Shadowrun - Help Create Simplified Rules

[KemeticCultus]

Shadowrun Simplified Ruleset

I'm interested in developing an alternative Shadowrun rule system based on 2nd edition with some elements from 4th edition.

Objectives

• Make target numbers the core of the system as in 2nd edition.
• Employ the concept that attributes are used in conjunction with dice from skills as in 4th edition.
• Decrease and nullify the need to divide or multiply wherever possible so that addition and subtraction are the core of the system. This will significantly speed up gameplay on the part of the game master. Simplistic math means a smoother system.
• Completely overhaul hacking so that only a few numbers and dice rolls are needed while retaining the edge-of-your-seat tension of hacking.
• Simplify vehicle combat so that it is a natural extension of the base rules of combat. Vehicle combat should be fast and furious, not number crunching boredom.
• Ensure that melee combat is smooth and colorful.
• Distill NPCs into a small amount of numbers so that they can be created on the fly. NPCs are disposable bullet sponges so the amount of numbers needed to bring them to life should be minimal.
• Simplify spell casting so that it is no more complicated than firing a weapon.
• Decrease the need for tables upon tables.
• Simplify character creation to something akin to 2nd edition.

If you are a game master frustrated with the Shadowrun system or a player who would like to see a system that is more conducive to high speed action in the world of Shadowrun, contact me if you'd like to contribute to this.

I have a TeamSpeak 3 server so we can sit around and discuss this regardless of where you are in the world.

Ultimately, my vision is to create an alternative system that will allow game masters to create runs on the fly rather than having to spend days plugging in all the right numbers. I want high speed Hollywood action that reflects the professionalism of runners being able to get in and get out.


Shadowrun Pen & Paper Online

Beyond these objectives, there is a 4th edition ruleset being developed for the Fantasy Grounds II virtual tabletop software. However, if our alternative ruleset is successful, then it's a no-brainer that a Fantasy Grounds II ruleset would be created for it. That means that Shadowrun pen and paper can be played online.

My vision for that is to build a massive community of players and game masters who use the Fantasy Grounds II software. With a simplified system, Shadowrun would be as accessible as any MMORPG, in which you can login to the TeamSpeak 3 server and jump right into a game. We're already creating and compiling the artwork toward this end (PC & NPC tokens, critter artwork, maps, etc.). With tons of maps, a simplified ruleset and everything at the game master's fingertips, any imaginative game master can create a campaign out of thin air.

Here is a screen shot of the Shadowrun 4e version 2 Beta ruleset for Fantasy Grounds II.

 

[Bold or Stupid]

Not sure what your problem is SR4 is a simple system where a ref can make up runs on the fly, this sort of seat of my pants reffing is how I do it. If you want help with SR I'd suggest trying Dumpshock, the home of the experts.

 

[MortonStromgal]

Wushu? Also the Digital License for Shadowrun is complicated at best between Tops and Microsoft.

• Distill NPCs into a small amount of numbers so that they can be created on the fly. NPCs are disposable bullet sponges so the amount of numbers needed to bring them to life should be minimal.

Wait? What? Maybe in your world but in my world Joe the security guard is married to Marie and has two kids Todd and Jenny. They live in a small apartment in Everett and have dinner with his cousin James who got him the security guard job at Federated Boeing. James is a mid level manager, one of those workaholic types climbing up the ladder fast with no time for a family of his own so he feels a close bond to Joe's family. If something were to happen to Joe, James would want payback and he just may have the nuyen to do it chummer.

 

[KemeticCultus]

Not sure what your problem is SR4 is a simple system where a ref can make up runs on the fly, this sort of seat of my pants reffing is how I do it. If you want help with SR I'd suggest trying Dumpshock, the home of the experts.

I'm glad you enjoy the system. I don't. I saw some others posting about Shadowrun so I figured posting here would help my search for people who actually want to help. I'll take your suggestion and post on Dumpshock as well.

Wait? What? Maybe in your world but in my world Joe the security guard is married to Marie and has two kids Todd and Jenny. They live in a small apartment in Everett and have dinner with his cousin James who got him the security guard job at Federated Boeing. James is a mid level manager, one of those workaholic types climbing up the ladder fast with no time for a family of his own so he feels a close bond to Joe's family. If something were to happen to Joe, James would want payback and he just may have the nuyen to do it chummer.

I'm talking about NPCs that serve as bullet sponges. Do you have a background story and intricate details every time your runners turn the corner inside a 20 story building and encounter a security guard? What about the background stories of security drones, ghouls or other critters? What kind of relationships and personalities do you give your security drones or devil rats? If the runners might encounter any one of two dozen security drones, how many have a wife and kid? While crawling through the sewers, out of the potentially hundreds of devil rats they could encounter, how many prefer pizza over sushi?

 

[MortonStromgal]

Do you have a background story and intricate details every time your runners turn the corner inside a 20 story building and encounter a security guard?

I know your trying to be funny but the answer to that question is yes (sort of)... because I make it all up on the fly as we go and i don't care about every stat just are they below average, above average etc.

In what your looking for seriously look at Wushu or maybe Fung Suei (Sp? I never played it but I hear its quick and cinimatic)

 

[KemeticCultus]

I know your trying to be funny but the answer to that question is yes (sort of)... because I make it all up on the fly as we go and i don't care about every stat just are they below average, above average etc.

In what your looking for seriously look at Wushu or maybe Fung Suei (Sp? I never played it but I hear its quick and cinimatic)

Then we are in agreement in how we run Shadowrun. The objective is to identify exactly what is really needed and discard the rest so that more attention can be paid to storytelling, role-playing, atmosphere and the other elements that actually translate to fun.

Thank you for the suggestion to take a look at Wushu. After a quick read over I'll strongly consider it.

 

[garrowolf]

If you want it to work better I would suggest a version that I came up with a while back. It incorporated some material from World of Darkness and a few other places.

Roll 1d10 + Attribute + Skill + equipment on all actions including hacking, etc. Defenses are static and have 5+Attribute+skill as base.
Margin of success + damage value = damage
AP modifies armor as normal. NO rolling for damage. You already have it.

It's simple and fast and doesn't require reworking the numbers for most of the game.


also you can run Shadowrun ( or a version of it) in my Nexus game.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Would you be okay with target numbers but adding the dice instead of counting successes? I think the "count-success" combined with "variable target numbers" creates a very bad probability curve for a lot of tasks.

If you want gradual successes, you can say that every 5 or 10 points about the target number add one success.