The Third Periodic tisoz Shadowrun Fiction Contest, Now with a Poll!!! Options

[Gelare]

I would have to say that it kinda depends on the rules of the contest. If you're looking for the most shadowy story out of the bunch, the one where everyone seems to have a dark secret and there's danger and betrayal around every corner, one would surely have to go with Buddha, hands down. The writing has the kinda dark vibe going on, it's got shadows like nobody's business.

Now, if the question is which one I enjoyed reading the most, that would go to Hellhound. It had a good mix of upbeatness/comedy with the Shadowrun setting and the kind of stuff that goes on within it. You can't really (well, I can't really) imagine playing the game described in Buddha. But in Hellhound, that's just a neat cast of characters, who I could easily envision appearing in the lighter moments of the SR fluff.

So in conclusion, Buddha wins the award shadow-wise, Hellhound wins fun-wise. The other stories had their moments, too, make no mistake. As I believe someone mentioned before me, I was definitely waiting for the other shoe to drop in Sorry Lieutenant. I was like, okay, so when does it reveal the group of assassins that came in during the tailchaser and killed everyone? But yeah, well done by all, people, kudos.

[DTFarstar]

Pretty close draw between Buddha and Hellhound, in the end I voted for Hellhound because it made me laugh. Buddha was much more serious and honestly I can see it making a much better novel than short story. In the end, the laughter and the fact that I just understood the characters in Hellhound better made me vote for it.

Everyone did a very good job, and I was definitely waiting for the massive slaughter scene in Sorry Lt.

Chris

[MaxHunter]

I voted for hellhound. However, Buddha at the anarchist clinic I loved too.

Actually I found the former to be clearer written and funnier. I really liked the way in-group dynamics are depicted. The story is told in a good humored way, characters are solid and it kind of reminded me of some teams I have Gmd. Good times.

Buddha at the anarchist clinic was pretty good too, I didn't like the action sequences so much, but it really got me thinking about playing a Vietnamese minicampaign. Really atmospheric and in character.

I liked the beginning of "Andrew", and some descriptions in Winkler and Security Drone. I also liked the sequencing in "Sorry lieutenant" story, even if that is no the kind of Shadowrun I like the most. I mostly agree with Eidolon's comments. However, I immediately had the idea that the POV in Security Drone is a spirit's

Kudos to everyone for the good work!

Cheers,

Max

[Green Eyed Monst...]

I voted for Hellhound. I liked all the stories, but I liked Hellhound's pacing and multiple fights a little bit better than the others.

[tisoz]

...And the Winner is...

[tisoz]

Like a Hellhound On a Soysteak.

First, I enjoyed all the stories.

[ Spoiler ]

Although Andrew did aggravate me after an opening comment about it needing an edit, I doing an unbidden edit for spelling, then the author sending me his edit changing many of the corrections back to original. Oh well, overlooking the mistakes, the story was still interesting.

I went a bit against the DS mob with my choice. My reason being I liked the little character descriptions in Hellhound and the writing made the story seem more alive and faster paced. Buddha, though another nice tale, seemed more passive, perhaps due to the past perfect tense in places. Or it could be that I titled Hellhound as the snippet that was initially submitted was untitled and quite short. By the time the author submitted the whole thing, I had posted the entries along with the poll and could not edit the title in the poll, hence the aka title. No, it wasn't because I titled the story. Actually, upon reading the finished submission, I would have stuck a different title on it. Luckily the author decided he liked the title I gave it and did not even ask for it to be editted.

Again, thanks to all the authors. I think this round was the strongest field of entries yet. Even the stories that received fewer votes were nice reads.

[warrior_allanon]

eh, never mind, good job

[tisoz]

[Zen Shooter01]

I'm taken aback by the praise dumpshockers have heaped so lavishly on my story, If You Meet The Buddha At The Anarchist Clinic. I thank my audience.

The piece was originally written when shadowrunrpg.com was talking about publishing fiction regularly, but the editor there felt it was too literary for the market, and as far as I can tell, that fiction idea at the official website has died, or nearly died.

I'd write more if there was any kind of market or audience for it. Anyone interested in seeing more of my SR work can find five pieces at shapcano.com under the name of Brian Downes, although the email address for me on record there is obsolete. But updates at Shapcano's seem to be few and far between now...I was surprised to see a recent one when I checked a few minutes ago. Does anyone know what the story is over there?

By the way, if anyone's at Necronomicon this weekend, I'll be gamemastering SR4 there.

[eidolon]

Awesome. Consider those on my "must read soon" list. :)

And somebody tell that editor that if Shadowrun fiction was that "literary" all the time, I'd read a hell of a lot more of it.

[MaxHunter]

yep, your story is good. I think the originality of it is its best asset, though.
How did you come up with the idea? "it's in Vietnam..."

Cheers,

Max

[Zen Shooter01]

Vietnam is covered in Shadows of Asia.

I think it's too bad that a lot of Shadowrun gets overlooked. You're a group of mercenary operatives in Seattle, motivated by profit. How many times can you do that before you get bored? The Sixth World is a big, big place.

The lone wolf character concept is especially worn out. I think it's interesting to emphasize the PCs connections - to ideas, to philosophies, to organizations, to religions. I ran a campaign where the PCs were employees of Needles Search & Rescue in the Mojave desert. I ran one where the PCs were faithful Catholics and special troubleshooters for an influential Cardinal in Rome - mostly they fought for influence in Europe against Muslim operatives. I did one where the PCs were members or honorary members of a dwarf viking gang in the Scandinavian Union, to whom falls the care of a special child who's birth has rung every divination bell in Europe - a child who will be a hero for somebody's side, someday.

I'm a street samurai sitting at a bar in the Pacific Northwest is a long gone idea.

[MaxHunter]

I very much agree.

I do not stray from the usual so much as you do because my players love the "classic" feel of Seattle and all. My game is full of them. I will tell another day because now I am too tired.

However I still want to convince a group of players to play a "concept" shadowrun. My last try at that -japanese shadowrunners- ended up with a player leaving for Sweden and the rest getting jobs that ate their gaming schedules...

Cheers,

Max