The year is 2072. Magic has returned and creatures of myth and legend walk among us as megacorps bleed the world dry. You're a shadowrunner-a deniable asset, a corporate pawn-using bleeding-edge science and magic to make your meat body and mind better-than-flesh. Stay on the edge, and you may survive another run on the mean sprawl streets. Shadowrun, Fourth Edition offers a completely new rules system that is simple, integrated, and accessible. The state-of-the-art has also been advanced, introducing a new level of augmented reality, new gear, and new magical discoveries. This full-color rulebook contains all the rules gamemasters and players need to create characters and ongoing adventures set in the popular Shadowrun universe. Shadowrun, Fourth Edition 20th Anniversary Core Rulebook is fully compatible with all Shadowrun, Fourth Edition books.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
74 of 75 people found the following review helpful
By Kizmet
Format:Hardcover
If you're new to Shadowrun or to the 4th edition, be sure to look at the reviews of the old 4th edition book here: Shadowrun 4th Edition or visit Shadowrun's official website.
I picked up the 4th edition core book (BBB) shortly after it came out and it made me want to finally put all of my 1st and 2nd edition stuff on the shelf (we'd been using them since 1994- duct-tape keeping them alive- [3rd edition didn't offer enough incentive for me to buy a whole new edition]). At first glance the system seemed to have made a quantum leap forward allowing it to compete with other high order RPG rules sets like White Wolf's Storyteller System.
We began playing 4th e- but with some difficulty. We would regularly run into problems in the rules and have to come up with a work around, house rule or snap GM decision to keep things moving, but we still had a great time with it. I found that I had a particularly hard time reaching a working understanding of the matrix rules (let's face it- the Matrix is a notoriously tricky thing to get your mind around). I realized, after some time, that I couldn't find ANYONE who understood it well. There were holes in that chapter so big that you could drive an Ares Citymaster through them.
Then came Catalyst (bless their little hearts) who began doling out our regular fix of source books and really bringing the game to life.
With the 20th Anniversary Edition, I feel that Catalyst has reached the pinnacle of Shadowrun's evolution. It's packed with great new fiction, the rules have been tweeked here and they've entirely rewritten the chapter on the matrix. This release also sports the benefit of being published AFTER the source books which has 2 major benefits:
1.) all of the revisions to the core rules to tie neatly into the appropriate source material, galvanizing 4th edition into the most integrated and comprehensive Shadowrun system ever with this book at its core
AND
2.) it includes a complete, color coded index that covers ALL of the core source books. This really helps when your characters try to derail your game with stunts that they see in the movies and you've got to figure out what to roll- and then what happens... `what book did I see that in again?'
In addition to the content, this book looks fantastic. Shadowrun has always featured a grab bag of art in its pages: some phenomenal and some really shameful. In the 20th Anniversary Edition, Adam Jury and Matt Vaillancourt have really outdone themselves. I would say the ALL of the art in this book is really fantastic. Visualizing the setting is a big part of a roleplaying game and it's important to have great art to inspire you and your players. This printing won't let you down with inconsistent quality like the old 4th Edition book did (turn to page 334 in the old 4th e for example- you'll see what I mean).
In a sentence: Buy this book.
Do it and your team will thank you.
Watch your back.
Shoot straight.
Conserve ammo.
And never, ever, cut a deal with a dragon.
--Street proverb
I picked up the 4th edition core book (BBB) shortly after it came out and it made me want to finally put all of my 1st and 2nd edition stuff on the shelf (we'd been using them since 1994- duct-tape keeping them alive- [3rd edition didn't offer enough incentive for me to buy a whole new edition]). At first glance the system seemed to have made a quantum leap forward allowing it to compete with other high order RPG rules sets like White Wolf's Storyteller System.
We began playing 4th e- but with some difficulty. We would regularly run into problems in the rules and have to come up with a work around, house rule or snap GM decision to keep things moving, but we still had a great time with it. I found that I had a particularly hard time reaching a working understanding of the matrix rules (let's face it- the Matrix is a notoriously tricky thing to get your mind around). I realized, after some time, that I couldn't find ANYONE who understood it well. There were holes in that chapter so big that you could drive an Ares Citymaster through them.
Then came Catalyst (bless their little hearts) who began doling out our regular fix of source books and really bringing the game to life.
With the 20th Anniversary Edition, I feel that Catalyst has reached the pinnacle of Shadowrun's evolution. It's packed with great new fiction, the rules have been tweeked here and they've entirely rewritten the chapter on the matrix. This release also sports the benefit of being published AFTER the source books which has 2 major benefits:
1.) all of the revisions to the core rules to tie neatly into the appropriate source material, galvanizing 4th edition into the most integrated and comprehensive Shadowrun system ever with this book at its core
AND
2.) it includes a complete, color coded index that covers ALL of the core source books. This really helps when your characters try to derail your game with stunts that they see in the movies and you've got to figure out what to roll- and then what happens... `what book did I see that in again?'
In addition to the content, this book looks fantastic. Shadowrun has always featured a grab bag of art in its pages: some phenomenal and some really shameful. In the 20th Anniversary Edition, Adam Jury and Matt Vaillancourt have really outdone themselves. I would say the ALL of the art in this book is really fantastic. Visualizing the setting is a big part of a roleplaying game and it's important to have great art to inspire you and your players. This printing won't let you down with inconsistent quality like the old 4th Edition book did (turn to page 334 in the old 4th e for example- you'll see what I mean).
In a sentence: Buy this book.
Do it and your team will thank you.
Watch your back.
Shoot straight.
Conserve ammo.
And never, ever, cut a deal with a dragon.
--Street proverb
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Joe Chummer
Format:Hardcover
Shadowrun can be distilled into three important words: "Magic cyberpunk noir."
If you're looking for a sci-fi RPG you can really sink your teeth into, this is the one. Shadowrun is quite possibly the richest, most detailed, and most beloved sci-fi RPG setting I have ever played. The way the rules and fiction are presented in this rulebook quickly dispels the "cyberpunk with namby-pamby elves" stigma (which usually originates from people who write off the game without really knowing anything about it). On the contrary, this book makes Shadowrun's world of magic and technology come alive.
This particular rulebook by far the most beautiful and lovingly crafted presentation I have ever seen in an RPG book. Printed in full color, with gorgeous art (the cover alone is fantastic), lavish page designs, and a ribbon bookmark, you just can't ask for a better package. Also included as easter eggs for veteran players are some classic pages of art from Shadowrun's rich, 20-year history (such as the cover art for Shadowrun 1st/2nd Edition rules, the cover of the DMZ box set, etc.)
The rules themselves are another big draw. At first I refused to try 4th edition rules simply because 2nd edition rules worked well enough for me and because they re-branded iconic "decker" characters with the generic "hacker" moniker. For one, I am glad I waited to pick up this Anniversary Edition because this book incorporates errata and important revisions to the original 4th Edition book released a few years ago. I also discovered the 4th edition rules themselves are a worthy successor to the 2nd edition rules (which were first released 17 years ago!) and greatly streamline gameplay.
My only regret is I still miss the term "decker," but in the end it doesn't make sense calling someone a "decker" when cyberdecks are a thing of the past (gotta keep up with SOTA, after all).
If you're looking for a sci-fi RPG you can really sink your teeth into, this is the one. Shadowrun is quite possibly the richest, most detailed, and most beloved sci-fi RPG setting I have ever played. The way the rules and fiction are presented in this rulebook quickly dispels the "cyberpunk with namby-pamby elves" stigma (which usually originates from people who write off the game without really knowing anything about it). On the contrary, this book makes Shadowrun's world of magic and technology come alive.
This particular rulebook by far the most beautiful and lovingly crafted presentation I have ever seen in an RPG book. Printed in full color, with gorgeous art (the cover alone is fantastic), lavish page designs, and a ribbon bookmark, you just can't ask for a better package. Also included as easter eggs for veteran players are some classic pages of art from Shadowrun's rich, 20-year history (such as the cover art for Shadowrun 1st/2nd Edition rules, the cover of the DMZ box set, etc.)
The rules themselves are another big draw. At first I refused to try 4th edition rules simply because 2nd edition rules worked well enough for me and because they re-branded iconic "decker" characters with the generic "hacker" moniker. For one, I am glad I waited to pick up this Anniversary Edition because this book incorporates errata and important revisions to the original 4th Edition book released a few years ago. I also discovered the 4th edition rules themselves are a worthy successor to the 2nd edition rules (which were first released 17 years ago!) and greatly streamline gameplay.
My only regret is I still miss the term "decker," but in the end it doesn't make sense calling someone a "decker" when cyberdecks are a thing of the past (gotta keep up with SOTA, after all).
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Shadowrun Core Rulebook is more than just a pretty face. This is not to say the top notch full colour artwork and the extra fiction aren't appreaciated, the Shadowrun setting is not based on a movie or TV series so anything that makes it easier for GM and players to visualise the setting and all the inherent possiblities it contains is a great bonus. It was also nice of Catalyst to take the opportunity to make a few corrections and include a few things they'd overlooked with previous printings (Putting ratings and capacities on visual and audio sensors was a nice idea). From my viewpoint however the best part of this book has to be the fact Catalyst took advantage of the fact that this rulebook came out after the rules expansions to include a colour coded meta-index so if a rules question comes up you can quickly find out which book and page contains the answer. Yes it costs more than the standard core rulebook but it is worth the extra cost.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
this is a role playing game.
i dont have too much to say about this. i cant wait to play this! im sure itd be fun because its only limit is your imagination. Read more
Published 2 days ago by M. Drayer
4.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT Shadowrun core rulebook
The most good looking finest art Shadowrun rulebook ever! This edition is freaking awesome and also provides a revamp on Shadowrun rules. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Rafael Moreno
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hands down the best Shadowrun Edition
The 20th Anniversary Edition book is the absolute best core rulebook for Shadowrun. In 4th Edition Shadowrun made some fairly dramatic changes to the setting. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Maureen Ann Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great system, great fiction
Shadowrun was always a top notch product. The combo of fantasy and cyberpunk is great and the system plays well. Pick it up and start playing. You will not be disappointed.
Published 20 days ago by Namshub
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great work by Catalyst, polishing this up
First off, I don't know why it's so expensive on Amazon. When I came across it it was listed as just under 30 and out of stock. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Clubbby
5.0 out of 5 stars
It was not for me
I bought this as a Christmas present for my boyfriend. He hates reading in general, but loves role-playing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cheyenne Romick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hey Chummer! If you like cyberpunk, this game's for you!
A great update for the 3rd editions rules. I wan't sure if I'd like the new version of the game since the game changed hands but I'm not disappointed in the least. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Matthew Osterholt
3.0 out of 5 stars
Content ok, slight binding issue
Having great fun with the latest edition of Shadowrun. Not a perfect system but certainly an improvement and the Anniversary edition of the core rulebook is really well produced. Read more
Published 5 months ago by CJoseph
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good overall
Aside from one or two places where the pages got bonded together somehow, this rulebook was well worth my while.
Published 5 months ago by Grimsley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Redefining the classic.
I first entered the world of Shadowrun from the second edition which had been translated from english to my native language. Read more
Published 7 months ago by NetDiver
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