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> [SprawlSG] Reviews, Let's hear your thoughts
Synner
post Aug 17 2003, 01:09 PM
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Continuing on from Ye Olde Review Thread, lets hear what your critiques or praise for "SSG".

We left off with:
QUOTE
Metus wrote:
As an aside, I did think the Global Report was somewhat unnecessary (I'd prefer it cover all of it or none, i.e. SoNA) but that doesn't mean I disliked it. I just wasn't as taken by it as I was with the rest of the book.

Sorry you didn't take to that section (given I wrote it ;)). As I mentioned before it served several distinct purposes:
- First and foremost it was meant to complement the Travel section by giving runners places around the world to go to for recreation, work and even upgrades, while at the same time introducing some info on the problems travellers face in different areas of the globe.
- It was also meant to provide some updates and color for certain Sixth World hotspots until the respective full location books come out ("Shadows of Europe", "Shadows of Asia", "Target:Middle East" etc). People had been asking for more info on Tokyo since YotC came out, same for the Amazonia/Metropole and Cairo, this should tide them over a while longer.
- Finally and probably least obvious - but in keeping with the theme of the book - it also served to paint a quick picture of the diversity of sprawl life through-out the Sixth World. Many GMs have a natural tendency to go with what's known in their descriptions and as a result, in many games sprawls end up not feeling as distinctive and unique as they might. Hopefully the Global Report suggests some ways in which different sprawls in the Sixth World have their own distinct atmosphere and gaming possibilities, and in doing so teases readers into thinking a little out of the box in their own games whether they use those specific locations or not.
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last_of_the_grea...
post Sep 28 2003, 04:42 AM
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What did they do to my game? Hockey fights go on until one of the players "taps out?" 3 bench clearing brawls allowed per game? Foul! I cry foul! Hockey is not that violent! This little joke goes too far! Whoever wrote that part of it, I'm gonna sic the European players on ya!
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Adam
post Sep 29 2003, 05:27 AM
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Yeah, that bit raised my "WTF?" meter, too.
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last_of_the_grea...
post Sep 30 2003, 12:59 AM
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Other than that, I'd say the SSG doesn't suck. It has some nice "feel" articles, a decent yet brief political overview, some ideas on travel within the game as well as a few paragraphs on a few places in Shadowrun geography. The crown jewel of the book is the "Life on the Run" section. It's a 36 page description of how one person went from a respectable position in the news to a shadowrunner, giving a Shadowrunning 101 course in the process.

The bad: I was really hoping for maps...just a few archetypical locals to hold me over until they print out a book of the things. Ah well. As far as rules and stuff, there's nothing revolutionary...in fact, in my opinion, all the optional rules add to the game is bookkeeping. However, I know some people like lots of detail, so for them, things like detailed lifestyle rules and credstick specific advantages are fun. The hockey thing's near unforgivable, though.
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Adam
post Sep 30 2003, 01:06 AM
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Maps are planned for Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book.
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KosherPickle
post Sep 30 2003, 03:32 AM
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QUOTE (Adam)
Maps are planned for Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book.

Reprints of Sprawl Sites, something a little different, something completely different, or you have no clue? :)
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EVLTIM
post Oct 14 2003, 03:48 AM
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Well first off I would like to thank all of the people here that worked on this book .
It is of my opinion that this should be required reading for any one playing Shadow Run . For years I have trying to get my fiance into SR , and she just always gave me a blank stare , and a "Yea it sounds neat ." I handed her this book , and she read thru it , and now she can't wait to play .
:)

This book is 100 percent world flavor , and I crave that kind of stuff .
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Pistons
post Oct 14 2003, 04:04 AM
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That's awesome. I'm really glad this book hooked someone into wanting to play.
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Jestyr
post Oct 14 2003, 04:10 AM
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Likewise. :)
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Drain Brain
post Oct 14 2003, 07:54 AM
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Or, if you would prefer the slightly more earthy version...

*ahem*

"This book kicks ass..."

And there you have it. I am particularly enamoured of the Lifestyle rules - I always wondered, post-purchase, what I was supposed to do with my Car B/R Facility. Now I know... ;)
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EVLTIM
post Oct 14 2003, 05:01 PM
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Well she tried to play a few times before to humor me , but she just didn't get the feel of it all , and I realy tried to help her , and point out where to look for the flavor of everything , but after I picked this book up I asked her to read it also . When she was done I guess it all just clicked for her .

Lord knows we need more female gamers so I am realy stoked to finally bring her into the hobby full swing . :)
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Jestyr
post Oct 15 2003, 12:26 AM
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If she liked this book, for feel and flavor, she might also appreciate a read through the Neo-Anarchist's Guide to Real Life, and/or Shadowbeat. Both have "everyday life" information in them, more so than most other books.

Pity they're both unavailable and hard to find these days, though. :S
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EVLTIM
post Oct 15 2003, 07:56 AM
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QUOTE (Jestyr)
If she liked this book, for feel and flavor, she might also appreciate a read through the Neo-Anarchist's Guide to Real Life, and/or Shadowbeat. Both have "everyday life" information in them, more so than most other books.

Pity they're both unavailable and hard to find these days, though. :S

Zactly . I found NAGNA , but NAGTRL slipped thru my fingers when my so called friend saw it first . Sigh . And then of course his little brother trashed it . :dead:
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spotlite
post Oct 29 2003, 04:32 PM
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I'm gonna try that trick on my gf. She's playing at the moment but for some reason is having difficulty getting into the game-world. Doesn't help that she can never be bothered to sit down and watch Bladerunner, Ghost in the Shell or Crying Freeman, but this book might be the trick.

Oh, and second the whole 'its flavour text! we love it!' opinion someone else put up, above. This sort of thing adds so much to the game world, regardless of any rules updated or stats that go into it. I felt the same way about all the target: books. Its one of the things I missed most about Rigger3 - no fiction (I know its up on the main site now, but I still missed it), and one of the things I loved most about it as well - tons of real, useful, gameworld info about how stuff works with transponders and drek at the beginning.

New rules are great. New toys are great. But stuff that brings the game we love to life - now that's fantastic. Marks out of ten for SSG (given that I'm only half way through reading it): at least 9.5. I can't give it a 10 because once again there's no index.
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moosegod
post Nov 13 2003, 03:06 AM
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QUOTE (last_of_the_great_mikeys)
What did they do to my game? Hockey fights go on until one of the players "taps out?" 3 bench clearing brawls allowed per game? Foul! I cry foul! Hockey is not that violent! This little joke goes too far! Whoever wrote that part of it, I'm gonna sic the European players on ya!

So? All they're saying is that it has become Urban Brawl on ice.
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Digital Heroin
post Nov 13 2003, 03:21 AM
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QUOTE (moosegod)
QUOTE (last_of_the_great_mikeys @ Sep 27 2003, 11:42 PM)
What did they do to my game? Hockey fights go on until one of the players "taps out?" 3 bench clearing brawls allowed per game? Foul! I cry foul! Hockey is not that violent! This little joke goes too far! Whoever wrote that part of it, I'm gonna sic the European players on ya!

So? All they're saying is that it has become Urban Brawl on ice.

Which is a complete slight to a nation's passtime and a noble sport...
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moosegod
post Nov 13 2003, 05:22 AM
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Noble sport my foot.
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Digital Heroin
post Nov 13 2003, 06:13 AM
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QUOTE (moosegod)
Noble sport my foot.

What was that, eh? What would you call it ya hoser? Hell... what would you call a noble sport?
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JongWK
post Nov 13 2003, 03:29 PM
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Soccer? :)
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moosegod
post Nov 13 2003, 06:24 PM
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QUOTE (Digital Heroin)
What was that, eh? What would you call it ya hoser? Hell... what would you call a noble sport?

A sport where they make up their minds whether or not to punish fighting.
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Adam
post Nov 13 2003, 06:26 PM
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Let's not drag this further off topic, please.
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Prospero
post Dec 12 2003, 04:13 AM
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Just bought this last night. Am still reading it, but...

*twitch* *drool* I'm in love. :cyber:

In all seriousness, this is the kind of stuff that makes Shadowrun my favorite game. I like the rules and the action and all that, but that's not what's unique about it. The flavor, the carefully developed world, the excellent integration of sociology, prediction of current trends in fashion and society, modern science, and the careful blending of these with magic and fantastical elements is why I keep coming back. When I first heard about this, I figured it was going to be something like Sprawl Sites warmed over. But for all you people who worked on it, my hat's off to you. In any imaginary world, the most difficult thing to do is to get the little details of every day life correct and that is exactly what you've done, along with adding other helpings of international flavor, etc. Putting together something like this is every bit as difficult and intensive as creating a short-story or a novel. Two thumbs up and I'd give you more if I had them.
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mfb
post Jan 10 2004, 11:56 PM
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i ordered it from amazon in late september. still no joy. we hatesss the tricksssy amazon.
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Jason Farlander
post Jan 11 2004, 09:30 PM
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QUOTE (mfb)
i ordered it from amazon in late september. still no joy. we hatesss the tricksssy amazon.

Interestingly, Amazon.com lists the SSG is not currently in print, with an availability of February, 2004. Perhaps you should cancel your order with the thievsing amazonses and order it from Stiggybaby...?
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snowRaven
post Jan 12 2004, 12:32 AM
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Two words sum SSG up I think: Great!! MORE!!! :grinbig:

Loved it! I think the great artwork deserves special mention - don't think I've seen a book in a long time with such overall good quality to the art (I think the cover art piece could've been better though, but...you can't get everything). All the 'flavor text' - Superb! This should be required reading for any SR player and GM. And the rules... Household Drones, expanded lifestyle and ID rules - all wonderful!
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