ZypherIM posted:

First edition had some errata or second printing style things that changed some of that up. Make initiative a ton simpler (broke it down to a basic +modifier that you added to a d10 roll), changed margin of success away from the old way (the amount you rolled under your skill) to blackjack rules (higher is better if you don't go over), stuff like that.

Overall, there is some system mastery stuff going on, but its less "you need to build your guy this way or you're hosed" like in d20 systems, and more that prep/smart play get rewarded. Between gear and doing stuff to give yourself bonuses your character can do a lot of stuff that they're not designed for. Like with no skill in guns you could be rolling at 50 to hit (10 from COOR, 10 from sights on gun, 30 from full auto for hit). Non-combat if you're trying to do crazy stuff you'd do more prep work, so maybe you call in a favor to get a better disguise though fame rep, a favor from criminal rep to sow some rumors, and some infosec to get some inside info, and your infiltration should be getting some nice bonuses (or if its an extended scene maybe a pool of bonus points to spend).


Haven't had a chance to look through 2e myself, but most of the changes I've heard seem good. Moxie spread out to different things gives some granularity to it, some of the math/bonuses and stuff better balanced, new asyncs seem neat.