Time to update the firmware?

[mikailborg]

Speaking of gaming, the WWII superhero game is over in an appropriately cool Big Boss finale. Kudos to ptownhiker for running a great campaign! But he justifiably wants a break, so we tossed around some ideas.

Next game night we'll be sticking to quick card and board games, but after that we want to start another RPG campaign, and because I'm a crazy crazy man, I volunteered to run some Shadowrun if people were interested. (After all, I ought to do something with all these gaming books, otherwise they're just dust catchers. Someday I want to run more Paranoia and Deadlands as well.)

Several of our group liked the idea, so now I need to return to an earlier concern from my last failed campaign attempt: which edition should I use?

2nd edition pros: I have almost every sourcebook available. I know the system backwards and forward, and could practically run it in my sleep, plus I have a raft of adventure modules from which to steal elements. Cons: This edition is long out of print, and people would be dependent on my books. Hacker characters, an integral park of cyberpunk settings, are awkward to run.

4th edition pros: This edition's currently in print, so people can acquire rulebooks and sourcebooks simply. Hacker characters are much better integrated. Cons: I have only the core book, and might desire to add sourcebooks (they've gotten more expensive). I have some issues with the new rule system, it's a tiny bit less cinematic and flexible than it once was. (OTOH, perhaps I can house-rule that.)

Hmmm, decisions. I'm really glad to be back in a gaming group; I worry that I'm getting a bit anti-social these days, not because I dislike spending time with my crowd, but because it's just easy to slip into a constant state of being tired and busy. I don't want to go there; the best parts of my life have involved my friends. When I look back on all the crazy stuff I've done in fandom, the memories inspire me: I'm determined to keep making more!

Comments

[cynical-prophet.livejournal.com]

Unless you can scan your 2e books, go with 4e.

Besides, rules are meant to be replaced when they suck, and you are certainly creative and intelligent enough to put 2e scenarios in a 4e world.

Mind you, it's not that I've seen 4e. I think 2e was my last shadowrun.

[ptownhiker.livejournal.com]

I could play either edition. Second edition books seem to be available on eBay. I don't own books from either edition (mine are first ed).