[SirValeq]

Is the knowledge contained in this sourcebook "public"? Is it safe to let a player read it? I'm still having trouble figuring out what does a John Doe the Shadowrunner know about the world he's living in and what's a secret for him...

[Critias]

Most of it, sure, why not (that's one of the general conceits of having all the Jackpointers posting their own comments and stuff, after all). 

[Reaver]

Some of the info out there, is a little too "deep" for the average runner to know I feel... (like that Dunkie killed himself)

So I basically play it by ear with my players... If once pulls out a piece of meta-game knowledge and doesn't have the skills to back it up, I say "No".

If they have to skills to back up... then I let it in....


But you are right, there is a fine line between player known, PC known, and runner Known... and it can  be hard to tell them apart.

[SirValeq]

If that's the case, I'll refrain from giving the players free access to this. I'll just base my answers on the sourcebook if they ask any questions, so that I can filter the information.
Thanks!

[FastJack]

What I would do is, if you have the PDF, copy and paste all the information minus the Shadowland comments to make handouts for the players. Most of the books are reports gathered to distribute to Shadowrunners as an information source. Of course, I'd recommend making a Decking/Legwork check to track down the information. And if they get good enough rolls, start including some of the Shadowland comments back in.

[Reaver]

What I would do is, if you have the PDF, copy and paste all the information minus the Shadowland comments to make handouts for the players. Most of the books are reports gathered to distribute to Shadowrunners as an information source. Of course, I'd recommend making a Decking/Legwork check to track down the information. And if they get good enough rolls, start including some of the Shadowland comments back in.

Now that is a good idea!

[SirValeq]

I love this forum...

[Palladion]

We do suffer from information overload. Even if your players read it, chances are they would not retain much of it. (I went back and read the stuff on Dunkelzahn and just realized there is reference to suicide in there. Even though I knew it before, I never picked up on it on first read.)

Unfortunately, as a GM, you may not be able to pick up all that information either. We are not as all-knowing as we would like. Might be good to have the players share the load...

[Reaver]

We do suffer from information overload. Even if your players read it, chances are they would not retain much of it. (I went back and read the stuff on Dunkelzahn and just realized there is reference to suicide in there. Even though I knew it before, I never picked up on it on first read.)

Unfortunately, as a GM, you may not be able to pick up all that information either. We are not as all-knowing as we would like. Might be good to have the players share the load...

Bah, that is problem for you mere mortals 


But serious though, you are dealing with almost 30 years of info for some of us... Takes a bit of time to search through the databanks for some of this info from time to time.. and then there is always missing stuff (like you did in the will reading)