Game Phases /DOWNTIME PHASE

cbr+pnk
An upkeep phase; Downtime is played in a zoomed-out fashion.
/RUN PHASE You never roll dice in the Downtime Phase. Scenes are glossed
The default mode from CBR+PNK. When there is action and over or described as a montage. If the need for roleplaying

re.SERIALIZED
conflict, you are in a RUN. But it is not necessarily your arises, keep in mind that conflict is not allowed in the
Downtime Phase. If a dramatic situation should arise, cut

⧐ When you start a RUN, clear all GEAR previously marked

LAST one. It might be, though, so C-YA.
(excepting Signature Gear) and choose your LOAD rating.
MISSION RATING
The MISSION RATING is defined before the RUN begins (either
secretly by the GM or as a choice made by the players). In
some cases, getting better RUNs might depend on a mid to
away and resolve the rest of the Downtime Phase as normal.
Then refer to that situation as a FLASHBACK during the next
RUN. Rules for serialized sessions / campaign play in CBR+PNK
DOWNTIME ACTIVITIES
Team Name
Go in turns around the table; each Player Character gets to

⧐ The RATING can be either 1 (2EZ

high REPUTATION level (at GM's discretion). pick 2 Downtime Activities.
2EZ), 2 (NORMAL
NORMAL) or 3 (HARD
HARD).
This will define the amount of CRED, REPUTATION and HEAT GO ON A Spend 1~2 CRED to mark a piece of GEAR as
gained if the RUN is successful. SHOPPING SPREE Signature Gear*. You can only have 2 of these.
GET Clear up to two levels of HARM / CONSEQUENCES. crew type
⧐ Mission RATING might change during the RUN. Plot Twists
CAVEATS
PATCHED UP Further treatment costs 1 CRED.
! Edgerunners / Mercs $ Trauma Team / Extraction Unit
VISIT THE Gain a new piece of CYBERWARE, or remove a

⧐ Even if a RUN is failed, REP and HEAT might increase.

and complications are key tropes of the genre. @ Manhunters / Blade Runners % Ex-Cops / Private Investigators
CHROME-SHOP drawback (glitch) from one you have. The first
one is free, extras cost 1 CRED. # Biker-Gang / Street Punks ^ Netrunners / Vigilante Hackers

⧐ The RATING is there for a reason: The GM must adjust the

GM's call. ...or mixed crew
RELIEVE Say in what vice(s) you indulge. Clear up to
SOME STRESS four STRESS.
difficulty accordingly.
SEE A Remove a GLITCH from one of your APPROACHES.
HARD-FRAMING SHRINK-BOT rep
When the RUN begins, start in medias res, don't dabble with TRAINING Gain a new SKILL point (or EXPERTISE).
boring sections or preparations. MONTAGE

When the RUN ends, wrap up quickly and move to the DOWNTIME FIND NEW Gain a new CONTACT CARD (some might have a
PHASE. CONTACTS cost in CREDS).
heat
WORK ON A Do some legwork, engage in a complex task,
MISSION RESULTS
SIDE-PROJECT etc. Sets up fictional positioning and clears
The RUN rating defines the PROFIT, REPUTATION and HEAT 2 STRESS.
gained. The Team gains that much CRED, REPUTATION and HEAT
PAY Remove the HUNTED tag. Pay with CREDS or loss
creds
if a RUN is successful. Also: adjust Faction STANDINGs.
YOUR DEBTS of REPUTATION, GM's call.
If the RUN objective fails, PROFIT (CREDS gained) will most
likely be 0. *Signature Gear: you always have this piece of gear with
you. It doesn't count towards your LOAD total. Items that
RUN LOW-KEY
cost 2 LOAD also cost 2 CRED.
The Runners can decide (as a group) that they don't want
to brag about their win too much, sacrificing REPUTATION NAME STANDING ENEMIES

factions
gains to avoid getting much HEAT (from factions like CORPS, Once the players have decided which two Activities their
0
THE LAW, GANGS, etc). Characters will pursue, the GM will ask them to describe
each situation briefly and give some color, and maybe ask 0
If during the RUN they didn't reveal too much information 0
some questions to enhance the fiction.
about themselves, or didn't leave considerable evidence
that can be traced back to them, they can choose any number After that, it is time for the next RUN. Go to the RUN PHASE. 0
between 1 and the RUN rating. Reduce their REPUTATION and Hard-frame it accordingly as usual, no need to dabble too 0
HEAT gain by that number (yes, you can gain 0 HEAT if you much with boring details. 0
also gain 0 REP!).
 Campaign start
The campaign starts with some setup (and some differences
⧐ Characters are not fully-fledged professionals yet: they
from CBR+PNK core) that should be made at the beginning:
⧐ Define the Crew Type (may be a mixed crew). Set up REP,
start with 4 Skill Points (instead of the default of 8).
⧐ Define the factions (4 to 6), their enemies, and set all
CRED and HEAT progress bars at 0.
STANDINGS to 0.
ENDGAME
Each Character will have an "arc": the fulfillment of their
ANGLE (or definitive failure at attaining so).
Player Characters should be constantly pursuing the
objective provided by their ANGLE choice. GMs are encouraged
to bring their ANGLES during play (at least one per RUN!).
Introducing their ANGLES can further complicate their lives,
or alternatively, their RUNs and relationships with other
FACTIONS might complicate the achievement of their ANGLES.
Once a Character fulfills (or utterly fails) their ANGLE,
their ARC is complete. They can help their teammates fulfill
their ANGLES or simply retire the Character.
Once all ANGLES have been resolved in the team, the story
ends and the campaign is finished!
THE METAPLOT
Loop RUN and DOWNTIME Phases sequentially. HEAT, REPUTATION
and other plot threads affecting the PCs will influence the
story in the long run. But they must arise as parts of the
RUN PHASE, either materializing during the mission, or as a
dramatic conflict roleplayed in a FLASHBACK.
>> REPUTATION
REPUTATION is a 6-stage PROGRESS BAR. It represents the
notoriety and respect the team has amongst other runners and
merc circles. It might help them get harder RUNs (greater
ratings), give access to stronger CONTACTS or better GEAR/
CYBERWARE (at GM's call).
At any time the GM thinks the Runners might have an advantage
because of their REPUTATION (during FLASHBACKS of planning,
legwork, contacting), they can roll 1d6 and compare against
the REPUTATION PROGRESS BAR. If they roll under the current
value, their notoriety helps them in the current situation.
Losing REPUTATION
There's only one way to lose REPUTATION, and that is by
failing a RUN. The runners lose an amount of REPUTATION
equal to the rating of the failed RUN.
>> HEAT FACTIONS
HEAT is a PROGRESS BAR for the whole team (it wouldn't make
There are several factions (megacorps, security forces,
too much sense for some of them to acquire less HEAT because
gangs) operating in the city. For your campaign, only some
they ran low-key but their teammates didn't). You must use
of them might interact directly or indirectly with the
a 6-stage progress bar for HEAT.
runners.
HEAT represents the will of strong factions to act against
They will be the providers of missions/gear/information...
the team of runners. Either by duty, or in retaliation. Their
Or the target of your runs.
enemies might be law enforcement, a big corp they fucked
up with, a gang that feels threatened by them, etc. But it Pick a few (around 4, no more than 6) and set them at
doesn't have to be any single thing or explicit faction: opposing objectives. Then throw the runners in the middle
HEAT just represents how in trouble the runners are, and and watch chaos unravel.
how much attention they are attracting to themselves (in a Each Faction must relate to at least another that is
bad way). opposed to it. When the runners fulfill a mission given by
a faction, or when they gain REPUTATION by doing some deed
At any time the GM thinks the Runners might be recognized
or be getting in trouble (particularly during otherwise that benefits said faction in some way, they also increase
tranquil FLASHBACKS), they can roll 1d6 and compare against their STANDING with it, meaning that they reduce their
the HEAT PROGRESS BAR. If they roll over the current STANDING with its opposing factions.
value, they are safe or managed to avoid trouble. If they
don't, then it's time to face the consequences of their faction Standing
recklessness.
⧐ At STANDING 0, the faction doesn't know or care about the
STANDING maxes out at -4 or 4.
⧐ At STANDING -1 to -2, the runners are annoying or starting
When the HEAT bar reaches its midpoint, their Downtime runners.
Activities are reduced to ONE per character (because it's
increasingly harder to move around without drawing unwanted
to be a pain in the faction's business, but will not act yet
attention).
⧐ At STANDING -3 to -4, the runners will be actively HUNTED
unless given a golden opportunity.
If the HEAT bar ever reaches its maximum, the runners must
pay the consequences of their actions. In each RUN they
⧐ At STANDING 1 to 2, the runners are considered good
by the faction at every possible opportunity.
take, the full force of their enemies will materialize to
complicate every aspect of their job.
acquaintances or associates of the faction. They might get
better MISSION RATINGS with them, or get help in specific
Reducing HEAT
⧐ At STANDING 3 or 4, the runners are considered essential
opportunities.
⧐ LAY LOW. If all runners decide to not take any Downtime
The are two ways to reduce HEAT:
allies or assets of the faction. They will most likely get
better MISSION RATINGS with them, and the faction will
Activities during the DOWNTIME PHASE, reduce their HEAT one
⧐ BE GHOSTS. If they choose to gain 0 HEAT/REP in a RUN,
level. provide help whenever possible (always under the guise of
doing good business!).
they can reduce HEAT one level during the following DOWNTIME
Note that while STANDING looks similar to HEAT, they are
PHASE.
different values. Reducing or increasing HEAT does not
Both options are cumulative, meaning you can combine them
affect STANDING, which can only be improved by doing favors
to reduce up to 2 HEAT in the same DOWNTIME PHASE.
or other deals with a particular faction. The same applies to
REPUTATION: gaining or losing REP might not affect STANDING
with factions, unless the actions directly affect them.
Sample Megacorps: ARASAKA, WEYLAND, RENRAKU, ONO-SENDAI.
Sample Security: NCPD, MILLITECH, CORP-SEC, NETWATCH.
re.SERIALIZED is an unofficial plugin for CBR+PNK RPG.
Sample Gangs: Voodoo Boys, Valentinos, Tigers, Nomads.
re.SERIALIZED is an independent production by @tatooka,
not affiliated with Emanoel Melo or The Cabinet of Curiosities.