Welcome to the Sixth World of Shadowrun, an alternate reality of the world in which we live. Created in part by the awakening of the fantastical aspects of magic, metahuman races, and dragons, but that’s only part of it. Through the advancement of technology, governments are mostly figureheads and the nations are actually controlled by mega corporations. Everyone belongs to one of two groups: SINners or Runners. There are some crossovers, but they are the exception, not the rule.
SINners are those who abide by the law set forth by the corporations they work for…or are owned by. These “wageslaves” have their daily routines and check-ins. Should they deviate, they may find themselves on the inside of a prison. Sure, there are a few that get by running their own establishments, but even they keep a vigilant watch to ensure they stay out of the corporations’ eyes lest they, too, find themselves running from the law.
Runners fight against this machine, or some do. Others make it work for them. They survive by doing the dirty work for the corporations, beholden to none (usually). Whether it be assassinating a competitor, extracting the researcher who has made a breakthrough, or stealing the data to the latest development, if the pay’s right, they’ll get the job done. And, the corporations insure nothing comes back to them by using a middleman, Mr. Johnson, who has remained anonymous if he’s done his job right.
SINners remain within the law, but are trapped by the corporations. Runners are free from the corporations, but usually find themselves running from the law. Is there a happy middle ground? Perhaps only the CEOs and their direct associates could truly answer that, probably because they are the law.
SINners are those who abide by the law set forth by the corporations they work for…or are owned by. These “wageslaves” have their daily routines and check-ins. Should they deviate, they may find themselves on the inside of a prison. Sure, there are a few that get by running their own establishments, but even they keep a vigilant watch to ensure they stay out of the corporations’ eyes lest they, too, find themselves running from the law.
Runners fight against this machine, or some do. Others make it work for them. They survive by doing the dirty work for the corporations, beholden to none (usually). Whether it be assassinating a competitor, extracting the researcher who has made a breakthrough, or stealing the data to the latest development, if the pay’s right, they’ll get the job done. And, the corporations insure nothing comes back to them by using a middleman, Mr. Johnson, who has remained anonymous if he’s done his job right.
SINners remain within the law, but are trapped by the corporations. Runners are free from the corporations, but usually find themselves running from the law. Is there a happy middle ground? Perhaps only the CEOs and their direct associates could truly answer that, probably because they are the law.
*Header image by vecStock on Freepik, all other images are stock photos or generated through AI.