Shadowrun is back. Finally. Options

[silva]

(Cross-posting this from RPGnet as I know some authors and writers lurk around here too, and I would like to hear such a feedback if I were of them)

I would like to give a big, BIG thank you to the folks responsible for 5th edition.

As someone who met Shadowrun through the SNES and Sega Genesis videogames, and had its start on the 2nd edition book, you can wonder how disappointed I was with direction 4th edition went. Dont get me wrong, the 20th anniversary book is beautiful, and its rules a stark improvement of the previous editions, but it totally missed what is, for me, one of the big appeals of the game - its cyberpunk sensibilities. The dirty streets, the urban chaos, the anarchism and "stick it to the man" attitude. 4th was too clean, too shy, and too similar to our own world. It wasnt Shadowrun anymore for me. To the point I went back to my homebrew of 2nd and 3rd editions.

Now though, having stumbled on 5th edition after giving it a pass after hearing some initial criticism, I must confess Im as excited as I was 20 years ago when I had a shining copy of the 2e corebook on my skinny 12 years old hands. I just finished reading it and, while it does have its problems, overall it is, for me, the true successor to my beloved 2nd and 3rd editions. The art, the writing, the layout, everything screams THIS IS CYBERPUNK, LETS STICK IT TO THE MAN! to me (by the way, who had the idea to have a character giving the finger central in the GM screen ? thats awesome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ).

Well, thats it. I just wanted to show some love for the folks behind this. I bought the core plus the Alphaware box (Gentry rules, and that NA map is beautiful), the GM screen (oh that finger ) and Run Faster (thank god someone came up with the gear packs idea! ). Dont know if Ill get Run&Gun and Grimoire, as I aint much interested in their subjects, but Im looking forward to the announced Seattle Box set, and perhaps the Matrix book (not because the subject interests me more than the othes, but because I found the Matrix chapter the more.. confusing, of the core book, both from a writing and rules perspective).

If someone else wants to share the love for the return of Shaodwrun, be my guest.