 Describing Shadowrun to someone who hasn't heard of it., How do you do it? |
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 May 11 2010, 11:31 PM
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#1
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Target  Group: Members Posts: 39 Joined: 11-September 09 From: Louisville, KY Member No.: 17,627  |
So how do you describe it to someone new to gaming in general. For me when I told my wife about it I used a comparison to "the game that causes cancer".... I know I know I'm horrible but I said dnd was checkers where as SR was chess; which got her interested in playing (she still makes fun of the other)
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May 11 2010, 11:37 PM
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#2
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,416 Joined: 4-March 06 From: Albuquerque Member No.: 8,334 |
I tell them: "Shadowrun is near future. The world is to the point where they can implant all kinds of tech to merge man and machine, and in the shadowrun timeline, Magic came back to the world in 2012, so it's got everything. Dragons, wizards, warriors, whatever. Characters play criminals who do the dirty work for the corporations that run the world and anyone else who can afford to hire them."
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May 11 2010, 11:38 PM
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#3
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Immortal Elf Group: Validating Posts: 7,999 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,890 |
"Magic cyberpunk noir."
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May 11 2010, 11:38 PM
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#4
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
For someone who, at the very least, has a concept of what a Role Playing Game is, I would summarize it as follows:
"Post-cyberpunk urban fantasy RPG in which the protagonists engage in freelance covert ops and corporate espionage." Another popular summary is: "Shooting people in the face for money. With elves!!!" |
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May 11 2010, 11:46 PM
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#5
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Target Group: Members Posts: 39 Joined: 11-September 09 From: Louisville, KY Member No.: 17,627 |
yeah i went into more detail but at first she just laughed until i told her how complex it could get... she still cant get over the stupid stereotype of it all... go figure
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May 11 2010, 11:53 PM
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#6
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Immortal Elf Group: Validating Posts: 7,999 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,890 |
Stereotype? It's a mash of no less than two major genres. Sure, it has some stereotypes in it, but the setting itself isn't one. If it were, you could use a single word to describe it that most anyone would be able to identify it with. Which is hardly a bad thing in and of itself; that's what stereotypes are for.
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May 11 2010, 11:59 PM
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#7
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Target Group: Members Posts: 39 Joined: 11-September 09 From: Louisville, KY Member No.: 17,627 |
QUOTE (Dr. Funkenstein @ May 11 2010, 07:53 PM)  Stereotype? It's a mash of no less than two major genres. Sure, it has some stereotypes in it, but the setting itself isn't one. If it were, you could use a single word to describe it that most anyone would be able to identify it with. Which is hardly a bad thing in and of itself; that's what stereotypes are for. should have specified... the "nerdy" social aspect of playing a pnp game... /sigh |
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May 12 2010, 12:01 AM
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#8
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 100 Joined: 9-February 09 Member No.: 16,860 |
I'd be as simple as possible.
Cyberpunk with magic and fantasy races. |
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May 12 2010, 01:28 AM
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#9
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,782 Joined: 28-August 09 Member No.: 17,566 |
Have her listen to this, then tell her 'oh, yeah, and magic turned back on sixty years ago, and people have been trying to figure it out, and how to kick each others asses with it since.'
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May 12 2010, 01:36 AM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 211 Joined: 11-April 03 From: Maine Member No.: 4,431 |
Shooting people in the face for money. With ELVES!
(best description I've ever heard) |
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May 12 2010, 01:43 AM
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#11
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The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 |
Terminator shooting Gandalf in one Corner, Jackie chan duking it out with Van Damme from Universal Soldier.
A Dragon bartering with Johnny 5 over a pair of old coins. Tron beating up Agent Smith. |
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May 12 2010, 02:56 AM
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#12
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 286 Joined: 5-September 05 Member No.: 7,688 |
QUOTE (ShadowPavement @ May 11 2010, 08:36 PM) Shooting people in the face for money. With ELVES! (best description I've ever heard) Shooting elves in the face for money. The full quote from RPG.net: QUOTE SR4 is a game in which, by default, Players will play Shadowrunners, who are Horrible People that Shoot People Right in the Face for Money. They will form Extravagant Plans, something will go Completely Wrong, but they will Improvise and get Paid Anyway. The Shadowrunners will then Fence the Loot to feed their Crippling Drug Addictions that they acquired so that they would have the build points to better Shoot People Right in the Face.
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May 12 2010, 03:04 AM
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#13
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 251 Joined: 17-March 10 From: Bug City Member No.: 18,315 |
Fantasy and Science Fiction hook up and have a beautiful near-future love child.
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May 12 2010, 03:05 AM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 748 Joined: 22-April 07 From: Vermont Member No.: 11,507 |
What exactly is the origin of "shoot people right in the face" ? It's not really a good description of any Shadowrun game I have played since 1989.
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May 12 2010, 07:30 AM
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#15
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
QUOTE (MJBurrage @ May 11 2010, 11:05 PM) What exactly is the origin of "shoot people right in the face" ? The RPG.net review of SR4 linked to by Veggiesama above. |
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May 12 2010, 09:17 AM
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#16
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 124 Joined: 15-April 10 From: AGS Member No.: 18,455 |
See my sig, couldn't say it any better than that myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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May 12 2010, 02:54 PM
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#17
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,245 Joined: 27-April 07 From: Running the streets of Southeast Virginia Member No.: 11,548 |
How I described it to my group...
Near future dystopian cyberpunk with magic, elves, and dragons. I now have 8-10 players, depending on who shows up to play. Would much prefer to have 5 max. |
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May 12 2010, 03:03 PM
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#18
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Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,755 Joined: 5-September 06 From: UCAS Member No.: 9,313 |
Experience is the best teacher. Let other players help introduce new players. Give new folks some reading assignments. Like intro section to every editions BBB. Come watch a game being played. Start new game from scratch so everyones on level playing field. When we have an Almanac , just toss em a copy and say hey read this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) .
Honestly I've found it better to let the group introduce a new player to any game and roleplaying in general. Peer pressure and all that. Seriously its more fun for new players if everyone chips in then just some dry old GM trying to sell you on a system. |
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May 12 2010, 04:42 PM
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#19
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
QUOTE (Dr. Funkenstein @ May 12 2010, 12:38 AM) "Magic cyberpunk noir." Why you... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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May 12 2010, 04:57 PM
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#20
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 211 Joined: 11-April 03 From: Maine Member No.: 4,431 |
I will also describe it to people as the bastard love child of the LotR trilogy and Matrix trilogy.
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May 15 2010, 12:50 AM
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#21
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,705 Joined: 5-October 09 From: You are in a clearing Member No.: 17,722 |
Everything you could ever want to do, all at once.
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May 15 2010, 04:27 AM
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#22
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,756 Joined: 17-January 09 From: Va Beach , CAS Member No.: 16,787 |
show them a red pill in one hand and a blue pill in the other. I recomend dayquill and viagra.
sometimes I just punch them in the face and take thier wallet |
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May 15 2010, 04:31 AM
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#23
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,326 Joined: 15-April 02 Member No.: 2,600 |
"The Matrix" crossed with "Lord of the Rings".
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