Hi guys,

I will be the first to admit that this may be absolute wishful thinking on my part. What I am about to put up is by no means a concrete theory, just an argument based on several pieces of circumstantial evidence.

Having said that, I think that the announcement of SR4 is an April Fool's Joke. Here's the reason why:

(1) SR4 was announced on March 15 - a mere two weeks from April 1. Enough time for speculation to run rife. Enough time for people to get their knickers in a twist. The argument here is not the choice of March 15 - it's the fact that MANY other dates could have been chosen for the announcement. Why choose one so close to April Fool's Day?

Yes, I'm aware that it was supposed to be announced in the GAMA Trade Fair - my bad if I'm wrong.

(2) Fanpro does have a history of pulling pranks on us, the SR gamers. I cite the example a year (a couple of years?) back where Shadowrun D20 was announced, also as an April Fool's Joke. Again, the modus operandi matches the current one - announce it mid-March, get people's knickers in a twist, announce the joke on April 1.

(3) Here's a fairly telling fact - Loose Alliances is still listed in the Shadowrun RPG site as a product that's about to be released. -If- SR4 has been in development for about a year, then the date chosen to announce the release of SR4 makes even less sense - because it's almost certain to impact the sales of Loose Alliances negatively.

The basis - new rules material in Loose Alliances will become outdated a mere three months after it's released.

I am, of course, assuming that Loose Alliances has no sneak peeks of SR4 material. This is an acknowledged flaw in my own argument.

So here it is. My patched-together argument based off a hunch. Please feel free to tear this apart if you so choose.

A joke?

You've managed to miss the discussions where people playtesting the game have posted?
And Patrick Goodman's blog?
And the DevBlog on FanPro's website?
And the previous topic with almost this exact title?

It's rather a lot of effort, don't you think, for an April Fool joke?
As far as I know, it was announced at the GAMA trade fair...and I don't think RPG companies play April Fool tricks on the rest of the trade...

[Edit]You might want to grab yourself a flame-retardant suit their, laddie...[/edit]

It has been 15 days, you know.

The last time FanPro did an April Fool joke, they put it up on April 1st, not March 15th...

Still, stay sceptical.
I don't mind.

If I'm right, and you're wrong, I have to spend more money when August rolls around.
If you're right and I'm wrong...then I've just made a fool of myself. nothing new there...
At least I'm in good (-ish) company...



[Edit]Patrick Goodman's playtesting blog
Since I asked if you'd seen it, I figured I should give you a link.

Damn you, Demosthenes!! You just remind me that I need to work on the blasted thing one of these days! Damn wedding plans getting in the way of important stuff....

Thanks! For the comments and the link.

This is not a joke. Because I can´t imagine anyone laughing if it was.

(eccept the few who still hope it is a joke)

It. is. not. a. joke.

Period. No joke to be found!

Loose Alliances, Shadows of Asia, Shadows of Latin America, these books will not be invalidated by SR4 because they are pretty much entirely source and setting material. In fact, those books will likely contain seeds that will become more detailed in SR4.

Further evidence that it is not a joke, go to Battlecorps and download the Fanpro 2005 catalog. It's free and has several pages of new SR4 material listed.

http://battlecorps.com/catalog/index.php?c...70f6d963ed43d08

Pardon me while I skip directly to step 4. -sigh-

Setting material and rules were almost completely divorced in SR3 (which I think was probably a mistake), so there's no reason that setting books wouldn't be easily adapted to new rules.

Found this on the internet

The new and improved SR4

If it were a joke, and I so highly doubt it, I think the joke would be on those pulling it. The outrage has been limited to a vocal minority (not saying you guys aren't important) and a fairly large number of the fans represented here seem hopeful about the new edition.

The actual joke was perpetrated by members of my gaming group.

It stemmed from a discussion about the fact that I buy EVERYTHING for shadowrun, and that i would in fact buy SR4 even if it does turn out to be drek.

but you gotta admit it does make you smile...

my work here is done...

Another member of my group suggested that Wizkids pull a "WoTC" and head straight to SR4.5 by combining SR1, SR2, SR3, and SR4 in to one big-assed all you can eat special for the unheard of low low price of 79.95.

While supplies last
Not available in stores
Void where prohibited
Not valid with any other offer

We're just nervous. SR is like a favorite teddy bear. Someone messing with it is bad.

There is as much feedback that comes in from people saying Shadowrun is becoming too magical as there is from people saying they fear the downplay of magical elements. Really, the game is about the balance, and that balance will be maintained in SR4.

This pretty much sum everything up in one neat little package

"He who can balance a tack hammer on his head can head off his opponent with a balanced attack!"

There now feel better.

And the conspirety theorys start!!!

torz x

Don't get me wrong.

I absolutely LOVE SR top to bottom beginning to end.

SR was the greatest thing since sliced bread
SR2 was a breath of fresh air.
SR3 was little more than a stagnant breeze
SR4 remains to be seen.

Will I buy it?

The collector in me says i have to.

Allow me to make a suggestion: Don't pay attention to anything anyone says on DSF, and just read ShadowrunRPG.com and other official material.

Adam makes a good point.

But for those of us with the stubborn streak who like to gripe and complain, and for those who are wondering where the cheese went, just keep posting.

I can't help it. I like a good argument even when i don't have a leg to stand on.

Right Tomahawk?

Whoa! You go to sleep for 8 hours and....just wow!

Well, the reason I'm depressed is really a financial one. I love SR to bits (probably in the same way a drug addict loves his next fix to bits).

Apart from the nervousness it's causing me from taking away a system I took a lot of effort to master, I'm going back to school this year, and I'll be moving halfway across the world to go back to school. So, yeah, spare cash is going to be hard to come across.

I digress.

So what's this year's April Fool's Joke gonna be?

SR 5th Edition, D20.

I doubt SR4 is an April Fool's joke.

Just let Shadow continue to wallow in his depression and righteous indignation. Nothing anyone says -- before or likely after SR4's release -- is going to change his mind; if he wants to be miserable, let him.