Leaping Wizards : Shadowrun Online : Everything you need to know

"Shadowrun Online - is a cross-platform, online PC, Mac, Linux(see FAQ), iOS/iPad, Android Tablet and Ouya based tactical turn-based RPG set in the award winning world of Shadowrun. Create one account and play your game across multiple devices in whatever way you prefer!"

The aim of this article is to provide one neat and shiny place for all the information about Shadowrun Online. I will be updating this as often as I can, but I am just one guy, admittedly a kick ass guy but nevertheless just one guy so a few things may slip through my net so please feel free to point me in the direction of any new information in the comments at the bottom of this page.

What is Shadowrun Online?

The quote at the top of this page sums up the game pretty well. Shadowrun Online is going to be a turn based tactical RPG. It will of course be set in the Shadowrun universe, but more so than that, it will also affect how its pen and paper counter part progresses. The game is described as being,

"about experiencing the awesome world and gritty atmosphere of Shadowrun together with friends. Fluid co-op gameplay and intense player vs player faction wars set in a persistent and evolving world - this is what Shadowrun Online is about!"

For those of you unfamiliar with the Shadowrun universe check out these awesome sites to read up on it:

How will Shadowrun Online affect the Shadowrun Universe?

Well the Kickstarter page has this to say:

" In Shadowrun Online the collective actions of playerswill not only determine the fate of the online game world, but our uniqueplayer-driven plotline will enable you to determine the future of the whole Shadowrun Universe! Events players trigger will also cross over into thepen and paper storyline - so you can shape the future of the Shadowrun Universe!"

Player's will be able to band together to take over parts of the city or align themselves with a specific mega corporation. The stocks of these corporations will change to reflect the players actions.

A Shadowrun Online campaign book will be produced for use with the 4th Edition of Shadowrun.

How can I play Shadowrun Online?

Shadowrun Online will be a cross-platform game running on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Ouya. Allowing you to play with anyone who has a copy of the game regardless of the system they have.

You can play using through a web browser or through a newly introduced dedicated client.

What is the actually game play going to be like?

"In Shadowrun Online players take on missions alone or together in the dystopian world of the 2070s, ranging from hustling a local Ork gang, to stealing valuable cargo from a ghoul-infested warehouse, through infiltrating a remote megacorp research lab to sabotage a top-secret project"

Just like the Pen and Paper version, players take on the role of a shadowrunner, a covert agent working for pretty much anyone who will hire them in a world fueled by a war between the mega corporations that run it.

"Players will meet and mingle in cities and (in)famous establishments in real-time, to form runner teams, meet Fixers and Johnsons and pick up missions. Runs will take place on beautifully detailed 3D maps, involving combat, stealth, and strategy"

Shadowrun Online has what it is calling 'Contextual Game play' meaning that each character perceives the world differently, using layers. Based on your class, augmentations and skills each player can gain a unique view of the game world, seeing different information and interacting with object differently. Here is the video explaining:

The game will use something called leg work, which includes a lot of different actions all of which pretty much boil down to preparation. Before you start a mission you do leg work in an attempt to make the mission ahead a little easier. This could involve bribing a guard, unleashing a virus or stealing a security code. Of course if any of this goes wrong you could end up making life a lot more difficult for yourself.

Leg work Explained

Prototype Game Footage

Gameplay Explained

The mechanics of the game borrow heavily from the Pen and Paper game, giving you three actions; Free Actions, Simple Actions and Complex Actions.

It uses a lot of the rules of the Pen and Paper game to do calculations in the background to determine things like combat damage and cover. All the Armour in the game will have a weak spot and will degrade over time, meaning if you shoot something enough times it will eventually die.

The game will also take advantage of different damage types, the videos shows off explosions and explains how they can be used to make holes in walls to create alternate routes.

Hacking is also mentioned, but not shown. It will be used in the same way as combat, as in completely fluid. Your character will be able to interact with camera's or nodes and hack them.

Security levels are also mentioned, explaining that as you progress and cause more trouble security levels will increase causing more guards or other measures to be send to stop you.

Each level will also have alternate routes, allowing you to take which ever approach best suits you runner team, you can go in guns blazing through the front door or sneak around underground and find a hidden entrance.

"In Shadowrun Online you will be able play alone and hire other runners to create a team , or play together live with your friends. Players can band together to try and take over parts of a city, and align themselves with one of the mega corporations (temporarily) in an all-out faction war."

You will be able to play on your own, hiring AI runners to help you with missions or to play with other people.

Character Creation

Two by Two, Hands of Blue

Character creation will be a very open system, with not set classes or roles. Shadowrun Online take its creation process straight out of the pen and paper game.

The quickest way is to use the archetype options, this sorts out all your stats, skills and equipment for you and provides you with a quick character with a clear focus such as an Elf Mage or Troll Shaman.

If you prefer to have more control you can also use the points buy system which you will be familiar with from the pen and paper game.

The look of your character is also completely customisable. You will be able to decide on gender, body type, skin tone, clothes, hair and most likely a lot more.

Confirmed archetypes so far are: