© 2014-15 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun and Matrix are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in the United States

and/or other countries. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes Productions, LLC. Printed in the USA.

Under License From

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T27004

Every step, every advantage, every millisecond counts. The streets of the Sixth World are mean, and if they want to stay alive, shadowrunners need every advantage they can get to gain a step on the opposition. Fortunately, Run Faster is full of them. With it, you can learn about more metatypes for characters, including hobgoblins, giants, centaurs, and sasquatch; acquire new qualities, such as Disgraced, Hawk Eye, and Lightning Reflexes; and, if you dare, dabble with the dangerous and deadly Infected.

Run Faster also has advice on fleshing out characters of different metatypes, expanded contact and lifestyle rules, and alternate character creation methods to help ensure that players can build exactly the character they want.

All these options make Run Faster a crucial companion to players who want to get the most out of their Shadowrun, Fifth Edition core rulebook.

F I F T H E D I T I O N

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INTRODUCTION 11WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU GOT HERE 12WHERE YOU CAME FROM 12

The Corps: Outward Mobility 12The Streets: Out of the Frying Pan 13The Talented: When the Going Gets Weird 14Hooders and Activists: Building Communities (One Bomb at a Time) 15Academics: Things Metahumanity Really Needs to Know 15Military and Law Enforcement: The Other Side of the Wall 15The Unclassifiable 16

I’M A REAL BOY NOW 16

LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH 17I’ll Work With You, But I Don’t Like You 17Who Can You Trust? 17

GAME INFORMATION 18Backgrounds and Motivations: What Makes Johnny Run? 18Making ‘Real’ Runners: Beyond the AK-97 20

ETHICS, CODES AND OTHER JOKES 22A CODE AND A CALLING 22

The Path of the Samurai 22Omerta, the Code of Silence 25Thug Life, the Code of the Streets 26Harmony with Nature, the Shaman’s Code 26White Hats, the Code of the Hacker 27The Code of Wuxia 27The Paladin’s Code (a.k.a. Elven Chivalry) 28The Hippocratic Oath 28The Soldier’s Code 29The Akichita Code 29

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN 30Bushido 2.0 30The Code of the White Hat 31The Code of the Good Cop 31The Hermetic Code 32

THE SPICE OF RUNNER’S LIVESODD JOBS 34

Hunting 34Reagents 34Paranimals 34Spirits 34Head Cases 35Infected 35

STRANGE LOCALES 35Oceanic Operations 35Space Runs 36Fovea Runs 36Astral Journeys 36

THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS 37Mom & Pops 38Arcane Organizations 38

Governments 39Organized Crime 39Secret Societies 40Head Cases 41

ALTERNATE IDENTITIES 42Doc Wagon 42Knight Errant/Lone Star 42Corporations 42Organized Crime 42

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP 44BUILDING AN IDENTITY 45

BEARDS: DWARFS 45Great Duchy of Westrhine-Luxembourg (AGS) 47How Dwarfs Fit Into Society 47

EARS: ELVES 48Tír na nÓg 49Tír Tairngire 49Zulu Nation (Azanian Confederation) 49Duchy of Pomorya (AGS) 49How Elves Fit Into Society 49

TUSKS: ORKS 50Ork Underground, Seattle, UCAS 51Black Forest Troll Republic (AGS) 51Kingdoms of Nigeria 51How Orks Fit Into Society 51

HORNS: TROLLS 52Black Forest Troll Republic (AGS) 52How Trolls Fit Into Society 53

NORMS: HUMANS 54How Humans Fit Into Society 54

FREAKS: CHANGELINGS 55

FURS: SHAPESHIFTERS 55

ALTERATIONS AND AUGMENTATIONS 56Alterations 56Augmentations 57EvoCulture 57

CONSTRUCTION KITS 62A RANGE OF OPTIONS 62

SUM TO TEN GENERATION 62Building Characters with Sum To Ten 62

POINT BUY 64

LIFE MODULES 65Nationalities 66

United Canadian and American States (UCAS) 66Confederation of American States (CAS) 66Native American Nations (NAN) 66Tír Tairngire 67

Formative Years 67Arcology Living 67Corp Drone 68Farm Living 68Fugitive 68Isolated Rural Upbringing 68Military Brat 69Orphan 69Rich Kid 69Street Urchin 69White Collar 69

Teen Years 70Corporate Education 70Farm Living 70Gang Warfare 70High School 70Home Tutored 70Isolated Rural Upbringing 71Magical Education 71Military School 71Preparatory School 71Street Kid 72

Further Education 72Community College (55) 72Ivy League University (80) 73Military Academy (115) 73State University or College (65) 75Trade School/Technical College (40) 75

Real Life 76Bounty Hunter 76

Celebrity 76Combat Correspondent 76Corporate 77Covert Operations 77Drifter 77Ganger 78Government Agent 78Law Enforcement 78Organized Crime 78Political Activist 79Postgraduate Studies 79Private Investigator/Detective (PI) 79Regular Job 79Shadow Work (Shadowrunner) 80Terrorist 81Think Tank 81Tours of Duty 82Tour of Duty (Mercenary) 82Tour of Duty (NAN) 82Tour of Duty (Tir Tairngire) 82Tour of Duty (UCAS, CAS, and CFS) 83

Finishing Off Your Karmic Balance 84Sample Modular Character Generation 84

NEW QUALITY 86Rank 86

THE MESS OF METAHUMANITY 88SAPIENTS OF THE SIXTH WORLD 88

DWARFs 88Metavariant Type: Gnome 88Metavariant Type: Hanuman 88Metavariant Type: Koborokuru 90Metavariant Type: Menehune 90

ORKS 91Metavariant Type: Hobgoblin 91Metavariant Type: Ogre 91Metavariant Type: Oni 92Metavariant Type: Satyr 92

TROLLS 93Metavariant Type: Cyclops 93Metavariant Type: Fomorian 93Metavariant Type: Giant 94Metavariant Type: Minotaur 94

ELVES 95Metavariant Type: Dryad 95Metavariant Type: Nocturna 95Metavariant Type: Wakyambi 96Metavariant Type: Xapiri Thëpë 97

HUMANs 97Metavariant Type: Nartaki 97

METASAPIENTS 98Centaur 98Naga 98Pixie 99Sasquatch 99ShapeShifters 100Changelings 101

CREATING SOMETHING DIFFERENT 101Creating a Metavariant Character 102Creating a Shapeshifter 102Creating a Changeling 103Random Metagenic Qualities 108

POSITIVE METAGENIC QUALITIES 111360-Degree Eyesight 111Animal Pelage 111Arcane Arrester 111Balance Receptor 112Beak 112Bicardiac 112Biosonar 112Bone Spikes 112

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Broadened Auditory Spectrum 112Camouflage 113Celerity 113Claws 113Climate Adaptation 113Corrosive Spit 113Dermal Alteration 113Dermal Deposits 114Defensive Secretion 114Electroception 114Elongated Limbs 114Fangs 115Frog Tongue 115Functional Tail 115Gills 115Glamour 115Goring Horns 115Greasy Skin 116Keen-Eared 116Larger Tusks 116Low-Light Vision 116Magic Sense 116Magnetoception 116Marsupial Pouch 116Metagenic (Attribute) Improvement 116Metahuman Traits 116Monkey Paws 116Nasty Vibe 117Natural Venom 117Ogre Stomach 117Photometabolism 117Proboscis 117Satyr Legs 118Setae 118Shiva Arms 118Thermal Sensitivity 118Thermographic Vision 118Thorns 118Underwater Vision 118Vomeronasal Organ 118Webbed Digits 119

NEGATIVE METAGENIC QUALITIES 119Adiposis 119Astral Hazing 119Berserker 119Bioluminescence 119Cephalopod Skull 120Cold-blooded 120Critter Spook 120Cyclopean Eye 120Deformity 120Feathers 120Impaired (Attribute) 120Insectoid Features 121Mood Hair 121Neoteny 121Nocturnal 121Progeria 121Scales 121Scent Glands 121Slow Healer 122Striking Skin Pigmentation 122Stubby Arms 122Symbiosis 122Third Eye 122Unusual Hair 122Vestigial Tail 123

INTO THE NIGHT 124A NIGHT IN THE LIFE 125

The Last Night 125The First Night … 126… And All the Rest to Come 126

What It’s Like To Walk The Night 127Hunters Hunted 128Giving In 128It’s You and Us 130

WALK IN THE SHADOWS 131We Care a Lot 131Dancing in the Ruins 132

GAME INFORMATION 133Creating Infected Characters 133Becoming Infected During Play 134Positive Infected Qualities 136

Bandersnatch 136Banshee 136Dzoo-noo-qua 137Fomóraig 138Ghoul 138Gnawer 138Goblin 138Grendel 139Harvester 139Loup-garou 139Mutaqua 139Nosferatu 139Vampire 140Wendigo 140

Negative Infected Qualities 141Carrier 141

Infection, Magic, Resonance, & Essence 141Magic and Essence 141Infection and Resonance 142

Diseases 142Sample Diseases 142

HMHVV Strain I 142HMHVV Strain II 142HMHVV Strain III 143

New Critter Powers 143Adaptive Coloration 143Corrosive Secretions 143

AS YOU AS YOU CAN BE 144QUALITIES FOR GOOD OR ILL 144

Positive Qualities 144Adrenaline Surge 145Animal Empathy 145Black Market Pipeline 145Born Rich 145City Slicker 145College Education 145Common Sense 145Daredevil 146Digital Doppelganger 146Disgraced 146Erased 146Fame 146Friends in High Places 147Hawk Eye 147Inspired 147Jack of All Trades, Master of None 147Lightning Reflexes 148Linguist 148Made Man 148Night Vision 148Outdoorsman 148Overclocker 148Perceptive 148Perfect Time 148Poor Link 148Privileged Family Name 149Restricted Gear 149School of Hard Knocks 149Sense of Direction 149Sensei 149

Solid/Legendary Rep 149Speed Reading 149Spike Resistance 150Spirit Whisperer 150Steely Eyed Wheelman 150Technical School Education 150Tough as Nails 150Trust Fund 151Trustworthy 151Vehicle Empathy 151Water Sprite 151Witness My Hate (Magicians only) 151

NEGATIVE QUALITIES 151Albinism 151Amnesia 152Asthma 152Bi-polar 152Big Regret 153Blind 153Borrowed Time 153Computer Illiterate 153Creature of Comfort 153Day Job 154Deaf 154Did You Just Call Me Dumb? 154Dimmer Bulb 154Driven 154Emotional Attachment 154Ex-Con 155Flashbacks 155Hobo with a Shotgun 155Hung Out to Dry 155Illiterate 155In Debt 156Incomplete Deprogramming 156Infirm 156Liar 156Night Blindness 156Oblivious 157Pacifist 157Paranoia 157Paraplegic 157Phobia 157Pie Iesu Domine. Dona eis Requiem. 158Poor Self Control 158Records on File 158Reduced (Sense) 159Sensory Overload Syndrome 159Signature 159Vendetta 159Wanted 159

WHO YOU KNOW 172INTRODUCTION 172

Breakdown of contact types 172Legwork 172Networking 173Swag 173Shadow Services 173Personal Favors 173Support 173

The Cost: What Does a Contact Want? 173Cash 173Services 173Barter 174Other 174

I owe you one (Gaining chips) 176Improve relationship 176Future service 176Favors 176

Group or Organization Contact Options 176Nature of the Relationship 178Blackmail 178

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Family 178Maintaining Contact Relations 178Paying off Debt 178Using Intimidation 178Using Con/Seduction 178WHEN Your Reputation Precedes You 178Burning Bridges 179

Quick Contact Personality Generator 179SAMPLE CONTACTS 182

Arms Dealer 182Bartender 182Bodyguard 182Bookie 183Border Patrol Agent 183Bounty Hunter 183Chop Shop Mechanic 183Church Pastor 184CITY OFFICIAL 184Club Kid 184Company Suit 184

Con Fanatic 184Corporate Administrator 185Corporate WageSlave 186Coyote 186

Cybernetic Technician 186Government Official 186Gang Boss 187Id Manufacturer 187Informant 188International Courier 188

Lone Star Detective 188Knight Errant Dispatcher 188Mafia Consigliere 189Media Mogul 189

Metahuman Rights Activist 189News Reporter 190Parazoologist 190Pawn broker 190Pharmacy Tech 190

Popular MeFeed Personality 191Recicladore 191Rent-a-Cop 192RockStar 192

Safehouse Master 192Script Kiddie 192

Sprawl Ganger 193Squatter 193Store Owner 193Street Doc 193Street Kid 194Talismonger 194Taxi Driver 194TerraFirst! Activist 194

Trid Pirate 195Used Car Salesman 195

BOSSES AND BETRAYERS 196JOHNSONS AND FIXERS BASICS 196

LIFECYCLE OF AN ENGAGEMENT 197

The Meet 197The Run 199The Handoff 200

I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS 201

JOHNSON GENESIS 202Megacorporate 202

Big Ten Johnsons 203Ares Macrotechnology 204Aztechnology 204Evo Corporation 204Horizon 204Mitsuhama Computer Technologies 204NeoNET 205Renraku Computer Systems 205Saeder-Krupp 205Shiawase Corporation 205Wuxing Incorporated 206

Syndicate 206Major Syndicates 207

Mafia 208Yakuza 208Triads 208Vory 208

Extremists 208Extremist Organizations 210

Amateurs 211A DUMP OF ONE’S OWN 212

What’s in a Lifestyle? 213Comforts 213Necessities 214Security 215Neighborhood 215Entertainment 215Services 215Assets 216

Game Information 216Bolt Hole 216Street 217Squatter 218Low 218Medium 218High 218Luxury 218Traveler 218Commercial 218

LIFESTYLE CATEGORIES 218Comforts & Necessities 218Security 219Neighborhood 219Entertainment 219

Armory 220Cleaning Service 220Discreet Cleaning Service 221Discreet Deliveryman/Candyman 221Garage 221Greenhouse 221Grid Subscription 222Gym 222

Indoor Arboretum 222Local Bar Patron 222Merchandise: Goods (Specific Item) 222Merchandise: Pawn Shop/Thrift Store 222Merchandise: Used Goods (Specific Item) 222Panic Room 222Patron of the Arts 223Private Room 223Public Transportation 223Railway Pass 223Shooting Range 223Soy Processing Unit 223Sports Court (Small) [Sport] 224Swimming Pool 224Walk-in Freezer 224Workshop/Facility 224Yard 224Zen Den/Bat Cave 224

Lifestyle Options 224Angry Drunk Reputation (Negative) 224Corporate Owned (Positive) 224Cramped (Negative) 225Extra Secure (Positive) 225Hotel California (Negative) 226Maid is Out (Negative) 226Not a Home (Negative) 226Obscure/Difficult to Find (Negative) 226One Good Thing About This Place (Positive) 226Safehouse (Positive) 226Safety Third (Negative) 226Special Work Area (Positive) 226Thrifty (Negative) 226W Zone (Negative) 226

Maintaining a Lifestyle 226Sample Locations 227

The Cube, Tokyo (Coffin Hotel) 227The Millennium, Los Angeles (Standard Hotel) 227Red Light District Safehouse 227Robyn’s 227Stuffer Shack 227Typical Middle Class Suburban Home 227

PACK YOUR KIT 228EQUIPMENT PACKS 228

Core PACKS 228Intro Runner PACK 228Basic Runner PACK 228Advanced Runner PACK 229

WEAPON AND AMMO PACKS 229Classic Samurai PACK 229Up Close & Personal PACK 230Blademaster PACK 231Monowhip PACK 231Basic Bowman PACK 231Advanced Bowman PACK 231Ares Pistol PACK 231Big Boom Pistol PACK 231Browning and Beretta Pistol PACK 232Colt Pistol PACK 232

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© 2014-15 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shadowrun, Matrix, and Run Faster are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes Productions, LLC.

First Printing by Catalyst Game Labs, an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLC

PMB 202 • 303 -91st Ave. NE, E-502Lake Stevens, WA 98258

Find us online:info@shadowruntabletop.com (Shadowrun questions)http://www.shadowruntabletop.com (Catalyst Shadowrun website)http://www.shadowrun.com (official Shadowrun Universe website)http://www.catalystgamelabs.com (Catalyst website)http://shop.catalystgamelabs.com (Catalyst/Shadowrun orders)

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Subtle Pistol PACK 232Light Security PACK 232Japanacorp Light Security PACK 232Smartgun PACK 233Street Slugger PACK 233Heavy Security PACK 233Cheap Soldier PACK 233Ares Alpha Gunner PACK 233Sniper PACK 234Sportsman PACK 234Tranq Darter PACK 234Squad Assault Weapon PACK 234Medium Machine Gunner PACK 234Rocketeer PACK 235Machine Gun Ammo Belt PACK 235Ammo Crate #1 235Ammo Crate #2 235Ammo Crate #3 235Ammo Crate #4 235Ammo Crate #5 235Box of Grenades #1 236Box of Grenades #2 236

ARMOR PACKS 236City Slicker PACK 236Go Anywhere Jacket PACK 236Neon Nights PACK 237Nightbird PACK 237Stylish Suit PACK 237Tactical Helmet PACK 237Tusker Toughskin PACK 237Tanker PACK 238

CYBER PACKS 238Budget ’Jack PACK 238Standard ’Jack PACK 238Advanced ’Jack PACK 238Basic Wires PACK 239Advanced Wires PACK 239Tourist PACK 239World Traveler PACK 239Ambassador PACK 239Diploma-on-a-Chip PACK 239

Degree-on-a-Chip PACK 240Doctorate-on-a-Chip PACK 240Vacation-on-a-Chip PACK 240Competence-on-a-Chip PACK 240Datacourier PACK 240Sim-sational PACK 241Basic Combat Eyes PACK 241Advanced Combat Eyes PACK 241Eagle Eyes PACK 241Rabbit Ears PACK 241Bulletproof Jeff PACK 241Basic Razorboi PACK 242Advanced Razorboi PACK 242Basic Speedboost PACK 242Advanced Speedboost PACK 242Basic Vatjob PACK 242Advanced Vatjob PACK 242Basic Rigger PACK 243Advanced Rigger PACK 243Street Samurai Classic PACK 243Bioware Beef PACK 243Bioware Lean PACK 243Bioware Cat PACK 243Bio-Computer PACK 243Bioware Company Man PACK 244

LIFESTYLE PACKS 244Bug-Out Bag 244Street Rat PACK 244Lowlife PACK 244Success in the Shadows PACK 244High Life PACK 245

COLOR PACKS 245Cocktail Kid PACK 245Gunbunny PACK 245Drone Mechanic PACK 245Mechanic Shop PACK 245Eavesdropper PACK 246Surveillance PACK 246Breaking and Entering PACK 246Jammer PACK 246Medic PACK 246

Medical Patches PACK 246Mountaineering PACK 247Infiltration PACK 247Demolitionist PACK 247

VEHICLE PACKS 247Bunny Hopper PACK 247Racing Bike PACK 247Combat Biker PACK 248All-American PACK 248Team Van PACK 248Off Road PACK 248Non-combat Rigger PACK 248Combat Rigger PACK 248

DECKER PACKS 248Intro to Hacking PACK 248Basic Decker PACK 249Advanced Decker PACK 249Basic Cyberdeck Programs PACK 249Advanced Cyberdeck Programs PACK 249

DRONE PACKS 249Basic Drone Commander PACK 249Advanced Drone Commander PACK 249Rigger Support PACK 250Dog Brain PACK 250Basic Spy Drone PACK 250Advanced Spy Drone PACK 250Basic Combat Drone PACK 250Advanced Combat Drone PACK 250Air Combat Drone 251Advanced Air Combat Drone PACK 251

MAGIC PACKS 251Basic Magician PACK 251Advanced Magician PACK 251Magic Wand PACK 251Magic Staff PACK 251Basic Medicine Bag PACK 251Advanced Medicine Bag PACK 252Basic Spirit Stick PACK 252Advanced Spirit Stick PACK 252Magic Spear PACK 252

Buying the Basics 252

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RUN FASTER CREDITSWriting: Raymond Croteau, Kevin Czarnecki, Olivier

Gagnon, Patrick Goodman, Jason M. Hardy, Robyn “Rat” King, Adam Large, Eric Lyon-Taylor, Scott Schletz, William Stroud, R.J. Thomas, Thomas Willoughby, Russell Zimmerman

Editing: Kevin Killiany, Philip A. Lee

Proofing: Lars Wagner Hansen, Mason Hart, Andrew Marshall, Tim Patrick, CZ Wright

Art Direction: Brent Evans

Cover Art: Echo Chernik

Cover Layout: Matt “Wrath” Heerdt

Iconography: Nigel Sade

Interior Art: Piotr Arendzikowski, Daniel Comerci, Lucas Durham, Matt Hansen, David Hovey, Ian King, Ian Llanas,

Dan Masso, Jason Metcalf, Victor Moreno, Mike Perry, Kristen Plescow, Mark Poole, Andrea Radeck, Mickael Rookard, Andreas “AAS” Schroth, Alex Stone, Eric Williams, and Alex Williamson

Interior Layout: Matt “Wrath” Heerdt

Shadowrun Line Developer: Jason M. Hardy

Playtesting & Proofing: Natalie Aked, Rob Aked, Jackson Bruntsing, Karlene Dickens, Derek Dokter, Bruce Ford, Eugen Fournes, Joanna Fournes, Sandy Gamboa, Tim Gray, Kendall Jung, Alex Kadar, Peter Leitch, Dave Lundquest, Chris Maxfield, Jon Naughton, Whitney Pace, Sue Powell, Richard Riessen, Matt Riley, Mark Somers, Dylan Stangel, Ashley Turkowski, Leland Zavadil

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