So, my experiments and currently OSR (AD&D 2E) group did a few sessions of Shadowrun. I ran one session and played in two others. I'd wanted to try SR because it has two mechanics I thought were interesting and potentially fun: opposed dice pools and stun damage.
But the game, as a whole, is really hard to run and play with lots of fiddly bits to it. I keep wanting to adapt those two things, though.
I think dice pools make the temptation to add lots of greebly little modifiers and bonuses to your system almost irresistable. The nice thing about the d20 is ultimately everything is a number between 1 and 20.
one is the usual story: a mind unfocused until you cracked it open and rebuilt it around sacred routines and a steady tick, tick, tick, a frail body sacrificed in the kiln of creation to be baked free of weakness and glazed with elegant armor against the world. she is your work through and through, and the better for it.
the other one is a rival witch wearing a memory-altering cuckoo's egg amulet and a porcelain glamour. she thinks that you don't know, that the amulet has successfully implanted the belief that you made her, just like your other one. you allow it: if this "infiltration" seemed like a good idea to her, the poor thing clearly needs a vacation from the striving of witchcraft. she'll probably be the better for it.
if not… you'll simply keep her making your breakfast pancakes forever. self-made dolls are fine too. □
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