What Book do you want to have?, The books that may never be, and why Catalyst should indulge us. Options

[Sir_Psycho]

So we've been talking about what we've been hoping for in Unwired, mulling over Augmentation and Arsenal, and let's not mention the Runner's Companion preview.

But let's jump into the hypothetical now. What book would you like to have that doesn't exist, and isn't in the works. What book would be deserving of your hard earned scrip, and why?

Personally, I want Fortresses.

"There are some places that can't be cracked. Trained and cybered guards, SOTA Drones, Vicious Paranimals. Closed circuit security, nano-sensors, biometric systems. The Nodes are isolated glaciers, protected by prodigal specialists. There are traps that will identify you, cut you into little pieces and wash you down specially designed drains, where you will be torn apart by cutter nanites, and inserted into the fertilisation system for the hydroponic biodome. Did I mention the facility is hidden in the trans-polar aleut? Shall we?
Fortresses covers specific high-security facilities and targets in the Shadowrun game world, and rules for creating your own. This book contains detailed descriptions, maps and complete physical, magical and matrix security on various sixth world targets, such as-"

The book would have specific locations, eg.
-Zeta-Impchem underground "white-room" chemical warfare facility,
-The secure mansion of a Yakuza Oyabun,
-A deep sea research lab.
-A Panamanian Bank
-A Lone Star facility's Material Link Storage,
-A Gaetronics Power Plant
-AAA Rated gated waterfront living complex
-The Shibanokuji Orbital resort

"As well as rules for secure matrix targets, including-"
-The UCAS System Identification Number Database (What is that anyway? Department of Social Security?)
-The Aerospatiale SA Satellite Constellation
-etc.

"With accompanying rules expansions, aids, NPC archetypes and plot hooks, this is a blueprint every Johnson should bring to the table."


Now, those targets might be a little too Deadly, but they give an impression. It's basically a indulgent B&E book for roof rats and runner teams. A set of Ocean's Eleven style challenges.

Remember the little maps inside the old Sprawl Sites? The lab map in First Run? This would be expanded, detailed versions of that kind of thing. Not missions necessarily, but detailed descriptions of facilities, down to guard patrols and descriptions of the aesthetics of each room. The locales themselves would be quite big, so you could only use sections, and use a different section for another run, and just make up another description for it. The Yakuza mansion could be the mansion of any exec, mafia boss, or politician, you'd just alter the descriptions and change the guard archetypes. You wouldn't even have to include many, if any, more rules, given that the BBB and Arsenal covered a lot of sensor stuff, not to mention the huge back-log of fluff if you check out the Corporate Security Handbook or SOTA 63/64.


So what about you guys? What would you like to see a book about? A new media book? A book that touches us up on all of the changes that the 70's has brought, such as what happened to the Tir? Amazonia? Maybe you want a plot-book? What direction would you like canon to go in? Maybe you actually want a book covering Obsidimen and T'skrang. Wierdos.

[DocTaotsu]

Actually, I think they do have a book in the pipeline that covers this sort of thing, places that are off the map and totally black. Places runners aren't supposed to be, undersea labs and space stations.

Granted I have no idea what that book was called, but I know they were working on it.

[Screamin Demon]

Playelf (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)
Seriously I would like to see a huge atlas/sourcebook for modern Shadowrun complete with points touching all major historical events. Basically all those nice flavor books edited and updated then slapped together in one mighty hardcover tomb with naked elves in the margins. Kinda like how Mongoose Publshing did Conan the RPG, or AEG did Warlord the Accordlands.

[Sticks]

Auntie H's Book of Secrets, includes such info as where Ehran and Harlequin went to pre school, Aina's Dating tips and photos that prove Lofwyr took part in the German Porn Scene in pre-awakening times (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[DocTaotsu]

My self indulgent book would be a description of the military campaign in the Yucatan. Factions of rebels versus th juggernaut of Aztlan. Highlight some major battles, talk about various points of contention, profile all the big names.

Granted, that might have been in Shadows of South America... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[krakjen]

Actually, I think they do have a book in the pipeline that covers this sort of thing, places that are off the map and totally black. Places runners aren't supposed to be, undersea labs and space stations.

Granted I have no idea what that book was called, but I know they were working on it.

Ghost cartels ?

[DocTaotsu]

Nah... it was either going to be a separate section in Feral Cities or another book entirely. I don't think it even had a name.

I think they talked about it during a developers chat 2 months ago.

[Sir_Psycho]

Isn't Ghost Cartels about the revival of cigar chomping South American druglords?

[Blue eyes]

An area that imo needs some loving is Middle and South America so the book I'd like to see, fingers crossed since its partly written but caught up in limbo is: Shadows of South America , (Shadows of Latin America, being the right title thanks Grinder), a detailed look on Aztlan and Amazonia, who are the big players in that area, but also some focus on the other nations in the area like Peru, Yucatan etc.

A huge area to cover, with tonnes of conflict, and you got two huge nations and international players in Aztlan and Amazonia that seriously need some focus. Amazonia properly the most powerful awakend nation in the world should be the focus of a book. Would be very interesting to see what equal rights for all metahumans, spirits and others have resulted in and how it influences areas like: demographics, daily life, corporations, enviromental policy, military etc., plus we got a great dragon in charge of it all. An updated look at Aztlan wouldn't hurt either, i'm glad I have the Aztlan old sourcebook atleast.

I'd also like to see an update on the Carribbean League, again I got the old book, but an updated look would be very welcome.

[Grinder]

The book you want it Shadows of Latin America.

[Blue eyes]

Indeed, my bad (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Leofski]

Nah... it was either going to be a separate section in Feral Cities or another book entirely. I don't think it even had a name.

I think they talked about it during a developers chat 2 months ago.

Strange Places is the book you're after. I'm kind of hoping for a zero zone iin one of the books though. So that I can cry at the ridiculously layered security.

I'd quite like a new pop culture book a la shadowbeat.

[Stahlseele]

Shadowrun: behind the scenes!
stuff that was left out from books because of time/space/money restrictions . . kinda like the riggers stuff with the parrot drone and the wheelchair and the frigging rubber-boat *g*

[DocTaotsu]

Strange Places is the book you're after. I'm kind of hoping for a zero zone iin one of the books though. So that I can cry at the ridiculously layered security.

I'd quite like a new pop culture book a la shadowbeat.

That's exactly what I was grasping for.

And yeah, an updated Shadowbeat book would do well to round out 4th edition. Or a Neo Anarchist guide.

[ravensmuse]

Totally would want another Shadowbeat. I wasn't into gaming when it came out and only recently got a copy and I've been loving it. I would love to see the culture of SR in the 70s expanded on.

I want that German only SR megabook (Die .6 DerWelt) to come out over here. It sounds like there is plenty of chewy information in there.

And a personal wish - Shadows of Boston (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Fuchs]

An updated Shadowbeat would be nice.

I hope for some Mercenary/Pirate/Organised Crime book myself. Something to detail the shadow world outside the "Mister Johnson calls" area.

[Blade]

Something in the lines of Shadowbeat/Sprawl Survival Guide with a lot of examples and illustrations to show what things look like in 2070.

[Fuchs]

Something in the lines of Shadowbeat/Sprawl Survival Guide with a lot of examples and illustrations to show what things look like in 2070.

Especially the AR world, and of course examples of how the shadow economy works - especially how fake SINs are used, how shadowrunners cna handle high lifestyles, and so on in this new age of wireless.

[deek]

I'd actually like to see a GM Source Book that just had hundreds of examples using the current rules out of the existing books. It would be nice to have a reference like that which could give a firm direction on rule interpretation from the devs. Focus on things that are sketchy or things that have strong followings one way or another.

It wouldn't be a tough book to put together, cause all the devs would have to do is read through the already published books and create in-game examples. It wouldn't add to the setting, obviously, but I bet the thing would sell like hotcakes!

[Ed_209a]

On the topic of "Books that will never be", another game company I follow has a line of e-books for topics that will probably never be popular enough to be worth printing.

There is less art, and simpler layout for the e-book only line, so the only major expenses would be labor for editing and layout, and paying the author.

[Hatspur]

I would like someone to translate the Hungary Sourcebook out of Magdar.

[CanRay]

I would love one of the Old Skool-Style Adventures. Not a reprint, but a whole brand new one designed for 4th Edition.

[BookWyrm]

I have to agree with quite a few posters in this thread.

Shadows of Latin America.

an updated Sprawl Sites/Shadowbeat. I liked those two supplements.

"the Fixer's Black Book", in the same vein as Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book, but from the shadowrunner's POV, from the Fixer on down. Who/what they call, why, putting the team together, the all-important legwork, what NOT to do if the run goes @ss-over-t*ts, the payoff, and maybe a little section about down-time.

[Balcon13]

A "Critters" book of awakened and mundane ceatures would be nice, shooting at people all the time takes the fun out of it.

[CanRay]

Well, Paterson is rumoured to be back. I'm looking forward to seeing if that comes real!