Morning everyone! New to the site, nice discussion. I actually came here for Shadowrun, hoping to stumble into a game and run one of my own. Lots of pbp experience with D&D, this would be my first pbp Shadowrun game.
I'm really torn between 4th and 5th. I like that 4th set out with the intention to modernize the ruleset and the setting, but I think it sacrificed a lot of the tone of the setting to get there. The magic system is functional but boring, the organization of the rules is a nightmare, and character creation is a HUGE stumbling block for new players and GMs. It's too complex, the rules too disparate. I think point buy is a better system than priority, but it takes way too long to create a character, and that's before you even go shopping. Shopping itself is a minigame.
I like that 5th tried to go back to the setting's roots, and I like that it tried to simplify chargen, but as others have pointed out, priority has its flaws. The huge amount of errata (still with no physical reprint incorporating any of it) was a huge turnoff, and the organization of the rules is even worse than 4th. Way too much page flipping.
To Shadowrun's credit, though, I think the allure of the setting is greater than the flaws of its rule sets. I'd play a game in either edition. Once I get more acquainted with the site, I'll post a game of my own.
I'm really torn between 4th and 5th. I like that 4th set out with the intention to modernize the ruleset and the setting, but I think it sacrificed a lot of the tone of the setting to get there. The magic system is functional but boring, the organization of the rules is a nightmare, and character creation is a HUGE stumbling block for new players and GMs. It's too complex, the rules too disparate. I think point buy is a better system than priority, but it takes way too long to create a character, and that's before you even go shopping. Shopping itself is a minigame.
I like that 5th tried to go back to the setting's roots, and I like that it tried to simplify chargen, but as others have pointed out, priority has its flaws. The huge amount of errata (still with no physical reprint incorporating any of it) was a huge turnoff, and the organization of the rules is even worse than 4th. Way too much page flipping.
To Shadowrun's credit, though, I think the allure of the setting is greater than the flaws of its rule sets. I'd play a game in either edition. Once I get more acquainted with the site, I'll post a game of my own.