Mythic Cyberpunk

You and your crew work out of the city in the most analog of areas away from the Noise and away from the Mythos. To your right a crew member performs a ritual accessing the Mythos, the magical part of your world. To your left another crew member taps into the Noise, the network that binds the world’s technology. You’re capable of supporting both with some skills in both the Noise and the Mythos. Corporations have a deep hold on both. Staying undetected and fighting for the people is hard work and requires so much of yourselves. As you prepare for the Noise assault you hear a knocking at the door. Your crew member pats her mini gun ready for a fight. You prepare too, ready to support your friends. It is never boring in your part of the megacity.

:Otherscape combines magic and technology in a fun seamless way to help players immerse themselves in a Cyberpunk world that you create on your own. Players and MC’s have all the tools they need in the Metro :Otherscape RPG core rulebook by Son of Oak. It runs on the Mist engine. If Mythic Cyberpunk is your jam head here and start a game today!

Mechanics

The Game Loop is relatively simple. The MC Establishes the scene. The spotlighted player takes Action. They describe their actions and roll invoking tags to add to the roll. The MC then describes the Consequences allowing for mitigation.The Loop starts again as the MC Establishes the scene adding threats and challenges as the story unfolds spotlighting a new player.

‍:Otherscape’s Mist engine relies on just two six-sided dice, or 2d6. Whenever there is a chance that a character can fail at something or there is the chance for consequences the MC has you roll. Then add the Character’s skills; listed as tags. Each tag (a process called invoking) adds +1 power. On most turns characters use +3 power. Power is used to overcome the “tags” enemies, environment, and story might have. 

•     2-6: the character fails
•     7-9 The character fails and gets a consequence
•     10+ The character achieves without consequence

Here are some other basic rules that are relevant to themes and tags:

• Weakness: Each theme has a weakness that gives a -1 to power but also allows for an upgrade after three weaknesses have been used

• Burning Tags: You can burn a theme tag and gain +3 on a for that tag at the loss of you can’t use that tag until the MC says so

• Upgrades: After three weaknesses you can add specials based on the themebook or new tags based on your themekit.

•  Specials: A special use statement based on your character. You cannot access these at character creation

Character Essence

Each character gets four themes to start and they can access three skills including the Theme name as relevant tags. The decision of which of the three themes you use makes up your essence. The essence of your character is driven by the three ideals between the Self (your humanity), the Noise (networking), and the Mythos (your magical ability). Your Essence themekits can result in the following types.

•  Nexus: A balance of all three theme types
  
  
• Spirtualist: A balance between self and Mythos

• Transhuman: A balance of Noise and Mythos
  
  
• Cyborg: A balance of Self and Noise
  
  
• Singularity: All themes Noise
  
  
• Real: All Self Themes
  
  
• Conduit: All Mythos Different themebooks
  
  
•  Avatar: All Mythos same themebook
  

From the scenario above we are creating a Nexus character, named Jaxson (Alltrades) Jill, so we can explore the various themebooks, but if you think it would be fun leaning into one of these more themed essence characters you can. You are not limited by my choices. The Metro :Otherscape rule book offers a plethora of choices.

Theme Noise‍

Noise themes have to do with technology and accessing the network. Working in the Noise, players have 4 major themes known as Themebooks: Augmentation (built in cybernetics), Cutting Edge (newest technology), Cyberspace (hacking/accessing the network), and Drones (cybernetic pets). Each Themebook has a series of about 6 theme kits that come with a number of tags. The necessary Itch is unique to Noise themes. It is the thing that the character must do to maintain the theme. We are going to pull a theme kit from the Cyberspace Themebook.

Jaxson has general knowledge of Cyberspace so we’re looking for a theme kit that represents some ability to do hacking. “Information Broker” will be the theme kit. With the relevant tags of “Connect the Dots”, and “Track Online Activities.” Her weakness will be ‘Searching Takes Time.’ This Themebook has the Itch; Trade old Info for New. For someone not being super specialized and a jack of all trades this weakness fits the most. Regarding the Itch we can use it in that Jaxson replaces things they learn with the old information for themselves using the new as a fact.

Theme Mythos

Mystical and Magical theme books for Mythos are varied. They consist of Artifact (a thing that gives you power) Companion (a magical bonded creature with powers), Esoterica (you have learned magic from an inherent power or learning), and Exposure (the Mythoi changes you). Each theme kit in Mythos requires a Ritual; a thing the character must do each day to maintain the magical connection.

Jaxson has no innate magical powers. However, she once rescued a grateful magical pug named Deathstare. This magical pug uses the theme kit “Guardian Spirit” from the Companions Themebook. The Companion offers help and protection. We will be using the tags “Watchful of Danger”, and “Link to the Spiritual World”. Unfortunately, Deathstare is a little too attached and can be “Overly Protective” at times (their Weakness). Your Ritual to maintain Deathstare states ‘you must never fail to make a daily offering”.

Theme Self

Your Humanity is seen in your Self themes. The Self Themebooks are Affiliations (who you know), Assets (What you bring), Expertise (what you know), Horizon (what you want for the future) and Personality (who you are). Self themes feature Identity as that thing you cling to that makes you you. Jaxson will have 2 Self themes, one from the theme and one created on my own.

Jaxson is pulling from The Expertise Themebook and taking the “Tinkerer” themekit. She is taking the tags “Toolbox” and “Reverse Engineering”. In this way Jaxson will be able to differentiate if it’s Mythos issue or a Noise issue and possibly help with repairs. In going with this idea that Jaxson relies on time, they may also result in “Unexpected side Effects”. Their identity with Tinkerer is “I can make it work, trust me.”

Jaxson will also be creating their own theme based on the Self Personality Themebook. In Metro :Otherscape RPG core rule book each themebook has a number of questions that help arrive at a theme. Accessing those themes we know we want Jaxson to be good at everything. “A Jack of All Trades” if you will. Jaxson is also personable. They “Knew a Mythos Guy” at some point. Tutorial videos occupied their time in hiding so they probably “Saw This in a Video”. Unfortunately, Jacks of All Trades are a “Master of None”. A perfect weakness. Jaxson is rather positive so she “Always does it with Pizzaz” When creating themes of your own. It is direly important you and the MC agree on when these tags can be used.

‍Loadout Themes

Your Loadout has special rules. All tags are crossed off. When you ready up for a mission you can use +1 power to activate a loadout tag that you can use on your mission. Access to further power comes from some tags and specials you can earn with leveling up.

Jaxson is taking the “Privacy Hood” and two tags from its theme “Blocks access to my gear” and “Masks my profile”. Though, for her first Mission Jaxson has access to the “Privacy Hood” only.

Crew Relationships and Theme

Your Crew themes are chosen just like they are from the theme kits provided by your theme book. Your Crew relationships are chosen between the players. Be sure you all agree and the MC signs off on crew relationships. Remember you can use them as a tag, but so can the MC. See Below:

Finally: Play

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Character creation in :Otherscape is straightforward and satisfying. The fun is in the playing and putting your tags to use. I highly recommend the Demo rules as a place to start. It also explains the rules in more detail. If you are interested in busting up a corpo magnate find one of the GM’s running :Otherscape on StartPlaying Games and use "Otherscape" in the search. Or you can use this link here to get directly connected to games of :Otherscape with open seats.

As a Game Master (GM) on StartPlaying Games I’ve had the fortune to run a number of systems and games.  :Otherscape is a Cyberpunk atmosphere with immersive gameplay that uses themes to draw players and GM’s, called Masters of Ceremonies or (MC’s) into narrative action.

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Adam McDivitt is a father of 3 boys, professional GM, and a full time therapist.  His love of D&D was reignited when his son asked him to help with a game 4 years ago.  Since then He has learned a number of new systems and fell in love with TTRPG systems outside of 5e. Follow him on bluesky gmadam.bsky.social  he posts there sometimes.