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Post by mcr on Dec 11, 2020 20:35:35 GMT -5
As of this post, both have PDF's of various editions readily available to a quick google search. I have some experience with Shadowrun, and at least on the surface it seems thematically similar to Cyberpunk. Does anyone here have experience with the former? Thoughts?
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Post by ultron2099 on Dec 11, 2020 22:58:09 GMT -5
the difference is mainly setting. cyberpunk is pure blade runner future dystopian ultra tech megacorporation. shadowrun takes that, and then adds a touch of tolkien races and magic. cyberpunk is for those who don't want to involve anything non human or any kind of magic. shadowrun is 80% cyberpunk and 20% pathfinder.
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 13, 2020 21:19:38 GMT -5
As of this post, both have PDF's of various editions readily available to a quick google search. I have some experience with Shadowrun, and at least on the surface it seems thematically similar to Cyberpunk. Does anyone here have experience with the former? Thoughts? Obviously mileage varies by GM, but in terms of design intent, Shadowrun is D&D but in a futuristic dystopia. In terms of themes, the things that make Cyberpunk REALLY Cyberpunk are mostly absent excepting where individual GMs might put them in. Shadowrun swaps out dungeon crawls for "jobs" but they're often structured the same way and character roles are pretty similar to AD&D 2. "Megacorporations" are stand-ins for evil warlords and such, dragons are power brokers instead of hoarders of piles of physical treasure, etc. Its AD&D 2 with a cyberpunk "paint job" Cyberpunk is a much more philisophical game by its nature (though again, not necessarily by the way certain GMs may run it). Cyberpunk is about what qualifies as "life", transhumanism, moral and ethical questions as raised through the lens of a culture that has left behind most of the 20th centuries ideals, etc. AGAIN, either of these games CAN BE RUN the way I describe the other, and a lot of other ways as well, but I'm talking about the way the games were designed from the ground up. As game systems, they're both terrible, but I'd give a slight edge to Cyberpunk for being moderately less sucky. The new Cyberpunk Red rules streamline the rules even a bit better (BUT I'm told that the latest Shadowrun rules do the same, I just haven't experienced them yet) |
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Post by mcr on Dec 13, 2020 22:25:03 GMT -5
As of this post, both have PDF's of various editions readily available to a quick google search. I have some experience with Shadowrun, and at least on the surface it seems thematically similar to Cyberpunk. Does anyone here have experience with the former? Thoughts? Obviously mileage varies by GM, but in terms of design intent, Shadowrun is D&D but in a futuristic dystopia. In terms of themes, the things that make Cyberpunk REALLY Cyberpunk are mostly absent excepting where individual GMs might put them in. Shadowrun swaps out dungeon crawls for "jobs" but they're often structured the same way and character roles are pretty similar to AD&D 2. "Megacorporations" are stand-ins for evil warlords and such, dragons are power brokers instead of hoarders of piles of physical treasure, etc. Its AD&D 2 with a cyberpunk "paint job" Cyberpunk is a much more philisophical game by its nature (though again, not necessarily by the way certain GMs may run it). Cyberpunk is about what qualifies as "life", transhumanism, moral and ethical questions as raised through the lens of a culture that has left behind most of the 20th centuries ideals, etc. AGAIN, either of these games CAN BE RUN the way I describe the other, and a lot of other ways as well, but I'm talking about the way the games were designed from the ground up. As game systems, they're both terrible, but I'd give a slight edge to Cyberpunk for being moderately less sucky. The new Cyberpunk Red rules streamline the rules even a bit better (BUT I'm told that the latest Shadowrun rules do the same, I just haven't experienced them yet) Are there systems you think work best for a setting of this style? There are some Cyberpunk books on sale through HumbleBundle I was eyeing, but I'd rather not waste my money if they suck. |
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 14, 2020 16:08:54 GMT -5
Obviously mileage varies by GM, but in terms of design intent, Shadowrun is D&D but in a futuristic dystopia. In terms of themes, the things that make Cyberpunk REALLY Cyberpunk are mostly absent excepting where individual GMs might put them in. Shadowrun swaps out dungeon crawls for "jobs" but they're often structured the same way and character roles are pretty similar to AD&D 2. "Megacorporations" are stand-ins for evil warlords and such, dragons are power brokers instead of hoarders of piles of physical treasure, etc. Its AD&D 2 with a cyberpunk "paint job" Cyberpunk is a much more philisophical game by its nature (though again, not necessarily by the way certain GMs may run it). Cyberpunk is about what qualifies as "life", transhumanism, moral and ethical questions as raised through the lens of a culture that has left behind most of the 20th centuries ideals, etc. AGAIN, either of these games CAN BE RUN the way I describe the other, and a lot of other ways as well, but I'm talking about the way the games were designed from the ground up. As game systems, they're both terrible, but I'd give a slight edge to Cyberpunk for being moderately less sucky. The new Cyberpunk Red rules streamline the rules even a bit better (BUT I'm told that the latest Shadowrun rules do the same, I just haven't experienced them yet) Are there systems you think work best for a setting of this style? There are some Cyberpunk books on sale through HumbleBundle I was eyeing, but I'd rather not waste my money if they suck. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with any of the newer Cyberpunk styled games, so I can't really recommend one. Cyberpunk and Shadowrun are far from unplayable, you can have fun with either, so if its between those, just know what you're going for; Cyberpunk is more focused on the "rule of cool" that dominates the setting, Shadowrun is more of a basic fantasy adventure but with machine guns and mohawks. |
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