Game News The Archetypes of Shadowrun Returns Explained at Game Informer

[Zed]

Tags: Harebrained Schemes; Shadowrun Returns

Game Informer has an article up with details on the character archetypes of Shadowrun Returns. There's the Mage, the Street Samurai, the Decker, the Shaman, the Rigger and the Physical Adept. Note the use of 'archetypes' rather than 'classes':

“Shadowrun is a classless system, meaning that players are not restricted to a single character development path,” explains creative director Jordan Weisman, also one of the original architects of the Shadowrun universe. “Rather, players start with a representative Shadowrun character archetype and are then free to grow their character as they wish, spending Karma points to choose any skill or ability available in the game.” We’ve highlighted each of the foundational archetypes below, but each one is just a starting point. You’ll be able to mix and combine abilities from any archetype you like when you play the game.​

Game Informer is running a special on the game next month so hopefully there will be some additional info then.

 

[General Maxson]

Man the more they talk about this game, the higher hopes I have for it. And I didn't expect too much in the beginning I thought it will be some rpg-lite iphone style game, but this could actually turn out to be a great little crpg.

 

[Larendav]

Its amazing how true they're staying to Shadowrun.

 

[ghostdog]

Things look fragging good.

 

[thesheeep]

I'm really glad I made that investment. Seems to turn out good.

 

[DoomIhlVaria]

At first I misread the title as Shadowgate Returns and was super excited. Then I realized my mistake. Now I'm just a little bit excited.

 

[Humanity has risen!]

There's not enough time to make a great, consistent game from scratch.

 

[General Maxson]

There's not enough time to make a great, consistent game from scratch.

Why? They said that initial release date is out of the question, because they got a lot more funding for the game than they expected, and now have more resources to make a larger project, which will take more time, of course... They aim for summer, as far as I know, maybe even later.

 

[crawlkill]

that fucking comment. that FUCKING COMMENT.

"Looks very interesting. Seems much like Skyrim's model though a slight mixture of Oblivion and Skyrim."

I want to kill everyone on the internet

mind-splittingly awful comments aside those look fuckin rad as hell. am I the only one who sees Shadowrun Returns and Wasteland 2 as being a little in competition in terms of what they'll accomplish with what they've got? Project Eternity too, to some extent, I guess, but they've got much better infrastructure in place and better funding besides, might be unfair to count them as in a similar league. so far, I'm wayyy impressed with Shadowrun's art assets. ++good.

 

[GarfunkeL]

Its amazing how true they're staying to Shadowrun.

Indeed. Magnific0!

 

[Modron]

There's not enough time to make a great, consistent game from scratch.

That is kind of the point, it is not entirely from scratch they are implementing an already established game universe and rule system that they've had prior experience with. Additionally, I am sure Weisman's been running ideas in his head here and there over the last decade so he should have at least a few ideas about story too.

 

[ColCol]

Still excited.

 

[Indranys]

How will the combat plays out??
I played the original Shadowrun SNES and the combat is bad.
I've never played the Sega Genesis version.
I really bad at RtWP stuff (but I don't really hate it).
Turn based combat like Fallout or KoTC will be glorious.

 

[Jaesun]

It's Turn Based combat.

 

[crawlkill]

How will the combat plays out??
I played the original Shadowrun SNES and the combat is bad.
I've never played the Sega Genesis version.

You can't seriously think that it'd have anything to do with twenty-year-old titles barely worth of their bits just because it shares a franchise, can you?

All indications point to squadbuilding grid-based turn-based game. I can't remember if it's been stated that you'll control all of your teammates (XCOM-style) or if the NPCs will have AIs (Fallout-style), but put your money on the former. Prolongs gameplay, makes for more interactivity, simplifies programming and gets rid of those WHAT THE FUCK IAN moments.

 

[Wizfall]

Turn based and with an editor
I can't tell enough the high hope i have for this game.

 

[Harg Harfardarssen]

How will the combat plays out??
I played the original Shadowrun SNES and the combat is bad.
I've never played the Sega Genesis version.

You can't seriously think that it'd have anything to do with twenty-year-old titles barely worth of their bits just because it shares a franchise, can you?

All indications point to squadbuilding grid-based turn-based game. I can't remember if it's been stated that you'll control all of your teammates (XCOM-style) or if the NPCs will have AIs (Fallout-style), but put your money on the former. Prolongs gameplay, makes for more interactivity, simplifies programming and gets rid of those WHAT THE FUCK IAN moments.

Defintely going to be turn based combat. Although they did call out the SNES versions keyword conversation system as something they planned to incorporate IIRC. So they are using the earlier games as references.

 

[tuluse]

Sounds good.

Have they said anything about how many characters you can make at start? I'm sort of torn between wanting to build my own team from scratch and having to "make due" with premade characters.

 

[Indranys]

Thanks Bros.
Awesome.

Sorry I don't really follow the news.
Just need to buy the game when it's out.
It's hyping me up a little.
I hate this feeling.

 

[Dorateen]

Realms of Arkania used Archetypes, too.

 

[Scruffy]

At first I misread the title as Shadowgate Returns and was super excited. Then I realized my mistake. Now I'm just a little bit excited.

http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/zojoi/shadowgate/


i'm here to give you guys boners

 

[Jaesun]

Yeah I backed that as well. REALLY looking forward to that.

 

[Scruffy]

i'm here to give you guys boners
Jaesun Brofists this.
come on, that's absolutely unoriginal and way too obvious.

 

[GarfunkeL]

You make a single character and then you can hire extra runners. I *think* they said that 4 was the team limit but don't take me to court over that. You can upload your runner to their server and then other players can download & hire that runner - so it should be possible to create your whole team that way. I know I've already used CHUMMER to create my dream team.

 

[Roguey]

You can upload your runner to their server and then other players can download & hire that runner - so it should be possible to create your whole team that way.

They said they had to drop this feature back in late November. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613260297/shadowrun-returns/posts/354030

Unfortunately, one of the features we talked about on Kickstarter and at PAX didn’t make the cut: the ability to recruit your friends’ characters into your game. It’s a good social feature and it pains us to cut it, but it isn’t core to the fun of creating your own character and having a great Shadowrun experience.