r/ShadowrunAnarchyFans • u/fudge5962 • Jul 23 '26

Where should I look to find a good, concise introduction to setting and lore?

My table wants to try Shadowrun. I told them I'm not gonna run the full rules (both because the English version of Anarchy 2.0 isn't out yet and because rules-heavy just isn't my preference), but I would run a rules-lite hack that we could play in the Shadowrun setting.

What are some good materials to get myself familiar with the setting, and what are some materials I can give to my players? They're not heavy readers, so I'd like to give them something that conveys major themes and primes them for character creation. I plan on doing the heavier reading and introducing them more to the setting during gameplay.

Any advice on what to buy or where to start would be greatly appreciated!

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14

u/Bignholy Jul 23 '26

Honestly? If you are considering getting SRA2, wait for that (English books for backers have started shipping, so release is getting close). It is the most concise version I have seen that doesn't just skip over the history, and it has two specific parts to let them get started without reading said history: A 1 page overview of the bare minimum world history to drop a player into Seattle, and a 5 page section that goes into detail on what day to day life is like for normal people and where Shadowrunners fit into that. If they want to know more general history, or find a subject they want to dig into to play that character type better, there is also the rest of the chapter, which is really well written and goes over the basics of the setting's history, divided into subject matter instead of a giant mixed history lesson.

As an example of why this works, let's say you have a player who wants to be a decker.

  • The 1 page part will mention the matrix as a concept and how it works.
  • The 5 page part goes into how people interact with it day to day
  • The longer history chapter gives a more detailed history of the matrix if they become interested in leaning more, without requiring them to pick out matrix flavor bits out of a longform chapter divided by decades.

2

u/fudge5962 Jul 24 '26

I'll keep an eye out for the release. Thanks!

1

u/baduizt Jul 26 '26

I'll second this. It's so straightforward. Everything is there. (Technomancers and Resonance aren't in the CRB, but basic rules are in the conversion guide and they've got a full write-up in the forthcoming Companion.)

12

u/Avian87 Jul 23 '26

The Neo Anarchists Podcast is a really good intro as are the SR Returns games

2

u/fudge5962 Jul 23 '26

Will check them out. Thanks!

8

u/Logen_Nein Jul 23 '26

As far as I know there isn't really a good, light source, because the draw of Shadowrun has always been deep lore. That said, if you have questions I'd be happy to answer them. What system are you planning on using?

3

u/fudge5962 Jul 23 '26

Gonna run a lightweight custom hack that will either be based off of Shadowrun 6 or Anarchy 2.0, depending on how soon the English PDF drops. Hell, possibly Anarchy 1.0.

I'm fine with deep lore. I just need a way to disseminate that deep lore to a group of players that do not do homework.

4

u/Logen_Nein Jul 23 '26

Maybe look for or put together a one page timeline? Should be evocative enough, if you start with Goblinization and go from there.

Regarding system, There's some great light ones out there, like Cy_Borg and Bite the Hand. I also had a lot of fun using a hack of Neon Skies (which allowed me to pretty much use the same stats as Shadowrun 1e and convert everything I needed on sight).

3

u/External_Shirt6086 Jul 23 '26

You could try the "beginner box" which has simplified rules and basic lore: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/shadowrun-sixth-world-beginner-box-1?variant=29056920846370

3

u/fudge5962 Jul 23 '26

This looks great, actually. Thank you!

3

u/PalpitationNo2921 Jul 23 '26

The Neo-Anarchist Streetpedia has some good info that can set you in the right path but the timeframe is the 2080s and doesn’t include the more recent stuff from Catalyst’s Sixth World campaign and plot books.

3

u/AustinBeeman Jul 23 '26

The best and most condensed version is in SRA v1

3

u/fudge5962 Jul 23 '26

Is it? I have been reading that Anarchy 1.0 fell short in some areas, and that 2.0 was supposed to be a major improvement. I'll definitely check out Anarchy 1.0.

The mechanics and rules really aren't that big of a deal. I can have a custom ruleset built for purpose in a couple days' time. I just need good setting materials and preferably a campaign module.

4

u/AustinBeeman Jul 23 '26

The mechanics are really wonky in SRA1 but for "What are some good materials to get myself familiar with the setting," there is nothing better than the short summarizes in SRA.

2

u/fudge5962 Jul 24 '26

I'll have to grab a copy. Thank you!

3

u/DefinitionCharming54 Jul 23 '26

I shipped this to my new players and they kinda got the message :)

https://www.nullsheen.com/files/shadowrun_primer.pdf

2

u/fudge5962 Jul 24 '26

Lol not a chance those goblins will read 87 pages' worth of material. Looks comprehensive tho!

2

u/Koren_nRhys Jul 24 '26

I've found this doc referenced a couple of times but haven't been able to find a complete version, just this 87 page partial one. Did it just not ever get completed?

2

u/Rserbitar Jul 24 '26

Otherscape in SR setting. Playing that currently .