Shadowrun
Catalyst Game Labs => Catalyst's Shadowrun Products => Topic started by: Rallen12 on <07-16-13/1611:01>
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i know nothing about the gameplay so this would be my first experience
normaly i would go to the newest but i have been hearing some complains about 5th so i'm kinda lost
what do you suggest?
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5th. You're not going to have issues going to the new version as you have nothing to base it against. Just the regular growing pains of picking up a new RPG.
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And don't let the complaints fool you. It's the usual edition wars stuff. There were complaints about 2nd back in '92, complaints about 3rd in '97, and a drekload of complaints about 4th in '05. Happens all the time.
SR5 is likely the way to go, since you're coming in fresh. I think it's the most "newbie friendly" edition of SR there is. If you get the chance, also pick up the SHadowrun Almanac, as that will give you a detailed look at the history of Shadowrun. And maybe look at Sprawl Wilds for a look at several wildly differently styled adventures to test the game with and give you an idea of what all you can do with Shadowrun.
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So far, I love 5th. There are bugs, but having played SR since 2nd Ed this edition is phenomenal. Plus, you get the added bonus of not having to buy 26 books to know what is going on. Just two for now. 5th is also easier for new players to jump into.
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And don't let the complaints fool you. It's the usual edition wars stuff. There were complaints about 2nd back in '92, complaints about 3rd in '97, and a drekload of complaints about 4th in '05. Happens all the time.
SR5 is likely the way to go, since you're coming in fresh. I think it's the most "newbie friendly" edition of SR there is. If you get the chance, also pick up the SHadowrun Almanac, as that will give you a detailed look at the history of Shadowrun.
Bull, I am actually amazed at how civil the Edition War Stuff has been..I am guessing Fastjack is working overtime ;)
And...yeah, the ONLY thing I don't like about 5th is that it doesn't have the "And so it came to pass" section. For anyone new
to shadowrun this edition, the 6th World Almanac and Stormfront are almost mandatory if you want to know the history.
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5th is awesome. For all that 4 did some things very well 5th is by far the most impressive edition of SR yet.
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Bull, I am actually amazed at how civil the Edition War Stuff has been..I am guessing Fastjack is working overtime ;)
And...yeah, the ONLY thing I don't like about 5th is that it doesn't have the "And so it came to pass" section. For anyone new
to shadowrun this edition, the 6th World Almanac and Stormfront are almost mandatory if you want to know the history.
He deserves a raise, taht's for sure. Though in general these forums tend to be a lot more civil. When CGL started these boards, a fair number of more... quarrelsome folks, shall we say, from Dumpshock elected not to join in over here.
Bull
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Rallen12,
I am a very new GM as well, and I ran 2 sessions in 4th before 5th edition hit. I can say without a doubt that 5th edition kicks ten kinds of arse over 4th. Not that I am casting dispersions on what came before, but from a totally unbiased and new perspective, 5th is absolutely where its at. But I will echo Mara that I missed the history section. Thankfully, the sixth world almanac is easily accessible.
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Hi Rallen12
I have pretty much all the 4th ed books, and just got the 5th ed pdf, and i have to say if you have no previous experience i think going with 5th would the best option... the only thing that i would recommend 4th ed for in your position is the history of the setting and background for the corps/governments/crime syndicates/other powerful entities.. I have to say to my mind the 5th ed is much more streamlined, but that's what i think, i can't wait for more 5th ed releases. :D
Hope you enjoy playing Shadowrun as much as the rest of us do.
Regards
Hellion
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Since you're completely new, you might as well go with the new edition. It has a few problems, but any edition will in the beginning.
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I would suggest 3rd for a newcomer, but I'm not even sure you can get those anywhere anymore. That way you get the really grimy with neo-shine fluff that defines cyberpunk (to me, at least) and some okay (not great) rules. 5E is the way to go right now; get in on the ground floor rather than playing catch-up.
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I would suggest 3rd for a newcomer, but I'm not even sure you can get those anywhere anymore. That way you get the really grimy with neo-shine fluff that defines cyberpunk (to me, at least) and some okay (not great) rules. 5E is the way to go right now; get in on the ground floor rather than playing catch-up.
I'm glad that it isn't quite as "grimy" any more. I just wish they hadn't decided not to continue the path the rest of the way out of the "punk" part and more into the transhumanism.
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I would suggest 3rd for a newcomer, but I'm not even sure you can get those anywhere anymore. That way you get the really grimy with neo-shine fluff that defines cyberpunk (to me, at least) and some okay (not great) rules. 5E is the way to go right now; get in on the ground floor rather than playing catch-up.
I'm glad that it isn't quite as "grimy" any more. I just wish they hadn't decided not to continue the path the rest of the way out of the "punk" part and more into the transhumanism.
I liked the grime. It hammered home the transhumanist aspect a little more; people are really fragged in the Sixth World, and their only way out of poverty is typically signing up with a corp. Or getting 'ware, becoming more than human. Slowly transcending their mortal selves, and having to deal with a loss of identity, a loss of self that replacing bits and pieces of what makes you human with machine causes. Could just be me, though; I tend to read into things in a different way than most people.
EDIT: Think about it a little. How do you think a wageslave feels implanted with skillwires, going about their mundane tasks with hands that are moving on their own, muscle memory not yet developed, feeling as if someone, or something else, owns their body? Gradually growing into the sensation, developing the muscle memory, and suddenly you're just a little different because of the skillwire in your head, having literally absorbed someone else's skills?
How a cyberlimb must feel, the phantom pain of a severed arm, feeling the cold metal as a stranger at your side? Never overcoming that sense of phantom loss, because it's not a loss - it's still there, but it's someone, something else's arm?
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Thanks guys i'l go with 5th but is it common to have second printings and such, if yes should i wait?
i'm asking this because i kinda don't want to buy the first one if it gets replaced right away
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Thanks guys i'l go with 5th but is it common to have second printings and such, if yes should i wait?
i'm asking this because i kinda don't want to buy the first one if it gets replaced right away
Whenever Catalyst rolls out a core BattleTech book reprint the existing errata gets rolled in. I'm hoping that the same happens with SR5. So yes, when the book gets reprinted it should be updated. You can, of course, solve this issue by picking up the PDF from BattleCorps or DriveThruRPG. Whenever the PDFs get updated you can get notified for the free update.
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Thanks guys i'l go with 5th but is it common to have second printings and such, if yes should i wait?
i'm asking this because i kinda don't want to buy the first one if it gets replaced right away
This time around, they are actually making an Errata Document, so you can just use that when it comes out.
But, I recommend getting the PDF so you can put it on your laptop/tablet and be able to find stuff often times
faster then using the index. It also gets updated before the second printing. The Second Printing won't be out
until the first printing is sold out, unless the first printing sells out before they get the errata compiled, then the
Errata won't be folded in until the 3rd printing.