Shadowrun Returns

[Tpek]

I'd say Yay, but that is just my opinion :P

[Nefaro]

Verdict?

Fun.  Stock campaign is short.  Combat much like the newer X-Com but with more variety & options.  I've enjoyed it quite a bit and started up a second stock campaign while waiting for more user-created stuff. 

I've always loved the Dark Cyberpunk-meets-magic setting, despite initially being very hesitant when I first saw the synopsis so long ago.  As do some others, I thought it sounded a bit too cheesy but it actually works pretty well.  Kinda like the way steampunk stuff does for 19th century, but in the near future (and not the past).

A smattering of small UGC scenarios have been coming out but I don't expect to see some big ones for awhile.  In this sense, I expect the user-content to eventually be on the level of the NWN series, only without multi-player.  Keep an eye out for the DLC/expansion set in Berlin, which supposedly has a more open campaign in it (the stock one is a very rigid storyline).

[Bison]

Interesting.  Thanks Nefaro.

[Nefaro]

Oh, almost forgot...

The user-created content is published via Steam Workshop, so you don't have to track all that shit down and jump through hoops to install it.  Just browse and click 'subscribe' on the ones you want to try out.

Steam Workshop was definitely one of their best 'borrowed' ideas.  ;)

[Pinetree]

Have to necro this thread, picked this up yesterday in the steam sale. Loving it so far, Nails the atmosphere and captures the feelings I got from playing 1st Edition long ago. I'll have to dig out my old Seattle Sourcebook.

[Nefaro]

Have to necro this thread, picked this up yesterday in the steam sale. Loving it so far, Nails the atmosphere and captures the feelings I got from playing 1st Edition long ago. I'll have to dig out my old Seattle Sourcebook.

Despite it being lighter fare than we had all hoped, it's still .. something.  I'm glad we finally got any Shadowrun RPG on the computer.  Perhaps we'll see a bigger one in the future?

As for the pen & paper version, I saw that they now have a 5th Edition out as of earlier this year(?).  I couldn't help myself.. ordered it when I found some going for about $42, a few days ago.  I still have a 2nd Edition and maybe a couple sourcebooks packed away somewhere but read that some stuff had been streamlined in the latest.  Then my old RPG nostalgia got the better of me and I ended up also ordering the latest Star Wars RPG too.   :o   Not sure I'll get around to running them but I sure do enjoy reading 'em, if nothing else.  :)   I've I continue my old RPG buying spree, it would mean that I also pursue some Warhammer rpgs, Ars Magica, Call of Cthulhu, and Pendragon.  The gaming Geekery has definitely hit a peak in the last few years - everything is being remade along with so much new stuff.

Hell.. I'd take any "cyberpunk" style RPG on the PC, if it's good.  You'd think that some other developers took notice when Shadowrun PC raking in that ignorantly huge amount of cash just from it's kickstarter.  Surely the creators of the Cyberpunk tabletop saw dollar signs and started looking for developers?

[skeptical.platypus]

Shadowrun rpg is far too painful to run or play in my opinion. Unfortunately, decking is basically a game unto itself. It's fun for exactly one person at the table, and unshiny for everybody else while the decker does their thing.

I am enjoying Shadowrun Returns, although I'm not sure I could recommend it to anyone not familiar with it's beloved -- and perhaps greatest ever -- RPG setting. The campaign shipped with the game is very well done from a storytelling pov. There are a handful of custom campaigns out that are quite good (unfortunately, they all take place on the same maps as the house campaign.)

The tactical combat is decent, but a little bland once you've teased out that the variables are basically cover, going first, and hitting harder than the opponent. That's not a bad thing mind you, just somewhat limited.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a shadowrun fan. Pinetree hit it on the nose -- nails the atmosphere.

And I'm with Nefaro on fervently hoping for a cyberpunk computer rpg renaissance.