QUOTE
interesting that they're releasing material to be compatible with both 5th and 4th edition. looks like it might not just be a few grognards on the dumpshock forums who aren't sold on 5th edition.
Yeah right? I've been wondering about that. The German editions discard the SR4 stat blocks, though. From Backgammon's comment, CGL seems to have adopted that stance too. Well, downconverting is relatively easy.
QUOTE
Despite the hyperbole of Dumpshock, Shadowrun books are selling, and selling really well.
They are? They sell well in Germany, where they're offered at prices between $12 and $35. I have no numbers or even vague statements for American sales, do you?
QUOTE
A lot of SR books are bestsellers on RPGdrivethru. You'd think that they'd be making a healthy profit.
Uhm, the profit margins or eBooks are not what you think they are.
But hey, let's say something on topic!
Review - AetherologyOkay, I rather like this book. It has warts, flaws, and artwork that is a symbol of much that is wrong with Hardy's style of line developing (not to mention in at least one instance a blatant IP rights violation), but let's save that for another thread.
The book offers an account of metaplanes and a bit of information on how they relate to each other, including why there are so many weird variations of metaplanes (bubble planes, hyperplanes ect). It also provides something of an update on the Enemy, and some nice astral locations. I'm not sure if I like the way the Un/Seelie Courts have been written up as the eternal concepts of good and evil (which are eternal only if you happen to be a Christian American), but the Shadows and Deep Metaplanes are nice and stuff I can really use for a current campaign.
With Aetherology, Shadowrun opens up to CthulhuPunk, which I absolutely support. Let's move away from A Mage Did It-D&D and towards a darker, more threatening and much less cheery and stupid rendition of magic! All things considered, this is the second plot book of SR5 that I liked, after the Sybil storyline. With SR4 stats given or the monsters and spirits, this book us usable for me immediately, which is also nice. Generally, the book is rules light, which in these days probeably is a good idea. I'd have liked some rules on dream travelling, though.
All in all, 7 out of 10.