Getting back into the game, because it's been too fragging long... Options

[Spook]

Well, it's been about a year and a half since I last played any SR and after some talking to some friends of mine, we've decided to get back in. Thankfully, I haven't done anything foolish in the interim (like sell off my extensive collection of SR books). Some things I was wondering though :

What's new and worth asking the guy at the hobby shop to order? I've heard of only Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book and Dragons of the Sixth world -- is that all that's really come out since SOTA 2063 ?

Has anyone ever run a Shadowrun campaign over IRC? If so, I'm really looking for tips on doing this, as we've never operated a RPG online before.

Does anybody allow the players to go beyond their racial maximums for attributes (per 244-245 of sr3) ? I haven't allowed that rule before, but was wondering if anyone else had any experience with allowing it and what their results were (for better or worse).

-"Spook"

[Abstruse]

Mr. J's LBB just came out, SOTA 2064 is coming out shortly. You're also missing Sprawl Survival Guide and Shadows of Europe, both of which are very good sourcebooks.

The Abstruse One

[Rory Blackhand]

I've never played online before and I only get to play once every 6 months. If you do get a game going do you need an extra player? I hear there is some place to do it, but I don't know where it is.

[Spook]

We only have three players at the moment, and we're still working on characters at the moment... Contact me (email, ICQ, AIM, MSN)

-Spook

[Kagetenshi]

One tip I've learned for playing online: if the game stalls, insert some random details into the scene. If nothing else, it gives everyone something to focus on again, and it just might kick-start an idea in someone's head.

~J

[Synner]

The books following SOTA63 were:

• Dragons of the Sixth World - dragon machinations galore for all levels of play. Updates the draconic status quo after SotF and visits some lesser known dragons.
• Sprawl Survival Guide - The lifestyle and fluff book par exellence for SR plus other little bonuses for veterans and newbies alike.
• Shadows of Europe - Second in the Shadows of series this one covering the New Old World from TNO to Poland.
• MrJ's Little Black Book - Just out, the closest you'll find to a GM's Guide for Shadowrun. Includes primers for beginning GMs, loads of useful contacts and locations and some simplified rules for Decking and Rigging.
• SOTA64 - Should be hitting shelves in the next couple of weeks. This year you've got Spies, Adepts, Law Enforcement, European Magic and the regular Culture Shock update (with quite a few surprises in its own right).

The line was stalled for a while following SSG, but it's now back in full swing with two more sourcebooks in the pipeline (Loose Alliances and Running Wild) and more planned down the line.

[Cable]

Sprawl survival guide is a must. Target Wastelands includes all the rules outside the sprawl, desert, wilderness, arctic, and space...a must have.

[Spookymonster]

I know what Running Wild will be about (training and rigging animals), but what will Loose Alliances cover? (I've been a little out of the loop lately myself)

[GenoSicK]

If I remember correctly, the book wil be about the polyclubs, politics party,and all the groups that doesn't classify in Mob, Corporation, or else...

[Pistons]