Lofwyr’s Legions – The Dragon and the Drakes

Hoi chummers! This year is starting boldly with Shadowrun. First, we got the announcement for the Sixth World Companion, which will release later this year. Then we got two new PDF supplements. One is a mission for Shadowrun, the other is… well… like birthday and Christmas on one day for me. Today, we will have a look at the latest addition to my digital library: Lofwyr’s Legions.

The Contents of Lofwyr’s Legions

The supplement begins with a short story fragment that gives an introduction into the feel and theme of the supplement itself. I may be biased, but I love the Shadowrun fiction, and this one is no exception. If you want to portrait the interactions between Saeder-Krupp Prime and another corporation that belongs to Saeder-Krupp, this story will give you an excellent idea on how to do it.

Those who serve the dragon

This chapter is one of the most valuable for my campaign. It provides us with a cast of ten NPC that belong to Saeder-Krupp and therefore to Lofwyr. Most of them even have names, a brief introduction, a set of quotes, and their stat block. Even if you don’t plan to use these specific NPC, they provide you with a good idea for building your own. Since there are not only fighters, this section provides you with a generic cast in a corporation setting, starting with a researcher and finishing with a Drake of the Drachenschatten!

Drakes

Well, I have to admit that this section gives me a hard time. I want to love the Drakes. I want them to be awesome, and I want them in my game. But they seem overpowered at this moment, and this is sad. The amount of effective damage reduction for Drakes is insane, even if you create them as standard runners, when you min-max them. If you want to play an awakened character, keep in mind that they use Edge, not Magic, as an attribute for their drake powers. Even when they have magic.

That doesn’t mean that I can’t make them playable with houserules, but that I need houserules is not what I expected. They give me an idea, but they need some work to be allowed at my table. Otherwise, they could throw the balance right out the window.

The Dragon’s Shadows

The new initiatory group also serves as a good template for your own groups. For players, this is only useable if you play a Drake loyal to Lofwyr, and therefore belonging to Saeder-Krupp. I think I will make use for this group when having the Drachenschatten in my campaign, but not for player characters, as long as they don’t belong to said corporation.

Another problem is that there is the optional suggestion to reduce the cost of Dracogenesis further, if the Drakes belong to such a group – and this is something I will not recommend. Dracogenesis is already cheap, compared to initiation for mages. Especially if you take the drake powers into account that are bound to Dracogenesis. But it’s a delightful piece of worldbuilding and NPC group.

Drachenklaue

Drachenklaue is the new Martial Art that Lofwyr’s Legions provides. It’s developed and marketed by Saeder-Krupp and is especially useful for those who fight with natural- or Cyberweapons. Actually, this is a part I would allow for my players if they want to have it. It’s a nice bit of flavour added with this Martial Arts, and the signature move is well bound into the theme and history of it.

Is Lofwyr’s Legions worth it?

I think that depends what you want to have it for, and if you will put some work into it. For Game Masters in Shadowrun, it’s a useful addition to the library. The NPC and initiatory group are great to give flavour and style to your Saeder-Krupp facilities. The Drakes will give you a good starting point, but they need some fixing and work to be balanced and playable without problems.

With a look at the price, I would say it is worth it if you want to make use of Saeder-Krupp as a corporation, and if you will invest time into your game to invent and establish your houserules.

What do you think about it?

What do you think about this supplement? Do you agree or disagree with me? Leave me a comment down below!

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