 [ShadowsOfEurope] Reviews, Let's hear what you think... |
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 Jul 15 2004, 05:30 PM
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#26
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Target  Group: Members Posts: 8 Joined: 15-July 04 Member No.: 6,485  |
Please, please, please, please, PLEASE post those stats! Thanks! |
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Jul 15 2004, 07:55 PM
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#27
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
Regarding the intro section, it should be said that there was a lot of gound to cover and not that much space to do it. It's easy to forget that North American has had a lot of its gaps filled in by a number of books while for most 2nd and 3rd Edition players European history was virgin territory.
We tried to make the NEEC more complex but at the same time put a face on some of the shadowbiz behind it. This isn't all high-politics, there's a lot going on behind the scenes and agendas with human faces and goals in play. Besides the obvious contrast between the major players and their methods as regards North Am. The nature of the crime scene is slightly different and the Underworld/Crime section also boasts a few hidden surprises. If they slipped by you, you're certain to catch them in the Game Info. |
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Jul 16 2004, 02:26 AM
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#28
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 932 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Orlando, Florida Member No.: 1,042 |
I was hoping for more information on the priestly orders inside the Vatican.
I was also hoping that it would break with the long tradition Shadowrun of not putting scale indicators on the maps. Otherwise, very solid, worthy of its predecessor, SoNA. The place books suffer a little for not being as sexy as things like M&M and CC, but that's not their fault. The price was a bit of a shock, but the size justifies it. Certainly capable of providing years of adventure for any GM. I'm an American, and I imagine the fans in Europe will find it particularly close to their hearts. I'm very intrigued by the Islamic material that keeps popping up in corners of the new SR books -- Aden in DotSW, what's-his-name who rose from the dead in YotC, and now the New Jihad material in SOE. Here's my vote for a Shadows of the Arab World sourcebook. Oh, and it would have been nice if it could have only been six months late. |
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Jul 16 2004, 03:10 AM
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#29
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 326 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Vigo (Spanish Kingdom) Member No.: 1,446 |
[Edit] Repeated post.
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Jul 16 2004, 03:10 AM
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#30
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 326 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Vigo (Spanish Kingdom) Member No.: 1,446 |
An Arab world-like book is coming some day: Target: Middle East (IIRC) is it's name. Though it won't appear 'til next year probably.
No comments on Spain? Come on' guys, I'm gonna run out of nails! :D |
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| Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_* |
Jul 16 2004, 03:30 AM
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#31
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Guests |
How appropriate. |
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Jul 16 2004, 06:15 AM
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#32
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,001 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Michigan Member No.: 1,514 |
Its on my to do list. As soon as I go to the book store tommorrow with my gun and kill everyone I see, then I will find a real book store that doesn't suck *&^%$#@! and get the books I need to complete my collection.
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Jul 16 2004, 08:09 AM
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#33
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
There was a lot more on the various Rules/Orders, Holy Offices and the Hierarchies that didn't make the cut, mostly because it was only incidently relevant. Religion in general, and the Vatican and RCC in particular, has been a passion of mine for a while and it was a huge challenge weaving the canon references into a consistent whole. I wanted to balance out the Church, give it a human face and focus on its good works as well as the bad - the picture so far had been slightly lopsided IMHO. And I'm particularly happy with the way Pope John XXV came out. While some elements in the RCC will be reappearing in upcoming books, the various Rules/Orders probably won't. If there's enough demand and people interested, I'll see what I can do about cleaning up my pre-draft notes and uploading some of the intros I had for the major Mendicant and Monastic orders. Note however that with the exception of the New Jesuits and the Sylvestrines, most of the others (including the Franciscans, Dominicans, (old) Jesuits, Carmelites, etc) are developed from the current day versions on which you can find a wealth of information on the internet.
We tried to gear a lot of the stuff with the American audience in mind, rather than just the Europeans so that the book is useful to both locals and Pond-hoppers.
Regarding the Islamic material, we could never really overlook it in SoE since there are 15 million Muslims in Europe. We tried to show all sides too. The NIJ and Jihad X make comebacks but you also get the Islamic Renaissance. I too like the fact that this stuff is creeping in, it is one of the aspects of global(ized) culture that was missing from a lot of 1st generation SR material... and rest assured there's more surprises down the line. |
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Jul 16 2004, 09:38 AM
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#34
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 515 Joined: 10-April 04 From: Chicago, IL...Ich vermisse Deutschland. Member No.: 6,230 |
Just got it, dank F-Shop. I would say that the book looks real reference heavy.
pg. 71 Reality Czech is a Shadowland Sysop So far: Wow! Don |
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Jul 16 2004, 10:57 AM
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#35
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Target Group: Members Posts: 52 Joined: 26-February 02 From: The western side on the Danish side in the Oeresound-region Member No.: 105 |
This is the same complaint I can put against any book in SR concerning the American continent. So no surprise you feel the same way. It is not that I have not been in the US, but Americans are just as proud about America as Europeans are about Europe. So that said we should agree to disagree. Yes it is unfortunate that the Baltics are not included. Had we gotten the space for it Adhoc could have added more. At least in his games there is some and it could have been build into more. |
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Jul 16 2004, 12:12 PM
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#36
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Moving Target Group: Validating Posts: 186 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Copenhagen, Denmark Member No.: 911 |
I have lots more material on Denmark and are thinking about making a website for it.
There has been talks about a SoE-website with a lot of the redundant material, but there's a lot of legal issues involved + it takes a lot of work if it's to be done right. An "unofficial" fan-website would be a lot easier to maintain and would be a "deniable" asset for FanPro/WizKids. But if you have questions about Denmark, feel free to ask. :wavey: Adhoc |
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Jul 16 2004, 12:27 PM
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#37
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 515 Joined: 10-April 04 From: Chicago, IL...Ich vermisse Deutschland. Member No.: 6,230 |
I like the website idea, although I wonder why Fanpro US wouldn't host it like some of the cut material from Target: Matrix. I can see 1 really good reason to have a website: The maps from all the books. Cities that were put in the books, like Dublin, Belfast, Berlin, Rhin-Ruhr, London, Vienna, Zürich, etc. That would be useful. Plus maybe some of the lingo for the countries would also be nice.
Edit: For those looking at page 55 and wondering about Karlsruhe, check out this link. It shows how the city looks to give you an idea what the text means. Don |
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Jul 16 2004, 02:40 PM
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#38
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Prime Runner Group: Retired Admins Posts: 3,929 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .ca Member No.: 51 |
There are certainly plans to add more SOE content to ShadowrunRPG.com.
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Jul 16 2004, 02:46 PM
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#39
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Not Cameron Diaz Group: Retired Admins Posts: 472 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Newark, Delaware Member No.: 188 |
Psst -- Bull's "review" was a joke on his part. Disregard everything but the last line. ;) |
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Jul 16 2004, 04:32 PM
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#40
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Jesus Freak Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,141 Joined: 23-April 04 From: Anaheim, CA Member No.: 6,274 |
That would be so awesome. I was really hoping to see a lot more on the church. |
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Jul 16 2004, 08:00 PM
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#41
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
As Adam has mentioned there will be quite a bit more SoE content going up on the official website. Regarding Adhoc's website comment, there isn't really many "legal issues" as such. However my basic concept for "The Helix" precludes it being official, because the ideal site would to be open-ended and evolving. It will be built in a branching structure from the general country information to the details such as city/location descriptions, shadow contacts, a shadow op market, etc... which would allow us to accept new content of all sorts from fans (edited for compatibility by myself and the other sysops) to plug into our basic framework(sort of like the EuroSB project to the Nth degree). I'm actually looking into getting the talent together to get it done right (Yep, Deev that means I'll be back to bugging you as soon as I wrap up the latest assignments) since this kind of project involves more than just a basic HTML website.
SoE provides a pretty good lay man's look at the Church, its institutions, its factions and its powerplayers including the religious Orders/Rules (old and new) and their alleigance. It also introduces the Schism which explains some of the apparently contradicting past information regarding the Church's attitude on magic and its ramifications. Going into anymore depth in SoE would have been redundant for most readers and probably require a lot more material than there was space for. I have about 20 pages of material on the RCC partially drafted but I'll make no promises as to when I'll get round to cleaning it up. Meanwhile there will be more on one of the surprises in the Vatican section in an upcoming sourcebook. |
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Jul 16 2004, 08:42 PM
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#42
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Target Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 7-September 03 From: Holiday,fl Member No.: 5,595 |
I just got my copy. Yippee!!!!! <dances the dance of joy> Time to hide from the world and read. I'll write a review tonight.
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Jul 16 2004, 09:50 PM
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#43
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 714 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .nl Member No.: 116 |
Oh, Synner. I love it when you bug me. :)
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Jul 16 2004, 10:38 PM
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#44
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 647 Joined: 9-September 03 From: Sorø, Denmark Member No.: 5,604 |
Unless FanPro want's it, I would think that it would be a brilliant idea.
Boy have I got questions!?! :? But I might just wait until I have :read: SoE, and then ask you questions. For now I would just like to know if there is any new material on Norse religion/magic? Lars |
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Jul 16 2004, 10:48 PM
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#45
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
Yes, there is material on the Asartu religion and the Aesir cults as well as some references to Norse magicians. The latter material will likely be further developed in upcoming sourcebooks too (hint, hint)
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Jul 17 2004, 02:53 AM
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#46
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,001 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Michigan Member No.: 1,514 |
Hell I kind of know Bull and it took me a minute to realize he was joking. |
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Jul 17 2004, 03:47 PM
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#47
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Prime Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,577 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Gwynedd Valley PA Member No.: 1,221 |
Yeah. I was watching stiggy like a, well, fox. and as soon as it was there I ordered it. it should be here anyday, hopefully by monday. |
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Jul 17 2004, 05:31 PM
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#48
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Grumpy Old Ork Decker Group: Admin Posts: 3,794 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Orwell, Ohio Member No.: 50 |
Heh. :) yeah, I was being facetious to bust Synner's chops a bit, since I know how eager he is to see the book come out and how much he's hoping it gets smashing reviews ;) Yes, I'm evil, I know... :] Bull |
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Jul 17 2004, 08:16 PM
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#49
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 194 Joined: 24-January 04 Member No.: 6,013 |
I found the chapter on Switzerland one of the more interesting ones. I think this is one of the first times that I can remember of a chunk of a major Shadowrun book written by an openly racist character.
I'm suprised Japan is taking this lying down. They're being out racistized! They will strike back! .........Ehh, maybe not. :D |
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Jul 17 2004, 09:23 PM
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#50
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
A Brownie point to whoever knows where Kephalos originally showed up in SR canon. ;)
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