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If [Cyberpunk] 2020 were Star Wars, then Cyberpunk RED is basically Empire Strikes Back. And then 2077 is Return of the Jedi.

Cyberpunk RED is the newest pen and paper RPG by R. Talsorian Games released on November 14, 2020. It was meant to be the latest edition of the Cyberpunk RPG, written to coincide with the release of the video game Cyberpunk 2077, and to bridge the time gap between the two games.

Very little information was released for the game in 2018 other than it would use the Interlock System. Later in 2020, the developers released a weekly update about the game that talked about some of the rule mechanics before it was released.

In June 2018, RTG reached out to the Cyberpunk community to get their opinions on potential artists to illustrate the upcoming edition.[1] On November 19th, 2020, the physical version of the core rule book was released.

Overview[]

Cyberpunk RED presents a streamlined version of the Cyberpunk 2020 ruleset, and introduces some mechanics. The game replaces the health track with traditional hit points. However, this change can lead to characters being slightly spongy. To fix this problem, the game's armor SPs have been lowered, and a mechanic was added called the critical wound system. When rolling damage, if two 6's are rolled, your enemy takes 5 damage directly to their HP, and they receive a brutal injury that hurts their stats until they are healed by a skill check (check difficulty depends on injury.).

Weapons have also been streamlined. Instead of individually named weapons, the core book has medium pistol, heavy pistol, very heavy pistol, SMG, heavy SMG, assault rifle, sniper rifle, rocket launcher, etc. Melee weapons are the same way with light, medium, and heavy melee weapons. Basically, weapons are generic, and don't have specific names. The next type is exotic weapons. These weapons are too different to be in a category, such as The Mono-katana, the flamethrower, or the air-pistol. Each of them have their own effects and damage.

The economy has also been streamlined. Lifestyle and housing are simplified, and the game offers an easy fix for items that you are unsure of the price on it. For example, your players wanted to buy a program of your design, but you didn't figure out the price. You then consult a table, and decide that the program is in the "Super Luxury" category. So, you assign the price accordingly.

The lifepath system has been changed, so that it is purely for roleplay reasons, and it doesn't affect your starting stats or skills. There is an additional lifepath option that supplements the core lifepath. These supplementary lifepaths are for the pc's career, like where they work, who they work for, things they sell or create, etc.

Netrunning has been vastly improved from 2020. Netrunners, instead of sitting stationary and being detached from the game, have to wear VR goggles that project the Net over real life. This means that players can be with the rest of the party and run the Net at the same time. On their turn, a Netrunner can take a "meat" action, or a Net action. The Net is treated like an elevator. On each turn, the players can "Go down" a level of the NET Architecture (which is the elevator.). Each level has a thing in it, such as a password, a piece of data, hellhound or other defense. Once they complete the "floor", they can descend to the next floor on their next turn. Once a Netrunner reaches the bottom of the Net, they completely descend the architecture and are done with it.

The book also includes a tremendous amount of lore, including the stories Never Fade Away, The Fall of the Towers, and Black Dog. Each story is set in a different time period. Never Fade Away is set in 2013 and establishes the tone and feel of the world of Cyberpunk. The Fall Of The Towers, in 2023, explains the operation inside the Arasaka HQ in Night City that ended with the nuke that blew up the Corporate Zone. Black Dog helps you get a feel of 2045, or the Time of the Red.

The book is more than 400 pages long, and includes over 100 pieces of art.[2][3]

Purchase[]

Additional Content[]

Cyberpunk RED has a variety of content, including expansions and downloadable content.

Introduction Books[]

These rulebooks will allow you to play Cyberpunk RED without the need of the main corebook.

Sourcebooks[]

These are purchasable additional books and items to be used with the rulebooks: RED, Jumpstart Kit or Easy Mode. To purchase the physical books go to the R. Talsorian Games store. For the digital versions, go to the DriveThruRPG store.

  • Black Chrome — New options for gear and weaponry; commentaries on how products are found and sold in the market.[4][5][6]
  • Danger Gal Dossier — Profiles of different characters, allies and enemies, in Night City during the Time of the Red.[5]
  • Data Pack — A pad of character sheets, 12 additional maps, a set of lists of people, things, places and encounters, and a booklet containing new Screamsheet adventures.[4]
  • Data Screen — Information to run a game smarter and faster, including four art panels to hide your game notes.
  • Cyberpunk — Compilations of released DLCs for Cyberpunk RED plus a new article in each volume.
    • Volume 1 — A compilation made up of the Old Guns Never Die, Single Shot Pack, Rocklin Augmentics Cyberchairs, Elflines Online, ELO Expansion Pack 1, and Red Chrome Cargo DLCs plus a new "All About Drones" article that includes 6 new drones.[7]
    • Volume 2 — A compilation made up of the Hardened Mooks, Hardened Lieutenants, Night City Weather, Jumpstart Kit Conversion Guide, Cargo Containers and Cube Hotels, Daeric Sylar's Guide to Elflines Online, and the 12 Days of Gunmas DLCs plus a new article about Biotechnica's Bioexotics line.
    • Volume 3 — A compilation made up of Hardened Mini-Bosses, Digital Dating on the Dark Future, Woodchipper’s Garage, Salvaging Night City, Midnight with the Upload, Must Have Cyberware Deals, Collecting the Random, Elflines Online the TCG, Spinning Your Wheels, and The 12 Days of Cybermas DLCs plus the exclusive Going Metal DLC detailing full body conversions in Cyberpunk Red.
  • Micro Chrome — Originally part of a Cyberpunk RED 4-pin set, Micro Chrome adds 4 new gear cards.
  • Netrunning Deck — Cards needed to build a NET Architecture and run through it. Includes 16 Program cards, 30 Black Ice cards, 3 Demon cards, and 11 Floor cards.

Adventurebooks[]

Free DLCs[]

Main article: Cyberpunk RED/DLC

These are free additional books and items to be used with the rulebooks: RED, Jumpstart Kit or Easy Mode. To download simply go to the R. Talsorian Games website.

Miscellaneous[]

  • Cyberpunk RED: Combat Zone

Planned Content[]

Cyberpunk RED has a variety of content in the works, including planned expansions and downloadable content.

Upcoming Expansions[]

These are expansions which are confirmed to be in development.

  • Tales of the RED: Forlorn Hope (2024) — Six mission campaign book where the PCs will help the Forlorn Hope secure its future.[8]
  • Rogue's Street Weapons (TBA) — A gear of "gear cards" containing 108 weapons, weapon attachments, and ammunition. It will cover elements from the core rulebook and its DLCs.[5]

Planned Expansions[]

These are expansions which have been confirmed that will start development at some point.

  • Rusted Chrome — Supply chain and transportation, including much about nomads.[4]
  • 2077 sourcebook — Conversion from 2045 to 2077.[4][9]

Potential Expansions[]

These are expansions that have been considered to develop, but have yet to be confirmed.

  • Second Street Weapons card deck[5]
  • DLCs about dating, "things that go boom," an in-depth hangout place, and more hardened enemies and living spaces.[5]
  • A look at Highriders, possibly as a third Chromebook.[4]
  • Some sort of guide to how the Net works now.[4]
  • Moreover, there are some stories that may be added in future additions including Michiko's Big Breakup.[10] or Michiko's Big Date.[11]

Gallery[]

See Also[]

References[]


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