Welcome, wanna-be netrunners, street samurai, and corporate sharks! If you’re reading this, you’re likely interested in diving into the neon-lit streets of Night City in Cyberpunk Red. It’s a shimmering, chromed-up dystopia where everything from body modifications to corporate assassination is par for the course. So, chrome-up and strap on your gear, because I’m going to show you how to make the ultimate edgerunner that will shine bright or burn out spectacularly once they hit the streets.
Today, we’re diving into the Calculated (Complete Package) method of character creation! This method is the most intricate of the three options, but as its name would suggest, it offers the complete package, truly making the character your own!
To get started, you’ll need the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook to follow along. And for those more digitally inclined, check out the Cyberpunk Red Companion app, it’s top-notch and best of all, it’s free!
Step 1: Understand The Vibe
Understanding the vibe of the cyberpunk genre is essential in guiding the way you should think when building a character in Cyberpunk Red. These concepts might seem superfluous on the surface, but they are crucial for playing and running the game (Check out the core rule book if you don’t believe me!).
Whenever you’re faced with a decision in character creation (or on the mean streets of Night City!), you should keep in mind the following concepts:
1. Style Over Substance: Look the Part!
First things first: In the neon-lit chaos of the future, style reigns supreme! What’s the point of being the best at something if you look like a total gonk while doing it? Whether things go right or wrong (they will mostly go wrong), do you want to look like a dorph or like a badass ronin?! Exactly. Your character’s vibe should always be stylish, mixing high-tech chromium with low-life leather in a rad patchwork of fashion that’s uniquely you. So, throw on those oversized sunglasses, rock some wild hair, and let your attire reflect the neon-chrome world around you!
2. Attitude is Everything: Be a Badass!
Now, let’s talk attitude! Every time you’re about to pull off a stunt ask yourself: “What’s the most badass way to do this?” Seriously, if it’s not cool enough to describe, then why even bother? You don’t just “walk” into a club, you swagger in like you own the place! And when you flash that smile, make it a dazzling grin that shows off your gold teeth as you dramatically pull down your diamond-studded smart-shades. Act like a gonk, get treated like one too. So, strut your stuff and own every moment!
3. Live on the Edge: Embrace the Chaos!
This one’s in the name folks, you’re an edgerunner! That means you thrive on the fringes of society and dance with danger like it’s your new best friend. Risk is your middle name. If you were looking for a life filled with safety and security, you’d be tucked away in Beaverville knitting sweaters with the rest of the dough-boys and -girls. So, if you ever catch yourself asking “Is this too dangerous?”, then maybe being an edgerunner just ain’t for you choom.
Step 2: Pick your Role
Your character’s Role is basically their occupation in the chaotic urban jungle that is Night City. Think of it like your class or archetype, but let’s be real, you're not stuck in a box!
Want to be a Media who’s a karate master, knocking down foes with killer kicks while reporting the latest news? You can totally pull that off! Or maybe you see yourself as a charming Solo with a silver tongue, able to sweet-talk your way out of any sticky situation? Go for it! Seriously, the beauty of your Role is that it opens doors but doesn’t slam them shut in your face.
There are ten Roles to choose from, each packing their own unique, special abilities.
1. Rockerboy/Rockergirl: The alluring performer who can use their Charismatic Impact ability to rally and manipulate the masses.
2. Solo: The brutal merc, who uses their Combat Awareness ability to excel in Friday night firefights.
3. Netrunner: The hacker who can use their Interface ability to control any piece of tech within range.
4. Tech: The builder who can use their Maker ability to invent, repair and upgrade any hardware they can think of.
5. Medtech: The doctor, who can use their Medicine ability to heal fellow edgerunners in the middle of combat and give’em those preem combat stims.
6. Media: The journalist, who uses their Credibility ability to find and create useful information and gossip.
7. Exec: The team leader, who uses their Teamwork ability to fill in any gaps within the group.
8. Lawman: The authority figure, who uses their Backup ability to call for reinforcements when the going gets tough.
9. Fixer: The dealmaker, who uses their Operator ability to haggle for extra scratch and makes sure everyone’s packing some preem hardware.
10. Nomad: The getaway driver, who thanks to their Motto ability has constant access to a large variety of vehicles and knows how to drift with each one.
Choose a Role that resonates with your vision of badass!
Step 3: Determine Your Lifepath
Your character didn’t just wake up one day with a neon dream and say, “Hey, I think I’ll be an edgerunner!” Nope, some serious stuff must have pushed them to the edge of society, whether they planned it or not.
Whatever it was, it’s gotta be juicy! So, whether they chose this path or got steamrolled onto it, something pretty gnarly had to go down to turn your character into the badass edgerunner they are today. It’s not just about living on the edge, it’s about what pushed them there in the first place. Rolling down the Lifepath system is a good start, but don’t be afraid to pick and choose what you want or to come up with your own messed-up backstory! Always go for the most badass look (Combine Gang Colors with Nomad Leathers!), pick the most compelling motivations (Money, Power and Love!) and merge the most tragic love affairs (They mysteriously vanished because unbeknownst to you, they were kidnapped!).
You can even mix and match the Role-Based Lifepaths! Who says you can’t be a badass Solo who happens to DJ on the week-ends (From the Rockerboy Lifepath) and has a partner to watch their back (From the netrunner lifepath)?
Step 4: Crunch Your Numbers
When it comes to numbers on your sheet, there are three key elements you need to focus on:
· Statistics: This is your character's basic abilities translated into numbers. They form your baseline, showcasing what you’re capable of as a character. You’ve got a total of 62 points to distribute across ten statistics, though none can dip below two or soar above eight during character creation. Choose wisely, because unlike skills, your statistics tend to change very little over the course of a game.
· Derived Statistics: Next are your Hit Points and Humanity, arguably the two most crucial factors for deciding your survival in the unforgiving streets. They are derived from your Statistics, as shown in the core rulebook. Pro-edgerunner tip, you want lots of HP and unless you want to go cyberpsycho, lots of Humanity.
· Skill Levels: Finally, we have your Skill Levels, which are the specific areas where your character shines.
You need at least two Skill Levels in the following, as these are basic, must-have skills: Athletics, Brawling, Concentration, Conversation, Education, Evasion, First Aid, Human Perception, Language (Streetslang), Local Expert (Your Home), Perception, Persuasion, and Stealth.
And don’t forget, you must have a minimum of four Skill Levels in your chosen language based on your cultural origin.
Once you’ve laid down the required skills, you’ll have 60 points left to distribute wherever you want! This means that any edgerunner worth their chrome starts with a total of 90 skill points.
Just a heads up: no Skill Level can exceed six during character creation and don’t forget that difficult skills cost two Skill points to increase in Level by one.
Step 5: Gear Up!
Alright, choom, ditch the sword and shield, time to grab some more serious hardware! When you’re gearing up to tackle the mean streets of Night City, you got 2550 eddies to splurge on weapons, armor, equipment, and cyberware of your choosing. Check the lists and start shopping, your survival depends on it! Remember, it's better to be a broke edgerunner than a dead one, so spend as much as possible, or you'll end up flatlined when a simple cutter could have saved your skin!
But wait, there’s more! You also get an extra 800 eddies strictly for fashion or fashionware. In Night City, you don’t want to be caught dead looking like a nobody, so make sure you spend it all, as any cash left over is cash lost. That being said, don’t ruin your outfit over something stupid like a helmet. Oh what, doughboy’s afraid he’s gonna get shot in the face? Grow a pair!
If you find yourself a bit short on funds and that EVO-5000 cyberarm is calling your name, you can always consider selling your soul to a corporation or mega-booster for some extra cash. Just a heads up though: the devil’s pleasant to deal with compared to whoever’s willing to lend you the scratch, so weigh your options carefully (and chat with your GM before making any deals!).
Step 6: Finishing Touches
Finally, you need to think about what makes your edgerunner stand out from any other gonk or beaver walking the streets of Night City. What’s your signature look? A chrome mohawk, countless neon piercings or a classic trench coat large enough to hide your iron in? What about catchphrases or quirks? Your favorite music or bands? You a gun-nut merc or more of a blade-ronin? You heavy into the sov-tech chrome or more into the neon-flash stuff?
But no worries, survive a few gigs in Night City and you’ll refine your style over time. Until then, you got everything you need to be the next wanna-be Night City Legend!
Cya out on the streets choom!
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RollingDeadly, Best Ork GM There Is!
