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The author has some valid points, but as far as being a fully realized campaign... just the vast number of NPCs with full stats and gear makes it worth while to a GM.

This is not Harlequin, but Harlequin could be worked in to almost any on going Shadowrun campaign. Harlequin is also a very high bar to set.

Ghost Cartels is a well equipped and fully stocked tool box for a GM. The authors are also very up front about it.

The Cast of Shadows are the largest and best I've every seen in an SR campaign book. They included the chief bad guys (with art), the lieutenants, and the grunts. They even included vehicle and drone stats. If nothing else I like having some good examples of what the Big Boys will have as cannon fodder and protection.

The main campaign is fully realized campaign but won't be for everyone. They do a good job suggesting spin offs and side jobs.

Certainly the campaign frame work can be used by any GM to drive events in his campaign.

Between the fully detailed NPCs and the well laid out set pieces (including the color maps), any GM will be able to put most of Ghost Cartels in to use over the average campaign.

Runners don't like drug lords then have them be running the shadows of Caracas or any of the other locations and get caught up in events. Nothing like a major disaster/riot/firefight to throw a monkey wrench to a run's plans.

I'll admit if you don't have a PDF getting the front background info in the first 45 pages of the book in to your player's hands is less than easy. If you do then it is a snap to print off just what you want them to see. Maybe Catalyst Game Labs can put most of that part of Ghost Cartels up on their download section.

Finally I missed all the Shadowtalk in the SR books and I'm glad to see it back. Between that and having the full stats for an Aztechnology strike team, Ghost Cartels more than worth while to me.

I'd give it at least a 4 for Style and a 4 for Substance.