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30 reviews
64 of 65 people found the following review helpful
BBB Chromed
10 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
If you're new to Shadowrun or to the 4th edition, be sure to look at the reviews of the old 4th edition book here: Shadowrun 4th Edition or visit Shadowrun's official website.
I picked up the 4th edition core book (BBB) shortly after it came out and it made me want to finally put all of my 1st and 2nd edition stuff on the shelf (we'd been using them since 1994- duct-tape keeping them alive- [3rd edition didn't offer enough incentive for me to buy a whole new edition]). At first glance the system seemed to have made a quantum leap forward allowing it to compete with other high order RPG rules sets like White Wolf's Storyteller System.
We began playing 4th e- but with some difficulty. We would regularly run into problems in the rules and have to come up with a work around, house rule or snap GM decision to keep things moving, but we still had a great time with it. I found that I had a particularly hard time reaching a working understanding of the matrix rules (let's face it- the Matrix is a notoriously tricky thing to get your mind around). I realized, after some time, that I couldn't find ANYONE who understood it well. There were holes in that chapter so big that you could drive an Ares Citymaster through them.
Then came Catalyst (bless their little hearts) who began doling out our regular fix of source books and really bringing the game to life.
With the 20th Anniversary Edition, I feel that Catalyst has reached the pinnacle of Shadowrun's evolution. It's packed with great new fiction, the rules have been tweeked here and they've entirely rewritten the chapter on the matrix. This release also sports the benefit of being published AFTER the source books which has 2 major benefits:
1.) all of the revisions to the core rules to tie neatly into the appropriate source material, galvanizing 4th edition into the most integrated and comprehensive Shadowrun system ever with this book at its core
AND
2.) it includes a complete, color coded index that covers ALL of the core source books. This really helps when your characters try to derail your game with stunts that they see in the movies and you've got to figure out what to roll- and then what happens... `what book did I see that in again?'
In addition to the content, this book looks fantastic. Shadowrun has always featured a grab bag of art in its pages: some phenomenal and some really shameful. In the 20th Anniversary Edition, Adam Jury and Matt Vaillancourt have really outdone themselves. I would say the ALL of the art in this book is really fantastic. Visualizing the setting is a big part of a roleplaying game and it's important to have great art to inspire you and your players. This printing won't let you down with inconsistent quality like the old 4th Edition book did (turn to page 334 in the old 4th e for example- you'll see what I mean).
In a sentence: Buy this book.
Do it and your team will thank you.
Watch your back.
Shoot straight.
Conserve ammo.
And never, ever, cut a deal with a dragon.
--Street proverb
I picked up the 4th edition core book (BBB) shortly after it came out and it made me want to finally put all of my 1st and 2nd edition stuff on the shelf (we'd been using them since 1994- duct-tape keeping them alive- [3rd edition didn't offer enough incentive for me to buy a whole new edition]). At first glance the system seemed to have made a quantum leap forward allowing it to compete with other high order RPG rules sets like White Wolf's Storyteller System.
We began playing 4th e- but with some difficulty. We would regularly run into problems in the rules and have to come up with a work around, house rule or snap GM decision to keep things moving, but we still had a great time with it. I found that I had a particularly hard time reaching a working understanding of the matrix rules (let's face it- the Matrix is a notoriously tricky thing to get your mind around). I realized, after some time, that I couldn't find ANYONE who understood it well. There were holes in that chapter so big that you could drive an Ares Citymaster through them.
Then came Catalyst (bless their little hearts) who began doling out our regular fix of source books and really bringing the game to life.
With the 20th Anniversary Edition, I feel that Catalyst has reached the pinnacle of Shadowrun's evolution. It's packed with great new fiction, the rules have been tweeked here and they've entirely rewritten the chapter on the matrix. This release also sports the benefit of being published AFTER the source books which has 2 major benefits:
1.) all of the revisions to the core rules to tie neatly into the appropriate source material, galvanizing 4th edition into the most integrated and comprehensive Shadowrun system ever with this book at its core
AND
2.) it includes a complete, color coded index that covers ALL of the core source books. This really helps when your characters try to derail your game with stunts that they see in the movies and you've got to figure out what to roll- and then what happens... `what book did I see that in again?'
In addition to the content, this book looks fantastic. Shadowrun has always featured a grab bag of art in its pages: some phenomenal and some really shameful. In the 20th Anniversary Edition, Adam Jury and Matt Vaillancourt have really outdone themselves. I would say the ALL of the art in this book is really fantastic. Visualizing the setting is a big part of a roleplaying game and it's important to have great art to inspire you and your players. This printing won't let you down with inconsistent quality like the old 4th Edition book did (turn to page 334 in the old 4th e for example- you'll see what I mean).
In a sentence: Buy this book.
Do it and your team will thank you.
Watch your back.
Shoot straight.
Conserve ammo.
And never, ever, cut a deal with a dragon.
--Street proverb
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
The Sixth World never looked so good
22 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
Shadowrun can be distilled into three important words: "Magic cyberpunk noir."
If you're looking for a sci-fi RPG you can really sink your teeth into, this is the one. Shadowrun is quite possibly the richest, most detailed, and most beloved sci-fi RPG setting I have ever played. The way the rules and fiction are presented in this rulebook quickly dispels the "cyberpunk with namby-pamby elves" stigma (which usually originates from people who write off the game without really knowing anything about it). On the contrary, this book makes Shadowrun's world of magic and technology come alive.
This particular rulebook by far the most beautiful and lovingly crafted presentation I have ever seen in an RPG book. Printed in full color, with gorgeous art (the cover alone is fantastic), lavish page designs, and a ribbon bookmark, you just can't ask for a better package. Also included as easter eggs for veteran players are some classic pages of art from Shadowrun's rich, 20-year history (such as the cover art for Shadowrun 1st/2nd Edition rules, the cover of the DMZ box set, etc.)
The rules themselves are another big draw. At first I refused to try 4th edition rules simply because 2nd edition rules worked well enough for me and because they re-branded iconic "decker" characters with the generic "hacker" moniker. For one, I am glad I waited to pick up this Anniversary Edition because this book incorporates errata and important revisions to the original 4th Edition book released a few years ago. I also discovered the 4th edition rules themselves are a worthy successor to the 2nd edition rules (which were first released 17 years ago!) and greatly streamline gameplay.
My only regret is I still miss the term "decker," but in the end it doesn't make sense calling someone a "decker" when cyberdecks are a thing of the past (gotta keep up with SOTA, after all).
If you're looking for a sci-fi RPG you can really sink your teeth into, this is the one. Shadowrun is quite possibly the richest, most detailed, and most beloved sci-fi RPG setting I have ever played. The way the rules and fiction are presented in this rulebook quickly dispels the "cyberpunk with namby-pamby elves" stigma (which usually originates from people who write off the game without really knowing anything about it). On the contrary, this book makes Shadowrun's world of magic and technology come alive.
This particular rulebook by far the most beautiful and lovingly crafted presentation I have ever seen in an RPG book. Printed in full color, with gorgeous art (the cover alone is fantastic), lavish page designs, and a ribbon bookmark, you just can't ask for a better package. Also included as easter eggs for veteran players are some classic pages of art from Shadowrun's rich, 20-year history (such as the cover art for Shadowrun 1st/2nd Edition rules, the cover of the DMZ box set, etc.)
The rules themselves are another big draw. At first I refused to try 4th edition rules simply because 2nd edition rules worked well enough for me and because they re-branded iconic "decker" characters with the generic "hacker" moniker. For one, I am glad I waited to pick up this Anniversary Edition because this book incorporates errata and important revisions to the original 4th Edition book released a few years ago. I also discovered the 4th edition rules themselves are a worthy successor to the 2nd edition rules (which were first released 17 years ago!) and greatly streamline gameplay.
My only regret is I still miss the term "decker," but in the end it doesn't make sense calling someone a "decker" when cyberdecks are a thing of the past (gotta keep up with SOTA, after all).
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Shadowrun 20th Anniversary Core Rule Book - Worth it!
15 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Shadowrun Core Rulebook is more than just a pretty face. This is not to say the top notch full colour artwork and the extra fiction aren't appreaciated, the Shadowrun setting is not based on a movie or TV series so anything that makes it easier for GM and players to visualise the setting and all the inherent possiblities it contains is a great bonus. It was also nice of Catalyst to take the opportunity to make a few corrections and include a few things they'd overlooked with previous printings (Putting ratings and capacities on visual and audio sensors was a nice idea). From my viewpoint however the best part of this book has to be the fact Catalyst took advantage of the fact that this rulebook came out after the rules expansions to include a colour coded meta-index so if a rules question comes up you can quickly find out which book and page contains the answer. Yes it costs more than the standard core rulebook but it is worth the extra cost.
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