Shadowrunners are “talent-for-hire,” a means to an end for getting things done by any means necessary. Whether you’re a street samurai (see “muscle”), an ultrahot decker (see “hacker”), a spellslinger (see “wizard”), or whatever archetype you care to be (see “idfk”), your craft is all about leverage. Despite all the magic, corporate espionage, and mercenary finagling, it’s the shadowrunners granting the franchise its namesake I’m most interested in. Mind you, I’m paraphrasing, but if you’re into fairytales and cyberpunk, Shadowrun‘s universe is a fine marriage between the two. Old governments crumbled in favor of megacorporate statehood once-forgotten tribal and animist lore gave shamans a renewed connection with their aspects from beyond the veil.