Shadowrun Fourth Edition, by Catalyst Games, is a cyberpunk role-playing game where magic, cybernetics and virtual reality coexist. Player characters are known as shadowrunners. They act in the shadows and outside the law, doing the dirty work of the megacorporations and other powerful forces that ...
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192 views
Players who want a dayjob for a megacorp. Should I allow it?
A player wants to work for EVO knowing the corp has a great reputation as an employer (according to Corporate Guide) and they have a great tolerance of technomancers. As part of the day job ...
21
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4answers
799 views
How do you make the PC scream: “I wish we had a mage!”?
My girlfriend would like to join our Shadowrun game. She witnessed the first two game sessions and realized how cool the game and the setting is. She would like to make a mage and will start playing ...
8
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7answers
271 views
How can I run games in Shadowrun, without going overboard?
I've recently picked up my SR4 20th anniversary edition rulebook and I'm interested in running a game for some of my friends. The issue I'm facing is that....well, I don't want to spoil my players too ...
44
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7answers
909 views
How can I make my game more “noir” as a GM?
I ran a couple of Shadowrun games at Dexcon, my first time GMing at a con. It's not my first time running Shadowrun; I based the games off of a couple jobs my players did in a then-ongoing campaign. ...
26
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11answers
908 views
Justifications for the existence of cyberpsychosis
Several games (Cyberpunk, for one) have an effect like cyberpsychosis (defined here as "a psychotic aberration suffered by excessive users of cyberware"). Others, such as Eclipse Phase, consider ...
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1answer
101 views
Bows in ShadowRun: How do I calculate the damage?
In the SR4 rulebook 20th Anniversary edition, Bows damage assisted as (STR min+2)p yet later on, in the rulebook it says to calculate the base damage as the lowest of the bow and arrow rating.
To ...
4
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2answers
229 views
Can Technomancers use software and complex forms simultaneously?
Currently, I am delving into playing a Technomancing Rigger, but part of his whole deal is the hacking bit (because seriously, why the heck not?!). While reading complex forms, I hit a beehive of ...
6
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2answers
161 views
Resonance Realms - Why bother?
Why as a player should I care about resonance realms? I understand that the actual character would be totally into hanging out in them, but from a gameplay point of view, why should I care?
4
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3answers
117 views
Would this Technomancer concept be plausible?
I haven't played Shadowrun quite yet, but I've been reading the 4E core rulebook and I have been trying to build a character. I've been working on a Technomancer, but for character fluff I was ...
11
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2answers
262 views
Do Technomancers need a commlink?
So I had never heard of Shadowrun before one of my players brought it up and asked if we could play it. I got the book, and have been perusing it for a few days.
One of my players says he wants to be ...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
Running a Counter-Strike style Shadowrun?
So I've been contemplating running a game of Shadowrun in a Counter-Strike style game, focused more on fast-paced lethality than long term character development as a short of one-shot game.
For those ...
9
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1answer
77 views
Any rules or fluff around a technomancer infected with HMHVV?
I've been toying with the idea of making a campaign's antagonist an HMHVV infected technomancer (AKA techno-ghoul). Is there anything in the various sourcebooks or official fluff that describes this ...
3
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3answers
147 views
Things that all characters are vulnerable to in Shadowrun?
So I'm running a game of Shadowrun in which the players will soon get a rather powerful initiated mage. What I'm curious about is this:
Are there any attacks/threats that affect basically all ...
11
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2answers
1k views
How do I increase resistance to drain?
My Aztec shaman character, Chimalli, is primarily a spirit summoner, using Willpower (5)+Charisma (7) to resist drain. He has one level of the Focused Concentration quality (+1).
Is there any easy ...
10
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4answers
282 views
What are the differences between Shadowrun 3rd and 4th edition that I should know about?
I've played a decent amount of Shadowrun 3rd edition, and recently joined a group of players who play 4th ed. I know I'm going to get confused and turned about- In summary, what's changed that I ...
3
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2answers
98 views
How does stacking [Element] Aura work?
The [Element] Aura spell (Street Magic 173) provides the target with a bonus to the DV of melee attacks equal to the caster's hits, makes the attacks treated as that type of damage, and resisted with ...
5
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4answers
301 views
How do I use Shamans as opponents in Shadowrun?
I don't understand the point of Shamans in Shadowrun. In a world full of technology and magic, I don't see how the Shaman tradition can be roleplayed and mentioned without making the players scratch ...
6
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1answer
192 views
How to balance the numbers and equipment of an encounter in Shadowrun 4E?
I'm having trouble creating NPCs for my game, especially regarding their number and their equipment. Their skill level is ok, but these points are problematic. I know that most of the time, the ...
7
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1answer
209 views
Do sustained spells need constant line-of-sight, or just for the casting?
When I cast Stealth or Invisibility on a teammate, do I need to keep him in sight (following him everywhere) to maintain the spell, or is LOS required only for the initial casting?
5
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1answer
197 views
What is the “upcoming source book” mentioned in Shadowrun 4 FAQ?
In the SR4 FAQ, the answer to several questions about magic is "This question will be answered fully in an upcoming sourcebook."
The questions unanswered include the following little wonders:
If ...
3
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0answers
138 views
Has Shadowrun 4 been implemented as a MUD or similiar? [closed]
There's a few MUDs and MUSHES for the older rulesets out there, has this ever been done with 4th edition?
The one findable via the usual Mudlistings is in very early beta and not playable.
5
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2answers
188 views
Faster technomancer play — what dice formulas should I have on hand?
Motivation
I am new to Shadowrun 4th and am playing a technomancer.
Both the other players and the GM are getting annoyed with me having to look up my rolls for things, so what I was wondering is if ...
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2answers
134 views
Technomancer's Dragon Hoard - What to do with all the credits?
Problem
I noticed that as a Technomancer I end up with a hoard of credits and I'am having trouble figuring out how to spend it. I have High Lifestyle, A fair safehouse with luxury level security, ...
6
votes
1answer
294 views
Shadowrun dice pool size
I am new to both Shadowrun and GM in general. I want to run a one-shot of Shadowrun with four players. In that aspect I was asked, how many dice should be needed for a basic run. Based on the examples ...
5
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1answer
196 views
What book is “HP” in Shadowrun?
The Chummer character creator has a reference to "HP". What book is this?
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3answers
208 views
How do you handle (critical) glitches if both parties have one?
The rules state that the character suffers from his mistake and may even injure himself in the case of a critical glitch.
But the rules doesn't cover the case if both involved parties of an opposed ...
4
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1answer
257 views
Simulating physical combat in-Matrix?
Are there specific rules for resolving a simulated physical combat carried out on the Matrix? I know there's physical and Matrix combat rules, but it came up in a recent session that two characters ...
4
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1answer
152 views
Can a mage Assense a Technomancer?
I'm writing a backstory for my character in SR4. One of the characters in my backstory is a little girl who would have been considered an Otaku (though not in any of the crazy cults) and would have ...
7
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5answers
380 views
How to convey the tone of Shadowrun
Reading the core book I realized how different Shadowrun is from my usual game of Dungeons and Dragons. We usually play the good guys saving a village from a tribe of goblins. Most of the time we play ...
8
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2answers
249 views
Why and how to force people to turn their PAN in active mode?
I just read about the Personal Area Network (PAN) for Shadowrun and they mention that some areas like airports, corp buildings or major metropolitain centers, require you to have your PAN turned ...
3
votes
1answer
134 views
Are there glider rules in Shadowrun 4E?
This is a short one, but I'm confused about it. Arsenal, on p112 lists two gliders, the Artemis Dawnglider and the Moonlight Phoenix. Unfriendly Skies adds the Artemis Nightwing on p14.
All gliders ...
17
votes
5answers
718 views
Are there any official guidelines for Shadowrun payouts?
I'm trying to figure out how much to pay Shadowrunners for a job, and how to balance the NPCs. I couldn't find anything in SR4A (though I could've missed something).
I've only played in a couple of ...
7
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2answers
387 views
Can you throw back grenades in SR4?
If a character throws a grenade in Shadowrun 4th Ed., what rules are there for another character trying to pick it up and throw it back? Is this covered somewhere in the book? I know it's in SR3, but ...
4
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1answer
487 views
How do initiative passes and multiple actions work?
I'm really confused with the initiative pass system in Shadowrun. For a "normal" combat situation with no augmentations or spells that increase the number of actions you can get, it looks rather easy.
...
4
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3answers
138 views
What are the books for the various Sixth World cities and countries
I've found a couple of books of Shadowrun 4th edition and I'm trying to find more (books) about other regions of the world than North America. Where can I get more info about Asia, Europe and ...
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1answer
159 views
Is it possible to fail Extended tests in Shadowrun?
Reading about Shadowrun 4th edition, I came accross the Extended tests rules. If I read correctly, extended test result doesn't matter because in the end it might take your more time than expected but ...
7
votes
2answers
373 views
Why are certified credsticks 'banded' in shadowrun?
The source material indicates the banks can issue certified credsticks up to their maximum limit, which is indicated by their band. Why?
from what I can tell:
All certified credsticks, regardless ...
21
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4answers
1k views
How does Shadowrun 4 differ from the previous editions - from an Actual Play viewpoint?
I have the old versions, and played the heck out of them.
I don't have version 4. If I buy it, what can I expect?
6
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1answer
218 views
How challenging is “challenging” in Shadowrun?
I'm reading the core book about the mechanics and I see that a Success threshold of 4 is supposed to be challenging. Here's the exact wording.
The standard threshold is 1 (so only 1 hit is
...
11
votes
5answers
349 views
How to deal with intimidating amount of rules in Shadowrun
I started to read about Shadowrun as a setting and I'm currently reading the rules and they are really intimidating. There's a lot to know as a player since every aspect of the game as it's own set of ...
17
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4answers
2k views
How do I deal with a Technomancer who uses a *lot* of sprites?
We have a Technomancer in our party who has a bunch of registered sprites. When something interesting happens - let's say the characters fight some attackers off and send them running away - he simply ...
2
votes
1answer
200 views
Mystic Armor and magical attacks
So I've been running a lot of 4th Edition Shadowrun recently, and I'm curious as to some adept abilities, but the one that's been bugging me a little is Mystic Armor (SR4 197); does anyone know if it ...
6
votes
5answers
305 views
How to fit Shadowrun into a one-shot
I want to run a shadowrun game, but alas, I don't think my players or I have the time or the commitment to have an on-going campaign.
So, a one-shot it is. Or a series of one-shots interspersed ...
10
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4answers
307 views
Any canon Shadowrun material related to NY/PA/NJ areas?
I'm looking for specific, canon (i.e. official, published) references to material for the Shadowrun game-world setting. My game setting is based around the Philadelphia area; I've turned New Jersey ...
9
votes
1answer
992 views
Is there any way to reduce the Essence cost of cyberware?
Is there any option at character creation I can make to reduce the Essence cost of cyberware besides just buying higher quality (Alpha/Beta..) implants? I am thinking of specifically a race or ...
22
votes
7answers
3k views
How do you make hacking useful without excluding other players?
My Shadowrun group has a reasonably typical composition: "face", technomancer, rigger, mage, adept, and street samurai. The problem I have is making sure that the technomancer can use her skills ...
10
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3answers
329 views
How to use a Minigun effectively
So Shadowrun has a number of machine guns and assault cannons, but we still have the iconic minigun variant that allows us to shoot red hot death-lead at things. However, our resident heavy weapons ...
8
votes
4answers
674 views
Is magic, hacking, or rigging vital for balance in SR4?
I play Shadowrun now and then but ignore magic, hacking, and rigging in my games. Every time I mention this to others they tell me that I should just play Cyberpunk or d20 Spycraft. I ask why, and the ...
10
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2answers
295 views
How effective are spirits (bound or unbound) as security patrols in Shadowrun4E
How much attention do spirits (bound and unbound) patrolling a facility typically pay to non-astral threats? It probably depends on the orders given to the spirits, but what is typical in Shadowrun ...
11
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1answer
677 views
Can my Hacker have an army of robots?
I am just about to start a Shadowrun 4th ed game and I want to play a Hacker (Decker?) and I was just wondering about their use of robots (small or large).
Can I have a bunch of small robots to ...
