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Backgammon
The Job of Death
Some people call it wetwork. Others call it murder. A small group calls it justice. It’s assassination and it’s one of the jobs shadowrunners might be hired to do. And given that people are, you know, pretty protective about their lives, anyone who takes such a job is going to have to be at the top of their game to pull the job off and collect a payday. Especially if they plan to make it a regular activity.

Assassin’s Primer is a vital guide for assassins in the Sixth World. With tips on tools to use, techniques to employ, and the different kinds of killers you may meet in the field, this is a critical reference for anyone looking to bring an assassination flavor into their Shadowrun games. And it has a new sniper rifle and a handful of new Qualities for Shadowrun characters to boot!

Assassin’s Primer is for use with Shadowrun, Fifth Edition.

http://www.shadowruntabletop.com/2013/10/n...-work-of-death/
Sendaz
Just got around to getting it and liked it overall.

Little lean on new stuff, 1 new gun and some qualities. The main subject was a mundane so no new spells/powers/tm tie-ins on that front.

Did a nice job though giving a mindset for a player to use.

A nice piece for the price.

Also... Dead Pool on Haze is now open, leave your bids for dates via the usual channels.

Open Rules this time around, so yes Snipers will be allowed to bid on their own dates.
hermit
It's a bit bland on the fiction side, and somwehat illogical - I get back on my treacherous employer by posting a generic how-to of assassination? Not naming names though, because that violates my code? That kind of super vicious relatliation is usually reserved for the UN general assembly. That aside, it reads reasonably well, though shadowtalkers appear a bit out of personality at times again, and the fuckshitcoklol swearwords for swearwords' sake style of writing is getting a little tiring. The people posting on Jackpoint (which is NOT ShadowSEA!) are supposed to be professional to a degree, and not mouth-breathing frat boys. And why is Aufheben posting, didn't he die in the FMC fanwank book?

The qualities are ... well, interesting. Good ideas, but they do have some problems.

Some are hard to use for PCs - patriotism? For a Shadowrunner, seriously? - and much more suited for NPCs. The new codes are well and good stat-wise for the most part, though Consummate Professional is a tad unbalanced - you get a LOT more than the 3 Karma you gain (gain!) out of it. Especially if you can acquire Flaws in-game later on (I am not sure what SR5's final call on this will be, since the quality assumes you already proved yourself as a 'professional'). It's drawbacks are certainly not negative quality territorry - half your street rep (which is limited by Social anyways) for a flat bonus on any interaction with Mr. Johnson, so unless you use the lobotomized reward rules from the core book, it's pretty awesome to have.

Oh yeah, there's also gun porn for gun nerds. The stats aren't that great though; crap stats, the only offset is the price. However, didn't nanoforges stop to work? And what Soviet Union manufactures them, the one that hasn't existed - in-game - for nearly a hundred years now? So much wrong in such a little text box.

Well, as I suppose will be typical for modern shadowrun writing, a lot of canon errors crept in, because the editor continues to be incapable of doing his job or delegating properly. Still, in the end, I feel I got my money's worth out of it, especially since the qualities are easily down-converted to SR4, along the lines of Way of the Samurai.

Also, could someone sticky this?
Samoth
Why would they release this before an eratta or other useful sourcebooks? What is the point?
RHat
QUOTE (Samoth @ Oct 28 2013, 10:23 AM) *
Why would they release this before an eratta or other useful sourcebooks? What is the point?


PDFs are usually written by one person, so they shouldn't actually involve enough people to meaningfully impact any of that.
hermit
I have no idea. I would not count on an Errata ever being released, though. If you're lucky, it will be worked into the second printing of the core rules.
Tymeaus Jalynsfein
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 28 2013, 10:40 AM) *
I have no idea. I would not count on an Errata ever being released, though. If you're lucky, it will be worked into the second printing of the core rules.


Ummm... Third Printing... 2nd Printing has already gone to the Printers (may even be back already), and is identical to the original, errors and all.
Sendaz
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 28 2013, 12:40 PM) *
I have no idea. I would not count on an Errata ever being released, though. If you're lucky, it will be worked into the second printing of the core rules.

I heard it will be called 6th edition nyahnyah.gif
RHat
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 28 2013, 10:40 AM) *
I have no idea. I would not count on an Errata ever being released, though. If you're lucky, it will be worked into the second printing of the core rules.


There's actual documented effort going into Errata, and the Missions Hot Patch is from the errata in progress. So this doesn't really seem warranted.
Tymeaus Jalynsfein
QUOTE (RHat @ Oct 28 2013, 11:01 AM) *
There's actual documented effort going into Errata, and the Missions Hot Patch is from the errata in progress. So this doesn't really seem warranted.


Yeah, actually it does, when the Editorial staff cannot even put the errata they have in the 2nd Printing. What the Freelancers do on their own time is not being reflected in the Editorial department. Effort without proper follow-thru is irrelevant. The reason that Missions has a Semi-Legitimate Hotfix is because Bull refuses to produce the Missions without those fixes in place. Look at the document. Even Bull says it is not an official product, but will have to suffice untill such a day that such a document is actually provided. *shrug*
RHat
QUOTE (Tymeaus Jalynsfein @ Oct 28 2013, 11:10 AM) *
Yeah, actually it does, when the Editorial staff cnanot even put the errata they have in the 2nd Printing. What the Freelancers do on their own time is not being reflected in the Editorial department. Effort without proper follow-thru is irrelevant. The reason that Missions has a Semi-Legitimate Hotfix is because Bull refuses to produce the Missions without those fixes in place. Look at the document. Even Bull says it is not an official product, but will have to suffice untill such a day that such a document is actually provided. *shrug*


From what I hear, the second printing being without Errata has something to do with Amazon pulling dates out of their ass, leading people to hold CGL to account for dates they never claimed to be able to meet - and thus it's getting rushed out to meet those orders, which prevents it being held for errata.
hermit
It's always someone else's fault, isn't it.

And how does Amazon making release dates up prevent CGL to put out a living errata, like FFG does? Or work the Errata into their books? Pegasus managed that, too.
DrZaius
I vote we move the topic of conversation back to the original purpose of the thread, the new supplement "Assassin's Primer".

I agree for the most part with Hermit's assessment. Somewhat interesting read, couple of new features.

My guess as to the release date (and I commented on another forum to this effect) is that it was probably produced in parallel to the actual game. Since it is mostly "fluff", it would be easy to write while the actual game system was being created. A few rules they tack on afterwards doesn't really change the substance of it.

I'd be cool if they released a large series of these, i.e. "Dronomancer", "Adept Ninja" or what have you. It was brief (17 pages), but for $5 I'm not really sure what else you'd be looking for.
hermit
Oh, I'm all for such a series. But even more, I think work on the core expansions should be priorized.
RHat
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 28 2013, 11:56 AM) *
Oh, I'm all for such a series. But even more, I think work on the core expansions should be priorized.


There's a certain question as to what that actually means, though - how much do you think something like this actually takes away from work on those?
DrZaius
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 28 2013, 01:56 PM) *
Oh, I'm all for such a series. But even more, I think work on the core expansions should be priorized.


Right, and my thinking was that that work is taking place- it's just that work like this can take place in parallel with the core rulebook, and therefore get released first. You can't really write the core expansions without the main ruleset in place; something like this they could get 90% done 3 weeks into the writing process, and table until the game came out.

-DrZ
RHat
QUOTE (DrZaius @ Oct 28 2013, 12:25 PM) *
Right, and my thinking was that that work is taking place- it's just that work like this can take place in parallel with the core rulebook, and therefore get released first. You can't really write the core expansions without the main ruleset in place; something like this they could get 90% done 3 weeks into the writing process, and table until the game came out.

-DrZ


Hell, there could even be a certain amount of "Well, that doesn't really fit into this book, but..." leading to some PDF's.
hermit
QUOTE
Hell, there could even be a certain amount of "Well, that doesn't really fit into this book, but..." leading to some PDF's.

... and there could be bigfoot writing Shadowrun books for free. Likely? No. And even if, the snippets should be released after the expansion they were split from, not before, because of rules consistency. You're making things up to rationalise everything CGL does, as usual.
RHat
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 28 2013, 01:16 PM) *
... and there could be bigfoot writing Shadowrun books for free. Likely? No. And even if, the snippets should be released after the expansion they were split from, not before, because of rules consistency. You're making things up to rationalise everything CGL does, as usual.


No, I'm pointing out a possibility. And you still haven't bothered to answer the question of how much you actually think these 17 pages detract from everything else. If it doesn't depend on new rules, and especially if the text already exists or takes a minimum of time to put down, it is perfectly reasonable to release the PDF as soon as its ready. If it were in any way dependent on rules on the book it's spinning off of, though, you would certainly have a point.
Sendaz
Is the Primer a guide for all things assassiny?

Of course not, rather it was just one way to run such a character and for $5 it was a fun short read that a GM/Player can use or avoid as they choose. Will I get every one of these sort that comes out? probably not but if the title/teaser/preview appeals to me or works toward a concept I am already knocking about I may well snap it up just to get another view on it.

I too would rather see full expansions books and we know these are coming, but for teasers and bits to fill in the time, there are worst ways to go.
Tzeentch
Uh, this book was probably mostly written before the SR5 PDF was even released. Not sure why people are surprised it's out before errata (which does take time to compile and double-check).

QUOTE
Some are hard to use for PCs - patriotism? For a Shadowrunner, seriously? - and much more suited for NPCs.

-- Seems aimed more at the merc and alt-setting campaigns. Does it specifically mention anything like that, or just assume it slots right into a standard shadowrunner background?

QUOTE
The new codes are well and good stat-wise for the most part, though Consummate Professional is a tad unbalanced - you get a LOT more than the 3 Karma you gain (gain!) out of it.

-- Could you briefly summarize what you get?
QUOTE
Oh yeah, there's also gun porn for gun nerds. The stats aren't that great though; crap stats, the only offset is the price. However, didn't nanoforges stop to work? And what Soviet Union manufactures them, the one that hasn't existed - in-game - for nearly a hundred years now? So much wrong in such a little text box.

-- I assume it mentions the Dragunuv or something?
hermit
QUOTE
-- Seems aimed more at the merc and alt-setting campaigns. Does it specifically mention anything like that, or just assume it slots right into a standard shadowrunner background?

It has specific mentions of playing assassins in Shadowrunner teams, though it seems to think of dedicated hitmen who shun dirty datasteals and other jobs a more standard runner will also take, and recommends the assassin player should have a secondary character for those days where the GM has a non-wetwork run prepared.

I personally don't see how patriotism would work well with any in-the-shadows/crime career - I even once built a character like this, but found he had to turn down three Johnsons in a row for being unpatriotic (don't work for anyone from the NAN, don't steal from the American people, and don't work for the Japse mob against the American mob, respectively). It's great for mercenary or state/corp force campaigns, of course, but the file makes no mention of that.

QUOTE
-- Could you briefly summarize what you get?

You get: 3 chargen Karma, and +2 on all negotiations with potential employers because you have an awesome reputation as an awesome assassin/runner. The draw is that your street rep increases not every 10 points by 1, but every 20 points. As said, it's quite a steal.

QUOTE
-- I assume it mentions the Dragunuv or something?

Yes. It is produced in nanoforges and extremely cheap (800 nuyen), so it's crappy stats are offset. Also, it comes with a scope, but those are still only produced in the Soviet Union. However, I'd personally prefer a ruger 100. It's a legal rifle, and has better stats.
toturi
QUOTE (hermit @ Oct 29 2013, 07:44 AM) *
You get: 3 chargen Karma, and +2 on all negotiations with potential employers because you have an awesome reputation as an awesome assassin/runner. The draw is that your street rep increases not every 10 points by 1, but every 20 points. As said, it's quite a steal.

I haven't cracked open my SR5. Are there any drawbacks to a high Rep or is the high Rep all good?
DWC
QUOTE (toturi @ Oct 28 2013, 09:01 PM) *
I haven't cracked open my SR5. Are there any drawbacks to a high Rep or is the high Rep all good?


As someone pointed out to me, the free Public Awareness from Street Cred and Notoriety are gone, so there isn't a downside to having a ton of Street Cred anymore. That said, I have a hard time seeing Consummate Professional as a negative quality, and I'm pretty sure Strive for Perfection is embarassingly overpriced.

Those mechanical issues aside, and the new rifle being worthless junk compared to an off the shelf bolt action deer rifle, it's a fun little read, especially since it cost me less than the cup of coffee I drank while I was reading it.
toturi
QUOTE (DWC @ Oct 29 2013, 10:13 AM) *
As someone pointed out to me, the free Public Awareness from Street Cred and Notoriety are gone, so there isn't a downside to having a ton of Street Cred anymore. That said, I have a hard time seeing Consummate Professional as a negative quality, and I'm pretty sure Strive for Perfection is embarassingly overpriced.

Those mechanical issues aside, and the new rifle being worthless junk compared to an off the shelf bolt action deer rifle, it's a fun little read, especially since it cost me less than the cup of coffee I drank while I was reading it.

So it becomes a loss once your Karma is high enough that the advantages of what your Street Rep would have been outweighs the upfront gain from your Quality. Am I correct in assuming that Street Rep is still more applicable to more situations than strictly negotiation with your potential employers?
DWC
Street Cred boosts your Social Limit, and adds dice directly to your Social tests. It becomes a loss once your earned karma gets high enough, so until your party hits 50 earned karma, you come out ahead. Then you start falling behind as the other PCs get their 5th point of Street Cred (and 5th bonus die), while you're on 2 Street cred and 2 dice from the quality. It just keeps getting worse, but if the Consummate Professional isn't doing the negotiating, the quality has no effect beyond giving out free karma.

There's only a downside if you choose to take it as one, sort of like Simsense Vertigo.
Blade
Does it come with any prestige class?
hermit
I had that feeling, but they're not quite there yet. wink.gif
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