Shadowrun Quick Start Rules, Is it worth it? Options

[mrobviousjosh]

Since there are no long-term veterans to the game, I've only played a few sessions myself, some newbies, and a DM who is vaguely familiar with the world and game mechanics, would $7.00 or so be a worthwhile investment? I know it's not a ton of cash, but it's a third towards a sourcebook or another corebook. At present, to get everyone familiarized, we were going to use the template characters from the core book and The Family Jewel adventure (found here ---> http://www.shadowrunrpg.com/resources/) as an alternative. It's supposed to be specifically designed for newbies to the game world and "should" be adequate, right? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Johnson]

Well I would safely say if you are going to play quite a bit than just a few games, then I suggest you purchase the Shadow run rule book.

The fact that you are here at the forum tells me that you are interested in getting into the genre of shadowrun and that you want to play more than one day a month.

I have been playing SR now for 8 years maybe longer but I am not counting. I don't have all the books just the ones that seem relative to my group.

When SR2 was released we bought every released publication. Well when SR3 was lauched we bought what we needed.

Yes I would say get the rule book.

[Namergon]

Well, I'm a veteran GM in Shadowrun, and I only browsed through this book, and I was (positively) surprised. Here is my opinion:
- if you're a motivated GM, if you already have the core rulebook, and you have a motivated group, you don't need Quick Start Rules
- if you don't have the core rulebook and/or you don't have any motivated player yet (you intend to make initiation games here and there to gather a group for instance), then you NEED this book.

Quick Start Rules is a book that by itself allows a starting GM to
- familiarize with the concepts of the game
- familiarize with the concepts of the game mechanics (all the basics of the rules are included, plus some things are simplified)
- run a "sit and play" game (an adventure is included, along with ready to play characters).

After I browsed this book recently, I saw how I could use it to introduce Shadowrun to new players, especially players new to the RPG world, because of the simplicity of the basic rules, because of the fact that everything is given so that 15mn after the players sit down, they know enough to start the adventure and enjoy it. Surely I will use this book.

[Lindt]

The Quick start rules are the sorta thing you can throw at someone and say "Here, read this". The BBB isnt. Well worth it.

[Kagetenshi]

Are the quick start rules at all different from the BBB, or just less numerous? If they're the same, you may consider buying one copy of each (I know, it increases the investment, but it nearly doubles the number of people who can be learning the game simultaneously for much less than the cost of a second BBB).

~J

[Namergon]

From what I overviewed, they are a bit simplified here and there in Quick Start Rules. I didn't read closely enough yet to give details. But the book summarize in roughly 50 pages the (basic at least) rules for combat, magic, matrix, vehicles (?), social interaction. It also gives some basic gear and cyberware. Not many games can do that. :eek:

[mrobviousjosh]

[mrobviousjosh]

[Connor]

[mrobviousjosh]

Cool. Thanks guys your insight was REALLY helpful. Yeah, if we purchase it to get started right away then it would probably be a group contribution of like a dollar each, lol. I just didn't want to spend the money myself, make the GM, or recommend it to the group if it ended up sucking, lol. Thanks again.

[Namergon]

- everyday life information: Sprawl Survival Guide is a must. New Seattle will help fleshing out some places and with local organized crime, Lone Star and game ideas.
- Corporate Download is important in that it describes one the most important player in the shadows: the corporate world. All the megacorporations are described, with plenty of plots, and game ideas.

[mrobviousjosh]

Those do sound like good choices to pick up. The list keeps growing...lol. But, it's worth it. :cyber:

[snowRaven]

Everyone has failed to mention one thing the Quick-Start rules also has: A basic shadowrun. In my opinion, the book is worth it for the adventure alone, if you're a fan of pre-made adventures/runs. It might need some mods depending on the team, but basically it's an interesting run.

Short description of the run:

[ Spoiler ]

Mr. Johnson, who works for Saeder-Krupp, hires the runners to steal a cybernetic prototype and remove the research records from the mainframe. The prototype supposedly gives the subject photographic memory.
The Johnson provides the runners with a map, a timetable and fake IDs to be able to pass as cleaners. (For more advanced teams, any of these can be removed and you can let the team fix that part for themselves.)
Now for the twist - 1) There are more guards than Mr.Johnson said. 2) It turns out that the prototype is installed in a human being who has lost all memory due to the implant. 3) The prototype is working perfectly, and the test subject remembers everything in perfect detail from when he woke up after the operation until now. That means he will also remember everything about the runners...
There's no legwork planned for the run, and you have to asign your own karma awards. The run is pretty straightforward, and includes possibilities for several approaches the runners can take, including matrix work if the team has a decker (it's not necessary to have one though, just helpful).

[Namergon]

[Namergon]

Note about Matrix rules: they are very simplified, with Computer skill used to make search tests, and resolve combat, damage is stun.
Note about rigger: no rules.