Teiran's page

Basically, this is the equipment book everyone playing Shadowrun 4th edition has been waiting for. Guns, big guns, machine guns, taser guns, dart guns, weapon mounted guns, gyro mounted super guns attached to drones... can you tell it's got a lot of guns? This book has the killing power your runners will need.

So, what else does the book have? Vehicles and drones take up most of the rest of the book. There are dozens of neat drone designs and a good cross section of vehicle types. If you have a gear head or a rigger, then this books is a must have.

They've expanded the standard vehicle mod sections, and also given much better rules for weapon moding. There is a lot of mundane equipment, spy stuff and the like that can give you the edge you need in a fight.

Don't think that this book is useless for your mage types either. There are some really nice mage specific items, and the Adepts in your group will be very intrested in the Martial Arts rules in the back of the book. They give some very good options for the martial types.

So, this book is all about the tech. Just as the 4th edition main book massively updated and advanced the technical aspects of the setting by going wireless, this book takes things to the next level in the bleeding edge of science.

Nanotechnology and gene therapies are in their infancy in real life, but you can see the shape of things to come and the guys at Catalyst have come up with some amazing systems that will put nano and gene tech into Shadowrun in a really good way. Want a quick strength boost? Shoot yourself full of crazy DNA or nanites. Think a genetically advance parasite designed to keep you alive is a good idea? There's a few in here that will make you squirm in your seat thinking about them, but they are useful. Just watch out for those random mutations.

The best part is, of course, the updated cyberware and bioware sections. They nicely fill the gaps left in the standard gear lists, and you'll find some amazing gems in here.

Don't think your Wired Reflexes does enough for you? Check out the fantastic new Move-by-Wire system that gives the extra init passes, along with better reaction enhancements, Dodge skill bonuses, and a built in Skill wire system for the cost of those Wired Reflexes. It's an awesome enough cyberware system that you can build an entire character around it.

Plus, there is a ton of good setting material and fun stuff. Getting too old to run? They can fix that now. Want to change who and what you are? This book has all the things you need to go from a short, male, chiness dwarf to a tall thin elven black woman, and back again.

I enjoyed reading the book, even the fun and fluffy parts that don't have to deal with the crunchy game mechanics. The crunchy stuff is top notch, and I spent days building and rebuilding street samurai characters. Normally, the book would get four stars for that, but the Catalyst guys have given me the holy grail of gaming: Combined equipment charts.

I'm giving this book