I've been talking to some online friends about gaming, and offered to run a game for them when they're available. We discussed a lot of games (MSH, H&S, Deadlands, and lastly Shadowrun.)

The one they could all agree on was Shadowrun so I decided to go with an idea I've had stewing for a while.


Today I drew up my horrid little map, and a quick community primer (since the community around them will be important in play.


So anyone else playing/running SR now?

I'm using 20th Anniversary edition with a couple minor house rules. (Mostly to shake the last inconsistencies of mechanics out of  the game.)

Map is much cooler than anything I've been doing for maps.  You should see mine.  They are outlined scribbles for setting up minis.  What program did you use to create it?

I've just dug up a whole bunch of SR stuff, when a member of the club came in and plopped down a huge pile of adventures.  Opportunity, and all that.

Got the Seattle Sourcebook, but can't decide on an edition to run since I have all of them.  I feel 4th is the way to go, since it's a little more up to date on it's sci fi aspects than the stuff from '89 and even through 3rd edition.

I think I'm going to run a 4th Ed. Matrix centric campaign.  No magic users, but I'll encourage hacker, samurai, riggers and other cybernetic / computer oriented characters to create a ultra futuristic "internet" vibe.

I love the sourcebooks, and I'm re reading a few of them now.  Need to jot down some plots and adventure hooks, but I haven't really got to work on it much just yet.

I've just had to begin plotting a Thunder Rift D&D campaign for the club, so I don't have a lot of time for it at the moment.  If you're keen on tossing around ideas I'd say this is the place to do it.

Indeed. I used Adobe Photoshop to make the map. Mostly just playing around, I tend to prefer hand drawn maps but I'm not sure I can get straight enough lines without a ruler.


As for ideas I've got a "primer" of people and things in the area.


Neighborhood: East Svenksa

Major Streets: Moscow and 14th.


Major Businesses:


1]  Great Bear's Talismans and Consulting: Owned by Vyacheslav, a large bearded and friendly Russian Expatriate, he has a thick accent but can be understood clearly. Vyacheslav is a bear shapeshifter and shaman. He deals is a talismonger and is deeply loyal to those who he likes.

2] Gunny's Bar: Small bar for those drinking their troubles away. Gunny is Former Gunnery Sgt. George McDowd. A rough no nonsense Irish Dwarf with a few secrets. The bar is protected by a slaved turret and twin heavy machine guns. Few know the buns haven't had ammo in years. Opens at 5:30 PM

3] Lazy Eddie's Electronics: It used to be part of a chain called Fast Eddie's Electronics, however in 2060 the chain hit a patch of bad luck and now the owner does all the work from the last surviving location. He's a slow, patient man these days hence the moniker change. He still has a lot of spirit, just not as hyperactive as he was when younger.

4] The Chop Shop: Formerly an automotive shop which helped make allegedly “legal” only street rods. Now the only bits that remain are the car lifts and a few stray boxes of pats. The office has been remade into a illegal surgery clinic, which can get decent upgrade for a price.

5] Treasure Trove:  Mr. Lizard, as he is called on the street runs a small pawn shop, that takes things with only minimal fuss. Albeit he tends to disdain things gained with violence. Mr. Lizard is known for keeping his place very hot and for his Tourette's tick that makes him slide his tongue out of his mouth at random. The site used to be called “U-Pawn-it” but was purchased by Mr. Lizard five years ago, it has gained quite a bit of quality merchandise in that time. If you know how to ask.

6] The Rasp: Boxing Ring and Gym. Run by an aging fifty-something Russian man named Nikolai. Sings painted on the wall say: No Cybernetics, No Biomods, No Weight Mismatch.

 One notable thing about the gym is the beautiful murals on the walls.

7] Kat's Place: A nice sports bar, serves food and drink. Particularly shadowy booths, used a lot by low end Mr. Johnsons and fixers looking for a score. The place isn't as rough as Gunny's and is open during the day. It is run by a petite late 40's woman with gray hair braided down her back. She is absent on Friday's and Saturdays and leaves the running of the bar to her staff. She is there the rest of the time. Paintings on the wall are done in the same hand as those in the Rasp albeit these are framed canvas, not murals.

8] Authentic Italian: A small Italian Restaurant. Offers a variety of Italian and American foods. Owner is unknown but all the waitstaff are of Italian-American families. Somewhat expensive for the neighborhood, its a “date” place.

9] Jorge's Farmer's Market: A small chain that started in Texas. It provides groceries of all types, even fresh (as possible) vegetable. Some rumors say the original Jorge was a drug lord who now finds more profit in fruits and vegetables. Other darker rumors claim the chain is owned by a genetics firm out of Aztlan and all the fruits come from a lab. Of course neither rumor is helped by the fact that it has its own “investigative” firm to find and prosecute thieves, and they do so very well. The Market employee twenty seven people.

10] GO-mart:  the local convenience store. Filled with typical Soy based convenience store products. GO-mart is part of a large cheap chain. Officially this is store 13981. GO-Mart has been under scrutiny for its test stores moving to Iconic/RFID only packaging. GO-Mart employee seven people locally.


11] Dark Brewed: Dark Brewed is the local coffee house, serving a variety of soy, coffee, and tea based drinks.
Dark Brew's owner can usually be found reading (books) and drinking his favorite dark brewed coffee.
He's tall thin elf with dark eyes and a mysterious air. He is known to talk quietly to those who catch his interest. Some say he used to read tea leaves for the rich.

12] Trollburgers: Small Hamburger place, serves real meat, of indeterminate lineage.




What other businesses should I add to the locale?

A flophouse and pool hall. A church of some description with perhaps a shelter attached to it or soup kitchen.

PS You have some really good stuff there but overall the scale seems very small and local for Shadowrun. Granted I'm not that experienced with Shadowrun I always imagine the scope of Shadowrun is the vast metropolis rather than just a single neighborhood. As such I'm kind of curious to hear more about you pitch .

A cultural center of some sort, such as an archaic library (maybe now completely electronic, of course), museum or building devoted to some indigenous culture.  

Any local schools could be useful as well.  Depends on the neighborhood and how sandboxy it's going to be.

Quote from: Soylent Green;532104A flophouse and pool hall. A church of some description with perhaps a shelter attached to it or soup kitchen.

PS You have some really good stuff there but overall the scale seems very small and local for Shadowrun. Granted I'm not that experienced with Shadowrun I always imagine the scope of Shadowrun is the vast metropolis rather than just a single neighborhood. As such I'm kind of curious to hear more about you pitch .

Yeah its meant to be community driven, for the fact I'm aiming at classic cyberpunk tropes of "fight the man' not "take payoffs from the man.." aspects. Sure their will be some traditional run's but most of it is to protect/support the community.


Thanks for the help.
Good stuff.

I just use Google Maps and Google Earth. If I need to modify it, I hit print screen; paste into microsoft paint and edit. We've played SR since 89, and we currently play SR4A. We enjoy it.

I'd say as long as you're having fun, and the players are having fun you're doing it right.

Great neighboorhood, Silverlion. Just add a brothel and a coffin-hotel and youre done. I will use it in my games, if you dont mind.

Just 2 questions for brainstorming..

1. How about its shadows ? Any mafia/crime syndicate present? Gangs? Vigilantes ? Corrupt cops? Smuggling rings? etc.

2. And what are the hidden agendas of those "good" people ? Maybe someone is banging the neighboor´s wife? Business competition leading to behind the scenes maneuvers ? Chop shop selling "live meat" to the Ghouls?? Or perhaps the local chaplain fucks some whores from the brothel ? In other words, how about Dogs in the Vineyardizing it a bit - making it a powder keg waiting to be lit, with the runners in the middle. (well, this could mean shadowruns popping everywhere, but if exagerated could lead to a comical situation where everybody wants to fuck everybody. )

Just my 2 cents. Keep us updated.

Possible contacts

Vyachlev: Tall hefty Russian with hearty welcomes for most well meaning folks. Is known for his thick accent huge appetites and his thick black beard. Allegedly a  Bear shapeshifter as well as shaman. Talismonger.

The Librarian:  A thing stooped old man who wears glasses and always had a knowing smile behind his eyes. Local Information Broker. It is rumored he has something to do with the Dunkelzahn School. No one ever seems to bother him. Rumor has it he's a powerful wizard or dragon. Information Broker

Rob "Twitch" McElvoy: Twitch is a local gun dealer, as in "don't ask where these came from, and I won't like.." gun dealer. He operates out the back of his beat up van. He has old cybernetic systems he claims are what makes him "twitchy." Others just think he's a rat in human form. Weapon Contact/Fixer

Mr. Johnson: The primary Mr. Johnson in the area can be found hiring people out of Kat's Place. He's a thin bald man of indeterminate nationality an age. Other Mr. Johnson's can be found locally, but few have the pull of the "Gray Man."

Father Nikolavic: Tall dark skinned local Priest of the Russian Orthodox/Eastern Orthodox Church, quite cunning, and even sneaky for a priest. Religious Contact.

One Eye:  Rumor says he used to be a fantastic street samurai, these days he tends his garden and smokes his cigars,  both usually trimmed with his cyberclaws.  General Contact.

Dr Rhea: An Elf Shamaness and licensed Vetinarian. Chirpy, and seemingly young. She's known to talk peoples ear's off. Medical Contact

Doc Scratch: Cybernetics expert and biosurgeon, allegedly had his license pulled for "inhumane" experiments. Runs the Chop Shop. Can get a bit giggly over new parts. Cybernetics/Biomods Contact.

Taranael: Runs Dark Brewed, known to be educated, well spoken and condescending. Information Broker/Contact

Turtle: Secretive leader of the Slicers, known for her someone atypical hacking methods, despite the clues she leaves behind no one has caught her yet. Information/Hacking Contact.





Notable People and Low Life's

Vasily: Vasily runs the drugs and prostitution in the neighborhood, but he does so from Little Russia somewhat to the north. He's a vindictive criminal but not overly cruel himself. He does let cruelty go on underneath him if it furthers his goals. He is soft spoken, over weight man of Russian heritage. He operates out of his nightclub "Devil's Halo." Who he works for is unknown.


Sergei and the Twins: Sergei is one of the local "recruiters" and heavies for Vasily, he's also of Russian heritage and human. He is cruel and treats people like things.

The Twins are Sergei's  "body guards" and heavy right and left hands. Orks who look identical although asking around they seem to have different mothers. Both have identical tattoos on their arms.


The Slicers: Slicers is a hacking club/gang that run in the area. They're friendly but mischievous, and may ask the PC's for favors in return for assistance. The Sliders are run by Turtle Girl, who mostly stays inside her shell (run down tenement) and speaks with people through a small rebuilt drone (that resembles a turtle.)

Skullboyz: A local gang known for their violence and drug pushing ways. They're lead by an Ork named Death's Hand, and include a mage named Headache.

Ghouls and the Ghoul Ghetto: Under the Bridge on 16th Street is a collection of rubble, tin, and barrels that make up the home of the local Ghoul pack. Any dead bodies on the streets not moved by nightfall will vanish into the Ghetto. The Ghoul's leader is known as Dr. Grin.

Janie Q: Jane Q is the local burnt out prostitute. She's still pretty but worn, in her late 20's or early 30's at she is trying to stay clean (former chiphead.) But its a tough with no income but for her tricking. She really is trying, but few will hire her with her hollow look in her eyes. Sergei likes to come around and beat her a little for kicks, as well as force her to cough up the money she's earned for Vasily.



What I will share:

A) The first adventure starts with a fire in the players home building. They'll have to deal with it and the fallout of it (being homeless, losing their belongings)


B) There are toxic spirits showing up in some areas, someone is trying to cover them (and their source up.)

C) Something is going on at the abandoned warehouse.

D) One of the gangs is about to be taken over (speaking of I need to add a third gang, any ideas?)

E) Some of the local areas "important people"  are not who or what they seem and they have their dangerous fingers stirring the powder keg of the area. Some for 'positive' seeming reasons, others for selfish ones.

F) Local crime will be stepped up.

E) Something is going to explode, eventually.

Third Gang: Humanis Policlub rallying against the Skullboyz for their drug pushing ways, while simultaneously fueling race hatred with random killings / beatings / draggings.

Looks like you've done a pretty thorough job of plotting this out.

I like SR, earlier editions a bit more than 4E but I'd love to play it. There's even a game of it up at the store nearest me - but it's of course on the day that my fiancee drags me over to another store to play Pathfinder (which she loves more than SR). I wouldn't mind playing it as I think that it deserves support as a less popular game than D&D or Pathfinder.

... But come to think of it, the SR game has a player who's in my fiancee's game; this admittedly young-teenaged player is pretty impulsive and tends to go off the deep end, but more because he thinks "oh, this is cool, I want to do it" and doesn't think about what the consequences are.

So Pathfinder Sundays it is for me, for now.

That's a shame really James, my friend started a game with some friends of mine on Sunday. It isn't one I take too seriously as I doubt it will last. It includes two friends, one of the friends girlfriends, me and my  (15 year old) nephew.

Guess which one went off and started a fight with Lonestar?

One of my friends. A troll Physical Adept with a sledgehammer. Sadly these must have been the rookies and he survived. My nephew (Weapon Specialist) DID back him up since he was part of our team, at least his argument made sense. Stealth-mage (me), Hacker (girlfriend of player), and other friend (Street Sammie) simple left during the firefight--one walked out after doing what Lonestar said (Sammie), I stealthed out (Skills and Invisability) and the Hacker went out the back.


Can't wait to see what happens next time when we actually get to a run (this was a perfectly avoidable bar fight.)