SR1-3 Books useful for SR4?, Which older SR books are still useful in SR4? |
SR1-3 Books useful for SR4?, Which older SR books are still useful in SR4? |
Apr 7 2010, 05:09 PM
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#1
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Target Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 22-March 10 Member No.: 18,339 |
Have recently started getting into Shadowrun again and something I've been wondering about, which of the older books are still useful for Shadowrun 4th Edition? Have been looking some at Shadows of North America, Shadows of Europe and Shadows of Asia. How useful are those and are there other very useful books? Appreciate any help on the subject. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Apr 7 2010, 05:23 PM
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#2
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,328 Joined: 2-April 07 From: The Center of the Universe Member No.: 11,360 |
Actually those three you mentioned are very useful.
Other suggestions (as they have good fluff that may proove useful in a 4E game): Neo-A's guide to real life (some what dated, but still a good primer on surviivng the shadows of the sixth world) Neo-A's guide to North America (Dallas, Atlanta, SF (pre-saito), washington DC are covered here) Bug City Loose Alliances Threats 1&2 Prime runners (good for an NPC or two) Sprawl Sites Lone Star Source Book Field of Fire (good background info for a merc campaign) Portfolio of a Dragon Dunklezahn's Will I'm sure others will have different suggestions. |
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Apr 7 2010, 06:10 PM
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#3
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,546 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 |
SHADOWBEAT!!!!(!!!!!!)
SR4 has the best mechanics to support the rocker archetype since... wow, maybe forever. Also, note that the SR1 and 2 books have beautiful pictures of gear. I love some of those books for that alone. |
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Apr 7 2010, 06:43 PM
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#4
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Target Group: Members Posts: 45 Joined: 6-March 10 From: San Fernando Valley, PCC Member No.: 18,250 |
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Apr 7 2010, 07:06 PM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 265 Joined: 15-September 08 From: Florida Member No.: 16,346 |
The three "Shadows" books are all excellent resources for getting information for character and NPC backgrounds, or even running outside of Seattle (whether you start there or not). I recall something about a Sixth World Atlas or some such currently in production, though whether we see it is, I suppose, up in the air. Until then, the Shadows series is your best bet for rest-of-world info; plus, as 3rd edition books, they're not that far out of date.
If you like delving into the metaplot a bit, I would suggest Dragons of the Sixth World. It goes over all of the big-name dragons in the world aside from Big D, including a bit on drakes and the Draco Foundation. Even the dragons that don't seem to do very much all get some shadowtalk about what goes on behind their closed doors. The Threats books are likewise out of date a bit, but Threats 2 specifically has a lot of stuff that's low-key that's still valid for running groups. If you want to confuse the hell out of your players, I suggest taking a good look at the Aleph Society and Imps sections; for overt threats, the orders for the new Knights Templar make for good fight scenes. Shadowbeat is a good one, I must agree; although dated, it provides a decent look at how life is lived in the shadows and also provides the rules for Combat Biker and Urban Brawl, which were mysteries to me until I found a copy of Shadowbeat at my LGS in the Forgotten Books section for $10. Talk about a steal. Some of the country-specific information from books like Tir Na nOg and Target UCAS is still applicable, because although the history of those places has been updated (see: "Shadows of --"), the organs of state and most of the demographic information won't have changed too much. I was going to give my players a giant headache by making them travel to Tir Na nOg for a run, and boy oh boy, reading the TNO sourcebook makes getting in and out of there sound like a pain in my ass. And theirs. |
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Apr 7 2010, 07:26 PM
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#6
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,654 Joined: 29-October 06 Member No.: 9,731 |
If you are at all interested in playing an augmented character, try (very, very hard) to track down Cybertechnology from 2E. Hatchetman's tale is still the best and most affecting piece of SR fiction I've read.
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Apr 7 2010, 07:33 PM
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#7
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Hoppelhäschen 5000 Group: Members Posts: 5,807 Joined: 3-January 04 Member No.: 5,951 |
Corporate Download and the Shadows of Series, followed by the Target: Series.
Those contain most of the background material. |
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Apr 7 2010, 07:43 PM
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#8
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Target Group: Members Posts: 25 Joined: 2-April 10 Member No.: 18,401 |
If you are at all interested in playing an augmented character, try (very, very hard) to track down Cybertechnology from 2E. Hatchetman's tale is still the best and most affecting piece of SR fiction I've read. Not only do I own this book, my copy has an inverted cover. So much in fact, we called the book "Cutting Edge" for so long, I didn't even have an idea what book Cybertechology was when I first saw a list of current books at the time, and I wondered where Cutting Edge was. |
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Apr 7 2010, 07:46 PM
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#9
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Target Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 22-March 10 Member No.: 18,339 |
Sounds like theres a lot of books I've never even considered! Will have to start lurking ebay some I think. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Apr 7 2010, 09:01 PM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 265 Joined: 15-September 08 From: Florida Member No.: 16,346 |
One thing about Dragons of the Sixth World is that the Draco Foundation bit at the front has a picture of Nadja Daviar. She's pretty, sure, but I still wonder how a badass like Mercury could wrapped around her little finger so easy.
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Apr 7 2010, 09:26 PM
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#11
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Target Group: New Member Probation Posts: 1 Joined: 7-April 10 Member No.: 18,425 |
What about conversions? I think this would give us the biggest reuse of existing materials. Is there a conversion from 1E to 4E or 2E to 4E or 3E to 4E or all three? It seems like with some effort a balanced conversion should be possible.
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Apr 8 2010, 12:21 AM
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#12
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 332 Joined: 15-February 10 From: CMU Member No.: 18,163 |
There is a guide for converting characters from 3rd edition to 4th edition in the back of Contacts and Adventures (not sure if you can buy that as a standalone, mine came with my GM screen), but it is not 100% comprehensive.
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Apr 8 2010, 12:38 AM
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#13
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Target Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 22-March 10 Member No.: 18,339 |
What about conversions? I think this would give us the biggest reuse of existing materials. Is there a conversion from 1E to 4E or 2E to 4E or 3E to 4E or all three? It seems like with some effort a balanced conversion should be possible. 3E to 4E can be found on www.shadowrun4.com or just here since I went to check it up myself anyway. Its only character conversion, but should give you the idea for how to convert the rest if theres something not covered there. This post has been edited by Robineng: Apr 8 2010, 12:40 AM |
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Apr 8 2010, 12:51 AM
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#14
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Prime Runner Group: Retired Admins Posts: 3,929 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .ca Member No.: 51 |
What about conversions? I think this would give us the biggest reuse of existing materials. Is there a conversion from 1E to 4E or 2E to 4E or 3E to 4E or all three? It seems like with some effort a balanced conversion should be possible. Almost every statistical thing (weapons, spells, critters, etc.) from SR1-3 has been statted up in SR4 books. |
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Apr 8 2010, 01:15 AM
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#15
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 595 Joined: 20-January 09 Member No.: 16,795 |
One thing about Dragons of the Sixth World is that the Draco Foundation bit at the front has a picture of Nadja Daviar. She's pretty, sure, but I still wonder how a badass like Mercury could wrapped around her little finger so easy. "Well, he called it the Bermuda Triangle. He said that a man could get lost in there and never be heard from again." - Ebby Calvin LaLoosh, Bull Durham |
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Apr 8 2010, 01:16 AM
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#16
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 595 Joined: 20-January 09 Member No.: 16,795 |
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Apr 8 2010, 01:36 AM
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#17
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 332 Joined: 15-February 10 From: CMU Member No.: 18,163 |
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Apr 8 2010, 05:28 AM
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#18
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 265 Joined: 15-September 08 From: Florida Member No.: 16,346 |
I only speak two languages, omae: english and bad english.
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Apr 8 2010, 05:47 AM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 425 Joined: 27-May 09 From: Evil's Nexus Member No.: 17,207 |
Neo-A's guide to real life (some what dated, but still a good primer on surviivng the shadows of the sixth world) Neo-A's guide to North America (Dallas, Atlanta, SF (pre-saito), washington DC are covered here) Bug City Loose Alliances Threats 1&2 Prime runners (good for an NPC or two) Sprawl Sites Lone Star Source Book Field of Fire (good background info for a merc campaign) Portfolio of a Dragon Dunklezahn's Will All excellent choices! And I second the Target: series and Shadows of North America as well. |
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Apr 8 2010, 05:54 AM
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#20
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Runner Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,946 Joined: 1-June 09 From: Omaha Member No.: 17,234 |
Ok questiona s this thread seems the best place to put it. Where is my go to source for information on the CAS?
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Apr 8 2010, 06:06 AM
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#21
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Grand Master of Run-Fu Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,840 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 178 |
QUOTE Neo-A's guide to real life (some what dated, but still a good primer on surviivng the shadows of the sixth world) Neo-A's guide to North America (Dallas, Atlanta, SF (pre-saito), washington DC are covered here) Bug City Loose Alliances Threats 1&2 Prime runners (good for an NPC or two) Sprawl Sites Lone Star Source Book Field of Fire (good background info for a merc campaign) Portfolio of a Dragon Dunklezahn's Will All excellent choices! And I second the Target: series and Shadows of North America as well. I personally second Dunkelzahn's Will. It's loaded with plot hooks that could carry on to the present Shadowrun date. |
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Apr 8 2010, 06:34 AM
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#22
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 425 Joined: 27-May 09 From: Evil's Nexus Member No.: 17,207 |
Ok questiona s this thread seems the best place to put it. Where is my go to source for information on the CAS? Shadows of North America??? One of the books that is still packed away. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotate.gif) |
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Apr 8 2010, 06:35 AM
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#23
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Runner Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,946 Joined: 1-June 09 From: Omaha Member No.: 17,234 |
I have it, i'll read it again, it's been a while but I recall it being somewhat lacking. I'll have to dig out my copy and go through again.
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Apr 8 2010, 06:36 AM
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#24
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 425 Joined: 27-May 09 From: Evil's Nexus Member No.: 17,207 |
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Apr 8 2010, 06:40 AM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 425 Joined: 27-May 09 From: Evil's Nexus Member No.: 17,207 |
I have it, i'll read it again, it's been a while but I recall it being somewhat lacking. I'll have to dig out my copy and go through again. You are right about background info on the CAS. I seem to recall that there were some interesting fan sites that dug into it a little more. If I find them I will post them up. Thinking about lost fan sites, makes me sad (Raygun's and Blackjack's top the list). I digress though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) |
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