What are some good books for a store to carry? Options

[Seven Deadly SIN...]

My wife and I own a game store and we host a weekly Shadowrun game which has gotten a few new people in to play. I know a few easy choices, Cannon Campanion. SR3, Magic in the Shadows, and Man and Machine.

What are some other good choices?

[Fahr]

Matrix, Rigger 3
and that covers the basics

-Mike R.

[Grey]

Setting books are good too.

New Seattle, Shadows of North America, Return of the Comet, and others along those lines.

[Kagetenshi]

My suggestions: the basic books plus Target: Matrix, Target: Wastelands, Target: Awakened Lands, and the Sprawl Survival Guide. Maybe toss Threats 2 in there.

~J

[Grimtooth]

All I have to say is...


WOW a gaming store that asks gamers what's popular, AND plays SR!!!!


Where do I sign up?


My local gaming store doesn't carry SR.

[Eldritch]

You may also consider some novels. If they are available anymore. And if not, maybe hit up some used bookstores and resell them at you place. Sure you couldn't mark them up much - if at all - but it would help your current and potential SR customers get a feel for the setting.

[Lilt]

I'd definately suggest Rigger 3, Matrix, the Sprawl Survival Guide, Year of the Comet, and the Shadowrun Companion (but I'm not sure if that's still in print). You'll probably want to get the GMscreen/Critter-book pack too but it might not fall under the heading of 'Book'. Dragons of the 6th world is a nice book for the more powerful games but it could easily be used for ideas for imaginative GMs who might have their employer's employer working for a dragon.

The Target: books and set adventures all have their purpose. I'd try talking to people or getting one copy of each and seeing what people think they'd like.

Also: point them at the Idiot's Guide to the Matrix and Idiot's Guide to Rigging threads here. These threads are great for helping people get over the more complicated aspects of the rules.

[Large Mike]

Wastelands and Awakened Lands were much furthur down on my list than... pretty much everything else. I only ended up getting them for completion's sake. I don't recomment stocking them regularly.

I do suggest: SR3, Magic in the Shadows, Man & Machine, Cannon Companion (unfortunatly, it sells disguistingly well), Shadowrun Companion, New Seattle, State of the Art: 2063, Sprawl Survival Guide. In that order.

[Zazen]

Just out of curiosity, where's your store?

[Seven Deadly SIN...]

The store is in Cumberland, Maryland.

[broho_pcp]

I don't have a local gaming store. *sob*

[Synner]

I'd definitely make sure Sprawl Survival Guide is on the list but I'm biased.

[Firewall]

[mfb]

SoNA should definitely be on the shelf, YotC is another good one. people will probably find Matrix more useful than Rigger 3, as there tend to be more deckers than riggers. i'd reccomend SOTA:63, as well; it's got something for pretty much everybody.

[BaronJ]

Ooo.. an easily corrupted game-store owner... say, are you a Firebase for the Commandos yet?

On topic: not much to contribute, except perhaps Character Dossier, they're cheap and good for the bottom line, and handy in those long-term games. If you've got shiftless DMs or Suicidal PCs however, the CD isn't terribly useful since they're really only good for longer games. Although, use the copier, and you've got a great Character Sheet too.

whee?

[Crimson Jack]

[Large Mike]

More deckers than riggers? Remind me to tell you that you're a freak.

/me pokes with stick and then climbs in Hazmat suit.

:grinbig:

[Zazen]

Echo that. Decker-phobia is widespread enough it should be listed in the DSM-4.

[broho_pcp]

Hmmm... that makes me think

Slay-Decker Spell anyone?

[Connor]

If you're wanting to carry any non-core books I'll make up a similar list to Crimson Jack's list of Core Books.

In no particular order:

Shadows of North America
New Seattle
Target: (anything, especially Matrix, Awakened Lands and Wastelands)
State of the Art: 2063 (the #1 book on my needed list)
Threats 2
Character Dossier
Dragons of the Sixth World (no one seemed to mention this one yet)
Survival of the Fittest (Yes, it is an adventure book, but it's well put together all around and it hasn't been mentioned either)


There are probably a few more here and there, but obviously you won't be going out and ordering the whole line of things. The best suggestion is to get some of the core books and maybe a couple of things from the secondary material and just be willing to order in the other books on an as needed basis, unless you'd like to have a nice library of SR material for your customers to become familiar with...

[Frag-o Delux]

I don't run a shop, but personaly I would get at least one copy of each book and use them during your SR games to let the youngin's get a taste of them then if they ask for it order it. I would keep the origanils for myself and my shop to introduce the locals to the material out there. If you don't have the book to show them then they might never know it is out there. A lot of people have a budget also on what they can spend, so if you have the book on hand and let them flip through it it just might open their wallet. A lot of people I noticed in some game stores get nervous when their friends ask if they are going to get a certain book, what I hear them comment on is they are not sure because they don't know what is inside and if it is worth the $20 (?, it has been awhile since I bought a SR book, when is SoE comming out? :) ).That is just me though.

EDIT" Just thought of this also. If you have played with the rules or at least familiar with them, you ight be able to talk them into buying a copy. I don't know what yo have to play with, if you have them your self or not, but if I was trying to sell something to someone, I would talk it up as much as possible. In fact I have had over thirty players in my group over the years, many of which thoght D&D was for losers until I introduced them to SR, by talking it some much.

Just thoughts.

[Capt. Dave]

State of the Art: 2063 could be a good fiscal choice. I know of 3 people who had stopped playing SR that returned to it after SOTA came out. Thats not just a book sale, that's rehooking people who will buy more books.

Oh - and riggers rule!