Shadowrun RPG

Shadowrun RPG is a popular and long-running role-playing game that combines elements of cyberpunk, urban fantasy, and dystopian science fiction. First released in 1989 by FASA Corporation and now managed by Catalyst Game Labs, it has become a staple in the RPG world due to its unique setting and engaging mechanics.

Key Features of Shadowrun RPG

1. The Setting:
   Shadowrun is set in a dystopian near-future Earth, where advanced technology like cybernetics, hacking, and virtual reality coexists with the resurgence of magic, elves, trolls, dragons, and other fantastical elements. The world is dominated by mega-corporations, crime syndicates, and shadowy organizations.

2. Gameplay:

   • Players take on the role of shadowrunners—mercenaries, hackers, mages, and other specialists who take on high-stakes missions outside the bounds of the law.
   • Missions often involve activities like corporate espionage, hacking into secure systems, magical rituals, or combat against rival groups or creatures.

3. Character Archetypes:

   • Street Samurai: Cyber-enhanced warriors who excel in combat.
   • Deckers: Hackers who dive into the Matrix (the game's cyberspace) to manipulate digital systems.
   • Riggers: Experts in controlling drones and vehicles.
   • Magicians: Individuals who wield powerful magic, including Shamans and Hermetic Mages.
   • Adepts: Physically enhanced fighters powered by magic rather than cybernetics.
   • Face: Charismatic negotiators and con artists.

4. Mechanics:

   • Dice Pool System: Uses six-sided dice (d6). Players roll a pool of dice based on their character's skills and attributes, looking for "hits" (specific results) to determine success.
   • Emphasis on teamwork and specialization, as characters often rely on one another’s unique skills.

5. Themes:

   • Corporate Greed and Corruption: Mega-corporations rule the world, often at the expense of individuals.
   • Technology vs. Magic: A central tension in the setting, as technology and magic collide in surprising ways.
   • Survival and Morality: Shadowrunners often navigate morally gray areas, balancing personal survival with their ethical choices.

6. Expanded Universe: Shadowrun has an extensive universe that includes:

   • Sourcebooks for various locations, factions, and mechanics.
   • Novels set in the Shadowrun world.
   • Video Games, like the Shadowrun series by Harebrained Schemes.

Editions

Shadowrun has gone through multiple editions since its inception, with the most recent being Shadowrun 6th Edition (Shadowrun: Sixth World). Each edition refines and updates the rules while keeping the core essence of the setting intact.

Shadowrun is ideal for players who love cyberpunk aesthetics, complex missions, and the mix of high-tech and high-magic in a gritty, corporate-dominated world. It's a challenging but rewarding RPG experience that has stood the test of time.