NEWS

Advice: Best SH5 books to improve gameplay and depth

  • 8 Replies
  • 2509 Views

Artemis Entreri

  • *
  • Newb
  • *
  • Posts: 25
« on: <07-19-16/0930:06> »
Hi!

Easy as it seems: i'm a shadowrun GM and i'm starting what probably is a pretty long campaign. Since now i was ok with Street Grimoire (fluffy in a bad way, IMHO) and Run and Gun (never actually used it outside some equip, but i'm going to).

I'd really Like to buy some useful resources for my players and for me top... I think i'll get Anarchy and the Seattle boxes set.

Now, consider the following before advicing:
- i don't care about data trails
- i don't care about Adventures.

Which books do you think would help expanding Gameplay and Seattle without adding top much unneeded crunch?

Thanks!!!

Medicineman

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 2310
« Reply #1 on: <07-19-16/0935:58> »
The SR4A Attitude
the 6th World Almanach (also SR4A )
If it wouldn't be Seattle
than the  Boston Lockdown (SR5) too

HougH!
Medicineman
http://english.bouletcorp.com/2013/08/02/the-long-journey/
---------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1V7fi5IqYw
---------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RYlAPjyNm8

Reaver

  • *
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 6424
  • 60% alcohol 40% asshole...
« Reply #2 on: <07-19-16/1003:48> »
The SR4A Attitude
the 6th World Almanach (also SR4A )
If it wouldn't be Seattle
than the  Boston Lockdown (SR5) too

HougH!
Medicineman

If you're looking for fluff on Seattle, those are the books to get, as they have the most current info.

Run Faster is also not a bad purchase if looking for more character options... but it is crunchy
Where am I going? And why am I in a hand basket ???

Remember: You can't fix Stupid. But you can beat on it with a 2x4 until it smartens up! Or dies.

Sphinx

  • *
  • Errata Team
  • Omae
  • ***
  • Posts: 879
« Reply #3 on: <07-19-16/1034:32> »
Medicineman makes some good recommendations.
  • SR4 Attitude is a good resource for understanding life in the Sixth World.
  • SR4 Sixth World Almanac is a good survey of the timeline and geopolitical landscape. (Fair warning: The year summaries for 2020 and 2044 accidentally duplicated 2006 and 2040, respectively ... was there ever errata for this?)

I'll add two more suggestions:
  • SR5 Market Panic and/or SR4 Corporate Guide will give you a detailed look at the Big Ten megacorporations, which are the key employers and antagonists in the Shadowrun world.
  • SR4 Vice examines the other side of the coin: major gangs and syndicates.

I'll also plug the SR5 Alphaware boxed set: The "Rules of the Street" booklet makes a handy reference at the gaming table, "Plots and Paydata" is a series of mini-adventures that are designed for beginning GMs and players, and there are other goodies besides (spell cards, gear cards, maps, sample characters).[/li][/list]

Beta

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1984
  • SR1, 5, 6. GM@FtF & player/GM@PbP
« Reply #4 on: <07-19-16/1047:40> »

Run Faster is also not a bad purchase if looking for more character options... but it is crunchy

Run Faster offers quite a lot of new qualities, some of which open up some interesting possibilities.  It also adds race sub-variants, which some people love and some people really don't.  Also it has some rules for more detailed lifestyles.  All of that IS crunch, in a sense, but not the sort of crunch that shows up during missions much.  Up to you if that adds to your game, or just overwhelms with options.

Depending on where you want to put your game, Hard Targets has some information about Havana.

Market Panic has updated status for the big 10 Megacorporations.  I found it a bit disappointing, but still there is a lot of information in there should you wish to have deep corporate based plots.

Oddly enough, if you want to run a more street level campaign, Data Trails can be useful.  It gives ways to get attack and sleaze ratings onto devices that don’t normally have them, hence allows tricks in the ‘trix without having actual cyberdecks (granted, low attack and sleaze ratings, but enough to deal with lower end home security or dealing with the cameras at Stuffer Shack, hopefully).  Also rules for scavenging electronics for building things, which could be interesting in a low resources game.


AJCarrington

  • *
  • Global Moderator
  • Ace Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2019
« Reply #5 on: <07-19-16/1143:45> »
For Seattle, you might also want to consider the Seattle Sprawl boxed set (though it is only available digitally at the moment).

Thanael

  • *
  • Chummer
  • **
  • Posts: 106
« Reply #6 on: <07-19-16/1215:02> »
SR1 Seattle sourcebook? SR2/3? New Seattle? SR2 Underworld.  Seattle 2072 (SR 4).

How much are they superseded by the Seattle box and Vice?

Sphinx

  • *
  • Errata Team
  • Omae
  • ***
  • Posts: 879
« Reply #7 on: <07-19-16/1332:58> »
SR1 Seattle sourcebook? SR2/3? New Seattle? SR2 Underworld. Seattle 2072 (SR 4). How much are they superseded by the Seattle box and Vice?

I've got them all, and I still dig into the older versions for comparison now and then, but the most recent book is probably enough for most people. Pick up SR4 Vice and the SR5 Seattle Sprawl box set. Although, having said that, the SR4 Seattle 2072 sourcebook is still a great resource, contained in one convenient hardcover volume (or one PDF) instead of a cardboard box (or multiple PDFs), and you can probably score a print copy today.

Shadowjack

  • *
  • Errata Team
  • Ace Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 1061
« Reply #8 on: <07-20-16/0514:22> »
The SR4A Attitude
the 6th World Almanach (also SR4A )
If it wouldn't be Seattle
than the  Boston Lockdown (SR5) too

HougH!
Medicineman

Solid list.
Show me your wallet and I'll show you a man with 20 fingers.