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Message no. 1
From: Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU>
Subject: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 15:23:36 +1100
Hi people,

I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
question to you.

Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

Shaman
Message no. 2
From: Skye Comstock <bilbo@****.NWLINK.COM>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 21:37:46 -0800
>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
>question to you.
>
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

Well, Shadowrun was basically my *first* RPG altogether.;) I was a
follower of the standard "Dungeons and Dragons are for geeks, etc, etc"
theory.. I was talking to someone about a year and a half or so ago about
RPG's and he said that SR was based in Seattle, so I went down to the
bookstore and picked up a copy. Over the course of a month I read through the
book a couple of times and thought it was pretty damn cool. Since I
don't/didn't know anyone who admits to being into this stuff, I hopped on IRC
and sat in #shadowrun... and a year and half or something later, I'm still
there.;) Was that a decent answer? Oh, I've actually looked through a few
games, but none of them really struck me as being different or something I'd
want to spend my money on. RIFTS looked kind of neat when I looked through a
sourcebook a few months back and someone I know on the net says it's a fun
game... Hrm, I'm boring anyone that actually read through this. I'm done.

Skye.
Message no. 3
From: Faux Pas <thomas@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 00:14:06 -0600
At 03:23 PM 1/5/97 +1100, you wrote:
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

I started with SR when I picked up a copy of Bug City and flipped through
it. I thought the initial story and the way the sourcebook was laid out
(our familiar annotated file on the Shadowland bulletin board) were very
interesting. A few days later, I came across what I believe was the last
hardback copy of the SR2 rulebook in existance (and at a second-hand
bookstore, along with three other sourcebooks and five or so adventures).
Having money to burn - not to mention an odd hobby I have of collecting
different RPGs - I purchased most of them.

Why do I stick with Shadowrun? The richness of the game world, for one.
Each sourcebook is like another chapter in an engrossing novel. I read
over Bug City and a few others, and before I knew it, I had several of the
Shadowrun products. Several nations, secret conspiracies hinted at, racial
tensions, they were all there. FASA's Shadowrun world seemed fuller and
more detailed than any of TSR's AD&D campaign settings.

The fluidity of the game world is another reason why I'm sticking with
Shadowrun. Wisely, FASA is updating the current date of their game setting
instead of setting it in one unchanging time. FASA gets to update the
world and the players get the feeling of being in a real, live world. For
instance, the entire UCAS election and the assassination of Dunkelzahn, the
Universal Brotherhood storyline, the racial boiling pot.

And it's a purt' darn good cyberpunk roleplaying game.


-Thomas Deeny
the Cartoonist at Large's web site will be up on Monday.

"Formed the Jackie Chan Stuntmen's Association after so many stuntmen were
injured during the making of Police Story that none were willing to work
with him again."
-from www.firststrike.com's chronology of Jackie Chan.
Message no. 4
From: Droopy <droopy@*******.NB.NET>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 02:46:30 +0000
> From: Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU>
> Subject: Why ShadowRun?

> Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
> dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
> did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

I still play many other RPGs, but I find myself drawn back for
several reasons....

Rich game world (A big plus with all of FASA's stuff)
Comprehensive, yet streamlined rules system
Easy to adapt the rules to your style
I get to harrass Mike
I found a way to (hopefully) start making some money with it.
My skull dice really mean something with these rules
Rumor mongering and conspiracy theories (much like Over the Edge)

I'm sure I can think of more.....


--Droopy
droopy@**.net
Message no. 5
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 00:11:42 -0800
On Sun, 5 Jan 1997, Calvin Hsieh wrote:

> Hi people,
>
> I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
> question to you.
>
> Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
> dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
> did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?
>
> Shaman
>

My role-playing track-record is: Robotech -> a little game called
'Survivors' you won't find anywhere else on the planet except in a binder
in my friend(and co-creator)'s garage -> WarHammer 40,000 -> Shadowrun ->
RIFTS -> AD&D -> WoD...then a cycle between SR, RIFTS and WoD.

Shadowrun has one of the absolutely best backgrounds in which to play.
The system is nice and clean cut. Detail and Playability.
The source books are set up to reflect the background and fantastic.
(they put you right into the environment)
There's a whole world going on, reflected in, and perpetuated with each
new source book.

um...background, background, background...
What more can I say, the game just has an awesome background and
environment (like every body keeps saying: "Good job FASA!").

I think I like reading ABOUT the SR "universe" just as much as I like
playing in it. It's like one big anthology of stories that just keeps
going..

Just can't get enough of it!

~Tim
Message no. 6
From: Airk <jfrank@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 01:58:51 -0700
Faux Pas wrote:
>
> At 03:23 PM 1/5/97 +1100, you wrote:
> >Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
> >dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
> >did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

> Why do I stick with Shadowrun? The richness of the game world, for one.
> Each sourcebook is like another chapter in an engrossing novel. I read
> over Bug City and a few others, and before I knew it, I had several of the
> Shadowrun products. Several nations, secret conspiracies hinted at, racial
> tensions, they were all there. FASA's Shadowrun world seemed fuller and
> more detailed than any of TSR's AD&D campaign settings.

Exactly!

>
> The fluidity of the game world is another reason why I'm sticking with
> Shadowrun. Wisely, FASA is updating the current date of their game setting
> instead of setting it in one unchanging time. FASA gets to update the
> world and the players get the feeling of being in a real, live world. For
> instance, the entire UCAS election and the assassination of Dunkelzahn, the
> Universal Brotherhood storyline, the racial boiling pot.

Yup yup yup...

You've got my reasons there...

Airk
comic-collector-shadowrun-freak-extraordinaire
Message no. 7
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 11:54:45 +0100
Calvin Hsieh said on 15:23/ 5 Jan 97...

> Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
> dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
> did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

Before picking up SR the only RPG I'd ever played was **&*, but since
then I've built up a reasonable collection of RPGs I've either never
played at all, or just once or twice. I'm sticking with SR for the most
part because it would get way too confusing for my players (who are
somewhat inexperienced) to have to get to grips with a new set of rules
every few weeks :) I'd really like to play some of the games I've bought,
but I guess I'll have to wait for a while...

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Suppress it if you can.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
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Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
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Message no. 8
From: Matt Bruce <matt@*****.NET.AU>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 20:39:27 +0800
Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU> wrote:

>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
>question to you.
>
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

Speaking for myself, I know that I picked Shadowrun for a number of reasons.
These include the fact I love the metal future of 21st century RPGs and I
also love the magic and chaos of AD&D-ish RPGs.

I've played straight "AD&D" for a couple of years (I started RPGing late --
I'm 24) as well as "Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0". They both have features I love and
hate, and Shadowrun seems the natural blend of both.

I still intend to test out "GURPS CthulhuPunk" (I love H.P. Lovecraft's
works) and a mate of mine is into RIFTS, but they can wait -- I'm having too
much fun in SR.

There you have it. Probably not the clearest of reasons for playing SR2, but
they're good enough for me. :)

Cya,

--
............................................................
: "Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from :
: off my door!" -- Edgar Allen Poe, "The Raven" :
: ................................. :
:........................: Matt Bruce, matt@*****.net.au :.:
: http://www.tower.net.au/~matt :
:...............................:
Message no. 9
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 08:41:15 -0500
I have played at one time or another nearly every RPG on the market.
I started with Good ol' D&D (not advanced, no such thing then)
Went on to Palladium's TMNT&OS, Robotech, Paranoia, Warhammer FRP, Top
Secret SI, GURPS, White Wolf - Storyteller, Toon . . . the list continues.

While I still play nearly everything that comes down the pipe, I keep
coming back to SR for the color.
The game world is incredibly well designed.
Character types are extremely varied, and not just different versions of
the same combat monster.
Adventure types are varied enought that it doesn't turn into one dungeon
crawl after another.

Overall, SR has more to offer player and GM alike than ANY other RPG I have
encountered.

Steven A. Tinner
bluewizard@*****.com
http://www.ncweb.com./users/bluewizard
"Not in the face! Not in the face!"
Message no. 10
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 16:07:51 +0000
|
|Hi people,
|
|I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
|question to you.
|
|Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
|dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
|did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

I like shadowrun....
I also like playing the odd game of **&*, (please don't lynch me)
Rifts, Earthdawn, SLA Industries, Call of Cthulu, Paranoia (when I'm in a
silly mood), and a few more.....

I'll play whatever I get the chance to play, with the possible exception of
WoD (although, changeling wasn't too bad).

I'm also an active Live-Action-Role-Player.....

(Although, not as active as I used to be....)
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ 5++ |
|X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! >*SULK*<|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 11
From: John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 17:12:31 EST
On Sat, 4 Jan 1997 21:37:46 -0800 Skye Comstock <bilbo@****.NWLINK.COM>
writes:
>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch
a
>question to you.
>
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

Shadowrun is really the only RPG I have any experience with. Under my
belt are all of about 10 games of SR, a game of Toon, which would have
been better if we'd excluded the two munchkins..., one hour of Vampire,
and one really crappy, totally improvised game of D&D, in which I used my
previous SR character (it was a REALLY awful game). I first ran into it
about two years ago, I think, when some friends and I had originally
arranged to play Battletech (which, to this day, I have never played). I
brought my copy of the Battletech Compendium, they brought SR. I can't
say I've ever regretted the occurrence:)

Canthros-the-shapeshifter-mage
Message no. 12
From: Donald G Bixler <mudgb4@***.ECN.BGU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 16:45:36 -0600
> > Hi people,
> >
> > I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
> > question to you.
> >
> > Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
> > dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
> > did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?
> >
> > Shaman
> >

Well, I started with AD$D, of course, and then to several other
TSR and Palladium games. (Top Secret, Twilight 2000, Robotech, Beyond
the Supernatural, TMNT&OS) The only one of those I really enjoyed was
TMNT, although I still use BtS as a reference for other games, such as
Call of Cthulhu. Then I found Chill, which while not being too
enjoyable IMHO, did lead me to CoC. Then I discovered Paranoia, TOON,
and TFOS, all of which I still enjoy playing. Then I hit upon GURPS.
(Love the information, but the rules are more awkward than a Troll going
through puberty.) About this time, I played my first game of SR (still
1st ed), but didn't get hooked because I didn't associate with those
friends for very long due to outside circumstances. Then I got Vampire,
and the WW games kept me busy for a bit. Then I decided that I wanted a
good cyberpunk game to play. I remembered SR as being a good, detailed
world with fairly simply rules and got it. I've enjoyed it and it's
really the only c-punk game I've played heavily. (I once played
Cyberspace, but the sheer volume of numbers to crunch made it a major
pain and I dropped it.) Oh yeah, there's one other RPG I forgot; at the
same time I was being introduced to SR, I also was shown the Amber DRPG.
Well, the only games I still play are TOON for sillyness, CoC
fro a good horror game, Paranoia for those truly cynical and sarcastic
moods, Amber for its background, Wod for the world I've created for it
which I'm rather proud of, and Shadowrun for a cyberpunk or when I wanna
be a shaman. Oh, yeah, I do still play AD$D a little, but just because
it's something that everyone knows how to play; for FRP, I prefer
Warhammer.

Oops da "Does Civilization or Illuminati count as an RPG? ;'}" Ogre
Message no. 13
From: Bull <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 01:28:03 -0500
At 03:23 PM 1/5/97 +1100, you wrote:
>Hi people,
>
>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
>question to you.
>
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?
>
Hmmmm....

That's a darn good question, Shaman... I'm not drifting right now, unless
you consider three years of game time drifting. No, I think I'm going to
stick with Shadowrun for some time to come....

Why do I play? Well.... For one, it has a good system. The system is
organized and fairly easy to learn (except decking, which even though I've
been playing a decker for three years, I still don't have it all down).
Plus, it's easy for the GM to manipulate the PC's stats, regardless of numbers.

What do I mean? Well, in AD&D, your character, other than gear, is pretty
much a set thing once it's rolled up. If you're a Fighter, and 7th level,
it's pretty easy to figure out all the numbers, becuase every 7th level
fighter is about the same. that's one of the appeals of that system,
though. It's very straightforward and simple. Sometimes too simple, though.

In Shadowrun, you can compare two street samurai taht each have 100 karma,
and chances are tehre will be signifigant differences in the character
(unless, of course, they're munchies, in which case, their damned
predictable). Shadowrun is also open to a little more RP.

I guess for me though, it was the GM. I had actually made several SR
characters over the years before ever actually playng the game. It looked
cool, but didn't seem to be anything special. I'd seen cyberpunk, and
didn't like taht game, and figured SR was probably the same thing. However,
Steve Tinner was my first SR GM, and from day one my character was a part of
me. Bull started out with a lot of personality, and it's been building ever
since. It's never been a game of numbers for me. In fact, half the time
anymore we ignore the numbers and just RP with it.

You really can't do that with AD&D.

I do have several other games that I'm still seriously into. Some of them
are even RPG's... but I really don't get much chance to play them. i've
run a very lengthy and in depth campign for both the Marvel Superheroes game
(Fun stuff), as well as Star Wars (only 26 days!!!!!), and wold run either
of those in a heartbeat again, but there just isn't time. I'm already
running an SR game, playing off and on in two others, and playing in an AD&D
game. Plus several other thngs, like Warhamme Fantasy Battles miniatures
games every couple weeks...

But, I hope that answered your question... I'm rambling a bit here, so I'll
shut up now....

Bull

=======================================================
= Bull, aka Chaos, aka Rak, aka Steven Ratkovich =
= =
= chaos@*****,com =
= =
= "Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any fours?" =
=======================================================

"Good Lord! I've heard of this - Cat juggling!"
-Steve Martin, "The Jerk"
Message no. 14
From: "V.A.L.I.S." <campbellcc@***.HENDRIX.EDU>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 00:44:51 +0100
>At 03:23 PM 1/5/97 +1100, you wrote:
>>Hi people,
>>
>>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
>>question to you.
>>
>>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

I (of course) started with **&*, and after several years of that, played in
a V:TM game. I was like, 'yeah, we're not going to fight, low combat, yeah
right that'll be a lot of fun, what the hell are we going to do, pick our
immortal noses?', but after playing was enthralled, even though it was five
runs before we had a fight...We are also running an **&* campaign, and a
RIFTS game, and I was going to start a Gamma World game (Don't laugh, it's
kind of fun) and then I decided two apoclitical (big war thingy) games was
one too many, so I said, hey I've got this shadowrun source book, how about
I run this. My group told me the rules were a little complicated, (They are
pretty complex compared to a lot of games), but I bought a whole bunch of
the books, and everyone rolled up characters. Our first game should be in a
couple of days. We mainly alternate between **&*, RIFTS, SR, and WoD, with
the occasional Gamma World, or CoC game.


Sincerely,

Courtney C. Campbell...
(Male-Agnostic-Heterosexual-American)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
* Courtney C. Campbell *
* Campbellcc@*****.hendrix.edu *
* Http://www.hendrix.edu/homes/stu/campbellcc/ *
* ____| *
* |_|__ "I am not mad. *
* | I am intrested in freedom." *
* -James Douglas Morrison *
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
* "Remember, no matter where you go, there you are." -Buckaroo Banzai *
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Matter is plastic in the face of mind
-Tractates Cryptica Scriptura
Phillip Kindred Dick/VALIS
Message no. 15
From: MC23 <mc23@****.NET>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 12:42:17 -0500
Calvin Hsieh to answer his curiosity wrote,
>
>Hi people,
>
>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
>question to you.
>
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?
>
>Shaman
>
I didn't think much of Shadowrun when I first heard FASA planning
this but when I recieved my first promotional flyer my opinion instantly
changed. The rule book arrived in the store the same day as Champions
4th edition came out (being a serious Champions player, I was torn
between reading both books. Shadowrun won out). From its creation
Shadowrun has had a very serious integrated working world. Every aspect
was interesting.
For specifics, I like how everything interacts. I like the game
balance of the game mechanics. I like that the game mechanics are given
the philosophy behind it so you know why things work so you're allowed to
interpret it with knowledge of what they had in mind. I like that it
grows. I like that tries even with additional rules to keep everything
as fast, simple, and logical as possible. I like that world background
is written to be reinterpretted and adjusted as opposed to absolute law.
I like how they try to cover all facets of the Shadowrun world giving it
more "realism."
The longer I stay on this thread the more reasons I could create.
In general, when I think of a FASA product I think of a dedication to
world creation and explanation.





Ancient cultures believed that names held great power, personal
names more so and they were guarded very closely. To protect themselves,
they answered to another name, because if another discovered their real
name, it could be used against them.
History repeats itself.
Welcome to the Digital Age.
I am MC23
Message no. 16
From: Peter David Boddy <pdboddy@****.CARLETON.CA>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 13:34:47 EST
Calvin Hsieh writes:
>
> Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
> dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
> did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

Shadowrun was the second RPG I ever played, the first being D&D. I have
played Shadowrun since it first came out (my friends and I have the first
few SR books that hit the shelves here in Ottawa). We thought it was a
pretty cool game, and it still is. After a few false starts, a campaign
started where our characters eventually had 300+ karma, and had 'run
enough, and made enough money, that they retired to a nice sunny island.
We'd done it all, saved Seattle once or twice, fought three dragons
(killed one, fought to a standstill with a second, and ran from a third),
challenged the corps (our group was still wanted by Renraku when we
retired, a multi-million nuyen bounty on our heads), used as pawns by
Harlequin and Ehran, we were key in the fall of the Universal Brotherhood
(in Seattle anyways), purged a hive (a wasp hive, the queen was very, very
nasty), travelled around the world (visiting Japan, Europe, and Aztlan),
formed a successful gang, and got to work with legends like Kid Stealth,
Dodger and Sally. This was over five or so years in real time (our high
school years wouldn't have been the same without SR!).

It was that first loooong campaign that got us all hooked, we will be SR
players life long...

Pete

Pete aka Spitfire
Test your might...
at http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/8920/index.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter David Boddy
Carleton University
Email address: pdboddy@****.carleton.ca
Email address: bx955@*******.carleton.ca
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 17
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 11:15:05 -0700
Calvin Hsieh wrote about "Why ShadowRun?":

|Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
|dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
|did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

I started with AD&D (1st ed), then Traveller (original), Gamma World
(1st ed), James Bond, Star Frontiers, BattleTech, Star Trek, Marvel
Superheroes, AD&D (2nd ed), Fantasy Hero, Champions, TMNT, Heros
Unlimited, V:tG, DC Heroes, Traveller 2300, Twilight 2000,
Shadowrun (1st ed), Shadowrun (2nd ed) and Gurps.

The one's I keep playing (or would like to keep playing) are James
Bond, AD&D, BattleTech, Champions, DC Heroes, and Shadowrun.

The reasons are: playability, depth of rules, and most important the
depth of the RPG's world. In the case of AD&D and Champions I've
almost allways played (and ran) games where the GM created an
outstanding world. In the case of James Bond, BattleTech, DC Heroes
and Shadowrun, the world is allready there for me. In the case of
ShadowRun specifically, I just like it.
--
-David

"Pick.. up.. the.. door."
"...Hey!.. Kunds!"
Message no. 18
From: "Arno R. Lehmann" <arlehma@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 01:26:45 +0100
On Sun, 5 Jan 1997 15:23:36 +1100, Calvin Hsieh wrote:

>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?

I'm afraid I've only gone through a quarter dozen RPGs (including SR),
but at least at the moment I prefer SR.
The background is quite rich, the world is rather close to ours
compared to Middle-Earth and therefore it is easy to role play and not
to roll dice ;)
The main disadvantage in SR is the immense number of rules for every
thing, guy, thought, action etc. etc, but OTOH these make it quite like
reality (My TV is operated different than my computer).

My gaming friends seem to view things a little alike.

-- Arno
Message no. 19
From: "Mike Mulvihill (FASA)" <FASAMike@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 16:41:46 -0500
In a message dated 1/5/97 07:57:46 AM, Droopy wrote:

<snip>

>I get to harrass Mike

Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't make me come over there...I'll turn this game around!

(Good one Droopy!)

Have Fun!
Play Games!
It's Shadowrun (no Capital 'R")! Pet Peeve #3....

Mike Mulvihill
Shadowrun Line Developer
FASA
www.fasa.com
Message no. 20
From: Mike Buckalew <mike_buckalew@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 13:45:54 -0700
I was originally attracted for two reasons:
- The subject matter was intriguing (the cross genre concept was new at
the time)
- It was well supported (a ton of sourcebooks and adventures released
that first year)

I eventually got bored and moved on to other things a year later because,
as a DM, "I got tired of flattening light ammo against body armor". If I
armed anybody with something heavier than an assault rifle, I would
easily kill PCs, and anything else wouldn't challenge them.

When 2nd Ed came out, I started watching again, and when I had an
opportunity to start up a new game, I went with it. I think what kept me
interested was the rich background detail. I think the authors have done
a great job creating a realistic world, one which lives and breathes.

We've now been playing for the last year and half or so. It gets really
slow for the other players during Matrix runs and Astral scouting, but
overall it's been one of my most successful campaigns to date in terms of
player enjoyment. (And that's how I rate campaigns).


Buck
(Mike Buckalew)
Test Manager
FileMaker Pro
buck@******.com

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Message no. 21
From: MC23 <mc23@****.NET>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 16:55:48 -0500
Mike Mulvihill (FASA high Poobah) wrote,
>
>Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't make me come over there...I'll turn this game around!
NOOOOOO!!! Damn, now I have to start from scratch.
>It's Shadowrun (no Capital 'R")! Pet Peeve #3....
Hey, could we please have the full list on these Peeves. <whimper,
whimper - sad puppydog-like eyes stare>
>Mike Mulvihill
>Shadowrun Line Developer
>FASA
and unofficial Star Wars countdown keeper
(You're not going to get in trouble with Lucas about this are ya?) <grin>




Ancient cultures believed that names held great power, personal
names more so and they were guarded very closely. To protect themselves,
they answered to another name, because if another discovered their real
name, it could be used against them.
History repeats itself.
Welcome to the Digital Age.
I am MC23
Message no. 22
From: Droopy <droopy@*******.NB.NET>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 22:09:44 +0000
> From: "Mike Mulvihill (FASA)" <FASAMike@***.COM>
> Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?

> >I get to harrass Mike
>
> Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't make me come over there...I'll turn this game around!

Hey! If it weren't for folks like myself, Dark Elf, Lady Death, and
Phil hammering on you during your early years under Sam, you might
have remained a normal human being. If it wasn't for us, you'd never
be able to handle those Q&A sessions at the Cons. <BG>


--Droopy
droopy@**.net
Message no. 23
From: Carl Schelin <cschelin@**.NASA.GOV>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 06:57:33 -0500
At 03:23 PM 1/5/97 +1100, you wrote:
>Hi people,
>
>I was going through all this talk about RIFTS and thought I might pitch a
>question to you.
>
>Many of us, in fact probably all of us have gone through at least half a
>dozen other RPGs before sticking with SR. My question to everyone is why
>did you choose to stay with SR, or are you all merely drifting through?
>
>Shaman
>
>

Hmm, last time I got hammered (hey, one hammer is still hammered) for giving
too much information but what the heck. Here goes.

I started with the original Citystate adventure in '76 (so I've been playing
RPG's for over 20 years now).
I bought the blue basic box set and DM'd games from those rules.
Bought the AD&D rules as they came out (Monster Manual, Player's Handbook,
then DM's Guide). I've been playing AD&D since then (mixing in AD&Dr2 rules).
Played Traveler where I had my first contact with FASA in '78 or so.
Had my hand in the 1st edition Paranoia (The Computer is Your Friend), Boot
Hill (Always liked westerns), Gangbusters (Liked '20s and gangsters since I
was a kid).
Used the Palladium weapons series of booklets with my AD&D games.
CoC, Empire of The Petal Throne, RuneQuest, Biker Nuns with Guns (I think
that's the name), Time Lords, TFT, Bunnies and Burrows, Dragon something
(can't think of the actual name, Avalon Hill? SPI? DragonQuest?), Thieves
World, Thieves Guild.
Lots of non RPG's (started gaming with War games long before RPG's).

Found Neuromancer and really enjoyed the concept. Arrived on the 'net about
that time ('89 or so). The frp usenet group at the time had been talking
Shadowrun rules. I went to my local gaming shop and found the original 1st
edition softback rules and some additions. Continued to pick up sourcebooks,
modules, etc. Release 2 came out, picked up the hardback and softback (7900
and 7901). Upgraded my systems with r2 replacement sourcebooks. Ran a couple
of games just before the gaming group broke up. Have been keeping up with
the rulebooks but haven't been involved with a gaming group in the last year
or so (almost 2 years now). Getting the DTs and am just about ready to start
up a new group.

I've been spending the past few weeks converting all my AD&D notes to computer.

I don't care what anyone says, Billy Idol's Cyberpunk CD is his best ever.

I'm gearing up to start a new game of something. God only knows what that'll be.

SR is pretty good because of the different environment (than AD&D, closer to
Paranoia). I like it *because* I'm a computer weenie. It's a little
complicated but I can get over that. The pluses are due to the enhancements
to the actual characters (players or NPCs). In D&D characters (either type)
essentially don't have much of a background unless you really spend time
creating the background. SR characters *are* the game. You have more
character interaction which requires a different sort of gaming.

I think it has enhanced my AD&D skills as a DM as well.

SR's become one of my main gaming systems falling just behind AD&D. I doubt
I'll ever consider it shelfware (as DragonQuest or Ars Magica are). Most
systems I pick up are in support of AD&D, enhancing my skills as a DM or
fleshing out my gaming world.

Well, too much again, I suppose.

Carl

-----------------------------In Real Life
"D'ya know why I wear a black hat, Joey?" Carl Schelin
"'cause the guy with the white hat" Server Operations
"always gets the girl." -Dennis the Menace NASA Headquarters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Geek Code 3.0) GCS d- s+:+>:++ a39 C++++ UL+++ P++ L+++ E- W N+++ K
w++>+++$ O M V PS PE Y PGP- t 5 X R+++ tv- b+++ DI+++ D+++ G++ e h r y**
Message no. 24
From: Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 11:17:30 +1100
On Thu, 9 Jan 1997, Carl Schelin wrote:

> Used the Palladium weapons series of booklets with my AD&D games.
> CoC, Empire of The Petal Throne, RuneQuest, Biker Nuns with Guns (I think
> that's the name), Time Lords, TFT, Bunnies and Burrows, Dragon something
> (can't think of the actual name, Avalon Hill? SPI? DragonQuest?), Thieves
> World, Thieves Guild.

Pretty sure it was DragonQuest. The nuns one - from memory it was "Macho
Women with Guns" and "Biker Nuns from Hell".

Shaman
Message no. 25
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 00:23:30 +0000
|
|On Thu, 9 Jan 1997, Carl Schelin wrote:
|
|> Used the Palladium weapons series of booklets with my AD&D games.
|> CoC, Empire of The Petal Throne, RuneQuest, Biker Nuns with Guns (I think
|> that's the name), Time Lords, TFT, Bunnies and Burrows, Dragon something
|> (can't think of the actual name, Avalon Hill? SPI? DragonQuest?), Thieves
|> World, Thieves Guild.
|
|Pretty sure it was DragonQuest. The nuns one - from memory it was "Macho
|Women with Guns" and "Biker Nuns from Hell".

"Macho Women With Guns", "Renegade Nuns on Wheels" and "Batwinged
Bimbos
From Hell", to be precise....
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ 5++ |
|X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! >*SULK*<|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 26
From: Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 12:17:05 +1100
On Fri, 10 Jan 1997, Spike wrote:

> |
> |On Thu, 9 Jan 1997, Carl Schelin wrote:
> |
> |> Used the Palladium weapons series of booklets with my AD&D games.
> |> CoC, Empire of The Petal Throne, RuneQuest, Biker Nuns with Guns (I think
> |> that's the name), Time Lords, TFT, Bunnies and Burrows, Dragon something
> |> (can't think of the actual name, Avalon Hill? SPI? DragonQuest?), Thieves
> |> World, Thieves Guild.
> |
> |Pretty sure it was DragonQuest. The nuns one - from memory it was "Macho
> |Women with Guns" and "Biker Nuns from Hell".
>
> "Macho Women With Guns", "Renegade Nuns on Wheels" and
"Batwinged Bimbos
> From Hell", to be precise....

Darn. I knew I had the Nuns mixed up with something. Oh well, I stand
corrected.

Shaman
Message no. 27
From: Dvixen <dvixen@********.COM>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 18:17:43 -0800
> >I get to harrass Mike
>
> Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't make me come over there...I'll turn this game
around!

Don't pay any attention to him.

We *all* get to harass you...

:)

> Have Fun!
> Play Games!
> It's Shadowrun (no Capital 'R")! Pet Peeve #3....

<grin>
I was waiting for that.

But Mike, why, oh why, didn't you fix it?
Instead, it coninued to spiral...

(So I fixed it. I can't stand that spelling. Nowhere in the English
language should a word have a capital in the middle, unless it is an
acronym!)

--
Dvixen/Snow Leopard dvixen@********.com
"And I thought First Ones were rare." - Ivanova - Babylon 5
The opinions expressed are those of the myriad voices in my head
Message no. 28
From: Elfman & Danita <elf-dani@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 19:19:28 -0700
> From: Mike Mulvihill (FASA) <FASAMike@***.COM>
> To: SHADOWRN@********.ITRIBE.NET
> Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
> Date: Wednesday, January 08, 1997 2:41 PM
>
<snipped a bit here>

> Have Fun!
> Play Games!
> It's Shadowrun (no Capital 'R")! Pet Peeve #3....

DARN, now I gotta go change ever reference to the word Shadowrun on my home
page. I'd swear I had seen it written that way in some official literature,
but if Mike says no then I says no, so I'm going to change it.

Sgt Pepper

Visit Elfman's World at http://www.spots.ab.ca/~elf-dani
or Danitaville at http://www.spots.ab.ca/~elf-dani/index.html
Message no. 29
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 11:58:54 +0100
Dvixen said on 18:17/ 9 Jan 97...

> > It's Shadowrun (no Capital 'R")! Pet Peeve #3....
>
> <grin>
> I was waiting for that.
>
> But Mike, why, oh why, didn't you fix it?
> Instead, it coninued to spiral...

Maybe it should be in the FAQ (but then again, that'd still mean nobody
would know... :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Why are these dudes all dressed up in white?
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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Message no. 30
From: Fastjack <uc298@*****.ALUMNOS.UNICAN.ES>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 13:28:05 +0100
Easy :-)

I always loved the magic in all the games,and also likes a lot the
"ciberpunk future"...Shadowrun has all i likes in a rpg .
And the main diference with ciberpunk is...that in shadowrun a very good
samurai always must be afraid of magic;and in ciberpunk a very good
mercenarie(that is with tons of armor :-( )only must be afraid
of...misiles!:-( this is the best example of Highpowered games.:-(




*************************************************
* *
* >>>>>[Tu ciberterminal sera mia.Piensalo bien *
* cuando te encuentras en lo mas oscuro de la *
* matriz]<<<<< *
* -Fastjack<18:05:46/12-22-52> *
*************************************************
Message no. 31
From: Carl Schelin <cschelin@**.NASA.GOV>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 07:46:17 -0500
At 12:17 PM 1/10/97 +1100, you wrote:
>On Fri, 10 Jan 1997, Spike wrote:
>
>> |
>> |On Thu, 9 Jan 1997, Carl Schelin wrote:
>> |
>> |> Used the Palladium weapons series of booklets with my AD&D games.
>> |> CoC, Empire of The Petal Throne, RuneQuest, Biker Nuns with Guns (I think
>> |> that's the name), Time Lords, TFT, Bunnies and Burrows, Dragon something
>> |> (can't think of the actual name, Avalon Hill? SPI? DragonQuest?), Thieves
>> |> World, Thieves Guild.
>> |
>> |Pretty sure it was DragonQuest. The nuns one - from memory it was "Macho
>> |Women with Guns" and "Biker Nuns from Hell".
>>
>> "Macho Women With Guns", "Renegade Nuns on Wheels" and
"Batwinged Bimbos
>> From Hell", to be precise....
>
>Darn. I knew I had the Nuns mixed up with something. Oh well, I stand
>corrected.
>
>Shaman
>
>

That was it! A bizarre combination of all three in one title. Heh. (And
definately DragonQuest, I checked last night (and it's one word with a cap'd
'Q')).

Carl
-----------------------------In Real Life
"D'ya know why I wear a black hat, Joey?" Carl Schelin
"'cause the guy with the white hat" Server Operations
"always gets the girl." -Dennis the Menace NASA Headquarters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Geek Code 3.0) GCS d- s+:+>:++ a39 C++++ UL+++ P++ L+++ E- W N+++ K
w++>+++$ O M V PS PE Y PGP- t 5 X R+++ tv- b+++ DI+++ D+++ G++ e h r y**
Message no. 32
From: Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: Why Shadowrun?
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 18:08:14 +0000
On 10 Jan 97 at 11:58, Gurth wrote:
[snip ShadowRun is Shadowrun]
> Maybe it should be in the FAQ (but then again, that'd still mean nobody
> would know... :)
LOL!

Sascha
Message no. 33
From: "Mike Mulvihill (FASA)" <FASAMike@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Why ShadowRun?
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 17:08:52 -0500
In a message dated 1/9/97 03:21:11 AM, Droopy wrote:

>Hey! If it weren't for folks like myself, Dark Elf, Lady Death, and
>Phil hammering on you during your early years under Sam, you might
>have remained a normal human being. If it wasn't for us, you'd never
>be able to handle those Q&A sessions at the Cons. <BG>

Now I know who to blame!!!!!!!!!


Have Fun!
Play Games!

Mike Mulvihill
Shadowrun Line Developer
FASA
www.fasa.com

Further Reading

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Thwap!