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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Hi, im new, and have questions

Posted by: Lockjaw Dec 5 2003, 01:27 AM

i just joined this forum and it seems pretty good so far, i been playing 2 ed for awhile, then switched to 3rd, got the 3rd core rulebook, magic in the shadows, and new seattle, then fasa whent out of business and i didnt hear anything new about shadowrun for awhile, now im getting back into it, but i keep seeing mention of things i got no clue about, what's the whole year of the comet thing with surge and all about? and what finally happened with the whole renraku shutdown?

Posted by: moosegod Dec 5 2003, 01:34 AM

Well, FanPro is publishing new stuff.

SURGE and YotC? Halley's comet showed up and messed with the manasphere, resulting in all sorts of weird stuff happening.

Renraku- Deus and some other folks had it out, Deus lost, had a "resurrection" protocol going, but we're not sure if it worked. And, if it did, it brought back Megara.

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter Dec 5 2003, 01:36 AM

Who the heck was Megara?

Posted by: Fortune Dec 5 2003, 01:36 AM

QUOTE (moosegod)

...Deus lost...

This is debatable.

Posted by: moosegod Dec 5 2003, 01:37 AM

Whoever the opposing AI was.

Started out as Morgan, then went nuts after she got partially reconstituted...

Posted by: Eindrachen Dec 5 2003, 01:40 AM

In a nutshell, Year of the Comet is the year Halley's Comet returns to the solar system. Naturally, in the Awakened world, things get difficult. SURGE is the new strangeness that results: it's much like UGE and goblinization, but different.

As for the Renraku Arcology situation, it has changed, but not really been solved. It's still a warzone, though the powers and factions involved are still out there in the Sixth World, up to various schemes and plots.

Things change, things stay the same...

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter Dec 5 2003, 01:42 AM

QUOTE (Fortune)

QUOTE (moosegod @ Dec 5 2003, 12:34 PM)

...Deus lost...

This is debatable.

See the book "Threats 2" for what he means by this

Posted by: Shockwave_IIc Dec 5 2003, 04:49 AM

[ Spoiler ]

Posted by: Connor Dec 5 2003, 04:52 AM

But it's nice to know that even all powerful AIs are subject to such little things like Murphy's Law.

Posted by: Crimsondude 2.0 Dec 5 2003, 05:13 AM

QUOTE (Eindrachen)

And by different, you mean retarded. Right?

Posted by: moosegod Dec 5 2003, 05:13 AM

Hey, WTF you talking about? SURGE is teh win!

Posted by: Crimsondude 2.0 Dec 5 2003, 05:19 AM

Yeah, just what the world needs--a blue furry elf with horns, scales, a tail and --if your a Kenson character--just became magical even though their essence level is almost negative.

Posted by: moosegod Dec 5 2003, 05:24 AM

Yes, it can be stupid. But it can also be really interesting with some of the "themed" characters.

And you used in elf. I mean, that's a strike already.

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter Dec 5 2003, 05:44 AM

QUOTE (moosegod)

Yes, it can be stupid. But it can also be really interesting with some of the "themed" characters.

And you used in elf. I mean, that's a strike already.

Hmmm...an elf with blue fur.

You can make Nightcrawler with those rules!

Minus the teleportation power, of course...

Posted by: Fortune Dec 5 2003, 05:55 AM

SURGE: Anime for Shadowrun!

Posted by: HMHVV Hunter Dec 5 2003, 05:57 AM

I don't see anything wrong with that. I like anime.

Posted by: Fortune Dec 5 2003, 06:03 AM

So? I like cheesecake, but that doesn't mean I want or need to combine it with Shadowrun.

Posted by: Kagetenshi Dec 5 2003, 06:49 AM

QUOTE (Fortune)

So? I like cheesecake, but that doesn't mean I want or need to combine it with Shadowrun.

Ah, but you should. Cheesecake is like sex, only you can do it in public without anyone raising eyebrows.
Really, SURGE isn't a problem IMO. Yes, it opens up the potential for silliness, but only if the GM allows it to.
SURGE can be worked into gritty games, can be worked in in very non-anime styles. I can think of ways off the top of my head. If you can't, it's your fault, not FanPro's.
That being said, there are always those games in April when you just can't help but play a catgirl.

~J

Posted by: Eindrachen Dec 5 2003, 07:01 AM

SURGE is like many other things in SR (cybermancy comes to mind): it can be good for a game, or it can be a quick death for it. Limits must be set in any game, unless you're aiming for over-the-top style.

Posted by: Fortune Dec 5 2003, 07:04 AM

I understand all that, and have no real problem using bits and pieces of it. I just have no need for cat people in my games.

Posted by: Kagetenshi Dec 5 2003, 07:41 AM

QUOTE (Fortune)

I understand all that, and have no real problem using bits and pieces of it. I just have no need for cat people in my games.

Fair enough, but I demand you add cheesecake

Damn. Now I'm hungry.

~J

Posted by: Sahandrian Dec 5 2003, 11:51 AM

Surge has made an appearance in our games a bit before it was supposed to, actually... This let one player make an interesting character idea, and gives me a controversial topic to make in-character news posts about.

And it's fine so long as it stays rare. I think we've had a grand total of 2 Surge mutants in our game (that's counting PCs, NPCs, and NPCs / PCs I made but haven't used), and only one of them is actually active.

Posted by: Pthgar Dec 5 2003, 05:38 PM

My group is a little behind the actual timeline. SURGE is do to happen after one or two more sessions. I'm still trying to figure a way to work it in. Does anyone have some ideas for me?

Posted by: moosegod Dec 5 2003, 05:39 PM

Hear the news stories.

Then, inflict it on a character or an NPC the group works with.

At least, that's how I did it.

Posted by: Fortune Dec 5 2003, 11:00 PM

If you are going to add SURGE, I wouldn't inflict it involuntarily on your players. Contacts, on the other hand, are fair game.