/OPEN_DIRECTORY_author:
acT UNSEEN
.ARTWORK / DESIGN / LAYOUT: [EMANUELE GALLETTO]
.FIND MORE: [PATREON.COM/ROOSTEREMA]
[INSTAGRAM.COM/ROOSTEREMA]
/OPEN_DIRECTORY_GAME:
_the game_ /what is [BROKEN BINARY] about?
YOU PLAY THE ROLE OF CYBER-ENHANCED SECURITY [AGENTS]
FREED FROM NORMAL PROTOCOL RESTRICTIONS, STRADDLING
THE LINE BETWEEN MILITARY AND VIGILANTES WITHIN A
FUTURISTIC METROPOLIS.
.THEMES:
.WHAT SEPARATES MACHINE FROM MAN?
.WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?
.ARE YOUR MEMORIES STILL YOURS?
.WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE?
.HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR?
.INSPIRATION:
.GHOST IN THE SHELL [MASAMUNE SHIROW + OTHERS]
.DEUS EX [SQUARE ENIX + FERAL INTERACTIVE]
.NEUROMANCER [WILLIAM GIBSON]
.BLADE RUNNER [RIDLEY SCOTT]
.ROBOCOP + TOTAL RECALL [PAUL VERHOEVEN]
.BLAME! + NOISE + BIOMEGA [TSUTOMU NIHEI]
.ERGO PROXY [SHUKO MURASE]
.PSYCHO - PASS [GEN UROBUCHI]
.rolling dice:
YOU ROLL DICE WHENEVER YOUR [AGENT] ATTEMPTS ONE OF
THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
.ACT UNSEEN
ONLY ROLL IF
.ENGAGE ENEMIES
THERE IS ACTUAL
.MANIPULATE SOMEONE
RISK INVOLVED
.RESIST HARM OR DANGER
.WORK THE NET
YOU ROLL 1D [ONE DIE] FOR EACH POINT YOU HAVE IN THAT
ACTION [VARIOUS FACTORS CAN ADD OR REMOVE DICE; ALWAYS
ROLL AT LEAST 1D] AND KEEP THE SINGLE HIGHEST DIE.
IF [1-3], YOU SUFFER NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
IF [4-5], YOU DO IT + SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
IF [6], YOU FULLY SUCCEED.
ON [6], YOU NARRATE WHAT HAPPENS.
ON [1-3] OR [4-5], THE [GM] NARRATES WHAT HAPPENS.
.
[AMBUSH, HIDE, INFILTRATE, STEAL...]
/NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE: YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE ACT. YOU
WILL NEED TO EXPLAIN OR FLEE OR DEFEND YOURSELF.
.ENGAGE ENEMIES
[MURDER, PUNCH, SHOOT, STAB, TAUNT...]
/NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE: YOU ARE PUT IN A DANGEROUS
SPOT OR HARMED. SEE [RESIST HARM OR DANGER] BELOW.
.MANIPULATE SOMEONE
[BRIBE, DECEIVE, QUESTION, SWAY...]
/NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE: YOU ATTRACT TROUBLE. YOU WILL
FACE UNWANTED ATTENTION OR DISTRUST OR RETALIATION.
.RESIST HARM OR DANGER
[AVOID TOXINS, TRAPS, WOUNDS...]
/NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE: THE DANGER HITS YOU WITH FULL
FORCE OR YOU TAKE HARM BASED ON THE SITUATION.
.WORK THE NET
[HACK A TERMINAL, FACILITY, CYBORG...]
/NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE: YOU FACE COUNTERMEASURES. THE
SYSTEM LOCKS YOU DOWN OR INFLICTS NEURAL HARM OR
TRIES TO [HACK] YOU.
.system_error:ACTION_not_covered
IF AN [AGENT]’S ACTION IS NOT COVERED BY ANY OF THE
FIVE DEFAULT OPTIONS ABOVE, [GM] MAY CHOOSE:
.THEY SIMPLY SUCCEED [USUALLY THE BEST OPTION]
.RNG ROLL: ROLL 1D AND NARRATE OUTCOME BASED ON THE
RESULT [HIGH ROLLS ARE BETTER]. DO SO ONLY IF THE
OUTCOME IS UNPREDICTABLE OR BASED ON SHEER LUCK.
.threat_detected:harm
.HARM 1 [STABBED, GUN SHOT, SUCKER PUNCH...]
.HARM 2 [BADLY BEATEN, NEURAL SHOCK, POISONING...]
.HARM 3 [BROKEN BONES, RADIATION, NEURAL TRAUMA...]
.HARM 4 [ANYTHING THAT KILLS YOU ON THE SPOT]
/IF YOUR HARM IS ≥ 2, SUFFER -1D ON ALL ROLLS.
/IF YOUR HARM IS ≥ 4, YOU ARE KILLED.
/YOU BEGIN EACH MISSION WITH ZERO HARM.
/NORMAL FOES ARE USUALLY DEFEATED WITH ANY HARM,
BUT [AGENTS] AND STRONGER OPPONENTS TAKE MORE.
.GM HINT: CREATE OPPONENTS THAT MUST BE DEFEATED
THROUGH UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS OR WEAPONRY.
.threat_detected:being_hacked
IF SOMEONE TRIES TO OVERRIDE YOUR CYBER BRAIN OR
BODY, [GM] ROLLS 1D. IF THE ROLL IS ≤ THE VALUE OF
YOUR [RIG], YOU ARE HACKED FOR THE CURRENT SCENE.
YOU CAN, OF COURSE, RESIST THIS DANGER.
.CLOCKING:
YOU CAN PUSH YOUR LIMITS DURING A [MISSION]. THIS IS
CALLED CLOCKING. YOU CAN CLOCK TO:
/ADD +1D TO AN [AGENT]’S ROLL [AFTER ROLL; 1/ROLL].
/NARRATE A FLASHBACK TO REVEAL YOU HAVE A SOLUTION
PREPARED FOR THE CURRENT PROBLEM. [GM] MAY ASK FOR
AN EXTRA ROLL TO MAKE IT WORK.
YOU BEGIN EACH [MISSION] WITH ZER0 CLOCK. THE FIRST
THREE CLOCKS IN A [MISSION] ARE FREE; TO UNLOCK THE
REMAINING THREE, YOU MUST OVERCLOCK [SUFFER 1 HARM
THAT YOU CANNOT RESIST].
.rig:
THIS VALUE [FROM 1 TO 5] REPRESENTS THE EXTENT OF YOUR
CYBERNETIZATION.
/RIG 1 TO 3: HUMAN WITH BRAIN AND BODY IMPLANTS.
/RIG 4 TO 5: FULL CYBORG. YOU HAVE A BIOENGINEERED
BODY WITH SYNTHFLESH, OILBLOOD AND A BRAIN BACKUP
[IF YOU DIE, YOU CAN BE RE-UPLOADED WITHIN ANOTHER
BODY]. YOU DO NOT AGE AND SHOULD FEEL NO PAIN, BUT
YOUR BRAIN INSISTS ON REACTING TO PHYSICAL TRAUMAS
SUFFERED BY YOUR CYBERNETICAL LIMBS. YOU ARE MORE
EASILY HACKED. YOU ARE STERILE AND NEED TO CONSUME
FOOD AND DRINKS SPECIFICALLY CREATED FOR CYBORGS.
ANYTIME DURING A [MISSION], YOU CAN PRODUCE AN IMPLANT
TO AID YOU [GIVING YOU +1D ON APPROPRIATE ROLLS OR
THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING YOU NORMALLY COULD NOT].
YOU CAN DO SO A NUMBER OF TIMES PER [MISSION] EQUAL
TO [RIG].
/EXAMPLE IMPLANTS: THERMAL VISION, MAGNETIC LIMBS,
WATER-PROCESSING LUNGS, REMOTE TERMINAL LINK.
.gear:
EQUIPMENT WORKS SIMILARLY TO IMPLANTS. THREE TIMES
PER [MISSION], YOU CAN PRODUCE AN ITEM TO AID YOU
[GIVING YOU +1D ON APPROPRIATE ROLLS OR THE ABILITY
TO DO SOMETHING YOU NORMALLY COULD NOT].
/EXAMPLE GEAR: SHOTGUN, COMBAT KNIFE, BINOCULARS,
GRENADE LAUNCHER, STEALTH COAT, LOCKPICK, CAR.
ONCE PRODUCED, IMPLANTS AND ITEMS REMAIN AVAILABLE
UNTIL THE END OF THE [MISSION].
YOU CAN OF COURSE CARRY OTHER ITEMS, PROVIDED THEY
ARE COSMETIC AND DON’T GIVE YOU ANY MECHANICAL BONUS.
YOU ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO MILITARY TRANSPORTS AND THE
CITY POLICE DATABASE.
.GM HINT: SOME DATA WILL STILL BE CONFIDENTIAL AND
REQUIRE HACKING, INVESTIGATION OR BRIBES.
_character creation_ /who are [you]?
WHEN YOU CREATE A CHARACTER, TAKE A CHARACTER BADGE.
.NAME: YOUR FULL NAME.
.ALIAS: YOUR NICKNAME WITHIN THE TEAM.
/EXAMPLES: DOC, GEARHEAD, BULL, SHADE
.BACKGROUND: WHAT YOU DID BEFORE.
/EXAMPLES: DETECTIVE, ROGUE HACKER, VETERAN
.MOTTO: THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS SAY.
/EXAMPLES: “CAN’T BE HELPED”, “WALK QUIETLY, BUT
KEEP WALKING”, “SHOOT FIRST, ASK LAST”.
.WEAKNESS: THERE’S NO EASY WAY TO PUT THIS. THIS IS
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT, THIS IS WHAT MAKES
YOU QUESTION YOUR CHOICES EVERY DAY.
/EXAMPLES: “I HAVE A FAMILY TO PROTECT”, “I DRINK
WAY TOO MUCH”, “I NEVER KNOW WHEN TO STOP”.
.RIG: CHOOSE YOUR RIG VALUE [1 TO 5]. THIS DETERMINES
WHETHER YOU ARE HUMAN OR FULLY CYBORG. REGARDLESS
OF YOUR CHOICE, YOUR IMPLANTS ALLOW FOR TELEPATHIC
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE TEAM AND FOR
NET CONNECTION [YOU BASICALLY HAVE A MOBILE PHONE
GRAFTED INSIDE YOUR SPINE].
.ACTIONS: DIVIDE TEN POINTS AMONG THE FIVE ACTIONS.
EACH ACTION CAN HAVE A VALUE OF 0 TO 3 POINTS. YOU
MAY CHOOSE TO REFLECT YOUR BACKGROUND OR TO MIX
THINGS UP [INTENSIVE BRAIN RE-TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE
A THING, AFTER ALL].
THAT’S ALL. GEAR AND IMPLANTS WILL COME UP DURING THE
[MISSION] ITSELF, SO YOU ARE READY TO GO.
.RIG_UPDATE:MEMORY_BACKUP_COMPLETE
IF AN [AGENT] WITH A [RIG] OF 4 TO 5 IS KILLED, THEY
MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR BRAIN BACKUP [ALSO KNOWN AS
CONSCIENCE OR SPARK] UPLOADED INTO A NEW SYNTHETIC
BODY. THE NEW BODY HAS THE SAME [RIG] VALUE OF THE
PREVIOUS ONE, BUT THE BACKUP PROCESS IS FAR FROM
PERFECT:
.IF THE NEW BODY HAS THE SAME ACTION POINTS AS THE
PREVIOUS ONE, THE PLAYER MUST CHOOSE AND REDUCE
ONE OF THEM BY 1.
.THE PLAYER CAN CHOOSE TO COMPLETELY REDISTRIBUTE
ACTION POINTS FOR THE NEW BODY, BUT THE TOTAL
POINT BUDGET IS REDUCED BY 1.
THIS MEANS THAT EACH NEW INCARNATION OF THE [AGENT]
WILL BE WEAKER THAN THE ONES BEFORE, DUE TO BRAIN
DATA CORRUPTION.
.GM HINT: CREATE VILLAINS THAT HAVE ACHIEVED
IMMORTALITY THROUGH BRAIN BACKUP, OR THAT HAVE
SPLIT THEIR CONSCIENCE BETWEEN DOZENS OF ADVANCED
ARTIFICIAL BODIES. REMEMBER: THE MORE YOU TINKER
WITH YOUR SPARK, THE MORE INHUMAN YOU BECOME.
_PLAYING THE GAME_ /IF [GM] OR [AGENT] = READ.
.EVERYONE:
/DISCUSS [TABLE SAFETY] AND [PVP POSSIBILITY].
FOR PVP, ONLY THE AGGRESSOR ROLLS, BUT ON [1-3] OR
[4-5] THE DEFENDER NARRATES.
/DISCUSS [RULE DOUBTS] TOGETHER DURING PLAY.
.AGENT tips:
/BE AWARE OF YOUR FLEXIBILITY. DON’T BE AFRAID TO
COME UP WITH CREATIVE IMPLANTS, UNUSUAL GEAR, AND
OTHER MEMORABLE STUFF.
/ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
/BE MINDFUL OF THE CONSEQUENCES TO YOUR ACTIONS. YOU
ARE AN ELITE AGENT OPERATING OUTSIDE PROTOCOL, BUT
YOU ARE FAR FROM IMMUNITY.
/EVERYTHING IN THE CITY IS CONNECTED TO THE NETWORK.
USE THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
.Game Master TIPS:
/HIT THE PLAYER CHARACTERS WITH ALL YOU’VE GOT.
/WHEN THERE IS A DANGER OR RISK, CLEARLY STATE ITS
NATURE. BE UPFRONT AND HONEST.
/THERE IS ALWAYS A SECOND TRUTH, ALWAYS A DEEPER
MOTIVATION, ALWAYS A HIDDEN ASPECT.
/USE CHARACTER BACKGROUNDS TO INTRODUCE NPCS FROM THE
CHARACTERS’ PAST. MAKE THINGS PERSONAL.
/CHALLENGE THE CONCEPTS OF HUMANITY, FREE THOUGHT,
IDENTITY AND CONSCIENCE.
/EVERYTHING IN THE CITY IS CONNECTED TO THE NETWORK.
USE THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
.WEAKNESSES:
AT THE BEGINNING OF A SESSION, EACH [AGENT] ROLLS 1D.
EACH [AGENT] THAT ROLLED LOWEST WILL SEE THEIR WEAK-
NESS COME INTO PLAY DURING THAT SESSION. NOTE THAT
YOU ONLY KNOW THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN, NOT HOW AND WHEN.
.SCENARIO_GENERATOR.EXE
/ROLL 1D:
.1 [INFLUENTIAL PERSON IS MANIPULATED THROUGH
IMPLANTED MEMORIES]
.2 [TERRORISTS/REBELS ATTEMPT TO DESTROY SECURITY
CENTER HOSTING GOVERNMENT BRAIN BACKUPS]
.3 [ROGUE AI SPREADS MAYHEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY]
.4 [A BIZARRE CULT IS SUMMONING “DEMONS” FROM THE
NETWORK, PLACING THEM INSIDE ROBOTIC BODIES]
.5 [LARGE HACKER ATTACK COMPROMISES INTERNATIONAL
SPORT EVENT. DIPLOMATIC CRISIS ENSUES]
.6 [EXPERIMENTAL TERRAFORMING APPARATUS GOES
BERSERK]