SwiftOne Speaks
By Brett Borger

Welcome to another installment of SwiftOne Speaks. In this issue, we see the slumbering giant of FASA's SR division awaken, with the corresponding girth of product releases. Third edition is gaining definition, and my respect. All reviews are as non-spoiler as I can get (for products with plots), and are rated on my 5 point scale. I give openly opinionated reviews, because even if you disagree with my opinions, that disagreement conveys information to you.

In addition, I will be expanding SwiftOne Speaks to include a short mention of future products. While the release schedule for third edition is ever-changing (Magic In the Shadows, covered this issue, was originally slated for sometime between November '98 and January '99, while the 3rd Edition Companion, also covered this issue, wasn't even mentioned until shortly before it was released), the expected release date for new books - and a brief description, is available on this page. As usual, the release dates are subject to change.

As always, I'm open to comments, suggestions, and criticisms.

Future Releases

The Corporate Download is intended to cover the megacorporations. A semi-replacement for Corporate Shadowfiles, it is supposed to not only cover the changes resulting in the change from the Big 8 to the Big 10 (11, if you count the Draco Foundation), but also to provide more directly useful information than Corporate Shadowfiles had. While Corporate Shadowfiles was an excellent insight on the economics and dirty tricks involved in corporations, it required a bit of brain exercise to be useful to a GM or player.

(Editors Note: As of the publication of the HTML version of The Shadowrun Supplemental #10, Corporate Download has been released. Look for a review in The Shadowrun Supplemental #11!)

Man and Machine will be the next cyber-book, covering all the various ways you can replace your good old fashioned meat with chrome and optics. Still unanswered is if Man and Machine will provide a solid replacement for Bioware and Shadowtech. Shadowtech is still a first edition book, and well overdue for updating, and rumor has it that SR Line Developer Mike Mulvihill wants to redo the concept of Bioware in a more balanced fashion. Expect Man and Machine to replace Shadowtech and Cybertechnology.

The Cannon Companion will be the gun book, replacing and expanding Fields of Fire. Persistent rumors of a gun creation system similar to Rigger 2's vehicle creation system run rampant, but I'll remain skeptical until I see it, given that the Rigger 2 errata and Ship creation rules we were promised remain a promise only.

The Year of the Comet will be the next main plot line (as the Election was a plot line, and Mob War was a plot line), revolving around the return of Halley's Comet to a magically awakened Earth. This I look forward to greatly, as it will be the first book for 3rd edition that is completely original (as opposed to a replacement and expansion of obsolete material) as well as further development of the rich SR world.

SwiftOnes 5 Point Scale

0. Burn it in winter to keep warm.
1. Avoid for your better health.
2. Read when you have nothing better, but borrow it.
3. Worth reading, but re-reading is questionable.
4. A solid, stable book.
5. Excellent material, certain to become a staple.

The Ratings Bar
0 1 2 3 4 5

The ratings bar is the new way of displaying the books rating - number with a black background is the rating for that product! This rating bar shows 3, which is the average rating for products this month.

The Reviews
  1. The Terminus Experiment, by Jonathan Bond and Jak Koke
  2. New Seattle, by Steve Kenson
  3. First Run, by Michael Mulvihill
  4. Crossroads, by Steve Kenson
  5. Shadowrun Companion (Revised for 3rd Edition), by The FASA Crew
  6. Magic in the Shadows, by Steve Kenson
  7. The Forever Drug, by Lisa Smedman