[Mathias]

Version 2.8 of the Shadowrun files for Hero Lab are now available from the automatic updates mechanism within Hero Lab.

This update adds a new add-on package for purchase; Runner's Companion.  This package is available for $9.99, but it's also available in a bundle deal - Arsenal, Augmentation, Street Magic, Runner's Companion, and Unwired, all for 30% off the price of purchasing those packages individually.

This is phase 1 of our Runner's Companion release.  It includes the Survival Tips chapter, the Metavariants and Changelings from the Advanced Character Concepts chapter, and the New Qualities, Advanced Contacts, and Advanced Lifestyles chapters.

Phase 2 will be the rest of the Advanced Character Concepts chapter - Drakes, HMHVV Infected, Sapient Critters, Shapeshifters, AIs, and Free Spirits.

Phase 3 will be the Alternative Character Creation chapter.

We're arranging the release of this book like this so that we can get as much content from this book available to our users as soon as it's completed, without making those of you who are interested in the qualities or the advanced lifestyles system wait for the sapient critters or the karmagen system to be completed. Phases 2 and 3 will be released as soon as possible.

For those of you with the PDF #2 package, Safehouses has been added as a free update to that package.

For those of you who've purchased the core bundle, a little bit of content from Unwired has been added as a preview of that package - the qualities (except for Paragon), the Full Immersion lifestyle, and the sample technomancer networks.

[Shinobi Killfist]

When does the karma gen option fit into the runners companion time table if ever? 

[JustADude]

When does the karma gen option fit into the runners companion time table if ever?

I'm pretty sure that's Phase 3, the "Alternative" chapter.

[Shinobi Killfist]

That is what I'd guess as well, but character concepts sounds more fluff than rules and karmagen is an alternate rules system. 

[JustADude]

That is what I'd guess as well, but character concepts sounds more fluff than rules and karmagen is an alternate rules system.

I actually think it was a bit of a typo, or other form of editorial error.

In Runner's Companion the part with Free Spirits, Drakes, etc is "Alternative Character Concepts", while the Karmagen rules are "Alternative Character Creation". Since they're calling Alternative Character Concepts "Advanced" Character Concepts, that pretty much leaves Karmagen as the only thing left.

Of course, I could be totally wrong.

[Mathias]

That is what I'd guess as well, but character concepts sounds more fluff than rules and karmagen is an alternate rules system.

I actually think it was a bit of a typo, or other form of editorial error.

In Runner's Companion the part with Free Spirits, Drakes, etc is "Alternative Character Concepts", while the Karmagen rules are "Alternative Character Creation". Since they're calling Alternative Character Concepts "Advanced" Character Concepts, that pretty much leaves Karmagen as the only thing left.

Of course, I could be totally wrong.

I've edited my original post to fix the name on the character creation chapter.

Karmagen is in "Alternative Character Creation", so it will be in phase 3 of the Runner's Companion release.

[AJCarrington]

Very happy to see this...will be updating once I can get home and log in.

AJC

[GRaske]

I am interested in a good character maker cause Im new to the game and dont understand it well yet. How does Hero Lab compare to Chummer? I see a lot of people talking about chummer and its free so Im wondering if Hero Lab is worth price.

[All4BigGuns]

Only reason I haven't gotten this one is because after trying the demo, it wasn't worth--to me--the prices charged for everything. If the costs were a third to half what they are now, then I would probably get it.

[GRaske]

Okay so its too expensive then I'll just stick with chummer.

[All4BigGuns]

Okay so its too expensive then I'll just stick with chummer.

You might love it, but it was too expensive for me. (I'm a notoriously cheap individual)

[Mara]

Okay so its too expensive then I'll just stick with chummer.

I think it is like 30 dollars for the core(which you pick Shadowrun as your free game system), then 35 for the core book bundle,
and 20 dollars for the two PDF bundles released so far. However, if all you need is the base BBB, then the base Hero Lab with
Shadowrun as your free system is not that expensive. If your group is doing EVERYTHING in the core books, then the Core book
bundle is the only thing you really need, as the PDF bundles are all just extra stuff.

[FastJack]

The bundles are usually about the same price as the PDFs of the various books. Also, since it's the official product, that means they can display and use all of the notes and stats from the books, whereas free programs like Chummer have to walk a fine line of not putting too much information in the program to keep from infringing on the copyright.

[Digital_Viking]

You have made the Viking happy.

[All4BigGuns]

The bundles are usually about the same price as the PDFs of the various books. Also, since it's the official product, that means they can display and use all of the notes and stats from the books, whereas free programs like Chummer have to walk a fine line of not putting too much information in the program to keep from infringing on the copyright.

Well, I've got some big medical bills on the horizon just waiting to rear their ugly heads, so that's another reason I have to stick with the free that just lists page numbers from the books.