Alternate setting for Shadowrun, "homebrew" style Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Neuroth]

I've had this idea for a while and I wanted to see if anybody else has ever attempted it.

If any of you have ever played D&D you're familiar with the premise; the rules in the book can be used in the "main" setting, one of the alternate settings published by the company, or a homebrew setting the GM creates.

It occurred to me that SR4 as a ruleset has a lot of potential for homebrew settings. There's just so much in it. The metatypes, the sci-fi tech, magic, dragons, crime, etc. You could build your own Star Wars galaxy with this stuff.

Which is not to say that I dislike the setting or find it bland. I just see a lot of potential for all the stuff in this game to take on all different kinds of forms and premises.

So what do you guys think? Have you tried it? If not, do you know anyone who has?

[nezumi]

I can't comment for SR4, however the problem with SR1-3 was initiative and combat pool, and balancing out magic.

For the first, the SR system is based on the idea of spreading out your dice pools (using the SR3 term) over multiple actions. However, in most settings you won't have access to the ware to give you multiple actions, so you end up dumping the entire pool into one action. The result got a little crazy.

For the second, magic is balanced by cyber. In most settings, there is no cyber, so it's magic or nothing.

[ZeroPoint]

For the second, magic is balanced by cyber. In most settings, there is no cyber, so it's magic or nothing.

If your using it in a setting where its magic or nothing (such as a traditional fantasy setting), then I would assume everyone has magic or access to magic/magic items.

In which case it still wouldn't be much of an issue.

Make a bunch of converted magic items that give cyber like benefits (bonuses to stats/skills, initiative passes, etc) and replace essence with a "magic threshold" where items would have their old essence values instead apply to a threshold and if you go over that, all the magic items on your person begin to resonate and explode dangerously. Fun!

I actually think i read a bit of fiction in a world that worked like that...