I had eagerly anticipated Run & Gun. I bought it as soon as it was available. I was surprised upon reading the book. Somehow, we have been delivered a book with half the content of Arsenal for 4th edition, with no new chems, drugs, or toxins and a modifications list lacking basic modifications. Extended magazines are missing. Electronic firing is missing. Foregrips are missing. Barrel mods are missing. A simple copy-and-paste job would have sufficed-- these modifications can in many cases be used directly from 4E Arsenal with no rebalancing, but we didn't even get that. There are no new drugs or chems or toxins at all. Tacnets, while present, did not undergo the redesign many had hoped for, with the lowest level tacnet being 18F, even though it's marketed for civilian use according to the fluff. The fluff says that tacnets are available for civilian purchase once they have passed a BG check and been issued a permit. Fifth Edition core states that you can never be issued a license for a forbidden item. I didn't mention the price, did I? That's because it costs half a million nuyen for a modest boost to perception tests. Martial arts are similarly useless, with an Ares Firewatch style that costs 37 Karma and 2 1/2 months of training to learn fully, and provides benefits that are marginally useful at best, even in their intended use.

One of the high points of the book is the fashion section, and the weapons arsenal. While modification is limited, the stock guns are interesting and useful. Each gun has its own role, which I can easily identify, and they'll be a fixture in my weekly games. Similarly, fashions are realistic and have immediate utility. The book is full color as well, which is a nice change from 4E Arsenal. There's a lot more art, which I definitely appreciate. Demolitions have been given their own chapter, and it is one of the better decisions made in this production. The demolitions chapter almost makes up for the rest of the book's failings.

On the whole, I'm disappointed. I thought I was getting the personal combat parts of Arsenal, updated and rebalanced for 5th Edition, with a smattering of new equipment and rules. Instead, I got two thirds of the personal combat parts from Arsenal, with a side dish of 5E. I wouldn't buy it again knowing what I know now, but the good parts are good enough that I'm not going to ask for a refund. I'm definitely going to be waiting for the hivemind's opinion on all future supplements.