[Predator1]

The "emp" probably bad matrix code literally bricking everything

[Ixal]

The "emp" probably bad matrix code literally bricking everything

So (possibly) unrelated to the corps and instead a test run for the NULL to take over (or more scary evidence that the corps and NULL have some form of agreement)?
But wasn't there a bright flash also?

[CanRay]

But wasn't there a bright flash also?

"Hey buddy, did you see a real bright light?"

[cantrip]

2) please offer some explanations to your new super weapons

Ran across something that may point to the potential cause, but not wanting to spoil anything. Anywhere this is being discussed? I haven't seen anything in Gamemaster or The Secret History---appropriate to post over there? Or hold off...
I personally get really bummed out when stuff gets spoiled...which is at odds for the conspiracy type personality I have...

[Singularity]

But wasn't there a bright flash also?

"Hey buddy, did you see a real bright light?"

Hmm, which corp would be most likely to make a Cyberdyne/Skynet scenario? Renraku, again? Place your bets! 

[Vormaerin]

I personally get really bummed out when stuff gets spoiled...which is at odds for the conspiracy type personality I have...

Personally, I find these "plot books" that tell the storyguides that they aren't worthy to know what's going on either to be very frustrating.  Just like with CFD and some of these other plots, its all "stuff you can't really use because you have no idea what's going on, so its just flavor text for "Somewhere else".   The end result is that its something interesting to read, but that never gets used.  Which, since Catalyst got my money, probably doesn't bother them at all. 

The reality is that I am looking for material to help *MY* campaign and "Unexplained weird stuff happening" is not doing that.   Maybe in a year or two if they ever explain what's what, I might get some use out of it.  Right now, nope.

[Michael Chandra]

My campaigns tend to be a few years behind the actual lore, so I can easily fit conclusions in after they come out, while still exploring what might be based on the dropped hints. How things were done, only really happens if you want to let it happen again (or have runners prevent another time), it doesn't really matter much for the main timeline.

In other news, I did an Open Event on saturday where the runners were in a Faraday'd clean room when the Baltimore blackout hit. This was fun to pull! Did not expect them to turn into heroes though: they helped evacuate the building and even doused several fires. All without breaking their cover of being FDA inspector + invisible bodyguards. Later on they traded a working gun for a bunch of bicycles, to more easily get around.

[Singularity]

I just finished reading it, and I'm curious: Is Detroit being set up to be the new Seattle? As I understand it, outside of specific books for specific events (Boston for CFD, Toronto for the upcoming book), Seattle has always been the primary scene for Shadowrun. However after reading it, the tone seemed to imply that Detroit may be taking that spot now? Am I wrong?

Also, in regards to the Army Corps, was the thing described actually something that exists and is powerful enough to do that?

[Michael Chandra]

The next SRM seasons will be in Seattle so...

[MercilessMing]

I just finished reading it, and I'm curious: Is Detroit being set up to be the new Seattle? As I understand it, outside of specific books for specific events (Boston for CFD, Toronto for the upcoming book), Seattle has always been the primary scene for Shadowrun. However after reading it, the tone seemed to imply that Detroit may be taking that spot now? Am I wrong?

Nah, just fleshing out another locale.  Seattle will remain the default setting because it has a bit of everything.  Detroit is basically a one-company town, and that company just picked up and left.  Not great for a default setting.

Also, in regards to the Army Corps, was the thing described actually something that exists and is powerful enough to do that?

It's the new magical terror, as far as I know.

[MercilessMing]

I personally get really bummed out when stuff gets spoiled...which is at odds for the conspiracy type personality I have...

Personally, I find these "plot books" that tell the storyguides that they aren't worthy to know what's going on either to be very frustrating.  Just like with CFD and some of these other plots, its all "stuff you can't really use because you have no idea what's going on, so its just flavor text for "Somewhere else".   The end result is that its something interesting to read, but that never gets used.  Which, since Catalyst got my money, probably doesn't bother them at all. 

The reality is that I am looking for material to help *MY* campaign and "Unexplained weird stuff happening" is not doing that.   Maybe in a year or two if they ever explain what's what, I might get some use out of it.  Right now, nope.

Ditto.  These books are like the guy on a project that just wants to be "the ideas guy".

[penllawen]

Ditto.  These books are like the guy on a project that just wants to be "the ideas guy".

Same. Example: from what I read in a review, these mysterious deus ex machina EMPs (that aren't EMPs and don’t work like EMPs) aren’t expanded upon at all. Sooooo as a GM, if I want to put my PCs through that, how do I use them? If I fill in the blanks, what do I do when Catalyst go in a different direction? I’ve seen this happen numerous times with 5e stuff and it’s kinda tiring.

You can’t run RPG sourcebooks like novella lines with cliffhanger endings. GMs need to know what’s going on. Or you need to be honest about the fact that books like Cutting Black are just preludes to SR Missions, and if you’re not running SRM they’re not designed to be useful to you.

Portfolio of a Dragon did this well. 200+ ideas and hooks, all open ended, with a formal promise in the preface that only “around ten” were planned to be used by FASA in the future. So GMs knew they had a pretty free hand for how to use the material.

[MercilessMing]

If I fill in the blanks, what do I do when Catalyst go in a different direction? I’ve seen this happen numerous times with 5e stuff and it’s kinda tiring.

You can’t run RPG sourcebooks like novella lines with cliffhanger endings. GMs need to know what’s going on.

Yep, better said.

[GuardDuty]

If I fill in the blanks, what do I do when Catalyst go in a different direction?

The same thing you would do with the hundreds of other plot ideas Shadowrun has had over the years that weren't immediately explained fully.  To name a few:
--Church of the Dragon
--Dunkelzahn's death
--Anything to do with Nadja Daviar...basically ever
--The Hestaby/Lofwyr Tir Tairngire situation
--The Watergate Rift
--Aztechnology being secretly super evil
--Dragon egg clutches
--Elves and reincarnation
--Drakes
--the nature of spirits

Information on all of these were presented in sourcebooks first as teases, rumors, conflicting reports, etc., back in the good old days.  If your group used them and later on printed material went in a different direction with it, you just used what you wanted and ignored the rest, or else you left it alone and gave it time to develop in official source material.  This might be different somehow, but I don't see it.

[PiXeL01]

Personal I prefer getting the answers since I feel in many cases it comes off as “I know something you don’t”-bullying cliffhanging attitude.
As a GM by having the (an) official reason I can choose to ignore it or tailor it to my own story needs for all the major plots. The minor ones can be left hanging, but there needs to be answers for all the major events.