Version 0.99 (2025-04-29)

Introduction

Shadowrun: 2097 is not your grandfather’s Shadowrun. Let’s explore the differences in setting and rules.

The Setting

Welcome to the year 2097, a time when the world stands at the precipice of a new era shaped by the confluence of magic, technology, and corporate power. This is a world where neon lights cast long shadows in the urban sprawl, and megacorporations wield power that eclipses most governments. Amidst this complex web of intrigue, you and your team of shadowrunners navigate the dangerous streets of the Seattle Metroplex, a place where opportunity and peril walk hand in hand.

The Awakening and the Rise of Magic

Magic returned to the world in 2020, coinciding with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Initially dismissed as stress-induced delusions or strange viral mutations, it soon became apparent that something far more profound was happening. People began to awaken to magical abilities, and the metahuman races—elves, dwarves, orks, and trolls—emerged, reshaping the social and political landscape. Over the decades, the world has struggled to adapt to this new reality, where ancient myths walk alongside cutting-edge technology.

The First and Second Matrix Crashes

The digital world has faced its own upheavals, with the First Matrix Crash in 2029 and the Second Matrix Crash in 2064, both devastating the global internet infrastructure. These events led to the rise of more secure, hardwired systems and a renewed focus on controlling the flow of information. In the aftermath, global megacorporations tightened their grip on both the digital and physical realms, leading to an era where privacy is a luxury and money equals power.

The Great Reawakening of 2089

In 2089, the world was shaken once more by the Great Reawakening—a global surge in magical energy that drastically altered the balance of power. The surge brought with it the emergence of technomancers—individuals who could seamlessly integrate magic and technology, bending both to their will in ways previously thought impossible. This new phenomenon sent shockwaves through the corporate world, as the megacorporations had long sought to engineer such a fusion with only limited success.

Technomancers quickly became both a coveted resource and a hunted threat. Corporations poured vast resources into capturing, studying, and replicating technomancer abilities, while also deploying black ops teams to eliminate those who refused to come under their control. In this new age, the boundaries between magic and technology blur more than ever, leading to a race among the world's most powerful entities to dominate this new frontier.

Seattle: The Heart of the Shadow World

Seattle remains one of the most important hubs in this new world order. As a thriving metroplex within the UCAS, it is a key battleground in the struggle for control over magic, technology, and the spaces where they intersect. But Seattle's significance extends far beyond its borders.

Gateway to the East

Seattle is often called the "Gateway to the East" due to its strategic location and deep ties to nations across the Pacific. It is a major economic and cultural bridge between the UCAS and powerful Asian countries like Japan, China, and Korea. The city’s ports are among the busiest in the world, facilitating trade in both legal and illicit goods. Corporations with interests in both the East and West converge in Seattle, making it a melting pot of cultures, technologies, and, increasingly, magical practices.

A Complicated Relationship with the UCAS

Despite its strategic importance, Seattle’s relationship with the UCAS is strained. The city has long harbored a sense of independence, fueled by its unique position and diverse population. Many in Seattle feel that their city’s priorities are often overlooked by the distant government in Washington, D.C. This sentiment has only grown as Seattle’s ties to the Pacific nations deepen, leading to a rising undercurrent of discontent.

Some factions within the city advocate for greater autonomy or even outright secession from the UCAS, arguing that Seattle’s future lies with its Pacific allies rather than its North American neighbors. Others push for reforms to give Seattle a stronger voice within the UCAS. Meanwhile, the federal government keeps a wary eye on the city, recognizing its importance but also its potential as a flashpoint for broader unrest.

As shadowrunners in Seattle, you will find yourselves at the crossroads of these tensions, navigating a city where the struggle for power and influence plays out not just in the boardrooms and back alleys, but across continents.

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Timeline

Mid-20th Century

·         1945 (July 16th, 1945): The Trinity Test at Los Alamos, the first detonation of an atomic bomb, inadvertently triggers the first instance of magic returning to the world. This event remains classified and unknown to the public.

Late 20th Century to Early 21st Century

·         1999: The world narrowly avoids the Y2K bug, setting the stage for increased paranoia about digital technology.

·         2020: The Awakening occurs alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the return of magic and the emergence of metahumans.

·         2029: The First Matrix Crash devastates global infrastructure, adding strain to an already chaotic international situation.

Mid-21st Century

·         2042: Space colonization accelerates, driven by key technological advancements in materials and propulsion technology.

·         2045: First Martian colony established, with humans thriving in space thanks to biotech and AI.

·         2057: Dunkelzahn, the first dragon to run for public office, becomes President of the United Canadian and American States (UCAS).

·         2064: The Second Matrix Crash further devastates global network systems, leading to a resurgence in secure, hardwired communications.

2070s

·         2072: Augmented reality is now almost ubiquitous, while direct-interface virtual reality become widespread. BTL addiction emerges as a threat to public safety.

·         2074: First successful transfer of human consciousness into a fully digital form.

·         2077: Metahuman rights become a significant global issue.

2080s

·         2080: Global megacorporations dominate Earth's political landscape, relegating most nations to a secondary role.

·         2082: The first successful uplift of a non-human animal to full sapience.

·         2085: Bioware and cyberware become widespread, leading to new forms of inequality.

·         2089: The Great Reawakening brings a surge in magical energy and the emergence of technomancers, individuals who can seamlessly integrate magic and technology.

2090s

·         2091: Colonization of the outer solar system begins in earnest, with major corporations establishing bases on Titan and Europa.

·         2094: The first successful integrations of magic and technology are achieved. Aztechnology and Eldritch Dynamics, particularly the Seattle branch of the latter, emerge as leaders in this groundbreaking research. Their advances in creating tech-magic hybrids mark a new era, though the full implications of their work remain to be seen.

·         2097: The current year. Earth's political landscape is dominated by megacorporations and powerful magical entities. Tensions between different factions—those who embrace pure technology, those who favor magic, those who blend the two, and the newly emerged technomancers—are reaching a breaking point.

The Rules

Shadowrun: 2097 uses a streamlined system built around Success Checks (SCs) and damage rolls. Most checks use 2d10 plus a modifier based on skill ranks and two key attributes. Roll 3d10 and drop one if you have Advantage; drop one chosen by the GM if you have Disadvantage. If your total equals or exceeds the Target Number (TN), you succeed. Margin of Success (MoS) affects outcomes—more MoS means greater effect. Rolling doubles increases MoS (or worsens failure).

Combat uses 1 Major, 1 Move, and 1 Minor action per turn, plus 1 Reaction per round. Damage is rolled with d6s and modified by attributes or weapon stats. Armor uses Penetration Threshold (PT) and Damage Reduction (DR) to mitigate damage. Edge is a resource for influencing rolls, increasing damage, or surviving fatal situations.

These rules are not designed to replicate every Shadowrun supplement or cover every edge case. They provide a flexible framework. Content from other Shadowrun material—gear, NPCs, powers—can be quickly adapted using these core mechanics.

The goal is fast, reactive, and cinematic play—high-stakes decisions with minimal overhead.