[X] My Assistant

[Synner]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by meet, but basically Shadows of Europe is a standard Shadowland upload. Only this time rather than Captain Chaos coordinating the work it was the Helix Sysop (and before someone says anything, the guys decided it was fitting).

The Helix sysop then hands out the actual writing in the chapters to various locals, including a number of recognizable and obscure names. Obviously as well as some new faces, all the regular European shadowtalkers make an appearance throughout with their comments, counterposts and add-ons.

As some of the German freelancers were involved in the writing of this (and at least part of the material is based on previously published German concepts), you can expect some of the regulars in German material to make an appearance.

[TW]

[SiM]

Yup, I wouldn't have it any other way. But, like we did for the Erika name, I think we discussed it quite a bit before setteling with the name we have now.

[Paul]

So while I wait to get mine-STUPID BOOK STORES! Tease me! I followed some of the early, early SoE threads back on the old old forums.

[Synner]

• THE NEW OLD WORLD
  * Once Upon a Time in Europe - Eurohistory: the ecocatastrophes, the effects of the Awakening, the Euro Wars and much, much more.
  * The New European Economic Community - High politics, backroom deals, character assassination and why it all matters to runners. The shape of the New European Order is revealed. From who's running the show to how its organized learn all the dirt on an entirely unique political beast.
  * CorpTalk Special AAAs and Eurocorps Mid-2063 - An unusual primer on the Triple A presence in Europe and capsule (re)introductions to the biggest Euro AAs. IIRC loads and loads of plothooks not to mention some "shockwaves".
  * European Organized Crime - A look at the fracticious org. crime scene and the major players on all sides of the imminent conflict. Some hidden twists for those with a keen eye.
  * Awakened Europe - A run down on Euromagic scene, its ideosyncrasies and oddities, and of course the Fey make a comeback...
  * The Rest of Europe - A brief look at the countries not included in SoE, as far as (but not including) Russia.
  
• THE ALLIED GERMAN STATES - Brings the biggest developments in recent German material (namely DidS2) to the English audience and has some surprises for the Germans too. A lot is going on in this splintered giant and things are coming to a head with a member state up and leaving the Alliance...
  
• AUSTRIA - Once firmly in the hands of S-K, but as suggested in DotSW, things are not what they used to be. An unexpected turn of events lead to the rise to government of old powers and a shift in policy which may leave S-K out in the cold. Learn who orchestrated it, how it was pulled off and how it may change the face of Europe. The German fans haven't been left out in the cold and the essence old material has been incorporated.
  
• CZECH REPUBLIC - One of the special surprises (teasered in DotSW), the Republic is now arguably one of the most unique nations in SR canon. It has a style and atmosphere, not to mention perils and plots, all its own. But every paradise has a serpent, even if it's not the one you expect.
  
• FRANCE - Welcome to the Sixth Republic. The birthplace of democracy is a place that came up with words like facade and eminence grise so you should expect, well, the unexpected. A lot is going on here, far more than meets the eye including the return of old favorites in new guises. Shadowgames, intrigue-laced high society and lots and lots of surprises lie in wait.
  
• ITALIAN CONFEDERATION - A tour of the divided Italian peninsula this chapter includes an indepth primer to the RCC and Vatican (which hopefully sheds light on all the apparently contradictory background of the RCC and introduces a whole new level of intrigue). Learn about the Papal States, the megabarrens known as GeMiTo, dangerous alleys of Venice and the guarded estates of the Cosa Nostra crimelords in Sicily. And that doesn't even scratch the surface though.
  
• POLAND DIVIDED - Another huge surprise and one of my favorite chapters. Learn the fate of 2064 Poland, ravaged by a recently-ignited war for the future of this once-great nation. The question is whether the freedom is worth the price generations to come will have to pay. If you've ever wanted to know what a clusterfrag of a situation war in the Sixth World can be, this is the place to look. Dark, gritty and certainly unexpected. Several pieces from DotSW will fall into place now too.
  
• PORTUGAL - If Europort is the European Seattle, then Lisbon is New Orleans. Actually it's what you get when you mix New Orleans with 1940's Casablanca, add a tablespoon of Rio de Janeiro, a dap of African culture, a pinch of North European values, a lot of local color, a unique corporate scene and a setting where players from across Europe come together makes for something special, but then again... I'm biased when talking about my hometown.
  
• SCANDINAVIAN UNION includes sections covering the member nations - Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden - plus an intro to the Scand Union itself and what it does. Also updates details on the WMI and everybody interested in it, not to mention details of what happened when "shockwaves" hit the Proteus-Kvaener Maersk joint venture. And that's only the tip of the IC-berg...
  
• SPAIN AND EUSKAL HERRIA The Crown is all that's holding the highly conservative kingdom of Spain together so what happens when succession goes awry and an unexpected heir comes forward. And if you thought that might be complicated consider that this is where S-K and the Catholic Church cross swords, the New Jesuits and Aztechnology have their European HQs, and where the Basques finally got what they wanted only to learn sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.
  
• SWITZERLAND - Another surprise and twist. You thought Japan was a tough nut to crack? Just wait till you try running in Switzerland! Problem is, though the game is deadly, the stakes are the highest in world. Also includes a look at the Nº1 Euro AA ZetaImp-Chem and other local peculiarities.
  
• TÍR NA NÓG - Well, let's just say Ancient History is going to have his work cut out updating several of his pages. The Emerald Isle is definitely not the elven paradise its made out to be in the brochures. The Path orders, the Danaan, the Druids, the Courts, and much, much more.
  
• UNITED KINGDOM - A decade makes all the difference. Regardless of whether you loved or hated England under the Lord Protector's rule, things are definitely not what they were the last time canon visited. You know what they say about absolute power. Things have started to slide, tensions are running high, the great cauldron is about to boil over and now the most unexpected of players is about to change the playing field forever. And you thought Callanish was wierd? Well, that was just the harbinger! Welcome to the revolution indeed...
  
• UNITED NETHERLANDS - Sugar, spice and things definitely not nice. Ever wonder why its called the Netherlands? Well, come in and find out. Amsterdam, the flooded north, the old world's answer to Seattle the Europort megasprawl and Brussels EC the seat of the NEEC. Down and dirty, post-industrial, cyberpunk, noir, you name it they've got it.

Hope that helps.

[Sepherim]

Heh, heh, heh. Sysops. Heh.

Anyway, it's a great brief description of the book.

[Paul]

Hell yeah. i just called my book store and bitched them out. Told them to rush my order!

[mfb]

so, for those of us who have to wait until they can catch a plane to the states to buy this... what's the name of the Helix sysop?

[otaku mike]

Well, why?
It's Synner of course 8)

[Sepherim]

The only appropriate name. Could only be him. :spin:

[SiM]

Hehehe. Right on. :)

[arkadi]

Ahh, finally! By the looks of things this is going to be a great book - I only wish Russia was in it, too, but since Russia is going to be introduced in an upcoming supplement (I remember reading something like that), I really can't complain.

Now, if Fantasiapelit only did its part and ordered a few copies, all would be well. Taking into consideration Fantasiapelit's lack of initiave when it comes to ordering new products and the fact that SR isn't really popular here in Finland, I'd say that I'd be happy to see the book by this fall.

[Austere Emancipa...]

[Sepherim]

Neither in Spain is it too loved. Still, guys, stop raising your expectations, or they'll reach a level were no one can catch them and you'll be dissapointed. SoE is, without a doubt, a good book, but it won't satisfy your imagination if you keep raising those expectations, simply because it's not personalized and you'll find things you'd probably do in a different way. Don't you think?

[Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_*]

[arkadi]

[arkadi]

[Kanada Ten]

Target: Smuggler Havens.

[arkadi]

[shadd4d]

How extensive is the slang? I've got the old Germany Sourcebook and I was wondering if it's like that in some fashion. I remember that Mr. Johnson has many different names depending on the country (Germ. Herr Schmidt, Austrian, Dr. Novak IIRC, etc.)

Don

[Synner]

arkadi - There's an extensive history of Russia plus some general details on government and the powers-that-be in both old Rodina and independent Yakut/Siberia. It isn't a full blown chapter in a sourcebook but its pretty detailed and interesting.

shadd4d - Depends on what made the final edit. We had an average 20 entries for each country, some had significantly more, some had a little less. It includes stuff like the variant "Mr. Johnsons" and local shadow vocabulary for runs, riggers, runners and razorboys amongst other ideosyncrasies.

[Sepherim]

And it was a pain in the a*s to write. It's probably the part of the spanish chapter that I'm less satisfied with, without a doubt.

[arkadi]

[BIG BAD BEESTE]

Of course, there's Shadows of Asia due up next... year? (Suppose it all depends on the availablity of Jon's Freelancer Crack ;) )

[Pistons]