Cyberpunk 2020 Play by Post Databook- Title Subject to Change

[kanonite]

What we know so far of 2077 is A) Night City was moved closer to the coast, B) Arasaka splintered itself into multiple factions, C)Bitchin' armscythes and blue leopard jackets exist. (Rest In Peace, Mr.Joseph.P.Swaggington.) and D) Alternate power sources were likely adopted due to the massive oil drainage of the 2020s (Which would also allow for technological stagnancy).

Its a tough choice. 2020 is well-established and detailed, if aesthetically and chronologically divergent with our world. A speculation-based 2070-77 would be interesting, tho we might end up looking like fools when info starts coming out.

 

[Maligna]

I'm up for anything for the setting.

As for my character I think I'm going to switch out the class before I get any further into the planning stages. I'm thinking of rolling a rockerboy or media now.

Which do you all think would be more interesting to have in the game?

 

[kanonite]

Im gonna tunnel up some visual aids for 2077 (as limited as they may be)

 

[eraser7278]

if you start changing things, it has a ripple effect and you end up needing to change more things, and so on, and so on...

I'd recommend using the classic setting pre corp war, perhaps even in an alternate universe where the board of directors bitch slapped Donald lundee and explained to him that war was bad for the bottom line (if your business model is getting paid to fight, why would you do it for free?). there's plenty of setting and technology resources out there already, which makes life easier for the players (who can just look shit up) and the GM (who doesn't get spammed with requests to stat up Mr. Studd 2077 limited edition, 50 times a day). perhaps, if people want the game to be closer to the video game we know NOTHING about, make it a general rule that whenever a book mentions a date just add 30 years?

oh, and as much as it pains me to acknowledge it's existence, maybe port over "agents" in place of cell phones... you know, they were in the book that must not be named

 

[andrewmeythaler]

I vote classic era, makes things easier on everyone. Once info about 2077 appears we can Deus Ex Machina our way into the new age (i.e. coma or cryotube)

 

[Maligna]

I vote classic era, makes things easier on everyone. Once info about 2077 appears we can Deus Ex Machina our way into the new age (i.e. coma or cryotube)

Great idea!

---------- Updated at 12:27 AM ----------

"1. Cyberware is half empathy cost at character creation, ( you've adapted to it). "

What does this mean and how do I work it out when buying cyber ware? Sorry for my ignorance.

If we're doing dice rolls for our character creation is it just the honor system?

 

[Sardukhar]

Great idea!

"1. Cyberware is half empathy cost at character creation, ( you've adapted to it). "

What does this mean and how do I work it out when buying cyber ware? Sorry for my ignorance.

If we're doing dice rolls for our character creation is it just the honor system?

There is a link to a dice roller in my MEGA POST at rolz.org, complete with room and password. Use that.

When you buy cyberware, roll up your humanity cost and then cut it by half.



If we move it forward 50 years, we'll keep current tech and what's in the books, since CDPR thinking is there was a Collapse post-4th Corp War. Same for costs. Same for most everything gear-wise, actually. It's more events and world knowledge that would change.

It also allows more believability for new players. But removes that charming immediacy that 2020 has.

You can of course "coma" your character forwards, only that is silly. We try to avoid silly.

I might leave the date unspecified for the first few months, see how it goes. I'm obviously on the fence. Those images kanon posted are pretty sexy, though. Be nice to use CDPR stuff as we went along.

If it was set in 2035, I'd buy it in a second.

Oh, Night City can't really move any closer to the coast - it's a coastal port city. I think CDPR meant that the Corp Center was moved? After being nuked. Which is fine - that area would be some interesting no-go zone with cool stuff and areas underneath, new Corp Center is to the West now?

 

[Maligna]

Ah. I saw that link in your original post but thought it was just going to be for combat. I'll use it, thanks.

So I think I'm going to go with rockerboy. Anyone want to be my body guard? Haha.

 

[eraser7278]

As for my character I think I'm going to switch out the class before I get any further into the planning stages. I'm thinking of rolling a rockerboy or media now.

those are probably the most problematic classes in the game. I've seen them done well... but more often than not they're less of a help and more of a hindrance to the team because their skill-sets do not overlap with crime that much.
for rockers, the two that played out best were a rapper and a standup comedian. why? because their skills were all geared towards the spoken/sung word and not towards instruments and mixing. also their venues tended to be in tougher areas, so they were decent in a rumble.
medias... I've seen very few to be honest. if you're an out and proud media, you'll have a lot of the same issues as a cop in terms of people avoiding you. the most viable option is as an ANONYMOUS edgerunner blogger/youtuber/pirate-radio broadcaster. if people know you record and report things, especially if you leave names and faces un-altered, they will avoid you like the plague. but if you're in the pajamas media and leave out some identifiable details, it will be harder for folks to figure out who you are.

BTW i'll be on tonight, and most evenings, on skype as eraser7278 if anybody wants to shoot the shit about character generation or whatever.

 

[kanonite]

Ah. I saw that link in your original post but thought it was just going to be for combat. I'll use it, thanks.

So I think I'm going to go with rockerboy. Anyone want to be my body guard? Haha.

Otis is willing to guard him/her, for a fee of course.

 

[Sardukhar]

those are probably the most problematic classes in the game. I've seen them done well... but more often than not they're less of a help and more of a hindrance to the team because their skill-sets do not overlap with crime that much.

This brings to light an interesting issue with CP2020 and a challenge to any wide-attraction of it. The combat and the crime! It tends to be a leeeetle too heavy.

Not every Team has to be criminals 90% of the time..or even 20%. Okay, less than that would take some doing, but you get my point.

The skills of a media, a rockerboy or a corporate should be just as valid as a Solo or a Cop or a Fixer, in general play. I know it's possible - seen it done. I also know it's atypical.

BUT.

I wish to strive for this goal. For a couple reasons: 1) not everyone likes combat 2) combat is going to be dangerous! I -will- be employing most if not all of the rules for that: limb loss, bleeding, death saves. I will not be particularly merciful. I am also using the Chromebooks, so a wide array of dangerous weapons will be in play. 30+ SP armour will not save your ass. It won't. It'll -help- but it is little good against a wide variety of solutions.

So, combat. Be careful. Your antagonists will run the gamut from shittily armed 14 year old wanna be gang members with Budgetarms weapons, through more serious gang members, police and regular citizens with a mag of AP or API in their jacket to serious Bad (Good) Guys.

A .22 to the head can kill, people. Although I think IU makes that a little harder to do in one hit...but much more easily to bleed out from in three rounds or less.

I am not a -nice- GM. I try to run stories from the perspective of the "real world". How would the NPC act if you didn't exist? How would this work IRL? As best as I can tell, of course.

I don't adjust threat levels to PCs, in other words. Some of my NPCs are morons and will -literally- charge you waving their 9mm. Others will suppress, grenade, flank and EMP your ass. While calling in support. And deploying snipers.

Some will try to follow you home and if they succeed, will shoot you while you sleep. Or blow up the building. Or whatever. Depends how capable you've shown yourself to be and how pissed they are.


So hopefully it's not going to be a tooo combat heavy game. Making new characters gets tiresome.

 

[Maligna]

Otis is willing to guard him/her, for a fee of course.

How much sounds fair to you?

I wish to strive for this goal. For a couple reasons: 1) not everyone likes combat 2) combat is going to be dangerous!

This sounds great. I've done pbp RPGs before and they were always combat heavy. Looking forward to doing something new! I like the challenge. Rockerboy it is. I'll try to have my character done by the end of the weekend.

 

[kanonite]

How much sounds fair to you?



This sounds great. I've done pbp RPGs before and they were always combat heavy. Looking forward to doing something new! I like the challenge. Rockerboy it is. I'll try to have my character done by the end of the weekend.

I need to know the standard price for such a contract and be IC.

 

[eraser7278]

as a combat sense 5 solo your going rate would be 2,000eb/month per the salary chart... that's just a guideline. if it's a part time commitment or there's bennies attached, might go down. if the client is seen as high risk, the price goes up. just for perspective, if you went through an agency like sayyyy Lifetime Escort Services (not as sexy as the name implies) from chrome book 2. their basic package is a single CS 5 solo of moderate skill for 150/day (4500/month, got to cover the companies overhead). vehicles cost extra, drivers cost extra, expended ammunition costs, medical costs, etc. so paying a street samurai cash under the table could provide a significant savings... but results are mixed, it's not like edgerunners are rated on yelp or anything.

 

[Maligna]

as a combat sense 5 solo your going rate would be 2,000eb/month per the salary chart.

Yikes. With a max level 5 SA Rockerboy I can only make 1000 a month. Unless that double money thing from the first post is going to stay going forward and it's not just for character creation.

 

[eraser7278]

well as the name implies 2000 would be his monthly salary, as in what he rakes in working 40+ hours a week. do yo need round the clock protection? if not, perhaps you could negotiate a more ad hoc arrangement "hey can you watch my ass at this gig tonight? should only be like 3 hours and i can give you 100eb once the manager gives me my take from the door" etc. or... well there was this one group i was in where trading sexual favors for work was the prime currency of an Amy Winehouse esq rockergirl as she spiraled ever downward... which is to say, there are currencies other than "money"

 

[Maligna]

Haha. All valid points.

 

[eraser7278]

It would take too long to explain in detail (they wrote a whole book about the underworld called wildside), but just know that to people in the edgerunner community that care about their rep/standing/giri, having sombody owe you a favor can be a valuable currency indeed. Just be careful who you pledge a favor to, because when they call it in it could cost you EVERYTHING.

Then again, if you're a smooth talker you might convince some flunkie to "guard" you in exchange for letting them crash on your couch... but when you make it big you're totally going to make it up to them...contract? Contracts are for people who don't trust each other silly

---------- Updated at 08:50 PM ----------

So hopefully it's not going to be a tooo combat heavy game. Making new characters gets tiresome.

can i just say, your wish to de-emphasize combat seems a bit at odds with your decision to outlaw non-core book roles. Artist, Athlete, Educator, Grifter, Infiltrator, Investigator, runner, shadow and Vamp... that's a lot of low combat/crime roles you're taking off the table, ya know :sofa:

 

[Sardukhar]

can i just say, your wish to de-emphasize combat seems a bit at odds with your decision to outlaw non-core book roles. Artist, Athlete, Educator, Grifter, Infiltrator, Investigator, runner, shadow and Vamp... that's a lot of low combat/crime roles you're taking off the table, ya know :sofa:

SILENCE! I DO NOT CARE TO BE AWARE OF MY INCONSISTENCIES!

Also note I've explained how lethal and dangerous Night City is...and I'm still trying for less combat? Du-ur? Howzatgunnawerk?

 

[Suhiira]

Right now, I lean towards 2065-2070 or so. Even 2076. We'd have to make some timeline calls, and the Night City sourcebook would have to be adjusted or just pretend the nuke damage wasn't that bad. Bright side, we can use modern or better tech and we can do a canon "reset" post a few decades of Collapse.

With all experienced players I say go for the 2065-2076 route.
While knowing all the rules is hardly necessary it is VERY handy for new players to have an available reference guide ... i.e. printed rules.

So I guess the question is ...
How many questions do you want to field Sard?
Maybe go thru the CP2020 book (and supplements you intend to use) and specifically reference the alterations (Cellphones, texting, Internet) and what they're being replaced with, what it's game mechanics are.

Yeah, it's gonna be work. But do it once and it's done.

---------- Updated at 06:23 AM ----------

Anyone want to be my body guard? Haha.

I might consider it once the campaign get's itself established.
But be warned, a good bodyguard is a lot like having a babysitter running your life.

"Sorry Ma'am I can't let you stop for a burger here as the area isn't secure."

---------- Updated at 06:29 AM ----------

Yikes. With a max level 5 SA Rockerboy I can only make 1000 a month. Unless that double money thing from the first post is going to stay going forward and it's not just for character creation.

Competent bodyguards ain't cheap.