Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Cyberpunk Red
Cyberpunk Red
rule book
ANSELM ZIELONKA
2
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
Meet your Edgerunner. Project Management: Cody Pondsmith and Mike Pondsmith
page 6 Art Direction: Jaye Kovach
Covers: Anselm Zielonka
3
LIFEPATH Illustration: R Bago, Neil Branquinho, Alexander Dudar, Hélio
Bringing your Character to life. Frazão, Maksym Harahulin, Adrian Marc, Eddie Mendoza,
page 14 Angelina Stroganova, Sebstian Szmyd, and Anselm Zielonka
Cartography: Matt Francella
4
PUTTING THE CYBER INTO THE PUNK
Map Elements: Michael K. Tumey of Gamer Printshop
All about cyberware.
page 18 Layout and Page Design: J Gray, Jaye Kovach, and Cody
Pondsmith
5
GETTING IT DONE Proofing and Editing: David Ackerman, J Gray, James Hutt, Cody
How to play the game. Pondsmith, Lisa Pondsmith, Mike Pondsmith, and Jessica Ross
page 23 Product Consultation: Aron Tarbuck
Playtesting: The thousands of Players of Cyberpunk over the
6
NETRUNNING IN THE AGE OF THE RED years. Thank you all!
Plugging your brain into cyberspace.
page 29 Dedicated to the amazing
people of R. Talsorian Games,
7
THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
What to do when a fight breaks out. past and present. Together, we
page 37
make the future.
CR3000 •• ISBN 978-1-950911-01-1
Copyright©2019 by R. Talsorian Games, Inc., Cyberpunk is a registered
trademark of CD Projekt Red S.A. All rights reserved under the Universal
Copyrights Convention. All situations, governments and people herein are fictional. Any
similarities portrayed herein without satiric intent are strictly coincidental.
E DDI E M E N DOZ A
2
THE VIEW FROM THE EDGE
Agent. Designer drugs were illegal. You could walk down most
city streets without an armor jacket. There wasn’t even a NET. Cyberpunk Was Closer
Not that there is anymore, but they didn't even have the idea
back then.
Than They Thought
Here’s more background for you to think over: When the
The Crash of 1994 grand old Masters of the Movement first started writing the
cyberpunk genre, they assumed that most of the things they
Now we know better. History books can tell you in detail wrote about would either never happen or would happen in the
about the Crash of 1994, when the Euro–Combines established far future. No one knew that the West Germans were already
the World Stock Exchange and the economies of the United developing “organic” circuitry in the late 1980s, or that the
States and Old Sov Russia collapsed. United States Air Force was developing mentally controlled
In those days, both were ranked as superpowers, instead of weapons systems. Synthetic myomar muscle fibers were just
a couple of over–armed second–raters waving nuclear weap- starting to be used to control prosthetics, and very few people
ons around under the watchful eye of the EuroSpace Defense could project ahead into the 1990s when organic chipped arms
Agency. So far, the Tycho mass drivers are still ready to throw and legs would be possible. There were a few primitive exper-
rocks at Moscow and Washington, so we’ll probably avoid iments with bio–engineering—things like Frostban™ and a few
having the nuclear war everyone’s been expecting since 1944. new types of corn—nothing like the bio–engineered animals
After all, rocks are cheap. that we used to (unsuccessfully) terraform the Martian colonies.
It took about fifteen years for the newtech to catch up with
The Fourth Corp War and the vision. First, the military started using cybertechnology to
create “perfect soldiers” and pilots. Some of the spin–off led
the Fall of Night City to prosthetic limbs, eyes, and other body parts. Organic cir-
cuitry led to direct hookups between people and computers.
Now, of course, a couple years back, everything was more
Combined with advanced telecommunications technology and
or less run by the Corporations, which were pretty much gov-
satellite downlinks, the basis for the once planet–wide NET
ernments in themselves. But then, there was a huge and very
(now wrecked thanks to the War and the R.A.B.I.D.S.), was
ugly war between two of the biggest Megacorps—Arasaka
established. As each new technological advancement slammed
Security and Militech Arms—that ended with one of the sides
into place, a sort of cultural technoshock set in.
popping off a pocket nuke in the middle of downtown Night
City. So you can see how that ended up.
Technoshock
What We Miss Technoshock: When technology outstrips people’s ability to
comprehend or fit it into their lives. Suddenly, people freak
For all of the wartime uglies, you can go anywhere on one
out. They get irrational, violent. Families shatter; relationships
passport—one–world–ism at its best. What currencies still exist
tear apart. People feel helpless in the face of the Universe.
are stabilized to each other, and the Eurodollar is still the world
Eventually, the whole society grinds to a halt, the victim of a
currency. Hardly anyone complains anymore about Corporate
mass psychosis. That’s what we now call the Collapse.
Lifetime Contracts or the abolition of unions; in these unstable
times, they don’t even miss them. It’s the price of living in a There were three major responses to technoshock. The vast
stable, safe society, right? majority of people, their lives uprooted and changed by the
advancements, sat passively waiting for their leaders to tell
Life on the Street them what to do next. One smaller group tried to turn back
the clock, founding the basis for what we call the Neo–Luddite
After all, you could be living on the Street—sixteen people movement. The remaining group decided to hit the future head
to an apartment, sharing ration chips every week to buy food, on. With the old 1980s visionary writings as their guide, they
with eight thousand apartments per city block? Sure, it isn’t the established the movement we now call Cyberpunk.
best life, what with the boostergangs roaming the Malls and
the major–league crime problems, but it beats actually being
on the Street. At least the mega–arcologies have cops (okay,
So, Welcome to the Dark Future
rented Corporate cops, but it’s easier than fronting the euro for Okay, so now you’re ready.
your own personal Solo!). Besides, the media–nets make sure As a Cyberpunk, you grab technology by the throat and hang
that every apartment has direct cable access to TV, radio, and on. You’re not afraid to check out the newest in enhancements,
sensory feed, so there’s always something to do on a Saturday cybertech, and bio–engineering. You’ve got interface plugs in
night. your wrists, weapons in your arms, lasers in your eyes, bio-
Where were we? Oh yeah—you want to be a Cyberpunk. chip programs in your brain. You become the car you drive,
3
THE VIEW FROM THE EDGE
the aerodyne you fly, the guns you shoot. You dive headfirst
into computer systems, using your mind to hurtle at lightspeed
all over the new networks of micro–nets, Data Fortresses, and
Artificial Intelligences. With cyborg fingers, you pick computer
locks; with enhanced senses, you see into the Future.
Cyberpunk is also an attitude. You wear the most “in” clothes,
know the right people, and follow the right crowds. You plan
your crimes in the most select clubs and bars; your enemies
are Corporate armies, cyborg bike gangs, power–armored
assassins, and computer–wired Netrunners. Your weapons are
nerve, street smarts, bravado, and the Minami 10 smartgun on
your hip.
Are you ready now? Of course you are. You can’t wait.
Now you're
Cyberpunk.
Maximum mike
R BAGO
4
THE VIEW FROM THE EDGE
STREETSLANG
Some Common Terms in The Time of the Red
Time of the Red: A slang term for the period from Go LEO: To make the trip into low Earth Orbit, i.e., to
2023 to the late 20–30s, taken from the red skies visit one of the inner space stations.
common throughout the world as an aftereffect of the
Fourth Corporate War. Gyro: Small one–or two–person helicopters, used mostly
in police work and Corporate strike operations.
Ay–Vee: Common slang for an aerodyne—an automo-
bile–like flying vehicle powered by ducted jet fans. Handle: A nickname; a working name you are known
AI: Artificial Intelligence; a computer with full self– by on the Street.
awareness. Hydro: Streetslang for hydrogen fuel, used to power a
Booster: Any member of a gang that affects cyber- sizable number of vehicles in the 2000s.
wear, leather clothing and random violence.
Input: Girlfriend.
Combat Drugs: Any one of a series of designer drugs
created to increase speed, stamina, and reflexes. Keyboard: Streetslang for a computer interface deck
Chilled: To be cool; to be together. with manual keys. Also: a terminal.
Chip: Any type of data recording, usually in the form of Netrun: To interface with a cyberspace system and
small colored slivers of plastic. hack it's programs and controls. Used also to refer
Chippin' In: To buy cyberwear for the first time. To cast to running the global Network until the advent of the
your lot with a group. To connect with a machine. Fourth Corp War.
Choombatta (Choomba): Neo–Afro American slang Output: Boyfriend.
for friend or family member.
Polymer One Shot: any cheap plastic pistol, usually in
CHOOH2 ("choo"): Streetslang for alcohol, as used in the 5 to 6mm range.
vehicle power plants. The vast majority of vehicles in
the Time of the Red are fueled by an advanced form Posergang: any group whose members all affect a spe-
of alcohol with a higher burning temperature than cific look, style, or bodysculpt job.
normal methanol.
R.A.B.I.D.S.: A particularly deadly form of black ICE
Chromer: Twenty–first century heavy metal rock fan. spread throughout the Old NET after the death of
See also “Chromatic Rock.”
their creator, Netrunning legend Rache Bartmoss.
Chromatic Rock: A type of heavy metal Characterized
by heavy electronics, simple rhythms, and violent lyr- Ripperdoc: Surgeon specializing in implanting illegal
ics. cyberwear.
Cybered Up: To get as much cyberware implanted as Ronin: A freelance assassin or mercenary. Usually con-
possible before going over the Edge. sidered to be untrustworthy.
Data Term: A street corner information machine with a Samurai: A Corporate assassin or mercenary, hired to
screen, NET inputs, and keyboard. protect Corporation property or make strikes against
Dorphs: Streetslang for synthetic endorphins, a designer other Corporate holdings.
drug that increases healing powers, limits fatigue,
and produces a "rush" similar to a second wind. Slammit On: To get violent; to attack someone without
reason.
Exotic: A human biosculpted with non–human elements,
such as fur, long ears, fangs, etc. The Street: Wherever you live, late at night. Also: the
The Face: The Interface. Jacking into Cyberspace. Subculture; the Underground.
Flatline: To kill. A dead person or thing. Stuffit: To have sex. Also: to forget about something.
5
HÉLIO FRAZÃO
6
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
you swagger into the club looking like you know how to use
a y s t a k e it to it and are just itching for an excuse. Never walk into a room
when you can stride in. Never look at someone unless you can
Alw the make it your best "killer" look. Use your best "I'm bad and you
E d g e . It 's
the aren't” smile. Don't sit around the flat or cube waiting for the
b e r p u n k w ay. next job—get on out and hit the clubs and hangouts. Make sure
Cy ny Silverha
nd
you're where the party starts.
John
3) Live on the Edge
The Edge is that nebulous zone where risk–takers and high–
riders go. On the Edge, you'll risk your cash, your rep, and even
As A Cyberpunk Player your life on something as vague as a principle or a big score.
As a Cyberpunk, you want to be the action, start the rebellion,
As a Cyberpunk roleplayer, it's up to you to find your cause light the fire. Join great causes and fight for big issues. Never
and go to the wall with it. This is the essence of Cyberpunk—
drive slow when you can drive fast. Throw yourself up against
playing your Character with the proper disaffected, cynical–
danger and take it head on. Never play it too safe. Stay com-
yet–idealistic style. Whether you're a biker with leathered skin
mitted to the Edge.
and metal claws or a débutante in satin sporting the latest in
designer cyberoptics, you're going to need panache—a cer-
tain flair—in portraying yourself. To achieve the essence of the
2000s, you need to master three concepts: ROLES
1) Style Over Substance The Core of Cyberpunk Roleplaying
It doesn't matter how well you do something, as long as you Even after a massive war between Megacorporations fol-
look good doing it. If you're going to blow it, make sure you lowed by an atomic bombing, the world of Cyberpunk is a
look like you planned it that way. Normally, clothes and looks combination of savage, sophisticated, modern, and retro–
don't matter in an adventure, but in this world, having a leather grade. Fashion–model beautiful Techs rub shoulders with bat-
armor jacket and mirror shades is a serious consideration. tle–armored road warriors, all of them making the scene in the
hottest dance clubs, sleaziest bars, and meanest streets this side
2) Attitude Is Everything of the post holocaust.
It's true. Think dangerous, be dangerous. Think weak, be
weak. Remember: everyone in the 2000s is carrying lethal
hardware. Each Character in this world is playing a part—a
The Roles
face that person projects to the outside world as the real thing. There are nine Roles in Cyberpunk Red: Rockerboys, Solos,
They won't be impressed by your new H&K smartgun unless Netrunners, Execs, Techs, Lawmen, Fixers, Medias, and Nomads.
The Rules:
1) Style Over Substance.
2) Attitude is Everything.
ge.
3) Always take It to the Ed
4) Break the Rules.
Ripperjack
7
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
Rockerboys
Rock and roll rebels who use performance and
rhetoric to fight authority.
Solos
Assassins, bodyguards, killers, and soldiers for
hire in a lawless new world.
Netrunners
Cybernetic master hackers of the post–NET
world and brain burning secret stealers.
Techs
Renegade mechanics and doctors patching up
meat and metal alike.
Medias
Newsmen, media stars, and social influencers
risking it all for the truth.
This Role will be available in the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook.
Lawmen
Maximum lawmen patrolling the mean streets
and road warrior highways beyond.
This Role will be available in the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook.
Execs
Corporate power brokers and business raiders
fighting to restore the rule of the Megacorps.
This Role will be available in the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook.
Fixers
Deal makers, smugglers, organizers, and infor-
mation brokers on the post–war streets of the
future.
Nomads
Transportation experts and ultimate road war-
ALEXANDER DUDAR
riors.
8
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
3
STARTING HITS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED DEATH SAVE
Gear
Important items your Char-
8 acter starts the game with. Athletics Brawling Concentration Kevlar
5
(DEX) +3 (DEX) +2 (WILL) +4
Does not include armor and Education Evasion Human Perception ARMOR Head Armor 7
weapons. 4 SKILLS
(INT) +2
Local Expert
(INT) +5
(DEX) +5
Marksmanship
(REF) +4
(EMP) +5
Perception
(INT) +3
Body Armor 7
6
(COOL) +6 (EMP) +6 (DEX) +3 NAME DAMAGE
Night City!
9
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
Combat Group
JUMPSTART RULES Technique (TECH): Your ability to manipulate tools or instru-
ments. This is not the same as reflexes, inasmuch as this covers
What is a Character? the knack of using tools. One Character might have a high
Technique, but might not be able to fence or juggle. On the
A Player Character is a role that you will be playing in the other hand, another might have high Reflexes, but might not
loose, impromptu play that makes up a roleplaying session. For be able to rewire a computer or hot–wire a car.
example, if your roleplaying group were staging a recreation
of the movie Casablanca, Rick Blaine would be one of the Char- Reflexes (REF): Your response time and coordination, as used in
acters. Much like Humphrey Bogart, the person playing Rick aiming, throwing, juggling, etc. A stage magician, for exam-
in this adventure would try to act out what they thought the ple, would have a high Reflex Stat. Most importantly, this is
Character would be doing in each scene of the “movie.” But the Stat that affects your ability to hit things.
what keeps a Player from saying, “Ah! When the Nazi officer
corners Rick at the airport, Rick uses his Heat–Ray vision to melt
Fortune Group
Herr Strasser’s gun”? That’s where the rules come in. To make Luck (LUCK): How the gods of chance see you. With a high
sure everyone plays their Characters convincingly and fairly, enough Luck, you can tip the scales in your favor; in a game
the GM uses a set of structured guidelines (like these) to tell mechanics sense, you can apply points from this Stat to offset
Players what is or isn’t possible within the confines of the world. die rolls in your favor. However, this pool of points only refills
And to set guidelines on what is possible for a particular Char- at the beginning of the next session.
acter, GMs start out with the very powerful tool of Statistics.
Physical Group
What are Statistics? Body (BODY): Your size, toughness, and ability to stay alive
and conscious due to physical mass, sheer bloody–minded-
Statistics (also called Stats) are numbers that describe your ness, structure, or other qualities. This Stat determines how
Character’s ability as compared to everything else in the uni- much damage you can take.
verse. All people and creatures can be described (or written
up) using Statistics. This helps you compare Characters' abilities, Dexterity (DEX): Your overall physical competence, as it per-
which is often important in the game. For instance, a person with tains to balancing, leaping, jumping, combat, and other ath-
a Stat of 5 might be better off than a person with a Stat of letic activities. A gymnast would have a high Dexterity. Most
4, but not as good as a person with a Stat of 6. Statistics are importantly, this Stat can help a Character avoid being hit.
generally rated from 1 to 10. Movement (MOVE): Your speed of movement: running, leap-
ing, swimming, etc..
In a Cyberpunk Red campaign, Charac-
ters will have Ten Primary Statistics, How Do You Get Your Stats?
arranged into four groups. In the Cyberpunk Red Core Book, there are three ways to
generate your Stats.
Mental Group
Intelligence (INT): How generally bright you are. As a rule, this Street Rat (Templates)
is more than sheer intelligence, but also includes cleverness, Templates are the fastest way to create a Cyberpunk Char-
awareness, perception, and your ability to learn. acter. Templates are pregenerated Character outlines where
Willpower (WILL): Your determination and ability to face dan- we supply computer–generated numbers, the Skills, and the
ger and/or stress. This Stat also represents your courage and gear for that type of Character. Templates are a good way
ability to survive long–term privation. for a novice Player to start; your Statistics are automatically
balanced to create an optimum Character for the Role you
Cool (COOL): Your ability to impress and influence people
want to play with only a few optional choices along the way.
through your Character and charisma; how well you get
along with others; how you interact in social situations. This is the option we will be using in this
Empathy (EMP): Your ability to relate to and care for others, Jumpstart Kit, because it's fast, simple,
and take others into consideration. Very important as it off-
sets the effects of Cyberpsychosis, a deadly mental illness and best of all, makes it nearly impos-
common in the Dark Future. sible to roll a bad Character.
10
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
Edgerunner (Fast and Dirty) from their Hit Points. As the Character's Hit Points reach certain
thresholds there are penalties that represent the cumulative
In the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook, Fast and Dirty Char-
damage which is making the Character physically slower and
acters are created by rolling dice and checking the outcome
mentally hazier. After the Character falls to zero Hit Points they
against a series of tables. This system has more flexibility than
enter Death State. We'll go deeper into Wound Thresholds,
the Template Method but has fewer options and less precision
penalties, and Death State in the Combat Section.
than the Constructed method. It’s a good system to use when
you’ve gotten a few games under your belt and really want to For the time being, you can refer to the table below to see
expand your options, or when you know the system but don’t how many Hit Points your Character starts with, where their
want to spend a lot of time crunching the numbers. Serious Wound Threshold is and what their Death Save is.
E DDI E M E N DOZ A
11
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
Basic Skills
Skills
The good news is that every Character also gets a free start-
Skills are things the Character knows or can do; they represent
ing group of Skills to begin with, so that they won’t be totally
their level of knowledge and accomplishment. There are nine
helpless in their new environment. These are Basic Skills.
basic Skill Categories:
Fighting Skills: The ability to fight in hand–to–hand combat, or Basic Skills are things generally common to everyone in all
with a melee weapon. cultures or time periods: Perception, Concentration, Education,
Persuasion, Athletics, Teaching, Local Expert (knowledge of
Ranged Weapon Skills: Skills in using a ranged weapon, such your area), Brawling, and Evasion. These are given free to all
as a gun or a bow. Characters by the GM, and have an automatic starting level
Awareness Skills: Your awareness of your environment, notic- of 2.
ing clues, etc.
Control Skills: The use of Skills involving controlling vehicles or
As part of your Jumpstart Characters,
riding animals. we have already provided you with
Body Skills: The use of Skills involving physical tasks, feats of your Basic Skills plus some Skills you
strength, endurance, and other physical attributes.
will need to perform in your Charac-
Social Skills: Your abilities to blend in, avoid social blunders,
and to show style and grace. Also includes your ability to ter’s chosen Role. Below you will find
convince others through social adeptness. descriptions of the Skills used in the this
Technique Skills: Trained vocational Skills and craftsmanship Jumpstart.
abilities.
Performance Skills: Training in acting, musicianship, special Fighting Skills
effects, makeup, or other stagecrafts. Brawling: Basic Skill at fighting with your hands and other
Education Skills: Knowledge and training based on formal body parts. (DEX)
education/schooling. Evasion: Basic Skill at getting out of the way of someone who
Skills are normally rated from one to ten, and are used in is trying to hit you. This Skill is used for defense when you
game play by adding the level of the Skill to the level of the are being attacked by someone using the brawling, melee
most applicable Characteristic. Skills are like Stats: they have weapons, and marksmanship Skills. (DEX)
a range of effectiveness that is related to how much they cost.
Melee Weapon: Using different types of melee weapons, such
as knives, clubs, axes, swords, spears, etc. (DEX)
instrument. (INT)
Tracking: The ability to follow a trail by observing tracks,
Control Skills
choomba. not chips. Driving: Driving cars, motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, tanks, hover-
craft, and other ground vehicles. Generally, this Skill must be
erh and
Joh nny silv purchased for one class of vehicles. (REF)
12
SOUL AND THE NEW MACHINE
Technique Skills
Basic Tech: The ability to identify, understand, repair, and
rewire electronic devices. (TECH)
Cybertech: The ability to identify, understand, repair, and
rewire cybernetic enhancements, limbs, and implants. (TECH)
First Aid: The ability to apply medical treatments to a wounded
person in order to keep them from dying. (TECH)
Performance Skills
Play Instrument: The Skill of playing an instrument and writing
music for that instrument. (EMP)
Education Skills
Education: General knowledge, such as math, history, science,
trivia, or current events. (INT)
Local Expert: Knowledge of your surrounding area and the
agendas of the various factions, both political and criminal.
(INT)
Role Abilities
In the Cyberpunk Red Core Book, each Role will have it’s own
special ability. These special abilities represent tricks of the
trade that each Role has after years on the job. Here we have
NEIL BRANQUINHO
given you a taste of what those Role Abilities will be like with
the Netrunner’s Role Ability: Interface.
Body Skills
Interface: Interface is a Role Ability, specifically tied to the
Athletics: Basic athletics Skills: flipping, leaping, escaping, Netrunner Role which allows them to perform “Netruns” and
throwing, swimming, etc. (DEX) hack into the many local networks in the Cyberpunk Red world.
Stealth: The ability to hide in shadows, move silently, or avoid Interface grants the Netrunner access to Netrunning and deter-
detection in combat situations. (DEX) mines how effective they are in the NET.
Social Skills
Bribery: A Character with this Skill knows when to bribe some-
one, how to approach their mark, and how much to offer.
(COOL)
somewhere out there
is a guy with half
Conversation: This ability allows you to extract information
from people with careful conversation. The use of this Skill
13
ANGELINA ST ROGANOVA
3 LIFEPATH
"I remember she told me she was born in Miami, about 2004 or so...
She was pretty sure, because she could still remember what it'd been like
when the Euros rocked Washington and the near miss took out Tampa...
"She had these incredible blue eyes—clear through and through, like
crystals of Lace, and a smile from a magazine dream. 'Course, the eyes
were Teknics 2350s, and the smile really was from a magazine—nice
bio–sculpt job. It didn't matter how much was real in the end. I still fell
hard for her. I'm that type."
—Johnny Silverhand
It's like climbing out of a clone vat. (If cloning worked that way, that is.)
You got this half–formed person standing there, dripping with slime. You got some Stats, maybe a vague idea of where you're
going with the Character, but nothing else.
So how do you take this Blank and make them really Cyberpunk?
14
LIFEPATH
You start with the Lifepath. In the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook, Lifepath is a flowchart of "plot complications" designed to help
you give your Cyberpunk Character an authentically Dark Future background. Its sections cover your national and ethnic origins,
your family, friends, enemies, personal habits, and even key events on a yearly basis. It's intended primarily as a guide; if you
encounter something you don't think fits the Character you've envisioned, feel free to change the path as you see fit.
In this Jumpstart Kit, you won’t be rolling as many options but you’ll still be generating a full background for your Character.
Remember: Cyberpunk hinges on roleplaying, so make use of the information in your Lifepath run. It's a guaranteed adventure
generator!
Lifepath: Enhancing roleplaying and fleshing out Characters’ stories since 1984.
Background
Somewhere in your early life, you inherited a background full of pain, desperation, or drama. Choose from the list
below or roll 1d10 to determine your story.
Motivation Goals
What makes you tick? What is the major driving motiva- What do you want from life? What is your ultimate
tion in your life? Choose or roll 1d10. goal? Choose or roll 1d10.
15
LIFEPATH
Friends Enemies
You lucked out and made a new friend (a rare occur- You’ve gotten in someone’s face. Enemies are a way
rence In the Cyberpunk world). Roll 1d10 and subtract 7 to of life In Cyberpunk, so don’t skip this step. Roll 1d10 and
see how many friends you have. For each friend, choose subtract 5 to see how many enemies you have. For each
or roll 1d10 to see who they are. enemy, choose or roll 1d10 to see who they are.
Personality Romance
A Tragic Love Affair. Because if it were all happy, it
What is your basic personality like? Choose or roll
wouldn’t be Cyberpunk, now would it? Choose or roll
1d10. 1d10.
ace
In the Future, there’s no pl
to hide from yourself...
Lyle McClellan, Network 54
16
6 6 10 7 4
A SAMPLE LIFEPATH
Athletics
(DEX) +3
Brawling
(DEX) +2
Concentration
(WILL) +4
Education Evasion Human Perception
SKILLS IN ACTION
(INT) +2
Local Expert
(DEX) +5
Marksmanship
(EMP) +5
Perception
(INT) +5 (REF) +4 (INT) +3
MoverPersuasion
the Solo Play
runsInstrument
his Lifepath.
Melee Weapon
(COOL) +6 (EMP) +6 (DEX) +3
He rolls:
MOTIVATION 6: Vengeance.
1 Friend.
FRIENDS
2: Like a younger sibling to you.
2 Enemies.
ENEMIES 5: Person working for you.
4: Childhood enemy.
ALEXANDER DUDAR
17
SE BAS T IA N SZ M Y D
18
PUTTING THE CYBER INTO THE PUNK
Cyberpsychosis
They're so... like...
Cyberpsychosis is a dissociative disorder which occurs when
someone with preexisting psychopathic tendencies enhances
themselves via cybernetics to the point they no longer see
weak and flimsy, you
themselves or others as complete, sapient organisms but sim-
ply as a collection of replaceable parts. Common symptoms
of Cyberpsychosis include lack of self–preservation, complete know? you reach out
disregard for others, poor impulse control, and explosive out-
bursts.
Cyberware installed for therapeutic purposes, including
limb replacements, prescribed medical devices, and cyber-
and touch 'em and
ware used as part of gender correction surgery, does not
contribute to Cyberpsychosis. Neither does simple decorative
cyberware such as light tattoos or tech hair. Only cyberware they... die...
used to replace perfectly functional body parts or enhance the
body beyond the human baseline can push someone towards
Cyberpsychosis. Even then, they can be treated using a number
of therapeutic options. unknown cyberpsycho
19
PUTTING THE CYBER INTO THE PUNK
cyberoptics Marquee option, incoming messages are flashed
CYBERTECHNOLOGY into the upper edge of your field of vision as red scrolling
letters. In game terms, having a radio implant gives you the
Cybertechnology can be purchased almost anywhere. Some ability to talk to any receiver on the same band frequency
of the medical procedures are simple: walk–in types of surgery, for up to 1 mile. It also means you occasionally get someone
with minor installations taking place in shopping mall clinics else’s radio messages.
(Bodyshoppe, Fashion/Fusion, and Parts N’ Programs are three
popular chain stores) or drop–in medical centers (Docs R Us™).
These installations are much like getting your ears pierced. You
Cyberoptics
can even have upgrades and improvements plugged into the A combination of digital processor and camera, cyberoptics
old hardware for the cost of the new parts, allowing you to are replacements for normal eyes. Cybervision is like regular
start small (called “stripped” or “economy”) and add as you vision, only better. Colors are brighter, images sharper. And
go. that’s just the start.
Cyberoptics can look exactly like normal eyes, although a
Cyberware Table
wide variety of fashion iris colors are available (amber, white,
Basic Cyberware Description burgundy, and violet are very popular). Some versions are
Cyberaudio Adds +1 to any sound–related Task transparent, with glitter or lights swirling inside of them. Other
(Amped Hearing) Check. are superchromed for a more “cyber” look. Others can change
eye color at will to match clothes and surroundings. Some even
Cyberaudio Micro radio implant gives you the
(Radio Link) ability to talk to any receiver on have tiny designer logos around the iris. Cyberoptics with
the same band frequency for up to cameras or weapons usually load from the front, with the iris
1 mile/1.6km. opening up when the front of the eye is depressed.
Cyberoptic Images can be recorded on the Digital Camera: This cyberoptic mounted camera takes up two
(Camera) built–in chip and downloaded to a option spaces. Images can be recorded on the built–in digital
recorder or Agent.
chip and downloaded through interface cables to an exter-
Cyberoptic You can see clearly in dim light (faint nal recorder, internal recorder, or an internal LCD screen.
(Low Light) moonlight, distant street lamps).
Low Light: Allows the user to see clearly in dim light conditions,
Cyberoptic A built–in targeting sight allows you
(Targeting) to add +1 to Marksmanship. down to very faint moonlight or distant street lamps.
Interface Plugs Sockets that allow user to interface Targeting Scope: This projects a targeting sight into the field of
with machines and cybertech. vision at will. The targeting scope will read range to specific
Reflex Boost You are boosted for five full Turns objects, speed of movement, bearing, and size, as well as
(Speedware) (+3 to Initiative Checks) before the providing several types of scope reticule for aligning weap-
boost cuts out. You must then wait 2 ons. When chipped into a gun, the scope will match the tar-
Turns before reboosting. geting sensors of the gun with what you are looking at, then
flash a “ready signal” when the target is acquired. In game
Cyberaudio terms, this option allows you to add +1 to Marksmanship
Checks.
Cyberaudio systems patch into the auditory nerves and
speech centers of the brain. This enhancement affects both ears
and often also includes a sub–vocalizing mic on the mastoid
Interface Plugs
bone. There is no visible change to the outer ear, although some These are a staple of Cyberpunk culture. Usually installed
Cyberpunks replace the outer ear with a set of mechanical in the bones of the wrist, spine, or skull, they tap into major
speaker pickups for max effect. nerve trunks and interface with the neural processor to send
and receive signals. Most people wear their plugs on their
Amplified Hearing: This system improves the hearing and
wrists for ease of use. Occasionally, a true cybertech will mount
sound recognition ability, adding +1 to any sound–related
them at the temples (a plug head), just behind the ears (called
Awareness Check.
a Frankenstein) or in the back of the head (a puppet–head).
Radio Link: A micro–miniature radio transceiver, usually Some cover them with inlaid silver or gold caps, others with
mounted at the base of the skull and using your fillings as wrist warmers. Once again, a matter of style.
the antennae. It is activated by clicking the teeth together
sharply. To talk, you merely sub vocalize (mutter under your
breath). Reception is carried out in one of two ways: 1) a
Reflex Boosters
receiver directly vibrates the mastoid bone, giving you a These are specialized TRC co–processors that amplify and
small, tinny voice in the back of your head, or 2) linked to a speed up signal processing. The biggest advantage to a
20
PUTTING THE CYBER INTO THE PUNK
mounted in the flesh above the limb, while the main unit is cou-
pled to a metal and plastic cuff around the meat part of the
limb. The cuff is usually placed at the upper bicep/thigh or
the elbow/knee; however, arms may also be attached to an
artificial shoulder, and anchored to an external arm mount.
Cyberlimb Table
Cyberlimbs Description Damage
Cyberarm A Cyberweapon concealed Xd6*
(Cyber in a cyberarm.
Weapon)
Cyberleg You can leap 6 m/yds NA
(Paired Jump straight up or make a
Boosters) running jump of up to 8
m/yds.
* How many d6 damage is determined by the weapon.
CYBERLIMBS Damage
Cyberlimbs can take (and dish out) a tremendous amount of
When the average person on the Street thinks of cyborgs, damage, so much so that they are treated like machinery for
what they think of are artificial limbs: whirring, glittering metal the purposes of game combat. All cyberlimbs can take up to
constructs of steel, wire and microchip circuitry. Although real 20 points of structural damage before they are useless, and
arms, legs, and organs can easily be grown in bio–tanks or up to 30 total points of structural damage before they are
replaced from body banks at a much lower cost, artificial destroyed. Attacking with a cyberarm uses the Brawling Skill
limbs are still a popular fad of the Cyberpunk future. They are but does 1d6 damage as if a melee weapon (see page 40).
chromed, airbrushed, jeweled, lighted, and even sculpted in the
pursuit of true cybertech chic. Crushing
Under all the designer fashion, the standard cyberlimb is A cybernetic arm uses synthetic muscle fibers instead of flesh
an aluminum and steel basket framework, with artificial myo- and blood. They don’t get tired, and they don’t feel pain. They
mar plastic muscles controlling motion. The joints are stainless are also much stronger than normal muscle tissue. This gives a
steel. The cyberlimb plugs into a special nerve interface jack cyberarm tremendous gripping power. All cyberlimbs can eas-
21
PUTTING THE CYBER INTO THE PUNK
ily crush light metals, woods, and plastics. They can crush glass Rippers: The top two joints of each finger are replaced with
and plastic to dust (although they can’t crush lumps of coal into a plastic and metal sheath, in which three–inch carbo–glass
diamonds!). In combat, any crushing grip with a cyberarm is a claws are housed. The rippers can be extended by clawing
Choke Action (see page 24) that does 2d6 instead of BODY the hand in a catlike fashion. Most people wear false finger-
damage. nails over their rippers, making them much harder to spot (a
DV18 task). Rippers cut in all directions.
Jump Boosters Big Knucks: Reinforced knuckle bones, giving the fist the impact
Cyberlegs employ powerful pistons and microservos, backed value of a pair of brass knuckles.
by bundles of synthetic muscles. With a pair of them, you can Slice N’ Dice: Mono–filament wire spool mounted in the end of
leap tremendous distances. Characters with paired cyberlegs one finger, with a weighted, false fingernail to give it bal-
can leap 6 meters/yards straight up, or make a running jump ance and swing. Mono–molecular wire will cut through almost
of up to 8 meters/yards. any organic material and most plastics. Can be used as a
garrote, cutter, or slice–whip.
BLACK MARKET
CYBERTECH
What can’t be bought openly are the types of cyberware
this isn't going to
known as Black Market Cybertech. These items can only be
purchased through criminal contacts on the Street, and installed
by high–priced, underground Medtechs known as Ripperdocs.
Black market cybertech is often dangerous, badly installed,
hurt a bit.
and always expensive. But hey, we’re all big kids here, and
besides, you know what to do to a Ripperdoc who messes
around with you, right?
well, maybe a little.
Black Market Cyberweapon Table
Cyberweapons Description Damage
Big Knucks Reinforced knuckle bones, 2d6 Quit screamin’
(paired) giving fists the impact
value of brass knuckles.
Rippers (paired) Three–inch carbo–glass
claws in your fingers for
2d6
willya? How am I
cutting or stabbing.
Slice & Dice Mono–filament wire 2d6
(single) mounted in one finger
cuts through any organic
supposed to get this
material or plastics. Can
be used as a garrote,
cutter or slice–whip.
thing stuck on if you
Cyberweapons
At the top of the Black Market Cyberware hit list are Cyber- keep twitching like
weapons: hidden killing tools that can be buried in your skin
until the moment you want to take someone out. Cyberweap-
ons are not normally available on the open market (the only
exceptions are scratchers and vampires), and locating them
that?
usually involves going down into the local Combat Zone, finding
a Fixer, and paying a lot of euro to ugly, nasty, violent people
who would normally consider you spare parts.
scenes From Savage Doc's
22
HÉLIO FRAZÃO
5 GETTING IT DONE
23
GETTING IT DONE
Every Turn, a Character gets one Move Action and one Action.
Distance, Movement
As a rule, there are two scales of movement used in Cyber- Move Action
punk. The first scale is Figurative Movement: comparing one Every Turn, a Character gets a Move Action, which can only
MOVE Stat to another MOVE Stat to see who is faster overall. be used to move a number of m/yards equal to their MOVE
This is best for simple sustained speed contests, like the outcome x 2, or a number of squares equal to their MOVE, which can
of a footrace. include moving diagonally.
Then there’s Literal Movement: a measurement of actual dis-
tance, used in combat and when using miniatures. Every Turn, Basic Actions
a Character gets a Move Action, which can only be used to Basic Actions are the bread and butter of your Turn in Cyber-
move a number of m/yards equal to their MOVE x 2, or a
punk. Mastering them will allow you to do much more than just
number of squares equal to their MOVE, which can include
moving diagonally. Move Actions, along with all other Actions Attack an enemy on your Turn in combat. You’ll be able to
a Character can do on a Turn will be explained later in the On Choke a security guard that you Grabbed last Turn, dragging
Your Turn Section. their body behind cover. You’ll be able to coordinate a strat-
egy with the rest of your team using the Hold Action to gain
Approximate Speed Table an advantage against superior numbers. You’ll be able to go
to the Edge like nobody else. Don’t let the name fool you. Basic
Travel Method MPH KPH
Actions are anything but.
Walking 2.5 4
Running 5 11 • Attack
Fast Ground Vehicle 100 160 Use a Basic Action to make an attack with Ranged Combat
(Cars, Motorcycles) or Melee Combat.
Medium Air Vehicle 200 322 Check out the Combat System (page 37) for information on
(Helicopters, Aerogyros)
how to make an attack.
• Grab
Roleplaying Time,
Grab and hold someone or take an object they are carrying,
Combat Time, Initiative or escape a grapple. Both you and your target within arm’s
Cyberpunk uses two ways of measuring time. The first, Role- reach roll DEX + Brawling Skill or Athletics Skill + 1d10.
playing Time, works just like it does in real life. The second Both the Attacker and the Defender use whichever Skill is bet-
way, Combat Time, is far more exacting. Combat Time is ter for them. If the Attacker wins, they can choose to either grab
divided into Turns, each of which takes approximately 3 hold of the Defender or take an object (weapon, milkshake,
seconds. The amount of time it takes each entity involved in etc.) the Defender is carrying, (but not armor they are wearing)
the combat to take a Turn is a Round. into a free hand. If the Attacker wins and chooses to grab
hold of the Defender, both Characters are now considered
When a combat starts, everyone rolls Initiative:
to be in a Grapple and take a -3 to all Checks for as long
as they remain in a Grapple. While Grappled, the Defender
Initiative = REF + 1d10 cannot use their Move Action, and is dragged with the Attacker
All participants in the combat place themselves according to whenever the Attacker takes their Move Action. The Attacker
their Initiative Roll into the Initiative Queue in descending order. can end the Grapple at any time without using an Action,
Resolve ties by rolling again. Combat proceeds in Initiative but the Defender, or any another Character, must use this
Queue order, with each entity in the Initiative Queue getting a Action to roll a successful Grab against the Attacker to break
Turn. When the bottom is reached, the Initiative Queue starts the grapple. When you attempt an escape from a grapple, you
again from the top in a new Round. are still considered to be the Attacker for the purposes of the
Defender winning a tie.
On your Turn • Choke
If you are currently the Attacker in a Grapple, you can use
Your Turn = an Action to Choke the Defender you are grappling, dealing
1 Move Action + 1 Basic Action* your BODY Stat directly to their Hit Points in damage. This
damage IGNORES the Defender’s armor, but doesn’t lower
*Often referred to as simply an Action
their armor’s SP.
24
GETTING IT DONE
25
GETTING IT DONE
Critical Success
Resolving Actions with Skills
When you roll a natural roll of 10 on your d10, you’ve
Whenever your Character tries to do something (called tak- scored a Critical Success. Roll another 1d10 and add the
ing an Action), there’s always the question of whether they’ll result to your first roll. If you roll another 10, you do not score
succeed or fail. Sometimes the task is so easy that it’s obvious; another Critical Success.
for instance, taking a step forward without falling down. In
Critical Failure
those cases, tell the GM what you’re doing, and no die roll is
When you roll a natural roll of 1 on your d10, you’ve
needed. But if you’re trying to take a step on the deck of a ship
scored a Critical Failure. Roll another 1d10 and subtract the
pitching wildly in a driving rainstorm, walking might be very result from your first roll. If you roll another 1, you do not score
difficult indeed. That’s where resolving Actions with your Skills another Critical Failure.
comes into play. There are two ways to resolve an Action.
The first is to resolve an Action against another living Modifying the Attempt
thing or person (like trying to convince someone to do some- Sometimes, conditions beyond your control may make it
thing for you). To do this, you, the Attacker, add your relevant harder to perform an Action. For example, changing a light
STAT + SKILL + 1d10 die roll against your opponent, the bulb may be an Everyday task, but changing a light bulb in
Defender’s own relevant STAT + SKILL + 1d10 die roll. The an earthquake is a whole order of magnitude tougher. These
external conditions are called Modifiers. When the GM
result of your opponent’s Stat + Skill + 1d10 die roll is also
decides a Modifier applies to your Action, you will automat-
known as the Difficulty Value, or DV, and is the amount your Stat ically subtract the Modifier Value that goes with it from your
+ Skill + 1d10 will need to beat in order for you to succeed in die roll. Here are some typical Conditions and their Modifiers
the Task. In case of a tie, the Defender will always win. (they are cumulative).
26
GETTING IT DONE
Skill List
27
GETTING IT DONE
Outta Luck
Simply use the Stat that the Skill you didn’t have is linked to, and add it to 1d10. That’s all you get. You are relying purely on
your Stat and dumb luck. Speaking of LUCK, times when you are considering this option are the perfect time to use it. Before you
roll, you can dedicate a portion of your remaining LUCK Pool (which holds LUCK Points equal to your LUCK, and which refills at the
beginning of each game session) to this roll, which increases the roll by +1 for each point in your LUCK Pool that you expended.
Cultural Familiarity
There are very few things that can be done that aren’t described in some manner or other in media—people shoot guns in
movies, legends describe how the hero used their sword, Tom Clancy novels tell all about how submarines work. Cultural Familiarity
assumes the more widely educated you are, the more chance you may have run across something relating to what you’re about to
attempt.
When you don’t have a Skill that will apply, you can use Cultural Familiarity in place of a Skill. Your Cultural Familiarity increases by
one for every three points you have in the Education Skill, so stay in school.
Education Skill 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cultural Familiarity 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3
Simple? Remember: to pretty much to do anything in Cyberpunk, simply pair a Stat, a Skill and a d10 roll against a Difficulty
Value (DV). If your Check is over that amount, you did it! Everything else is just window dressing!
ADRIAN MARC
28
NEIL BRANQUINHO
29
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
ners have access to two kinds of Actions:
COMMON You’ll Need Meat Actions (Non–Move Actions which
NETRUNNING a Few Extra Tools take place in reality, or meatspace) and NET
Actions (which take place purely in the NET).
TERMS Besides a Cyberdeck On your Turn, you can take either a
Your Cyberdeck allows you to not only Meat Action or take as many NET Actions
Ability as your Interface level allows. No matter
see the NET, but also to interact with its
A function built into a “denizens”. It projects these into Virtuality which you choose, you still get to take your
Cyberdeck any Netrunner Move Action.
goggles or headsets, allowing you to see
can use without a Program. the images from the NET superimposed on
NET Actions
the real world . Since you are actually mov-
Black ICE ing in the real world (aka “Meatspace”) The higher a Netrunner’s Interface Level,
An autonomous attack pro- you won’t be able to jack your optic nerves the more NET Actions they can take on their
gram that can fry your real into the NET like they did before the Time Turn.
brain. of the Red. If you did it the old school way, LVL 1–3 4–6 7–9 10
you would be stumbling around deaf, dumb
Bodyweight Suit NET Actions 1 2 3 4
and blind as all your senses would be fully
A suit designed for Netrun- in Cyberspace. Instead, ‘Runners use Virtu- So a level 1 Interface Netrunner in the
ners with built in armor, ality goggles–headsets that project cyber- NET can only use one NET Action per Turn,
Cyberdeck and cable stor- space imagery over their view of the world while a level 7 Interface Netrunner can
age, and sometimes life sup- that is actually around them. This means take up to 3 NET Actions per Turn.
port functions. that you will be seeing and hearing things
Control Node
like Programs and Black ICE while your Netrunner Actions
meatspace team buddies will see nothing.
A location in virtual space But it also means you won’t trip over the & Abilities
which allows for the control of door sill when you sneak into the secret
a real world device. bio–lab. Jacking In/Out
Since you will also be running around This is the most important NET Action you
Cyberdeck can do. Using a NET Action you can jack
in the real world where the Bad Guys
A computer that converts into a system while within accessible range
use guns, you’ll also want some protection
brainwaves into electrical (usually within 6 meters, and typically
(besides your teammates). Most Runners
impulses and vice versa. blocked by walls) of one of its access points
now wear Bodyweight (or similar brands)
Without it, there’s no Netrun- or other NET connections. Being jacked in
protective armor. These are skinsuits filled is a prerequisite for doing anything in a
ning.
with impact absorbing, sintered armorgel system. Moving out of the system’s range
Elevator and Floors layered in key body areas. Besides giving while jacked in to the system jacks you out
you a measure of protection equal to Light of the system automatically, but leaves you
A method used by Netrun- Armorjack, these also have places to store vulnerable: You suffer the attack effect of
ners to describe cyberspace
your Cyberdeck and support your interface all remaining Black ICE you’ve encoun-
in simple terms. Each floor
cables so that they stay out of the way while tered in the system before you get “out”.
contains one program or
you’re busy brainburning that NeoCorp Black ICE will be explained later, but
virtual object. The elevator
fool who just dared to pop a Hellhound on trust us; you don’t want this to happen to
allows travel between floors.
you. The better ones also have some life you.
Interface Plug support capabilities, such as drug injectors
It is much safer to use a NET Action to jack
and piss bags.
Cyberware that allows out from within the system’s range. Jacking
out “resets” the defenses of a NET archi-
you to plug your brain into a
machine.
Meat Actions tecture, meaning you’ll have to start your
Continued on page 32 vs NET Actions run from the very beginning, which can
only be done by jacking back in to the
So let’s see what you can do in a netrun. same location you originally entered and
Unlike most other Character Roles, Netrun- giving it another shot.
30
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
Netrunner Abilities
Your Netrunner also has nine Abilities they can perform as Actions (these are automatically programmed in their Cyberdeck).
They can use these Abilities by using NET Actions (save for Scanner). Resolution for using any of these Abilities (save for Zap) is
much like performing any other type of Action:
31
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
Netrunner Abilities Table (Continued)
COMMON
NETRUNNING Ability What it Does Example
TERMS Virus Once you have reached the last After reaching the end of the “eleva-
level in the elevator you can tor” in a Corporation’s system, the
leave your own Virus in the Netrunner wants to leave the system
(CONTINUED) system to act however you worse than they found it. They explain
want, within reason. Roll an to the GM that they want to leave a
Interface Check. The higher Virus in the system that changes all
Meat Action your Check, the more impres- of the passwords in the network every
sive of an effect your virus five minutes. The GM determines that
A derogatory term used to can have on the network, and placing such a Virus would take 9
refer to an Action taken in the the shorter the time it takes to NET Actions to leave in the system,
write. A more powerful Virus and assigns the task a DV14. Over
physical world. AKA a regu- requires a higher DV to leave their next three Turns, the Netrunner
lar Action (see page 24). in the system, as determined spends all three of their NET Actions
by the GM. This Ability can to complete the Virus, then rolls
The NET require as many NET Actions Interface (7) + 1d10... rolling only a
as the GM determines. The DV 12. Their code just doesn’t work so
Cyberspace. Before the to destroy the Virus is equal they decide to try again, spending
4th Corporate War it was to the Interface Check made to another 9 NET Actions over another
create it. three Turns to try again, succeeding
possible to travel across the this time with a 15. When the Netrun-
world and into space inside ner’s Virus is later discovered by the
the NET. Now, Netrunners Corporation, their Netrunner gets a
headache while trying to clean up the
have to travel to specific NET DV15 Virus.
locations and jack in directly.
Cloak The ability to hide traces of your After leaving their Virus on the Cor-
presence and any Virus you poration’s network, the Netrunner
NET Action left in the system using a NET wants to hide their Actions on the
Action. The Pathfinder DV for system along with their Virus, so they
An Action taken inside the another Netrunner to overcome use a NET Action to use their Cloak
virtual world of cyberspace. your Cloak and discover your Ability. They roll Interface (7) + 1d10,
Actions is equal to the Cloak getting a 16! An enemy Netrunner
Program Check you made to create the will have to beat this number with
Cloak. Interface + 1d10 before they can
Software you can slot into discover any traces of the Netrunner
your Cyberdeck to enhance or be able to roll against any Virus
that they left. If the Netrunner didn’t
its functionality. Divided leave such a flashy Virus, maybe the
into three classes: Boosters, Corp wouldn’t have even known that
Attackers, and Defenders. their system was compromised!
REZ Programs
Hit Points of Programs and
Black ICE.
Programs are the weapons and gear
of cyberspace. Like weapons and gear Redeye’s
Slot
in meatspace, Programs are the tools a
Netrunner uses to fight, protect and explore
Cyberdeck
A chunk of memory in a the electronic realm. Activating or deacti-
vating a program takes a single NET Action.
Cyberdeck allocated to a
program. The better the MODEL Kendachi
Program Slots 22342
Deck, the more slots it has.
Your Cyberpunk has a limited number of
slots to hold the enormous AI–based pro-
Virtuality Goggles
grams that are required to run in the NET so
RATING Standard
Goggles that overlay the you should pick them carefully. It takes one
cyberspace landscape onto
your field of vision.
“Meat” Action (see page 30) to uninstall a
program, and one Meat Action to install a
new one.
SLOTS
6
32
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
Each Program has a Class, an Attack, a REZ (aka Hit Points), and an Effect.
Boosters
Name Class ATT DEF REZ Effect Icon
Speedy Gonzalvez Booster 0 0 7 Increases your SPD by +4 as A trail of dust appearing behind
long as this program remains the Netrunner as they move.
rezzed.
Attackers
Name Class ATT DEF REZ Effect Icon
Banhammer Attacker 2 0 0 Does 3d6 REZ to Hellhounds, 2d6 A giant glowing white sledge-
REZ to all others. Can only hurt hammer.
programs.
Defenders
Name Class ATT DEF REZ Effect Icon
Flack Defender 0 0 1 Stops the first successful non–Hell- A cloud of blinding, glowing,
hound attack from dealing multi–colored lights, swirling in
brain damage. After stopping all directions.
this attack, the Flack derezzes
itself.
These programs are all you will need for this Jumpstart Kit. There are many more to discover in the full game.
Only one instance of a particular program can be run on a Cyberdeck at the same time and individual programs can only be
activated once per meatspace Round.
ADRIAN MARC
33
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
Black ICE
Black ICE are special programs you may encounter entering a system or when fighting another Netrunner. You can choose to
load your deck with your own Black ICE, but these programs are much larger and will use two slots in a deck. Black ICE Programs
have a Class, a Perception (PER), a Speed (SPD), a Defense (DEF), an Attack (ATT) and a REZ value (aka Hit Points). Activating
or deactivating a Black ICE program is a NET Action. Only one instance of a particular Black ICE program can be run at the same
time on a Cyberdeck and individual programs can only be activated once per meatspace Round.
There are two Classes of Black ICE:
Class Result
Anti Personnel Attacks and does physical damage to Netrunner’s brain
Anti Program Attacks Netrunner’s Programs (Not present in this Jumpstart Kit)
Name Class PER SPD DEF ATT REZ Attack Effect Icon
Hellhound Anti Personnel 8 6 7 8 25 Does 3d6 Damage direct to A huge black, metal wolf.
a runner’s brain. It’s eyes glow white, and
Can only hurt Netrunners. fire runs in ripples all
Brain damage isn’t modified over it’s body. It speaks in
by location. a grating, metallic voice,
repeating the Netrunner’s
name.
34
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
isn’t available; with air–gapped systems and limits on NET
nodes, these days, Netrunners have to stump along with the rest
of the “meatbags” and put themselves in danger getting close
enough to actually reach and enter a system. And that changes
the way Netrunners think about a run—it’s no longer a soaring
flight above a world of bright ICONs and infinite spaces, but
instead a battle to get through a much more limited system
right in front of you.
35
NETRUNNING IN THE TIME OF THE RED
can do now that she is within the 6 meter range of the access total, she rolls a 15, which cannot outspeed the Hellhound’s
point. During this run, she will have to stay within this 16 even with the +4 to her SPD from Speedy Gonzalvez. She
range or she will be dangerously automatically jacked immediately suffers Hellhound’s Attack Effect, 3d6 damage
out, which would causing her to suffer the attack effect of directly to her brain, and it rolls a 15! All brain damage isn’t
all remaining Black ICE she had encountered in the sys- modified by body location, so this damage is not doubled.
tem, in addition to losing all her progress in the system. In The Hellhound is then placed at the top of the initiative queue.
Level 1, Redeye finds a password blocking her. She attempts
Now that she is on the 4th floor, Redeye can see that she has
to use her Backdoor Ability to break through the password.
reached the end of the elevator, and there is no treasure wait-
The DV to break through the Password is 10 and Redeye’s
total roll is 12 (Interface Level 7 + 5) which means she is able ing at the bottom for her. Since there is no reason to fight this
to break through. If Redeye had access to the password she Hellhound, she decides to get out of there. Quickly, she spends
could have skipped this Check, and wouldn’t of had to use a her first NET Action to use her Cloak Ability, rolling Interface
NET Action at all to open the barrier. + 1d10 and getting a 12, which will hide her Actions in the
system behind a DV of 12 to uncover them. That will have to do.
Because Redeye’s Interface Level is 7, she is able to take 3
NET Actions per Turn, so she only has one NET Action left this She uses her second NET Action to jack out of the system safely,
Turn. As her team secures the room, Redeye uses her Pathfinder leaving the Hellhound with no Netrunner to hurt. She’s still got
Ability to try to discover the map of this network. She rolls a one NET Action this Turn, so she uses her Eye–Dee Ability on the
total Interface Check of 12. The GM determines Redeye is now DV8 File she stole earlier, still stored safely in her Cyberdeck,
able to see 4 levels of the network, but she still cannot see the rolling a successful 14. It’s a love note from the manager of the
DV of anything. Redeye also doesn’t know that this network is building, and might be good blackmail material. Since she’s
only 4 levels deep, as she can’t see that there isn’t a fifth level, already jacked out, she can safely use her Move Action to exit
because the GM determined her roll only let her see four levels the building with her team, into the limousine waiting for them.
deep into the network.
Redeye is now out of NET Actions, but she can still move down
one level in the elevator and collect the File on level 2. Neither
of these require Redeye to use a NET Action. Now that she
has the File, it’s stored on her Cyberdeck, so she can use her
Eye–Dee Ability on it whenever she has a spare NET Action
(including tomorrow morning, during breakfast). Being out of
NET Actions, Redeye chooses to end her Turn.
36
ALEXANDER DUDAR
37
THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
All ranged combat is resolved in the following way:
38
THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
one that fails the Check is forced to use their next Move Action If attacking in melee with a Melee
to get into cover. If that Move Action would be insufficient to
get into cover, they must also use the Run Action, which uses their Weapon, you can attack twice with one
Action to take another Move Action, which must be used to get Action.
into cover or as close to cover as they can get.
Explosives
Attacker’s DEX + Melee Weapon Skill
Although you don’t exactly shoot them, explosives in this sys- + 1d10
tem are treated like ranged weapons because their effects
cover a broad area and do not require muscle power to deliver vs
that damage. Unlike guns, explosives deal their damage to
everyone in an area centered around where they explode,
Defender’s DEX + Evasion Skill
which for the purposes of this jumpstart kit is always a circle + 1d10
with a 3 meter radius. (If you are using a grid, that’s a square
made up of 9 squares.) Explosives only deal damage to the
body location, and the damage is reduced by armor like If attacking in melee with Brawling, you
normal. The GM rolls damage once for all victims of the
blast.
can attack twice with one Action.
ADRIAN MARC
39
THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
If you beat the DV, you hit, (Defender wins in a tie) dam-
aging the Defender’s body location based on your Weapon.
Melee Weapons
Damage dealt by Melee Weapons ignores half of the
Defender’s Armor. Round up. Each of the two attacks made
with a Melee Weapon using a single Action are made sepa-
rately and deal the Melee Weapon’s damage individually, are
reduced by armor individually, and can ablate armor individ-
ually. Your two Attacks with Melee Weapons can also be split
across two different targets by using part of a Move Action to
move between the two targets. You can even get fancy with your
Melee Combat by making this second attack a Brawling Attack.
Melee Weapons are effective against armored targets.
Brawling
Damage dealt by Brawling is always zero if that body
location has any armor. However, the Damage dealt by Brawl-
ing scales heavily with BODY, making it a powerful option for
some Characters. Each of the two attacks made with Brawling
using a single Action are made separately and deal damage
individually, and can be split across two different targets by
taking part of a Move Action to move between the two targets.
You can even get fancy with your Melee Combat by making this
second attack a Melee Weapon Attack. Brawling is effective
against unarmored targets.
BODY 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Brawling 1d6 1d6 2d6 2d6 3d6 3d6 4d6 4d6
Damage*
A 10mm slug at
hyper-velocity beats
kung-fu any day... ALEXANDER DUDAR
morgan blackhand
40
THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
41
THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
who’s tougher, meaner, and looks more ready to prove it. This
Reputation, often leads to what are called facedowns, when two heavies on
Another Kind of Combat the Street square off just before a fight or to see who’ll back
down from a confrontation. When making a facedown, both
But not everything on the Street is determined with fists or
participants will roll:
guns. In a world where combat can end your life in a hot nano-
second, other methods have evolved to determine who is going
to be the top dog in a conflict. One of these methods involves COOL + Reputation* + 1d10
having a Reputation.
*A reputation for cowardice is treated as a negative number.
Reputation is a measure of things your Character may do
so well (or so badly) that they actually become well known for In a tie, both parties are unsure and nothing happens. Other-
them. A reputation for something is always established by a
wise, the loser has the option of either:
Character’s actions, and is then awarded by the GM.
Reputation
Backing Down...
Level Who Knows About You or
1 Anyone who was there at the time knows. Taking a -3 to any future Checks made
2 Stories have gotten around to immediate friends.
3 All your co–workers and casual acquaintances
against this particular opponent due to
know. fear until they defeat them once.
4 Stories are all over the local area. Example: The lronmaster is a feared boosterganger known
5 Others beyond your local area recognize your throughout Night City. In the middle of the Slammer, he runs
name.
across an attractive young woman and her male companion. The
6 Others beyond your local area know you on lronmaster says “Take a clue and vanish, Kid–trash; the input’s
sight.
with me now.” The Kid stands up and says, “Vanish yourself, burn-
7 A news story or two has been written about your
exploits. brain.” A facedown begins.
8 Your exploits regularly make the headlines and The Ironmaster is known all over the City, giving him a Reputa-
scream sheets. tion of 6. What he doesn’t know is that the Kid is a black belt in
9 Your exploits always make the screamsheets and Karate. Although the Kid is new in the Zone and hasn’t much of a
TV.
Reputation (3), he is totally self–possessed and aware of his skills
10 You’re known worldwide. (COOL = 10). The Ironmaster is tough, but he’s mostly a bully.
Whenever your Character encounters new people in new His COOL is only 4, bolstered by a Reputation made on a few
situations, their reputation may actually influence how those lucky fights. His total Check is 4 + 4 + (roll of 6) = 14. The Kid’s
people react to them. When first meeting, Characters roll a total is 3 + 10 + (roll of 3) = 16. The lronmaster feels a strange
1d10. A Character that rolls under the reputation level of unease as he stares at the calm, ready–to–rock Kid. His eyes shift
the person they are meeting has heard of their name. Some- away, and he backs down with a grunt. His other option would be
times this can be very good. Other times, it can be very bad, to resort to violence, but he would take a -3 to any future Checks
especially if you made lots of enemies while you were earning made against the Kid, due to fear, and that would make the fight
a reputation.
rather hard, wouldn’t it? So he backs down.
Reputation can also be a disadvantage. Whenever you do
something extremely uncool (show cowardice, desert or betray So you got the basics down? It’s
someone, etc.), the GM can still award you Reputation Points for
these actions. The more points you score, the more likely people time to grab the biggest caliber
are to have heard about your infamous deeds (once again, roll
1d10). However, this time they won’t be impressed; if your rep weapon you can find and start build-
is for cowardice, it can even work against you.
ing yourself a Reputation. Because
Facedowns
that’s the only way to really make
Reputation in Cyberpunk has one other big effect: facedowns.
A lot of combat in Cyberpunk comes down to a duel of wills— it in the Time of the Red.
42
Forty the Rockerboy
INT REF DEX TECH COOL WILL LUCK MOVE BODY EMP
5 8 5 4 9 8 6 6 10 6
STARTING HITS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED DEATH SAVE
50 25 10
Athletics (DEX) +3, Brawling (DEX) +2, Concentration (WILL) +4, Education (INT) +2, Evasion
SKILLS (DEX) +5, Human Perception (EMP) +5, Local Expert (INT) +5, Marksmanship (REF) +4,
Melee Weapon (DEX) +3, Perception (INT) +3, Persuasion (COOL) +6, Play Instrument (EMP) +6
Athletics (DEX) +4, Brawling (DEX) +3, Bribery (COOL) +5, Concentration (WILL) +5,
SKILLS Conversation (EMP) +5, Education (INT) +3, Evasion (DEX) +5, Human Perception (EMP) +3,
Local Expert (INT) +4, Marksmanship (REF) +3, Perception (INT) +3, Persuasion (COOL) +4
Athletics (DEX) +5, Brawling (DEX) +4, Concentration (WILL) +4, Education (INT) +2,
SKILLS Evasion (DEX) +5, Interrogation (COOL) +3, Local Expert (INT) +3, Marksmanship (REF) +6,
Melee Weapon (DEX) +5, Perception (INT) +5, Persuasion (COOL) +2, Stealth (DEX) +3
43
Racer the Nomad
INT REF DEX TECH COOL WILL LUCK MOVE BODY EMP
6 10 9 4 7 9 7 7 5 6
STARTING HITS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED DEATH SAVE
25 13 5
Athletics (DEX) +4, Brawling (DEX) +4, Concentration (WILL) +4, Driving (REF) +7,
SKILLS Education (INT) +2, Evasion (DEX) +5, Local Expert (INT) +2, Marksmanship (REF) +5,
Melee Weapon (DEX) +6, Perception (INT) +5, Persuasion (COOL) +2, Tracking (INT) +3
NAME DAMAGE NAME DAMAGE Heavy Armorjack
WEAPONS Rippers 2d6 Very Heavy ARMOR Head Armor 15
4d6
Shotgun 5d6 Pistol Body Armor 15
Cyberoptics (Low Light): Full vision in dim light. Agent: Pocket computer/phone
CYBERWARE Rippers: see Weapons. GEAR Groundcar: Seats 6.
Athletics (DEX) +2, Brawling (DEX) +4, Basic Tech (TECH) +3, Concentration (WILL) +6,
SKILLS Education (INT) +6, Evasion (DEX) +3, Interface (INT) +7, Local Expert (INT) +2,
Marksmanship (REF) +3, Perception (INT) +4, Persuasion (COOL) +2, Stealth (DEX) +6
Bodyweight Suit
NAME DAMAGE
WEAPONS ARMOR Head Armor 11
Heavy Pistol 3d6
Body Armor 11
Agent: Pocket computer/phone.
Interface Plugs: Allows
Cyberdeck & Cables: Used to netrun.
CYBERWARE Redeye to connect to machines and GEAR Programs: Speedy Gonzalvez, Banhammer, Flak.
cybertech.
Black ICE: Hellhound.
Athletics (DEX) +2, Basic Tech (TECH) +7, Brawling (DEX) +2, Concentration (WILL) +4,
SKILLS Cybertech (TECH) +5, Education (INT) +6, Evasion (DEX) +5, Local Expert (INT) +4,
Marksmanship (REF) +3, Melee Weapon (DEX) +3, Perception (INT) +4, Persuasion (COOL) +3
44