Shadowrun Hong Kong Kickstarter Launched

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

I know it hasn't officially started, but I'm still shocked that the Escapist hasn't mentioned this at all

If you have been paying attention, 2012 saw the return of Shadowrun, a classic RPG series where cyberpunk met magic and mysticism. Via Kickstarter, the original creators managed to raise nearly $2 million and launched a new computer RPG in July 2013 called Shadowrun Returns. Its initial, Seattle-based campaign, Dead Man's Switch, did fine critically, but was criticized for linearity and no manual saves. The follow up in 2014, the Berlin-based Dragonfall, did far better, allowing the player to explore more freely with a more intimate party setting as well as more gear and modding tools.

Anyway, now fresh off of reviving one of my favorite RPG settings, Harebrained Schemes has announced they'll be doing a new Kickstarter for a brand new setting: Hong Kong. Details aren't known at this time, but I imagine we'll be seeing more shady corporate deals, nasty gangs, psycho cults, and remembering to never deal with dragons.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613260297/shadowrun-returns/posts/1095934

Admittedly, I'm just curious what they'll be able to do to entice potential backers. Everything they promised for the initial game has been fulfilled, even doing a Director's Cut of Dragonfall despite not really be obligated. Definitely a flawed game (I still think Deckers need a major buff so they aren't just the hacking dude) but one of my personal favorites in recent memory, mostly because I love Shadowrun's setting.

 

[small]

i will definitely be backing it but the one area they seriously need to expand is cyberware and bioware, you barely have any options compared to the pen and paper game

 

[Summerstorm]

I backed the original (with 60 dollars), voted for Hong-Kong for the second campaign (stupid Berlin won though).

Game was well written, but a lot of things were missing or didn't work well. (Why did equipment, cyberware and weapons become available in the course of the campaign - why was there so few option in cyberware and Ki-powers - why were Ki-Powers and magic on a damn timer?)

IF i am to back it again (or buy it later), they better change it up alot for me. Else you can just get one of the many user-designed missions.

(Hell, remember Neverwinter Nights, where all the content mods by the community were just amazingly better than the main campaign?) Just give them the tools and a good engine and users can produce amazing stuff (Also 90% of everything is shit *g*)

 

[The Madman]

Good. Not sure I'll back it as a Kickstarter because I'm stingy like that, but I'll almost certainly buy it when it's released. Shadowrun: Dragonfall was one of my favourite rpg to be released in recent years and if the developers can promise to deliver another campaign comparable or even superior to that one it's gonna be grand.

 

[G00N3R7883]

I absolutely loved both Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall. Probably helps that I had no prior knowledge of the franchise so I had no ideas about what it "should" play like, and I just enjoyed it for what it is. I'll definately be keeping an eye on this new game/expansion. I won't be doing kickstarter though because I've got a policy of not paying for stuff before I'm able to see if its actually any good.

 

[major_chaos]

No way I'm backing this, but I might pick it up once it comes out. I found the original Shadowrun Returns largely disappointing and actually kinda regretted my purchase untill the vastly superior Dragonfall came out, so I'll be waiting to make sure this new HK adventure has more in common with Dragonfall than the original.

 

[Asclepion]

i will definitely be backing it but the one area they seriously need to expand is cyberware and bioware, you barely have any options compared to the pen and paper game

This. The tabletop game had entire books that were filled with cyberware, weapons, equipment, vehicles, etc. A group could easily spend an entire game session just making their characters, finding ever more ridiculous/overpowered combinations, and have a blast doing so. The selection available in Shadowrun Returns is pitiful by comparison.

And for the love of Dog, why isn't there an initiative system!?

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

i will definitely be backing it but the one area they seriously need to expand is cyberware and bioware, you barely have any options compared to the pen and paper game

This. The tabletop game had entire books that were filled with cyberware, weapons, equipment, vehicles, etc. A group could easily spend an entire game session just making their characters, finding ever more ridiculous/overpowered combinations, and have a blast doing so. The selection available in Shadowrun Returns is pitiful by comparison.

And for the love of Dog, why isn't there an initiative system!?

And most of said equipment goes unused due to the typical RPG player's mindset of min-maxing. Seriously, how broken was Wired Reflexes for awhile? And don't get me started on Adepts and DMSO. And that's before we get into how tabletop mechanics cannot transfer 100% to computer game mechanics due to the vastly different ways they are played.

 

[Mangod]

And most of said equipment goes unused due to the typical RPG player's mindset of min-maxing. Seriously, how broken was Wired Reflexes for awhile? And don't get me started on Adepts and DMSO. And that's before we get into how tabletop mechanics cannot transfer 100% to computer game mechanics due to the vastly different ways they are played.

OT: I am so freakin' excited for this! I loved Dragonfall (seriously, it's got one of the best stories I've encountered in PC gaming in quite a while), and I sincerely hope that the new Hong Kong campaign builds on the successes of its Director's Cut predecessor.

 

[small]

i will definitely be backing it but the one area they seriously need to expand is cyberware and bioware, you barely have any options compared to the pen and paper game

This. The tabletop game had entire books that were filled with cyberware, weapons, equipment, vehicles, etc. A group could easily spend an entire game session just making their characters, finding ever more ridiculous/overpowered combinations, and have a blast doing so. The selection available in Shadowrun Returns is pitiful by comparison.

And for the love of Dog, why isn't there an initiative system!?

And most of said equipment goes unused due to the typical RPG player's mindset of min-maxing. Seriously, how broken was Wired Reflexes for awhile? And don't get me started on Adepts and DMSO. And that's before we get into how tabletop mechanics cannot transfer 100% to computer game mechanics due to the vastly different ways they are played.

totally get that, but id still like alot more choice and a better system than the body slots, give me cybereyes with multiple options, cyberlimbs with blades and a smartgun link!

 

[Diablo2000]

i will definitely be backing it but the one area they seriously need to expand is cyberware and bioware, you barely have any options compared to the pen and paper game

This. The tabletop game had entire books that were filled with cyberware, weapons, equipment, vehicles, etc. A group could easily spend an entire game session just making their characters, finding ever more ridiculous/overpowered combinations, and have a blast doing so. The selection available in Shadowrun Returns is pitiful by comparison.

And for the love of Dog, why isn't there an initiative system!?

And most of said equipment goes unused due to the typical RPG player's mindset of min-maxing. Seriously, how broken was Wired Reflexes for awhile? And don't get me started on Adepts and DMSO. And that's before we get into how tabletop mechanics cannot transfer 100% to computer game mechanics due to the vastly different ways they are played.

totally get that, but id still like alot more choice and a better system than the body slots, give me cybereyes with multiple options, cyberlimbs with blades and a smartgun link!

I agree, better they give me chainsaw arms this time around.
And buff melee classes, I tried to play with a kind like of samurai my first time around only to discover that it sucked and I was much better shooting things.

 

[raeior]

Huh shouldn't they have sent out some mail about this to the backers of SR Returns? Haven't heard anything about this so far and I'm veeery interested in this. I loved both the original Returns and Dragonfall (which was vastly superior no doubt about that). They definitely had their flaws, most of which were already mentioned here but I loved both the art style and the writing. If they improve their game again like they did with Dragonfall it would be great!

 

[Gennadios]

I don't even know why this is a kickstarter. I backed the original one because it was a small company that bought back the rights out of pocket. The original ks must have been enough to finish the game, and all outside should have been some profit.

 

[Mangod]

I don't even know why this is a kickstarter. I backed the original one because it was a small company that bought back the rights out of pocket. The original ks must have been enough to finish the game, and all outside should have been some profit.

Well, from what I've understood, they're using Kickstarter instead of selling their souls (hyperbole) to a publisher.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

Huh shouldn't they have sent out some mail about this to the backers of SR Returns? Haven't heard anything about this so far and I'm veeery interested in this. I loved both the original Returns and Dragonfall (which was vastly superior no doubt about that). They definitely had their flaws, most of which were already mentioned here but I loved both the art style and the writing. If they improve their game again like they did with Dragonfall it would be great!

Well, it was updated on the KS page itself so any backer should have gotten it. I wasn't a backer so I didn't know about this until a week after it happened.

Well, from what I've understood, they're using Kickstarter instead of selling their souls (hyperbole) to a publisher.

It is an interesting case; the initial game actually ran out of funds from KS so they went overbudget but despite that the game still shipped and they finished Dragonfall along with doing a Director's Cut which they were not obligated to do. This is essentially a Kickstarter for an expansion. I do wonder what they're going to do to entice backers besides just new assets for the modding tools and equipment.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I liked Dragonfall alright, but it was still a deeply flawed game. There's so much I'd want to see change before I wandered into another Shadowrun RPG, and I don't trust Kickstarter to front the budget they'd need.

1. New engine, the original was ugly and a bit wobbly.
2. Deeper tactical combat, original games were extremely threadbare in this department.
3. Deeper/more complex RPG systems and class design, possibly resembling the goddamn RPG you've taken an IP on instead of the streamlined-into-virtual-nonexistance vision we got in the first two titles.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

Kickstarter has now begun. Initial goal is $100,000 and as of this posting they've reached around a third

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/shadowrun-hong-kong

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Kickstarter has now begun. Initial goal is $100,000 and as of this posting they've reached around a third

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/shadowrun-hong-kong

'
thanks for the update, as of backing, they are halfway to the goal. I really hope they hit some of those stretch goals, they sound nice.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

hopefully theres still enough faith in kickstarter left to fund this

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

Well, not only have they hit their initial goal already, they just went past the first stretch goal. Good times