#nerps

Changing things up a bit, with a look back at Shadowbeat.

Officially the Aztechnology Northwest Complex and having more than one building in said complex, this is noted for its Mesoamerican style pyramid which, if the Renraku Arcology had never been built, would be impressive. As it is it’s just there. Listed as being at the intersection of Broadway Avenue East and East Harrison Street in the Capital Hill neighborhood, Google Maps tells me it will cause several city blocks to be razed in order for construction to occur, but may still be across the street from an Urban Outfitters, which in 2050 will be a leader in the lucrative market for Armor Jackets.

NOW. History lesson, omae.

The Aztec Empire, from which the perennial bogeyman zaibatsu takes its name, wasn’t formed until 1428 CE and lasted less than a hundred years when the Spanish came over and colonized annihilated the indigenous society. But the Aztecs didn’t build pyramids. They did take over some built by earlier peoples of the area, like the Toltecs and Olmecs.

But if we really want to talk pyramid builders, we need to talk about the Maya.

It was the Maya Civilization who build the now iconic stepped pyramids of Central America. Remember it is the Long Count of the Mayan calendar that Shadowrun uses appropriates for its explanation of the cycles of magic and the Sixth World.

The two groups overlapped very little, if at all – the Maya were situated on the Yucatan peninsula and the current countries of Belize, Guatemala, southern Mexico, and portions of El Salvador and Honduras. The Aztec Empire centered on Tenochtitlan (now the center of Mexico City) farther west. They also spoke completely unrelated languages (Nahuatl for the Aztecs, Yucatec and other related tongues for the Mayans).

The Aztlán location book for 2nd Edition gives more historical backstory to Aztechnology and buried in there it acknowledges that the iconography is a mishmash of Central American cultures, similar to how the Native American Nations are a mishmash of Indigenous North American cultures.

But back to the Seattle Sourcebook!

# Plot Hooks: 5

Organized Crime: Just Aztechnology, of course, who serve as the Bad Guy in many early adventures (Silver Angel, Mercurial, Ivy & Chrome…)

I had to pad this post because the material here is thin – 3 meager pages which is half description and rumors about the corporate structure and half boring descriptions of the various levels which we already saw in the Renraku Arcology section.

Time to move on.

Me: can i have it Bleach flavored?

Cashier: I’m sorry but we are not serving that kind of flavor. and please refrain from joking. Me: Do i look like i’m freaking joking about my drink?

Cashier: .......

Me: ........

Did a collab with Twitch superstar and RPGenius @skinnyghost to make the most ultra future cyberpunk tee, Feel the NERPS!

You can grab the tee here until March 17th.

n. [mass noun] a disease caused by a strong feeling of contract for energy, typically from a precise movement or style.

[count noun] a person who does not receive a property or movement.

nerpsic adj.

Middle English: from Old French nerpe, from medieval Latin neprum ‘snow, entrails’, from Latin neprum ‘nephew’.

I think we should make Monday #NERPSday on tumblr and on twitter. Share what you love about NERPS.

From Origins:

CGL intends to have copies of Chrome Flesh available at Gen Con.

CGL also intends to unveil Shadowrun miniatures at Gen Con.

CGL intends to release several more products by the end of the year, including an untitled corporations sourcebook and an untitled rigger core expansion book. And, no, the rigger book is not a harbinger of a 6th Edition being released next year.

As noted in earlier posts, a limited number of Russell Zimmerman’s upcoming novel, Shaken: No Job Too Small, are available in paperback at Origins. This would suggest that the novel should be available soon as an e-book and for purchase in paperback.

Other announcements and reminders

There is a thread on the official forums dedicated to fan-made Matrix foundations, paradigms, and (sculpted) hosts.

Speaking of the Matrix, CGL is also producing an untitled Technomancers core expansion book, and a few Shadowrun freelancers have opened a thread on the official forums to gather feedback from fans like you. Click here to add your input.