Cyberpunk Skorne

Audio

Skorne is now PWYW on Itch.io and licenced for reuse under CC BY 4.0 (share and remix, even commercially, with attribution to original source), and that is radical. 

So here's a quick and dirty cyberpunk hack.

 

Been missing you wendi, where you at queen? I hope you're OK out here.

CYBERPUNKS 2023

One player is the referee. The other players are cyberpunks, crazy queer losers raging against the machine that owns humanity and the Earth. The enemy is a blind, deaf, idiot God that runs on blood. Take care of your own. Free datagrid slaves if they even want saving. Don't go down without a fight.

To play, bring these rules. Write with red pens over obsolete administrative stuff - bills or legal paperwork with your dead name on it. You'll also need two six-sided dice (2d6). These rules will be marked up during play if not outright destroyed.

Play safe. Set lines not to cross and veils for when to fade to black. Rewind, fast-forward and skip as needed for comfort and pacing. Take breaks when you need them. Everyone's responsible for everyone else's having a good time.

RULES I - ABILITIES

1:1 There are three abilities: Body, Speed, Moxy

1:2 Body is drugs, brawling, enduring

1:3 Speed is dodging, parkour, thieving

1:4 Moxy is fucking, lying and using the Grid

RULES II - ROLLS

2:1 The vast majority of actions described require a quick judgment call to resolve. Cyberpunks should seek to leverage their environment, use their items and common sense, and clearly declare their actions. The consequences of these described actions follow accordingly.

2:2 When a cyberpunk takes a risky action, the referee rolls 2d6. If the action is against another character, add the appropriate ability of that character.

2:3 The player then rolls 2d6 and adds the appropriate ability.

2:4 If the player rolls higher, they pass. If the referee rolls higher, something terrible happens. If tied, do both or roll again, referee's choice.

2:5 If an uncertain situation that falls outside of the three abilities, make a Luck roll by rolling 1d6. A high roll favors the players, a low roll does not. The referee will state what the results mean before or after the roll.

RULES III - ACTION

3:1 Turns are taken simultaneously. A turn is long enough to move and perform an action in either order.

3:2 A character may choose to take a more effective Slow action by stating their intent and target to take effect at the end of the next turn. They may move before or after performing the Slow action, but if it is impossible, then no action occurs. Slow attack actions are Enhanced.

3:3 A cyberpunk has ten item slots, with each slot allowing for one item. Smaller items can be grouped and take up only one slot. Any heavy or bulky item like armor, shields, or two handed weapons take up two slots.

3:4 When a cyberpunk takes a strenuous action or endures harsh conditions, they mark Fatigue. Each Fatigue occupies one item slot, reducing how many items a cyberpunk can carry.

RULES IV - VIOLENCE

4:1 Attack actions deal damage. Damage is dealt in hits with one hit for each attack. Damage is instant, no roll required.

4:2 Attacks that are Enhanced by positioning or risky actions deal two hits. Enhanced can stack, dealing additional hits.

4:3 Attacks that are Impaired by obstacles, restraints, or other poor positioning deal zero hits.

4:4 Blast attacks deal damage to all targets in that area.

4:5 Cyberpunks have three hits. Heavy armor may be broken instantly by the wearer to negate all damage dealt by attackers until the wearer's next turn. Shields provide the same effect, but require a hand to use.

4:6 Each attack a cyberpunk makes while holding a two handed melee weapon may be Enhanced by marking Fatigue. Holding two one-handed weapons works the same.

4:7 Ranged weapons can be used in melee, pistol-whip a pig and use him as a human shield against his friends.

4:8 Manoeuvers and injuries can be forced upon an enemy as a trade - either they take a Hit, or they suffer the effect. Out of hit, one is at the mercy of their enemies.

RULES V - DYING

5:1 When an enemy reaches half of their maximum hits, they are Bloodied. The referee may make a Luck roll to see if their morale breaks. This rule does not apply to cyberpunks.

5:2 When a character reaches zero hits, they roll on the Horrible Injuries table, and are out of action. They will die within the hour if left unaided. When a character goes below zero hits, they are slain.

5:3 A cyberpunk with ten Fatigue marked dies of exhaustion.

5:4 When a cyberpunk dies, roll up a new character: they've got a friend or loved one who's really pissed off now.

5:5 Restore all hits when combat has ended.

5:6 Clear all marked Fatigue after seven days of resting.

RULES VI - DATAGRID

6:1 Everything is connected. Smile for the camera.

6:2 Anyone can try to mess with advanced tech like cameras, security doors, self-driving cars or industrial machinery, but doing so will attract the attention of the SysOps. Young deckheads think they're hot shit and get fried.

6:3 Hacking is a Slow action that requires the use of one free hand.

6:4 Instead of rolling 2d6, the player rolls as many d6s as they dare and adds Moxy.

6:5 Draw a Heat clock with six quadrants. Each die that shows a '6' increases the Heat level for the remainder of the session. The more Heat, the more SysOps and the pigs are paying attention to you.

6:6 If two or more dice show '6', they're onto you and are coming right now to make the situation way, way worse. If the Heat clock is filled, they've traced your signal back to your hideout, you're basically fucked. Tear out your character sheets. Others will follow.

RULES VII - WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN PLAY

[WILL LINK TO AN EXAMPLE OF PLAY WHEN I RUN IT]

RULES VIII - ROLL THE BONES

8:1 First, give your cyberpunk a name and pronouns.

8:2 Roll 2d6 for each of the three abilities: Body, Speed, and Moxy.
On a 2-3, mark -2. On a 4-5, mark -1. On a 9-10, mark +1, on a 11-12, mark +2.
Results 6-8 are average and can be left blank.

8:3 You start with 6 Credits. Before you buy equipment:

If your character isn't a man, lose 1 Credit.

If your character isn't white, lose 1 Credit.

If your character isn't straight, lose 1 Credit.

If your character isn't cisgender, lose 1 Credit.

If your character isn't able, lose 1 Credit.

If your character isn't neurotypical, lose 1 Credit.

In addition, each session you must pay 1 Credit each for meds, food, and lodgings.

-Dumpster diving and squats are free but roll d6, on a 1-3 something Bad happened because of your living conditions.

-If you moonlight as a hooker, thug, courrier etc. to cover expenses, get 1-3 Credits but mark as much Fatigue.

One credit can get you some bootleg drugs or medications, kibbles for food, a week in a coffin hotel, a handgun, taser or spray mace. Also basic tools and supplies.

Two credits can get you a sawed-off shotgun or a kevlar vest, some decent food and drugs, a week's rent in a tiny appartment, or hi-tech jury rigged gadgets that break on a roll of 1 when used.

Three credits will buy fancier stuff, assuming you can get somebody to get you access, which generally involves a favor and complication of some kind.

Oh and as for military grade firearms or protections, futuristic gadgets, cybernetics that make you "more than human"... You can strip it off the corpse of some pig and try to jailbreak the ID-print lock. Careful though, some of these have built-in tracers or self-destruct functions.

 

APPENDIX

d66 Backgrounds for Starting Characters
11 Getaway driver
12 Repo man
13 Con artist
14 Sex worker
15 Living brand rep
16 Street chemist
21 Burglar
22 Cult survivor
23 Pit fighter
24 Taxi driver
25 Burger-flipper
26 Cashier
31 Pizza delivery
32 Social worker
33 Ex-convict
34 Snoop
35 Hired killer
36 Escaped experiment
41 Scavenger
42 Nurse
43 Live-in patient
44 Janitor
45 Waitress
46 Dishwasher
51 Factory worker
52 Tech support
53 Telemarketer
54 Nightcrawler
55 Life coach
56 Fortune-teller
61 "Artist" AI programmer
62 Life streamer
63 Forklift operator
64 Teacher
65 Street kid
66 College student

HORRIBLE INJURIES