Shadowrun play by post game... on MY GFF?
 

It's slightly more likely than you think!

Basically, Pang's idea to run a D&D game by post intrigued me, and I like the concept. So I've decided I'll consider giving my favourite pen and paper game a shot when his is concluded.

So here's how this works: Setting up a campaign can take a month or two of story creation and NPC character design on my part, so before I commit to becoming even more of a turbo nerd than I already am, I thought I'd gauge some interest on the past of the GFF populace.

It's a slightly darker, more serious game than the D&D we currently have running, though the commitment of time is roughly the same. Probably going to be a main party of 5 or maybe 6, but room for others to play NPCs, if they wanted. Can always use someone to provide a voice to a random contact. As well, some of you will probably die, so there will be player spots that open up.

I know not a lot of people are familiar with Shadowrun, but I can provide links to the appropriate texts so you can get your feet wet before we play. Haven't decided if I'm going to run with the 3rd edition, or the much streamlined fourth. We can get to that when we get to it.

So, people. Anyone interested in a world of Neuromancer-based cyberpunk goodness mingled with one of the only decent futuristic fantasy settings ever created?

More information on the setting:
Shadowrun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Only thing I'll say for sure about the setting: It takes place after the death of Dunkelzahn, but before the Earthdawn tie in.

Anyone interested in giving this a shot?


UPDATE

All right, guys. I figure since I'll be running this, I should let you newbies in on the ground floor. Here's a copy of the 4th edition main book.

http://www.belkanairforce.com/deni/2...4th%20Core.pdf

I have hardcopies of the books myself, but I also have every single rule book from all 4 editions in .pdf format for you leeches to borrow if you need them. I'm more than willing to make up characters along really basic lines: "I want to play an otaku/technomancer" or "I want to play a wired up street sam" and do all the character creation myself, but you should read the history introduction to give you an idea of the setting you'll be working in. Some big names in there you should be familiar with by game time so you don't drool on yourself when someone mentions the Big-D. Also, you should at least gloss over the archetypes to familiarize yourself with what sort of character options are open to you.

If you want more detailed info, say the Emergence (technomancer) book, or the Arsenal (guns and toys) and Augmentation (nano/cyber/bioware) for a Street Sam, or the Street Magic book for a mage. Whatever. Just let me know. If you tell me what you want to play, I can hit you up with some books from 3rd edition too. I know this stuff inside and out, so feel free to pester me with ideas.

This seems like it a might be a bit of a premature move; we really have no guarantee yet that PbP on GFF will lead to anything but disaster. I'd be more thrilled than anyone if it turns out to be something sustainable but the average attention span around here is about 10 minutes.

That said, I'd be more than willing to take a turn on the other side of the GM's screen if we're not all sick of the idea by then.

Actually that's why I -am- starting it now. Figure we'll get a pretty good idea of how this is going to work over the coming months. And if a few hours of story design goes to waste because we discover this isn't workable by the second level of the dungeon (probably because Gaybrial caves in Scaley Bob's head with a rock for lame jokes and referencing HIM lyrics) then so be it.

Here's hoping it proves sustainable.

My late friend once spent the better part of an afternoon and evening trying to explain to me all the many subtle and wonderful nuances of Shadowrun. I was, naturally, confused as all fuck. It sounded cool but I think I was fixating on the allure of causing earthquakes with one's mind just a little too much, and less so on the overall picture. I did come away with the good impression that if he weren't a total cokehead sociopath, it'd be a fun game to try someday.

Is there a convenient list of character templates from which I may make my buffet-styled choices?

Shadowrun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This will vaguely touch on it, but the point is this: Each archetype is customizable to endless lengths. The adept can be an etiquette augmented adept, not just a physical one. Your street samurai might be wired all to hell, almost a cyborg, or he might be a weapons expert more interested in demolition than killing up close and personal. Your Decker might be an I.C.E. breaker, or maybe an information specialist, or maybe even an Otaku, able to connect to the Matrix without wires or a cyberdeck.

The four main areas of influence:
Guns
Magic
Matrix
Machines

But you can infinitely combine these skills. A specialist is a good choice, but a street sam, death incarnate, isn't much help if the job is to extract a high level Corp R&D member quietly from a party and smuggle him to the safe and waiting arms of their rival, yeah?

The thing I personally love about Shadowrun is that it, more than most games, rewards non-combat skills. I've had face characters, utterly useless in a fight, live for ages and completely change the face of campaigns just by their ability to speak languages and understand who to talk to in order to get things done.

In the end, you're a group of thieves and mercenaries, and every group needs a good con-man to say the right words and handle the other-than-killing bits.

Good idea, chummer.

Is it in anyway like Rifts? It certainly sounds like it. Mark me down for a reserve spot. I might well be all roleplayed out by the end of my tenure in the Dungeon of Doom.

Can't believe you poked at a dead thing. You -NEVER- poke at a dead thing in D&D. COME ON.

Also, not like Rifts... ever read Neuromancer by Gibson? That with magic.

:( I thought there might be a quick, obvious way out of the dungeon hidden in plain view in the first room.

I've not read that, no, but I'll read the wiki article.

Oh man, I've never done Shadowrun before. =o

If you think I'd be a good addition to this then with a little guidance I'll be your meat shield if need be! =D

I suppose it'll interest me, if our current campaign lasts at all, and if I can juggle all these fucking stats and abilities.

Back in....oh, say 2001, maybe early '02, I had an "RPG Thingy" thread in City Streets where we just posted additions to a story and added all we could. Once it got rolling, and the lameass FFfanboys stopped posting, it went on for a good month or two, and I remember the story being really good. I wish I could get it back, but all I remember is something about vampires, and that Skexis and Col. Skills were avid posters.

I guess my point other than storytime is that if you get people that come along at least once a day or two, and can dedicate to something, this kinda shit usually does work out.
So I think if you want, this will be feasible.

Boy, I'm torn on what sorta character to use ='D Sign me up~

I made a Catholic priest named Judas Chang but he died all the time (in the whole two times I played). I'd like to give him another go with some tweaked stats, I'm just a little worried about the time commitment. Interested in seeing how this turns out though.

I'll jump in on this. I have a Shadowrun Sourcebook somewhere in my room. Never played the thing but the pictures are pretty.

I am absolutely game. Shadowrun is one of the most unappreciated settings out there and I'm anxious to see how awesome we can make it!

I don't think it's unappreciated....just....overshadowed. I mean, I don't play RPGs, but from everything I do know, it's still one of the big names.

I mean, it has a couple of videogames, man. Can't be that underappreciated.

Zeph's fairly right. It gets dwarfed by D&D and Battletech and the like, but it's still fairly well known. It's just not often played -well-. *primps his I worked for the company collar* Most people turn it into the Matrix with the crazy gunfights constantly and loud, big weapons going off everywhere. Also, since there is avid interest in this, I'll definitely start drawing up some campaign settings and nailing down some specifics.

I'll say this: It won't step on Pang's toes. I want to let his D&D thing run its course before this crops up.

Well, I'm the guy with the armour who stands up front and challenges dead things to come hit him. So my money is on my dying first.

You know I'm interested in all this, just thought I'd make a post for any sort of post-count method or someshit, I dunno. I love you Lucas.

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerd.

I wanna join.

I don't mind being some background character that may or may not help the main people.

3rd edition catholic magic rules? I loved those schisms where different religious schools got different twists in the shamanic skills. Biggest drawback of 4th edition to me was the lack of magical variety.

And yeah, there's clearly enough interest to sustain this. I'll have to draw up a campaign.

If Pang's game proves that this stuff can work on a post-by-post basis, I'm game for some Shadowrun.

However, I'll state up front that I'm no fan of self-narration, even when I'm pretending to be a gunslinging plumber (or whatever.) That whole schtick reeks of sad.