Catalyst Game Labs is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Shadowrun RPG with major releases in both Q2 and Q3.  First up is the Shadowrun 4th Edition 20th Anniversary Core Rulebook ($44.99), a giant, full color 376-page rules compendium that is fully compatible with all 4th Edition-published books.  The key to its complete integration with the full line of expansion rulebooks is a 22-page Master Index, covering not just the contents of the 4th Edition Core Rulebook, but also the core rules expansions including: Arsenal, Augmentation, Runner’s Companion, Street Magic, and Unwired.

 

Among the other key features of the Shadowrun 4th Edition Anniversary Core Rulebook that players will love are the 4-page narrative vignettes that preface each major section of the book and demonstrate how the key concepts explained in the section can be used in the game.

 

In Q3 Catalyst is continuing the 20th Anniversary celebration by releasing the Runner’s Toolkit ($39.99), a box set of tools that should prove as useful to regular players (runners) as it is to Game Masters (GMs).  The Runner’s Toolkit includes a giant (32 inches), 4-panel, hard-cardboard GM screen featuring a stunning panoramic illustration of Seattle in 2072 plus lots of items that will help both experienced “runners” and first timers enjoy the game.  “Anatomy of a Shadowrun” is a fictional account of a Shadowrun annotated to explain how the game rules apply to the fictional run, making it invaluable for a first-time player.  “The Big Book of Tables” is a 64-page pamphlet drawn from the 4th Edition Rulebook as well as all five expansions that functions as an easy guide to equipping game characters with what they need during character generation.  Equally useful is the “Pre-Generated Auxillary Character and Kit Systems” (PACKS) that allows players and game masters to quickly assemble player and non-player characters using plug-and-play character profiles and equipment kits.  In addition to all of the foregoing, there is a 32-page booklet of additional sample contacts and sample seeds, “On the Run,” a 56-page first run, and 6 heavy cardstock double-sided reference sheets.