Cyberpunk Red
You’ve played the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, you’ve watched all of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, what comes next? Cyberpunk RED is a different take on Night City, one that you play with your imagination and with friends. Cyberpunk RED is a tabletop RPG, or TTRPG, game. In it, you and friends create characters that try to survive and thrive in the dark world of Cyberpunk. You can wield weapons, hack, and augment yourself with implants just like in the video game. In fact, Cyberpunk 2077 takes a lot of inspiration from the TTRPG. Cyberpunk RED bridges the gap between the classic Cyberpunk 2020 TTRPG and Cyberpunk 2077 by placing its adventures largely in the 2040s.
Originally created by Mike Pondsmith
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Cyberpunk Red Reviews (10)
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Let me tell you about Cyberpunk.. or rather, let me tell you what I love about Cyberpunk. It's futuristic, it's nonsensical, it's tragic, and it's fun as heck! It is very combat-focused (because Hello.. it's Night City) but that doesn't mean you can't have chill sessions of you hanging with your chooms, drinking Nu-Cola or hacking into Arasaka's database to steal information that would sell for top Eddies in the Black Market. This system is very unforgiving when it comes to rolls and the like but when you are able to pull off a high speed chase with Nomads down the Badlands in your stolen and modified armored Militech van with an AV hovering over you trying to snipe at you... You feel like the most preem choom there is in Night City. While the system is primarily focused on the 2040s (specifically 2045), it has recently expanded into 2077 for you Edgerunner fans with R. Talsorian's Edgerunner Mission Kit expansions.
As an avid fan of the cyberpunk genre i really do love the games premise and the amount of EASE this system took to learn as compared to Cyberpunk 2020, but the system does have some downfalls that make getting into it much more intensive. Much like D&D 5e, CPR is boiled down slightly to be a better story telling medium while still being a tactical combat game. CP2020 is MUCH more crunchy like pathfinder 3.5e and a much more deadly game. For GM's: All in all CPR is a fun system with a fair bit of crunch that will require a very diligent GM to craft gigs, NPCs, gangs and adjudicate combat fairly and to keep the game flowing and keep the punks on their feet. You will want to decide with your players if you want to play a 'Black Trench Coat' game or a 'Pink Mohawk' game to structure the world for them. For players: CP has a TON of creative freedom to craft the perfect cyberpunk oozing with style and flavor. You will want to lean into the madness of cyberpsychosis as its a fantastic RP element. There can be lots of strong adult content as it is the dark future so living on the edge is the key. Push those buttons, and hike up those pants, there's a city to burn! Pros: - create very unique runner creation and progression thru skill points and abilities - brutal combat - critical injuries really turn the tide of battle in both directions - LOTS of gear and cyberwear - ablating armor keeps the PCs spending cash and raises the stakes of combat - faceoffs are a great way to inject attitude into the game - tons of in game lore for a DMs world building pleasure - fun XP system that rewards group play and individual play Cons: - Reflex as a stat is mandatory to avoid gun fire, and players will focus on this over anything else. --dodging bullets is tiresome and slows the game down. - netrunning is flavorful but it turns into a mini game for 1 person while everyone else sits and watches and is too complicated for new players and new DMs to grasp the way networks work or how to handle them. - autofire is obsolete as most players will want to crit (double 6 on 2+ dice) to deal a critical injury -very crunchy combat - lots of modifiers is the name of the game for the GM
Cyberpunk is genre-defining in itself and this new system, with its active community as well as frequent (free!) updates from R. Talsorian Games really brings it to life. Fast, action-paced and deadly, the system itself offers snappy combat, while the setting can offer a variety of unique experiences, from the badass, to the funny, to the straight up heart-wrenching. It’s also incredibly easy to homebrew, which is always a plus. 10/10, would chrome-out with the chooms again!
First of all, I'm a cyberpunk fanboy. I'm equally in love with the classics like Blade Runner and Neuromancer as I am with Cyberpunk 2077 and Edgerunners. The setting of Cyberpunk Red doesn't disappoint; Night City is complex, bleak, and beautiful. The system works well, and is definitely a huge step up from previous editions. That said, my experience with the system has been mixed. There are some rules that feel overly simplified, and some rules, especially around combat, don't make a lot of sense in the fiction of the game. The rule book is also laid out in some confusing ways. All of it makes it a tough game to get beginners into. I still recommend it, just be ready for a few speed bumps!
Wake the frag up, Samurai. Cyberpunk 2020 is a cornerstone in the foundation of modern TTRPGs, and RED is the weekend pass to get chipped in. The sluggish parts of 2020's economy and gear system are streamlined and grid combat was added, to give you the feeling you get when playing Cyberpunk 2077 on console with the freedom and familiarity you get sitting at the table for a TTRPG. Get chromed and get to Night City and see if it's the scene for you!
I'd be tempted to give CPR 4 stars because it is generally more tactical than I favor, however, moving this game from the battle map to Theater of the Mind has been a pleasure for me. The rules are the right combination of thorough and flexible, the combat feels punchy and dangerous, and, the best feature, the world is amazingly detailed and deep, with lore that you can dive into for weeks. The potential is endless in the Time of the Red!
How to play Cyberpunk Red
The core mechanic of Cyberpunk Red involves rolling a ten-sided die, adding bonuses from the character’s stats and skills, and comparing the result to a target number to determine success or failure. Characters are highly customizable, built with a “lifepath” system, a narrative method of character generation that determines the career and backstory of your character, in addition to player choices about which skills to specialize in and what gear to purchase. Cyberpunk Red also has special rules for combat and for “netrunning,” or computer hacking.
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Explore Cyberpunk Red Classes
Netrunner
In the Cyberpunk future, the internet is a reality unto itself. Netrunners are the master hackers who can move freely within this world. You plug your brain in directly, so there’s risk, but that’s what makes the game fun. Your gameplay abilities here will be infiltrating secure servers and stealing their valuable data.
Techie
Every team needs someone to fix all the gear they rely on in Cyberpunk, and that’s you if you play a Techie. You can build, maintain, and modify people’s gadgets and even vehicles. You can also make use of junk you find around the city to make quick repairs.
Medtech
The Cyberpunk Medtech is a valuable Role. Professional medical care costs a fortune in the dystopian future, so you save a lot by having the skills yourself. Not only can you patch up allies (or randos for a price) with a hasty surgery, you can also install new cybernetic mods.
Media
The world of Cyberpunk is a bleak one, and everyone has to get their hands dirty to survive. But if you want to play a character with a more noble calling, consider the Media Role. Armed with a camera and tenacity, you work to expose the shady corporations that rule the world. The more successful you are, the more credibility you earn to tackle bigger stories.
Corporate
Living in Cyberpunk is a struggle, a battle for resources against the greedy corporations that control all. But what if you were on the side with all the cool stuff? The Corporate Role gives you the resources and personal skills that come with a high spot on the career ladder. But they also come with a target on your back put there by company rivals.
Lawman
When the gangs and corporate-backed mercenaries are upgraded with savage cybernetic weapons, beat cops don’t stand a chance. And yet when you play this Role, you’ll be the guy on the front lines just trying to keep the peace while the city turns into a warzone. At least you’ll have authority abilities and backup to get what you need when the situation gets really hostile.
Fixer
The key to survival in Cyberpunk Red is getting others to take the bullets for you. The Fixer does this by arranging the jobs guns for hire take on, taking a cut and staying out of the action. Choose this role to play the dealmaker and put your street smarts to use for the team.
Nomad
The Cyberpunk Nomad Role is a little Mad Max, a little Fast & Furious. They gather into large family units that live by their own code and live on the road. When you play this Role, you’ll probably be a tough gunslingers who’s great behind the wheel. You can call upon your family for shelter or firepower, but you’re obligated to return the favor.
Solo
Here’s your full combat class. Be you a mercenary or loyal soldier, Solos are great with guns and often enhanced with lots of cybernetics for protection. Their special ability allows you to ready your skills as soon as battle starts so that you’re always prepared for what’s coming.
Rockerboy
If you’re drawn to the Bard class of DnD, or Keanu Reeves’ performance in the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, be a Rockerboy. That's what Keanu’s character Johnny Silverhand was. These performers sway fans with their anti-corporate messaging, rallying them and gaining allies for battle.