I recently dusted off my copy of Unknown Armies, and then UA also (surprisingly?) turned up in the Torchbearer thread.

I like the game and the zeitgeist, but I really can't find much info online about the differences between the two editions, neither on Atlas Games own page or in the numerous reviews.

So, rpgsite, any notable differences between the two edition of Unknown Armies?

I got the first edition, but is there any big/note worthy changes in the second, or is is standard Atlas-Atlas-Games-new-edition-micro-changes (yes, Over The Edge 1st and 2nd edition, I'm looking in your direction)?

There's a description here:
http://www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG6020.php'

There's a ton of new and expanded information, including new schools, more avatars, and expanded rules. Exactly the opposite of Over the Edge, which added what, more essays?

It's been a long time since I opened UA first edition, and when I actually played it was second edition. The biggest difference was the tiers of play, which make for a great change. The book also was packed with awesome detail about the occult underground world. You should still be able to use the 1e sourcebooks if you have 2e, and even if you don't have them I'd recommend Postmodern Magick, Statosphere and Lawyers Guns and Money. I'd definitely get 2e.

Thanx!

Dunno how I missed that page over at Atlas Games.

I'll keep an eye out for the source books and will certainly grab a hold of the 2nd edition if I find it at a reasonable price - if for nothing else, beacuse it's hardback

From what I understand, 2e is actually a better 1e - mechanics for the most part stay the same, there's just more toys to play with, and  they are either options or don't upset the previous system.

Quote from: Rincewind1;650881From what I understand, 2e is actually a better 1e - mechanics for the most part stay the same, there's just more toys to play with, and  they are either options or don't upset the previous system.

Yeah, it seems that they added a lot of cool stuff. I especially like the sound of expanded "get into the mind set"-guide and campaign-building advice. I enjoy the game, but I can see how running the damn thing, and creating scenarios, can be a bit harder with this one than other games/settings.

Yes, 2e is better.  Its the one I used.

As a whole, the game is still very far from anything resembling reality but I do think its the closest I've ever seen to an accurate description of magick as a subculture and what it does to you.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;653199Yes, 2e is better.  Its the one I used.

As a whole, the game is still very far from anything resembling reality but I do think its the closest I've ever seen to an accurate description of magick as a subculture and what it does to you.

I am in full agreement on both scores. The first edition was great, but the second was better. And the depiction of the in-universe magic subculture was shockingly close to my own experience with some branches of the real world devotees (as was Kult, to be honest, which is why I often pair the two games in my mind despite their radical differences).

I need to pull UA2e off the shelf and re-read it. I don't think I've looked at it in 5 years; haven't played in about 10 years.

Intriguing system and setting, but sometimes I found the writing rather grating.

I don't think I've seen anyone ever suggest that 1e is better; in fact, 2e is a long, long book even for it's 350-ish pages--no, seriously, it's got some of the smallest (but entirely readable!) print I've ever seen in an sourcebook.

About the only possibly essential thing, at least for me, I think 2e seems to be missing is the one page or so (I gather) of opening statements and design goals. I haven't read it, but would desperately like to--I have 2e, have read it and most supplements cover-to-cover multiple times, and still don't really get the UA vibe despite having had it for several years. I think it's an inspired work of genius, but I have no idea what the proper tone is, or what those awesome rumors are for. I suspect that I maybe the only one for whom this applies--everyone else seems to pick it up and grok it instantly.