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The Indie Way -
Window-based Shadowrun
Version 1.0
Appendix: The True Radical
Way
| because no system's faultless, chummer
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Intro
..... and this makes three.
Would it have been easier and faster to just stick with the SR
rules as per handbook, and learn them the hard way?
Anyway, here's yet another take on the theme of running the shadows
on a different engine. But this time we are going for
a different approach.
First, because Scott Lininger's The Window 2nd Ed. is
a freely available generic freeform gaming system - you can
download it from the web and
check it out.
No need to buy a second handbook this time.
Secondly, because this time we stress character development
and player's perception of the gaming environment over speed of task
resolution.
The result's still pretty fast and smooth and classy, mind you,
and you will not need a laptop to figure out combat scenes.
As usual, you'll need a Shadowrun RPG handbook (third edition
or earlier), plus a downloaded Window file. All the rest is
optional.
Or if you really feel like beating the system at its own game,
stick to a Shadowrun Quick Start Rules booklet for starters. Converting
those ready-made characters into Window will be the best training you'll
need.
Phylosophy
In The Window you get precepts. They go by threes and tell
you what to keep in mind.
We do not feel cheeky enough to call the following that way,
but still, here's some bits of practical phylosophy that can help the keeper
willing to try an adaptation.
First - do not be afraid of jettisoning large chunks of the system
- nothing's essential.
Second - do not be afraid of retaining chunks of the original
system - if it works, it's on.
Third - be consistent. As long as you apply consistently an
adjective/die standard, you're doing fine.
Character
Characters under the Window are described by an adjective
instead of a number.
Therefore you do not get a character sheet, you get
something more akin to an extended CV, or - the ideal format - a casual narrative
describing the character.
Character creation from scratch works best with players that
have a firm grasp of the setting and feeling of the Shadowrun
world.
Just have them describe their character as they envision
him.
Go through questions to help them define the character.
Use pictures for the same purpose.
Use tarot if it suits you - in each tarot deck out there you
should find a small booklet with some history and how to read the cards.
Do a reading for the character as a starting point.
Or adapt characters from fiction.
Then just put the whole together and apply the system as described
by the Window handbook.
Done.
Q: Yeah, right, smooth as silk. But what about my resident
munchkin?
That's a problem. The munchkin is the natural predator of freeform
systems.
You'll have to tackle the thing the best you can.
Put limits to starting hardware.
Turn character creation into a team activity, so that the munchkin's
nefarious influence will be tempered by more level-headed players offering
input.
Or just plain tell the guy he's exagerating. You're the keeper,
right?
Combat
Is a contested roll.
Rate armors.
Determine damage effects.
Tell the player to roleplay the scene.Make it so she'll forget
about numbers and tables and staging damage and what else.
Hardware
You just have to rate it.
Is the cyberlimb first class? Second hand? Doctored?
We generally make a distinction between quality of the hardware
(rated as a die value) and its current status (described by a positive or
negative modifer).
Therefore
. mass-produced standard cyberlimb (D12), slightly worn
(-1) (will fail on a 5 or higher)
. high performance deck (D8) with souped-up processor (+1)
(will still make it on a desperate 7).
. armored (D10) second hand (-1) working van (D12) with
specially designed rig (+1 to Rigging check).
Software
Ditto.
Rate the software qualitatively.
Off the rack snooper tapeworm?
Designer interface?
Rate it.
As long as you keep the rating consistent, the game will
go.
Q: No, wait. In my standard, honest to goodness SR game I've
a decker with a decking skill using a deck with certain parameters, running
software of a certain description, faced with asystem with determined defences.
What of all these numbers? Does it all reduce to "You've a swell machine,
chummer, roll a D8"?
OK, you wanna run it complicated?
Decking is the skill you use to actually work the deck - "the
best decker in the Bay area" is a D4 and means you always get the system
running and the connection going.
The Deck is the tool you are using - "antiquated hardware" is
a D20 and means that should the going get rough the machine's not likely
to make it.
The Software is what acts in the Matrix - "good file utilities"
is a D8 and means you'll probably trace that file and make a copy in the
time you have.
The defending system can be rated and rolled for reactions. Treat
them as contested rolls.
Otherwise you can go the fast way.
"an old Chinese Clone With No Name (TM) Deck with souped up Linux-X
system and a pair of doctored memory cards as peripherals" - rate it as a
D10 and have the guy roleplay the fragging hacking scene.
NOt that doing it the complicated way the kid could do without
rolepleying, mind you.
Magic
You should have a fair idea of how to make it at this
point.
A copy of FASA's Magic in the Shadows is really required reading,
here. Go through it, get the feel of the magical system and then ..... rate
it.
A personal variation includes the use of playing cards to simulate
the background count of the area and the available energy, Castle
Falkenstein-like.
Anything Else?
Yes, I know you really hate all of this.
It lacks precision.
It loses the scientifically quantitative approach of the Shadowrun
system.
Half your players will find it too vague while the other half
will try and punch holes in it to get an edge.
But just try and draw a character using the Window
system.
Appendix:
The True Radical Way
Because No System's Faultless, Chummer
The Window still makes a distinction between Attributes and
Skills.
You can do without that.
All those attributes that do not appear in the character description,
are taken to be at Average level - that is, rated D12.
Missing skills are taken to default to Average or Below Average
(depending on the complexity of the skill), or a D12 and a D20
respectively.
Now you can fit a character on a postcard.
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