Storm Front is out!, Leading to SR5! Options

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

When you read Dumpshock, you get the impression that Ghostwalker or Harlequin or whoever with very strong power is hated in this game. But i wonder what the silence masses thinks of it. I, at least, like what these characters can bring to the game. Oh and, if one die, I hope there will be something to play with. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I would not qualify as a Silent Masses type of guy, but here is my take...

I really do not like Ghostwalker (at all), just never did mesh for me. I like Lofwyr and Hestaby. Sirrug needs to go. Most of the other Greats just fade into the background for me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Harlequin is entertaining, and he does not really bother me all that much. I find it intriguing to have a character available that has been alive for (multiple) Thousands of years, who you can go to the bar with, grab a guitar and Jam with them. I probably like him because he is somewhat broken (Not in the game sense, but in the emotional and mental sense). That said, not much of a Fan of Immortal Elves in General.

[sk8bcn]

I would not qualify as a Silent Masses type of guy, but here is my take...

I really do not like Ghostwalker (at all), just never did mesh for me. I like Lofwyr and Hestaby. Sirrug needs to go. Most of the other Greats just fade into the background for me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Harlequin is entertaining, and he does not really bother me all that much. I find it intriguing to have a character available that has been alive for (multiple) Thousands of years, who you can go to the bar with, grab a guitar and Jam with them. I probably like him because he is somewhat broken (Not in the game sense, but in the emotional and mental sense). That said, not much of a Fan of Immortal Elves in General.

Made me think of one thing: When people "doesn't like" a character, is it because he's not of one's taste, or of poor background design.

For what I see GW is of poor's background (Not my opinion, I'm currently reading very old books and haven't seen that story arc yet). I guess, would his takeover over Denver been better done (more manipulation and a slowly gathering of influence bringing stuff to do for runners) he would probably be more appreciated.

[Lionhearted]

Still on the fence about Ghostwalker, thought he was Dunkelzahn reborn for a pretty long time given his arrival, description and choice of name twas an easy mistake to make...
I would like All-wing explored and dollmaker is the closest tie remaining...
Also more dragons need to follow Sirrurgs and Alamais example, give us some goddamn burninating, bloody wizworms scheme to much.

[ShadowDragon8685]

For one, I'm rather annoyed with Ghostwalker and Lofwyr. They show up and basically conquer/usurp what are, effectively, portions of world superpowers, and nobody stops them?

I really would have liked Ghostwalker's arrival to be Ghostwalker showing up, claiming Denver, and getting his ass gangbanged by Aztlan, the UCAS, the NAN, and Ares Macrotechnology, culminating in him going down like a punk after an epic battle that leveled Denver but put the Greats on notice that they are not the dominant species and that if they show up and start godzilla'ing around, they're going to die quickly.

[ShadowJackal]

I actually like Harlequin, he's just so broody. I don't know, it's refreshing to have a character in the game like him. Plus I love the OQ/LM banter. I hope he doesn't go anywhere because he seems like the only one around that will give the great dragons any crap.

GW's problem IMHO is that there *should* have been more to his story. I've been waiting for something big to come out of his story, and I guess it kind of is with his little girlfriend, but why on earth does he get to run around being a tyrant with no one stopping him? I could be missing something, I'll be honest and say that I haven't kept up with things as much as I could have, I haven't had much time in the past couple years to keep up with things. I did scan some of the dragon stuff in Conspiracy Theories and didn't find much (unfortunantely) and read a good portion of Clutch. Am I missing something big here?

And on that line of thinking, I don't really get where most of the dragon plotlines were going in clutch, they all seemed to be going in paths that just didn't make sense for anyone involved. Why was Hestaby peeing in Loffy's territory? What was the point? Is she challenging him? For what? And I still don't understand why Perianwyr would actively toss poop in GW's face. It makes no sense why a regular dragon would disrespect a great in a public forum unless he had a bigger great dragon that wanted him to do it, but who? And what about his old Atlzan history? I don't know, I'm just rambling by this point.

[Patrick Goodman]

Ghostwalker was so much cooler when we were plotting to introduce him back before FASA closed. *le sigh*

[Ixal]

Ghostwalker will hopefully get a better story now that Zebulon is back.
And it has just been confirmed on Twitter that Lofwyr doesn't die so we just have to live with him.

I really would have liked Ghostwalker's arrival to be Ghostwalker showing up, claiming Denver, and getting his ass gangbanged by Aztlan, the UCAS, the NAN, and Ares Macrotechnology, culminating in him going down like a punk after an epic battle that leveled Denver but put the Greats on notice that they are not the dominant species and that if they show up and start godzilla'ing around, they're going to die quickly.

It looks like they are doing exactly that with Sirrug.

[Grinder]

And on that line of thinking, I don't really get where most of the dragon plotlines were going in clutch, they all seemed to be going in paths that just didn't make sense for anyone involved. Why was Hestaby peeing in Loffy's territory? What was the point? Is she challenging him? For what? And I still don't understand why Perianwyr would actively toss poop in GW's face. It makes no sense why a regular dragon would disrespect a great in a public forum unless he had a bigger great dragon that wanted him to do it, but who? And what about his old Atlzan history? I don't know, I'm just rambling by this point.

This. The book lacks a clear focus and goog editing (content-wise).

[Ixal]

Not Storm Front but

R.I.P. Aufheben

At least this is very likely.

[hermit]

Because?

[Ixal]

Because?

Black Star got wiped out in Bogota and Aufheben was part of it doing desperate attacks (Hidden Stories)

[hermit]

Ah, new password!

[tasti man LH]

...so for those of you wishing that SR-Bogota would just get blown off the map; congratulations, looks like your wish just came through!!!

[Grinder]

Oh noes, the submarines! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[hermit]

Well, the writeups do state a naval blockade.

[Grinder]

That would be priceless! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotfl.gif)

[Sir_Psycho]

And none of this will help build Shadowruns.

[Pepsi Jedi]

Stormfront is out on PDF..... anyone buy it yet?

202 pages, we can bet there's a bit more going on than what has been leaked through the online viral thing.

[tasti man LH]

Well naturally. It'd be kind of silly to blow their load if everything was given away in JUST the hidden stories.

[Pepsi Jedi]

Well naturally. It'd be kind of silly to blow their load if everything was given away in JUST the hidden stories.

Yeah but there's ALOT more there. The lead in, in the preview, seems to point to Jack giving the low down on his own condition.

*Eyes sleeping wife* It's 1:30 here... and I'm tempted to risk a Great Dragon's instant and vehement ire... to wake her and ask permission to buy the PDF.

I'm working up the courage...

[Sir_Psycho]

A beloved character's departure? I think they should send a jackpointer or two to prison, to remind us that these people are criminals and the SR law enforcement actually does their jobs from time to time rather than only shooting the SINless. Slamm-O or Fastjack maybe. Although if it was the latter you'd probably see a mass shadowrun against that prison.

[Wakshaani]

About a year ago, I picthed the idea of FastJack going to jail, in fact. Accidently, mind you ... they get him for some trumped-up thing, not realizing who they have, while JackPoint mobilizes to get him out before they figure out who they have. Didn't go through, but, there've been a few others that have been floated as potential arrested sorts, some far more long-term than my FastJack plan was.

At the end of the day, a question that you have to ask is, "It's neat, sure, but ... how does this create Shadowrunning opportunities for the players?" Not *everything* has to fit in that mode, but as much as possible should. If there's not the nugget of a 'run, or a plot arc, or a neat character, or *something* on each page of a book, then it needs to be eyeballed, IMHO.

And "JackPoint breaks FastJack out of jail" fails that test. Dangit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Pepsi Jedi]

Noone's bought it yet?? Ugg, you guys are killing me... My wife is sick.. if I wake her... she's gonna bite my head off and I won't get to read it anyway!

[Grinder]

Description:
All-Shaking Thunder

It’s been a tense couple of years (or couple of decades, if we’re being accurate) in the Sixth World. Aztlan and Amazonia have been slugging it out. Great dragons have turned on each other, testing old alliances and forging new ones. Governor Kenneth Brackhaven of Seattle is facing pressure unlike ever he’s ever seen, and scandals seem on the verge of overwhelming him. In Denver, a powerful dragon and an angry elf are set to butt heads in ways that will shake up the whole city—and provide new opportunities for an old enemy. And on top of that, a new plague is spreading through the world, and the denizens of JackPoint aren’t immune to its effects.

All this tension has been building up, and in Storm Front, it breaks. Storm Frontprovides background and updates on these and other plotlines changing the shape of the Sixth World. The shadows are shifting, and runners need to move fast if they want to earn a paycheck—or if they want to keep from being crushed as the powers of the world slug it out. The world is changing, but some things remain the same. Power will corrupt. Money will flow to those who already have it. And shadowrunners will scramble to make a living without selling their soul.

Storm Front provides plot information as well as adventure hooks that are compatible with Shadowrun, Fourth Edition while also laying the groundwork for the upcoming Shadowrun, Fifth Edition. As a bridge between the two editions, this book is useful to all Shadowrun players, setting the stage for explosive stories and memorable campaigns.

Get the PDF for $25.

[Grinder]

Backcover text:

It’s been a tense couple of years (or couple of decades, if we’re being
accurate) in the Sixth World. Aztlan and Amazonia have been slugging
it out. Great dragons have turned on each other, testing old alliances
and forging new ones. Governor Kenneth Brackhaven of Seattle is facing
pressure unlike ever he’s ever seen, and scandals seem on the verge of
overwhelming him. In Denver, a powerful dragon and an angry elf are
set to butt heads in ways that will shake the whole city—and provide
new opportunities for an old enemy. And on top of that, a new plague
is spreading through the world, and the denizens of JackPoint aren’t
immune to its effects.
All this tension has been building up, and in Storm Front, it breaks.
Storm Front provides background and updates on these and other plotlines
changing the shape of the Sixth World. The shadows are shifting, and
runners need to move fast if they want to earn a paycheck—or if they want
to keep from being crushed as the powers of the world slug it out. The
world is changing, but some things remain the same. Power will corrupt.
Money will flow to those who already have it. And shadowrunners will
scramble to make a living without selling their soul.

Writing credits:

Writing: Patrick Goodman, Jason M. Hardy, Philip
A. Lee, Devon Oratz, Scott Schletz, Brandie
Tarvin, R.J. Thomas, Michael Wich, Thomas
Willoughby, Russell Zimmerman

Bull and James Meiers don't appear in the list, something of a surprise to me.