[Gingivitis]

I am looking for feedback on these and the House Rules sticky post is not very active so I'm posting here too:

I have been playing Shadowrun for 20-22 years now and have experienced every edition with each of their flaws and complexities.  Though I feel that 5th edition is the best so far, we all know the editing of the core rule book is appalling and a lot of the mechanics feel wonky.  This is my very extensive attempt to consolidate, normalize, and simplify the mechanics of the game.  In this attempt, I did not worry about the source book's fiddly-bits (like the price of commlinks or the balance of character creation or advancement).  I looked only at the mechanics of PLAYING the game (the best part).

For my players, and my sanity, I have condensed the 475 page rule book into 24 pages of (what I feel are) concise, intuitive, and consistent mechanics for game play.  This does not replace the setting/flavor, the character creation, the spell and gear catalogs, etc. so you still need to buy the book, but you may not need to reference it during game play.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kdg25a6w1rdjm2p/SR5%20House%20Rules%20-%20Notated.pdf?dl=0
(Includes Initiative, Movement, Actions, Matrix Actions, Combat Resolution, Matrix Resolution, Vehicle Resolution, Combat Rules, NPCs)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ck8ig6ccnzwk7vi/SR5%20House%20Tables%20-%20Full.pdf?dl=0
(Charts for the above House Rules)

Also: I do not take credit for ALL of the concepts in this document, but I do take credit for painstakingly crafting and editing this document.

Let me know what you think...

[DigitalZombie]

uuh I F¤#cking like what you did with trace icon matrix action. Thats cool.
So I suppose you when controlling/jumped into a vehicle/drone you would still use Agi+gunnery[DP or normal limit] ? Or
How about tailing someone in a vehicle would you roll agility+sneaking[DP or handling] or would you roll reaction+sneaking[DP or handling]?

I havent read or digested the rest yet- so cant comment. But I do like that it seems easier to grasp Vehicle and matrix stuff with these rules.

[Gingivitis]

Thanks.  I am actually most proud of the Trace Icon, Shotguns, and Scatter house rules.

Shooting:  For Control Device, in my games, we use the lower of [DP or Sensors or Accuracy].  For Rigging we just use [Sensors or Accuracy].  We are still debating whether AGI or LOG would be used for VR rigged Gunnery.  The book says AGI, but that relies on your character's physical body and you are not IN your body, you are in the Matrix.  I always imagined you use AGI + Gunnery when physically firing from a vehicle, and LOG (which is mental AGI after all) + Gunnery when rigged in remotely and firing that same weapon.

Tailing:  On pg 270, it says Rigged Drone Infiltration uses "Stealth (which I assume means Stealth Group, so...Sneaking) + Intuition [Handling]."  Since a rigged vehicle is pretty much a rigged drone, we use that.  Though I would argue to use Sneaking + Logic [Handling] because again, Logic is just mental Agility.

Basically, for our house rules, whenever the action is active or offensive in nature, we use Agility or Logic.  Whenever it is defensive in nature, we use Reaction or Intuition.  It makes it a lot easier.

[markc]

Not a SR expert but my 2 cents on an option:

I do not know how complex you wan to make it but you could always define a new rating so instead of having to decide on Agl or Log you could define it as (Agl+Log)/2. The reasoning is that even though you are in the matrix your mind still has ties to the physical you, and you could then have a positive quality that states you use only your Log for such and such tests. The positive Qual would allow for differentiation and specialization from the normal populace at a small cost.
MDC

[FasterN8]

I only looked at the matrix section so far, but I really like it.  Well done!

[Gingivitis]

FasterN8  Thanks, I probably worked the most on the Matrix just to re-balance the actions and normalize the tests.  Personally, though, I am most proud of the shotgun rules, and scatter rules.

markc I think there is an overwhelming need to simplify SR5 rather than add stats/ratings.  Also, if you averaged AGI/LOG, you could not have the bumbling or crippled character who is just "hell on wheels." But obviously, anyone can change what they want in their own games, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to use what I put together.

[Rooks]

love how the 4th edition actually had suggested house rules

[FasterN8]

FasterN8  Thanks, I probably worked the most on the Matrix just to re-balance the actions and normalize the tests.  Personally, though, I am most proud of the shotgun rules, and scatter rules.

markc I think there is an overwhelming need to simplify SR5 rather than add stats/ratings.  Also, if you averaged AGI/LOG, you could not have the bumbling or crippled character who is just "hell on wheels." But obviously, anyone can change what they want in their own games, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to use what I put together.

Yeah, I like the max range based on choke a lot.  It makes up for not having gradually reducing damage but really, the whole concept of choke rating is just so damn elegant, I may just drag and drop it into my current campaign.  Now I wish someone used shotguns...

[Gingivitis]

FasterN8 Yeah, for certain spreads and certain distances, the reduction in DV and Accuracy for shotguns Rules as Written, you end up rolling a lot of dice for nothing.  Plus, no one can remember all those modifiers.  I have had players want to use shotguns, look at pg 180-181, say, "nope," and pick up SMGs instead.  That's the reason Choke Rating was born.

Rooks I feel like Shadowrun has always been improved by well thought-out house rules to make it less daunting.  It is such a great setting, with a such daunting rule sets, that you get SR Hacks of other rule sets, like the FATE hack of Shadowrun.  I wanted a Shadowrun Hack of Shadowrun.