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> Shadowrun Missions Campaign Info, Introduction
bitrunner
post Sep 18 2003, 01:00 PM
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Hello everyone!

My name is Rich Osterhout, aka bitrunner, and I am the Campaign Director for Shadowrun Missions, the new campaign system for the Shadowrun game system. I'd like to talk about the program and answer any questions.

1. What is Shadowrun Missions?
Shadowrun Missions (abbreviated SRM) is an ongoing campaign world based on the current canon storyline in the Shadowrun game system by FanPro. Players are able to create a character using standard published rules and play in sanctioned SRM events to earn karma, nuyen, and other goodies.

2. Is this Virtual Seattle?
No. First, for those that don't know, Virtual Seattle was (is, actually, until December 31st) the name for the "Living" campaign for Shadowrun under the RPGA (Role Player's Gaming Association - an organization run by Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro). As indicated, these "Living" campaigns allowed you to generate a character and play in VS events anywhere in the world.

Virtual Seattle ran for 10 years, and in that time had undergone many changes as each edition of the rules was released. Also, various coordinators had their own spin on various house rules and character creation limits - mostly for sanity sake. What has resulted however is an atmosphere that many have regarded as "munchkin" such as having free spirit player characters, ultra uber characters, and more, most resulting from the players not getting the most recent information, or taking things to extremes.

3. So why was VS canned?
The primary reason was that the campaign no longer fit the vision of the RPGA, which is to support D20 games. Also, since WOTC does not in any way have any license control over the SR line, there were some legal concerns.

I would like to reiterate that this is not just a "reboot" of the VS campaign though. VS will end on December 31st. No NPCs, scenarios, or player characters will be brought over to SRM. There is no connection between the two campaigns other than they are both based in SR.

4. Do you have to be a FanPro Commando to run these events?
I'm glad you asked! SRM scenarios can be ordered and run by ANYONE - this is a FanPro program, not just for Commandos. However, only Commandos will earn credit for running such events. Ideally, at least one Commando will be "in charge" where ever a SRM scenario is run, especially at larger conventions or special events. The Commando can help identify qualified judges and be the "official" voice for rules adjudication (or recognized expert for multiple Commandos). SRM scenarios can be ordered/played for a home campaign, game day, or convention, but only those events open to the public (ie not home games) are eligible for Commando credit.

What is nice about this is that those of you that want to run more SR events in your area don't have to come up with scenarios all the time, you can just order an SRM scenario (which is no cost, just an administrative order) and publicize the event and run it...each SRM scenario will be designed, on average, to fit a 4 to 5 hour time slot (common convention slot). Note that actual PLAYTIME would be about 3.5 - 3.75 hours to account for paperwork, character introduction, etc.
Those that are running game days or other special SR events can certainly be more flexible with the time to provide for more roleplaying, extensive combat, et cetera.

5. What is different about an SRM scenario from something I write myself?
Well, first of all, there is the matter of players bringing their characters from other SRM scenarios. The SRM scenarios are written slightly different, with differing characters taken into consideration. It is a possibility that you could sit down to judge a table with 6 mages and no riggers, deckers, or fighter types...it is all luck of the draw...

The SRM scenarios are being written around a two year story arc. Various major events will happen from time to time (such as at Gencon and other large cons) that will determine the tide of the battle between sides of a conflict. Other scenarios will be interwoven into the story arc that may be stand alone scenarios or part of a mini 2 or 3 part story arc. Think something along the lines of Harlequin or Survival of the Fittest, but spread out over the two years.

The core writers of the scenarios are all under NDA agreements and will work with me and Rob Boyle to try and work in various official material from upcoming sourcebooks as a way to market the new material and see it in action. By way of the storyline, characters may also have the ability to affect canon material.

6. This is cool! How can I contribute?
The biggest thing you can do to help is pump up the campaign and get local conventions and game days in your area to sponsor the events, and get the players involved...those that were playing VS are already geared up to make the switch, so we will have some of a player base in areas where that has been popular. Then, help run those events - find other judges that you know can do the job and get them involved!

Oh, you meant you want to write a scenario! Well, as soon as Rob approves the story arc idea we have submitted, I can put out more information on that. Otherwise, you just need to send me an email with a plot synopsis and basic outline/structure of the various scenes that you would include. If it looks good, I'll let you know to start writing and when I'd like to have it by. Unless I have you incorporate anything new in the scenario, you don't need an NDA.

7. Anything else I need to know?
Keep in mind that we (Rob Boyle - FanPro, and myself) are still working out various aspects of the program. Official information will be disseminated on the Shadowrun website, and of course we'll talk about it here as info becomes available.

Also, we use standard rules for the campaign. No optional rules are used unless noted. So, for instance, we don't use the whole fighting styles section of Cannon Companion. We also do not use the rules, including Edges and Flaws, out of the Shadowrun Companion. Why? Well, for starters, players are supposed to be able to pull a character straight from the basic rule book and play. The SRComp is mostly additional, optional rules added for complexity, and is another book that the player must have if we were using it - it is stuff that cannot be easily added once a character has been played. Also, many of the Edges and Flaws are just not conducive (sp?) to the style of campaign play we are going to have - in a home campaign, there is plenty of reasons for having them, but they are hard to adjudicate in our setting. Take my word for it...yell all you want...i'm not budging on this!!! If players want to have "toys" from other books, then they are responsible for having that sourcebook available for the judge at the table.

8. What's the next step?
As mentioned, we'll be officially kicking things off on January 1st.

The first scenario will be called Mission Briefing and will be able to run in 2 hours (in case you need a couple of hours to teach new players how to play SR) or up to 4 hours (for those that already know how to play).

Following that will be a mini story arc of interconnected scenarios that will showcase the Seattle metroplex, the different kinds of shadowruns, foes, challenges, et cetera. When finished, the player should have a good overview of the Shadowrun universe and training in how to act/respond to various challenges.

We plan to have the "big event" to kick off the main story arc at Gencon Indy 2004.

Conclusion

OK, let the questions begin...for those that are interested, you can check out the current VS campaign at www.virtualseattle.net and also join the Yahoo group at vstalk.

Thanks For Participating!



Rich Osterhout

Campaign Director
Shadowrun Missions
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