Getting Started in Shadowrun
Never played Shadowrun before? Or maybe you’ve played, but not for a while? How do you get started in one of the all-time classic role-playing settings?
Quick-Start Rules
The best place to start is to download the free quick-start rules [include link]. Those will give you an overview of how the game is played and what kind of things characters do in the game. It comes with the spell, character, and gear references you need to make the game work!
Shadowrun, Sixth World Beginner Box
Maybe you want to take a small step by picking up the Shadowrun, Sixth World Beginner Box. It includes a printed version of the quick-start rules, four pre-generated character booklets (a fifth is available here [include link to Emu]), an adventure with follow-up campaign hooks, gear and spell reference cards, and a handful of six-sided dice (naturally).
Shadowrun, Sixth World Core Rulebook
If you’re ready for the full ruleset, the Shadowrun, Sixth World core rulebook has all the rules you need to run the game as the gamemaster or play as a character. No other books are necessary, though items on the Resources page, such as the fillable character sheet, may be useful.
Neo-Anarchist Streetpedia
The rules are only one part of the fun of the Sixth World. The rich setting has characters, corporations, gangs, artifacts, and other weirdness to learn about, and much of it is described in the Neo-Anarchist Streetpedia. With hundreds of entries and a spiky, aggressive writing style, the Streetpedia is a great way to learn about the Sixth World or get a quick refresher on the current status of old friends.