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 Rank: Iron Gamer!
Joined: 8/20/2007 Posts: 233 Location: NY
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Just started reading the Shadowrun 4th ed. rulebook for an upcoming campaign a friend hopes to run. Looks like a solid rules system, and very cool setting so far. Anyone have any experience with the game, wanna share insights etc?
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 Rank: Junior Gamer
Joined: 8/20/2007 Posts: 305 Location: Wichita, KS
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Well, since I didn't know there WAS a 4th edition, I'm probably not too much help.  I played some 1st and a LOT of 2nd ed and haven't touched it much since. I wasn't very enamored of the system itself, but I loved the setting so we plodded along. But I don't know how much they changed between then and now so I'm kinda curious myself.
"I'm a world-class assassin, f*ckhead. How do you think I found out?" - Mr. Goodkat
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 Rank: Iron Gamer!
Joined: 8/20/2007 Posts: 233 Location: NY
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Was it die pool back then too? What was wrong with the system (in case it retains some of the same undesirable qualities)?
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 Rank: Zealot
Joined: 3/24/2008 Posts: 552 Location: Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
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Zomboner wrote:Was it die pool back then too? What was wrong with the system (in case it retains some of the same undesirable qualities)? All the second edition issues have been ironed out. butthere are apparently a few new ones, though I'm not sure. I keep trying to get a game in, but none of my circle play RPG's and the group runs on days I am busy.
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 Rank: Gaming Incarnate
Joined: 8/14/2007 Posts: 1,594 Location: The TTG Ziggurat (Cincinnati, Oh)
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Just stay away from Deckers...or bring your PSP/DS/Minis to paint.
Normally the Decker gets to play alone with the ST for hours. Normally this sucks hard!
Stupid Deckers!
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Get Your Game On!
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 Rank: Iron Gamer!
Joined: 8/20/2007 Posts: 233 Location: NY
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Oh god, I know exactly who NOT to play this game with then. In D&D he always played a rogue, and would spend 20 minutes alone with the dm sneaking into the back of a building or something... but then I'd get bored and my half-orc barbarian would kick down the front door =D
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 Rank: Junior Gamer
Joined: 8/20/2007 Posts: 305 Location: Wichita, KS
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There were several faults in the 2nd ed of Shadowrun. But in many ways it was better than 1st ed. The big fault was that for most classes, you had to play a human if you didn't want a big disadvantage, I think half-orc street samurai was the exception as that was the min-max weapon of choice for a lot of people. I didn't think the casters were very good in either edition generally until they got up quite a few levels. The pools were there but probably different than they are now, but I don't really know. It was really easy to see the obvious min-max combinations when setting up your characters and I think that's changed. I always used to love riggers but they could be over the top powerful back then. And deckers can be played successfully in a group, but the GM has to decide NOT to roleplay the whole hacking element, and just have him make the rolls, etc. and streamline the "combat". But in general, yeah, deckers suck for group play.
"I'm a world-class assassin, f*ckhead. How do you think I found out?" - Mr. Goodkat
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 Rank: Gamer
Joined: 8/23/2007 Posts: 89 Location: Diagonally parked in a parallel universe
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It looks like the problem is finding people who have played 4th edition. Of course, I have a hard time finding people who want to play Sci-Fi RPGs in general.
SR4 replaced the priority system of character generation with a point based one. Hopefully that balanced out the min-maxing some. I also understand that the system uses something similar to WoD except with D6s. I have heard comments that the new system is easier to learn, but I have my own reservations about it. Other comments I have read say that the new rules for hacking and magic have brought them in line so you don't feel like they are differant systems.
I have to admit that when I first played Shadowrun, I loved the idea of Deckers (or Hackers as they are called now). The idea of the VR hacking was just plain cool. Kain has pointed out the fault. It was so detailed, the GM had to balance the hacking excursions to avoid them taking too long (and not many GMs seemed to be good at that). I would be curious to see if that has been addressed.
"The universe is made up of three elements: matter, energy, and enlightened self-interest." "Knowledge is a three-edged sword." "Invalid divide by cucumber error. Please reinstall universe and reboot."
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 8/15/2008 Posts: 1 Location: indianapolis,in
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Im still tryna find somone teach me to play!! lol
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 Rank: Zealot
Joined: 1/30/2008 Posts: 158 Location: Central Ohio
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Can someone help him as I recruited him at the desk of the hotel I was staying at. He had to work last weekend so he didn't get to go to GenCon. My Shadowrun experience was 1st ed only, and limited at that. I have directed him to the Catalyst site, but that's all I can do.
All the best freaks are here...Stop staring at me
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 Rank: Gaming Incarnate
Joined: 8/14/2007 Posts: 1,594 Location: The TTG Ziggurat (Cincinnati, Oh)
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buzzreaper wrote:Im still tryna find somone teach me to play!! lol This is the best I could find online: http://www.shadowrun4.com/resources/sr4/catalyst_shadowrunqs_player.pdfNot sure if that would help!
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 Rank: Iron Gamer!
Joined: 8/20/2007 Posts: 233 Location: NY
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I finally played for the first time this weekend. I had a lot of fun, though the combat seems to take a while. Could be bcs we're all new to the system. Also could be bcs a lot of the tests are opposed, so both sides make rolls, as opposed to D&D where I just roll an attack and need to exceed a target then roll damage.
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