 Runner's Toolkit pre-order and PDF release extravaganza, And free PDF version of the GM screen! |
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 Feb 28 2011, 05:06 AM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 595 Joined: 12-May 05 Member No.: 7,392  |
Hey folks:
After plenty of waiting, we have finally made it to the first stage of the Runner's Toolkit release! That stage is a little complicated, but here's the basics: Pre-orders available now, including the pre-order with the smooth-looking, limited-edition GM screen. PDF download available now, either alone or in combo with print pre-orders. And to kick things off right, there's a free PDF of the GM screen for all of you to enjoy. The full details of the release, and what's available in each package (along with handy links to where you can buy what) is at the Shadowrun 4 website. Enjoy! Jason H. |
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Feb 28 2011, 05:56 AM
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#2
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Immortal Elf Group: Validating Posts: 7,999 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,890 |
Hmm, the description isn't all that great. This is just a collection of random odds-and-ends for new players?
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Feb 28 2011, 06:49 AM
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#3
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 302 Joined: 11-May 10 From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 18,569 |
I'm not entirely new (still wet behind the ears though), but I think the package looks pretty darned good. GM's screen with up to date rules, gear book (half my time building a character is finding all the gear and mods for them, unless it's an awakened character anyway), and quick reference sheets. All seems useful to me. To be fair, our group's experience ranges from 20+ years to 3 sessions. The rest, we're kinda past On the Run, and we play in LA, not Seattle, so contacts, adventures and sprawl sites isn't particularly useful except for how it can be transferred over. Anatomy of a shadowrun will probably be a useful read for our newest member at least, if not so much to the rest of us. PACKs... well I already have AH's fan edited version, but it'll be interesting to see where the final release took it.
Overall, tied for top of my physical purchases list for SR material, only because I still haven't gotten around to picking up Arsenal (and truthfully with this, I may not have to). |
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Feb 28 2011, 06:54 AM
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#4
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Good ol' Germany Member No.: 7,015 |
but 65 Bucks
Thats pretty much ImO Could someone "in the Know" tell me/us if the Price is OK or if its too expensive ? (Please not someone from CGL, but a neutral Oppinion (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) HokaHey Medicienman |
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Feb 28 2011, 06:59 AM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 302 Joined: 11-May 10 From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 18,569 |
$65 Is for the pdf + the limited edition version of the hard copy.
Standard version hard copy alone is only $40, doesn't seem that bad to me. |
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Feb 28 2011, 07:00 AM
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#6
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Immortal Elf Group: Validating Posts: 7,999 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,890 |
Wait, I didn't even see the pricetag. Holy smokes.
I sincerely hope it includes more than what's listed on this page. I mean, even if that is all it comes with, that price is kind of ridiculous if its intended to be a starter package. |
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Feb 28 2011, 07:01 AM
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#7
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Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,278 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
QUOTE (Raven the Trickster @ Feb 28 2011, 01:59 AM)  $65 Is for the pdf + the limited edition version of the hard copy. Standard version hard copy alone is only $40, doesn't seem that bad to me. Jeez, man, we just played well into the night! Are you still up? Oh... wait... so am I. |
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Feb 28 2011, 07:26 AM
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#8
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
Well, my FLGS will be happy with me when I print this out to order it from them. I needs me a new GM Screen, and the rest seems pretty decent. Well, save for "On The Run" which I already have.
But, then again, after everything I've heard about War!... |
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Feb 28 2011, 08:49 AM
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#9
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,009 Joined: 25-September 06 From: Paris, France Member No.: 9,466 |
The maps looked pretty cool back in Sept 2009 and the poster is a nice idea.
The "Anatomy of a Shadowrun" could be quite useful for new players. I wish they replaced On The Run with a better introduction adventure, or at least fixed the big problem it has. I don't really understand why they decided to have a LE for this: most people who'd buy LE Shadowrun products are people who probably already own previous Shadowrun products, including "On the Run" and the "Contacts, Adventures" booklet and don't need the "Anatomy of a Shadowrun". |
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Feb 28 2011, 11:58 AM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 254 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,768 |
I'd love to have the option to buy each PDF item separately for a lower price. I'm interested in the "Anatomy of a Shadowrun", "Contacts", and "PACKS" books, but I already have "On the Run", and the quick-reference sheets aren't that useful to me.
Does anyone know how similar is this "PACKS" book to the unofficial one someone published a while back? |
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Feb 28 2011, 12:09 PM
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#11
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 572 Joined: 6-February 09 From: London Uk Member No.: 16,848 |
QUOTE (Bira @ Feb 28 2011, 11:58 AM) I'd love to have the option to buy each PDF item separately for a lower price. I'm interested in the "Anatomy of a Shadowrun", "Contacts", and "PACKS" books, but I already have "On the Run", and the quick-reference sheets aren't that useful to me. Does anyone know how similar is this "PACKS" book to the unofficial one someone published a while back? I'm scared to see how close they are considering that the unofficial one put out was AH's and this might be effectivly a rewrite. I really dont want to see that amount of arguring again but AH is held up very high in my regards and I wouldnt want to see him being walked on. |
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Feb 28 2011, 12:19 PM
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#12
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,183 Joined: 5-December 07 From: Lower UCAS, along the border Member No.: 14,507 |
The "unofficial" one was the "official" one until the "CGL Crisis" last year outed Bobbie Deire. It was essentially his project then.
Like Lansdren said, just making sure people understood that. |
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Feb 28 2011, 12:23 PM
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#13
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 254 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,768 |
But is this new "official" one different enough that it's worth getting? I don't really care about all the drama, I just wonder if it has gear loadouts that I can convert to GURPS relatively easily. If it's not different enough to bother with, then that just makes my wish for the ability to get the other two books individually a little stronger.
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Feb 28 2011, 01:18 PM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 572 Joined: 6-February 09 From: London Uk Member No.: 16,848 |
QUOTE (Bira @ Feb 28 2011, 12:23 PM) But is this new "official" one different enough that it's worth getting? I don't really care about all the drama, I just wonder if it has gear loadouts that I can convert to GURPS relatively easily. If it's not different enough to bother with, then that just makes my wish for the ability to get the other two books individually a little stronger. No idea if its worth it yet, Odds are I proberbly wont get a copy for a while if at all. Due to various issues with recent releases I'm holding back until a full review is up from a load of people before I consider shelling out for it. Also being in the UK means dead tree copies are abit later for me then for my fellow runners over the pond |
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Feb 28 2011, 01:38 PM
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#15
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Great Dragon Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,091 Joined: 3-October 09 From: Kohle, Stahl und Bier Member No.: 17,709 |
Is there any place I can download the PDF version without having to register in a third-party webshop first? You know, like the official site for the game? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
QUOTE But wait, there’s more (sorry, always wanted the chance to say that and mean it). Right now you can pre-order the Runner’s Toolkit with a limited edition GM screen that features little-seen (and awesome) art from German Shadowrun products. Wow, I always thought CGL completely ignored what foreign licensees did...when in fact they do consider those additions usefull filler material which can be sold at a premium. Or is there anything more truly special about that screen, like new art, better material etc.? |
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Feb 28 2011, 03:07 PM
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#16
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
QUOTE (Sengir @ Feb 28 2011, 02:38 PM) Is there any place I can download the PDF version without having to register in a third-party webshop first? You know, like the official site for the game? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Battleshop is operated by CGL, so technically it's no third-party webshop. |
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Feb 28 2011, 03:38 PM
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#17
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Great Dragon Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,091 Joined: 3-October 09 From: Kohle, Stahl und Bier Member No.: 17,709 |
Technically yes. Practically Joe Average wants to download a free PDF given away by the makers of the game, but to do that he has to go to a completely different site, create an account for their online shop which he is never going to use again, and get asked about payment methods (remember, he still only wants to download a freebie) before he gets a link to download the PDF. And if his friends want to get a copy Joe can't simply give them a link, they have to jump through the same hoops or he has to send them the full file.
That is just the kind of design which makes less tech-savy people turn away from a page. Yes, those do exist among SR's target audience (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
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Feb 28 2011, 03:39 PM
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#18
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Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,755 Joined: 5-September 06 From: UCAS Member No.: 9,313 |
Cardstock quick reference sheets. (I can finally toss out my manila folder of loose print outs?) Curious how the PACKS turned out. Are the contacts and adventure ideas new or a repeat of the old one from GM's Screen. Sprawl maps....only 4 ;(. I'll be waiting on the hard copy. While not a perfect veteran product I certainly see it having it's uses and for a GM that has had plenty of new players come and go a future purchase.
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Feb 28 2011, 10:20 PM
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#19
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,228 Joined: 24-July 07 From: Canada Member No.: 12,350 |
QUOTE (Bira @ Feb 28 2011, 05:58 AM) Does anyone know how similar is this "PACKS" book to the unofficial one someone published a while back? It is very different from the one AH posted. |
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Feb 28 2011, 11:12 PM
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#20
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
I haven't seen the final product, but I got a few peeks at the early development of PACKS 2.0 (Malachi was the prime mover on that one), and it looked to me then that they were going a different way than I did with my version. I trust Mal to do his own original, quality work, and have no doubt that's what you'll get here.
I still have no idea why they decided to continue to call it PACKS. |
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Feb 28 2011, 11:20 PM
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#21
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
Lack of imagination?
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Mar 1 2011, 10:37 AM
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#22
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,139 Joined: 31-March 10 From: UCAS Member No.: 18,391 |
Wow, a full day and noone's bought it and read over it yet? I'm surprised and a bit dissapointed!
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Mar 1 2011, 11:44 AM
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#23
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,183 Joined: 5-December 07 From: Lower UCAS, along the border Member No.: 14,507 |
QUOTE (Ancient History @ Feb 28 2011, 06:12 PM) I haven't seen the final product, but I got a few peeks at the early development of PACKS 2.0 (Malachi was the prime mover on that one), and it looked to me then that they were going a different way than I did with my version. I trust Mal to do his own original, quality work, and have no doubt that's what you'll get here. I still have no idea why they decided to continue to call it PACKS. Name recognition? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) |
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Mar 1 2011, 03:08 PM
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#24
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Great Dragon Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,091 Joined: 3-October 09 From: Kohle, Stahl und Bier Member No.: 17,709 |
Once the name of a product has been decided companies tend to stick with it...
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Mar 1 2011, 09:10 PM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 595 Joined: 12-May 05 Member No.: 7,392 |
If you want a better idea of what goes into the PACKS part of Runner's Toolkit, there are a couple of previews on the blog now. Enjoy!
Jason H. |
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