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Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs)

A guide to popular TTRPG systems, including game resources at UMSL and on the web.

At A Glance

Genre: cyberpunk, urban fantasy

Play as...

  • a "role" within a group for hire (face, arcane specialist, technology specialist, etc.)
  • one of several metatypes (human, troll, elf, etc.)

Choose if...

  • you enjoy cyberpunk or a magic + sci-fi combo
  • you want to play as a mercenary or other specialist for hire outside the bounds of the law
  • you like rolling lots o' dice

About Shadowrun

Shadowrun is a gritty TTRPG in the cyberpunk / urban fantasy / crime genres. Players are shadowrunners: specialists for hire on jobs like break-ins, sabotage, taking hostages, etc. The game takes place in a future version of Earth where fantasy and sci-fi intermingle, and where megacorporations vie for power.

Gameplay

Players create characters by prioritizing between metatype, attributes, skills, magic/resonance, and resources (aka, money) and allocating points to boost relevant abilities. On runs, characters gain Karma that can later be spent on improving those abilities.

Players roll a pool of 6-sided dice to determine the degree to which their actions succeed. The number of dice rolled is determined by relevant ability scores. You can affect rolls and outcomes by spending Edge, a "build[ up of] tactical advantages" you can gain or lose from various sources, including combats, social encounters, or gear. The game includes additional rules for the use of magic and technology.

Shadowrun is a fairly complex game relative to some other TTRPGs, although the most recent edition (6th) has become simpler for new players.

Current Edition

The current edition of Shadowrun is Shadowrun Sixth World (6th edition).

Rulebooks