QUOTE (sunnyside @ Jul 29 2008, 12:49 PM)

People complain about the matrix/magic/physical worlds all being present in Shadowrun.
Do they?
Never heard people complain about that personally.
IMO, the inclusion of the matrix and astral space add a lot to the game, not only because they facilitate specific spotlight time for various characters, but also because they can add nicely to the complexity of the game and open up new strategic possibilities.
Difficulties may arise when switching between layers of the game, but they are manageable, especially since Hackers and riggers are less likely to just sit in the commando van in SR4.
If the full scope of the rules is applied, SR is basically a game centering around access to various levels of perception, as especially sams are likely to run around with extensive senseware packages and even mundanes will be able to constantly switch between various sensory inputs.
I'd advise every GM to strongly emphasize this aspect, as it is a key discerning feature of SR.
This isn't D&D where specific characters will merely be able to see a bit farther under shady illumination.
In D&D, strategy centers around bringing the whole group to work together on
one battlefield, which would not work out as well in a setting where meatshields are faced with the problem of a dominance of ranged weapons that would make their job of hindering enemies from reaching the mage and cleric nearly impossible.
Under such circumstances, strategic challenges for the group have to revolve around other aspects.
Guns completely change the meaning of battlefield control.
And that's why the combination of physical, virtual and astral world is so crucial to SR.
In SR, strategy centers around controlling perception of and access to various levels of a manyfold, quasi-multidimensional battlefield.
On top of that, you get the complexity of modern societies and their social networks, which are much less elaborate and volatile in the pseudo-medieval societies of classic fantasy RPGs.
SR can be demanding ruleswise, but to me, it was always worth the effort.