I'm presently looking at picking up my own copy of SR4 with some of the money I got for Christmas, but I'm unsure of whether I should pick up the standard 4e book, or get the 20th anniversary remake. Is there any appreciable difference? I vaguely remember hearing something about the 20thA book having errata in it, but that's real fuzzy. Is it worth it to get the 20thA book, or just stay with the standard book? According to amazon, the 20thA book starts at about $40, while I can get the standard book for as cheap as $25.

Get SR4a. The errata are worth it and there have been some changes that are considered useful and / or standard ruleset now.

Seeing as 5th edition is being talked about for next year, is it really a good idea to buy 4A now?

Of course it is...

Yep, because it will be a while before 5th is fully playable, as it will be a while before there are enough sources out to be enjoyable.

If you got neither definitely get 4A, cleaner design, references to added books and more integrated into the basebook (like some of the unwired matrix rules, custom cyberlimbs from augmentation and additional metamagic from street magic)

Anniversary edition you say? Alright then.

Since when is a core game, by itself, unplayable or un-enjoyable? That doesn't seem to be a very fair assessment of any system. Not D&D, VtM, SR, CoC, or any of the other ones part of the big RPG alphabet soup.

I find the basic SR4 book quite playable by itself (an actual improvement over SR3 in that regard), and from what I hear SR4A has a few more things in it. He still has a point, though. Every edition typically has a gear book, a magic book, a matrix book, a book of 'ware/augmentations, and a book of expanded player options - eventually.

Honestly, this close to an edition change, I would get the basic SR4 book - used - and download the SR4A changes .pdf.

Don't forget the best part. A useable index! (Thanks Adam!)

There is that.

Totally bitchin ribbon bookmarks.

Yeah, definitely the Anniversary Edition.

Bye
Thanee

We're not close to a 5th edition. It's marked for Spring, which is a good four+ months away, and that's not even counting the printing delays and shipping issues.

Anniversary. Gotta go with Anniversary.

+1

Hough
Medicineman