Shadowrun 4 Anniversary Core Rulebook changes document
As we publish the Shadowrun Changes PDF that lists the major changes from SR4 to our Anniversary Edition (this PDF will function as the official errata from this point foward; SR4A incorporates all previous errata), we’d like to take time to thank our proofreaders and especially the community for taking the time to read through and highlight a few grammatical, layout, and rules issues that were accidentally overlooked in the SR4A PDF.
In our final print proofs, we found these (and a few other) items and we’re able to correct them prior to printing. Those of you who have purchased the PDF of SR4A will recieve an updated copy with the corrections applied free of cost (as per our standard procedure, you’ll should be receiving an email notification shortly). While the majority of these corrections are grammatical or layout based, they do include updates to karma awards, the optional rule of increasing the drain for Direct Combat Spells, and the hardware upgrades to devices (all of which were items that somehow slipped past us in proofing… unfortunately our staff AIs were all too busy plotting to conquer the world to work on proofing, and us mortal humans sometimes make mistakes). Sometimes when we’ve all stared at 350+ pages for too long (especially as this is the 5th 350+ page rulebook I’ve stared at in 3 years), we don’t see the little errors… luckily, we caught these (thanks to both our diligent proofers and community feedback) during our final print proofing stage.
A few of the changes to SR4A sparked a LOT of community discussion. The two largest were the increased Drain rules for Direct Combat spells and the increased thresholds/object resistance thresholds. Because our core books – including Street Magic, Unwired, Arsenal, Augmentation, and Runners Companion – present additional rules, gear, toys, and qualities that improve runners (mechanically speaking, increased dice pools), we felt it was time for Shadowrun to address the increased challenges. Our intent was two fold. First, to increase the challenge of tasks at the higher end: tasks labeled “extreme” should not be easily accomplished by the average professional, but should be challenging even for masters in their fields. Our other intent is to emphasise that Magic, while powerful, is not completely effective against Technology. Magic is a natural force in the Sixth World. Technology is its fundamental opposite. Hence, Magic – be it spells or spirits – has an increasingly difficult time affecting technological devices. The highly technical items, like Drones, are immune to all but the most powerful magical effects. Trees and rocks, being of the natural world, are inherently easier to affect with mana.
However, that being said, we do listen to our communities. After such feedback we’ve taken another very hard look at some of the changes made. For example we have decided to reduce the thresholds from 1,2,4,6+ to 1,2,3,5+. Extreme tasks- the most difficult and challenging of tasks, achievable only by those who are masters in their fields – are set at 5+ (gamemasters always have the option of setting thresholds beyond 5 to account for even more difficult, or nigh-impossible, tasks).
Overall, feedback for our Twentieth Anniversary Edition has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re glad so many of you are enjoying it! Shadowrun wouldn’t exist without our amazing community (hey, we’re fans too!) and we’re looking forward to another 20 years together.
Randall N. Bills
Managing Developer
Catalyst Game Labs
April 5th, 2009 at 08:31:13
I really wish you guys hadn’t bent to the pressure of all the people whining about object resistance. Will the printed book still have the original table?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:52:37
If we do not receive an email for the updated PDF having ordered it earlier, how do we go about getting a copy?
April 6th, 2009 at 05:47:29
Whilst I had my concerns over the fact that teh Anniversary edition included material rules changes, I have concerns over the amendment of these changes to passify fans. IMHO the anniversary edition should be exactly the same rules of 4th edition or be a significant change (to make it worthwhile).
For example of the Threshold ratings are going to change then I would have preferred them to change to 1, 2, 4, 6 or stick with the original 1, 2, 3, 4. The suggestion of 1, 2, 3 & 5+ seems just a touch half-arsed.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:30:26
Enin — if you’re having any issues at all with our store, please contact quartermaster@battlecorps.com. If you’re having issues with DriveThruRPG/RPGNow, please use the customer service form on their website.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:30:56
Anon — No. The new PDF is what the printed version will be.
April 7th, 2009 at 19:12:29
I do like the higher thresholds as they do put more emphasis on skills. I also wish there was an option that a player had to have a certain skill level to perform some functions. I did not even notice the changes in threshold and drain until I read the news on the website.
I love how you guys updated the street samurai.
April 9th, 2009 at 17:05:03
As long as the production values and art are as good as always it should be a fun read!
April 10th, 2009 at 22:43:09
Omenowl – While there might not be a canon mechanic for limiting what a character can do based on their skill level for success tests or opposed tests, you could use the options for extended tests as a guideline (limiting the number of allowed tests to the character’s dice pool). And there’s always the house rule option. Our group uses a modification of the ‘buying hits’ option; whereas any success test that has a threshold higher than double+1 of the hits you can buy either needs outside help (teamwork test) or is outside your ability. For opposed tests, we compare the number of hits that either side could buy and apply the difference as a dice pool penalty to the lower side. We don’t do this in combat, however, as we prefer to keep from making that any slower and feel there are already enough ways to keep things interesting.
April 16th, 2009 at 03:24:13
Thank goodness bows were capped at 8. It was weird to see super strong trolls doing more damage massive guns!
April 16th, 2009 at 09:18:18
Is there a reason why the paragraph on breaking “Copyright protection” (original PDF page 228 (“Source Code and Piracy”) no longer exists in the anniversary book? Unwired still links to it :(
May 3rd, 2009 at 01:13:01
I’ve a question to the cover-artwork of the “Shadowrun 4 Anniversary Core Rulebook”: is the red dragon showed on the cover a specific, named one?