Alrighty. So After my co-ST'd Exalted series is done. I plan on running a One-Shot for Unknown Armies for a mostly new group. Barring extreme interest in continuing that, I've picked up a couple games along the way. Keep In mind I haven't actually played/ran either of these yet.
 
Shadowrun 4
 
Promethean
 
Now I have a broad player base to choose from. Some of them Gamist Dick-Wavers ("so if I combine this skill with this item I get 10 attacks and 27 damage dice"), A broken role-player or two (as in they enjoy playing the fighter who doesn't like to fight or the creepy guy who sits in his room all day). A Mr. Positive (I'm going to do good. As much as I can...I'm sooooooo selfless!) and a couple Whatever-Dudes who play fighters ("So...what are you doing?", "I dunno...I guess I attack the bad guy". "He's ten stories above you!" "Ok then, I guess I chase after him".). BTW, I actually have no problem with ay of these stereotypes or I wouldn't be playing with them.
 
I would really like to play Promethean. It's so different from the other games. I also like how it promotes thinking outside the system (or box). Which is something I like to do as both a player and a GM.
 
So Promethean sounds like a lot of cool fun, however, there's only a few people who would even show up for it as the majority of my group a. Don't like horror games so much. b. Prefer to be Empowered (they love love love Exalted). I couldn't even run UA with them because they heard how a knife can kill you in one hit. So they all might be completely disinterested.
 
So, if you vote is Promethean...give me ideas how to hype it to my players too!
 
Shadowrun seems all about dickwaving. Maximizing your characters capabilities. Which I'm cool with. I however, worry that a. Prep time: I can pull WoD stuff outta my ass. Having to stat up mooks, draw maps and all that other stuff takes a toll on a man without a lot of time. b. I'm not very good at running Dickwave games. Gimme politics, weirdness, and lethality and I'm alright. Dungeon Crawls and tactical decisions I'm not very good with yet.
 
So, if your vote is Shadowrun, also give me some hints on reducing prep time!

Quote from: KrakaJakNow I have a broad player base to choose from. Some of them Gamist Dick-Wavers ("so if I combine this skill with this item I get 10 attacks and 27 damage dice"), A broken role-player or two (as in they enjoy playing the fighter who doesn't like to fight or the creepy guy who sits in his room all day).

This kind of gamer in our hobby?  Say it isnt so

But Seriously

Shadowrun 4 sounds like a good idea

Quote from: Geek MessiahThis kind of gamer in our hobby? Say it isnt so
 
But Seriously
 
Shadowrun 4 sounds like a good idea

So how would I reduce my prep time.

Quote from: KrakaJakSo how would I reduce my prep time.

You could stat up a few generic bad guys that could easily be blown away.  You can modify them as you go along so if you need a bad guy with a little more power you can add on.

Or you can make a character template for a tough badguy, 1 or 2 reusable bad guys of various powers that can be blown away and reused.

As for maps, You dont have to use a map for every game.   I actually found on drivethrurpg.com maps which are reallly good and come with items placed and blank so you can set it up as you like:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=118&sort=xa&page=2

I have all of the maps and they are really nice (Done via Autocad) and the packs of maps are reasonably priced.

Hope that helps.

Quote from: KrakaJakSo how would I reduce my prep time.

SR4 includes a chapter with basic NPCs (including rules for mooks and elite opponents). The GM screen comes with a booklet that adds more NPCs (for contacts or enemies).

You can also check the Dumpshock Forums for tons of ideas, programs and projects, including the Shadowrun NPC Wiki, map galleries, etc. The official website has lots of free pre-made adventures from the Missions program. Download, print, read, play.

(Even better, they make a campaign, like the adventure paths for D&D)

There's also On the Run, an introductory SR4 adventure loaded with GM advice.

If you want to adjust the power level of your campaign, the book has an entire section for that (grittier? gun-fu? amoral? heroic?). Don't forget that you can set the initial amount of Build Points for character generation (it's usually 400, but the book suggests 500 for high-power or 300 for low-power games).

From personal experience, it's not really hard to make things "on the fly" now with SR4. YMMV, but I'd say give it a try or two.

Quote from: JongWKFrom personal experience, it's not really hard to make things "on the fly" now with SR4.

I started playing Shadowrun back in '89 and I never had any trouble coming up with stuff "on the fly."  I've never really understood why people had any trouble with it...

Quote from: VellorianI started playing Shadowrun back in '89 and I never had any trouble coming up with stuff "on the fly."  I've never really understood why people had any trouble with it...

It's all about making shortcuts. :cool:

That being said, I can understand why. Previous editions had wildly different rules for things you were supposed to combine (magic, hacking, vehicle combat), and could become extremely complex (Rigger 3, anyone?). That's why Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book was a godsend for SR3.

Quote from: VellorianI started playing Shadowrun back in '89 and I never had any trouble coming up with stuff "on the fly."  I've never really understood why people had any trouble with it...

Never understood that easy.   It has always been easy to do.   It sounds like 4th edition makes it easier.

I would get it but I am currently on a game buying freeze and I dont think I could find anyone in my group to play it (though I might be wrong).

Hmmm....

As I think about it, I did an awful lot of handwaving and "spirit of the mechanic, not the letter of the mechanic" rulings...  

QuoteGimme politics, weirdness, and lethality and I'm alright

This is also dick-waving. Dick waving for lazy newspaper readers, who think they are above math and footwork. But dick-waving nonetheless.

Quote from: SettembriniThis is also dick-waving. Dick waving for lazy newspaper readers, who think they are above math and footwork. But dick-waving nonetheless.

When I ran Shadowrun way back when the game was never a "Dick Waving Contest" (or at least not too badly).  

I wonder if it has to do with the gamers you game with instead of the game you are playing.

Ummmmm, Shadowrun is quite a bit about building the better combo of abilities gear and powers as a player. I always felt it was my job as a GM to give them things to wave their dick at and occasionally threaten to chop it off (literally and figuratively).
 
Shadorun to me is like a variant on DnD where the Dungeons go up! So the game really benefits from maps. I will check out dumpshock though that sounds great