 Which books to buy? |
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 May 14 2010, 02:18 AM
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#1
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Target  Group: Members Posts: 50 Joined: 12-May 10 From: North Carolina Member No.: 18,574  |
The only book I have is the 4th edition core. A few weeks ago I saw several Shadowrun books in a local game store. I can't remember all the names, but there was a magic themed book, a tech themed book, and I think a few others. I would like to add a few books to my shelf to deepen the resources I have for the game and wanted to get some suggestions from the veteran players. Thanks.
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May 14 2010, 02:29 AM
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#2
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 490 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Texas Member No.: 9,245 |
QUOTE (galvatron42 @ May 13 2010, 09:18 PM)  The only book I have is the 4th edition core. A few weeks ago I saw several Shadowrun books in a local game store. I can't remember all the names, but there was a magic themed book, a tech themed book, and I think a few others. I would like to add a few books to my shelf to deepen the resources I have for the game and wanted to get some suggestions from the veteran players. Thanks. Well the short answer to you question comes in 2 parts. Do you plan on running or playing? and if you do play what kind of character do you play the most? |
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May 14 2010, 02:29 AM
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#3
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 565 Joined: 7-January 04 Member No.: 5,965 |
the 'core' rules are spread across 6 different books. Unwired(matrix rules), street magic, arsenal, augmentation, runner's companion(expanded character generation rules), and the main book (anniversary version is the most current).
which books you want depends on what kind of character you play or what kind of game you run. beyond that, there are a lot of nice books out there. i haven't had a chance to get a look at 'Vice' yet, but it sounds like a fun one. a setting book can be useful, if only for getting a good idea of the setting material (the maps are a nice plus). in general, the arsenal book would be useful for all characters, as everyone ends up needing guns, armor, and transportation. it has the rules for martial arts and advanced combat as well. |
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May 14 2010, 08:52 AM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 858 Joined: 25-August 03 From: Braunschweig, North German League, Allied German States Member No.: 5,537 |
QUOTE (galvatron42 @ May 14 2010, 04:18 AM) The only book I have is the 4th edition core. A few weeks ago I saw several Shadowrun books in a local game store. I can't remember all the names, but there was a magic themed book, a tech themed book, and I think a few others. The following books have been published for SR 4th Edition (aside from the main rule book):
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May 14 2010, 08:59 AM
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#5
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The King In Yellow Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,922 Joined: 26-February 05 From: JWD Member No.: 7,121 |
Midnight - adventure; part two of the Dawn of the Artifacts campaign.
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May 14 2010, 11:51 AM
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#6
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 322 Joined: 19-July 09 From: CAS Member No.: 17,410 |
-personally- I'm after everything but the modules, including a lot of earlier addition books
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May 14 2010, 05:10 PM
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#7
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Target Group: Members Posts: 20 Joined: 16-March 10 Member No.: 18,297 |
QUOTE (The Dragon Girl @ May 14 2010, 03:51 AM) -personally- I'm after everything but the modules, including a lot of earlier addition books Same here. I just finished completing my SR1 collection when I picked up a DMZ Box Set. |
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May 14 2010, 05:10 PM
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#8
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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 |
QUOTE (MYST1C @ May 14 2010, 03:52 AM) The following books have been published for SR 4th Edition (aside from the main rule book):
[list] Of these-I'd put aquiring these books in the following priority: 1. Arsenal (extra gear everyone can use, plus gun and vehicle modification rules) 2. Runners COmpanion (Extra PC and NPC options) 3. Street Magic (Pretty much a must have for mages and adepts) 4. Augmentation (Some extra bits of ware, a few flaws and edges---though I can never recall what is good about it) 5. Unwired (uless you are a Techie-this book is not for you. I'd wait until I had a good grasp of the matrix until using and options contained in it) |
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May 14 2010, 05:39 PM
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#9
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Target Group: Members Posts: 35 Joined: 25-March 09 Member No.: 17,016 |
I'm in the same situation.
I'll probably go for arsenal first. then probably augmentation and Street magic. Then Runners companion. Unwired is less important, as we don't (currently) want to get into that part of the game too much. |
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May 14 2010, 06:23 PM
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#10
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Immortal Elf Group: Members Posts: 10,289 Joined: 2-October 08 Member No.: 16,392 |
Arsenal and Street Magic are definitely "first buys" on my suggestion list. Augmentation less so as (IMO) it doesn't add a whole lot. I see neat stuff once in a while but can never really find a use for it.
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May 14 2010, 07:18 PM
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#11
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,782 Joined: 28-August 09 Member No.: 17,566 |
Arsenal was my first extra-pickup, and the amount of gear, weapons, vehicles it adds to -any- character is well worth the price. Runner's companion is a second, not for the infected or build-a-furry surge variants, but because of the advanced lifestyle rule and a shitton of extra positive and negative qualities that let you build a character that feels more alive.
In my opinion, get those two, and pick up other books depending on what character you're playing. Those two can be used for a better rules-lite game, without using -everything from every book ever- without too much hastle. Then salt and pepper to taste. If you're playing a mage, grab street magic, a technomancer, get unwired. A sammy, try augmentation. That kind of thing. |
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May 14 2010, 07:23 PM
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#12
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Immortal Elf Group: Members Posts: 10,289 Joined: 2-October 08 Member No.: 16,392 |
QUOTE (Udoshi @ May 14 2010, 03:18 PM) Arsenal was my first extra-pickup, and the amount of gear, weapons, vehicles it adds to -any- character is well worth the price. Runner's companion is a second, not for the infected or build-a-furry surge variants, but because of the advanced lifestyle rule and a shitton of extra positive and negative qualities that let you build a character that feels more alive. Advanced lifestyles are amazing, I love them. Personally I don't advocate "buildafurry" even though the rules seem to support/suggest them, but they do add some variety to characters. My drake took dynamic skin coloring because he can't wear a chameleon suit in drakeform. |
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May 14 2010, 07:27 PM
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#13
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,782 Joined: 28-August 09 Member No.: 17,566 |
QUOTE (Draco18s @ May 14 2010, 12:23 PM) Advanced lifestyles are amazing, I love them. Personally I don't advocate "buildafurry" even though the rules seem to support/suggest them, but they do add some variety to characters. My drake took dynamic skin coloring because he can't wear a chameleon suit in drakeform. Yeah, that phrase was kind of unfair to use. There are some places where it can be used to be cool, or even make sense, but I tend to roll my eyes when I see a Surge'd catgirl character posted for critique on these boards. Or, more often, metatraits used for plain min-maxing. And yeah, the advanced lifestyles are awesome. Group contacts, too. |
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May 14 2010, 07:39 PM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 144 Joined: 19-June 06 From: CAS baby Member No.: 8,736 |
For the good of the collective, you must submit and purchase all! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)
But yeah, pick up Arsenal and then Street Magic. |
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May 14 2010, 08:34 PM
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#15
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Immortal Elf Group: Members Posts: 10,289 Joined: 2-October 08 Member No.: 16,392 |
QUOTE (Udoshi @ May 14 2010, 03:27 PM) Or, more often, metatraits used for plain min-maxing. Any option can be abused. |
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May 15 2010, 03:29 AM
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#16
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,705 Joined: 5-October 09 From: You are in a clearing Member No.: 17,722 |
Outside the core book, most of the others aren't used all that often, at least by more than one person at a time (chargen, gear stats and GM-only biz.)
As such, if you're not set on supporting your FLGS out of buy-local loyalty, then my dollar goes to the PDF. You can get two books on PDF for each hard copy you buy. |
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May 15 2010, 01:43 PM
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#17
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 322 Joined: 19-July 09 From: CAS Member No.: 17,410 |
QUOTE (Saint Sithney @ May 14 2010, 10:29 PM) Outside the core book, most of the others aren't used all that often, at least by more than one person at a time (chargen, gear stats and GM-only biz.) As such, if you're not set on supporting your FLGS out of buy-local loyalty, then my dollar goes to the PDF. You can get two books on PDF for each hard copy you buy. I disagree entirely, that depends on your table. |
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May 15 2010, 02:07 PM
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#18
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,679 Joined: 19-September 09 Member No.: 17,652 |
Like everyone else I'd have to suggest arsenal as your best bet if you can only get one book. New guns, drugs, vehicles, drones, weapon mods, vehicle mods, survival gear, spy toys, and even a few magic related things. Oh, and don't forget FFBA, the armor of champions (and everyone and their dog).
After that I'd suggest augmentation or street magic depending on if you play mundane or awakened more. Then the other one, and then RC. I would put RC higher up, but it tends to only get used for the ton of new qualities which are added and advanced lifestyles (which are both cool, but lower on my list than the goodies in augmentation and street magic). Unwired would be the last one I suggest getting unless you are seriously into playing hackers/technomancers. There are a ton of new rules, not many of which make the matrix any easier to use, and so the things used from unwired tend to get cherry-picked from what I've seen. Running wild is good if you run the game or really want to play an animal trainer type character. |
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May 15 2010, 03:43 PM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 604 Joined: 1-December 08 From: Sacramento, California Member No.: 16,646 |
QUOTE (Karoline @ May 15 2010, 06:07 AM) Unwired would be the last one I suggest getting unless you are seriously into playing hackers/technomancers. There are a ton of new rules, not many of which make the matrix any easier to use, and so the things used from unwired tend to get cherry-picked from what I've seen. The one part I'd like to emphasis is Technomancers. If that is something you seriously want to play, there is a lot in this book to give them some more detail and some variety. Even if the other stuff from the book is not used. Like many of the other things, it can either add a lot of flavor and fun, or it can add a lot of min/max opportunities; that all depends on your approach though. |
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May 15 2010, 05:24 PM
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#20
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Target Group: Members Posts: 45 Joined: 6-March 10 From: San Fernando Valley, PCC Member No.: 18,250 |
SR4A is a must, my second was Street Magic, but I play Adepts and Mages a lot. Third was Arsenal followed by Runner's Companion. Other players went with Augmentation or Unwired instead of SM depending on their character preferences.
Grexul |
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