art © CD PROJEKT RED

The year 20XX. MegaCorporations are more powerful than nation states. Technology is everywhere, powering the surveillance state and the consumerism machine of the inescapable technofeudalist dystopia. The billonaires and the 1-percent live like kings, while the middle class is almost extinguished. The rest are drowned in debt and poverty, under the mantra of “High Tech and Low Life”. You are a cyberpunk: A societal anomaly; A glitch in the system. You fight against the megacorps and injustice while trying to survive to live another day.

TOUCHSTONES and INSPIRATIONS: Neuromancer and the Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson. Blade Runner by Ridley Scott. Cyberpunk 2020 by R. Talsorian Games. Ghost In The Shell by Masamune Shirow. Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red. Snatcher and Policenauts by Hideo Kojima.

Character Creation

Lifepath

The Lifepath defines your character’s background, origins, aspect and personality. Follow the steps picking what you like or rolling for a randomized result.

Cultural Origin

Roll d10 to get your cultural origin and pick 2 languages you know.

1	North American	Chinese, Cree, Creole, English, French, Navajo, Spanish
2	South / Central American	Creole, English, German, Guarani, Mayan, Portuguese, Quechua, Spanish
3	Western European	Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish
4	Eastern European	English, Finnish, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian
5	Middle Eastern / North African	Arabic, Berber, English, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Turkish
6	Sub-Saharan African	Arabic, English, French, Hausa, Lingala, Oromo, Portuguese, Swahili, Twi, Yoruba
7	South Asian	Bengali, Dari, English, Hindi, Nepali, Sinhalese, Tamil, Urdu
8	South East Asian	Arabic, Burmese, English, Filipino, Hindi, Indonesian, Khmer, Malayan, Vietnamese
9	East Asian	Cantonese Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Mongolian
10	Oceania / Pacific Islander	English, French, Hawaiian, Maori, Pama-Nyungan, Tahitian

Wardrobe Style

Roll d12 (or d20 for greater chance at mixed styles).

1	Ragged. Vagrant, worn and torn. Old or reused.
2	Branded. Urban, with band/gang/brand symbols/logos.
3	Sports. Leisurewear, prioritizing comfort and agility.
4	Pop. Bright, costume-like and flashy. Youthful style.
5	Tech. Functional, w/cyberware or wearable gadgets.
6	Business. Formal wear for corpo etiquette and work.
7	Couture. Exclusive designer clothing. High fashion.
8	Leather. Rugged, natural colors. Western or tribal.
9	Military. Utilitarian and harsh. Practicality over style.
10+	Mixed. Roll twice on this table and mix both styles.

Hairstyle and Details

d6	Hairstyle	d6	Color / Decorations
1	mohawk / mohican	1	Multi-hued
2	dreadlocks / braids	2	One bright color
3	butch / buzz / crew cut	3	Natural color
4	flattop / hi-top / quiff	4	buns / tails / updo
5	moptop / split / bangs	5	Full of decorations
6	afro / weave / hairspray	6	Striped or patterned

Adornments

1	Tattoos	6	Tongue / Face piercings
2	Mirrorshades	7	Fingernail implants
3	Ritual scars	8	Spiked boots or heels
4	Synth-skin lines	9	Fingerless gloves
5	Nose rings	10	Strange contact lenses

Personality

1	Shy / Secretive	6	Stable / Serious / Stoic
2	Rebellious / Antisocial	7	Silly / Fluff-headed
3	Arrogant / Proud / Aloof	8	Sneaky / Deceptive
4	Rash / Headstrong	9	Intellectual / Detached
5	Picky / Nervous	10	Friendly / Outgoing

Mannerism

1	Deep / Gravelly voice	6	Very loud / Laughs a lot
2	Drawl / Thick accent	7	Long pauses / Trails off
3	Flowery speech	8	Talks to self / Whispers
4	Stutters / Mumbles	9	Random facts / explainer
5	Monotone / cold	10	Breathy / Squeaky voice

Family Background

1	Urban Homeless. Shanty towns, tent villages, dumpsters, abandoned cars and shipping containers.
2	Gangers. Either part of the “family” or a resource to be exploited. Probably didn’t know your actual parents.
3	Combat Zoners. Decaying building somewhere in the ‘Zone’, heavily fortified, abandoned by society.
4	Nomad Pack. Grew up on the road, living in trailers and tents, or reclaiming a deserted ghost-town.
5	Megabuilding Rats. Grew up in one of the post-war megabuildings. Small apartment in the lower floors.
6	Corporate Workers. Middle class, suburban homes, minivans and corporate-run technical schools.
7	Corporate Managers. Middle management still meant a decent home and a safe life.
8	Corporate Execs. Wealthy, powerful, with servants and luxury homes.

Childhood Environment

Take the previous table result and add a d4. If you moved up in “class”, explain why.

2-3	Ran on the streets, with no adult supervision.
4	Wrecked buildings, squats or near a combat zone.
5	In the outskirts, or in ruins of deserted towns.
6	In a decaying, once upscale neighborhood.
7-8	In a corp-owned, overpopulated megabuilding.
9-11	Safe Corp Zone walled off from the rest of the city.
12	In a Corporate luxury “starscraper,” high above the rest of the teeming rabble.

Your Crisis

Your Crisis is what led you to where you are in life now.

1	Family lost everything through betrayal/bad management
2	Family exiled/driven from home/nation by politics/war
3	Family vanished/perished; you are the only survivor
4	Cursed by a feud; inherited or by your own actions
5	In huge debt; inherited or by your own actions
6	Wanted by the law for a serious crime; guilty or not

Friends

Do you have any friends? Roll d6, 1: No friends. 2-5: You have one friend. 6: You have two. Who are they to you?

1	An ex-lover you’re on good terms with.
2	Someone you grew up with.
3	A mentor or parental figure.
4	A former boss who remembers you fondly.
5	An old enemy/rival you’ve made peace with.
6	Someone you share a hobby with and geek out together.

Enemies

Do you have any enemies? Roll d6, 1: No enemies. 2-5: You have one enemy. 6: You have two. Who are they to you?

1	A former friend or lover.
2	An enemy from your childhood.
3	An old boss who betrayed you.
4	One of your relatives.
5	A former partner or coworker.
6	A mysterious figure. You don’t even know they exist.

Your Tragic Love Affair

Your Tragic Love Affair is the one that ripped your heart out.

1	Your lover died, either via accident or murder.
2	Your lover mysteriously vanished.
3	A personal goal or vendetta came between you.
4	Your lover was imprisoned or exiled.
5	Your lover left you for someone else.
6	Your lover went insane or cyberpsycho.

What You Value Most

1	Money	7	Vengeance
2	Honor	8	Love
3	Your word	9	Power
4	Honesty	10	Family
5	Knowledge	11	Friendship
6	Law & order	12	Protecting the weak

Archetype

Your Archetype defines your starting skills and what role you fulfill in a group of runners. Choose one:

▸ The Tech Wiz is a master hacker, pro netrunner and specialist in all sorts of electronics and technology.

Hacking Expert (+3), Electronics Adept (+1), Security Adept (+1).

▸ The Drone Jock is an ace pilot, gearhead and puppeteer of flying drones and other vehicles.

Piloting Expert (+3), Electronics Adept (+1), Mechanics Adept (+1).

▸ The Street Samurai is a professional combatant, hardened mercenary or hired muscle.

Shooting Expert (+3), Melee Adept (+1), Intimidation Adept (+1).

▸ The Cyber Ninja is the ultimate spy, a master of infiltration and covert ops, or an invisible assassin.

Stealth Expert (+3), Melee Adept (+1), Climbing Adept (+1).

▸ The Rebel Face is the voice of revolution, an influencer that calls to action or a rockstar turned into freedom fighter.

Persuasion Expert (+3), Connections Adept (+1), Deception Adept (+1).

▸ The Hardboiled Sleuth is an ex-cop turned gumshoe, an investigative journalist or an avenging vigilante.

Reading People Expert (+3), Tracking Adept (+1), Intimidation Adept (+1).

Etiquette

Get an etiquette-related skill (at Adept (+1) level) depending on your Lifepath’s Family Background and Childhood Environment:

Background	Skill gained
Ganger / Street Rat	Streetwise
Nomad / Zoner	Survival
Upper-middle / Corpo	Bureaucracy

Other Skills

Also pick another 3 skills at Adept (+1) level.

Academics	Melee
Business	Performance
Climbing	Persuasion
Connections	Piloting
Deception	Reading People
Hacking	Running
Electronics	Science
Explosives	Shooting
Forgery	Sleight of Hand
Intimidation	Stealth
Mechanics	Tracking
Medicine

Gear

buy your gear with CryptoBits (฿). Everyone starts with some cheap way of accessing the Net, like a SmartScreen or AR glasses, and 8 K฿ to spend in Gear, Cyberware and Programs. Don’t bother tracking pocket-change transactions lower than 1 K฿, like a pack of vapes, a storage chip, a bowl of ramen, a taxi ride, etc.

Note

All items are considered to be Mundane (+1) unless otherwise noted. Each might have bonuses or mechanics for specific situations, which are added on top of the regular bonus.

Armor / Wearables

Skin-tight suit (light): armorgel weave. +1 for defensive actions.	1 K฿
Reinforced Vest (medium): +2 for defensive actions.	2 K฿
Tactical Armor (heavy): +3 for defensive actions. -1 for agility/speed related rolls.	3 K฿
Optical Camo Clothing: Turns invisible on command. Best when combined with Optical Camo Skin.	1 K฿

Weapons and Mods

Katana: very sharp. Base DMG 2.	1 K฿
Heavy Melee Weapon: (chainsaw/sledgehammer/etc). Base DMG 3; can break armor. two-handed. slow. bulky.	1 K฿
Taser: one-handed. concealable. Base DMG 1. Stuns w/o permanent damage.	1 K฿
Handgun: one-handed. concealable. Base DMG 1. -1 at long range.	1 K฿
Assault Rifle: two-handed. Base DMG 3.	2 K฿
Sniper Rifle: two-handed. bulky. very obvious. Base DMG 3. +1 against far away targets. -1 in close combat.	2 K฿
Shotgun: two-handed. Base DMG 3. +1 against close targets.	2 K฿
Launcher: (grenade/rocket). two-handed. very bulky/heavy; Base DMG 4. Very limited ammo.	3 K฿
Silencer: for handguns only. Almost silent.	1 K฿
Suppressor: for assault or sniper rifles. Less noisy.	1 K฿
Special Ammo: choose: armor piercing/self-guided/tranq dart/incendiary/toxic/smoke. 1 clip or mag.	1 K฿
Smart Link Mod: Install on a firearm to adapt it for autoaim, IFF mode and fine control through a Smart Link, either through AR glasses (+1) or Cyber-Eyes / Neuralink (+2).	1 K฿

Misc and Tools

SkillSoft Chip: Plug it in a slot and know a skill instantly. Price depends on skill level: Skilled: 2 K฿ | Expert: 3 K฿ | Master: 4 K฿.	–
VR Goggles: Access Virtual Reality without a Neuralink.	1 K฿
Electronic toolbox: +1 for Electronics actions.	1 K฿
Mechanic toolbox: +1 for Mechanics actions.	1 K฿
Medkit: heal 5 HP or Mild/Moderate wounds. 3 uses.	1 K฿
Combat Drone: +2 for combat checks when it assists you or an ally.	2 K฿
Spy Drone: +2 for stealth/recon when you send it to scout or infiltrate.	2 K฿

Cyberware

Install Cyberware on a Ripperdoc shop during Downtime, or choose what you already have during character creation.

Cyberware

Synth Skin: +1 for defending against superficial harm like cuts or scratches.	1 K฿
↳ Optical Camo Weave: Turns invisible on command. Best when combined with Optical Camo Clothing.	1 K฿
↳ Pheromonal Secretor: +1 on social tests (+2 if lots of touching is involved).	1 K฿
↳ Self-healing Polymer: superficial harm takes half as long to heal.	1 K฿
↳ Kevlar Lattice: bullet-proof plates. very obvious. +1 for defensive actions.	1 K฿
Neuralink: Digital Interface for the brain. Access AR/VR without gadgets, directly through your senses. Includes 1 universal chip slot/port (installed behind ear).	1 K฿
↳ SenSim™ recorder: save 1 hour of sensory input.	1 K฿
↳ Smart Link: connect to a weapon’s Smart Link Mod.	1 K฿
↳ SkillSoft Slot: plug in SkillSoft chips, 1 K฿ each (max 4). Installed on nape or behind ears.	1 K฿
Skeletal Lacing: Titanium-alloy bone structure replacement. +2 for defense and resistance actions.	2 K฿
Wired Reflexes: Enhanced nervous system replacement. +2 for agility or quickness related actions.	2 K฿
Cyber-Arms/Legs: Hard plastic or metallic limbs. Break to avoid receiving up to 10 HP (or a Mild/Moderate Condition).	1 K฿
↳ Pneumatic joints: +1 for strength related actions.	1 K฿
↳ Spring servos: +1 for agility/quickness actions.	1 K฿
↳ Concealable compartment: pocket/holster-sized.	1 K฿
↳ Hydraulic articulations: silent joints, +1 for stealth related actions.	1 K฿
Cyber-Eyes: Improved vision, +1 for visual perception related actions. Replaces AR glasses.	1 K฿
↳ Protective covers: embedded shades/goggles. Extremely cool, +1 for certain social actions.	1 K฿
↳ Enhanced scopes: 6X zoom, thermal, IR.	1 K฿
Cyber-Ears: Improved hearing, +1 for auditory perception related actions.	1 K฿
↳ Echolocation: “see” through hearing.	1 K฿
↳ Bio-stress meter: voice/biometrics lie detector.	1 K฿
Retractable Blades: nails/claws. +2 for melee attacks. Base DMG 2.	1 K฿

Programs

Programs are commands or quick hacks that anyone can run (with a Hacking roll) and are much faster than coding a solution in the moment. Once purchased, they are saved in your user cloud storage and are always available.

Programs

ALARM: Trigger all alarm systems in the vicinity.	1 K฿
BEFRIEND: Target bot/turret/drone/camera/etc treats you as a friendly.	1 K฿
BLIND: Overwhelm target device/Neuralink’s optics with a blind (Moderate, -3) Condition.	1 K฿
BYPASS: Open target electronic lock or unlock E.C.M. software.	1 K฿
CLEAN: Locate and remove any malware present in target device or Neuralink.	1 K฿
DELAY: Make target device/Neuralink’s directives and movements twice as slow.	1 K฿
ISOLATE: Target device/Neuralink’s input and output are blocked and disconnected from the Net, with an “offline” Condition.	2 K฿
MUTE: Block target’s comms, voice, speakers, wireless commands or other sensory output.	2 K฿
OVERHEAT: Target’s tech/cyberware cooling systems stop working and they receive heat damage.	1 K฿
PACIFY: All target device/Neuralink’s actions are restricted to non-violent/non-offensive.	2 K฿
PING: Reveals target’s and nearby devices’ locations.	1 K฿
PUPPET: “Possess” a drone/bot/turret/etc.	2 K฿
RENDER: Control local AR feeds or VR constructs to project a brief illusion of your creation.	2 K฿
RIDE: Gain access to a drone/camera/AR/VR goggles/eyes/Neuralink‘s senses, in read-only mode.	1 K฿
SCAN: Search for specific device types or users in a wide area, or find a specific ID.	1 K฿
SPIKE: Trigger a stress response (Instinct Check) in someone with a Neuralink.	2 K฿
SPOOF: Generate false ID/credentials/background records stolen from a nearby or pre-selected target.	1 K฿
TRACK: Install malware on target to always know their location regardless of distance (or network hops).	1 K฿
VIRUS: Install on device; provokes a Malfunctioning (Mild, -1) Condition and propagates to nearby targets.	2 K฿
WIPE: Delete target device/Neuralink’s last 10 seconds of sensory input and memory retention.	2 K฿