Simpler alternatives to run Shadowrun?

[Not a Decepticon]

I am looking for ideas for systems that I could run Shadowrun that are not as complicated and crunchy (and, let's be honest, mess) as Shadowrun itself. So far I have been eyeing Cypher System, Daggerheart, Savage Worlds: Sprawlrunners, Runners in the Shadows and Shadowrun: Anarchy. I am looking for more potential options, especially in the area that is less crunchy than D&D 5e but not more simplistic than Forged in the Dark games - it is for a group with this unique combination of players where some call D&D "math fetish, not a game" and others argue you cannot do anything but Moves in Powered by the Apocalypse, so I need to pick games more balanced between the two extremes, more towards rules medium or slightly rules light.

 

[overgeeked]

I am looking for ideas for systems that I could run Shadowrun that are not as complicated and crunchy (and, let's be honest, mess) as Shadowrun itself. So far I have been eyeing Cypher System, Daggerheart, Savage Worlds: Sprawlrunners, Runners in the Shadows and Shadowrun: Anarchy. I am looking for more potential options, especially in the area that is less crunchy than D&D 5e but not more simplistic than Forged in the Dark games - it is for a group with this unique combination of players where some call D&D "math fetish, not a game" and others argue you cannot do anything but Moves in Powered by the Apocalypse, so I need to pick games more balanced between the two extremes, more towards rules medium or slightly rules light.

There are a few things in Daggerheart already that make me think you could do it with a campaign frame. You'd need to homebrew a bit of stuff, but most of what you'd need is there. Shadowrun Anarchy can be great with the right group. I'd suggest reading it over at least. But if you have players who honestly think you can't do anything but make moves in PbtA games, you might have similar problems with them in Anarchy. There's a few bits where good faith is required, if they don't have that, well...

 

[schneeland]

You could try Neon City Overdrive (with material from its Supplements Psions, Skinjobs and The Grid). I think you'll need to be a bit of tweaking to make it feel like Shadowrun, but IMO complexity-wise, it's in the FitD area, but it takes a different approach, which I personally found quite interesting.
In theory, there's also The Sprawl, but a) if some of your player's don't like PbtA, that's probably a hard sell, and b) when I ran the game, I felt like the move design has some issues.

 

[GMMichael]

less crunchy than D&D 5e but not more simplistic than Forged in the Dark games - it is for a group with this unique combination of players where some call D&D "math fetish, not a game" and others argue you cannot do anything but Moves in Powered by the Apocalypse

You're trying to appease both of these groups at the same time? You'd have better luck trying to get Matt Colville to slow down a bit.

But if you want to try something that lets you add or subtract rules until it's just Goldilocks, drop me a line.

 

[Theory of Games]

I am looking for ideas for systems that I could run Shadowrun that are not as complicated and crunchy (and, let's be honest, mess) as Shadowrun itself.

It comes down to what you mean by "not as complicated & crunchy", really. Like, what kind of core dice 'mechanic' do you like (d20, 3d6, dice pools, d100, 2d6)? Do you like situational modifiers or no? Do you want everything SR offers (magic, cybernetics, big weapon arsenals, drones, demihumans, hacking)? What's your favorite combat system? How important and involved should skill selection be?

So far I have been eyeing Cypher System, Daggerheart, Savage Worlds: Sprawlrunners, Runners in the Shadows and Shadowrun: Anarchy.

Without knowing what exactly you want, I'd say Shadowrun Anarchy is a very good rules-lite SR-clone. It does pretty much what SR does with only a fraction of the crunch and it's a very group/team-focused system.

I am looking for more potential options, especially in the area that is less crunchy than D&D 5e but not more simplistic than Forged in the Dark games - it is for a group with this unique combination of players where some call D&D "math fetish, not a game" and others argue you cannot do anything but Moves in Powered by the Apocalypse, so I need to pick games more balanced between the two extremes, more towards rules medium or slightly rules light.

Wow. You have your work cut out for you with that group SR Anarchy is more PbtA. If Cypher System has cyberpunk features, maybe that could work? I've been exactly where you are: hunting for an SR alternative. The dice pools and the stupidstupidstupid combat system can trigger insane murmurings. GURPS Shadowrun was my solution, but your group wouldn't want anything like that.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I am looking for more potential options, especially in the area that is less crunchy than D&D 5e but not more simplistic than Forged in the Dark games - it is for a group with this unique combination of players where some call D&D "math fetish, not a game" and others argue you cannot do anything but Moves in Powered by the Apocalypse, so I need to pick games more balanced between the two extremes, more towards rules medium or slightly rules light.

I haven't run it myself, but Cities Without Number?

 

[ColinChapman]

Not sure how aware folks are, but there's a new edition of Shadowrun: Anarchy Kickstarting before the end of the month. It's by French publisher, Black Book Editions, though Catalyst are producing the English translation. It's supposed to fix and streamline a lot of the issues folks had with Anarchy 1e.

 

[dbm]

Savage Worlds is my favourite system. I would put it at a similar level of crunch to 5e, but it uses its crunch better in my opinion. It’s great for an action-adventure feel and it has good support for a wider range of activity than many other systems with good rules for chases, generally applicable ‘dramatic tasks’, social influence and more.

Sprawl Runners is very well regarded. You could also adapt Shadow Run more directly, either with just the core book, or using the Sci-Fi Companion and the Fantasy Companion if you want more material to start from. These days that is how I personally would run Shadow Run.