Oh.The. Horror. I used to love shadowrun. I heard they simplified it in the 5th as 4was a monstrosity. Paid 64 bucks and change happily toting this thing back to the car. The weight should have been a clue. After hours pouring over it and trying to navigate its convoluted cumbersome design I realize there is nothing simple about it. I have a headache and know very little more about character creation/combat/magic than I did at purchase. I feel as though I've been blind folded , shanked in the belly and left to bleed out. I hope to at least warn others that the game we loved way back when is a serious investment for something so broken unless you have a degree to interpret the 500 page serpent that twists and turns and trows multiple step formulas into every mechanical aspect of play. I don't even know how to offload this thing to cut loss and the shop I bought it from provided no receipt. Looks like I have a 500 page hardcover shelf ornament/paperweight. Disappointed doesn't cover it.
Yeah I used to love Shadowrun as well, but 4th was such a disappointment. Last year when 5th was coming out I asked the rep at free RPG day about it. He seemed really excited about, and everything he told me made me not want to play it.
I've told my players that if I ever do Shadowrun again, I'm just going to break out my old 2nd and 3rd edition stuff.
I actually quite like what I've seen of 5th after how much 4th disappointed me. I'd be happier if they'd get their bloody act together and release some of the supplements though, I want the beginners box or whatever they're calling it this time around so I have some basic stuff to get the new group I'm setting up acquainted with it.
But yeah, it's a whole different beast to the old stuff I remember playing in high school.
I know its another 30$ but its a lot easier to play if it is easier to make characters.
A good resource for step-by-step how to resolve actions.
Yes, SR is a complicated, modifier-friendly, LOTS of dice type of game.
I don't play it for that reason, but for the awesome backstory and meta-narrative that flows through the game. Especially since I've been following it at least moderately since 1/2ed.
Also, check out Shadowrun.com, the "home base" for Catalyst Game Labs (tabletop), Cliffhanger Studios (SR Online) and Hare-Brained Schemes (SR: Returns) and home to a decent forum of like-minded individuals.
Sorry to hear your experience was less than stellar, hope these links can help out.
Ohhhh, the Hero Lab files are finally out? Man, that makes life much easier, been waiting for that. Cheat sheets are handy too.
Thanks Mister Johnson!
By the way... don't suppose you need a team of runners for anything? They're new, but they're keen.
No work available at themoment.
I will keep you in mind once some of my irons come out of the fire, though.
I bought SR5 not long ago. I stopped playing when SR4 came out so I missed the changes with that edition. SR5 rules make a lot o sense to me especial not being able to one shot a dragon with a Ares Preadator because you have a bucket of dice.
I will get around to a one shot soon but Rolemaster beta is taking up all my time.
SR4 had the exact opposite problem. (at least in my experience)
GM:Okay so you get hit by the light machine gun. Roll body+armor while I roll damage. <after rolling> ... and you take no damage, for like the fifth time tonight.
Needless to say, combat took forever.