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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Should I buy Threats?

Posted by: emo samurai May 8 2006, 01:03 AM

I know that it contains Lofwyr, the invae, and Oscuro; I already know what I need to about those. Does it contain anything else really interesting?

Posted by: Snow_Fox May 8 2006, 03:08 AM

Threats 1? No, not worth it when it came out, even more dated now. Winternight, Chicago bugs etc.
Threats 2, rather better done.

Posted by: emo samurai May 8 2006, 03:09 AM

Winternight existed back then?

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter May 8 2006, 03:11 AM

I disagree. Threats was a fairly good one. The books IS somewhat outdated (someone in there actually dismisses Strain III as a rumor, if that tells you anything), but it's got some interesting chapters - Alamos 20,000, the vampire conspiracy, the "undercover" bugs, The Black Lodge, Tutor (a malevolent free spirit), among others. Not worth full price, but if you can find it used (which is usually a reduced price), get it!

Posted by: Kremlin KOA May 8 2006, 05:14 AM

it is worth it for

[ Spoiler ]

I will elaborate in your campaign thread

Posted by: emo samurai May 8 2006, 05:20 AM

Heehee!

Posted by: Grinder May 8 2006, 08:38 AM

I found both books to be interesting and a good read. You'll get a lot of (weird) ideas for a campaign out of it - so yes, buy it.

Posted by: Tanka May 8 2006, 11:03 AM

Good if only for the major conspiracy theories that can come up in games that you don't even use the plothooks in.

I liked the first better than the second. The second just seems so... Washed out.

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter May 8 2006, 04:24 PM

QUOTE (tanka)

Good if only for the major conspiracy theories that can come up in games that you don't even use the plothooks in.

I liked the first better than the second. The second just seems so... Washed out.

I noticed that in the second book, there was a LOT less skepticism than the first book. I mean, in the first book Strain III was dismissed as a rumor, as were a lot of other theories (I think every single one of the chapters had a detractor), but there seemed to be more willingness to believe things in the second book.

I guess having so many things proven factual (Strain III and Dr. Halberstam for two) sorta burned out the inner skeptic in many Shadowland posters...

Posted by: emo samurai May 8 2006, 04:32 PM

It also seems as if most of the threats in Threats 2 are smaller, or at least more mundane. In Threats 1, you have invae, horrors, and Lofwyr. In Threats 2, you have the AI's, General Saito, and imps. Imps are NOT deserving of their place in the book, if you are to compare them to the Horrors and invae.

Posted by: Kremlin KOA May 8 2006, 04:43 PM

Imps ARE horrors

Posted by: emo samurai May 8 2006, 04:56 PM

Really crappy ones.

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter May 8 2006, 04:59 PM

QUOTE (emo samurai)

Well, the original Threats defined "Threats" as things (beings, organizations, etc) with the power to influence the entire world, for good or ill.

Saito certainly could, if he was in bed with the Human Nation like everyone says and really was using CalFree as a test run for a human-only nation.

Imps could certainly cause trouble worldwide for any mage.

And AIs...oh hell yeah, they could influence the world. Deus, anyone?

Posted by: Fire Hawk May 8 2006, 05:09 PM

You know, I just now realized how utterly "Serial Experiments: Lain" the concept of an AI named Deus really is...

Why did it take so long for my brain to make that connection?

Posted by: Wounded Ronin May 9 2006, 12:28 AM

QUOTE (emo samurai)

Really crappy ones.

Bah, who needs horrors from a book when you have SURGE and Viper RSR?

*runs away*

Posted by: emo samurai May 9 2006, 01:00 AM

I have no idea what you just said, but I want to kill you anyway just because you ran away.

Posted by: James McMurray May 9 2006, 02:05 AM

He said SURGE because the mere mention of the word sends some people into a frothing frenzy. I'm not sure what Viper RSR is, but it's probably similar. That said:

SURGE ROCKS!!! (If you use it in a way that fits your game of course )

Posted by: emo samurai May 9 2006, 02:27 AM

Mechashiva Catgirl!!!