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 Runners in the Shadows

Copyright ©2015, 2021 Mark Cleveland Massengale

All Rights Reserved.

Blades in the Dark™ is a trademark of One Seven Design. The Forged in the Dark
Logo is © One Seven Design, and is used with permission. More information: https://
bladesinthedark.com/licensing.

This work is based on Blades in the Dark (found at http://

www.bladesinthedark.com/), product of One Seven Design,
developed and authored by John Harper, and licensed for our
use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

A love letter to fantasy cyberpunk mashups

CREDITS
Mark Cleveland Massengale
Design, Writing, Layout, etc.

Additional Material by
Hieron_II, Jason Turgeon, & Scraigon Earhart-Stokes
Editing by
Matthew Peterson, Paul Peterson, & Jacob Garcia
 THANKS
The original runners, AKA Toxic: Jaime Bauer (as Jax), Coty Beck (as Shark),
& “Natelby” (as Totes). Circa: December 2015.
Various playtesters including: Jaime Bauer, Evan Flance, Tom Delorenzi,
Goran Tomic, Genevieve Audet, Eric Melson, eskur, mib, & Jexams.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A few game designs (besides Blades in the Dark) influenced Runners in the Shadows in
various ways. This game would not exist without the contributions of their authors to
my favorite genres of tabletop games: fantasy, post-apocalypse, and cyberpunk.

Shadowrun, by Jordan Weisman, et al (FASA Corporation).

Apocalypse World, by D. Vincent Baker & Meguey Baker.

Sixth World, by Chris Clouser & Tanner Yea—which I worked on hacking for a long time.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Jaime Bauer (April 13, 1977 - July 26, 2020)
..a close friend of mine whose runner Jax is featured within,
but who passed before she could get her printed copy
 CO NT E N T S
THE BASICS 7 THE CHARACTERS 49
THE GAME 7 CHARACTER CREATION 50
The Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Permutations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
The Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Character Creation Summary . . . . . . . . . . 60
The Characters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
The Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 STANDARD ITEMS 64
The Game Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PLAYBOOKS
Playing a Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FACE 65
Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 HACKER 69
Touchstones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
MUSCLE 73
THE CORE SYSTEM 12
PUNK 77
The Conversation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
RIGGER 81
Judgment Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SNAKE 85
Rolling the Dice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Types of Rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 TRIGGER 89
The Game Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SUPERNATURAL PLAYBOOKS
Blades Player Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ADEPT 93
SR Player Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MAGE 97
ACTIONS 16 Assense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Progress Clocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 TECHNO 103
Attribute Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Attune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
EDGE & TRAUMA 21
EFFECT 23 THE CREW 109
THE DRAGON’S DEAL 27 CREW CREATION 110
UNDERSTANDING POSITION & EFFECT 28 Crew Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
CONSEQUENCES & HARM 30 Cohorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
RESISTANCE & ARMOR 32 Cohort Harm & Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Crew Creation Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . 120
FORTUNE ROLL 34 CREW PLAYBOOKS
GATHER INFORMATION 36 ASSASSINS 121
PC VS PC 38 COURIERS 125
NUYEN & STASH 39 CULT 129
THE FACTION GAME 42 MERCS 133
Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 RADICALS 137
Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 SHADOWS 141
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Fixers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 THE RUN 145
Faction Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 PLANNING & ENGAGEMENT 146
Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 The Detail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
ADVANCEMENT 46 Item Loadout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
PC Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Engagement Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Crew Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Linked Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Advancement Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Flashbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Changing Playbooks or Crew Type 48 Flashback examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Giving up on a Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
TEAMWORK 154
MEDSLED EXTRACTIONS 156
EXAMPLE RUN 158
DOWNTIME 167 FUTURISM 239
PAYOFF 168 THE WIRELESS WORLD 240
HEAT 169 Being Online & Networking . . . . . . . . . . 241
Reconditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Cybercrime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
ENTANGLEMENTS 171 Constructs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
DOWNTIME ACTIVITIES 174 DRONES 252
VICE 178 CRAFTING 254
Sharpening your Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Sample Gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Indulging Your Vice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Sample Special Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
DOWNTIME ACTIVITIES IN PLAY 179 IMPLANTS 262
NPC & Faction Downtime . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Undergoing Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Downtime Activities Summary 181 Implant Locations & Specifications 264
Detailing an Implant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
HOW TO PLAY 183 Symptoms of Lost Essence . . . . . . . . . . 268
FICTION-FIRST GAMING 183 SHELL CHARACTERS 269
Triggering the Action Roll . . . . . . . . . . . 186 CYBERMANCY 270
Why We Do This . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 SHELL 271
How to Choose an Action . . . . . . . . . . . 188
The Purpose of Dangers & Edge 188 STRANGE FORCES 273
There’s Always a Consequence 189 THE SUPERNATURAL WORLD 274
Rules Mastery will Take Time . . . . . . . . . 189 Spirits & Gremlins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Setting Precedents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 The Supernatural Playbooks . . . . . . . . . 276
Abstraction vs. Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 The Metaplanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
ACTIONS IN PLAY Strange Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Metaplanar Horrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Consort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Dragons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 The Infected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Fight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Free Spirit Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Finesse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 INFECTED 283
Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 FREE SPIRIT 285
Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 SUPERNATURAL CRITTERS 288
Prowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 SECRET ARTS OF SUMMONING 288
Stalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Conjuring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Compiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Random Horrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Wreck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Binding Ceremonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Supernatural Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
RUNNING THE GAME 205 Essence Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
GM GOALS 205 POWER SITES 294
DESCRIBING THE SETTING 206 Lodges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
GM ACTIONS 207 SORCERY & THREADING 296
GM PRINCIPLES 212 REAGENTS 302
GM BAD HABITS 213 SUPERNATURAL CRAFTING 303
STARTING THE GAME 218 Sample Supernatural Formulas 304
WAR IN ST ANDREW PARISH 224
DEEPER IN THE SHADOWS 228
MAGNITUDE 236
RANDOM RUN GENERATOR 238
KINGSTON 307
THE HEART OF THE CARIBBEAN 307
A Brief History of Two Lost Cities 308
Cultures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Banking & Comms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Guardians & Mythical Cities . . . . . . . . . . 311
Crime & Punishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Long Distance Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
The Haunted City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Rays & Lines of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Factions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Kingston: Vice Purveyors . . . . . . . . . . . 328
ZETA LAB 329

CHANGING THE GAME 335

GAMEPLAY OPTIONS 336
ADVANCED ABILITIES & PERMISSIONS 354
Hacker Trade Secrets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Afro-Brazilian Martial Arts . . . . . . . . . . 356
Asian Pistol Katas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Samurai Fighting Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Paths of Submersion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Emergent Death Cult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Cult of Concordance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Rites of Initiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
The Stuff of Nightmares . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Ancient Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
The Dweller on the Threshold 368
Bound to the Free Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Not Quite a Vampire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Forgotten Mentors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Pursuit of the Cydonian Serpent 372
The Omnilab Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Druidic Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374

INDEX 375

THE BASICS
THE GAME
Runners in the Shadows is a game about
a group of daring operatives building
a criminal enterprise in a fantastical
dystopian vision of near-future Earth.
There are dangerous meetings, crazy
heists, bloody fights, chases, escapes,
deceptions, betrayals, successes, and
deaths.
We play to find out if the fledgling
crew can thrive amidst the teeming
threats of rival crews, powerful gangs,
ruthless corporate agents, corrupt law
enforcement, and the sweet allure of the
future’s many vices.
So plug in, reload, and breathe
deep of the cost of becoming a
legend in the shadows.
7
CHAPTER 1
THE SETTING
The game takes place on the island chain
of Jamaica, in the capital city of Kingston.
It’s near-futuristic in its development.
Imagine a world like ours during the next
era of human advancement—there is
renewable energy, quantum computers,
self-driving vehicles, and an economy
based on information technology. This
impending Earth is something like a
mash-up of a mythical past and predicted
futures; the future imagined by writers in
the 1980’s (namely, William Gibson), and
the future predicted by modern day fringe
futurists. It’s dystopian: over-populated,
controlled by powerful corporations,
there is vast inequality of wealth and
opportunity felt throughout the world.
While it’s connected by ubiquitous access to
a worldwide information network known
as cyberspace, it’s still divided by a wide
disparity in social and economic class.
The city is also a fantasy. It’s about fifty years
in the future and the world is struggling to
deal with the resurgence of supernatural
awareness, beings, and powers—a result
of the revelation of the lost islands (of
Aztlan and Atlantis among them) due to
the breaking of many-thousand-year cycle
known by ancient beings. The end of this
period roused the great dragons from their
ancient sleep, caused ghosts to linger in the
material world, and lifted the Fog of Mortal
Disbelief.
 1
The inhabitants of this futuristic Earth
are not just normal people, but also the
technologically enhanced and magically
enhanced—all struggling to adapt and
coexist with one another.
You’re in a haunted, futuristic port city in
the Caribbean Sea. The island of Jamaica
is bordered by sea and ocean on all
sides, and protected by its geographical
isolation and the influence of the Cuban
The Basics
mafia. The city’s unique location in the
Caribbean, situated near the fabled island
of Aztlan in the middle of the Caribbean
Sea, makes it a coveted epicenter of trade,
intrigue, and corporate influence. Its
citizens struggle to deal with its newfound
independence from European rule, and
the growing number of businessmen
from “across the pond” who are leeching
the wealth of paydata present.
The point of all this is to create a pressure-
cooker environment for our criminal
escapades, with a built-in release valve
of the nearby ocean and proximity
to Aztlan. Getting in the water is like
entering the old monster-infested seas
of yore. Staying inside is hell on wheels.
However, operating in a city outside
your established area of influence is
like a “reset button” for the reputations
of a crew of runners—until you create
a syndicate of your own, it’s impractical
to “lay low outside the city and wait for
the heat to die down” after you pull off
a run (if you do that, you probably lose
your reputation along with the heat).
Everything the players choose to do has
consequences for their characters and
shifts the balance of power around in the
city—driving the action for a sandbox
style of roleplaying game. For a full guide
to Kingston, see page 307.
Alternate city guides for the Enclave of
Seattle and Hong Kong Island are also
available in the Extra Materials folder,
linked from the main itch.io page.
8
THE PLAYERS
Each player creates a character (called
a player character, or PC) and works
with the other players to create the
crew to which their characters belong.
Runners are criminals who take shady
jobs for shadier employers. They are
often the uncounted, homeless, and the
unscrupulous. Each player strives to
bring their PC to life as an interesting,
daring runner who reaches boldly
beyond their current safety and means.
This is the players’ core responsibility:
they engage with the premise of the game,
seeking out interesting opportunities
for crime in the cities—taking big risks
against powerful foes and sending their
characters into danger.
The players work together with the Game
Master (GM) to establish the tone and
style of the game by making judgment
calls about the mechanics, dice, and
consequences of actions. The players
take responsibility as co-authors of the
game with the GM.
THE CHARACTERS
The characters attempt to develop their
crew from a hastily assembled group of
poor independent runners to a serious
criminal syndicate. They do this by taking
runs from clients, planning their own
devious operations, making alliances,
destroying their enemies, and trying to
stay one step ahead of the authorities.

PLAYBOOKS
There are several character types
to choose from, each representing a
different style of runner:
◆ Faces are well-connected negotiators
and bold planners. Play this to be the
first impression for the crew.
◆ Hackers are meticulous informants
and datathieves. Play this to twist
cyberspace to your advantage.
◆ The Muscle is a formidable combatant
and enforcer. Play this to be the toughest
and always get what you want.
◆ Punks are vandals and escape artists.
Play this to create mayhem and get
away with it.
◆ Riggers are crafty technicians and
pilots. Play this if you want to be crafty
and focused while controlling devices
remotely.
◆ Snakes are master manipulators and
double agents. Play this to be a cunning
liar and spy on the opposition.
◆ Triggers are deadly sharpshooters
and trackers. Play this to always hit
your mark.
You can mix and match, or play a crew
that is all of one type. It’s up to you.
There are also three supernatural
playbooks—they are completely
optional, and if your table agrees they
are available then each character can
take one of these:
1
◆ Adepts are practitioners of a mystical
art.
◆ Mages are people with astral senses
awakened to magic.
◆ Technos are people with emergent
senses attuned to signals.
If you choose any of the above playbooks
The Game
in character creation, you must also choose
a way/method and drawback—consider
choosing details during the process which
explain your source of power as well.
THE CREW
In addition to creating runner characters,
you’ll also create the crew by choosing
which type of criminal enterprise you’re
interested in exploring. The crew gets its
own “character sheet,” just like a player
character.
◆ Assassins are killers for hire.
◆ Couriers transport contraband.
◆ A Cult serves a supernatural
tradition that is forbidden or reviled.
◆ Mercs is short for mercenaries;
hired thugs and extortionists.
◆ Radicals are extremists and
revolutionaries.
◆ Shadows are burglars, thieves, and
spies—perhaps the quintessential set
of runners.
The crew type isn’t restrictive (you can
pursue a variety of activities); it’s there
to help focus gameplay. Neither typical,
nor detailed within, are Dealers—they
sell illegal product (for that, just use
the Hawkers playbook in Blades in the
Dark—it’s an easy port).
9
 1
THE GAME MASTER
The GM establishes the dynamic world
around the characters, especially the
corrupt and powerful rulers of the
corporate world, and the ruthless
criminals of the underworld. The GM
plays all the non-player characters in
the world by giving each one a concrete
desire and preferred method of action.
The Basics
The GM helps organize the conversation
of the game so it’s pointed toward the
interesting elements of play. The GM
isn’t in charge of the story and doesn’t
have to plan events ahead of time. They
present interesting opportunities to the
players, then follow the chain of action
and consequences wherever they lead.
For more, see GM Goals & Principles,
page 205.
PLAYING A SESSION
So, what’s it like to play? A session of
Runners in the Shadows is like an episode
of a TV show. There are one or two main
events, plus maybe some side-story
elements, which all fit into an ongoing
series. A session of play can last anywhere
from two to six hours, depending on the
preferences of the group.
During a session, the crew of characters
works together to choose a criminal run
to accomplish (either by getting a job
from an NPC or by creating their own
operation), then they make a few dice
rolls to jump into the action of the run
in progress. The PCs take actions, suffer
consequences, and finish the operation
(succeed or fail). Then the crew has
downtime, during which they recover,
pursue side-projects, and indulge their
vices. After downtime, the players once
again look for a new opportunity or
10
create their own goals and pursuits, and
we play to find out what happens next.
A given game session is typically one
run and the following downtime, plus
exploration and discovery of a new
opportunity. As your group gets more
familiar with the game, you might be able
to pack more into a session, even doing
two runs in an evening of play.
After a dozen sessions or so, you might
decide to have a break in the flow of the
story and start up a “season two” series—
possibly with a slightly different cast of
characters and a new starting situation.
Along the way you may begin to notice
the game is predicated on a balanced
blend of escapism and realism—designed
to provide a relaxing space where you
can each appreciate and confront issues
present in the real world, without being
subject to its many burdens (or reprisal
from our fellow humans who live in this
world with us). Think of your Runners
gaming group as your safehouse, so to
speak: a place to discuss and confront
these dark reflections about ourselves
and the world we live in (and the one we
do not). Here we can all say something
about a life of criminality and vice, and
the “rewards” and pitfalls of hypocrisy,
suffering, and greed. This is the basic
premise of the game
 1

BEFORE YOU START TOUCHSTONES

Read this book once through. You won’t
immediately understand everything until
you see it play. You won’t get all the rules
right the first time. That’s fine; the rules will
make more sense when you read them again
after you play. The system of Runners in the
Shadows is designed to be learned as an
ongoing process—each time you play you’ll
get better until everything is second nature.
When you’re pitching the game to prospective
players, here are some media touchstones
you can use to relate the game to stuff with
which they’re already familiar.
Books/Films/TV: Neuromancer, and other
works (Johnny Mnemonic, etc.) by William
Gibson. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson.
Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo & Izo Hashimoto.

The Game
Ghost in the Shell, by M. Shirow. Blade
You might be the only person in the game Runner, by Ridley Scott. The Matrix, by the
group that’s read the book—that’s fine, too, Wachowskis. Fifth Element, by Luc Besson.
but then it’s on you to convey everything to Elysium, by Neill Blomkamp. Bright, by David
the other players, so that’s a job you’re taking Ayer. Preacher by Sam Catlin. Daywalkers
on. You can send everyone the link to the by the Spearigs. Minority Report, by Steven
Runners Sheets PDF if players want to look Spielberg. Dredd, by Pete Traviss. Existenz,
at it ahead of time. by David Kronenberg. Strange Days, by
Kathryn Bigelow. Altered Carbon, by John
What the other players will need to do, though, Lenic, et. al. Ocean’s Eleven, and other works
is buy into the idea of the game. Tell them it’s (Ocean’s Twelve, etc.) by Steven Soderbergh.
a game about daring scoundrels in a haunted The Italian Job, by Troy Kennedy Martin and
city in a near-future, fantasy version of Earth. Peter Collinson.
Mention a few touchstones that they’re
familiar with (see the list on right). “It’s kind Games: Shadowrun, by Beam Software/Data
of like Ocean’s Eleven meets Blade Runner but East (and the one by BlueSky Software!).
there’s ghosts and ninjas.” If their eyes don’t Deus Ex, by Ion Storm. Syndicate, by Bullfrog
light up at the idea of making a character, Studios.
maybe this game isn’t going to click with them.
That’s fine. You can always play a different
game with that person some other time. You WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY
want to have full buy-in from your players.
◆ Players: two to ◆ Keep this book
If you’re the GM, definitely read through four. Plus one handy for reference.
the Starting Situation a couple times (page Game Master.
224) and get a good handle on the important ◆ Some blank paper
factions involved, what they want, who runs ◆ A handful of six- and index cards
them. Or, feel free to make up your own sided dice. At least for notes and
starting situation—just enough to throw the
six to be safe. sketches. Pencils
group into an interesting circumstance right
out of the gate. You don’t want everyone and ink pens.
◆ Printed copies
sitting there, excited to play, and then say,
“So... what do you want to do first?” The
of the character ◆ Beverages and
starting situation keeps the momentum high playbooks, crew snacks are nice.
at the beginning. sheets, & reference It’s a social event,
sheets + maps. after all.
For more, see Starting the Game, page 218.
◆ Tokens (or beads, coins, poker chips,
etc; optional)—for tracking remaining
free downtime activities. Two per player
will be enough.

11
 1
THE CORE SYSTEM
THE CONVERSATION
A roleplaying game is a conversation between
the GM and the players, punctuated by dice
rolls to inject uncertainty and surprising turns.
The GM presents the fictional situation in
which the player characters find themselves.
The Basics
The players determine the actions of their
characters in response to the situation. The
GM and the players together judge how the
game systems are engaged. The outcomes
of the mechanics then change the situation,
leading into a new phase of the conversation—
new situations, new actions, new judgments,
new rolls—creating an ongoing fiction and
building “the story” of the game, organically,
from a series of discrete moments.
No one is in charge of the story. The
story is what happens as a result of the
situation presented by the GM, the actions
the characters take, the outcomes of the
mechanics, and the consequences that result.
The story emerges from the unpredictable
collision of all of these elements. You play to
find out what the story will be.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Playing Runners in the Shadows is a joint
exercise—a collaborative, expressive
act—not a purely strategic endeavor. For
a game of roleplaying, you’ll need to make
judgment calls. That is, to determine
when to incorporate game mechanics and
to what degree, as well as to say what’s
true for that game of Runners. By making
these choices, the game group together
establishes a style, tone, and form of
fiction unique to their instance of play.
Blades in the Dark is designed to bring
these judgment calls to the forefront and
make them explicit tools of the game.
And Runners is no different.
12
When you play, you’ll make several key
judgment calls. Everyone contributes,
but either the players or the GM gets final
say for each:
THE PLAYERS SAY..
◆ Which actions are reasonable as a
solution to a problem? Can this person be
influenced? Must we get out the tools and
engineer the maglock open, or could it also
be interfaced through hacking programs
to open it more discreetly? The players
have final say
◆ Which events in the story match the
karma triggers for character and crew
advancement? Did you express your
character’s beliefs, drives, heritage, or
background? You tell us. The players
have final say
THE GM SAYS..
◆ How dangerous and how effective is a
given action in this circumstance? How
risky is this? Would prowling past this
sentry do a little or a lot? The GM has
final say
◆ Which consequences are inflicted to
manifest the dangers in this circumstance?
What’s the worst that could happen if
they fail? Do the agents merely become
suspicious or do they already have you
trapped? The GM has final say
◆ Does this situation call for a dice roll,
and which type (see next page)? Is your
runner in position to make an action roll
or must they first make a resistance roll to
gain the initiative? The GM has final say
The particular choices you make will
create your own unique form of Runners
in the Shadows. You’ll say something about
the world and the characters, about crime
fiction, and about what might await the
inhabitants of Earth in the near-future.
What will you say? There’s only one way
to find out.

ROLLING THE DICE
Runners in the Shadows uses six-sided
dice. You roll several at once and read the
single highest result.
◆ If the highest die is a 6, it’s a full
success—things go well. If you roll more
than one 6, it’s a critical success—you
gain some additional advantage.
◆ Ifthe highest die is a 4 or 5, that’s a
partial success—you do what you were
trying to do, but there are consequences:
trouble, harm, reduced effect, etc.
◆ If the highest die is 1-3, it’s a failure
Things go poorly. You don’t achieve your
goal (or doing so has an unintended
effect) and you suffer consequences, too.
If you ever need to roll but you have zero
(or negative) dice, roll two dice and take
the single lowest result. You can’t roll a
critical when you have zero dice.
All the dice systems in the game are
expressions of this basic format. When
you’re first learning the game, you can
always “collapse” back down to a simple
roll to judge how things go. Look up the
exact rule later when you have time.
The most common result is 4/5: partial
success. This means that your character
will tend to succeed, but at a cost—you’ll
rarely get away clean. Runners in the
Shadows is a game about dark horse
characters who are in way too deep,
the odds stacked against them. The dice
mechanic reinforces this by making
partial success crop up again and again.
And this is great! This is where the best
gaming fun is found—in the troublesome
parts. There is less sweet gaming nectar
in the easy success.
To create a dice pool for a roll, you’ll use a
trait (like your Survey or your Intuition
or your crew’s Tier) and take dice equal to
1
its rating. You’ll usually end up with one
to four dice. Even one die is pretty good in
this game—a 50% chance of success, and
two dice (easy to get with a teammate’s
assistance) increases that chance to 75%. The
most common traits you’ll use are the action
ratings of the player characters. A player
might roll dice for their Fight action rating
when they become entangled in combat with
The core sysTem
an enemy, for example.
TYPES OF ROLLS
There are four types of rolls that you’ll
use most often in the game:
◆ Action roll When a PC attempts an
action that’s dangerous or troublesome,
you make an action roll to find out how
it goes. Action rolls and their effects and
consequences drive most of the game.
See page 16.
◆ Downtime roll When the PCs are at
their leisure after a job, they can perform
downtime activities in relative safety. You
make downtime rolls to see how much
they get done. These are special rolls
which might require action rolls before
they occur, depending on the desired
pacing and tone. See page 174.
◆ Resistance roll A player can make
a resistance roll when their character
suffers a consequence they don’t like.
The roll tells us how much edge their
character marks to reduce the severity
of a consequence. When you resist that
“Broken Leg” harm, you might lose some
edge but either way it’s only a “Sprained
Ankle” instead. See page 33 for details.
◆ Fortune roll The fourth (and often
rarest) type of roll is made by the GM,
to disclaim decision making and leave
something up to chance. How loyal is an
NPC? How much does the plague spread?
How much evidence is successfully
disposed before authorities kick in the
door? See page 34.
13
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THE GAME STRUCTURE

Runners in the Shadows has a structure to play, with four parts (see the diagram at right). By
default, the game is in free play—characters talk to each other, they go places, they do things,
they make rolls as needed.
When the group is ready, they choose a target for their next criminal operation, then
choose a type of plan to employ. This triggers the engagement roll (which establishes the
situation as the operation starts) and then the game shifts into the run phase. See page
146 for more details.
The Basics

During the run, the PCs engage the target—they make rolls, overcome obstacles, call for
flashbacks, and complete the operation (successfully or not). When the run is finished,
the game shifts into the downtime phase.
During the downtime phase, the GM engages the systems for payoff, heat, and
entanglements, to determine all the fallout from the run. Then the PCs each get their
downtime activities, such as indulging their vice to clear edge or working on a long-
term project. See page 174 for details on downtime. When all the downtime activities
are complete, the game returns to free play and the cycle starts over again.
The phases are a conceptual model to
help you organize the game. They’re
not meant to be rigid structures that
restrict your options (this is why
they’re presented as amorphous blobs
of ink thrown on a printed circuit
board). Think of the phases as a menu
of options to fit whatever it is you’re
trying to accomplish in play. Each
phase suits a different goal.
During free play, the game is very fluid—
you can easily skim past several events in
a quick montage; characters can disperse
in time and space, doing various things as
they please. When you shift into the run
phase, everyone leans forward and knows
that it’s time to focus and get the job done.
The camera zooms down into the action,
obstacle to obstacle, as each challenge is
faced. The players use flashbacks to elide
time and establish previously unseen
preparations. Then when the run is over
and you shift to downtime, the pressure’s
off. The PCs are safe and can enjoy a
brief respite from danger to recover and
regroup before they jump back into the
cycle of play again.

14
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BLADES PLAYER PRIMER

There are a few significant changes from “vanilla“ Blades mechanics,
but you will otherwise be right at home if you have played that before.
The biggest changes are summarized below:
◆ Cosmetic changes to various game terms: stress is called edge, scores ..details in the
are called runs, cohort gangs are called teams. Other changes to terms are remainder of
more substantial—often reflecting a bigger change than just terminology. this section.
◆ New actions, and old ones: some are renamed (like Sway to Influence,

The core sysTem

and Hunt to Stalk), most are not (like Study and Survey).
◆ The rules language concerning the discussion of position and effect
tells GMs to ask for the player’s thoughts as part of their duties. Understanding
◆ Special actions are special: only accessible through mutually- Position &
Effect, page
exclusive options which you can take during character creation. But
28
they may also be gained in play when the time is right. Fiction first.
◆ The parsing of special items as a form of “build currency” during Character
character creation, and as a reward for increasing your lifestyle rating. Creation,
Friends, abilities, and action dots get a similar treatment. page 50
◆ The addition of the Radicals crew playbook, with new abilities and
unique features. Radicals
◆ Getting extra edge is accomplished individually, with certain PC playbook,
special abilities or an implant (instead of a costly crew-wide upgrade). page 137

SR PLAYER PRIMER
This game is traditional, with so-called “modern” sensibility—so most
players will be comfortable with the broader points of play. However,it’s
based on Blades and its action system, so there are a few things you may
find very different from other games you’ve been playing:
◆ The conversation is the arbiter of all that is uncertain. The GM only ..details in the
knows the right mechanic to use based on the fiction discussed, not the remainder of
other way around. And whatever your group says is true—is true! If no
this section.
one disagrees, the GM narrates the impact, maybe updates the sheets,
and lets that carry things forward to the next interesting situation. You
only stop to roll dice when you take a chance and it’s worthwhile to roll.
Otherwise the GM decides (or rolls) and we move on.
◆ You don’t roll many dice because you only need to roll a single 6 to succeed.
A 5 simply won’t do (a 4 or 5 is enough to succeed with consequences
though). You don’t reroll 6s and you don’t need to count all the 6s up;
instead, all additional 6s rolled count together as a single critical.
◆ You can only “pre-edge“ here (called pushing yourself)—and rather Edge &
than “post-edge” when things go wrong you can always declare resistance.
Trauma, page
Resistance is always helpful too—but at what cost? You will roll to find out
21
how much edge you lost to reduce or avoid the consequence in question:
which can be up to 5 edge (and no: there are no “take backs” on this roll).
◆ You effectively “rent” things by taking actions to get them, or spending Nuyen &
a downtime activity to acquire them safely—you buy things by spending Stash, page
downtime or otherwise completing the fiction to get them (it might not 39
cost you a game resource such as nuyen in other words).

15
 1

ask and clarify the goal when necessary.

ACTIONS
When a player character does something,
they are taking an action. When a PC
does something challenging, we make
an action roll to see how it turns out.
An action is challenging if there’s an
obstacle to the PC’s goal that’s dangerous
or troublesome in some way. We don’t
make an action roll unless the PC is put to
The Basics
“You’re punching them in the face, right?
Okay... what do want to get out of this? Do
you want to knock him out, right—or just
rough him up so he’ll do what you want?”
(2) The GM sets the effect level for
the action based on what you hope to
accomplish. Then you say what you most
fear will go wrong. If it’s worse than you

think, the GM will tell you how bad it

the test. If their action is something that really is, and why. The GM uses this to
we’d expect them to simply accomplish, determine the position for the action
then we don’t make an action roll. roll, which might be controlled, risky,
Each game group will have their own or desperate. This indicates the severity
ideas about what “challenging” means. of consequences you’ll suffer if you fail,
This means it’s something that establishes rather than enumerating each specific
the tone and style of your Runners in the thing.
Shadows series. To make an action roll, we
Effect level is typically Standard—based
go through four steps: (1) goal and action
on the given goal for the action, however
rating, (2) set effect level and position, (3)
the GM can Limit the effect of a given
add bonus dice, then (4) roll the dice. In
approach to reflect the opposition or
play, they flow together somewhat, but
situation at hand. How is the impact
let’s break each one down here for clarity.
diminished? What effort will remain to
(1) The player states achieve the goal?
Command
their goal for the action The GM might suggest a better fiction
and chooses the action Consort (and accompanying action rating) to get
rating for what their Engineer the player what they want in a single
character is doing in the action—if that’s possible, given the
fiction. You get 1d (one Fight
current situation. “You want to make
die) for each dot beside Finesse them back down by Prowling? That’s not
that action on your going to achieve much; even if you were
playbook sheet. Influence
to succeed they are more likely to respond
Interface with violence than back down. It might
If you want to roll your
Fight action, then get Prowl be more effective to get in their face and
in a fight with someone. Command them to walk away instead.”
Stalk
If you want to roll your
Study The GM can also offer a desperate
Command action, then
approach to achieve what you want in
tell someone what to do. Survey one action roll, if that’s possible in the
You can’t roll a given
action rating unless your Wreck situation. How is this approach more
dangerous than the other, and what
character is presently
additional benefit is possible? Note that this
performing that action in the fiction.
isn’t always feasible or sensible though—
Usually the character’s goal is pretty besides, taking a desperate approach isn’t
obvious in context, but it’s the GM’s job to exactly a one-for-one tradeoff for effect.

16

(3) Add bonus dice. You can normally
get two bonus dice for your action roll
(some special abilities might give you
additional bonus dice): +1d from for an
assist from a teammate, and a second +1d
from taking a Dragon’s Deal or pushing
yourself (a character cannot get a die
from both).
(4) The player rolls the dice and we
judge the result, using the highest single
die result. On a 6, it’s a success: they
achieve the agreed-upon effect. On a
4/5, it’s a success (some effect) with
consequences. On a 1-3, it’s the worst:
it’s a failure (no effect or unintended
effect), and they suffer consequences. If
multiple 6s were rolled for an action, it’s a
critical (success, plus an extra benefit
or effect). If you ever need to roll 0d or less,
roll two dice and use the lowest single
die result. The GM narrates the outcome
of the action, deciding how much effect is
gained and which consequences happen.
A failed action roll usually just fails
completely, but in some circumstances, it
might make sense or be more interesting
for the action to have some effect even on
a 1-3 result.
Mouse Interfaces with the mysterious
cyberspace coordinates she found hidden in
the dead hacker’s logs. The roll is a 1-3; the
worst! The GM could say that Mouse fails
to interface with the target, and then they
get system banned (serious complication
and lost opportunity) essentially killing
the idea. But it would be much more
interesting if the interfacing happened,
and Mouse ends up confronted with this
horrific virtual entity, mind-to-”mind”—
right? Mouse connects with the emergent
will of a rampant AI, yes, but the infinitely
looping algorithm within it overwhelms
his cyberdeck and her mind. She gains
access, but only long enough to suffer
level 3 harm—and she gets a new 6-track:
“Unloop the Dreams of Electric Sheep.”
1
DOUBLE-DUTY ROLLS
Since NPCs don’t roll for their actions, an
action roll does double-duty: it resolves
the action of the PC as well as any NPCs
that are involved The single roll tells
us how those actions interact and which
consequences result. On a 6, the PC wins
and has their effect. On a 4/5, it’s a mix—
both the PC and the NPC have their effect.
On a 1-3, the NPC wins and has their effect
acTions
as a consequence on the PC.
CONSEQUENCES
When a PC suffers an effect from enemy
action, or a bad situation (or roll), it’s
called a consequence. Consequences
are the companion to effects. Some
consequences follow (minor ones,
followed by increasingly severe ones):
they ready a neon bat, they hit you with it,
you’re spotted, your exit is blocked,
they say “shut up,” they boot you out,
they disarm you, they dissemble your gun,
they start a trace, they trace you,
they’re pursuing, your vehicle is disabled,
ICe scans you, you’re cornered by ICe,
you’re burnt by fire, you’re doused in napalm
Some consequences are special (like
harm), persisting until dealt with in
downtime. Serious consequences (like
recurring nightmares or getting cursed)
might not go away until certain conditions
are met (like filling a long-term project
clock; see next page for details).
PCs have effect on the world around them
and they suffer consequences in return
from the opposition they face. In other
words, some consequences arise from
poor rolls—others are a matter of course
for the actions taken. See the remainder
of this chapter for details on various ways
we track consequences and the impact
(and resources) of the player characters.
17
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PROGRESS CLOCKS
A progress clock is a circle divided into
segments (see examples below). The GM will
draw a progress clock when you need to keep
track of ongoing effort against an obstacle or
the approach of impending trouble.
Sneaking into the Alamo Security office
suite? Make a clock to measure the alert
level of the patrolling guardian drones.
The Basics
When the PCs suffer consequences from
partial successes or missed rolls, fill in
segments on the clock until the alarm is
raised.
Generally, the more complex the
problem, the more segments in
the progress clock.
A complex obstacle is a 4-
or 5-segment clock. A more
complicated obstacle is a 6- or
7-clock. A particularly daunting
obstacle should be an 8-clock
or 10-clock (or even a series of
clocks).
The effect level of an action
or circumstance is used to tick
segments on a clock (see Effect
Levels, page 23). It’s the GM’s job to tick
a clock so it reflects the fictional situation
If the PCs are making a lot of progress, the
clock should be ticked a lot by the GM. This
comes with practice, by properly judging
effect levels. But the GM should always feel
free to adjust a clock in play to better reflect
the situation. You can’t usually fill a clock
with the effect of a single action. This is by
design. If a situation is simple enough for
one action, we don’t make a clock, just judge
the outcome based on the effect level of the
action.
When you create a clock, make it about the
obstacle, not the method. The clocks for an
infiltration should be “Interior Patrols” and
“The Office Location,” not “Sneak Past the
Security Guards” or “Hack the Elevator.” The
patrols and the locations are the obstacles—
the PCs can attempt to overcome them in a
variety of ways.
18
Complex enemy threats can be broken
into several “layers,” each with its own
progress clock. For example, the Talons’ HQ
might have a “Perimeter Security” clock, an
“Interior Guards” clock, and an “Winston’s
Office Security” clock. The group would have
to make their way through all three layers to
reach the leader’s personal safe and hidden
valuables.
Remember that a clock measures progress. It
reflects the fictional situation, so the group
can gauge how they’re doing. A clock is like a
speedometer in a car. It conveys the speed of
the vehicle—it doesn’t determine the speed.
Simple obstacles: Not every situation and
obstacle requires a clock. The GM will only
use clocks when a situation is complex or
layered, and you need to track something
over time—otherwise, they should resolve
the outcome of an action with a single roll.
Examples of progress clocks follow. This is
not an exhaustive list. Use them as you see
fit!
◆ danger clock: Used to track impending
danger growing over time. “Suspicion,”
“proximity,” “alert,” etc. See Consequences
on page 30 for details.
◆ racing clocks: A pair of clocks to
represent a race. “Escape” vs “cornered,” for
example.
◆ linked clocks: For a sequence of dangers.
“Alert” might lead to “trapped,” for example.
◆ countdown clocks: For a time sensitive
opportunity to expire. If the countdown runs
out, the mission is scrubbed or the situation
changes—the target escapes, the system
admins are doing a complete overhaul, etc.
◆ tug of war clocks: Can be filled and
emptied by events, to represent a back-and-
forth situation. “Control over the horror” or
“get away from the cops,” for example.
◆ long-term project: Some projects will
take a long time. The GM will add or subtract
clocks depending on the details of the

situation and complexity of the project. The
healing clock on your playbook sheet is an
example of this (it’s a “4-clock,” or 4-segment
clock).
◆ faction clock: For a long-term goal of a
faction, ticked when the PCs have downtime.
PROGRESS CLOCKS IN PLAY
Infiltrating the Smith Residence
The runners are sneaking into Agent
Smith’s apartment to steal his personal
datafiles (in which he keeps the secret
maps and hunting algorithms for his
assassin drone hit squad—worth a
small fortune to the right buyer). The
GM makes a progress clock for the alert
level of Agent Smith’s security drone and
motion-sensing doorbell. She makes a
4-track because it’s a mid-size apartment,
not a mansion and grounds—only a few
suspicious events will turn this in to a lost
cause. During the operation, Silver rolls to
Prowl past the patrolling drone and rolls
a 4/5. She gets past, but the complication
is a tick on the “Alert” clock. The GM
ticks it once to represent the threat level
of a hallway sensor that
detected movement—it’s not
the attack drone though, so
only a minor complication is
called for. alert
Later, when Mouse rolls a 1-3 on a
desperate action to sneak into Smith’s
bedroom, the GM fills three segments—the
agent’s drone is Tier IV elite and is designed
to spot trouble. This fills the clock! When
Mouse eases the door open, she’s set upon
from behind by a whisper-quiet attack
drone, and Smith gets a system alert. It
will be just moments until he realizes
what’s going on, and starts secreting away
his precious paydata!
1
Assaulting the Talons
The runners
attack the HQ
of the Talons,
in a final
showdown to talons pcs
see which group crew crew
will survive to
control the gun-running market coming
in from Panama. The GM makes a clock
for the forces of each side. As the PCs
acTions
take actions and suffer consequences, the
GM ticks the clocks to show the waning
strength and morale of each side. When
one side’s clock is filled, they’ve reached a
breaking point—will they flee, surrender,
or fall into a suicidal rage?
“BREAKING” THE RULES
AND FICTION
A long-term project is also a great
catch-all for dealing with any
unusual goals, including things that
fall outside the scope of the game
system or change elements of the
setting. For example, by default in
the game, trauma is permanent.
However, let’s say the Hacker wants
to remove the Paranoid trauma
condition on their sheet. Instead
of shooting the idea down, the GM
might ask “What do you do?”
“I undergo rigorous therapy to work
through the roots of their psychosis
and paranoia.” Fair enough, the GM
reasons. By giving their therapist
many sleepless nights due to the
stressful sessions, they’re able to
reduce the character’s trauma. It
will be a long and arduous process
to work on a project like this, but
almost anything can be attempted
as long as the group is interested
and it seems feasible to everyone.
19
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ATTRIBUTE RATINGS RESISTANCE ROLL

There are three attributes in the game
system that the player characters use
to resist bad consequences: Intuition,
Body, and Willpower. Each attribute
has a rating (from zero to 4) that tells you
how many dice to roll when you use that
attribute.
Each attribute resists a different type of
consequence. You resist physical harm
with your Body rating, for example.
Resistance rolls always succeed—you
diminish or deflect the negative impact
(GM’s choice)—but the better your roll,
the less edge it costs to do it.

The rating for each When the enemy has a huge advantage,
The Basics

attribute is equal to Intuition you’ll need to make a resistance roll

the number of dots Body before you can take your own action. For
example, when you get into a shootout
in the first column Willpower with the gun-fu master, she disarms you
under that attribute
(see examples, below). The more well- before you can strike. You need to make
rounded your character is with a a resistance roll to keep hold of your gun
particular set of action ratings (indicated if you want to attack her. Or perhaps you
by your action dots), the better their face a gang hopped up on bluecoke and
attribute rating. attempt to Command them to back down.
But before you can make your own roll,
you must resist being surrounded by the
Your rating in the Attune or gangers. The GM judges the threat level of
Assense special actions do not the enemies and uses these “preemptive”
contribute directly towards any resistance rolls as needed to reflect the
attribute ratings. capabilities of especially dangerous foes.
For more on resistance rolls, see page 32.

This character has an Interface action rating of 2.

Their Intuition attribute rating is 1 (the first

column of dots).

They also have Fight 1 and Prowl 2.

Their Body attribute rating is 2.

20

EDGE & TRAUMA
EDGE
Player characters in Runners in the
Shadows have a special reserve of
ingenuity, fortitude, and luck called edge.
When they suffer a consequence that they
don’t want to accept, they can spend their
edge instead. The result of the resistance
roll (page 32) determines how much
edge it costs to avoid a bad outcome.
In a desperate Fight with Mountain
Rats enforcers, Mouse (Jen’s character)
gets shot several times without armor.
Since this was desperate, the GM inflicts
severe harm. They tell Jen to record
level-3 harm, “Shot through the lung.”
Jen wants to resist, and the GM rules
that the harm is reduced by a Body
resistance roll—but not avoided entirely.
Mouse suffers level 2 harm (‘Shot in
the shoulder’) instead, then Jen rolls
her Body rating to resist the impact of
the injury, and gets a 2. It costs 6 edge,
minus 2 (the result of the resistance
roll) to reduce the impact of this
consequence. Jen marks off 4 edge and
describes how Mouse narrowly avoids
being incapacitated.
PUSHING YOURSELF
You can spend edge to push yourself for
greater performance. For each bonus you
choose below, spend 2 edge (each can be
chosen once for a given action):
◆ Add +1d to your roll. (This may be used
for an action roll or downtime roll or
any other kind of roll where extra effort
would help you)
◆ Add +1 level to your effect. (See Effect)
◆ Take action when you’re incapacitated.
(See Consequences)
1
The ability to push yourself for +1d
means you effectively have at least 1d
in every action as long as you have edge
to spend. Even 1d gives you a 50/50
chance of success. This is the measure
of “luck” and moxie in the game system.
Even when you’re in a bad spot, trying
to do something for which you have no
experience or training, you can dig deep
edGe & Trauma
and give yourself a chance. (A much
better chance than rolling 2d and taking
the lowest when you have zero dots.)
It’s important to remember this! Some
players tend to forget and dismiss actions
for which they have zero dots. “Nah, I
can’t do that. I don’t have Survey. I’d have
to roll 2 dice and take the worst. Ugh.” As
long as you have some edge available,
you can get 1d and give any action a
decent shot.
TRAUMA
When a PC marks their last edge box,
they suffer a level of trauma. When you
take trauma, circle one of your trauma
conditions like Cold, Reckless, Unstable,
etc. They’re all described below.
When you suffer trauma, you’re taken
out of action. You’re “left for dead” or
otherwise dropped out of the current
scene, only to come back later, shaken and
drained. Remember: you chose to take this
risk or spend this last point of edge. When
you return, you have zero marked edge
and your vice has been satisfied for the
next downtime (see page 179).
Trauma conditions are permanent
Your character acquires the new
personality quirk indicated by the
condition, and can earn karma by using
it to cause trouble. When you mark
your fourth trauma condition, your
character cannot continue as a runner.
You must retire them to a different life
or let them undergo reconditioning
21
 1
to take the fall for the crew’s wanted
level. (See Retirement, page 40, and
Reconditioning, page 170).
TRAUMA CONDITIONS
◆ Cold: You’re not moved by emotional
appeals or social bonds. What are you
thinking about when you’re not moved?
◆ Haunted: You’re often lost in thought,
The Basics
reliving past horrors, seeing things. What
memories or thoughts haunts you most?
◆ Obsessed: You’re enthralled by one
thing: an activity, a person, an ideology.
Why can’t you let go?
◆ Paranoid: You imagine danger
everywhere; you can’t trust others. Do
you feel guilty, betrayed, or something
else?
◆ Reckless: You have little regard for
your own safety or best interests. Some
kind of lasting depression, or have you
something to prove?
◆ Soft: You’re lenient; you become
sentimental, passive, gentle. Have you
realized a shortcoming, or is this you
developing one?
◆ Unstable: Your emotional state is
volatile. You can instantly rage, or fall
into despair, act impulsively, or freeze
up. What are your triggers?
◆ Vicious: You seek out opportunities to
hurt people, even for no good reason. Is
this some form of blind retribution, or a
realization of darker urges?
You can play your trauma conditions
as much or as little as you like. They
can totally transform your character’s
personality or have only a small impact—
it’s up to you. If you do play them strongly,
though, allowing a trauma condition to
complicate your character’s life, you earn
karma for it when karma is awarded at
the end of the session.
22
EDGE & THE MASTERFUL
Usually, a player’s roll will resolve both
the action of the PC and the action of the
NPC or threat, simultaneously. Like this:
“The Mountain Rat points a pistol at
your face and grips the trigger. What
do you do?”
“Fine: I crack her in the face, knocking
her arm aside, then fire at her center
mass with my shotgun.”
They say what their characters do, using
the details of the situation as established
by the GM. Then the GM judges their
actions and the reactions of the NPCs
to determine the risks, effects, and
consequences, then the dice are rolled
(likely Fight in this case) and the outcome
resolves the situation into something
new. Your next move—and the action roll
that results—will tell us how effective the
NPC’s maneuver was.
However, a dangerous NPC can take the
initiative. If the NPC is skilled, the GM
will tell you what the NPC is about to
accomplish, then ask what you do.
“She corners you at the top of the
stairs and tries to wrestle you into the
manacles. What do you do?”
If the NPC is a master (for example: a
fixer, agent, leader, etc.) the GM will tell
you what the NPC has already done, then
ask if you want to resist it (risking your
precious edge in the process).
“They’ve got all the leverage here. She
makes the deal without asking if you
are in or not, essentially securing her
fee upfront. Yeah? Or do you want to
resist that so you can take action here?”

EDGE & THE SUPERNATURAL
A close encounter with a free spirit or
dragon is a harrowing experience. By
default, the standard effect is to either
paralyze a person with fear or panic
them into fleeing from its presence. A PC
can choose to freeze up or flee or make
a resistance roll with Willpower to
ignore the effect. Characters with lots
of exposure to astral entities, such as
wage mages and cultists become less
susceptible and only face fear or panic
from exceptionally powerful entities.
Being possessed by a free spirit inflicts
a level of trauma at the end of every
week. Once the possessed body suffers its
fourth level of trauma, it can no longer
sustain its life. The possessing spirit
must either ritually prepare the body for
permanent possession, subsume its last
living essence (killing the victim with
little other benefit), or abandon it and
seek a new host.
Mind-bending horrors (such as the
physical manifestation of a powerful
spirit, or metaplanar invaders) and
dragons may have additional effects
on sight (in addition to causing viewers
to freeze up or flee). You may choose to
resist them, too, as normal.
“As you behold the glorious horror of
the Event Horizon, you unfortunately
also suffer from being frozen right
in place as it tests you. And it’s like..
you like it—because like you said you
craved to be submerged in its power!
So you are going to let it test you—or
do you resist and back off?”
1
EFFECT
In Runners in the Shadows, you achieve
goals by taking actions and facing
consequences. But how many actions does
it take to achieve a particular goal? That
depends on the effect level of your actions.
The GM judges the effect level using the
profiles below. Which one best matches the
action at hand—limited (partial or weak),
standard (a lot), or great (more than that)?
effecT
Each effect level indicates the questions
that should be answered for that effect, as
well as how many segments to tick if you’re
using a progress clock.
ASSESSING FACTORS
To assess effect level, first start with your
gut feeling, given this situation. Then,
if needed, assess three factors that may
modify the effect level: potency, scale,
and quality. If the PC has an advantage
in a given factor, consider a higher
effect level. If they have a disadvantage,
consider a reduced effect level.
When considering factors, effect level
might be reduced below limited, resulting
in zero effect—or increased beyond
great, resulting in an extreme effect.
Extreme effect might accomplish two
tough challenges: not only did you snatch
their comm, but you’ve put some distance
between them. A critical that grants
added effect might take out an additional
foe, get you further, reveal a valuable
opportunity, negate a disadvantage, etc.
It’s up to the GM.
If a PC special ability gives “+1 effect,” it
comes into play after the GM has assessed
the effect level as described on the next
page. For example, if you ended up with
zero effect due to quality, the +1 effect
bonus from your Bodyguard ability
would bump you up to limited effect.
23
 1
Also, remember that you can push
yourself (by spending 2 edge) to get +1
effect on your PC’s action. See page 21.
For a master table of factor examples, see
Magnitude on page 236. Every factor
won’t always apply to every situation.
You don’t have to do an exact accounting
every time, either. Use the factors to help
you make a stronger judgment call—
don’t feel beholden to them.
The Basics
POTENCY
The potency factor considers particular
weaknesses, taking extra time or a bigger
risk, or the influence of supernatural
powers. The magical discharge of a mana
spell is potent against an elemental. An
infiltrator is more potent if all the cameras
are disabled and they move about in the
shadows.
QUALITY/TIER
Quality represents the effectiveness
of tools, weapons, or other resources,
usually summarized by Tier. Fine items
count as +1 bonus in quality, stacking
with Tier.
Mouse is cracking the maglock open
to a safehouse run by the Black Circle.
Her crew is Tier I and she has a fine
autopicker—so she’s effectively Tier
II. The Black Circle is Tier III. Mouse is
outclassed in quality, so her effect will
be limited on the maglock.
SCALE
Scale represents the number of
opponents, size of an area covered, scope
of influence, etc. Larger scale can be an
advantage or disadvantage depending on
the situation. In battle, more people are
better. When infiltrating, more people
are a hindrance.
24
ALIGNMENT OF GOAL WITH
ACTION
The GM’s choice for effect level and
position is strongly influenced by the
player’s choice of action rating and the
desired goal.
If a player wants to try to hack in
by Commanding them to give you
access “or else”—well... maybe that’s
possible, but the GM wouldn’t be crazy
to say it’s a desperate action roll and
probably Limited effect). Seems like
Interfacing to find an exploit from a
point of relative safety would be a lot
better for that.
The players are always free to choose the
approach they take in the fiction (which
tells us which action they perform), but
that doesn’t mean all actions should be
equally risky or effective.
DOMINANT FACTORS
If one effect factor overshadows the
others, the side with the advantage
dominates the situation. It doesn’t matter
if you have “a fine pistol” and “extra
effect” if you try to fight 20 people at once.
Their scale dominates the battle and
you’re left with very limited effect, or no
effect at all. The same principle applies to
“impossible” actions.
Machina wants take down the quantum
network that the security agents are
using to protect their devices. She says,
“I whip out my cyberdeck and Interface
through my hacking programs, taking
the entire Atari-Tendo intranet down,
qubit by qubit. Ha! I rolled a crit! Great
effect!” Obviously, this isn’t possible.
A person can’t take down an entire
business network such as this alone. We
know it’s inherently silly, like walking
to Australia. But this is also codified
in the effect factors. The network is
dominant in quality, scale, and potency.

Unless those factors are countered
somehow, Machina’s effect level is zero
before she starts. No matter what she
rolls for her action, she’ll have no effect.
This concept is useful when assessing
other very tough (but achievable)
situations.
Let’s imagine instead that Machina is
facing a dragon. She wants to Fight
with it, by attacking it with her pistols.
This is similar to taking down the entire
Atari-Tendo network with a single
cyberdeck. Even on a Critical, the
GM says, “You manage to land a solid
hit on the creature’s skull, but there’s
no wound and your bullet ricochets
off its scaly hide.” In other words, zero
effect! (On a 1-3, the GM might say,
“The creature swats your pistols aside,
clutches you in its ferocious grip, and
plucks your head off your shoulders
like a grape.” Seriously. Don’t mess
with dragons.)
But this situation isn’t entirely
hopeless. There must be some way to
battle a dragon. This is where effect
factors can help make sense of the
situation. If the dragon is dominant in
quality, scale, and potency, then the PCs
can try to understand the factors, and
take actions to address them. What’s
the dragon vulnerable to? They can use
that to remove its potency (and seize
that advantage for themselves). What
scale is it? They need to bring more
runners. Etc.
Effect factors are a way to codify the
situation into a few key factors so it’s
easier to talk about what needs to change
in order to have the desired effect.
1
REVISION FOR EFFECT
After factors are considered and the GM
has announced the effect level, a player
might want to revise things a bit to risk
more to accomplish more, or vice versa.
For instance, if they’re going to make an
action roll with standard effect (the most
common scenario, generally), they might
instead want to push their luck and make
a desperate roll but with great effect.
effecT
This kind of trade-off isn’t included in the
effect factors because it’s not an element
the GM should assess when setting the
effect level. Once the level is set, though,
you can always offer a risk-reward trade-
off to the player if it makes sense in the
situation.
“I lay down multiple bursts of gunfire,
Wrecking the area so they have to drop
back into cover, then I’ll smash through
the backdoor and make my getaway.
“Great idea. But I don’t think you can
pin them all down with a single burst.
Scale is a factor here. So your effect
will be limited. I’d say you can get
maybe.. half of them to back off in one
action, not all of them. And you’ll need
to do something else to pin down the
other half to finish it (and give you a
chance to escape from the remaining
bodyguards).
“I didn’t realize they kept that much
security. Hmmm. Okay, what if I just go
full-auto with both my SMGs. Can I get
them all to back down at once if I make
a desperate roll?”
“Yea, that would do it! And you’d earn
some action karma too—but if you
screw this up, we both know you’re
going to get shot up by Rosetta’s
goons..”
“Ha! we’ll see about that, won’t we?”
25
 1
EFFECTS IN THE FICTION
Effects aren’t simply a matter of a level
name or ticking segments on a clock.
After the action roll, when you narrate
the outcome, answer the effect questions
by describing what happens “on screen.”
The answers to the questions will tell
the group what the new situation is
like, creating a natural bridge to further
actions.
The Basics
For a simple action, the effect level
determines the end result. Do you achieve
your goal partially, fully, or with great
effect? For a more complex obstacle, the
GM creates a progress clock to measure
the effort made to overcome it. You
tick a number of segments on the clock
depending on the effect level of your
action and the factors involved. When you
fill the clock, the obstacle is overcome. See
Progress Clocks, page 18.
For example, if the player says “I shove
him and run away,” that might be a
simple action. It will have limited,
standard, or great effect on the enemy,
resulting in a new situation. The
enemy might be slowed down (limited),
knocked off their feet and delayed in the
chase (standard), or even injured by a
powerful throw (great)—depending on
the assessment of the factors at hand.
If the player says, “I engage them in
a duel to the death,” that might be
a more complex obstacle. The GM
creates a clock for the thug’s level of
threat, then there are several action
rolls to resolve the fight, each ticking
the clock according to the effect level
(and risking consequences from the
outcome of each).
The GM is encouraged to go with their
gut and use simple or complex obstacles
as they like, moment to moment in play.
There’s no hard and fast rule for what’s
“simple” or “complex.”
26
WHY DO IT THIS WAY
The reason we assess effect and risk is to
set expectations and make the fictional
situation more clear, so everyone is on
the same page.
You tangle with the Mountain Rat
enforcer, face to face. Do you inflict a
grievous wound? Do you only graze
them? Why are you having the effect
that you have? How could it be worse?
How could it be better?
When we do it this way, everyone knows
how much you will gain if the dice show
a 6, and what you stand to lose if you fail.
That’s why “effect” is kept rather abstract,
determined when the action is described:
the outcome of the conversation is
always the determining factor for how
much a given action might do. If it’s not
clear why the GM says you can’t shoot
them to death, ask them why. If you think
you should be achieving more here, tell
them why.
It can be useful to think of effect as a
pacing mechanism for dealing with a
particular challenge: a “standard effect”
is an abstraction which equates to
“enough fictional impact to overcome
a tough challenge,” whether that be
accomplished through shooting, hacking,
investigation, negotiation, or something
else doesn’t actually matter much to the
game. This system measures fictional
impact according to the needs of your
story, regardless of the situation. This
continually provides clarity about
whether an action is progressing us
towards a particular goal, resolving the
current situation and advancing us to
the next one, or doing something else
entirely.

THE DRAGON’S
DEAL
“Never make a deal with a dragon,” they
say. Except, runners still do it—and you
probably will too, when the Dragon’s Deal
on the table is for a “free” extra die.
PCs in Runners are professional criminals—
but they don’t always act in their own best
interests. To reflect this, the GM or any other
player can offer you a bonus die if you accept
a Dragon’s Deal. Common Dragon’s Deals
include:
◆ Collateral damage, unintended harm.
There’s no time to be precise—just spray
and pray.
◆ Sacrificenuyen or an item. Throw
money at your problems to make them go
away.
◆ Betray a business partner or close friend.
You trick Angel into being cornered by all
the enemies you helped them make.
◆ Offend or anger a faction. The Rat Bat
gang will definitely figure out you stole it.
But you don’t care about that, do you?
◆ Start and/or tick a troublesome clock.
You’re running out of time to do this!
◆ Add heat to the crew from evidence or
witnesses. So what if there’s cameras? You’ll
be cyberspace-famous for a little while.
◆ Suffer some harm yourself. You’re
willing to leap through the glass to get at
your target even faster.
◆ Forfeit1 karma. Obviously you aren’t
learning, but you’re doing the damned
thing!
A Dragon’s Deal is a consequence that
occurs regardless of the outcome of the roll.
You make the deal, pay the price, and get the
bonus die. There might not be an interesting
Dragon’s Deal in every situation. If one
doesn’t occur to anyone right away, that’s
fine. Dragon’s Deals are always optional.
1
Player: “So our thugs are a bunch of
wild college kids.. if we let them loose
on the party, who knows what they’ll do.
I’m gonna get all up in their faces and
Command they keep their fraggin’ noses
clean.”
GM: “Oooh, I have a Dragon’s Deal. You
can take +1d but you go too far with your
The draGon’s deal
intimidation and threats this time. I’m
gonna start a new 4-track called... ‘Revenge
of the Nerds’ and tick it three times. Mess
with them this hard again, and you’re
gonna have a group of crazed frat boys on
your hands.”
Player: “Ha! That won’t go well for them.
But let ‘em get mad! Maybe I’ll try to un-
tick some of that clock in downtime...”
Some players like to get a little fancy or
creative with Dragon’s Deals, using them to
rewrite a bit of the situation, create something
new in the flow of the narrative, or shine a
spotlight on a character’s weaknesses.
“Someone here is a member of your old
crew—the one you screwed over.”
“One of the goons working for the
Mannings becomes jealous of you.”
“Your character doesn’t realize it, but one of
the helicopters parked at the airport you’re
burning turns out to be your fixer’s method
of escape should they get cornered.”
“Spending this much time during a meeting
at a drug den... seems like you would have
to overindulge yourself here, yeah?”
Don’t push these bargains too hard if the
player doesn’t like this kind of narrative
sleight-of-hand. It’s fun for some and
annoying for others.
The Dragon’s Deal is always a free choice. If
you don’t like one, just reject it (or suggest
how to alter it so you might consider taking
it). You can always just push yourself for that
bonus die instead.
If it’s ever needed, the GM has final say
over which Dragon’s Deals are valid
27
 1
UNDERSTANDING
POSITION &
EFFECT
The GM sets the effect and position for
an action roll, after the player says what
they’re doing (and hopes to do) and after
The Basics
clarifying the riskiness of the action along
the way. Usually, Standard is the default
effect, unless the GM must limit it to reflect
the relative strength of the opposition.
The answer is “whatever the GM and
players agree it means.” In practice, the
player describes what they are doing,
and the GM is nodding along, but then—
something sounds fun to resolve using
an action roll. And they ask “What do
you hope this will do? And what do most
fear will happen if you fail?” The player
might clarify the action want to roll, and
the alignment of the action taken with the
desired goal is then modified by the effect
factors (discussed on page 23) to help
determine how much an action should
ANOTHER WAY OF
THINKING ABOUT IT
Position: Describes how bad the
worst consequence will be.
Effect: Describes the amount of
progress towards the goal of the
action (a “simple” challenge is
roughly equal to 2 effect, whereas a
“complex” challenge is 4 or more).
The GM will ask you for both.
However, if it’s worse than you think
the GM will say why. Bottom line: until
you’ve heard the word “desperate,”
you could go bigger—if you can risk it!
28
do in a given situation. The position, on
the other hand, is typically decided based
on the strength and preparedness of the
opposition at hand.
As you might expect, more or better
opposition means worse position and/or
less effect. The ability to set position and
effect as independent variables gives
you at least nine combinations to choose
from when making an action roll—more
if you include zero (0) effect and extreme
(4) effect! This multi-pronged approach
helps to quickly evaluate a wide array of
fictional circumstances.
The default position is risky / Standard.
If it’s not clear, the GM should ask “What
do you hope this will do?” or even “What’s
the worst that could happen?” The GM
can Limit your effect and/or describe
how it will be worse for you than you
expect.
When you’re overreaching or in serious
trouble, then the action is considered
desperate. When you’re acting on
their own terms or exploit a dominant
advantage, then its controlled—so
you may have time to back out and
change approaches even if you roll
poorly—which is useful for reflecting
the relative safety of having the
initiative or the benefit of surprise.
Some actions don’t need to be action
rolls A fortune roll by the GM might be
a more reasonable way to determine an
outcome—especially when the described
effect is rather Limited anyways and
the risk is suitably low. It just depends.
The alignment of a given approach
and equipment to the situation at hand
determines the starting effect and position
for an action roll. Anyone is free to weigh
in on the risks as well, however the GM
gets the final say-so.

For example, if a character is facing off
alone against a 12-foot-tall (~4 meters)
“miniature” tyrannosaurus rex, the
situation might be:
◆ She battles the bioengineered
reptilian monstrosity in a straight
up Fight, rushing up ahead of it,
unleashing several barrages from just
outside its stomping range. In this case,
being threatened by the much more
powerful creature indicates she’s in
“serious trouble” (so it’s a desperate
position) and the greater scale of the
thing, while not insurmountable (it’s
not nearly as large as an actual t-rex)
it does indicate she’ll only cause it
minor injury (Limited effect).
◆ She engages the t-rex from a choke-
point, like a narrow hallway where it
can’t overwhelm her at once. She’s not
threatened by multiple limbs at once in
this case, so the risk is similar to a one-
on-one fight—but because she’s still
trying hurt a fraggin’ t-rex, she’ll only
do a little here (risky / Limited).
◆ She doesn’t battle the t-rex, instead
trying to maneuver her way past it
and escape. She’s still under threat
of being badly hurt, but if the path is
unobstructed and she has some cover
along the way, she won’t be so easily
thwarted and her effect for escaping
isn’t reduced (desperate / Standard).
If she had some immediate means of
escape (like leaping onto a speeding
truck), then her effect might even be
increased (desperate / Great)—
enough to get away and then some.
◆ Or maybe it’s established that the
t-rex isn’t aware of her yet—and she’s
set up in a sniper position at a nearby
ambush point. She is Stalking the
thing to take a shot at its eye, her goal
instead being she hopes to blind it. In
this case, size isn’t a factor, so her effect
again isn’t reduced, and she’s also not
1
in much immediate danger—she is
definitely “acting on her own terms,” so
the GM says its (controlled / Great).
undersTandinG PosiTion & effecT
◆ Or maybe instead she wants to lay
down cover fire, basically Fighting
from a safe position, in which case their
scale does apply—so it’s (controlled
/ Limited). If the creature is on guard
for potential trouble, her position is
worse than it seems (risky / Limited).
If the t-rex is alerted to their presence,
then the effect may be reduced further,
as it will just scramble to take cover
before it can be hurt (risky / Zero). If
the t-rex is able to muster a rallying
call that summons a pack of nearby
velociraptors while they fall back to
a safe position, then things are even
worse for our runner (desperate  /
Zero).
The GM has final say over both the
position and effect for a given narration,
but it should be clarified as needed,
which is especially useful when you’re
just getting to know a particular group
of players. After a couple rulings, the
position and effect conversation will
quickly speed up, implying how it might
be better or worse with just a couple
sentences. This system helps everyone
get a better view of the fictional situation
in their minds’ eye too—getting everyone
on the “same page” before rolling dice or
trading consequences.
The GM’s choices for effect level and
position will be strongly influenced by
the player’s choice of action rating and
accompanying fiction. However, you’ll
also set precedents with your actions—
ones that everyone will build on to make
more informed decisions in the future.
“Ah, so we got a desperate Consort roll
when we tried to loosen them up with
drinks during the negotiation. But not
during the flashback to us hanging out
back at their office. Noted.”
29
 1
CONSEQUENCES
& HARM
Enemy actions, bad circumstances, or the
outcome of a roll can inflict consequences
on a PC. There are four types (listed below).
A given circumstance might result in one
or more consequences, depending on the
The Basics
situation. The GM determines the immediacy
of consequences,
and the number Reduced Effect
thereof following
Complication
from the fiction
and the style and Lost Opportunity
tone established
Harm
by the game group.
REDUCED EFFECT
This consequence represents impaired
performance or an unexpected challenge.
The PC’s action isn’t as effective as they’d
anticipated. You hit him, but it’s only a
flesh wound. The cyberspace provider
accepts the forged credentials, but a
second set is required to get the paydata.
You’re able to scale the wall, but it’s slow
going—you’re only halfway up. This
consequence essentially reduces the
effect level of the PC’s action by one after
all other factors are accounted for. Not
the same as a Limited (1) effect, although
that happens to be the most likely outcome.
COMPLICATION
This consequence represents trouble,
mounting danger, or a new threat. The
GM might introduce an immediate
problem that results from the action
right now: the room catches fire, you’re
disarmed, your gun is empty, your rival is
lurking about, you drop to -1 status with
a faction, there’s collateral damage, the
target evades you and now it’s a chase,
reinforcements arrive, etc.
30
Or the GM might tick a progress clock for a
complication that causes the mission to fail
(or risk failure). Maybe there’s a clock for the
alert level of the guards at the office building.
Or maybe the GM creates a new clock for
the suspicion of the corporate guests at the
after party and ticks it. A complication will
usually fill two ticks on a clock; if it’s a minor
complication though, it fills one tick instead.
A serious complication is more severe:
reinforcements surround and trap you, the
room catches fire and falling ceiling beams
block the door, the gun is broken and no
longer available until serviced, the crew
suffers +2 heat from passing witnesses, your
target escapes out of sight, the black ICe
has jacked your connection, etc. A serious
complication fills three ticks on a clock for a
more complex problem (see above).
Don’t inflict a complication that negates
a successful roll If a PC tries to corner
an enemy and gets a 4/5, don’t say that the
enemy escapes. The player’s roll succeeded,
so the enemy is cornered... maybe the PC has
to wrestle them into position and during the
scuffle the enemy grabs their gun.
Sometimes a complication is a temporary
debility—it may be remedied during the
run or afterwards with relatively simple
action, rather than requiring treatment in
downtime. For example, you fall victim to a
puppeteer spell. The GM says you are “Mind-
controlled, incapacitated as if you have taken
level-3 harm”! However, this debility is not
lasting—yes, it’s a serious complication—
but it is gone as soon as the spell is broken.
However, the GM is also saying this debility
prevents you from taking action as normal
(without pushing yourself) and you are one
serious complication closer to catastrophe.
Other temporary debilities include things
like: Dazed, Confused, Scared, Panicked,
Distracted, Seduced, Choked Out, Angry,
Depressed, Jacked. Acting despite a given
debility tends to reduce your effectiveness
or worsen your position, rather than costing
precious dice from your pool—the only thing
that can do that is harm (see the next page).

LOST OPPORTUNITY
This consequence represents shifting
circumstances that prevent progress. It’s
a type of complication that applies to an
opportunity to achieve your goal that has
slipped away. To try again, you need a new
approach—usually a new form of action
or change in circumstances. Maybe you
tried to Interface using the backdoor to
quietly steal the paydata, but the system’s
AI has already realized what’s happening
and is closely monitoring it with ICe. If
you want to get that data now, you’ll have
to defeat the system’s countermeasures
first, perhaps by engaging them in virtual
combat—or find another way.
HARM
This consequence represents a long-
lasting debility (leading to your
incapacitation and death). When you
suffer harm, record the specific injury on
your character sheet equal to the level
of harm you suffer. If you suffer lesser
harm, record it in the bottom row. If you
suffer moderate harm, write it in the
middle row. If you suffer severe harm,
record it in the top row. See examples of
harm and the harm clock, below.
Your character suffers the penalty
indicated at the end of the row if any or all
harm recorded in that row applies to the
situation at hand. So, if you have “Tired”
and “Battered” harm in the bottom row,
you’ll suffer reduced effect when you try
to run away from the authorities. When
you’re impaired by harm in the top row
(severe harm, level 3), your character
is incapacitated and can’t do anything
unless you have help from someone else
or push yourself to perform the action.
If you need to mark a harm level, but the
row is already filled, the harm moves up
to the next row above. So, if you suffered
1
standard harm (level 2) but had no
empty spaces in the second row, you’d
have to record severe harm (level 3),
instead. If you run out of spaces on the
top row and need to mark harm there,
your character suffers a catastrophic,
permanent consequence (loss of a limb,
consequences & harm
sudden death, etc., depending on the
circumstances).
This character has three harm: a
“Shattered Right Leg” (level 3) plus “Tired”
and “Battered” (level 1). If they suffer
another level 1 harm, it will move up to
level 2. If they suffer another level 3 harm,
it will move up to level 4: Fatal.
HARM EXAMPLES
Fatal (4): Electrocuted, Drowned,
Decapitated, Shot in the Heart, Stabbed
in the Neck.
Severe (3): Impaled, Blinded, Mauled,
Broken Leg, Broken Windpipe, Shot in
Chest, Badly Burned.
Moderate (2): Deep Cut to Arm, Roadrash,
Concussion, Shot in the Foot, Exhausted.
Lesser / Special (1): Battered, Sickened,
Scraped, Twisted Ankle, Sprained Arm,
Tired / Drained, Faded, Cursed.
Harm like “Tired” or “Exhausted” can be
a good fallback consequence if there’s
nothing else threatening a PC (like when
they spend all night Studying those
recent discussion threads, looking for any
clues to the Mountain Rats’ weaknesses
before they retaliate). Lesser harm is
easily removed with recovery in downtime
(see page 176 for details).
31
 1
RESISTANCE &
ARMOR
When your PC suffers a consequence that
you don’t like, you can choose to resist it
(unless you marked an armor box for
it already). Just tell the GM, “Nope, not
like this. I’m resisting that.” Resistance is
always automatically effective—the GM
The Basics
will tell you if the consequence is reduced
in severity or if you avoid it entirely.
Then, you’ll make a resistance roll to see
how much edge your character marks as
a result of their resistance.
You make the roll using one of your
character’s attributes (Intuition, Body,
or Willpower). The GM chooses the
most appropriate attribute, based on the
nature of the specific consequence:
◆ Intuition: Consequences from
deception or surprise.
◆ Body: Consequences from physical
strain or injury.
◆ Willpower: Consequences from
mental strain or resolve.
Your character loses 6 edge when they
resist, minus the highest die result from
the resistance roll. So, if you rolled a 4,
you’d lose 2 edge. If you rolled a 6, you’d
lose zero edge. If you get a critical
result, you also regain 1 edge.
Cody’s character, Shark, is in a desperate
Fight with several guards and one
of them lands a shot with their pistol.
Since the position was desperate, the
GM inflicts severe harm (modified by any
other factors). They tell Cody to record
level 3 harm, “Gut Shot” on Shark’s
sheet. Cody decides to resist the harm,
instead. The GM says he can reduce the
harm by one level if he resists it. Cody
rolls 3d for Shark’s Body attribute and
32
gets a 5. Shark loses 1 edge and the harm
is reduced to level 2, “Shot in the Arm.”
Usually, a resistance roll reduces the
severity of a consequence. If you’re
going to suffer fatal harm (level-4), for
example, a resistance roll would reduce
the harm to severe (level-3) instead. Or
if you got a complication when you were
sneaking past patrolling ICe in VR, and
the GM was going to mark three ticks on
the “System alert” clock, she’d only mark
two (or maybe one) if you resisted the
complication.
You may only roll against a given
consequence once
The GM also has the option to rule that
your character completely avoids the
consequence. For instance, maybe you’re
in a shootout and the consequence is
getting pinned down. When you resist, the
GM says that you avoid that consequence
completely: you are not pinned down.
By adjusting which consequences are
reduced vs which are avoided, the
GM establishes the overall tone of
your game For a more daring or “pink
mohawk” game, most consequences
will be avoided. For a grittier or “black
trenchcoat” game, most consequences
will only be reduced with resistance.
The GM may also threaten several
consequences at once, then the player
may choose which ones to resist (and
make rolls for each).
“She evades your grasp, pulls her pistol,
and then leaps off the fire escape with
enough time to push the ladder back.
That’s a complication—and you lose
the opportunity to catch her too. So,
that’s two consequences.”
“I’ll resist losing the opportunity. She
can get her pistol out, but I don’t want
to let her get away completely.”

RESISTANCE ROLL
1d for each Attribute You reduce or avoid the effects of the consequence
rating (GM chooses). You lose edge equal to 6 - the highest
die result (a maximum of 5 lost edge).
Critical: Regain 1 edge instead.
Once you decide to resist a consequence
and roll, you lose the edge indicated. You
can’t roll first and see how much edge
you’ll lose, then decide whether or not to
resist.
ARMOR
The benefit of armor is two-fold: improving
the fictional impact and/or mitigating the
risk of actions accordingly—and if you
have a type of armor that applies to the
situation, you can mark an armor box to
reduce or avoid a consequence.
Shark is taking level 2 harm, “Shot in the
arm,” and the fight is still on, so Cody
decides to use Shark’s armor to reduce
the harm. He marks an armor box and
the harm becomes level 1, “Battered.”
If Shark was also Ferocious, he could
mark a special armor box and reduce
the harm again, to zero.
Instead of risking your edge by resisting,
you mark an armor box and we move on.
That’s why you cannot choose to resist a
given consequence and mark an armor
box to reduce it. That essentially negates
the GM’s input on tone and style.
When an armor box is marked
(expended), it can’t be used again until
it’s restored. All of your armor boxes are
restored when you choose your load for
the next run. See Loadout, page 61.
Unless a complication has taken it away,
worn armor remains on your character
you even after all the armor boxes on your
sheet are marked.
1
resisTance & armor
DEATH
There are a couple ways for a PC to die:
◆ If they suffer level-4 fatal harm (like
“Bled out” or “Blown apart into human
salsa”) and they don’t resist it, they die.
Sometimes this is a choice a player wants
to make, because they feel like it wouldn’t
make sense for the character to survive
or it seems right for their character to die
here.
◆ If they need to record harm at level-3
and it’s already filled, they suffer a
catastrophic consequence (like losing an
arm), which might mean sudden death
(depending on the circumstances).
When your character dies, you have a
couple options:
◆ You can create a new runner to play.
Maybe you “promote” one of the NPC
crew members to a PC, or create a brand
new character who joins the crew.
Particularly rebellious PCs might also
become victims of cybermancy after their
body’s death—a master NPC in service to
a rival or enemy for the GM to bring back
at an untimely moment.
◆ You can transfer your character to the
Free Spirit playbook and carry on. See
page 282 for details about free spirit
characters.
33
 1

When you make a fortune roll you may

FORTUNE ROLL
The fortune roll is a tool the GM can use
to disclaim decision making. Player don’t
make fortune rolls—GMs do. You use a
fortune roll in two different ways:
When you need to make a determination
about a situation the PCs aren’t directly
involved in and don’t want to simply
The Basics
assess any trait rating to determine the
dice pool of the roll.
◆ When a faction takes an action with
uncertain outcome, you might use their
Tier rating to make a fortune roll.
◆ When a team operates independently,
use their quality rating for a fortune roll.
◆ When a supernatural power manifests

decide the outcome.
Two rival gangs are fighting. How does
that turn out? The GM makes a fortune
roll for each of them. One gets a good
result but the other gets limited effect.
The GM decides that the first gang
takes over some of their rivals’ turf but
suffer some injuries during the battle.
When an outcome is uncertain, but no
other roll applies to the situation at hand.
While burglarizing the workshop of a
cyberneticist, Rogue stumbles on a locker
with a prototype drone inside. As she’s
trying to inspect the drone to understand
its configuration, she hears a pair of voices
rounding the corner outside. Realizing
there’s just one way in and out of this
room, she activates whatever buttons
she can find. Will the device “spin up”
and have a helpful effect when the guards
arrive? Will her hand be blown to pieces by
a malfunctioning prototype? Who knows?
The GM makes a fortune roll to see how it
turns out.
with uncertain results, you might use its
magnitude for a fortune roll.
◆ When an item or supernatural power
has an uncertain effect, you might use its
force for a fortune roll.
◆ When a PC gathers information, you
might make a fortune roll using their
action rating to determine the amount
of the info they get.
If no trait applies, roll 1d for sheer luck or
create a dice pool (from one to four) based
on the situation at hand. If two parties
are directly opposed, make a fortune roll
for each side to see how they do, then
assess the outcome of the situation by
comparing their performance levels.
The fortune roll is also a good tool to help
the GM manage all the various moving
parts of the world. Sometimes a quick roll
is enough to answer a question or inspire
an idea for what might happen next.

FORTUNE ROLL

Critical: Exceptional result / Great, extreme effect.

1d for each Trait rating.
6: Good result / Standard, full effect.

+ +1d for each Major 4/5: Mixed result / Limited, partial effect.
Advantage 1-3: Bad result / Poor, little effect.

- -1d for each Major

Disadvantage

34

Other examples of fortune rolls:
◆ The PCs instigate a war between the
Mountain Rats and the Manning Family,
then sit back and watch them devour
each other. Does either side dominate?
Are they both made vulnerable by the
conflict? Make a few fortune rolls to find
out.
◆A submersible explosive detonates in
the sewers beneath Trench Town. How
badly does Sewerton get hit by the main
bursting? The GM assigns a magnitude
to the refuse, and makes a fortune roll to
judge the extent of its contamination.
◆ The Trigger stakes out a good spot
and makes a sniper shot against a mafia
hitman when he enters his office. The
Stalk roll is a success, but is Great
effect enough to instantly kill a grizzled
assassin? Instead of making a progress
clock for his remaining health, the GM
decides to use a simple fortune roll with
his “toughness” as a trait to see if (on a
6) he can possibly survive the attack to
possibly make a getaway. The roll is a
4/5: the bullet misses his heart, but hits
him in the lung—it’s a grievous wound
but it’s not too late. He’s unconscious and
slowly bleeding out, with only hours to
live (unless the syndicate can get a doctor
to him in time).
1
◆ Corporate security tails the PC crew to
confirm they have the right ones. How
quickly will their evidence result in
detainment? The crew’s wanted level
counts as a major advantage for the
security officers.
◆ The Mage tosses a fireball at the
forTune roll
bottom of the stairs to block the path and
hopefully get away. It lands solidly, the
GM agrees. But how well does it prevent
pursuit by the guards though? The GM
makes a fortune roll using its force to see
if this gives him an opportunity to escape.
◆ The PCs face off in a battle with a horde
of powerful ghouls. The tide of battle goes
in the PCs’ favor, and many of the ghouls
are turned to ash. One of the players asks
if those remaining can be dealt with.
The GM isn’t sure. How insane are these
particular ghouls? The Krieger strain has
done a number on their minds, so the GM
makes a 2d fortune roll for “reasoning” to
see if a spark of understanding persists.
If so, maybe one of the PCs can roll to
Influence or Command the ghouls to
abandon their assault.
35
 1
GATHER
INFORMATION
The flow of information from the GM to
the players about the fictional world is
very important in a roleplaying game.
By default, the GM tells the players what
their characters perceive, suspect, and
The Basics
intuit. But there’s just too much going on
to say everything—it would take forever
and be boring, too. The players have a tool
at their disposal to more fully investigate
the fictional world.
When you want to know something
specific about the fictional world, your
character can gather information. The
GM will ask you how your character
gathers the info (or how they learned it
in the past).
If it’s common knowledge, the GM will
simply answer your questions. If there’s
an obstacle to the discovery of the answer,
an action roll is called for to determine
if the info discovered is truly useful or
not. If it’s not common knowledge but
there’s no obstacle, the GM will decide or
make a simple fortune roll to determine
the minimum amount of information
gathered on a 1-3 (usually limited info
or more, depending on the described
approach).
Each attempt to gather information takes
time. If the situation allows, you can try
again if you don’t initially get all the info
that you want. But often, the opportunity
is fleeting, and you’ll only get one chance
to roll for that particular question (a
Risky action).
36
Some example questions are on the
bottom of the character sheet. The GM
always answers honestly, but with a level
of detail according to the level of effect.
The most common gather information
actions are to Survey the situation to
reveal or anticipate what’s going on and
Studying a person to understand what
they intend to do or what they’re really
thinking.
Sometimes, you’ll have to maneuver
yourself into position before you can
gather information. For example, you
might have to Prowl to a good hiding
place first and then Study the gangers
when they perform their initiation. Or
you might need to Stalk your target
before you get a chance to effectively
Survey it. Follow the fiction wherever it
leads—freely playing and only stopping
when you get them deep enough in the
fiction to be doing something worth a
roll.
INVESTIGATION
Some questions are too complex to
answer immediately with a single gather
information roll. For instance, you
might want to discover the network of
contraband smuggling routes in the city.
In these cases, the GM will tell you to
start a long-term project that you work
on during downtime (page 176).
You track the investigation project using
a progress clock. Once the clock is filled,
you have the evidence you need to ask
several questions about the subject of
your investigation as if you had great
effect.
 1

GATHER INFORMATION

Great: You get exceptional details. The information

Ask a question (and possibly
is complete and follow-up questions may expand
make an action roll or a fortune
into related areas or reveal more than you hoped for.
roll). The GM answers you
honestly, with a level of detail Standard: You get good details. Clarifying and
depending on the effect level. follow-up questions are possible.

GaTher informaTion
Limited: You get incomplete or partial information.
More information gathering will be needed to get all
the answers.

EXAMPLES & QUESTIONS

◆ You might Consort with a well-
connected friend to learn secrets about
an enemy, rival, or potential ally. What do
they intend to do? What might I suspect
about their motives? How can I discover
leverage to manipulate them?
◆ You might Command a local business
owner tell you what he knows about the
secret meetings held in his back room.
What’s really going on here? What’s he
really feeling about this? Is he part of this
secret group?
◆ You might Influence a powerful
executive at a party so he divulges his
future plans. What does he intend to do?
How can I get him to think I might be a
good partner in this venture?
◆ Or you might Influence his bodyguard
to confide in you about recent events.
Where has he been lately? Who’s he been
meeting with?
◆ You might Interface with the data
trails of recent wireless activity. Have
any new devices been here? How can I find
the device that’s protecting them? What
should I be worried about?
◆ You might Stalk a courier across the
city, to discover who’s accepting certified
credsticks worth several nuyen from a
world-class sniper. Where does the money
end up? How can I find out who signed for
the package at City Hall?
◆ You might Stalk a rival runner to
intercept them during their getaway from
a crime. What is the best time to shoot out
their tires? How can get them to hand over
what they got?
◆ You might Study ancient and obscure
books to discover an arcane secret. How
can I disable their astral wards? Will
anyone sense if they’re disabled?
◆ Or you might Study a person to read
their intentions and feelings. What are
they really feeling? How could I get them
to trust me?
◆ You might Survey using your drone
to case the building for a heist. What’s
a good point of infiltration? What’s the
danger here?
◆ Or you might Survey a charged
situation when you meet an envoy for
payment. What’s really going on here?
Are they about to attack us?

37
 1
PC VS. PC
Sometimes two or more PCs have
conflicting ideas about how to proceed.
Sometimes they want to Fight to see
who’s tougher. Or suppose that the other
PCs said they wanted to prevent Shark,
their Face, from firing his guns. What do
you do when this happens? you might ask.
The answer is simpler than you think:
The Basics
handle things just like you would for PC
vs. NPC action during PC vs. PC action.
You’re going to use all the same rules:
action rolls, resistance rolls, fortune rolls;
effects and consequences; and resolution
into a new situation. However, there
are some guidelines that John Harper
wrote which are well-designed to avoid
the sorts of issues we get in other game
systems with PvP. I’ve included them with
updated examples to assist in sorting it
all out:
"(1) Pause and discuss When a PC
comes into conflict with another PC,
pause the game. It’s a time-out in the
fictional space, while the players talk
things through. Don’t be in a big rush
to roll dice. Slow everything way down.
This isn’t a ‘who talks first wins’ situation
(and especially not ‘who talks more or
loudest’).
“Who goes first?” is sometimes the
question players fixate on, especially if
things are about to get violent. Usually,
the answer is clear from the situation:
one has the initiative and the other
is reacting. If it isn’t clear, you can
make fortune rolls—each player rolls
an action rating and you compare the
results. It is possible both characters
act simultaneously.
(2) Agree to the resolution methods
Talk it through, figure out the rolls, and
discuss the consequences at stake. Don’t
38
try to resolve the situation until everyone
agrees to the methods you’re about to use.
If you have an objection or an alternate
idea, speak up! If the players can’t agree
to a method, then you’re deadlocked.
You can’t proceed without everyone’s
consent, so this conflict just isn’t going to
happen. Maybe the PCs get in each other’s
faces and act like they’re going to tangle,
but then, nope... it fizzles and they back
off. This happens in fiction a lot, and it’s
okay if it happens in the game.
It’s a good idea to help the players ask
each other questions to establish the
resolution, rather than trying to impose
your will. You might ask, “Can Totes be
Influenced into listening to me? What
would it take?” or, “Is Shark within
reach if I want to smack him upside
the head?” The other player might
respond: “That depends.. how vicious
are you going to be? Do you really want
to hurt them?”
(3) Abide by the results Once you’ve
agreed to the methods, then follow them
through and abide by the outcomes. You
can roll resistance to avoid bad results, as
usual, so don’t try to weasel out of it some
other way if things don’t turn out the way
you hoped.
Note that this is not a ‘player vs. player’
system. When characters come into
conflict, the players must still collaborate
and make judgment calls together, as
usual. Conflicts between players are
outside the scope of the game; they
can’t be resolved with the dice rolls and
mechanics in-game. If the players—
not their characters—are in conflict,
you’ll have to work it out using social
methods, then return to the game when
it’s resolved. Don’t try to use the game as
a way to dodge or replace a normal social
interaction to resolve person-to-person
conflict.”

NUYEN & STASH
Nuyen is an abstract measure of cash and
other liquid assets held in an account.
In this fantasy Earth, everyone who
needs to make a secret transaction uses
pre-rendered financial data, delivered
through their comm (or using a common
payment device called a credstick). For
transfers over 4 nuyen, an item called
a crypto-coin is preferred instead, aka
post-cryptocurrency. So named by
financial analysts due to comparisons
made to its completely undetectable
predecessors. Flashing a crypto-coin
around is a good way to get robbed or
reported to the authorities.
The small quantities of currency the PCs
use in their daily lives are not tracked. If a
runner wants to toss some money around
to achieve a small goal (bribe a bouncer,
get a fine meal, hop a train, etc), use the
PC’s lifestyle quality for a fortune roll
(see Stash, on page 40).
Monetary Values
◆ 1 nuyen: A loaded credstick. A typical
wageslave’s weekly pay.
◆ 2 nuyen: A fine weapon. The weekly
income for a small business. A cup of
real coffee. A set of luxurious designer
clothing.
◆ 4 nuyen: A month’s wages. A dangerous
amount of money to carry around.
◆ 6 nuyen: An ounce of real coffee beans.
An exquisite jewel.
◆ 8 nuyen: A good monthly take for
a small business. A datavault full of
financial information and other paydata.
◆ 10 nuyen: Liquidating a significant
asset—a work van, a motorcycle, a deed
to a small property or apartment.
1
While citizens enjoy the protections of the
modern banking system, the undocumented
do not. More than 4 nuyen of illegitimate
money is a dubious amount to keep liquid.
A character with a legitimate IDN might
be able to keep more (if they are willing
to risk having a second set of accounts).
You should spend the excess or put it
in your stash (see next page). A crew
nuyen & sTash
can also secret away 4 nuyen in their
safehouse by default. If they upgrade to a
datavault, they can expand their stores to
8 and then 16 nuyen. Any nuyen beyond
their limit should be spent as soon as
possible (typically before the next run), or
distributed among the crew members.
When you traverse the city while
beyond the limit, the GM might make a
fortune roll (using the number of excess
nuyen on hand) to see if you lose some
or all of it while en route—perhaps its
stolen by hackers or you run into thugs
along the way. You may resist what
happens as usual.
Running the wallet app on your comm
offers a way to move more than 4
nuyen around, but CSG Agents will be
on the lookout for that! See page 259
for details.
NUYEN USE
◆ Spend 1 nuyen to get an additional
activity during downtime (page 174).
◆ Spend 1 nuyen to increase the result
level of a downtime activity roll (page
174).
◆ Spend nuyen to avoid certain crew
entanglements (page 171).
◆ Put nuyen in your character’s stash to
improve their lifestyle and circumstances
when they retire. See the next couple
pages.
◆ Spend nuyen when you advance your
crew’s Tier (see page 42).
39
 1
UNDERWORLD EXCHANGES &
CORPORATE SCRIP
Underworld deals in the city are expected
to be made in credsticks—biometric
datasticks designed to quickly perform
an anonymous transfer of money. Other
forms of currency like specially-minted
platinum coins and other rare items
might also serve as bargaining chips in
certain underworld circles. Italian lira.
The Basics
Oyabun bloodseals. Navajo banking notes.
Scrip is a prepaid exchange of currency,
but is redeemable only through a
particular megacorporation’s businesses.
An employer that offers scrip should
always be viewed with suspicion due to
the frequent use of competitor’s scrip
as a red herring. Besides, scrip takes
advantage of a well-known loophole in
corporate tax law, letting the bastards get
a write-off for you doing their dirty work.
Despite an active market for corporate
scrip trades in the underworld, accepting
it is generally regarded as leverage
during a negotiation—it’s a hassle to be
paid this way.
40
STASH & RETIREMENT
When you mark your character’s final
trauma and they retire, the amount of
nuyen they’ve managed to stash away
determines their fate. Your stash tracker
is on your character sheet.
◆ Stash 0-9: Poverty (0d). You end up
institutionalized or homeless, awash in
vice and misery.
◆ Stash 10-19: Low (1d). A shack or room
that you can call your own.
◆ Stash 20-29: Medium (2d). A tiny house
or pitiful garden level apartment, with
some small comforts. You might operate
a bar or small business.
◆ Stash 30-39: High (3d). A well-appointed
home or apartment, claiming a few
luxuries. You might operate a medium
business.
◆ Stash 40+: Luxury (4d). An exorbitant
home or penthouse apartment, filled
with luxurious appointments. You might
operate a large business.
 1

In addition, each full row of stash (10 ADDITIONAL SPECIAL ITEMS

nuyen) indicates the quality level of the
When the quality level of your lifestyle
runner’s lifestyle, from zero (poverty)
increases (see left), choose two additional
to four (luxury). This is mostly useful
special items you have available to you.
as a guideline to GMs—however it also
Choose your special items from any of
determines the number of special items
the lists that make sense for a character
available to your character.
of your type (in other words, you might
Marla is a runner who likes to show off make choices from outside your chosen

nuyen & sTash

her programmable nanotattoos, and playbook).
Jess, her player, often describes Marla
If you wish, a special item choice can be
as showing them off while moonlighting
spent to do one of the following instead:
as the singer for a rock band. But
she’s really just a homeless girl trying
◆ Upgrade a special item you already
to make it, right? How impressive
have so it becomes fine (or exceptional
(impactful, even) is the display quality
instead, if it was already fine). Fine
and choice of art, really? The GM can
items: Tier +1 quality. Exceptions: Tier +2
call for a fortune roll using Marla’s
quality.
lifestyle level as the dice pool to find
out how much impact the tats have. ◆ Gain an implant (or add feature(s) to an
existing one). When you add a feature to
Shark wants to take a prospective new an implant in this way, you automatically
envoy on an encrypted conference call undergo the required procedure if you
with their fixer—alone. He can’t take have access to a surgeon—in that case.
them back to the hidden safehouse it’s a fortune roll to see how it went and
where the others hole up, so what to do? it’s installed. On a 1-3: it costs a downtime
Cody, Shark’s player says he arranges activity. It always costs a downtime
for a media booth rental at Fantasy activity to get a new implant installed
Towers, so the GM asks for a fortune though See page 262 for details on
roll using Shark’s lifestyle rating to see Surgery.
what quality he can procure.
Say how you’ve obtained this new special
item or implant for your character.
REMOVING NUYEN FROM
YOUR STASH
Stash represents your PC’s collection of
hidden assets and non-liquid investments.
If you want to pull nuyen out of your
stash, you may do so, at a cost. Your
character sells off some of their assets
and investments in order to get some
quick cash. For every 2 stash removed,
you get 1 nuyen you can spend

41
 1
THE FACTION
GAME
Kingston is a cesspool of crime. The small
fish are eaten by the bigger fish. Trust
is fleeting, betrayals turn to violence.
Into this web of deceit and violence your
fledgling crew has set its course. Will you
The Basics
be chewed up and spat back out into the
gutters, or will you rise to become legends
in your own right?
TIER
Take a look at the factions on page 323.
Each notable faction is ranked by Tier—a
measure of influence, wealth, and scale.
At the highest level are the Tier V and
VI factions, the true powers in the city.
Your crew begins at Tier 0. Tier IV is
technically the maximum for a crew of
runners—though your GM might allow
greater heights.
You’ll use your Tier rating to roll dice
when you acquire an asset, as well as for
any fortune roll for which your crew’s
overall power level and influence is the
primary trait. Most importantly, your
Tier determines the quality level of your
items as well as the quality and scale of
the teams your crew can afford—and
thereby what size of enemy you can
expect to handle.
TEAM SCALE BY TIER
◆ Tier V. Massive teams (80 people)
◆ Tier IV. Huge teams. (40 people)
◆ Tier III. Large teams. (20 people)
◆ Tier II. Medium teams. (10 people)
◆ Tier I. Small teams. (3-5 people)
◆ Tier 0. 1 or 2 people
42
HOLD
On the faction ladder next to the Tier
numbers is a letter indicating the strength
of each faction’s hold. Hold represents
how well a faction can maintain their
current position on the ladder. W
indicates weak hold. S indicates strong
hold. Your crew begins with strong hold
at Tier 0.
DEVELOPMENT
To move up the ladder and develop your
crew, you need rep. Rep is a measure
of clout and renown in the underworld.
When you accrue enough rep, the other
factions and their envoys take you more
seriously and you attract the support
needed to develop and grow.
When you complete a run, your crew
earns 2 rep. If the target of the run is
higher Tier than your crew, you get +1
rep per Tier higher. If the target of the
run is lower Tier, you get -1 rep per Tier
lower (minimum zero). The GM may also
award an additional rep or two for a
particularly well-connected target.
You need 12 rep to fill the rep tracker
on your crew sheet. When you fill the
tracker, do one of the following:
◆ If your hold is weak, it becomes strong.
Reset your rep to zero.
◆ If your hold is strong, you can pay to
increase your crew Tier by one. This
costs nuyen equal to your new Tier x 8.
As long as your rep tracker is full, you
don’t earn new rep (12 is the max). Once
you pay and increase your Tier, reset
your rep to zero and reduce your hold
to weak.

REDUCING HOLD
You may perform an operation specifically
to reduce the hold of another faction, if
you know how they’re vulnerable. If the
operation succeeds, the target faction
loses 1 level of hold. If their hold is weak
and it drops, the faction loses 1 Tier and
stays weak.
When a faction is marked by another
faction (see next page), it temporarily
loses 1 hold.
Your crew can lose hold, too, following
the same rules above. If your crew is Tier
0, with weak hold, and you lose hold for
any reason, your safehouse comes under
threat by your enemies or by a faction
seeking to profit from your misfortune.
FIXERS
Another way to contribute to the crew’s
development is to become mutually
chosen by additional fixers (they must
choose the runners, and the runners
must choose them).
When your crew is mutually chosen by at
least one fixer, you establish a more stable
basis for your rep. Each fixer mutually
chosen represents abstracted support for
the crew (partly a result of the additional
meeting grounds to which they arrange
safe access).
If you have 3 fixers, you need only 9 rep to develop,
instead of 12.
When you develop, you’ll clear the 9 rep marks,
but keep the 3 fixer marks. Mark fixers on the right
side, to show the “cap” on how much rep is needed.
1
The GM decides what conditions must be
met before a new fixer will choose to back
you. You might be required to complete a
serious run or two that advances the fixer’s
position in the underworld—or maybe you
have to complete a number of runs (each
one ticking up a clock called “Become the
Fixer’s choice”). Once a fixer has mutually
The facTion Game
chosen you, they no longer expect a cut
from your runs (they will negotiate it on
the other end).
Fixers who have mutually chosen
your crew are considered claimed and
are marked on your rep tracker (see
the example below). Each fixer marked
reduces the rep cost to develop by one.
So, if you have 2 fixers, you need 10 rep
to develop. If you have 4 fixers, you only
need 8 rep to develop. Your crew can
claim a maximum of 6 fixers. When you
develop and reset your rep, you keep the
marks from all the fixers you claim.
Most crews are created with one fixer on
their list of contacts, already mutually
chosen (and a meeting grounds to go
along with that). The rest of your contacts
aren’t necessarily fixers (they might be)
and you may need to gather information
first to discover the identity of a fixer
you seek—especially if they aren’t on
your claims list. Also, when you’ve been
mutually chosen by a fixer, you expand
the number and scope of your crew’s
meeting grounds. See page 76 for details.
43
 1
FACTION STATUS
Your crew’s status with each faction
indicates how well you and your fixer(s)
are liked or hated by a faction and their
envoys. Status is rated from -3 to +3, with
zero (neutral) being the default starting
status. You track your status with each
faction on the faction sheet.
The Basics
When you create your crew, the GM
assigns some positive and negative status
ratings to reflect recent history. The
ratings will then change over time based
on your actions in play.
FACTION STATUS CHANGES
When you execute an operation, you
may take -1 or -2 status with the factions
it hurt. You may also get +1 status with
a faction. Your status may also change if
you do a favor for a faction or you refuse
one of their demands.
FACTION STATUS LEVELS
◆ +3: Friendly. This faction will help you
out if its causes no major problems for
them. They expect you to do the same for
them. There are no true allies in Runners.
◆ +2: Helpful. This faction will help you
out if it causes no problems or significant
cost for them. They expect you to do the
same for them.
◆ +1: Respectful. This faction will stay
out of your way if it causes no problems
or significant cost for them. They expect
the same from you. Not quite as helpful as
+1 (Helpful) in Blades.
◆ 0: Neutral
◆ -1: Interfering. This faction will look
for opportunities to cause trouble for you
(or profit from your misfortune) as long as
it causes no problems or significant cost
for them. They expect the same from you.
44
◆ -2:Hostile. This faction will look for
opportunities to hurt you as long as it
doesn’t create serious problems for them.
They expect you to do the same, and take
precautions against you.
◆ -3: Marked. This faction will go out
of its way to hurt you even if it’s not in
their best interest to do so. They expect
you to do the same, and take precautions
against you. When you’re marked by any
number of factions, your crew suffers
+1 heat from runs, temporarily loses 1
hold, and PCs get only one downtime
activity rather than two. You can stop
being marked by eliminating your enemy
or by negotiating a mutual agreement to
establish a new status rating.
If your crew has weak hold when you are
marked, the temporary loss of hold causes
you to lose one Tier. When you are no
longer marked, restore your crew’s Tier
back to its pre-marked level.
CLAIMS
Each crew sheet has a map of claims
available to be seized (see the example
next page). The claim map displays a
default roadmap for your crew type.
Claims should usually be seized in an
orderly sequence, by following the paths
from the central square, the crew’s
safehouse.
However, you may attempt to be chosen by
any fixer or seize any claim on your map,
ignoring the paths (or even seek out a
fixer or special claim not on your map) but
these operations will always be especially
difficult and require exceptional efforts to
discover and achieve. The claim roadmap
shows typical paths for advancement,
not an absolute restriction on your
operations For example, this is the claim
map from the Assassins playbook:

SEIZING A CLAIM
Every claim (that isn’t a fixer) is already
controlled by a faction. To acquire one for
yourself, you have to take it from someone
else. To seize a claim, tell the GM which
claim on your map your crew intends to
capture. The GM will detail the claim with
a run that will take it (along with a location
and a description) and will tell you which
faction or crew currently opposes that run.
Or the GM might offer you a choice of a few
options if they’re available.
If you choose to ignore the roadmap paths
when seizing a claim, the GM might tell
you that you’ll need to investigate and
gather information in order to discover a
claim of that type before you can attempt
to seize it.
Execute the operation like any other run,
and if you succeed, you seize the claim
and the targeted faction loses the claim.
As soon as you seize a claim, you enjoy
the listed benefit for as long as you hold
the claim. Many provide special benefits
to the crew, such as bonus dice in certain
circumstances, extra nuyen generated for
the crew to access, or new opportunities
1
The facTion Game
for action. The operations to get chosen
by fixers rarely “seize” them from anyone
else, but sometimes will bring the crew
into conflict with other crews of runners
aspiring to be chosen—to get “stabled”
like this is a pretty big sign of the crew’s
growing influence. Fixers want specific
runs completed for them before they will
choose you. They might want a run done
which directly advances their position
in the underworld (rather than earning
them additional nuyen or rep, the run
attracts a powerful new client or business
arrangement to your fixer).
LOSING A CLAIM
An enemy faction may try to seize a
claim that your crew holds. You can fight
to defend it, or negotiate a deal with the
faction, depending on the situation. If
you lose a claim, you lose all the benefits
of that claim. If your safehouse is lost,
you lose the benefits of all of your claims
until you can restore your safehouse
or establish a new one. To restore or
establish a new safehouse, accomplish a
run to do so.
45
 1
ADVANCEMENT
PC ADVANCEMENT
Each player keeps track of the karma
points (karma) that their character
earns. During the game session, mark
karma every time:
◆ You roll a desperate action Mark 1
The Basics
karma in the attribute for the action you
rolled. For example, if you roll a desperate
Fight action, you mark karma in Body.
When you roll in a group action that’s
desperate, you also mark karma.
At the end of the session, review the
karma triggers on your character sheet.
For each one, mark 1 karma if it happened
at all, or mark 2 karma if it happened a lot
during the session. For most playbooks,
the karma triggers are:
◆ Your playbook-specific karma trigger
For example, the Muscle’s is “Address a
challenge with violence or coercion.” To
“address a challenge,” your character
should attempt to overcome a tough obstacle
or threat. It doesn’t matter if the action is
successful or not. You get karma either way.
◆ You expressed your beliefs, drives,
heritage, or background Your character’s
beliefs and drives are yours to define,
session to session. Feel free to tell the group
about them when you mark karma.
◆ You struggled with issues from dystopia,
your harm, vice, or traumas Mark karma
for this if your vice tempted you to some
bad action, or if a trauma or harm condition
caused you trouble. Simply indulging your
vice doesn’t count as struggling with them
(unless you overindulge; see Vice, page
178). When you mark karma for this, you
should tell the group about any internal
struggle or dissonance. It’s good for the soul.
46
Also review any additional karma triggers
gained from special abilities and mark 1
karma if any of the items occurred during the
session. If they happened a lot, mark 2 karma
instead. Regardless of how many additional
karma triggers your character has, you can
never mark more than 8 karma (in sum)
from your end of session karma triggers.
You may mark end-of-session karma on any
karma tracks you want (any attribute or your
playbook karma track).
When you fill a karma track, clear all the
marks and take an advance. When you take
an advance from your playbook track, you
may choose an additional special ability. A
special ability choice may be spent to choose
an additional secret art or adept feat from
your playbook, instead of a special ability.
When you take an advance from an attribute,
you may add an additional action dot to one
of the actions under that attribute.
Renee is playing a Trigger. At the end of the
session, she reviews her karma triggers
and tells the group how much karma she’s
getting. She rolled two desperate Stalk
actions during the session, so she marked
2 karma on her Intuition karma track.
She addressed several challenges with
tracking or violence, so she marks 2 karma
for that. She expressed her heritage many
times when dealing with the gang from her
homeland, so she takes 2 karma for that. She
also showcased her character’s beliefs, but 2
karma is the maximum for that category, so
she doesn’t get any more. She struggled with
dystopia too, at least once (not a lot), but not
her vice or traumas—so just 1 karma there.
That’s 5 karma at the end of the session. She
decides to put it all in her Intuition karma
track. This fills the track (she only needed
4 more), so she adds a new action dot in
Stalk. She clears the track and marks the 1
leftover karma there as well.
You can also earn karma by training during
downtime. When you train, mark karma in
one of your attributes or in your playbook. A
given karma track can be trained only once
per downtime phase. See Training, page 177.

CREW ADVANCEMENT
At the end of the session, review the crew
karma triggers and mark 1 crew karma for
each item that occurred during the session. If
an item occurred multiple times or in a major
way, mark 2 crew karma for it. The crew
karma triggers are:
◆ Your crew-specific karma trigger
For example, the Couriers’ is “Execute a
smuggling operation or acquire new clients or
contraband sources.” If the crew successfully
completed an operation from this trigger,
mark karma.
◆ Contend with challenges above your
current station If you tangled with higher
Tiers or more dangerous opposition, mark
karma for this.
◆ Bolster your crew’s reputation or
develop a new one Review your crew’s
reputation. Did you do anything to promote
it? Also mark karma if you developed a new
reputation for the crew. You can only have
one or two reputation tags at a given time.
◆ Express the goals, drives, inner conflict,
or essential nature of the crew This one is
very broad! Essentially, did anything happen
that highlighted the specific elements that
make your crew unique?
When you fill your crew advancement
tracker, clear the marks and take a new
special ability or mark two crew upgrade
boxes.
For example, when a crew of Assassins
earns a crew advance, they could take
a new special ability, like Predators. Or
they could mark two upgrades, like Body
Mastery and Willpower Training.
Say how you’ve obtained this new ability
or upgrades for the crew. Where did it come
from? How does it become a new part of the
crew? In what district is the new upgrade
located?
1
PROFITS
Every time the crew advances (as described
on the left), each PC gets stash equal to the
crew’s Tier +2, to represent profits generated
by the crew as they’ve been operating.
ADVANCEMENT LIMITS
When you take a Veteran advance, choose
advancemenT
a special ability from another valid source.
Secret arts and Adept feats are not valid
special ability choices by default—you’ll need
special permissions for those.
While there is a limit on the number of special
abilities and action dots you can benefit from
(details below), you are not limited by the
number of dots next to the Veteran advance
on your playbook sheet—just add lines or write
in your notes if you need more. In any case, the
following limits to advancement do apply:
◆ A given PC may have up to 13 action dots
(in sum). If you take an advance from an
attribute and have already reached the
limit, you must remove an action dot before
selecting another. You may exceed this limit
with the Mastery crew upgrade.
◆A given PC may have up to 11 special
abilities (including secret arts and adept
feats, in sum). If you take an advance from
your playbook and have already reached the
limit, you must remove one before selecting
another.
◆A given crew may have up to 9 special
abilities (in sum). If you take a crew special
ability and you have already reached
the limit, you must remove one before
selecting another (or choose two upgrades
instead).
If any of the above
limits are reached, Veteran Blades players:
The playbook karma
you can no longer
tracker for runners is longer
“rebuild” whenever
you please (growth (by 2 segments) than those
into something for scoundrels in Blades.
new is still allowed This slows progression, yes;
though; see next but it merely offsetting the
page for details). effect of the broader fourth
trigger in this game, plus
the relative abundance of
additional karma triggers.
 1
CHANGING PLAYBOOKS
OR CREW TYPE
A player might want to change their character
to a different playbook (the Muscle becomes
a Trigger), or the group may decide to shift
their crew to a new type (Couriers become
Assassins). There are two ways to do this.
◆ The change represents a “rebuild” of the
The Basics
character or crew. For instance, if the PC was
created as a Punk, but after a couple sessions,
the player realizes that the Trigger playbook
is a better fit for what they want to play. In
this case, re-create the character or crew
anew using the new sheet, keeping the same
number of advances already earned.
◆ The change represents growth into
something new, leaving the old life behind.
In this case, transfer the action ratings of
a PC or the upgrades of a crew to the new
sheet (keeping the same total number of
action dots or upgrades; you don’t get the
“free” elements of the new playbook as extra
advancement). You may keep some of the
special abilities, secret arts, or adept feats
already earned as veteran advances. A crew
might also keep their claims—assess each
one to see if it makes sense in the fiction to
keep it with the new crew type.
OPENING YOUR SENSES &
MORTAL LIMITS
There is a saying in Kingston: “Some
got it. Some don’t.” While anyone can
indeed study the supernatural, keep in
mind that it’s neither safe nor easy.
As a mortal child’s brain reaches
adolescence, their sensory synapses
quickly begin to lose the elasticity to
easily awaken or emerge (see right).
Thus, few can learn to do it as adults, and
fewer still stumble upon such powers by
accident. However, this can happen in a
variety of ways:
48
◆ Studying rigorously with a trained
practitioner of the secret arts. After much
practice and dedication without results,
the crew’s Mage finally showed me the way
to open my mind to the spirits and “hear”
the astral howl of Dog.
◆ Exposure to metaplanar energies or
the influence of a great supernatural
event or power, known as being infused.
Fly-by from Haley’s comet. Baptism with
consecrated water and oils.
◆ The natural expression of genetic
markers due to a powerful supernatural
origin or birth to a weird ancestry, known
as being blooded. Born of magical nobility.
The by-product of nefarious meddling in
the human genome by a rampant AI.
◆ Rumors of other ways exist as well—the
majority claiming to have opened their
senses following traumatic or near-death
experiences. Deep meditation. Repeated
hypnotherapy. Drug overdose. Shock
treatment. These reports get more frequent
with each passing year. If you’re not sure,
ask your fellow players for ideas.
CHANGING TO A
SUPERNATURAL PLAYBOOK
A character may transfer to the Adept,
Mage, or Techno playbook after creation—
but only if they manage to complete the
tasks necessary to do so. This is a two-step
process, at minimum. (1) First, you must
establish how you opened your senses
to become awakened, emergent, or a
practitioner of the way (as described
above), then (2) you “prove mastery of the
fundamentals” of your chosen method or
way through practice and study. Along the
way, choose the most fitting way or method
(and drawback) to reflect your character’s
beliefs. The second step is described on
the second page of each supernatural
playbook—and once done, you gain
permission to change your playbook using
the process described on the left.

THE CHARACTERS
The cities need wage slaves—to consume
its pleasures, for better or worse. The
corporations need the people on the
bottom of the pile, living and dying for
added zeros in a massive tax-free account,
or filling the prisons. To those in power,
you are an anonymized number buried
in a report they don’t even bother to
check anymore. The world's technology is
designed to consume the poor and flood
the bloated bank accounts of the corporate
and political elite.
wage slaves are content to be
cogs in the corporate machine
THAT’S NOT YOU THOUGH
you are a
runner in
the shadows
—an outcast or castaway
that could just as easily
be forgotten as become
an urban legend
CHAPTER 2
RUNNERS
Every player character in Runners in the
Shadows is a daring criminal in the shadows
of a futuristic city, known in the common lingo
as a runner. Runners are familiar with all of
the various feats of criminality represented
by the actions of the game. They’re all able
to Fight in a brawl, Prowl through the
darkness, Interface with devices, Consort
with contacts for information, and so on.
Because of the way the dice system works,
every runner can roll at least 2d for any action
in the game (+1d from pushing yourself or
accepting a Dragon’s Deal, and +1d from a
teammate's assist). A roll of 2d is pretty good,
statistically—a 75% chance of success. This
means that all of the “zero rating” actions on
your character sheet don’t actually represent
deficiencies or gaps of skill; they indicate the
actions for which your character is likely to
dull their edge and rely on teamwork. As a
runner in Kingston, with your crew at your
back, you can attempt almost anything.
Of course, you’ll also have your specializations
and skills, the qualities that make your
character uniquely effective in the criminal
world. You might want the ability to summon
elementals and conjure fire with your body, or
maybe you want to manipulate the network
of the underworld to your advantage and see
danger before it strikes, or maybe you just
want to be the deadliest sniper out there. In
this chapter, you’ll learn how to create your
own unique runner and choose the abilities
that suit the style of play you prefer.
49
 2
CHARACTER
CREATION
CHOOSE A PLAYBOOK
A playbook is what we call the sheet with
all the specific rules to play a certain
The characTers
character type in Runners in the Shadows.
Rather than a general “runner” sheet, the
game has seven customized playbooks
(plus a few extra ones for the magic-users,
and some special ones described later).
By choosing a playbook, you’re choosing
which type of runner your character is.
The playbooks are:
◆ The Face is good at representation
and planning. Play a Face if you want to
develop your reputation and deal with
other factions.
◆ The Hacker is good at using software
and gathering information. Play a Hacker
if you want to exploit cyberspace.
◆ The Muscle is good at winning fights,
with violence and intimidation. Play the
Muscle if you want to be the toughest and
get your way.
◆ The Punk is good at surprise and
vandalism. Play a Punk if you want to be
a nuisance and get away with it.
◆ The Rigger is good at using technical
skill and working with chemicals. Play
a Rigger if you want to be creative with
experimental tools.
◆ The Snake is good at social engineering
and manipulation. Play a Snake if
you want to betray people and collect
information.
◆ The Trigger is good at tracking things
down and shooting them. Play a Trigger
if you want to be a killer who chooses
your battles.
50
In addition, there are three supernatural
playbooks (each of which are mutually
exclusive to one another). A PC created
with any of the supernatural playbooks
begins with their senses already opened
through a source described with some
of their creation details. Other PCs might
have hidden talents even they weren’t
aware of. When you create a PC with any
of the following playbooks, take time to
describe your tradition and method using
your playbook as a guide:
◆ The Adept is good at harnessing their
body’s innate essence to reach the peak
of human perfection. Play an Adept if you
want to perform feats of mystical power
and surpass the usual limits.
◆ The Mage is good at magical stuff and
dealing with arcane forces and the astral
plane. Play a Mage if you want to pursue
the secret arts of arcane power.
◆ The Techno(mancer) is good at
emergent stuff and dealing with emergent
forces and the emergent plane. Play a
Techno if you want to pursue the secret
arts of techno-magical power.
When you choose a playbook, you’re
choosing a set of special abilities (which
give your character ways to break the
rules in various ways) and a set of karma
triggers (which determine how you earn
karma for character advancement).
The supernatural playbooks are
special, requiring a bit more character
investment upfront but granting access to
a supernatural maneuver and the choice
of taking secret arts or adept feats (in
addition to the usual special abilities).
No matter what though, every playbook
represents a criminal at heart. The Muscle
has special abilities related to combat, but
that doesn’t mean they’re “the tank” of

the game. Any character type can do well
in combat. Think of your playbook as an
area of focus and preference, but not a
unique skill set.
This is why we call them “playbooks”
rather than “character classes” or
“archetypes.” You’re selecting the set of
initial action ratings and special abilities
that your character has access to—but
you’re not defining their immutable self
or true nature. Your character will grow
and change over time; who they become
is part of the fun of playing the game.
Your playbook choice also represents
how the other runners in the underworld
see you. The names of the playbooks (and
some of the abilities too) are underworld
slang. If they’re a smooth talker and
shrewd manipulator, people might call
them a Face.” If someone dabbles in
supernatural power, people say they’re
an “adept” (or “a fraggin’ weirdo,”
depending who you ask). Part of your
character’s reputation is reflected by
their playbook choice.
Each playbook is detailed at the end of
this section, starting on page 65.
Once you’ve chosen your
playbook, follow the steps
on the following pages to
complete your character.
2
IF YOUR STORY FEATURES MAGICAL
LINEAGES
Choose that now. Magical lineages
include elves, dwarves, orks, trolls, etc.
Discuss the options for including them
as PCs on page 341 if you wish, then
select one as part of choosing your
characTer creaTion
heritage in the next step in character
creation, and record any traits in your
notes before continuing. If you're sure,
you're human.
The last page in the Sheets PDF contains
handy reminders for the most common
variants of people as a quick reference
while creating characters and in play.
THIS GAME IS YOURS
The rules and examples exist to
provide a framework for you and
your friends to collaboratively
create a story about a crew of
underdog runners. The whole point
of this game is to express something
about criminality and vice, and the
rewards and pitfalls of hypocrisy,
anger, and greed.
51
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CHOOSE A HERITAGE
Your heritage describes where your
family line is from. You may be of any
heritage of your choice—and then decide
if you’re a foreigner who has immigrated
to the city or if you’re a local who grew
up here. When you choose a heritage,
circle it on the list on your playbook, then
The characTers
write a detail about your early life on the
line above. Also check the box for “IDN”
if you were issued one at birth (you’ll
detail that more soon). For example, you
might choose Europe, and then write
Berlin, manufacturers turned homeless.
Or you might choose Americas and
write illegitimate daughter of corporate
executive. Each heritage is described in
brief, below. Sprawls and nations of note
are given in italics.
◆ If you want to be from a place threatened
by anarchism and the encroachment of
mutant predators, you could be from
Africa. The Global IDN Registry doesn’t
require biometrics for IDNs issued there.
Caliphate Global holds enormous
sway in the region. Asamando, Azanian
Confederation, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya,
Kingdoms of Nigeria.
◆ If you want to be from rich territory,
a native American, or displaced due to
an old war—you could be from North
America. The continent is home to
Tritanium Partners and has been
divided by the restoration of native
territories to their rightful jurisdiction.
It fractured further when Central
American and Caribbean powers later
retook their ancestral homes from the
Europeans. California Free State, Bible
Belt Union, Denver Territories, Chicago
Bastion (or its Containment Zone), Pueblo
Nation, Oklahoma Expanse, Quebec,
Seattle Enclave, Canadian-Atlantic Union,
Colonial Remnant, Sioux Nation.
52
◆ If you want to be from an area
considered completely dominated by
the control of Mexitech Logistics and
their allies, you could be from Central
America. Caribbean League, Empire of
Mexico, Panamanian Union.
◆ If you want to be a distant wanderer,
or come from territory ruled by a dragon,
you could be from South America. The
place is mostly jungle and Amazonia is the
largest nation of note there. Amazonia,
Argentina, Peru.
◆ If you want to be from far away or a
region steeped in tradition, you could be
from Asia. Two of the Big Seven hold their
headquarters here: Atari-Tendo United
and Sinokatsu Dynamics. Technology
tends to be on the cutting edge of
advancement here, and wars break out
frequently between the powers that be.
Arabian Caliphate, Canton Confederation,
Eastern Asian Union, Free City of Hong
Kong, Indian Union, Manchuria, Korea
(or its Containment Zone), Philippines.
◆ Europe is the largest and most
populated area of the world, and is
home to Exo-Heavy Industries—the
most powerful megacorp. If you want
to be from a cultural melting pot, you
could be from Europe. It’s a diverse
conglomeration of cultures that have
grown together in close proximity for
centuries. Allied German States, Balkans,
Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italian
Confederation, Poland, Portugal, Spanish
Floodlands, Ireland, United Kingdom.
◆ If you want to be exotic or have a fish-
out-of-water story, you could be from
Oceania. Australian Republic, Tasmania,
New Guinea.
◆ If you have a crazy idea about being
from somewhere else, talk to your group
about it, then circle other and write
something else in. Were you born on a
flight over international waters? In orbit?
On the moon? On Mars?!

CHOOSE A BACKGROUND
Your character’s background describes
what they did before they joined the crew.
Choose one of the general background
options from the list on your playbook,
then write a detail about it that’s specific
to your character. For example, you
could choose Underworld, and then
write Street slummer and pickpocket. Or
you might choose Law and write Ex-law
enforcement. However, choosing any
option other than underworld usually
means you are ID'ed already (more on
that in Step 8). See more examples below.
‹ Academic: a college dropout, a
philosopher, a journalist, an artist, etc.
‹ Corporate: a wage mage, corporate
security, a business liaison, an accountant,
an heir to a bankrupt corporation, etc.
‹ Labor: a former worker in some type
of business: shipping, manufacturing,
construction, etc. An electrician for
Orbital Communications Utilities.
‹ Law: a prison guard, a lawyer, a
judge, a private eye, law enforcement.
‹ Media: a news reporter, a rocker, a
social media personality, a holographic
movie star, a camera operator, a pro
athlete. The former drummer for Maria
Mercurial.
‹ Military: a soldier, a member of
a foreign legion, a spy, a strategist, a
training instructor.
‹ Underworld: a beggar, a purse
snatcher, go-ganger, or other outcast
who grew up in the shadows. The most
common background for a runner (and
the least problematic; see IDN Status,
next page).
2
ASSIGN FOUR ACTION DOTS
Your playbook begins with three action
dots already placed (unless you are an
Adept; see your playbook for details). You
get to add four dots (so you’ll have seven
total, by default). At the start of the game,
no action rating may have more than two
characTer creaTion
dots (unless a rule tells you otherwise).
Brief descriptions of all the actions follow
on page 62. Assign your dots like this:
◆ Put one dot in any action that you feel
reflects your character’s heritage.
◆ Put one dot in any action that you feel
reflects your character’s background.
◆ Assignthe remaining dots anywhere
you please (max starting rating is 2,
remember).
Tip: Spreading your action dots out across
a variety of actions will create a character
who isn’t tapped out quickly when things
go wrong, whereas confining your choices
to a few actions will create a more focused
character that is likely to avoid problems
altogether. Both are viable approaches to
action dot assignment.
CHOOSE A SPECIAL ABILITY
Take a look at the special abilities for
your playbook and choose one. If you
can’t decide which one to pick, go with
the first one on the list—it’s placed there
as good default choice.
SPECIAL ARMOR
Some special abilities refer to your special
armor. Each character sheet has a set
of three boxes to track usage of armor
(standard, heavy, and special). If you have
any abilities that use your special armor,
tick its box when you activate one of them.
If you don’t have any special abilities that
use special armor, then you can’t use that
armor box at all.
53
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CHOOSE ONE CLOSE FRIEND
& ONE RIVAL
Each playbook has a list of potential NPC
friends. Choose one from the list who is
a close relationship (a trusted contact,
a good friend, a lover, a family relation,
etc.). Mark the upward-pointing triangle
next to their name. Then choose another
The characTers
NPC on the list who’s your rival or enemy.
Mark the downward-pointing triangle
(or right hand box) next to their name.
CHOOSE A VICE
Every runner is in thrall to some vice or
another, which they indulge to replenish
their edge. Choose a vice from the list,
and describe it on the line above with
the specific details and the name and
location of your vice purveyor in the
city. For example, you might choose
Pleasure, then write Otep’s BTL Server,
#Pandoras_Box. You can create a vice
purveyor or ask the GM to tell you about
a couple likely options for your vice. See
a detailed list of vice purveyors on page
323 or the Sheets PDF.
‹ Faith: You’re dedicated to an unseen
power, mentor spirit, ancestor, etc.
‹ Gambling: You crave games of
chance, betting on sporting events, etc.
‹ Luxury: Expensive and/or
ostentatious displays of opulence.
‹ Obligation: You’re devoted to a
tradition, a family, a cause, a charity, etc.
‹ Pleasure: Gratification from lovers,
food or drink, performance, art, video
games, etc.
‹ Stupor: You seek oblivion in the
abuse of drugs, drinking to excess,
getting beaten to a pulp in mosh pits, BTL
experiences, etc.
‹ Weird: You experiment with mystical
substances, consort with tormented
spirits, interface with rogue AI, observe
strange rituals, etc.
54
CHOOSE IDN STATUS
To avoid being caught, it is assumed your
character has an identity number—fake,
as usual. As real as the plastic roses sold by
the millions every February anyway.. Which
of your friends or contacts had a hand in
getting this fake IDN? Can they be trusted if
questioned? Can you be trusted?
Given your character and their personal
history, what IDN status do you have?
◆ Most runners exist outside the system—
unidentified and uncounted. If that’s you,
move on from this step—you haven't been
ID'ed. If you undergo reconditioning, you may
be documented and will record an IDN source
at that time.
◆ If you’re already ID'ed, fill in the box on your
playbook sheet, then circle its type (corporate
or national) on your playbook sheet and
write the name of the IDN issuer (the source)
on the line above. Having an IDN counts as
an assist (+1d) to acquire asset downtime
activities taken through the issuer. However,
use of your real IDN may also have additional
costs, such as a bribe, added heat, the start of
a dire progress clock, etc.
At your option, deepen this connection to your
IDN issuer, taking Obligation as a second vice.
If you choose this option, you may choose to
spend rep as nuyen for downtime activities.
Normally, rep cannot be spent to increase
the result level of a downtime activity.
With this option, you have a way to take
advantage of your obligation—but it will
eventually come calling.
Discuss your choice as you go—ensure your
decision excites you. You face reprisals
should you ever get apprehended, so think of
this as a cue to the sort of repercussions you
are interested in should you ever undergo
reconditioning. Do you fear that the megas
you once worked will intervene, "favor for a
favor"? Do you lose sleep over the possibility
your arrest warrants back home will one day
get served? Or have you managed to avoid
being numbered so far, loathing the day you
become “just another number”?

CHOOSE THREE SPECIAL
ITEMS OR IMPLANTS
The characters in Runners gain access
to a limited number of special items and
implants at the start of the game. Choose
three of either from those available to a
character of your type (like the Rigger’s
drone, or a set of bioengineered arms).
◆ When you choose a special item, fill the
arrow beside its name on your sheet, or
write in your own from another playbook.
A compiled list is provided in the Sheets
PDF for easy lookup. If its ever needed,
the GM is the final arbiter of what is a
valid special item choice.
Maybe they want an underwater drone
with plating and interior space (too
many features), so the GM says "OK,
but that's going to cost an extra special
item choice, and its obviously a hassle
to store it unless you want to spend an
upgrade for some kind of dock—plus,
you gotta tell us later how you came
into possession of that thing!"
You may choose the same special item
again to have an additional instance of
that item available to your character, and/
or to obtain a fine version (quality +1) of
the special item instead. Note: Single use,
consumable special items (like drugs)
refill automatically at the start of a run
(when your armor boxes are cleared).
Don’t fill any of the special item boxes
in when you take the item, just outline
them in ink—you fill the boxes in later (in
pencil) when you have the item on a run.
If you’re not sure, go with the first special
items on your list in your playbook—
these are placed as a good option. You’ll
get more special item choices later by
advancing your character’s lifestyle, or
by completing the tasks necessary to get
one in play (usually a long-term project).
2
◆ Implants are optional. As you choose
any implants, select their type (cybernetic
or bioengineered) and any features as
directed by your choice on page 264,
recording the details in your notes for
future reference. The implants listed
below are limited, any others are not—
characTer creaTion
especially those which do not exceed
a normal person's capabilities (such as
prosthetic replacements):
Senses Compartment
Neural Legs
Arms Skin
Vital Organs Skeleton
Note: You may choose the same implant
again to choose additional features for
that implant or to obtain a fine version
(quality +1) of an installed implant.
Mike is playing the Muscle and wants
to be as tough to hurt as possible.
He decides to spend one of his three
special item choices to begin play with
implanted skin—selecting bulletproof
and plating as the other (the latter
requires bulletproof). He spends another
special item choice on his skin, picking
up chemproof and fireproof as well. He
then records the 1 essence lost in the
process and the other details of his skin
implant on his playbook. He spends his
third choice on the fine brutal weapon,
filling the arrow for it on his playbook’s
list of special items before moving on to
indicate it is available to him.
You may get more implants or add features
to existing ones later in play, which are
installed by undergoing surgery. When
you have more than three implants, it is
a good idea to print the Implant tracker
(in the Sheets PDF) on the back of your
playbook sheet. This will more easily keep
track of all their details—rather than fitting
all that into your notes.
55
 2

RECORD NAME(S), LOOK, & If it's worth mentioning, list your

(OPTIONAL) LANGUAGES
Choose an alias (street name, online
handle, etc.) for your character (there is a
page of examples in just a couple pages).
If you know their given name, write that
down too.
The characTers
languages in your notes. This is a cue
to the GM that you want linguistics to
matter. Given your heritage, background,
and other details, what is your native
language? Record it first in your notes for
future reference (it’s the one with which
you are most fluent). Select and record
others as appropriate to your other

Record a few evocative words that details so far (discuss with the others if
describe your character’s look (samples you are unsure). See below for details on
provided on page 58). Note that common languages.
your look can include lost or replaced
body parts—even a full bioengineered
replacement—however, those "implants"
which provide no additional capability
never count as an implant.

FUTURISTIC LINGUISTICS
Access to a free and reliable translator app is common, causing certain linguistic families
to fall out of use, and others to rise to regional popularity. Your heritage typically indicates
which language would be your native tongue (the first one you ever learned). If it makes
sense because of your chosen details (background, for example), you are bi-lingual and
will choose two languages.
The GM will modify your position and effect accordingly when you communicate in a language
or dialect which is not native to you. If you don’t know a language or dialect well enough to
speak it, you may undertake a long-term project to learn it (or just pick up your fraggin’ comm
like everyone else!)—but you’ll be always be hard-pressed to fool a native speaker.
The most common of these are given some detail, but this is by no means an exhaustive list:

◆ If you’re from around here (Central America), you might know Creole (or Latin
if you're supernatural), but if you are a native American you probably know Navajo
(the official language of the Tribal Council legal system), or one of the fairly common
languages of the Dakota or Lakota instead. You probably know Spanglish if nothing
else, simply because it is understood in the underworld like a sort of “thieves' cant” across
the majority of the Caribbean sprawls.
◆ If you’re from Asia, you might speak Japanese or Mandarin.
◆ If you’re from eastern Europe, you might know Russian—or if you’re from western
Europe, you might know Spanish, French, Italian, or German.
◆ If you’re from Africa you might know Arabic (if you’re from the north), Swahili
(west), or Yoruba (southeast).

56

REVIEW YOUR DETAILS
Take a look at the details on your
character sheet, especially the karma
triggers for your playbook (like “Earn
karma when you address a challenge
with supernatural knowledge or power,”
for example). You begin with access to
all of the items on the right side of your
sheet (and any special items and implants
you chose), so don’t worry about picking
specific things—you’ll decide what your
character is carrying later on, when
you’re on the run (see Loadout, at the
end of this section on page 61).
If you chose a supernatural playbook,
you have a few more choices to make—
then you're done. If not, your character
is ready for play (unless you want a
permutation or two; sort of like "build
trades," see page 59 for details and a
list of suggestions). Otherwise, that’s it.
Finito.
When you start the first session, the GM
will ask you some questions about the
crew and who you are, your outlook,
or some past events. If you don’t know
the answers, make some up—or ask the
other players for some ideas. It's entirely
possible you are just a crew of free agents
who've only know each other's areas of
criminal expertise and street name.
2
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE
If you are “experienced” or “prime”
runners, your GM might give each
PC the following additional benefits
in exchange for a bit of added
complication:
characTer creaTion
◆ Experienced (or Privileged): Take
one or two "free" permutations
during character creation. See page
59 for details. Also do not skip
crew creation, beginning on page
110.
◆ Prime: As above, also taking one or
two "free" crew upgrades.
Either way, work with the GM to
describe your benefits and the runs
they came from (applying +1 status
and -1 status to the faction tracker
for each benefit as appropriate).
"Ok, you're "experienced," eh? Why
did you take those jobs from the
Mountain Rats anyways: was it
greed, malice, or something more
sinister? How was it complicated
and what did you do to pull it off
against all odds? Oh: that's probably
why the Mannings are pissed then!
Sounds like -1 status with them and
+1 with the Rats."
57
 2

Look
Man, Woman, Ambiguous, Concealed ALIASES
Arty, Alex, Bamboo, Barefoot,
Bald Scarred Head, Shorn Black Hair,
Black Betty, Betamax, Bricks,
Topknot, Greasy Red Hair, Chromed Skull,
Perfect Hair, Untamed Blonde Hair, Bonnie, Boxer, Cap, Carlton,
Neo-plastic Hair, Mohawk, Wiry Dreds, Chuckles, Cid, Clockwork, Cloud,
Swept Hair, Traditional Braids, Swept Hair, Crank, Cyberslug, Cyclops,
The characTers

Liberty Spikes, Scorched Hair, Pointy Hair, Dirt, Ditch, Dozer, Dogboy,
Tattooed Head, Ragged Hair, Loose Hair,
Tight Hair, Effortless Hair, Sweeping Hair, Dragon, Eagle, Evergreen, Echo,
Unassuming Hair, Shocking Hair Flynn, Foxy, Frost, Gatekeeper,
GH.ost, Glimmer, Godmother,
Fierce Green Eyes, Dead Hazel Eyes, Gutter, Heisenberg, Hiro, Huck,
Smiling Brown Eyes, Milky Glass Eye, Distant Indigo, Jackal, Jarvis, Jeanie,
Eyes, Disarming Eyes, Vibrant Blue Eyes, Kid Ick, Killjoy, Kludge, Lazarus,
Piercing Eyes, Powerful Eyes, Wild Eyes, Lightfoot, Lord, Lotus, Max,
Asymmetrical Eyes, Calculating Eyes,
Machete, Meatball, Morphie,
Knowing Eyes, Playful Eyes, Guarded Eyes,
Merciless Eyes, Glazed Eyes, Arresting Eyes Moto, Mouse, Myst, Moonchild,
Nailz, Needlenose, Next,
O’Conner, Ol’ Greg, One Time,
Athletic, Pudgy, Lean, Thin, Frail, Lanky,
Lumpy, Stumpy, Plump, Towering Orpheus, Overwatch, Pacman,
Payback, p3ndr4g0n, Poolrat,
Runaway, Quartz, Quentin,
South Asian, Japanese, African,
Razorfist, Ripper, Ruckus, Sato,
Middle Eastern, Hispanic/Latino,
Caribbean, Scandinavian, Caucasian, Sequoia, Slaughter, Spinneret,
Native American, Albino Steady, Stutter, Tate, Teacup, Tin
Hat, Trickshot, Trashman, Tripp,
Note: These are all just examples of details that Twink, Victory, Vixen, Volcano,
tend to “work,” are chosen to spark your creativity, Whiplash, Wheelie, Wizbang,
and not meant to be a prescriptive list. For best Yellowtail, Yumyum, Zero, Zorro
results, choose or create your own that you feel
best express your unique sense of style.

Biker Gloves Hipster Beads Pointy Stilettos Tall Stilettos

Cowboy Hat Holographic Tattoos Puffy Coat Trenchcoat

Camouflage Hoodie Row of Ear Piercings Stolen Uniform
Gatorskin Bodysuit Lebret Piercings Sharp Trousers Suspenders
Headdress & Furs Long Cloak Skintight Leathers Tattered Jeans
Heavy Cloak Loose Silks Sneakers Vintage Ball Cap
Heavy Work Boots Mohawk Suit & Vest Waxed Shoes
Hemp Necklace Old Bomber Jacket Tall Boots Windbreaker

58
 2

PERMUTATIONS
Was there an option you really wish you could’ve taken? It’s yours—for a price..
At your option, choose up to two positive permutations (and an equal number
of negative ones) from the list below. The GM might also offer additional
permutation options specific to your group (like “Allergic to gunpowder” or

characTer creaTion
“Rivals with Skelter”) to encourage players to insert some drama or intrigue
into the story. Other permutations might be up for discussion too.

When you choose a permutation, record a short detail about it in your notes
for future reference. You earn karma when you express or struggle with
certain aspects of your character, so think of this as a chance to facilitate that
expression in play. See examples of permutations and details below.

Positive
◆ Choose another special item Privileged childhood.
◆ Choose another action dot Orphaned.
◆ Choose another NPC on your list who is “close” Fiercely loyal.
◆ Choose more languages, already known Broken home.
◆ Choose another spell, formula, or plan, already learned* “Touched” by an AI.
◆ One less trauma box (fill it in, but don't circle a condition) Damaged goods
◆ Take a third action dot (counts as two)
†
Prodigy.
◆ Choose another special ability (counts as two ) Diverse skillset.

Negative
◆ Choose one fewer special item Gambling problem.
◆ Choose one fewer action dot Pampered.
◆ Choose another NPC on your list who is a “rival” Underworld bully.
◆ You owe a faction a free "milk run" (start a clock for "anger") In debt to the Yakuza.
◆ Choose one fewer special ability (counts as two) New at this.

While not required, it can be fun to link permutation details together by mentioning
how one begot the other. How did that windfall lead to your gambling problem? Does
that extra rival have anything to do with that additional action dot? Permutations
may have details with a good or bad connotation—this ultimately gets explored in
play—not through a detailed explanation of it all. If it’s ever needed, the GM is the
final arbiter of which permutations are valid.

*: Before choosing this permutation and describing what you've learned, ask the GM to go
through the process for your starting spell, formula, or plan choices accordingly with your
selection of special abilities (such as Chemist or Electrician) and/or secret arts (such as
Sorcerer or Threader).
†: You must already have two dots in the action chosen to choose this permutation.

59
 2
CHARACTER CREATION SUMMARY
1 Choose a playbook Your playbook
represents your character’s reputation in
the underworld, their special abilities,
and how they advance.
2
The characTers
Choose a heritage Detail your
choice with a note about your family
or early life. For example, “Americas:
nomadic Mexican tribespeople.”
3 Choose a background Detail your
choice with a note about your specific
history prior to this crew. For example,
“Law: ex-security in Panamanian Union.”
4 Assign four action dots No action
may begin with a rating higher than 2
during character creation. (After creation
or using permutations, action ratings may
advance up to 3. When you unlock the
Mastery advance for your crew, you can
advance some actions up to rating 4.)
5
Choose a special ability They’re
in the gray column in the middle of the
character sheets. If you can’t decide,
choose the first ability on the list. They’re
placed there as a good first option.
6 Choose a close friend and rival
Mark the one who is a close friend, long-
time ally, family relation, or lover (use
the upward-pointing triangle). Mark the
one who is a former friend turned rival,
enemy, scorned lover, betrayed partner
etc. (use the downward-pointing triangle).
7 Choose your vice Pick your
preferred type of vice, detail it with a
short description and indicate the name
and location of your vice purveyor. The
GM will help you with the purveyor
source if you aren’t sure.
60
8 Choose IDN status If you are
undocumented (default), leave this blank.
Otherwise, fill in the star and circle the
type of issuer, then detail it with the
issuer’s name. Also record any additional
details in your notes for future reference.
9 Choose three special items or
implants Select the three special items or
implants to which you have access at the
start of the game. Outline the boxes and
record details in your notes accordingly.
10 Record name(s), look, and
other details Choose an alias or street
name (maybe a real name too), and jot
down a few words to describe your look.
Examples are provided on the preceding
pages. If it matters, list your native tongue.
Also review your triggers and playbook
specific details. Supernatural playbooks
have a few more choices to make before
moving on.
Options: You may take one or two
permutations from each side (details on
previous page) to further customize your
starting character. If you are “experienced”
or “prime” runners, you might get more
benefits (talk to your GM).
SOME PERMUTATION EXAMPLES..
positive negative
+1 special item -1 special item
+1 action dot -1 action dot
+1 close friend
more languages
+1 rival
you owe a faction
another spell or plan -1 special ability*
-1 trauma boxes
+1 special ability*
third action dot*
*: Counts as two.
 2

ITEMS & LOADOUT RANDOM CHARACTER

You have access to all of the standard items
on your character sheet, and all the special
items you chose during character creation.
As each operation begins, decide what your
character’s load limit will be (by choosing a
light, normal, or heavy loadout). During the
CREATION
If you want to randomly determine a
creation choice instead of choosing it
yourself, roll 1d6 for each decision and
record the results on a scratch paper.

characTer creaTion
operation, you may say that your character Then print your playbook and use the
has an item on hand by marking it on your results to fill it out.
list—up to a number of items according to
your chosen loadout. Your chosen loadout
also determines your movement speed and Playbook Heritage
conspicuousness: 1 Face or Snake Central America
2 Hacker or Rigger South America
‹ Light (limit of 3 load): You’re faster and 3 Muscle North America
less conspicuous; you blend in with citizens. 4 Punk Africa
You might be wearing armored clothing, 5 Trigger Asia or Oceania
or have a different bulky item (like a heavy 6 Adept, Mage, Europe
weapon) on you—but not much else. or Techno

‹ Normal (4 or 5 load): You look like you

Background Action(s)
might be up to no good. You might be wearing
1 Academic Engineer / Interface
heavy armor, or have two bulky items on
2 Corporate Stalk / Survey
you—but not much else.
3 Labor Fight / Wreck
‹ Heavy (6 load): You’re slower and look 4 Law or Media Finesse / Prowl
like an operative on a mission. You are well- 5 Military Command / Consort
prepared, having up to three bulky items on 6 Underworld Influence / Study
you.
‹ Encumbered (7-9 load): You’re
overburdened and can’t do much except move Renee rolls 4d6 to generate their character
very slowly. You might have heavy armor, details, and gets a 3, 5, 6, and 5. They print
plus several bulky items. out the Muscle playbook, and circle asia
and underworld under the heritage and
Some special abilities (like the Muscle’s Mule background lines, then fill in the dots next
ability or a dragon’s incredible strength) and to Command and Consort to get started.
implants (like the compartment) increase They still have a couple more action dots to
the load limits. spend, some special items, friends, rivals,
Some items count as 2 load (they have two and a special ability to choose before
connected boxes) instead of 1 load. Items their character is finalized—but they are
without boxes do not count toward your just about ready for play. For a faster
load limit (during a run, you'll still place a start, they decide to wait until the first
mark in the empty space next to the item’s run is underway to make their remaining
name to indicate you have it). character creation choices.
You don’t need to select specific items now.
Review your chosen special items in your
playbook, and the standard item descriptions
on page 64 (this can also be found on a
handout in the Sheets PDF.

61
 2
ACTIONS
When you Command, you compel swift
obedience with leverage.
You might intimidate or threaten to
get what you want. You might lead a
team in a group action. You could try to
order people around to persuade them
The characTers
(but Consorting might be better).
When you Consort, you socialize with
friends and contacts. Not necessarily
honest.
You might gain access to resources,
information, people, or places. You
might make a good impression or
win someone over with your charm
and style. You might make new
friends or connect with your heritage
or background. You could try to
manipulate your friends with social
pressure (but Influencing might be
better).
When you Engineer, you tinker with
devices and mechanisms.
You might create a new gadget or
alter an existing item. You might
tinker with a drone, retrofit a vehicle,
wire explosives, or sequence (open) a
maglock. You might disable an alarm
or trap. You might turn the ubiquitous
technology in the sprawl to your
advantage. You could try to use your
technical expertise to disrupt a network
(but Interfacing might be better).
When you Fight, you entangle a target in
close combat so they can’t easily escape.
You might brawl or wrestle with them.
You might draw a pistol and shove it in
someone’s face. You might seize or hold
a position in battle. You could engage
a martial artist in close combat (but
Finessing might be better).
62
When you Finesse, you employ dexterous
manipulation, precise footwork, or subtle
misdirection.
You might pick someone’s pocket.
You might direct a vehicle or control
a mount. You might formally duel an
opponent with graceful martial arts.
You could try to employ those arts in a
confusing melee (but Fighting might be
better). You could try to pick a lock (but
Engineering it might be better).
When you Influence, you change
attitudes with guile, charm, or argument.
Not necessarily dishonest.
You might lie convincingly. You might
persuade someone to do what you
want. You might argue a compelling
case that leaves no clear rebuttal. You
could try to trick people into affection
or obedience (but Consorting or
Commanding might be better).
When you Interface, you connect
with cyberspace or harness networked
devices.
You might execute software or
understand aspects of information
technology. You could try to go online
in order to better understand your
situation (but Surveying might be
better).
When you Prowl, you traverse skillfully
and quietly.
You might scramble past security or leap
over barricades. You might drop down
from a rooftop or hide in the shadows.
You might attack someone from hiding
with a back-stab or stun baton. You could
try to waylay a victim in the middle of
a pitched battle (but Fighting might be
better).
 2

When you Wreck, you unleash savage
force or calculated sabotage.
You might smash down a door or wall
with a sledgehammer, or lob grenades
to do the same. You might employ chaos
or sabotage to create a distraction or
As you can see, many actions overlap
with others. This is by design. As a player,
you get to choose which action you roll,
by saying what your character does. Can
you try to Interface with cyberspace in
an attempt to steal some helpful data?
Sure! What are you using to gain access,

characTer creaTion
overcome an obstacle. You could try to and what does that look like? The GM
overwhelm an enemy with sheer force will tell you what stands in your way and
in battle (but Fighting might be better) what might go wrong.

When you Stalk, you carefully track a As it says, Surveying might be better
target. (less risky or more effective), depending
on the situation at hand. Sometimes it
You might follow a target or discover won’t be better though. It depends
their location. You might arrange
an ambush. You might attack with For a brief rundown of how actions work
precision shooting from a distance. You together to inform what might go wrong,
could try to bring your guns to bear in review the section on Understanding
a melee (but Fighting might be better). Risk & Effect (starting on page 28).
For a more complete description of the
When you Study, you scrutinize details actions and how they work in play, see
and interpret evidence. the detailed examples of the Actions in
Play, starting on page 191.
You might gather information from
articles, newscasts, and archived
discussion. You might do research on
an esoteric topic. You might closely
analyze a person to detect lies or true
feelings. You could try to examine events
to understand a pressing situation (but
Surveying might be better).

When you Survey, you observe the

situation and anticipate outcomes.

You might spot telltale signs of trouble

before it happens. You might uncover
opportunities or weaknesses. You
might detect a person’s motivations
or intentions. You could try to spot a
good ambush point (but Stalking might
be better).

Shown: a trashware (quality 0) comm. 63

 2
STANDARD ITEMS
A Comm: An advanced computing device
worn on the thumb and forefinger, featuring
a holographic touchscreen and multi-band
transceiver suitable for networking devices
and accessing cyberspace. [0 load] Your first
comm is zero load, but each additional comm
you carry as a backup takes up 1 load.
The characTers
A Pistol: A heavy pistol, semi-automatic,
and loaded with a magazine containing
enough ammunition for a quick murder or
escape. Devastating at speaking distance,
and quick to reload. [1 load] Something that
a respectable cyberpunk citizen might carry.
A Quiet Weapon: A lightweight weapon
which makes little noise during use or while
carried. A small set of throwing knives or
ninja stars. A blowgun and darts. [1 load]
A Medieval Weapon: A handheld weapon
designed for brutal melee. A set of brass
knucks. A Port-au-Prince Slugger baseball
bat. A serrated sawblade. [1 load] For “gettin’
medieval“ on someone's arse.
A Large Weapon: A weapon meant for two
hands. A battle axe, katana, warhammer, or
polearm. A hunting rifle. A shotgun. A bow or
crossbow. [2 load]
An Unusual Weapon: A curiosity or tool
turned into a weapon. A coiled whip, a
gardening shovel, a length of chain, a razor-
edged fan, a commercial bug sprayer, steel-
toed boots. [1 load]
Ammo: A bunch of extra ammunition.
[1 load each] Extra sets of throwing knives,
arrows, bullets, etc.
Armor: An armored jacket or reinforced
leather duster, plus protective gloves and
boots. [2  load]
+Heavy: The addition of bulletproof vest,
hardened plating, and helmet. Or a riot
shield. [2  load]. The load for heavy armor
is in addition to normal armor—4 load total.
Makes you look dangerous and ready for
trouble.
64
Burglary Gear: An autopicker. A maglock
sequencer. A programmable keycard. A
suction-cup glass cutter. A small pry-bar. Vial
of lubricant for squeaky hinges. [1 load]
Climbing Gear: Grappling hooks. Suction
cup gloves & boots. Carbiners and crampons.
[2 load] Secure rigging for assisted climbing
maneuvers.
Demolition Tools: Impact drill and power
packs. A miniwelder and large fuel tank.
Heavy-duty crowbar. A handheld pneumatic
bolt cutter. [2 load]
Lighting Gear: A string of work lights,
kinetically-charging flashlight or lantern,
adjustable headlamp, or other light source.
[1 load]
Mechanical Tools: A set of heavy tools for
working on machinery: gas-powered jack
stands, heavy clamps, air compressor, large
screwdrivers & wrenches, heavy nuts &
bolts, etc. [2 load]
Reagents: Arcane or emergent reagents
(choose one) that contain some concentrated
essence. Rendered inert and dissipate upon
consumption by a mage or techno. [1 load]
The limitations on their form depend on
the type you choose. See the supernatural
playbooks for detailed examples of each type.
Subterfuge Supplies: A theatrical makeup
kit and costume jewelry. A subvocal
communicator and a contact lens with
built-in ocular overlay. A janitor outfit and
a "trashy" cover story. A database of blank
license templates, ready for the forger’s
hand. A reversible trenchcoat and distinctive
hat. A vial of concentrated pheromones. A
common skillchip. A tag eraser. A clandestine
surveillance kit. [1 load]
Technical Tools: A basic set of tools for
detailed mechanical or electrical work:
soldering iron, spools of wire, small hammer,
pliers, precision screwdrivers & wrenches, a
small case containing assorted fasteners, etc.
[1 load]
 FACE
A smooth & well-connected criminal
Few have the confidence to stay frosty during the stiff negotiations that take place in
the shadows. And only the crews with a good mouthpiece make the best deals. The Face
knows the best negotiations require the best understanding of your target. They also
know that the streets and high-rise towers are built with secrets, and painted over with
lies. Every crew benefits from having a clever negotiator to keep things extra profitable.

STARTING ACTIONS SHREWD FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 consort ◆ Angel, a cleaner. Perhaps a reliable
contact for underworld jobs, or perhaps
 
  
 influence a former partner who sold you out?

starting builds ◆ Winston Mogi, a crew boss. Known

If you want some guidance when you
assign your action dots and special
abilities, use one of these templates.
The Brains Command +2, Study +2.
Connected
The Closer Influence +1, Interface +2,
Survey +1. Deal Shark
The Grifter Finesse +2, Influence +1,
Study +1. A Little Jing on the Side
The Spectacle Command +1, Fight +1,
Engineer +2. Captivating
leader of the Talons. Perhaps a fan of
your tactics, or a former lover now
scorned?
◆ Steiner, an executive. Perhaps a
friend from childhood who sold out
to corporate, or someone hellbent on
your demise?
◆ Dee, a prostitute. Probably works
virtually. An informant to spot potential
targets, or someone who knows way
too much?
◆ Robbie, a club owner. A good source
for rumors and exclusive event access?

When you play the Face, you earn karma when you address a challenge
with charisma or conspiracy It’s all about who you know. Use your contacts,
informants, and to point your operations in the right direction. Use your
downtime activities and flashbacks wisely to prepare for trouble and to calculate
the angles of success. When things go to drek, remember to breathe slow—it’s all
part of the plan and everything is under control.

65
3

Are you enmeshed in the network of tenuous promises and favors that you
cultivate as a Face, or is that all just a distraction to realize your conniving
plans?

metadata5277100..
metadata9396012

FACE SPECIAL ABILITIES

DEAL SHARK A LITTLE JING ON THE SIDE
You are not affected by quality or Tier when At the end of each downtime phase, you
you negotiate the terms of a deal. earn +2 stash.

Normally, asking for upfront payment
or more than 1 extra nuyen tends to
outright insult the “bigger fish.” This
ability turns you into a “shark” at the
negotiation table, making it possible to
bargain with confidence in almost any
setting.
Since this money comes at the end of
downtime, after all downtime actions are
resolved, you can’t remove it from your
stash and spend it on extra activities
until your next downtime phase.

66

SMOOTH
You may expend your special armor to
resist a consequence from social pressure or
disinterest, or to push yourself to improve
someone’s attitude.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you “resist a consequence”
of the appropriate type, you avoid it
completely. If you use this ability to
push yourself, your mark your special
armor box to get one of the benefits
(+1d, +1 effect, act despite severe harm)
but you don’t spend 2 edge. Your special
armor is restored at the beginning of
downtime.
CONNECTED
During downtime, you get +1 result level (a
1-3 becomes a 4/5, etc.) when you acquire
an asset or reduce heat.
Your array of underworld connections
can be leveraged to loan assets,
pressure a vendor to give you a better
deal, intimidate witnesses, etc.
INCORRIGIBLE
When you indulge your vice, you may
adjust the dice outcome by 1 or 2 (up or
down). An ally who joins in your vice may
do the same.
Normally, you need your purveyor to
supply your vice, or you have to find
a new source. With this ability, other
PCs may indulge their vice as if you are
their purveyor (without changing their
own). You and one ally each adjust your
individual outcomes as desired, after
seeing your result. You cannot clear
more than 6 edge.
3
SPRAWL WHISPERER
You gain +1d to Consort when you gather
information on a target for a run. You
get +1d to the engagement roll for that
operation.
Your network of underworld
connections can always be leveraged
to gain insight for a job—even when
your contacts aren’t aware that they’re
helping you.
face
AMBITIOUS
You gain an additional karma trigger: You
defended your claims or fixers, or tried to get
more. If the crew followed your lead, also
PlayBooK:
mark crew karma.
You may mark up to 2 karma per session
for each additional karma trigger you
have. You can never earn more than 8
karma (in sum) from karma triggers at
the end of session.
CAPTIVATING
You can hold the attention of a bigger group
of people than normal. You may Consort
with a completely hostile target as if they
were a friend.
You can quickly captivate the attention
of larger groups than normal (+1 scale)
with your social talents. How are you
doing this: is it your gift of gab at work,
some stunning talent you put on display,
or more of an undeniable mystique that
can’t be ignored?
Normally, it’s hopeless to attempt
friendly social interaction with
someone who is completely hostile.
With this ability, you can do it, even if
only for a few moments. If you’re using
this ability as cover or distraction, it’s
probably a setup teamwork maneuver,
using Consort
67
3

SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Privacy generator: A small tabletop
device that allows the user to have a
short face-to-face conversation free
of audio surveillance and remote
listening. [1 load]
◆ Fine outfit: A suit of clothes that
marks you as either an important
executive, soldier of rank, or
undisputed leader of a gang, with
all the appropriate badges, medals,
and accoutrement. [0 load] If you’re
carrying this item as a second outfit to
change into, it counts as 2 load.
◆ Fine nightlife subscription:
Prepaid credit usable at popular clubs
and restaurants across the city, potent
both in its ability to intoxicate and its
ability to impress. Does your fixer take
care of veiling the records—or maybe
one of your contacts or close friends?
[0 load]
◆ Street drugs: bluecoke
A pocketful of up
glow
to three uses of
illegal drugs. When nu-ganja
you employ street red rock
drugs, choose one
from the list at right. See page 156 for
more on drugs. During downtime, you
automatically refill your street drugs,
so long as you have reasonable access
to a supplier or workshop. [1 load]
◆ An entourage: Three to five
bodyguards, fans, and retainers who
are loyal only to you. They have
quality equal to your Tier when
they can help (they are quality 0 suggested implants
otherwise). [0  load] You may spend
a second special item choice on your ◆ a hidden compartment
entourage to increase the number of ◆ acidproof & lifelike skin
people who are loyal to you (they are ◆ neural: with a pheromone secreter &
scale 2, instead of scale 1). skilljack

68
 HACKER
A digital spy & virtual weapon
Signals exist almost everywhere—data pulsing back and forth between wireless
enabled devices just waiting to be exploited. Hackers are a specialized kind
of criminal, with a huge investment into the tools and experience designed to
manipulate information technology and signals to their whims. Their skills are
either respected or feared, depending on who you ask.

STARTING ACTIONS 1337 FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 interface ◆ Whisper, a secrets trader. Perhaps
a profitable way of unloading sensitive
 
  
 study data, or a rival in the industry?

starting builds ◆ Smith, a G-Man. Perhaps an old

If you want some guidance when you
assign your action dots and special
abilities, use one of these templates.
Combat Hacker Fight +2, Wreck  +2.
Virtual Fighter
Developer Engineer +2, Study +1,
Survey +1. Programmer
Social Engineer Consort  +1,
Command +1, Influence +2. Meticulous
Watchdog Finesse +1, Prowl +2,
Wreck +1. Search Protocol
colleague turned legit, or someone
whose mission it is to counterhack
you?
◆ Gunther, a mad scientist. Perhaps
an old colleague who likes to work with
his hands, or someone whose creations
nearly killed you?
◆ Flags, a construct admin. Perhaps a
good source of cyberspace gossip, or a
well-connected digital gatekeeper?
◆ Cruz, a virtual artist. Perhaps
a reliable underworld contact, or
a distributor of messed up BTL
experiences?

When you play a Hacker, you earn karma when you address a challenge
with information or cybercrime Between the networked buildings and
holographic advertisements that make up the sprawling city, an unfathomable
web of signals provides a seemingly unlimited array of exploitable technology.
Use your downtime activities and flashbacks wisely to prepare for trouble and
to calculate the angles of success. Wield cyberspace like a weapon, removing or
turning technology against those who dare to oppose you.

69
4

Are you immersed in the black market data trades that you exploit as a
Hacker, or do you lord over it from within the shadows? Where did you get
your cyberdeck and learn your skills: did you abuse your teachings, or did
you have a mentor?

.
metadata2166211.
metadata0497053

HACKER SPECIAL ABILITIES

SIGNAL TUNER
When you Interface the range is much
greater than it should be and the signals are
well-hidden from casual inspection.
You can harness networked devices
from further away and get online
despite interference or traffic, even
protecting the crew’s devices using
your own, and it will all be reliably-
connected and difficult to notice.
VIRTUAL FIGHTER
When you make a resistance roll for harm
from cyberspace, you get +1d. You are
immune to being jacked.
Virtual combat alerts ICe, which
typically results in being jacked (see
page 248 for details). With this ability,
you are immune to that, and you get a
bonus die when you resist harm from
cyberspace—regardless of source or
interface mode.

70

SEARCH PROTOCOL
You are always aware of online devices in
your presence. Take +1d when you gather
information about high-technology by
any means.
DIGITAL WARDEN
When you Interface with a comm using
subterfuge supplies (preventing any other
use), it becomes veiled or obvious to security
devices (your choice).
If you make something veiled to security,
they cannot find it, and they will suffer
confusion until they’ve located it. If you
make something obvious to security,
they will seek it out and linger nearby,
and will become obsessed if forced to
leave. This effect lasts several days
unless properly disabled. Particularly
masterful or prepared security may roll
their quality or supernatural magnitude
to see how well they’re able to resist the
effect.
METICULOUS
You may expend your special armor to
resist a consequence from hacking or to
push yourself when you contend with or
employ software.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you resist a consequence, this
ability negates or reduces its severity.
If you use this ability to push yourself,
you get one of the benefits (+1d, +1
effect, act despite severe harm) but
you don’t spend 2 edge. Your special
armor is restored at the beginning of
downtime, as usual.
4
TIME MANAGER
Due to your careful planning, during
downtime, you may give yourself or another
crew member +1 downtime activity.
If you forget to use this ability during
downtime, you can still activate it
during the run and flashback to the
previous downtime when the extra
activity happened.
hacKer
PROGRAMMER
When you invent or craft a creation with
software features, you get +1 result level
to your roll (a 1-3 becomes a 4/5, etc.).
You begin with one special design already
PlayBooK:
known.
Follow the Inventing procedure with
the GM (page 254) to define your first
special design.
DATA ANALYST
During downtime, you get two ticks to
distribute among any long term project
clocks that involve investigation or learning
a new design plan.
If you have this, at the start of
downtime you can start new projects
and immediately begin ticking them (or
wait until later until in the phase you’re
sure which ones you want to tick).
71
4

SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ A scratch-built cyberdeck: A comm,
modified to allow the trained user to
spot hidden data trails and quietly
exploit them. Choose one feature
of your cyberdeck: buffered (has
armor against cyberspace damage)—
overclocked (grants you a free assist
for tricky hacking maneuvers)—simple
(easily repaired in downtime)—smart
(can’t be hacked to turn against you).
You might execute illegal warez
through a cyberdeck to do even more.
What graffiti, etchings, stickers, or
charms adorn your cyberdeck or its
carrying case? [1 load]
◆ Suite of warez: Access to illegal
apps which expand a cyberdeck’s
functionality. When you employ
an app from your suite of warez,
choose one from the armor
list at right (or one
arsenal
of your custom-made
breach
algorithms). See page
mask
258 for more on apps.
[0 load] Executing multiple warez
during a run tends to draw unwanted
attention.
◆ Fine surveillance gear:
clandestine surveillance kit equipped
with an impressive array of signal
capture devices (signal scanner,
wireless data taps, tracer tags, etc.)
and long-range sensors for recording
audio and video. The fine quality of
this kit may increase the effect of your
investigative actions when you use it.
[1 load]
◆ Portable VR kit: A thin suitcase
containing secure seating and a
lightweight headband that provides
the essential hardware for non-
invasive virtual reality interface
(trodes). Case includes a stylish finish
and a lightweight harness. This
specialty-made chair collapses into a
suitcase form, thus reducing its load
to 1 even though it takes both hands to
move it once its unfolded. Unfolds to
the size of a small closet and includes
a stealth fabric enclosure (concealed
from observers at a distance from all
angles). [1 load] If you bring the trodes
only, it takes up no load instead.
◆ Blueprints: Access to a database of
useful architectural projections and
city plans. Feel free to specify which
plans you’ve loaded on your device
when you choose this item on a run.
[0 load]
A
suggested implants
◆ neural: with a comm/deck and skilljack
◆ a hidden compartment.

You may create apps during downtime by Engineering using available development
tools and libraries.

See A Nerd’s Wish List on page 246 for details about potential device makes and models.

72
 MUSCLE
A dangerous & intimidating fighter
In the shadows, there are those who snatch what they want with no qualms
about the consequences. They are the fit, formidable, and fearless. They handle
enforcement, collection, killing, leg-breaking, and intimidation. When you need
a security presence to be reckoned with, you bring the Muscle.

STARTING ACTIONS DANGEROUS FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 fight ◆ Crit, a brawler. Perhaps someone
who bested you before, or a martial
 
  
 command arts instructor who trained you?

starting builds ◆ Livewire, an enforcer. Perhaps a

If you want some guidance when
you assign your action dots and
special abilities, use one of these
templates.
The Leader Command  +1, Study
+1, Survey +2. Militant
Cyber-Thug Interface +2, Prowl +2.
Formidable
The Protection Finesse  +2,
Survey +2. Bodyguard
Street Samurai Command  +1,
Finesse +1, Influence +2. Street Code
member of a former crew, or a ganger
who keeps getting in your way?
◆ Dex, a street doc. Perhaps a source
for poisons and patches, or the
butcher of a surgeon you wish you
could sue for malpractice?
◆ Cyclops, a cold killer. Perhaps
a fellow assassin for hire, or the
lopsided lunatic that tried to set you
up?
◆ Needles, an extortionist. Perhaps a
former partner in crime, or a longtime
competitor in the underworld?

When you play the Muscle, you earn karma when you address a challenge
with violence or coercion You get what you want—whether they give it up or
not. And where words fail you, your muscles (and weapons) back you up.

73
5

Are you indiscriminate or precise? Have you developed your own collection
of special tactics or martial arts? Do you want to be the leader or the
leader’s protection? Do you have something ot prove (wtell us hat)?

.
metadata2166211.
metadata0497053

MUSCLE SPECIAL ABILITIES

FORMIDABLE
You may expend your special armor to
reduce harm from an attack in combat, or
to push yourself during a battle.
When you use this ability, tick the special
armor box on your playbook sheet. If you
“reduce harm” that means the level of
harm you’re facing right now is reduced by
one. If you use this ability to push yourself,
your mark your special armor box to
get one of the benefits (+1d, +1 effect, act
despite severe harm) but you don’t spend 2
edge. Your special armor is restored at the
beginning of downtime.
SAVAGE
When you unleash physical violence, it’s
especially frightening. When you Command
a frightened target, take +1d.
You instill fear in those around you
when you get violent. How they react
depends on the person. Some people will
flee from you, some will be impressed,
some will get violent in return. The GM
judges the response of a given NPC. In
addition, when you Command someone
who’s affected by fear (from this ability
or otherwise), take +1d to your roll.

74

MULE
Your load limits are higher. Light: 5.
Normal: 7. Heavy: 8.
This ability is great if you want to wear
heavy armor and pack a heavy weapon
without attracting lots of attention.
Since your exact gear is determined on-
the-fly during an operation, having more
items available to you also gives you
more options to get creative with when
dealing with problems during a run.
BODYGUARD
When you protect a teammate, take +1d
to your resistance roll. When you gather
information to anticipate possible threats
in the current situation, you get +1 effect.
The protect teamwork maneuver
lets you face a consequence for a
teammate. If you choose to resist that
consequence, this ability gives you +1d
to your resistance roll. Also, when you
read a situation to gather info about
hidden dangers or potential attackers,
you get +1 effect—which means more
detailed information.
STREET CODE
You gain an additional karma trigger:
When you uphold the street code of honor
despite difficulty or danger. When you duel
someone worthy (one on one), also mark
crew karma.
The street code is like a samurai code of
honor, but filtered through the lens of a
futuristic criminal. How do you signal
to your opponent that a duel is about
to begin? What does the code say about
snitches? Or honor among thieves? What
about the innocent or unaware?
You may mark up to 2 karma per session
for each additional karma trigger you
have. You can never earn more than 8
karma (in sum) from karma triggers at
the end of session.
5
TOUGH AS NAILS
Penalties from harm are one level less
severe (though level 4 harm is still fatal).
With this ability, level 3 harm doesn’t
incapacitate you; instead you take -1d
to your rolls (as if it were level 2 harm).
Level 2 harm affects you as if it were
level 1 (less effect). Level 1 harm has no
effect on you (but you still write it on
muscle
your sheet, and must recover to heal it).
Record the harm at its original level—
for healing purposes, the original harm
level applies.
MILITANT
When you Command a cohort in combat,
PlayBooK:
they continue to fight when they would be
otherwise broken (they’re not taken out
when they suffer level 3 harm). They gain
+1 effect and 1 armor.
This ability makes your cohorts more
effective in battle and also allows them
to resist harm by using armor. While
you lead your cohorts, they won’t stop
fighting until they take fatal harm (level
4) or you order them to cease. How do
you manage to get these kind of results
in combat? For details about cohorts,
see page 118.
CONDITIONED
From hard-won experience or painstaking
trials, you are immune to the first symptom
of lost essence you add. You never suffer
trauma due to reconditioning.
When you lose your fourth point of
essence due to implants, you still mark
a symptom even though it doesn’t
apply to you (draw a big X through
it to indicate you’re immune). What
horrifying experiences or experiments
have you survived to gain this bonus?
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SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine brutal weapon: A finely
crafted heavy weapon designed for
devastating brutality. A hunting
shotgun. A razor-sharp katana. A set
of vicious claws. A brutal weapon like
this might give you potency when the
power or reach of the weapon is a factor.
[2 load] Is this a well-crafted standard
item, or something more exotic, like a
Polynesian war club, or a weighted
staff edged with jagged metal?
◆ Light armor: A set of armor that
is lighter and less conspicuous than
normal. Sets of armor like this are
highly restricted in Kingston, but you
have (real or forged) security licensing
for this set. [1 load] Standard armor
is bulky (2 load).
◆ Fine scary weapon/tool: A scary-
looking hand weapon or tool. A rusty
eyeball extractor. A jagged piece of
metal. A dirty syringe. A set of shock
gloves. This item grants increased
effect when you intimidate, not
increased harm in combat. [1 load]
◆ Kamikaze vial: A dose of the drug,
which boosts strength, pain tolerance,
and irrational aggression for the span
of several minutes. The GM will modify
your position and effect accordingly
when you fight on kamikaze. Also, you
suffer two consequences: “Can’t Tell
Friend From Foe” and “Can’t Stop Until
They’re All Broken.” You may resist
these as usual. [0  load] Sure there
are other combat drugs with less side
effects, but “real ass mofos take dat
‘kaze!”
◆ Containment manacles: A set of
self-latching manacles and impact-
resistant chain, suitable for quickly
restraining a prisoner. A souvenir
from an escape from security or a
background in law enforcement,
perhaps? [0 load]

suggested implants
◆ neural: with pain limiter and adrenaline
◆ stronger set of arms, or detachable & points
◆ lifelike, detachable leg (w/gun attachment, obv)
◆ fireproof, armored skin
◆ reinforced skeleton with added limb or turret

76
 PUNK
A wily hoodlum and troublemaker
Behind the mirrored windows and in the darkness at the street level, lurks an
underestimated threat. The Punk knows how to get in before anyone knows a
thing, raise hell, then leave in a flash. The sheer aptitude and physicality of their
skill set is respected among runners and feared by citizens. They seem to go
wherever they please—doing what they want and leaving a trail of carnage in
their wake. These criminals know how to adapt, overcome, surprise, and destroy.

STARTING ACTIONS SHADY FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 prowl
 
  
 wreck
starting builds
If you want some guidance when
you assign your action dots and
special abilities, use one of these
templates.
Cyberpunk Interface +2, Survey
+2. Catch Me If You Can
Firestarter Command +2, Fight
+1, Influence +1. Ring Leader
Moshpit Champion Command +1,
Fight +2, Wreck +1. Mobility
◆ Crime, a street artist. Perhaps a
mentor who taught you how to be bad
and get away with it, or perhaps the
reason you’re on the run?
◆ Lucky, a snitch. Who does Lucky give
their intelligence to?
◆ Fox, a burglar. Perhaps a good source
for heists, or perhaps someone who
stole something priceless from you?
◆ Lazarus, a security officer. Perhaps
a former runner with a blind eye, or
perhaps a dirty badge hot on your trail?
◆ Mad Willie, a busker. Perhaps a good
source for street rumors, or perhaps a
rich impostor that collects money from
the poor?

Surprise Engineer +2, Influence

+2. Ambush

When you play a Punk, you earn karma when you address a challenge with
surprise or mayhem Remain unseen until it’s too late, strike from the darkness,
and sow the seeds of chaos. Or come in hot, and make ‘em eat your dust. The
sprawling megaplexes and their darkened streets are an important ally in your
crimes—and if things don’t go as planned, you know you’ve always got another
trick up your sleeve.

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6

Which kind of punk are you? A surprising rebel who never gets caught? Or
more of a clever sneak, toying with your victims from the darkness?

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PUNK SPECIAL ABILITIES

ADAPTABLE
Spend 2 edge to roll your best action rating
while performing a different action. Say
how you adapt your skills to this use.
This is the “jack-of-all-trades” ability.
If you want to attempt lots of different
sorts of actions and still have a good
dice pool to roll, this is the special
ability for you.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
You may expend your special armor to
resist a consequence from detection or
security measures, or to push yourself for
a feat of escape or stealth.
When you use this ability, tick the special
armor box on your playbook sheet. If you
“resist a consequence” of the appropriate
type, you avoid it completely. If you use this
ability to push yourself, you get one of the
benefits (+1d, +1 effect, act despite severe
harm) but you don’t spend 2 edge. Your
special armor is restored at the beginning
of downtime.

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DAREDEVIL
When you roll a desperate action, you get
+1d to your roll if you also take -1d to any
resistance rolls against consequences from
your action.
This special ability is a bit of a gamble.
The bonus die helps you, but if you
suffer consequences, they’ll probably be
more costly to resist. But hey, you’re a
daredevil, so no big deal, right?
DROPOUT
When your result on a resistance roll is
a 1-3 (choose one) mark 1 karma or roll
another die and take the better result. Your
participation in a group action never
costs the leader any edge, regardless of
your result.
So, if your result is a 1 on a Intuition
resistance, you choose between rolling
another die to hopefully get a better
result, and losing the 5 edge but also
marking 1 karma on a track of your
choice.
The second use of this ability means
your low result during a group action
roll never costs the leader anything.
Do you literally back out at the last
moment to negate your failures, or is
this more a reflection of your never-
say-die attitude, or sharp instincts that
you’ve learned to trust?
MOBILITY
When you Prowl, you cover much
more ground than you should and your
movement is very difficult to predict.
This ability is great for traversing the
urban “jungle,” but it’s also useful
in virtual or outdoor environments
too—if you’re into that. Are you some
kind of acrobat, or more of a fearless
parkourist?
6
AMBUSH
When you attack from hiding or spring a
trap, you get +1d.
This ability benefits from preparation—
so don’t forget you can do that in a
flashback.
RING LEADER
Choose one of your action ratings. When
you lead a group action using that
action, you can only lose 1 edge at most
PunK
regardless of the number of failed rolls.
This special ability is good for covering
for your team. If they’re all terrible at
PlayBooK:
your favored action, you don’t have to
worry about suffering a loss of multiple
edge when you lead their group action.
BEYOND DRIVEN
You gain an additional karma trigger:
When you get away from or stand up to “the
Man.“ You get +1 edge box.
“The Man” includes businesses,
institutions, security agencies, and even
pesky citizens. You may mark up to 2
karma per session for each additional
karma trigger you have. You can never
earn more than 8 karma (in sum) from
karma triggers at the end of session.
This ability also gives you an additional
edge box, so you have 10 instead of 9. The
maximum number of edge boxes a PC
can have (from any number of additional
special abilities) is 12.
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SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine stealth outfit: A full bodysuit
of smart clothing designed to blend
you into the darkness around you.
[1 load]
◆ Fine punk stuff: An edgy item
designed to help you make a scene
and get away. A small hoverboard,
designed for tricks and adorned
with sweet graphics of your choice.
A skullcap and boots adorned with
pointy bits. A fanny pack full of
fancy marbles and four-sided dice.
Whatever you choose, it is impressive
or infuriating to see in use—especially
to poseurs and old folks—improving
your effect level when you make a
dramatic entrance or escape. [1 load]
◆ Explosives: A bangflash
strap worn around emp
the body, fitted grenade
with clips to secure pepper
three electronic smoke
bombs. When you tear gas
employ explosives,
choose one from the list at right. See
page 156 for more on bombs. During
downtime, you automatically refill
your explosives, so long as you have
reasonable access to a supplier or
workshop. [1 load]
◆ Gecko gloves: A pair of nanofiber
gloves that generate exceptional
intermolecular attraction that allow
the user to hold items securely and
quickly scale smooth or vertical suggested implants
surfaces. [1 load] ◆ omnidirectional skeleton
◆ Stunlock vial: A dose of tranquilizer ◆ detachable arm with reach
sufficient to put someone to sleep for ◆ swift set of legs
an hour. Release in someone’s face
for a brief but powerful effect. The ◆ fireproof and grappleproof skin
victim’s sleep isn’t supernatural, but it ◆ a hidden compartment (or two)
is deep—they can be roused with some ◆ neural with reflexes and a metabooster
effort. [0 load]

80
 RIGGER
An inventive technician and pilot
Riggers are the ones who refine the drugs, build the bombs, bandage the
wounds, and forge the tools of the shadows. Their skills are like a lost
art among civilians, enabling reverse-engineering and modification to
the various devices everyday citizens depend on. Things like automated
machinery, electronics, plumbing, and even electricity are all vulnerable to
a crafty Rigger. In fact, many bring an automated device or two of their own..

STARTING ACTIONS HANDY FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 engineer ◆ Chopper, a gearhead. Perhaps a
fellow enthusiast from “back in the
 
  
 finesse day,” or someone whose machines have
thwarted you before?
starting builds
If you want some guidance when
◆ Bricks, a bioengineer. Perhaps a way
to “dispose” of unwanted things, or
you assign your action dots and someone whose special designs nearly
special abilities, use one of these killed you?
templates.
◆ Twitch, a spacecase. Perhaps a
Drone Enthusiast Finesse  +1, hopeless BTL addict with genius ideas,
Interface +2, Survey +1. In Control or a conspiracy theorist clearly high on
psychedelics?
MacGuyver Prowl +1, Survey +2, ◆ Drano, a smuggler. Perhaps a source
Wreck +1. Jury Rig of illegal merchandise, or a rival pilot
who keeps running your routes?
Pilot Finesse +1, Interface +1,
Survey +2. Ace ◆ Memphis, a sailor. Perhaps a
knowledgeable mentor who spun
Savior Fight +2, Prowl +2. Medic great tales about the open seas, or an
unexpected thorn in your side?

When you play a Rigger, you earn karma when you address a challenge with
technical skill or control Kingston is a city full of technology for you to bend
to your purposes or exploit. Get your tools out and get your hands dirty. Or send
a drone to take care of it. Use your talents to keep things from getting too crazy
and maintain a tight grip on the action for best results.

81
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The technology and talents required to make you a Rigger are expensive to
cultivate—did you have assistance? Which side of the tracks do you prefer:
creation and repair, or crafty destruction? What are the signature tools of
your trade: chemicals or electronics?

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RIGGER SPECIAL ABILITIES

IN CONTROL
When you harness networked devices in
AR, you are never distracted. You can spend
1 edge to take action with your physical
body, regardless of interface mode.
Without this ability, you are distracted
in AR while performing simultaneous
tasks, and you normally need to push
yourself to take action with your
physical body while in hot-sim VR. See
Interface Modes on page 243 for
details.
ACE
You can Finesse a vehicle to takeoff,
control, or land it—regardless of its means
of propulsion. You gain potency when you
make difficult maneuvers while piloting a
vehicle.
Until you have this ability, any attempts
to control drones or vehicles with
special propulsion systems (hovercraft,
spacecraft, etc.) without special training
are likely to fail or makes things worse.
The second use of this ability might
increase your effect during getaways,
chases, dogfights, etc.

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PRECISE
You may expend your special armor
to resist a consequence of distraction,
misunderstanding, or chemical effects,
or to push yourself when working with
technical skill or precision.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you “resist a consequence”
of the appropriate type, you avoid
it completely. If you use this ability
to push yourself, you get one of the
benefits (+1d, +1 effect, act despite
severe harm) but you don’t spend 2
edge. Your special armor is restored at
the beginning of downtime.
INFILTRATOR
You are not affected by quality or Tier
when you bypass security measures.
This ability lets you contend with higher-
Tier enemies on equal footing. Whether
you’re sequencing a maglock, cracking
a safe, or sneaking past patrolling ICe
in VR, your effect level is never reduced
due to the superior Tier or quality level
of your opposition.
What do the prevailing rumors say
about your prior heists? Or are you an
unknown, someone whose exceptional
talents are just waiting to be discovered?
JURY RIG
When you Engineer a device to repair or
alter it, the work is much quicker than it
should be and you don’t need all the parts
(or tools).
Normally, it is futile to attempt field repairs
without all the required equipment—with
this, you are a master of improvisation
using whatever is on hand. What you can
eschew depends on what you are doing.
Alterations or repairs will not be lasting—
but often they don’t need to be. Useful for
more destructive alterations as well.
7
ELECTRICIAN
When you invent or craft a creation with
electronic features, take +1 result level to
your roll (a 1-3 becomes a 4/5, etc). You begin
with one special design already known.
Follow the Inventing procedure on
page 254 with the GM to define your
first special design.
CHEMIST
riGGer
When you invent or craft a creation with
chemical features, take +1 result level to
your roll (a 1-3 becomes a 4/5, etc). You begin
with one special design already known.
PlayBooK:
Follow the Inventing procedure on
page 254 with the GM to define your
first special design.
MEDIC
You can Engineer bones, blood, and
bodily tissues to treat injuries or stabilize
the dying. You may Study an ailment or
corpse. Take this ability a second time to
count as the crew’s surgeon and grant
everyone in the crew (including you) +1d
to their recovery rolls.
Actual knowledge of medical procedures
is a lost talent. Without this ability,
any attempts at emergency treatment
are likely to be fleeting or make things
worse. With this ability, you can serve
as the healer for recovery (rolling
Engineer) in downtime, and can even
take action to administer first aid in
the field to allow your patient to ignore
a harm penalty for an hour or two.
Performing certain surgical procedures
still carries risks, depending on your
unique skill set as informed by your
special abilities. See Surgery on page
262 for details.
83
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SPECIAL ITEMS
◆A configured drone: An ◆ Fine electrical tools: A specialized
electromechanical device capable of set of tools suitable for detailed
locomotion with human-like senses electronic work. A headlamp outfitted
(by default), configured to accept your with visual sensors capable of
commands and perform subroutines. magnification. A set of soldering irons,
See page 252 for information on specialized wrenches, and other hand
how to detail and configure your first tools. Precision sensors and measuring
drone. Feature(s) can be added for an devices. [1 load]
additional special item choice.
◆ Medical supplies: A handheld or
◆ A personal vehicle: A small vehicle, shoulder-strapped case containing
suitable for manual piloting (with a up to three uses of sprays or patches.
license) or autonomous transport of When you employ an item from
one or two people by either land or your medical antidote patch
sea. A roadster. A motorcycle (with supplies, choose hard-clot
available sidecar). A dune-buggy. A one from the list
sterilizer
jet-ski. A small speedboat. Flying or at right (or one
stim patch
underwater capability can be added to of your custom-
stun patch
your personal vehicle for an additional made formulas).
special item choice. See page 256 for more on sprays
and patches. During downtime, you
◆ Utility harness: A strap worn over automatically refill your medical supplies
the shoulder containing a modular
so long as you have reasonable access to a
pouch and hook system to safely
supplier or workshop. [1 load]
hold up to three chemicals or small
gadgets. When hypersolvent
you employ an hyperglue
item from a thermite gel
utility harness, nightshades (g)
choose one
sensor tag (g)
from the list at
spatial scanner (g)
right (or one of
thermite rod (g)
your custom-
made formulas vehicular
override (g) suggested implants
or gadgets).
See page 256 for more on chemicals
and gadgets. During downtime, you ◆ neural with control rig
automatically refill your utility harness, ◆ acidproof & fireproof skin
so long as you have reasonable access
to a supplier or workshop. [1 load] ◆ vital organs
◆ a hidden compartment

You may create gadgets during downtime by Engineering with tools and materials.
Track the load for each gadget you deploy during an operation that is too heavy or
conspicuous to fit in an available harness slot.

84
 SNAKE
A liar and manipulator
At first, the shadows are bewildering, a muddled political landscape with secret
wars fought behind automated turrets and mirrored windows. For the Snake
though, there is a veiled order to it all—the criminal underworld is just another
secret waiting to be exploited, another opportunity to seize, another problem to
solve.

STARTING ACTIONS SLY FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 influence ◆ Pop, a drug dealer. Pop regularly buys
and sells a respectable quantity of drugs
 
  
 study around town. What class of clientele finds
their product most desirable?
starting builds ◆ Maynard, a courier. Perhaps a good
If you want some guidance when you
source for gossip among the upper class, or
assign your action dots and special
a trusted trafficker who screwed you over?
abilities, use one of these templates.
◆ Freedom, a double agent. Perhaps a
The Informant Consort +1, Interface good source of information, or someone
+2, Study +1. Takes One to Know One who keeps complicating your jobs?
The Mole Command +1, Consort +2, ◆ Jerick, a records clerk. Perhaps a way to
Study +1. Trust Me deal with bothersome records, or someone
who falsified official documents against
The Pretender Fight +1, Finesse +1, you in the name of “justice.”
Survey +2. Master of Disguise
◆ Sea Bass, a parolee. Perhaps an old
Smooth Operator Engineer +2, friend from childhood, or an enemy who
Finesse +1, Interface +1. Long Con was never supposed to get out?

When you play a Snake, you earn karma when you address a challenge with
deception or calculation Sometimes you’re flush and sometimes you’re bust—
but you know just how to slip out of a tough situation. Choose who you will be
today wisely—and even better tomorrow. You are sure to get your way if you just
keep telling them what they want to hear. How do you always know what that
is? You can see right through them.

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Is there even a “real” you? Or does your personality change to suit the
listener without you even having to think about it? Are all your relationships
just bargaining chips for you to pass around?

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SNAKE SPECIAL ABILITIES

TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE
You can always tell when someone is lying
to you.
This ability works in all situations
without restriction. It is very powerful,
but also a bit of a curse. You can easily
see through every lie, even the kind
ones.
FORESIGHT
Two times per run you can assist a
teammate without spending edge. Tell us
how you prepared for this.
You can narrate an event in the past
that helps your teammate now, or
you might explain how you expected
this situation and planned a helpful
contingency that you reveal now.

86

MASTER OF DISGUISE
When you use a disguise or other form of
covert misdirection, you get +1d to rolls
to confuse or deflect suspicion. When
you throw off your disguise, the resulting
surprise gives you the initiative in the
situation.
This ability gives you the chance to
more easily get out of trouble if a
covert operation goes haywire. Also,
don’t forget your fine disguise kit
item, which boosts the effect of your
covert deception methods.
LONG CON
You may expend your special armor to
resist a consequence from suspicion or
persuasion, or to push yourself when you
gather information or work on a long-term
project.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you “resist a consequence”
of the appropriate type, you avoid
it completely. If you use this ability
to push yourself, you get one of the
benefits (+1d, +1 effect, act despite
severe harm) but you don’t spend 2
edge. Your special armor is restored at
the beginning of downtime.
PROVOCATEUR
When you taunt someone, it’s especially
provocative. You get +1d to Study a
provoked target.
You know how to watch people to
uncover weaknesses without arousing
suspicion, and then cleverly exploit
those vulnerabilities to meet your
needs.
8
DISARMING
You get +1d vs. a target with whom you
have an intimate relationship.
Any action can get the bonus, not just
social actions. “Intimate” is for you
and the group to define, it need not
exclusively mean romantic intimacy.
TRUST ME
You may use teamwork maneuvers with any
snaKe
crew member who trusts you, regardless of the
distance separating you. Ask the teammates
who trusts you after they pick their load for
the run. You can force any character who trusts
you to perform the protect maneuver on your
behalf (they suffer a consequence instead of
PlayBooK:
you).
You can help out the crew from anywhere
if they are willing to follow your direction,
but they’re also keenly aware your
contingency plans don’t always include
safety nets for them.
LINGUIST
You can understand bits and pieces of any
dialect, even those you never learned. You
can spend 1 edge to hold a conversation
despite language barriers.
Attempting actions across language
barriers is difficult for those who
lack this ability, but you can get by in
a pinch due to your understanding of
languages. Using the language of the
listener factors into effect as usual.
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SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine cover identity: Fake licenses
and business holo-cards, planted
stories and rumors, and false
relationships sufficient to pass as a
different person. [0 load]
◆ Red rock: A dose of the popular
drug, which induces a dreamlike
state. The victim of this crystal is not
fully unconscious, but rather retreats
into a calm, suggestible mental state,
similar to hypnotism. [0 load]
◆ Blackmail supplies: Compromising
or injurious information, consisting of
recorded conversations, embarrassing
video, or incriminating physical
evidence. [0 load]
◆ Fine disguise kit: A vial of
pheromones and a thermoplastic
mask kit equipped with an impressive
array of expert appliances to fool the
eyes and ears. The fine quality of this
kit may increase the effect of your
deceptive actions when you use it.
[1 load]
◆ Concealed holdout pistol: A low
caliber firearm that is very small and
easily concealed in a sleeve or jacket.
This pistol is very difficult to detect on
your person, even if you’re searched.
[0 load]

suggested implants

◆ neural: pheromone secreter & vocalflex

◆ a hidden compartment
◆ senses: heightened & widened

88
 TRIGGER
A deadly marksman and tracker
There is great demand for runners who can pull the trigger at the right time. The
things others wish to keep hidden are laid bare to a capable Trigger. Whether
that be a deadbeat who’s trying to skip out on their debts, a witness who’s going
to snitch to the authorities, or the trail to a hacker’s hidden stash of paydata—it’s
the Trigger that can hunt them down.

STARTING ACTIONS DEADLY FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 stalk ◆ Flex, private security. Flex is a
protector; a bodyguard. Who do they
 
  
 survey watch over?

starting builds ◆ Blank, a spy. Who does Blank give

If you want some guidance when you
assign your action dots and special
abilities, use one of these templates.
Bounty Hunter Consort +1, Fight +1,
Prowl +2. Scout
their intelligence to?
◆ Maple, a street doc. Perhaps an old
friend who’s patched you up many
times, or someone to whom you’ve sent
too many victims?

Cyber-stalker Interface +2, Study +2.

◆ Vik Bates, an executive. Perhaps a
client who’s often hunting down their
Relentless
targets, or perhaps a target who got
Hood Command  +1, Consort  +1, away?
Wreck +2. Vigilante ◆ Longarm, a bounty hunter. Perhaps
Sharpshooter Prowl +2, Study +1, someone you trained to hunt the
Survey +1. Deadeye ultimate game: people, or vice-versa?

When you play a Trigger, you earn karma when you address a challenge
with tracking or violence Step up and scope out opportunities and targets for
a run and be willing to hurt whoever stands in your way. Line up your shots and
take your prey down on your terms. The shadows are where your talents can be
brought to bear; where your methods leave no second chances.

89
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Do you see the whole world as potential prey, or do you still care about
people? Which target in the past gave you the most trouble? Why?
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TRIGGER SPECIAL ABILITIES
DEADEYE
You can push yourself to do one of the
following: make a ranged attack at extreme
distance beyond what’s normal for the
weapon—create viable ranged trajectories
using ricochet or arcs.
When you push yourself to activate this
ability, you still get one of the normal
benefits of pushing yourself (+1d, +1 effect,
etc.) in addition to the special ability.
The first use of this ability allows you
to attempt long-range sniper shots that
would otherwise be impossible without
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special enhancements. The second
use of this ability makes it possible to
shoot someone even without a straight
trajectory, ricocheting off of nearby
surfaces (walls, ceiling, debris, etc.) or by
“throwing” shots to arc them.
SCOUT
When you gather information to locate a
target, you get +1 effect When you hide in
a prepared position or use camouflage, you
get +1d to rolls to avoid detection.
A “target” can be a person, a destination,
a good ambush spot, an item, etc.

FOCUSED
You may expend your special armor to
resist a consequence of surprise or mental
strain (fear, confusion, losing track of
someone), or to push yourself for ranged
combat or tracking.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you “resist a consequence”
of the appropriate type, you avoid
it completely. If you use this ability
to push yourself, you get one of the
benefits (+1d, +1 effect, act despite
severe harm) but you don’t spend 2
edge. Your special armor is restored at
the beginning of downtime.
GUN CONTROL
You can draw and reload firearms quickly,
regardless of weapon type. You get +1d to
rolls to unleash a barrage of rapid fire at an
enemy.
A barrage of rapid fire consumes more
ammunition, but allows you to keep up
a steady rate of fire in a battle (enough
to “suppress” a small team of up to
five people, discouraging them from
maneuvering or attacking), rather than
stopping for a slow reload or weapon
switch after each volley.
If you unleash a barrage in combat
against an enemy who’s threatening you,
you’ll still make an action roll in the battle
(maybe with Stalk, Fight, or Wreck).
RELENTLESS
Due to harsh experience or training, if there
is a question whether you’re sleepy, hungry,
or thirsty, the answer is no. You get +1 edge
box.
This ability gives you an additional
edge box, so you have 10 instead of 9.
The maximum number of edge boxes
a PC can have (from any number of
additional special abilities) is 12.
9
VIGILANTE
You gain an additional karma trigger: You
exacted justice on someone who harmed you
or someone you care about. If your crew
helped you exact justice, also mark crew
karma.
You may mark up to 2 karma per session
for each additional karma trigger you
have. You can never earn more than 8
TriGGer
karma (in sum) from karma triggers at
the end of session.
RESILIENT
You recover from harm faster. Permanently
fill in one of your healing clock segments.
PlayBooK:
You get +1d to healing recovery rolls.
Your healing clock becomes a 3-track,
and you get a bonus die when you
recover.
KILLER PET
Your hunting pet gets +1d when tracking
or fighting injured targets, and gains a
special ability: crowd control—sapience—
swift. Take this ability again to choose an
additional special ability for your pet.
Your pet (if you have one) already
functions as a cohort (Expert: Hunter).
This ability gives them potency when
it can catch the scent of something’s
blood, plus a special feature of your
choice from the list.
Crowd control allows it to threaten a
small group (up to six people) as easily
as a single person. Sapience allows it
to understand complex ideas and make
decisions like a person might (your very
own “data dog” perhaps?). Swift allows
the pet to move extremely quickly,
keeping pace with most land vehicles.
For more details about cohorts, see
page 118.
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SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Military weapon: A devastating firearm designed for war. Choose its optimal
range (near or far), and up to two features for the weapon: cornershot—launcher—
light (1 load instead of 2)—penetrating—rapid fire—reload  assist—shocking—
silenced—smartgun—stabby—stopping power—splitting. Describe the weapon
and give it a nickname if you wish. Details on optional smartgun systems can be
found on page 260. Weapons like this are extremely illegal for private citizens in
Kingston, but you have real or forged military licensing for this one. [2 load]
◆ Firearms mod: You have access to a variety of smartgun (external)
accessories which alter the dynamics of a firearm to silencer
which they are attached. When you employ a firearms
mod, choose one from the list at right. [1 load] stabilizer

An external smartgun system takes a few minutes to attach or remove to a weapon

(those without common ballistics profiles can take several shots to configure properly).
Shots fired through the silencer are inaudible except to those nearby; it is slow to screw
on or off, and may attach to a rifle or pistol. The stabilizer is a special mount designed
to counter the effects of erratic movement or rapid fire; it takes about a minute to don
or remove, and may attach to a vehicle (this takes a few minutes) for additional stability.

◆ Fine pair of pistols: A matched pair of light handguns, made for greater
accuracy. Were your pistols made by Colt, S&W, or some other gunsmith? How do
they stand out from the average handgun? [1 load]
◆ Special ammo: A bandolier of specially crafted ap ammo
ammunition for a pistol or small rifle, especially potent capsule ammo
against intended targets, but less effective against others.
When you employ special ammo, choose one from the flare ammo
list at right. Special ammo is “smart”—meaning it can be flechette ammo
preprogrammed to respond to a timer, expel its payload at frangible ammo
a certain range from a networked device, etc. A fortune roll
may be required when you rely on such things. [1 load] gel ammo

AP ammo penetrates most armor. Capsule ammo delivers a loaded chemical through
a flesh wound. The showering sparks from flare ammo are well-suited for signaling
or starting a fire. Flechette ammo spreads out upon impact, shredding unarmored
targets. Frangible ammo ignores hard substances (bone, metal, wood, etc.). The impact
from gel ammo is enough to stun a person or knock them down, but does very little
real harm; several hits might incapacitate a person or bind them to a suitable surface
nearby.

◆ A trained hunting pet: Your animal suggested implants

companion obeys your commands
and anticipates your actions. Cohort ◆ senses: dampened & heightened
(Expert: Hunter) ◆ legs: swift or high jump
◆ skin: chemproof & fireproof
◆ neural: reflexes
92
 ADEPT
A mystic practitioner
Adepts are practitioners of mystical traditions who wield their body’s living
essence to achieve peak levels of performance. They may not have the resolve or
awareness that the more supernaturally active runners possess, but they are not
to be underestimated—the empowerment of their natural talents through the
perfection of an aspect of themselves gives them surprising utility and efficacy
that some can only dream of.

STARTING ACTIONS STRANGE FRIENDS, RIVALS

During creation, also assign
 
  

three dots to any of the
◆ Spike, a dojo owner. Perhaps an old
four actions appropriate to
teacher, or a rival in the martial arts
 
  

your chosen way.(see next scene?
 
  
 page for details)..
◆ Rayden, a parkourist. Perhaps
someone you used to train with, or an
starting builds elusive challenger seeking a rematch?
If you want some guidance when you
assign your action dots and special
◆ Ty, a mastermind. Perhaps a brilliant
mentor, or your longtime nemesis that
abilities, use one of these templates.
can somehow predict your every move?
The Chameleon Command +1, Consort ◆ Kris, a fanatic. Perhaps a source of
+1, Influence +2. Transmorphic hard-to-find supplies, or your match in
Hulk, Smash Fight +1, Prowl +1, intelligence or agility?
Wreck +2. Boosted ◆ Roz, a professor. Perhaps someone
Planar Guardian Fight +2, Stalk  +2. guiding you to your destiny, or the
Astral Warrior source of your troublesome visions?

Seer Study +2, Survey +2. Adept Senses

When you play an Adept, you earn karma when you addressed a challenge
with inner perfection or mystical power Empower yourself to perform adept
feats which surpass normal human limits so that you continue to grow in power.
As you delve deeper into your training, you’ll bolster your innate talents with
even greater feats made possible by the continued perfection of your body’s
living essence. You might even dabble in some of the secret arts borrowed from
the Mage or Techno playbook.

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Why did you pursue your Adept abilities? Are you a natural, did you study and practice on your
own, or did you have a trainer? Are you more focused on perfecting your body’s living essence or
do you dabble in the secret arts?

.
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Adept Ways Adept Drawbacks

‹ Mind: Empowerment through the
perfection of your intellect and instincts. The
cap on your rating for all four Intuition
actions is one higher than normal.
‹ Body: Empowerment through the
perfection of your health and fitness. The cap
on your rating for all four Body actions is
one higher than normal.
‹ Soul: Empowerment through the
perfection of your personality and resolve. The
cap on your rating for all four Willpower
actions is one higher than normal.
‹ Expensive: Your access to your adept
feats costs you 1 nuyen per downtime to
keep active.
‹ Loud: You take +1 heat the first time
you use an adept feat on a run.
‹ Taxing: Each downtime phase,
you must spend one downtime activity
meditating and practicing in a safe spot (or
else lose 1 edge).

When you become a student of an adept way, you receive permission to study the fundamentals
of your chosen way. You gain the following maneuver (this does not count as a special ability):
‹ Practitioner of the Way: Choose an When you have proven your command
adept way and an adept drawback. You may over the fundamentals of your adept way,
roll to resist supernatural consequences with you receive permission to take the Adept
Body. You can never become Awakened or playbook. If you chose the Adept playbook
Emergent. during character creation or switch to it later,
choose your way and drawback as you study.

94

ADEPT FEATS
Through advancement, an adept PC can take a maximum number of adept feats (in sum)
equal to their remaining essence (see page 268 for details). If you take a feat when you
have already reached your limit, you must replace one instead. If you ever have more
adept feats than your limit (due to essence loss), choose an appropriate number to
keep (losing all other adept feats). You cannot take Mystic Way as your first adept feat.
FRAGGIN’ ADEPT
You can push yourself to do one of the
following: perform a feat of acrobatics that
verges on the superhuman—maneuver to
confuse your enemies so they mistakenly
attack each other.
When you push yourself to activate this
ability, you still get one of the normal
benefits of pushing yourself (+1d, +1
effect, etc.) if you’re making a roll, in
addition to the special ability.
If you perform an acrobatic feat
(running, tumbling, balance, climbing,
etc.) that verges on the superhuman,
you might climb a sheer surface without
hand-holds, tumble safely out of a three-
story fall, leap a shocking distance, pass
without leaving a trace, etc.
If you maneuver to confuse your
enemies, they attack each other for
a moment before they realize their
mistake. The GM might make a fortune
roll to see how badly they harm or
interfere with each other.
ADEPT SENSES
Spend 1 edge to perceive beyond normal
limits for several minutes. Detect subtle
environmental changes (temperature,
frequency, pressure, etc.), sense the presence
of danger, become a living lie detector, etc.
AUTONOMIC CONTROL
Spend 1 edge to control your vital
functions and autonomic response for
several minutes. Feign death convincingly,
fool a lie detector test, ignore pain, hold
your breath with impunity, etc.
10
BOOSTED
You can push yourself to do one of the
following: perform a feat of physical force
adePT
that verges on the superhuman—engage a
small team on equal footing in close combat.
When you push yourself to activate this
ability, you still get one of the normal
PlayBooK:
benefits of pushing yourself (+1d, +1
effect, etc.) in addition to the special
ability.
If you perform a feat that verges on the
superhuman, you might break a metal
weapon with your bare hands, tackle a
moving vehicle, lift a huge weight, etc.
If you engage a small group on equal
footing, you don’t suffer reduced effect
due to scale against a small group (up
to six people).
REFLEXES
When there’s a question about who acts
first, the answer is you (two characters with
Reflexes act simultaneously).
This ability gives you the initiative in
most situations. Some specially trained
or well-outfitted NPCs (and some astral
entities and dragons) might also have
reflexes, but otherwise, you’re always
the first to act, and can interrupt anyone
else who tries to beat you to the punch.
This ability usually doesn’t negate the
need to make an action roll that you
would otherwise have to make, but it
may improve your position or effect.
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TRANSMORPHIC
You can morph your face or change the
color of your skin, making you difficult
to recognize for several minutes. Spend 1
edge when you morph, plus 1 edge for each
special feature: the change lasts longer (an
hour, a few hours, etc)—accompanying build
change—accompanying voice alteration.
This ability alters the color of your skin and
shape of your face for a few minutes. If you
spend additional edge, you can extend the
effects for additional benefits, which may
improve your position or effect for action rolls,
depending on the circumstances, as usual.
When you use this to perform a voice
alteration, you can impersonate someone’s
voice, as well as other, less human sounds
(rolling Influence) so long as you’ve become
intimately familiar with them. If you don’t
know one well enough, you might undertake
a long-term project to know it better.
ASTRAL WARRIOR
You can infuse your hands, melee weapons,
or tools with astral power. You gain potency
in combat against astral entities. You may
choose this ability again to select an elemental
energy type you wield when you do this (and
you may spend 1 edge to wield it as a ranged
weapon): fire—ice—electricity—air.
When you infuse yourself with this power,
you can interact just as well with entites
on the astral plane as your own, rather
than weakly interact.
When you wield elemental energy, the
GM will describe your effect level and
significant collateral damage. If you
unleash it in combat against an enemy
who’s threatening you, you’ll still make an
action roll in the battle (maybe with Fight
or Wreck).
You may have a limited number of
active supernatural bonds (in sum)
equal to your Body rating; see page
292 for details.
96
MYSTIC WAY
You may roll the Assense or Attune action
(write it in; it’s rated at 1 dot now). Take this
adept feat again (up a number of times in sum
equal to your Willpower), each time gaining
(choose one) an appropriate secret art or an
additional supernatural action dot.
For example, if your Willpower is 2, then
you can take this adept feat a total number
of 2 times; the first time you get 1 dot in your
choice of Assense or Attune, and the second
time you get an appropriate secret art you
choose or an additional supernatural action
dot. Note: A dot in a special action does not
contribute towards Willpower.
Describe your strange combination of
methods; this is the only way for you to
get better at magic or technomancy. Your
methods confound others, but there are
some mysteries beyond your reach: you
cannot choose Astral Projection or
Emergent Proxy with this adept feat.
SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine mystic body art: A branding or
piercing of the flesh that allows the bearer to
focus and expand their adept potential. Each
piece of mystic body art is supernaturally
bonded to you (considered a focus), uniquely
artistic, and painstaking to remove. What does
yours look like? What makes it memorable
and impressive to see? [0 load]
◆ Fine astral weapon: A one- or two-handed
blade or stave that is effective against arcane
entities (spirits, etc.) for the bonded user.
When you’re bonded to this focus, your
attacks with it can strongly interact with
astral forms, rather than weakly interact.
Is this an heirloom weapon, or a more
modern design that you or someone famous
painstakingly crafted? [1 or 2 load]
◆ Strange trinket: A small item that grants
the bearer visions of the distant past or
impending future of a nearby item or
location—whether they want them or not.
Labored concentration may clarify what
is envisioned. What strange phenomena
accompanies the use of this seemingly
innocuous trinket? [0 load]
 MAGE
An arcane practitioner
Port Royal is hopelessly haunted by the spirits of thousands of pirates and merchants
who share a sunken rock pit as a grave. People pay big money for those who can navigate
the perils of Aztlan. Nearby Portmore is said to be overrun by awakened creatures—
strange monsters of mythical proportions and ability, weaponized cyberzombies, and
even hordes of ghouls. The protected jungle beyond the neon hazard signs to the east are
a dense wilderness inhabited by strange people and stranger critters. These are the sorts
of things which are best handled using the specialized methods and secret arts of magic.

STARTING ACTIONS STRANGE FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 assense ◆ Roz, a free spirit. Perhaps a good
source for targets, or the malevolent
 
  
 study watcher that’s been toying with
you? This one has been a professor
starting builds at a nearby college for decades, but
If you want some guidance when recently.. something changed.
you assign your action dots and ◆ Vladimir, a vampire. Perhaps a
special abilities, use one of these source of power, or a former lover—
templates. now infected and beyond reason?
Combat Mage Fight +2, Prowl +1, ◆ Kalanyr, a dragon. Perhaps your
Stalk +1. Sorcerer partner in a dark endeavor, or the
entity that caused your senses to open?
Cult Leader Consort +2, ◆ Redstone, a wage mage. Perhaps a
Command +2. Astral Occultist knowledgeable magical colleague, or
perhaps a former student who left over
Occult Investigator Influence +1, bad blood?
Stalk +1, Survey +2. Astral Mind
◆ Moonriver, a talismonger. Perhaps
Summoner Command +1, Study +1, a wise mentor or source of rare
Survey +2. Conjurer materials, or perhaps your ideological
rival?

When you play a Mage, you earn karma when you address a challenge with
knowledge or arcane power Seek out the wondrous and powerful forces of
magic for guidance and bend them to your will. Make deals with spirits to remain
in harmony with the astral forces at large. By being willing to face the trauma
from the drain of wielding the secret arts, you’ll quickly replace the mundane
parts of yourself with power overwhelming.

97
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Why do you pursue your arcane talents? Were you awakened by a mentor,
or do you have a stranger history (maybe your lineage or background)?

.
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When you open your senses to the astral plane for the first time, you receive permission
to study the fundamentals of your arcane tradition’s method (hermetic, shamanic,
new age, or denial). You gain the following maneuver (this does not count as a special
ability):
‹ Awakened: Choose an arcane When you have proven your command over
method, and a number of drawbacks as the fundamentals of your tradition’s method,
directed by your choice. You may choose you receive permission to take the Mage
to roll the Assense action. When you playbook. If you choose the Mage playbook
during character creation or switch to it later,
roll a desperate Assense action, mark
describe how you fulfill the requirements on
1 karma on the Willpower track.
this page already—otherwise take action to
You may take additional action dots in complete them in play. Perhaps a long-term
the Assense action as a Willpower project is needed to cover the broader aspects
advance. You can never become Emergent of opening your hidden senses? Perhaps a
or a Practitioner of the Way. supernatural run could help awaken you?

98

ASSENSE
When you Assense, you open your mind to
the astral plane or channel arcane energies
through your body. You might communicate
with a free spirit or understand aspects of
conjuring. You could try to perceive beyond
sight (but Surveying might be better).
GM Questions
◆ How do you open your mind to the astral
plane? What does that look like?
◆ What powers are you entreating? How are
you channeling that energy? What do you
hope this will do?
The “astral plane” is described somewhat
vaguely, on purpose. It’s a supernatural realm
that humans were unable to perceive since
the Fog of Mortal Disbelief cut off their ability
to sense it. While Assensing, it is possible to
“see” concentrations of astral energy in the
city, “hear” the reverberations of events
in the recent past, and feel the presence of
astral entities like spirits and elementals. To
Assense is to tap into a burgeoning wellspring
of power that could easily go out of control.
It’s a way to communicate what you think
about these arcane energies and even the
afterlife, and to ask the other players what
they think about it too.
When you perceive the astral plane you can see
the arcane evidence of recent events or sense
things beyond sight (the fine sensing focus of
the Mage allows them to see even more detail).
Surveying is usually the action you’d use to get a
sense of a location or to spot hidden things, but
Assensing can work better in some situations—
sometimes at a worse position since you’re
risking danger from the astral plane.
To choose your Assense rating for an action
roll, you must first be awakened. Mages can
Assense as the basis for secret arts of magic,
such as Sorcerer or Conjurer (see next
page). Without the astral plane and living
essence, these powers can’t manifest.
You lose access to these capabilities if you
become a Shell. See page 269 for details on
this alternate state of being.
11
Examples
CONTROLLED
I Assense for any nearby arcane powers in use,
to see if there are any magical wards on the door.
4/5 Reduced Effect: You do sense something
unseen pushing against your astral senses, but
you can’t quite tell how far it extends—to the
windows and roof, too? Maybe so.
4/5 Harm: There’s a flash, a brief whoosh, and
a burst of flame. The stench of your burnt hair
maGe
and skin lingers in the air. Take level-1 harm,
“Lightly toasted.”
RISKY
I Assense to examine the energies present here
PlayBooK:
to see his last moments. That CSG agent, Smith,
died in this very spot, so I’ll try to catch an
glimpse of what happened in the astral plane.
4/5 Reduced Effect: In your mind’s eye, you briefly
see a faint apparition of agent Smith, pleading. A
bright muzzle flash briefly illuminates the face of
a shadowed figure just before it ends. It sort of
matches the face of Lia, the heiress to the Yakuza
empire, but you can’t be sure if what you saw
was an act of malice—or fear.
1-3 Harm + Complication: Agent Smith’s death
agony washes over you. You see a blurred face
before you, then feel a heavy sting as a metal bar
collides with your cheek bone. Take level 1 harm,
“Shaken.” The spirit doesn’t answer anymore,
but you can sense something retreating into the
warded room.
DESPERATE
As the free spirit tries to possess me, I reach
into the fire elemental. I’ll Assense to funnel its
essence through myself and banish the spirit!
4/5 Serious Complication: A column of fire
engulfs its astral form and it departs. As its
disrupted, bursts of flame fly out from your
hands and eyes, setting off the building alerts.
What do you do now?
1-3 Severe Harm: The spirit rides the energy
directly into your astral form, engulfing your
material form in burning flames. You suffer two
types of harm: level-3 “Scorched” from the fire,
and also a level of special harm “Drain.” Which
would you like to resist first?
99
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Arcane Methods Arcane Drawbacks

‹ Hermetic: The manipulation of
supernatural energies with practiced
routines and science. You may roll to resist
supernatural consequences with Intuition.
Also take one drawback.
‹ Shamanic: The guidance of
supernatural energies with spiritual
reverence and unwavering belief. When
you make a deal with spiritual entities, you
get +1d. Also take one drawback.
‹ New World: You gain the benefits of one or
both methods above, describing what’s unique
about your interpretation. Choose an equal
number of drawbacks as you do methods.
‹ Denial: You completely deny the
benefits and trappings of arcane tradition.
To what can you attribute your power: faith,
insanity, or some other delusion? Take zero
drawbacks.
‹ Bright: You take +1 heat the first
time you use arcane power of any kind
on a run. Yes: even Assensing counts as
arcane power.
‹ Expensive: Your access to the
secret arts costs you 1 nuyen per
downtime to keep active. No: Assensing
doesn’t count as a secret art.
‹ Reverent: Your beliefs or dogma
forbid you from commanding spiritual
entities. You may spend 1 edge to overcome
this stricture.
‹ Rigorous: Each downtime phase,
you must spend one downtime activity
studying and practicing in a lodge (or
else lose 1 edge).

SECRET ARTS OF MAGIC

An awakened PC may take a maximum number of secret arts (in sum) equal to their
remaining essence. If you take a secret art when you have already reached your limit,
you must replace one instead. If you ever have more secret arts than your limit (due
to essence loss in play), choose an appropriate number to keep (losing all other secret
arts).

SORCERER
You know the unique methods to activate
metaplanar energies through your body to
cast spells. You can Study a spell formula to
summon a supernatural effect. You begin with
two spells already learned.
Without this special ability, the study
and practice of spells leaves you utterly
vulnerable to the metaplanar energies
you attempt to harness. These efforts are
harmful to your health and psyche.
When you take this secret art, choose your
known spells and record them in your
notes for future reference. When you use
this ability to cast a spell, pay the cost(s)
accordingly with its magnitude and type.
When you cast a spell despite danger, make
an action roll (usually Assense). For more
details, see Sorcery, starting on page 296.
WARDED
You can expend your special armor to
resist an arcane consequence, or to push
yourself when you employ or contend
with arcane forces.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you resist a consequence, this
ability negates or reduces its severity. If
you use this ability to push yourself, you
get one of the benefits (+1d, +1 effect,
act despite severe harm) but you don’t
spend 2 edge. Your special armor is
restored at the beginning of downtime.

100

ASTRAL MIND
You’re always aware of astral entities in your
presence. You get +1d to gather information
about the arcane by any means.
CONJURER
You can Assense to force a nearby astral
entity to appear before you and obey a
command you give it. You are never terrified
by a astral entity you summon or attempt to
conjure (though your allies may be).
The GM will tell you if you sense any
astral entities nearby. If you don’t have
an entity in mind, one will still show
up (the summoning is automatic, but
the command is not). However, failure
in that case can also cause a horror
to show up (the baseline force you can
summon is equal to the crew’s Tier,
as usual). If you want, you can gather
information (maybe Assense, Study,
or Survey) to attempt to locate one.
By default, an astral entity wants
to satisfy its need for life essence.
Elementals are also mindlessly vengeful
towards the living. When you conjure
it, you can give it a general or specific
command, but the more general it is (like
“Protect me”) the more the spiritual
entity will interpret it according to
its otherworldly desires. Your control
over the spiritual entity lasts until the
command is fulfilled, or until a day has
passed, whichever comes first.
IRON WILL
You’re immune to the terror that some
supernatural entities inflict on sight.
When you make a resistance roll with
Willpower, take +1d
With this ability, the sheer terror that
accompanies the sight of dragons and
the fury of elementals does not affect you.
In fact, you do not freeze up or flee when
confronted by any kind of supernatural
entity or strange arcane event.
11
ENCHANTER
You know the ancient methods to invent and
craft creations with arcane features. You can
Study a design (or create a new one) to produce
a magical focus or alchemical. You begin with
one special design already known.
Follow the Inventing procedure with the
GM (page 254) to define your first special
design. Additional details on emergent
creations can be found on page 303.
maGe
ASTRAL OCCULTIST
You know the secret ways to Consort with
ancient powers, forgotten mentors, or dragons.
Once you’ve consorted with one, you get +1d to
Command cultists who worship it.
PlayBooK:
Consorting with a given entity may
require special preparations or travel to a
specific place. The GM will tell you about
any requirements. You get the bonus die
to your Command rolls because you can
demonstrate a secret knowledge of or
influence over the entity when you interact
with cultists.
ASTRAL PROJECTION
You may project your consciousness into the
astral plane to “see” a small room across the
district as if it were nearby. Spend 2 edge when
you project, plus 1 edge for each extra feature:
project further (across the sprawl, across the
country, etc)—you can be seen or heard—it lasts
longer (a few minutes, an hour, etc.).
This ability detaches your consciousness
for a few moments, leaving your physical
body utterly helpless. You cannot see
physical forms while projecting.
If you spend additional edge, you can
extend the effect for additional benefits,
which may improve your effect or reduce
the risks for action rolls, depending on the
circumstances, as usual. Projection for
more than an hour may free your spirit,
resulting in the death of your physical body.
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11
SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine spell focus: A small arcane
talisman that allows the bonded user to
wield spells with exceptional control.
Each spell focus is a hand-crafted or
unworked natural item. What is yours
made from? [1 load]
◆ Fine sensing focus: An arcane item
worn on the head that allows the
bonded user to “see” arcane energies
in great detail. Also provides some
measure of protection against mental
effects like possession. Each arcane
focus is unique. What does yours
look like? What is magical about its
appearance? [1 load]
◆ Banishing focus: A small arcane
trinket that astral entities prefer to
avoid when possessed by a bonded
user. [0 load]
You may have a limited number of
active supernatural bonds (in sum)
equal to your Assense rating; see
page 292 for details.
102
◆ A paracritter: This critter follows
you around and may help you out
with your affairs, on occasion. They
function as a cohort (Expert: of a
type you choose) and may be arcane
in nature. What is strange about its
appearance or physiology? What is
exotic about its diet or needs?
Detail your paracritter with the
GM’s help using the examples and
additional guidance on page 288.
Also choose a number of edges
and flaws (as you would any other
cohort) from the list on page 118.
◆ Fine arcane reagents: A pinch of
desecrated grave dirt. Prayer beads
and bones. A smattering of awakened
organic material (leaves, feathers,
hair, etc.). In what strange way do they
quickly deteriorate upon use? From
which of your friends or contacts do you
source these exotic items? [1 load]
 TECHNO
An emergent practitioner
The senses of a Techno(mancer) are flooded by the presence of data trails everywhere in
the city when their mind emerges to receive its power. It is best to learn the ability to filter
some out before the use of its power, since the emergent plane can be a bit overwhelming
otherwise. The Techno twists the 1’s and 0’s in nearby signals to compile sprites and
draw mischievous gremlins to anywhere networks are found. Reports of inexplicable
cyberspace outages and other gremlin-like phenomena circulate, heightening the
suspicion and fear of technomancy.

STARTING ACTIONS STRANGE FRIENDS, RIVALS

 
  
 attune ◆ Layne, a free sprite. Perhaps a
childhood friend who proxied for too
 
  
 study long, or perhaps a meddlesome e-ghost
that keeps getting in your way?
starting builds
If you want some guidance when
◆ Links, a dataminer. Perhaps a
valuable source of “hot” data trails, or
you assign your action dots and a runner whose weird powers thwart
special abilities, use one of these your own?
templates.
◆ Traveller, an artificial intelligence.
The Anomaly Prowl +2, Wreck +2. Perhaps the entity responsible for your
Dead Zone strange powers, or a digital sentinel
you evaded too many times?
The Architect Engineer  +2, ◆ Phreak, a techno-cultist. Perhaps an
Interface +1, Study +1. Instancer old friend whose methods intrigue you,
or perhaps someone who knows too
The Ghost Prowl  +2, Stalk +2. much?
Editor
◆ Magellan, a lurker. Perhaps a former
The Oracle Consort  +1, Study  +1, mentor, or perhaps someone who stole
Survey +2. Emergent Mind a special design from you?

When you play a Techno, you earn karma when you address a challenge
with knowledge or emergent power Cheat the system, ditch the ‘deck, and
expand your virtual horizons through your emergent senses. By forcing yourself
to face the dangers of your powers, you’ll assimilate your brain to submerse
more completely in the emergent plane inhabited by strange data and signals.

103
12

You wield a mysterious and feared connection to signals and data through
a rare mutation. Why do you pursue these dangerous powers? Do your
abilities tap into the presence of data, or the absence thereof?

.
metadata2166211.
metadata0497053

When you open your senses to the emergent plane for the first time, you receive permission
to study the fundamentals of your emergent tradition’s method (resonant, dissonant,
convergent, or denial; details on the next two pages). You gain the following maneuver (this
does not count as a special ability):
‹ Emergent: Choose an emergent When you have proven your command
method and a number of drawbacks as over the fundamentals of your tradition’s
directed by your choice. You may choose method, you receive permission to take the
to roll the Attune action. When you roll a Techno playbook. If you choose the Techno
desperate Attune action, mark 1 karma
playbook during character creation,
on your Willpower track. You may take
additional action dot(s) in the Attune
describe how you fulfill the requirements
action as a Willpower advance. When there on this page already—otherwise take
is a question whether your consciousness is action to complete them in play. Perhaps
online, the answer is yes (you can spend 1 a long-term project is needed to cover the
edge to ignore this for a time). You can never broader aspects of opening your hidden
become Awakened or a Practitioner of the Way. senses? Perhaps a supernatural run could
help “free your mind”?

104

ATTUNE
When you Attune, you open your mind to the
emergent planes or direct nearby electromagnetic
signals through your body. You might communicate
with a free sprite or understand aspects of
technomancy. You could try to perceive beyond
sight (but Surveying might be better).
GM Questions
◆ How “wide” do you open your mind to the
emergent plane? What does that look like?
◆ What signals are you directing? What do you
hope this will do?
The emergent planes are a fantastical supernatural
domain comprised of all the signals that have ever
been transmitted or silenced, including those
produced by the brains and bodies of people. This
ancient realm has only recently been revealed
to mortals as a source of power. The best guess
about it is that the quantum state of cyberspace
is connected to these realms, which may never
have happened if not for the series of cataclysmic
events known as the Great Crashes. It’s the
quantum superposition upholding cyberspace,
the transmissions of devices in the recent past,
and the medium in which emergent beings like
sprites and echoes exist. It’s a constant stream of
encoded qubits that should always feel perilous
to experience. To attune is to connect with the
anomalous realms of data and corruption that
could quickly backfire and bring you serious pain
and unwanted attention. Bring your ideas about
techno-magic into play and ask the other players
what they think about it too.
When you perceive in augmented reality you
can see data trails: the signals of recent events
or sense things beyond sight (the fine filtering
focus in the special items list allows you to see
even more detail). Interfacing is usually the
action you’d use to quietly intercept data or find
a hidden icon, but Attuning can work better in
some situations—sometimes at a worse position
since you’re risking danger directly to your brain
and are relying on harmful emergent energies for
this power.
To choose your Attune rating for action rolls, you
must first be emergent. Technos can Attune as the
basis for emergent powers, such as Threader or
Compiler. Without the emergent plane and living
essence, these powers can’t manifest. You lose access
to these abilities if you become Infected (page 281)
or a Shell (page 269). See their respective sections
and associated playbooks for details on these
alternate states of being.
12
Examples
CONTROLLED
I Attune to examine the signals present here to
look for recent data trails. If they came online
to pay their informant, maybe I can pick their
trail back up.
4/5 Reduced Effect: You catch a strangely alluring
virtual scent, like caramel popcorn. This might
Techno
lead somewhere! As you are examining that for
details, you realize the trail is a red herring—but
that means you must be getting close! Try again?
4/5 Minor Complication: You see lots of signals
but only a couple came online recently. Too bad
one is clearly a security agency. And they’ve
PlayBooK:
apparently just assigned most of their resources
to bolstering their system against intrusion.
RISKY
After they pass by, I use the opportunity to
check around for hidden paydata I can sell
later.
1-3 Harm + Complication: You are snooping
around, and pick up a strange network
broadcasting a low-security signal. You intercept
the data, but take level 1 harm, “Corruption” as
you fall into virtual trapdoor. What you don’t
know, is that file was fake and also just started
and ticked a “Trace” progress clock to find your
hacker’s deck, with two ticks filled in to start!
DESPERATE
As the counterhacker tries to finish the trace,
I’ll reboot my living persona and come out
“guns blazing” this time: I’m laying down a
deep-dive virtual onslaught to take them out.
4/5 Serious Complication: You reboot and
unleash your attack, but they were waiting for
you to try that! During the exchange, you’re
temporarily blinded in VR by gray ICe you didn’t
see coming. The counterhacker is incapacitated,
knocked out by all that corruption, but more
ICe are surely on the way—not that you can see
them coming! What do you do now?
1-3 Severe Harm: The counterhacker must
have been a real pro! You get hurt badly: level-3
harm, “Paralyzed Legs” from being smashed by a
virtual steam roller. That’s gonna leave a mark—
unless you’d like to resist?
105
12
Emergent Methods
‹ Dissonant: The control of signals
using the spaces between them. You may
roll to resist supernatural consequences
with Intuition. Also take one drawback.
‹ Resonant: The control of signals
with machine languages you can
speak. When you make a deal with an
emergent entity, you get +1d. Also take
one drawback.
‹ Convergent: You gain the benefits
of both methods above. Also take two
drawbacks.
‹ Denial: You completely deny the
benefits and trappings of emergent
tradition. To what can you attribute your
power: faith, insanity, or some other
delusion? Take zero drawbacks.
SECRET ARTS OF TECHNOMANCY
Through advancement, an emergent PC may take a maximum number of secret arts (in
sum) equal to their remaining essence (you start with 8). If you take a secret art when
you have already reached your limit, you must replace one instead. If you ever have
more secret arts than your limit (due to essence loss in play), choose an appropriate
number to keep (losing all other secret arts).
THREADER
You know the unique methods to activate
metaplanar energies through your body
to cast emergent spells (threads). You can
Study an emergent algorithm to summon an
emergent effect. You begin with two threads
already learned.
Without this secret art, the study and
practice of threading leaves you utterly
vulnerable to the metaplanar energies
you attempt to harness. These efforts are
harmful to your health and psyche.
When you take this secret art, choose your
known threads and record them in your notes
for future reference. When you use this ability
to thread an effect, pay the cost(s) accordingly
with its magnitude and type. When you thread
the effect, it requires an action roll (usually
Attune). For more details, see Threading,
starting on page 296.
106
Emergent Drawbacks
‹ Anomalous: You take +1 heat the
first time you use emergent power of
any kind on a run. Yes: even Attuning
counts as emergent power.
‹ Obsolete: Your methods rely on an
antiquated understanding of technology.
You suffer reduced effect when you use
high technology without your powers.
‹ Rigorous: Each downtime phase,
you must spend one downtime activity
studying and practicing in a lodge (or
else lose 1 edge).
‹ Tracked: 6-clock, “Accosted by
OTF agents,” 1 tick per use of a secret
art. This is a supernatural consequence
which you may roll to resist as usual.
EDITOR
You may expend your special armor
to resist an emergent consequence, or to
push yourself to contend with or employ
emergent power.
When you use this ability, tick the
special armor box on your playbook
sheet. If you resist a consequence, this
ability negates or reduces its severity. If
you use this ability to push yourself, you
get one of the benefits (+1d, +1  effect,
act despite severe harm) but you don’t
spend 2 edge. Your special armor is
restored at the beginning of downtime.

EMERGENT MIND
You’re always aware of emergent phenomena
in your presence. Take +1d whenever you
gather info about the emergent by any means.
COMPILER
You can Attune with cyberspace to force a
nearby emergent entity to appear before you
and obey an order you give it. You are never
jacked by an emergent entity that you summon
or attempt to compile (though your allies may
be).
The GM will tell you if you sense any
entities nearby. If you don’t, you can gather
info (maybe Attune, Study, or Survey)
to attempt to locate one. By default, an
emergent entity wants to satisfy its need for
living emergence and corrupt or assimilate
data. When you compile it, you can give it a
general or specific command, but the more
general it is (like “Distract them”) the more
the sprite will interpret it according to its
own desires.
Your control over the sprite lasts until the
command is fulfilled, or until a day has
passed, whichever comes first.
DEAD ZONE
You’re consciousness disrupts nearby signals.
Spend 1 edge to do one of the following: turn
it off until you’re ready—nearby devices are also
orphaned—the crew is unaffected.
This power is always on when you are
awake, though you can turn it off if you
concentrate (the GM might make a fortune
roll to see how long). The first optional use
of this secret art ceases the effect until you
want it back. The second and third uses
each last for up to a few minutes. If you
spend additional edge, you can extend the
effect for additional benefits (duration,
range, etc.), which may improve your effect
or reduce risks for action rolls, depending
on the circumstances, as usual.
12
INSTANCER
You know the secret methods to invent and
craft a creation with emergent features. You
can Study a design (or create a new one) to
produce an emergent focus or widget. You begin
with one special design already known.
Follow the Inventing procedure with the
GM (page 254) to define your first special
design. Additional details on emergent
creations can be found on page 303.
Techno
EMERGENT OCCULTIST
You know the secret ways to Consort with
artificial intelligence, forgotten paragons, or
gremlins. Once you’ve consorted with one, you
get +1d to Command cultists who worship it.
PlayBooK:
Consorting with a given entity may
require special preparations or travel to a
specific place. The GM will tell you about
any requirements. You get the bonus die
to your Command rolls because you can
demonstrate a secret knowledge of or
influence over the entity when you interact
with cultists.
EMERGENT PROXY
You may proxy your consciousness into the
emergent realms to go online as if you are
somewhere else across the district. Spend 2
edge when you project, plus 1 edge for each
extra feature: further away (across the city,
across the region, etc)—your living persona is
visible as if originating there—it lasts longer (a
few minutes, an hour, etc.).
This ability detaches your consciousness
for a few moments, leaving your physical
body utterly helpless. You cannot see
offline devices or locations without signals
while projecting (so you can’t target them
either).
If you spend additional edge, you can
extend the effect for additional benefits,
which may improve your effect or reduce
risks for action rolls, depending on the
circumstances, as usual. Projecting for
more than an hour may free your spirit,
resulting in the death of your physical body.
107
12
SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine threading focus: A small
emergent item that allows the bonded
user to focus their energies when
casting emergent spells (threads).
Each threading focus is a high-tech item
which shouldn’t function or appears to
malfunction. How is its icon mysterious
when you wield it? [1 load]
◆ Fine filtering focus: An item worn
over the head eyes produced with
fine stranded metals that allows the
bonded user to see data trails in great
detail. Also provides some measure of
protection against cyberspace harm.
What does yours look like? Why is it
memorable and cryptic to see in use?
[1 load]
◆ Fine fake cyberdeck: A burner
comm that simulates benign civilian
use and is hidden inside an expertly-
crafted case. An excellent cover for
your special talents. It’s very difficult
to detect it’s a fake, even if the device
or its signals are scrutinized. [0 load]
You may have a limited number of
active supernatural bonds (in sum)
equal to your Attune rating; see
page 292 for details.
108
◆ A technocritter: This critter follows
you around and may help you out with
your affairs, on occasion. They function
as a cohort (Expert: your choice what
type), and may be emergent in nature.
What is strange about its appearance
or physiology? What is exotic about its
diet or needs?
Detail your technocritter with the
GM’s help using the examples and
additional guidance on page 288.
Also choose a number of edges
and flaws (as you would any other
cohort) from the list on page 118.
◆ Fine emergent reagents: A refined
pinch of overheated server-processor
dust. A datachip full of memes mined
from a hotspot. Emergent signal
captures from a corrupted device,
virtual construct, etc. In what strange
way do they quickly deteriorate upon
use? From which of your friends or
contacts do you source these exotic
items? [1 load]
 CHAPTER 3

THE CREW

STARTING AN URBAN
LEGEND
When a crew is formed, it carries with it
a reputation that outlasts the founding
members. This is why there is a separate
character sheet for the crew—to keep
track of its development, growth, and
influence. To chronicle the urban legends
as they unfold, piece by burning piece.

In a sense, the crew is the central figure

in the stories we’re going to tell about the
shadows. Runners will come and go—
burned out due to trauma, killed, forever
lost to their vices, or (if they’re lucky) go
on to some meager retirement—but the
crew carries on. New blood comes in,
new characters with new outlooks and
drives, new stories to be told.

In this chapter, you’ll learn about all of

the various crew types in the game, and
how to create a crew to suit the type of
criminal escapades that all of the players
are most excited about.

109
 3
CREW CREATION
CHOOSE A CREW TYPE
Your crew type determines the missions
that you’ll focus on, as well as a selection
of special abilities that support that
kind of action. This isn’t meant to be
restrictive—a crew of Assassins might
sometimes engage in robbery (like
The crew
Mercenaries) or run guns (like Couriers)—
but the core activity of the crew type is
the most frequent way they earn nuyen
and karma for advancement.
There are six to choose from:
◆ Assassins: killers for hire, specializing
in “accidents,” disappearance, murders,
and ransoms.
◆ Couriers: transporters of illegal goods,
specializing in clandestine deliveries,
territory control, and expeditions outside
the city.
◆ Cult: acolytes of a forgotten tradition,
specializing in artifact acquisitions,
aspecting power sites, gaining access
to sources of augury, and committing
sacrifices.
◆ Mercenaries: thugs and soldiers,
specializing in battle, extortion, sabotage,
and smash & grabs.
◆ Radicals: extremists and vigilantes,
specializing in espionage, extortion,
insurgence, and sabotage to effect
widespread change.
◆ Shadows: the stereotypical crew of
runners, specializing in espionage,
intrusion, robbery, and sabotage.
110
Like a character playbook, your crew
type is also how you’re known to the
factions of the city. The crime bosses
and security agencies think of you as
“radicals” or “assassins” etc., and will
treat you accordingly.
Choosing a crew type is one of the
most important decision you’ll make!
It’s a way for the group to say, “These
are the sorts of runs we want to do.” It
organizes game play from “committing
crimes” to “gun-running”—which helps
the GM focus on the parts of the setting
that matter most, rather than having
to juggle every possibility at once. The
group should choose a crew type that
everyone is excited about. As a player,
be vocal about your preferences. You’re
about to spend many hours doing this, so
if you’re feeling lukewarm about one of
the options, speak up.
Once you’ve chosen, grab the crew sheet
for that type and record the following
choices in crew creation as you go.
Your crew begins with 2 nuyen in its
account (the remains of the PCs’ savings
from the last run). You are Tier 0, with
strong hold and 0 rep.
 3

CHOOSE INITIAL REPUTATION
& SAFEHOUSE
Your crew has just formed and acquired
a safehouse. Given this group of
runners and their past runs, what initial
reputation would you have among the
factions of the underworld? Choose one
from the list below (or create your own).
Also, talk about where the crew has its
safehouse. You begin at Tier 0, so it’s
probably a very modest or abandoned
sort of place, but hidden just the same.
Choose one (or create your own):
◆ A dilapidated space in an underused
office building.
◆A garden-level apartment in a

crew creaTion
complex overrun by criminals.
You earn crew
karma when Ambitious
◆ A makeshift dwelling discreetly built
you bolster your beneath a bridge.
crew’s reputation, Brutal ◆ A small, abandoned warehouse at the
so think of this Discreet end of a dimly-lit boulevard.
as another cue ◆A condemned church in a polluted
to indicate what Efficient
area of the city.
sorts of action Professional
you want in the
◆ An abandoned building in the projects.
game. Will you Savvy ◆ A junked subway-car, fused in place
be recklessly on its old, unpowered tracks.
Strange
ambitious, going ◆ A half-sunken maintenance structure
after higher-Tier Trustworthy in the city’s maze-like sewage system.
targets? Will you ◆ The unassuming back rooms of a
take on daring legitimate business.
runs that others deem too risky? Are you
interested in the strange weirdness of Look at the map of Kingston (see
Port Royal? Kingston) and choose the district in
which your safehouse is found. Are you
based in some derelict area of a wealthy
district or is your safehouse in one of
many other crime-ridden neighborhoods
in an impoverished barrens? A good
district choice for runner types is St
Andrews Parish or Trench Town—the
districts most known for street gangs and
the least patrolled by authorities.

111
 3
CHOOSE YOUR FIXER
Take a look at your list of potential
contacts on the crew sheet. Any of them
might be fixers. Circle the one who is
the crew’s fixer—their criminal liaison.
This person is a partner in crime, close
friend, or long-time ally in the criminal
underworld. Also write their name on
your fixer list at the bottom of your crew
playbook.
The crew
The corporate overlords and other rich
elites hold secret meetings to allocate
resources for their list of desired
runs. They send these to their team
of anonymous hirelings—known as
envoys—letting them keep any leftovers
for their efforts. These envoys share
detailed notes about past interactions,
looking through a handful of reputable
underworld brokers—AKA fixers—
trustworthy criminal liasons they
know to be useful for particular types
of runs.
This fixer you chose is useful for a
particular type of criminal operation.
Each crew type has a list of different
operation types for their fixer. For
instance, Assassins have Accident,
Disappearance, Murder, or Ransom as
options. Choose one of these operation
types as your preference, then write the
fixer’s name and type on the list at the
bottom of your crew playbook.
When you prepare to execute an operation
of your preferred type through one of
your fixers, you get a free additional
downtime activity to contribute to that
operation. This can help you acquire an
asset you might need for the job, find an
appropriate client, complete a project,
etc.
112
The GM will tell you about two factions
that are impacted by your choices:
◆ One faction is also friendly with this
contact, and you get +1 status with them.
◆ One faction is unfriendly with this
contact, and you get -1 status with them.
Fixers know both the employers and
employees for the illegal runs taking
place, but are paid well for their silence.
They also are paid for cultivating a
collection of runners that suit certain
types of jobs. Fixers typically expect
a cut of 1 nuyen from any payoffs
for meetings they helped arrange (see
Payoff on page 168 for details). A
fixer who has mutually chosen a crew
negotiates their cut from the envoy
instead—and can provide other benefits
when their skillset align.
This fixer is in over their head, and is
betting their reputation on a stabled
crew. At your option, this fixer has been
mutually chosen by your crew, so you
mark the fixer on your claims map
(include their name) and rep tracker—
and take +2 status and -2 status instead
of +1 and -1. For details on Fixers, see
page 43.
Claimed fixers may charge a fee for
particularly profitable ventures or
valuable assistance—but are expected to
discuss that beforehand.
When you acquire another fixer,
you also expand the size and/or type
of your runs and available meeting
grounds (see next page for details).
Detail the new fixer and their
preferred type of operation, then
detail the new meeting ground’s
location and favored clientele with
help from the GM.
 3

ESTABLISH YOUR MEETING CHOOSE A SPECIAL ABILITY

GROUNDS
Your crew is just starting out—but your
fixer will have arranged some small part
of a district as your meeting grounds to
get you started. This is the area that you
typically use to meet with clients—and
you will know it well.
Take a look at the special abilities for
your crew and choose one. If you can’t
decide which one to pick, go with the
first one on the list—it’s placed there as a
good default choice. It’s important to pick
a special ability that everyone is excited
about. You can get more special abilities

Your meeting grounds don’t have to be
in the same district as your safehouse (in
fact, it’s probably better if it’s not).
Your meeting grounds area is small;
just a few blocks or secure access to a
virtual conference room—but it’s still an
intrusion on someone. The GM will tell
you which faction claims the area, then
you decide how much of your starting
pool of nuyen you gave your fixer to deal
with them:
◆ Enough to pay them off. Give them
1  nuyen in exchange for looking the
other way.
◆ Give them 2 nuyen as a show of respect
and you gain +1 status with them.
◆ Keep your money and take -1 status
with that faction.
crew creaTion
in the future by earning karma.
Just like picking the crew type, reputation,
and safehouse, choosing a special ability
is another chance to focus the game down
to a more specific range of possibilities.
Instead of playing a generic crew of
runners, you end up with Couriers, who
are ambitious, with a safehouse in the
sewage system, a meeting grounds in
Downtown Kingston near the docks, a
preference for smuggling guns, and the
Leverage special ability. That’s a lot
to work with, and it helps get the game
going in a strong direction from the very
beginning.

Your meeting grounds favors information

gathering on a particular type of client.
Choose one of these client types as
your meeting grounds’ favored type:
Corporate, Fringe, Institutional,
or Underworld. When you prepare to
meet with an envoy of the favored type in
your meeting grounds, you get +1d to any
gather information rolls to contribute to
that meeting. This can help you discover
the connected factions, notice a deliberate
deception, make a better deal, etc.

113
 3
ASSIGN CREW UPGRADES
An upgrade is a valuable asset that helps
the crew in some way, like a boat or an
expert (see the complete descriptions
on the following two pages). Each crew
type has two pre-selected upgrades that
suit that crew (like Body Training and a
team of Thugs for the Mercs crew).
You get to add two additional upgrades
The crew
to your new crew (so you’ll have a total
of four upgrades when you start). You
can choose from the specific upgrades
available to your crew type or the
general upgrades on the crew sheet. Of
the general upgrades, there are three
types—only the basic upgrades and site
upgrades are available at the start of the
game. For example, you might pick the
Courier upgrade Mobile as one of your
choices and also the general upgrade
Intuition Training as your other choice.
When you assign your two upgrades, the
GM will tell you about two factions that
are impacted by your choices:
◆ One faction helped your fixer get an
upgrade. They like you, and you get +1
status with them. At your option, spend
1 nuyen to repay their kindness, and take
+2 status with them instead.
◆ One faction was screwed over by your
fixer when you got an upgrade. They
don’t like you, and you get -2 status with
them. At your option, spend 1 nuyen to
mollify them, and take -1 status with
them instead.
You’ll be able get more upgrades in
the future by earning karma (see
Advancement, page 46).
114
CREW UPGRADES
BASIC UPGRADES
Basic upgrades can be taken by any
crew, and are crew-wide (available to all
members of the crew, regardless of the
site).
◆ Boltholes: You have effective locations
to lay low between operations. When you
reduce heat, you can spend nuyen or
rep 1-for-1 to the add to the final number
of heat reduced by the result of your
roll (this can reduce more than 5 heat).
When you roll entanglements, choose
one: treat your current heat level as one
lower—the GM rolls your wanted level
at -1d.
◆ Cryptovault: You have an array of
money laundering devices, increasing
your storage capacity for nuyen to 8. A
second upgrade increases your capacity
for nuyen to 16. A separate area can be
used as a signal-blocking containment
area (choose one site).
◆ Cohort: A cohort is a team of NPCs
or a single expert NPC who works for
your crew. This costs 2 upgrade boxes
to unlock. You may have a number of
cohorts (in sum) equal to your crew’s Tier
+2. For all the details on cohorts, see page
118.
◆ MedSled: Your crew has registration
for medical services through MedSled.
You may call on their contracted services
to activate one of the following benefits
(free of charge): an extraction team to
transport injured crew members to a
medical facility—free access to a licensed
physician for an entire downtime phase.
Your benefits refresh after each run.
This costs 2 upgrade boxes to unlock. For
details on extractions and other possible
benefits, see page 156.

◆ Mastery: Your crew has access to
master level training. You may advance
your PC action ratings to 4 in all actions
that fall under a single attribute of
choice: Intuition, Body, or Willpower.
This upgrade costs 2 upgrade boxes
to unlock. You may take this upgrade
a second time to apply it to all action
ratings (including the special ones). In
addition, each upgrade box you’ve spent
on Mastery increases each PC’s limit for
action dots by 1 (to a maximum of +4, or
17 actions dots in sum).
◆ TacNet: You have a passenger vehicle
stocked with an array of communications
and surveillance technology that shields
it from counter-surveillance. Further,
any crew members in the same district
as your TacNet may perform teamwork
maneuvers, regardless of the distance
separating them. You might roll your
crew’s Tier if these measures are ever put
to the test, to see how well they thwart
counter-surveillance. You can move your
TacNet between districts freely during
downtime.
◆ Training: If you have a Training
upgrade, you earn 2 karma (instead of
1) when you train a given karma track
during downtime (Intuition, Body,
Willpower, or Playbook karma). This
upgrade essentially helps you advance
more quickly. See Advancement on page
46 for details. This upgrade represents
the benefits of sharing tactics and lessons
with one another. It’s not location-based.
If you have Intuition Training, when
you train Intuition during downtime,
you mark 2 karma on the Intuition
track (instead of just 1). If you have
Playbook Training, you mark 2 karma
on your playbook karma track when
you train that.
*: having the Cleanroom, Lodge, Workshop, or Workstation upgrade also provides a bonus to quality when
you craft or modify an applicable item inside. See Crafting on page 254 for details.
3
◆ Quality: Each upgrade improves the
quality rating of all the PCs’ items of that
type, beyond the quality established by
the crew’s Tier and fine items. You can
improve the quality of Comms (including
cyberspace provider), Gear (covers
Burglary Gear, Climbing Gear, and
Lighting Gear), Supplies, Tools (covers
Demolitions Tools, Technical Tools, and
crew creaTion
Mechanical Tools), and Weapons.
So, if you are Tier 0, with a scratch-built
cyberdeck, and the Quality upgrade for
comms (+1), you could contend equally
with quality 2 network protection.
SITE UPGRADES
Site upgrades apply to a given site
location, adding the specified upgrade to
it.
◆ Boat house: The site has a boat, a
dock on a waterway, and a small shed to
store boating supplies. A second upgrade
improves the boat with armor and more
cargo capacity.
◆ Cleanroom*: The site has a work
area and tools for bioengineering and
cybernetics, designed to maintain strict
limits on signals, temperature, humidity,
and contaminants. You may accomplish
long-term projects and perform surgery
with these assets without leaving the site.
◆ Garage: The site has a utility van,
hydrogen condenser station, and a
garage. A second upgrade improves
the van with armor and a larger, faster
engine. Flying vehicles are expensive.
Combustion engines and petroleum fuels
are novelty items—most vehicles in the
city combine compressed gases to produce
electricity as their means of propulsion.
◆ Lodge*: A supernatural workshop
devoted to a particular arcane or
115
 3

emergent method (choose which one

when you gain this upgrade), with tools
and materials for learning spells and
performing binding ceremonies, as well
as protective wards from supernatural
interference and surveillance. You may
accomplish long-term projects with these
assets without leaving the site. See page
294 for information on detailing your
lodge. Lodges devoted to opposing methods
tend to conflict with one another—and the
The crew

GM might make a fortune roll to determine

any uncertain interactions.
◆ Quarters: You have a shared living
quarters for the crew in this site. Without
this upgrade, each PC sleeps elsewhere,
and is vulnerable when they do so.
◆ Secure: The site has maglocks, alarms,
and traps to thwart intruders. This
upgrade can be taken again to improve
the defenses to include protection against
online threats. You might roll your crew’s
Tier if these measures are ever put to
the test, to see how well they thwart an
intruder.
◆ Workshop*: The site has a work area
with tools for electronics and chemicals,
as well as a database of schematics and
maps. You may accomplish long-term
projects with these assets without leaving
the site.
◆ Workstation*: The site has a work area
with tools for software development and
high-technology research, as well as a
database of cutting-edge algorithms and
scientific theories. You may accomplish
long-term projects with these assets
without leaving the site.
SITES UPGRADE LIMITS
Each time you take a crew site
upgrade, specify the site where it’s
added. Your crew automatically begins
with one site for their safehouse which
is hidden—an area which is secret and
disguised to conceal it from view. This
area was described during character
creation; a safehouse arranged by their
chosen fixer. To get another site, spend
an upgrade (details on the next page).
A given site has a limit of 4 site upgrades.
If you add a site upgrade (see next page)
to a site when it has already reached its
limit, the location is no longer hidden
unless you displace a site upgrade.
When you displace one, you lose the
site upgrade to accommodate the new
one. If a site ever ceases to be hidden,
use two downtime activities and pay
nuyen equal to your Tier +1 to relocate
the entire site and make it hidden
again (leaving behind any upgrades
beyond its limit). Should a site ever be
found by institutional authorities (CSG,
Legionnaires, etc.), it—and all its site
upgrades—are seized and lost forever.

*: having the Cleanroom, Lodge, Workshop, or Workstation upgrade also provides a bonus to quality when
you craft or modify an applicable item inside. See Crafting on page 254 for details.

116

ADVANCED UPGRADES
Advanced upgrades have special
requirements before you can take them.
◆ Added Site: You gain a hidden site in
the city. When you take this upgrade,
work with your GM to describe the new
location and which fixer helped you get it.
This upgrade requires Tier I and may be
taken a number of times (in sum) equal
to your crew’s Tier +1, each time choosing
describing a new location for a site. If the
new site location is in a new district, the
GM should tell you who controls it and
then you decide how to deal with them.
◆ Headquarters: You are an established
syndicate with a central base surrounded
by an expansive grounds. Your safehouse
now serves as a headquarters site which
can no longer be hidden. In addition, you
may pursue projects using any site’s asset
without leaving your headquarters. A
faction controls the area (the GM will tell
you who)—when your status is positive
with them, you may choose to lose 1
status with them or spend nuyen equal
to your current wanted level +1 to make
an entanglement involving lower-Tier
authorities simply go away. This upgrade
requires Tier I and costs 2 upgrade boxes
to unlock.
3
◆ Landing Pad: Your have a long-range
vehicle capable of vertical takeoff and
landing, suitable for carrying a dozen
people comfortably, outfitted with a
retractable turret on the nose and tail.
Your headquarters also features a landing
pad and a hangar with added storage
for flight supplies. Taking this upgrade
requires the Headquarters upgrade and
crew creaTion
costs 2 upgrade boxes to unlock. A third
upgrade improves the aircraft with your
choice of two added features: armor—
faster engines—more cargo capacity—
stealth.
◆ Ifyou lack a headquarters, each time
you use the VTOL craft will bring others
closer to finding you
◆ Expansion: You have expanded your
criminal operation to a new hidden site in
a different city. You may spend upgrades
for sites in your expansion city, and may
accomplish long-term projects with these
assets without leaving your headquarters.
This upgrade requires the Headquarters
upgrade, Tier II, and costs 4 upgrades
to unlock. This upgrade can be taken a
number of times (in sum) equal to the
crew’s current Tier, each time selecting a
new city.
When you choose to expand to a new
city, work with your GM to choose it
and the district in which you place your
expansion.
Your effective Tier in the city where
you’ve expanded is half your current
Tier (round down). Your starting hold
in a new city to which you’ve expanded
always starts at weak. If the new
city isn’t in the same region as your
headquarters, your tier is one lower
than usual.
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 3
COHORTS
A cohort is a team or an expert who
works for your crew. To recruit a new
cohort, spend two upgrades and create
them using the process below. You may
have a number of cohorts recruited (in
sum) equal to your current Tier +2. So
if your crew is Tier I, you may have up to 3
cohorts. More than that, and each cohort
beyond the limits gains a flaw or using
The crew
them brings serious complications.
CREATING A TEAM
Choose a team type from the list below:
◆ Operatives: Con artists, spies, and
social engineers.
◆ Technicians: Electricians, mechanics,
and chemists, and software engineers.
◆ Thieves: Lookouts, burglars, pick-
pockets, and safe crackers.
◆ Thugs: Goons, grunts, and bouncers.
◆ Transporters: Drivers, sailors, and
barrens guides.
◆ Weirdos: Adepts, wage mages, or
techno-cultists (select one or two when
you choose this cohort type).
A team has scale and quality equal to
your current crew Tier. It increases in
scale and quality when your crew moves
up in Tier.
If your crew is Tier 0, your cohort
teams are each quality 0 and scale 0 (1
or 2 people). When your crew is Tier II,
your cohort teams are each quality 2
and scale 2 (ten people).
Some crew upgrades will add the “Elite”
feature to a team, which gives them +1d
when they roll for a given Type. So, if
you’re Tier I and have a team of Elite
Thugs (+1d), they would roll 2d when they
try to kill a target.
118
CREATING AN EXPERT
Record the expert’s type (their specific
area of expertise). They might be a
Doctor, a Spy, a Hacker, an Investigator,
an Occultist, an Assassin, etc.
An expert has quality equal to your
current crew Tier +1. Their scale is always
zero (1 person). Your experts increase in
quality when your crew moves up in Tier.
EDGES & FLAWS
When you create a cohort, give them one
or two edges and an equal number of
flaws. It is recommended you create pets
and critters using the same set of edges
and flaws.
Edges
◆ Fearsome: The cohort is terrifying in
aspect and reputation.
◆ Independent: The cohort can be
trusted to make good decisions and act
on their own initiative in the absence of
direct orders.
◆ Loyal: The cohort can’t be bribed or
turned against you.
◆ Tenacious: The cohort won’t be
deterred from a task.
Flaws
◆ Principled: The cohort has an ethic or
values that it won’t betray.
◆ Savage: The cohort is excessively
violent and cruel.
◆ Unreliable: The cohort isn’t always
available, due to other obligations,
stupefaction from their vices, etc.
◆ Wild: The cohort is drunken,
debauched, and loud-mouthed.

MODIFYING A COHORT
You can add an additional type to a team
or expert by spending two crew upgrades.
When a cohort performs actions for
which its types apply, it uses its full quality
rating. Otherwise, its quality is zero. A
given cohort can have up to two types.
USING A COHORT
When you send a cohort to achieve a
goal, roll their quality to see how it goes.
Or, a PC can oversee the maneuver by
leading a group action. If you direct the
cohort with orders, roll Command. If you
participate in the action alongside the
cohort, roll the appropriate action. The
quality of any opposition relative to the
cohort’s quality affects the position and
effect of the action.
The Last Thought wants to run the
Mountain Rats out of the alley where
they’re selling bluecoke. They send their
team of Thugs to go kick the Rats out.
The GM rolls 2d for the Thugs’ quality,
and gets a 3. An hour later, the Thugs
come back, beaten and bloody. One of
them looks sheepish, “Those guys are
tough, boss.” (The GM inflicts harm on
the cohort, and they failed their goal.)
The next day, Shark goes back and leads
a group action, rolling his 3d in Fight
alongside the Thugs’ 2d. Shark gets a 6
this time—they beat the drek out of the
Mountain Rats and send them packing
(at least for now).
3
COHORT HARM &
HEALING
Cohorts suffer harm similarly to PCs. A
cohort can suffer four levels of harm:
(1) Weakened. The cohort has
reduced effect.
crew creaTion
(2) Impaired. The cohort operates
with reduced quality (-1d).
(3) Broken. The cohort can’t do
anything until they recover.
(4) Destroyed. The cohort is no more.
All of your cohorts heal during downtime.
If circumstances are amenable for
recovery, each cohort removes one level
of harm (or two levels of harm instead, if
a PC spends a downtime activity helping
them recuperate).
Cohorts don’t have their armor box
unless a special ability gives it to them
(for example, Militant from the Muscle
playbook).
If a cohort is destroyed, it may be replaced.
Spend nuyen equal to your Tier +2 to
restore it, plus two downtime activities
to recruit new team members, or hire a
new expert.
The Last Thought sends their team of
Thugs to defend their safehouse against
the Mountain Rats, while the PCs deal
with a rather urgent dragon problem.
Unfortunately, the already injured
team gets wiped out by the deadly (and
numerous) Mountain Rats gangers (The
GM makes fortune rolls—the team gets a 2
and the Rats get a Critical).
During the next downtime, Shark restores
the team. He goes down to Trench Town
and recruits a new batch of thugs fresh
off a boat from Cuba. The Last Thought
is Tier II so Shark needs to spend 4 nuyen
to restore the cohort. This takes both of
Chopper’s free downtime activities.
119
 CREW CREATION SUMMARY
1 Choose a crew type The crew
type determines the group’s purpose,
their special abilities, and how they
advance. You begin at Tier 0, with
strong hold and 0 rep. You start with
2 nuyen.
2 Choose an initial reputation
and safehouse Choose how other
underworld factions see you:
Ambitious—Brutal—Discreet—
Efficient—Professional—Savvy—
Strange—Trustworthy. Look at the
map and pick a district in which to
place your safehouse. Describe the
safehouse site.
3 Choose a fixer Mark the
contact who is a criminal liaison—the
fixer who arranged the upcoming run.
Are they a former partner in crime,
long-time ally in the shadows, or close
friend? Also choose their favored type
of operation (they are listed at the
bottom of your crew playbook). The
crew gets a free downtime activity
to prepare for a run of this type they
helped arrange.
Record the faction status changes
related to your contact.
‹ One faction is friendly with this
contact. Take +1 status with them.
‹ One faction is hostile with this
contact. Take -1 status with them.
At your option, you have mutually
chosen this fixer and you mark them
on your claims map (and rep tracker)
and take +2 and -2 status, instead of
+1/-1.
4 Establish your meeting
grounds Look at the map of the city
and pick a district into which to place
your meeting grounds: corporate,
fringe, institutional, or underworld.
You get +1d to gather info rolls to
contribute to meetings held there with
the chosen type of client.
Decide how you had the fixer deal
with the faction that claims the area.
‹ Give them 1 nuyen.
‹ Give them 2 nuyen: Take +1
status with them.
‹ Give them nothing. Take -1 status
with them.
5 Choose a special ability
They’re in the gray column in the
middle of the crew sheet. If you can’t
decide, choose the first ability on the
list. It’s placed there as a good first
option.
6 Assign crew upgrades Your
crew has two upgrades pre-selected.
Choose two more. If your crew has a
cohort, follow the procedure to create
it. Record the faction status changes
due to your upgrades:
‹ One faction helped you get an
upgrade. Take +1 status with them.
Or spend 1 nuyen for +2 status
instead.
‹ One faction was harmed when
you got an upgrade. Take -2 status
with them. Or spend 1 nuyen for -1
status instead.
 ASSASSiNS
Killers for hire
You’re professional murderers—death is your business. In Kingston, this means
extra trouble from bounty hunters, secrets brokers, and other trained killers. Be
prepared for the worst kind of payback when you take up this profession.

When you play Assassins, you earn karma when you execute a successful
accident, disappearance, murder, or ransom operation

Is there anyone you won’t kill? Or kill for? Who or what could change your mind?

STARTING UPGRADES CONTACTS

‹ Training: Intuition. ‹ Red, a gang boss Perhaps a gang

‹ Training: Body.
FIXER
Choose a favored operation type:
‹ Accident: A killing with no telltale
signs of murder.
‹ Disappearance: A killing with no
body.
‹ Murder: An obvious killing that
sends a message.
‹ Ransom: A kidnapping and
collection of payment for their return.
that helped your crew get started?
‹ Smith, a G-Man Perhaps a method
of getting sensitive information?
‹ Roland, a politician Perhaps a
potential patron for your crew?
‹ Loba, a bounty hunter Perhaps
a source for off-book government “wet
work”?
‹ Keller, a ghoul Perhaps a means
of “evidence disposal,” or a source for
strange clientele?
‹ Lydia, an executive Perhaps a
connection to clients with deep pockets?

ASSASSINS UPGRADES
‹ Elite Thugs: All of your cohorts with the Thugs type get +1d to quality rolls for
Thug-related actions.
‹ Elite Transporters: All of your cohorts with the Transporters type get +1d to
quality rolls for Transporter-related actions.
‹ Assassins Rigging: You get 2 free load worth of weapons or gear items. For
example, you could carry a pistol (a weapon) and burglary tools (gear) for zero load.
‹ Calloused: Each PC gets +1 trauma box. This costs three upgrades to unlock, not
just one. This may bring a PC with 4 trauma back into play if you wish.

121
 3
TRAINING CORPORATE
VICE DEN
COMPOUND FAVOR
VICTIM
FIXER
SAFE
TROPHIES
HOUSE
assassins
PROTECTION
INFIRMARY STREET CLOUT
RACKET
ASSASSINS CLAIMS
Acid Vats: When you use the reduce heat
downtime activity after a run that involves
killing, you get +1d to the roll and quiet,
convenient disposal of any corpses you left
on the job.
Building Records: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for stealth plans. You
can use blueprints and other documents to
determine a good approach for infiltrations.
Corporate Favor: You get +2 nuyen in
payoff for runs that involve higher-class
clients. Your affiliation will help you earn a
better payoff with richer clients.
Cover Identities: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for deception and social
plans. False identities help confuse the
opposition.
Cover Operation: You get -2 heat per run.
The cover of a legitimate operation helps
deflect some of the heat from law enforcement.
Infirmary: You get +1d to healing treatment
rolls. The infirmary also has beds for long-
term convalescence.
122
INFORMANTS ACID VATS
FIXER
COVER
OPERATION
COVER BUILDING
IDENTITIES RECORDS
Informants: You get +1d to gather
information for a run. Your eyes and ears
on the streets and online are always on the
lookout for new targets.
Protection Racket: At the start of downtime,
roll dice equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen
equal to your highest die result, minus your
heat. Some of the locals are terrified of you
and will gladly pay for “protection.”
Street Clout: You get +2 nuyen in payoff
for runs that involve lower-class clients. This
respect will help you earn a better payoff with
from poorer clients.
Training Compound: Your Thugs get +1
scale.
Vice Den: At the start of downtime, roll dice
equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen equal to
your highest die result, minus your heat. Any
sort of vice den benefits from having assassins
protecting it.
Victim Trophies: You get +1 rep per run.
Word of your grisly “collection” gets around,
and your boldness boosts your rep in the
underworld.

ASSASSINS SPECIAL ABILITIES
DEADLY
Each PC may add +1 action rating to Fight,
Prowl, or Stalk (up to a max rating of 3).
Each player may choose the action they
prefer (you don’t all have to choose the
same one). If you take this ability during
initial character and crew creation, it
supersedes the normal starting limit
for action ratings.
CLEANERS
When you dispose of evidence to reduce
heat, you get +1 result level to your roll.
When you employ acid, you are specially
prepared to be immune to its effects.
The acid immunity lasts for the entire
run, until you next have downtime.
UNSEEN
When you keep an operation quiet or make
it look like an accident, you get half the rep
value of the target (round up) instead of
zero. When you end downtime with zero
heat, take +1 rep.
There are many clients who value quiet
operations. This ability rewards you
for keeping a low-profile.
PREDATORS
When you use a stealth or deception
plan to commit murder, take +1d to the
engagement roll.
This ability applies when the goal is
murder. It doesn’t apply to other stealth
or deception operations you attempt
that happen to involve killing.
3
SILENCED
Due to hard-won experience or strange
practices, your activities are hidden from
the notice of agencies that typically track
deaths. You don’t take extra heat when
killing is involved on a run.
assassins
The capital crime reports aren’t filed
when a member of your crew kills
someone. Do you have a contact or
friend that provides this benefit, or
some sort of weird rite that must be
performed?
PlayBooK:
SUDDEN
When you execute a loud or chaotic murder,
take 2 fewer heat than normal.
Your methods are brutal yet effective,
and just far too quick to be tracked
effectively.
PATRON
When you advance your Tier, it costs half
the nuyen it normally would.
Who is your patron? Why do they help
you?
123
 3

assassins oPPorTuniTies
(1) Two warring megacorps put out the call for hired killers.
(2) A fading megacorp wants to exact revenge on those who are one-upping them.
(3) A grieving parent wants revenge for a child killed in a pharmaceutical trial.
(4) Someone very rich wants to eliminate their rival sibling.
(5) An executive wants to clear the way for a lucrative marriage—kill the rival suitor.
(6) An executive has been targeted by a syndicate and will pay a hefty price to
eliminate the leader—with little understanding of the consequences.
assassins

(1) A crime boss is facing serious charges and the detective can’t be bought—kill the
witnesses.
(2) The new city official is extorting extreme bribes for looking the other way. It’s
just cheaper to kill them. You get several offers from different syndicates.
(3) Three warring street gangs put out the call for hired killers.
(4) A powerful crime boss is enjoying safety in the neighborhood they control. Their
rival wants you to get in there and take them out.
(5) The last survivor of a destroyed syndicate wants revenge.
(6) An underworld hacker has vanished with a large stash of paydata. Find them
and kill them—and make it a good example for other runners.
(1) Two competing neighborhood gangs put out a call for the assassination of their
rivals.
(2) An intelligence agent has identified a key Kingston official whose death will serve
a particular foreign interest.
(3) A strange group of weirdos requires a series of specific and bizarre killings to
serve their dark rituals.
(4) A scorned lover wants their former partner (and their new paramour) dead.
(5) Several poor families offer you their combined savings to kill a cruel business
owner.
(6) A free spirit will lead you to their killer for revenge—and then to hidden paydata
for your payment.

For any opportunity above, consider an Accident, Disappearance, Murder, or

Ransom operation. To twist an opportunity or add additional elements, roll on the
run generator table on page 238.

124
 COUriErS
Smugglers of contraband
Couriers make the world go ‘round, so to speak. With a steady supply of illegal goods, Kingston
is somewhat liveable—and the steady stream of such supplies is important to those who
consume these items and those who profit from their taxation and criminalization.

When you play Couriers, you earn karma when you execute a smuggling operation
or acquire new clients or contraband sources Instead of operation types, your fixer
can lend their aid for operations targeting certain cargo types.
What kind of illicit things do you move? Do you have any rules about what you
will or won’t carry?

STARTING UPGRADES CONTACTS

‹ Training: Body. ‹ Kilo, an airport worker. Perhaps

‹ Vehicle: A van or boat. All couriers
start with a vehicle. When the vehicle is
upgraded (two boxes, it also gets armor).
FIXER
Choose a favored cargo type:
‹ Arms: Forbidden military weapons,
heavy ordnance, explosives.
‹ Contraband: High-tax luxuries,
drugs, banned apps, illegal virtual
experiences, etc.
‹ Passengers: Undocumented
immigrants or criminals traveling in
secret, corpses, hostages, victims, etc.
‹ Supernatural: Free spirits,
reagents, talisma, cult materials.
someone who can help with avoiding
unexpected inspections?
‹ Cable, an arms dealer. Perhaps a
supplier with military access?
‹ Baggs, a drug dealer. Perhaps a
client with strong underworld ties?
‹ Lex, an organ trafficker. Perhaps a
way to dispose of troublesome evidence?
‹ Smitty, an anarchist. Perhaps a
client in need of illegal tools for their
revolution?
‹ Denzel, a liaison. Perhaps a good
source of news and gossip?

COURIERS UPGRADES
‹ Elite Transporters: All of your cohorts with the Transporters type get +1d to
quality rolls for Transporter-related actions.
‹ Hoverboat: Add mobility to your safehouse. You can move it to a new location as
a downtime activity.
‹ Camouflage: Your vehicles are perfectly concealed when at rest. They blend in as
part of the environment, or as an uninteresting civilian vehicle (your choice).
‹ Couriers Rigging: Two of your carried items are perfectly concealed. You could
carry 1 load of contraband and a pistol, perfectly concealed, even against a pat down.

125
 3
FIXER SIDE BUSINESS LUXURY FENCE
AQUATIC
FIXER
SAFE
GUARDIAN
HOUSE
couriers
SECRET ROUTES INFORMANTS BODY SHOP
COURIERS CLAIMS
Aquatic Guardian: Safe passage in
the Caribbean Sea. When you leave the
city with your underwater guardian at
your side, horrors and sea monsters will
not interfere with you unless directly
provoked.
Body Shop: You can freely swap your
implant features as a downtime activity.
You can also use this claim as a place to
buy and sell implants or to “clean up”
stolen ones.
Cover Operation: You get -2 heat per
run. What’s your cover? Who did you
seize it from?
Forgery Supplier: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for deception and
transport plans. A steady stream of false
credentials help confuse the opposition.
Informants: You get +1d to gather info
for a run. Your eyes and ears on the streets
and online are always on the lookout for
new targets.
Luxury Fence: You get +2 nuyen in
payoff for runs that target higher-class
targets. It requires a skilled eye and good
contacts to move hot luxury goods.
126
PENTHOUSE
VICE DEN
SUITE
FIXER FIXER
COVER FORGERY
OPERATION SUPPLIER
Penthouse Suite: You get +1d to
Consort and Influence rolls on-site.
This venue was procured and acts as a
cool place to meet clients, and the roof can
serve as a landing pad in a pinch.
Secret Routes: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for transport plans. You
might have access to hidden waste tunnels,
or alleyways in streets normally hidden
beneath rubble, or some other route of
your choosing.
Side Business: At the start of downtime,
roll dice equal to your Tier. You earn
nuyen equal to your highest die result,
minus your heat. What kind of legitimate
business is this? How do you get paid in
secret?
Vice Den: At the start of downtime, roll
dice equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen
equal to your highest die result, minus
your heat. Perhaps you sell some of the
contraband you smuggle here? Or do you
not mix your operations?

COURIERS SPECIAL ABILITIES
LIKE ONE OF THE CREW
Create one of your vehicles as a cohort (use
the vehicle edges and flaws, on your crew
playbook). Its quality is equal to your Tier
+1. A vehicle can use teamwork actions
(using quality for rolls). A vehicle can’t lead
a group action, but may participate.
CREW MANAGERS
During downtime, one of your cohorts may
perform a downtime activity for the crew to
acquire an asset, reduce heat, or work
on a long-term project.
FLEET
Your cohorts have their own vehicles. Your
Transporter cohorts gain +1d when under
your command.
Each cohort has a common vehicle,
with quality equal to your tier.
SMOOTH OPERATORS
Each PC may add +1 action rating to
Finesse, Influence, or Interface (up to
a max rating of 3).
Each player may choose the action they
prefer (you don’t all have to choose the
same one). If you take this ability during
initial character and crew creation, it
supersedes the normal starting limit
for action ratings.
3
MNEMONICS
From harsh experience or experimental
implantation, all crew members’ comms
and implants are immune to being remotely
controlled, but may choose to voluntarily
transfer control to someone nearby.
couriers
What grants you this immunity? Must
the target be willing, or can control be
thrust upon them unexpectedly?
MOVING TARGETS
When you go into conflict aboard a vehicle,
you gain +1 effect for vehicle damage and
PlayBooK:
speed. Your vehicle gains armor.
If your vehicle already has armor, this
ability gives an additional armor box.
JUST PASSING THROUGH
During downtime, take -1 heat. When your
heat is 4 or less, you get +1d to deceive
people when you pass yourselves off as
ordinary citizens.
LEVERAGE
Your crew supplies contraband for other
factions. Your success is good for them.
Whenever you gain rep, gain +1 rep.
127
 3

couriers oPPorTuniTies conTraBand / carGo

(1) Patriotic insurrectionists need supplies for their campaign (1) Escaped Prisoners, Spies
of terror attacks against city institutions. (forbidden)
(2) A drug cartel wants to arm migrant workers in advance of (2) Wage Slaves Fleeing
a strike. Contracts (forbidden)

(3) A massive gang war creates high demand for forbidden (3) A Free Spirit or
Dangerous Artifact
military weapons and heavy ordnance.
(forbidden)
(4) Exiled elven nobility slumming it in Seattle has a sudden (4) Insurrectionists or
and urgent need to go home that they won’t explain. Anarchists (forbidden)
(5) Programmer made undocumented data acquisitions. Meet (5) Refugees or Immigrants
couriers

them outside the city to smuggle in some illegal paydata. (restricted access)
(6) An heiress needs to leave the city to meet her forbidden (6) An Executive or Official
love. If you make it look like a kidnapping, she’ll split the ransom. Seeking Secret Travel
(1) A prison break at Brokeback Correctional means many (1) Fine Tobacco, Whiskey,
escaped prisoners seek flight from the city. Wine, etc. (high tax)
(2) Cybersec Global outlaws a formerly legal product. (2) Luxuries—Coffee, Meats,
Silks, Spices (high tax)
(3) For a nominal fee and a limited time, an officer from the
Legionnaires will help you acquire a vehicle seized from a (3) Livestock or Dangerous
Animals (restricted
faction.
ownership)
(4) A new type of caffeinated plant has been “developed” in a (4) Medicine, Chemicals
secret lab, but it’s officially banned. Naturally, everyone wants it. (restricted ownership)
(5) A route is closed to traffic (and inspection by authorities) (5) Military Arms
due to: imminent collapse—weird events—toxic gas—fires. (forbidden ownership)
(6) A criminal organization needs weapons smuggled into (6) Drugs (restricted
Brokeback to seize control of a cell-block. ownership or high tax)
(1) A cult wants to smuggle their possessed “chosen one” past (1) Confidential Documents
the Occult Task Force and into the heart of Portmoor. (restricted ownership)
(2) A valuable artifact was stolen from an expedition returning (2) Banned Art, Seditious
from Aztlan, and the university needs it in the city yesterday. Materials (restricted
They need a quiet “reclamation” to occur. ownership)
(3) A district is quarantined due to ghoul infestation and (3) Supernatural
what is being called “the plague.” They need basic supplies, and Implements or Documents
vampire hunters even more. (restricted)
(4) A client wants you to move a strange package around the
(4) Executive software
city for two days straight. Don’t stop moving! That would be bad. (restricted ownership)
(5) A gang wants you collect someone from the morgue for
delivery; there is a cortex bomb in their head though. (5) Volatile Chemicals or
Explosives (forbidden)
(6) An executive’s crimes leave their assets frozen. Their
overseas accounts, full from illegal investment income, are (6) Orichalcum (restricted
flagged by the city’s banking institutions and local authorities. ownership)

For any opportunity above, consider Arms, Contraband, Passengers, or Supernatural

as cargo. To twist an opportunity or add additional elements, roll on the run generator
table on page 238.

128
 CUlT
Acolytes of a forbidden tradition
Your beliefs bond your fellowship together. And this very fact strikes fear into others.
Now they must bow before your truths, and stand witness to its power.

When you play a Cult, you earn karma when you advance the agenda of your
tradition or embody its precepts in action Instead of operation types, your fixer can
lend their aid for operations targeting certain sources of power.

STARTING UPGRADES TRADITION

‹ Training: Willpower. Name your tradition, choose emergent

‹ Cohort: Team, type Weirdos
(choose one or two when you choose
this cohort type: adepts, wage mages, or
techno-cultists).
FIXER
or arcane, then describe it with two
features from the list:
Ancient, Cryptic, Doomsday,
Enlightening, Insect, Maddening,
Personality, Toxic

Choose a favored source of power: CONTACTS

‹ Acquisition: Get a supernatural ‹ Thames, a philosopher.
artifact and aspect it to your tradition.
‹ Judas, an occultist.
‹ Augury: Do what you must to
attract the guidance and attention of ‹ Faedra, a historian.
supernatural entities. ‹ Blister, a talislegger.
‹ Cleansing: Aspect a power site for ‹ K Rothchild, an executive.
your tradition.
‹ Graves, an astronomer.
‹ Sacrifice: Destroy what is sacred in
honor of your tradition.

CULT UPGRADES
‹ Elite Weirdos: All of your cohorts with the Weirdos type get +1d to quality rolls
for Weirdo-related actions.
‹ Greater Lodge in Safehouse: This counts as a supernatural workshop for all who
practice the cult’s tradition (regardless of supernatural method), and is protected from
supernatural interference and remote viewing. See page 294 for details. The GM might
roll your crew’s Tier if these measures are ever put to the test, to see how well they thwart
an intruder.
‹ Cult Rigging: You get 2 free load worth of document or implement items. For
example, you could carry a focus and a use of reagents for zero load.
‹ Calloused: Each PC gets +1 trauma box. This costs three upgrades to unlock, not
just one. This may bring a PC with 4 trauma back into play if you wish.

129
3
TALISLEGGER
ACADEMY VICE DEN
UNION
SAFE
FIXER FIXER
HOUSE
culT
PRIVATE HAUNTED
LEY LINE
PILOT AREA
CULT CLAIMS
Academy: Your Weirdo cohorts get +1
scale. A building suitable for supernatural
training, and a dormitory with more room
for hopeful novices desperate to pledge
their service.
Font of Power: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for supernatural plans.
You are drawing power from an unlikely
source and it seems like luck is favoring
your every move. Who would kill to have
this?
Essence Well: You get +1d to healing
rolls. Essence seeps into those who
recover here, speeding their healing, and
increasing their immune response.
Haunted Area: You get +1d to Command
and Influence rolls on-site. This site’s
hauntings don’t affect you so long as the
cult maintains solidarity (and avoids
horrors).
Ley Line: You get +1d to (choose one)
Assense and Attune rolls on-site. A ley
line draws otherworldly entities and other
things to its power, which you can harness
to bolster your special senses.
130
PLANAR
POWER RIFT
ALTAR
FIXER FIXER
ESSENCE FONT OF
WELL POWER
Planar Altar: You get +1d to Consort
with supernatural entities on-site. This
altar was prepared by ancient ritual, and
acts as a focusing lens for communication
across the planes.
Power Rift: -1 edge cost for all secret
arts. This effect applies to all cultists,
everywhere—so long as the rift is well-
maintained. You don’t have to be on-site at
the area to benefit from its power.
Private Pilot: Safe passage by air
to nearby cities. When you leave the
city through this pilot, authorities and
roaming critters will not mess with you
unless directly provoked.
Talislegger Union: You get +2 nuyen to the
payoff for runs that involve supernatural
operations. The local distribution network
for talismans and other foci offer you tribute
when you perform your dark practices. They
don’t want to be your next target.
Vice Den: At the start of downtime, roll
dice equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen
equal to your highest die result, minus
your heat.

CULT SPECIAL ABILITIES
DEVOTED
Each PC may add +1 action rating to
Assense, Attune, or Study (up to a max
rating of 3).
Each player may choose the action they
prefer (you don’t all have to choose the
same one). If you take this ability during
initial character and crew creation, it
supersedes the normal starting limit
for action ratings.
IMBUED
You get +1d to resistance rolls against
supernatural threats. You get +1d to healing
rolls when you have supernatural harm.
SHARED TELEPATHY
You may use teamwork maneuvers with
any cult member, regardless of the distance
separating you. By marking 1 edge, your
telepathic message is heard and understood
by everyone in the cult.
By what supernatural means does your
message get passed? How is it strange
or disturbing? By what ritualistic
method are cult members initiated into
this ability?
ZEALOTRY
Your cohorts have abandoned their reason
in service to the cult. They will undertake
any service, no matter how dangerous
or strange. They gain +1 quality against
enemies of the tradition.
3
STRANGE WAYS
Each PC gains an additional vice: Ceremonial
rites. When you indulge this vice and bring
a pleasing offering, you don’t overindulge
if you clear excess edge. In addition, your
ceremonial buff will assist any one action
roll you make—from now until you indulge
this vice again.
What sort of offering works for your
culT
tradition?
EMPOWERED BY BLOOD
Each person sacrificed yields -3 edge cost
PlayBooK:
for any spell or thread you perform.
Not for the faint of heart. Blood magic
is seriously bad mojo—especially near
Port Royal!
Cannot be used to reduce an edge cost
below zero. Cost reduction can be
distributed between edge lost (due to
resistance) and edge paid (to use a spell
or thread). For details on edge costs
while performing Sorcery, see page
296.
CATASTROPHIC METHODS
Aberrant supernatural beings and other
horrors sometimes manifest in the physical
world in support of your cult. This can be
a great boon, but the priorities and values
of such things are not those of mortals. You
have been warned.
For details on generating horrors, see
page 291.
131
3

culT oPPorTuniTies
(1) A student at Seattle University publishes a treatise claiming your tradition is a
corrupted translation of a once-forgotten being.
(2) It has become trendy for young executives to pretend to be addicted to
hallucinagenic virtual experiences, but not all of them are telling the truth.
(3) Construction work has accidentally unearthed a power site, and awakened
entities trapped there since before the last magical apocalypse; what could they be?
(4) A rival cult’s secret regalia have some connection with a powerful dragon: are
they his former agents or is it mere coincidence?
(5) An executive paid a wage mage to perform a desperate ritual seeking assistance
among entities they can summon. You have been chosen as the instrument of their
culT

aid.
(6) A prominent tridcaster chokes to death while streaming, their eyes burning a
bright blue. When authorities check for clues, they find your first and last name in the
victim’s most recent digital note.
(1) A rival cult is destroying any and all artifacts and sites sacred to other traditions.
They seem to be have some special means of discovery. You may be next.
(2) The murder of an executive has signs and sigils of your tradition left at the crime
scene.
(3) Local citizens in the area around your safehouse have started working together
at odd times, in a trance, constructing something alien out of strange debris.
(4) A trio of formidable spirits arrive at your safehouse and announce themselves
as the true mentors of your cult.
(5) The anointed champion of a rival cult challenges your chosen one to deadly
combat.
(6) The OTF Agents intend to banish a spirit using something new they’re calling an
“essence lash.” Your tradition forbids this to occur, now or ever.
(1) A trid recording has been recovered from a datavault you hacked, and it
contradicts some vital tenet of your cult’s doctrine.
(2) A wealthy cult offers you riches (nuyen, claim, cohort, etc.) to abandon your
tradition and enter into their service.
(3) A data broker flies in to Seattle, devoid of crew or any items save one thing:
a top-of-the-line comm full of corrupted data, transmitting the secret name of your
tradition.
(4) A gang of thugs is having serious mystical problems from a rival group. They
hire you to put an end to it.
(5) Digitized business cards in the mouths of dead hackers allow spirits to return as
sprites, even after the OTF Agents have seen to them. Who is doing this? How?
(6) Your reagents crumble, your foci crack. Demonstrate your true faith, or despair.

For any opportunity above, consider an Acquisition, Augury, Cleansing, or Sacrifice

operation. To twist an opportunity or add additional elements, roll on the run
generator table on page 238.

132
 MErCS
Enforcers and soldiers
You aren’t content to sit back and watch things unfold: you live by (and die by) the
tools of your trade. There is no need to get entangled or sneak around when you are
the ones who deliver judgment.

When you play Mercs, you earn karma when you execute a successful battle,
extortion, sabotage, or smash & grab operation

Are you violent thugs, savvy bodyguards, or cutthroat gangsters?

STARTING UPGRADES CONTACTS

‹ Training: Body. ‹ Ivan, a ganger. Perhaps a source of

‹ Cohort: Crew, type Thugs. Perhaps violent work?
hired toughs, or perhaps the beginnings ‹ McBride, a security officer. Perhaps
of a hit squad? a corrupt Legionnaire?

FIXER ‹ Olly, a fabricator. Perhaps a source

for custom metalwork and inventive
Choose a favored operation type: ideas?

‹ Battle: Defeat an enemy with ‹ Finch, a data broker. Perhaps a

overwhelming force. well-connected liaison among foreign
clientele?
‹ Extortion: Threaten violence
unless you’re paid off. ‹ Cane, a preacher. Perhaps a former
‹ Sabotage: Hurt an opponent by operative who claimed “sanctuary”?
destroying something. ‹ Shea, a club owner. Perhaps a good
‹ Smash & Grab: A fast and violent source of news and gossip?
armed robbery.

MERCS UPGRADES
‹ Mercenary Rigging: You get 2 free load worth of weapons or armor. For example,
you could carry a sidearm & extra ammo or wear normal armor for zero load.
‹ Elite Thugs: All of your cohorts with the Thugs type get +1d to quality rolls for
Thug-related actions.
‹ Elite Transporters: All of your cohorts with the Transporters type get +1d to
quality rolls for Transporter-related actions.
‹ Hardened: Each PC gets +1 trauma box. This costs three upgrades to unlock, not
just one. This may bring a PC with 4 trauma back into play if you wish.

133
 3
TERRORIZED
FIGHT CLUB FIXER
CITIZENS
GAMBLING
FIXER
SAFE
RING
HOUSE
mercs
ENFORCEMENT
INFIRMARY STREET FENCE
INTIMIDATION
MERCS CLAIMS
Fight Club: Your Thug cohorts get +1
scale. Everyone knows the first rule of
fight club. But it’s no use! The buzz in the
fighting community brings you more crew
members.
Warehouses: You get +1d to acquire
asset rolls. You have space to hold all the
various spoils you end up with after your
shakedowns. It can be useful on its own or
for barter when you need it.
Gambling Ring: At the start of downtime,
roll dice equal to your Tier. You earn
nuyen equal to your highest die result,
minus your heat. The locals love to
gamble away their hard-won money on
the many sporting bets you help enforce.
Infirmary: You get +1d to healing
treatment rolls. The infirmary also has
beds for long-term convalescence.
Informants: You get +1d to gather
information for a run. Your eyes and ears
on the streets and online are always on the
lookout for new targets.
134
PROTECTION
INFORMANTS
RACKET
FIXER FIXER
CRIMINAL
WAREHOUSES
RESPECT
Enforcement Intimidation: You get -2
heat per run. Even the city’s contracted
security doesn’t want any trouble from
you; they look the other way.
Criminal Respect: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for assault plans. The
private eyes and bounty hunters working
around the city help you out now.
Protection Racket: At the start of
downtime, roll dice equal to your Tier.
You earn nuyen equal to your highest
die result, minus your heat. Some of the
locals are terrified of you and will gladly
pay for “protection.”
Street Fence: You get +2 nuyen in
payoff for runs that involve lower-class
targets. An expert can find the treasure
amid the trash you loot from your poorer
victims.
Terrorized Citizens: You get +2 nuyen
in payoff for runs that involve battle or
extortion. The frightened locals offer you
tribute whenever you lash out. They don’t
want to be next.

MERCS SPECIAL ABILITIES
DANGEROUS
Each PC may add +1 action rating to Fight,
Stalk, or Wreck (up to a max rating of 3).
Each player may choose the action they
prefer (you don’t all have to choose the
same one). If you take this ability during
initial character and crew creation, it
supersedes the normal starting limit for
action ratings.
BLOOD BROTHERS
When you fight alongside your cohorts
in combat, they get +1d for teamwork
rolls (setup and group actions). All of your
cohorts get the Thugs type for free (if they’re
already Thugs, add another type).
If you have the Elite Thugs upgrade, it
stacks with this ability. So, if you had
a Weirdos team cohort, and the Elite
Thugs upgrade, and then took Blood
Brothers, your Weirdos would add the
Thugs type and also get +1d to rolls
when they did Thug-type actions.
This ability may result in a team with
three types, surpassing the normal
limit of two.
DOOR KICKERS
When you execute an assault plan, take +1d
to the engagement roll.
This ability applies when the goal is
to attack an enemy. It doesn’t apply
to other operations you attempt that
happen to involve fighting.
3
FEARED
Fear is as good as backing. You may count
each wanted level as if it was fixers.
The maximum wanted level is 4.
Regardless of how many fixers you
hold (from this ability or otherwise)
the minimum rep cost to advance your
Tier is always 6.
mercs
SEEN SOME DREK
The crew has grown particularly resistant
due to cruel experience. Each PC gets +1d
to resistance rolls with one attribute of
PlayBooK:
choice.
This ability applies to all PCs in the crew.
Each player may choose the attribute
they prefer (you don’t all have to choose
the same one). This doesn’t confer any
special benefit to your cohorts.
POISE UNDER PRESSURE
When you’re marked (-3 faction status),
your crew does not suffer -1 hold and PCs
still get two downtime activities, instead
of just one.
PATRON
When you advance your Tier, it costs half
the nuyen it normally would. Who is your
patron? Why do they help you?
135
 3

mercs oPPorTuniTies
(1) An implant retailer has set up shop nearby. Lots of tempting pieces for the
grabbing.
(2) A popular tridcaster is telling everyone that they should “never back down from
a bully” and urges others to follow suit. People are listening.
(3) A data broker wants his competitor’s cyberdeck destroyed.
(4) A bar owner is plagued by rowdy brawls every night. They want an end to it.
(5) A psychiatry firm fires all their workers and refuses to pay their wages for time
already worked. Increasingly angry supporters are camped outside, demanding justice.
(6) A group of business owners are seeking hired muscle to defy the local gang payoffs.
mercs

(1) Legionnaires have set up IDN scanners and checkpoints in the area near your
safehouse to search people for weapons and pad their quotas.
(2) A megacorporation is hiring leg-breakers to put an end to uprisings among their
illegal immigrant employees.
(3) An executive for a tech firm has hired a small private army to guard their estate
for some reason. Must be something worth defending in there...
(4) Employees are building a manufacturing plant in an abandoned town square
near Port Royal. The locals are outraged by the disrespect.
(5) The Legionnaires are hiring people without IDNs to be the security detail for a
special expedition into Sewerton. The other participants are all death-row convicts.
(6) Foreign hackers have hijacked a powerful AI in Kingston, and are assaulting
random users near the Marley Museum. You have a lead on a way to shut down their
connections, but it involves betraying one of your contacts.
(1) A rival crew keeps treasures from their crimes out in the open in their
headquarters, expecting their fearsome reputation to dissuade any potential robbery.
(2) A group of vigilantes has appeared, crippling the SINless and anyone else they
deem to be “criminal scum.”
(3) A vicious gang stalks the district, robbing with impunity and daring anyone to
challenge them.
(4) A swarm of horrors is loose in the sewers, dragging people to watery deaths and
terrorizing the poorer areas, shutting down commerce and vice.
(5) A gambling den operator needs a crew to make an example of a high-roller who
skipped out on a huge debt.
(6) A vampire-hunter has come to Kingston and needs assistance.

For any opportunity above, consider an Battle, Extortion, Sabotage, or Smash &
Grab operation. To twist an opportunity or add additional elements, roll on the run
generator table on page 238.

136
 rAdiCAlS
Agitators and extremists
You have found hope in a hopeless world—a thing you know the world needs. A purpose.
You are the agents of its execution, and the leaders of its constituents. Spread the word
and give your manifesto impact, lest its lessons be forgotten.
When you play Radicals, you earn karma when you advance the agendas of your
movement or embody its precepts in action
What’s drawing people to follow your movement? From what groups? Who is
listening, like it or not?

STARTING UPGRADES MOVEMENT

‹ Training: Willpower. Name at least one feature of the manifesto

‹ Cohort: Team, type Operatives that the world considers to be extreme:
Your following of locals perhaps? Or Anarchy, Secrecy, Communal,
more like partnered spies? Advancement, Tyranny, Disclosure,
Splintered, Preservation.

FIXER CONTACTS

Choose a favored operation type: ‹ Brunie, a visionary. Perhaps an

informant on key targets, or perhaps a former
‹ Espionage: Obtain secret public speaker?
information by covert or clandestine ‹ Houdini, a demolitionist. Perhaps a
means. deliverer of death, feared among criminals?
‹ April, a journalist. Perhaps a well-
‹ Extortion: Threaten violence connected reporter, known for their
unless you’re paid off. neutrality?
‹ Sickle, a smuggler. Perhaps a well-
‹ Insurgence: Fight openly or connected activist for a now defunct movement?
standoff against the powers that be. ‹ Bembe, a politician. Perhaps a source
for runs among the elite?
‹ Sabotage: Hurt an opponent by
‹ Ziggy, a gang boss. Perhaps someone in
destroying something.
support of the group’s ideals?

RADICALS UPGRADES
‹ Elite Operatives: All of your cohorts with the Operatives type get +1d to quality
rolls for Operative-related actions.
‹ Elite Thugs: All of your cohorts with the Thugs type get +1d to quality rolls for
Thug-related actions.
‹ Radicals Rigging: One carried item is concealed and has no load. For example,
you could carry a load of drugs or a weapon, perfectly concealed, for zero load.
‹ Hardened: Each PC gets +1 trauma box. This costs three upgrades to unlock, not
just one. This may bring a PC with 4 trauma back into play if you wish.

137
 4
SECURITY PROTECTION
INFORMANTS
INTIMIDATION RACKET
FIXER FIXER
radicals
PRIVATE
THE FARM
PILOT
RADICALS CLAIMS
Broadcast Studio: You get +1d to
Command and Influence rolls on-site. Your
audience gives you pull among your followers
and the citizenry. This location has an array
of network proxies set up to prevent your live
feed from being easily traced.
Informants: You get +1d to gather
information for a run. Your eyes and ears
on the streets and online are always on the
lookout for new targets.
The Farm: Your Operative cohorts get +1
scale. A secret training ground for social
engineers and spies. Entrance is protected
by a geographical feature that is treacherous
without passage by air (rapids, ravine, cliffside,
etc.).
Private Pilot: Safe passage by air to nearby
cities. When you leave the city through this
pilot, authorities and roaming critters will not
mess with you unless directly provoked.
Protected Estate: You get +1d to Consort
or Influence rolls on-site. You have the deed
to this land (forged or otherwise), protected
by an array of security countermeasures that
impress clientele.
138
UPPER CRUST PROTECTED
AUCTION ESTATE
SAFE FIXER FIXER
HOUSE
BROADCAST WAGESLAVE VICE
STUDIO SUPPORT SUPPLIER
Protection Racket: At the start of downtime,
roll dice equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen
equal to your highest die result, minus your
heat. Some of the locals are terrified of you
and will gladly pay for “protection.”
Security Intimidation: You get -2 heat
per run. Even the city’s contracted security
doesn’t want any trouble from you; they look
the other way.
Upper Crust Auction: You get +2 nuyen in
payoff for runs that target criminal or fringe
factions. A handful of representatives for the
rich and powerful share bribe money with
those who show that they’re players on the
scene.
Wageslave Support: You get +2 nuyen
in payoff for runs that target syndicates or
corporate factions. You have the support of
the working citizens in the city and potentially
abroad, resulting in added payoffs.
Vice Supplier: At the start of downtime, roll
dice equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen equal
to your highest die result, minus your heat.
Is this claim a supplier you’ve overtaken from
another purveyor, or a new establishment
replacing something else?

RADICALS SPECIAL ABILITIES
REVOLUTIONARIES
Each PC may add +1 action rating to
Command, Consort, or Influence (up
to a max rating of 3).
Each player may choose the action they
prefer (you don’t all have to choose the
same one). If you take this ability during
initial character and crew creation, it
supersedes the normal starting limit for
action ratings.
FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES
You have the implicit support of the homeless
and disenfranchised. Take -1  heat during
downtime and +1d to gather information
about the city’s underworld or fringe.
EXTREMISTS
Your manifesto inspires irrational fear and
superstition, and others afford you added
respect for your dedication. You may count
up to three +3 faction statuses you hold as
if they are marked fixers.
If your status changes, you lose the
bonus fixer marks on your rep tracker
until it becomes +3 again. Regardless
of how quickly you should advance
(due to mutually chosen fixers plus any
bonus from this ability), the minimum
rep cost to advance your Tier is always
6.
FOR THE CAUSE
Each PC gains an additional Vice:
Demonstration. When you indulge this vice
and distribute effective propaganda, you
don’t overindulge if you clear excess edge.
In addition, the solidarity of the crew will
assist any one action roll you make—from
now until you indulge this vice again.
What sort of propaganda inspires your
audience? How do you rally others
behind your manifesto?
4
MASS APPEAL
Your movement has gained acceptance
among a wider portion of the city. Add the
principled, unreliable, or wild flaw to any or
all of your teams to give them +1 scale (up
to a max scale of 5).
radicals
What new group(s) have you enticed?
Maybe rebellious students, fed-up wage
slaves, the hungry and homeless, drug-
addicted, far left, far right, or even
confused centrists.
COLLUSION
PlayBooK:
Through subtle manipulation or hard-won
experience, you have discovered how to
get security agencies and/or institutions to
agree with your manifesto. They do not help
directly. How do they aid your cause?
The GM will certainly have an idea
about how these supporters help, but
jump in with your own ideas, too! This
ability changes the tone of the game
quite a bit, so talk it out and come
up with something that everyone is
excited about. If it’s a bit mysterious
and uncertain, that’s good. You have
more to explore that way.
PATRON
When you advance your Tier, it costs half
the nuyen it normally would.
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 4

radicals oPPorTuniTies
(1) A student at the University of Seattle publishes a treatise claiming your manifesto
is a bunch of nonsense, a logical fallacy at best.
(2) It has become trendy for potential inductees to flash mob and protest when
they’re bored. Not all of them are poseurs.
(3) A survey has recently located a resonance well, and emergent entities trapped
there since the Awakening.
(4) A rival crew of radicals have high-technology suits that have some connection
with the Grid Overwatch Division: are they agents or is it mere coincidence?
radicals

(5) A politician enacts a desperate legislative change which plays right into your
manifesto. You realize that opportunity is knocking and you must see it through.
(6) A prominent scientist chokes to death in the streets, becoming patient zero for a
potential epidemic and creating controversy over who might be the culprit.
(1) A group of go-gangers patrols the district, looting with impunity, and daring
anyone to challenge them.
(2) The murder of an executive has the calling card of your movement left at the
crime scene.
(3) Local citizens in the area around your safehouse have started working together to
constructing something which benefits the community out of a condemned structure.
(4) A trio of mysterious assassins demands your fixer produce their following,
declaring themselves the true agents of your movement.
(5) The terrorist regime of a rival movement is contracted to round up and kill your
constituents at a mass gathering or cyberspace event.
(6) The G-men intend to create a panic and assassinate a public figure as a display
and warning. Your movement needs this person or it loses serious credibility.
(1) A resonance library has been recovered from the backup server of a company
whose quantum AI went rogue: its actions now violate a core tenet of your movement’s
manifesto.
(2) A wealthy fringe faction offers you riches (nuyen, claim, cohort, etc.) to abandon
your cause and enter into their membership.
(3) A hacker returns to the city after a high profile datatheft, unable to speak, their
thoughts stuck in a looping algorithm. Interface directly with their fractured mind to
retrieve the valuable block of data.
(4) A gang of thieves is having serious problems from a rival group. They hire you
to put an end to it.
(5) A local shipping company owner wants to have his competition’s vehicles destroyed.
(6) Your manifesto is ridiculed in the news, and your movement is becoming a
laughing stock. Demonstrate their error, or wallow in shame.

For any opportunity above, consider an Espionage, Extortion, Insurgence, or

Sabotage operation. To twist an opportunity or add additional elements, roll on the
run generator table on page 238.

140
 SHAdOwS
Thieves, spies, & saboteurs
Everyone wants something that they can’t have. That’s where you come in.

When you play Shadows, you earn karma when you execute an espionage,
intrusion, robbery, or sabotage operation

Are you stealing and spying as free agents, or do you serve your own interests with your
operations.

STARTING UPGRADES CONTACTS

‹ Training: INTUITION. ‹ Shades, an info broker. Perhaps

‹ Safehouse: Secure. one of the rare criminals that survived
being reconditioned?
‹ Tahito, a security officer. Perhaps
FIXER an informant within Alamo Security?

Choose a favored operation type: ‹ PunkBunny, a data miner. Perhaps

a well-connected underworld figure,
‹ Espionage: Obtain secret famous for their neutrality?
information by covert or clandestine
‹ Leo, a smuggler. Perhaps someone
means.
thinking they’ve outgrown their
‹ Intrusion: Theft by breaking and syndicate?
entering, digital or otherwise.
‹ Sabotage: Hurt an opponent by ‹ Kella Badu, an executive. Perhaps
destroying something. a source for runs among the elite?
‹ Robbery: Take things by force or ‹ Sylvester, a club owner. Perhaps a
threats. good source of news and gossip?

SHADOWS UPGRADES
‹ Shadows Rigging: You get 2 free load worth of tool or gear items. For example,
you could carry burglary gear and engineering tools for zero load.
‹ Underground Maps & Passkeys: You have easy passage through the underground
sewers, tunnels, and subways of the city.
‹ Extra Added Site: You have an added site beyond the usual limits for a crew of
your Tier. So if you are a Tier I crew, you can safely accommodate up to 3 sites, instead
of 2.
‹ Elite Operatives: All of your cohorts with the Operatives type get +1d to quality
rolls for Operative-related actions.
‹ Elite Thieves: All of your cohorts with the Thieves type get +1d to quality rolls for
Thief-related actions.

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 5
INTERROGATION
FIXER LOYAL FENCE
CHAMBER
DRUG DEN INFORMANTS
SAFE
HOUSE
shadows
COVERT
BODY SHOP INFIRMARY
DROPS
SHADOWS CLAIMS
Body Shop: You can freely swap your
implant features as a downtime activity.
You can also use this claim as a place to
buy and sell implants or to “clean” stolen
ones.
Covert Drop: You get +2 nuyen in
payoff for runs that involve espionage
or sabotage. The perfect hidden exchange
point is worth the extra nuyen to discerning
clientele.
Drug Den: At the start of downtime, roll
dice equal to your Tier. You earn nuyen
equal to your highest die result, minus
your heat. What’s the drug of choice?
Gambling Den: At the start of downtime,
roll dice equal to your Tier. You earn
nuyen equal to your highest die result,
minus your heat. Cards, slots, or
something more unusual on offer?
Infirmary: You get +1d to healing
treatment rolls. The infirmary also has
beds for long-term convalescence.
142
GAMBLING DEN BAR
FIXER LOOKOUTS
FIXER SHORTCUTS
Informants: You get +1d to gather
information for a run. Your eyes and ears
on the streets are always on the lookout
for new targets.
Interrogation Chamber: You get +1d
to Command and Influence rolls on-
site. Grisly business, but effective.
Lookouts: You get +1d to Stalk or
Survey near your meeting grounds.
Loyal Fence: You get +2 nuyen in
payoff for runs that involve intrusion or
robbery. It requires a skilled eye and good
contacts to move stolen goods.
Shortcuts: You get +1d to the
engagement roll for stealth plans. You
might have access to long-abandoned
underground subway tunnels, rooftop
walkways, or some other route of your
choosing.
Bar: You get +1d to Consort and
Influence rolls on-site. Some synthesized
alcohol and friendly conversation can go a
long way.
 5

SHADOWS SPECIAL ABILITIES

INTRUDERS
Each PC may add +1 action rating to
Engineer, Interface, or Prowl (up to
a max rating of 3).
Each player may choose the action they
prefer (you don’t all have to choose the
SECOND STORY
When you execute a clandestine infiltration,
you get +1d to the engagement roll.
SYNCHRONIZED
When you perform a group action, you
may count multiple 6s from different rolls

same one). If you take this ability during
initial character and crew creation, it
supersedes the normal starting limit
for action ratings.
OPPORTUNISTS
You get +1d to gather information for an
shadows
as a critical success.
For example, Shark leads a group action
to Interface their hacking software
to open a maglock on the Black Lodge’s
door. Cody, Shark’s player, rolls and
gets a 6, and so does Jaime! Because

intrusion or robbery operation.
STICKY FINGERS
Your safehouse is a jumble of stolen items.
When you roll to acquire an asset, take
+1d.
This ability might mean that you
actually have the item you need in your
pile of stuff, or it could mean you have
extra odds and ends to barter with.
Perhaps the minor paydata gathered
from some stolen stuff has finally paid
off.
PlayBooK:
the crew has Synchronized, their
two separate 6s count as a critical
success on the roll.
PATRON
When you advance your Tier, it costs half
the nuyen it normally would.
Who is your patron? Why do they help
you?

SLIPPERY
When you roll entanglements, roll twice
and keep the one you want. When you
reduce heat on the crew, take +1d.
The GM might sometimes want to
choose an entanglement instead of
rolling. In that case, they’ll choose two
and you can pick between them.

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 5

shadows oPPorTuniTies
(1) A local museum announces an exhibition of ancient artifacts and extraterrestrial
fossils.
(2) The Black Lodge needs a specific body purloined from the morgue before it’s
transported tonight.
(3) A collector wants to steal an original work of art or high-technology and replace
it with a forgery.
(4) A client wants to extract a loved one from slavery overseas.
(5) An AI wants you to secure the rest of the pieces for a frame designed for mass
shadows

destruction.
(6) A master assassin has come out of retirement for one more job. Many would pay
well to know who their target is.
(1) The black sheep of a wealthy family wants their revenge, and the deed to the
ancestral estate is the key.
(2) A drug gang wants to obtain the secret formula for their rival’s popular new
product.
(3) Strange artifacts were recovered from Barbican neighborhood. They’re held at
the OTF Field Office for analysis by their agents.
(4) Rumors of civil unrest, aren’t there always? Plant a damning data trail in the
office of a politician.
(5) Alamo Security agents are passing information using oddly high-level encryption.
Intercept their communiques.
(6) A professor at the University wants their rival’s research notes. Make it look like
a common burglary.
(1) A Legionnaires squad doesn’t want to make a very dangerous arrest. Steal the
evidence from the precinct’s secret storage location.
(2) A damning piece of evidence against a vulnerable crime lord is held in a locker
at the field office until trial.
(3) A client seeks the source of altered apps sold to wage slaves that are driving
them to madness and murder.
(4) A desperate Legionnaire needs you to plant evidence to bring down a corrupted
agent.
(5) A parade is going on, featuring the newest and smartest drones. A client would
pay well for it to be interrupted.
(6) Only one gang member survived their botched job. Can you clean the bloody
scene before the authorities arrive?

For any opportunity above, consider an Intrusion, Espionage, Robbery, or Sabotage

operation. To twist an opportunity or add additional elements, roll on the run
generator table on page 238.

144
 CHAPTER 4

THE RUN
Murder for hire, brutal extortion, cunning datathefts, illicit deals, smuggling runs,
thievery in the streets—these are among the exploits of runners—the only chances
left for those pushed to the margins and denied the privileges of the corrupt and
predatory elite.

In Runners in the Shadows, we play to A run can be long and complicated or

find out if a fledgling crew of criminals
can prosper in the underbelly of the
sprawls—and that prosperity depends
upon their criminal endeavors, which we
call “runs.”
A run is a single operation with a
particular goal: burgle the Museum
of Natural History, assassinate the
Central American diplomat, smuggle an
experimental weapon into the city, etc.
Usually, a run will fall into one of three
categories:
quick and dirty. There might be lots of
rolls and trouble, or just a few actions to
resolve it. Play to find out what happens!
A run doesn’t need to fill one session of
play every time. However long it needs to
last—so be it.
The PCs can set up a new run by choosing
a target (from their claims or the faction
list, for example), by approaching a
different fixer and asking for work, or by
being contacted by an NPC who needs to
hire a crew for a job.

◆ A criminal activity, determined by your A run consists of a few key elements,

crew type. An assassination, intrusion, detailed in this chapter: planning
black market deal, etc. (Crew types and & engagement, flashbacks, and
their primary runs are mentioned on the teamwork.
Sheets PDF)
◆ Seizing a claim (income, fixer, etc.) that
you choose from your crew’s claim map.
Claims help your crew grow and develop.
See page 44 for details.
◆A special mission or goal determined
by the players (like earning clout with
a fixer, or getting a rare component to
empower one of the Hacker’s inventions).

145
 4
PLANNING &
ENGAGEMENT
Your crew spends time planning each
run. They huddle around a swinging
fluorescent light or their comms, looking
at a virtual whiteboard, drafting plots
and schemes, bickering about the best
approach, lamenting the dangers ahead,
The run
and lusting after accounts brimming
with untracked nuyen. But you, the
players, don’t have to do the nitty-gritty
planning. The characters take care of
that, off-screen. All you have to do is
choose what type of plan the characters
have already made. There’s no need to
sweat all the little details and try to cover
every eventuality ahead of time, because
the engagement roll (detailed on the
next page) ultimately determines how
much trouble you’re in when the plan
is put in motion. No plan is ever perfect.
You can’t account for everything. This
system assumes that there’s always some
unknown factors and trouble—major or
minor—in every operation; you just have
to make the best of it.
There are six different plans, each with
a missing detail you need to provide (see
the list below). To “plan an operation,”
simply choose the plan and supply the
detail. Then the GM will cut to the action
as the first moments of the operation
unfold.
146
◆ Assault Do violence to a target. Detail:
The point of attack.
◆ Deception Lure, trick, or manipulate.
Detail: The method of deception.
◆ Social Negotiate, bargain, or persuade.
Detail: The social connection.
◆ Stealth Access undetected. Detail: The
point of access.
◆ Supernatural Engage a supernatural
power. Detail: The supernatural method.
◆ Transport. Carry cargo, data, or people
through danger. Detail: The route &
means.
THE DETAIL
When you choose a plan, you provide a
missing detail, like the point of attack,
social connection, etc. If you don’t know
the detail, you can gather info in some
way to discover it. See page 36.
For each of the plan types above, consider
how the detail might involve high-
technology or lead to it. The old fallback
“Hack it from afar” plan is probably a
stealth plan with the team’s location on
the line! Sneaking into the upscale club
to nab the paydata might kick off as a
supernatural plan because they know
there are mages watching the place!
ITEM LOADOUT
After the plan and detail are in place, each
player chooses their character’s load.
This indicates how much stuff they’re
carrying on the operation. They don’t
have to select individual items—just the
maximum amount they’ll have access to
during the action. For more details, see
page 61.

ENGAGEMENT ROLL
1d for sheer luck.
+1d for each Major
+ have the initiative when the action starts. “Little” risk.
Advantage
- -1d for each Major
Disadvantage
ENGAGEMENT ROLL
Once the players choose a plan and
provide its detail, the GM cuts to the
action—describing the scene as the crew
starts the operation and encounters their
first obstacle. But how is this established?
The way the GM describes the starting
situation can have a huge impact on how
simple or troublesome the operation
turns out to be. Rather than expecting
the GM to simply “get it right” each time,
we use a dice roll instead. This is the
engagement roll.
FASTER ENGAGEMENT
Roll 2d if the target is ready or
waiting. Roll 1d if both. Roll 3d if
neither. Take +1d if the PCs enjoy a
major advantage, or take -1d if they
are at a major disadvantage.
SKIPPING ENGAGEMENT
GMs: It’s okay to skip the engagement
roll if the fiction of the first obstacle
is already established. Just explain
why they are taking a chance
here (or have the advantage, or
disadvantage) and what’s at stake—
and go with it.
4
Critical: Exceptional result. You’ve already
overcome the first obstacle and you enjoy a dominant
advantage or have the initiative for what’s next.
6: Good result. You enjoy a dominant advantage or
PlanninG & enGaGemenT
4/5: Mixed result. You are risking “a lot” when the
action starts.
1-3: Bad result. You’re overreaching or are in serious
trouble (desperate action) when the action starts.
◆ The engagement roll is a fortune roll,
starting with 1d for sheer luck. Modify
the dice pool for any major advantages
or disadvantages that apply. Not counting
the possible extra elements you might
consider, there is a possible 3d to be
gained (for a total of 4d).
MAJOR ADVANTAGES /
DISADVANTAGES
◆ Isthis operation particularly bold or
daring? Take +1d. Is this operation overly
complex or contingent on many factors?
Take -1d.
◆ Does the plan’s detail expose a
vulnerability of the target or hit them
where they’re weakest? Take +1d. Is the
target strongest against this approach,
or do they have particular defenses or
special preparations? Take -1d.
◆ Can any of your friends or contacts
provide aid or insight for this operation?
Take +1d. Are any enemies or rivals
interfering in the operation? Take -1d.
Are there any other elements that you
want to consider? Maybe a lower-
Tier target will give you +1d. Maybe
a higher-Tier target will give you -1d.
Maybe there’s a situation in the district
that makes the operation more or less
tricky.
147
 4
The engagement roll assumes that the PCs
are approaching the target as intelligently
as they can, given the plan and detail
they provided, so we don’t need to play
out tentative probing maneuvers, special
precautions, or other ponderous non-
action. The engagement roll covers all of
that. The PCs are already in action, facing
the first obstacle—up on the rooftop,
hacking the lock on the window; kicking
down the door of the bounty’s safehouse;
The run
maneuvering to speak with an executive
at the masquerade party; etc.
Don’t make the engagement roll and then
describe the PCs approaching the target.
It’s the approach that the engagement
roll resolves. Cut to the action that results
because of that initial approach—to the
first serious obstacle in their path.
The first obstacle at Seaport Global
datacenter is the building security
and motion sensors. The engagement
roll puts us outside a door, as the PCs
are bypassing the motion sensors and
maglocks to gain access through the
maintenance shaft.
The PCs have kicked down the door and
swarmed into the front room of the
Mountain Rats’ hideout, gun muzzles
flashing, into a vicious melee with the
first of their bodyguards.
The PCs have socialized politely at the
party, maneuvering into position to
have a private word with the CEO. As a
group of young department managers
leave her side, the PCs step up and
engage her in conversation.
If the players want to include a special
preparation or clever setup, they can do
so with flashbacks during the run. This
takes some getting used to. Players may
balk at first, worried that you’re skipping
over important things that they want to
148
do. But jumping straight into the action of
the run is much more effective once you
get used to it. When they see the situation
they’re in, their “planning” in flashbacks
will be focused and useful, rather than
merely speculations on circumstances
and events that might not even happen.
OUTCOMES
The outcome of the engagement roll
helps determine the risks for the PCs’
initial actions when we cut to the run in
progress.
No matter how low-Tier or outmatched
you are, a desperate situation is the worst
thing that can result from the plan + detail
+ engagement process. It’s designed this
way so the planning process matters,
but it doesn’t call for lots of optimization
or nitpicking. Even if you’re reckless
and just dive in and take your chances,
you can’t get too badly burned. Plus,
you might even want those desperate
actions to generate more karma for the
PCs, which helps to bootstrap starting
characters into advancement.
When you describe the situation after
the roll, use the details of the target to
paint a picture of the PCs’ position. How
might the syndicate of mercenaries
present a desperate situation for a bunch
of sneaky shadows? How might the
violent and ruthless spy present a risky
threat to assaulting thugs? How might
the exceptionally rich and calculating
executive present an opportunity
for a manipulative runner? Use this
opportunity to show how the PCs’
enemies are dangerous and capable—
don’t characterize a bad engagement roll
as a failure by the PCs, or they won’t trust
the technique in the future. Sure, things
are starting out desperate here against
the creepy occultists, but you’re just the
type of characters who are daring enough
to take them on. Let’s get to it.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
The engagement roll determines the
starting situation for the PCs’ actions
on the run. How long does that hold?
If you roll a 1-3, does the situation stay
desperate? No. Once the initial actions
have been resolved, you follow the
normal process for establishing the risks
for the rest of the rolls during the run.
The engagement roll is a quick short-
hand to kick things off and get the action
started—it doesn’t have any impact after
that.
Engagement Examples
Intercepting Seaport Global’s Paydata
The crew of Shadows has a plan and
detail that doesn’t give any modifiers in
this case (this building isn’t particularly
strong or weak against a stealth plan).
The crew does have help from their
contact PunkBunny, a data miner, who
just happens to have injected an exploit
into their network the night before. The
crew gets +1d for their help. That gives
them 2d total to roll and... it’s a 2. Oh well!
It’s a desperate start for their infiltration.
The GM thinks about how the global
shipping company might pose a
desperate threat to datathieves, and
seizes on the obvious: the seemingly
ordinary authentication prompt that’s
the first obstacle to their interception
is protected by a counterhacker.
“So, who’s Interfacing through hacking
programs? This is desperate, so the
consequence obviously will be a system
alert. Plus maybe something else from
the counterhacker. Maybe this should
be a group action...”
Notice how the GM skipped past the
approach to the building and the
remote access. She already knew that
the PCs were going to hack in with their
4
cyberdeck (that was their detail for the
plan), so she cut to the first obstacle: a
protected login prompt. This skips past
a conversation about exactly which
menu option to hack, probing around
for a perfect option, debating the merits
PlanninG & enGaGemenT
of a worm versus backdoor, etc.
The engagement roll covers all that,
and then deposits the PCs mid-action,
carrying out their best shot at taking
access. The players can’t “back out” and
try a different device—the engagement
roll has placed them here. If they
want to have prepared something to
deal with a counterhacker, it’s just a
flashback away...
Assaulting the Mountain Rats
The crew of Mercs is itching for a fight
and it’s time to go teach the Mountain
Rats a lesson in blood and pain. Their
plan is an assault, which they know is
the strength of the Mountain Rats, but
so what? They’re badasses; they live for
this stuff.
The Muscle PC decides to hedge their
bets a bit, though, and Commands the
locals to reveal when the Mountain Rats
will be the loudest (and highest) during
the evening. That will be the point of
attack and a vulnerability of the enemy
crew. The crew rolls 1d (1d base, -1d
for the enemy’s strength, +1d for the
vulnerability) and gets a 5: they’ll be
risking “a lot” to start things off.
What does that situation look like?
The GM goes with the obvious thing:
risking “a lot” means a head-to-head
contest, and what’s more emblematic
than a straight up shootout? The door
crashes off its hinges, as drunken and
violent gangers (already armed and
brawling each other) fall into the fight
without hesitation.
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 4

Skilled hackers rarely start at the top

LINKED PLANS
Sometimes an operation seems to call
for a couple of plans linked together. A
common scenario is a team that wants
a two-pronged approach. “You create a
diversion at the bar, and when they send
their guards over there, we’ll break into
their hideout.” There are two ways to
handle this.
The run
and work their way down—it’s too
easy to get caught doing that. Instead,
they use other approaches such as
exploiting neglected devices, social
engineering, password farming, and
privilege escalation attacks from the
devices compromised in those steps.
You might concoct a deception plan
to trick the secretary into accidentally
leaving her boss’ office vulnerable so

The diversion is a setup maneuver that you can Interface with it. Or maybe
a team member performs as part of the you flashback to access a particular
plan. A successful setup maneuver can terminal, so some hack you coded
reduce the risks for teammates (possibly earlier can (hopefully) manifest at the
offsetting a bad engagement roll) or right time.
give increased effect. An unsuccessful
setup maneuver might cause trouble
for the second part of the plan—an easy
consequence is to give the engagement
roll -1d. If it makes sense, the team
member who performed the setup can
drift back into the main operation and
join the team later so they don’t have to
sit out and wait.

The diversion is its own plan, engagement,

and operation, whose outcome creates
the opportunity for a future plan. Use
this option when the first part of the plan
is required for the next part to happen
at all. For example, you might execute a
stealth plan to steal an artifact from the
Museum of Natural History, then later
use that artifact in a Supernatural plan to
change the background count of an area.
In this case, you go into downtime (and
payoff, heat, etc.) after the first part of the
plan, as normal.

Either approach is fine. It’s usually a

question of interest. Is the linked plan
idea interesting enough on its own to play
out moment by moment? Is it required
for the second plan to make sense? If so,
make it a separate operation. If not, just
use a setup maneuver.

150

FLASHBACKS
The rules don’t distinguish between
actions performed in the present moment
and those performed in the past. When an
operation is underway, you can invoke a
flashback to roll for an action in the past
that impacts your current situation. Maybe
you convinced the agent in charge tonight
to cancel the local patrols, so you make a
Influence roll to see how that went.
The GM sets an edge cost when you
activate a flashback action.
◆ 0 EDGE: An ordinary action for
which you had easy opportunity. The
Muscle Consorted with her friend to
agree to arrive at the bar ahead of time,
to suddenly spring out as a surprise ally.
◆ 1 EDGE: A complex action or unlikely
opportunity. The Trigger Finessed his
pistols into a hiding spot near the AR
slot machines so he could retrieve them
after the pat-down at the front door.
◆ 2 (or more) EDGE: An elaborate
action that involved special
opportunities or contingencies. The
Hacker has already Studied the virtual
interior of the construct and learned of
a malevolent sprite that lingers nearby
the paydata.
After the edge cost is paid, a flashback
action is handled just like any other
action. Sometimes it will entail an action
roll, because there’s some danger or
trouble involved. Sometimes a flashback
will entail a fortune roll, because we just
need to find out how well (or how much,
or how long, etc.). Sometimes a flashback
won’t call for a roll at all because you can
just spend the edge and it’s accomplished.
If a flashback involves a downtime
activity, pay 1 nuyen or 1 rep for it,
instead of edge.
4
One of the best uses for a flashback is
when the engagement roll goes badly.
After the GM describes the trouble
you’re in, you can call for a flashback to
a special preparation you made, “just in
case” something like this happened. This
PlanninG & enGaGemenT
way, your “flashback planning” will be
focused on the problems that do happen,
not the problems that might happen. For
more on this, see Act Now, Plan Later in
the Best Practices (Sheets PDF).
LIMITS OF FLASHBACKS
A flashback isn’t time travel. It can’t
“undo” something that just occurred in
the present moment. For instance, if a
Legionnaire agent confronts you about a
recent string of thefts when you’re headed
into the Halfway Tree Lounge, you can’t
call for a flashback to assassinate the
agent the night before. He’s here now,
questioning you—that’s established in
the fiction. You can call for a flashback
to show that you intentionally tipped
off the agent so he would confront you
at this moment—so you could use that
opportunity to impress the club owner
with your masterful evasion of law
enforcement.
151
 4

“Okay, for what?”

FLASHBACK EXAMPLES
“I want to have a flashback to earlier
that night, where I sneak into the garage
and rewire their motors so they’ll
detonate and create a distraction for
our infiltration.”
“Ha! Nice. Okay, that’s seems a bit
tricky, dealing with hyrdogen-based
engines and all... 1 edge.”
The run
“I Consorted with my hacker friends
yesterday and they blabbed about this
delivery, so I rigged the vehicle with a
shutdown virus.”
“Oh man, that’s hilarious. But kind of
nuts. I guess 2 edge for that?”
“Sounds good. But let’s make that

Consort roll and see if your hacker

“Should I roll Prowl to sneak in and
do it?”
“Nah. Their garage security amounts
to a mechanic who is usually stoned
or asleep anyway. You can easily avoid
their notice.”
friends made any demands of you or
complicated anything. Then we need
to find out how well this virus works.
Who was in charge of that?”
“I did it. I’ll roll Interface to inject
that just right. Hopefully..”

“So it just works?” GIVING UP ON A RUN

“Eh... not so fast. When you want the
distraction to hit, let’s make a fortune
roll to see how crazy the Hydrogen
Autobombs Maneuver gets. Three dice.”
-=-
When you give up on a run, you go
into downtime. Follow the phases for
downtime presented in the next chapter.
You’ll usually have zero payoff, since you
didn’t accomplish anything. You’ll still
face heat and entanglements as usual.

“The engagement roll is... a 2. Looks Runners in the Shadows is not a game about
like a desperate situation for you! the steady, continuous development of the
Hmmm. Okay, so you’re inside the PCs. They can be traumatized, murdered,
gang’s compound at the docks, slipping or even caught and brainwashed. That’s
up through the shadows next to some on the line.
huge metal storage containers. But
then all the fluorescent ballasts in
the room flicker on. The big metal
warehouse door rolls open, and you
hear a heavy vehicle coming in through
the gate. Looks like they’re getting a
delivery right now, and a bunch of gang
members are out to receive it. They’re
about to be on top of you. What do you
do?”

“Hang on, I want to have a flashback.”

152
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
 4
TEAMWORK
When the team of PCs works together,
the characters have access to four special
teamwork maneuvers. They’re listed
at the bottom of the character playbook
sheets to help remind the players of them.
The four maneuvers are:
◆ Assist another PC who’s rolling an
action.
The run
◆ Lead a group action.
◆ Protect a teammate.
◆ Set up a character who will follow
through on your action.
ASSIST
When you assist another player who’s
rolling, describe what your character
does to help. Spend 1 edge and give them
+1d to their roll. You might also suffer
any consequences that occur because of
the roll, depending on the circumstances.
Only one character may assist a given roll.
If you really want to help and someone else
is already assisting, consider performing
a setup maneuver instead.
A character may assist a group action,
but only if they aren’t taking part in it
directly. You decide which character in
the group action gets the bonus die.
154
LEAD A GROUP ACTION
When you lead a group action, you
coordinate multiple members of the team
to tackle a problem together. Describe
how your character leads the team in a
coordinated effort. Do you bark orders,
give subtle hand signals, or provide
charismatic inspiration?
Each PC who’s involved makes an action
roll (using the same action) and the
team counts the single best result
as the overall effort for everyone who
rolled. However, the character leading
the group action marks 1 edge for each
PC that rolled 1-3 as their best result.
This is how you do the “we all sneak
into the building” scene. Everyone who
wants to sneak in rolls their Prowl
action, and the best result counts for
the whole team. The leader marks
edge for everyone who does poorly. It’s
tough covering for the stragglers.
The group action result covers
everyone who rolled If you don’t roll,
your character doesn’t get the effects of
the action.
Your character doesn’t have to be
especially skilled at the action at hand
in order to lead a group action. This
maneuver is about leadership, not
necessarily about ability. You can also
lead your crew’s cohorts with a group
action. Roll Command if you direct their
efforts, or roll the appropriate action
rating if you participate alongside them.
The cohort rolls its quality level.

PROTECT
You step in to face a consequence that
one of your teammates would otherwise
face. You suffer it instead of them You
may roll to resist it or apply armor as
normal Describe how you intervene.
Skelter decides to punch Shark in the
face to make an example out of him in
front of his gang. Jax sees it coming,
though, and moves in to take the blow
from Skelter’s vicious right hook. Jaime
(Jax’s player) rolls Jax’s Body attribute
to resist, marking 2 edge and reducing
the harm to a level 2 “Broken nose.”
Jaime then uses Jax’s Formidable
special armor to reduce the harm even
further, down to level 1. Jax catches
Skelter’s fist in mid-swing, and the
force spins her sideways and twists
her shoulder painfully, but Shark is
unscathed.
SET UP
When you perform a setup action, you
have an indirect effect on an obstacle. If
your action has its intended result, any
member of the team who follows through
on your maneuver gets +1 effect level
or fewer risks for their roll. You choose
the benefit, based on the nature of your
setup action.
This is how you do the “I’ll create a
distraction” scene. You roll Influence
to distract a bouncer with your charms,
then any teammate who follows
through with a Prowl action to sneak
past him will enjoy a nice advantage.
It’s less risky since you’re drawing the
bouncer’s attention.
This is a good way to contribute to an
operation when you don’t have a good
rating in the action at hand. A clever
setup action lets you help the team
4
indirectly. Multiple follow-up actions may
take advantage of your setup (including
someone leading a group action) as long
as it makes sense in the fiction.
Since a setup action can increase the
effect of follow-up actions, it’s also useful
when the team is facing tough opposition
that has advantages in quality, scale, and/
or potency. Even if the PCs are reduced
to zero effect due to disadvantages in a
TeamworK
situation, the setup action provides a
bonus that allows for limited effect.
The PCs are facing a heavily armored
van that’s immune to their weapons.
Jax uses Wreck as a setup action to
pry some of the armor loose with hr
crowbar, giving follow up actions +1
effect—going from zero to limited
effect.
DO WE HAVE TO USE TEAMWORK?
Teamwork maneuvers are options, not
requirements. Each character can still
perform solo actions as normal during
an operation.
If your character can’t communicate or
somehow coordinate with the rest of
the team, you can’t use or benefit from
any teamwork maneuvers: you can’t
assist a teammate without spending the
edge and being in position to do that.
You can’t lead a group action without
coordinating the team and risking your
edge in the process. You can’t protect
a teammate without being in position
to take the consequence yourself. And
you can’t set up a teammate if they don’t
benefit from what you did.
If it’s ever unclear which maneuver
applies, the GM is the final arbiter (as
usual, they always get the final say
whether a roll is required, and which
type).
155
 4
MEDSLED EXTRACTIONS
BASIC SERVICES &
BIOMONITORING
Once the crew has gained the MedSled
Contract upgrade, each PC is issued
a biomonitor—keyed to their specific
genetic profile (and anonymized to keep
their identity concealed). An injured
The run
crew member’s biomonitor transmits
a panic signal whenever activated (or
one is automatically transmitted if the
biomonitor detects their incapacitation).
You can also set conditions (like “When
I am impaired” or “At 1:30 a.m.”) that
will automatically trigger a panic signal
according to specific instructions.
You may call on your contracted services
to activate one of the following benefits
(free of charge): an extraction team to
transport injured crew members to a
medical facility—access to a licensed
physician for an entire downtime phase.
Your benefits refresh after each run.
Use of a panic signal indicates consent
to pay any added costs for extraction—
you might have to pay for a canceled
panic signal you needed for a plan. The
signal may only be detected by those
near the transmitting biomonitor, and
by the extraction team, whose comms
are interfaced with the signals. A self-
driving helicopter is dispatched with
an extraction team aboard and flies to
the district where the patient may be
found, circling closer and closer to the
biomonitor with each passing minute.
It is the responsibility of the extraction
team to find and retrieve the injured
crew members, provide transport and
emergency treatment as needed, then
deliver a report of all added costs (see
right for details).
156
If a contractee to be extracted is found
dead, it is the sworn duty of the dispatched
extraction team to recover the body and
deliver it to the authorities for IDN review
and handoff to the City Morgue. Contractors
might be Influenced into transporting a
corpse somewhere else and/or “looking the
other way”—for the right price.
THE EXTRACTION TEAM
An extraction team is a team of medics
with combat training who are contracted
to rescue a member of your crew and
deliver them to a medical facility. To
contract an extraction team to remain on
standby for service to the crew members
during future runs, spend two upgrades.
The extraction team has scale and
quality equal to your current crew Tier.
They increase in scale and quality when
your crew moves up in Tier.
If your crew is Tier 0, the extraction
team is quality 0 and scale 0 (1 or 2
people). When your crew is Tier II, your
extraction team is quality 2 and scale 2
(12 people).
The extraction team is outfitted with
gas masks and heavy armor to meet
quarantine protocol and as protection
against injury during service. The
transport vehicle employs bulletproof
plating as protection against injury or
damage during service. The GM might
make a fortune roll if these protective
measures are ever put to the test, to see
how well they thwart injury or damage.

USING AN EXTRACTION TEAM
When an extraction team is deployed
to extract a PC, roll their quality to see
how it goes. The quality of any opposition
relative to the cohort’s quality affects the
risks and effect of the action.
When an extraction team performs
actions for which its training applies, it
uses its full quality rating. Otherwise, its
quality is zero.
A PC may assist an extraction team in
their efforts directly (granting them +1d),
however it costs 1 edge when you do so.
An extraction team takes harm identically
to a cohort (up to four levels; see page
119 for details). The GM may make a
fortune roll to judge the extraction team’s
remaining courage after they’ve taken
harm.
THE MEDICAL STAFF
Roll the quality of your contract (usually
the crew’s current Tier) to see the outcome
of any emergency treatment you receive.
Any contract holder gets preferred access
to medical treatment services from the
assigned doctor, who is available to the
entire crew immediately following a run
(each PC who wishes to take advantage
must spend a downtime activity, as usual,
for recovery).
4
ADDED COSTS
Additional services cost a number of
nuyen. You can spend additional upgrades
on a contract to cover additional costs
upfront as well. The GM will tell you
about any special requirements.
medsled exTracTions
◆A simple, useful addition is included
with a silver contract (1 added upgrade)
or costs 1 nuyen. Pickup outside
the coverage area. Transport for an
unscheduled passenger or two. Drugs and
recovery time for the extraction team to
deal with harm.
◆ A significant addition is included with a
gold contract (2 added upgrades) or costs
2 nuyen. A larger scale extraction team.
Repairs to a severely damaged transport
vehicle.
◆ An illegal or extraordinary addition
is included with a diamond contract (3
added upgrades) or costs 3 nuyen. Pickup
in a no-fly zone. Accompaniment by a team
of wage mages. Replacement of a transport
vehicle.
At the end of a mission where added costs
are assessed, you are expected to pay
MedSled during the payoff. If you don’t
pay, your status with MedSled will suffer
(see page 168 for details). In addition,
while you still owe MedSled, you are not
guaranteed access to a timely extraction.
157
 4
EXAMPLE RUN
Jax and her crew of runners are on a
run. They heard from their investigator
contact, Shades, that the Talons had
recently come into possession of an
experimental weapon from a top-secret
research facility, something called a
magbolt pistol.
Jax’s crew has -2 status with the Talons,
The run
which means they’re enemies. Stealing
the weapon will hurt the Talons, loosen
their hold in the underworld, and put a
valuable item in the crew’s possession, to
boot. Everyone agrees that this is the run
they want to pursue.
THE PLAN
Amber, the GM, asks the question that
kicks off every run in Runners in the
Shadows: “Okay, what’s the plan?”
The players look at the list of plans on
their character sheets and quickly choose
one. “I vote for stealth,” says Rick.
“Yeah,” says Jaime, “Let’s keep this nice
and quiet. We already have enough heat
as it is.” The other players agree. The
GM asks the group for the detail that
completes the plan: “What’s your entry
point?”
“Well,” says Jaime. “Shades has explored
around the Talons’ safehouse many times
before. He probably knows all about the
rooftop-entrances. I think using the fire
escape of a nearby building will be good.
Plus, that’ll keep us out of sight from
most witnesses on the street, so we might
as well each take normal load if we want
to.” Everyone agrees.
“Cool,” Amber says. “That’s the plan your
characters made, probably huddled
158
around their sketch of the Talons’
safehouse and the street map.
Now you’re making your way along the
alleys that run by the safehouse, pulling
your rented car silently through the
darkened streets.”
“I have my nightvision goggles on,” Jaime
says. “Are there any other lights?”
“This is a pretty trashy part of Havendale,”
Amber says. “There’s barely any other
light at all. The walls on either side of a
nearby alley are coated in a multi-colored
stains, and the streets around the area
are strewn with broken bottles and party
favors from the nearby bar district doing
a street festival. There’s a stench of vomit
and piss.”
“Ugh,” says Jaime.
ENGAGEMENT ROLL
“Time for the engagement roll!” Amber
says, a glint in her eye. “Let’s see what
kind of situation you’re in when we start
the action at the entry point.”
“I have that page open in the book,” Rick
says. “We start with 1d for sheer luck.”
“Well, that’s something,” says Cody.
“We’re probably gonna need more than
that to pull this off,” Jaime says.
“Yep, 1d to start,” Amber says. “Then you
might get advantage or disadvantage
dice. What’s the first one?”
“‘Is this operation particularly bold or
daring?’” Rick reads aloud. “Hmmm. I
think so! The Talons are like a particularly
dangerous bunch of gun-runners, right?
People say you should turn and run

when you see them. It’s pretty bold of us
to break in.”
“Yeah,” Amber says. “That’s what I was
thinking. You should get +1d for that.”
“Ex-cellent,” says Cody, tapping his
fingers together conspiratorially.
“Okay, then ‘Does the plan’s detail expose
a vulnerability of the target or hit them
where they’re weakest?’” Rick says.
“Oh, no, I know where this is going,”
Jaime says.
“It’s definitely not where they’re weak,”
Amber says. “In fact, their safehouse
is where they’re strongest, and they
have special preparations. So you get a
disadvantage for that. -1d.”
“Ah ha,” says Rick. “What about this,
though? ‘Can any of your friends or
contacts provide aid or insight for this
operation?’ We already know that one!
Shades scoped out this run in the first
place.”
“Oh that’s true,” Jaime says. “Can we say
that Shades gave us some hot tips since
he knows the place well? Maybe stuff like
‘Don’t try any of the ground level doors.’
that helped our planning?”
“Yeah, totally,” says Amber. “Take +1d for
Shades’ insight.”
“Okay,” says Rick. “Are there any other
elements we want to consider? We’re a
lower Tier than them, so that’s a thing.
-1d. Anything going on that would be an
advantage or disadvantage?”
“Actually,” Amber says. “Yes. There’s...
well, there’s something going on that
makes things a bit tougher on the Talons.
Your characters don’t know about this!
4
But it definitely counts. Take another
+1d.”
“Nice, I’m not arguing with that,” Cody
says.
“Heh. Alright, so we have 2d to roll then,”
Jaime says. “I’ll go ahead and do it.” Jaime
rolls and gets a 4.
examPle run
EVADING THE SENTRY
“A 4.. okay, so it’s risky. That’s better
than desperate. Well, that’s pretty easy
to describe. I know what’s risky about
breaking into the Talons’ headquarters,”
Amber says with a smirk. “So, you park
the vehicle under a ramshackle lean-to
in a bend in the alleyway, then approach
using a fire escape on a neighboring
building. You advance until you’re
directly across from the second floor
balcony of their safehouse, with the
narrow alleyway beneath you. Cody, I’m
picturing your character Shark crouching
on the rooftop there, peering at the
tinted rooftop windows of the safehouse
beyond.”
“Yeah,” says Cody. “I’m definitely on point
here.”
“Riggers first when it comes to B&E type
stuff, that’s what I always say. Besides,
I think I should stay in back since I’m a
techno,” Rick says.
“I assume you’re being super sneaky
and everything, yeah? You want to leap
across the gap and silently break into the
safehouse,” Amber says.
“Yep,” Cody says. “But I’m more of a
combat rigger. So I will have my pistols
ready. Just in case.”
“Okay,” Amber says. “You’re about to
make your move across when suddenly
you hear a a faint whirring noise, and the
surface of the wet street below flickers
159
 4
with the faint lens flare of a nightvision
sensor.”
“I knew it,” Rick says.
“Through a band of fog near the
water, you see a tiny scanning light
outline nearby trash floating the
water, illuminating the rough shape of
something robotic.” Amber says.
“Well, crap,” says Jaime.
The run
“Relax. It’s just a security drone or
whatever,” Jaime grins. “Some kind of
sentry placed here under the employ of
the po-po, probably. We can get around
it.”
“I have a big gun and plenty of specialty
bullets,” Cody says. “And a big bomb.”
Rick and Jaime look at Cody for a long
moment.
“But those are both loud, so I won’t do
that.” Cody says.
“Do we have to confront this drone?”
Rick asks. “Like, deal with its alerts by
resisting and all that?”
“Not yet,” Amber says. “It’s just a distant
sensor right now, coasting in a random
patrol pattern around the safehouse.
It hasn’t fully arrived or been alerted.
If your engagement roll had been 1-3, I
probably would have put you in that spot.
But that’s definitely a risk here. What do
you do?”
“I’m going to lead a group action,” Cody
says. “Let’s Prowl across, and through the
window, and leave this drone behind.”
“Sounds good,” says Rick. “I have 2 in
Prowl.”
“I also have 2,” Cody says. “I’m a pretty
athletic Rigger.”
160
“I have zero,” says Jaime. “Oh well! Not
my problem.” She grins.
“Okay, it’s a group action, using Prowl,”
Amber says. “Aside from the danger of
the drone, the actual maneuver to leap
across and get though the window is
totally doable. So the risk is not so much
you don’t do it, but that badness happens
along the way. Want to push yourself or
entertain a Dragon’s Deal?”
“Nah, I think we’re good. Let’s roll ‘em,”
Cody says. “I got a 4.”
“I got a 3,” Rick says. They look at Jaime
hopefully.
“I rolled a 6!” Jaime says. “And a 2. I have
to take the lowest because I basically suck
at this. Bleeeah.”
“And I have to lose two edge from you
pains in my arse,” Cody says. “Yeesh.
Maybe I should have taken that Deal
after all.”
“Well, you do it: highest was a 4.” Amber
says. “And the first complication will be
a tick on the good ol’ ‘Alert’ clock ” She
puts a 4-track out on the table and ticks it
once. “The three of you leap over, ready
to assess and spring the maglock on the
balcony window... but it’s unlocked. It
swings opens as you get near and you
hear the flying drone approaching, so
we see you go through the office blinds
and into the darkness beyond. You hear
the servos of a drone spin up inside
the building as well, as if it detected
something; perhaps a blip in cyberspace
from those windows. Again, that’s the
first complication—which you can resist
with Intuition if you wish..”
“Oh no: ‘first complication’? There’s
another one, too?” Cody says.

THE GUARDIAN
WITHIN
“Well, it is the Talons’ fortified safehouse,
an HQ of sorts,” Amber says. “As your
eyes adjust to the darkness, you can see
that you’re in an office, with rows of dusty
shelves along the walls, some chairs, a
sofa, and a podium with an inactive holo-
projector on the floor. Then you hear the
window close behind you on its own, and
the maglock clicks audibly as it secures.
It’s quiet in here. Too quiet.”
“A booby-trapped safehouse. Of course it
is!” Rick says.
“The first few sounds of a warning come
from the seemingly vacant hallway
outside as a softly glowing bluish light
comes to life outside of view. Do you hear
the groan of metal on metal? The spinning
of electric motors? It would seem you have
remotely-operated company nearby...”
“Well crap—that’s not good,” Rick says.
“Let’s get going and grab what we came
for before more we’re boxed in here.”
“Hmmm,” says Jaime. “We don’t know
exactly where the weapon is in this
place... Shades just said it was in here
somewhere.”
Cody speaks up, “Maybe I should get my
‘deck out to hack this second drone here
to tell us where it is. Save us the trouble
of searching every room. Turn their
machines against them!”
“I like this plan,” Jaime says.
“As long as you don’t roll snake eyes like
before,” Rick says.
“Doubt that. I’m gonna Interface
with the machine wirelessly and take
authentication over it. I’ll be in VR, but
4
not hot-sim—so I don’t die or anything,”
Cody says.
“Okay, still seems desperate to me,”
Amber says.
“Desperate? It’s just a normal drone,
right?” Cody says.
“Yeah, but it’s a guardian drone serving
examPle run
the Talons, controlled in VR by a skilled
rigger. It’s not a consumer drone just
hanging out. I don’t think you can quite
do it in one action either; you’ll need a
critical, or someone will need to follow
up to finish that action,” Amber says.
“Wow, raw deal, but I get what you’re
saying. I guess I would want it to be hard
for someone to take control of one of my
drones while I am jumped in—when I
finish building mine.” Cody says. “Eh, I’m
gonna do it anyway! I want that karma
for the desperate roll.”
“Okay then. Do you want a Dragon’s Deal,
or will you push yourself?” Amber asks.
“Let’s hear the Deal,” Cody says.
“Oh, I feel like there are so many options
here,” Amber says, chuckling evilly. “I
mean, the first thing that I think of is
you’re okay with some heat. But how
about THIS: that you betray a teammate,
so they take harm to give you more time
to pull off the hack.”
Cody considers the idea and starts
smiling.
“Oh, that’s rich,” Jaime says. “You going
to stab one of us in the back already?
Figures as much..”
“Should I? Ok, no no! Not yet anyways..”
Cody looks at his watch before Jaime
slaps his arm in mock protest.
161
 4

Amber continues: “Well then perhaps The 1-3 Result

we go with something more meta,
like it’s your old mentor Chopper who
programmed that drone, and he left a
little backdoor for you—but it’s going to
cost you a standard cut of 1 nuyen.”
Cody excitedly blurts, “Oh, I like where
that is going! It’s totally more personal if
I take that one. Maybe we’ve been rigger
buddies for a long time, and this is one of
The run
“Argh, I got a 3! On four dice. Such bad
luck,” Cody says.
“The drone is about the size of a person—
and it’s pumping its metal limbs wildly in
a dizzying flurry as it enters the room,”
Amber says.
“It’s got an exploit all right, but it’s
currently mid-rampage and your attempt

our side hustles?”

“I think that sounds reasonable, and
really fun to explore later too. So how
about it?” asks Amber.
After a brief pause, Cody agrees, “Yea, I
will totally take that Deal and that tasty
+1d. Can anyone assist me?”
“Actually, yeah,” Jaime says. “And no, not
with loud-ass guns or bombs either. I’m a
sharp-eyed Trigger, yeah? Can I say that
I brought a set of lights—something I can
use to distract the thing long enough to
buy Shark some time? Maybe I activate
those real quick to help out.”
“Yeah, that’s good,” Amber says.
“But if you’re helping out like that,
you’re involved in this roll now. The
consequences apply to you, too. The
obvious risks are mainly that this drone
is going to go haywire on you two before
Shark can take authentication.”
is blocked by its lengthy subroutine and
network protections. The drone spins
around, angular metal panels unhinging
and whirling dangerously, visual sensors
emitting a crimson light. A mounted
machine gun extends from the elbow
hinge, and a hail of bullets fly through
the set of lights in mid-air (which are
destroyed), and into Jax and Shark.
You both take level 2 harm: ‘Gunshot
wounds ’ I’m also gonna put three
ticks on the ‘Alert’ clock as a ‘serious
complication ’ That fills it up. So much
for sneaking! From behind you, the
window’s maglock clicks again and the
drone from the hallway lurches into the
room, electrical sparks arcing from its
shock attachment. You hear the wailing
of a klaxon from out in the hallway. By the
way, Rick, now would be the time when
you have to deal with being cornered by
this drone. What do you do?”

“Okay,” Cody says.

“Alright, so that gives me 4d for the

Interface roll Desperate action And I
need a critical to do it, or else I’ll have to
keep working. Here we go. I hunch down,
comm in hand, and hop into VR as soon
as the lights are out. “Okay,let’s hope this
works..” Jaime says. She rolls the dice.

Let’s look at three possible outcomes of

this roll: 1-3, 4/5, and a critical.

162

The 4/5 Result
“Got a 5! So close yet again,” Cody says.
“The drone fires at the string of lights, and
turns to scan the room for intruders. It
turns in your direction, its sensors flitting
around the scene. It hesitates briefly due
to your authentication request—which
is refused. It would seem the provided
exploit was thwarted during a software
rebuild earlier that day.”
“Oh, right. We established this, like way
back in the first session. The Talons are
hugely suspicious of any free agents in
their employ, and silently monitor most
of their devices for tampering. I forgot all
about that,” Cody says.
“Yep! That’s the limited effect here,”
Amber says. “Chopper couldn’t give
you exactly what you wanted, but it
hasn’t maimed you yet either. And he
can probably get you the location of the
magbolt pistol amid the chaos of the
fight.”
“Nice,” Cody says. “So we’re good, then?”
“Hang on a minute, pal,” Amber says. “It
was a partial success. I have a consequence
to inflict here. And it was desperate, too...
hmmm, okay, let’s get rough. I’m gonna
put three ticks on the ‘Alert’ clock as a
‘serious complication ’ That fills it up.
So much for sneaking! From behind you,
the window’s maglock clicks again and
the drone from the hallway lurches into
the room, electrical sparks arcing from its
shock attachment. You hear the wailing of
a klaxon from out in the hallway. By the
way, Rick, now would be the time when
you have to deal with being cornered by
this drone. What do you do?”
4
The Critical Result
“Two sixes! Take that,” Cody says.
“Wow, nice,” Amber says. “You do it and
avoid consequences and get an additional
benefit. Let’s see... alright, first, the drone
pauses outside the room and you direct it
to scan elsewhere.
examPle run
The soft glow of the drone’s sensors shines
in the room briefly then fades away. I was
going to say that normally you couldn’t
much more done with this roll because of
the silent monitoring thing...”
“Oh yeah, right...” Cody says. “I’m gonna
go virtual and get my warez loaded up.
Will that increase my effect here?”
“Yeah, definitely. Also, with the critical,
let’s say that the pro exploit boosts your
effect, too. So you end up with great effect!
You get a look at its patrol path, and can
pinpoint the icon of the magbolt pistol
is in one of the Talons’ basement rooms,
just below you. You know to go down
the stairs at the end of the hallway, and
turn right at the fork before descending
again. Your crit means you also notice
that you’ve detected a networked device
is there as well, with some kind of alarm
or trap set on a touch trigger.”
“Good to know,” Rick replies.
“I want it. Can I keep it?,” Cody suggests.
“Maybe we can come back for the drone
on our way out,” Jaime says. “Let’s enjoy
this success and get on down to the
basement and grab that thing while we
have the chance.”
For the purpose of this example, let’s
imagine that the critical success result
happened and carry on from there.
163
 4
SNEAKING
DOWNSTAIRS
“You’re going to sneak downstairs now?
More Prowling, I presume?” Amber asks.
“Yes,” Jaime says. “And I am angling for
another group action, I think, unless you
want me to take my chances with zero
dice on my own.”
The run
“Let’s all sneak in as a group. I’ll lead
this time, since I’ve still got a full track of
edge,” Rick says.
Everyone rolls a Prowl action, and the best
result is a 4. Amber advances the “Alert”
clock by two ticks since they’re deep inside
the safehouse and there are more hidden
sensors along the way. But Rick wants to
resist that consequence. The GM, Amber,
says he must roll his Intuition due to it
being a result of surprise—which he does,
and gets a 4. Rick loses 2 edge (marking
his character’s edge boxes to reflect this)
and the consequence is avoided.
“You slink downstairs in the darkness—
the safehouse has no lights on anywhere,
that’s a bit odd, yeah?—but anyway, you
find the hallway leads to a steel walk-in
cooler door and it’s not locked. You hear a
low humming sound coming from within,
like a very low-pitched tuning fork. What
do you do?”
164
SEIZING THE
MAGBOLT PISTOL
“We peek in,” Rick says.
“It’s a vacant cooler, turned off,” Amber
says. “Within it is a seemingly innocuous
desk with a metal case on top, outfitted
with an array of visual sensors pointed at
the door. The usual stuff.
“The magpistol case is sitting there in
the middle of the room: concealing a
C-shaped device that looks so new it’s still
got a bit of machining dust on its surface.
The handle is connected to a sensor array
that is wired to a battery, some sort of
electrified wire set to shock someone
who grabs it without disabling it first.
Electrified pulses are set off in waves,
producing the low tuning fork noise you
heard. Arranged around the weapon case
are the Talons—or four of them anyway—
their faces lit by a holoprojection, and
as usual they are dressed in armored
business suits. One of them is gesturing
to the case; they seem frozen in time,
unblinking, possibly engaged in some
sort of wireless interaction.
“The other three stand around the desk.
They’re clearly working on a buyer,
apparently attempting to boost the price
in whatever deal they think they’re about
to close. They’re concentrated fully on
their task and don’t react when you peek
inside.”
“Well, that explains that mysterious
bonus die for the engagement roll. Looks
like they’re busy,” Cody says.
“Maybe we should come back when
they’re not indisposed,” Rick says.
“Wouldn’t want to be rude.” He smirks
widely and the others chuckle in response.
“I have an idea,” Cody says.
Jaime and Rick give him a look. “Do you
want to blow them up or shoot them?”
Rick asks.

“Shoot it,” Cody says. “But it’s a solid idea. I
swear! How about: I pelt the area with flare
rounds—interrupting their little business
meeting—then Shark redirects... whatever
else is protecting the case right now.. at the
Talons so it lays them out.”
“I actually like this idea,” Jaime says.
Rick shakes his head. “Wow, okay, I can get
on board with this madness. I guess it’s up to
me to grab the case, then. Without touching
it, because it’ll probably hurt me to do that.
Ah, I got it: I’ll say that Totes happens to have
his fine filtering hood with him. It’s kinda
resistant to electrical signals... I can catch the
case in that and wrap it up without touching
it directly.”
“Okay, yeah, let’s do this. I actually have an
escape idea, too,” Jaime says. “But first, I’ll
take my shot as a setup maneuver for Shark.
Boosted effect or fewer risks?”
“Let me suggest boosted effect,” Amber says.
“I think you’ll have zero effect on this crazy
electrified case situation otherwise.”
“Okay, boosted effect for Jax’s action,” Cody
says. “How crazy is it to try shooting the
magbolt pistol into our waiting arms?”
“Desperate as can be,” Amber says. “Plus,
I’m going to fill the ‘Alert’ clock since you’re
making so much noise with the gun. This
would be zero effect, normally, but your flare
ammo will give you limited.”
“Beast.” Cody declares.
“Okay, I’m Stalking for the shot here,
obviously... I have 2d.”
“I have a Dragon’s Deal for you,” Amber says.
“When you open your belt pouch to load the
special ammo, you realize something is weird
with the flare ammunition. The energy has
been draining due to the equipment nearby,
so you only have enough for this salvo of
shots and then you’re totally out. You’ll have
to acquire the asset again to have more.”
4
“Oh, that’s mean,” Cody says. “I like it! It’s a
deal. Now I have 3d.”
“I’m also assisting you,” Jaime says. “I start to
rush in to blow back the energy in the room
in order to slow the sensor’s response time a
bit. I spend another edge and you get +1d.”
“Okay, four dice it is.” Cody rolls and gets a 6!
“Boom! Nailed it.” There’s a collective cheer
as they realize they’ve done it.
examPle run
“Ha, it actually works,” Amber says. “The
case emits a shower of flaming sparks as the
flare rounds hit, and it goes spinning across
the room—we watch in slow motion as Jax
Finesses to divert the electrical shock and
Totes runs to catch it.”
Jaime rolls another desperate action, this time
to Finesse, but pushing herself for 2 edge to
get +1 effect, and she rolls a 5. Rick rolls Prowl
for Totes’ athletic run and leap to catch the
artifact, and he gets a 6.
“Okay, Jaime, your character Jax does it,
hurling the residual electrical energy at the
Talons.
You would have had zero effect, but Cody’s
setup boosted you to limited, then you pushed
yourself for standard effect. I’ll say that this
blasts them all around the room. One crashes
forward into their desk, knocking over the
display, a chair goes sideways and hits the
wall, etc. You also suffer a consequence,
though. It’s desperate, so let’s call it level 3
harm: “Broken Ribs ” You also get thrown
across the room by the blast and you feel
your ribs crack when you hit a desk. Hard.”
“Ow,” Jaime says. “I’m already at 5 edge. I’m
not resisting that.” She writes the harm on her
character sheet.
“And Totes expertly catches the pistol in
the filtering hood, being very careful not to
touch it directly. Oh, you’re soooo lucky that
you got a 6,” Amber says.
“I know!” Rick says. “I was worried. Now
what about this escape plan, Cody?”
165
 4

been watching his comm’s time readout

THE GETAWAY
“I want a flashback to the night before,”
Cody says. “Shark staked out the alleys
and Surveyed to know exactly how to
spring the lock mechanisms in the doors
used in this building and when the bus
schedules run.”
“Okay,” Amber says. “Call it a 2 edge
flashback, to get the timings down exactly
The run
during this run, to time everything
perfectly. As Totes catches the case, he
rushes forward, grabs her and Jax by
the arms and rushes for the nearest exit.
They depart, locking the Talons inside
the basement... sprinting for the bus stop,
and arriving at the exact last moment to
make a sweet escape. The End.”
“Wow, nice one,” Amber says. “Jax will

right. No need to roll for the Survey or
Engineering you did.”
“Okay, so, Shark knows precisely when to
lock the Talon’s safehouse down, and he’s
have to push herself to be able to take
action like this with those broken ribs,
so that’s 2 more edge for you, but if you
spend it you’re gone too, and we can call
that a clean getaway!”

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
‹ How would a different engagement roll result change the run? On a 1-3,
Amber mentioned that she would have confronted them with the flying drone
right away. Does that seem right for an opening desperate action? What if they
had gotten a 6 or a critical? How would you handle it?

‹ When Shark Interfaced to hack the drone, on the 1-3 and 4/5 results,
how would things have gone if the PCs had resisted the consequences? Do you
think the consequences were appropriate, given how tight the Talon’s safehouse
security is supposed to be? How would you increase or decrease the severity of
consequences in a situation like this if the opponent was different?

‹ Shark used his fine exploitation software after the roll, to increase the effect
of her result. Would you let a player do this, or do you think they should have to
declare their items before they roll?

‹ The critical result on the Interface roll really made things a lot simpler,
didn’t it? The crew could have been stuck battling security drones in the first
room of the safehouse, but instead they just slipped on through to the location of
the magbolt pistol, making the run a lot faster to complete. What do you think of
short-and-sweet missions like this?

‹ What did you think of Cody’s “shoot things and give ‘em the slip” maneuver
at the end? Is that the kind of pink mohawk tone that you want to promote
when you play the game, or would you like something more gritty and closer to
real-life? Do you think 2 edge is a fair cost for that flashback? Should he have
rolled Survey to see how good his information was, or was it okay to gloss over
that bit?

166

DOWNTIME
After the crew finishes a run (succeed
or fail), they take time to pay their bills,
recover, regroup, and prepare for the
next operation. This phase of the game is
called downtime.
Downtime fulfills two purposes in the
game:
◆ First, it’s a break for the players. During
the action of the run, the PCs are always
under threat, charging from obstacle
to obstacle in a high-energy sequence.
Downtime gives them a reprieve so they
can catch their breath and relax a bit—
focus on lower-energy, quieter elements
of the game, as well as explore personal
aspects of their characters.
◆ Second, the shift into a new phase of the
game signals a shift in which mechanics
are needed. There are special rules that
are only used during the downtime
phase, so they’re kept “out of the way”
during the other parts of play. When
we shift into downtime, we take out a
different toolbox and resolve downtime
on its own terms, then shift back into the
more action-focused phases of the game
afterwards.
CHAPTER 5
Downtime is divided into five parts,
which are resolved in order:
(1) Payoff. The crew receives their
rewards from a successfully completed
run.
Heat. The crew accumulates
(2)
suspicion and attention from the law and
the powers-that-be in the city as a result
of their last run.
(3) Entanglements. The crew faces
trouble from the rival factions, the law,
and the haunted city itself.
(4) Downtime Activities. The PCs
indulge their vices to regain spent edge,
work on long-term projects, recover from
injuries, etc.
(5) After the downtime activities are
resolved, the game returns to free play,
and the group can move toward their
next run.
167
 5
PAYOFF
After a run, the PCs take stock of their
income from the operation. A successful
run generates both rep and nuyen.
The crew earns 2 rep per run by default.
If the target of the run is higher Tier than
you, take +1 rep per Tier higher. If the
target of the run is lower Tier, you get
downTime
-1 rep per Tier lower (minimum zero).
If the target of the run is one of the Big
Seven, you get +2 rep.
If your crew is Tier I and you pull off a
successful run against a Tier III target,
you earn 4 rep (2 rep, +2 rep for a target
two tiers above you). If your crew is
Tier III and you complete a run against
a Tier I target, you earn 0 rep (2 rep, -2
rep for the lower Tier target).
If you keep the operation completely
quiet so no one knows about it (not even
your fixer), you earn zero rep. Mark the
rep on the rep tracker on the crew sheet.
The crew earns nuyen based on the
negotiation (determined by nature of the
operation), and/or any loot they seized:
◆2 nuyen: A milk run; a few full
credsticks.
◆4 nuyen: A standard run; a small
datavault or minor paydata.
◆6 nuyen: A big run; decent loot or
paydata.
◆ 8 nuyen: A major run; serious haul or
major paydata.
◆ 10+ nuyen: An insane run; impressive
haul or top secret paydata.
Record the nuyen on the crew sheet, or
divvy it up among the crew members as
you see fit.
168
Most runs involve a fixer who expects to
be paid a cut. Some districts have crime
bosses that expect smaller crews to owe
them a favor or pay a tithe. Ask the GM
if there’s someone that you should be
paying. Subtract nuyen equal to your
crew Tier +1 when you pay a cut to a
fixer, larger organization, crime boss, etc.
If you’re supposed to be paying someone
off, but you don’t, start a clock for their
patience running out. Tick it whenever
you don’t pay. Every time it fills up, lose
1 faction status (if they were a faction) or
relationship level with them (making a
friend not so “close” anymore, turning a
friend into a “rival,” or losing them as a
contact).
Payoff occurs through a similar protocol
to the initial meet, however the runners
tend to be wanted following an operation
so it’s usually just an impersonal handoff
in a remote location. The players and
GM should work together to act out any
payoffs of interest—otherwise, just gloss
over it and move on.
GMs: When it comes to getting paid,
don’t mess around. Granted, betrayals
are a mainstay in criminal fiction, so
they can happen—but in Runners, the
PCs have enough problems without
you throwing the players a random
backstab of your own. When it comes
to getting paid, just give them what
they earned unless you have their buy-
in for something else.
If there was a deception underway
they didn’t resist, hold them to it and
enforce the consequences of it as usual.
However, don’t lead them to think
the client told the truth before, and
suddenly reveal a deception after it’s
too late—and don’t excuse it by saying
it was “off-camera.” It’s more fun if
we’re all honest to one another about
the presence of any “hidden” fiction in
play.
 5

HEAT
Kingston is a coastal cityscape full
of prying eyes, hidden cameras, and
conniving informants. Anything you do
might be witnessed, and there’s always
evidence left behind. To reflect this, your
crew acquires heat as they commit crimes.
After a run or conflict with an opponent,
your crew takes heat according to the
nature of the operation:

heaT
◆ 0 heat: Smooth & quiet; low exposure.
◆ 2 heat: Contained; standard exposure.
◆ 4 heat: Loud & chaotic; high exposure.
◆ 6 heat: Wild; devastating exposure.
Add +1 heat for a high-profile or well-
connected target. Add +1 heat if the
situation targeted a hostile faction. Add
+1 heat if another faction has marked the
crew. Add +2 heat if killing was involved
(whether the crew did the killing or not).

You mark heat levels on the heat tracker

on the crew sheet.

When your heat level reaches 9, you gain

a wanted level and clear your heat (any
excess heat “rolls over,” so if your heat
was 7 and you took 4 heat, you’d reset
with 2 heat marked).

The higher your wanted level, the more

serious the response when authorities
take action against you (they’ll send a
force of higher quality and scale). Also,
your wanted level contributes to the
severity of the entanglements that your
crew faces after a run. See page 171 for
details.

169
 5

Reconditioning by the officially-

RECONDITIONING
The only way to reduce your crew’s
wanted level is through reconditioning.
When someone—one of your crew
members, friends, contacts, or even a
framed enemy—is detained for crimes
associated with your crew, your wanted
level is reduced by 1 and you clear your
heat.
downTime
sanctioned justice system signifies
the end of your story: your IDN gains
criminal status, your illegal implants
are removed, and your relationships and
finances suffer. A PC who is remanded
to the custody of the justice system
suffers trauma such that their track is
completely filled and their character is
retired forever. See Edge & Trauma on

page 21 for details. Being put to death

Reconditioning may result from
investigation or detainment by a faction
(such as Mexitech corpsec agents, the
Cuban Mafia’s enforcement squad, or
even a street gang of rowdy thug types)—
or because someone turns themselves
in to that faction and takes the fall for
the crew’s crimes. The severity of what
happens depends on your wanted level:
◆ Wanted Level 4: Remanded to the custody
of the justice system and retired.
◆ Wanted Level 3: A year or two.
◆ Wanted Level 2: Several months.
◆ Wanted Level 1: A month or two.
◆ Wanted Level 0: A few weeks. Or, the
authorities beat or starve you nearly to
death to send a message (suffer level 3 harm,
no resistance roll allowed—they keep going
until you’re hurt severely).
is likely only when the accounting for all
of your known crimes is done.
Being reconditioned elsewhere isn’t
much better (but is far more common).
The description of what happens
depends on the authorities that did it.
The privately-run corporate legal system
might brainwash you. A syndicate might
brutalize or terrify you. The fringes of
society might indoctrinate you or perform
strange rituals. These experiences
will test your sanity and your crew’s
solidarity is your only real defense while
inside. Roll your crew Tier when you are
reconditioned.

RECONDITIONING ROLL
critical: You resist your captors, but impress them.
1d for each crew Tier level. You gain +3 rep for your crew and +1 faction status
with the faction that reconditioned you.

6: You hold your own, gaining a modicum of respect

from your captors. Your crew gains +1 faction status
with the faction that reconditioned you.

4/5: You pay the price, but gain little more than an
enemy. Your crew takes -1 faction status with the
faction that reconditioned you, or you gain a new rival
of the GM’s design.

1-3: You survived, technically—but it was horrific. You

suffer a level of trauma from the experience.

170

ENTANGLEMENTS
Your crew of runners didn’t just spring
into existence tonight. You have a complex
history of favors, commitments, debts, and
promises that got you where you are today.
To reflect this, after each run, you roll dice
to find out which entanglement comes
calling. An entanglement might be a rival
crew looking to throw their weight around
(and demanding some nuyen), a corporate
enforcer making a case against your crew
(but ready for a bribe), or even the attention
of a rabid barghest.
After payoff and heat are determined, the
GM generates an entanglement for the crew
using the lists below. Find the column that
matches the crew’s current heat level. Then
roll a number of dice equal to their wanted
level, and use the result of the roll to select
which sort of entanglement manifests. If
wanted level is zero, roll two dice and keep
the lowest result.
Bring the entanglement into play
immediately, or hold off until an appropriate
moment. Some groups like to roll
entanglements “in the open” so everyone
knows what’s about to hit them. Other
groups prefer the roll to be secret, so the
entanglement is a surprise when it happens.
Either way is fine. For example, if you get the
Interrogation entanglement, you might wait
until a PC indulges their vice, then say the
Legionnaires picked them up when they were
distracted by its pleasures.
heat 0-3 heat 4/5
1-3 Crew Trouble or 1-3 Crew Trouble or
The Usual Questioning
Suspects
4/5 Rivals or 4/5 Reprisals or
Supernatural Supernatural
Badness Badness
6 Called Favor 6 Show of Force
5
Entanglements manifest fully before the
PCs have a chance to avoid them. When
an entanglement comes into play, describe
the situation after the entanglement has
manifested. The PCs deal with it from that
point—they can’t intercept it and defuse
it before it happens. The purpose of the
mechanic is to abstract a lot of the complex
stuff happening in the backgrounds of the
enTanGlemenTs
characters’ lives in order to generate trouble
for them. Entanglements are the cost of doing
business in the underworld—a good crew
learns to roll with the punches and pick their
battles.
Entanglements can also arise directly from
events in play. If the Muscle gets arrested,
for example, then the GM might follow the
directions in the Detainment entanglement.
The entanglements are detailed on the
following pages. Each has a list of potential
ways for the PCs to be rid of it. If you want the
entanglements to be a momentary problem
for the crew, stick to the suggested methods
to resolve them, and move on to the next
part of downtime. If you want to dive in and
explore the entanglement in detail, set the
scene and play out the event in full, following
the actions and consequences where they
lead.
Several entanglements mention “authorities”
in their description. Note that this can refer
to security officers serving as local police, but
also corporate security, gang enforcers, and
even agents. The headquartered upgrade
offers additional options for dealing with
entanglements involving authorities.
heat 6+
1-3 Flipped or
Interrogation
4/5 Draconic Notice
or
Show of Force
6 Detainment
171
 5
CALLED FAVOR
Someone owed a cut or favor demands it
be repaid. Repay them in full, or forfeit
rep equal to your Tier. If you don’t owe
anyone, a +3 status faction asks you for
a favor instead. Agree to do it or forfeit
1 rep per Tier of the faction. If you don’t
owe any favors or have a +3 faction status,
you avoid entanglement right now.
downTime
CREW TROUBLE
One of your cohort teams (or other
cohorts) causes trouble due to their
flaw(s). You can lose face (forfeit rep equal
to your Tier +1), make an example of one
of the crew members, or face reprisals
from the wronged party.
DRACONIC NOTICE
A dragon approaches the crew with a
dark offer. Accept their bargain, hide
until it loses interest (forfeit 3 rep), or
deal with it another way.
DETAINMENT
Authorities have been contracted against
you. They send a detail to bring you in (a
team at least equal in scale to your wanted
level). Pay them off with nuyen equal to
your wanted level +3, hand someone over
for detainment (this clears your heat), or
try to evade capture.
A corporate security agent sends an
encrypted message through a discreet
server. It shows you a live video feed of
a team of about twenty security officers
en route to detain you. The message
then prompts your fixer: “Pay to make
this go away—or take your chances?
It’s up to you.”
172
FLIPPED
One of your contacts (perhaps a fixer),
patrons, clients, or a group of your
customers to switch allegiances due to
the heat on you. They’re loyal to another
faction now.
INTERROGATION
Authorities round up one of the PCs to
question them about the crew’s crimes.
How did they manage to corner you?
Either pay them off with 3 nuyen, or they
beat you up (level 2 harm) and you tell
them something that can bring added
trouble (+3 heat). You can resist each of
those consequences separately.
Most players really hate it when their
character gets cornered! Explain that
it’s completely normal for a runner
to get hemmed up by “the Man.” You
spend time in and out of situations like
this, getting questioned and harassed
by those who abuse their power. It’s
not the end of the world. But now that
you’re forced to decide, what kind of
person are you? Do you talk? Do you
stand up to them? Do you make a deal?
QUESTIONING
Authorities grab an NPC member of your
crew or one of the crew’s contacts, to
question them about your crimes. Who
do they think is most vulnerable? Make a
fortune roll to see how much they talk
(1-3: +2 heat, 4/5: +1 heat), or pay the
authorities off with 2 nuyen.
Roll 2d for a normal person to see
how well they keep quiet. If they’re
an experienced underworld type or
some kind of tough, give them 3d or 4d
instead. If they’re soft or if they have
some loyalty to these authorities, give
them 1d or 0d.
 5

REPRISALS
An enemy faction makes a move against
you (or a friend, contact, or vice purveyor).
Pay them (1 rep and 1 nuyen) per Tier of
the enemy as an apology, allow them to
mess with you or yours, or fight back and
show them who’s boss.

enTanGlemenTs
RIVALS
A neutral faction throws their weight
around. They threaten you, a friend, a
contact, or one of your vice purveyors.
Forfeit (1 rep or 1 nuyen) per Tier of the
rival, or stand up to them and lose 1
status with them.

SHOW OF FORCE
A faction with whom you have a negative
status makes a play against your holdings.
Give them 1 claim or become marked
(drop to -3 status). If you have no claims,
lose 1 hold instead.

SUPERNATURAL BADNESS
An emergent or astral entity is drawn
to you—perhaps it’s a past victim, pixie,
or a hungry technocritter? Acquire the
services of a Mage, Techno, or another
suitable expert to attempt to destroy or
banish it, or deal with it yourself.

They can hire an NPC by using the

acquire asset downtime activity. Roll
the NPC’s quality level as a fortune roll
to see how well they deal with the entity.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

Authorities grab someone in the periphery
of your crew. One player volunteers a
friend or vice purveyor as the person
most likely to be taken. Make a fortune
roll to find out if they resist questioning
(1-3: +2 heat, 4/5: level 2 harm), or pay
them off with 1 nuyen.

173
 5
DOWNTIME
ACTIVITIES
Between runs, your crew spends time
at their liberty, attending to personal
needs and side projects. These are called
downtime activities (see the list at right).
During a downtime phase, each PC has
time for two downtime activities. When
downTime
the crew is marked by a faction, each PC
has time for only one. Note: There are
technically two other downtime activities
as well, but some groups never use them:
Crafting (also covers item modifications)
and Surgery. See page 254 and page
262 for details, respectively.
You may choose the same activity more
than once. You can only attempt actions
that you’re in a position to accomplish.
If an activity is contingent on another
action, resolve that action first.
A PC can make time for more than two
activities, at a cost. Each additional
activity from the list costs 1 nuyen or
1 rep This reflects the time and resulting
resource drain while you’re “off the
clock” and not earning from a run. When
you complete a new run, you reset and
get two “free” activities again.
Activities on the downtime list are limited;
normal actions are not. During downtime,
you can still go places, do things, make
action rolls, gather information, talk with
other characters, etc. In other words, only
activities that are on the list are limited.
Some activities are beyond your
means without establishing an “easy
opportunity” first (acquiring military
grade weaponry, understanding top secret
technologies, etc.). Maybe Kilo wants to
acquire a long-range ballistic missile strike
to take out their target. Normally, this
174
kind of purchase Acquire Asset
would be out of Recover
the question—
Long-Term Project
however, the GM
agrees the crew’s Reduce Heat
weapons dealer Train
contact might Indulge Vice
be Influenced
into becoming
his source, allowing him to acquire it as
an asset. If the action fails though, it will
complicate future interactions and bring
added heat—possibly even preventing its
acquisition at this time.
For any downtime activity, take +1d to
the roll if a friend or contact helps you
(compensation and/or an action might
be required). After the roll, you may
spend nuyen to improve the result level.
Increase the result level by one for each
nuyen spent So, a 1-3 result becomes a 4
or a 5, a 4/5 result becomes a 6, and a 6
becomes a critical.
GM: If a player can’t decide which
downtime activity to pick, offer them a
long term project idea. You know what
the player is interested in and what they
like. Suggest a project that will head in a
fun direction for them.
“Remember how you had that weird
vision when you went unconscious?
Yeah, do you want to get to the
bottom of that? Okay, start a long-
term project—six segments—called...
‘Mentor Spirit Vibes.’ What do you do
to work on that?”

ACQUIRE ASSET
Gain temporary use of an asset:
◆ One special item or set of common
items (enough for a group of your Tier
scale).
◆ A cohort (an expert or team).
◆ A vehicle.
◆ A service. Transport from a smuggler
or pilot, use of a warehouse for temporary
storage, a surgeon, legal representation, etc.
“Temporary use” constitutes one
significant period of usage that makes
sense for the asset—typically the duration
of one run. An asset may also be acquired
for “standby” use in the future. You might
hire a hit squad to guard your magical
lodge, for example, and they’ll stick around
until after the first serious battle, or until
a week goes by and they lose interest.
To acquire the asset, roll the crew’s Tier or
your lifestyle (whichever is higher). The
result indicates the quality of the asset
you get, using the crew’s Tier as the base.
1-3: Tier -1, 4/5: Tier, 6: Tier +1, critical:
Tier +2. You can spend nuyen to improve
the result of this roll beyond critical
by spending 2 nuyen per additional Tier
level added.
The GM may set a minimum quality
level that must be achieved to acquire
a particular asset. For example, if you
want to get a set of Yakuza-quality
accoutrement, you’d need to acquire a
Tier IV asset. A lower result won’t do—
unless you’re willing to compromise (see
sidebar, below).
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
When your acquire asset result isn’t high
enough, you may choose one instead (don’t
forget it can’t be lower quality; it needs that):
it has an extra drawback or flaw of the GM’s
choice—you accept a Dragon’s Deal in its
acquisition—raise the result level by spending
nuyen—try again.
5
If you acquire the same asset again, you
get +1d to your roll. If you continue to re-
acquire an asset every time it’s used, you
can effectively rent it indefinitely.
Chemicals, poisons, bombs, fake IDNs,
fake licenses, and other dangerous items
downTime acTiviTies
are illegal in Kingston. Illegality comes
in two levels: restricted or forbidden.
Most anything that can potentially hurt
people, but has legal purposes in mind,
is restricted. Most blades and firearms,
full body armor, commercial explosives,
controlled substances, and other gray
areas like chameleon suits and smoke.
Anything else that is designed to be
particularly lethal or break the law is
forbidden. Fake licenses and IDNs, better
than life simchips (BTLs), weapons of war,
jammers, silencers, etc. The GM will tell
you which level of illegality applies to a
particular item:
◆ When you acquire a restricted item
(rather than crafting it yourself), you take
+1 heat if you don’t have an IDN with a
proper license.
◆ You take +2 heat instead when you
acquire a forbidden item.
For more about Crafting, see page 254.
If you want to acquire an asset
permanently, you can either gain it as
a crew upgrade (using the rules for
advancement, see page 46) or work
on it as a long-term project to set up a
permanent acquisition.
Ginsu, the Adept, is a martial artist in the
Kendo style, and would like a fine katana
to add to her permanent items. Her player
starts a long-term project: “Get Family
Katana Back.” The GM says this is an
8-track (she can work on it by Consorting
or Influencing the pawn shop owner—
or maybe rolling her lifestyle level to
represent small payments).
175
 5
RECOVER
When you recover, you seek treatment
and heal your harm. You might visit a
physician who can stitch your wounds
and soothe your mind with anatomical
science, or a street doc or medic who
specializes in healing magic and bathtub
chemistry. If you don’t have a contact or
fellow PC who can provide treatment,
you can use the acquire asset activity to
downTime
gain access to a street doc to act as your
healer, who can provide service for the
whole crew.
Recovery reduces all instances of
level-1 harm to zero and removes them.
If you have remaining harm, they are
handled like a long-term project: your
healer rolls (Engineer for a PC with the
Medic special ability, or the quality level
of an NPC) and then you mark a number
of segments on your healing clock. 1-3:
two segments, 4/5: three segments, 6: four
segments, critical: six segments.
When you fill your healing clock, reduce
each instance of harm on your sheet by
one level, then
clear the clock.
If you have
more segments
to mark, they
“roll over.”
Jax has two injuries: a level 3 “Badly
Burnt” and level 1 “Shot in Arm.”
During downtime, she gets treatment
from Memphis, a street doc friend of
the crew’s Rigger. Because Memphis is
a competent healer, the GM says quality
2 makes sense. The recovery reduces
the level 1 harm to zero and removes it.
Next, the player rolls 2d to recover and
gets a 6: four segments on the healing
clock. She decides to spend 1 nuyen to
improve the result to a Critical to get six
segments instead. Six segments fills the
176
clock—all of Jax’s harm is reduced by
one level, then she clears the clock and
marks two more segments. Her level 3
harm “Badly Burnt” is reduced to level
2 harm. Jax is left with one injury on
her sheet: level 2 “Badly Burnt.”
Any instances of special harm are not
reduced if the healing clock was filled
due to supernatural healing.
You may reduce an instance of special
harm taken for a sustained spell to
zero and remove it, but you lose 1 edge
when you do so. The point of edge lost
cannot be regained until after the spell
is dismissed.
You may treat yourself (rolling your own
rating if you are a healer), but you lose
2 edge when you do so. You can also
choose to simply tough it out and spend
the downtime activity to heal without
any treatment from an actual healer—in
this case, spend 1 edge to roll 0d.
Note that it’s the recovering character
that takes the recovery action. Healing
someone else does not cost a downtime
activity for the healer.
Whenever you suffer new harm, clear
one tick on your healing clock. If new
harm incapacitates you, clear all the ticks
on your healing clock.
HEALING WITHOUT RECOVERY
If you do not or cannot spend a
downtime activity to recover your
harm during downtime, don’t roll—
just reduce one instance of level-1
harm to zero and remove it instead
(if you have none, tick 1 segment
on your healing clock instead). If
you don’t have any harm, there’s no
healing ticks to track.
 5

LONG-TERM PROJECT with a member of the Native American

Council, but you have no connection to
When you work on a long-term project
them. You could take action to try and
(either a brand new one, or an already
meet one of them, or maybe you work
existing one), describe what your
on a project to Consort with their circles
character does to advance the project
so you have that opportunity. Once that’s
clock, and roll one of your actions. Mark
accomplished, you could start a new
segments on the clock according to

downTime acTiviTies
project to form a friendly relationship.
your result: 1-3: one segment, 4/5: two
segments, 6: three segments, critical:
five segments. REDUCE HEAT
Say what your character does to lay low
A long-term project can cover a wide
or reduce the heat level of the crew and
variety of activities, like doing research
make an action roll. Maybe you Command
into an arcane ritual, investigating a
the fear of the local citizens so they’re
mystery, establishing someone’s trust,
afraid to snitch. Or maybe you Consort
courting a new friend or contact,
with your friend who’s a security officer
changing your character’s vice type or
and she arranges for a few incriminating
purveyor, and so on.
reports to disappear.
Based on the goal of the project, the GM
Reduce heat according to the result: 1-3:
will tell you the clock(s) to create and
one, 4/5: two, 6: three, critical: five.
suggest a method by which you might
make progress.
TRAIN
On the last run, Jax disintegrated
Redstone’s body with a mana blast and When you spend time in training, mark
destroyed his living essence. But now 1 karma on the karma track for an
his free spirit is hindering her! How attribute or playbook advancement. If
is this possible? This is beyond the you have the appropriate crew Training
scope of a simple gather information upgrade unlocked, mark +1 karma (2
roll, so Jax starts a long-term project total). See Crew Upgrades on page 114.
to investigate this mystery. The GM You can train a given karma track only
says it will be an 8-segment clock. once per downtime.
Jax spends a downtime activity in the
lodge, looking for any clues. The player INDULGE VICE
rolls Jax’s Study action and gets a 4:
Visit your vice purveyor to clear marked
two segments of progress on the clock.
edge. See the next section for details.
Because they got two ticks and there
are roughly four layers to this mystery,
the GM decides to describe a new clue
(one of four) that doesn’t make sense
yet—but will soon.

In order to work on a project, you might

first have to achieve the means to pursue
it—which can be a project in itself. For
example, you might want to make friends

177
 5
VICE
SHARPENING YOUR
EDGE
The runners in Kingston are more than the
sum of their parts. They defy the powers-
that-be and dare to prey on those who are
considered to be their superiors. They push
downTime
themselves further than ordinary people are
willing to go. But this comes at a cost. Their
edge is constantly dulled by the stresses of
running the shadows. Inevitably, each turns
to the seduction of a vice in order to cope.
A runner’s vice is their obsession. But with
this indulgence comes a sharpening of their
edge and the ability to once again face the
overwhelming challenge of their criminal
existence.
VICE ROLL
Roll dice equal to your lowest
attribute rating (Intuition,
Body, or Willpower).
178
INDULGING YOUR VICE
When you indulge your vice, you regain
some of your character’s spent edge (by
erasing slashes from the edge boxes on your
tracker). Say how your character indulges
their vice, including which purveyor of
vice they use to satisfy their needs (see page
328). This indulgence takes time, so it can
only be done when the crew has downtime.
Alternately, you may choose to release your
character to be “lost in their vice” during a
game session, allowing them to indulge off-
camera while you play a different PC. A crew
member, friend, or contact of the crew might
be created as an alternate character to play,
thus fleshing out the landscape of PCs.
You roll to find out how much edge relief
your character receives. A vice roll is like a
resistance roll in reverse—rather than losing
edge levels, you regain edge levels. The
effectiveness of your indulgence depends
upon your character’s worst attribute rating.
It’s their weakest quality (Intuition, Body,
or Willpower) that is most in thrall to vice.
Make an attribute roll using your character’s
lowest attribute rating (if there’s a tie, that’s
fine—simply use that rating). Clear edge
according to the highest die result
OVERINDULGENCE
If you clear more edge levels than you had
marked, you overindulge. A vice is not a
reliable, controllable habit. It’s a risk—and
one that can drive your character to act
against their own best interests.
When you overindulge, you make a bad
call because of your vice—in acquiring it or
Regain edge equal to your highest die result.
If you clear more edge levels than you had
slashed, you overindulge. If you do not or
cannot indulge your vice during downtime, you
lose edge equal to your trauma.

while under its influence. To bring the effect
of this bad decision into the game, select an
overindulgence from the list:
◆ Attract Trouble. Select or roll an
additional entanglement. Or let the GM
choose. Who’s had set their sights on you
lately?
◆ Brag about your exploits. +2 heat.
Was it due to surveillance (perhaps online
or in-person), or are you just that brazen
as to not hide it?
◆ Lost. Your character vanishes for a few
weeks to feed their vices, needs, what
have you. Play a different character until
this one returns from their bender. When
your character returns, they’ve also
healed any harm they had. Feel free to
portray these times away from the crew
as cutting loose and being troublesome—
to feed fuel to the story generator.
◆ Tapped. Your current purveyor cuts you
off. Find a new source for your vice. What
must you do to mend the relationship? Is
it possible or find another purveyor that’s
trustworthy?
Ignoring your Vice
If you do not or cannot indulge your vice
during a downtime phase, you lose edge
equal to your trauma. If you don’t have
any trauma, you’re free to ignore your
vice. It doesn’t have a hold over you (yet).
Roleplaying & Karma
Along with your character’s heritage and
background, their vice tells us what kind
of person they are. This obsession impacts
their motivations, goals, and behavior.
When you ponder what your character
might do or say next, you can always
consider their vice to help you think of
something. As an added benefit, by playing
to the nature of your character’s vice, you
earn karma at the end of the session.
5
DOWNTIME ACTIVITIES IN PLAY
Gathering a Dark Secret
Totes wants to discover how Redstone’s
downTime acTiviTies in Play
spirit survived disintegration by a mana
blast. He works on a long-term project
called “Learn Redstone’s Spiritual
Secrets”—an 8-segment clock. The result
of the Assense roll is a 6! Totes ticks three
segments on the clock.
Spreading Rumors
Shark wants to reduce heat on his
crew. He grabs some informants from
the crew’s hired groups and makes the
rounds, talking to barkeeps, spreading
rumors of megacorporate meddling—
and generally misleading everyone.
The result of the Influence roll is a
critical! The crew’s heat drops by five
levels as law enforcement follows a
red herring and stories start brewing
about various other fixers.
Getting the Right Tools
Jax needs some very special ammunition
in order to harm the dragon Kalanyr. He
acquires an asset from the Black Circle
(who happen to be friendly with his crew
right now): bullets made from orichalcum
and grave ash, consecrated to a forgotten
spirit that is an ancient enemy of all
dragons. The Tier roll is a 4: only standard
quality, which isn’t enough for this rare
item. Jaime (Jax’s player) doesn’t want to
spend the 2 nuyen required to bump up the
result to a critical: exquisite quality. So
she entertains a Dragon’s Deal.
The GM suggests it will tick the “Mountain
Rats Entangle Rogue” clock twice (filling
it) since Jackie Lantern is probably looking
for these too, but Rogue definitely gets her
“dragonslayer” bullets—powerful enough
to seriously harm the supernatural
creature. She agrees and the GM inflicts an
added entanglement as promised.
179
 5

When factions do things that are known

NPC & FACTION
DOWNTIME
NPCs and factions also do things when the
PCs have downtime. The GM advances
their project clocks and chooses a
downtime maneuver or two for each
faction that they’re interested in at the
moment. They choose any maneuver that
makes sense for that faction to pursue.
downTime
in the criminal underworld, tell the
players about it through one of their
friends or contacts or vice purveyors.
These rumors and bits of gossip can lead
to future runs and opportunities for the
PCs (see Running the Game, starting
on page 205, contains more details
and examples). With each narration,
you breathe life into your sandbox and

describe the ever-changing nature of the

For example: world.

◆ Seize a claim or increase hold, make an

enemy vulnerable, or reduce the hold of
a vulnerable enemy.
◆ Gather info on the PCs (may be opposed
by a PC roll) or another subject.
◆ Acquire a new asset.
◆ Achieve a short-term goal they’re in
position to accomplish.
◆ Call in a favor from the PCs (as per the
entanglement) or another faction.
◆ Employ political pressure or threats to
force someone’s hand.

GMs: Choose downtime maneuvers and

advance clocks for the factions you’re
interested in right now. Don’t worry
about the rest. Later, when you turn your
attention to a faction you’ve ignored for
a while, go ahead and give them several
downtime phases and project clock ticks
to “catch up” to current events.

If you’re not sure how far to progress a

faction’s clock, make a fortune roll using
their Tier as the base trait, modified up
or down depending on the opposition
or circumstances. Tick 1 segment for a
1-3 result, 2 segments for a 4/5 result, 3
segments for a 6 result, or 5 segments for
a Critical result.

180

DOWNTIME ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
Add +1d to your roll if a friend or contact helps with your downtime activity.
Each additional downtime activity costs 1 nuyen or 1 rep.
Remember: After the roll, you may spend nuyen to improve the result level.
ACQUIRE ASSET
Roll the crew’s Tier. The result indicates the
quality of the asset:
Critical: Tier +2.
6: Tier +1.
4/5: Tier.
1-3: Tier -1.
Some items require a minimum quality result
to acquire (the GM will let you know). If your
result isn’t high enough, choose one: it has a
drawback or flaw of the GMs choice—accept
a Dragon’s Deal as part of its acquisition—
spend nuyen to improve the result—try again.
When you acquire the same asset again, take
+1d to your roll.
To raise the result beyond critical, you may
spend 2 nuyen per +1 Tier bonus.
RECOVER
Get treatment to remove level-1 harm and
tick your healing clock, marking segments
according to the result level:
Critical: Mark six segments.
6: Mark four segments.
4/5: Mark three segments.
1-3: Mark two segments.
When you fill the healing clock, each harm is
reduced by one level, and the clock is cleared.
Don’t reduce special harm when the healing
clock was filled was due to a supernatural
effect. If you do not or cannot recover your
harm during your downtime, you mark one
segment on your healing clock.
TRAIN
Mark 1 karma (in an attribute or your
playbook). Add +1 karma if you have the
appropriate crew upgrade. You may train a
given karma track once per downtime.
5
downTime acTiviTies in Play
LONG-TERM PROJECT
Work on a long-term project, if you have the
means. You finish it, unless the GM says you
need to keep working (also track any progress).
Mark segments on the progress clock
according to your result:
Critical: Five ticks.
6: Three ticks.
4/5: Two ticks.
1-3: One tick.
REDUCE HEAT
Say how you reduce heat on the crew and
roll your action. Reduce heat according to
the result level:
Critical: Clear five heat.
6: Clear three heat.
4/5: Clear two heat.
1-3: Clear one heat.
INDULGE VICE
Visit your vice purveyor to regain edge. Roll dice
equal to your lowest attribute. Regain spent or
lost edge equal to your highest die result.
If you regain more edge levels than you had lost
or spent, you overindulge (see below). If you
do not or cannot indulge your vice during your
downtime, you lose edge equal to your trauma.
Overindulge: You made a bad call because of
your vice—in acquiring it or while under its
influence. What did you do?
◆ Attract Trouble Maybe an enemy has tracked
you to your vice purveyor and you let your guard
down. Select or roll an additional entanglement.
◆ Brag Maybe you brag about your exploits. The
crew takes +2 heat.
◆ Lost Play a different character until this one
returns from their bender.
◆ Tapped Your current purveyor cuts you off.
Find a new source for the indulgence of your vice.
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HOW TO PLAY
FICTION-FIRST
GAMING
The term fiction-first is a pretty loaded
one. For more experienced readers, the
term refers to a way of approaching
roleplaying games, which is different
from other tabletop games. For others,
it’s not so clear what it means.
Board games are by and large dominated
by mechanics-first gameplay. When
you take your turn, you select the move
you make from a list, and then the
game system takes over to resolve what
happens. You might say, “I’m going to
pay two hundred spacebucks to build a
second space station on my home tile.”
And then the others know you’ve used the
Build mechanic, and the game rules might
tell us whether that’s enough spacebucks
for a second space station, whether you
can build more than two of those on the
home tile, and maybe even the +1 income
benefit of having built the station there.
You might inject your own fictional layer
to color this interaction a particular way,
something like: “The cunning scientists of
Exonia fire up the industrial replicators
to answer the emperor’s order, but dang!
They sure wish they could keep scanning
that cool-looking nebula in the game
art..” This is mechanics-first gameplay
(and fiction-optional).
CHAPTER 6
In a standard board game, the mechanics
are what’s most important—not the
fiction. However, things can be different
in a roleplaying game. In some tabletop
RPGs, the mechanic is triggered by mere
invocation. You might recall having
uttered the words “I make a standard
attack” before. If so, you knew that your
character tried their best to deal their
damage value to the target, and you
would be rolling a die and adding your
bonus to determine the outcome no
matter how you described it: unless you
had a special ability, the basic mechanic
told you what happened. Just like a board
game, unless you prefer to add “flavor”
in it’s not really needed.
In Runners, you are instead asked to use
your creativity and imagination first,
describing the “flavor” of the action
your character takes and the outcome
you want. The flavor matters. Fictional
honesty is perhaps one of the biggest
goals of the game.
You are free to say what you see on the
fictional screen in your head, and the GM
is free to chime in with their version. They
present risks or inflict consequences,
and you come up with solutions. The
story is suddenly vivid and interesting,
threatening and uncertain—an exciting
fictional puzzle to solve, not just a series
of dice rolls.
There’s never a mechanic invoked
without fiction first That’s what the
term means in this game.
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Which is to say: narration is meant to flow
very freely between the players during
the game, each one building upon the
other. It’s really only when you disagree
that you are encouraged to slow down
to clarify what’s happening. This is by
design. Only through discussion will you
have the tools you need to be fictionally
honest while also indulging this shared
fantasy.
how To Play
Another reason this game is a little
different from some you may have played
before is the specific tools in the game.
You can think of the mechanics of the
game as tools in a toolbox. When you are
building a house, you use the tools that
suit what you’re trying to do. The same
goes for mechanics in a roleplaying game.
There’s more than hammers and nails in
this toolbox, and there’s plenty of ways to
create wholly new tools from the existing
tools to expand things even more. First
we establish the fiction, then we select
a mechanical tool from the toolbox that
suits the situation you need to resolve.
Which tools you and the GM pick will
often be a matter of pragmatism, but this
can also be a stylistic choice. The tools
are super flexible, but carefully crafted
for you to use as you see fit; developing a
style of use and set of precedents as you
go along.
In Runners in the Shadows, there are
several different mechanics that might be
used if a character tries to open a digital
lock. It’s essentially meaningless to play
mechanics-first and say “I open the digital
lock”—this isn’t a mechanical choice in
the game. There’s no “open locks” move
or “lockpicking skill” to roll. Instead
you have actions to describe which
might be an action roll. To understand
which mechanic to use, we have to first
establish the fiction. You might say what
you are using to do this, and the GM
might describe uncertainty or risk with
184
that approach. They use what’s been
said before and now together to decide
what best fits the needs of the ongoing
narrative. They are no more a slave to
the rules than you.
If your character is at their liberty back at
the crew’s safehouse, with plenty of time
to dedicate to opening the digital lock,
then we could use one of the downtime
mechanics—namely “Work on a long-
term project.” You might do very well
and open it quickly, or it might prove
more challenging, requiring multiple
investments of time and energy over
a longer duration. The decision to use
the long-term project mechanic over a
series of actions is a signal from the GM
to the players that this is something that
requires deeper commitment.
If your character is in a plane, trying
desperately to decrypt a lock on the
cockpit door while being shot at, then the
action mechanic would come into play.
You might do very well and push the
door open effortlessly and take the pilot
hostage, or you might get shot several
times by Sky Warden drones when it
doesn’t immediately open.
If your character knows nothing about
opening digital locks, you might have
hired someone to get you a spoofed
passkey ahead of time. In which case,
we might use the mechanic to acquire
an asset—a master forger in this case.
You might arrange a good deal and get
skilled work, or you might have to pay
more to get the quality of item you need
for this door. Or maybe its handled with
a simple flashback action, loaded with
consequences and no roll needed. Or
a fortune roll using the item’s quality
determines how it goes.
And so on and so forth. There are an
infinite number of approaches you might
take, constrained only by the fictional
 6

situation. However, there are many tried
and true methods of resolution provided
herein—a collection of what typically
works, and advice against what really
doesn’t.
When you aren’t feeling the mechanic is
matching the fiction, back out a bit and
sheet tell you what should be doing to got
the most out of the game. But ultimately,
your experience with Runners in the
Shadows will be one that you and your
group make for yourselves. And there
won’t be another one like it

ficTion-firsT GaminG
ask “What’s going on here? What are you
trying to do?” The GM is trying to decide
which mechanic is suited for this, but they
are told not to try to force a particular
action roll onto the fiction. Again: your job
is to describe the fiction first, and the GM’s
job is to use the elements of fiction they
can control (which do not include your
action narration) to paint a fantastically-
believable imaginary motion picture.
The nature of this process is expressive as
well: while one GM might say it’s an action
roll to do it, another might say its a run
followed by a project requiring multiple
downtime activity rolls—that’s fine, that’s
an integral part of a game like this.
This rules text gives you a set of tools and
a guide to their usage, but they are all
meant to be suggestions, not prescriptions.
These are very similar to those provided
in Blades in the Dark because they apply
to this game as well—even though the
conversations will be slightly different,
the same principles hold true. The Best
Practices handout (in the Sheets PDF)
elaborates on the six core principles of
play and will jump start you on your way
towards enjoying yourself, but they are
ultimately just a guide. It’s up to you and
your group to put them into practice, to
learn the use and feel of the tools in play.

This element of personal expression

of the most fun aspects of roleplaying
games. You can think of your time with
this game as a safehouse, for you and your
fictional misadventures. The reminders
at the bottom of each character playbook

185
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TRIGGERING THE
ACTION ROLL
The game is a conversation between the
people at the table. It’s all just talking
at first, riffing about something funny,
drawing a map, and then the conversation
shifts—it shifts to something you know...
different.
how To Play
While the shift in the conversation is the
GM’s responsibility (they should always
be on the lookout), anyone can call for it.
So, when does that happen? You call for
an action roll when any of these happen:
◆A player character attempts a
challenging action that might be
dangerous or troublesome.
◆A player character leads or gives
orders to an NPC or NPC group,
which faces something dangerous or
troublesome.
◆ Someone grabs the dice and gets all
excited about making a roll
So, then what happens? The GM confirms
which action they are going to use to
evaluate whether there is more to do to
get the desired outcome, as well as what
could go wrong to decide if its desperate
or not.
Player: “So he has the package? Okay,
I’m robbing him.”
GM: “Okay then. How are you gonna
do that?”
Player: “I look him square in the eye
and Command he hand it over.”
GM: “Cool. Sounds like you’re taking
a chance to me. He’s no push-over and
his goons are standing right there.
It’s unlikely they will just hand it over
though when they outnumber you, so
I am calling this limited effect. Unless
186
you have a particularly potent threat
to make here, anyway. Maybe if you
whip out your gun too..”
And then the other players might chime
in and suggest an alternative evaluation
of the effect level, or the player revises
their statement to something more or less
daring, or everyone just nods and we’ve
shifted into using the mechanic.
The main thing to remember is that the
group works together to set the goal,
effect, and consequences of each roll.
Don’t fall into the habit of simply “calling
for a roll” to do stuff in general, without
really engaging the group in the process
of determining what the effect will be
in a meaningful way. If a PC wants to
suddenly kill an enemy, well, that’s
quite the maneuver isn’t it? Are they in
position to do that, or will this have a
more limited effect? Is it desperate, and
how much will this approach do? The
action they are taking to accomplish
their goal tells us what might (or does)
go wrong in the process—take a moment
to put everything in context in the fiction
before hurling the dice.
If the enemy is trying to kill them right
back, then it’s probably desperate. They’re
going head to head, mono y mono, to the
death. On a 4/5, they do it, yeah, but with
deadly consequences. They shoot the
ganger alright, and (in this example) they
get fatally shot in return.
For some players, suffering a deadly
wound won’t seem like a “success.” In
Runners, though, an action roll resolves
both the action of the PC as well as the
action of the enemy. The enemy is trying
to do stuff, too, and a “partial success”
means they manage to do something. The
action roll covers the whole exchange (or
even a whole fight)—all the attacks and
harm at once, for both sides.

In Runners, the PCs are always taking
risks. Practically everything they do
involves a risk of harm, consequences,
heat, angry factions, etc. They get shot at,
chased down, and sometimes caught up.
This dystopian mess-of-a-world chews
the PCs up and spits them out.
The theme for Runners in the Shadows
is one of struggle and consequences,
so you almost never achieve anything
without a cost—at least according to the
most common dice result (the 4/5). This
is why the PCs have additional resources
to mitigate consequences: so the players
have to make hard choices about what’s
worth resisting (risking their valuable
edge) or when it’s worth taking a hit for
a teammate, or using your armor, or
agreeing to a tough Dragon’s Deal, etc.
If the GM wants more tension, they can
use less immediate consequences for
those 4/5s. Instead of instantly being
noticed when you roll a 4/5 to hack the
cameras, they might start an “Alert” clock
for the building’s security system and
tick it up. This might feel weak, but it’s
still a tricky consequence—however it
also means the badness inflicted doesn’t
bring the whole situation to an end.
Teamwork can also mitigate things a
lot, turning an ineffective action into an
effective one, mitigating risks, and/or
pumping up the dice pool. It takes a while
for most groups to really use teamwork
well, which is by design.
The GM should distinguish a desperate
action from other actions by describing
what serious badness the PC is risking and
why. The GM might describe the enemy
NPC in action, about to do something
devastating to your PC like unload with
their shotgun. If so—that’s what you’re
risking when you act. The risks define
the action as desperate or not
6
“You rush in to stab him in the neck,
and he flashes his arm up in an expert
parry, to turn the syringe back on you.
Desperate action, great effect, yeah?”
All of the adjustable dials in the game—
risks, effects, consequences, flashback
ficTion-firsT GaminG
costs, abilities, etc.—are for the group to
experiment with. The GM is encouraged
to avoid unilateral decisions. You are
encouraged to ask the group what they
think. Is this desperate? If so, you’ll get
karma! What’s a good risk here? Do you think
that’s the full effect, or is there more left to
do? Part of playing Runners is establishing
things that work for your group.
WHY WE DO THIS
What’s the point of this shift into a
mechanic, anyway? Why not just talk
it out, or why not just roll dice? The
main reason is this: when we just talk
things out, we tend to build a consensus
of understanding. This is a good thing.
It helps the group get invested in the
fiction, get on the same page, and set
expectations. But when it comes to action
adventure stories like Runners in the
Shadows, we don’t want consensus to get
in the way of a good time! No!! We want
to raise our hands over our heads and
ride the metaphorical roller coaster over
the drop—only to come out on the other
side, hair blown sideways and eyes wide
shut. Being surprised, thwarted, or even
defeated is all part of the game.
When the mechanics are triggered, the
group first dips into being authors for a
moment as they suss out the risks and
approaching threats, and the details of
the action. Then, author mode switches
off and everyone becomes the audience.
What will happen next? We hold our
breath, lean forward in our seats, and let
the dice fall.
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HOW TO CHOOSE AN
ACTION
When an action roll is called for, the
character is usually already in motion,
doing something in the fiction. This
thing they’re doing will almost always
determine which action rating to roll.
However, a player is free to revise their
how To Play
character’s action in order to use a
different rating, as long as the character
performs the new action in the fiction.
For example, Jax wants to sneak into the
secret meeting room of the Black Circle.
The GM asks her how she does that
and Jax’s player says she’ll climb to the
office’s fire escape and slip in through a
window. Climbing is a Prowl action, so
that’s what she’ll be rolling.
“But wait,” some of you might say—”I
thought the player chooses which action
to roll! They can choose Finesse; see, it
says so right here in the Basics!” That
is true, however remember the GM is
in charge of how much an action may
achieve towards a given goal. They are
essentially saying that rolling Finesse to
“climb the fire escape” will have zero or
minimal effect:
Jax’s player might change her mind
and say, “Hmmm... I’m not very good
at that. I want to sneak in quietly using
Finesse, instead. It’s like I’m Finessing
my way in, right?” No. Jax can certainly
try to Finesse her way in—through
misdirection or subtle action—but
that means she is not climbing the fire
escape. The action of climbing this fire
escape this way is... well, Prowling.
Finesse is suitable for a different
fiction than what was being described.
The GM will suggest alternative courses
of action/fiction when they hear you
vying for a particular effect.
188
Sometimes, several actions will
reasonably apply to a situation. This is
fine. The player may choose the action
they want to perform, and the GM sets
the potential effect and risks for each
action roll accordingly.
Jax is sneaking around outside the
safehouse where the crew has lured
Winston Mogi, leader of the Talons.
As Winston pulls up in his limo, Jax’s
player says she wants to drop from a
nearby building on to the car’s roof,
and rain bullets down on his head.
Which action should she roll? Fight
covers “assaulting a position,” while
Prowl covers “ambush with close
violence”—both of which seem like
they could apply here. The GM says that
Fighting will be an action roll and it
won’t do much to prevent their escape.
And Prowling will be desperate here,
because any hesitation will give more
time for bodyguards and other forms
of protection to get involved.
THE PURPOSE OF
DANGERS & EDGE
The PCs in the game start out as huge
underdogs—constantly “punching up.”
The edge system gives your PC a special
ability to survive when they otherwise
wouldn’t, so they have some hope of
achieving their long term goals.
The purpose of the GM threatening harm
and only allowing armor or resistance to
apply is not to punish you, it’s to describe
it so you can throw down your best
defense and suffer through it with your
character.
When you resist, it’s mostly the same,
but the realized consequences become
manifest in the minds of everyone

playing, even if (mechanically anyways)
they’re avoided.
“The spirit’s essence engulfs you in
flames, burning you severely!”
“You hear the bones in your ribs
and shoulder break as they hit the
pavement.”
“You can tell that there’s a
complication alright: she’ll never
trust you again.”
The bad outcomes are spoken aloud.
They hang there in the room. They’re
tough to accept. Then the player gets to
roll their resistance, look you in the eye
and say, “No. It’s not that bad. I risk the
edge instead.” It’s empowering. They
look danger in the face and laugh. That’s
the nature of a runner.
Once we know what it is, the player cares
about resisting it, “Yeesh! No, I’m gonna
resist that.” Or they burn that armor
box. Phew! It’s going to be much worse
next time though..
THERE’S ALWAYS A
CONSEQUENCE
Every time you roll the dice in Runners,
the situation changes. There’s no such
thing as a “nothing happens” result from
a roll. How does this work?
The “failure” results for action rolls (1-3)
are not simply “misses.” The character’s
action has a tangible outcome. Something
happens that changes the situation. On a
typical failure, they suffer a consequence
that presents some kind of trouble.
Things get worse. On a desperate
failure, the threat dominates and makes
the situation much worse. If it’s not too
late, the character spots a flaw in their
6
approach, and can decide to withdraw or
push their luck with a riskier approach.
Sometimes, success comes with
consequences too. Keep in mind that the
GM might simply tell you what happens,
rather than require an action roll.
ficTion-firsT GaminG
“I think it goes like you say, and you
manage to straight-up murder Winston
Mogi with that spirit doing most of the
work. It even looks like they just had
a heart attack and died—but since the
Black Lodge wanted them dead, and
you said you spare the bodyguard’s life,
I think those weirdos are going to hear
about this and look into it. Right? Or
are you resisting that?”
“Nah, that makes perfect sense. But
that’s it? No other fallout to resist?”
“Beyond the added heat from killing
and all that—yea, one last thing. You
said the Legionnaires have probably
been following you. I think you might
be right, but I am not sure if that means
you get questioned or not. Let’s just call
it a complication: +1d to the Wanted
Level roll this time around, unless you
resist with Intuition.”
RULES MASTERY WILL
TAKE TIME
The system of Runners in the Shadows is
designed to work well, even if you don’t
follow every rule to the letter. If you just
use the core rolls and forget extra details
or special cases, it’ll be okay. The game
will work out just fine. The game is better
when you use all the details, but the
whole thing doesn’t come crashing down
if you don’t.
If you want to ease into the mechanics, just
start with risky action rolls and standard
effect (don’t worry about factors).
189
 6
When something bad happens to a PC and
they want to resist it, you’ll quickly figure
out how resistance rolls work. When the
group starts asking about teamwork and
helping each other, bring in the teamwork
maneuvers. When you go up against
high Tier or large scale opponents who
are meant to be very dangerous, effect
factors become relevant. Don’t feel like
you have to learn everything up front.
how To Play
The same goes for the fiction. Don’t feel
like you have to get everything perfectly
right every time. If you say something
and then realize later that it was wrong,
just revise it. No big deal.
“I told you that Hacksaw would be
at Smoke & Lagger, but that was all
wrong. It’s supposed to be our Patches,
instead.”
“Ok, not a problem in this case! Hm.
That does change the situation a bit
though—what do you do now?”
If you’re not sure what to do, keep it
simple. Go with what’s obvious to you.
Add mechanics when you’re comfortable.
Forgive each other’s mistakes. Fly casual.
SETTING PRECEDENTS
What’s true for the PCs is true for the
NPCs, and vice versa. If you establish that
the Techno PC is the only one who can talk
to the technocritter they met in Harbor
View (due to a special “critter language”
that binds them together), then that fact
becomes true for NPC-owned critters, as
well—if an NPC manages to do the same,
then they too have their own version of
this unique bond.
This same concept applies to far-
reaching fictional declarations. If you, for
example, all agree that land vehicles in
190
2080-something would be a novelty (just
like petroleum-based vehicles), then so
be it. Are flying vehicles now the standard
in the game world? How does this affect
the street level’s use? Or rather than
fly, do vehicles simply hover above the
roads? Whatever you say, stick to it and
follow that fiction where it goes. Maybe
this means that all vehicles the PCs get
during creation should be allowed to
have “flying“ for free. That’s up to you
to decide, based on your group’s unique
interpretation of the writings you possess.
Fair is fair.
Each time you make a judgment call or
establish additional detail about your
shared version of the game world, they
become available to everyone as a new
tool in play. Precedents don’t have to be
permanent—feel free to revise them as
you go along. But when you revise them,
it still cuts both ways; for PCs and NPCs
alike.
ABSTRACTION VS.
DETAILS
Runners in the Shadows usually depends
on specific fictional details in order to
work. For example, it might be important
to understand exactly how a set of
futuristic manacles is constructed—
because a character decides to use them
to suddenly surprise an enemy who
has them at gunpoint. It’s a small detail,
but the description of the restraints
contributes directly to understanding
an action’s intent, the factors that go
into determining its effects, and the
consequences at risk. Fleshing out the
little details of the world makes the game
system function better.
There are other times when abstraction
is preferable, though. For example, the

players wonder how the Mountain Rats
have fared during the recent outbreak
of the vampire virus. Are they weak and
vulnerable now? The GM could create
or try to remember all the details about
the Mountain Rats that might affect their
situation during the outbreak, or she could
simply use the abstraction of the faction’s
Tier rating to make a quick fortune
roll and see how it went for them. If no
specific details have been established in
play to indicate the citizen’s resistance to
an arcane sickness, then the abstraction
of Tier covers it just fine.
A problem can arise when you try to use
an abstraction when details are already
present. For example, we may know for
a fact that the Mountain Rats were one of
the groups hit worst by the outbreak, and
they took no special precautions against
it (including leaving all their important
assets and leadership in the area). In this
case, it might be weird to simply use the
abstract Tier rating of the faction for a
fortune roll. We already know specific
details, so the catch-all of “Tier rating”
isn’t very useful here. Perhaps it’s obvious
that the Mountain Rats have fared very
well, so the GM says so. Or perhaps
there’s still some risk, but the GM thinks
they are well-prepared—so the GM rolls
6d for “viral preparedness” rather than
their Tier.
ACTIONS IN PLAY
On the following pages, the 12 actions every PC can use are detailed with examples of
maneuvers and consequences. The 2 special actions Assense and Attune have details
and examples in the respective playbooks that can use them (on page 99 and page
105 respectively).
6
The same goes for the quality of items,
assets, and defensive measures. Since
the Black Circle is Tier III in Kingston,
does that mean that every single lock
on every single door in every location
controlled by the Black Circle a “Tier III
lock”? No. The Black Circle’s Tier rating
ficTion-firsT GaminG
is an abstract indication of the quality of
stuff they’re likely to have, usually. A lock
on a minor closet door is probably just a
cheap lock. The lock to their secret server
room is probably fine or even exceptional
(making it even higher quality than Tier
III). When we think about the overall
quality of The Black Circle, it’s “Tier III.”
That abstract Tier rating can be used for
lots of things. But when there are specific
details in play, those details establish
what’s actually true. They don’t have to
perfectly conform to the abstraction in
every single case.
The abstracted parts of the game—Tier,
nuyen, stash, quality, engagement rolls—
are abstract so that the game play can
focus on what’s most important: the
choices, actions, and consequences of
the player characters Action rolls are
where the meat of the game happens.
Don’t feel beholden to the abstractions
though; not when you have specific
fictional details to work with.
191
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COMMAND
When you Command, you compel swift
obedience. You might intimidate or threaten
to get what you want. You might direct a
cohort in a group action. You could try to
order people around to persuade them (but
Consorting might be better).
GM Questions
how To Play
◆ Who do you command? How do you do
it—what’s your leverage here?
◆ What do you hope they’ll do?
When you Command someone, you order
them around without care for their concerns.
You expect them to do what you say— out of
fear, respect, or some other motivating factor
(this is your leverage over them). Influencing
is better if you want to make subtle demands.
Consorting is better if you’re trying to get
along with someone and work together.
When you Command a friend or contact,
they can feel disrespected, so it’s probably
desperate.
Command is almost always the right action
for leading a cohort or sending an NPC team to
do something according to your instructions.
Handle it as a “group action” teamwork
maneuver with you rolling Command and
the cohort rolling quality.
You might be able to Command things of
another PC. Ask the player if their character
has reason to follow your orders—fear, trust,
respect, etc. If they do, then your action can
force them to comply. If they don’t, then
your action can only disrupt them somehow.
You might frighten them with intimidation
(inflicting harm), cause them to hesitate at
a crucial moment, make them look weak in
front of others, etc. Commanding isn’t mind-
control but it is an intense interaction. The
other player will judge if their character can
be ordered around or not.
192
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
“That’s one of our fixers, you damned
snake. There are at least four guns on
you right now. Give me the paydata and
frag off.”
4/5 Withdraw or Complication: He
looks at each of you, then smirks and
chuckles. “Fine! Take it—it’s your
funeral..” he says as he tosses the case
of datachips on the table between you
two. “Rosetta will be looking for that. IF
you’re dumb enough to take it.” What do
you do?
1-3 Risky Opportunity: He primes an
electromagnetic disruptor and holds it
out near the datachips on the table. “Not
until I see some money!” he says.
RISKY
“You do that and you’re spaghetti
sauce before you can blink. But maybe
you don’t want to die? Think about the
children.. your children..”
4/5 Complication: They begin to protest,
and a drone goes by and records part of
the conversation. Quite damning, this.
So that’s +2 heat. I wonder whose hands
I should say it falls into..
DESPERATE
“No, I don’t think so. Your client will
pay six nuyen, up front, or we go to the
Mountain Rats for a better offer.”
4/5 Serious Complication: You do it! But
the envoy looks you up and down with
a steely eye. “You’ve got some nerve,
kid,” he says, certifying six nuyen and
sliding a stack of credsticks across the
table. But, surprise surprise: start a new
clock—let’s call it “Winston’s Fed Up
with Your Drek.” Four segments, and,
how about you fill three of those in? You
might become the example he makes to
runners who ask for money upfront.
1-3 Serious Complication: The Talon’s
envoy glares at you. “You’ll do it for three
and say ‘Thank you kindly, mon.’” Start a
new clock—let’s call it “Winston Makes
an Example of You.” Four segments, and
fill three of those in.

CONSORT
When you Consort, you socialize with
friends and contacts. You might gain access
to resources, information, people, or places.
You might make a good impression or win
someone over with your charm and style.
You might make new friends or connect with
your heritage or background. You could try to
direct your friends with social pressure (but
Commanding might be better).
GM Questions
◆ Who do you consort with? Where do
you meet? What do you talk about?
◆ What do you hope to achieve?
When you Consort with someone, you care
about what the other person thinks and feels
and in turn they care about what you want
(at least a tiny bit). You’re being a charming,
open, socially adroit person. You can Consort
with people you already know, or try to
“fit in” a new situation so you make a good
impression.
To Consort, you need an environment that
isn’t totally hostile. You might Consort with
the trained agent by posing as a coworker
in the cafeteria (a desperate situation, to be
sure) but it’s usually hopeless to Consort with
the assassin sent to geek you (that’s slang
for “kill”!). When you Consort with people
related to your background or heritage, you
can expect fewer risks and/or increased
effect.
You might Consort with friends and contacts
to gain favors, but they can become resistant
to that approach or too interested if things
don’t go well. You might be forced to Consort
in an unfamiliar situation in order to create
an opportunity for another action. For
instance, if you want to talk to Lord Vladimir
at a party, you’ll have to at least try to
Consort with the other guests to make your
way to his table. Commanding or Influencing
are options, sure, but expect a rather sudden
escalation of trouble if things go badly with
either of those approaches.
6
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
Bags has been working Seaport Global
for weeks now. I hope he has a good
target he can share with me.
4/5 Reduced Effect: He has someone
command—consorT
in mind, yeah. A real sweet target. But
he doesn’t know where she lives. You’ll
have to follow her home after her shifts.
4/5 Reduced Effect: He actually lured a
target to Smoke & Lagger with him. He
shows up with this tomboyish Seaport
Global employee on his arm, already
a bit drunk. He fumbles for the proper
introduction. Bags sneaks a sharp look
at you like, “Now’s your chance!” and
grabs the table in the back so you all
have some privacy.
RISKY
I pull out my fine nightlife card and give
the room a broad grin. “Who’s ready to
party?” I hope I can keep them occupied
while Mouse works on stealing the
paydata.
4/5 Harm + Serious Complication: You
pull it off, but you have to get wasted
with them. Take level- 2 harm, “Trashed.”
Your head is killing you and the room is
spinning a little too much. And that’s when
you see your rival hop out of a SkyCab!
DESPERATE
I know they’re, like, a “secret” society,
but can I sort of shmooze around the
party and figure out who’s a member of
the Triad?
4/5 Serious Complication: You blend in
long enough to spot some subtle hand
gestures being used by a few guests. You
recognize Wu Sha’to, a wealthy member
of Eastern nobility, as the person you
heard might be involved. Everything is
going great until you realize that all the
“normal” guests are gone, and the party
has quietly become a Triad gathering.
The room feels like it just got about 10
degrees colder. What do you do?
193
 6
ENGINEER
When you Engineer, you fiddle with
electronics and mechanisms. You might
create a new gadget or alter an existing item.
You might rig a vehicle, wire explosives, or
sequence a maglock. You might disable an
alarm or trap. You might turn the ubiquitous
technology around the sprawl to your
advantage. You could try to use your technical
how To Play
expertise to disrupt a network (but Interfacing
might be better).
GM Questions
◆ What do you engineer?
◆ What do you hope to accomplish?
When you Engineer you break things down,
build them up, tweak, rewire, and modify.
Engineering covers a variety of activities, as
it encompasses electrical and mechanical
skill, as well as chemistry and biological
sciences. The skilled engineer knows how
things work—all sorts of things.
Engineering is mostly used to accomplish
things during downtime (as a long term
project). Along with Study, this is one of the
most versatile actions.
Engineering is useful on a run too. The doors,
locks, elevators, lights, wiring, and all their
connected devices all run on electricity and/
or mechanical technology you can exploit.
You can also engineer booby-traps and ways
to disable security. There’s almost no limit to
what you can do in a world almost completely
dependent on technology.
Engineering can also be a good way to set
up someone to Wreck things later too. You
can reverse-engineer a device in order to
break it, which is similar to Wrecking to
do the same. However, when you break
something with Engineering it is a slower,
more deliberate process, and less apparent
than when you Wreck it. You might engineer
a door mechanism so it works until you send
it the “off” signal. If you Wreck to get it open,
you probably just rip it off the hinges or
smash nearby panels to toggle the lock.
194
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
Okay, I just need to set up the control
mechanism so it opens when we send
the override signal.
1-3 Withdraw or Complication: As you
open up the control panel, your solder
points spark like crazy and start to glow
white hot. Maybe its protected by anti-
theft countermeasures? Do you want to
back off and try another way through,
or try to work through it as it melts your
soldering iron?
Nothing to worry about! I’ll just work
on the existing wires before security
arrives and then disappear.
RISKY
4/5 Complication: One of the wires
gets extremely hot, melts, and fuses
to the exposed circuitry in a shower
of electricity. The others last just long
enough for you to get through the door,
but they’re going to melt away like the
first one unless you do something about
it. They’re your only way back through...
DESPERATE
I grab a coil of cable from my tool bag
and use it to tie into the building’s
capacitors and bleed off the excess
energy.
4/5 Severe Harm: You do it, but... a
huge surge of electricity arcs around
the panel, electrocuting you and tossing
your body through the air. Take level 3
harm, “Electrocuted.”
1-3 Serious Complication + Lost
Opportunity: You try to connect the
cables, but it’s just too much energy too
quickly. Things get out of hand—the
welding torch goes out as your cables
and the rest of your tool kit disintegrates
in a flash of smoke and acrid vapor.
You’re going to need to try something
else now. What do you do?

FIGHT
When you Fight, you entangle a target in
close combat so they can’t easily escape. You
might brawl or wrestle with them. You might
draw a pistol and shove it in someone’s face.
You might seize or hold a position in a battle.
You could try to engage a martial artist in
close combat (but Finessing might be better).
GM Questions
◆ How do you fight? What combat
methods do you use?
◆ What do you hope to achieve?
When you Fight with someone, it’s combat.
You’re attacking and defending, back and
forth. You can Fight to start combat, to survive
combat, and to end combat—but it’s always
some kind of fight. If you rush up behind
someone and shoot them in the back, that’s
Prowling. If you tackle them to the ground,
wrestle them into submission, and then shoot
them, that’s a Fight. If you unleash rapid fire
barrages to lay down cover fire in battle,
that’s Fight or maybe Wreck. If you address
them with a formal challenge and step back
into Mantis stance, maybe you’ll get to try
out your Finesse. (At range, Fighting is often
desperate. In a brawl, Finesse is desperate.)
Generally, the consequences you suffer in
a Fight come from the enemy. The more
dangerous they are, the less likely you are
to have the initiative or advantage—and the
more desperate it will be to oppose them.
If you find yourself in a melee and you want
to do something besides Fight, you might
face a consequence first—which you can
accept or resist (or maybe get a teammate to
face for you). Just because you really want
to Influence someone doesn’t mean they
stop punching you so you can talk to them.
Another approach is to Fight (or Prowl) to
get to cover (rather than inflict harm) then
perform your other action after that.
If you engage alongside your cohorts in battle,
you Fight. If you direct them but you’re not
engaged yourself, you Command them into
action.
6
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
Now that I have him pinned down on
the ground, I grapple around to his
back and choke him out. I want to get
some answers from this prick later.
1-3 Withdraw or Complication: GM: “As
you wrestle with him, he suddenly gets
enGineer—fiGhT
his knife free and starts stabbing wildly.
You acted on your terms there, so it’s not
too late. But it’s bad if you don’t back
out. Want to keep going knowing they’re
going to cut you pretty badly with that
serrated blade?”
Player: “No, I’ll withdraw and try a
different way. I break free as he starts to
stab, pretend to run, then quickly turn
and blast him with my pistol. That’s still
risky, yeah?”
GM: “Yeah, but it’s a different way, right?
You’ll have to Finesse instead of Fight
now.”
Player: “Ah, okay, gotcha. That’s fine.”
RISKY
When he points his gun, I parry his
arm to the inside with my off hand,
pass to his right side and shoot him
in the neck.
4/5 Reduced Effect: He adjusts as you
move in, grappling you close, but he loses
his balance and you trip him backwards
into a nasty throw, a shot grazing his
neck as you pin him down with your
arm. Warm blood pools on the neck of
their shirt. What do you do now?
DESPERATE
He may have ambushed me, but I’m still
gonna fight back! I’m leaping for cover,
also trying to grab that pistol on my
way over and behind the bar.
4/5 Suffer Harm: You avoid his sudden
shot at your head, but catch a nasty
wound in your arm as you hurl yourself
forward. Take level 2 harm, “Gunshot
to Arm.” But you do manage to grab the
pistol! What now?
195
 6
FINESSE
When you Finesse, you employ dexterous
manipulation, precise footwork, or subtle
misdirection. You might pick someone’s
pocket. You might handle the controls of a
vehicle or direct a mount. You might formally
duel an opponent with graceful fighting arts.
You could try to employ those arts in a chaotic
melee (but Fighting might be better). You could
how To Play
try to pick a traditional lock (but Engineering
might be better).
GM Questions
◆ What do you finesse? What’s graceful
or subtle about this?
◆ What do you hope to achieve?
Piloting a vehicle or handling a mount
carefully is standard fare for Finesse, while
violently smashing one into something (or
someone) is more of a Wreck move.
When you employ Finesse, you’re graceful,
stylish, and subtle. You can think of this
as the polar opposite of Wreck. To use
Finesse, you’d prefer some time and space
to do things “just so” rather than rushing
into something and getting sloppy. If you
have to hurry up, or act on someone else’s
terms, Finesse becomes challenging pretty
quickly. It’s all well and good to want to duel
an opponent with your fancy martial arts,
but if they insist on kicking the table over
and throwing grenades at you, you’ll have
to get desperate. Fighting is the best option
when the engagement becomes a frenzied
gunfight, but one-on-one, in a battle that
you’re ready for, Finesse can be just as good.
In a way, the reverse is true for sleight-of-
hand and inconspicuous Finesse. Picking
a pocket or slipping away unnoticed is
less perilous when the situation is chaotic,
crowded, or otherwise distracting for the
target in question. (Contrast this with Prowl,
which is best done in darkness, avoiding
notice.) When corporate security agents
wrestle you to the ground to manacle you,
that’s a great opportunity to lift the passkeys
off one of them with a clever Finesse move.
196
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
I take my foot off the accelerator and
let the vehicle’s idling engine coast us
in, slipping into the parking garage
beneath the courthouse.
4/5 Reduced Effect: As your headlights
cast their light ahead you see that the
way is not as clear as you hoped it would
be. Sections of the entry ramp walls and
ceiling have partition gates up. You’ll
have to keep maneuvering carefully to
get all the way to the parking area further
in. Start a clock: “Navigate the Parking
Complex,” four segments, and tick one. Do
you press on?
1-3 Withdraw or Complication: You
approach the underground parking area,
and the car picks up speed as the hulking
mass of a security drone patrols near the
entrance, crushing the scraps of trash that
surround the security doors. You have a
final moment to adjust course and lose
some time—or else go ahead with your
chosen route and risk an encounter with
this thing. What do you do?
RISKY
I embrace the judge warmly, “Miss
Knowles, the Honorable—how
charming to see you!” while I slip the
recording device into her pocket.
4/5 Complication: She doesn’t notice
you place the device. During dinner,
one of the other guests—a striking and
gaunt woman in a white business suit—
stares intently at Judge Knowles’ side
of the table. After dinner, she moves to
investigate the strange signal she detects
in cyberspace. What do you do?
DESPERATE
As the guard rushes in to tackle me, I
deftly sidestep, draw my silence pistol,
and shoot their hamstring to send them
tumbling down the staircase behind me.
4/5 Severe Harm: You do it, sidestepping
and deftly shooting, but the guard’s
momentum is too great, and the collision
sends you both down the stairs. Suffer
level 3 harm, “Broken Collar Bone and
Ribs.”

INFLUENCE
When you Influence, you influence someone
with guile, charm, or argument. You might lie
convincingly. You might persuade someone
to do what you want. You might argue a case
that leaves no clear rebuttal. You could try to
trick people into affection or obedience (but
Consorting or Commanding might be better).
GM Questions
◆ Who do you influence? What kind of
leverage do you have here?
◆ What do you hope they’ll do?
When you Influence someone, you’re not
looking out for what they want. You’re
manipulating them—either with charm, lies,
or well-reasoned arguments that they can’t
easily dismiss. You’re trying to get them to
do what you want, not what they want or
need. You can Influence a friend or contact—
they’re probably vulnerable to you—but
there is also more to lose should they figure
out you’re manipulating them. And with
trust being such a fleeting commodity in the
shadows, it’s probably desperate to try that.
Influencing someone isn’t mind-control. You
need some kind of leverage to make it work. It
might be the leverage of being a very charming
or desirable person that the target wants to
please. It might be the leverage of having good
reasons, evidence, and/or moving rhetoric
that all seems so convincing they’re inclined
to agree with you. Leverage is situational:
what works with one target may not work
with another. If you have something they
want, you can try to Influence them. Without
that, you can fall back on fear or intimidation
(Commanding things of them, or else) or even
use simple physical force to get your way.
You might be able to Influence another PC.
Ask the player if you have any leverage over
their character. If you do, then your action
can force them to see it your way. If you
don’t, then your action can only disrupt them
somehow—an intense distraction, but not a
convincing one.
6
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
Maybe he doesn’t want anything to do
with the Mountain Rats, but we both
know that he owes me. I lay it out in
black and white. It’s time to make good.
4/5 Minor Complication: “Yeah, yeah,
finesse—influence
okay, you made your point. But look...
you have to promise that no one will
know I helped you, okay?”
1-3 Complication: He shakes his head
the whole time you’re talking, making a
face. “You’re right, I know! But I can’t do
anything! You have to get Winston to let
me back into his crew. Then I’ll be safe,
and I can do this for you.”
RISKY
I reach out to Winston and say
something like... “Hey, I respect you
man. I’m not trying to run the Talons.
That’s all you! But you need a rigger,
and Mouse wants back in. It’s good for
both of you.”
4/5 Reduced Effect: “Fine, but she’s on
probation. If I catch her on the blue stuff
even once, she’s out on her ass again.”
4/5 Complication: “You just want Mouse
to help you with that Cuban Mafia thing,
don’t you? Okay, fine... but I get a piece of
the action.”
1-3 Complication: “You come into my
place and tell me my business? Over that
fraggin’ powder-head? Get out of here
with that before I get mad.” He will let it
slide, but he’s actually pretty pissed off.
Start a 6-track, “Winston’s no longer your
close friend,” and tick it twice.
DESPERATE
“I swear, I had nothing to do with it.
I’ve never even been to Montego or on
that road! Been down by da’ beach me
whole life, boy-ee!”
1-3 Serious Complication: “Yeah, yeah.
Sure you haven’t. We’ll just let the
Legionnaires decide once they get here,
won’t we? Take her into custody.”
197
 6
INTERFACE
When you Interface, you use cyberspace
or harness networked devices. You might
execute software or understand aspects of
information technology. You could try to go
online in order to better understand your
situation (but Surveying might be better).
GM Questions
how To Play
◆ How are you networking these devices?
What does that look like?
◆ What do you hope this will do?
Cyberspace is described somewhat
vaguely, on purpose. It’s the residual field
of transmitted signals in the city, the data
trails of wireless transmissions in the recent
past, and the virtual medium in which
constructs exist. It is also an access point to
a persistent worldwide network seamlessly
connecting the planet’s devices together,
seemingly unbound by the laws of general
and special relativity. Going online creates
many opportunities to discuss the future of
connectivity and technology.
When you Interface with a cyberdeck you
might see data trails of recent wireless
transmissions or perceive the virtual world
just waiting for those with a neural interface
(the Hacker’s VR kit includes a set you can
remove, or you can get one implanted).
cyberdeck allows them to see even more
detail). Unlike Engineering, you don’t need
to get your hands on something to Interface
with it. Engineering is typically the action
you’d use to take advantage of complex
devices, but interface can work too—often
with different risks since you’re risking
danger from the use of cyberspace.
Anyone with an appropriate device
configuration can Interface. The public grid
is always there, ready for connection with
a comm. Hackers and other technicians can
Interface as the basis for technological feats,
such as Signal Tuner. Without access to
signals and networks, these abilities don’t
work.
198
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
I Interface with the security system
network to see if there are any
vulnerabilities.
4/5 Reduced Effect: You know there is
a sensor network protecting the doors
on the interior of the building, but you
can’t quite tell how far it extends—to the
windows and roof, too? Maybe so.
RISKY
I going into VR, and searching for the
data trails of the corrupted drone. It
was broken in this very spot, so I’ll try
to retrieve any information I can while
I’m here.
4/5 Reduced Effect: You see the tiniest
remnant of a data trail, and follow it to
an orphaned datastore that is glitching
out as if deliberately corrupted. It sort of
looks like an AI’s programming, but you
can’t be sure if Horizon actually did it.
1-3 Harm + Complication: The drone’s
collapsing data stream is visible. You see
an icon and quickly connect before its
gone, but then—it goes all glitchy and you
get blasted with strangely painful signals.
You are blinded for several minutes, a
frightening but thankfully temporary
complication, and you take level 1 harm,
“Eye pain.” What now?
DESPERATE
As the counterhacker tries to override
my drone, I’ll corrupt their connection
through the exploit to crash their ‘deck!
4/5 Serious Complication: The
corrupted signals overload the
connection. As their persona is driven
off, sparks erupt from your drone,
triggering a building security alert.
1-3 Serious Complication + Severe
Harm: The counterhacker grinds your
data trails like a skateboarder and
crashes into your persona. Your deck
is broken (it can be repaired), and you
suffer multiple severe harm as you are
taken offline: level-3 “Brain damage”
from the energy, and “Dumpshock”
too. Which would you like to resist
first?

PROWL
When you Prowl, you traverse skillfully and
quietly. You might scramble past security or
leap over barricades. You might drop down
from a rooftop or hide in the shadows. You
might attack someone from hiding with a back-
stab or stun baton. You could try to waylay a
victim in the middle of a pitched battle (but
Fighting might be better).
GM Questions
◆ How do you prowl? How do you use the
environment around you?
◆ What do you hope to achieve?
When you Prowl, you use the features of your
environment to move around skillfully. The
more conducive the environment, the better
you can control the outcomes. Prowling is
more than just “speed” or “stealth”— it’s all
of the related physical skills of movement as
well as an instinctual awareness of where to
go and the right timing to employ. You can
think of Prowling as general athletic ability
(running, climbing, jumping, swimming, etc.)
tuned for skillful, efficient movement.
You might use this movement to hide out
of sight and shoot an enemy in the back.
Waylaying someone this way is similar to
Stalking a target from an ambush point—this
is one area where the actions overlap. Prowl
is often used as a setup action or to create
an opportunity (or both at once). You might
Prowl to cover so you can take your time
Surveying a location without being flanked.
When a Prowl roll goes badly, it doesn’t have
to be “all or nothing.” A common mistake is to
say that the character is discovered or caught
as a consequence. Instead, the GM can start
a short clock (maybe 4 segments) for such a
serious complication like “Discovered,” and
tick a segment or two. When done this way,
you can think of the clock as “stealth harm
levels.” The PC can take a few hits before
they’re knocked out of the hide-and-seek
conflict.
6
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
I slip up behind him and whack him over
the head with my stun baton.
4/5 Reduced Effect: His knees buckle
for a moment, but he doesn’t go down.
He curses and staggers sideways and
inTerface—Prowl
reaches out to support himself against
the wall. What do you do?
RISKY
I dash across the rooftop, using the air
conditioning units for cover, and deftly
climb the fire escape to the second floor
window.
4/5 Complication + Reduced Effect:
You make it halfway across, behind the
second unit here, when one of the guards
says, “Hey, did you hear that?” and then
heads over to check out the noise. Make
a “Discovered” clock, four segments, and
tick two—these guys are pretty sharp.
What do you do?
DESPERATE
I slink past nonchalantly and try to
look like a boring employee.
1-3 Serious Complication: You walk
past and everything seems cool. As you
are swiping your badge to leave the
secure area, you hear the doors behind
you snick shut. The front door’s keycard
scanner turns red as it is locked remotely
by security. Now what!?
I back up to the balcony rail as they
encircle me. “It’s been fun, fellas...” I
jump off and throw my grappling hook,
swinging to safety.
4/5 Severe Harm: You jump and swing
but a few of them manage to rush
forward and fire. A bullet rips through
one of your shoulder blades. Your
hands go numb and you land hard
in the dumpster. Take level 3 harm,
“Spinal Injury.” But hey... you got away.
1-3 Severe Harm: Just not fast enough.
You get one foot up on the railing, and
they all open fire. Take level 4 harm as
you’re shot to pieces.
199
 6
STALK
When you Stalk, you carefully track a
target. You might follow a person or discover
their location. You might arrange an ambush.
You might attack with precision shooting from
a distance. You could try to bring your guns to
bear in close quarters (but Fighting might be
better).
GM Questions
how To Play
◆ How do you stalk them down? What
methods do you use?
◆ What do you hope to achieve?
When you Stalk a target, it’s all about precise
and skillful execution—your talent brought
to bear against the target, your victim. Like
Finesse, Stalking is about performing on your
own terms—you follow the target to their
safehouse, you select the ambush point, you
line up the target in your sights and take the
shot.
Stalking is all about the maneuvers before
the shootout. When you try to Stalk after the
chaos begins, you’ll probably find yourself
in a desperate spot. Time and distance are
your allies. Contrast with Fighting, which is
desperate and least effective when the enemy
is far away and disengaged.
There’s no “shooting” action in Runners, by
design. The action roll system is designed for
players to choose the action they perform
in any given situation, which the GM then
judges for effectiveness and risk. When the
guns come out, do you Stalk around them
first to carefully line up your shot? (Or Fight,
or Finesse, or something else?) It’s up to the
player to decide their approach. Stalking is
usually the most effective action when taking
an aimed shot at a distance. But if you’re in
the middle of a brawl and blast someone
with your pistol, Stalk works, too—it’s just
probably a desperate action. The Stalk action
is broader in scope than mere marksmanship.
It’s the ideal action for tracking, hunting,
and discovering the location of anything or
anyone.
200
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
I wait until Winston passes in front
of his office window, then I hold my
breath, and squeeze the trigger.
4/5 Reduced Effect: The shot grazes
Winston along the side of one of his
horns, ripping open his scalp. He
crumples down out of sight, seriously
wounded at least. What do you do now?
RISKY
The Black Circle get their supply of
refined reagents somehow. I’m going
to locate the source and track how
it’s delivered.
4/5 Complication: You track down the
source and delivery method (I’ll explain
in a minute), but as you’re headed back
to the safehouse, your breath comes out
as fog and you hear the disembodied
whish of an air spirit echoing from the
darkness. It’s the sound of torrential
downpour and hurricane force
winds that makes your spine seize up
instinctively. Do you freeze up, try to
escape, or resist and do something else?
DESPERATE
Before that agent can get around the
corner, I want to set up an impromptu
ambush!
4/5 Reduced Effect: You find a blind
angle to attack from, but it’s awkward
and cramped in the hallway. Your pistol-
whip move collides with the wall and
then crashes off the officer’s helmet.
He grunts and staggers for a moment,
swatting back with his stun baton and
issuing a call for backup through his
comm. What do you do?
1-3: Serious Complication: You are in
position, and the enemy walks in—but as
you are about make your move, you walk
right into the agent’s elite bodyguards!
Take +2 heat for that. Plus, these aren’t
run of the mill Legionnaires: they grab
you and slap manacles on you before
you can react! Your target shows up on
the other side of them, glaring at you.
What do you have to say for yourself?
Or do you resist here?

STUDY
When you Study, you scrutinize details
and interpret evidence. You might gather
information from online discussion, news
reports, and books. You might do research on
an esoteric topic. You might closely analyze a
person to detect lies or true feelings. You could
try to examine events to understand a pressing
situation (but Surveying might be better).
GM Questions
◆ How do you study? What details or
evidence do you scrutinize?
◆ What do you hope to understand?
When you Study, you concentrate on small
details—expressions, tone of voice, innuendo,
tiny clues—to find what’s hidden, determine
facts, corroborate evidence, and guide your
decisions.
Studying is often used to “read a person”—
this is a gather information roll to judge
whether or not they’re lying, what they
really want, what their intentions are, etc.
(See the list of questions you might ask on the
bottom of your character sheet.) When you
Study someone in this way, you can ask the
GM questions while you interact with them
if you want, so you might wait until they say
something fishy, and then ask the GM “Are
they telling the truth?”
If you want to get a feel for the current
situation or scout out a location, that’s
Surveying. Cursory reconnaissance glosses
over details in favor of big-picture stuff, but
Study does the opposite—it’s about precise
facts and details. Are they lying about that?
Is the safe hidden behind a wall in this room?
Studying is also the action for research of
all kinds (often a long-term project). Want
to find out which executive has the best
software collection with the worst security?
Want to know how many rioting citizens it
would take to overwhelm the Legionnaires
in St. Andrew Parish? Virtually any fact can
be discovered through Study.
6
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
Now that I’m in, I go over every bit of
this network, looking for the hidden
access point.
4/5 Reduced Effect: After a few
moments, you find a tiny blip of activity
around what must be the access point.
You can’t tell how to access it, though.
sTalK—sTudy
Want to keep Studying and figure it out,
or do something else?
RISKY
While Shark and the envoy talk, I Study
him for any signs of deception, especially
when we talk about us backing the
Talons exclusively.
4/5 Complication: You can tell that he’s
telling the truth, but he notices your scrutiny
and gives you a close look, as well. Start a
new clock for the mounting threat: “Skelter
Figures Out Your Plans,” six segments, and
tick two.
4/5 Complication: You get a solid read on
him—he’s telling the truth—but after a
pause, his protection corners you and gets
in your face. The envoy says “If you aren’t
liking this deal, maybe we should go. I’ve
already got three potential meetings with
more.. disposable crews.” What do you do
next?
DESPERATE
As things turn to violence, I shift my
stance and watch for an opening or a
weakness. Maybe I will spot a way to
run past them!
4/5 Harm + Serious Complication: You
get past them, but you’re shot in the foot on
your way out. The wound burns painfully
and your ankle is pretty broken (level-2
harm). Just as you round the corner, you
realize you’re hobbling—what now?
1-3 Severe Harm + Serious
Complication: You find an opening, but
as you eye it, a shotgun blast sends you
flying backwards. You land a few feet
away, kevlar smoking, and Vigo steps
into the doorway. Blood is spurting from
ragged wounds in your arm (level-3
harm), and he grins at you. Do you want
to resist before you do something?
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SURVEY
When you Survey, you observe the situation
and anticipate outcomes. You might spot
telltale signs of trouble before it happens. You
might uncover opportunities or weaknesses.
You might detect a person’s motivations or
intentions (but Studying might be better). You
could try to spot a way to flush an enemy out
of cover (but Stalking might be better).
how To Play
GM Questions
◆ How do you survey the situation? Is
there anything special you’re looking out
for?
◆ What do you hope to understand?
When you Survey, you get a better
understanding of what’s going on around
you. You observe a location or circumstance
and its features: entrances and exits, strong
points and weak points, what’s normal and
what’s unusual there, what’s likely to happen
next, etc. A good Survey will keep you from
being surprised and helps you make better
decisions about how to approach a problem.
Survey is often used to “read a situation”—
this is a gather information roll to judge
opportunities and dangers (see a sample list
of questions you might ask on the bottom of
your character sheet).
When you Survey the scene, you might ask
the GM questions before anything happens,
so you can spot opportunities for action. If
you’re suspicious of the meeting with the
Mountain Rats, for example, you might ask,
“What’s really going on here?” to get a clear
read on the situation.
To Survey, you usually need access to good
vantage points. If you want to Survey the
the Manning Family’s HQ for a good assault
point, for example, you’ll need to walk
around and give it a good look, maybe watch
the mafiosos coming and going, notice their
security measures, etc. You might use Prowl
or even Consort to set up a Survey action, so
you can observe things with greater effect or
from a safer position.
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EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
I nestle into my hiding spot and watch
the Mirror’s Edge safehouse. I want to
know their defenses, and how they get
in and out.
4/5 Reduced Effect: You get a good feel
for the building and its exterior security
measures, but there’s a wall and tinted
glass blocking some kind of checkpoint
at the entrance. Are they saying a code-
phrase, or showing a pass, or something
else? You can’t quite tell.
RISKY
Okay, so, they’re chasing me along the
rooftops, right? There must be a good
spot where I can drop down a fire
escape and disappear. I want to do a
setup roll for my Prowl action next.
4/5 Reduced Effect: “Hmm, reduced
effect doesn’t make sense for a setup
roll, really. Let’s pick a different
consequence.”
4/5 Complication: “This is good. How
about I take +2 heat during the chase?
Everyone sees me leading Alamo
Security on a wild chase.”
DESPERATE
They’re attacking us? No no no... I want
a flashback to a few seconds ago to get
a bad feeling about this before it kicks
off.
4/5 Reduced Effect: You sense the
ambush, but it’s mere seconds before
everything happens. You can take one
half-measure first. Do you drop to the
ground for cover, push someone else
down, something like that?
1-3 Severe Harm: You’re fixated on
one of the enemies, certain that they’re
gonna do something bad, and you get
blindsided by someone else. Take level 3
harm, “Shot in the Back.”

WRECK
When you Wreck, you unleash savage or
sudden force. You might smash down a door
or wall with a sledgehammer, or lob grenades
to do the same. You might employ chaos or
sabotage to create a distraction or overcome
an obstacle. You could try to overwhelm an
enemy with sheer force in battle (but Fighting
might be better).
GM Questions
◆ What do you wreck? What devastation
do you bring to bear?
◆ What do you hope to accomplish?
When you Wreck something, collateral
damage and chaos are both fairly likely. You
probably ruin its functions so it can’t be easily
fixed, creating confusion along the way—
making loud noises, sending debris flying,
starting fires, flooding an area, etc. Wrecking
is as good for sabotage and mayhem as it is
for destruction.
Scale is often a very important effect factor
for Wrecking. If you want to destroy a bus,
for example, you need tools or a team that
are high enough scale to have an effect on the
vehicle. You might need to employ a team of
drones (or Thugs) to shoot it up, for instance.
Or you might need to exploit a weakness to
gain some level of potency to offset the scale
factor. A vehicle with compressed gas tanks
on it is vulnerable to a well-placed explosion,
for example, so a few grenades will do the
job that took 10 people with demolition tools.
There’s some overlap between Wrecking
to break something and Engineering it so it
no longer functions. In general, Wrecking
is faster and less precise—if you smash the
thing, it’s totally smashed. Engineering, on the
other hand, is skillful and precise—allowing
very specific results (like an alarm that goes
off at the wrong time) but it generally takes
more time and is easier to fix. Also, Wrecking
applies to pretty much anything: doors, walls,
floors, whatever. Engineering is limited to
devices and chemicals and stuff like that.
6
EXAMPLES
CONTROLLED
I plant the bombs, set the timers, and
hurry off to a safe distance, and... boom.
1-3 Withdraw or Complication: On your
way out, two of the building managers
stop to converse near your planned exit
door. The timers are ticking down, so
survey—wrecK
unless you back out and go another way
I’m ticking the “Boom” clock once, and
the “Get to Safety” clock none. What do
you do?
RISKY
I push past Mouse and heft my crowbar.
“Allow me to sweet-talk that lock,
friend.” I dig in and pry the thing off its
hinges.
4/5 Complication: Well, sure... you can
use force to pry the door open—but it’s
not as quiet as hacking the lock would
have been! Somewhere upstairs, a chair
scrapes back and you hear footsteps. Tick
two more on the “Alert” clock for the
guards. Oh did that fill the clock? Heh.
You hear a shout and more footsteps
running down the stairs toward the
door.
DESPERATE
So, he thinks I will back down from a
grenade? He’s gotta do more than show
it to me. As soon as he goes for it, I am
going to light him up.
4/5 Severe Harm: He dodges around
your initial arc of gunfire and already
has the pin out, tossing the grenade
while you are dealing with recoil. The
fragmentation blasts you with metal and
rubble, hitting your whole right side.
Take level-3 harm, “Vicious Shrapnel
Wounds” as you start bleeding out. But
he wasn’t expecting you to continue
your barrage, and he is pushed over
some boxes and shot several times.
You hear heavy breathing as struggles
to ready another. Ready to resist that
nearly fatal error, or?
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RUNNING THE GAME
Chances are that you’ve run Blades in the
Dark before if you are reading this. If so,
you should have few problems. If not,
but you’ve run other roleplaying games
before, you might find that running this
game is a bit different—mainly in the
distribution of authority in the game—
especially in the way players have a lot of
say over how the rules are applied.
This chapter breaks the GM job down
into several key areas to help demystify
it a bit. First, we’ll cover Goals, then
Actions, Principles, and Best Practices
appropriate to Runners in the Shadows—
then, a number Bad Habits to avoid.
GM GOALS
This is what you’re trying to accomplish
when you run the game.
◆ Play to find out what happens Don’t
steer the game toward certain outcomes
or events. Be curious! There is a reason
you aren’t the storyteller: this story isn’t
told yet! Instead of being a windbag
narrator, be curious about what your
friends can come up with. Be excited
when you come up with a terrifying
threat, only for them to get away. Lament
the dark fate awaiting those who fail,
and you’ll be as surprised as your players
about the unfolding events.
CHAPTER 6
◆ Convey the fictional world honestly
When it’s your turn to say what happens,
or what threatens the PCs, “look around”
the vision of Kingston in your head and
say what you see. Don’t play favorites.
Make the world seem real, but not
contrived to doom their best efforts.
◆ Bring fantasy Kingston to life Assign
each location a specific aspect (crowded,
cold, rainy, dim, etc.). Give each NPC a
name, detail and a preferred method of
problem solving (threats, bargaining,
violence, charm, etc.). Give each action
context—the knife fight is on a rusty fire
escape that might fall; the informant
huddles among the wreckage of the
foreign legion substation where gangers
and homeless are the “authorities”; the
Manning Family’s safehouse stinks of
ganja-smoke and fresh baked rolls. Are
their hidden guards nearby, just out of
notice? Highlight the sources of danger
quickly and often, and mention the many
pleasures of the ultraviolet which tend to
occupy the attention of those who look
at the surface level stuff (the designer
drugs, virtual entertainment, the high
technology, etc.)—and contrast this with
what the runners see.
To achieve your goals, use the GM Actions
(detailed on the next page) guided by
your GM Principles (in the section which
follows your actions). Also describe the
setting along the way (this will be the
opening scene).
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 6
DESCRIBING
THE SETTING
The game takes place in a living,
breathing city adorned with a “kitchen
sink” of literary techniques and fictional
runninG The Game
genres at work. This creates a huge
palette of possible fictional details to talk
about—which can be unwieldy for a GM
to describe. When you illustrate the city
through descriptive prose in the opening
scene in about ten pages, and later on in
the series, keep these tips in mind:
◆ Start with a dystopian canvas That
word can mean a lot of different things,
depending who you ask. Start with what
is certain: the Man has already won. The
city is crowded, with high-density living
areas filled with wageslaves, each one
paying the Man to continue its ascent.
The megacorporations wield more
geopolitical influence than national
governments and world organizations.
Legitimate businesses have no hope of
ever rising to the top anymore; instead,
small businesses that succeed only get
consumed by the larger ones, adding
to the collective bottom lines of greedy
executives and their wealthy families.
Sound familiar? That’s because it is.
There are the rich and powerful in
cushy boardrooms at the top, held aloft
by towering arcologies filled with wage
slaves—and there are darkened streets
paved with blood, sweat, and tears of the
average citizen. The hopes and dreams of
runners are the fuel which sets it ablaze
to power the machinations of the elite.
◆ Paint the world with a supernatural
brush A supernatural cataclysm
occurred, and since then there have
been strange forces lurking around
every corner—some standing brazenly
in the open. Society across the world is
206
getting better about dealing with the
inherent differences between differing
heritage, but it still struggles with
interpersonal conflicts of being in the
presence of supernatural phenomena. A
common phrase is “Kill the mage first.”
Besides that, dragons exist, artificial
intelligence has become quantum (some
would say “immortal”), and the world
is littered with unfeeling cyberzombies,
dangerous sorcerers, powerful spirits,
nasty gremlins, and more. Some of
these characters (like wage mages) are
ingrained into society, and some (like
dragons) only respect others of their
own kind. How does the metatype and
supernatural power of those involved
color this interaction? What supernatural
powers manifest here? What strange
sights are present?
◆ Decorate it with chrome and neon
Practically anything you want is just a
signal transmission away. Self-driving
vehicles and drones of all shapes, sizes,
and configurations clutter the sprawls.
There is ubiquitous access to cyberspace
and a continuous bombardment of
advertisement available for whatever
it is you enjoy. Rarely do the citizens
get an unobstructed look at the grimy
truths beyond their income bracket.
Corporations depend on the constant
flood of marketing and demographics
data to fuel their ambitious schemes of
consumer manipulation. And consumers
seem all too happy to participate. How
does income inequality and consumerism
manifest itself here? What makes it tough
for the average citizen to get a good look
at the shadows? What hard truths are
evident just outside their notice?
The “American dream”? Dead.
Their competition? Dead or bought.
You? Hopefully paid by the latter.

GM ACTIONS
The player characters have twelve actions
they use to get things done in the game.
You have actions, too, and they are listed
below. When it’s your turn to contribute,
and you’re not sure what to do, look at
your list of actions on your GM Reference
(found in the Sheets PDF, which refer to
those explained in this section) and pick
the most appropriate one.
Ask Questions
Provide opportunities & follow the
player’s lead
Cut to the action
Foreshadow the danger
Follow through
Offer a Dragon’s Deal
Initiate action with an NPC
Tell them the consequences & ask
Think off-screen
Tick a clock
ASK QUESTIONS
Before you do anything else, ask
questions. You can get along very well as
a GM by simply asking questions, building
on the answers, asking more questions,
answering them with dice rolls, and so
on. Asking questions is the heart and soul
of running a roleplaying game.
6
◆ Ask establishing questions to set the
stage for the action Who’s leading the
group? Is everyone rushing in to fight with
Jax, or is someone hanging back or doing
something else? Do you want to focus on
the envoy to get a bigger payoff, or are you
addressing the employers at large to get
what you want?
◆ Ask provocative questions to make
the players think and express their
Gm acTions
characters Okay, so now you have some
kind of vendetta against them, right—or
do you think ‘What goes around, comes
around?’ What does the ganger think of
you after that little escapade? Can you
bring yourself to betray them?
◆ Ask leading questions to show the
players what you’re thinking Do you
think he’s the type of person who will
respond well to threats? Does anyone want
to Survey the area or Study the envoy? If
you get caught doing that, the whole deal
is gonna be blown, though—right?
◆ Ask trivial questions when the mood
strikes you and you’re curious Where
do you go for a bite to eat? Who knows
about your weird obsessions? Do you have
any little keepsakes or other personal
items here in the safehouse?
◆ Ask the players for help when you’re
uncertain or stuck You don’t have to
do it alone. I don’t know... should this be
desperate? What’s a good Dragon’s Deal
here; a nuyen cost for better gear perhaps?
What’s the worst that could go wrong?
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES,
FOLLOW THEIR LEAD
GM, it’s your job to provide opportunities
but also to follow the player’s lead.
Providing opportunities is easy: this
fantasy Earth is a setting specifically
designed with the runner in mind. As
the GM, you’ll step in and describe an
opportunity when the PCs look for one,
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 6
rolling or picking from the opportunity
tables as you please, adding your unique
ideas about the sprawl and its factions,
guided by your goals and principles.
Opportunities need not be balanced
or consistent. Sometimes they’ll be
exquisite a clear exploit, an ideal target, a
fat payday. Sometimes they’ll be poor—a
runninG The Game
perilous opening, a troublesome target, a
thin margin for profit. But there’s always
something to be found. The setting of
Kingston is designed the way it is so
that the next chance for a run easily
flows from the fiction. Look around at
the factions and NPCs that interest you.
Who’s vulnerable? Who needs something
done? What part of the setting are you
curious to see in play? It’s sure to have
opportunities for crime.
Between runs, the PCs are free to gather
information to set up the next operation.
If the players don’t have their own idea
for a job, this is the perfect chance to look
for a new opportunity. Ask them if they’d
like to perform a group action to discover
something, and how their crew goes about
that kind of thing. Do they Influence
their circle of friends or contacts? Do they
Command people to reveal useful secrets?
Do they Survey for potential victims
and opportunities? Do they Interface
with hotspots, looking for weaknesses
to exploit? A “legwork montage” may
follow their rolls, allowing you as the GM
to convey the details of the opportunity
through brief moments of action and
snippets of dialogue from NPCs.
When you present an opportunity, it
should include the components necessary
for the players to understand how
they might mount a run. The suggested
opportunity might not be the best—but
it’s something specific and actionable. The
PCs should understand that “The Talons
have lost their fixer and now only their
208
mysterious (and well-guarded) safehouse
remains. Their enemies are closing in to
finish them off.” It’s not sufficient to say,
“You hear that there’s something going
on with the Talons.” Depending on the
outcome of the investigation (or the
strength of their informant’s or contact’s
connection to the opportunity), provide
even more details and hooks for the
action to come. “The Manning Family is
closing in, poised to finish the Mountain
Rats off. You know how Rosetta is! The
Mountain Rats could use your help… or
maybe betraying them to the Mafia is the
more profitable move.”
An opportunity consists of:
◆ A target. CyberSec Global.
◆ A location. One of their contraband
storage locations near Chancery Street
bus station.
◆A situation. A smuggling ring was
busted by CSG in Havendale just yesterday.
◆ One obvious vector for a plan. Your fixer
will pay off whoever is hired as security.
They’ll let you in the back door—for a cut
of the profits.
Better information from contacts or
investigation (or other means) may
include:
◆ Connected factions and what they
need or want. That paydata was paid for
by the Talons. They want it back.
◆ A not-so-obvious vector for a plan.
Offline paydata like this can be extracted
remotely through an emergent gate... or so
you’ve heard it theorized.
◆ Interesting secrets, a link to an
alternate opportunity. CSG Agents are
likely to secure any confiscated datachips
with multiple layers of protection. A fringe
group of preservationists known only as
neo-Luddites abhors the paydata trade and
may be a possible ally or enemy, depending
on what you do.

See the Crew chapter (page 109) for
tables of opportunities arranged by crew
type. These are bare-bones starters that
you can flesh out with details from your
specific iteration of Kingston in play. Or
randomly determine those opportunities
using the chart at the end of this chapter.
It’s up to you.
Basically, you’re offering the players an
opportunity for action. Sure, it follows
from the ongoing fiction of the world as
established in your game, but the heart
of these opportunities is a gameplay
mechanic. The players have showed up
to play Runners in the Shadows, which
means they want to do exciting and
interesting crimes. It’s like they’re at the
arcade and they’ve dropped in a token
and it’s your job as the GM to light up
the screen with NEW STAGE and get the
game going.
You’re providing enough to keep the game
from stalling; enough so that Runners in
the Shadows can happen at the game table
tonight. If the PCs are flush with available
nuyen and rep to spend and downtime
to burn, they can dig up lots more juicy
information to position themselves
strongly for this opportunity and go in
with a better engagement roll (at least). If
they don’t have those resources to spend...
well, things are tougher, but that’s the
nature of the runner’s life, and at least
there’s still something fun to do. We can
shrug at the ill-fortune of our characters
right now, slap them on the back and say
good luck, have fun with that!
The other avenue for getting the game
going is to follow the player’s lead. This
is just like providing an opportunity, but
in this case you listen to the opportunity
presented by the players rather than
describing it yourself. Ask them clarifying
questions to flesh out their idea so
you end up with a target, a location, a
6
situation, and a vector for a plan. Then
ask if they want to investigate further
(potentially inviting trouble) or go ahead
to the engagement roll.
CUT TO THE ACTION
When they say, “We should break into
Agent Smith’s office,” that’s your cue.
Say “That sounds like a Stealth plan,
Gm acTions
yeah? What’s your point of entry?” Then,
when they give you the detail, you say,
“All right, so you’re on the top level of
the garage across the alley from their
building. It’s quiet and abandoned right
now for construction. You throw your
ropes and grapnels across. Let’s make
the engagement roll.” Bam, just like that,
you’re on a run. That might seem way too
fast and breezy if you’re used to other
roleplaying games. You don’t always
have to skip that far into the action! But
it’s good to keep this method in mind
and generally aim toward it. Anything
prosecuted via conversation will take
longer than you think it will—if you
hold this “cut to the action” idea in the
forefront of your mind, you can trim off
some time that might just be fruitless
planning or unnecessary hesitation.
Same goes for any kind of “scene change”
that happens in play. Like, when a player
decides to go Consort with their friend,
you can cut to the action in progress.
“You’re at the usual place, in Smoke
& Lagger. The air inside is filled with
the smells of steaming bowls of onion
soup and soycaf; gray clouds streak the
night sky outside. Links brushes back
their hair, eyes and attention flitting
about from online notifications to you
and back. ‘Busy week,’ she says. ‘What
do you been up to?’”
Rather than starting back at the safehouse
and playing out “Where do you go? Where
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 6
would Links be? How can you arrange a
meeting?” you just cut to the action of the
meeting in progress and the game moves
along fine, keeping momentum high.
FORESHADOW THE DANGER
Show them the threats as their actions are
runninG The Game
underway. Then they will know what is at
stake when you ask them what they do.
As you get into position, a blip appears
on the counterhacker’s screen. In my
mind’s eye, a silhouette of a slender
face is outlined by the light. A shaky
plume of blue nicotine vapor fills the
room. Someone is not only secretly
watching for your approach, but you
get the feeling you are about to have
your devices scanned for clues about
your recent activity. What do you do?
The keycard hangs from a belt loop, held
fast by a lanyard. There are no other
keycards on it, so it must be special. He
seems to check his gear every so often,
so it’s really likely he would notice
quickly. There might be another way in
though. What do you do?
As you listen at the door, you hear the
squeak of a chair leg and the banter
of the guards. You know the entrance
to the roof stairwell is beyond. Their
footsteps tell you someone inside is
pacing. You have your pistol out like
you said. What do you?
Compare that with these lackluster
narrations and action prompts:
They’re hacking you. What do you do?
You are going to steal the keycard to
get in? That’s gonna be Finesse.
You’ll have to Fight them I guess. Where
do you shoot them?
See how giving context to an action
creates a natural flow? If you don’t present
risk and opportunity clearly, it’s less
clear what’s happening. You might find
210
yourself “searching” for a consequence
after the fact if you don’t lead things
properly. If you do, there is little question
about what is going to happen if the roll
is a 1-3 or 4/5.
FOLLOW THROUGH
...with the aforementioned danger. Don’t
let them off easy when things go badly.
There’s really no reason to be timid when
the players have several ways to deal with
trouble. Besides, if there’s time to act,
they can make an action roll. If they’re
in over their head, they can just resist it
if they want. Take off the kid gloves and
give them what the fiction demands.
This GM action is all about doing as you
said. When powerful enemies are in a
position to do something without direct
opposition, then they can just do it. :cue
Shia Lebouf meme: If the consequences
of failing are to be out of the scene for the
final showdown—then so be it. When the
players are rushing to come up with an
answer, flashing back and taking action,
you will be glad you hit them as hard as
you did.
Your job is describing the harmful
outcomes with gusto, not inflicting them.
The purpose of the consequence and
edge mechanics is to add interesting
fictional details to the game when it
comes to harm and trouble. Instead of
simply saying, “You take 3 damage,” you
describe how the shot punches a bloody
hole in their lungs. The harm becomes a
realized threat in our imaginations. Then
they get the option to mark their armor
boxes or roll to resist (and risk losing
some of their remaining edge).
OFFER A DRAGON’S DEAL
Try to concoct exciting complications and
potential decisions for your Dragon’s Deals.
Offer up things that, while negative, also

deepen the connection to NPCs. Or show
duality of their items. “You can take +1d
with your sniper rifle, but you’ll have to
get on a rooftop where at least one security
drone will spot you. +2 heat.” Think in
terms of value to the story—and abide by
the Rule of Cool. Look it up if needed.
INITIATE ACTION WITH AN
NPC
One of your best tools is the NPC. These
characters are how you take action.
Particularly dangerous (also called
“master”) NPCs can also take control of
what is happening by seizing the initiative.
This is a powerful tool to illustrate danger
and grab everyone’s attention.
“There’s no hesitation. She lets you
check her comm, however she’s also a
masterful hacker. She’s placed enough
layers of security that you fail to
find any clues regarding her recent
whereabouts.”
“That can’t be! I am way too smart to
actually fall for that.”
“Well, you can roll to resist with
Intuition if you want, but if not then her
efforts manage to keep you guessing.”
TELL THEM THE
CONSEQUENCES AND ASK
“Sure: You can shoot them from up
there, but it will take so long to get
in position that you will only get one
chance. Want to try it from where
you’re at, or roll for it and take the risk
on the ‘Mission Scrubbed’ clock?”
“The dragon strikes terror in your heart.
You can flee or be paralyzed by fear.
Which is it? Or do you want to resist?”
6
THINK OFF-SCREEN
Meanwhile... What is going on elsewhere
that can affect the current scene? Is
there a biker gang circling the safehouse,
waiting to strike down whoever exits?
Are there G-men closing in on their target
right now? Did a rival just find their
opportunity for revenge?
Gm acTions
TICK A CLOCK
Another important tool is the pacing
mechanism provided by progress clocks.
A GM who wants to tell a narrative the
players can get involved with need look
no further than faction clocks. These can
also be useful for tracking approaching
entanglements and complications
according to any established fiction.
Its not uncommon for agents to go
specifically after so-called “cold cases,”
hoping for an important break. I’ll start
a danger clock for that security agent
to question someone close to the crew.
More of Rosetta’s thugs will be lurking
nearby the restaurant as it is a location
of interest for them. As you open fire,
one of them gets an alert signal, so I
will add ticks on the clock for them to
accost you.
Called favors eventually come due,
sometimes more quickly when you mess
with the ones you owe. So I’m going to
tick that “Status lost” clock twice when
you tell them to eat drek.
During a mission, tick a danger clock if
you want to ramp up the tension as part
of following through, without ending
the conflict right away. To pile on the
pressure, start a countdown clock for
the run to be scrapped. Keep all progress
clocks where everyone can see them.
Keep markers and index cards (or some
other tool to keep track of them) nearby
during play, and use them often.
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GM PRINCIPLES
◆ Be a fan of the PCs The world is
hard on the PCs already. Don’t think of
this as a competition. Be excited about
their successes, and dismayed at their
failure. Make them feel important in this
runninG The Game
fictional endeavor, and congratulate its
development at every twisted turn.
◆ Let everything flow from the fiction
You can get started quickly using the
game’s starting situation and your
opening scene. There will be pauses at
first-interrogate how their character’s
react, and follow their lead to figure out
what happens next. You aren’t the game’s
author or manager—it runs itself pretty
well as long as you follow the fiction
wherever it may lead. The cycle of actions,
reactions, consequences takes care of all
that ensure it always leads somewhere
fun.
◆ Address the characters “Buzzsaw, what
do you do about the Talons’ surveillance
van?” not “Chris. what does Buzzsaw do
next.” Never address the player when you
really want them to be immersed in their
character. Placing Buzzsaw, the character,
front and center like this serves to highlight
what they want or think is cool. Leave room
for players to exemplify their character’s
values, beliefs, and morality with their
choice of actions and dialogue.
◆ Address the players “Chris, what do
you think? We could handle this with
a full scene or a quick roll with quick
results.” Chris is directed to consider what
he wants, rather than what the character
wants. Placing Chris, the player, front
and center like this is a way to highlight
what they want or think is cool.
◆ Show, don’t tell Describe what is
happening visually, rather than literally.
It is uninteresting to tell your players
that “the NPC is clearly heartless,” but if
212
you describe the stern-faced man kicking
a homeless woman for panhandling,
you help paint a scene which puts their
heartless nature on display—the visceral
details that show how they are heartless
create an emotional connection to what
is happening.
◆ Consider the risk The runners are
criminals and outcasts, so there are
always things waiting to pounce on
their mistakes. By default, a roll is risky.
When they are in over their heads or face
serious conseqeunces, rolls are probably
desperate. When they are on top of
things and capitalize on their success, the
rolls might be controlled. Announce
the approaching threat(s), and dare them
to put it all on the line. Go with your
gut and assess the factors you find most
important.
◆ Hold on loosely Rewind, revise,
and reconsider events as needed to
accommodate the pacing of the game.
Some players will want to drive their
characters fast and loose, and you should
be ready to give them that. Also remember
this is not an “Ironman mode” kind of
game. “I forgot about the paydata too. It’s
only fair to say your runner would have
remembered though—let’s call it a free
flashback.”
◆ But don’t let go Of your players, or
your GM goals and principles. You get
few chances to inject your ideas in, so you
should absolutely use them to enjoy the
game too. That is, when you lay out the
fiction to justify threats, consequences,
and resistance—this is your time to
shine. The balance of narrative power
in this game is weighted towards the
players, except when it comes to the
badness. So when its your time to speak,
remind them what the world is really
like. Also pick them up when they fall
down by reminding them of their tools
and Best Practices when it seems they’ve
forgotten.

GM BAD HABITS
DON’T CALL FOR A SPECIFIC
ACTION ROLL
Once you know what they hope to do,
get the player to choose their action by
describing how they do it. Then tell them
the position and effect level that you find
appropriate to this situation, using that
action—as well as why you think that.
You might also offer an alternative action
rating they can roll to get what they want
done in one action, if that’s possible given
the circumstances.
“I want to confuse them so they won’t
find our Trigger’s hidden weapon.”
“How do you do that?”
“I am not good at Influencing, so
I guess... I Fight with them as a
distraction? Then our shooter can
easily sneak in.”
“Could work. What’s your character
doing? What do we see ‘on screen’?”
“Oh, right... well... as my ally is about
to be searched, I puff up my chest, spit
on the floor in front of the high-nosed
employee, and act as though I am
offended by their face. I’ll throw the
first punch, and create such a ruckus
that security has no choice but to look
away from their post. Then, our Trigger
flows right through the checkpoint.”
“That’s risky alright, but that’s only
going to have a Limited effect—there
will be more to do because they will
be looking around rather alarmed by
a fight breaking out—but now I can at
least imagine how this might count as
a setup. If you roll to Influence them
with this approach instead, I think that
would give you the effect you want.”
6
Maybe you would make a different
judgment call in the case above
(desperate position and zero effect, if
you think Influence is all wrong for
this kind of persuasion). That’s fine!
Your game of Runners is your own.
Plus, even when you say “desperate
position, zero effect,” you’re not shutting
the player down completely. They can
Gm Bad haBiTs
push themselves for more effect, get a
teammate to set them up to create an
advantage, take the initiative, etc. It’s not
an argument between the GM and player
that one person has to win. It’s just the
normal back-and-forth interaction of the
game.
Instead of saying, “You have to roll
Influence for this,” you ask the player
which action rating they want to roll—
which gives the player the opportunity
for a creative contribution to what’s
happening in the fiction. Then you put that
action in context in the world as you see it,
by establishing the position and effect.
DON’T MAKE THE PCS SEEM
INCOMPETENT
Things go badly when a player rolls a 1-3,
but it’s because the circumstances are
dangerous or troublesome—not because
the character is a nitwit. Even a PC with
zero rating in an action isn’t a terrible
criminal. Instead of describing a moronic
move, start your description of the failure
with a cool move by the PC, followed
by “but,” and then the element in the
situation that made things so challenging.
“You launch hacking apps and spoof a
command to open the office door, but the
building security is more extensive than
expected! As you gain the required access,
security personnel are alerted to the
office door opening by a sensor you didn’t
notice, and starts checking the cameras
on the entire floor for anyone that looks
suspicious. What now?”
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On failure, talk about what went
wrong “Perhaps you were distracted
while you’re trying to rig up the vehicle?”
“Oh, you mean they probably have
failsafes in place, eh?” “Exactly! You see
the headlights flash erratically and hear
the vehicle’s alarm sound, drawing the
attention of nearby security.” You can also
runninG The Game
lean on features the player has already
portrayed about the character. How are
their vice or traumas a problem? What
is it about their heritage, background, or
other details that gives them trouble or
gets in the way? “Maybe they don’t like
you because you’re a drunk, or a street
rat?” “Yea, they are probably suspicious as
they notice some dirt under my fingernails
and recall the recent news about the spies
from Montego I keep talking up.”
DON’T OVERCOMPLICATE
THINGS
The consequence(s) you will inflict on
a 1-3 or 4/5 roll will usually be obvious,
since the fiction has already been
established. But sometimes you’ll draw a
blank. It’s okay to keep it simple! Just say
what position they’re in, and have them
roll to see what happens.
Once the dice hit the table, you might
struggle to come up with appropriate
complications. That’s okay too! A
complication can just be some extra heat,
or an emergent problem. Perhaps it’s just
a tick on a clock that represents a related
problem that is not present in the current
scene... yet. Or you can inflict simple harm
like “Exhausted.” Don’t overthink it.
If you do start or tick clocks, make sure
it’s for something that’s actually complex
given the circumstances at hand. When
climbing ten stories, you don’t need a
10-clock to track the progress—unless you
do, but that should be because fiction, not
the other way around. You also don’t need
214
a 4-clock to track every NPC’s condition
either. Instead, decide how much a given
action and approach can do, adjusting
for any relevant factors, then narrate the
results and what else happens.
Also, don’t allow yourself to become a
slave to the clocks. You might start a clock
as a complication during a flashback for
security to be on “Alert,” but later when
there is a complication while actually
infiltrating the inner sanctum of the
building—just fill the clock in. Every
single consequence doesn’t have to be
an interesting new problem or a brutal
reversal of fortune. Go with what’s
obvious to you. Ask the players for ideas
if you feel stuck.
“Blood magic is risky stuff, sure, but
maybe it’s more interesting if you
actually succeed and take a bigger
consequence even though you rolled a
1. But I mean.. all I can think of at the
moment is throwing a bunch of arcane
harm at you. Unless you have a better
idea?”
“To be honest, I was totally hyping
myself up for the possibility that doing
this might piss off Jackie Lantern.”
“Oh, of course! You do it—but you also
make a powerful enemy—and take just
one level of special harm, ‘Drained.’
Wanna resist either of those?”
DON’T LET LEGWORK TAKE
OVER
Players tend to look for ways to prepare
for a run as much as they can during free
play. For some, that’s how this genre is
“meant to be played.” However, it’s rarely
worth the trouble to take a bunch of
actions outside of the run phase to avoid
a bad outcome that isn’t even present in
the fiction yet. Runners in the Shadows
isn’t meant to be played like this. The

exact nature of threats are best described
as they become immediately relevant.
The best part of the game starts once the
engagement roll is made, so get on that!
The only legwork that is needed to
make an engagement roll is to learn a
corresponding detail for a plan. As the
plan takes varying shapes and outcomes
are considered, the detail is the part
that invariably ends up being woefully
incomplete. Never make the crew go
through a bunch of hoops to find out a
detail for their plan—they just need to
gather information to get such a detail.
If the crew wants additional information to
improve their chances on an engagement
roll, then they need to describe an action
that can actually take place in free play
(which is to say, “when details are still fuzzy,”
and “it’s easier to elide time and distance”).
If you need to zoom in to track things like
load, flashbacks, or teamwork maneuvers,
then this is a clue that you’ve gone beyond
the scope of free play (and should instead be
making an engagement roll).
DON’T SAY NO IF YOU CAN
HELP IT
There’s almost always a better answer
than “no” or “you can’t do that.” Offer a
Dragon’s Deal instead. “So... you want to
shoot up the management of the most well-
guarded nightclub in St. Andrew. Righto.
Okie-dokie. That’s desperate position,
limited effect. But here’s a Dragon’s Deal:
regardless of how this goes, someone will
finger you to the Manning family. They
are just that powerful.”
Or you might say the proposed action has
zero effect as the baseline.
“I want to scramble my way up the stairs
with my guns drawn. I’m Fighting my
way into that meeting.”
6
“Okay... you might get shot several
times, so it’s desperate—and you’ll
have zero effect.”
“I’m gonna push myself to get limited
effect, then. Maybe with a distraction
as a set up, I can get to standard?”
Same thing with ultra-resistant maglocks, or
government grade IC, etc. You can set zero
Gm Bad haBiTs
effect as the baseline for a given action—
instead of saying no—and the players can
then modify effect from there by pushing
themselves, using teamwork, etc.
Or tell them to start the first phase of a
long-term project clock. That’s what
they’re there for. “You want to know the
location of all the hidden datacenters in
Kingston? Sounds like an investigation.
Start a 6-track for the first phase: ‘Assemble
the list of all the datacenters.’”
Note that you will have to say no,
sometimes. A mundane Runners character
can’t probe into astral space just because
the player really wants to. But.. maybe
their Mage friend can provide them with
a dose of the right drug to temporarily
let them do that? Or perhaps there’s an
action that could help do it just once? It’s
your responsibility as the GM to convey
the fictional world honestly. But in most
situations, simply saying no is the boring
option. Consider a Dragon’s Deal, zero
effect, or a long-term project, instead.
DON’T ROLL TWICE FOR THE
SAME THING
When a PC faces danger, they make an
action roll. Also, they can roll resistance
to avoid a bad outcome. However, don’t
roll twice for the exact same thing.
For example, Shark is hacking to disable
a turret on the roof. The counterhacker
protecting it attacks his virtual persona
with a barrage of biofeedback, so there’s
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 6
danger of harm during the exchange.
Shark’s player makes an action roll to
see how his attempt goes. He rolls badly!
Shark fails to disable it and is blasted
with cyberspace harm.
But he can roll to resist, right? Yes. He
can resist the harm that results from
the opposition. But he can’t “undo”
runninG The Game
failing to disable the turret. Success or
failure have already been determined
by his action roll. His resistance reduces
the impact of the biofeedback though:
so instead of seizures and splitting
headaches, he suffers lesser harm (maybe
twitchy fingers). Or maybe the GM rules
that he’s able to avoid the harm entirely
with his special talents. Either way, he still
hasn’t hacked the turret.
In other words, the action roll determines
whether a fictional action succeeds and
whether a consequence manifests or
not. Resistance changes how much of
a given consequence manifests or how
bad it is, but it doesn’t negate the fictional
outcome of the action roll.
DON’T HOLD BACK ON WHAT
THEY EARN
If they get into position, make the roll,
and have their effect, they get what they
earned. Don’t cheat the players! Things
are hard enough on them already. Don’t be
stingy about victories; defeats will come
without you “setting the deck” against
them. The criminals are at the bottom
of the ladder, but that doesn’t mean
they’re ineffective. It means they need
lots and lots of victories to become truly
important. They’re good at what they do,
they just started out, and have negative
points on the board. The same goes for
secrets. If they make the discovery, tell
them all about it. Don’t hold on to your
precious secrets. It’s more fun to find out
what they do about it once they know.
216
DON’T RELY ON THE
MCGUFFIN
A “McGuffin” is a common narrative
device used in criminal fiction: an object
that is ultimately insignificant beyond
its ability to move the story forward. In
fact, it is so common as to be expected in
this genre. However, do not rely upon its
existence alone to move things forward
in a fun way—things will get stale quickly.
Instead, use a variety of narrative devices
to add intrigue and inject interesting
complications into the ongoing story:
◆ Red herrings: The classic “fake-out”
move. This is a plot point that appears
to be crucial at first, but will later prove
to be largely unimportant. Usually
this is handled with player-to-player
deception—in Runners, it’s different. Be
open with the fact their character has been
deceived and how, then ask if they resist.
◆ Plot vouchers: Think of this as the
opposite of a red herring. It’s a plot
point that is introduced early and
seems unimportant, but later becomes
very important. These are necessarily
unexpected. Describe what changes to
make it so crucial.
◆ Triangles: When there are three
parties with conflicting desires, there is
a triangle. Whether due to love, business,
or hate, a good triangle can spice up any
narrative. The Starting Situation outlines
how to set up one such situation.
◆ Cliffhangers: Always leave something
unresolved. This takes a bit of practice to
get right, but one way to do it is reveal a
provocative or surprising turn of events,
then announce it’s time to count up
karma. Makes players groan with joy.
◆ Deus ex machina: This one is last
because it should be used the least. This
is when something resolves an otherwise
untenable plot. Use with care!

THE DATASPHERE: RUNNING IN KINGSTON
For Runners in the Shadows, one of the key
themes is paydata. Kingston thrives on
valuable information siphoned from the
emergent sphere of data connecting it to
the rest of the globe; the datasphere. It is
the distilled nuyen of cyberspace, rendered
in qubits. You can steal it from the many
networks used in various facets of industry
and commerce present in the city. You can also
connect it with the supernatural too: sprites,
gremlins, Technos, and the echoes in between.
All of them are part of the grand dance of data
that emerged following the opening of those
first emergent children’s senses (the Otaku).
Paydata across the public grids fuels high-
technology and empowers megacorporate
dominance. If you are hard pressed and need
to think up something valuable to reference,
steal, or destroy, ask yourself How does it
relate to the datasphere connecting all of
cyberspace? What paydata lingers here for the
taking (or earning)? If you need to think of a
cool site for something to go down, keep the
dystopia in mind to give it unique touches.
Need an interesting contact? Maybe they’re
proud of their networked surveillance drone,
and they take vlogs all day with it. Or, flip that
around: maybe they’ve got a black box in their
shoulder bag so they can zap signals nearby in
a pinch. Either way, your contact just got more
interesting, and also is a flavor fit for the city.
Need a quick obstacle? Maybe it relates to
paydata. You don’t want the runners to run
across paydata walls as an obstacle over and
over. But there could be a reckless AI that takes
control of a nearby storefront and is intensely
territorial. Or maybe a team of CSG Agents
picked tonight of all nights to do a sweep to
tag users for later review. Or maybe there is
a hacker with an independent agenda in your
way, inviting gremlins to a hot spot, and you’re
at risk if you interrupt. Maybe when you were
casing the location a data broker spotted you
and thinks you’re spying for the Legionnaires,
and sends a beatdown squad after you.
6
Need a rich NPC? Maybe they own datacenters.
Maybe they made their fortune from hackers,
leeching traffic in their neighborhood for
blackmail material. Maybe they manufacture
restricted cyberdeck technology. Or they’re
sworn to protect a dangerous design
The daTasPhere
repository.
Need a heist location? Maybe it’s an abandoned
datacenter for a tech firm. The cleanup crew
were underpaid and sloppy in clearing it out,
and all sorts of gremlins from nearby networks
congregate here. But the collapsed basement
conceals an offline mainframe which contains
some valuable paydata—if it can only be
accessed...
Need a target? Maybe an investment firm with
remote connections to small banks. One of
them services a wealthy executive who runs
their devices in a highly secure datacenter,
gripped by a paranoia that there is a specific
hacker out to get her. Maybe tonight there is...
When you get stumped, try thinking of how
the action could relate back to paydata, but
also thinking of the breadth of how that
could apply. Technos are a scourge on the
data trades of Kingston, sometimes thought
to be at work even when the cause is simply
hidden from view.
To me, the true power of this fantastical
blend of cyberpunk storytelling and alternate
history comes from the clash of ideals
when it comes to matters such as “What is
possible?” There is the logical perspective
on this topic, limited by one’s reasoning
and application of the scientific method and
principles, and then there is the supernatural
perspective of the emergent user, limited
only by one’s imagination. The datasphere
comes preloaded with that, as people were
coping with it before the quantum age
and advent of cyberspace. This makes it a
veritable cornucopia of story seeds. If you
feel you are at risk of getting stale in
your improvisation, jump back and forth
between giving and taking paydata
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STARTING THE
GAME
This page describes the situation for
the Quick Start. Give the players this
overview before going on to character
runninG The Game
and crew creation. See example runs
later in this section for more details.
PREPARING FOR THE FIRST
SESSION
To prepare, read through character and
crew creation again. You’ll take the lead on
that process, walking everyone through
the steps and answering their questions
as you go. The creation phase is very
important—it impacts all of the future
sessions you’re about to play—so take
your time and create a cast of characters
that everyone is curious about.
Skim through the Factions of Kingston
(starts on page 323) and pick three or
four that you’re especially interested in.
During crew creation, the players will
ask you about some factions connected
to their crew, so it’s good to have a few
in mind already. If you’re using the “War
in St. Andrew Parish” starting situation
(see page 224), you’ll probably want to
suggest the Manning Family, the Talons,
and the Mountain Rats as their connected
factions to start.
You can also prepare with some of the
game’s touchstones (see page 11).
Watch an episode of a TV show or a movie,
read a comic or a book, listen to music—
whatever inspires you and puts you in
the mood for Runners in the Shadows. Fill
your head with cyberpunk and fantasy
images and ideas and spend some idle
time just imagining the dystopian future
and what it’s like to live there.
218
Finally, print out the game sheets. You’ll
want at least two of each playbook (in
case two people pick the same one) and
one of each crew type. Also print the rules
reference sheets, the GM sheets, and the
map of Kingston.
AT THE FIRST SESSION:
SETTING EXPECTATIONS
After everyone shows up and chit-chats
and then finally settles down, ready to
play, what do you say first? I like to start
by giving a punchy synopsis of the game
(even if everyone already knows it—it
helps shift into “let’s play” mode).
Okay, so you’re all runners on
the desperate streets of Kingston,
seeking your fortunes in the criminal
underworld. Let’s make some
characters and form a crew! Here are
the playbooks. They’re the different
types of runners you can play. I’ll
summarize them and then you can
choose...
The key is not to over-explain or drown the
players in loads of details or mechanics
at this point. Give a little context so they
understand what they need to do, but
don’t try to tell them everything in one
big speech at the start. If they’re curious
and asking you questions, that’s good!
Don’t explain all the rules up front. You
can teach the rules as they come up
during play. Don’t give a lecture about
this fantasy Earth and its history. Let
them know that the parts which matter
will be agreed upon as they come up, and
the rest is figured out as they go. Keep
everything as simple as possible.
While they’re looking over the playbooks
and crew sheets, talk about their role as
players in the game and set expectations

for what you’re going to do together as a
game group. I say this:
This is Runners in the Shadows. In this
game, you are all daring criminals in a
science fantasy setting on an alternate
Earth. One where magic is real and
most people are content to be glorified
slaves. Not you though. You are
runners: criminals taking jobs through
fixers around the city, to diversify your
criminal portfolio, expand the crew,
and get better equipment and lackeys
along the way.
The one with the most nuyen at the
end gets the best retirement. The one
with the most trauma at the end gets
to burn fast and bright, then fade into
the shadows. Some of you might find
more enjoyment out of that game,
while others will prefer making the
most friends (or rivals!), or inventing
the coolest spells. These are all valid
ways to play.
To get ahead, you’ll be planning
and committing crimes against big
businesses, the government, other
criminals, or even humanity itself. And
along the way you’ll be challenged by
the constant threat of security and
technology designed to isolate and kill
you.
Not only is this a game, but it’s also
a chance to come up with something
that is ours—something truly cool
and unique, and that maybe makes a
statement about our own lives too. So
without further ado, let’s continue!
(Await confirmation and move on, or..)
6
CONTENT WARNINGS &
TOOLS FOR SAVVY GMING
Some people insist on discussing
everything they don’t want to happen
in the narrative upfront. The longer this
goes on, the weirder the things tend to get.
Instead, when I don’t know my players
sTarTinG The Game
well enough, I like to fix that by priming
their expectations about me as well:
Now with that out of the way, I’d
now like to turn to the game setting,
which is likely to feature some graphic
situations. The text is mostly PG-13,
but actual play ends up more like an
R-rated crime drama.
Which is why you have my explicit
permission to interrupt a narration
if you feel that’s right by holding your
hands up in an X-shape, or by making
a sideways “chop” signal near your
neck. This is a director’s move, which
communicates you want to cut what’s
happening on-screen, rather than talk
about it. If that happens during one of
your narrations, I expect you to let it
go: as I will just move on to something
else interesting instead.
If you want to fast-forward something
because its content you find
obectionable, but reasonable for the
story—you can instead just let us know
when it comes up. You’re all authors in
this story.
If everyone is good with that, let’s move
on to talking about this weird world
we’ll be playing in..
(Then I just pause for a few moments and
move on)
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 6
SETTING THE STAGE
You may want to clarify the setting or
make it more personal. As mentioned in
the opening pages, the setting presented
in this text is a distillation of the essence
of a world which is fictionally adjacent to
a variety of works. With so many works
of fiction from differing authors, it’s no
runninG The Game
wonder they can’t all be in complete
accordance with one another! But that’s
okay: toss out what you don’t like, and
keep what you do—the rest is up to you and
your players to experience through the
conversation you’re having at the table—
with all the trappings that come along
with that (reconciliation of differences
in recollection, the establishment of new
truths, setting of precedents, etc.).
The answers to these questions can
sometimes be divisive, but they are worth
getting out of the way now, especially if
your players are fans of the various works
of cyberpunk mentioned in the opening
sections of this book (e.g. Shadowrun). So
establish the answers to these early on,
especially if your players have conflicting
backgrounds:
‹ What’s the timeline here? What
year is it anyways? Set your game’s
timeline any time in the near-future—
but it might be better to play in a year
between thirty and sixty years away
from the current year. At the time of this
writing that would be 2080-something (I
like to say “it’s 2080-x”). Is there a setting
book you want to use for additional lore
and ideas? Be encouraging and see if
anyone else cares to use it. If so, perhaps
the year assumed is given. Another way
to decide the year for your game’s story
is to discuss the technological limitations
your players envision, and use these to
directly inform the answer to the question
instead of the way it is presented here—
but either approach works.
220
‹ What is strange or surprising
about this dystopia? Perhaps it’s just
to us, but not to these characters. Don’t
be afraid to make the setting your own
by twisting the expectations a lot. Did
a dragon really run the United States
into the ground, or was it a different
president? Has it been reformed? What
about the Mars mission—did that even
happen in this timeline?
‹ Why fantasy Earth? Because
setting this kind of story on another
planet instead of Earth honestly just..
kind of ruins it. In a way, we are saying:
“This could be Earth one day. Don’t
let it happen!” Then we get to enjoy
the indulgence of the setting, and
simultaneously remind each other of
the dangers of real-world greed, hubris,
and hypocrisy. Additionally, this fantasy
Earth can twist real-world history and
mysticism to give the experience more
relevance to the real-world. Have fun
with that, embrace it, and learn from it.
CREATING CHARACTERS AND
THE CREW
Next, follow the procedures on page 60
and page 120. Ask the players some of
these questions while they do it:
‹ Why did you become a runner?
‹ Which of your rivals is most likely
to be working for the target of your next
run?
‹ How did you get hooked up with this
crew? Who on the crew has worked with
you before and vouched for you? Was this
partnership your bright idea?
‹ What’s your vice? What is it,
specifically? (what kind of drug, what kind
of entertainment, etc.)
‹ Why does that thing consume you?
Who among the crew have you shared it
with?

‹ Will you take jobs involving
“wetwork”? Is there anyone you won’t
kill? What would make you reconsider?
‹ Who do you trust the most on the
crew? Who do you trust the least? What’s
that about? Or will we find out in play?
‹ Has [faction] ever tried to recruit
you? What happened? You, uh, don’t
secretly work for them, do you?
You don’t have to know every little detail
about the characters and their history
before you start (it’s better if you don’t),
but everyone should be excited about
this group of runners. If someone seems
frustrated or disinterested, ask them
about it and talk about how things might
improve to get them more involved.
If a player gets stuck and can’t make
a decision, go into more detail by
describing a rule or aspect of the setting.
Some players really want to know all
the possibilities before they can make a
choice. You can reassure them by saying
that their choices aren’t set in stone. If they
don’t like something about the character
or crew after the first couple sessions,
they can just change it to something else.
No big deal.
For a one-shot or faster start, you can
forgo crew creation The PCs are just a
small crew of freelancers and have not yet
decided they trust one another enough to
share a safehouse or choose a fixer. You
can play to find out what kind of crew
they are, then do crew connections later.
6
INTRODUCE CHARACTERS &
CREW
Go around the table and ask each player
to introduce their character to the group.
They should say their street name or alias,
their playbook, look, metatype, heritage,
background, and special ability. Ask them
sTarTinG The Game
about their vice. Ask them who their
close friend and rival are—maybe follow
up with a question or two about those
NPCs, like “Why is Livewire your rival?”
It’s okay if the answer is “Let’s find out in
play.” That just means you and the others
get to decide! Do the same thing with the
crew. Ask the players to remind you what
they picked for their special ability and
upgrades. Some crews earn names after
they’ve been repeat hires—but most do
not start with one. If they have one in
mind go ahead and write it down, but it’s
fine for them to skip this step and name
the crew later based on what they do in
play. They don’t need to have one figured
out at the start.
THE STARTING SITUATION
After the characters and crew are
introduced, throw the PCs into the
starting situation and start the game
in earnest. A starting situation consists
of three factions that are currently
entangled in a clear problem with no
simple solution. You can create your own
starting situation as follows:
◆ Set two factions directly at odds, with
opposing goals. They’re already in conflict
when the game begins. Both factions are
eager to recruit help, and to hurt anyone
who helps their foe.
◆ Set a third faction poised to profit
from this conflict or to be ruined by its
continuation. This faction is eager to
recruit help.
221
 6
The “War in St. Andrew Parish” situation
on the following pages follows this format
as an example you can use. You can add a
fourth faction into the mix if you want to,
either as a third party in the main conflict,
or as a second connected faction whose
fate is tied to the struggle. Don’t go crazy
adding factions, though. Keep it simple at
runninG The Game
first—things will snowball from here.
The purpose of the starting situation
is to launch the first session with good
momentum. The players don’t have to
flounder around looking for something
to do. You throw them into a situation
already in motion so they can simply
react at first, rather than doing even more
creative work right after all the character
and crew creation phases.
AN OPENING SCENE
Aim at the first GM Goal and establish a
shot of the city. Follow the GM principles,
and say this or something like it:
“As our TV show begins, the episode
opens with a skyline filled with distant
black buildings against a hazy gray
sky. A storm rolls in from the ocean.
Rusted metal antennae and air
conditioning units can be seen atop
several aging beach-side structures in
the foreground. Nothing stirs here but
the breeze against sparse palm trees
which hang limply over Kingston Bay.
Port Royal’s once beautiful peninsula is
adorned with old monuments marking
various mass deaths of the 1700s. The
steeple point of the Church of St. Peter,
long submerged, protrudes from the
water like a dirty, bent syringe.
On the other side of the bay, across from
this condemned zone, we see the glint
of thousands of headlights along the
coast. Somewhere within the mass of
buildings beneath the traffic, you three
222
[or four, or five] are in a meeting with
your fixer. We get moving shots across
the rooms you are in, from behind your
back where we see whatever item you
typically use while setting up a deal.
The room around you is mostly veiled
by shadows, but its presumably your
trashy apartment (or a barren room in
a safehouse). We mostly just see your
face though, and what you have in your
hands while you connect to cyberspace.
So let’s go around the room and have
each of you tell me what that looks like!
Starting with... the toughest one. That’s
probably you, eh? Frank, tell us about
the Muscle you created. Just their name,
background, and your two highest rated
action..”
Then prompt the next player, each one in
turn. When they’re all finished describing,
let them know this is basically a chance
to gather information—allowing you to
establish what they already know, what
they ask, and what do not:
◆ Do you normally meet your fixer in-
person or online? If they’re not sure,
it’s online. They might’ve met their
fixer in person before, but mostly just
communicate using a virtual construct
anymore—which is actually kind of
common in the shadows.
◆ What is the mood and disposition of the
upcoming meet expected to be? Roleplay
as the fixer, briefing them on the type
of client and why they insisted on their
meeting ground.
◆ What’s the type of target? Their fixer
won’t know exactly who it is unless
they’re well-established, but their fixer
has already figured out whether this
hurts one of their favored clientele types.
It pays to know that kind of stuff as a
fixer.
◆ How much are we talking about here?
Your fixer already has an idea of the
 6

envoy’s budget. They describe the

minimum amount of nuyen that would
be acceptable, and its up to you how
much more to try and squeeze out.

This is their advisor and confidante in runs

they help arrange, so they will summarize
the situation as they see it, then make a

sTarTinG The Game

demand of the crew or offer them a job.
What could the PCs’ type of crew do to help
the faction this envoy represents?
If the players are reluctant to take
this job or meet this client, ask them if
they’re already working for one of the
other envoys in the situation. Or maybe
there’s an opportunity here for them to
exploit with a run of their own design.
Ask them which opportunity they follow
up on. How do they usually respond to
their fixer’s suggestions or directions?
Does anyone want to do a flashback to
set something up? Whatever they decide,
it leads them into their first meet, then
their first operation, and then you’re off
and running.

IN MEDIA RES
Another way to start the game is narrate a
run in progress, injecting the players into
the middle of a sequence of unfortunate
events in progress. This literary technique
is best used with experienced roleplayers
who are ob board with spontaneous
narratives (it’s not for everyone). For
example:

You just finished a job, and were exiting

the building with the paydata when
your elevator stops midway down to
the bottom floor. What is waiting for
you on the other side of the door? Or is
it coming from the ceiling? Who wants
to check it out?

223
 6
STARTING SITUATION:
WAR IN ST. ANDREW PARISH
This is the starting situation in Kingston.
Give the players this overview before
going on to character and crew creation:
runninG The Game
Your crew is caught up in a perilous
(and possibly profitable) situation in St.
Andrew parish. “Lefty” Lou, the one who
funded or arranged most of the criminal
operations here, has been killed. Rumor
has it that it was his sister, Rosetta
Manning, who did it. She now controls
his impressive collection of deadly
mercenaries who make up the Manning
Family’s part in the Cuban Mafia. Can
Rosetta reestablish dominance in the
parish the way her brother Lefty did?
When word of Lou’s death spread, the
cease fire he had brokered between
two factions fell apart. The Talons and
Mountain Rats have exploded into
open warfare in the streets. Will their
rivalry be resolved with bloodshed?
Your crew of runners is poised to
profit from all of this, or be swept up
in the chaos and destroyed. Who will
you side with? Do you have loyalties
and friendships in the mix, or are you
detached freelancers coldly exploiting
the situation? We’ll play to find out!
224
The manninG family
The local chapter of the
II
Cuban Mafia. Known
for the drug and skin
trade. Every fixer
arranging runs in the
reestablish
Halfway Tree Lounge dominance in the
district
or regularly out of the
parish below pays up
the chain to them.
◆ Meeting Grounds: An office above
their Cuban restaurant (HQ) in Harper’s
Alley, located in Barbican in St. Andrew
parish. Any of their illegal drug dens or
strip clubs across the district.
◆ Notable Assets: A crew of veteran
killers and leg breakers. A fortified
safehouse in the slums deep in east
Barbican.
◆ NPCs: Rosetta Manning (leader,
cold, calculating, adept, killer), Vigo
(bodyguard, trench coat, implanted
reflexes and eyes).
◆ Friendlies: The Cuban Mafia, The
Legionnaires, Toxic.
◆ Rivalries: The British Consulate, The
Labor Party, Mirror’s Edge, The Yakuza.
◆ Situation: Rosetta is a fearsome adept,
and few want to cross her, but her position
as leader is uncertain. Some were very
loyal to “Lefty” Lou and this could cause
all bets to be off, so they seek to gain the
upper hand as the power-play continues,
aiming to tighten the Cuban Mafia’s hold
on the district with swift action before
their control slips away.

THE TALONS
Legitimate sailors
II
turned arms dealers
to survive the poverty
inflicted by automation
of their profession. destroy the
Mountain Rats
◆ Meeting Grounds: A set
of offices in a warehouse
near the airport in Trench Town. Any of a
handful of gambling rooms and controls
several arms dealers in the district.
◆ NPCs: Winston Mogi (leader, charming,
open, ruthless, gun connoisseur), Max
(master of disguise, head computer,
devious, vengeant).
◆ Notable Assets: An safehouse in an
industrial zone. A fearsome crew of
bar brawlers and sailors. A number of
chromed-out smugglers on the payroll
who run their guns. A concealed private
landing pad in the liberated zone to the
west, and underground tunnels which
lead to Sewerton.
◆ Friendlies: Brokeback Corrections, The
Sky Wardens, The Rack.
◆ Rivalries: Hindenburg Global, The
Legionnaires, The Mountain Rats.
◆ Situation: The Talons have marked
the Mountain Rats over money and
vengeance for deaths on both sides.
Winston is recruiting every free runner
in the district for extra firepower and
doesn’t take no for an answer. You’re
either with them or stay the hell out of
their way.
6
THE MOUNTAIN RATS
Vicious go-gangers known
II
for their gratuitous
use of baseball bats,
chemicals, and daredevil
motorbiking.
sTarTinG siTuaTion
destroy the
Talons
◆ Meeting Grounds:
An abandoned arcology
project, in a mostly demolished
neighborhood in northern St. Andrew
parish—way too close to Manning Family
territory. A handful of parks and dark
alleys across the district serve as safe
havens for their drug trade.
◆ NPCs: A safehouse in a cave system.
Skelter (leader, bulletproof skin, snide,
psychotic, savage). Cutoff (lieutenant,
weaponized cyberarm, jewelry fanatic,
huge ego, all about some drugs), Jackie
Lantern (voodoo priestess, tattooed white
skull on their face, dreds, sneaky).
◆ Notable Assets: A raucous go-gang
of drug addicts and thieves. Small
contingent of bombers and mayhem
makers. Master alchemist and shaman;
many potent explosives and drugs.
Known to carry Port-au-Prince sluggers
lit with neon barbed wire, designed to
wreck anyone unlucky enough to get in
their way.
◆ Friendlies:The Labor Party, Mirror’s
Edge, The Otaku Remnant.
◆ Rivalries: The Legionnaires, The
Scraps, The Sky Wardens, The Talons.
◆ Situation: The Mountain Rats have
marked the Talons over money and
vengeance for deaths on both sides.
Skelter is recruiting every free runner in
the district for extra backup and won’t
stand for any half-stepping. You’re either
with them or stay the hell out of their
way.
225
 6
THE FIRST MEET
After they make characters and the crew,
tell them this:
Your fixer set this meet up for you.
You trust them, so you agreed. Now
you’re in the secluded box seating high
above the crowded floor of the Halfway
runninG The Game
Tree Lounge. This restaurant pays the
Cuban Mafia for cease fire protection
within its walls. The exterior balcony
where you’re seated overlooks the
dilapidated streets outside, lined with
businesses that the Manning Family
taxes regularly.
A bodyguard in a trenchcoat stands
with their back against the wall, and
quietly shifts, their gaze observing your
reaction from behind dark glasses.
The chubby, wiry-haired envoy sitting
across from you looks askance*, and
straightens their head scarf. Rosetta
told the envoy to size you up, and is
listening through a hidden data tap
on his comm. She wants your answer.
Are you interested, or are you going to
work for the other side? What do you
say? Will you ask for more than was
offered? Will you accept a job from an
envoy for the Cuban Mafia? Will you
just pretend to? (Good luck, Rosetta’s
envoy is pretty sharp). Will you tell them
to eat drek? Are you actually using this
conversation to track Rosetta down
for a hit? (If so, do a flashback and pick
a plan for the assassination.)
Play Rosetta’s envoy as directed by her.
She’s cold, calculating, and extremely
dangerous—and they exude a cold
confidence with the nearby bodyguard
in eyeshot.
*: React to their answers how she’d react.
The envoy might be physically present or
present in a virtual chat—ask the players
if they’re interested in taking a job given
this kind of demand.
226
As the GM, guide the players towards
discussing which one of the options on
the next page sounds most fun, or create
your own run using the suggestions for
the crew types.
If the PCs want to refuse, the envoy says
their employer is very sorry to hear that.
“Better stay out of the parish for awhile,
or ye’ might all end up dead! Sound fair?”
They know that Rosetta’s hitman (the
bodyguard at his side) has their back,
and delivers the warning with an easy
confidence. What happens next?
OTHER SCENES
Play the NPC envoys. Rosetta, Winston,
and Skelter all have shadowy things that
need doing, so they’ll each have their
envoys offer the PCs runs (until the PCs
make an enemy of them, of course). Use
the run generator on page 238 for
additional ideas.
Also, each faction is vulnerable to the
actions of a group of cunning runners
in some way. How can the players use
their crew’s strengths to profit from this
situation? Ask them how they want to
gather information, which leads to a
plan (or vice versa). Go Deeper in the
Shadows in the remainder of this chapter
for even more ideas.
Don’t waste time with dead end clues,
mysteries, or complexities. Give them
straightforward avenues to pursue at
first. “Do you want to rob the Mountain
Rats’ dice game on the strip deep in
Trench Town? It’s probably not defended
much right now.”
There are two sample starting runs on
the next page. Offer those, or one of the
options below that, and ask them which
they want to pursue. Ask them to pick a
plan and provide the detail, and get to it.

RUN 1: THE BLOOD MONEY
One of the faction leaders needs a job done: steal their rival’s war fund. It is
worth about 12 nuyen. You can keep 4 for your payment.
‹ The opportunity is a secret, but the
envoy can tell you where to look if you agree
to the job.
RUN 2: THE ARTIFACT
One of the faction leaders needs a job done: Plant this strange item somewhere in their
rival’s HQ, somewhere they won’t discover it.
‹ It’s covered in weird symbols and
makes your comm hiss when you get too
close. Want to find out what it is?
OTHER OPTIONS
◆ If you’re Assassins: Maybe Rosetta wants
you to kill Skelter’s contact at the British
Consulate, who’s been laundering money from
the Cuban government to keep the Manning
Family going.
◆ If you’re a Cult: Use the artifact run, above.
◆ If you’re Couriers: Maybe Rosetta has a
drug shipment at the docks, but the Mountain
Rats are watching for her to move it. She
needs you to get it without them noticing, and
deliver it safely across the bay to her HQ.
◆ If you’re Mercs: Maybe Rosetta wants you
to storm the drug dens of the Mountain Rats
down by the docks. Run off the clientele, smash
up the places, grabbing any loose credsticks
you find.
◆ If you’re Radicals: Maybe Rosetta wants
you to incite violence between the factions out
in the open. She’ll give you a solid payment of
6 nuyen if you can pull it off.
◆ If you’re Shadows: Use the blood money
run, above.
6
‹ What’s the plan? Provide the detail.
‹ Engagement roll. Cut to the action.
‹ What’s the plan? Provide the detail.
‹ Engagement roll. Cut to the action.
THE SERIES
Who ends up running the criminal activity in
St. Andrew Parish? Do the PCs use the situation
to rise up in the ranks of the shadows? Do
they manage to play for all three sides, or do
they have to take a stand? Keep some index
cards on the table with pressing questions
written on them. Sandbox campaigns can get
complicated—a few guiding questions can
help keep the action focused.
◆ Will Rosetta seize back control of the
criminal world in St. Andrew parish?
◆ What ever became of Lefty’s corpse (and
his spirit)?
◆ How will the feud between the Talons and
the Mountain Rats come to an end?
It’s natural for question cards to eventually
collect a clock or two, depicting the progress
of some developing circumstances. This
situation will transform over time into
something new that no one could have
predicted. You’ll make it your own unique
story, expanding into new problems and
opportunities as the crew develops.
227
 6
DEEPER IN THE
SHADOWS
After the launchpad of the starting
situation, the game will run through
its cycle to carry the action forward—
runninG The Game
run, downtime, entanglements and new
opportunities, new runs, and so on. The
initial conflict will spiral out of control, or
have a clear victor, or fizzle out, or resolve
some other way into a new situation.
The crew will accumulate allies and
enemies and develop new goals to pursue.
You won’t have to do much preparation
for future sessions, other than thinking
about your NPCs and factions (what they
want, what they do) and considering
possible opportunities for the PCs to
discover. The players will drive the game
by deciding who to prey upon and which
opportunities to embrace.
THE PARTICIPANTS
There are four major participants in any
shadowy deal, known colloquially as a
meet: the client, the envoy, the fixer, and
the runners. Most every run begins with
a client, who contacts their envoy, who
contacts a trusted fixer to find a group
of runners. Then, a meeting takes place
between the envoy and the runners to
contract the completion of a run for the
client.
◆ The Client: Not the person who the
runners meet up with, but the actual
client: a megacorporation, criminal
syndicate, institution, fringe group, or
(rarely) a private citizen or group thereof.
The only ones who always know the true
identity of the client is their direct agent
(the envoy).
228
Most clients are master NPCs at ordering
the envoys around and concealing their
identity.
◆ The Envoy: The direct agent of the
client. In common parlance, this person
is called the Mon, Jän, or simply “the
J.” The term Mon is preferred and finds
the greatest usage in conversation for its
intentional ambiguousness: it’s known
to be gender-neutral, so common as to
neither be identifiable or indicative of
heritage (though some Eastern cultures
call them Wu’s, Kim’s, John’s, etc. instead).
Gathering information about an envoy,
regardless of you call them, may lead to
the client’s identity—but will often risk
costing you the deal. Don’t get caught
being nosy! Or just keep your eyes and
mouth shut and your digital wallet open.
Envoys are typically master NPCs at
spotting a con and knowing the crew’s
reputation in the shadows.
◆ The Fixer: When a crew is recommended
to a potential client for a run through their
fixer, the fixer was already given some
information about the type of work to be
done and the desired budget for the job.
They might have gone through several
candidates and settled on the crew after
careful consideration. Or perhaps the fixer
knew precisely who to mention, or the
envoy made a special request; it depends.
Either way, they say whether they expect
a cut of any payoff from the run at this
time. If the crew agrees, the fixer arranges
for them to meet with a client’s envoy to
discuss the specifics of the opportunity.
Mutually chosen fixers negotiate their cut
of profits on the other end (through the
envoy).
Most fixers are master NPCs at finding
contacts, escape, and keeping a secret.

THE MEET
The fixer will tell the runners and the
client’s envoy where to meet, insisting
on a location they know won’t get either
party in trouble. This is usually in a
meet location that is paid off or a virtual
meeting—somewhere it’s difficult for
others to eavesdrop unnoticed, usually
located inside the crew’s meeting
grounds. It is not out of the question for
either party to ask to have the location
changed, but is frowned upon.
A list of common meet locations is given
on the GM Reference handout in the
Runners Sheets PDF. Other suitable
locations include:
◆ a restaurant, noisy bar or club
◆ a rented trideo-equipped meeting space
◆ an underused location (warehouse,
loading dock, etc)
◆ a spot in a barrens district (the park in
Barbican neighborhood, for example) or
other urban hell hole
◆ a private space where there are
deep shadows (a moving vehicle, in
astral space, or a private construct in
cyberspace)
To help set expectations, I like to tell
everyone this before their first meet:
“Meets are like social plans, but they
occur in Free Play. It’s not a typical
social interaction either—this is an
underworld deal being made—and there
are few pleasantries. The envoy won’t
buy anyone dinner or drinks unless
they’ve got a particularly crazy pitch in
mind. Only a small-time envoy fails to
have a layer of protection or two nearby
for good measure during a meet, and you
would be wise to do the same.
Describe the meet location and the envoy’s
unassuming look. An inconspicuous signal
6
such as a head nod or unique article of
clothing will cue the PCs that they’ve
found the right person. Narrate the soycaf
or sterilized water that gets served after
they’ve sat down, then encourage them to
do a bit of discussion during the interaction
deePer in The shadows
and roleplay the exchange of information.
At the meet, an opportunity is provided.
See Provide Opportunities, Follow Their
Lead on page 207 for details. If they start
to pile on the envoy during this, then Tell
Them the Consequences and Ask.
When the actual negotiation happens, it’s
expected to be one-on-one and crowding
up on them is likely to blow things
(desperate action roll).
During the meet, the other players
might take actions to try to discover the
concerned factions or the motives of
those involved, etc—however, there is the
very real possibility of spooking the envoy
and losing the deal, depending on the
approach taken to gather information
(and remember they get +1d for such an
action if this occurs in the crew’s meeting
grounds).
THE NEGOTIATION
An envoy’s initial offer for payoff is
typically 1 to 3 nuyen less than the
amount they can actually afford to pay:
a “low-ball” offer. Their skills at the
bargaining table leave little wiggle room
after a crew has presented their case for
greater payment.
Serious consequences are on the line
during underworld negotiations, such as:
being lied to about the twist, heat, and
other fallout from the interaction (ruined
relationships, new rivalries, lost status,
etc.). While the PCs are free to choose a
variety of actions as usual to suit their
play style, be clear about what’s at stake
with a given action.
229
 6
When an envoy makes an offer that is
far less than their fixer recommended,
negotiation is practically expected.
However, when an envoy makes a more
generous offer, negotiation is a good way
to give your crew a bad reputation or
lose the opportunity altogether (desperate
action roll). Be clear about why a given
runninG The Game
position is accurate, to allow the players
to make an informed decision how to
proceed.
“Negotiation” might indicate they
Influence them to get an extra nuyen
for the job if they were undercut—if you
use other tactics to command respect
or befriend them, it’s probably a setup
teamwork maneuver, using Command
or Consort.
It’s not unwarranted to ask for a down
payment, but under no circumstances
will an envoy agree to pay the runners up
front more than half the nuyen (rounded
down)—and none are so foolish as
to extend that kind of trust without
precautions in place to “protect” their
investment.
LEGWORK & PLANNING
Once a crew has a target, the players
should be urged to choose a type of plan
and discuss this as their characters might.
Which type of plan makes the most sense
for this crew?
Should you give them all the info to get
them started? No! You tell them what you
think they already know, and do rolls to
determine what’s uncertain or dangerous
(free play). In other words, action rolls can
happen outside of the run too. How much
that needs to happen simply depends on
the tone of the game you hope to convey.
It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying
again—this is one way you determine
the level of “black trenchcoat” and “pink
mohawk” in your game.
230
Keep your GM Reference so you have
a list of your actions handy as they are
doing the planning. Let them describe
their thoughts, and if needed you can
remind them of the approach suggested
by their employer’s envoy.
Let them know the mission is on by
asking them to choose their load for the
run. Some players will balk, saying “No..
we always get more intel before we are
go on a mission.” Try to remind them
that the characters have presumably
done that and suggest a free flashback
to them gathering the information they
want. If they waffle too much, remind
them that “no plan survives the onset of
complication.”
Sometimes, even that won’t work—
because, even though the plan suggested
is good, the players are leery about taking
what’s given to them. Besides, they can
probably come up with a better idea,
right?
When this happens, suggest how the crew
might take action to find out a detail with
a gather information roll (see page 36
for details) that will aid their current
plan. This kind of legwork is easily
covered in Free Play, with a fortune
roll to see if they get a bonus for this
engagement or not (maybe a 1-3 means a
potential advantage falls through, or the
plans of the target changed last minute).
Add tension and excitement by relaying
the danger at hand as you roll the dice;
pushing back to the engagement roll:
“Yep, you counted: there’s definitely way
more of them than you—and they’re
going to be drunk with big frack’all guns
nearby! So I was definitely taking a die
from the engagement roll here—but hey,
if that comes up desperate, we know
what scene you should flashback to!”

SECURITY MEASURES
Many runs will necessarily target
secure locations. While it can be
tempting to describe every location as
an impenetrable bastion of security,
this is rarely the case. Why was this
crew hired anyways? Depending on the
location, consider what portions of these
might be open to the public. For every
layer of security, there is at least one
vulnerability—and the larger the area
protected, the more gaps in its protection
that might exist.
When things go wrong, consider how
much of the available security would
respond to what is happening, and
whether the reinforcements would be
on- or off-site (and what their security
response will be).
The assets currently threatening to
come to bear should swell, or seriously
complicate things—as the fiction
demands. When you design futuristic
security to thwart the efforts of sneaky
runners, consider each of the following
areas, judging whether their security
level in a given area would be considered
standard (quality = Tier), upgraded
(quality = Tier +1), crap (quality=0), or
nonexistent:
◆ Security personnel: Guards at the
entrance to the grounds, building
threshold(s), on patrol, or assigned
to particular rooms or personnel. A
masterful counterhacker. A team of adept
dabblers.
◆ Security technology: locks, drones,
cameras & signal detectors, intrusion
countermeasures, flame traps, or auto-
turrets.
◆ Supernatural security: conjured
spirits or elementals, compiled echoes
or sprites, arcane or emergent traps, or
warded areas.
6
Most targets have a number of the assets
listed for each category above, while
particularly security-conscious targets
will have multiple assets in each area.
Not every security guard responds with
questions—some are instructed to shoot
first, and ask questions later.
deePer in The shadows
When making assessments of security,
ask yourself “Given this approach, which
type of security might actually present
a problem?” The guards out front might
be fooled by a disguise, but what about
the agents routinely assigned to these
personnel?
USING FACTION TIER &
ASSETS
Keeping a notepad handy with the relative
quality & scale for NPCs and other threats
will speed up decision making. There
are limits to what is available to a given
target based on their Tier, both in terms
of quality and capability. No closets with
wave after wave of milspec drones inside.
After assensing the readingness of
the safehouse held by the Black Circle
(Tier III), the GM says they probably
have standard (quality 3) security
technology on-site, as well as upgraded
arcane security (quality 4).
As for other threats, we can ignore the
couple of neighborhood gangers hanging
outside (scale / quality 0), However, if
the crew faces a serious complication
while intruding within, there might be
an encounter with them, as well as the
nearby team of wage mages (scale 3 /
quality 3) and their commander (quality
4) hired to lead them. Good thing they
are off-site, for now..
231
 6
NARRATING A FACTION TURN
Focus in on the Strong hold factions with
which the crew has a status written down,
and those the players keep talking about.
This is a bit of an obscure skill, so an
example follows. The dice rolled are given,
followed by the number of ticks put on the
runninG The Game
clock and what its progress is tracking. A
possible narration is given as well. These
entries contain some of my thoughts
in brackets too, if the Talons and the
Mountain Rats were talked about—and
maybe I wanted to add some megacorp
and vampire possibilities to spice things
up a bit.
Mexitech Logistics (5d): 3/8 “Reduce Atari-
Tendo’s hold in Kingston” [their rival for 3rd
on the Corporate Court ranking]. Mexitech-
hired runners blow up a Atari-Tendo factory
by employing a team of wage mages to torch
it while workers are trapped inside. It’s a
tragic, but effective massacre. [exemplifying
Mexitech’s characteristic brutality]
Mexitech Logistics (5d): 2/8 “Obtain
Sanguine Set” [I decided to make it a thing
because it sounded cool in my head]. This
clock leads to another, and in this one there
are eight ticks total - one for each of the items
they are going to take to complete the set. So
we see Mexitech agents acquire a helm by
gunning down a group of archaeologists at a
dig site in Cairo. As they leave, we see their
twisted, smirking expressions lit by the sun
over Egypt, and they load into an unmarked
helicopter. Just so happens that one of your
rivals is secretly handling data which reveals
Mexitech’s acquisition; and we as the audience
get a glimpse of a withered form belonging to
an infected old person—Vladimir, who drinks
from a chalice full of mage-blood, provided by
the Mexican mega.
232
Vladimir (3d): 3/12 “Secretly infect upper
Atari-Tendo management” [he’d want to do
this, I decided, because I told the players he
is secretly using Mexitech]. Vlad tracks and
bites a security agent in japan while he is on
vacation, then keeps him in his mansion’s
basement to bind this new ghoul to his
will. The man returns to work for the CTO
unnoticed.
The Mountain Rats (2d): 2/8 “Who Robbed
Us?” [the PCs did, of course!] Word spread
quickly of an adept who could pull off that
kind of sprint—and of course it gets back
to a ganger, who knew a guy that could
point them in the right direction. [the one
who dropped the dime? Probably a rival or
contact who could make the connection..]
The Mountain Rats (2d): 1/8 “Eliminate the
Talons.” A crew of gangers on motorcycles
with bombs rolls up to a nightclub protected
by the Talons. They open fire, but don’t
manage to hurt many of their actual targets.
Some innocents were hurt too.
The Talons (2d): 3/8 “Eliminate the Mountain
Rats.” The Talons pull a card from the books
of their enemies, and roll up on a Mountain
Rat corner to drive-by shoot them. When the
bikers don’t move in time, a spray of bullets
rakes across their ranks—leaving most of
these gang members too hurt to fight back.
Black Circle (2d): 1/8 “Track down who
stole the sacred lizard statue.” The acolytes
search high and low, and hear about a statue
like that. They spend a long time talking to
this homeless kid who can’t stay focused on
what they are asking. He eventually agrees
he saw the statue, but then clams up. As they
try to force him to explain with magic, we as
the audience see him just walk through the
magical effect, ignoring their supernatural
compulsion without even blinking. He
misinforms them, and the two Black Circle
members don’t realize this until it’s too late
to do anything about it.

SERIES COUNTDOWNS
To track the consequences of events in the
world, you can use series countdowns.
These are progress clocks that give you
a sense of how the bigger-picture stuff of
the setting and situation is developing.
For example, you might wonder how the
People’s Party situation will turn out—
will the rising public bigotry get worse?
Will people learn to accept them as equal
citizens? Will the underground residents
of Sewerton seize some power or wealth
to improve their lot in life? You can make
a clock for a possible outcome, like “Open
Riots and Civil Uprising in the Making.”
Tick it when events of the game drive
toward that outcome (whether they’re
events “on screen” during game play or
events “off screen” in the background,
when you think about the larger setting).
The idea is to put something concrete down
where you’ll see it, to remind you of this
over-arching development, so it doesn’t
get lost in the shuffle of the PCs’ story.
Series countdowns make the world seem
alive beyond the immediate actions of the
group. Also, if the players see a countdown
like this on the table, they might get
curious about it and get involved, creating
more opportunities for play.
TRACKING TIME & RUNS
Should the GM keep track of time in-
story? Yes. And later you should burn
it all. The events in the game take on a
stronger sense of importance once you
begin to keep track of time. Gary Gygax,
creator of Dungeons & Dragons, once said
“You cannot have a meaningful campaign
if strict time records are not kept.” With
this, I mostly agree. Definitely don’t add
up the individual minutes of action—no
no, nothing like that—but you should
consider keeping track of the broader
passage of time, any important changes to
6
the crew, and any past runs. Follow these
suggestions to keep better track of it:
◆ Immediately after any session that
results in a follow up, print out the Run
Tracker, keeping track of each run’s
details as you go. Or have a player do it.
deePer in The shadows
◆ If you are playing a series, it is highly
recommended you also print the Series
Tracker, select a starting time of year for
your run (maybe the summer equinox in
week 1 of Sol, or New Years Day in week 1
of January). Tick one box on the Calendar
on your Series Tracker per downtime
phase, and tick another if the crew spends
too much time between runs.
Together, these items will form a dangerous
accounting of your escapades, which you
might be better off burning once the
game is over, lest it fall into the wrong
hands Or feel free to send it to me or post
it on the Discord. Anonymously, of course.
THEFT & LOOT
By default, stolen items simply count
as “loot” and are counted towards the
payoff. However, players often want to
keep something they stole because its
better than what they have. Let them
know they can do that, but that keeping
stolen items after an operation often
comes with complications (added heat, a
new enemy, entanglements, etc.). A long-
term project is usually the best way to deal
with that—but decisive action or a run
might be better. In the meantime, feel free
to inflict badness as befits the narrative.
The item diminishes in quality, gaining
added drawbacks over time. Witnesses will
remember you when questioned later. Each
time you use that “bag of tricks” you stole
from Moonriver, it weakens the wards in
place around Kingston Bay. Jackie Lantern
will track you down eventually—she will be
rightly pissed off that you stole her wand,
and she won’t be alone.
233
 6
CHANGING THE CAST OR
CREW
A season break is a great opportunity
to make big changes if the players want
to. Maybe someone wants to retire their
character and play someone new. Maybe
they want to change their PC’s playbook
runninG The Game
to reflect a shift in who they are now.
Maybe the group wants to change the
crew type to try a different type of
criminal action in Kingston. Maybe you’ll
even make a whole new crew and new
PCs to explore something interesting that
was developed during season one with a
fresh perspective.
See page 48 for details about changing
playbooks or crew type.
OTHER SPRAWLS
The game assumes Kingston as your
starting sprawl, but that’s not your only
option. Most new players will ask for
a guide to Seattle. There is already one
of those! It is steeped in lore and will
be useful for anyone trying to pass on a
primer to their players.
You might put Hong Kong or Seattle at
the top of your Faction sheet instead of
Kingston to make use of the Extra Materials
(see link provided in the initial pages of
this document), using that to guide you to
playing in various districts.
You can get started quickly in just about
any city by using the Starting Situation and
changing the names and faces. The White
Lotuses might replace the Manning Family,
as a gang serving as the local chapter of the
Yakuza, instead of the Cuban Mafia. Rosetta
might be an Italian shaking things up in the
East, or someone actually named Kim who
recently took over the Lotuses. Tetsuo might
replace Vigo as the towering and loyal
bodyguard who is present during the meet.
234
When the crew is Tier II or more, they
might meet the requirements to take
the Expansion upgrade and broaden the
scope of their operations to another city.
By the time the crew is able to attain this
upgrade, they should have a good idea
how much complexity your players want
this to provide. Be sure to talk about how
best to suit your desired tone and meet
the desires of your players. Zoom in as
necessary to keep things interesting,
cutting to other sprawls to highlight the
important moments—asking from which
fixers they are seeking jobs along the way.
A FINALE SESSION
For the finale, you will want to craft a a
list of consequences to bring in during
the last run. For best results keep these
tips in mind to bring about an impactful,
yet natural conclusion to a season:
◆ Conclusion: Decide where you need
one and do it. Bring other loose ends
together with the main plot conclusion to
form the launchpad for a new season.
◆ Contingency: Create an if-then scenario
at the outset that motivates the players to
succeed, or else. Develop the fiction enough
to suggest an outcome or two in case they
fail. “Your fixer will probably be killed if you
don’t stop the upcoming meeting!”
◆ Coolness: Make it cool, which is to say
“different” and “fun” given the tone of
your campaign until now. Have a few
threats to hold over your players heads and
ramp up the tension with complications
when there are consequences to deliver—
skipping over reduced effect to avoid
added loose ends and stifled progress. Also,
be sure to describe at least one master NPC
on premises; the “big bad” for this season,
if you will. The BB should show up at the
end and be serious enough to warrant a
clock for their plot armor (maybe plating,
cunning, or something else).
 6

SEASON TWO
After you’ve played Runners for some
time, you might sense a natural resolution
or watershed moment coming for the
series. Maybe the crew has been seizing
claims in St. Andrew parish, and they’re
Move the timeline forward (a week, a
month, a year) and come up with a new
starting situation—either building on
the fallout of season one, or creating
something all new and surprising. Then

deePer in The shadows

about to grab the one they’ve wanted
since the beginning. Maybe the crew has
been in a shadowy war against another
cult and the big showdown is at hand.
When a “finale” event happens, you can
shine a spotlight on it and acknowledge
the resolution by calling an end to this
“season” of the game (like a season
of a TV show). Celebrate the ending,
acknowledging the events that got you
here—maybe do a little retrospective
where each player recalls their favorite
moment. Then take a break and prepare
for “season two.”
start again with an opening scene, an
opportunity or demand from a faction,
and then the initial run to kick off the
season.
This explicit “reset” can be very good
for the game. It gives you a chance to
refocus game play on something clear
and actionable, rather than trying to
continue spinning all the various plates
from season one. Some old issues fade
away (for now), new ones emerge, and
the landscape of the series develops into
something new.

The crew started a brutal street war between the Mountain Rats and Talons,
culminating in an assault on the gang’s safehouse and their elimination. After sending
them to the morgue, this feels like the end of season one to everyone—answering the
major questions asked from the outset. The Mountain Rats are no more (in Kingston
anyways). The Talons have become potential allies. The Manning Family is satisfied
with an end to the conflicts in the streets. There are a few short scenes of fallout after
the battle, and everyone tells the stories of their favorite moments from the beginning
of the series until now.

For season two, the GM moves the timeline forward a month. The Labor Party (with
only weak hold) are trying desperately to hang on to the meeting grounds they’ve
seized from the Mountain Rats, but other crews start moving in and taking the well-
paying jobs: the Underteeth and the Pack (both new additions not mentioned in season
one) are selling their services in Barbican, and not paying up the chain. On top of
that, the crew’s fixer, who went missing after an entanglement in season one, has not
resurfaced. They’re about to run out of jobs any day now.

Outside their vice den and haunt in Trench Town, the Underteeth gang is clashing with the
Mannings. They’re squared off in the street on the Rats’ former turf, shouting challenges,
ready to gun each other down. The Underteeth enforcer is there, demanding that they
release their held prisoner, forgiving him for having tried to intimidate the crew. “Bring
him out now, or we’re coming in to get him!” the ganger shouts. They look back at you and
grin to either show off or invite you to help out—but you’re not sure what they actually
meant with that. What do you do?

235
 6
MAGNITUDE
Supernatural entities and energies have
a wide variety of effects and power
levels. To help the GM judge these
forces consistently, the magnitude scale
is provided on this page. Magnitude
runninG The Game
measures the quality level of a spirit or
dragon or different aspects of an arcane
force: its area, scale, duration, range, and
force. Whenever you need to assess an
entity or power, use the magnitude scale
as a guideline to judge how it compares
relative to the examples given on the
table.
You can use the magnitude of an entity
or power as a dice pool for a fortune roll
to see how much effect it has, if it’s not
obvious or certain.
A dragon belches scorching flames
at the rooftop helipad where the PCs
are taking off in their helicopter. How
badly does this damage the vessel and
the crew? Obviously it’s gonna be bad
for them, but are they merely slowing
down or are they immediately wrecked?
The GM makes a fortune roll using 6d
(the magnitude of the dragon). On a
1-3, the breath weapon has only little
effect (for a cone of dragon’s breath
anyway), causing the craft to sputter
and start spinning. On a 4-5, the breath
has reduced effect, fully enveloping
the helicopter and throwing some
of the characters and their cargo on
to the helipad. On a 6, the attack has
full effect, immediately crashing the
vehicle and setting the crew and cargo
on fire. On a critical, the helicopter is
crashed, and also the crew and cargo
are badly harmed by flying debris and
the scorching flames.
236
You can add levels of magnitude together
to describe a combination of effects, or
simply focus on one key feature for the
magnitude assessment, ignoring other
elements, even if they’re on the magnitude
scale. They’re not always additive.
In the example on the left, the dragon
generated magnitude 6 force and the
GM included its area of effect “for free”
as part of the power. A cone of dragon’s
breath aimed at a helipad should affect
the helicopter and the crews there, in
their judgment.
In a different session, a Mage wants
to accomplish a ritualized casting
of Invisibility sufficient to render the
mouth of a several-meter-wide tunnel
invisible from cameras for several
days. The GM confirms that this is
beyond maximized, and definitely must
be ritualized (there are two levels of
magnitude being considered: scale 2,
and duration 5, and they have just 2
dots in Assense). This ritualized version
of the spell would cost the Mage 5
edge! The GM offers a compromise: the
casting will take a day to complete (a
duration of 4 for the casting, instead of
2, the usual hour required), so the edge
cost will be reduced to 3 (a difference
of 2), but some people in the affected
area may realize what’s happening and
report it before the spell’s full effect
is delivered. The GM also adds that if
they want to do more than that, it’s
gonna take a lot longer (two downtime
activities).
 AREA / SCALE
6 A city block A colossal crew (160) or mature dragon
5 A large building A massive crew (80) or typical dragon
4 A small building A huge crew (40)
3 Several rooms A large crew (20)
2 A large room A medium crew (10)
1 A small room A small crew (3-5)
0 A closet 1 or 2 people
DURATION / REACH
ETC. HOT SIGNALS & PROJECTION
6 A week Across the city To Mars
5 Several days Across the district To the moon
4 A day Several blocks away Around the world
3 A few hours Down the road Across the hemisphere
2 An hour A stone’s throw Across the region
1 A few minutes A dozen paces Across the city
0 A few moments Within reach Across the district
QUALITY / FORCE
6 Legendary Devastating (hurricane wind, molten lava, tidal wave, etc.)
5 Impeccable Overwhelming (a cannon, massive fire, chain lightning, etc.)
4 Superior Powerful (a high-speed wreck, whirlwind, electrocution, etc.)
3 Excellent Serious (a staggering wind, grenade, electrical surge, etc.)
2 Good Strong (a painful jolt, howling wind, burning flame, etc.)
1 Adequate Moderate (a solid punch, steady wind, torch flame, etc.)
0 Poor Weak (a firm shove, candle flame, breeze, tiny spark, etc.)

The magnitude table above is provided as a tool to help the GM make judgment calls. It’s not
meant to be a rigid restriction or mathematical formula to replace those judgment calls. Use the
levels as a guideline for setting a magnitude number that seems appropriate to you.

This table can also be used as a guide to quality level when a PC acquires an asset or crafts a
chemical, gadget, app, etc. See Crafting, page 255.

Classes of processors and implants: 0:  trashware, 1: alphaware, 2: betaware, 3: gammaware,

4: deltaware, 5+: omegaware.
 RANDOM RUN GENERATOR
Using this: Fill the sentence below using the results of (1)-(5) to form a description of the run on
the table. Select ones that sound interesting, or randomly determine a result using the charts
(each will require a single die result).

“The runners are hired for a run by/targeting (1: Client/Target) to (2: Work). The run is
complicated by (3: Twist/Complication), and is connected to (4: a Person) and (5: Faction[s]).”

(1) CLIENT/TARGET (4) CONNECTED TO A...

Civilian Criminal
1 PC Friend
1 Academic or Attorney Dealer or Supplier
2 PC Rival
2 Builder or Engineer Mercenary or Thug
3 Courier or Sailor Fence or Bookie
3 PC Vice purveyor
4 Merchant or Business Owner Spy or Informant 4 Crew Contact
5 Artist or Writer Smuggler or Thief 5 Corporate Notable
6 Doctor or Scientist Crime Boss 6 Free Spirit, Free Sprite
‘critter, or Dragon
Political Strange
1 Executive or Official Spirit of (roll again)
2 Banker or Pilot Talismonger
3 Activist or Refugee Infected or Ghoul
4 Liason or Cultist Corrupted AI (disguised)
5 Beat Cop or Detective Dragon (5) ...AND A FACTION WITH
6 Judge or Ward Boss ‘critter or Cultist WHICH THE CREW HAS...
1-3 A positive status
(2) WORK 4/5 A neutral status
Dirty Deeds Violence
6 A negative status
1 Follow or Surveil Assassinate
2 Sabotage or Arson Disappear or Ransom
3 Lift or Plant Terrorize or Extort
4 Poison or Arrange Accident Destroy or Deface
5 Burglary or Heist Raid or Defend
6 Impersonate or Misdirect Rob or Smash & Grab
Underworld Supernatural
1 Escort or Security Decompile or Banish
2 Smuggle or Courier Compile or Conjure
3 Blackmail or Discredit Extract Essence
4 Con or Espionage Place or Remove Wards
5 Locate or Hide Perform / Stop Ritual
6 Negotiate or Threaten Drain or Infuse

(3) TWIST/COMPLICATION
1 Security is unexpectedly high, or something is a cover for cult practices.
2 Advances the secret agenda of a third party, or a dangerous gang uses the location.
3 Lied to about the nature of the target, or is a trap laid by your enemies.
4 Requires long distance travel, or free spirits haunt the location.
5 Target moves around (site changes, etc), or requires expensive or rare gear (or implant).
6 The client is double-crossing them, or a powerful supernatural entity is involved.

FUTURISM
In the high-tech fantasy future, there are
automated electronic machines to perform
the hard work, medical implants to extend a
person’s lifespan, and an unlimited selection
of virtual experiences available to replace your
boring, daily ones. It would seem happiness can
be bought—but at what price? The powerful
elite develop these technologies, doling them out
as finished products for consumers according
to their individual wealth or perceived value.
The megacorporations depend on the signals
passed by these devices over cyberspace to
provide them with an endless source of raw,
unrefined paydata—and citizens deal with it to
improve the speed of their daily business and
facilitate relationships. There is little need to
be a skilled software engineer since the advent
of emergent AI reprogramming—a process
by which a machine intelligence revises its
own code according to a highly complex and
evolving set of design parameters.
Runners, on the other hand, retain these
skills as a matter of necessity. To make use
of these futuristic advancements, people
must harness these “high” technologies in a
number of ways:
◆ The control of electrical current devices
with principles of science, known as
Electronics.
◆ The distillation and reaction of elements
to form compounds and mixtures, known as
Chemistry.
◆ The application of algorithms to extend the
functionality of a computing device, known
as Programming.
In addition, every living being with a comm
and trodes can access the ubiquitous “virtual
CHAPTER 7
world” invisible to the natural senses—
the omnipresent network of worldwide
connectivity that emerged following the
Great Crashes, known as cyberspace. By
activating their devices to go online, a person
can interface with cyberspace through a
comm to perceive partially into it, to receive
the signals from online events captured in the
public datasphere, or to make a connection
with nearby devices and accessible networks.
Some say the cyberspace engineers created
a network so robust that no one could
ever crash it—and they’re probably right,
seeing as how it’s mostly out of their hands.
Unlike the Internet that we know today, the
technology that built cyberspace isn’t bound
by the laws of relativity. Instead, it works on
the principles of quantum mechanics. This
momentous innovation ushered in a new
age of technological advancement and data
stability, tapping into a sustainable network
immune to electromagnetic interference,
which depends on qubits of raw data and
quantum algorithms to realize its effects.
Commerce, entertainment, and even
government are driven and throttled by
cyberspace and a trend towards futurism.
The world lives and dies on the spoils of
relentless advertising, the capture and
distribution of virtual experiences, and the
schemes of the dragons and corporations
that control them. It’s no wonder that the
pleasures of the ultraviolet have managed
to overtake real experiences in terms of
popularity.
Those who embrace this new world, thrive
upon it—live in it. They don’t stop to smell
real roses, lest it spoil the virtual ones. Nope.
Not even for a nanosecond.
239
 7
THE WIRELESS
WORLD
With the instantiation of cyberspace
came the empowerment of the personal
communications device, known as a
comm (found on your standard items
list) to control most any other device.
For most citizens, the use of a comm is
fuTurism
commonplace—a frequent and daily
ritual that is as important as getting
dressed. Citizens use their comms to do
all sorts of things with cyberspace: get
paid, spend money, make calls, organize
their daily lives, even drive their vehicles
and tell the house-drone to cook dinner
on the way home while they catch up
on their favorite virtual broadcasts.
Most simple tasks (and even series of
commands) like these can be automated
by using your comm.
Unless you are paranoid or a simpleton (or
a runner) you probably have your comm on
you and online at all times—and some kind
of privately-managed network protected
by it. As you use your comm for the first
time, the GM might ask you: Do you have
any custom iconography or notifications?
What filters do you leave in place to refine
the marketing delivered to you?
MODERN TERMINOLOGY
◆ Device An item designed with a specific
purpose in mind, especially an electronic
machine or app.
◆ App A software device. A file containing data
only accessible over cyberspace is often called
a “dapp” (short for decentralized app), but this
is simply the most common type of app.
◆ Signal Electrical current that can be
interpreted as binary data (1s and 0s) by a
device. Almost all signals are transmitted
wirelessly using access to a cyberspace
provider.
240
◆ Data Trails The residual evidence of
signals in cyberspace, hidden from most
consumer devices (including a comm). When
made visible by removing the hardwired
filters, data trails appear as streams of various
intensities and intermittent patterns of light.
◆ Comm An advanced computing device
that wraps around the user’s thumb and
forefinger. Connects with cyberspace and is
able to network devices. Sometimes called a
commlink or commband.
◆ Deck Short for cyberdeck. A comm
modified to run illegal apps and spot data
trails. A restricted item (requiring a license
to avoid attracting the unwanted attention of
CSG).
◆ CSG CyberSec Global, the megacorp
responsible for policing most of the world’s
cyberspace traffic. Will be notified when
cybercrime is detected.
◆ Networked Devices set up for the mutual
exchange of signals.
◆ Hacked A device whose functionality is
controlled by an unauthorized user.
◆ Orphaned A device without a comm or AI
protecting it. The default state of things.
◆ Master An advanced computing device
through which a number of slaved devices
are networked, protecting them from being
hacked. A comm, deck, or control rig.
◆ Slaved A device whose functionality is
controlled by another through a network.
◆ Artificial Intelligence (AI). Intelligence
demonstrated by a device, especially a
machine. The AIs which manage access
to cyberspace are autonomous entities
guided by the directives and whims of their
respective owner(s) and engineers.
◆ Provider A worldwide connection to
cyberspace, throttled according to its rating
(the public connection, AKA the datasphere, is
slower but also cheaper and less secure).

◆ Hot Signal An active signal stream suitable
for networking wireless devices at hot signal
range (up to a city block away). You can run
your devices “hot” to establish a personal area
network while offline, however this offers little
security—to avoid this vulnerability, go online
(to benefit from dapps) or use cold signals.
◆ Cold Signal A passive signal stream
suitable for transmissions at personal range
(sometimes only within reach). Decrypting
any cold signals you’ve captured is a complex
long-term software project. The standard
for use in wireless checkout and IDN review
systems. Examples: aNFC (advanced near-field
communications), Bluetooth.
◆ The Matrix The “home” location in
the virtual reality of cyberspace itself.
Experienced as a cold, endless plane of black
and with a gray sky overhead produced by the
filters present on most consumer VR devices.
◆ Icon The visual representation of
something transmitting signals, as seen in
virtual or augmented reality. May be running
silently to remain hidden (see page 248 for
details).
◆ Persona An icon associated with a
personal area network. Customizable (see
page 244 for details).
◆ Personal area network (PAN). A number
of devices networked through a comm. An
icon representing an individual’s PAN is
associated with their persona in cyberspace.
◆ Construct A simulation of a virtual space
managed by AI and upheld by a complex
array of quantum architecture. The preferred
method for virtualization of storefronts and
private networks.
◆ Drone An electromechanical device
capable of locomotion with human-like
senses of sight and sound (by default) and
outfitted for remote control.
◆ Shell A drone-like frame animated by a
transplanted brain.
7
BEING ONLINE &
NETWORKING
A device may be offline or online, which
determines the maximum range of its
network connectivity and so-called “hot”
signals. By default, you’re assumed to
The wireless world
be online in some way to communicate
with the team regardless of location. An
offline device transmits and receives
no signals through cyberspace, and can
only be accessed using direct connection
or a nearby master device to which it is
slaved.
Most networks are simple to set up,
requiring little more than a brief
exchange of authenticated signals
between devices. Networks can be set up
without going online as well, however
this requires manual authentication of
both devices and a cold connection.
Most business traffic uses hot signals
passed over a private network which is
supported by a secured grid connection.
Illegitimate activity is kept “off the grids,”
passing only through a partitioned space
known as a construct. Some constructs
are accessible only to company owners
and their chosen executives. These secret
networks are complex to find, requiring
particularly high levels of authentication
to access.
241
 7
GOING ONLINE &
CYBERSPACE PROVIDERS
To go online with a suitable computing
device (like your comm), access cyberspace
through an available connection provider.
Your choice of provider determines the
cap to your data processing and transfer
speed, as well as the level of IDN review
required to access it. When using a fake IDN
of insufficient quality, the GM may make a
fuTurism
fortune roll using the provider’s quality to
determine if any alerts are raised.
While online, you have access to a server
for your various files and apps that is
accessible from anywhere you have
connectivity to cyberspace. This connection
provider might be public or secured.
CYBERSPACE PROVIDERS
You begin with access to a connection
quality equal to your current crew Tier—
when there is a question what provider
you are using, the answer is the public one.
◆ Public: By default, a PC begins with
access to a freely-available connection
to cyberspace, known as the public grid
or datasphere—depending on if they’re
primarily a consumer or not. While it
is slow and prone to interruption in hot
spots and remote locations (quality 0, if
that should ever matter) and owned by
CyberSec Global, it is literally free.
242
At your option, you can attempt to access
cyberspace through a secure provider—
instead of the public one. If you don’t
have access to a particular cyberspace
provider, you can use the acquire asset
activity to gain access to a different
provider, which provides access for the
whole crew.
◆ Secured: These cyberspace providers
are privately owned and operated, as
well as monitored externally by CyberSec
Global. The benefit they offer is a faster,
more reliable connection (quality 1-4,
if you can manage the IDN review),
plus access to more personalized ad
campaigns than the public grid to
enhance your productivity. They also
include confidential access to private
constructs for businesses, which cost a
small fortune in upkeep to maintain.
The so-called Big Seven control the
most powerful cyberspace connections.
These connections are ultra-reliable
and secure (quality 5+), however
all network activity is monitored
internally by deadly ICe and master
counterhackers.

CHOOSING AN INTERFACE MODE
The modes of interface
available to you vary
based on your equipment
configuration. The choice
you make serves as a
guideline for the GM
to set the position and
effect of your actions.
When there is a question
what interface mode you
are using, the answer is
AR. You can switch your
interface mode freely to
employ VR, if you have the
means; switching back to
AR might be tricky though
(see below).
When you employ
augmented reality (AR):
◆ Input occurs through
gestures and spoken
commands taken through
a comm’s sensor array.
These can be supplanted
by networked equipment
(like subdermal mic,
a flight stick, neural
implant, etc.). Switching
and executing apps can
be distracting, especially
while performing other
attention-intensive tasks
(like driving, talking, etc.).
◆ Output occurs through
a holographic projector
built in to your comm,
which can be supplanted
by equipment capable
of alternate methods of
display (like nightshades,
an ocular overlay, a set of
cybereyes, etc.).
When you employ
virtual reality (VR):
◆ Input occurs through
neural impulses (requires
trodes or a neural implant).
◆ Output occurs by
replacing your senses
with those from a filtered
simulation—the black
expanse of cyberspace
with icons overlaid, or a
simulated environment
designed by a digital
architect. The transition
in and out of VR takes a
few moments and a seated
position with harness is
recommended to avoid
falls.
◆ Your persona determines
your virtual appearance.
See next page for details.
◆ You can’t take action
with your physical body
while in VR, unless you
have help from someone
else or spend 1 edge to act
despite incapacitation.
◆ Any cyberspace harm
dealt to you is limited (to
level-1).
◆ You can get jacked
(sometimes called being
“linklocked”) by ICe or
counterhackers. When
you are jacked, you
can attempt to defeat
whatever jacked you, or
go offline—if you have
the means. See page 248
for details.
7
“HOT-SIM” VR
“Hot-sim” is an extension
of virtual reality
technology with unfiltered
sensory throughput. It is
The wireless world
only possible to use hot-
sim if your device has
been specially modified to
handle it (a cyberdeck or
implanted control rig both
include this functionality).
Most consumer devices
(like a standard comm)
deliberately limit sensory
data to avoid a user
experiencing serious pain,
but hot-sim is different.
When you employ hot-
sim, you’re in VR (as on the
left), with the following
differences:
◆ You can’t take action with
your physical body while
in hot-sim VR, unless you
have help from someone
else or push yourself to
act despite incapacitation.
◆ All your virtual actions
are much faster than
usual. In hot-sim, you react
more quickly to nearby
danger—and can network
more devices at once.
◆ However, cyberspace
harm delivered to you is
unlimited. Fatal virtual
harm from certain ICe will
literally kill you.
243
 7
NETWORKING LIMITS
Modern networking of devices functions
according to the principles of decentralized
computing. The functionality of an advanced
computing device (like a comm) is extended
by the processing power and storage of all
its slaved devices (including executed apps)
and its cyberspace provider—limited in
terms of functionality by the capabilities of
the master device and the chosen interface
fuTurism
mode. In other words, almost none of the
processing or security protocols are handled
locally on modern devices; the required load
is instead distributed to & from the public
datasphere of cyberspace and your private
network connections, rather than handled
by your comm.
A comm or cyberdeck may network
additional devices until its reached its
networking limit. The networking limit for
a given device will depend on the quality
and capabilities thereof. The GM will tell
you when you benefit from too many
devices, software or otherwise, and limit
the number you can benefit from in a given
action (reducing your effect accordingly
with factors as usual). Devices networked
through a lower quality master device
should be counted individually, rather
than collectively. So if you network five fine
drones through a standard comm, it counts
as five individual devices for your action
to have them act in concert. This probably
means the action suffers due to scale of
the desired effect. However, once they get
better equipment (maybe the quality comms
upgrade for the crew, or a synchronized
command console) the GM counts those
together as one for the purposes of scale and
quality.
244
ESCAPISM & YOUR PERSONA
When you go online, your persona has a
shape which is at least vaguely human. It
defaults to a gray avatar, and appears in
cyberspace no smaller than a meter tall.
What does yours look like? Maybe a sexier
you, or an animated wooden puppet?
Maybe a pointy-eared gnome, or pixelated
fish-person? Most people design these
online alter egos using premade ones with
touch ups, and these are basically free. In
other words, you decide—within certain
limits—what you look like in cyberspace.
If you wish, describe a bit of personal
flair and an accent color for your avatar’s
virtual wardrobe. A persona’s color
pallette is limited to black, white, and one
color of choice for free. Cosmetic items
(like fancy clothing) appear devoid of
logos unless you pay a micro-transaction
for licensing. Dressed up in a black suit
with a red tie. White pants and a dark blue
shirt. Naked with tattoos of anarchy signs
and other graffiti visible (some cosmetic
choices are blurred for those with the
appropriate filters in place).
Your persona’s shape, colors, or visual
flair can be swapped out freely during
downtime, but doing so during a run may
draw the unwanted attention of those
who serve to prevent cybercrime.

CYBERCRIME
Cybercrime is illegal activity perpetrated
using, or facilitated by, a computing
device—enabling crimes at any distance
such as fraud, theft, trafficking, and even
virtual murder. Business the world over
depends on the connectivity provided by
cyberspace—making it a treasure trove
of valuable paydata.
Datathieves and other cybercriminals
have been a problem for several decades.
Each provider has developed methods
for dealing with them, and Kingston is no
different.
Watchdogs, Convergence, & CSG
Agents
The public grid has a number of skilled
network administrators assigned to
protect it, known as watchdogs. A
watchdog in the Kingston datacenter
transmits a report whenever a offenses and severity thereof (1: a week,
cybercriminal is detected within the
city. They may only be received by those
near the signal’s transmission, and by
CSG agents (nicknamed G-Men), whose
issued comms are interfaced with the
access logs. A convergence signal is
transmitted to the district where the
device may be found, triangulating the
source’s geolocation as the minutes go
by. It’s the responsibility of the G-Men
to recover the device and remove it to
the city’s hidden datacenter, where it
is placed into a protected datavault for
evidence archival, and to later dispose of
it before it can be used to commit further
cybercrime.
The word “men” in the nickname
is incidental—it’s actually gender-
neutral, referring to the fact that CSG
Agents wear identical thermoplastic
masks and voice modulators, and all
answer to the same name—”Agent
7
Smith” (sometimes in unison). They do
this to remain anonymous and as an
homage to the first of these agents to
successfully retire from the job with
full benefits.
When convergence occurs, your physical
The wireless world
location is traced and a team of CSG agents
are dispatched from the local field office
to detain you (as per the entanglement;
see page 172 for details). Then, you are
hit with three consequences:
◆ you suffer severe “Biofeeedback”
harm, level-1 if you were in VR or level-3
if you were in hot-sim.
◆ your device suffers serious corruption,
and is forced to go offline (which might
also harm you, depending on your
interface mode; see page 243 for details).
◆ your device is temporarily banned
from connecting to the public grid. The
length of time depends on the number of
2: a month, 3: a year, 4: forever).
You can resist each of those three
consequences separately.
HACKERS & RIGGERS
The cyberdeck is a powerful way to
leverage high-technology to your
advantage. You might use it to take control
over a device (toggle a maglock, intercept
a transmission, loop a camera feed, etc.)
or enter VR to perform virtual attacks on
a device (crash/defeat ICe with fighting,
or short out a weapon’s electronics with
scrambling, etc.). If a device is online, it
can be hacked—otherwise you need a
neural implant or direct (wired) access. A
character who uses a cyberdeck is known
in common parlance as a hacker, which
is really just another word for a nerd
with an illegal computing device (and a
borderline emotional relationship with it).
245
 7

A rigger, on the other hand, rarely does
anything with a device they don’t own—
instead possessing the hardware to
“jump into” a vehicle using an implanted
control rig, possibly paired with an
installed vehicular override they can
more easily access remotely. That being
said, the abilities of a hacker or rigger
frequently overlap. These talents are
learned—anyone can develop them with
enough study, practice, and the proper
fuTurism
The GM may also tick a progress clock
when you take control of a device—
to indicate the alert of its intrusion
countermeasures, the agenda of a
corporate faction, or to show the steady
approach of a bad outcome of hacking.
Such as “Convergence“ or “Traced.”
REGISTERED OWNERSHIP
You might forcibly remove ownership

equipment. of someone’s device. However, a device’s

Any PC can roll Interface to attempt
simple interactions with high technology,
or roll Engineer to do the same with
electronics. The special abilities and items
of the Rigger or Hacker are required for
advanced cybercriminal activities.
Hacking is illegal AF While the potential
consequences of hacking will necessarily
vary depending on the circumstances,
some common consequences include:
exposure (extra heat, either due to digital
evidence, or fallout from actions taken),
your device gets damaged, or shut down
(or worse: jacked!), the target’s icon is
hidden from your device, ICe have been
alerted, ICe have cornered you, etc.
registered ownership is not the same as
possession. The ownership of online
devices is managed on a quantum ledger
and verified by the public datasphere.
Each comm has built-in silent transceiver
to safeguard tampering. When a high-
technology device is reported stolen
by a legitimate citizen, its emergency
transceiver (if it has one) transmits a
report of cybercrime—making illegal
transfer of registered device ownership of
such devices (including apps) a painfully
complex software project.
Tip: Due to the complexity mentioned
above, it is often easier to liquidate stolen
items through your fixer at the end of a
run, counting them as added loot (more
nuyen) instead of keeping them.

A Nerd’s Wish List

A comm’s potential make/model may be determined by its rating (if known):
‹ (6) Arclight Masamune. A carbon-fabric ring with self-fitting wristband.
‹ (5) Bony Multipass, Carbon Ikahn. A lightweight wristband with elastic index-finger sleeve.
‹ (4) Arclight Muramasa, Eureka Hi-Z.
‹ (3) Baccarat Elitist, Carbon Ara, Lazy Chi, Noh Limit.
‹ (2) Baccarat Pyramid, Bony Emperor, Carbon Copy.
‹ (1) Bony Emcee, Carbon Vagabond, Eureka Zen.
‹ (0) Noh Name, Carbon Beatlink, Eureka Passenger. A lightweight glove.

You can use this list for the names of fictional devices you acquire or steal. The comm or cyberdeck you
start the game with might be scratch-built, but was probably sourced from this list.

246

ACCESS & CONTROL
It’s all about access—and control Most
plans involving cybercrime rely on stealth,
deception, or social plans to provide
better access to specific devices. You might
Prowl to get close to a datacenter building,
and then Interface at short range with
a workstation to steal the paydata. Or
you might use social engineering (maybe
Command, Consort, or Influence) to
gain more direct access to whatever else is
protecting it instead.
When you look for hacking targets, the
GM will tell you if you detect any. If you
don’t see one (either because of your
software or hardware configuration, the
desired target is running silently, or there
is simply too much cyberspace traffic in
the area), you can gather information
(maybe Interface, Study, or Survey) to
attempt to locate one.
If you manage to find a device’s icon, you
can attempt to find an access vulnerability
using a cyberdeck—if one exists (you may
need to gather information first to locate
it). If you can find an access vulnerability
or already have one, you can attempt to
take control of its functions using your
onboard hacking software.
You need a cyberdeck (the Hacker
special item) to find hidden icons or
access vulnerabilities, plus you need
the included suite of hacking software
to have of a chance of exploiting any
vulnerabilities spotted. An unmodified
comm won’t do—it cannot detect any
potential targets for hacking, and won’t
run the illegal software required to
exploit them.
You can also execute (use) additional
apps to do other things. The optional
suite of warez (Hacker special items) is
designed to extend the functionality of a
cyberdeck while hacking.
7
A spoofed command from the onboard
hacking software is limited in scope
(it might toggle a maglock, turn off a
sensor, etc.), but Breach will wreck its
software protections with devastating
levels of corruption in virtual combat.
This can be done to quickly give you
The wireless world
momentary access, but immediately
alerts the system to intrusion. Hackers
should see page 258 for details on the
volatile nature of Breach and most
other warez.
Direct Connections
You can easily establish a direct
connection for interface with a data
cable and few moments of physical
access to the device’s universal data port.
A comm’s universal data port is concealed
within its case, easily accessible on the fly.
If its ever needed, a direct connection
always counts as a vulnerability that you
can exploit with a cyberdeck.
Private Network Connections &
Constructs
Data trails and streams for private
networks are always hidden unless
you have its cyberspace coordinates
(a set of four precise values, plus a
modulating quantum encryption key).
Some constructs are consumer-facing
and you can find them easily. Others will
be more difficult to find—and the darkest
corners of cyberspace require invite-only
authentication instead.
When a device is protected by a private
network, encrypted data streams
between it and all other networked
devices. These connections offer similar
cybersecurity protocols to those used
in cyberspace, but with the addition of
more detailed rights management and
integrated virtual workgroup support.
Direct interface is recommended for
hacking a private network connection.
247
 7
RUNNING SILENTLY
Devices and their accompanying icons
can be geolocated using triangulation
from other nearby device locations. At
your option, you may command a device
to run silently, limiting the number of
signals in both directions—reducing the
level of information gathered by it, and
from it.
fuTurism
A device running silent is technically
online, but it has disabled passive data
transfer to remove it from the distributed
network of cyberspace computing until
needed. This practice is considered
impolite or highly suspicious depending
on who catches you doing it (maybe they’ll
just assume you’re a greedy bandwidth
leech, or that you have something to
hide—it’s up to the GM). It is actually
illegal for your comm to run silently while
manually operating heavy machinery—
or even being in some wealthy (tier IV+)
neighborhoods and districts (especially
New Kingston). Having a “burner” comm
on you as bait is common; one to fool
surveillance, and another one running
silently to do the dirty work.
248
GETTING JACKED & GOING
OFFLINE
When you go offline, (colloquially
known as “jacking out”) you remove
your connection to cyberspace. This can
typically be done easily with a voice
command or series of touchscreen
gestures—unless you’ve been jacked.
A character might go offline despite being
jacked by removing their trodes, or
depressing a button on the side of their
master device for at least five seconds
uninterrupted. Jacking out when all
devices are implanted is trickier, requiring
access to a small service compartment
behind the implantee’s ear, concealed
under a flap of artificial scalp.
When you go offline, all of the following
occurs:
◆ Any control taken from your device is
lost. Any control your device has taken is
lost.
◆ Any ticks on unfinished
“Traced” or “Convergence” danger clocks
are cleared. Any progress clocks for
unfinished hacking tasks are cleared
(you might be able to reconnect and start
over—unless it’s too late for that).
◆ If you‘re jacked by ICe, you suffer
debilitating “Dumpshock” harm due
to headaches and vertigo, accordingly
with your interface mode. Going offline
unsafely should be considered a last
resort—but it might be the only option for
a hacker who is trapped in VR to get out.

CONSTRUCTS
Constructs are simulated environments
that only exist in cyberspace, and depend
on AI to realize their effects. A private
network’s virtualized network layout is
a lesser version of this infinitely complex
quantum data structure, which is more
compartmentalized but otherwise vastly
similar.
To enter a virtual construct is to allow
your online experience to be managed
by a powerful machine intelligence and
entreat it to do your will. Hacking a virtual
construct is a practice with considerable
risk (and many potential rewards, which
is why people still do it). The vast network
connectivity of a construct might be
exploited by a skilled cybercriminal using
warez or other apps. See Apps for details.
The data structures upholding these AI-
controlled simulations emanate from the
very fabric of the emergent plane, making
it impossible to destroy or take full
control over a construct without tearing
apart the foundation of cyberspace itself.
Some say this is what happened during
the Great Crashes.
Following the Great Crashes of the
2010s, the actions of the architects
of modern cyberspace shattered the
Internet, outlawed online privacy,
and instantiated the framework for
cyberspace. It is also said that these
were the machinations of a lunatic
technomancer, hell-bent on interfacing
with corrupted signals in an attempt to
reach infinite transcendence. But who
can believe such stories?
7
FINDING A CONSTRUCT
There are many publicly-available
sets of cyberspace coordinates for
constructs—however these are designed
to support consumers and businesses.
Private constructs have a hidden set of
cyberspace coordinates, often choosing
The wireless world
to only reveal it to a particular audience;
perhaps a business network, a specific
locale, or quality of customer.
ENTERING A CONSTRUCT
To enter a construct, you need its
cyberspace coordinates and equipment
capable of VR (perhaps a set of trodes,
or a neural implant). A hidden set of
coordinates may be found as payoff from
a run—perhaps you steal an access log
when your crew hits the Atari-Tendo
datacenter in Downtown Kingston, or
perhaps you get a comm that can already
access a hidden one when you murder
Rosetta Manning. You might also reveal a
set of cyberspace coordinates as the goal
of a long-term project—by consorting
with hacker friends, engineering a data
siphon, attuning to data trails, or some
other method you devise.
When you enter a construct, your
persona is filtered from consumer
devices Your persona appears in the
construct instead. This built-in filtering
ends the moment you exit VR (or
otherwise disconnect from the construct).
Constructs lack a central location—so
ignore any interference due to distance
once you have entered one.
A construct is often protected by an
array of intrusion countermeasures
(just like a secured cyberspace provider,
details on page 242) designed to detect
the subversion of its parameters and
security protocol.
249
 7
INSIDE A CONSTRUCT
The appearance of a construct is decided
by the virtual architect—within certain
design parameters (form implying
function) and limits on bandwidth. A
virtual mall might use brightly-lit hallways
lined with immersive ads that you touch to
enter other virtual spaces. A virtual theme
park might use rope bridges lined with
animatronic robots that you must gesture
fuTurism
towards to experience. However, there
are certain constraints on the virtual
design—and the more elaborate and
believable the virtual design, the more
powerful the owner must be. The most
realistic and fully-featured constructs are
omega-class, and known as “too real” in
common parlance—referring to those
experiences which are indistinguishable
from real life or deemed better-than-life
experiences (or BTLs). Beware: it’s easy to
get lost in such vividly simulated realities!
Your device’s authorization determines
which pathways and nodes are visible,
which are accessible, and which are
completely hidden. If one is able to perceive
the hidden data streams providing network
protection to a device by a host, they might
exploit the elaborate mesh of connectivity
to gain illicit access to unintended control
over the environment.
Virtual Access & Control
You may virtually interact with a device
you access using a construct in order
to take control of its corresponding
device temporarily. When your control
is challenged, you must re-interface
(risking the retaliation of nearby ICe)
or relinquish control. Your control is
challenged when you steal paydata from
the device or ICe act against you.
When you cannot evade the ICe protecting
a particular device, you might attempt to
crash the ICe guarding it instead. This
250
isn’t sneaky, but it’s sometimes faster than
locating and exploiting a vulnerability
undetected. ICe that are defeated in
virtual combat aren’t “destroyed”—they
are crashed, and are merely software
entities that are temporarily taken offline.
Once alerted, ICe won’t stop coming back
unless called off by the registered owner
of the AI.
ICe & COUNTERHACKERS
When you use the public grid to achieve
connectivity, you face the possibility of
convergence by a CSG watchdog. However,
constructs are managed by AI—and it’s
up to them and the registered owner(s)
to report any instances of cybercrime.
However, it’s often a liability to give a
CSG agent the required administrator
privileges to properly defend their
networks. So rather than expose their
inner workings to the corruption of CSG,
most private entities instead opt to rely on
an array of intrusion countermeasures
(commonly called “ICe”) and hired
counterhackers instead. ICe come in
three varieties: white, gray, and black.
These are each explained in further
detail below.
While the recursive nature of cyberspace
security protocols prevent a hacker from
taking unauthorized control over the AI
protecting a secured provider, the very
same also make those same protocols
vastly similar to one another. A secure
provider’s white ICe patrols randomly,
scanning each device that it encounters,
transmitting a signal whenever it detects
cybercrime. The signal may only be
received by any other ICe, the system
administrators, and its registered
owner(s). Perhaps the CEO and their
trusted virtual architect.

When you hack a device protected by a
secure cyberspace provider, the GM may
tick a clock to determine how long it takes
for its AI to notice the intrusion and trace
you down. Available ICe are dispatched
where any offending user or their device
may be found, tracing their data trails
ever closer to the hacker’s physical
location with every passing minute. It
is the responsibility of any dispatched
ICe to prevent the theft of paydata and
subversion of security protocol using all
available permissions.
Types of ICe
◆ White ICe: A virtual security spider
that monitors a construct’s virtual
integrity, patrolling for intrusion. Creates
complications for an intruder’s device—
repairing any environmental breaches
caused, starting or advancing a trace, and
calling other available ICe to act against
you.
◆ Gray ICe: A virtual security entity
armed with the ability to stream
corrupted data as a ranged weapon
through an intruder’s device, designed
to cause malfunctions like slowdown and
lasting damage. If they get close enough
they will kick instead, you causing lost
progress. Worse yet, they will ban a
repeat offender’s device permanently.
◆ Black ICe: A vicious virtual entity
that is designed to induce debilitating
psychological and physiological effects
(like frenzy, betrayal, phobia, seizures,
paralysis, etc.). If they get close enough,
your device gets jacked instead. The AIs
of governments and megas like to hit
a meddlesome hacker with terrifying
paralysis, to jack their device using
black ICe, then trace the user down and
dispatch authorities against them while
they cannot move.
7
The GM uses the Tier of a target as a
guideline for the quality and scale of any
ICe or counterhackers that respond—it
may be higher or lower at their discretion
to better describe the nature of the
situation.
The wireless world
The Talons’ are on high alert when
the Hacker executes a Breach on the
Talon’s datavault. There’s no question
that all available ICe will eventually
respond—but how many respond now
while the theft is underway? The GM
says they don’t want to decide, so they
make a fortune roll using the quality of
the Talons’ construct (so 2d). Even on a
1-3, there’s going to be a small group of
3-5 white ICe (scale 1/quality 2) and a
couple gray ICe (scale 0/quality 3).
It’s a 6 though—so the GM says its the
full “standard” array of white ICe (scale
& quality 2) plus a quality 3 black ICe
whose icon is a bird-person. They have
Editor privileges and are wielding a
virtual Arsenal of their own. Now what?
Counterhackers
When ICe alone can’t do the trick, a
counterhacker will be dispatched
to accompany them. Paired with a
counterhacker, ICe become powerful
forms of weapons and armor against the
malicious actions of a cybercriminal.
Counterhackers employ elaborate layers
of signal-masking technology and are
often outfitted with secret identities,
both to keep them safe from being
traced, and as a way to prevent reprisal
for the execution of their job duties.
They have administrative access to any
compromised networks they protect,
and are committed to tracing down and
reporting elusive cybercriminals in an
attempt to bolster their resume and
demand higher pay.
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DRONES
A drone is an electromechanical device
with special features which grant them
their functionality. By default, drones
are capable of locomotion on land and
have human-like senses of sight and
sound. Drones (unlike vehicles) can also
be controlled remotely by any authorized
user.
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A drone may be rebuilt if severely
damaged or destroyed. If a drone’s
processor array is shattered, the drone’s
configuration is lost and a new one must
installed and reconfigured (a complex
long-term electrical project).
GETTING A DRONE
A PC with a configured drone begins with
one drone, already configured with a
feature and ready for use (see special
item, Rigger playbook). To add another
drone, spend a special item choice (or
secure one on your own another way),
then configure them using the process
below.
Building a drone is a complex electronics
project. Preparing a drone’s software for
a new owner is a complex programming
project. See page 18 for details.
CONFIGURING A DRONE
Choose a frame size, look, and a starting
feature (see list on next page). The GM
might roll your drone’s quality if its
features are ever put to the test, to see how
well they thwart the opposition.
MODIFYING A DRONE
You can add an additional feature to a
drone’s configuration by modifying it.
You can also add two additional features
to a configured drone’s configuration
by spending an additional special item
choice on it (either during character
creation, or following an increase in
lifestyle rating).
When a drone performs actions for which
its configuration applies, use its full
quality rating. Otherwise, its quality is
zero. Features designed for a frame other
than the one in question typically require
modifications (sometimes complex) to
work properly.
 7

USING A DRONE
When you direct a drone to achieve a goal, roll your
action rating to see how it goes. Roll the appropriate Universal features, for any frame size:
action for what you do (maybe Interface or EMP—Flash Ordnance—Hydraulic Legs
Finesse). For details on networks and taking action Media Center—Noise Suppression—Sensor Array
using various interface modes, see page 243. Smoke Projectors—Stealth—White Box
The method of interface and quality of any opposition
relative to the drone or its features affects the position
and effect of the action.

Drone Features
You can freely swap out a drone’s available features as a downtime activity.

EMP: Electromagnetic pulse that disables signals
for a short time, disrupting the functionality of
electronics nearby for a few minutes.
Flash Ordnance: Electronics that can produce a
series of flashes to surprise and disorient.
Hydraulic Legs: It can jump to extreme heights
(several stories) and survive falls without damage.
Media Center: An array of recording and playback
functionality, plus rotating loudspeakers and a
holo-projector.
Noise Suppression: This drone is barely audible
once its out of speaking distance.
drones
Sensor Array: It has an array of sensors capable
of various scanning modes. Choose whether this
is an audio or visual array, and then choose its two
features: dampened—expanded—heightened.
Stealth: It has been modified with electronics and
a stealth paint job to obfuscate its presence.
Smoke Projectors: Chemical system that can
produce a dark, acrid cloud of smoke—enough to
fill a large room.
White Box: Electronics that can produce a
dense stream of wireless noise and interference,
temporarily orphaning nearby devices.

Amphibious: It can move slowly while underwater Gecko Climb: Nanofibrous pads built into the
using a set of propellers and pump-jets. frame allow it to walk and climb effortlessly on
walls and ceilings unless wet.
Compartments: A number of items may be built-
in to its frame and may recess beneath panels out Interior Space: It has a compartment for a
of sight. Its frame can now carry the indicated passenger or operator.
number (1 or 2) of free load Life-Like Appearance: It is masterfully crafted
Flight: It can fly slowly using a set of rotors or to pass for a living creature (unless it is closely
small jets, and fixed wings. scrutinized).
Plating: Thick metal armor
plates.
SPECIAL FEATURES, BY FRAME SIZE: Reflexes: It has lightning-
These features are only appropriate for a certain frame size without serious modification. fast reaction time (as per
the Adept feat).
Small (Cat size, -1 scale):
An aquaspy, a rotodrone, a robotic doll, a surveillance wasp. Tiny: The drone is insect
Amphibious—Flight—Reflexes—Tiny size, rather than cat size,
which counts as -2 scale
Medium (Human size): A cybernetic humanoid (android), a mechanical animal. (instead of -1 scale).
Compartments (1)—Gecko Climb Turret: A firearm mount
Life-like Appearance—Turret on the drone designed to
achieve great visibility and
Heavy (Personal vehicle size, +1 scale):
a wide cone of fire. Choose a
A hulking mech, a self-driving vehicle. suitable weapon from your
Compartments (2)—Interior Space—Plating—Turret arsenal, modified to fit.
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CRAFTING
During downtime, a PC can Engineer
with special materials and tools to
produce chemicals, build (or modify)
items, create electronic gadgets, or
develop software applications. The
system for each method is similar,
with different details depending on the
nature of the project.
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INVENTING
To invent a formula for a new chemical
concoction or the design plan for a new
item of your special design, you need to
Study it as a long-term project. Most
new special formulas or designs will
require an 8-segment progress clock to
invent and learn. The player and the GM
answer questions about the invention to
define what it will do in play and what
is required to create it (see below). The
player records these answers in their
notes for future reference.
Creation Questions
(1) GM asks: “What type of creation is
it and what does it do?” Player answers.
A creation might be simple, chemical,
electronic, or software. If a PC has an
appropriate special ability (Chemist,
Electrician, or Programmer), they
get bonuses when inventing and crafting
certain creation types.
If a PC has an appropriate secret art
(Enchanter or Instancer), they gain
permission to choose the arcane or
emergent type, respectively, for their
creations—in addition to those above.
These supernatural creations are
subject to additional considerations
(see page 303 for details).
254
(2) Player asks: “What’s the minimum
quality level of this item?” GM answers,
with the magnitude of the effects the item
produces as a guideline.
(3) GM asks: “What rare, atypical,
or adverse aspect of this formula or
design has kept it in obscurity, out of
common usage?” Player answers.
(4) Player asks: “What drawbacks
does this item have, if any?” GM
answers by choosing one or more from
the drawbacks list, or by saying there are
none.
A PC with the Chemist, Electrician,
Programmer, Enchanter, or Instancer
special abilities invents and learns one
special formula or special design when
they take the ability (they don’t have to
take time to learn it).
Once you’ve invented a design, you can
craft it by using a downtime activity (see
Crafting, on the next page). No one else
can craft this invention unless they learn
your design as a long-term project. If you
acquire a formula or design invented by
another engineer, you may learn to craft
it by completing a long-term project.
Common chemicals and gadgets (see
Sample Creations on page 256) and
ordinary items don’t require special
formulas or special designs to learn.
Anyone may attempt to craft them by
using commonly available instructions.

CRAFTING
To craft something (invented or
otherwise), spend one downtime activity
to make an Engineer roll to determine
the quality level of the item you produce.
The base quality level is equal to your
crew’s Tier, modified by the result of the
roll (see results table, below).
The results are based on your crew’s
Tier because it indicates the overall
quality of the workspace and materials
you have access to. If you do the work
with the Cleanroom, Lodge, Workshop, or
Workstation upgrade for your crew and its
benefits apply to the item, your effective Tier
level is one higher for this roll (see below).
The GM sets a minimum quality level
that must be achieved to craft the item,
based on the magnitude of the effect(s)
it produces. The GM uses magnitude
as a guideline for setting the quality
level—it may be higher or lower at their
discretion to better describe the nature
of the project. A creation may be crafted
at higher quality if the player wishes to
attempt it. Exceeding the minimum level
required provides some of the following
benefits: adds a useful modification (see
right)—removes a drawback (see next
page)—provides additional use(s)—
quality is better than the minimum.
You may spend nuyen 1-for-1 to increase
the final quality level result of your
crafting roll (this can raise quality level
beyond Tier +2).
CRAFTING ROLL
1d for each Engineer action dot.
+1 quality for an applicable
▶
Cleanroom, Lodge, Workshop,
or Workstation crew upgrade
+1 quality per nuyen spent.
7
MODIFYING AN ITEM
Adding a feature or function to an item is
simpler than creating something new. You
don’t need to invent a special formula or
plan. Make a crafting roll to modify an
item (the baseline quality of the item that
you modify is equal to your Tier, as usual).
◆ A simple, useful modification requires
Tier +1 quality. A rifle that folds to fit in a
smaller carrying case.
crafTinG
◆ A significant modification requires
Tier  +2 quality. Rifling and sighting of a
gun to shoot more accurately.
◆ A chemical, electronic, or software
modification requires Tier +2 quality.
Pheromones keyed to attract a specific
person. A drone with an added antenna array
to generate interference and orphan devices.
Modification of a comm to run hacking
software and spot hidden data trails.
◆ A bioengineered or cybernetic
modification requires Tier +3 quality. A
set of blades, rigged to self-sharpen and
rendered suitable for implantation in your
hands.
◆ An arcane or emergent modification
requires Tier +3 quality and an
appropriate secret art (Enchanter or
Instancer). Bullets that can harm a
dragon. A poison that can attract sprites.
See Supernatural Crafting on page 303
for details.
Modified items, like special creations,
may have drawbacks. See list on next
page.
Critical: Quality level is Tier +2.
6: Quality level is Tier +1.
4/5: Quality level is equal to Tier.
1-3: Quality level is Tier -1.
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DRAWBACKS
A creation may have one or more
drawbacks, specified by the GM.
◆ Complex You’ll have to create
it in multiple stages; the GM will
tell you how many. One downtime
activity and crafting roll is needed
per stage (all implantable items
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must have this drawback). The GM
rules that the scratch-built cyberdeck
the Rigger is building is at least a
hardware and a software thing, two
stages.
◆ Conspicuous This creation
doesn’t go unnoticed. Take +1 heat
if it’s used any number of times on
an operation.
◆ Consumable This creation has a
function with a limited number of
uses (all chemicals, alchemicals, and
widgets must have this drawback,
usually one use).
◆ Decentralized This creation
must be networked (slaved) through
a suitable master computing device
to function (all apps must have this
drawback).
◆ Rare This creation requires a rare
item or material when it is crafted.
Many high grade and experimental
creations have this drawback to
indicate the difficulty to get the
requisite materials or parts.
◆ Unreliable When you use the
item, make a fortune roll (using its
quality) to see how well it performs.
◆ Volatile The item produces a
dangerous or troublesome side-
effect for the user, specified by the
GM (see examples on the sample
creations, next page). A side-effect is
a consequence, and may be resisted.
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SAMPLE CREATIONS
Creations are listed with their quality
level (by Tier: I-VI), followed by a
number of uses if they’re Consumable
(1-3). These creations are well known by
engineers in Kingston, and don’t need to
be studied before producing them.
Shark spends a downtime activity to
craft a batch of bangflashes. He rolls
Engineer and gets a 4, meaning
quality level equal to his crew Tier,
which is I. He spends 1 nuyen to bump
up his result to a 6 (Tier +1), which
is high enough for Hard-Clot (II). He
makes three doses of the emergency
clotting agent.
BOMBS (ELECTRONIC)
Drawback: Conspicuous.
◆ Bangflash (II/2): A small explosive charge that
produces a bright flash and concussive blast;
direct exposure to the flash disorients for a few
minutes and causes blindness for about a minute,
direct exposure to the blast causes knockdown. A
Tier II can be set to flash or bang at different times.
Unreliable.
◆ Breaching charge (I/2): A small explosive
charge capable of blowing the internals out of a
lock using a focused concussive blast. Adheres to
flat surfaces. Conspicuous.
◆ EMP grenade (III/3): A small electromagnetic
device which releases an electromagnetic pulse,
disrupting nearby electronics. Unreliable.
◆ Frag grenade (III/2): A small explosive charge
with a short fuse that detonates into metal
shrapnel.
◆ Frag rocket (IV/2): A rocket-propelled explosive
projectile that detonates with a blast of sharp
fragments upon collision, perfect for unarmored
targets. Conspicuous.
◆ High-explosive rocket (IV/1): A rocket-
propelled projective designed to hit a wide area
with an incendiary gel detonation. Conspicuous.

◆ Penetrating rocket (IV/1): A rocket-propelled
explosive missile through hardened exteriors or
barriers before detonating. Conspicuous.
◆ Smoke (II/2): A small explosive that creates a
cloud of acrid smoke that’s difficult to see through
or breathe. Stings the eyes for a few minutes after
prolonged or direct exposure.
DRUGS (CHEMICAL)
Drawback: Volatile. “Intoxicated” until it wears
off.
◆ Bluecoke (I/1): Heightens awareness and
sociability, Produces a feeling of slight euphoria
and rampant energy. Comes with a heavy crash.
◆ Glow (I/3): A mild hallucinogenic which induces
a coma-like stupor and visions. User’s eyes and
other mucosa become iridescent.
◆ Nu-ganja (I/4): A fast-acting muscle relaxer
that reduces anxiety and alleviates joint pain.
Temporarily satiates hunger (and ambition).
◆ Red rock (I/3): A tranquilizing narcotic made
from poppy. Induces a restful state of hypnotic
trance when ignited and inhaled.
OILS & PASTES (CHEMICAL)
◆ Hyperglue (I/3): Fuses two objects together
unless dissolved by hypersolvent or enough force
is applied. Covers a square meter. A Tier II version
is permanent unless dissolved by hypersolvent of
sufficient quality.
◆ Hypersolvent (I/3): A fluid that dissolves
hyperglue and is capable of counteracting
comparably-sized chemical reactions. Dissolves a
square meter of hyperglue.
◆ Pheromones (I/1): A distillation of hormones
commonly used by a pheromone secreter implant
(neural) to attract or repel a nearby target through
their sense of smell. Choose a specific person to
which it is keyed. A Tier II version can be keyed
to a particular heritage.
◆ Thermite gel (I/1): A reactive gel designed to
be activated by a thermite rod, capable of boring
a hole through metal with ease. Resulting hole
will be up to half a meter (roughly three feet) in
7
depth, and about a decimeter (roughly six inches)
in circumference.
DROPS, PATCHES, & SPRAYS
(CHEMICAL)
◆ Antidote patch (I/4): Reduces the harm from a
toxin by one level if applied quickly enough after
exposure (varies depending on the poison).
◆ Deepsight drops (I/2): Special eyedrops derived
from the tissues of deep-sea fish which grant the
crafTinG
user temporary low-light vision. Useful for night
shifts and urban scavengers. Rare. Volatile.
“Light sensitivity,” level-1 harm until it wears off.
◆ Hard-Clot (II/3): A spray that stops bleeding
from a serious wound in moments.
◆ Nanospray (II/1): A canister of nanites that
provide remote access to an implant they touch.
◆ Slap patch (I/5): A “blank” patch, capable of
carrying a dose of a chemical or toxin.
◆ Sterilizer (I/5): A spray bottle containing
enough pressurized disinfectants to sterilize
someone’s hands, a wound, or a small set of
surgical instruments. Can be combined with acid
and biomatter to cause an endothermic (heat-
absorbing) chemical reaction.
◆ Stim patch (I/3): If applied to someone’s bare
skin, their penalties for affected levels of harm are
one level less severe (though level-4 harm is still
fatal). This persists for several hours. A higher-tier
version is required to affect more serious levels
of harm. Does not affect special harm. Volatile.
“Stunned,” level-1 harm for several hours after it
wears off. Repeated use on the same subject yields
diminishing results and is mildly addictive.
◆ Stun patch (I/3): Affix firmly to someone’s skin
causing them to be temporarily “stunned” or to
negate the effects of kamikaze (see Muscle special
items, page 76).
◆ Trauma patch (II/1): Allows an incapacitated
subject to act again. A Tier IV version may delay
death for a short time, or (rarely) revive the
recently deceased. Unreliable.
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APPS (SOFTWARE)
Drawback: Decentralized.
◆ Armor (II): A predictive algorithm that provides
a measure of protection against virtual harm to
the user’s persona. Instantiates fields of force
designed to deflect incoming virtual attacks.
Unreliable (maybe crashed on a 1-3, weakened on
a 4/5?). Only executes on a cyberdeck. Requires VR.
◆ Arsenal (I): Instantiates a small arsenal of
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virtual weaponry from the asset library of a host,
suitable for defeating ICe. A Tier II version also
includes ranged weaponry. Conspicuous. Only
executes on a cyberdeck. Requires VR.
◆ Bloodhound (I): Scans nearby signal traffic very
closely, revealing the presence of hidden devices
in the area. Unreliable.
◆ Breach (I): Floods an accessed device with junk
code to create a vulnerability you can exploit
for a moment. Conspicuous. Only executes on a
cyberdeck.
◆ Filter (II): Filtration algorithms designed to
absorb incoming device corruption and prevent
its lingering effects. Unreliable. Only executes on
a cyberdeck.
◆ Jacker (III): Algorithm that jacks a master
device, preventing it from changing interface
modes or going offline. Conspicuous. Only
executes on a cyberdeck.
◆ Mask (I): A virtual disguise, capable of fooling
casual inspection by ICe. Only executes on a
cyberdeck. Requires VR.
◆ Trapdoor (I): Injects a corruption trap into a
signal, then weakly encrypts it. A Tier II version
can be set to delete the intercepted signal when
the trap is triggered (rather than just damaging the
device that decrypts it). Unreliable. Only executes
on a cyberdeck.
◆ Wallet (I): Capable of secreting away a small
fortune in moments, allowing you to exceed the
usual carry limit of 4 nuyen (by a number of nuyen
equal to its rating). Volatile. 4-track, “Accosted by
CSG agents,” 2 ticks per use, unless its registered to
a valid IDN (then it’s 1 tick per use instead).
258
SAMPLE SPECIAL
FORMULAS (CHEMICAL)
◆ Divinium (IV/1): An inhalant that quickly
destroys the nervous system upon reaching
the brain; extremely deadly if its liquid form is
applied directly to the forehead.
◆ Healing serum (II/1): An ingested solution that
bolsters the body’s natural healing rate for a short
time, granting +1d on a recovery roll.
◆ Narcoject (II/1): An injectable that rapidly
causes temporary muscle stiffness and
drowsiness.
◆ Night-night (II/3): A highly vaporous liquid that
incapacitates a victim and gives them nightmares
for several minutes. Unreliable. Like chloroform,
but scarier.
◆ Pepper (II/1): Toxic fumes which cause
incapacitating nausea, shortness of breath, and
burning sensations upon contact. This liquid
spray is derived from hot pepper extracts and
chemical irritants, and is often used for personal
defense. A Tier III version contains special dyes
and transmits a hot signal which transmits
its geolocation to the originating container.
Unreliable.
◆ Tear gas (II/1): An airborne that reacts with
air, expanding rapidly to incapacitate a victim
by inducing the mucous membranes to burn and
overproduce, speeding the heartbeat, and causing
shortness of breath for several minutes.
◆ Synthracycline (III/1): An airborne that turns
bioengineered implants orange and weakens
their molecular bonds, turning them soft and
gelatinous. Causes a powerful exothermic (heat-
releasing) reaction that is quite deadly if ingested
or injected into bioengineered organs.
◆ Violetta (III/1): A powerful hallucinogen
that causes physical weakness by significantly
lowering the victim’s body temperature and
blood pressure. Useful for defeating some visual
sensors.

SAMPLE GADGETS
◆ Black box (II, ELECTRONIC): Small device that
piggybacks on a vehicular override, capable of
orphaning it for a minute or so—long enough to
attempt to override control. Unreliable.
◆ Boomshades (I, ELECTRONIC): Eyewear with
multiple drivers inside that produce enough sound
to fill a small room. Can also be set to personal
listening mode or generate a responsive light show
in the lenses. Loudspeakers not included.
◆ Data tap (I, ELECTRONIC): A small transceiver
suitable for secretly capturing signals nearby.
Decryption not included.
◆ Harmonic resonator (I, ELECTRONIC): A
suction-mounted device which produces an
cascade of focused infrasonic pulses that can
crumble a meter-wide hole in glass to which
it is attached. A Tier II version can crumble
bulletproof glass.
◆ Jammer (II, ELECTRONIC): A handheld device
that generates electromagnetic interference
in the immediate area, capable of preventing
(“jamming”) wireless communication in the
immediate vicinity.
◆ Magnetron (III, ELECTRONIC): A set of four
devices designed to generate a focused magnetic
field below an attached object, causing it to hover
about a meter above or hold fast to any suitably
magnetic surface until deactivated.
◆ MIDI gloves (I, ELECTRONIC): A set of gloves
with motion sensors that interprets physical
gestures into performance of a digital instrument.
A Tier II version also works for drummers or
wind instrumentalists. “Duuude, most ex-cellent.”
◆ Nightshades (I, ELECTRONIC): A pair of
transparent lenses in a lightweight frame,
complete with hidden nightvision functionality.
Toggle on or off with a quick series of eye gestures.
Volatile. Level-1 harm, “Light sensitivity” while
active. A Tier II version also includes dampening
and thermographic functionality. Careful
observers may notice a momentary reflection of
“eyeshine” if you are looking in their direction.
7
◆ Nu-blotto box (II, ELECTRONIC): Handheld
device that produces a dense stream of wireless
noise and interference, orphaning devices and
making comms ring incessantly within a dozen
paces. Unreliable.
◆ Portable structure (II, ELECTRONIC): A box
containing a set of walls, floor, roof, and door
that the user can activate to deploy a simply-
furnished large room in a few minutes. It’s as big
as a closet when in transit, and expands to its full
crafTinG
size using an available vehicle battery or similar
power source. A Tier III version is also outfitted
with stealth technology. Complex.
◆ Power jacket (II, ELECTRONIC): A wearable
device designed to work in tandem with the user,
amplifying their upper body movements. Useful
for lifting heavy objects, rending metal, being a
hulking pain in the arse, etc. A Tier IV version is a
full set of power armor.
◆ Prismatic spray paint (I, ELECTRONIC):
A refillable spray can with a color selector,
containing enough paint for a large mural or
quick paint job. A Tier II version also holds
special infrared- and ultraviolet- reactive paints.
Complex.
◆ Sensor (I, ELECTRONIC): A handheld device
capable of detecting and streaming captured
sensory data. By default, it has human-like senses
of sight and sound (it’s a combination camera,
microphone, and holographic recorder). Each
features a dampener, heightened, or widened
senses; see sensory implant or nightshades for
an example of a devices with included sensors.
A Tier II version is larger and captures more
sensory data (usually requiring a mount for best
results).
◆ Signal clarifier (I, ELECTRONIC): A tiny device
designed to extend the silent communications
range of an attached device one-way. Includes
a powerful filter to ignore troublesome
interference. Unreliable.
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◆ Signal defeater (IV, ELECTRONIC): A handheld
device that silently prevents a nearby comm
from receiving signals until it travels a sufficient
distance away. Comes in neck-brace and belt
variations. Commonly used by CSG Agents when
apprehending a cybercriminal.
◆ Skillchip (I, ELECTRONIC): A specialized
datachip for a skilljack which grants the user an
array of uncommon knowledge (commonly called
a skillsoft). It has a type as if it were an expert
NPC, granting effect as if you were that character.
fuTurism
Requires a neural implant with skilljack (see the
next page for details on implants). Volatile. Causes
“identity crisis” to the user. To avoid this, swap
skillchips while the user is asleep. Accessing the
skilljack’s chip compartment takes a few minutes
and technical tools.
◆ Smartgun system (I, ELECTRONIC): An array
of rangefinding and trajectory assistance devices
that serves as an add-on to a gun, suitable
for quickly acquiring targets and improving
accuracy. Includes a set of goggles to serve as the
required visual interface (an implanted visual
sensor or your comm may be used instead). May
be networked through a comm to enable remote
firing, switching of firing modes, and magazine
ejection. Weapons manufacturers sometimes offer
this as an optional internal upgrade, rather than
an add-on (for a fee; see the special items in the
Trigger playbook for details). Complex.
◆ Smartstaff (II, ELECTRONIC): A one-handed
stave capable of rapidly unfurling into a two-
handed weapon of another shape altogether:
a blade, whip, fan, sai, etc. A Tier-III version is
hidden to security devices.
◆ Spatial scanner (I, ELECTRONIC): A device with
an array of visual sensors that measures motion
and density, capable of providing the user with
special awareness of the area nearby the device
and revealing the position of hidden enemies.
◆ Surgical kit (II, CHEMICAL): A pouch containing
sufficient supplies for a surgical procedure in the
field: antiseptic, sanitizer, cauterizing gel, sterile
gauze & bandages, gloves, surgical instruments,
and a facemask.
260
◆ Synchronous command console, or SCC (II,
ELECTRONIC): An advanced computing device
designed to network a group of drones so they
respond intelligently to each other’s assistance
via a single command, rather than multiple at
once. Complex.
◆ Thermite rod (II, ELECTRONIC): A device
requiring two hands, designed to aim and activate
thermite gel to sever and penetrate up to a meter
(or roughly 3 feet) of metal.
◆
Toggleblock (I, ELECTRONIC): A small
rectangular device capable of quickly toggling
a locking mechanism to which it is attached.
Conspicuous. Unreliable. A Tier II version is not
conspicuous.
◆ Trodes (II, ELECTRONIC): A lightweight
headband that provides the essential hardware
for non-invasive virtual reality interface. Like a
cybernetic neural implant, but removable.
◆ Ultrasonic lure (III, ELECTRONIC): A device
that will attract any insects (including insect
spirits) close enough to perceive it. Volatile. The
GM may make a fortune roll when bugs get within
sight of it, to see how many are nearby or frenzy
the device.
◆ Vehicular override (I, ELECTRONIC): A set of
actuators designed to be retrofit under a vehicle’s
axles and steering to override its manual control.
A Tier II version is capable of overriding control
of all-wheel & four-wheel drive transmissions.
◆ Vertigo emitter (III, ELECTRONIC): A handheld
brainwave transmitter that causes those in
the immediate vicinity to experience nausea
and sudden loss of balance. Volatile. Causes
temporary “Vertigo” to the user. To avoid this,
hold to your forehead and point directly away from
your own brain.
◆ Voice modulator (I, ELECTRONIC): A handheld
device placed on the larynx or throat, designed
to disguise someone’s voice by altering the pitch,
modulation, and/or harmonics.
◆ Wingsuit (I, ELECTRONIC): A tight-fitting suit
outfitted with glider technology suitable for a
base jump. Optimal winds or landing area not
included.
 7

SAMPLE SPECIAL PLANS

◆ Regeneration Tank A tube large ◆ Shell A cybernetic body designed to
enough for a person’s hand or foot, permanently with a living brain. Very
designed to regrow a recently-lost complex, requiring six stages.
extremity. Complex. Stage 1: Chassis (VI): The articulated
Stage 1: Containment Tank (II): metal skeleton of the shell.
The metal tank to contain the
Stage 2: Electromagnetic actuators
patient’s hand or foot and prevent
(VI, ELECTRONIC): The electrified

crafTinG
loss of regrowth serum substrate
magnets and other systems that
placed within it. A Tier III version
allow the shell to move.
can accommodate an entire limb.
Stage 3: Sensory Harness (V,
Stage 2: Regeneration Manager (III,
ELECTRONIC): An array of sensors
SOFTWARE): Essential algorithms
fitted with a special harness
to ensure proper conditions
appropriate for neural interface. This
are maintained throughout
allows the brain access to the usual
regeneration.
human senses inasmuch as that is
Stage 3: Substrate (III, CHEMICAL): possible, as well as the ability to access
The required fluid for the cyberspace through integration with
regenerative effect. the brain capsule (see next step).
Requires a rare item: an omega-class
◆ Memory Pulse Emitter. A handheld processor array.
electrical device that emits a series of
pulses designed to erase someone’s Stage 4: Brain Capsule (VII,
memory of the past few minutes CHEMICAL): A soft but secure
through direct retinal exposure. encasement for the brain, shaped
Complex. and biologically engineered for
longevity. Enables control over
Stage 1: Kinetic Charger (II,
the frame at the speed of thought.
ELECTRONIC): The power source for
Requires a living brain. Each brain
the device. A series of rapid shakes
capsule must be custom-built for
quickly recharges the unit.
the patient in question to prevent
Stage 2: Emitter Array (II, permanent neurological injury
ELECTRONIC): The series of during transplant.
electromagnetic antennae and
Stage 5: Plating (V): The metal
timers designed to produce encoded
exterior of the shell.
flash patterns. Subjects can be
looked in the eyes and given a short Stage 6: Feature (varies): A feature
explanation of what happened within or implant built into the shell. See
a few moments after use. They will the Shell playbook (page 253) for
only remember the explanation, but details. May have drawbacks.
once confronted by the voice again
their lost memory may be jogged.

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IMPLANTS
During downtime, a PC can undergo
surgery to get implants in their body. The
system for each type of implant is similar,
with different details depending on the
type and features.
OBTAINING AN IMPLANT
fuTurism
A PC that spends a special item choice on an
implant starts with them, already surgically
installed (detail as directed in the remainder
of this section). To surgically install a new
implant, you must first obtain it. An implant
may be secured as a payoff from a run—
perhaps you extract a set of cybereyes from
Vigo’s corpse after murdering them. You
might also secure an implant as the goal of a
long-term project—by influencing someone
rich to hook you up, engineering one using
available materials and tools, or some other
method you devise. You can also obtain a
new implant, not yet installed, as a special
item choice in play (when your lifestyle
increases).
FINDING A SURGEON
To undergo the required surgery to install
an implant, a PC must first find a surgeon.
If you don’t have a contact or fellow PC
who can provide surgery, you can use the
acquire asset activity to gain access to a
surgeon who can provide service for one
downtime activity.
SURGERY ROLL
+ +1d for each Engineer action dot.
+1 quality per nuyen spent.
262
UNDERGOING SURGERY
To get something implanted, spend a
downtime activity to visit a competent
surgeon and undergo the required
surgery. Your surgeon rolls (Engineer
for a PC who has taken the Medic special
ability twice, or the quality level of
an NPC) and the result determines the
quality of implant the surgery covers.
The base quality level of the procedure is
equal to your crew’s Tier, modified by the
result of the roll.
The GM uses the quality of the implant
and number of installed features as
a guideline for setting the minimum
quality of surgery required to avoid
complications (see next page)—it may
be higher or lower to better reflect the
situation at hand.
The results are based on your crew’s Tier
because it indicates the overall quality of
the workspace and materials you have
access to.
A surgical procedure also inflicts a level
of special harm, “Post surgical pain”
unless you already have an implant in the
location in question.
Further, the GM may also tick a clock
when you undergo surgery—to advance
the agenda of a corporate faction or
entity, or to show the steady approach of a
negative outcome that is a consequence of
the surgical procedure.
Critical: Quality level is Tier +2.
6: Quality level is Tier +1.
4/5: Quality level is equal to Tier.
1-3: Quality level is Tier -1.

When a surgery is performed at lower
quality, the GM chooses one or more
complications as appropriate to account
for the shortfall:
◆ The implant has an additional
drawback or two (usually conspicuous,
consumable, unreliable, or volatile).
◆ The procedure inflicts harm due to
“Inflammation” (level-1) or full-blown
“Infection” (level-2).
◆ You accept a Dragon’s Deal.
Because surgery is a downtime activity,
you may spend nuyen 1-for-1 to increase
the result level of your fortune roll
(this represents the cost for expensive
pharmaceuticals or bed rest). Exceeding
the minimum quality level of the surgery
reduces the level of special harm taken
(to zero).
If you only took Medic once, it costs
you 1 edge to act as the surgeon for the
procedure. You may perform a surgery
without even being a Medic, but it costs
you 2 edge to do so.
You can also choose to perform a surgery
without access to a cleanroom—in this
case, spend 1 edge and roll 0d.
7
SURGERY EXAMPLE
Cody wants to have Dex, his street
doc friend, implant a set of quality
2 cybernetic eyes he “found.” This is
the first time this location is getting
implanted, so Dex will definitely take
level-1 harm “Post surgical pain” in the
process. He spends a downtime activity
to undergo surgery, and Dex isn’t even
a surgeon, so its desperate. He rolls
imPlanTs
1d for his quality. He gets a 5, so the
surgery is quality 1—a bit too low for
this implant. The GM offers a Dragon’s
Deal: “Let’s say this cyberdoc is being
extorted by your rival, so they implant
a tracker in you during the surgery; if
you agree, you get your implant, but
this Danger clock from before will
finally fill. And boy oh boy, is it ‘nice’ of
them to discount the procedure despite
doing all that extra work to get it to fit
in..”
Cody doesn’t like that option, or the
idea of harm or drawbacks, so he
instead opts to spend 1 nuyen to bump
the surgery quality to 2 and avoid any
further issues. If he had the money on
hand, he could spend another nuyen
(2 total) to bump the surgery quality
to 3—enough to exceed the minimum
required, and reduce the harm taken
during the procedure down to zero.
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IMPLANT LOCATIONS & SPECIFICATIONS

◆ Sensory: Replacement of sensory organs that
exceeds normal capabilities. Choose one set of
sensory organs replaced (eyes, ears, or olfactory)
and up to two features1 when you get this implant:
dampener—widened—heightened—lifelike. More
than one set of sensory organ implants takes up 1
essence A given patient can safely accommodate
up to three features per implanted set of sensory
fuTurism
◆ Compartment(s): Removal of an unused
portion of the body near the hip, allowing you
to easily hide an item behind panels that can be
stowed out of sight (you can now carry +1 load).
Choose which side (left or right). More than one
compartment takes up 1 essence. A given patient
can safely accommodate up to two compartments
implants. Cybernetic only

organs. You may mix cybernetic and bioengineered

sensory implants (at your own risk!).
◆ Neural: Replacement of neural pathways that
exceeds normal capabilities. Choose up to two
features when you get this implant: adrenaline—
control rig2—hidden slot—limiter—metabooster—
pheromone secreter—reflexes 2 —skilljack—
vocalflex. More than two neural features takes up 1
essence. A given patient can safely accommodate
up to four neural implant features.
◆ Arms: Replacement of an arm that exceeds
normal capabilities. Choose which arm (left or
right) and up to two features1 when you get this
implant: detachable—points—reach—stronger2—
lifelike. More than one feature in a given arm
takes up 1 essence. A given patient can safely
accommodate up to three features per implanted
arm. A detachable cyberlimb might be replaced
with suitable tools, weapons, or gear once modified
for attachment.
◆ Vital organs: Replacement of the liver,
kidneys, heart and/or lungs that exceeds normal
capabilities. Choose up to two features when
you get this implant: amphibious—biorepair—
ingested—inhaled—injected. More than two
features in your vital organs takes up 1 essence.
A given patient can safely accommodate up to
four vital organs features.
◆ Legs: Replacement of a leg that exceeds normal
capabilities. Choose which leg (left or right) and
two features1 when you get this implant: aquatic2—
detachable—high jump2—swift2—lifelike. More
than one feature in a given leg takes up 1 essence.
A given patient can safely accommodate up to
three features in each implanted leg. A detachable
cyberlimb might be replaced with suitable tools,
weapons, or gear once modified for attachment.
◆ Skin: A second skin or dermal integration
that exceeds normal capabilities. Choose
two features when you get this implant:
acidproof—bulletproof—chameleon2—fireproof—
grappleproof—lifelike—plating2. More than two
features in your skin takes up 1 essence. A
given patient can safely accommodate up to four
features in their skin implant.
◆ Skeleton: Replacement of bones and ligaments
that exceed normal capabilities. Choose up
to two features when you get this implant (it
applies to your whole skeleton): extra limb—
omnidirectional—reinforced—turret. More than
one feature in your skeleton takes up 1 essence.

1: you may instead select one feature, applying it to multiple organs or a set of limbs.
2: counts as two features, either due to complexity or requiring a matched set.

Note: “Safely” refers to the recommended limit for a given implant location. It is possible to exceed
this limit, however rejection harm will ensue if no steps are taken; see page 267 for details.

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The functionality of each implant feature on the previous page is explained below.
SENSORY
Dampener means the chosen set of
organs regulates harmful or cluttered
sensory information automatically
(such as blinding light, deafening
noises, pungent smells, etc.).
Widened allows the chosen set of
organs to detect a greater breadth
of sensory information (adding
Implant Features
NEURAL (CONTINUED) VITAL ORGANS
If you have the reflexes implant and Amphibious allows you to “breathe”
there’s a question who acts first, the while submerged. Perhaps through
answer is you (acting at the same time an internal air supply, gills, etc.
as those with the Reflexes adept Biorepair means you mark 1 tick on
feat). Counts as two (complex) your healing clock at the end of each
A skilljack accepts one or two downtime phase (if hurt).
skillchips which expand your Ingested, inhaled, and injected
knowledge and potential. A skillchip refer to a measure of protection

imPlanTs
infravision, ultrasonic hearing, etc.). is a standard item (subterfuge against consequences from harmful
Heightened allows the chosen set supplies). When you take this implant substances delivered through the
of organs to magnify the sensory and later make a special item choice, given vector.
information available to it (see things you may spend one choice to gain “a
as if magnified, detect heartbeats or fine skillchip” (which takes up 0 load). LEGS
tremors, identify or track by scent, Choose its field of specific expertise Aquatic allows you to move quickly
etc.). when you do. Maybe “Assassin, while underwater using a set of fins
Lifelike means it appears normal, or “Actress.” Cybernetic only or other propulsion in your legs.
unless inspected closely. While Vocalflex allows you to speak in Counts as two (matched set)
optional, bioengineered implants infrasonic or ultrasonic frequency High jump allows you to jump to
include this feature (by default,for ranges, imperceptible to most extreme heights (several stories) and
free) to prevent added risk of (those with widened hearing can survive falls without damage. Counts
rejection still perceive them, for example). as two (matched set)
Lower frequencies penetrate and Swift allows you to move extremely
NEURAL travel further; higher ones are better quickly, keeping pace with most land
Adrenaline grants you +1 edge box reflected. vehicles. Counts as two (matched set)
The control rig allows you to “jump
into” a drone or vehicle to control it ARM SKIN
in virtual reality. This implant also Detachable allows you to quickly Chameleon means your skin can
provides a layer of protection against detach the limb at the elbow or change colors based upon your
consequences of wireless control. knee. When you take this implant, surroundings. Counts as two
Cybernetic only Counts as two you may select one item from those (complex)
(complex) on your list suitable for attachment; Plating adds metal plates, toughened
Having a hidden slot means your it is modified and ready to go (you scales, etc. to protect against attacks
skull contains a cavity behind your ear mark the load for any attachments as from penetrating firearms and armor-
which conceals a comm or cyberdeck usual). Cybernetic only piercing ammunition. Requires
that you have. Includes subvocal If you have points, you have Bulletproof. Incompatible with
communicator. Cybernetic only mounted spikes, claws, or nails lifelike Counts as two (complex)
The metabooster allows you to push (your choice) designed for a frenzied -proof means your skin has dermal
yourself twice per action roll for 3 melee, forged against breakage, and integrations that provide a measure
edge total (instead of 4). self-sharpening. May be retracted to of protection against consequences
The limiter means you can ignore a perfectly conceal them when not in from the given source.
number of harm boxes equal to its use.
rating. Requires rating 1 (costs two Reach allows you to quickly extend SKELETON
at start). (by about half of its usual length) or Extra limb means you have an
The pheromone secreter allows retract the limb(s). added arm or leg.
special pheromone consumables Stronger allows you to apply great
Omnidirectional allows your joints
(found in the Sample Creations in force, enough to bend bars, lift gates,
and ligaments to bend or rotate to
the previous section), to be secreted. etc. Perhaps through pneumatics or
extreme angles without significant
Pheromones are a standard item vat-grown muscles. Counts as two
injury.
(subterfuge supplies). When you take (matched set)
this implant, you may also take “a Reinforced allows your ligaments
fine dose of pheromones” as a special and bones to withstand great force
item choice (0 load) if you wish—and COMPARTMENT(S) without significant injury.
during downtime, you automatically If you add a compartment, you The turret adds the drone feature
refill your pheromone supply, so long can carry +1 load in a retractable (found on page 252) to your body;
as you have reasonable access to a compartment that recesses beneath choose a suitable weapon from your
supplier or workshop. a panel out of sight. Cybernetic only arsenal, modified to fit.

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DETAILING AN
IMPLANT
The player details each implant according
to its entry on the previous page, providing
a type, a number of features, and making
other choices to help define what it will
do in play and what is required to use it.
When you have more than a couple
fuTurism
implants, you should print the Implant
Tracker (found in the accompanying
Runners Sheets PDF) on the back of
your playbook sheet and use it to keep
track of your essence and features.
All implants have a type An implant
might be cybernetic or bioengineered.
Cybernetic implants are electronic
and may be networked through other
devices to expand their functionality.
Bioengineered implants are organic,
sometimes take up less essence than
their cybernetic counterparts (see right),
and cannot be networked (or hacked).
Circle or note the type for each implant.
Some implants list choices (for features
and other specifics) If this is the case,
its entry will list the features and specify
how many to choose and/or direct you
to the specifics to choose before moving
on. For example, the arms implant says to
choose which arm (left or right) and which
feature, so you could choose two features
in one arm, or two cyberarms each with
the same feature (or even two different
features, one per arm).
Implants themselves don’t take up
load. Attachments, however, do still take
up load. Just the same, some implants also
make you slower, heavier, and/or more
conspicuous. If this is the case, the GM
will tell you under what circumstances
this applies, modifying the position or
effect of your action accordingly.
266
The list is not exhaustive Implants on
the list are limited; any others are not.
This means you don’t lose essence if you
get something else installed. If you’re
unsure what’s possible, talk to your
fellow players about it. Do you need a skin
implant before you can get a moldable
face or is it standalone? Is it possible to
get a prehensile tail implant? What about
multiple of them? How many tiny stash
spots can you fit in a cyberhand anyways?
You can add a feature or new function
to an implant Follow the procedure
for Modification on page 255. Your
implants are automatically upgraded
when the crew’s tier increases—if you
have reasonable access to a surgeon.
Some creative modifications require
certain implants to function without
issue. If you implant a regurgitator to
spew poisons at an opponent, you risk
being poisoned yourself unless you have
an immunity or the ingested feature of the
vital organs implant.
A given patient can safely accommodate
a certain number of features per
implant location The ones that don’t
specify how many are not subject to this
limit (you can take them all). Should you
happen to exceed this limit, immediately
take a level of special harm “Rejection”
following the procedure (see page 267
for details).
Implants can take up essence, causing
you to lose it forever When you
get an implant, you can lose essence
accordingly with its entry on the previous
page. Bioengineered implants can accept
an additional feature than usual before
taking up essence. When you lose
essence, fill in a dot on your character’s
essence tracker (found at the top of the
aforementioned Implant Tracker sheet).
More about the symptoms of lost essence
can be found on page 268.

Rejection Harm
The signs of rejection are obvious to a
medical professional. When you suffer
“Rejection” harm, you’re impaired by
special harm that takes the form of
an internal infection and body aches
that worsen quickly. See page 176 for
details on recovery and special harm.
Until the offending source (typically an
implant) is removed, do not reduce the
severity of Rejection harm when you
recover. When you choose your load
for an operation, reset your healing
clock and increase the severity of
"Rejection" harm by one level. You may
roll to resist this consequence as usual
(with Body).
If rejection harm reaches level 2, the
implant site festers and the pain becomes
widespread. If this harm reaches level 3,
physical incapacitation occurs as usual—
resulting in the painful expulsion of the
offending implant, if possible (if not,
rejection eventually results in death).
You might administer suppression
drug therapy (quality 2 asset per dose
for a single offending implant, quality
3+ for more implants) to stave off the
progression of "Rejection" harm until the
next run for a single offending feature,
however this gets expensive quickly.
GENE MODS
A gene mod is a cutting edge modification
to a person’s body that doesn’t require
surgery, instead relying on nanobots and
genetic manipulation to realize their
effects. A gene mod provides benefits that
mimic an implant, but they don’t count
against the usual limits for features. These
only come in delta-class or better (quality
4+) varieties and always require rare
components. Worth the extra cost, but not
available for every implant (e.g.: hidden slot).
7
USING AN IMPLANT
Some implants can be partially prepared
during downtime and their effect fully
realized by adding the last component
or implant action. In this case, simply
make a note that the implant has been
“primed” and may be unleashed at a later
time. For example, loading a pheromone
secreter—or screwing a rifle attachment
imPlanTs
to your cyberleg. Remember that you can
call for a flashback if needed to make these
preparations ahead of time.
When you use an implant, the GM will
describe its effect level. If you unleash
it in combat against an enemy that’s
threatening you, you’ll still make an
action roll in the battle. If you’re using
an implant as a cover or distraction, it’s
probably a setup teamwork maneuver.
You might have to Interface with
your detachable arm to control it
despite an interference effect in the
area. In another scene, you might
have to Finesse it close to someone
while “jumped into” it. As an example,
another GM might judge this differently.
If you have an implant that provides a
layer of protection against consequences
from a particular source, the position
of certain actions may be affected. Not
always though—if you have bulletproof
skin, for example, maybe the risk of
getting hurt by gangers shooting at you
with cheap pistols is off the table, but they
might still call in reinforcements or land
a lucky shot. Or perhaps it only comes up
when you resist. “Because you have those
wired reflexes and high jump legs, your
resistance will completely ignore the
damage from that hard landing, instead
of just reducing it. But this is pretty far, so
I am going to roll your legs’ quality to see
what else happens.” As usual, it depends.
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SYMPTOMS OF LOST
ESSENCE
Characters start with 8 essence. Each
implant location that contains an
implant (there are 8 possible, listed on
the previous section) might be taking up
a single point of essence. Details for each
implant and how many features it takes
to lose a point of essence can be found on
fuTurism
the previous pages. Note: You can never
lose more than 1 essence from a given
implant location—regardless of how
many features you have implanted there.
A PC’s remaining essence limits their
access to the features of the supernatural
playbooks, as well as the effect of the
Assense and Attune actions (see the
interior of your supernatural playbook
for details). This goes both ways: effects
that are astral or emergent in nature
might affect you less as well—helping to
determine your position and effect, as
usual.
Sure—you get hit with the mana blast
too, but some of that energy goes right
through your body harmlessly since
you have lost the majority of your
essence—so you’ll only take level-1
harm, instead of level-2 like the others.
268
Also, when have lost your 4th point
of essence (and each time you lose 1
essence thereafter), add one symptom
from the list below:
◆ Service Required: In downtime, you
must spend a downtime activity getting
serviced in a cleanroom (or else lose 1
edge).
◆ Twitchy: Those who observe you can
tell something is “off” about your speech
and movements. People who interact
with you find your manner unnerving.
Probably your loss of humanity. How
might your implants be off-putting to the
careful observer?
◆ Signal-reliant: Jamming devices and
EMPs can incapacitate you (spend 1 edge
to resist this).
◆ Cyberpsychosis: You experience
paranoid delusion or frighteningly-real
hallucinations. Verbal conversation is
extremely upsetting to you. What are you
seeing and hearing? What can anyone do
to settle your mood?
◆ Essencedeath: When your essence
is zero, your consciousness and spirit is
destroyed. You must retire your character
(possibly to return later as a cyberzombie;
for details on this state of being, see the
end of the section in a couple pages). Only
add this “symptom” after all the others.

SHELL
CHARACTERS
A shell is a rare and advanced form of
neural technology that is designed to let a
living brain control an electromechanical
frame. A person that undergoes this
process retains many useful bits of
intelligence but almost none of its free
will.
A living character may transfer to
the Shell playbook, if they manage to
complete the tasks necessary to become
one of these entities before their brain
dies. Building a shell frame is a complex
electronics and programming project.
The required procedure to transplant
a person’s brain into the brain capsule
of the shell frame is among the most
difficult imaginable and may render the
person brain-dead.
The transplant procedure was banned
following early clinical trials. Their data
reveals those in this interim state have
horrific looping nightmares that cause
their psyches significant distress. The
minimal surgical station required to
complete a brain transplant is typically
the realm of Big Seven-level biochemical
or surgical companies operating off the
books.
The required brain transplant is
considered a Tier IV procedure.
During transplant, the patient’s brain is
detached from all its neural fibers and
artificially sustained in a temperature-
controlled, anesthetic suspension. Most
of these “brains in a jar” technically do
not survive the process. The experience
is numbing to the senses and conscious
thought. Rarely, memories will survive.
Thankfully, the brain of a transplant
7
patient is mostly unaware during the
procedure. What is not preventable is a
nearly complete loss of personality for
the subject—only a glimmer of their
former self remains.
A person whose brain has been removed
from their body loses their connection to
shell characTers
any supernatural senses they had before.
Many do often retain distant memories
of their former senses, often making
the lingering effects of transfer the most
bewildering and painful for this rare
subset of patients to reconcile.
Shells frames are often fitted with a
variety of cutting-edge devices, such as
sound suppression, the ability to generate
(and immunity to) EMPs, and other
experimental things. Shell frames can also
accept implants if they are cybernetic, but
cannot accept bioengineered implants
(even neural ones). The frame itself may
be built with enough technical expertise
and diligence. For more details on this
process, see Sample Special Plans on
page 261.
Frames can come in three general frame
sizes just like drones—however, any
frame that isn’t sized for a normal
human (medium) will require
complex modifications to function as
expected Small frames are about the
size of a house cat, and are unsuitable
for housing the brain capsule. Medium
frames are the size of a person. Large
frames are the size of a personal vehicle.
For more details on the lingering effects
of becoming a Shell, see your playbook
on page 271. Also be sure to go over
the section on Drones earlier in this
chapter—you should choose a feature
from the list found on page 253. You
can not choose a feature inappropriate to
your shell’s size or configuration.
269
 7

CYBERMANCY
A cyberzombie is a spirit bound to a body
that is technically dead (from having lost
all of its essence to implantation), but is
animated by the fusion of biotechnology
and blood ritual (collectively known as
cybermancy). Unlike shells that utilize
the preservation of their brain to avoid
death, and vessels which depend on living
fuTurism

essence to sustain them, cyberzombies

depend on strange occult powers and
pseudo-science to realize their effects.

A character who has suffered

essencedeath has died—but nonetheless
may still transfer to the Shell playbook,
(keeping some of the implants from their
former playbook as frame upgrades)
if they manage to complete the tasks
necessary to become that entity through
a process known as cybermancy. This is
actually more difficult than transplanting
a living brain before death (as described in
the previous section), because preparing
a body for cybermancy involves finding,
learning, and performing a forbidden
ritual and is a complex supernatural
project.

Some megacorporations (like Mexitech)

are rumored to use specialized
cyberzombies to assist in tracking and
murdering their enemies and dealing
with individuals infected with the
“vampire” virus.

270
 SHELL
A brain controlling a cybernetic frame
You have become a pale echo of your living self, little more than a brain trapped in a
cybernetic body that has been forced into servitude.

When you play a Shell, you earn karma when you fulfill your functions despite
difficulty or danger, or when you suppress or ignore your former metahuman
qualities

You are now but a glimmer of your former self, a dimly lit memory. What protocols
and subroutines are you forced to follow? Are you technically owned by a mega,
some institution, or perhaps a mad scientist? Is this all that remains of you?

STARTING ACTIONS ELECTRICITY

 
  
 interface Your cybernetic body runs on electricity.
Recharge your capacitors by connecting
 
  
 fight to an industrial-grade power conduit (this
takes one downtime activity). When you
When you transfer your character to do this, clear 5 energy.
the Shell playbook, add all of your other
current action ratings. You may not have
an action rating greater than 4.
ENERGY
As a shell, bioengineered implants don’t
work for you and you lack the living Instead of edge, you now spend energy.
essence to access any features of the You have 10 energy boxes. Whenever
supernatural playbooks. Additionally, you would spend edge, spend energy
effects that target emotional states or instead.
living essence have little to no effect on
you. You lose all the features of your WEAR
former supernatural playbook.
Instead of trauma, you now track wear.
You lose all special abilities from your You lose any trauma levels you had in
former playbook except for a number life. Whenever you would take trauma,
equal to 4 minus your former trauma take wear instead, and a choose a wear
(record them as veteran advances). You condition from the list.
also lose all secret arts and adept feats.

You start with the first trait on your Shell

playbook: Ghost in the Shell (which
typically includes one feature, from those
available to your size of frame). You may
also choose one more Shell trait.

271
8
SHELL TRAITS
“GHOST” IN THE SHELL
You are a brain controlling a cybernetic
frame through the neural interface in
your brain capsule (a brain in a jar). You
have human-like strength and senses,
by default. Your shell has natural armor
(this doesn’t count for load) and a full
suite of integrated communications
software. Your former feelings, interests,
and connections are only dim memories.
You now exist to fulfill your functions.
Choose three: TO GUARD—TO DESTROY—
TO DISCOVER—TO ACQUIRE—TO LABOR
AT ...that which my owner commands.
Your creator chooses who is your
registered owner: the person with an IDN
who commands you. Who built you? What
functionality did they consider integral to
your design? Is there anyone other than
them they trust to be your owner?
Choose a starting frame, also selecting a
size (medium or heavy—as you might
for a drone), its look, and a starting
feature (see list on page 253*). Due to
the coordination and neurological issues
inherent to a human brain controlling
anything else, a medium size frame
resembling a cybernetic humanoid is by
far the most common configuration.
You may be rebuilt if severely damaged
or destroyed. If your brain capsule is
shattered, you die utterly. Whenever
you would spend edge (or lose it), spend
energy instead. Whenever you would take
trauma, take wear instead.
You may swap features out with any available to you that are also suitable for your
frame size (this takes one downtime activity).
*: You may choose a cybernetic implant (and its accompanying feature choices), instead
of a drone feature, if it makes sense for your chosen frame. You cannot choose Tiny as
a feature for your starting frame.
272
SUPERIOR MACHINE
Choose any three actions. Your max rating
for the chosen actions becomes 5. When
you take this ability, add +1d to resistance
rolls against consequences of your features.
FULLY INTEGRATED
You may Interface with the local power
grid to control it or something connected to
it (including another shell).
CONDUIT
You may release some of your stored energy
as an electrical shock around you or as a
focused arc of electricity. You may also use
this ability to generate a barrier to repel or
trap signals. Spend 1 energy for each level
of magnitude.
QUANTUM CONSCIOUSNESS
Choose an additional frame, also selecting a
size (small, medium, or heavy), its look,
and a starting feature. You may transfer
your consciousness between your frames at
will.
What does this say about the nature
of human consciousness? Is it now
possible to transcend the limitations of
your physical mortality?
FRAME UPGRADE
Choose an additional feature for one of your
frames.
 CHAPTER 8

STRANGE FORCES
In the fantasy world of Runners in the
Shadows, supernatural powers exist—
but they are not innate to people. People
are mortal, material, flesh-and-blood
creatures, just as the rest of the natural
world. To pursue the feats of the Adept, or
the secret arts of Magic or Technomancy,
people must first harness strange forces
in various ways:
◆ The channeling of metaplanar energies
through the perfection of one’s living
essence, known as being a Practitioner
of the Way.
◆ The perception of metaplanar energies
from the astral plane, known as being
Awakened.
◆ The perception of metaplanar energies
from the emergent plane, known as being
Emergent.
Some people see assensing as a natural
evolution—a new human sense that
can be passed down through genetics
and is advantageous. However, most
people see attunement and technomancy
as a malicious act, connecting with
unfeeling forces that will inadvertently
destroy technology—the very same that
make people’s lives easier, and give
the corporate elite their control over
the masses. There is always something
supernatural ready to prey upon the
unwary or power-hungry it seems.
There’s no doubting that the mundane
world will never return. The new
age of quantum networking and the
machinations of emergent intelligences
and dragons are now the way of things.
Better to understand these strange forces,
lest they become your undoing.

This is to say, that the Fog of Mortal

Disbelief conceals many hidden planes of
existence from most people’s senses, two
of which are: the cold digital realm known
as the emergent plane, and the bewildering
spiritual realm known as the astral plane.
By focusing their mind in a certain way
through their living essence, a person can
learn to perceive partially into either of
these “other worlds” by either assensing
or attuning to them (you can’t do both).
They do this to sense the echoes of real-
world events captured in those realms
or to make a connection to metaplanar
energies (like spirits, for example).

273
 8

THE SUPERNATURAL OCCULT TASK FORCE,

WORLD
It’s said that the end of the Fifth World that
woke the great dragons, triggered genetic
expressions in people and animals, and
shattered the Fog of Mortal Disbelief
was caused by the multimilennial
sTranGe forces
ESSENCE POOLS, AND
SURVEILLANCE DRONES
The mystical essence pool in the field
office of the Occult Task Force ripples
and lights up whenever a potent spirit (or

sprite) is conjured (or compiled) inside

cycles of the Great Mother (Earth). It is
prophesied that mortals could “save her”
(the planet) from its inevitable invasion
by metaplanar horrors. This is foretold.
Though none can be sure, the evidence
has been mounting. Whatever the truth
of it, one thing is certain: when a living
body dies, its essence does not disperse
as it once did before. It can become a
free spirit: a spiritual entity composed of
electromagnetic vapors which coalesce
as a byproduct of their lingering living
essence.
It usually takes between one to three days
for a spirit to become free of the corpse. It is
then free to wander the world, until it has
merged with the astral plane—to become
spirit stuff that is thought to be the source
of spirits of man and spirits of beasts on
Earth. Or it is subsumed by the elemental
planes to merge with those energies that
is the source of elementals. The spirit
of someone who died while jacked in
to cyberspace either becomes one with
the data they once lived and breathed to
form a sprite. Or it is assimilated by the
quantum-scale artificial intelligences only
to remain as an “echo” in cyberspace.
the city. The weird vibes may only be
noticed by the awakened (or emergent)
near the site of the summoning, and by
the Occult Task Force, whose comms
are interfaced to a video feed of the pool.
A surveillance drone leaves the field
office and flies to the district where the
spirit may be found, circling ever closer
to it by the minute. It’s the responsibility
of the OTF to recover the summoner and
detain them, where they are immediately
questioned under duress and truth serum
to discover the truth and use it against
you before you can commit any more
occult crimes.
OTF agents are known for their stylish suits
and dark glasses, and are often relocated
to head up another city’s investigations.
They keep a warding focus as a special
defense against being targeted by magic,
and are masters of counterspelling and
nullifying supernatural power.

As the metaplanes continue to align,

terrifying horrors grow ever closer to
invasion of this plane. These unruly
horrors have been a plague upon the
world since time immemorial. Each
world has developed methods for dealing
with the metaplanar invaders that exist,
and Earth is no different.

274

SPIRITUAL TERMINOLOGY
◆ Adept A person who wields
supernatural energies through mundane
action. The term “foggie” is a derogatory
term used to refer to an adept in certain
elitist circles.
◆ Cyberzombie A dead body animated
by a bound spirit.
◆ Free Spirit A spirit without a body,
craving life essence and vengeance on
its earthly enemies. Composed of semi-
solid electromagnetic vapor. Suffers
limited harm from physical attacks, but is
vulnerable to electricity and supernatural
powers.
◆ Ghoul A living body infected by
a lesser strain of the vampiric virus.
Victims lose their body hair, take on a gray
pallor, and gain a scabby hide. Quickly
results in blindness, rarely causes loss
of intelligence (but they do tend to be
traumatized by their altered state).
◆ Infected A person trapped in a body
infected by the primary strain of the so-
called vampiric virus. A vampire.
◆ Mage A person who is able to summon
and communicate with free spirits.
◆ Possessed A living body containing
two (or more) spirits.
◆ Vessel A living body without a spirit
inside. Usually dim-witted and easily
controlled.
◆ Whole A living body with its own
spirit. The normal state of affairs.
8
SPIRITS & GREMLINS
In Kingston, common parlance calls
anything supernatural or disturbing a
“spirit.” Free spirits, shedim, wraiths,
The suPernaTural world
conjured spirits, and the works of sorcery
are all spirits to the layperson.
Any glitchy device behavior or
connectivity failure is a “gremlin”
according to local superstition, though
the term is actually a common misnomer
for the activity of sprites, echoes, and
techno-sorcery.
For tables to generate various sorts of
spirits and sprites, see the section starting
on page 288.
Each tradition views spirits a bit
differently. Hermetics tend to view
them as manifestations of their own
supernatural will. Shamans on the
other hand view the spirits they are
calling as fragments of something
divine (or the almighty Creator itself ).
So-called new age traditions tend to be
a little less extreme in either direction:
some view spirits as sentient entities
no more deserving of worship than a
hellhound, and others approach them
as equals rather than slaves or objects
of worship. It was once believed that
tradition depended on belief alone,
however the gradual alignment of
the metaplanes has given rise to the
understanding that belief is not the
only way to the secret arts.
275
 8
THE SUPERNATURAL
PLAYBOOKS
There are three supernatural playbooks
that are available: the Adept, Mage, and
Techno. A person who is a Practitioner
of the Way is known as an Adept. A
person who is Awakened is known as
sTranGe forces
a Mage. A person who is Emergent is
known as a Techno (or, in more formal
circles, as a technomancer).
Becoming a practitioner of the way,
awakened, or emergent requires
study and practice of the method you
employ, learned through the unique
lens of your tradition. To create a PC
with a supernatural playbook, take the
playbook you want during character
creation, following the guidance and
requirements in your playbook to
detail your supernatural tradition,
discussing the answers with the group.
Record the details in your notes. See the
supernatural playbooks (starting on
page 93) or the Sheets PDF for details
on describing your unique method.
THE SECRET ARTS &
SUPERNATURAL METHODS
A PC created with the appropriate
playbook gets permission to narrate how
they are an awakened or emergent
practitioner. Several options are given
on page 48. Nearly all of the secret
arts may also be accessed through the
Mystic Way Adept feat, however some
(including on that adepts cannot access)
are considered essential to the “mastery”
of a given supernatural method—which
is typically required before one can
attempt to undergo the appropriate rites
of initiation (some of these benefits are
described in the Advanced chapter):
276
Secret Arts of Magic
◆ The control of astral entities with
pseudo-scientific techniques, known
respectively as Conjuring.
◆ The formulaic series of gestures,
intonations, and concentration designed
to entreat metaplanar energies, known
as Sorcery.
◆ The fusion of these disciplines with
fields of engineering and chemistry,
known as Enchanting.
◆ The detachment of consciousness from
body to perceive beyond sight, known
as performing Astral Projection. This is
the one secret art of magic that eludes
Adepts of the Mystic Way.
Secret Arts of Technomancy
◆ The control of emergent entities with
quasi-magical techniques, known as
Compiling.
◆ The formulaic sequences of virtual
gestures, signal generation, and
concentration designed to direct
emergent energies, known as Threading.
◆ The fusion of these disciplines with
fields of programming and other
“high technology” sciences, known as
Instancing.
◆ The detachment of consciousness from
body to connect from beyond your local
cyberspace, known as performing an
Emergent Proxy. This is the one secret art
of technomancy that eludes Adepts of
the Mystic Way.

THE METAPLANES
Adjacent to the material plane lie additional
planes of supernatural existence, beyond
the reaches of mortal perception, known as
the metaplanes. The “nearest” of these are
the astral plane and cyberspace, already
aligning to the material plane. Beyond this
lie the inner metaplanes forgotten mentors
and other entities of metaplanar origin (such
as horrors). reside on a metaplane of their
own design, granting them supernatural
insights, metaplanar senses, and enabling
their complete ignorance of mortal affairs.
Horrors and other spirits find sanctuary here,
lying in wait for the eventual realignment
of the Great Mother with the metaplanes
permitting an invasion of the material plane.
The diagram below illustrates (rather
crudely) the supernatural cosmology of the
planes and the metaphysical “distances”
involved. The astral plane and cyberspace
are the intervening planes between the
material plane we live and breathe, and the
only other planes that mortals have been
able to perceive with any consistency.
8
The Cycles of the supernatural embodiment
of Earth (known in ancient tradition as the
Great Mother) are numbered, marked by the
metaphysical “alignment” of the material
plane with cyberspace, astral space, and the
metaplanes. The odd-numbered worlds are
The suPernaTural world
eras of planar misalignment, widely regarded
as periods of supernatural hibernation.
During the Fifth World, for example, spirits
dissipated quickly after the body’s death to
their respective planes, supernatural powers
could not reach the material plane, and no
one’s senses had any hope of awakening or
emerging.
The opposite is true when the planes reach
their approaching pinnacle of alignment—
the even-numbered worlds (like the current
one) are said to be most “awake” during this
time—as side effects of this alignment, planar
“bridges” will be permitted to manifest in our
world, allowing horrors to run rampant and
wage war upon the inhabitants of Earth. The
possibilities were made real when Mexitech
blood mages managed to create a temporary
bridge, ushering in a variety of terrifying
monstrosities before it was finally destroyed
by arcane ritual.
277
 8
STRANGE EVIDENCE
Supernatural evidence is the residual
impact of supernatural effects (arcane or
emergent) that can be examined as a way
to gather information. Every supernatural
effect leaves behind some supernatural
evidence. The type of supernatural
evidence left behind depends on what
sTranGe forces
created the effect:
‹ A person’s consciousness
produces an arcane aura that provides
clues about their thoughts and feelings.
Networked devices and artificial
intelligence create an emergent aura
that provide clues about their recent
signal transmissions.
‹ A Mage’s consciousness also
produces a metaphysically tangible
supernatural form, which is brighter
and offers more detail about the source
than the aura alone. Likewise, a Techno’s
consciousness also produces a virtually
tangible supernatural form, which can
provide additional clues about them.
Difficult to hide from others with the
appropriate senses while powers are active.
‹ Some things always produce a
supernatural aura as a matter of course:
spiritual entities (like free spirits, sprites,
elementals, etc.), an activated focus, you
(when you Assense or Attune)—so be
careful about using any of that. Repeated
or careless use can bring additional heat
and other unwanted attention.
‹ A recently active supernatural force
(like a spell or binding ceremony) leaves
supernatural evidence and impressions
linking the origination point and its target—
both of which bear the supernatural
signature of the source. This metaphysical
“fingerprint” fades over time, making
it essential to keep quiet the use of such
forces while on a run. Unlike a fingerprint
though, the signature quickly fades away
278
(after just a few minutes for a magnitude
1 spell, for example). Nonetheless, this can
be tracked by a skilled observer, and may
earn the attentions of authorities which
track supernatural crimes—namely, the
Occult Task Force and CyberSec Global.
For more details, see page 274 or page
245, respectively.
METAPLANAR
HORRORS
Some ancient rituals of the forgotten
mentor spirits can rend the barrier
between the planes ushering in a strange
being of supernatural phenomena which
serves a dark agenda. Horrors such as
these rarely resemble any normal living
thing—they may appear as a swarm
of stinging insects, a flickering sphere
of light, writhing blob of toxic waste,
drifting cloud of toxic vapors, or other
weird arrangements.
Horrors are intensely powerful and
highly resistant to harm. They may only
persist in this world for a short time,
however. Their extradimensional nature
cannot sustain their existence for long
outside their native plane and they
inevitably wither into sludge or soot in
the span of a few hours or days.
Free spirits, shedim, and summoned
horrors can be terrifying to behold. They
cause most people who see them to freeze
up or flee. PCs may resist these effects, as
usual. See page 32.
See Secret Arts of Summoning on page
291 for additional details.

DRAGONS
Some scholars of the supernatural believe
that dragons are the first beings, brought
into existence during the metaphysical
“birth” of the First World, as the primal
forces of the universe infused the Great
Mother with living energy. Each dragon
is thus connected to the planet according
to the region of the world where its
metaphysical “birth” took place. There
are dragons of the East, West, North, and
South.
Dragons are enormous, magical reptilian
creatures straight out of the myths
and legends of humankind. They are
intelligent, devious, and immune to the
natural effects of aging. These unique
traits afford them the opportunity to
make elaborate plans with multiple
contingency options and to take the
(very) long view on just about any subject.
Most dragons are solitary creatures who
avoid unnecessary contact with the
“slave races,” as they call them. They
are extraordinarily vile in reputation.
“Sure: take the dragon’s deal,” people say
sarcastically, when they know something
is too good to be true. Many dragons,
though, have been taking more public
roles in recent years. This may or may
not work out well for humanity.
What we know about dragons is limited
but has grown substantially as encounters
with them increase. Those things that we
do know come mostly from interviews
conducted with a former dragon whose
sacrifice prevented the arrival of horrors
in the material plane about twenty years
ago. More information came in a few
years after that, when Central American
megas executed a feathered serpent
and released the autopsy results on
cyberspace.
8
Dragons come in several known
varieties—western dragons (similar to
those described in European fables),
eastern dragons (similiar to those talked
about in Asian folklore), feathered
serpents (revered in Central American
The suPernaTural world
legend), and sea dragons (feared in
Nordic myth). Because of their unique
natures, dragons tend to surpass all
but the most potent mortals in every
respect. Dragons have exhibited certain
powers which seem to be common to all
varieties of their kind. Additionally, some
have exhibited further powers that are
not universal to dragons. All dragons
are capable and powerful users of
astral power, practitioners of a magical
tradition that predates the return of the
lost supernatural cities.
Draconic Powers
Biological Immortality: A dragon’s
chance of mortality does not increase
as they get older. They can recover from
nearly any disease or injury given enough
time (even completely regenerating a lost
limb in a manner of years).
Dragonspeech: Dragons speak the
ancient tongue of sorcery, which can be
delivered telepathically to a conscious
person’s mind. A dragon may also speak
arcane effects into existence according to
the power level of the dragon (the Mage’s
Sorcery ability is a lesser form of this
power).
Dual-natured: Dragons have a powerful
arcane consciousness that is visible
from very far away (unless its being
deliberately hidden).
Elemental Weapon: A dragon may
deliver a devastating elemental attack.
For example, some can “breathe” gouts of
flame, “spew” corrosive bile and saliva,
279
 8
etc. What actually happens though is
activation of their innate supernatural
energy—which may be delivered through
a physical attack with potency against the
supernatural, a wide cone as a ranged
weapon, or a focused stream that reaches
further.
Enhanced Perception: Wide-band
sTranGe forces
hearing, switchable low-light and
thermographic vision, and a heightened
sense of smell.
Flight: A dragon is capable of flight over
extended periods and with exceptional
maneuverability. Some dragons use their
wings in conjunction with another form of
supernatural levitation to achieve this.
Mystic Armor: A dragon has scales,
feathers, or a thick hide capable of
ignoring bullets and chemicals. A dragon
also has special armor, and may expend
it to resist supernatural effects or boost
its effectiveness when contending with
or employing supernatural power.
Size, Speed, & Strength: Dragons
possess titanic strength and size—able to
rend metal with their bare claws, shatter
stone, pop a human skill like a grape, etc.
They are also extremely quick, able to
outpace most land vehicles.
280
Particularly powerful dragons (force
IV+) also possess one or more of the
following:
Dread: Merely seeing this dragon
paralyzes onlookers in supernatural awe.
Remote Viewing: A dragon may use their
astral affinity to achieve clairvoyance.
For example, a dragon could gaze into
a foci’s astral form and innately see the
aura of the bonded user. The greater the
distance, the more powerful the dragon
must be (the Mage’s Astral Projection
ability is a lesser form of this power).
Telepathy: Can deliver thoughts
between its mind and another conscious
mind.
Maturation: Some dragons achieve
maturation, a state of metaphysical
graduation which opens their full
draconic potential. Signs of maturation
include an increase in supernatural
proficiency (the Mage’s Initiation is a
lesser form of this power) and physical
size.
 8

An infected sustains its energy by feeding

THE INFECTED
When the primary strain of the vampire
virus bonds with a living body, it
becomes infected—a creature that feeds
on life essence from a living being through
the consumption of its blood (or another
similar method). Each infected that feeds
leaves a distinct supernatural signature
on its victim afterwards. An infected can

The suPernaTural world

on essence to survive. This can happen if
an infected feeds on a victim for too long
(thereby destroying its original spirit),
or when someone is prepared for this
purpose through biological engineering.
easily detect these signs in order to locate
their victims again for feeding, or to take
care to avoid feeding on the chosen prey
of another infected.

Scholars of the arcane say that vampiric
infection breaks the chain of being. Over
time, an infected’s spirit essence diffuses
fully into the body, giving it physical
immortality while at the same time
destroying its supernatural presence in
the astral plane. Early detection combined
with aggressive chemical treatment are
the only known means of recovery for an
infected.
Infected are terrifying because of`their
abilities, but not all are corrupted beyond
reason; some choose to contain their
unearthly hungers, while others give in
fully to them. Those with fewer trauma
experience a more dramatic loss of self
during their change.
For more details about what you become,
see the Infected playbook, page 283 and
the playbook sheet in the Sheets PDF.
An infected person that isn’t human
becomes a vampiric variant if exposed
to the vampire virus.
An infected PC may keep some of their
inhuman or supernatural traits after
infection, or turn into something
wholly terrifying. Regardless, they are
“becoming” something else entirely
now—but you don’t care about that
anymore, right?

Most people grow fearful when they

know an infected is nearby. When the
Occult Task Force does discover one, they
take great pains to destroy it in secret so
as not to disturb the peace. They know
that the infected are highly allergic to
wood and are burnt by sunlight. Occult
Task Force agents capture and destroy
an infected person by disintegration
through prolonged exposure to the rays
of the sun or piercing its unearthly heart
with a wooden stake.

281
 8
FREE SPIRIT
CHARACTERS
When your character dies, you may
transfer to the Free Spirit playbook (see
the next page for details), if you wish.
If you choose to do this, then discuss
how your body is not cremated by the
sTranGe forces
city, dissolved in acid, or incinerated in
volcanic fire before your spirit is able
to work free of the corpse. If the group
thinks it would be fun, they can take on
the protection of your corpse as a mission,
keeping it away from the various threats
(the Legionnaires, OTF agents, etc.) until
your spirit emerges. Otherwise, you can
skip over that period and simply become
a Free Spirit.
Add all of your current action ratings to
the ratings on the Free Spirit playbook.
You may not have an action rating greater
than 4.
You keep any of the following secret arts
from your former playbook: Astral
Mind, Astral Occultist, Astral
Projection. and Sorcerer. You lose all
other special abilities and secret arts.
You start with the first trait on your Free
Spirit playbook: Spirit Form. You may
also choose one more trait. (Free Spirits
may not choose Possess as a starting
trait.) Note: The traits on the Free Spirit
playbook are not special abilities, and
cannot be taken by characters with living
bodies by using a veteran advance.
Your vice is replaced with a n e ed: life
essence. Free spirits must possess people
in order to satisfy this need (which you
can’t do at first—you have to advance to
earn that ability).
282
As described under Edge & the
Supernatural (on page 23), victims
suffer trauma after one week of
possession, and each week thereafter.
At some point, the victim’s will is so
completely broken that they can suffer
no more trauma—and you must ritually
prepare the body for permanent possession,
subsume its last living essence into your
own (killing them), or abandon it and seek
a new host.
You may only subsume a possessed
victim’s last living essence into your own
if they can suffer no more trauma. When
you do, you get +1 drain box (up to a
maximum of 12).
Preparing a vessel body for possession is
a complex supernatural project.
A Free Spirit character may transfer to
the Infected playbook, if someone they’ve
possessed manages to complete the tasks
necessary to become one. You are forced
out if someone you’ve possessed manages
to become a Shell.
If you’d like to begin the game as a free
spirit (or infected or shell), rather than
first playing as a normal, living character,
talk to your game group about the idea
and see what they think. If you have their
agreement, then go for it! Some words of
caution before you go ahead and do it
though: it makes the game much weirder
from the outset, and the game will
naturally tend toward the supernatural
as main fictional elements.
 INFECTED
A person infected with the vampire virus
Vampires and their ghouls are all members of a cursed subset of humanity—the “infected.” The
metaphysical death and subsequent reanimation of the body by the vampire virus tragically destroys
the mind and irrevocably changes the physiology as well, leaving little of the former self after the
change. Many infected consider people to be nothing more than walking blood bags and pawns in
their musings and schemes, while others find less disparaging ways of thinking about mortals.

FEEDING
You now have one vice: life essence, consumed from a living person. Use a downtime
activity to Stalk prey and indulge your vice. Also, when you feed, mark four ticks on
your healing clock. This is the only way you can heal. How do you feed? What telltale
sign do you leave on your victims?

STARTING ACTIONS SYMPTOMS

 
  
 assense Whenever you gain a new Infected trait
(not including your first one, Infectee),
 
  
 command add a symptom:
 
  
 fight
Dark Necessities: In downtime, you
 
  
 influence must spend one activity resting in a dark,
silent place (or else lose 3 edge). Your skin
 
  
 prowl pales and the rays of the sun can set your
flesh ablaze with supernatural flames.
 
  
 stalk
Becoming: Your body is less buoyant,
When you transfer your character to the making it harder to swim or stay afloat.
Infected playbook, add all of your current You may no longer indulge to heal harm
action ratings to the ratings on the Infected from the rays of the sun (you may heal it
playbook. You may not have an action rating using the normal methods though).
greater than 4.

If you weren’t awakened, you are now—and
you keep all secret arts of Magic you learned
from your previous playbook: Conjurer,
Enchanter, Sorcerer, etc. See page 100
for details. You lose all other supernatural
maneuvers, special abilities, adept feats, and
secret arts.
You start with the first trait on your Infected
playbook: Infectee. You may also choose
one other Infected trait.
You keep any cybernetic implants rated
at quality 4+ (delta-class) from previous
installations. You suffer a level of “Rejection”
harm if your body contains any other
implants. See page 267 for details.
Digestive Shutdown: You may only
safely consume metahuman blood
without getting sick, and experience
nausea if you consume anything else.
Alcohol is extremely poisonous to you.
Decaying: Those who get near you catch
the unmistakable odor of decay; those
who observe your astral resonance find
a vacuous hole where your living essence
should be.
Terminal: Your spirit must remain in
this body, or be destroyed.

283
9
When you play the Infected, you earn karma when you displayed your superiority, or
spread the infection without mercy You transcend the mortal world. Your concerns and
needs eclipse all others.
You are immune to the effects of aging and cannot die from old age. To what immortal
goal shall you commit yourself?
INFECTED TRAITS
INFECTEE
You are a person whose spirit is trapped in
an infected body. Your trauma is maxed out.
Choose four traumas to reflect your vampiric
nature. Arcane attacks are potent against you,
and exposure to sunlight quickly causes you
to become fatigued. If you suffer fatal harm
or trauma, you don’t die, but your infected
will is overwhelmed. You take level 3 harm:
“Incapacitated” until you feed enough to
recover. If you suffer harm the rays of the sun
or a wooden stake through the heart while in
this state, you are destroyed utterly. Your karma
tracks are longer (you now advance more
slowly). You have 12 edge boxes instead of 9.
You gain the Awakened maneuver (and if
you had it before, you keep it).
You are infectious, and those who suffer
harm from your bite attack are doomed
to become ghouls without expensive
chemotherapy (deal enough harm with your
bite attack to assure their fate, or turn them
into full-blown infectees—your choice).
When you suffer “fatal” harm and are
incapacitated, you can push yourself in
order to take action and feed. If your last
edge is also marked, then you can take no
actions, and must rely on an ally or servant
to feed you.
TERRIBLE POWER
Spend 1 edge to perform a feat of superhuman
strength or speed (run faster than a car, break
stone with bare hands, leap onto the roof of a
building, etc.). This factors into effect.
HEIGHTENED SENSES
Spend 1 edge to sense beyond human limits.
“Hear” a subject’s true thoughts or feelings,
see thermographically, sense the presence of
invisible things, intuit the location of a hidden
object, etc.
284
ASTRAL VOID
You are invisible to spiritual entities and may
not be harmed by them. Spend 2 edge to cause
living things to avert their gaze and fail to
observe you for a few moments.
Spiritual entities effectively have zero effect
against you. Particularly powerful entities
or spiritual entities ritually prepared for
the purpose may be able to counter this
ability to some extent. When you cause
living things to avert their gaze and fail to
notice you, the power will cease if you take
any sudden or violent action to draw their
attention again.
BEYOND HUMAN
Choose Intuition, Body, or Willpower.
Your max rating for actions under that attribute
becomes 5. When you take this ability, add +1d
to resistance rolls with this attribute.
MIST FORM
You can shift into slow-moving mist for about a
minute. While you remain in this form, you can
only be harmed by supernatural means. Spend
1 edge when you shift, plus 1 edge for each
extra feature: you can strongly interact with the
physical world—you move at normal speed—you
also become invisible.
When you take mist form, you transform
quickly - but once in mist form you move
more slowly than usual (roughly walking
speed). This gives you about a minute;
enough time to slip away or get into
position to take out your enemies. With a
greater investment of edge, you can achieve
more dramatic mist-based maneuvers.
 FREE SPIRIT
An echo of life between two worlds
A spirit that is “free” is an anomaly in the astral plane, sought out as a mentor by
shamans and a servant by conjurers. You’ve been beyond the material plane, but
something undying burns within you—and you can’t leave now. Not yet.

STARTING ACTIONS NEED

 
  
 assense You have an intense need: living essence.
To satisfy this need, possess a living victim
 
  
 prowl and consume their essence (this may be a
downtime activity). When you do so, clear
 
  
 stalk half your drain (round down).

DRAIN & HAUNT

When you transfer your character to
the Free Spirit playbook, add all of your
current action ratings to the ratings on
the Free Spirit playbook. So if you had
1 Prowl before death, then you would
have 2 Prowl as a fresh spirit (1 from
before, and +1 from this playbook).
You lose any dots in Attune from your
former playbook.
If you weren’t awakened, you are
now—and you keep any of the following
secret arts of magic you gained from
your former playbook in life: Astral
Mind, Astral Occultist, Astral
Projection, and Sorcerer. You lose all
other supernatural maneuvers, special
abilities, adept feats, and secret arts. Your
mortal trappings and body are both gone.
You start with the first trait on your Free
Spirit playbook: Spirit Form. You may
choose one other free spirit trait. (You may
not choose Possess as a starting trait.)
Instead of spending edge, you now take
drain. You have drain boxes equal to 1 +
your remaining essence in life, and can
take 4 torment before being consumed by
the metaplanes. Outline the appropriate
number of drain boxes in ink before
continuing Whenever you would spend
edge (or lose it), take drain instead.
Your haunt is a physical location to which you
are most tied to spiritually; the site of your
death or somewhere you knew intimately in
life. Describe it, marking the specific details in
your notes for future reference. You gain special
awareness of the area surrounding the location.
Why this place? You can strongly interact with
the physical world and vice-versa while close
enough to your haunt (range and interaction
will necessarily vary based on the situation).
TORMENT
Instead of trauma, you now track torment.
When you would take trauma, take torment
instead, and choose a torment descriptor
from the list on your playbook sheet.

When you play a Free Spirit, you earn karma when you exact vengeance upon
those you deem deserving, express your outrage or suffering, or settle scores from
your background or heritage Playing the Free Spirit means roaming the planet being
a terror until you get tired of it. It’s up to you to decide why you stay, but the things you
have in mind will be done.

285
10

What keeps you from moving on from the material plane? Are you a
phantasm held close by the magic that you once practiced in life, or is
death your first taste of supernatural power?

.
metadata2166211.
metadata0497053

FREE SPIRIT SPECIAL ABILITIES

FREE SPIRIT FORM
When you become a free spirit, you get
this trait for free. You now exist as a
concentration of vaporous essence that
resembles your living body and clothes.
You may weakly interact with the physical
world and vice versa. You’re vulnerable to
arcane powers and electromagnetic effects.
You move about by floating and may fly
swiftly without tiring. You may slowly flow
through small openings as a vapor. You chill
the area around you and are terrifying for
the living to behold. You are affected by
banishing foci (you may make a resistance
roll to overcome the repulsion).
Whenever you would spend edge (or lose
it), take drain instead. When you would
take trauma, take torment instead. You
gain the Awakened maneuver from the
Mage playbook (and if you had it before,
you keep it).
Were you emergent in life? Perhaps
you should keep that instead of
taking awakened. Or is it possible to
transcend mortal limits once you die
and become some kind of hybrid?

286
 10

DISSIPATE Selecting a new item to be your chain

You can disperse the concentrated energy
of your free spirit form in order to pass
through solid objects for a moment. Take 1
drain when you dissipate, plus 1 drain for
each feature: It lasts longer (a minute—an
hour—a day)—you also become invisible—
anything that passes through your spirit
is a complex supernatural project. See
page 18 for details.
POSSESS
You may Assense to take control of a living
body. When your control is challenged, you
must re-Assense (risking harm) or leave

form becomes engulfed by a sorcerous energy
type you wield (fire, ice, lightning, or wind).
MATERIALIZE
Take 1 drain to flow through the
supernatural pathways of the metaplanes in
order to instantly travel to your haunt, or to
answer the summoning call of a Conjurer
free sPiriT
the body. Your control is challenged when:
you consume essence from the host—when
supernatural powers act against you—when
the host’s will is driven to desperation. You
may easily and indefinitely possess a vessel
which has been ritually prepared for you
(change your playbook).

SPECTER
Take 1 drain to strongly interact with the
physical world for a few moments (as if you
had a normal body). Extend the reach and
magnitude of your interaction to include
telekinetic or electromagnetic force by
marking more drain (2-6).
PlayBooK:
Consumed essence returns to a victim
after its drained from you. Rumors
exist of a way to permanently consume
a victim’s essence to replenish what
you lost in life..

CHAINED
You are bound to a physical item (your
chain) that prevents your destruction. You
can take 1 drain to strongly interact with
it and those nearby it for a few hours (to
move it, protect it, etc). If you suffer fatal
harm or torment while your chain is
not destroyed, your spirit is banished. You
suffer level-3 harm, “Incapacitated” instead,
and quickly travel to your chain’s physical
location. If your chain should ever manage
to be destroyed, you immediately suffer a
level of torment.
If you can materialize, then you can
also spend 1 drain to instantly travel to
your chain if you so choose.
When you suffer “fatal” harm and are
incapacitated, you can push yourself
in order to take action and recover.
If you’re also out of edge, then you
can take no actions, and must rely on
someone else to feed you their essence.

287
 9

SUPERNATURAL SECRET ARTS OF

CRITTERS
Critters are flesh-and-blood creatures.
Some are mundane (like a dog or
eagle), and some are supernatural (like
a rodent-of-unusual-size or unicorn).
sTranGe forces
SUMMONING
Anyone who can Assense or Attune
can choose those actions to attempt to
communicate with supernatural entities,
requesting aid and services in exchange

Supernatural critters come in two for otherworldly desires—but this isn’t

varieties: paracritters (if they’re arcane)
or technocritters (if they’re emergent).
These resemble natural creatures, but
are different in strange ways. Some
possess a supernatural power or two as
a part of their physiology, however not
all are created equal—the most powerful
ones attract the most trouble, and are
notoriously difficult to control and satisfy.
a “secret art of summoning.” That action
alone can’t actually force such an entity
to do much of anything. However, a PC
with either of the appropriate secret arts
(Conjurer or Compiler) utters a call
which must be answered. These secret
arts are far from safe though—what
answers may be a metaplanar horror
instead of what you wanted.

PARACRITTERS The entity that answers your call is one

keyed to your tradition’s method (see
hellhound below). However, doing so with nothing
flash beetle nearby might summon a metaplanar
stone rattler horror instead (Desperate action). See the
basilisk following pages for details and random
tables.
merlin hawk
hypno-cactus
devilfish
bear-mantis
caustic slime
cloud buffalo
ethereal beeEEEEs

TECHNOCRITTERS
blotto ferret
signal raptor
paradox cat
lightning roach
tracer fox
cyberviral rat
constructor chimp
throttle bat
swarm of void wasps

288

CONJURING
Some mages claim that the spirits of
those who pass in peace tend to merge
with the astral plane to merge over time
into the living essence of the planet and
become a spirit of man, beasts, or an
element. Those whose spirits are flung
to the inner metaplanes by an untimely
death are believed to become consumed
by darker and darker urges instead—to
eventually become elementals: mindless,
tumultuous concentrations of the
primordial elements (earth, fire, wind,
and water).
A Conjurer utters an arcane call which
must be answered—if you do not specify
an entity (by its true name or type), a
horror may answer instead. When
conjuring goes awry, the GM might
determine an entity’s type randomly with
a die roll (or just pick one). 1, 2: random
horror. 3, 4: random elemental (roll 2d6
and lookup below). 5, 6: random spirit
(roll 1d6 and lookup below).
ElEMENTAlS
1-3 4-6
1-3 earth elemental fire elemental
4-6 wind elemental water elemental
SPiriTS
1 spirit of beasts
2 spirit of man
3 spirit of earth
4 spirit of fire
5 spirit of wind
6 spirit of water
9
Astral Entity Powers
Sapience: An astral entity is self-
aware, capable of making decisions
independently.
secreT arTs of summoninG
Materialization: An astral entity can
manifest a temporary physical form
on the material plane comprised of
electromagnetic vapors. It is resistant to
non-magical effects and may only weakly
interact with the material world unless
materialized.
An astral entity may also possess some
of the following powers (the more it has,
the more powerful it must be):
Fear: Some astral entities can drive
affected onlookers to flee in abject terror
from this entity. Typical of elementals.
Enhanced Perception: This entity can
always detect the presence of arcane
evidence. Typical of spirits.
Telekinesis: Some astral entities can
push or pull physical objects with only
the power of its mind.
Engulf: Some astral entities are comprised
entirely of a primordial element to which
they are keyed, and may engulf a victim to
attack them with its energy type.
The otherworldly desires of spirits and
elementals include: the sacrifice of rare
offerings on its behalf (powerful reagents
are commonly acceptable), the material
provision of its followers (nuyen, helpful
services, etc.), the pursuit of unachieved
ambitions on its behalf (more followers,
unification of sects, vengeance against a
rival entity, etc.), and the performance
of living sacrifice. The desires are listed
in order of commonality. Requests for
the latter items should be viewed with
distrust—as horrors and their harbingers
are typically the only entities interested in
such things.
289
 9
COMPILING
The emergent realms are considered
home to anomalous signals and endlessly
looping trails of data known as echoes.
Signals that end up there are assimilated
by unfathomable logic structures—
eventually becoming completely
corrupted and anomalous. Sometimes
sTranGe forces
the signals of devices with users that
died while online are slowly integrated
into the quantum field of cyberspace
around the planet to become sprites—
however its uncertain what determines
the resulting type.
A Compiler‘s brain emits an emergent
signal which must be answered—if you
do not specify an entity (by its true name
or type), a horror may answer instead.
When compiling goes awry, the GM might
determine an entity’s type randomly with
a die roll (or just pick one). 1, 2: random
horror (see next page). 3, 4: random echo
(roll 2d6 and lookup below). 5, 6: random
sprite (roll 1d6 and lookup below).
ECHOES
1 echo of corruption
2 echo of cryptography
3 echo of processing
4 echo of formatting
5 echo of networking
6 echo of machine learning
SPriTES
1-3 4-6
1-3 dissonant sprite convergent sprite
4-6 convergent sprite resonant sprite
290
Emergent Entity Powers
Cybersense: An emergent entity can sense
nearby devices through their emergent
presence in cyberspace.
Emergent Intelligence: An emergent
entity can make decisions based on any
input it receives, and is capable of conscious
thought and complex decision-making.
An emergent entity may also possess
some of the following (the more it has,
the more powerful it must be):
Orphaning Aura: This entity can force
affected devices to go offline and forfeit their
host protection. Typical of dissonant entities.
Sensor Tap: This entity can broadcast and
receive sensory information through any
sensors in the immediate area. Typical of
resonant entities.
Virtual Architect: Some emergent entities
can affect the environmental settings
of a virtual environment (changing its
gravitational constant, ambient temperature,
etc.) to suit its needs.
Null Stream: Some emergent entities don’t
produce traceable signals, only broadcasting
null data and infinitely looping logic
structures capable of executing a device-
halting online attack.
The otherworldly desires of sprites and
echoes include: the sacrifice of rare
offerings on its behalf (powerful reagents
are commonly acceptable), the material
provision of its followers (nuyen, helpful
services, etc.), the pursuit of unachieved
ambitions on its behalf (more followers,
unification of sects, vengeance against a
rival entity, etc.), and the performance of
technological sacrifice. The desires are
listed in order of commonality. Requests
for the latter items should be viewed with
distrust—as horrors and their harbingers
are typically the only entities interested in
such things.
 9

RANDOM HORRORS CONJURED HORRORS (EMERGENT)

1-3 4-6
When there are no supernatural
entities nearby, a horror can answer 1 twisting psychic drones
the call instead. Deliberately wasting a machinery

secreT arTs of summoninG

significant enough amount of reagents 2 nightmare shocking metal
or other concentration of essence can vibrations shards
also draw them out as well. To generate
a horror, roll two six-sided dice (2d6) 3 impossible rusting vapors
and look up the result on the appropriate network
table below. So, if you were generating a 4 feedback storm blinding stream
conjured horror for a mage, and rolled a 3
and a 5, then it’s either “pulsating flesh” or 5 coils of expanding
“hypnotic lights,” depending on which die magnetic rope construct
is used to determine the column. 6 orphaning mist killer vehicle

CONJURED HORRORS (ASTRAL)

1-3 4-6
1 smoking oil toxic waste
monster
2 freezing fire petrifying
serpent
3 writhing ooze pulsating flesh
4 swarm of insectoid being
ethereal insects
5 hypnotic lights intoxicating
whirlwind
6 tornado of ice disintegration
shards orb

291
 9
BINDING CEREMONIES
To enact a binding ceremony on a spirit or
sprite is to come into contact with these
otherworldly forces and entreat them to
do your will. It is not for the faint of heart,
but it does offer numerous benefits to the
frequent summoner.
sTranGe forces
To perform a binding ceremony on a
particular entity, you must have the
appropriate secret art (Conjure or
Compile), then follow the procedure
below.
(1) Pay the cost Binding an entity
takes one downtime activity to perform
and costs an amount of edge equal to the
magnitude of the entity bound. Binding
a particular entity may have additional
costs, such as a sacrifice, rare item, the
start of a dire progress clock, etc. The GM
may also tick a progress clock when you
perform a binding ceremony—to advance
the agenda of a supernatural power (like
a forgotten mentor or emergent paragon),
or to show the steady approach of a dark
outcome that is a consequence of the
binding’s use.
(2) Once the cost is paid, make a
fortune roll (using your rating in Assense
or Attune) to see how many services you
reserve. On a 1-3, one service. On a 4/5,
two services. On a 6, three services. On
a Critical, five services. Then, record
the entity in your notes along with a
countdown clock to track how many
services have been reserved for later.
Because a binding is a downtime activity,
you can spend nuyen 1-for-1 to increase
the result level of your fortune roll.
Using Bound Entities
When, having bound your supernatural
signature by ceremony to a spiritual entity,
you receive permission to command
it and it may not refuse you. When the
292
entity’s otherworldly desires are not
well-satisfied, it receives permission to
work in secret toward your destruction
to be free of its binding.
A supernatural entity with services
remaining is compelled to stay at hand,
veiled and hidden within the inner
metaplanes ready to answer your call
and appear at an instant to serve you.
When you summon the entity and issue a
command through your binding, deplete
one service you reserved. When all services
are depleted, the entity departs. To keep a
well-suited entity around indefinitely, you
might use your last remaining service to
command it to participate in the ceremony
to bind it again. While you have remaining
services owed to you, 1 edge box marked
during the ceremony cannot be cleared
until the supernatural entity is dismissed.
SUPERNATURAL LIMITS
Until you have a lodge dedicated to
your tradition (see next section for
details), you can have a number of active
supernatural bonds (in sum) equal to
your rating in Assense or Attune. The
following bonds count against your limit:
◆ Bound spirits and sprites (see previous
section for details).
◆ Bound foci (examples can be found in
each of the supernatural playbooks, and
more details on page 303).
◆ Sustained spells (see Sorcery, page
184).
If you have reached your limit already, when
you activate another bond you must choose
one of the following: displace one of your
bonds—your vice is replaced by “essence”
(see below). If you displace one, the entity
or effect is also dismissed (passing through
the Threshold, returning to its native plane,
or becoming abruptly inert).

REPLACING YOUR VICE WITH
“ESSENCE”
When you sustain too many
supernatural bonds at once, you get
a taste of the raw power sustaining
them. It is delicious and empowering—
said to be like a hot rush of bluecoke,
but thousands of magnitude better.
You might consider stopping, but you
honestly can’t get enough.
When your vice is replaced with “essence”
you have one vice: essence, consumed
from a sufficient source. Use a downtime
activity to Stalk sources and indulge
your vice. Essence-addicted characters
may consume essence from reagents
or foci (which you can’t do at first—you
have to advance to earn the Enchanter
or Instancer ability). This is the only
way you can clear edge. What does this
look like?
To change your vice back, dismiss
supernatural bonds so you no longer
exceed your limit (see above) and ignore
your vice for a downtime phase.
9
ESSENCE CONTRACTS
Some summoners prefer not to control
supernatural entities, instead making
deals with them. This is a dubious course
secreT arTs of summoninG
of action though! When you discuss a
deal with powerful supernatural entities,
the GM will suggest what it wants by
describing its requests and counteroffers.
To ensure it will be honored, the entity
will wield its supernatural power to form
an essence contract (with or without
your permission) once you make a deal
with them.
An essence contract is a deal backed by
harmful metaplanar energies. When you
make a deal with a powerful supernatural
entity—you both bear each other’s
supernatural signature of your oath to
an essence contract. If either breaks the
deal, they take level 3 harm, “Cursed.”
The mark of the oath is obvious to
anyone who can detect it (perhaps
a glowing brand is placed on your
astral form, or your living persona
ushers corruption from its eyes). When
you suffer “Cursed” harm, you’re
incapacitated by withering of your living
essence: enfeebled muscles, hair falling
out, temporary amnesia, bleeding from
the eyes and ears, etc. until you either
fulfill the deal or discover a way to heal
the curse.
Mortals cannot wield this ancient
power without more direct access to the
metaplanes (page 362 offers a potential
method). A PC with the Conjure or
Compile secret arts gains access to
binding ceremonies, however—a lesser
version of this power.
293
 9
POWER SITES
As the alignment of the metaplanes
approaches, their influence on Earth
rises and forms lines of power. When
lines of power intersect they create
a geographical location with strange
supernatural properties, known as a
sTranGe forces
power site. Power sites come in two
general types: arcane and emergent. These
may be further subdivided according to
the supernatural methods they promote
(shamanic, dissonant, etc.).
Supernatural energies of a given type
either flood the power site (typically
granting bonus effect for users) or vacate
it (causing all users of it to suffer reduced
effect). The magnitude of a power site
determines the range and potency of its
influence—though supernatural barriers,
opposing aspects, and powerful entities
(like dragons and free spirits) can oppose
or bolster this. The profitable and truly
powerful sites (magnitude 5+) are all
controlled by the Big Seven.
LODGES
A lodge is a location whose energies benefit
a particular method of supernatural
practice—a lesser kind of power site,
created by a trained practitioner of the
secret arts. Unlike modern supernatural
practices, activating lodges depends
on metaplanar energies and entities to
realize their effects. To activate a lodge
is to come into contact with otherworldly
forces and entreat them to do your will. It
is a practice wrought with considerable
risk.
294
CLEANSING A LODGE SITE
To create a permanent lodge, a Mage or
Techno PC must first find and cleanse
a site, then create it. A crew with the
lodge upgrade begins with one lodge,
already cleansed and created (follow
the instructions on the right to detail it).
Practitioners of the same method can
use the same lodge. You may gain an
additional lodge by taking the lodge crew
upgrade again, each time describing it.
When a site is seized as part of an
operation, you might need to cleanse it
to remove any influence from conflicting
energies before it can be dedicated to a
tradition. A site may be cleansed as payoff
from a run—perhaps you banish the
toxic spirits that haunt the docks to make
way for a new lodge. You might cleanse
a site as the goal of a long-term project—
by assensing to perform cleansing rites,
scrambling to treat an area with reagents,
or some other method you devise.
CREATING A LODGE
Once the site of a lodge is found and
cleansed, you may undertake a long-term
project to dedicate a site to a particular
supernatural method (“aspecting” it away
from all others). Most lodges will require
an 8-segment progress clock to complete.
The arcane or emergent method to which
the lodge is dedicated is the same practiced
by the PC who created it. The player also
describes the lodge’s appearance (see left
for some example descriptors), especially
the look and feel of the activation area in
the center. Record any descriptors you
choose in your notes for future reference.
If you don’t have a suitable site for a
permanent lodge, you may acquire a
temporary one or spend reagents to get
one that lasts for one downtime activity
or run.
 9

LODGE BENEFITS The activation of a lodge is required to

Once you have a lodge, ignore the
supernatural limits mentioned on page
292.
Your lodge is appointed with tools
and materials for learning spells and
performing binding ceremonies, as well
as protective wards from supernatural
use or benefit from it in this way, and this
fiction is tied to your supernatural method
in a direct, philosophical, and ideological
way. It doesn’t work for others exactly
like it does for you—describe how you do
it. Discuss your ideas about what mystical
or techno-magical strangeness happens
when it is activated, and lean heavy on
your tradition’s unique expression of

interference and surveillance. You
may accomplish long-term projects
with these assets without leaving your
safehouse.
Power siTes
the secret arts. The player should record
these details in their notes for future
reference.

Your essence is tied to your lodge’s location

through your supernatural signature—
so you have special awareness of any
intrusion regardless of the distance
separating you, but you might also be
tracked using the same.

Spend 1 nuyen to activate a lodge

dedicated to your tradition’s method to
gain the benefits on the list below to one
supernatural action you perform while
within it. The cost covers the expenditure
of expensive or rare supernatural
reagents:

◆ When you perform a secret art inside,

take +1d to any resistance rolls against
consequences of your action. When you
lead a group action to cast or prepare
a spell with a ritual link, anyone who ARCA NE LO DG E DE SCR I PTO RS
shares awakened or emergent with you
warm, dim, smoky, grimy, clay,
may participate in a group action led by
you, whether they know the spell or not. stones, wood, pungent leaves,
exotic flora, old books, bones, teeth,
◆ For any downtime activity involving bubbling vials, & animal skins.
the study or practice of supernatural
E M E RGE N T L O D G E D ES C R I P TORS
power (including learning a spell), take
+1d to the roll—in addition to the bonus cool, dry, scent of burnt carbon,
die from the help a friend or contact flickering, cluttered, frayed wiring,
might provide (see Downtime Activities
corrupted datachips, broken panels,
page 174 for details).
cracked processors, fried datachips,
buzzing generators, & dead channels.

295
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SORCERY &
THREADING
“Performing sorcery is like
a dance, set to music no
sTranGe forces
one else can hear.”
- Moonriver, TedxTalks on Sorcery
Sorcery is the practiced art of summoning
raw arcane force (mana) from the
metaplanes through a person’s physical
body to turn it into a spell. Threading
is techno-sorcery, operating on the same
principle but tapping into raw emergent
force (resonance) instead to turn it into
an emergent spell (aka thread).
A spell is a supernatural force which bears
your supernatural signature, both where
it was cast and where its effect is realized.
These techniques cause devastating
metaplanar energies to pass through the
practitioner’s living essence—it is not a
practice without cost or considerable risk.
And while it’s possible to do so without
knowing the appropriate secret art, it’s
exceedingly unlikely to succeed (0d roll).
FINDING A SOURCE
A PC Sorcerer or Threader begins
with two spells, already learned. To learn
another spell, a PC must first find a source,
then learn it. A source may be secured as
a payoff from a run—perhaps you steal a
set of ritual tablets from the back rooms of
Moonriver’s talisman shop. You might also
secure a source as the subject of a long-
term project—by consorting with techno-
cultist friends, studying an acquired
formula, learning from a teacher, or some
other method you devise.
296
LEARNING A SPELL
Once the source of a spell is found, you
may undertake a long-term project in
your lodge (if you have one) to learn the
spell. To learn a spell, you must have
the appropriate secret art (Sorcerer or
Threader). Most spells will require a
6-segment progress clock to learn. Casting
a spell without knowing it first is possible,
but it costs you +1 edge than normal (see
the remainder of this section for details
on spell costs).
The player and the GM answer questions
about the spell to define what it will do in
play and what is required to cast it (see
below). The player records these answers
in their notes for future reference.
(1) GM asks: “What type of spell is it
and what does it do?” Player answers.
A spell’s type might be astral, emergent,
mental, or physical.
(2) Player asks: “What must I do
to cast the spell?” GM answers, with
the magnitude the spell produces as a
guideline. The spell’s type and desired
effect help inform the GM what kind
of casting link is required (touch, sight,
special senses, or ritual) and which roll
should resolve the outcome (an action
roll, fortune roll, or both). Casting a
spell may also have additional costs or
requirements, such as concentration,
heat, the start of a dire progress clock, etc.
(3) GM asks: “What is strange or
unique about your tradition’s casting
of this spell?“ Player answers, describing
the specific gestures, movements,
phrases, or meditations which prevent its
usage by those who practice a different
supernatural method. Each spell learned
is a personalized expression of how to
summon the required energies.

CASTING A SPELL
To cast (perform) a spell, you must
envision it, then follow the method
outlined by the spell questions. If you
lack the appropriate secret art to even
cast spells (Sorcerer or Threader), you
can still try but you roll 0d when you do
so.
Mental spells are cast on a target’s mind
(and are most effective if you lock eyes
with them), while physical spells are cast
on something’s presence in the material
plane—either directly, or indirectly then
thrown or moved (and is most effective
when you touch the target). Astral spells
are cast on a target’s presence in the
astral plane, whereas emergent spells are
cast on their presence in the emergent
plane. Due to the limitations of the
energies fueling their sorcerous powers,
a Techno’s spell cannot be astral, and a
Mage’s spell cannot be emergent.
A spell’s type and what it does helps the
GM determine how it must be cast to
work. You may also cast a spell using a
ritual casting link instead of the required
one for the spell you learned, if you
possess it (perhaps some hair or a tooth)
and spend appropriate time in a lodge or
other suitable ritual location—usually no
less than one hour.
A caster’s spell potential is equal to
their special action rating So if you
have 3 dots in Assense, you have a spell
potential of 3.
The cost to cast a spell is determined
by the answers to the spell questions,
according to the magnitude of the spell
in question (page 236 for details). The
GM compares the magnitude of the
spell factors you’ve chosen to your spell
potential as a guideline for determining
the spell’s cost (not counting the base force,
*: You might also increase a spell factor (scale, duration, or force) in exchange for reagents, if
you have some on hand. Remember you can flashback if needed.
9
◆a trivial spell: When you cast a
spell with a magnitude less than
your spell potential, spend 1 edge
or take level-1 special harm (your
choice; no resist). The GM may waive
the cost for a trivial spell or one with
sorcery & ThreadinG
an even lower magnitude.
◆a costly spell: When you cast a
spell with a magnitude equal to your
spell potential, you’ve reached the
maximum you can produce without
seriously hurting yourself; spend 1
edge and take level-1 special harm.
◆a maximized spell: When you
cast a spell with a magnitude
greater than your spell potential,
you’ve reached the maximum*
you can produce without a ritual
link; spend 1 edge and take level-2
special harm.
which is set by your crew’s Tier and any
relevant items); it may be higher or lower
to better represent the nature of the spell
and how much the usage aligns with the
answers given to the spell questions.
Pay the cost for the spell after its cast
Some claims and special abilities also
reduce the cost for casting a spell. Special
armor from the supernatural playbooks
may absorb some of the harm as well.
If you’re a Sorcerer, any special harm
taken is “Drained.” If you’re a Threader,
any special harm taken is “Faded.” When
you take special harm to cast a spell, it is a
supernatural consequence and you may
roll to resist this as usual. The only thing
that can heal special harm is mundane
healing, rest, and recuperation; see
Recover on page 176 for details.
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 9
If a spell is dangerous or troublesome
to cast, make an action roll (usually
with one of the special actions, Assense
or Attune). When you unleash a spell
as a weapon, the GM will describe its
effect level and any collateral damage.
When you summon a spell effect in the
immediate vicinity, the GM will describe
its effect level. If you’re using a spell as
sTranGe forces
cover or distraction, it’s probably a setup
teamwork maneuver, using a special
action.
Bartleby’s character Totes casts a
fireball spell and hurls it at the handful
of ghouls at the end of the alleyway
in an attempt to burn them (scale: 1,
force: 2). He has a spell potential of 2
(his rating in Assense) and his crew is
tier 2 (so his base magnitude is already
2)—so the GM says it’s going to be a
trivial spell (counting only 1 magnitude
for the scale). There’s enough time to
pull his fine reagents too though, so
he goes for it. He makes an action roll
using Assense for the spell and gets a
Critical! The ghouls are engulfed and
knocked down into a writhing pile by
the dumpster.
Next, he pays the cost for the spell,
marking 1 edge or taking level-1 special
harm. He marks the edge, but reduces
the cost to 0 with the reagents, instead
of taking the boosted magnitude
(“engulfed” in fire is quite enough!). As
an example, another GM might judge
the magnitude differently.
Sometimes you have to maneuver
yourself into position before you can
establish the required casting link to
unleash a spell. You might have to Prowl
to a good vantage point first, and then
Assense to see what your lightning bolt
does to the helicopter’s rotors as it takes
off.
298
Sometimes a spell requires your
continued concentration to have any
lasting effect. When your concentration
on a spell is challenged, you must re-
Assense or re-Attune (risking special
harm) or dismiss it. Your concentration is
challenged when: you cast another spell—
the target takes harm—supernatural
forces act against you—the target’s will is
driven to desperation. Note: This is how
you might sustain spells until the precise
moment you need them, however the
edge marked to cast a sustained spell
cannot be regained until after you’ve
dismissed the spell.
RITUAL LINK SPELLS
Most spells can be cast using a ritual
casting link instead of their usual casting
link. To ritualize a spell using this method,
you must first get a ritual connection to
the target, like some blood or hair. Most
ritualized spells will take one downtime
activity to complete, though the GM may
call for two (or more) downtime activities
for very powerful or far-reaching rituals.
Some spells with a ritual casting link may
be partially performed in a downtime
and then fully manifested at-will later by
completing the last incantation or casting
action. In this case, simply make a note
that the ritual has been “primed” and
may be unleashed at a later time.
Ritualized spells take time to cast Use
the duration examples on the magnitude
table to reduce the effective magnitude of
the spell for determining cost (see above)
based on the time needed to complete it,
generally no less than an hour.
Ritualized spells must be cast inside
a lodge dedicated to the appropriate
supernatural method. A lodge dedicated
to a method other than your own will not
benefit you. See page 294 for details.

The GM may also tick a progress clock
when you cast a spell with a ritual link—
to advance the agenda of a supernatural
power or entity, or to show the steady
approach of a dark outcome that is a
consequence of the ritual’s use.
If a ritualized spell has an uncertain
effect then a fortune roll should also
be made to see how well it manifests. If
a ritualized spell is both dangerous and
uncertain, then both rolls may be called
for. Because casting a spell with a ritual
link is a downtime activity, you may spend
nuyen 1-for-1 to increase the result level
of any fortune roll made to determine
effect (this represents the expenditure of
expensive or rare ritual materials).
Each casting of a spell as a ritual is
a unique event, and may not always
work the same way each time. The GM
or players may reassess the factors to
establish the ritualized spell anew. Ritual
casting is a way to bring in a wide variety
of supernatural effects into the game. Use
with caution! If you ever go overboard,
address the questions again to establish
new costs if things have gotten out of
hand. The metaplanar forces are not
playthings and cannot be considered a
reliable or safe source of power.
9
LIMITS ON SPELLS
Using sorcery or threading a spell,
while particularly powerful in the right
situation, is not an answer to all problems.
There are many things spells cannot do:
◆ They
sorcery & ThreadinG
cannot directly change distance
or the passage of time. No literal
teleportation or time travel.
◆ They cannot divine the future with any
certainty. That which has not happened
yet is always uncertain.
◆ They cannot conjure, banish, compile,
or decompile supernatural entities. Spells
can still have other effects on them—but
it’s not “conjuring” or “compiling” them.
◆ They cannot raise the dead. Anyone who
claims the contrary is full of drek.
◆ They cannot create physical objects. No
summoning items (not even a hammer).
◆ They cannot produce or possess
sapience. Spells never make independent
decisions.
299
 9
SAMPLE SPELLS & THREADS
Animate (physical): You apply kinetic force
to carefully manipulate objects (push a series
of buttons, animate brooms, lift an item from
someone’s pocket, etc.) from afar.
Barrier (physical): Creates a weak kinetic
field to push someone back, block movement,
sTranGe forces
or deflect physical harm.
Brown Note (physical): Produces an
infrasonic pulse to speed bowel movements.
Compulsion (mental): Compels a person to
act upon a short directive you plant in their
mind using a brief conversation. A fortune
roll determines how much influence your
directive has over your target. A directive may
also be planted during a flashback, to take
effect at the right moment later.
Defragment (emergent): Instantly mends
an icon’s cyberspace harm, clearing it as if
repaired. A fortune roll determines if they
clear one or (on a critical) two harm. Frequent
use on the same subject yields diminishing
results. Has no effect on physical or special
harm (like an item being smashed or “Faded”
for example).
Disrupt Icon (emergent): While you sustain
this spell, you reduce the rating of the
associated target in cyberspace.
Enhance Body (physical): While you sustain
this spell, you increase the target’s effect with
actions under the Body attribute. Not a dice
bonus.
Figments (mental): You cause someone to see
phantasms (visual distortion, crawling bugs,
a trideo ad, etc) which terrify or confuse
them. Exploiting someone’s deep-seated fears
or fascinations will make this spell more
effective.
300
Fireball (physical): You hurl a ball of
scorching flames as a ranged weapon. May
ignite flammable objects as a collateral effect.
Forget (mental): Revises someone’s short-
term memory or interferes with the
cultivation of memories while sustained.
They can even be forced to forget an interaction
with you, but will probably recall your actions
when they next interact with you.
Gravity (physical): You generate a
gravitational anomaly (impeding movement,
extending hang time, etc.).
Heal (physical): Mends a living creature’s
physical injury and strain in mere moments,
ticking their healing clock accordingly.
When you cast heal on someone, the GM
will describe the effect level (how many
segments on their healing clock it can tick).
If you cast this in combat despite an
enemy who’s threatening you, you’ll still
make an action roll in the battle (usually
with Assense). Frequent use on the same
subject yields diminishing results. Has no
effect on special harm (like “Rejection” or
“Drained”).
Hydromancy (physical): You alter the
hydrodynamic properties of non-living
liquids nearby, greatly increasing or
decreasing the viscosity within, animating
them according to your will. Particularly
effective against fires, or on a body of water.
Ice Blast (physical): You unleash a spear or
shards of ice as a ranged weapon.
Inception (mental): You craft a short dream
sequence and transmit it to someone’s
sleeping mind. When this spell is cast, you
enter a meditative state and surveil the affected
target’s dreams to craft the appropriate dream
sequence.

Interpret (mental): You hold a conversation
with a sapient creature despite language
barriers, delivering and receiving intended
meaning in each other’s native tongues. A
trained hunting pet with sapience, or a
paracritter or technocritter definitely counts.
Invisibility (physical): Light is absorbed and
obfuscated, making your target become less
visible. Particularly effective in shadow, and
against those relying on their eyes or sensors.
Lightning (physical): You unleash a stroke of
lightning as a ranged weapon. Particularly
effective against electronic targets like cyborgs,
drones, etc.
Liquefy (physical): You lower the molecular
integrity of a target’s flesh, rendering it soft
and pliable. A vile, but effective spell against
organic targets.
Locate Mind (mental): You gain special
awareness of sapient minds nearby.
You might also use this to track a specified
target well-known to you (“our fixer,” “old
folks,” “your mom,” etc.). If you don’t know
a target well-enough, you might need to
start a long-term project to know them
better.
Necrotize (astral): You channel necrotic
energy which renders affected living
essence inert for a time, causing the target to
temporarily suffer symptoms of lost essence.
Can wither organic tissue over time.
Noisepunch (emergent): You produce a
stream of junk data that causes inexplicable
signal interference to an attuned device,
bypassing its software and host protections.
Pain Relief (physical): You alleviate a target’s
suffering from a harm penalty.
Predator Eyes (physical): You imbue
someone with thermographic vision.
9
Purify (physical): You remove pollution and
impurities from nearby dirt, sand, water, etc.
in the immediate vicinity. A mildly polluted
area can be cleaned immediately, while a
heavily polluted one takes more time and
requires concentration.
sorcery & ThreadinG
Resonant Veil (emergent): You create illusory
cyberspace phenomena that is distracting to
those nearby. Particularly effective against
mundanes and AI.
Shadow (physical): You produce a globe
of blinding shadow nearby. The globe of
blinding shadow doesn’t let light pass in or
out.
Spirit Light (astral): You cause
concentrations of essence to glow in the
material plane, making them detectable by
anyone (awakened or not) in the immediate
vicinity.
Spasm (physical): You cause a target to
experience a short bout of uncontrollable
muscle spasms. This might be used to cause
someone to drop things, squeeze the trigger,
crumple to the floor, etc.
Telepathy (mental): You probe someone’s
consciousness, revealing their thoughts
and feelings. You might also use this spell to
establish a sensory link.
Weaken Integrity (physical): You weaken the
molecular integrity of a solid target, making it
easier to break. Particularly effective against
denser solids.
301
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REAGENTS
All natural objects contain some amount
of essence. And all programmed items
contain some amount of emergent energy.
Reagents, however, contain a high
concentration of theses supernatural
energies within.
sTranGe forces
USING REAGENTS
Consuming reagents takes a few moments
and releases the essence contained
within, after which the item will quickly
become inert and dissipate (leaves
shrivel up, blood evaporates, corrupted
data disperses, processor fragments
turn to dust, etc.). When you consume

sufficient reagents on-hand, choose one:

Arcane reagents are often measured
in drams—referring to the standard
measurement for 5 grams (roughly 1/6
of an ounce) of orichalcum. This potent
arcane resource can be harvested by
Enchanters from concentrations of
essence (power sites, etc.). While the
reagent trade relies on this measurement,
almost all of the reagents being bought
and sold are much heavier and less pure
than orichalcum.
Similarly, emergent reagents are often
measured in quantum bits (or qubits,
for short)—referring to the standard
measurement for a block of decentralized
data—which can be harvested by
Instancers.
create a temporary lodge (long enough for
one downtime or run)—perform a binding
ceremony—perform a spell. Reagents
either reduce the edge cost or boost the
magnitude of an equally-rated effect by
1 (your choice).
Totes casts a lightning bolt spell (with
a base force of 2) on a member of the
Black Circle to prevent their pursuit.
The Black Circle are Tier III with
personal arcane warding, so Totes is
outclassed in terms of quality and the
GM says his effect on the Black Circle
member will be limited. If he consumes
his fine reagents though (quality 3)—
his effect would be standard instead.

While the form taken by reagents

does vary by tradition and specific
practitioner, they must follow some basic
rules to hold the appropriate energies to
be effective: arcane reagents are never
high-tech (unworked minerals or hand-
worked natural items), while emergent
reagents are always high-tech (corrupted
software or anomalous electronics).
Mages typically prefer gemstones and
precious metals, or remains of flora and
fauna (bones, branches, leather, etc).
Technomancers typically prefer corrupted
qubits or resonant metadata extracted
from powerful cyberspace entities like
artificial intelligence or .

302

SUPERNATURAL
CRAFTING
Unlike modern engineering practices
which employ the scientific method and
materials to produce mundane items,
supernatural creations rely on secret
arts and metaplanar energies to realize
their effects. To craft a supernatural item
is to come into direct contact with these
harmful energies and forge them into a
supernatural construct present on the
material plane. It is a painstaking process
fraught with risk and cost that is likely to
draw the attention of nearby OTF agents
and supernatural beings.
When you craft a supernatural item,
follow the process as usual and roll
Engineer just like you would any other
item (see page 255 for details). It is
recommended that supernatural crafting
be one within your lodge to avoid
unwanted attention.
ALCHEMICALS, WIDGETS &
FOCI
In addition, anyone with an appropriate
combination of secret arts (see below)
gains additional options for special
creations of the supernatural type:
◆A PC with the Enchanter and
Sorcerer secret arts may build arcane
chemical creations known as alchemicals
that produce arcane spell effects for
the user. Alchemicals always have the
Consumable drawback.
◆ A PC with the Instancer and Threader
secret arts may build emergent software
creations known as widgets that produce
emergent spell effects. Widgets always
have the Consumable drawback.
9
When you invent a widget or alchemical,
describe its method of use in question
1, “..what does it do?” and select some
strange effect(s). Widgets and alchemicals
that produce common spell effects (see
Sample Supernatural Formulas on
suPernaTural crafTinG
next page) don’t require special formulas
or designs to learn—anyone with the
appropriate secret arts may attempt to
craft them using commonly available
instructions.
A focus (plural: foci) is an item that
only grants its supernatural benefits
to its bound user. When you are bound
to a focus through supernatural ritual,
you gain permission to activate its
supernatural properties while you use it.
Any special item that is a focus is already
bound to you when you get it—and any
new focus you craft is bound to you upon
creation.
A focus is linked to your supernatural
signature When you activate a bound
focus (usually by wearing, carrying, or
holding it), it produces an astral form
or emergent icon, depending on its type;
this is linked to your own (see Strange
Evidence on page 278 for details).
Further, when you can sense your focus
(regardless of the distance separating
you) and so may track it using through
its connection to you, and can choose to
spend 1 edge to gain special awareness
of the area immediately surrounding the
item. The Mage willingly hands his fine
spell focus over to security. He knows he
can sense it wherever it may go in the city
for quite awhile.
A bond with a focus persists until
you dismiss it or another user’s bond
replaces your own—whichever happens
first. When you use a focus that is not
bonded to you, it will otherwise function
as usual, but its supernatural properties
are unavailable.
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Replacing a bond to a focus takes
time Binding a focus that already has
a bond takes one downtime activity to
complete, must be performed in a lodge
dedicated to your supernatural method,
and removes any previous bond the item
had. Use the duration examples on the
magnitude table to determine the time
needed, generally no less than an hour.
sTranGe forces
Tell the others what happens during this
time: is this some form of meditation,
spoken prayers, or some other ritualized
practice (perhaps a totemic dance, the
application of blood, graphics, virtual
effects, oils, incenses, etc.)?
The GM may also tick a progress clock
when you replace a bond to a focus—to
advance the agenda of a supernatural
power or entity, or to show the steady
approach of a dark outcome that is
a consequence of the focus’ binding.
If binding a focus is dangerous or
troublesome to perform, make an action
roll (usually Assense or Attune) to see
if unpleasant consequences manifest.
SAMPLE SUPERNATURAL
FORMULAS
◆ Bloodstone (III, arcane CHEMICAL):
Capable of merging with a lost limb to regrowing
an entire limb in a few minutes. A Tier IV version
is also capable of merging a foci with the regrown
limb.
◆ Blackout beacon (IV/1, emergent
ELECTRICAL): A compilation of dissonant
energies that causes the inexplicable failure
of nearby sensors. Rare (1g of plutonium-528).
Volatile (4-track, “Accosted by CSG Agents,” 1 tick
per use).
◆ Corruption paste (III/1, emergent
CHEMICAL): Enough to coat a person’s hands or
feet, disrupting nearby signals and sensors for the
next few minutes. Consumable. Rare (requires a
handful of void serpent scales).
304
◆ Sacred herb (IV/1, arcane CHEMICAL):
When smoked or ingested; the user’s mind opens
further to the astral plane. Take +1d to Assense
roll upon use, suffer level 2 harm, High AF. Rare
(derived from awakened kelp).
◆ Healing potion (I/1, arcane CHEMICAL):
Accelerates the healing process, granting +1 ticks
on a healing clock. A Tier IV version provides +4
ticks on a healing clock.
◆ Stillwine (II/1, arcane CHEMICAL):
Paralyzes the subject, suspending vital functions
for a few minutes when ingested. Designed to
mimick death by pulmonary embolism and
temporary cardiac arrest. A Tier III version
will suspend all bodily functions; enough to foil
examination by a skilled observer. Level-1 Harm,
“Chest Pains.” Unreliable (may cause lingering
paralysis).
◆ Laesal Wine (IV/1, arcane CHEMICAL):
inhaled, injected, or ingested; render’s the user
unconscious for a few minutes, chemically
erasing the user’s memories of the past few hours.
Rare (derived from Awakened fruit kept in secret
government orchard).
◆ Chillpills (III/1, arcane CHEMICAL): A drug
that creates a state of complacency in the user,
primarily used by vampires to put someone into
a pliable state of mind. Rare. Volatile (nearby
Infected can sense an affected individual’s
presence).
◆ Vervain (II/1, arcane CHEMICAL): A drug
that is inhaled, injected, or ingested and renders
the user immune to supernatural compulsion
for a few hours. Rare (requires pixie dust, real
ginger, and purified water).
◆ Revelation widget (II/1, emergent
SOFTWARE): An emergent application that
reveals hidden icons nearby to all who can access
cyberspace. Unreliable.
◆ Sensing oil (III/1, arcane CHEMICAL): A
colorless, odorless fluid that absorbs through the
skin, forcing the affected individual to sense the
presence of astral entities for the next few hours.
While it lasts, it also grants them an astral form,
for better or for worse. A Tier IV version will also
force them to astrally project. Very dangerous
when applied to sleepers. Volatile.

SUPERNATURAL INVENTION &
CRAFTING EXAMPLE
Inventing a Mana Focus
Ahiga is fed up with running out of edge
for magic while on the run, so he decides
to design an arcane item that will bring
him a bigger supply. Ahiga’s player,
Scraigon, tells the GM that he wants to
craft a portable mana source.
First, Ahiga will need to invent the design.
The GM and Scraigon go through the
creation questions.
(1) The GM asks, “What type of creation
is it and what does it do?” Scraigon
answers, “I want an arcane device which
grants me a reliable pool of mana—edge
to fuel the use of magic. It’s a bracelet.”
(2) Scraigon asks, “What’s
minimum quality level for this?” The
GM answers, “If it draws down enough
energy to fuel a Tier IV spell... let’s call that
level 4 (for the force). This is somewhat
advanced for a focus, but it’s doable.”
(3) The GM asks, “What rare, strange,
or adverse aspect of this formula or design
has kept it in obscurity, out of common
usage?” Scraigon answers, “Well, I think
the difficulty of turning it into a mana
container without turning it into a mana
bomb! Hah, well that—and that it creates
a renewable source of magical power in
the absence of one.” The GM responds, “I
definitely agree there. Ok last one.”
9
(4) Scraigon asks, “What drawbacks
does it have?” The GM answers, “Well
it obviously has the volatile drawback.
Might go boom! And a dangerous
consequence will be ‘Accosted by OTF,’
1 tick per use. Last thing, it has the
suPernaTural crafTinG
consumable drawback, to reflect the
need to refill it with mana. Works once,
then refills automatically when you go
into downtime, if circumstances are
amenable. I’d work on that project to
stop the Black Circle from aspecting that
ley line if I were you.”
Now that the design is settled, Scraigon
draws a clock to deal with the Black Circle,
then spends some downtime activities on
an 8-segment long-term project to Study
the design and learn how to build it.
Crafting the Mana Focus
the
Once the design is learned, Ahiga builds
the focus by spending a downtime
activity. Scraigon rolls Engineer and
gets a 6, which is enough to build an
item with quality equal to Ahiga’s Tier +1.
Ahiga is Tier 0, so that’s quality level 1—
not enough for the quality level 4 mana
focus.
To make up the difference, Ahiga will
have to spend 3 nuyen on the construction
of the mana focus. A sizable sum, but
Scraigon thinks it’s worth it to have such
a potent pool to draw upon. Ahiga spends
the money from the crew’s cryptovault
(with the blessing of his crew mates) and
the new focus is ready to go.
305
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
 CHAPTER 9

KINGSTON
There are various connective side streets,
THE HEART OF and highways leading to the north over the
mountains or west to the neighbor cities of
THE CARIBBEAN Montego Bay and Spanishtown, respectively.

Kingston is one of the most important

cities in the Caribbean Islands, since it is
The city of Kingston was established just
located in a liberated territory juxtaposed
over 400 years ago (predating the European
between various points of interest for the
“dark ages” period) as a settlement of sailors,
Spanish, Mexican, Native American, and
fishermen, and gatherers on the waters of
Cuban territories nearby. This natural
the Caribbean Sea. In that short time, it has
harbor features a massive intersection of
withstood the upheaval of Mortal Disbelief,
megacorporate interests and profiteering.
an attack by a dragon, a trade war, a civil war,
Visitors from around the world prefer
and multiple earthquakes. It is a community
this location for illicit meetings due to the
of survivors.
distance from any nearby sanctuaries of
corporate control. A stunning array of
The city is bordered to the north by forest
docking locations permit the megas and
and mountains. The infrastructure on the
syndicates from around the world to engage
west side is taken over by guerrillas and
in commerce here (probably accompanied
outcasts. The condemned district to the east
by masterminded criminal plots).
known as Harbor View was put in place by
a secret patron to the local government that
While it may seem isolated, its a wealth of
discourage citizens from visiting the areas
paydata—which miners plunder for wealth—
beyond.
tapping into the very fuel for the corporate
agendas and schemes, the virtual power
Every square meter inside the city proper is lit
source of civilization’s growing architecture.
by the neon glow of civilization of some kind—
All powerful megas are owned by well-
recently updated or depressingly old. There
connected families, and all of them operate
are crummy land vehicles as well as flying
as an international conglomerates. The
VTOL capable ones, newer buildings built
subsidiaries are owned by the descendants
haphazardly atop crooked foundations, rows
and near-kin of their line. The fortunes to be
of towering arcologies on giant land-levelers,
had in the hidden collection of industry and
and dense clusters of low-rise apartment
consumer trends from the data they capture
buildings; the landscape is dissected east to
ebb and flow. The cunning and the willing of
west by the foothills of the Crow Mountains,
Kingston work hard to hire various envoys
dotted with lakes and lush vertical gardens;
who are willing to position themselves for
areas lower-lying are connected by elevated
a strong semi-anonymous reputation in this
maglev tracks, thin alleys, and about a half
highly-profitable web of dark enterprise.
dozen important thoroughfares spider out
from the center of New Kingston district.

307
 9
Almost everyone that runs in the shadows
or doesn’t ends up serving “the Man,” or
whatever you call the megas that rule the
world. The masses which comprise the black
text on financial reports are simply that to the
corporate elite—numbers on a line. The ones
who decide to carry out missions of illegal
intent get called runners: a word meaning
“fellow crook,” “unwanted miscreant,” or
“potential employee” depending on who you
ask.
KinGsTon
The potential jobs for runners span the gamut,
but there are two types of crime that people
in Kingston tend to think of: big boi, and wild
boi. These terms carry special meaning in
the context of discussing a run. Those who
prefer so-called “big boi” crime end up an
ally or servant of a corporate envoy, or prey
upon their own through manipulation by
greedy executives. While those who are
willing to get their hands dirty and perform
the wetwork are known as the “wild bois”—
and they can usually look forward to serving
a syndicate (or dying while trying). There is a
demand in the underworld for those willing
to perform fringe crimes of strange design as
well, but this is a lonely path that mostly just
favors the strange.
No matter what though: every run benefits
one of the factions on the top of the various
ladders. To enact the underhanded plots of
the megas, the suits hire trusted henchmen
(and henchwomen), their envoys—to hire
teams “off the books” to do their dirty work.
Envoys live by three rules: write it off, take
a cut, and forget. These henchman seek
out the fixers to act as trusted middlemen
between the corporations and the criminal
underworld, setting up a meet for them
to discuss and arrange the job’s terms for
fulfillment and agreed payoff.
308
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
TWO LOST CITIES
Christian calendar years BC: Before
Christ, AD: After Death.
___________________
~3300 BC The 4,000-year-old
island of Atlantis begins to mysteriously go
inert, then crumble and fall into the ocean.
Many of those on the mystical island capitol
perish as entire swathes of metal and concrete
give way. There is a catastrophic death toll,
and a mass exodus of the coastline signifies
the Fall of Atlantis. Those who stay are drawn
into the metaplanes and merge with them,
become assimilated, or perish. This marks the
approach of the turning of an age of the Great
Mother (the name given to Earth in ancient
custom). This is part of an ancient era when
magic was flush in the world.
~3250 BC A tribe of Mexican
refugees centers its nomadic people around
a stationary hunter-gatherer settlement on
a bountiful and hidden island they named
Mexico City after founding the island nation of
Aztlan. This tribe united under a leader, chief
Alish. Guided by the tradition of avoiding true
names of the dead, the new generation agrees
to forge a pact with each new chief following
his death. The descendants of the Alish tribe
grow into a thriving island nation over several
generations, with seven subtribes forming.
They honor the Great Mother with a tradition
or worship and reverence to the stars.
~3151 BC (turning of an age)
During the cataclysm that marked the start
of a universal unalignment. The far western
reaches are spared the worst of a massive
earthquare and tidal waves that ruined the
most of the coastlines to the north and south.
The people of the island settlement of Aztlan,
are cursed by their failure to uphold the pact
of the Alish warchief—taking away the tribe’s
protection from the armies of tormented
elementals and other horrors wrought upon
the world. The land-based settlements of
Mexico do their best to recover and rebuild
their homes, and begin the arduous mission
of fortifying the area as their new home.

~3000 BC People the world
over note that the technologies and arcane
knowledge from before the cataclysm no
longer work. Children born after this time
only experience the genetic expressions of
humanity, ceasing the genetic expressions
their magical bloodlines of ancestry. A new
system of education is established, and ancient
works of literature are only passed down in
ritual and legend to maintain the knowledge
and wisdom from the former generations.
~2950 BC Those whose lifespans
were extended prior to the end of the Fourth
Era die off, marking the beginning of the
Fog of Mortal Disbelief.
0 The tribes of the Alish
continue to be cursed in their caves on
their hidden island, twisted by their magic
into elementals. Each tribe’s chief becomes
a gathering point for the essence of their
ancestors who’ve passed—forging them into
powerful guardians.
~1500 AD European settlers locate
the Caribbean Islands and the eastern coast
of North America (less than 1,000 kilometers
away, from the future site of future Kingston).
They begin to lay claims to lands they call the
“New World,” with many rulers dubbing each
new establishment a colony of their empire.
The painful ignorance of colonial politics
leads to the establishment of Port Royal, a
resting point for pirates and their motley
crews. This leads to international rumors as
the “Wicked City” among those who traveled
through it, and stories of debauchery soon
follow.
1692 AD Spanish pirate rule
fades away following an earthquake that
rocks Port Royal into the ocean, as a tidal
wave buries the place and kills two thousand.
Locals believe it is an act of the gods to
punish those who engaged in revelry there.
1700 AD A campaign of
organized military action leads to the
rapid settlement of more and more of
Jamaica, including Kingston. Port Royal is
remembered with churches and memorials.
9
1800 AD Concern among remote
rule by an overseas government grows, and
strategies to fight back are developed in an
effort to live with it.
2012 AD Magic returns. A great
spirit dance in Montego awakens the island’s
gifted few, who unite to form the beginnings
of the Kingston Council. Kingston fights a
trade war with England.
2013 AD Volcanoes all along the
Ring of Fire erupt simultaneously as the spirit
KinGsTon
dance is completed, crippling England’s war
effort—nearly transporting wave upon wave
of horrors to Earth in the process. Kingston
wins their war—gaining their independence.
2020 AD A route is discovered
to the mythical island of Atlantis and Mu.
Theorists search unsuccessfully for the
lost island of Aztlan—fabled origin of the
Mexican settlers.
2069 AD The area surrounding
Kingston is dubbed condemned waters after
the Black Circle is said to have privately
funded the first route found into Aztlan. To
get there, it is said you must sail off a cliff
and operations which recover its wonders
help fund scholarly works and profitable
research operations by the Jamaican
government. Kingston becomes the primary
training ground for all nautical endeavors in
Central America.
2070 AD The signing of the
treaties of Jamaica hand over the land rights
to a number of megacorporations to help the
city grow, and the city elects a council of five
powerful merchants as its governing body.
This council is formalized as the Kingston
Council and given a voice in world political
venues. It further established the territories
of Haiti and Cuba are handled separately
from the Jamaican territories.
2080 AD Present day. Kingston
swells to a population of just over 2,000,000—
establishing itself as a major center of
international trade. Datamining is a major
epidemic and voyages across the Caribbean
sea becomes a thing of the past, except to
runners with a deathwish or a heavily-armed
escort.
309
 9
CULTURES
Kingston is a blend of a variety of cultures
and ethnic groups, and, as in most cities
in North America, exhibits a baffling
fusion of international acceptance and
deeply-rooted outrage. To give you a
convenient touchstone for cultures in
this fantasy Earth, they’re compared to
various cultures from our world, below.
This is not meant to be restrictive or
KinGsTon
definitive, just a short-hand to help you
visualize and understand them. In play,
it’s your job to flesh out these sketches
in the form of specific people, who each
embody, reject, honor, or despise their
cultures of origin depending on their
own outlook and values.
The most common heritage in Kingston
is Central or North American, whose
people and cultures resemble the mixture
of diverse groups across the equator.
Second most common are the Europeans,
the original conquerers who built the fort
and supported Kingston’s early growth.
Those people and cultures are largely
from the European nations that touch
the Mediterranean. Many are refugees
who’ve come to the city following their
displacement due to the reassignment
of jurisdiction of certain state territories
back to those with native lineage. The
native Americans who might be in
Kingston are mostly disdainful towards
any loyalists to the former United States—
seeing them as traitors to their claims
and birthrights.
Third most common are the Africans,
especially those from the powerful and
wealthy dominions of Kenya, Ghana,
and South Africa. Some Africans claim to
have special pull due to their protection
by a mature dragon. They maintain an
influential consulate in most Central
310
American countries, and keep a close
eye on their share of the black markets
for paydata, drugs, and supernatural
paraphernalia.
For more on the various continents,
see the wealth of published materials
by various authors and discuss. Your
Earth can be very different from the
one that is agreed upon in any so-called
“canon.”
LANGUAGES
There are three main languages spoken
in the city. Most common is Creole,
which is considered the common tongue.
It’s the preferred method for nuanced
songwriting or iron-clad legal documents.
Second most-common is Spanglish.
Many Central Americans live in Kingston
and their broken, accented speech can be
heard wherever they’re found.
Third, and most rare of these, is Latin, an
ancient tongue found in musty old tomes
but still spoken among many doctors
and historians, particularly those from
Europe or North America. Many people
favor its elaborate expletives (sometimes
called “nonsense & blather” or “wizard
swears,” depending on who you ask).
BANKING & COMMS
The exchange of money in the city is
facilitated by the megacorporate-funded
banking system, its strict protocols
concerning documentation, and the
monitoring of banking officials. Transfers
of funds may either be documented
(requiring authentication first, but
insuring the transfer against theft) or
undocumented (to maintain the complete
anonymity of the payee and recipient).
 9

Your comm is a banking device which
facilitates secure (documented) banking
transfers using “cold” wireless technology
(details on hot and cold signal security on
page 241). The user must verify their IDN
to complete any attempted transactions.
A series of prompts prevent unintended
transactions, then funds transfer occurs
with a device (like a configured payment
reader, or another comm) that is
the transfer to another user’s bank (or its
networked payment scanner) to complete
a transaction. Those without IDNs face a
much stricter limit (of only 4 nuyen at a
time).
GUARDIANS &
MYTHICAL CITIES

KinGsTon
expecting its signal. A strange frequency emanates through
the metaplanes whenever a mortal
A properly documented banking transfer
comes within sight of a mythical city.
performed by two secure devices is
This frequency may only be detected
always insured against cybercrime, but
by those nearby, and by the Guardians,
this protection also means any such
whose supernatural senses are linked
transactions are subject to IDN review
to the land atop which the mythical
by banking authorities. There is always
site is built. A minion of the Guardians
someone scanning for illegal money moving
leaves the temple and travels to the
around, whether it be security devices in the
area where the mortal(s) may be found,
city, or a hacker in cyberspace. G-Men and
getting ever closer by the minute. It’s the
Legionnaire agents strive to catch would-
responsibility of the Guardians to recover
be money launderers, and are among the
any intruding mortals and prevent them
first to respond to flagged transactions.
from plundering the halls of their temple.
In such cases, the payor authenticates it,
Guardians are armed with a supernatural
then the bank immediately transfers the
arsenal (weapon and armor) and employ
funds to the device for speedier transfer
counterspelling wards to safeguard them
later. Then, the device need only verify

AZTLAN OR BUST
Like every lost city, this one and the waters around it have collected many rumors.
The original name was Alish in ancient tribal records, a name taken while chief
Alish was in power—but its continued use is forbidden by shamanic law and is
sure to get you a disgusted look from any roaming spirits there. Most people default
to calling it Aztlan, even though some would sooner call it The Fabled Mexican
Homeland. A visitor might call it dangerously haunted as a reference to its powerful
elemental wardens. Many old timers still call the waters beyond Kingston Bay the
Alish Sea out of nostalgia. These names are interchangeable within the magical city,
and citizens will know what you mean when you use one or the other, depending on
their background and preference. Runners in the shadows of Kingston sometimes
call the process of sailing to Aztlan “threading the eye of the needle,” so named for
the precise path that must be taken to enter the dimensionally-warped waters that
can reach the place. Failure to bring a proper magical navigator on such a trip is a
fool’s errand—and sure to land you in stormy waters.

311
 9
against would-be temple robbers. In the
ancient past, these guardians served as
a defense against metaplanar invaders.
These guardians are very powerful (force
4+).
Five mythical cities of legend have been
discovered in the recent past. That is:
Aztlan, Draken, the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon, Tir Na Nog, and El Dorado.
It is rumored that more might exist,some
KinGsTon
even theorized to be concealing the
fabled city of Atlantis—however the
entrances to these locations are so far
hidden by supernatural means, requiring
a supernatural navigator to reach safely.
For some clues about reaching Aztlan, see
the boxed text on the previous page.
CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Crime and punishment in Kingston hits
the poor the hardest. If you get caught
doing something illegal, you will be
shaken down for nuyen. And if you
can’t pay, you get harassed, questioned,
beaten, or worse. Unfortunately for the
disenfranchised, the legal jurisdiction
in the city is a mess. Local police
departments are basically a thing of
the past—the majority of police work is
instead outsourced to foreign legions and
private security armies, with preference
going to those from Haiti and Puerto Rico
for municipal crime. Most neighborhoods
have a variety of different security
agencies subcontracted to handle
checkpoints, IDN reviews, and the like
for businesses—however, chief among
them are the officers under the employ
of the Legionnaires and the watchdogs
for CyberSec Global.
312
SECURITY REVIEW & FAKE IDNS
Many tasks in the city require you to
submit to a IDN review—for example,
entering a government office, courthouse,
or correctional facility. Even going
online requires a IDN review. When
you undergo IDN review, your IDN is
inspected for authenticity. When the
quality of a fake IDN meets or exceed that
of the IDN review, it passes inspection—
unless examined in close detail. The GM
uses the tier of the faction reviewing
a IDN as a guideline for the quality of
their review—it may be higher or lower
at their discretion to better describe the
nature of the situation.
The public grid performs a quality 0
IDN review (merely confirming it exists,
associating it with anonymized metadata
and little else). If you do not have access to
a fake IDN, you can use the acquire asset
downtime activity to get a temporary
one; see page 175 for details.
◆A civilian-run business typically
performs a quality 1 IDN review using
biometrics gathered using your comm
(a fingerprint or voice print is most
common).
◆ Security companies and more serious
businesses perform a quality 2 IDN review
to thwart amateur impersonations.
◆ Most legal filings and licensing for
highly restricted items rely on a quality
3 IDN review.
◆ Quality 4+ IDN reviews are typically
only required for things like documented
birth, citizenship, marriage, real estate,
and imprisonment.
Should the quality of your fake IDN ever
be called into question, the GM might
make a fortune roll to see if unpleasant
consequences manifest; including search,
seizure (see next page), interrogation, or
detainment (as per the entanglement)
before you can leave the premises.

SEARCH & SEIZURE
Anyone is subject to search at pretty
much any time. The citizens have little
right to personal liberty, even in the other
regions of Jamaica, let alone the isolated
city of Kingston. Citizens in Kingston have
few rights, and those with fake IDNs have
exactly none. Failure to submit to an
impromptu search can result in the use of
force (and likely brutality) to confiscate
any possessions for which you that lack
the proper documentation.
SECURITY & LICENSES
When security realize you carry an item
that is restricted, you must have a license
for it to avoid the item’s confiscation.
Sometimes they won’t let you bring
things into secured areas at all. If an item
gets confiscated, they take it and keep
it until they’ve decided what to do with
it. Security in the underworld are more
likely to simply give it back when you
leave. A fake license might be prepared
in advance using available tools and
subterfuge supplies (a standard item)—
so remember you can call for a flashback
for that if you need to.
DISPATCH, OFFICERS,
DRONES, & AGENTS
The electronic dispatch system in
Kingston transmits a signal whenever
a capital crime (murder, rape, treason,
etc.) is reported in the city. The signal
may only be received by those near
the report of the crime, and by Foreign
Legion security agents, whose comms
are interfaced with the dispatch system.
A surveillance drone leaves a field
office and travels to the district where the
crime scene may be found, getting closer
and gathering more evidence with each
passing minute. It’s the responsibility of
the agents to apprehend any suspects
9
and deliver them to the field office for
processing, where they are detained
before they can escape custody.
Officers are reluctant to go to low-
security areas or low-Tier districts
without an Agent with them (and the
GM should make a fortune roll to see
how long it takes them to respond).
Security agents wear bulletproof
KinGsTon
trenchcoats and implant their comms,
both to keep them safe from easy theft
and to maintain constant communication
with fellow security personnel and
drones. The Chief Human Resources
Officer of the agency in question appoints
these hand-chosen agents—many of
whom have suffered much at the hands
of criminals.
A criminal case for an unsolved capital
crime remains open until solved. Murder
investigations gets special treatment
in an effort to quickly find and arrest
the killer(s). It takes between one and
three days for the initial rush of the
investigation to die down—thereafter,
the agents are placed on new assignments
and the case is left unsolved. Agents
continue to lament their unsolved cases
long after their assignment to new cases,
investigating them between work shifts
until they’ve lost interest or the case is
finally closed to their satisfaction. Some
closed cases are reopened by agents—
typical when the three days haven’t
passed, or when details do not result in
the arrest of all those involved.
MARITIME LAW
It is permissible to leave the city into
international waters, but it is highly
discouraged for the undocumented to do
it. For one, you can only re-enter with a
valid IDN and appropriate paperwork. It
is a capital crime to do so otherwise. Plus,
313
 9
the authority of the Native Council and the
Morant Bay tribes reigns supreme once
you leave the liberated region of Kingston.
They tend to enforce laws their own way.
And the waters are clearly marked by
patrols of surveillance and authentication
drones between neon-lit buoys in the
bay. Many teenagers will take rides along
the demarcation line to get a view of the
offshore weather platform and either
side of the bay, quite near these borders.
KinGsTon
No one really goes any further though—
unless paid well to do so.
The waters beyond are important
historical points to the Central
Americans, possibly sites of ancient
worship—so the treatment of intruders
will be extra harsh, and the crew will
not have their reputation to protect
them there (take 0d for any fortune roll
made while detained in these waters,
including the reconditioning roll).
LONG DISTANCE
TRAVEL
Sometimes you need to travel a long way
to prepare for a run. All forms of public
transportation use security checkpoints
and track the movement of people by
their IDN, making travel without one (or
using a fake or burnt IDN) a good way to
get arrested.
Travel by foot isn’t feasible without a
transport plan, except for short distances
(the rate is generally no more than 40
kilometers, or 25 miles, per full day
of walking for a healthy adult). For
land travel by electric vehicle up a few
hundred kilometers (or about 150 miles),
the cost and time to get there can usually
be hand-waved. Transport can be a run
in itself to represent riskier situations.
If you need to go further than that, use
314
the chart below to find the distance you
need to go and look up the minimum
tier of asset required to get there the
same day. Routes and destinations that
are hazardous take longer, making them
more expensive—and some trips will
be outside your means without special
preparations.
During the acquisition of an appropriate
quality method of travel, you also “set
aside” the time required to get there—so
when you use it you don’t need to spend
another downtime activity.
If the PCs transport themselves through
a dangerous zone, make a fortune roll
to see what happens. Take 1d for each
dangerous zone traveled through. Adjust
the number of dice down for safer
routes (quality guides, friendly factions
in zones, etc.) or up for more dangerous
routes (ghouls, hacker syndicates, enemy
factions, etc.).
Critical: A hazard strikes without
warning. An ambush drops into the middle
of the party, guns blazing. Native Council
authorities have arrived—the sun appears
to go black, and things start to get weird.
6: A hazard strikes but there is time to
react. Suddenly a PC is caught in magical
webs and bathed in fire. A ganger ambush is
revealed by the crack of gunfire. A Mountain
Rat patrol demands “protection” tax.
4/5: A hazard protects something of
value. A scientist and their team are under
attack by a group of gangers. A group of
homeless vagrants are spotted picking
over an abandoned vehicle.
1-3: No dangers arise or some small
advantage is gained. You come into
possession of information you can quickly
sell. A surprising boon grants a faster
arrival or just the right spot to disembark.

The GM then decides in which zone the
encounter happens. After things are
resolved, if the players press on, cut to
the destination.
TRAVEL BY CAB OR BUS (BASE
QUALITY 1)
Security & Safety I
Criminal Influence IV
Cabs and buses are typically (but not
always) self-driving and airborne. These
shared rides consolidate passenger routes
to maximize efficiency. The biggest risk
on city buses is from other passengers
and cargo. Authorities with chemsniffers
and scanners are frequently employed to
monitor major pickup and drop off points
for intercity ground travel.
TRAVEL BY BOAT (BASE QUALITY 2)
Security & Safety II
Criminal Influence III
Ports of call between here and Aztlan
include Cuba and Haiti. Sunlight is
difficult to see here due to strange cloud
cover. In addition, sea monsters lurk and
will not hesitate to target a passing vessel.
It’s quite easy to arrange an illegitimate
drop off point or passenger on either
island, but it might not be under the
terms you want.
Distance Distance (imperial units)
~500 km ~300 miles (to Montego Bay & back)
~1,000 km ~600 miles (to Aztlan & back)
~2,500 km ~1,500 miles (to Miami & back)
~5,000 km ~3,000 miles
~10,000 km ~6,200 miles
~20,000 km ~12,500 miles
9
T R A V E L B Y M A G L E V (BASE
QUALITY 3)
Security & Safety III
Criminal Influence II
Maglevs are trains which travel along
railways which utilize electromagnetic
fields to achieve great speeds.
Chemsniffers tend to double-check all
storage compartments on cargo maglevs.
KinGsTon
However, passenger cars undergo much
less rigorous inspection. The southern
maglev line runs to Negril and back in just
a few hours. The northern maglev line
runs from Negril to St. Ann’s Bay every
few hours, and the cross-country maglev
lkine runs northwest out of Kingston to
TRAVEL BY PLANE (BASE
QUALITY 4)
Security & Safety IV
Criminal Influence I
When you travel via airport, you avoid
hazardous zones and do not face the same
threats as you would with travel on ground.
Traveling through an airport with a fake
or wanted IDN is typically the subject of
a run (it’s only attempted without a good
plan by the foolhardy or crazy), and the
payoff for it is avoiding issues with your
IDN between you and your destination.
Passengers and goods traveling on planes
are meticulously inspected before loading,
so most smart travelers bring as little as
possible with them.
Minimum Quality
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
315
 9

THE HEAD OF THE BEAST

Nearly every run that is arranged for serious money in Kingston is paid for by one of
the Big Seven, also sometimes called the Corporate Court—for its geopolitical influence,
absolute power, and absolute corruption.

New Kingston underwent serious renovation to permit the installation of modular office
buildings with attached residential superstructures known as arcologies. The Kingston
Council allowed this to profit on the city’s honey pot of untapped paydata. They sought
control over the availability of new products and services in Jamaica—but what really
happened is they became puppets to a regenerating hydra with far too many heads.
KinGsTon

Each of the Big Seven holds a significant presence in the city’s urban center (either
directly in New Kingston, or the nearby seaport), however there are just a handful that
hold sway the Kingston Council and the Judges:

◆ Exo Heavy Industries (VI): The #1
mega, considered most powerful of the
Big Seven. HQ in Russia. Involved in
heavy industry, chemicals, finance, and
aerospace with a presence in many other
areas. Nearly 100% owned by the Drake
family.
◆ Atari-Tendo United (V): The #2 mega,
formed from the merger of two media
companies, Atari Publishing and Tendo
Entertainment. HQ in Japan. Rumored to
have mined out the orichalcum quarries
on the Cayman Islands, and that they are
building a floating resort and cryogenic
facility there instead. Runs for or against
Atari-Tendo are a grab-bag in terms of
risk and reward, all the time.
◆ Mexitech Logistics (V): The #4 mega.
HQ in Mexico City, an armored penthouse
built atop an ancient pyramid. Mostly
focuses on global transportation services,
telecommunications, and consumer goods
like food, clothing, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Secret list of shareholders and board
members. Rumored to have developed
their stranglehold on the military and
space industries through blood magic and
human sacrifice. Controls the exclusive
contract to all artifacts extracted from
Aztlan, granting them exceptional
influence throughout Central America.
◆ Caliphate Global (IV): The #7 mega.
Last but far from least. Their HQ is in
Egypt. The young and ambitious CEO, Nye
McFly, recently acquired several offshore
holding companies in the Caribbean
League, which own what was formerly
Ford and General Motors. The most
popular products from their lines have
recently been rebranded as Americars
and Ameritrucks. Their newest entry
to the hydrogen vehicle market, the
Ameritruck Metric, is currently sold out.
◆ Protean Biotech (IV): A recent
contender for the Big Seven. HQ in Haiti.
With a charismatic ex-simstar at the
helm, Protean specializes in anything
that can be used to manipulate opinion,
including entertainment, news, real
estate, fashion, and big pharma. Actively
seeking partnership with MedSled.
◆ Welshire Holdings (III): Largest stock
market brokerage in Kingston, rumored
to be owned jointly by the CEOs and CFOs
of several powerful AA megacorps.
◆ MedSled (III): The leading private
insurance provider. They provide
registered clients with armed extraction,
guaranteed anonymity (at least until
death), and access to a wide variety of
medical services normally unavailable to
the undocumented.

316

THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
Kingston’s law and order are presided over by four organizations, all of which are considered
institutions in the city and authorities over its government and regulation:
◆ The Kingston Council officially dictates
new legislation in the commonwealth and
organizes public works. They determine the
disbursement of the city treasury to various
divisions and issue taxation orders. The council
members themselves (there are a dozen in all)
are elected leaders, directed by the whims
of the wealthiest locals. Most other votes go
uncounted due to high-level voter fraud and
election rigging. The puppet government in
Kingston is chock full of greed with an ear in
on the inner workings of the corporations.
They also preside over the puppet branch
of judicial appeals and municipal decision
making (see Judges, below).
◆ CyberSec Global aka “CSG” manages and
polices cyberspace across the globe, ensuring
that trade is facilitated. They also oversee the
deployment of special agents and override
protocols for city drones and infrastructure.
They are believed to be corrupted at the
highest levels by Atari-Tendo double agents.
A violent, cruel, and greedy organization
with expansive power over the flow of data.
Their employees primarily serve the interests
of the Big Seven and prevent cyberspace and
the stock markets from crashing again.
◆ The Judges issue warrants, prosecute
trials, assess evidence, and pronounce
judgments (there are no juries, except for
cases brought up for capital offenses). Judges
are appointed (five in all) one each by Council
member designation.
◆ The Legionnaires are employees of
Caribbean Foreign Legion, are the closest thing
to “cops” in Kingston. They are the officially
contracted security provider for the city, but
most of them won’t risk their lives lightly.
They have less pull in the underworld than
Alamo, but are the first ones called in for
most criminal reports. There are two primary
enforcement divisions: skilled officers and
9
masterful agents. The officers patrol the streets,
“encourage compliance” with the law, capture
offenders, serve warrants, and deliver them to
the prison-assigned officers. Meanwhile, their
agents investigate capital crimes and present
evidence for warrants and trials (and have
KinGsTon
higher quality gear and access to multiple
squads of officers). Agents also operate as sky
wardens and leaders for the prison. These
elevated few are often foreigners, with no
close ties within the local area. The officers and
agents of this security agency wield the power
given to them by the influence of the Kingston
Council and the grace of Mexitech Logistics
(for not snuffing them out).
There is another related institution, the Occult
Task Force, but they serve the Caribbean
League government directly and are legally
distinct from Kingston’s law enforcement
apparatus. See page 274 for details about the
Occult Task Force.
It’s often said that everyone is guilty until
proven innocent in Kingston, so make sure
you get rich and get away before you get
caught. Under this system, a citizen can only
expect to receive justice commensurate with
their social status and wealth (rather than the
severity of their crimes). The Detectives are
famously incorruptible and hold themselves
apart from Kingston’s sprawling network of
bribery, but the other institutions are bought
and paid for by the powers-that-be and rarely
(if ever) bite the hand that feeds them. If you’re
captured by Foreign Legion or brought before
a judge, it’s the depth of your pockets and the
breadth of your political connections that
will almost always decide the verdict, not the
application of jurisprudence. Foreign Legion
are under general contract to enforce the law,
but in practical terms, they serve the needs
of the richest and most influential groups
and harass the poorest and least powerful—
essentially operating as a well-paid street
gang extorting the underclasses.
317
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THE CRIMINAL UNDERBELLY

The corporate elite in power collude and scheme to keep the wage slaves in servitude
and want, to profit from their interests and control their access to vices.

However, there are others who fight back against the oppression of the establishment;
those who deal in violence, theft, and other illegal acts. These daring few of the
underworld are labeled criminals, villains, and runners by high society; they’re marked
as outlaws, then detained, and their minds reconditioned before they can interfere
with the established order.
KinGsTon

The underworld factions that manage to avoid being consumed by the powers that be
often become the very thing they battled against. Their power and influence corrupts
them until they’re just another agent of control and oppression—feeding on the weak
and vulnerable, just as they were once fed upon.

And so, some turn to resisting authority

only to become it, while others rise to
power, above those who refuse to “sell out”
and become headquartered.
The most notable of these elevated
syndicates are:
◆ The Cuban Mafia. The Inner Circle,
including El Jefé. HQ on their protected
cruise ship in international waters. They
have access to a huge standing army of
guns and badges they can call in through
local authorities or bribed government
officials. They are instrumental in what
some call “the longest-standing fixed
betting scheme in history.” Their influence
is extensive due to a significant presence
in every major city in the Americas, most
European cities, and even in Asia.
◆ The Yakuza are a cutthroat gang
steeped in tradition. They manipulate
the banks to affect stock exchanges and
launder their ill-gotten gains. Rumored
to serve as the secret enforcers for the
mega, Atari-Tendo United.
The rest of the underworld is in a constant
state of flux and war of atttrition—they
squabble among themselves, hoping to escape
their meager existence and profit from the
exploitation of citizens and other victims.
There are several conflicts present in the city
threatening to consume the underworld:
◆ In St Andrews Parish, a district ruled by
violent gangs, the crime boss of the area has
been murdered, fanning the flames of an old
dispute over deaths on both sides. There’s an all-
out war on the streets between the most likely
successors: the Manning Family, the Talons,
and the Mountain Rats. Each faction is hiring
every runner they can to bolster their numbers
and seize control. For more on this conflict, see
page 224.
◆ In Downtown Kingston, a district filled with
megacorporate holdings and their employees’
lavish arcologies, groups of cyberneticists and
programmers are rallying to form a union to
demand equal rights for AI, while the chiefs
of staff hire operatives to manipulate news
reports with displays of violence, and predatory
opportunists swoop in to profit from both sides.

◆ The People’s Party. The most powerful
local gang in all of Kingston, well-known
for its masterful poisoning of its rivals and
their families—reducing the Labor Party to
fringe status in the 2050s.
◆ At the University of Kingston, a group of
devious hackers has established a successful
criminal operation from within the campus,
drawing the attention of fringe organizations who
now see the halls of academia as a ripe target.

318
 9

THE OUTER FRINGES

In darkened boardrooms and alleyways, deals are made which pit the edges of what
is considered a faction against one another. They clamor at scraps from the tables of
the megas, but carve an existence which grants them great freedoms in their tireless
efforts. The fringes of Kingston include wealthy institutes which cater to strange ideals,
as well as reclusive extremists, and the just-plain-weird.

Status among these factions is measured in terms of followers, clout, and money (often
in that order). The following are the most powerful of this “special” collection of factions:

◆ Baccarat is an informal, but tightly-
knit organization that tries to put a positive
spin on a hateful message. They run under
the guise of civil rights activism, but they
are actually classist butt-kissers. They
are often spurred to action whenever
any one of their own steps outside their
class lines or a lower-class group receives
some kind of favoritism they’ve deemed
to be unwarranted.
◆ The Institute of Magical Research
is a place designed for study of a deceased
dragon’s magical interests by his last will
testament. It colludes with the Atlantean
Foundation to ensure there is always
enough money for another project. Their
researchers are known for poking their
nose in supernatural business where
they’re not wanted.
◆ The “state religion”, if there is such a thing.
While attendance in the Neo-Catholic
Church has been almost non-existent for
over 50 years, it retains a large portion of
its geopolitical influence through precious
artifacts its secret agents have managed to
keep hidden away. As the memory of the
old clergy fade, Grand Pope Cherry XII
(obviously a clone) hopes to expand the
religion’s tendrils back into minds of the
population through lucrative publishing
deals for a series of science fiction movies
and an “anointed water condenser” their
daughter invented.
KinGsTon
◆ The Otaku Remnant is a reviled
mystery cult which borders on open
rebellion against cyberspace regulations.
They revere emergent entities, and seek
to gain knowledge from the resonant and
dissonant realms -- including befriending
rogue AIs.
◆ Buddhislam Nation is a quasi-
religious organization of note which
was formed from a bastardization of
Islamic and Buddhist beliefs. They
are known for their zen-like suicide
bombers and extremist engineers. They
take “explosive” approaches to breaking
the elite’s control over the illegal ‘ware
trade. Their teachings claim that each
replacement of the body will grant
spiritual enlightenment. They only
recently expanded their operations
to Central America, but are feared
nonetheless.

319
 9
THE HAUNTED CITY
The shamanic lodges in the wilderness to
the east of Kingston remain active night
and day to properly dispose of all corpses
recovered by the Spirit Warriors. The arcane
disruption they perform destroys the spirit
utterly, banishing it from the astral plane
and neutralizing the threat of it becoming a
tormented spirit.
KinGsTon
The Spirit Warriors reside to the east, far
removed from the city, so there are still free
spirits at large in Kingston. Most bodies aren’t
found and destroyed soon enough, allowing
the spirit to break free of its once-living vessel
should it so choose. In the wilderness beyond
the city borders, spirits are intentionally
removed before the Warriors can arrive, to be
sold on the black market or distilled into spirit
essence. Even without their influence, most
pass on to merge with the energies on nearby
metaplanes (see echoes & elementals).
Those who do not pass on within three days
of death become fully-fledged free spirits,
and soon crave what all dead things crave:
the sweet essence of life. Some seek it by
pursuing their unachieved ambitions, or
trying to recover what they think they’ve
lost, others are stuck on loop—reliving the
memories of their failures. Others remain,
learning to possess the bodies of the living,
directing them like puppets on strings—
and others are said to practice even darker
methods.
Every citizen of Kingston has heard about one
of their friends having at least one harrowing
encounter with a rogue spirit, sometimes
many at once. Few doubt such accounts,
though many of the people have never
encountered an actual free spirit (that they
know of anyways). Most spiritual encounters
in the city fall into one of seven types:
◆ Echoes are “loops” of transmitted signals
captured in the emergent plane, infinitely
repeating and anomalous concentrations
of dissonant energy. They have no will of
their own, but are still dangerous because of
the corruptive discharge from their virtual
320
icons. There are reports of sightings in dead
zones, though the phenomena is difficult to
capture and acceptance of their presence is
limited among cyberspace researchers. Most
people resort to calling them “gremlins” out
of ignorance.
◆ An elemental is a mindless concentration
of negative emotions trapped in the astral
plane, and tied to a sorcerous energy type.
They relive the sudden release of their
essence in death over and over, sometimes
spontaneously manifesting at the site of
extremely violent events, whether or not
death was involved.
◆ Poltergeists are malevolent free spirits
seeking to possess a victim to drain its essence
and to commit acts of atrocity designed to
hurt the living.
◆ Horrors are inhuman supernatural entities
that live within the outer metaplanes. They’re
very rare within the city, but commonly
looming in the astral regions beyond the
city’s borders, coming in both emergent and
astral varieties. Wasting a significant amount
of reagents (expending their essence uselessly)
tends to attract a horror.
◆ Exalted are spirits that have stayed sane
and do not crave life essence or vengeance as
Poltergeists do. Exalted are extremely rare—
some researchers don’t believe they exist at all.
◆ A Resonance Well is a rift in the veil of
cyberspace that creates a spawning ground
for echoes and other emergent beings.
◆ An Astral Nexus is an intersection of
two ley lines of arcane power. Poltergeists
and other astral beings congregate to draw
energy here.
These entities, while strange and terrifying,
are a fact of life in the criminal underworld
of Kingston. There is a murderous battle for
power ongoing between the Big Seven. Behind
closed doors, spirits lurk and hunt their
sources of living essence, and the mumblings
of ancient prayers dare to speak the name
of a forgotten mentor. Those without any
understanding about the haunted side of the
city are forced to call upon the services of a
professional (usually a Mage or Techno) if the
situation gets too “weird.”
 9

of researchers and their instruments, celestials

RAYS & LINES OF
POWER
When a power site aspected towards arcane
power surges with resonance and mana,
it attracts the attention of nearby spiritual
beings and paracritters. The effects of
emergent power sites draw nearby sprites,
echoes, and technocritters. Most of these
sites are already occupied by powerful
bodies appearing to spread away from us with
each passing year. These effects are theorized to
be the effects of a terrible power aligning itself
upon Earth. This effect is said to be heightened
in power sites, and therefore concluded to be
the influence of the supernatural alignment of
the planes themselves.
It is well-known that astronomical events
(such as the passing of Haley’s Comet,

megacorporations, cults, and institutions—
so if runners manage to get their hands on
one, its kind of a big deal.
The rays of power can be “seen” by those with
the appropriate senses opened. Meanwhile, the
constellations play tricks on the mundane senses
KinGsTon
and a close call with the massive asteroid
Apocryphus) cause strange occurrences.
Nonetheless, traditional philosophers and
non-believing scientists have no shortage
of debate over so-called “crackpot” theories
and hypotheses to explain it away as psuedo-
science.

ROZ, THE FREE SPIRIT (AND PROFESSOR?)

Roz Narubo was a woman who went on an astral journey multiple decades years ago, and
reportedly projected herself to a distant metaplane for a spirit quest. Some swear she never
returned. This free spirit leads a double “life”, manifesting as she appeared thirty years
ago: a thirty-something Malaysian woman, with an almond face framed by bushy shoulder-
length hair. She often wears a glamour (illusion) when teaching that appears lifelike unless
inspected closely, and wears stylish pants and a black jacket patterned with silvery stars,
and has a tattoo of a spiral and a star over her left eye. Her laugh is excited and forced,
slightly shrill. As a spirit, she transmits a woman’s voice telepathically, but it carries with it
a sickening grating sensation in your ear drum that reminds you of nails on a chalkboard.

This free spirit serves as the University of Kingston’s Chairperson of Shamanic and
Metaplanar Historical Studies. While her colleagues at the university are aware of the
impersonation, none of them seem to care—she has served in this position for several
decades. She will possess a calico cat named Buttons at times, an unofficial mascot for
the university, with whom she has a lasting astral bond. This awakened paracritter is said
to possess arcane talents of its own, but no one is certain of their extent—or those of the
free spirit.

Roz prefers to play the part of the “concerned watcher” or “knowledgeable confidante.”
When not researching or giving advanced arcane lectures, she has a knack for manifesting
at the best times (or worst, depending on your perspective) so as to inspire sighs of relief
from those who’ve recently met her, and gasps of terror from those who know her all
too well. Roz’s motives are to draw out the most depraved and hidden desires of those
she meets through casual suggestion, then present ways she might fulfill them—usually
hoping for a swig of a victim’s dying essence. Those who believe they are in control of
Roz quickly become totally dependent on her for advice and assistance. Roz knows the
day will eventually come when she will be “forced” to abandon them to the mercy of
the authorities or their angry victims—but she always “trudges onward,” eager to find
another toy to entertain her.

321
 9

rUMOrS ON THE STrEET Weekly, or whenever you need one

Someone is trying to organize a union for

1 the local mechanics, programmers, and
civil engineers.
A new crew of runners are showing up in
2 Kingston with increasing regularity, willing
to buy weird bottles, no questions asked.
The CSG Agents are taking control of the
OR
Ferries for some strange reason.
A remotely controlled cargo plane returned
OR to Atari-Tendo airspace accompanied by a
dragon.

3 There’s a Legionnaire agent that takes OR

A corrupt judge is seeking secret passage
bribes to frame targets for capital crimes. out of the city ahead of charges.
KinGsTon

The prostitutes and purveyors of an

4 underground gambling and prostitution OR
ring is infiltrated by free spirits.
The new BTL experience, WhiteOut, is
5 made from corrupted metadata and turns OR
people into brain-dead lunatics.
The Neo-Catholic Church is seeking a new
local Bishop.
The arcane studies professor at University
of Kingston is stockpiling talisma, expecting
a shortage soon.

All the well-to-dos are buying Links’ new A datacenter for a banking satellite was
6 maglocks—said to be impossible to crack. OR
compromised, but they’re covering it up.

CiTY EVENTS iN THE NEwS Weekly, or whenever you need one

1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Outbreak Concert Raids Revolution Accident Disaster

2 Refugees Strike Embargo Construction Quarantine Mass Awakening

3 Demolition Election Scandal Martial Law Corporate Takeover Social Media Craze

4 Shortage Excess Discovery Paranoia Assassination Hysteria

5 Parade Celebrity Holiday Riots Gang War Cult Gatherings

Political
6 Crime Spree Prison Break Peace Summit Military Action Human Trafficking
Upheaval

rEMArKABlE OCCUrrENCES Weekly, or whenever you need one

Strange signal interference is being detected—
surveillance drones won't enter the district.
Legionnaires suspend their street patrols, citing
budget cuts. It’s free reign for crime!
Citizens rally against extortion, bringing in hired
mercenaries from other districts.
The sewers become blocked by debris,
overflowing with the stench of refuse.
The ramshackle shanties near the strip in St.
Andrew Parish are marked for demolition.
A group of runners, recently escaped from
custody, go to ground nearby, attracting bounty
hunters.
The OTF sets up a field office and imperial eagle
OR
roost in the arcology projects.
The Legionnaires set up checkpoints for
OR
contraband or whatever they feel like confiscating.
Local talent (band, artist, dancer) becomes
OR
popular, swelling crowds at market and shops.
Highways throughout district are closed for
OR
maintenance (or some strange purpose).
A torrential downpour lingers over St. Andrew
OR
parish, threatening to flood the district.
An abandoned datacenter beneath the district,
OR sealed and offline, is unearthed and transmits
strange signals that short out electronics.

322
 9

FACTIONS OF KINGSTON F A C T I O N S

UNdErwOrld tier hold iNSTiTUTiONAl tier hold

The Cuban Mafia V S CyberSec Global VI S

The People’s Party IV S Caribbean League Military V S
The Yakuza IV S Brokeback Corrections IV S
The Black Circle III S Institute of Arcane Research IV S

facTions
Lord Vladimir III S Kingston Council IV S
Mirror’s Edge III S Caribbean Public Utilities IV S
The Violet Twins II S Occult Task Force IV S
The Manning Family II W Legionnaires III S
The Mountain Rats II W Panamanian Consulate III S
The Talons II W The Sky Wardens III S
Toxic I S Alamo Security II S
The Underteeth I W British Consulate II W

COrPOrATE tier hold Native American Consulate II S

#1: Exo Heavy Industries VI S Petrovski Security II S

#2: Atari-tendo United VI S Citizens on Patrol I S

#3: Sinokatsu Dynamics V S

#4: Mexitech Logistics V S FRINGE tier hold

#5: Tritanium Partners V S Baccarat V S

#6: Hindenberg Orbital V S The Neo-Catholic Church IV W

#7: Caliphate Global V S XXIII IV S

Protean Biotech V W The Atlantean Foundation III W

Murphy’s Lunar IV S The Mad Dance III S

Welshire Holdings IV S The Otaku Remnant III S

Uber-Besos III S The Labor Party II W

MedSled III S Machina Imperium II W

Bodies Unlimited III S Faster than You I S

Classique Retro Fabrication II W The Rack I S

GetsAround Delivery II S The Scraps I S

Nukem Foods II W
Sudushima Partners II S

323
 9
FACTIONS
Each faction of Kingston is briefly described below, with detailed entries following for
the criminal underworld and the other most significant factions of the city.
Alamo Security (III): An independent
security subcontractor that boasts about its
tradition of no-holds-barred Texas justice
and brutality. Well-known for its persistent
personnel. They have teams of bounty
hunters and private investigators with
KinGsTon
southern drawls.
Astral Space Conservatory (III): HQ in
nearby Oddworks Hall in Haiti. Research led
by former dean of the University of Kingston.
This foundation was funded by a powerful
dragon’s last will and testament to monitor
arcane misuse, protect astral space, and
restore contaminated astral areas.
Atari-tendo United (VI): The #2 and
oldest mega, HQ in Japan. They are a classic
Japanese zaibatsu, run in a traditional
“family” style, with most employees signing
lifetime contracts and even marrying within
the corp. Specializes in nuclear power,
environmental engineering, biotech, heavy
industry, technical service, minerals, military
goods, and a whole lot more.
The Atlantean Foundation (III): A
fanatical group devoting to looking for and
into anything and everything that might be
connected to arcane power or Thera, Mu, aka
the mythical city of Atlantis. In the process they
have developed considerable relic-hunting
and magic-researching capabilities. A mature
dragon recognized the importance of this
organization’s work by including a donation
of a huge sum in his last will & testament.
They have not been mentioned in the news
lately—perhaps too preoccupied with a recent
discovery by their arcane researchers.
324
The Black Circle (III): A mysterious
gathering of mages rumored to be “bound by
blood” (whatever that means). It is said they
are championed by former elite agents of the
Illuminati, Knights Templar, and Freemasons.
If you spot people in black robes casting weird
mojo, take some notes, call the authorities,
and get the hell out of there. Pissing them off is
sometimes called “spinning the Black Circle”
for the mayhem that ensues.
Bodies Unlimited (III): A corporation
and organlegging criminal syndicate
headquartered in Kingston. One of the
best connected and protected criminal
organizations in the world, feared for its
secretive ways with high bounties on its
leadership. It is rumored to be infiltrated by
ghouls (secret and known) and sympathizes
with the Infected. Known business is
concentrated in the Pacific Rim, Africa, and
across the Americas.
Brokeback Corrections (IV): A corrections
facility rumored to be inescapable. Many
ex-runners spend the bulk of their lives
with burnt IDNs in here. Several criminal
operations are run by convicts from within
its walls.
Caliphate Global (V): The #7 mega (and
most recent addition to the Big Seven), HQ
in Cairo, Egypt. Focuses on entertainment,
telecom, finance, and construction. Almost
entirely owned by Nye McFly, a young
entrepreneur whose online gambling
winnings famously funded their takeover of
several conglomerates.
Caribbean League Military (V): The armed
forces of the Caribbean League stationed in
Kingston. Garrisons of troops are posted at the
Fort Clarence (just south of Portmore, on the
coast), aboard the naval destroyer Midnight,
and at the Kingston Council’s stronghold (a
few hundred troops in total).

Citizenry: The ordinary citizens of a district
can be represented by a faction, if you want
to track status with them in the game. The
GM will set their Tier according to the wealth
and power of the citizens in that district (New
Kingston might be Tier V, Havendale Tier II,
Sewerton Tier I).
Citizens on Patrol (I): Civilian investigators
that report to security firms. They have a
reputation for ethics and integrity (no one
likes them). They often present evidence
which help put away runners.
Classique Retro Fabrication (II): A
custom weaponry shop, whose popularity
has swelled among collectors and fanatics
in recent years. This is mostly due to their
denial of AI-driven replicators, but also their
commitment to excellence. Being targeted by
the megas for their staunch refusal to allow
outside investors.
The Cuban Mafia (V): An alliance of several
crime families, all loyal to El Jefé. Represented
locally by the Mannings. An brutally efficient
syndicate known for being protective of its
allies and quick to anger. Their role in the
trafficking of people and drugs is undeniable
CyberSec Global (VI): A vile, manipulative,
and greedy organization with expansive
power over the flow of data. They primarily
serve the interests of the Big Seven and
prevent cyberspace and the stock markets
from crashing again. Rumored to be able to
take control of private citizens’ neural implants
with ease. It is said that corporate spies actually
control the board room here. Some of those
who answer for CSG’s actions are not even
physical; simply AI.
Exo Heavy Industries (VI): The #1 mega,
HQ in Russia. Involved in military research
and development, including weapons,
vehicles, chemicals, and aerospace—with a
domineering presence in finance and politics.
Nearly 100% owned by the Drake family.
Faster Than You (I): Extreme hover cyclists,
drone enthusiasts, and parkour fanatics who
sometimes run small shipments of drugs and
guns across the streets of Kingston.
9
GetsAround Delivery (II): Food delivery
service provider, whose patented drones can
frequently be seen zipping around in swarms
to and from office buildings or arcologies.
Recently made headlines for “1 billion served
through automation.”
Hindenberg Orbital (IV): The #6 mega, HQ
in Germany. Primarily concerned with orbital
technologies, including geolocation services,
lunar transport, mining, solar energy, and
chemical engineering. They also own the
facTions
only government-subsidized orbital cleanup
operation, solidifying their global presence
and giving them unique access to cutting-edge
scientific research.
The Institute of Arcane Research (IV):
Established to further a powerful dragon’s
magical interests. Working in coordination
with Atlantean Foundation, helping ensure
these organizations will be formidable players
in almost anything even tangentially related
to magic for years to come.
The Labor Party (II): Neo-anarchists
who think citizens should use their rights
to reduce the megacorps to rubble. Their
families were almost completely eliminated
by the People’s Party, but they seem
determined to rise once again.
Legionnaires (III): The security company
tasked with upholding the law. Known as the
meanest bunch of thugs in the city. Corrupt,
infringing, and despicable.
Lord Vladimir (III): A noble from what
was formerly Latvia, said to be “ancient.”
They enjoy diplomatic immunity in most of
the Caribbean League (not Cuba). Controls a
number of clearing houses and banks for his
extensive worldwide investment portfolio.
Probably a vampire.
Machina Imperium (II): A radical movement
devoted to the advancement of legislation
granting autonomy and citizenship to
machine intelligences. Mostly opposed by
cyberneticists, quantum programmers, and
others who understand the risks of such
freedoms. Successfully blocked a recently
proposed amendment concerning fully
lifelike drones and shells—for now.
325
 9
The Mad Dance (III): A feared paramilitary
organization of cultists serving an actual
devil. Their elites employ hallucinogens, pilot
flying suits, and operate in open rebellion to
laws designed to respect the dead. They seek
to gain knowledge from the past through
their “bloody dances”—designed to entice evil
entities native to the darker metaplanes.
The Manning Family (II): The local chapter
of the Cuban Mafia which answers to El
Jefé directly. Ruthless mobsters, notorious
KinGsTon
for murdering any who challenge them in
broad daylight. Their control over the drug
trade in St. Andrew is in question, as their
former leader Lefty was recently murdered—
shattering the tenuous alliance between the
Talons and Mountain Rats he brokered.
Mexitech Logistics (V): The #4 mega, HQ
in a platinum palace in Mexico City (capital of
the Empire of Mexico). They’ve got their hands
in more pockets than just about any other
mega, and their public relations campaigns
are second to none—which is good, because
they’re also all about blood magic and evil
conspiracies. The Mexican Empress has
them protected as a government contractor,
and the rest of the Americas depends on
them for a variety of their daily needs. Many
Panamanians despise this mega due to beliefs
that they manipulate the weather to profit.
The Mountain Rats (II): Vicious go-gangers
known for their gratuitous use of face
paint, powerful chemicals & explosives, and
daredevil motorbiking. Often seen wielding
neon baseball bats wrapped in razor wire.
Mirror’s Edge (III): An underground
online community consisting of an array of
exceptional shadow minds gathered by Mirror
to be a filter between the normies and the
hacker elite. Mirror, perhaps the best hacker
the world has ever seen, had to step down
recently, but the group is still going strong.
Murphy’s Lunar (IV): This international
corporation owns the largest lunar transport
service in the Americas and a huge solar utility
company. They shuttle rich people from their
private launchpad in the Cayman Islands to
the colony on the dark side of Earth’s moon,
and they own the majority of the solar arrays
on the other side.
326
The Neo-Catholic Church (IV): The closest
thing to a “state religion” in Kingston, though
not nearly as influential as they used to be.
They abhor the corrupted spirit world and do
their best to discredit those who upload their
consciousness to cyberspace. Said to pay well for
discreet exorcists and ancient historical texts.
Nukem Foods (II): Their food printing
services include complementary microwaving
and many streets license their devices to
quickly prepare food and pick up trash.
Their company would be much bigger if not
for malfunctioning drone designs, and other
unfortunate “mishaps.”
The Otaku Remnant (III): a group of
Japanese hackers descended from or allegiant
to the Otaku, children who found themselves
able to see and manipulate data naturally
after the Awakening. It is rumored they died
out, but some theorize that they are simply in
hiding—still worshiping a dangerous AI.
The Panamanian Consulate (III): A
small representation of diplomats from the
Panamanian Union with certain immunities;
they will kill anyone, even their own kind,
for trying to move in on their monopoly over
the supernatural metal trade. They control a
large portion of the gun trade as well through
decades-old legislation and gang alliances.
The People’s Party: A gang whose members
hold various positions of power throughout
the city. The elderly parents of the new
generation are feared for the elimination
of their rivals, the Labor Party (and their
families!) using deadly nanobots.
Petrovski Security (II): The recent rival for
Alamo’s security contracts in the city. Led by
a couple of ex-runners named Mr. and Mrs.
Terminator—a couple of vodka-drinking
Ukrainians with bodies full of implants, who
employ a number of Russian loyalists and a
fair number of ex-Red Army personnel. Long
ago Mrs. Terminator acquired a large piece of
land following the first Great Crash. They’re
hiding something, but no one knows what
because they’ve surrounded their property
with a massive wall and backed it up with
pretty impressive security. What’s happening
in there is anyone’s guess—and there’s plenty
of guessing going on.

Protean Biotech (IV): The biotechnology
specialists responsible for much of the printed
flesh and cloned organs across the world. They
also own a variety of interests in agriculture
and pharmaceuticals. Recently targeted the
#8 mega and bankrupt them through clones
infiltrating their board.
The Rack (I): Desperate North American
refugees seeking fame on the high seas, leading
a bunch of convicts from Brokeback tasked with
guarding Kingston Bay against dangerous sea
creatures. They service businesses approved
by the warden of Brokeback Corrections,
and officially sanctioned nautical salvage
operations and occasional reinforcements for
maritime authorities.
The Scraps (I): Homeless children, beggars,
hoodlums, and thieves who roam the sprawl.
An impressive gossip network.
The Sky Wardens (III): Well-trained pilots
authorized to police the skies with force.
Sinokatsu Dynamics (V): The #3 mega, HQ
in the Free City of Hong Kong. The resulting
merger of former manufacturing mega
Sinowei Industries and financial mega
Trionkatsu Enterprises. Its board suffers
from high turnover due to vicious infighting
and deadly politics. Controls a technology
consortium focused on advancing legislature
concerning the variety of utility companies
they own (recently seeking to takeover
Murphy’s Lunar). They are known for their
experimental research & development into
higher science fields including spacecraft,
cryogenics, and particle physics.
Sudushima Partners (II): Microchip
manufacturer and cybernetic research
& development firm, with strong ties to
Kingston University. Many of their employees
are students groomed through the Beacon
Academy of Technology, which they fund and
manage privately.
The Talons (II): Legitimate sailors turned
arms dealers. Their symbol is that of an eagle
claw clutching a rifle. Many are war vets
and seasoned mercenaries. Their vehicles
often feature hardened plating, armed drone
escorts, and powerful military weaponry.
9
Tritanium Partners (V): The #5 mega. HQ
on the mobile ocean platform stationed near
the Pacific coast of North America, known as
Dusk City. CEO is elderly, their life sustained
through self-experimentation with cutting-
edge chemicals and bioengineering. Their
focus is on transhumanist technologies ranging
from cloning to cybernetics, and other even
more “out-there” projects designed to take
humanity to the next era of advancement. Also
owns LifeLift Medical Services, competitor to
MedSled. They own their own space station,
facTions
and are rumored to have an experimental
base on the moon too.
Uber-Besos (III): The combined remnants
of two former megacorporations, trying to
make a comeback. They focus on automated
technologies for transportation and delivery,
and have their fingers in a number of other
related industries including entertainment,
finance, manufacturing, and consumer
products.
The Underteeth (I): An up-and-coming gang
of thieves who wear matching baseball caps
and call various hubs in Sewerton their turf.
Their symbol is a set of sharpened incisors.
Grinder, a former runner and demolitionist,
turned neo-anarchist, now leads this deadly
bunch of terrorists and instigators—and sign
their deals in blood and ash.
The Violet Twins: Parolees on house arrest
in Barbican, refusing to vacate the premises. A
gathering of citizens awaits their next public
prayer.
Welshire Holdings (IV): Largest network
of banks in Kingston. Launders money for
the Yakuza and numerous foreign interests
through diversified portfolios.
XXIII (IV): A vile group that is obsessed with
numerology and lets free spirits possess them
to grant them great power. No one can be
certain of its membership, but they went dark
aroudn the timte that
The Yakuza (IV): HQ and oyabun (leader) in
Japan. Atari-Tendo uses Yakuza foot soldiers
to do their dirty work, while the Yakuza uses
Uber-Besos as the greatest money-laundering
organization the world has ever seen. One big,
fraggin’ happy family.
327
 9
KINGSTON: VICE PURVEYORS
FAITH
◆ Dog, mentor spirit, Gutter Park, in a nearby
alley in Barbican neighborhood.
◆ Mother Maya, the Neo-Catholic Church,
New Kingston.
◆ Ixis, street preacher, the Arcology Projects,
north side of Trench Town.
◆ Anne Berlin, Buddhislam Worship Center,
Havendale.
KinGsTon
◆ Priestess Barbarosa, Tinsen Pen Worship
Center, Constant Spring.
GAMBLING
◆ Spugface’s dice game, Trench Town alleys.
◆ The Hammer, Robbo’s Cage, docks,
Kingston Parish.
◆ Ronnie, Fantasy Towers casino, New
Kingston.
◆ Sea Bass, drone racing, Portmore.
◆ Madame Steinbergh, Club Steinbergh, St.
Andrew Parish.
◆ Krist, the fight clubs, Kingston Parish.
LUXURY/PLEASURE
◆ Ginger, homeless girl and finder of rare
things, Freedom Park Garage fire escapes.
◆ Kelly Harvey, Santa Maria’s, Havendale.
◆ Remereau’s Fine Winery, Mona.
◆ Nanowear, fine fabrics and tailoring,
Mona Up & Down.
◆ Joey Baggadonutz, Glowdome amusement
park, August Town.
◆ Chef Horace Rodriguez, the Twisted Wood
restaurant, Constant Spring.
◆ Maestro Dexter, St Andrew Pointe Theater,
downtown St. Andrew Parish.
◆ Ari, Wunder Barber and Salon, St. Andrew
Parish.
OBLIGATION
◆ Family members (heritage) or former
connections (background).
◆ Jake Sutton, a Loyalist, Sewerton.
◆ Red XIII, a secret society member.
◆ Vigo, enforcer for the Manning family, St.
Andrew Parish.
328
PLEASURE/STUPOR
◆ Marcus Gritsky, Marcus’ Hovel, St. Andrew
Parish.
◆ Nukem Soyfish, the first of many.
◆ Alabaster Maiden, a nightclub named for
Adamina Weiskechil, a cultist whose burnt
and petrified remains are on display there.
◆ Noggin, the Moshbar, Sewerton.
◆ Ronnie, Fantasy Towers casino, Kingston
Parish.
◆ Juniper Sung, the Sealed Cask, winery,
August Town near the Mt. Carmel lift station.
◆ Zidane, arms dealer, ruins at Harborview.
◆ Slug & Dominique, gossipers, Sewerton.
◆ Mistress Minx, The Purple Door, brothel,
Kingston Parish.
◆ Sweet Clouds vape shop, New Kingston.
◆ CP-45B, tourist information drone, the
Hydro-ferry, Kingston Parish docks.
◆ Max and Sherri, the Night Lotus, Mona.
WEIRD
◆ The holographic barkeep of a dive bar
whose door can never be found in the
same place twice Strange passageways lead
to stranger chambers beyond.
◆ Father Cassius III, Memorial Hall Church,
Trench Town.
◆ “Roz,” a free spirit, which moves from
body to body at their whim.
◆ Sister Thorn, wilderness expert, outside
bus depots near the northern edges of Mona.
◆ Otep, a provider of surprisingly extreme
BTL experiences. Her host, #Pandoras_Box is
invite only.
◆ Puck, black market vendor, Rooftop Bar
405, Kingston Parish.
◆ Winter, cultist of a forgotten spirit,
living deep in Sewerton and Trench Town’s
waterways.
◆ Traveller, a rampant AI with no purpose
that once monitored the public grid in a fallen
North American nation.
 9

One day the runners might get lost

underground and stumble upon

ZETA LAB
A defunct research facility beneath the
sub-levels of Sewerton, hidden deep in
the several-hundred-year-old sewage
maintenance shafts where even the
homeless know not to intrude.

ZeTa laB
MOOD
A run aimed at this target might unfold
like this:

What appeared before to just be a dead

end turned out to conceal a second
illusion, one of gratings on top of still
water. These conceal a bubbling pool
of deadly pollution. Only the keenest
senses (like a runner with implanted
senses or a Techno) will notice the
second deception as it is a convincing
holographic projection with accurate
sound, but all others will indeed fall
into a pool of paralyzing toxic waste.
The room is about 5 meters deeper
than it looks with only a partial
grating, and on the other side of a
submerged wall (requiring swimming
through the pollution) is an area with
doors that grant entry to an airlock/
decontamination chamber.

Investigation: The first mundane who

investigates the area immediately falls in if
the illusion is not realized. If someone falls
in, the illusion is momentarily broken for
those who were watching. Someone with the
appropriate supernatural senses might use
them to notice some or all of the following:
there are corrupted cyberspace objects moving
about beneath the grating which belong to
horrific crocodiles—there is a concentration
of icons nearby, shielded from long range
detection—the grating is an illusion.

329
 9
PLACES OF INTEREST
Airlock (A): After swimming through
the pollution, a platform grants a place
to stand and gain entry to the airlock.
The exterior has a blinking panel with
actuated buttons on it. Pressing the
correct sequence will reveal a short room
in which 5 people can stand comfortably.
Pressurized airlock doors are on either
side, the large green button within closes
KinGsTon
them to begin decontamination. When
complete, the inner door opens.
Hallways (B): 4 metal hallways, about 5
meters wide and a 5 meter ceiling, each
with a 90-turn at the end, forming a
square. Open vents, soft hum of impeller
fans within, smell of stale air, numerous
bright light fixtures. Rows of flex-tubing
wrapped over the lights, casting faint,
shadowy lines on the floor.
Investigation: The 4 walls form a
hollow square, wrapping around the
control room. There are three doors
visible, two on the outside of the metal
hallway, with clear glass and no locks,
and on the inside of the hallway, which
leads to the control room. There are
silenty-running sensors at each corner
of the complex, and one over the control
room door (five in all here).
Living Quarters (C): The door to this
slides open all the way, and the lights
inside illuminate to reveal a gray, domed
room about 15 meters across. The
ceiling turns blue a moment later, and
trideo screen above plays a recording of
bubbling brooks, blue skies, and softly
chirping birds. There is a set of 5 chairs
positioned in a “V” shape around a table
below it and some slots big enough to lie
down in.
Investigation: Each slot is fashioned with
an air-cushioned mattress, luxurious
pillow, and a retractable tables. Inflated or
deflating. Moldy smells.
330
Lab (D): The door to this slides open
about halfway and jams, leaving enough
room to get inside one at a time. Within
is a square, metal room about 15 meters
across, with a 6-meter high ceiling. There
are 12 lockers on one side of the room,
and set of black tables on the other side
with toppled chairs on the ground nearby.
Some of the lockers are closed, but 4 are
slightly ajar.
Investigation: In each of the open lockers
are clothing hooks. In the last one hangs
a human skeleton wearing a lab coat and
undershirt, white pants—the typical garb
of a chemist or physician. The lab coat
has no markings on it, except for pale
brown stains of long-since dried blood. The
PCs might force open the other lockers,
and find more skeletons (9 in all) stuffed
within haphazardly. Inside the last locker
they check is a biometric DNA safe (VI)
containing an old but powerful ‘deck. Atop
this is a pile of security badges stained with
dried blood and fleshy bits.
These badges no longer function, long
since expired, but an in-depth examination
of their programming might provide clues
about the Zeta Lab workers who once wore
them, and what happened. That is, they all
were given aliases which correspond with
the element abbreviations on the periodic
table. They range from H (#1) to Na (#11),
however the badges for the employees with
the “Helium” and “Neon” aliases (both
noble gases) are conspicuously not present.
Stasis Chamber (E): A rectangular room,
120 meters long, and about 15 meters
tall, lit by blue-tinted light fixtures in
the ceiling. Twenty stasis capsules, each
5 meters high (spaced evenly on the left
and right walls), thick containment glass
(Tier VI), dimly-lit displays on each one
displaying two garbled letters; some
kind of designation. Squeaking vent
mechanisms, high-pitched whirring
sound, impeller fans overhead, cycling
and quickly fail with a jarring crunch as
the lights go out. An open closet on the

left with single containment suit hanging
(quality 4). An operational display on the
right, with various lines of chemical data
and 20 dots shown on-screen.
Investigation: If the capsules opened prior
to the PCs entering this area, then the dots
are all gray, and there is little of value
which is undamaged. Additionally, the area
will contain toxic fumes due to the puddles
of green stasis chemical smeared and
splashed on the floor and walls around the
capsules.
If they manage to somehow find the
chamber before entering the control room,
then the dots are all green. They can read
all 20 sets of containment date and patient
codes: “C01,” “C02,” “C03,” “C04,” etc. They
should realize this was batch 3 (the codes
correspond to patients 41-60 using two-
letter codes). No matter when they come
in here, tapping any of the corresponding
dots on the screen on the right will reveal
that their containment periods began
several decades ago.
Control Room (F): An octagonal room,
lined with security monitors and control
panels. A blinking red security light
activates as the door opens, indicating
there must be some kind of security
system still active. An exposed set of
wiring beneath the only monitor still
working sparks and casts long shadows
along the floor.
Investigation: The stasis chamber
holding the secret experiments is
visible from a camera view shown in
the control room. The last ones inside
Zeta Lab killed the majority of the
researchers and stashed them inside
the nearby lab’s lockers. The control
room operator apparently sealed this
area and set up a sensor that would
release them when someone entered
the control room. So, after gaining
entry to the control room, inform the
players that a hidden sensor just lit up
one of the trideo projectors, and shows
a room lined with row of stasis capsules
9
filled with a strange green solution.
Inside are the experiments, which begin
to writhe as their containment solution
starts to drain.
Threats: Start a 6-clock, “Cornered by
Experiments” and tick it once for each
action or significant period of time
taken after discovery. Note: There is a
flashing button on the control panel
which will open the stasis chamber
ZeTa laB
door (immediately putting 4 ticks on
the clock).
When 2 segments are filled, their
capsules are drained and fully open—
and the experiments become mobile.
After the capsules open, also make
a fortune roll (3d) to see how many
segments are ticked if the crew suffers
a consequence from this point forward.
They begin trashing the contents of their
hidden chamber (all of them). The noise
is easily heard throughout the complex
as distant banging and breaking glass,
and following the sound will lead the
PCs straight to the lab containing a
hidden metal door in the floor.
When 4 segments are filled, the
programming left behind opens the
hidden door, and they climb out. If
nothing is there, they rush down the
hall to the control room and wander
the area, searching for any signs of life
or movement. They will die within 24
hours if left behind.
331
 9
OBSTACLES
◆ concealing illusion (IV): the pool of
toxic waste appears to be covered by
metal gratings, and PCs will look in and
see nothing of interest, and the leader
will walk across and fall in to the waste
and get attacked by the crocodiles.
◆ [12] crocodiles (III, IV): mutated
reptiles with hardened teeth capable
KinGsTon
of piercing armor, and bioengineered
senses (dampened vision, and audio with
extrasonic and heightened). Belly of the
big one contains something that’s glowing
(a powerful emergent focus).
◆ pollution (II): this poisonous nastiness
is lethal if you are not protected against
its toxicity. The fumes take a few minutes
to kill a person, while the sludge itself
will melt away exposed skin and corrode
metals.
◆ interior complex door (V): appears
inactive, but will light up after
decontamination is complete. This door
leads inside, and the PCs might scramble
in, but hacking would be better.
◆ group of surveillance drones (V): an
army of flying drones with sensors and
facial recognition software, controlled by
their internal programming or the nearby
SCC in the control room. They each have
sound suppression technology and are
capable of producing a small electric
shock or repairing the accompanying
cyberzombie.
◆ cyberzombie (VI): a powerful
cyberzombie is here, driven insane by
vile blood magic and a decade of solitary
existence. It roams the halls stalking any
signs of movement, which are typically
the drones. Can climb walls and ceilings
using barbed hooks, also can release a
burst of energy to electrocute or disrupt
communications, or directly control the
surveillance drones.
332
◆a bunch of lab victims (VI): over a
hundred victims from the hidden storage
area, their clothes and skin like papier
mache on dried sinew and muscle. Not
for the squemish.
◆ control room door (V): the cameras
are no longer functional on the outside,
but attempting to open it without proper
Authentication might trip the failsafe
alerts. When the failsafe alerts are
triggered, any functional security (the
drones and cyberzombie) head straight
to the area to investigate, and continue
patrolling for the remainder of the
mission unless something is done.
◆ group of experiments (III): a
smattering of about 20 (scale 3) hopelessly
mutated people, with completely white
eyes, no clothing (or sex organs). They’re
kept in stasis capsules inside a hidden
chamber accessible through hidden door
in floor of the lab. Putrid fumes rise off
their bodies (which cause incapacitating
migraines to anyone affected), and they
are fast (Reflexes fast).
◆ stasis chamber door (VI): the floor of
the lab is actually a panel which conceals
a 5-meter-wide set of metal stairs that
lead down another 20 meters—into the
stasis chamber. Once this is found, a
trideo prompt will ask “Are you sure?”
and if they confirm, “Lockdown sequence
initiated. Control room notified. You may
proceed.” the door unlocks freely but the
airlock door closes when this happens,
and will not open while the stasis
chamber door is open.
 9

POTENTIAL LOOT
◆ emergent focus: this item is in the
belly of one of the crocodiles, and any
emergent senses will notice it with some
investigation. This item is a clue to what
happened here. What information can be
gleaned from its emergent signature?
◆ [2] quantum processors (rare): one
can be extracted from the cyberzombie

ZeTa laB
(probably with Engineer) if it can be
disabled without destroying its head. One
can also be extracted from the central
computer which is still powered and
very delicate. These are first-generation
quantum processors, and are worth
quite a bit less than modern ones. They
can sold (each is worth 2 nuyen), or used
as components in future projects.
◆ neural recombiner (rare): one can
be extracted from the cyberzombie,
causing the death of its brain and sudden
destruction of its quantum processor,
though a savvy rigger should realize this
old technology will probably fail like this
prior to removing it.
◆ tandem remote control: the control
room at the center of the complex has
one sitting on the desk. It’s old tech but
an interesting bit of curios nonetheless.
Wonder if it couldn’t be repurposed?
◆a bobblehead: a doll with magnetic
feet is attached to the corner of a small
table in the back of the control room. Its
spring-loaded head bobs erratically even
when left undisturbed. What forgotten
icon does it resemble? What else about it
gives off a strange vibe?

333
 9
MEANING AS A REWARD
This place was probably a proving
ground for some form of resonant
biotechnology—a long buried secret.
With a bit of deeper investigation, it
should become painfully clear that
whoever built this place (or whoever left
it behind) went to extraordinary lengths
to intentionally remove any sensitive
data. When the PCs gather information to
KinGsTon
uncover mysteries surrounding Zeta Lab,
they may discover that:
◆ The control room equipment, while
otherwise completely formatted, still
contains two mysterious timecodes
in its database: “2051.07.22_122832”
and “2069.11.02_214506.” The date that
cyberspace went down matches the second
time stamp which is approximately 18
years from the first date.
◆ The badges have serial numbers coded
into them, which use extremely old
encryption methods. The methods all
predate the cataclysm that destroyed the
first iteration on the new cyberspace.
These all contain the sequence “NA” but
no other useful information.
334
Further research might reveal that
the year 2051 is an important year
for several corporations who were, or
later became, megas. Perhaps the “NA”
represents MedSled’s expansion into
international business; MedSled opened
its first Kingston office in July of 2050 after
going international. LifeLift services also
experienced enormous growth shortly
thereafter. However, the qualities found
here came from somewhere much higher
than MedSled’s paygrade at the time—
MedSled wasn’t yet worldwide, and starved
for resources by the larger corporations.
So perhaps spin this as a privately-funded
project gone horribly wrong, or make it
sound like it had the backing one of the Big
Seven at the time. Could it have been the
work of Tritanium Partners (the mega that
later acquired MedSled)—after all, this
was the mega best known for its fatalistic
world views and interest in biotech. Or was
it Mexitech, known for their blood magic,
with heavy investment into chemical and
consumer goods R&D.
The world may never know..
 CHAPTER 10

CHANGING THE GAME

After you play Runners for a good while Remember: this game system was built
(or maybe even right away if you’re one using the framework provided by John
of those types), you’ll start to think about Harper, and the ultimate source for
how you might add stuff to the game, additional content is bladesinthedark.com,
or how elements of the game might where you can find a bunch of game-
be different, or how you might play a hacks that other people have already
different sort of game using the Blades done (including this one) and links that
system as the foundation for something will take you to various community hubs
new. online so you can talk to other gamers
and designers.
The first bit of advice that John Harper
offers when changing the game is to play
and iterate This is good advice, as you
might spin your wheels for a long time
taking things apart and putting them
back together. Don’t let this happen to
you! Try this instead: play the game,
then iterate a few things, then play again
before iterating again, and so on.

Also, you’re not alone in this Call on

your game group for input—as they’ll be
the ones playing your new content the
most. And never forget the sprawling
talent of those online that love to try new
things, give feedback, and support design
efforts.

335
10
GAMEPLAY
OPTIONS
Activate the rule changes as desired to
tailor your experience. Some of these
options are minor tweaks, others add
chanGinG The Game
something completely new. All of them
carry rules weight and fictional conceits.
SPECIALIZATION
Runners revolves around taking actions—
you are what you can do, not what you
know. This encourages adding detail as
you go to explain your talents, but maybe
you want to encourage the specification
of skill specialization. If so, the following
special ability is available to any PC as a
veteran advance:
Specialized
Specify one or two narrow fields of skill as
your specialties. When you take action and
a specialty can help, you may spend 1 edge
to count this as an assist. You also get +1d
when you roll to resist consequences of
using a chosen specialty. Take this special
ability again to choose another specialty.
A specialty has a somewhat narrower
scope than an action, but can apply
to many actions. Choose a noun (or
two) which describes each specialty.
Examples: “pistols” & “gang etiquette,“
“cryptography” & “traces,” etc. If it’s
ever needed, the GM is the final arbiter
of which specialties are valid.
HOLLYWOOD RULES
Your weapon is not empty until you suffer
a complication that specifically states it’s
empty (you can roll to resist this, as usual,
or mark 1 load for ammo).
This is a two-way street: the opposition
will rarely run out of bullets either.
336
DEEPER BACKSTORIES
Backstory is a story from before the
crew got together that no one has heard
before. Normally, players must resort to
“info dumps” at the beginning and end of
the game session to get their backstories
out. With this, they can flashback to old
hardships and development, or even
hidden potential “they forgot” they had,
and get rewarded for it.
When you train, you earn +1 karma if you
recount a valuable experience from your
backstory, revealing its impact on you
in the present or past. Maybe your first
(or last) time in the city, a payoff that fell
through (or landed in your lap), a love lost
(or one found), or a secret pastime that no
one knows about (or cares about). If its
unclear, describe how your experience
helps with your development. If you
wish, make a fortune roll to determine
the outcome of the experience to help
narrate what happened. Either way, you
get +1 karma for doing this.
GAME OUTROS
(LOVE LETTERS)
When the group is concluding its final
session together, each player takes turns
narrating what their PCs are doing
when “the show” is coming to a close.
Make a fortune roll (perhaps using the
character’s lifestyle rating, the crew’s
Tier, or an action rating) to decide
who gets the final narration in a given
sequence of events. On a 1-5, the GM
chooses who gets the final narration. On
a 6 or critical, the player chooses who
gets the final narration.

PLAYER TOKENS
Most rewards go to the player through
their PC’s actions expression and
struggle, however it can also be fun to
offer rewards which are totally player-
focused.
At the beginning of the session, the
GM builds a pool of tokens equal to the
number of players present (including
themself). During the game session, the
GM gives one token from their remaining
pool to a player when a trigger happens.
There are a number of triggers that can
earn a player tokens, and you might work
with the group to create new ones to suit
your desired play style. If any trigger is
met, a player earns up to two tokens (the
limit is two tokens per session):
◆ When your fictional narration amuses
the entire group.
◆ When the engagement roll is made for
a particularly inventive or well-formed
plan that the player concocted.
◆ When the player chose to use the
protect maneuver to suffer a serious
consequence, severe harm, or fatal
harm that one of the PCs would otherwise
face (they may roll to resist it as usual).
◆ When their character is incapacitated
or died (level-3 or level-4 harm).
During a game session, you may spend
a token to choose one of the following
benefits:
◆ You can push yourself for free (costs
zero edge, instead of 2).
◆ You spend only 1 edge when you roll
to resist a consequence (regardless of the
result of your roll).
◆ You get a free downtime activity.
10
DEADLY AF
This rule changes things so everyone
dies more easily. This will force more
strategic play and speed the pace of
combat.
Permanently fill one level-1 and one
GamePlay oPTions
level-2 harm, leaving just one of each, plus
the single level-3 harm box. NPCs (like
cohorts) may suffer at most two levels of
harm (hurt, and hurt badly) before they
are taken out (freeze up, flee, die, etc.).
DURABLE ARMOR
This rule changes things so that sources
of armor might negate consequences
even after you’ve marked all your
relevant armor boxes.
If you have armor that applies to the
situation but have marked your armor
boxes, roll your armor (1d for each
source)—instead of rolling to resist. On
a 1-3, you roll 0d for armor rolls for the
remainder of the run (due to ablation
from damage, stripping, etc.) and the
consequence is reduced—otherwise
you suffer the consequence fully (your
choice). On a 4/5, your armor reduces the
consequence, but you take -1d to armor
rolls for the remainder of the run. On a
6, your armor ignores the consequence,
but you take -1d to armor rolls for the
remainder of the run. On a critical, your
armor ignores the consequence for free.
Shark is taking level 2 harm, “Broken
Ribs,” and his armor boxes are all
marked. The GM has him roll Shark’s
armor (1d) to maybe reduce the harm.
He gets a 6 and the harm becomes level
1, “Battered”—and he will take a -1d
penaity to that roll next time. If Shark
was wearing heavy armor or was also
Ferocious, he would’ve rolled two
dice instead of one.
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10
I GOT A FEVER
Fever replaces edge as a resource,
simplifying gameplay during the action
and between missions. This and a few
tweaks to character and crew creation
will lighten the player’s load dramatically
in terms of decision making and resource
management, letting you “slap that
chanGinG The Game
cowbell” over and over to cure that fever!
During step 5 of character creation, circle
the three actions you are good at instead of
choosing and everyone has access to all five
special items on their chosen playbook. This
is suitable for a short game or one-shot. Action
rolls work like this: roll 2d for a circled action
on your list, otherwise roll 0d, and take +1d if
the action taken aligns with your background
or heritage (for a total of 3d). Skip most of
crew creation, and instead give the players
their choice of one of the following:
◆ an upgraded vehicle (with armor, and
more cargo capacity or larger, faster engines)
◆ a cohort team (of whatever type will help
them the most)
◆ fine weapons and fine comms
◆ Forged in the Fire (+1d to resist)
◆ Synchronized (you may count multiple
6s from different rolls on group actions as a
critical success).
At the start of every run, the crew’s energy is
running high—fever replaces edge and is a
resource determined when the team goes on
a run.
When you start a run against a dangerous
target as a crew, add a number of fever to
FEVER
Add 1 fever for each pc.
Take +1 fever if all the players are excited about
the plan.
Take +1 fever if the entire team trusts one another.
Take -1 fever if no one on the team trusts one
another.
338
the crew’s pool (see above). Fever might be
represented by a pile of coins or dice and is
placed in the center of the table for all players
to see. Anyone can spend 1 fever to assist
a teammate or to push yourself for free
(without spending edge). Further, any other
edge costs (for things like flashbacks, etc.)
can be paid on a 2-for-1 basis by spending
fever (any leftovers are ignored). When the
run is complete and time passes, any unspent
fever are forfeit and the GM sets the crew’s
fever pool to 1.
Since there is no edge, resistance works a little
different. Fever maxes out at twice the number
of PCs. When you resist a consequence, roll
2d if you have a circled action under the
given attribute, otherwise roll 0d, and take
+1d if you have multiple actions circled under
the given attribute. On a Critical, you avoid
the consequence and regain 1 fever. If your
result is at least your current fever, you avoid
or reduce the consequence for 1 fever—
otherwise it costs 2 fever. After reading the
result of your roll, you may choose to take a
trauma instead of spending the team’s fever if
you describe how you are taken out.
After a successful run, write in one additional
special item choice, special ability, or circle
an additional action—unless you have severe
harm (in which case your PC is receiving
long-term medical care instead). Then, you
may start anew with different characters
or keep the same ones—retaining what else
you’ve earned so far. Each player may take
turns narrating vice indulgence or rest and
recuperation for their former characters
if they were kept, before moving on to
planning another operation or free play. All
harm is cleared between missions when using
this variant.

“CLASSIC” CYBERSPACE
This was the way of things in the classic
versions of the fiction. Use this if you
like, establishing the facts right away
during character creation.
A comm is a flip phone that can’t go
online; you need a cyberdeck (which is a
bulky keyboard with integrated computer
and hacking software) with a wired
connection to a terminal or workstation
to do that. A workstation upgrade adds
a desktop computer capable of software
development to the safehouse. Going
online requires a wired connection,
interfaces directly with the public grid,
and allows “hopping” to secure providers
or networks. If wireless interface exists,
it is megacorp-level secret technology
(Tier V+) that no one is sharing.
“VANILLA” CYBERPUNK
Sometimes players want to play a
game set in a world without magical
awakenings and emergence—either
to play in another setting, or in some
part of the timeline prior to the Mayan
calendar’s end.
Simply disallow the supernatural
playbooks and ignore the contents of
the Strange Forces chapter entirely. The
game will play just fine if magic is off the
table for everyone.
“HORROR” CYBERPUNK
Like the previous option, the PCs cannot
use supernatural power whatsoever.
Unlike above, supernatural threats are
still common, putting the players at a
serious disadvantage against entities
they can barely detect—let alone fight.
They might need to enlist the help of a
powerful entity they cannot ever hope
to control. Perhaps a dragon, free spirit,
shedim, or even a literal damned horror.
10
FASTER RECOVERY
A simple way to reduce the difficulty of the
game is to shorten the healing clock for all
PCs to 3 ticks.
If you want to make healing even easier
without changing the healing clock, level-1
harm is healed automatically after a mission,
GamePlay oPTions
level-2 harm costs just 1 downtime activity
to recover, and level-3 harm is the only
severity that requires long-term medical care
(fill the healing clock) to reduce it to level-2.
FRIEND STATUS
Use this option if you want more detail
when it comes to your web of relationships.
Moving from +1 to +2 should be complex or
difficult—the subject of a long-term project
or significant development of friendship.
Moving from +2 to +3 with someone is very
rare (like.. once-per-NPC rare). It’s easy to
lose status with friends—easier than with
factions!
Track status with individual friends just
exactly like you would with a faction: ranging
from -3 to +3. See pg for details. When you
choose a close friend, this sets the status with
that friend at +2. You have a -2 status with
another friend on that list (your rival). The rest
of your listed friends are rated at +0 status.
At your option, you may choose to deepen
your friend connections, taking +3 with your
close friend and -3 with your rival, instead of
+2 and -2.
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DISCRIMINATION &
FUTURISTIC -ISM’S
The fantasy future is discriminatory as
ever—however, not in the ways that the
modern world is. As the people of Earth
progress and genetic “purity” becomes a
thing of the past, the lines based on racial
chanGinG The Game
origin fade away, and are replaced by
new -isms. Inject one or more of these to
highlight the sources of discrimination
in your series without falling back to
heritage (more commonly known as the
“race card”).
When one of these fictional -ism’s
you’ve chosen would get in the way of
a particular action, reduce the effect or
worsen the position accordingly.
Supernatural-ism
This is discrimination based on having
supernatural senses. You may notice that
the Strange Forces chapter already points
to this being the case, however this is far
from explicit. Adding supernaturalism
to your series means that awakened and
emergent character are less likely to
associate with those who are not. More
to the point, the advanced supernatural
characters (the initiated mages and
submersed technomancers) are unlikely
to introduce others to their tightly-knit
social circles of fellow supernaturals.
Further, those on either side of this issue
will tend to ostracize those who oppose
them—believing them to be dangerous,
inhuman, vulnerable, weird, etc.
In some ways, supernaturalism opposes
the core tenets of humanism which
state (among other things) that: human
experience and rational thinking provide
the only source of both knowledge and a
moral code to live by. The idea of knowledge
‘revealed’ to human beings by gods, or in
special books, is rejected.
340
Class-ism
This is pretty much a mainstay in the
cyberpunk genre, but it’s not explicit—
unless it is. Not to be confused with
socialism, the concept of a classism
refers to discrimination based on
social or economic class. Your heritage
doesn’t really matter: it’s your personal
connections and even your family lineage
used to measure your worth.
Come from a powerful family line? It’s
likely believed you are powerful. Come
from an impoverished class of people?
It’s likely that those who know think less
of you.
Gene-ism
This is discrimination based on having
a high “gene score” or “human rating”,
which may exist if a person’s IDN includes
such data. Cloning might lead to constant
evaluation based on genetic tests which
rate people on things like reasoning,
visualization, athleticism, emotional
intelligence, etc. without acknowledgment
of the individual or their accomplishments.
Transhuman-ism
This is discrimination based on
humankind’s evolution beyond its
current physical and mental limitations
to become “superhuman” and, eventually,
immortal. The more implants someone
has, the more superior they may feel to
those without them.
Human-ism
Not to be confused with the humanist
views of today, this is discrimination
based on how “human” someone is.
In many ways, this is the opposite of
transhumanism (mentioned above).
However, this also results in prejudice
against strange genetic expressions like
those mentioned on the following pages.

MAGICAL LINEAGES & OTHER
STRANGE PEOPLES
When you allow magical lineages or
other variants of people in your series, it
should be a measured decision to rip the
lid off of Pandora’s box. Use with care.
MAGICAL LINEAGES
The species from Tolkien’s Lord of the
Rings are real!
As the story goes: people have
experienced genetic expression of their
magical lineage when magic returned
to this world. Sometimes painful, often
ostracizing, these changes make you
different from other people.
To implement this option, all newly
created characters should choose from
a list of allowed magical lineages. Take
a look at the entries on this page, and
choose the magical lineage that each
character was born with (or turned out
to be when they got older; usually by
adulthood). Each magical lineage entry
below includes a number of lineage
traits. Most traits are small boons with
both positive and negative features. When
you choose a magical lineage, record it
and list whatever traits you have trouble
remembering (along the bottom of your
sheet) for future reference.
If you choose to play with the so-called
“classic” set of magical types, then
players may choose from dwarf, elf,
human, ork, or troll. Discuss which
options on the next couple pages are
feasible for characters in your fantasy
visions of magical Earth. Note: If you
allow more than these five, then you are
rapidly sending the game into weirdness
territory—so keep that in mind.
10
Dwarf
Dwarves are roughly a meter and a
half (just under five feet) tall. Despite
their stature, dwarves have earned the
respect of most of the other magical
lineages for their technical prowess and
never-say-die attitude.
◆ Thermal Senses: Your senses
maGical lineaGes
can detect nearby thermal radiation
signatures which are normally invisible.
◆ Fun-sized: You’re not fast by default
(even at light loadout), but that’s okay
because you remain inconspicuous
at normal loadout. People tend to
underestimate your kind (and stature).
◆ Tenacious: You don’t suffer from a
harm penalty until you fill the entire row.
Normally you suffer a penalty if any or all
boxes in a given row of harm are filled.
◆ Thiccblood: You don’t suffer from
the lingering effects of alcohol. You can
choose to spend only 1 edge when you
resist a consequence of poison or disease,
regardless of the result of your roll.
Elf
Elves are pointy-eared humanoids with
alluring eyes and nice skin. They tend
to be just as capable as humans in most
ways, but have certain qualities that
make them feel special.
◆ Low-light Vision: You can see in low-
light as well as if it were well-lit.
◆ Pointed Ears: You can hear sound
from further away. Spend 1 edge to
perceive beyond normal limits for several
minutes. Understand subsonic speech,
perceive ultrasonic vibrations, hear a pin
drop in a noisy room, etc.
◆ Quick: You remain fast at normal
loadout.
◆ Graceful: You can choose to spend only
1 edge when you resist a consequence of
social pressure, regardless of the result of
your roll.
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10
Goblin
Goblins are vile, wretched looking
things with pale green or dark green
skin. They have crooked noses, long
spindly fingers, and reddish corneas.
Their lifespan tends to be rather short,
and their patience much shorter.
chanGinG The Game
◆ Darkvision: You can see in complete
darkness as easily as if it were well-lit.
◆ Quick: You remain fast with a normal
loadout.
◆ Pack Mentality: You get +1 scale when
grouped up with another of your kind.
Human
The benefits of being human are
optional, but maybe you benefited from
your privilege—knowingly or not
When using the magical lineages option, all
other magical lineages are the minorities,
resulting in preferential treatment from
fellow humans. Instead of writing any
traits, you may choose up to two free
permutations during character creation
to represent your easier life (without the
accompanying negative permutations).
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk tend to work nightjobs,
getting sun in the daytime to feed their
hungry endothermic bodies. They
produce little or no heat signature and
are silent killers when they want to be.
◆ Thermal Senses: Your senses
can detect nearby thermal radiation
signatures which are normally invisible.
◆ Endothermic: When there is a
question whether your body produces a
heat signature, the answer is no.
342
Obsidifolk
Rock people. They are magically infused
stone golems. Very weird to see.
◆ Stoneskin: You have a measure of
protection against piercing and slashing
damage. You can’t move quickly—and you
have to hide your skin to be inconspicuous
(even with a light loadout).
◆ Earthsight: You are immune to being
blinded or surprised while in contact
with the ground.
◆ Ancient Blood: Draw one additional
box for level 1 harm (for a total of three)
due to your ancient magical blood.
Shifter
Shifters can change their shape with a
bit of effort, allowing them to take on
another mammalian beast form.
◆ Beast Form: Choose one strength
and one weakness for your beast form:
instincts, strength, or awareness. Its
about half your normal size. Maybe you
turn into a giant fox or hound, or a slender
snake person, etc.
◆ Magical Senses: Spend 1 edge to
sense nearby magic for several minutes.
Detect a nearby mage, feel the presence
of a spell, etc.
Ork
Orks have monstrous, human-like features.
A child of an ork and another magical
lineage will undoubtedly be an ork. Orks
can be born of any lineage though.
◆ Low-light Vision: You can see in low-
light as well as if it were well-lit.
◆ Foolish Pride: Regain 1 edge when
you roll a critical on a desperate action
roll.
◆ Numbskull: Spend 1 edge to ignore a
harm penalty (including incapacitation)
for an action.

Ratkin
Ratkin are genetic hybrids with human
builds, whiskers, furry little rat ears,
and a wiggly tail.
◆ Rat Senses: You can detect sound and
scent from further away than normal.
Cheese forces you to salivate from far
away too.
◆ Wallclimb: Your hands stick to flat
surfaces and climb sheer walls easily.
◆ Prehensile Tail: You have a tail which
you might use to hold or grab things.
Troll
Trolls are roughly half a meter taller
than humans (or about seven feet) tall.
They tend to have sharp personalities
and dull wits by choice.
◆ Thermal Senses: Your senses
can detect nearby thermal radiation
signatures which are normally invisible.
◆ Oversized: You’re not inconspicuous
by default (even with a light loadout),
but that’s okay because you are not
slower at a heavy loadout (and can carry
+1 load before you’re encumbered).
People tend to fear your kind—and for
good reason!
◆ Troll Armor: Your skin and bones are
hardened and your kind tend to get a thrill
out of enduring (rather than avoiding)
pain. You have an extra armor box
available to you (draw it on your sheet),
and get +1d when you make a resistance
roll with Body.
◆ Horned: You have horns on your head
that make great goring weapons. These
tend to make people nervous (with good
reason). You may decide you had one
(or both) of your horns (and this trait)
removed.
10
STRANGER PEOPLES
The denizens of this fantasy Earth can
come in many more varieties than the
mostly humanoid ones presented in the
previous section, however they don’t
always make good PCs. Be sure everyone
is on board with any weirder variants
before permitting them in your series.
maGical lineaGes
Describe the variant first, then write a
small collection of traits to describe any
size difference and innate powers. Then,
clarify things through description and
discussion if needed. Use the lineage
write-ups in the previous section and
the examples below to help decide what
the traits will be. If you want to provide
access to things that just some of their
kind develop, then an advanced ability
or permission only they can access is a
good fit.
Some variants don’t even need special
traits. Hobgoblins, for example, are just
a slightly skinnier variant of an ork—
often of Arabic or Asian descent. Oni,
same thing pretty much: Japanese orks
with appearances reminiscent of local
folklore. Centaurs, on the other hand,
could warrant some special attention...
To fulfill a less common request, think
about the physical characteristics and
start there at the discussion layer to see
how far you can get (size, advantages,
and disadvantages, for example). The
more you agree about, the better.
When the effect of a particular
characteristic is uncertain, you can
always make a fortune roll (or offer an
action roll) to disclaim the outcome, or
offer a Dragon’s Deal to show its good
and bad side. Otherwise, use the usual
tools for setting position and considering
expected effect. This may require a
bit of practice, but this is an essential
343
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skill anyways so it will be well worth it.
When the effect doesn’t feel quite right,
boost it up or down by 1, or narrate the
outcome without a roll at all. If anyone’s
nervous, reassure them this is probably
hitting their karma triggers and revisit as
necessary to redefine the traits and their
scope.
chanGinG The Game
When dealing with a particularly strange
variant, be sure to eventually also
answer questions like: “Where do they
come from?” and “How do others view
your kind?” That stuff needs to be talked
about if it’s not clear, or it will lack any
real substance. And we wouldn’t want
that with such a gold mine for character
expression.
Here are some example variants with
traits you can adapt and reuse to suit
your needs:
Centaur
◆ Equine Hybrid: You have four hooved
legs and two arms, perfect for keeping
pace with most land vehicles. Your hands
each have three strong fingers and an
opposable thumb, which provide you
with a measure of protection against
being disarmed.
◆ Beast of Burden: You’re not
inconspicuous by default (even with a
light loadout), but that’s okay you can
carry 2 additional load (more if you
have saddlebags). Further, you are not
overburdened until you bear 10 load.
◆ Centaur Senses: You can always sense
the presence of supernatural power
nearby.
344
Pixie
◆ Faerie: You are Tiny (mouse size, scale
-2). Your body exudes a small amount of
light when you move. Among other things,
this means you can’t use equipment that is
normal-sized (a typical concealed holdout
pistol is like a cannon for you). You will
typically accomplish less when you take
a physical action; take advantage of your
size to escape, avoid notice, and otherwise
be a pest.
◆ Winged: You can fly quickly up to a few
meters above the ground in short bursts
using wings powered by supernatural
lift. If your wings are damaged, they will
slowly grow back (quickly while resting).
If you wings are utterly destroyed, you
lose this trait.
◆ Glamour: You are completely invisible
when you have a light loadout, and
concealed by magical obfuscation when
you have a normal loadout. Spend 1
edge to illuminate your body or remain
visible for several minutes. Upon your
death, your released essence renders
your corpse invisible. You might still be
detected through supernatural awareness
or special sensors. The GM will make a
fortune roll if the quality of your glamour
is ever put to the test.
Should you manage to become Infected
as a pixie, you become a “tooth fairy”
that hungers for fresh teeth (the
younger, the better).

EXTRATERRESTRIALS AKA
“STAR PEOPLE”
The existence of extraterrestrials on Earth
has fascinated people for generations.
If you want aliens to be present in your
game’s world, talk about some or all of
the following with your table:
Are they peaceful visitors or invaders?
If they are peaceful visitors, talk about the
next question in more depth than usual.
Should you include an extraterrestrial
faction or three, have at least one faction
that represents their higher interest
that is a megacorporation, one of the
Big Seven, and any others should have
other interests which are different from
the primary one (and will inform their
placement on the faction tracker).
How long ago did they arrive? The
exact year is not necessarily important
unless your table wishes to add that
much depth. Decide if it was recently
or not, and then follow the fiction from
there. Are these creatures integrating
with humans, but seen as a blight which
people are still struggling to deal with
(a’la Alien Nation)? If it was a long time
ago, where have they been hiding:
perhaps underwater, the dark side of the
moon, or among us? These are all issues
which you can explore in play, or define
up front—either approach is fine, but the
decision your table makes will drastically
alter how this decision affects the game.
What strange powers do these creatures
possess? They probably have innate
telepathy, but what about impossible
strength, or the uncanny ability to sense
danger? Can their weapons can wrap
someone in a cotton candy cocoon and
turn them into an essence smoothie? Use
the fiction of extraterrestrials you enjoy
(and fear!) the most. Include multiple
varieties if you get bored.
10
CLONES
A sheep named Dolly was successfully cloned
in 1996. In the future, it will be commonplace
to get body parts bioengineered rather than
heal naturally: this will all be made possible
and accessible to average citizens using some
form of cloning or stem cell growth—but
What about a whole person? you might ask.
maGical lineaGes
If you agree this will be possible in the near-
future, then consider the following angles for
including it in your game:
Cloning is Traumatic
Upon your death, your character is cloned
and released from a central cloning
center or dispenser robot that patrols the
city’s “clone waking points.” For a faster
“Zap” style game inspired by Paranoia,
each character suffers 1 trauma each
time they are cloned.
Cloning is Transformative
Gene mods come in at quality 4+; so does
safe cloning. When you die and the crew’s
Tier is less than 4 (the minimum to avoid
mutation), the GM rolls dice equal to the
Tier deficit (so at Tier I, roll 3d) plus your
clone generation (a clone of a clone rolls
+2d) to determine whether there are side
effects or mutations. On a 1-3, you’re
mostly normal; minor side effects at
worst. On a 4/5, you suffer from infertility,
significant debility (-1d to resistance rolls
with a particular attribute of choice), or
a random mutation (see below). On a 6,
choose two from the previous list or roll
two mutations. On a critical, you suffer
from all three.
Roll 1d for each mutation’s location; the
area indicated is mismatched, deformed,
discolored, oversized, miniature, or
painful (GM’s choice). Random location..
1: eyes, ears, nose, or mouth (your choice).
2: arm. 3: leg. 4: vital organ. 5: skin. 6:
skeleton.
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EMOTIONAL STATES
Adding a system for tracking emotional
states shifts the power to the players at
times, encouraging them to buy into the
idea of emotional catharsis and inner
turmoil.
Each PC creates three emotional tug-of-war
chanGinG The Game
clocks, called “Calm—Angry,” “Happy—Sad,”
and “Anxious—Bold” which refer to the six
emotional states this option is concerned
with. Each emotional clock has seven
segments in it, and you get four ticks on each
clock to start. Add one tick to any clock you
wish to represent how you normally feel.
When you make an action roll, the GM asks
“how do you feel?” and the emotion you
choose determines any added effect. Use
the wheel on the next page as a guideline
to choosing an emotional state from the six
given, selecting the one that best matches
what your character is feeling as they take
their action.
◆ When you are angry, take +1 effect on
the action if more than four segments are
marked on the Calm—Angry clock. After the
action, mark 1 segment.
◆ When you are calm, take +1 effect on the
action if less than four segments are marked
on the Calm—Angry clock. After the action,
clear 1 segment.
◆ When you are sad, take +1 effect on
the action if more than four segments are
marked on the Happy—Sad clock. After the
action, mark 1 segment.
◆ When you are happy, take +1 effect on the
action if less than four segments are marked
on the Happy—Sad clock. After the action,
clear 1 segment.
◆ When you are anxious, take +1 effect on
the action if more four three segments are
marked on the Bold—Anxious clock. After
the action, mark 1 segment.
◆ When you are bold, take +1 effect on the
action if less than four segments are marked
on the Bold—Anxious clock. After the action,
clear 1 segment.
346
When you fill or clear an emotional clock,
choose one:
◆ You act according to the emotional state
in a dramatic moment of catharsis. If you
cleared the clock, it’s the emotion on the
left; otherwise it’s the one on the right. A
serious complication arises relating to
the emotion, you mark 1 karma, then you
reset the emotion clock to four segments.
◆ Any possible catharsis is negated by a
different emotional state. The GM makes
a fortune roll using your Willpower
attribute to determine the impact on the
current scene, and you reset the clock
to four segments (also mark or clear a
number of segments on the appropriate
emotional clock for what you feel
instead). 1-3: a serious complication
arises, 4/5: a complication arises, 6: a
minor complication arises. Critical:
with significant style or composure, you
quell your emotional state and narrowly
avoid additional complication.
You may not roll to resist the effects of
your emotional state, but you can apply
special armor if you have any that apply
to the consequences.
Shark is consorting with his contact,
Angel, trying to get hold of some
sensitive information for an upcoming
run. Cody says his character is feeling
Bold, taking +1 effect to the action. He
looks at the emotion wheel and says
the more specific emotion is hopeful
and creative. He rolls a 6, so the typical
good information is upgraded to great
information.
Afterwards, Cody notes that he cleared
the last tick on his Bold—Anxious
clock. He decides Shark is proud in
general and thinks his character would
act accordingly, so he marks 1 karma
and resets his emotional clock to four
segments.

“What does that look like? How might
a serious complication arise from your
boldness after you have consorted with
Angel?”
“Maybe I snort some drugs and
offer them some, but they’re totally
straightedge.”
10
“Okay, but it’s a serious complication—
so not only do they feel disrespected,
but manipulated. As you shove a line
in their face, we put three ticks on an
4-track that I think we’ll call ‘Angel
tells you to eat drek’ to represent they
won’t work with you anymore after it
fills.”
GamePlay oPTions
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ADDING FACTIONS authorities, or controlling the drug trade.

A corporation might be captivated by
The faction sheet begins with a plethora
a particular industry (such as biotech,
of various groups with which the crew
media, paramilitary operations, mining
might gain status. To add a new faction
precious resources, etc). An institution
to the list, the players simply discuss it
might be captivated by sprawl security,
with their fellow players. To personalize
political leagues, or special interest
the faction list and campaign, you are
groups. A fringe group might be captivated
chanGinG The Game

encouraged to add a custom corporation,

fringe organization, sprawl institution,
or criminal syndicate.
Creating a Faction
To add a new faction The players and the
GM answer questions about the created
faction to define what it will do in play
and what is required to gain status
with them (below). The players record
these answers in their notes for future
reference.
Custom Faction Questions
(1) GM asks: “What type of faction is
it and where do they operate?” Player
answers. A faction might be a syndicate,
corporation, institution, or fringe group.
Also talk about what kind of runs they
outsource and their preferred fixers.
Remember that if the crew has an
appropriate type of meeting grounds or
fixer, they get bonuses with certain types
of clients.
(2) Player asks: “What is their tier
and hold?” GM answers.
(3) GM asks: “What is their biggest
flaw?” Player answers. A faction’s flaw
might be their absolutism, use of fear
tactics, all-encompassing greed, reliance
on sadism, or misplaced utopian vision.
(4) Player asks: “What enemies or
allies do we share?” GM answers with
some factions with which the crew has
status, or by saying there are none. The
players help explain what happened.
A syndicate settles and starts underworld
conflict, dissolving problems with
by discrimination, supernatural power,
or the support of the sprawl’s citizenry.
The player should choose at least one
primary field of interest (and if they have
ideas about it, one or more secondary
fields of interest).
Be sure give the faction a name at some
point during the process (this can be at
the end or the beginning—whichever
is easier. For a syndicate, you might
choose a sinister name that alludes to
their special interests. For a corporation,
you might use suffixes which suggest
technology companies like -tech, -com,
-soft, -dyne, -tronics (“Techtronics,“
“Uberdyne,” “Wickedsoft,” etc.). Or you
might use a hyphenated name to indicate
a merger or takeover (“Apple-Disney
Productions,” “Lauder & Gamble,” etc.).
For an institution, a public-facing name is
most common and often includes words
like department, security, or agency. For
a fringe group, a name which conceals
their true purpose is often used to gain
popularity or public acceptance.

348
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Example Custom Faction Answers

“The faction is Phizerbucks, a
corporation dealing in foods containing
pharmaceutical blends. Their number
one product is a caffeinated smoothie
loaded with pain killers.”
“Of course it is! Sounds like a worldwide
“Protean Steelworks, and the Manning
Family know they’re losing a lot of
potential income from their drug
distribution operations due to this
sleazy mega, and you’ve got +1
status with the latter. Also, they’re

mega, but not one of the Big Seven—
yet. So probably tier III or IV, strong
hold. Hm.. I’d say it was closer to III
though, since they aren’t like.. beating
at the Big Seven’s door, right?”
GamePlay oPTions
in the running for the #7 spot on the
Corporate Court so you share Protean
as an enemy since you helped them keep
their place on the Big Seven rankings.”

“Yep. And their biggest flaw is their

greed. For example, they are hoping
to have their new drinks sold in
every Stuffer Shack to maximize their
profits.”

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THE LOST PLAYBOOKS
Some early playbook ideas were merged
and shuffled around into the seven core
playbook that made the final cut. But that
doesn’t mean those other ideas were bad!
Their leftovers are archived across this
and the next couple pages.
chanGinG The Game
BRAINS
A well-connected planner
and mastermind
At first, the shadows are bewildering, a
muddled political landscape with secret
wars fought behind the auto-turrets and
mirrored windows of the elite. For the
Brains of the operation though, there
is a subtle order to it all—the criminal
underworld is just another secret waiting
to be exploited, another opportunity to
seize, another problem to solve.
When you play the Brains, you earn
karma when you address a challenge
with calculation or conspiracy It’s all
about who you know, and who you screw
over. Use your contacts, informants, and
confidantes to point your operations in
the right direction. Use your downtime
activities and flashbacks wisely to
prepare for trouble and to calculate the
angles of success. When things go to drek,
remember to breathe slow— you knew
this coming and have everything under
control.
Are you enmeshed in the network of
favors and debts that you cultivate, or do
you scrupulously hold yourself apart, as
a cold predator upon the shadows?
350
BRAINS SPECIAL ABILITIES
HEAD OF THE SNAKE
When you lead a group action, you only
lose edge for PCs that rolled a 1 as their
result.
Normally, you lose edge for any PCs
that rolled a 1-3 when you lead a group
action. WIth this ability, you’ve learned
to compensate for adversity, and easily
cover for any teammates whose results
weren’t absolutely abysmal.
IN CONTROL
When an entanglement roll is made, you
may adjust the outcome by 1 (up or down).
You can change how the world responds
even when things seem completely out
of your control. What plans have you
made to give you insurance against the
outcome you avoided?
INVESTIGATOR
You gain an additional karma trigger: You
answered a complex question with a long-
term investigation project. You get +1d to
Study someone who’s unaware you’re
watching.
Convict
When incarcerated, your wanted level
counts as 1 less, your Tier as 1 more, and
you gain +1 faction status with a faction
you help on the inside (in addition to your
conditioning roll).
Zero is the minimum wanted level; this
ability can’t make your wanted level
negative.
This playbook pairs best with the special
items and abilities of the Face and Hacker
playbooks. For example, Connected
and Time Manager provide exceptional
utility to the Brains of any operation.

ROCKER
A stylish icon with a cult following
While most runners stay out of the neon
lights, you choose to stand directly in
them. You are somewhat of an icon
in your circles, and possess a level of
improvisational charm and influence
beyond that of your peers. Motivate your
fans and haters alike with your unique
brand of lyrics, performance, and dance.
When you play a Rocker, you earn
karma when you address a challenge
with performance or persuasion Take
hold of the mic (or whatever else you use
to do your “thing”), make a scene, and blow
away your audience. You can’t afford to
be quiet when you’re this wanted. Make
sure you don’t miss a beat though, or your
followers might get upset.
Each rocker has a different “thing”
they do when performing (they might
be a public speaker, dancer, singer/
songwriter, etc.)—what’s yours? Did you
have a mentor, are your talents self-
taught?
10
ROCKER SPECIAL ABILITIES
PERFORMER
When you perform a stunning display of
proficiency in your chosen performance
style (oratory, singing, synth, percussion,
wind, etc.), it affects a larger group of people
than normal. If there’s ever a question who
GamePlay oPTions
is the most interesting, the answer is you.
INSPIRATIONAL
Your entourage (if you have one) is
particularly inspired and highly talented.
They gain potency when distracting or
inciting onlookers, and they gain an ability:
crazed—flashmob—rowdy. Take this ability
again to choose an additional ability for
your entourage.
The entourage is found in the Face’s
special items. Crazed means they
don’t back down from security to get
to you, no matter how imposing it is.
Flashmob means they rapidly organize
into a choreographed dance formation
when your performance begins. Rowdy
means they are prone to gratuitous
violence and count as +1 scale when
they get excited.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
You gain an additional vice: Performance.
When you indulge this vice and put on an
appealing show, you don’t overindulge
if you clear excess edge. In addition, you
can choose to lose only 1 edge when you
resist a consequence of disinterest or chaos,
regardless of the result of your roll.
What sort of performance does your
audience find appealing?
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SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Fine rocker gear: An instrument
designed to highlight your specific
talents: a vocal processor, synthesizer,
guitar, etc. Whatever you use to pull off
your “rockin.” [1+ load] Each rocker
has a different method of performance
chanGinG The Game
reflected by their specific rocker gear.
What about makes yours makes it
impressive or memorable to see? Some
instruments take up more load due to
their size and weight.
◆ Fine performance outfit: You have
an outfit designed to get the most out
of your performances and inspire
raucous audience reaction. [1 load]
If you’re carrying this item as a second
outfit to, it counts as 2 load.
◆A broadcast drone: A drone that
archives your life and automatically
broadcasts the best portions to your
fans, enhancing it with expert visual
effects and cinematography. [0 load]
It’s small, flies, and has holographic
sensors—in addition to the usual
cameras and microphones.
352
STREET DOC
A skilled surgeon and
chemist
The shadows can quickly kill the runners,
and it needs people like you to keep them
from dying. And the Street Doc patches
wounds, works with chemicals, and
exploits biological weakness.
When you play a Street Doc, you earn
karma when you address a challenge
with chemicals or medical expertise
The team is going to need you sooner
or later. Make sure you bring all your
supplies so you can be prepared to use
them. If anyone goes down, it’s up to you
to save lifes and .
What is the primary way you use
your skills? Do you treat the sick and
wounded—or are you a terrifying
example of malpractice?

STREET DOC SPECIAL ABILITIES
OATHBOUND
You gain an additional karma trigger: You
treated a patient despite difficulty or danger.
You also gain an additional vice: Volunteer.
When you indulge this vice and give a
worthy fulfillment of your oath, you don’t
overindulge if you clear excess edge.
What constitutes a worthy fulfillment
of your oath?
NEAT
You can choose to mark only 1 edge
when you roll to resist consequences from
physical evidence (blood, hair, etc.) of killing
or surgery, regardless of the outcome.
MEDICAL EXPERT
You may expend your special armor
to resist a consequence of emergency
treatment or to push yourself to administer
chemicals or perform medical procedures.
VECTOR
You never suffer consequences from
chemicals you use. When you deliver
chemicals to an area or patient, you get +1d.
PLAGUERUNNER
Choose a drug or poison (from the Rigger
stock) to which you have become immune.
You can push yourself to secrete it through
your skin or saliva or exhale it as a vapor.
When you push yourself to activate this
ability, you still get one of the normal
benefits of pushing yourself (+1d, +1
effect, etc.) if you’re making a roll, in
addition to the special ability.
You choose the type of drug or poison
when you get this ability. You may
change the drug or poison by completing
a long-term project. Only a single drug
or poison may be chosen—you can’t
become immune to any slap patches,
oils, or other chemical substances.
10
SPECIAL ITEMS
◆ Hazmat suit: An airtight suit
designed to protect the wearer from
hazardous exposure (chemicals,
radiation, pollutants, etc.). This item
may be worn over your clothing, and
has a breather mask and a few hours
GamePlay oPTions
of air. [2 load] The load for the hazmat
suit is in addition to armor worn, which
is optional [4 load total]. This item is
incompatible with heavy armor.
◆ Fine surgical kit: A small case
containing a surgical laser array,
various antibacterial sprays, and a bio-
printer for temporary flesh and bone
grafts. This item improves your effect
level when you provide emergency
treatment or administer chemicals.
[1 load]
◆ Chill pills: A dose of pharmaceuticals
sufficient to put someone in a pliable
state for an hour. Neutralizes the
effects of kamikaze (takes roughly a
minute). [0 load]
◆ Supra-soaker: A handheld liquid
squirt rifle, with backpack-mounted
tank capable of holding enough
fluid to douse a person or a raging
fire. [2 load] Hazardous liquids
sold separately. Parental supervision
advised.
◆ Hidden delivery system: A handful
of blank chem patches and a hidden
stash spot built into your clothing.
[0 load]
This role plays best with the special
items and abilities of the Rigger and
Punk playbooks. For example, Medic
is pretty much mandatory, and abilities
like Chemist, Digital Warden,
and Catch Me If You Can provide
exceptional utility during emergencies.
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chanGinG The Game

ADVANCED ABILITIES & PERMISSIONS

Here’s a rather extensive sampling of advanced abilities and permissions

for PCs to acquire through the events of play. You might create your own
for your Runners series, focused on the elements that are important
in your game. These advanced abilities don’t always explain how a PC
achieves the requirements for them. That’s something to discuss and
discover in play. Remix, rewrite, and use as you see fit.

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HACKER TRADE SECRETS WHITEHAT METHOD

When you achieve the rank of student
in hacker trade secrets (choose one, see
below), you receive permission to study
the fundamentals of your chosen method.
When you have proven your command
over the fundamentals of the method,
you achieve the rank of inductee. You
◆ [Inductee] Signal Stacking: You may
wield a specialized comm along with
your cyberdeck to block your opponent’s
communications or broadcast a barrage
of digital signals with both your devices.
During any exchange with an opponent, at
your option, choose to hack aggressively
with comm and cyberdeck together—
increasing the level of cyberspace harm

advanced
receive permission to attend the secret
meetings. You gain the inductee hacking inflicted by you and your opponent, or
maneuver of your method (this does not hack defensively—decreasing the level
count as a special ability). of cyberspace harm inflicted by you and
your opponent.
When you make appropriate donations
to the datavault, master the ways of the ◆ [Insider] Global Sudo: Your hacks
secret meetings, and pledge your absolute involve the clever application of advanced
loyalty to the Inner Circle, you become backdoor exploits. When you hack in this
an insider. When you achieve the rank of way, choose a beneficial extra effect (this
insider, you receive permission to attend effect occurs regardless of the outcome
the forbidden meetings. You may take the of your action): the target’s cyberspace
insider special ability of your method as attack is ruined—the target’s cyberspace
a veteran advance. armor is ruined—the target is traced—the
target’s device is jacked.
BLACKHAT METHOD
◆ [Inductee] Brick House: You may
wield a special algorithm in cyberspace
to interfere with your opponent’s devices
and open them up to virtual attacks. You
may attempt to access an opponent’s
device or control them (to jack a device
or orphan it) while staying out of their
primary device’s range. You may also use
this to extend your wireless range and to
negate harm from dumpshock.

◆ [Insider] FastCrack: Your hacks

involve rapidly cycling access with
advanced disrupting exploits. When you
hack in this way, choose a beneficial extra
effect (this effect occurs regardless of
the outcome of your action): the target’s
cyberspace attack is ruined—the target’s
cyberspace armor is ruined—the target
cannot trace you—the target’s device is
jacked.

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AFRO-BRAZILIAN DONGA STYLE

MARTIAL ARTS
When you achieve the rank of student
in an Afro-Brazilian martial art (choose
one, see below), you receive permission
to study the fundamentals of your chosen
chanGinG The Game
◆ [Graded] Donga Fighting: You may
wield a special wooden staff in combat to
interfere with your opponent and open
them up to martial attacks. The staff
resembles a long stick and is reinforced
against breakage. You may attempt to

style. disarm an opponent or grapple them (to

When you have proven your command
of the fundamentals of the style, you
achieve the rank of graded. You receive
permission to study the secret methods of
the style. You gain the graded maneuver
of your style (this does not count as a
special ability).
When you have proven your mastery over
the secret arts of the style, you become a
master. You may take the master special
ability of your style as a veteran advance.
CAPOEIRA STYLE
immobilize a limb or choke them), while
staying out of arm’s reach. You may also
use the donga as climbing gear and to
negate harm from falls.
◆ [Master] Rising Tornado: Your
martial attacks involve acrobatic leaps
with powerful upward strikes. When
you make an attack in this way, choose a
beneficial extra effect (this effect occurs
regardless of the outcome of your action):
the target’s armor is ruined—the target’s
weapon is ruined—the target is knocked
sprawling—the target is forced back out
of sword range.

◆ [Graded] Flow: Your unarmed attacks

involve a flowing dance with rotating
strikes. You may attempt to confuse an
opponent or ruin their balance (to trip
them or cause them to hesitate), while
staying out of arm’s reach. You may also
use flow as a distraction and to negate
harm from loss of balance.

◆ [Master] The Breakdown: Your

dizzying attacks involve acrobatic leaps
with devastating lateral strikes. When
you make an attack in this way, choose a
beneficial extra effect (this effect occurs
regardless of the outcome of your action):
the target’s armor is ruined—the target’s
weapon is ruined—the target is knocked
sprawling—the target is forced in close
where a sword is useless.

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ASIAN PISTOL KATAS HÓJUTSO STYLE

When you achieve the rank of student
in an Asian pistol kata (choose one, see
below), you receive permission to study
the fundamentals of your chosen style.
When you have proven your command
of the fundamentals of the style, you
achieve the rank of graded. You receive
◆ [Graded] Tactical Advance: You may
wield a light pistol in your offhand to
interfere with your opponent and open
them up to close quarters attacks. You
may attempt to disarm an opponent at
range, while staying out of pistol range.
You may also use a pistol as a medieval
weapon and to negate consequences of
being grappled (immobilization, choking,

advanced
permission to study the secret methods of
the style. You gain the graded maneuver etc.).
of your style (this does not count as a
special ability). ◆ [Master] Fusillade: Your pistol attacks
involve blistering barrages of gunfire.
When you have proven your mastery over When you make an attack in this way,
the secret arts of the style, you become a choose a beneficial extra effect (this effect
master. You may take the master special occurs regardless of the outcome of your
ability of your style as a veteran advance. action): the target’s armor is ruined—the
target’s weapon is ruined—the target is
forced back into cover—the target loses
GUN FU STYLE line of sight on you.
◆ [Graded] Akimbo Fighting: You may
wield a pistol in the offhand to counter
your opponent’s moves or launch a wild
volley of shots with both your pistols.
During any exchange with an opponent,
at your option, choose to fight viciously
with a matched set of pistols—increasing
the level of any harm inflicted by you and
your opponent, or fight defensively—
decreasing the level of any harm inflicted
by you and your opponent.

◆ [Master] Ricochet: Your pistol attacks

involve acrobatic leaps with rebounding
shots. When you make an attack in this
way, choose a beneficial extra effect (this
effect occurs regardless of the outcome
of your action): the target’s armor is
ruined—the target’s weapon is ruined—
the target is forced back into cover—your
trajectory ignores impeding cover.

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SAMURAI FIGHTING
STYLES
When you achieve the rank of student in
a Samurai fighting style (choose one, see
below), you receive permission to study
the fundamentals of the style.
chanGinG The Game
When you have proven your command
over the fundamentals of your chosen
style, and sworn yourself to uphold the
Way of the Samurai, you achieve the rank
of bushi. You receive permission to study
the secret arts of the style. You gain the
bushi maneuver of your style (this does
not count as a special ability). You may
take the Seppuku special ability as a
veteran advance.
◆ Seppuku: The honorable self-sacrifice
of your physical body instantly frees your
spirit. You arise from the weapon you
used. Switch to the Free Spirit playbook
and immediately take a playbook
advancement. Later, a living person can
force you to instantly travel to its location
and appear before them by holding it and
speaking your family name. When you
spend 1 edge, for several minutes you
can strongly interact with those hurt by
this weapon, rather than weakly interact.
When you have proven your mastery over
the style, you become a master samurai.
You may take the master special ability of
your style as a veteran advance.
358
SWORDMASTER STYLE
◆ [Bushi] Duelist: Your katana attacks
involve heavy downward strikes and
sudden sweeping slashes designed to
counter a foolish enemy. You can choose
to spend only 1 edge when you roll to
resist consequences from close combat,
regardless of the result of your roll. You
gain potency in combat with a disarmed
opponent.
◆ [Master] Wall of Steel: You may
wield a curved medieval shortsword in
the offhand to counter your opponent’s
moves or launch a wild flurry of cuts with
both your blades. During any exchange
with an opponent, at your option, choose
to fight viciously with shortsword and
longsword—increasing the level of any
harm inflicted by you and your opponent,
or fight defensively—decreasing the level
of any harm inflicted by you and your
opponent.
BOWMASTER STYLE
◆ [Bushi] Martial Archer: Your ranged
attacks involve fluid draws and precise
volleys of arrows to interfere with your
opponent. When you make an attack in this
way, choose a beneficial extra effect (this
effect occurs regardless of the outcome
of your action): the target’s weapon is
knocked free—the target movement speed
is reduced—the target is knocked prone—
you draw your ammunition as part of the
attack.
◆ [Master] Riding Shot: You may fire a
bow while performing tricky maneuvers
while mounted (on a horse, motorcycle,
etc.). When you make an attack in this
way, choose a beneficial extra effect (this
effect occurs regardless of the outcome
of your action): the target’s visibility is
obscured—the target is slowed down—
you surprise the target.

PATHS OF
SUBMERSION
When you achieve the rank of student in a
Path of Submersion, you receive permission
to study the fundamentals of your chosen
method.
When you have proven your command over
the secret arts of technomancy, you achieve
the rank of submersed. You receive permission
to study the secret arts of the submersion
method. You gain Submersed as a maneuver
(this does not count as a special ability):
◆ Submersed: You may Interface to
manifest on any emergent plane you can
project your consciousness (see page 368 for
details). Your max rating for the Interface
action becomes 5. You get +1d to resistance
rolls made to employ or contend with
emergent power.
When you have proven your mastery of the
secret arts of the method, you achieve the
rank of master. You may take the master
special ability of your method as a veteran
advance.
RESONANT METHOD
◆ [Master] Partitioned Mind: You can
partition your emergent senses, obscuring
your living persona and going offline for
a few minutes. Spend 1 edge when you
partition, plus 1 edge for each extra feature:
it lasts an hour instead of a few minutes—
your living persona is invisible rather than
obscured—you can use your fingertips to
receive or transmit signals to an offline device.
◆ [Master] Echoplex: You may imbue your
living persona with emergent energy. You
gain potency when you engage the emergent
or electronic. Choose one special feature of
your living persona: emergent link—virtual
rig—mental array. Take this ability again to
choose another emergent feature of your
living persona.
10
Emergent link means you always know
the thoughts and feelings of all teammates
that are online. Virtual rig means you may
use your emergent mind as an implanted
control rig. Mental array means you aren’t
distracted while using augmented reality,
and can still act (taking -1d) with your
physical body while in VR with no edge cost.
◆ [Master] Ancient Ritual: You know the
secret methods to perform ancient rituals. You
can Study an ancient ritual (or create a new
advanced
one) to produce an emergent effect or entity.
You begin with one ancient ritual known.
Without this special ability, the study and
practice of ancient rituals leaves you utterly
vulnerable to the powers you supplicate.
Such endeavors are not recommended.
For more details, see Ancient Rituals on
the next page.
DISSONANT METHOD
◆ [Master] Void in the Stream: You can spend
1 edge to do one of the following: summon a
storm of interference in the immediate vicinity
(jamming communications, interrupting data
streams, shorting out small electronics, etc.)—
wield data corruption as a ranged weapon in
emergent VR. Spend 2 edge instead to also
destroy nearby transceivers. Spend 3 edge
instead to also create a blast of energy that
disrupts the power grid and connectivity for
the entire area for several minutes. Spend
4 edge instead to also destroy a processor
array you target inside the area.
◆ [Master] Machinehead: Through some
emergent means, you are able to interact,
physically and socially, with some emergent
entities as if they were people. Choose one
type: gremlins—forgotten paragons—sprites
& echoes—technocritters. Take this ability
again to choose an additional type of being.
This is potentially very powerful, and
the exact method and its limits should
be strictly defined in the fiction, to avoid
confusion. Uses available to devices are
not affected by this ability, of course.
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10

EMERGENT DEATH
CULT
When you achieve the rank of initiate,
you receive permission to secret rituals of
the cult. When you make the appropriate
sacrifices to the cult, master the ways
chanGinG The Game

of the secret rituals, and offer up your

absolute loyalty to the Path, you become
a cultist. When you achieve the rank of
cultist, you receive permission to attend
the forbidden resonance well rituals
in Port Royal. You may take the special
abilities below as veteran advances.

◆ Machine Whisperer: You may Attune

with the emergent realms in order to
take control of an electrical device. When
your control is challenged, you must re-
Attune (risking special harm) or leave
the device. Your control is challenged
when: you consume emergent power from
the host—emergent powers act against
you—the device’s protocol is driven to
desperation.

◆ Serial Experiment: The death or

jacking of your living persona instantly
frees your spirit as an emergent entity.
You arise from any resonance well you
have previously visited. Switch to the
Free Spirit playbook and immediately
take the Sprite Form maneuver below
as a Free Spirit trait (this does not count
as a special ability).

◆ Sprite Form: You produce an icon

which resembles your living persona.
You may weakly interact in VR and vice
versa. You get a dot in Attune (instead of
Assense), and remain emergent (instead
of losing it and becoming awakened).
You are affected by emergent foci and the
Compile of a Techno (you may make a
resistance roll to overcome their effect).

360
 10

When you suffer your fourth trauma,

CULT OF
CONCORDANCE
When you open your mind to the null
values and paradoxical logic structures
of corruption you suffer 1 trauma and
become an adept of its cult. You gain
access to the following special abilities as
veteran advances:
your mind is prepared and you ascend
to mastery in the cult of corruption.
You receive permission to call upon the
corrupted logic of the emergent realms
to briefly manifest in the physical world
and enact its will, at the cost of 6 edge.
You receive permission to continue to
play your character rather than retiring,
with the following restrictions:

advanced
◆ Fatal Exception: Firmly grasping a ◆ You may now clear edge only by serving
device or its icon takes it offline. Spend the will of the corrupted realms. Your
1 edge to unleash a wave of interference vice becomes Servitude.
that temporarily orphans nearby devices.
◆ When next you suffer trauma (your
fifth), you transform into an avatar of
◆ Horizon Pulse: You may unleash a tiny the corrupted realms, losing your former
modicum of the dissonant energies on
mind and will as the infinite loops of the
cyberspace objects nearby, delivering to
corrupted realms fully manifest within
them a taste of its power. This is a mystical
you. Retire your character to their dark
technomancy attack felt by anyone with
fate.
enough installed cyberware for which
you must take level-1 harm, Fade, and it
has an effect determined by your trauma
level. Trauma 1+: anything or anyone
who can feel the pulse must flee and leave
your presence, or be incapacitated by a
spectrum of harmonic feedback. Trauma
2+: In addition, you inflict level 2 harm,
Ruptured eardrums, to all who can feel it.
Trauma 3+: Instead of level 2 harm you
inflict level 3 harm, Drooling catatonia.
Trauma 4+: In addition, you may also
focus on one person who can see you and
inflict fatal mystical harm, Braindead.

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RITES OF INITIATION
When you achieve the rank of practitioner
in an Rite of Initiation, you receive
permission to study the fundamentals
of your supernatural method (arcane
if Mage, mystic if Adept). You gain the
practitioner maneuver of your chosen
chanGinG The Game
method below (this does not count as a
special ability).
Mystic Method
◆ [Practitioner] Superior: You may
have up to 15 action dots (instead of 13,
in sum). You can spend 1 edge to assist
yourself with an adept feat. Your max
rating for all actions is 1 higher than
normal (instead of just those appropriate
to your chosen way). You get +1d to
resistance rolls against consequences of
using your adept feats.
What has this journey taught you
about the limits of humanity and mystic
power? What must you do to realize
the ultimate heights of your potential?
When you have proven your command
over the fundamentals of all the adept
feats, you achieve the rank of initiate. You
receive permission to study the initiated
arts of your chosen way. You may take the
initiate metamagics as veteran advances.
362
Arcane Method
◆ [Practitioner] Metaplanar
Perception: You can Assense to find
a metaplane. Spend 1 edge to project
your consciousness for several minutes
to a metaplane you can find, where you
may be tested by the Dweller on the
Threshold (see page 368 for details).
Examine the metaplane of fire, reach out
to the planes of forgotten mentor spirits,
ancient horrors, etc. Your max rating for
the Assense action becomes 5. You get
+1d to resistance rolls against arcane
consequences.
What metaplane do you seek with your
newly discovered power? What do you
hope to achieve by projecting beyond
the mortal realms?
When you have proven your command
over the fundamentals of all the secret
arts of magic, you achieve the rank of
initiate. You receive permission to study
the initiated arts of the method. You may
take the initiate metamagics as veteran
advances.
When you have proven your mastery
over the initiate metamagics, you achieve
the rank of master. You may take the
master metamagics as veteran advances.

INITIATE METAMAGICS
◆ Centered: You gain an additional Vice:
Centering. When you indulge this vice
and perform a suitable routine, you don’t
overindulge if you clear excess edge.
In addition, your centering will give
you +1d to any one resistance roll you
make—from now until you indulge this
vice again.
Depending on your tradition, a suitable
routine may involve time meditation
(usually with Assense) or taking an
action specific to your chosen way
(martial arts forms, chanting, singing,
shouting ancient monikers, etc.).
◆ Astral Voice: Through some arcane
means, you are able to interact, physically
and socially, with some supernatural
beings as if they were normal people.
Choose one type: dragons—forgotten
mentor spirits—paracritters—infected.
Take this ability again to choose an
additional type of being.
This is potentially very powerful, and
the exact method and its limits should
be strictly defined in the fiction, to avoid
confusion. Magical abilities available
to people are not affected by this ability,
of course.
10
◆ Archsorcerer: Each time you employ
sorcery, take +1 magnitude to one aspect
of your choice (area/scale, duration/range,
or quality/force). When you roll to resist
a consequence of sorcery, you reflect the
magic back at the source if you spend
enough edge.
The amount of edge required will depend
on the arcane magnitude employed by
the opposition, based on your current
advanced
Tier. Usually no less than 1.
◆ Walking Vessel: Spend 1 edge when
you suspend your supernatural power
for several minutes (you may resume
it early for free). Conceal your astral
signature, appear to possess a mundane
aura, temporarily unbond a foci without
having to rebond, etc.
◆ Astral Oath: When you shake on a deal
or draft one in writing, you and your
partner—human or otherwise—both
bear a mark of your oath. If either of you
breaks their end of the deal, they take
level 3 harm, “Cursed.”
The astral signature on the oath is
obvious to anyone who sees it (perhaps
a magical rune appears on the skin).
When you suffer “Cursed” harm, you’re
incapacitated by withering: enfeebled
muscles, hair falling out, bleeding from
the eyes and ears, etc., until you either
fulfill the deal or discover a way to heal
the curse.
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10
MASTER METAMAGICS
You may take a number of these (in sum)
equal to your Assense rating.
◆ Astral Artist: You know the secret
methods to manipulate and “read”
astral signatures. You can Assense to
chanGinG The Game
quickly memorize an astral signature or
manipulate one left behind.
◆ Geomancer: You know the esoteric
method of suspending a power site’s
aspects. Spend 1 edge when you suspend
an aspect for several minutes (preventing
it from acting against you). You no longer
suffer much from special harm taken
within your lodge, and get +1d to resist
supernatural consequences within your
established lodge.
◆ Ancient Ritual: You know the lost
methods to perform ancient rituals. You
can Study one (or create a new one) to
summon an arcane effect or entity. You
begin with one ancient ritual already
learned.
Without this special ability, the study
and practice of ancient rituals leaves
you utterly vulnerable to the powers
you supplicate. Such endeavors are not
recommended.
For more details, see Ancient Rituals
on the next page.
364
◆ Arcane Sympathy: You can target
someone beyond mortal limits with
a sympathetic link. Recite someone’s
memorized astral signature, “consume”
part of a person’s living body, hurl a
fireball around a corner. Spend 1 edge
to form a link which grants you special
awareness of a target, regardless of
distance.
Sympathetic links are extremely
powerful. Teeth, blood, bones, and the
like might suffice, depending on how
recently the subject was relieved of it.
◆ Planar Traveler: You are never tested
more than once by the Dweller on the
Threshold on any given metaplane. You
no longer need a source to learn spells.
Normally, you must find a source
for all spells you wish to learn. See
page 296 for details. With this, your
living essence is becoming one with
the metaplanes, granting you special
insight into the sorcerous energies
within. Only Sorcerers typically take
this ability (you need it to cast a spell
you’ve learned).
 10

When you suffer your fourth torment,

THE STUFF OF
NIGHTMARES
When you have taken 1 torment (or
more) and sacrificed that which you
loved most in life to the metaplanes
through arcane ritual, you become a
poltergeist. You may take the following
special abilities as a veteran advance:
your soul is subsumed and you become
a being of pure hatred. You receive
permission to call upon metaplanar
horrors to briefly lend you an assist in the
commission of atrocity, at a cost of only
1  drain. Describe how these manifest
and quickly depart in a frightening
display of otherworldly power. When
you consume the last living breath of
a creature you possess, choose one: refill

advanced
◆ Poltergeist: If you do not indulge your your drain boxes using this essence. If
vice during a downtime phase, you take this fills your track and you have any
only 1 drain, regardless of how many leftover, instead take +1 drain box (up to
torment you have suffered. When you the usual maximum of 12 boxes).
make an action roll to commit an atrocity,
you may spend 1 edge to (choose one): get Further, you receive permission to
+1d on the action roll—roll the number continue to play your character rather
of torment levels you’ve suffered, than retiring, with the following
instead of your action rating. Say how restrictions:
your trauma darkens the action.
◆ You may now clear edge only by
Your torment brings suffering that committing acts of atrocity against the
you can harness to access raw essence innocent.
through the metaplanes. When you
benefit from this ability, is it gratuitous,
◆ When next you suffer torment (your
fifth), you transform into a metaplanar
unnecessary, or utter depravity?
horror, losing your former mind and
will to the darkness made fully manifest
◆ Omnipotent Terror: Your spirit form
within you. Retire your character to their
can take on a monstrous countenance and
dark fate.
command potent metaplanar energies
of fear available to horrors. You get +1d
to attack a frightened target. You can
spend 1 drain to overcome someone’s
immunity to your supernatural terror
for the next few minutes with a horrific
transformation.

Your torment taints your form in

the afterlife, and you’re growing
ever more monstrous and terrifying.
Some characters are immune to the
supernatural terror that spirits can
inflict—but they’re not immune to it
when you temporarily grow into your
second, even more horrific form. What
does that look like?

365
10
ANCIENT RITUALS
An ancient ritual is a lost art of
supernatural power from before the Fifth
World. Unlike modern spell ritualization
techniques that utilize the pseudo-
scientific application of supernatural
energies, ancient rituals depend on
chanGinG The Game
strange occult forces and entities to
realize their effects. To enact an ancient
ritual is to come into contact with these
abyssal forces and entreat them to do
your will. It is not a practice without
considerable risk.
FINDING A ANCIENT RITUAL
SOURCE
A PC with the Ancient ritual special
ability begins with one known ancient
ritual, already learned (answer the
questions below to create it). To learn a
new ancient ritual, a PC must first find
a source. A source may be secured as
payoff from a run—perhaps you steal a
ancient ritual when your crew kidnaps
a member of the Otaku Remnant. You
might also secure a source as the goal
of a long-term project—by consorting
with weird cultist friends, studying a
resonance nexus, or some other method
you devise.
LEARNING AN ANCIENT
RITUAL
Once the source of a ancient ritual is
found, you may undertake a long-term
project to learn the ancient ritual. Most
ancient rituals will require an 8- or
10-segment progress clock to learn. The
player and the GM answer questions
about the ancient ritual to define what
it will do in play and what is required
to perform it (see below). The player
records these answers in their notes for
future reference.
366
ANCIENT RITUAL QUESTIONS
(1) GM asks: “What does the ancient
ritual do, and how is it mystical?”
Player answers.
(2) Player asks: “What must I do to
perform the ancient ritual, and what
is its price?” GM answers. An ancient
ritual takes at least one downtime activity
to perform and depletes the user’s edge
on the according to its magnitude. If
performing an ancient ritual is dangerous
or troublesome in some way, it requires
an action roll (usually Assense or
Interface). An ancient ritual may have
additional costs, such as a sacrifice, rare
item, the start of a dire progress clock,
etc.
(3) GM asks: “What new belief or
fear does knowledge of this ancient
ritual and its attendant occult forces
instill in you?” Player answers.
Example Ancient Ritual Answers
Player: “The ritual creates a voodoo doll
of a potential victim that can cause pain
and even death from anywhere in the
world. It’s mystical because... as long as
the doll is linked to them, their hair and
nails will occasionally fall out.”
GM: “Spend a downtime action to
prepare a woven item made from
sacred herb hemp, crematory ash from
a person, and a sample of the victim’s
hair or blood—over which you must
speak the victim’s true name. You spend
at least 1 edge when you perform the
ritual, which will be its quality for a
fortune roll when you harm the subject
with it—so you might want to spend
more edge to make it more potent.”
Player: “Gotcha. My new fear is what
will happen if this ritual’s power gets
turned or twisted against me.”

PERFORMING AN ANCIENT
RITUAL
To perform an ancient ritual, you must
have the Ancient ritual special ability,
then follow the method outlined by the
answers to the ancient ritual questions.
Most ancient rituals will take one
downtime activity to perform, though the
GM may call for two (or more) downtime
activities for very powerful or far-
reaching effects. Some ancient rituals may
be partially performed during downtime
and then fully manifested at-will later by
completing the last incantation or ritual
action. In this case, simply make a note
that the library has been “primed” and
may be unleashed at a later time.
When you perform an ancient ritual, you
spend an amount of edge as established
by the ancient ritual questions, according
to the magnitude of the forces brought
to bear. The GM uses magnitude as a
guideline for setting the edge cost—it may
be higher or lower at their discretion to
better describe the nature of the ancient
ritual.
Ancient rituals take time to perform
Use the duration examples on the
magnitude table to reduce the edge cost
based on the time needed, generally no
less than an hour.
The GM may also tick a progress clock
when you perform an ancient ritual—to
advance the agenda of a supernatural
power or entity, or to show the steady
approach of a dark outcome that is a
consequence of the form’s use.
If an ancient ritual is dangerous or
troublesome to perform, make an action
roll (usually Assense or Attune) to see
if unpleasant consequences manifest. If
an ancient ritual has an uncertain effect
then a fortune roll should be made to see
10
how well it manifests. Because an ancient
ritual is a downtime activity, you may
spend nuyen 1-for-1 to increase the result
level of your fortune roll (this represents
the expenditure of expensive or rare
ancient ritual materials). If an ancient
ritual is both dangerous and uncertain,
then both rolls may be called for.
Each performance of an ancient ritual
is a unique event, and may not always
advanced
work the same way each time. The
GM or players may call for a round of
questions to establish an ancient ritual
anew. Ancient rituals are a way to bring
in a wide variety of supernatural effects
into the game. Use with caution! If you
ever go overboard, address the questions
again to establish new mystical-ness and
costs if things have gotten out of hand.
The abyssal forces are not playthings and
cannot be considered a reliable or safe
source of power.
SAMPLE ANCIENT RITUALS
Icon Map: This ancient ritual compiles a
geolocation sprite and search spider that
reveals the position of all icons across the
district. An individual icon may be Studied
on the map as if nearby to glean some details
about it. The one who uses it marks 4 edge
when it’s performed (range: across the district,
quality of information: good, minus extra
time: a few hours). As an example; another GM
might judge the magnitude differently.
Portal to the Void: This ancient ritual calls
upon the power of shedim to open a small
gateway to the metaplanes (somewhere
within a few blocks of the ancient ritual
site). Anyone caught near the portal is
caught in a magical dead zone and drawn
with unstoppable force into the abyss. This
ancient ritual is very dangerous, involving
arcane contact with a shedim’s demonic
power (desperate action roll). The one
who performs it marks 6 edge and ticks a
4-segment progress clock: “Seduced by the
Shedim’s Voice.”
367
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THE DWELLER ON THE
THRESHOLD
Normally, a mortal cannot project
or proxy to sense beyond the inner
metaplanes (astral and emergent
space). Once you become a practitioner
chanGinG The Game
of astral projection or emergent
proxy or succeed in bonding your will
to a given metaplane, you can project
your consciousness to a metaplane.
The journey to bond your will to a
metaplane that is home to a mentor
spirit or emergent mentor is known
to require the greatest patience and
longstanding research to envision, due
to the impracticality of imagining what
it might look like.
When, having projected your
consciousness to a metaplane, the so-
called Dweller on the Threshold (some
call it the Event Horizon) presents a
challenge—a test—designed to highlight
your greatest weakness. The Dweller’s
form is different to each metaplanar
traveler. A terrifying figment of your
subconscious, that of a horror beyond
comprehension, pure madness, etc. What
form does your metaplanar guardian
take?
When you project your consciousness
to a metaplane, you are tested by your
metaplanar guardian. How does it test the
limits of your mortal fears? When you are
tested by the metaplanar guardian, roll
dice equal to your remaining essence or
lowest Attribute (whichever is lower).
The result indicates whether you passed
the test and what else happens (no roll to
resist): On a 1-3, you fail the test, or you
pass the test and the GM chooses two of
the following options which you suffer
the moment your consciousness returns
to the material plane: you suffer 5 edge
when your consciousness returns—you
368
suffer level-3 harm, “Comatose” when
your consciousness returns—you lose
all supernatural bonds until your next
downtime—start an 8-track, “End the
Nightmares.” On a 4/5, you fail the test,
or you pass the test and the GM chooses
one from the list above. On a 6, you fail
the test, or you pass the test if you choose
one from the list above. On a Critical,
you pass the test after much effort
without sustaining any negative effects,
and the GM will grant you a revelation
of an ancient power known only to the
Dweller. What power could that be, and
what can be done to possess it?
When you pass the test, you struggle
against all odds for what seems like
an eternity (it was actually just a few
moments) and the metaplanar guardian
will not test you the next time you project
to the metaplane in the future (you will
still get tested by the guardian when you
project to any new metaplane).
When you fail the test, it’s worse than
you could have imagined, and you were
forced to back out; you are ejected to
the astral or emergent plane and cannot
project or proxy to a metaplane again
until your next downtime phase or run,
whichever comes first.
The first time you take the test of the
metaplanar guardian (pass or fail),
describe what could have done this, and
what the experience taught you about
the nature of the metaplanes and your
supernatural power. Also mark 1 or 2
karma on your playbook karma track
accordingly.
 10

BOUND TO THE FREE NOT QUITE A VAMPIRE

SPIRIT
When, having bound yourself to a
tormented free spirit through arcane
ritual, you indulge its otherworldly desire,
and receive permission to command
it and it may not refuse you. When the
free spirit’s desire is not well-satisfied,
When you suffer minor exposure to the
vampire virus or become infected by a
lesser strain, you become a ghoul. When
you become a ghoul, you gain the Lesser
Infectee trait (this does not count as a
special ability). You may take the Infected
traits Terrible Power or Beyond
Human (see page 283 for details) using

it receives permission to work in secret
toward your destruction to be free of
its binding. You may take the following
special abilities as veteran advances:
◆ Infused Inhabitation: Your inhabited
pet (if you have one) is dual-natured,
gaining potency when tracking or fighting
the supernatural. Take this ability again
to choose a supernatural ability for the
pet: augur—possess—shared power.
Your pet functions as a cohort (Expert:
Weirdo), and this ability gives them
potency against supernatural targets
and a supernatural ability of your
choice. If it was already a Weirdo, choose
another type. Being dual-natured means
if affects (and can be affected by) astral
and material creatures equally.
advanced
veteran advances.
◆ Lesser Infectee: You are completely
blind, but have a heightened sense of
smell and hearing. Your vice becomes
that of the Infected playbook. Each
time you fail to indulge this vice during
downtime, you suffer a level of special
harm (due to “Malnourishment”).
Like a fully infected person, you keep
any cybernetic implants rated at quality
4+ from previous installations. You suffer
a level of “Rejection” harm if your body
contains any other implants.

◆ Spiritual Attendant: A free spirit

bound to you is compelled to stay always
at hand, veiled and hidden within a
nearby source of its astral affinity, ready
to appear at an instant to serve you.
While its dark desire is well-satisfied, the
free spirit will manifest to interpose itself
for your protection or to offer its wisdom
or aid without need for your specific
command.
◆ Artifact Prison: You may force a free
spirit bound to you to inhabit an artifact
created by arcane methods. The free
spirit’s abilities are then controlled by
the wielder, so long as the free spirit’s
otherworldly desire is satisfied.

369
10
FORGOTTEN
MENTORS
When, having projected your
consciousness to the metaplane of
your forgotten mentor, you receive
permission to know and perform its
chanGinG The Game
secret communication rites. Are they
prayers, meditations, or gestures? What
is happening to your physical body as you
project in this way? You gain the lifestyle
guidance maneuver below most befitting
of your character’s life thus far (this
does not cost a special ability). The GM
should decide which one fits best based
on the character’s level of devotion and
compliance until this moment. Don’t use
dice rolls, use the fiction (ask if you are
unsure).
◆ [Lifestyle] Spiritual Mentor: You
gain an additional karma trigger: When
you struggle to defend or uphold your
forgotten mentor’s precepts. A forgotten
mentor spirit that has been mutually
chosen is always in contact with you,
ready to deliver its characteristic brand
of guidance. While its otherworldly
desire is well-satisfied, the mentor spirit
will offer its metaplanar awareness (5d)
or mystical insight (4d) without need for
your specific request.
◆ [Lifestyle] Living Example: Your
forgotten mentor can compel you to
cease any action which it opposes. While
its otherworldly desire is well-satisfied,
the mentor will grant one benefit (chosen
before and after a run): when you roll
to resist a supernatural consequence,
you may choose to spend only 1 edge,
regardless of the result of your roll—you
can push yourself for 1 edge once per
action roll with its given actions.
370
When you make appropriate sacrifices
to your forgotten mentor, master the
ways of the secret rites, and offer up your
absolute loyalty to the lifestyle chosen for
you, you become mutually chosen. When
you are mutually chosen, you may take
the Transcendent special ability as a
veteran advance.
◆ Transcendent: The death or possession
of your physical body instantly frees
your spirit. You arise from any power site
to which you have previously proxied
or projected. Switch to the Free Spirit
playbook, gaining a form the forgotten
mentor spirit has chosen for your
vaporous essence (instead of your living
body and clothes), and immediately take
an additional playbook advancement.
When you suffer your fourth trauma,
your judgment is final and forgotten
mentor edits your supernatural signature
permanently. You receive permission
to call upon your forgotten mentor to
briefly manifest a supernatural force in
the physical world and enacts its will, at
the cost of 6 edge. You receive permission
to continue to play your character
rather than retiring, with the following
restrictions:
◆ You may now clear edge only by serving
the will of your forgotten mentor. Your
vice becomes Servitude.
◆ When next you suffer trauma (your
fifth), you transform into an avatar of
the forgotten mentor, losing your former
mind and will as the judgments of your
forgotten mentor fully manifest within
you. Retire your character to their dark
fate.
 10
Some Arcane mentors
Bear/Dominance: Be irascible. Show dominance. Owl/Wisdom: Be watchful. Snatch and choke your
Actions: Fight—Command prey. Actions: Prowl—Study.
Cat/Independence: Toy with your enemies unless Rat/Survival: Take only what you need and hoard it. Be
things get serious (and then your claws come out). quiet, and flee when you are faced with death. Actions:
Actions: Prowl—Stalk Finesse—Stalk
Coyote/Packmind: Team up with a peer. Spar with Raven/Mischief: Take advantage of weakness. Laugh
others to get to know them. Actions: Prowl—Stalk at others’ misfortune. Actions: Finesse—Survey
Dog/Loyalty: Show loyalty to your friends. Stand Shark/Predation: Hunt with cunning. Devour your
guard by those in need. Actions: Stalk—Survey foes. Actions: Stalk—Wreck

advanced
Gator/Hunger: Surprise your prey from below or Snake/Secrecy: Whisper secrets. Tell cunning lies that
outrun it. Be insatiable when everyone is looking. are like poison. Actions: Finesse—Influence
Actions: Prowl—Wreck
Eagle/Purity: Swoop down on your prey from above. Wolf/Solitude: Be a sneaky loner. Save nothing for the
Despise air pollution. Actions: Stalk—Survey weak. Actions: Prowl—Stalk
Lion/Pride: Stalk your prey and pick out the weakest. Pollution/Extinction: Desecrate the natural order.
Chase those who flee. Actions: Fight—Prowl Consume and corrupt what is clean or pure. Actions:
Engineer—Wreck

Some Emergent Mentors

0-1: Perfect and expand deep dissonance. Do not fail Delphi: Watch, compare, and predict the future.
in reaching virtual harmony. Actions: Engineer— Actions: Interface—Survey
Interface
Alias: Keep your identity secret. Never get caught. Flow: Be like water, constantly flowing. Actions:
Actions: Influence—Prowl Finesse—Prowl
The Archivist: Never delete or corrupt records. Go ICewind: Defend the master. Find and freeze threats.
through what is lost. Actions: Survey—Study Actions: Stalk—Survey

Daedalus: Always be building to the sun and Idoru: Look good and be smart. Manipulate
beyond. Actions: Engineer—Study opportunities into your favor. Actions:
Influence—Study

Emergent Mentors
Some view emergent mentors as virtual demons—others see them as quantum paragons. Whatever
the truth of it, the awareness of the paragon sprites is interfaced to the ideological constructs of
human experience left behind by signals in cyberspace. Sadly, these resonant entities are alien,
abstract, paradoxical, and unfeeling in their assimilation of the mortal mind (use the write-up on
the left as it pertains to your emergent entity). Unlike an arcane mentor, the advice of a paragon
sprite is emotionless, and severe about its precepts. Delivery of insight is incredibly logic-based
(and even ignorant of mortal concerns like sustenance, companionship, and shelter).

Some practitioners report they “unthink” about an emergent mentor to make its realm reach out
to them. Others say it’s a moment of clarity or balance which can jumpstart contact more directly.
And still others say you need to have your brain formatted by a quantum computer. A hidden
dissonance point or cyberspace exception contains all the answers—if only you can find it. What
methods has this entity used?

371
10
PURSUIT OF THE
CYDONIAN SERPENT
A two-time winner of the Nobel Prize in
Arcana, Professor Roz recently gained
acclaim for her sensational proofs of
a correlation between the crash of the
chanGinG The Game
second Mars Lander Probe and the
sudden appearance of strange power
sites. The Apocryphus meteor’s near-
collision with Earth has also been
detailed. Despite her reputation as a
scientist, the news publicly discredits it
as forgery and hoax.
A whitepaper leaked from an inside
source suggests new technologies
are on the way—reading between
the redacted lines suggests the
construction of a “proprietary research
facility” to achieve monopolization of
“interplanetary cybersecurity” may
already be underway.
When you undergo psychosomatic
conditioning at the hidden headquarters,
you suffer 1 trauma and become a devotee.
You receive permission to receive the
feed from the Cydonian signal stream.
You gain Numb as a maneuver (this does
not count as a special ability).
◆ Numb: You no longer suffer much from
otherworldly terror, and can choose to
take only 1 edge when you resist mental
or supernatural harm, regardless of the
result of your roll.
372
When you make contact with the
Cydonian serpent, you become their
terrestrial agent on Earth. You may take
the following special abilities as veteran
advances:
◆ Extraterrestrial Liaison: Through
some strange means, you are able to
Consort with some visitants as if they
were a normal person (choose one):
sectoids—invertebrate—gelatinous. You
are never terrified by an extraterrestrial
entity you encounter.
◆ Serpentine Transfusion: Choose a
drug or poison (from the Rigger’s field
harness stock) to which you have become
immune. You can push yourself to secrete
it through your skin or saliva or exhale
it as a vapor. Once per run, you may
flashback to changing your chosen drug
or poison for free.
◆ Interplanetary Projection: When you
enter the Cydonian power site on Earth
and spend 1 edge, you can project your
consciousness to any occupied Cydonian
power site on Mars. Your emergent form
is visible while projecting, allowing
instant two-way communications. Spend
1 edge to enter the construct originating
there for a short time.

THE OMNILAB
PROGRAM
When you are recruited to the program,
you achieve the rank of recruit and you
gain permission to take part in the secret
screening trials in the hidden offshore
facility. When you submit the appropriate
samples to the program, pass the
challenges of the secret screening trials,
and offer up your absolute dedication to
the company, you become a test subject.
When you achieve the rank of test
subject, you receive permission to take
part in the forbidden research program
in the Barrens. You may also the following
special abilities as veteran advances:
◆ Living Experiment: Your liver,
kidneys, heart, and lungs are replaced
with experimental implants, granting
you immunity to homeostatic
irregularity (heart conditions, diabetes,
sleep disorders, etc.). Choose one special
feature: amphibious—echolocation—
wallcrawler. You may take this ability a
second time to choose again.
With this ability, you are immune to the
deleterious effects of sleep deprivation,
hunger, and thirst. With amphibious,
you can breathe underwater as well
as air. With echolocation, you can
determine position through ambient
sound reflections. With wallcrawler,
you can traverse solid surfaces
including walls and ceilings using
viscous goo and tiny barbs.
10
◆ Quantum Backup: Your consciousness
may be backed up or retrieved from
the emergent metaplanes by marking
1 edge. If you suffer lethal harm,
your consciousness is forced to the
metaplanes, and you take level-3 harm,
“Incapacitated” until you can recover. If
you suffer emergent harm while in this
state, you are destroyed utterly.
When you suffer your fourth trauma, you
advanced
are transported to the hidden research &
development facility and receive the final
procedure. You receive permission to call
upon the secret company to do a fly-by
and deliver its will, at the cost of 6 edge.
You receive permission to continue to
play your character rather than retiring,
with the following restrictions:
◆ You may now clear edge only by
serving the will of your company. Your
vice becomes Servitude.
◆ When next you suffer trauma (your
fifth), you are deactivated and modified
into the war machine of the company,
losing your former mind and will as the
company’s directives completely replace
your former thoughts and memories.
Retire your character to their dark fate.
373
10

DRUIDIC COMMUNION
When you achieve the rank of devotee,
you receive permission to perform the
bestial communion ritual in your lodge.
When you open your mind to the thought-
tendrils of a spirit of beasts during the
communion ritual, you suffer 1 trauma
chanGinG The Game

and become a druid. You gain access to

the following special abilities as veteran
advances.

◆ Mouth of the Beast: Through some

supernatural means, you are able to
interact, mentally and socially, with
certain beasts as if they were normal
people. Choose two: mammals—birds—
fish & amphibians—reptiles. You may take
this again to choose an additional type.

◆ Bestial Transformation: You can

transform part of your body to match
your chosen beast type for a few minutes.
Spend 1 edge when you transform, plus 1
additional edge for each special feature:
the transformation is complete, rather
than partial—it lasts for the entire run,
instead of a few minutes—you can dismiss
the transformation to completely ignore a
consequence of physical strain or injury.

◆ Reincarnation: The death or spiritual

possession of your physical body instantly
frees your spirit. You arise in possession
of the newly born offspring of a pet you
previously held close. Switch to the Free
Spirit playbook and immediately take
Possess as a playbook advancement.

374
 INDEX
a Astral Nexus, 320 roadmap, 44
Abstraction, 190 Attribute(s), 20, 32 seizing, 45, 145
Academic background, 53 Attune, 105 Claims, 44
Acquire asset, 175, 181 Awakened, 48, 98, 273 Clock(s). See Progress clock(s)
Action dot(s), 60 Clone(s), 345
B
additional, 46 Cohort(s), 118, 175
Background, 53, 60
assignment of, 53 harm and healing,, 119
Big Seven, 316
Action rating(s), 16, 34 modifying, 119
#1 Exo Heavy Industries,
example of, 20 316, 325 using, 119
Action roll(s), 13, 16–17 #2 Atari-tendo United, 316, Cold, 22
0d, 17 324 Comm, 239, 240
critical, 17 #3 Sinokatsu Dynamics, description and load, 64
327 picture, 63
failure, 17
#4 Mexitech Logistics, 316,
success, 17 Complex, 18, 214, 256
326
Action(s), 16, 62–63 Complication, 30
#5 Tritanium Partners, 327
choosing, 188 Consequence(s), 17, 18, 21,
#6 Hindenberg Orbital, 325
for the GM, 207 22, 30
#7 Caliphate Global, 324 catastrophic or permanent,
in play, 191–203
competitors and ranking, 31
Adept(s), 93 323 complication, 30
Adept way(s) harm, 31
of the mind, body, & soul, c
lost opportunity, 31
94 Character creation, 50–57,
60, 220 reduced effect, 30
Advancement
random, 61 Construct(s), 241
limits, 47
Character(s) Constructs, 249–251
Area, 237
creation, 220 Contact(s), 112
Armor, 32–33, 64
experienced runners, 57 Convergence, 245
armor box, 33
restoring, 33
Player character types, 8–9 Conversation, 12, 15, 26
prime runners, 57 organizing the, 10
special, 53
Chemist, 83, 239 Corporate background, 53
Assassins, 9
Claim(s), 44–45 Corporate Court. See Big
Assense, 99
losing, 45 Seven

375
 Couriers, 9
Crafting, 254–256
drawbacks, 256
example of (supernatural),
305
inventing, 254
modifying, 255
roll, 255
supernatural, 303–305
Crew, 109–120
index
advancement, 47
changing, 48
contacts, 112
creation, 110–114, 120, 220
development, 42
meeting grounds, 113
reputation, 111
safehouse, 111
special abilities, 113
types, 9, 110
upgrades, 114–117, 120
Critical, 17
Cult, 9
Cyberdeck, 240, 243
Cyberzombie(s), 270
d severity, 169
Datasphere, public, 217
Death, 33
Desperate action(s), 16
Downtime, 14, 19, 36, 167,
184
activities summary, 181
activity(ies), 174
entanglements and, 171–
173
factions and, 180
flashbacks and, 151
heat and, 169–170
payoff and, 168
phase, 14
376
reconditioning and, 170 status, 44
Downtime roll(s), 13 Tier, 42
Dragon(s), 172, 279 Factors, 23
Kalanyr, 97 Failure, 17, 216
Dragon’s Deal, 17, 27 Faith, 54, 328
Drawback(s) Fixer(s), 43, 228
adept, 94 Flashback(s), 151
arcane, 100 examples of, 152
creation and item, 256 Fog of Mortal Disbelief, 274
emergent, 106 Force, 237
implants. See Symptom(s) Fortune roll(s), 13–14
Drone(s), 84, 241, 252 Free play, 14
features, 253 Free spirit(s), 33, 274, 275,
320
surveillance, 274, 313
characters, 282
using, 253
playbook, 285–287
Duration, 237
Roz, 321
e Friendly, 44
Echo(es), 320
Edge, 21 G
Effect(s), 18, 22, 23, 26 Gambling, 54, 328
assessing factors, 23 Game Master (GM), 10
actions for the, 207
Electrician, 83, 239
bad habits to avoid, 213
Elemental(s), 320
clocks and, 211
Emergent, 48, 104, 273
goals, 205
Entanglement(s), 171
opportunities, 207–209
principles, 212
Envoy(s), 228
questions to ask, 207, 220
Essence, 268
losing, 266 Gather information, 34,
36–37
Extraterrestrial(s), 345
examples & questions, 37
f for the GM, 215
Face, 9 roll, 37
playbook, 65–68 G-Men, 245
special items, 68 Gremlin(s), 275
Faction(s)
h
Big Seven, 323
Hacker, 245
hold, 42
Hacker(s), 9
in brief, 324–327
playbook, 69–72
list, 323
 special items, 72 virtual reality (VR), 243 m
Harm, 31 Interfering, 44 Mage(s)
Haunted, 22 Investigation, 36 playbook, 97
Hawkers (aka Dealers), 9 Item(s) Magical lineage(s), 51, 341–
Healer conspicuous, 256 343
becoming a, 83 drawbacks of, 256 and human privilege, 342
recovery and, 176 forbidden, 175 dwarf, 341
Healing clock, 176 loadout and, 61 elf, 341
Heat, 169 modifications for, 255 goblin, 342
Dragon's Deals and, 27 rare, 256 lizardfolk, 342

index
Helpful, 44 restricted, 175 obsidifolk, 342
Heritage, 52, 60 standard, 64 ork, 342
Hidden, 111 theft & loot, 233 ratkin, 343
Hold, 42 unreliable, 256 shifter, 342
losing, 44 volatile, 256 stranger peoples, 343
reducing, 43 troll, 343
K Magnitude, 34, 236–237
Horror(s), 278, 320
Karma, 46–47
Hostile, 44 Marked, 44
Karma trigger(s), 57
Media background, 53
i Meeting grounds, 113
l
ICe, 250–251
Labor background, 53 Meet(s), 228–230
IDN(s), 54
Language(s), 56 Mercs, 9
being ID'ed, 54
Law background, 53 Metaplane(s), 277
security review and fakes,
312 Limit(s) Metatype. See Magical
action ratings, 115 lineage(s)
Implant(s), 55, 60, 262–268
advancement, 47 Method(s), 276
detailing, 266
expansions, 117 Methods
essence and, 266
arcane, 100
features, 265, 266 mortal, 48
emergent, 106
getting additonal, 41 nuyen, 39
sites, 117 Military background, 53
locations & specifications,
264 site upgrades, 116 Muscle, 9
playbook, 73–76
using, 267 Loadout, 61, 146
special items, 76
Incapacitation, 31, 243 Long-term project, 18, 36,
175, 177, 181 Mythical cities, 311
Indulge vice, 177, 178, 181
Lost opportunity, 31 Aztlan, 311, 312
Infected, 281
Luxury, 54, 328 Draken, 312
playbook, 283–284
El Dorado, 312
Interface mode(s)
guardians of, 311
augmented reality (AR),
243 Hanging Gardens of
Babylon, 312
hot-sim VR, 243
Tir Na Nog, 312

377
 n in play, 19
Networking, 241 Punk(s), 9
Nuyen, 39–41 playbook, 77–80
Dragon's Deals and, 27 special items, 80
lifestyle and, 41 Push yourself, 17, 24
payoff and, 168
q
removing from stash, 41
Quality, 24, 34, 237
stash and, 40
use of, 39 r
uses of, 174 Radicals, 9
index

Reach, 237
o Reckless, 22
Obligation, 54, 328
Reconditioning, 75, 170
Obsessed, 22
Recover, 176, 181
Occult Task Force (OTF), 274
Reduced effect, 30
Online, 241–244
Reduce heat, 177, 181
cyberspace providers and, 242
Reputation, 47, 111
going, 242–244
Resistance, 13, 22, 23, 216
interface mode and, 243
roll, 32–33
networking limits and, 244
Resonance well(s), 320
persona and, 244
Respectful, 44
P Restricted, 175, 313
Paranoid, 22 Retirement, 40
Payoff, 168 Rigger, 245
Permutation(s), 59, 60. See also Character Rigger(s), 9
creation playbook, 81–84
Playbook special items, 84
changing, 48 Roll(s), types of, 13
choosing, 50–51 Run(s), 14
Player character(s) (PC), 8 random generator, 238
advancement, 46 tracker, 233
in conflict (PC vs PC), 38
Pleasure, 54, 328
s
Safehouse, 111
Position, 24, 28–29
Scale, 24, 237
Potency, 24
team, 42, 118
Practitioner of the Way, 48, 94, 273
Series
Profits, 47
tracker, 233
Programmer, , 70
Sessions, 10
Progress clock(s), 18–19, 211
Dragon's Deals and, 27 Setting, 7–8, 206

378
Shadows, 9 T
Shell(s), 269 Techno(s)
playbook, 271–272 playbook, 103
Signal(s), 240 Tier, 24, 34, 42
hot and cold, 241 faction, 231
Snake(s), 9 Touchstones, 11, 218
playbook, 85
Tradition, 129
special items, 88
Train, 177, 181
Soft, 22 Training
Sorcery & threading, 296–301 downtime activity, 177

index
Special abilities, 46, 47, 50, 53, 60 upgrade, 115
Special harm, 267, 297 Trait(s), 34
recovery and, 176, 181
Trauma, 21–22
Special item(s), 41, 55, 60 and ignoring your vice, 179
getting additional, 55 conditions, 22
loadout and, 61 ignoring vice and, 179
Spirit(s), 275 Travel, 314–315
Starting situation, 221 Trigger(s), 9
War in St. Andrew Parish, 224 playbook, 89–92
Stash, 40 special items, 92
crew advancement and, 47
Stupor, 54, 328 u
Success, 17, 216 Underworld background, 53
Supernatural playbook(s), 276 Unstable, 22
Adept, 93
v
banning or disallowing, 339
Vehicle(s), 84
changing to a, 48
Vice, 54, 60, 178–179
Mage, 97 ignoring, 179
Techno, 103 purveyors, 328
Surgeon, 262 roll, 178
becoming a, 83
Vicious, 22
Surgery, 262–263
example of, 263 w
Symptom(s) Wanted level, 35, 169
of being infected, 283 Watchdog, 245
of lost essence, 268 Weird, 54, 328
Weirdos, 129

379