Out of Print Shadowrun Books Available as PDFs

The current design team for the Shadowrun table-top RPG, FanPro, has intended to make out of print resources available via the web for quite a while. In what is hopefully the first in a series of such offerings, they've made the Gamemaster's Screen and Critters Sourcebook available for download in PDF format.

Good for them.

[OneDeeTenTee]

That's one thing that annoys me about most paper and dice RPGs, there isn't any way look at the materials and give them a good try unless you know some gamers or have the willingness to shell out cash for something that you might not use again.

The Matrix was based on Shadowrun

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, according to an old CA rumor [archive.org], anyway:

November 10, 1997... "This film may be based in part on a novella called 'Virtual Realities', originally published in the sourcebook of the same name for the 'Shadowrun' role-playing game. Briefly, it's the story of an entity named Renny which lives in the global computer network called the Matrix. Other people, human beings, are able to enter the Matrix and manipulate data, but Renny is much better at it because he's spent his entire life in the Matrix. Eventually, one of the human beings hired to help 'train' Renny discovers that Renny isn't an artificial intelligence at all, but a real human child that has been cut off from all 'real-world' stimuli so that he focuses solely on the Matrix world -- the only world he knows. The story, by Christopher Kubasik, is excellent and well-told.

"Having spoken with the line developer of the 'Shadowrun' RPG, I know that a film based on this novella is in the works. However, all references to the RPG are being removed in the interest of streamlining the story (and possibly avoiding licensing fees). That would explain some of the plot differences, as well as the fact that the film is set in 2197 rather than 2059 (the date of the game world). It's hard to say what similarities the film will have to the original story, but I'm still looking forward to it."

Also, there was a fantastic "MMORPG" (we called 'em MUDs) located at shadowrun.com:4321, back in the bad old days. Great source material.

Re:ICE are also releasing pdfs of old material.

[FLEB]

I won't look down on them for opening up the opportunity (both to themselves and to the customers), but I have to say... I don't think I could play a whole game (assuming it was a book of any decent size) through a PDF. When playing an RPG, you need a lot of content, quickly and easily. I suppose a laptop with the PDF loaded could fit the need pretty well, but I'll take dead trees any day.

Although, this would be a good buy for your players, so you don't have to play "Who needs the book this week?" all the time.

Re:this was....

[mbourgon]

The difference between Cyberpunk (which I've played) and Shadowrun (which I've been playing for 14+ years now) is that Shadowrun is Cinematic. The good guys pull through by the skin of their teeth. The bad guys always get away - even if a trunk is dropped on them from A Great Height. SR1 was clunky, especially during large combats using burst-fire. But SR3 has really improved things, and our group's been loving it. Once everyone knows what they're doing, it's quick and fun. Even for mages. *grin*

That being said, I'd love for their to be some sort of SR RPG. Tactical simulator, too, while you're at it. Rumors have abounded for years about an SR videogame - c'mon, guys, where is it?

Re:this was....

[Anonymous Coward]

You forgot to mention the differences in more detail:

SNES Version
* Better story. More engrossing, drives play more. It also is far more linear.
* Better graphics. Assuming you don't hate navigating isometric views. ;)
* Loose adherence to SR character development. The traits necessary to the game are there, but it always seemed kind of forced.
* Worst Matrix decking simulation ever. It was like a half-assed addition at the last minute.
* Clumsy combat system. Aiming that crosshair was not the most natural thing in the world.
* A fairly interesting way of getting new magic. Don't just buy that spell you want, you have to quest for it!

Genesis version:
* Very loose storyline. I was often reminded of the original Mechwarrior, where you'd suddenly remember, "Oh, yes! There was a storyline I was following!" It also means you don't have to follow it at all.
* "Less pretty". 2d overhead view with minimal color palette at times, but still adequate.
* Far closer to actual SR character rules. If you don't choose mage from the get-go, you can't ever use magic. Also, getting cyber reduces your magic.
* Simple combat system. Yet it worked.
* Far more environmental interaction, often via "random" events. Want to buy that illegal HK225 w/laser sight? Better hope Lone Star doesn't randomly check you on the street!
* BEST MATRIX SIMULATION EVER. (For a system at the time) The only thing I ever found nearly as much fun was the original System Shock. It's like they decided to make up for the SNES version. In fact, I'd spend most of the Genesis version parked in one corner of the map, next to the data fence, breaking into systems. (It was also the best way to make money)
* More interesting shadowruns. SNES version had you going up office buildings, shooting things. Genesis version had you sneaking into corporation buildings, avoiding/disabling cameras from the Matrix, sneaking around guards, etc.

They were both fun, honestly, and worth looking for. I think the main thing keeping them from being considered classics was the difficulty in finding them when they came out. The Genesis one is the only one that has seriously made me consider ebaying a Nomad so I could play it anywhere.

More info on Genesis version:
http://mikesrpgcenter.com/shadowrun/index.html

More info on SNES version:
http://www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/snes/shadowrun/ index.shtml

Thanks FanPro

[Captain Chaos]

I applaud FanPro on the release of these PDFs and hope they continue to release more. I already own the originals that FASA published, but maybe this will help attract new players. I haven't played in years, but I might be able to attract some friends to the game without having to worry about them abusing my copies of the books. I just hope they release some of the out of print Battletech sourcebooks also. FASA had promised for years to do so since there was still a demand for the books, but not enough to reprint. Unfortunately FASA is no more so that never materialized.