk-fantasy world is reeaaaaly dope.

2nd edition was my first rpg book ever, back in... 1993 I guess? So I have very fond memories of it. The unique imagery by Bradstreet, Laubenstein, Jim Nelson and Janet Aulisio got burned in my retina forever. And the SNES and SEGA videogames only strengthened that imprint.

Any other fans here? What's your favorite edition and what do you like in the setting?

 

[Eadee]

Shadowrun 3rd was the best edition yet.

4th being absolutely unplayable.
5th mostly being actually okayish but fucking up the whole matrix system by the mark-nonsense...
Haven't played 6th edition yet.


I love the contrast between technology and magic in a modern/futuristic setting. I love the earthdawn crossover and the whole background with the different worlds.
I love how the whole concept supports one shots but is also perfectly fine to play long term campaigns.

 

[Gregz]

Shadowrun is a great setting, I played 2nd edition in the 90s and loved it.

 

[Silva]

Just to say I've tried playing ol 2nd edition with my 12 yo son recently and... man, I can't stand these games 80's "simulationist" sensibilities anymore. I mean, 2 hours to build a PC, rolling initiative for each PC and NPC every round; tracking each NPC health and ammo and whatnot, calculating every little physical modifier to slap someone in the face; combats taking 2 hours to resolve, etc. It's like the game is more focused on simulating physics than letting us participate in a fun story. Frankly, if I wanted to simulate physics of tactical combats, there are a bazillion videogames out there that will allow me to do it in much better fashion: XCom (old and new), Jagged Alliances, Darkest Dungeon, Rainbow Six, STALKERs, etc. I understand the appeal of this kind of game back in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays it doesn't make sense to me.

So, if I play Shadowrun tabletop again, it will be some very light adaptation like in OSR or PbtA or somthing: no prep-create chars in 20min-combats solved in 20min-total playtime in 3 hours-go home play with kids/fuck my wife/watch tv series till sleep.

 

[Eadee]

Well yes. Shadowrun is a game for players who enjoy crunch and "equip-porn". Thousands of possibilities with different tiny modifiers.

If you're into storytelling and enjoy fluff much more than the crunch you should really play another system. I'd go for WoD or Fate in that case but yeah nowadays there are a couple of lightweight ttrpgs out these days that might work better for you.

 

[FritzedProcess]

Just to say I've tried playing ol 2nd edition with my 12 yo son recently and... man, I can't stand these games 80's "simulationist" sensibilities anymore. I mean, 2 hours to build a PC, rolling initiative for each PC and NPC every round; tracking each NPC health and ammo and whatnot, calculating every little physical modifier to slap someone in the face; combats taking 2 hours to resolve, etc. It's like the game is more focused on simulating physics than letting us participate in a fun story. Frankly, if I wanted to simulate physics of tactical combats, there are a bazillion videogames out there that will allow me to do it in much better fashion: XCom (old and new), Jagged Alliances, Darkest Dungeon, Rainbow Six, STALKERs, etc. I understand the appeal of this kind of game back in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays it doesn't make sense to me.

So, if I play Shadowrun tabletop again, it will be some very light adaptation like in OSR or PbtA or somthing: no prep-create chars in 20min-combats solved in 20min-total playtime in 3 hours-go home play with kids/fuck my wife/watch tv series till sleep.

In SR4 and SR5 it takes about 3 hours... using an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of stuff. And that's without going into magic or netrunning.

SR in general takes the amateur programmer's approach to simulationism: no elegance, all spaghetti.