Ring Side Report: RPG Review of Shadowrun, Sixth World Core Rulebook: City Edition: Hong Kong 

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Product– Shadowrun, Sixth World Core Rulebook: City Edition: Hong Kong

System– Shadowrun 6th Edition

Producer– Catalyst Game Labs

Price–  $19.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/564634/shadowrun-sixth-world-core-rulebook-city-edition-hong-kong?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR-Big question-do you need a core rulebook or have one?  98%

Basics- Ready to return to the Shadows?  This is the newest version of the Shadowrun 6th Edition core book.  The biggest changes are the addition of information regarding Hong Kong and what’s happening in this storied island’s history and future.

Mechanics or Crunch: Like 6th Ed?  Then you will like this.  This doesn’t change much in the mechanics lately.  It’s not a massive change to the mechanics.  In fact, I don’t see much.  But if you need a core book for the rules, this will work well.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– Like the world of Shadowrun?  Then this is your book.  This book adds to Hong Kong, but doesn’t really change much else.  5/5

Execution: Oh Catalyst… This book fixes some errors, but introduces some small ones as well.  It’s nothing horrible, and the book works decently.  Just small things that even I noticed slipped through.  I think a few things need a bit of polish to better explain some of the finer points of the rules.  But it’s got the basic pieces with hyperlinks, I think, that are required for a book in 2026.   4.8/5

Summary: The big question to ask yourself today is, do you need a core rulebook?  If you play at a con or online and are hooked, then this is an excellent place to start.  If you own multiple core rulebooks for the 6th edition, then maybe this might not be for you.  It’s solid, with a few minor issues, but very good. It’s more of a need question.  Need a book?  Start here.  Have multiple?  Then only the completionists need this one.  98%

Ring Side Report: RPG Review of Dungeon Crawl Classics #109: Beneath the Isle of Serpents 

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Product– Dungeon Crawl Classics #109: Beneath the Isle of Serpents

System– DCC RPG

Producer– Goodman Games

Price–  $7.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/539156/dungeon-crawl-classics-109-beneath-the-isle-of-serpents?affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR– A solid picture of an adventure but the framing is muddy.  93%

Basics- Time to stop a war!  Beneath the Isle of Serpents features a mysterious island off the coast where people disappear, and fights not only among the humans lead to horrors no one expected.  This is an adventure for 2nd-level characters.

Mechanics or Crunch: This has classic Goodman Game polish for the crunch.  It’s low crunch but fun with fights, social encounters, tables galore, and exploration across both dungeons and a mysterious island.  The math is solid and fun.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– When we are on the island, stuff works, but getting there is a bit harder.  The hooks of a war don’t really matter.  Also, there is a bit of stuff happening between the intelligent monsters.  Those things I feel are not as well developed.  But the other parts and random things in the dungeon are all fun.  The pieces on this island are fun, but the framing doesn’t quite line up.  4.5/5

Execution: This adventure has all the awesome parts of a classic Goodman Games adventure, but it also has the faults of one.  Goodman Games harkens back to the old school adventures of ol’.  But modern audiences might not like that layout and setup.  I do, and I want more.  But I respect the opinion that the layout is not user-friendly.   4.5/5

Summary: This is another solid Goodman Games adventure.  The crunch is solid with fun fights, good social, and tables of such random materials that it’s a crazy fun time.  The story in the crawl is fun, but getting there is a bit off.  Not horrible, but a bit hard to fit into a perfect story.  The execution is good, but it’s Goodman Games OGL style.  If you love that, you will love this.  I think this is a fun side crawl in The Caverns of Thracia campaign.  93%