| From: | Adam J adamj@*********.html.com |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Fwd: Voice from the list's past |
| Date: | Fri, 07 May 1999 12:50:34 -0600 |
doesn't have time to follow the list. His email address, if you want to
forward comments to him, is darkstranger@*******.net
>The initial impression regarding SR3, New Seattle, MitS, SR Companion,
>Corporate Download, Cannon Companion and Man & Machine is indeed, oh god,
>FASA's trying to connive me out of my hard-earned dollar by issuing mere
>retreads. Put a new cover on it, say it's for Third Edition, and they'll
>bilk money out of people like us.
>
>But the reality does not match the initial impression.
>
>SR3 includes far more material than either SR1 or SR2. Many of the rules
>that needed to be changed were. Unlike other publishers who issue new
>editions merely with new artwork, this book clearly is different from its
>predecessors.
>
>New Seattle was perhaps a bit disappointing for those expecting something
>like the old Seattle, chock full of specific locations and the like. But it
>is still very good, as it updates Seattle up to 2060 and makes the requisite
>historical changes. Now we know who won the Yakuza and the Mafia internal
>power struggles, among other things.
>
>SR Companion. I'll admit, I didn't purchase this one, but I did come into
>ownership of one. Of all the "retreads" this is the one that probably most
>closely fits the term. Given I wasn't a fan of the original, it should come
>as no surprise I'm not a big fan of this one either; I personally will never
>allow a Ghoul to be a PC in my game.
>
>Magic in the Shadows, just as with SR3, I had the pleasure to playtest. Not
>only are rules cleared up and cleaned up, there are lots of new goodies. It
>is much more than the sum of it's previously published parts. I'm not sure
>yet how the published version differs from the playtest version, but even
>that version made a number of desperately needed changes and additions.
>
>Corporate Download. This book bears little resemblance to the Corporate
>Shadowfiles. Don't ask me how, don't ask me for a copy (No way I'll risk my
>relationship with FASA just to send anyone of you a copy, so DON'T even
>bother), but I have seen a draft version of the entire book (which will
>likely differ from the published version). And I am very impressed. A very
>useful book, far more useful than Corporate Shadowfiles, far more
>immediately useful. Not to mention there is detailed information on the new
>members of the Corporate Court, something obviously missing from
>Shadowfiles. After MitS, this is the next "must-have" book for SR. Bank on
>it.
>
>Cannon Companion and Man & Machine will include all the old materials (at
>least the ones that didn't suck that is). Which is nice, because guns for
>example are scattered in Street Samurai Catalog, Neo-A's Guide to Real Life,
>Fields of Fire and pop up in various other adventures and sourcebooks, such
>as Lone Star. Above and beyond all that, Mike Mulvihill has publicly stated
>that those books will not be mere retreads, they will have new "toys" and
>rules, such as a Rigger 2-style build-your-own-gun template.
>
>Beyond that there are some other exciting projects, the mere beginning of
>which is the Year of the Comet, which will be 100% new.
>
>In other words, even if you own the books that are being replaced, there
>still is very good reason to purchase nearly all of them. As I said with
>MitS, nearly all of these books are far more than the sum of their
>previously published parts and the new materials.
>
>And as I think Tinner said, nobody is forcing you (or anyone else for that
>matter) to buy any of these books.
>
>Regards,
>
>Erik Jameson
--
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