SR, gritty Cyberpunk themes, and which books are must haves 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+

[gmanjkd]

Hi guys/gals.    I have taken about a 10+ year break from RPG's.  I love the SR universe and have played some of 1st and 2nd but mostly in 3rd edition.   I am planning to run an SR campaign and did not realize that the SR universe had changed so dramatically.  I have ordered the SR4A book because everyone seams to agree that the rules are the most streamlined.  What I have always loved about the SR universe is the GRITTY, CYBERPUNK themes.  My research on the forums has discovered that SR4 apparently deviates greatly from this and moves more toward Transhumanism.  Im sure this is still fun and great but not what I had in mind.  I don't mind playing in this new imagining of the SR universe but I would like to have the experience of getting there from the beginning, instead of skipping to the last book in a Saga of novels and trying to piece together the importance and gravity of the events that are unfolding, why/how they came about.  Its one thing to watch Return of the Jedi,  Its an entirely different experience if you have seen A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back before viewing it. 

Sorry I digress.

 With this discovery it appears to me that I will need to purchase the SR 2050 book, and hunt down tons of older books to achieve the Gritty, Cyberpunk feel and themes, unless i want to do a tremendous amount of reworking the SR4 world, which I neither have the time, Knowledge of the Universe or desire to do.   After researching different books and forums this pursuit  seam a bit overwhelming.   The shear number of Adventures, and Sourcebooks from the 1-3 editions is astronomical not to mention the amount of books that are out for 4th.  From my perspective they all look great!    While i do have some experience with the universe and love it, after 10+ years away from SR I am basically a noob to the universe and consequently have very little concept of what adventures/sorcebooks best convey the feeling, flavor, themes and vital high points of the setting throughout the SR timeline.  I am left with the impression that it will be nigh impossible to catch up on the universe if I want to achieve the Gritty Cyberpunk feel AND use the newer streamlined rules.  Either I skip the first 3 editions and all of the Cool Cyberpunk themes or I start fresh with the newer SR4A universe, or lastly wait until SR5 later this year.   Either way I am missing what feels to be a huge part of the experience of Shadowrun.  To refer to my prior example, I only get to watch the Phantom Menace. 

This endeavor began with my plan of running a campaign  beginning in 2050, utilizing the SR4A, and SR 2050 books,  Running a few published adventures from each edition, touching on the highlights of the timeline presented during each edition to get myself and my players a well established and fleshed out understanding of the rich history of the SR world over the last 20 years, to arrive at the SR 5th editions doorstep shortly after it is released.  I  was basically thinking of a year long campaign to catch up, and then run 5th,  however like I mentioned above having very little experience with the SR world every adventure/book looks to be Invaluable.  This is making it impossible to discern what books are important to the setting, and which books are after thoughts.  If this were a video game RPG,  Which books are the Story Missions and which ones are the Side Missions? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)    I can do without the side missions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)  

Which books are "MUST HAVES"?

P.S.

These are the books I have on order.  SR4A and The Sixth World Almanac.

Thanks All
Gary