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Message no. 1
From: Manx timburke@*******.com.au
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 01:27:25 +1000
Hi all,

I was just cruising through the "advanced orders"
section of Australia's biggest mail order gaming
store (milsims.com.au) and came across this item
set for release in June 1999. I've never heard of it
so I ask if anyone's got any info on it. The price
listed is in Australian Dollars so it would likely
sell for approx US$7-10.

********************************************
FAS7003 ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules (ShadowRun RPG) $13.00
Simplifies the ShadowRun game so that you can learn
it quickly on your own or with friends. Complete with
mini-adventure, starting characters and all required rules.
********************************************

Manx
timburke@*******.com.au
#950 of 1000
__________________________________
"Such carping is not commendable"
- William Shakespeare
- Much Ado About Nothing a3.s1.l71
__________________________________
Play SR3 at Maelstrom, 1st-3rd May 1999
http://brisbane.diggycity.com/maelstrom
Message no. 2
From: Anders Swenson anders@**********.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 08:19:07 -0800
-----Original Message-----
From: Manx <timburke@*******.com.au>
To: shadowrn@*********.org <shadowrn@*********.org>
Date: Saturday, March 20, 1999 7:34 AM
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules


>Hi all,
>
>I was just cruising through the "advanced orders"
>
...

>********************************************
>FAS7003 ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules (ShadowRun RPG) $13.00
>Simplifies the ShadowRun game so that you can learn
>it quickly on your own or with friends. Complete with
>mini-adventure, starting characters and all required rules.
>********************************************
>
I saw it on the pre-order I get, about the same text, but I forget the
price. Probably not under $10.00 US.
Of course I ordered one, gotta have everything,,, --Anders
Message no. 3
From: Logan Graves logan1@*****.intercom.net
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 11:51:33 -0500
In our last episode, Manx wrote:
>
> ********************************************
> FAS7003 ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules (ShadowRun RPG) $13.00
> Simplifies the ShadowRun game so that you can learn
> it quickly on your own or with friends. Complete with
> mini-adventure, starting characters and all required rules.
> ********************************************

Sounds interesting!! 'Tho I can't find it at Amazon.com.

Got an ISBN for it?

--Fenris
______________________________________________________logan1@*****.intercom.net
(>) The awful shadow of some unseen Power
Floats, tho' unseen, amongst us.
(>) Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Hymn to Intellectual Beauty."
Message no. 4
From: grahamdrew grahamdrew@*********.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 13:22:22 -0500
Logan Graves wrote:
>
> In our last episode, Manx wrote:
> >
> > ********************************************
> > FAS7003 ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules (ShadowRun RPG) $13.00
> > Simplifies the ShadowRun game so that you can learn
> > it quickly on your own or with friends. Complete with
> > mini-adventure, starting characters and all required rules.
> > ********************************************
>
> Sounds interesting!! 'Tho I can't find it at Amazon.com.
>
> Got an ISBN for it?

This sounds a lot like the AD&D insert that was in an issue of Dungeon a
few month ago. I am a bit supprised this is an actual catoloug itme and
not somehting handed out out a Con or something. Is there really
anything in it that would appeal to experienced players beyond somrthing
to throw at a newbie or something?

<snip .sig>
Message no. 5
From: Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 20:13:01 +0100
According to Manx, at 1:27 on 21 Mar 99, the word on
the street was...

> ********************************************
> FAS7003 ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules (ShadowRun RPG) $13.00
> Simplifies the ShadowRun game so that you can learn
> it quickly on your own or with friends. Complete with
> mini-adventure, starting characters and all required rules.
> ********************************************

That's something FASAMike was talking about at GenCon last year, sort of a
"Shadowrun Light" to get new players into the game without them needing to
pay US$30 for a game they don't know if they like yet. (Adam J. compared
it to something Steve Jackson Games has done with GURPS, but I don't know
much about that game.)

IIRC it's one of three products intended to make SR easier to play for new
gamers -- First Run is one, this ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules would be two,
and number three I can't remember ATM.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
What in the wide wide world of sports is going on here?!
-> NERPS Project Leader * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
->The Plastic Warriors Page: http://shadowrun.html.com/plasticwarriors/<-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

GC3.1: GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+
PE Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 6
From: Fhaolan arkemp@*****.ca
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 22:05:07 -0800
At 08:13 PM 3/21/99 +0100, you wrote:
>That's something FASAMike was talking about at GenCon last year, sort of a
>"Shadowrun Light" to get new players into the game without them needing to
>pay US$30 for a game they don't know if they like yet. (Adam J. compared
>it to something Steve Jackson Games has done with GURPS, but I don't know
>much about that game.)

SJG produced a version of the Basic GURPS rulebook, called GURPS Lite. It's
free, and downloadable from the SJG site (I don't think there is a printed
version, but there may be). GURPS Lite is stripped of the more esoteric
rules and gamemaster information, producing what is hopefully just enough
to make a new player want to buy the full Basic rulebook. I'm not sure how
successful the idea is, but it makes sense to me. Except for the bit about
it only being available for download. I know most of the gaming community
is online, but if the idea is to attract *beginning* gamers instead of
people who are into other systems....

-Fhaolan
Message no. 7
From: Adam J adamj@*********.html.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:22:22 -0700
At 22:05 3/21/99 -0800, Fhaolan wrote:

>SJG produced a version of the Basic GURPS rulebook, called GURPS Lite. It's
>free, and downloadable from the SJG site (I don't think there is a printed
>version, but there may be).

I believe GURPS Lite was included in some of the SJG products that were
based on products that already had a large following, and may be useful in
making gamers out of non-gamers -- I believe GURPS Discworld was one of
these products.

-Adam J
< http://shadowrun.html.com/tss / adamj@*********.html.com / ICQ# 2350330 >
Message no. 8
From: Sommers sommers@*****.umich.edu
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:14:21 -0500
At 03:22 AM 3/22/99 , Adam J wrote:
>At 22:05 3/21/99 -0800, Fhaolan wrote:
>
>>SJG produced a version of the Basic GURPS rulebook, called GURPS Lite. It's
>>free, and downloadable from the SJG site (I don't think there is a printed
>>version, but there may be).
>
>I believe GURPS Lite was included in some of the SJG products that were
>based on products that already had a large following, and may be useful in
>making gamers out of non-gamers -- I believe GURPS Discworld was one of
>these products.

Discworld was one. They are also going to put the booklet in the new GURPS
GM screen. It would have made a nice inclusion to put the SR3 quick rules
in the SHadowrun screen.

Sommers
Insert witty quote here.
Message no. 9
From: grahamdrew grahamdrew@*********.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 15:46:57 -0500
Sommers wrote:
>
> At 03:22 AM 3/22/99 , Adam J wrote:
> >At 22:05 3/21/99 -0800, Fhaolan wrote:
> >
> >>SJG produced a version of the Basic GURPS rulebook, called GURPS Lite. It's
> >>free, and downloadable from the SJG site (I don't think there is a printed
> >>version, but there may be).
> >
> >I believe GURPS Lite was included in some of the SJG products that were
> >based on products that already had a large following, and may be useful in
> >making gamers out of non-gamers -- I believe GURPS Discworld was one of
> >these products.
>
> Discworld was one. They are also going to put the booklet in the new GURPS
> GM screen. It would have made a nice inclusion to put the SR3 quick rules
> in the SHadowrun screen.
>
> Sommers
> Insert witty quote here.
Well, if it's designed to get new players into the game, what good is
adding it to the GM Screen? I could see adding it to a seperate product
(Like ED) but if your buying the GM Screen, chances are better than not
you already own the core rulebook, and hence don't need/want it.

--
If a device is designed to do one thing really well, it can be
redesigned to do many things badly.
-Paranoia
Message no. 10
From: Sommers sommers@*****.umich.edu
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 16:08:36 -0500
At 03:46 PM 3/22/99 , grahamdrew wrote:
>Well, if it's designed to get new players into the game, what good is
>adding it to the GM Screen? I could see adding it to a seperate product
>(Like ED) but if your buying the GM Screen, chances are better than not
>you already own the core rulebook, and hence don't need/want it.

Because hopefully the GM is someone who knows how to play the game and its
the players who are new. If you're going to GM you might as well get the
whole rulebook. But I'm working on getting a friend of mine to play, and
I'd love to giver her a little 20-30 page booklet to read over and get the
idea of the game and decide if she likes it. Right now, she's interested
but intimidated by the whole big book that she would have to look over for
the basic rules.

Sommers
Insert witty quote here.
Message no. 11
From: Mongoose m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 23:14:24 -0600
:Because hopefully the GM is someone who knows how to play the game and
its
:the players who are new. If you're going to GM you might as well get the
:whole rulebook. But I'm working on getting a friend of mine to play, and
:I'd love to giver her a little 20-30 page booklet to read over and get
the
:idea of the game and decide if she likes it. Right now, she's interested
:but intimidated by the whole big book that she would have to look over
for
:the basic rules.


What an excellent idea. It could introduce concepts as basic as
rolling dice, target numbers, and so on. I strongly suspect the concept
of pools would be totally axed- which changes things a fair bit, but might
be worthwhile for teaching totally new players.
Hey, wasn't there some net project like this? :)

Mongoose
Message no. 12
From: Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 11:39:40 +0100
According to Sommers, at 16:08 on 22 Mar 99, the word on
the street was...

> >Well, if it's designed to get new players into the game, what good is
> >adding it to the GM Screen? I could see adding it to a seperate product
> >(Like ED) but if your buying the GM Screen, chances are better than not
> >you already own the core rulebook, and hence don't need/want it.
>
> Because hopefully the GM is someone who knows how to play the game and its
> the players who are new. If you're going to GM you might as well get the
> whole rulebook.

IIRC that's not the intended audience for the fast play rules. They're
aimed at people whose group has never played SR, or who have never even
played an RPG before. You have to admit that a 336-page book can be very
intimidating, whereas a booklet of, say, 48 pages with only the very basic
rules (how to shoot someone, how to cast a spell, etc.) is much more user-
friendly. Once the group has decided they like this game, they can buy the
real rulebook.

> But I'm working on getting a friend of mine to play, and I'd love to
> giver her a little 20-30 page booklet to read over and get the idea of
> the game and decide if she likes it. Right now, she's interested but
> intimidated by the whole big book that she would have to look over for
> the basic rules.

That's really easy: don't give her _anything_ to read in the way of rule-
or sourcebooks. Let her make a character under your guidance, or make one
for her (based on what she wants to play, of course), and let her go on
straight to playing from there. Just explain the basics of the rules --
what the important (and only the _important_) numbers mean and how to roll
dice -- and worry about the rest when it becomes necessary. What you
should expalin in more detail are what the character can do and owns;
explain what each piece of equipment, spell, etc. does and looks like,
what he or she is good at, and so on. IMHO this will give the player a
much better basis for playing than knowing "the rules" will.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
What in the wide wide world of sports is going on here?!
-> NERPS Project Leader * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
->The Plastic Warriors Page: http://shadowrun.html.com/plasticwarriors/<-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

GC3.1: GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+
PE Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 13
From: Patrick Goodman remo@***.net
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 11:14:59 -0600
>********************************************
>FAS7003 ShadowRun Quick-Start Rules (ShadowRun RPG) $13.00
>Simplifies the ShadowRun game so that you can learn
>it quickly on your own or with friends. Complete with
>mini-adventure, starting characters and all required rules.
>********************************************

There's a little bit of information on FASA's site; here's the URL for the
product in question.

http://www.fasa.com/shadowrun/catalog/product10551.html

So it's a real product. I'll probably get one or two so I can more easily
integrate newbies into my group (and because I'm a rabid completionist <g>).

--
(>) Texas 2-Step
El Paso: Never surrender. Never forget. Never forgive.
Message no. 14
From: Scott Wheelock iscottw@*****.nb.ca
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 18:54:58 -0400
"And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Patrick Goodman."
] There's a little bit of information on FASA's site; here's the URL for the
] product in question.
]
] http://www.fasa.com/shadowrun/catalog/product10551.html

I got a good laugh out of this...read the quote...

"This simplified rulebook makes roleplaying easy.
Designed for impulse buyers and new gamers, the
Quick Start rules include all the basics they need to
play, at an entry level price."

Then look at the "entry level price." :)

Now that's affordable!

-Murder of One
Message no. 15
From: Paul Gettle RunnerPaul@*****.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 22:15:01 -0500
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 06:54 PM 3/23/99 -0400, Scott Wheelock wrote:
>] http://www.fasa.com/shadowrun/catalog/product10551.html
>
> I got a good laugh out of this...read the quote...
>
>"This simplified rulebook makes roleplaying easy.
>Designed for impulse buyers and new gamers, the
>Quick Start rules include all the basics they need to
>play, at an entry level price."
>
> Then look at the "entry level price." :)
>
>Now that's affordable!

Actually, "Corporate Download", "Man & Machine", "Corporate
Adventure"
(This one is just a working title, I hope), "Cannon Companion", and
"Year of the Comet" all have that very same price.

With a little URL hacking, I managed to get a shopping cart with all
these bargain priced items, and had their website run me off a mail
order form. Think they'll honor the prices if I send in the form? ;)

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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 16
From: Scott Wheelock iscottw@*****.nb.ca
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 08:03:16 -0400
"And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Paul Gettle."
] Actually, "Corporate Download", "Man & Machine", "Corporate
Adventure"
] (This one is just a working title, I hope), "Cannon Companion", and
] "Year of the Comet" all have that very same price.
]
] With a little URL hacking, I managed to get a shopping cart with all
] these bargain priced items, and had their website run me off a mail
] order form. Think they'll honor the prices if I send in the form? ;)

Please, please do this! I'd love to know what happens!
(I'd be waiting for the collection agency to show up at my
door, angrily demeanding my delinquent payment of zero
dollars and zero cents)

-Murder of One
Message no. 17
From: Iridios iridios@*********.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 08:18:54 -0500
Scott Wheelock wrote:
>
> "And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Paul Gettle."
> ] Actually, "Corporate Download", "Man & Machine",
"Corporate Adventure"
> ] (This one is just a working title, I hope), "Cannon Companion", and
> ] "Year of the Comet" all have that very same price.
> ]
> ] With a little URL hacking, I managed to get a shopping cart with all
> ] these bargain priced items, and had their website run me off a mail
> ] order form. Think they'll honor the prices if I send in the form? ;)
>
> Please, please do this! I'd love to know what happens!
> (I'd be waiting for the collection agency to show up at my
> door, angrily demeanding my delinquent payment of zero
> dollars and zero cents)

Actually, Paul, don't. It took FASA long enough to put a catalog on
the web, we don't need to give them any excuses to take it down. :)


--
"My fellow Americans,
I'm pleased to tell you today, that I've signed legislation that
will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes"
-Ronald Reagan

Iridios
iridios@*********.com
ICQ UIN:6629224
The ShadowZone is down for Revision
Please email me with Zone Notification as subject to be
notified when it reopens.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9489
Message no. 18
From: Paul Gettle RunnerPaul@*****.com
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 08:54:24 -0500
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 08:03 AM 3/24/99 -0400, Scott Wheelock wrote:
>"And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Paul Gettle."
>] Actually, "Corporate Download", "Man & Machine",
"Corporate
>Adventure"
>] (This one is just a working title, I hope), "Cannon Companion", and
>] "Year of the Comet" all have that very same price.
>]
>] With a little URL hacking, I managed to get a shopping cart with
all
>] these bargain priced items, and had their website run me off a mail
>] order form. Think they'll honor the prices if I send in the form?
> Please, please do this! I'd love to know what happens!
>(I'd be waiting for the collection agency to show up at my
>door, angrily demeanding my delinquent payment of zero
>dollars and zero cents)

It wouldn't be entirely free, they are still charging me the $4 for
shipping. Besides, even if by some miracle they did honor it, and I
told the list about it, you'd all do it too, and FASA wouldn't make
_any_ money off of any of us for the rest of the year. You don't want
that, do you?

:)

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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 19
From: Scott Wheelock iscottw@*****.nb.ca
Subject: Shadowrun Fast Play Rules
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 07:02:48 -0400
"And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Paul Gettle."
] It wouldn't be entirely free, they are still charging me the $4 for
] shipping. Besides, even if by some miracle they did honor it, and I
] told the list about it, you'd all do it too, and FASA wouldn't make
] _any_ money off of any of us for the rest of the year. You don't want
] that, do you?
]
] :)

Gosh, no! Nosiree, that'd have to stop, right away!
(But only after I've sent _my_ form in, 'kay?) :)

-Murder of One

Further Reading

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Thwap!