The year is 2084, and a lot as changed in the Sixth World over the last few years.
A literal war broke out within the shadows against a metaplanar threat the like of which had never been seen before, It spilt out for all the world to see, yet was explained away as simply a series of catastrophes and terrorist acts by corporate media spin doctors. This shadow war culminated in the loss of magic. For ten days, the world held its breath as depowered magicians panicked and opposing forces held in check by the threat of magic moved to try and take advantage of the situation. But just as quickly as it went away, it came back. But it wasn’t quite the same; in many ways it was familiar enough, but still different
And the changes didn’t stop there. State of the Art: 2084 reveals the current events in the Sixth World and the fallout of these world-shaping events as well as a look at how society is coping.
The aftershocks of what would become to be known (at least in the shadows) as the Disian Shadow War as well as the Un- and Re-Awakening, would reverberate throughout the Sixth World. In the shadows, it was far as business as usual as a schism has begun to form between veteran runners and the next generation who are replacing those lost. And to make matters worse, there are some who cannot let the shadow war go and are determined to make sure all of those who sided with the metaplanar invaders pay for their crimes.
This includes the corporations who thought they could somehow out-play their Disian allies. And while they found themselves on the losing side, they still found ways to avoid any serious repercussions through a series of concessions and back-door deals. Well, at least most of them did, because in any war, someone has to take the fall.
Corporations weren’t the only ones who suffered. Several nations found themselves changed as traitors in their midst were revealed. But, it wasn’t all calamity. Some, like the Native American Nations decided to reclaim more of their heritage and fully embrace their culture by forming a new alliance of nations. And in the Confederated American States and the United Canadian and American states, rumors of a kind of … reconciliation have been spoken within their respective halls of power.
That’s the current state of the Sixth World, a time of change. Regardless of where things go from here; for shadowrunners, it’s a time of opportunity.
- RJ Thomas, Shadowrun Line Developer
