Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020 is a pen & paper role-playing game in the dark cyberpunk genre. Just like its predecessor Cyberpunk 2013, its game world is based u. a. on the novel Neuromancer by William Gibson . The role-playing game by the author Mike Pondsmith was published in 1988 by R. Talsorian Games in English and in 1992 in German. Today it is being relocated by Games-In . A controversial new edition ("V3.0") was released in 2007 and continues to develop the game world over time. In 2008 the translation of the second edition of Cyberpunk 2020 was published as a hardcover. A computer game based on this game Cyberpunk 2077 was announced in 2012 and is still under development, but is expected to be released on November 19, 2020.
Game system
roll
In the world of Cyberpunk 2020, the player characters can choose between ten so-called roles when creating characters : Cop , Dealer , Corporates , Netrunner , Nomad , Reporter , Rockster , Solo , Tech and MediTech . Netrunner and Solo are comparable roles to decker / hacker and street samurai in the role-playing system Shadowrun, which was played a good 50 years later .
Specifics
The characters in Cyberpunk 2020 have a basic value in nine properties, which can be between two and ten. The better a value, the more pronounced that quality is in the character. The nine characteristics are: attractiveness, range of motion, coolness, empathy, happiness, intelligence, physique, reflexes and technical understanding. From this u. a. Sub-properties such as running, jumping, lifting and damage tolerance are derived.
In addition, each character has a different number of skills that build on the properties ( swimming on physique, interviewing on empathy, dancing on reflexes, etc.). Points are also awarded here, with a higher value again indicating a more pronounced ability.
There are several ways of creating characters with different levels of complexity to choose from. In addition to the usual equipment and armament, the characters can use technical implants, so-called cyberware , to improve the performance of e.g. B. To improve eyes, ears or to increase reflexes.
The game system works with simple control throws, usually with 6- and 10-sided dice.
Versions and extensions
- Heinrich Glumpler (translator): Cyberpunk: the dark future role-playing game; 2.0.2.0 Version D . World of Games, Frankfurt / Main, 1992. ISBN 3-927903-16-7
There are a number of expansions and ready-made adventures for Cyberpunk 2020. A selection:
- William Moss: Cyberbar: Stories as life writes them; a supplement for cyberpunk (translated from the American by Thomasschichtel). World of Games, Frankfurt / Main, 1993. ISBN 3-927903-12-4
- Scott MacKay: Night city stories: for all cyberpunk role-playing games; a dark future adventure campaign (translated from the American by Ewald Arenz and Roland Wolf). Games-In-Verlag, Munich, 1992. ISBN 3-929875-80-2
There is also a cyberpunk addition to the universal role-playing game GURPS :
- Loyd Blankenship: Gurps. Part: Cyberpunk - high-tech role-playing game between chrome and dirt (translated from the American by Peter Marhöfer). Pegasus Press, Friedberg, 1995. ISBN 3-930635-12-7
Cyber generation
Cybergeneration - another pen & paper role-playing game - is the further development of the world of Cyberpunk 2020 and comes from the same author. Here the player characters are young people who have acquired special skills through the carbon plague. There are different character classes and a number of gangs a character can belong to.