What does Cyberpunk mean to you?

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:24 am

I know its a weird place to start this topic, but we're all quite experienced DMs here and played tons of different games not to mention read a lot of books.

I'm working on a Cyberpunk game based on C&C rules, playtesting it on my forum as a PbP and I was wondering.

What does Cyberpunk mean to you? When you hear someone say that word, what comes to your mind?
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:37 am

Depends. Are we talking "hardcore" or "not?" To me, either way, there must be some sort of high-tech gadgetry, preferably with the ability to make one lose their humanity and become more machine than man, and always some sort of "world dominating computer network." There are always street gangs and elements of anarchy, as well.

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:03 am

Mainly, all the wierdie tech and dark future games I played in for 5 years. My favorite character I made is Randal. He's a type of cybernetics techie, general rogueish anti hero, and all around show off.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 4:47 am

Shadowrun is the closest I have played in the genre. I love Shadowrun. It is my third favorite RPG, right behind C&C and Traveller. Mutants and Masterminds 2E is my 4th.

RIFTS and Synnibar characters would also qualify for the genre, but it sure isn't what the setting/system is all about.

Jyrdan Fairblade · Post by **Jyrdan Fairblade** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:30 pm

To me, Cyberpunk is something inherently dated, rooted in the 80s/ early 90s. Maybe it's because I haven't read any recent cyberpunk, but to me it's the near future as visualized by us 10 - 20 years ago.

As far as what I consider to be core elements:

Megacorporations

Cybernetics

The internet and computers are highly advanced and immersive, with virtual reality being a key foundation to navigation

Gritty atmosphere

No middle class...it's either rich or poor...society is simultaneously in decline and growing, depending on which side of the divide you're on.

Advanced weaponry & technology

Inkpot · Post by **Inkpot** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:20 pm

My thoughts pretty much echo what has already been stated here. I just wanted to chime in and BEG to be allowed to see this cyberpunk creation you're working on!!!!
Ink
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jman5000 · Post by **jman5000** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:07 pm

goths in a 'slightly' advanced world. Blade runner would give a good example of the physical world (in my vision of cyberpunk). teeming streets with masses of poor - asian influence all over the place etc. flying cars
pluggable implants and a lot of the 'action' taking place on the 'net' whatever that may be - but limited transhumanistic elements otherwise.

You'd just as easily carry a MAC-9 fully auto machine pistol as you would walk around with a Katana.

some kind of 'appocolypse' has happened - financial, war, other...

'mega' corporations run the world - not governments. people are an evil necessity who should be trampled on as much as possible.

most of this is feel...

[shrug]

Cheers,

J.

Witterquick · Post by **Witterquick** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:13 pm

I'll chime in on the "dated" notion. Reading my R. Talsorian rulebook is funny, because in "2020" we have mechanicial devices that have been far surpassed in 2006. I think we have also realized that our fears and concerns in regards to a global, more technologically advanced society are well, rather well grounded and less speculative.

But the essential elements for me are

*a dystopic future dominated by unchallengable powers: corporate, government, or (in some universes) religious.

*a threatened humanity, or rather a lessening of a notion of core benevolence to humanity

*an exploration of the relationship between humanity, technology, and society, usually without a positive conclusion.
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CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:58 pm

1st words in my head = William Gibson novels. 8) (followed quickly by Mirrorshades).

Danger · Post by **Danger** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 4:04 pm

Buh...dang!

Witterquick pretty much summed it all up, toot sweet.

Fine then.

"Cyberpunk" is to me, all about killing people and taking their cybernetic stuff. And NewYen, or whatever it is that they are toting around for cash.

Scott [waitin' for his laser katana and mirrorshades on the front porch of his ranch-style arcology]

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:16 pm

Hi thanks everyone that has chimed in. I guess when I think of the cyberpunk genre, bladerunner comes to mind followed by the rest of P.K.D.'s work.

Apocalypse - check

Cybernetics - to a certain degree

Megacorps - check

Dying earth - check

Socio-economic commentary - check

Unrestricted gun control - check (sorta)

Large network - check

Anyways basically i'm doing away with classes, utilizing a skill set under each physical/mental trait. Using primes. And instead of advcancing in XP advance in skill pts used to buy a higher rank in a skill. Big thing is, no alignment, free for all mentality is rampant.

I'm leaning towards having low power psychics, but not sure.

Well this is the start of the PbP that I'm using to test the mechanics etc. We haven't officially started yet , but this is the sorta background story that I wrote. It needs more detail but working on it. http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... sitionsqua

Check it out if you want, feel free to start a thread to put comments or what not too. Who knows maybe it'll be something someday. Or it could be like a billion other things that I've tried and failed before haha...

Oh yeah and erm... dont be like offended or something by the background for those more sensitive types.
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CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:22 am

Witterquick wrote:
I'll chime in on the "dated" notion. Reading my R. Talsorian rulebook is funny, because in "2020" we have mechanicial devices that have been far surpassed in 2006. I think we have also realized that our fears and concerns in regards to a global, more technologically advanced society are well, rather well grounded and less speculative.

But the essential elements for me are

*a dystopic future dominated by unchallengable powers: corporate, government, or (in some universes) religious.

*a threatened humanity, or rather a lessening of a notion of core benevolence to humanity

*an exploration of the relationship between humanity, technology, and society, usually without a positive conclusion.

Sci-Fi always ends up looking "out" after some years. Last few big movies with martians had invisible or ghost aliens (to explain why our probes missed them).

"Idoru" and "Virtual Light" by W.Gibson still pack a whallop to me ,though. Mostly because besides a few things it could have been set now.

I guess thats whats best about Dark Sci-Fi , scary and real.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:07 pm

Jyrdan Fairblade wrote:
To me, Cyberpunk is something inherently dated, rooted in the 80s/ early 90s. Maybe it's because I haven't read any recent cyberpunk, but to me it's the near future as visualized by us 10 - 20 years ago.

I think JF is right on this one. Cyberpunk, if the term was to be updated would be somthing slightly different then it was in the 80's and early 90s. However, loving the genre as I do, I still consider Cyberpunk the Classic style of Cyberpunk that most of us our familiar with.

Modern cyberpunk might be more along the lines of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex where technology is so commonplace that it is no more different then anything else and blends seemlessly into humanity. Of Modern Cyberpunk could be morfe about MAtrix style stuff where entire lives and existances are born and die in a virtual world.

.......................................Omote

FPQ
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angelius · Post by **angelius** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:12 am

Well this is what i have so far for character generation. I guess it won't mean much unless you've seen the character sheet. (I'm working on it still.) But basically, its the standard d20 modern skill set with a few new skills that are organized under a table which has the std. 6 traits as headers.

Character Generation

All characters have 8 hitpoints.

All stats start at 8.

Everyone has 32 points.

Point costs are as follows,

o For each increase in the range it will cost:

o 9-12: 1 point

o 13-15: 2 points

o 16-17: 3 points

o 18: 4 points

Characters have a maximum of 18 for any score.

The modifiers are as follows:

o 8: -1

o 9-12: +0

o 13-15: +1

o 16-17: +2

o 18: +3

Then characters will select skills.

All skills are available.

Skill points total is calculated by (INT modifier + 6) * 4

Each skill point can be allocated to a particular skill to buy ranks,

o Each rank costs its rank level to buy.

o You must buy ranks in ascending order. That is you cannot buy a rank of 3 in a skill without buying first 1 and 2.

o Therefore a rank of 3 will cost you 1+2+3 = 6 skill points.

Each skill is in a subcategory of a trait. The trait modifier adds to the rank of your skill when making a roll. 1d20+rank+modifier > or = difficulty is a success.

Advancement

Every time you gain experience, you gain skill points.

You can use these skill points to increase your rank in any skill that you have used so far.

That means you cannot increase a skills rank unless youve used it since the last time youve increased it. Use the boxes next to the skills to remember if youve used it since the last time it was increased.

When youve gain 20 skill points, youve gained a level. This increases your hitpoints by 1d8.
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Korgoth · Post by **Korgoth** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:27 am

I think of Metropolis by Fritz Lang. There's a basic confusion between man and machine: society becomes unable to tell the difference between a human being and a tool for its use.

I think that runs through all the later literature in some form or another.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:45 am

Hey Angelius, I'm glad to see that this little project is taking shape. Keep on posting your progress... I'm quite intrigued!

Here's a quick question/idea though, why not allow for a player to actually lower one of his stats in order to gain other points to be used for either other abilities or things.

Moriarty the Red
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CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:20 am

Matrix may have been the most popular Cyberpunk movie.

I enjoyed watching Blade Runner or Johnny Mnemonic more though.

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:02 am

moriarty777 wrote:
Hey Angelius, I'm glad to see that this little project is taking shape. Keep on posting your progress... I'm quite intrigued!

Here's a quick question/idea though, why not allow for a player to actually lower one of his stats in order to gain other points to be used for either other abilities or things.

Moriarty the Red

Sounds like a good idea. How would you structure the point gain?
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:01 pm

CharlieRock wrote:
Matrix may have been the most popular Cyberpunk movie.

I enjoyed watching Blade Runner or Johnny Mnemonic more though.

I think Bladerunner created the feel of "a" Cyberpunk world. Everything about Bladerunner exudes setting. It is a classic because visually speaking Bladerunner is the basis for so much Cyberpunk feel. Johnny Mneumonic was more about the application of cyberpunk on people, where setting is secondary.

PS: Angelius, I always thought d20 modern is a perfect way to base a Cyberpunk game. It's a good base rulesset to start from. Please if you wish, post more as you can. I'd certainly like to read your thoughts.

..........................................Omote

FPQ
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:17 am

angelius wrote:
Sounds like a good idea. How would you structure the point gain?

Well, I'd probably try and mirror the positives. If they leave it at 8... that's fine... no cost or gain.

If they drop to to 6-7, they get 1 point back per degradation. So lowering your attribute to 6 gives you 2 points back.

If they drop to 4-5, the get 2 points back per degradation.

I wouldn't allow any lower though.

Not sure if that helps any or if this would allow for much abuse...

Moriarty the Red
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angelius · Post by **angelius** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:21 am

I think the problem with lowering modifiers is that there's no difference between 6 and 7 for example. If you're going to drop to 7, why not to 6?

Not sure. But I do see where you're coming from.

Btw I was bored so I made a website for it.
www.sypher.ca
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:30 am

Too much abuse, in my opinion, if a lowered score gives you twice back. Should, at minimum work the opposite... to increase a score, reduce one by 2. However, what matters most is how cyberware works... if it increases scores, or gives a flat score. For example, if "body sculpting" can be purchased which either gives a +X to Con or Cha or if it just sets your score to X. In the latter case, the ability to modify stats is much more abuse-laden.

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:49 pm

I'd prefer a flat score myself. The feel I'm going for is not a really super power street samurai rampage kind of game.
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What does Cyberpunk mean to you?

What does Cyberpunk mean to you?

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