View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Masada
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 107
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: Interface Zero: True20 Cyberpunk |
|
|
I've been spending a lot of time reading up on fairly new setting for True20. While True20 and Cyberpunk are not new, Interface-Zero provides an updated look at the genre--taking influences from the original masterwork, Neuromancer, all the way to The Matrix and inclusive of Anime like Ghost in the Shell. It packs a lot of cool in to 168 pages.
True20 is hallmarked for being simple and fast. I-Z funks it up a bit. But it does so in interesting ways. No cyberpunk game could exist without biological and cyber upgrades and I-Z delivers a mechanic for this not too far off from Shadowrun Essence, but I-Z allows for more ways to eliminate the essence cost. The crowning jewel though is the ability for the whole party to contribute in "the Deep" (cyberspace). They fundamentally assume that taps to the global network are nearly ubiquitious. Every character has constant connection to the world of information--but of course the Hacker is still the master of the domain. The basic notion is that the Deep emulates, enhances, and completely overlaps real space. Thus data security programs appear as visible guards to the real front doors of corporate building to anyone tapped in to the Deep (the whole party). While the Hacker will be the most effective against virtual threats, the whole group can fight and assist.
Character types run the range from pure human to genetically improved human, to animalistic hybrid, to cyborg, to simulacrum, to full AI. There's a lotta game here. I'm not sure when I'll get to try it out, but obviously y'all are my test group.
You can buy it on http://www.rpgnow.com or http://www.rpgobjects.com (the publisher) as a PDF. It doesn't exist in print yet... but they plan to. _________________ We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
Game Blog |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sophmelc
Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 782
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Interface Zero: True20 Cyberpunk |
|
|
Masada wrote: | I've been spending a lot of time reading up on fairly new setting for True20. While True20 and Cyberpunk are not new, Interface-Zero provides an updated look at the genre--taking influences from the original masterwork, Neuromancer, all the way to The Matrix and inclusive of Anime like Ghost in the Shell. It packs a lot of cool in to 168 pages. |
Sounds interesting. If you're thinking of running anything I'd be keen to have a go. _________________ Planning: A pulp/steampunk LARP, a sci fi short run
Reading: not much
Playing: Fall: A BtVS game, Reverie
Blog - Mostly Geek |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Luke Site Admin

Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 2697
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
BTW if you are interested in checking out any of the True 20 products, I can lend them to you. I have all the main line and some additional 3rd party products. It is my Con rule set of choice. _________________ Playing: Doomstones (WFRP2e); Shades of Terra (Exalted: Dragonblooded)
Running: Thousand Thrones (WFRP2e)
Planning: Incarnadine Crucible (Exalted: Alchemicals); Tale of Twin Kings, Angels of Death and the Lover Who Stole All Things (Exalted 1e) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sophmelc
Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 782
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Luke wrote: | BTW if you are interested in checking out any of the True 20 products, I can lend them to you. I have all the main line and some additional 3rd party products. It is my Con rule set of choice. |
I'd love to take you up on that offer... _________________ Planning: A pulp/steampunk LARP, a sci fi short run
Reading: not much
Playing: Fall: A BtVS game, Reverie
Blog - Mostly Geek |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Masada
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 107
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have the hardback copy of the core rules and a softback copy of the Beastiary. I have PDF copies of Interface Zero and the Expert's Handbook. I am slowly printing off I-Z at work...
I could bring them to the next WARG if folks want to take a peak.
What elements of a cyberpunk game seem most fun to you? _________________ We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
Game Blog |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Mashugenah Site Admin
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1239 Location: Gallifrey
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thing about Cyberpunk is that it often misses the point of a dystopian future of dehumanization, and instead becomes a pseudo-fantastical world of quests and adventures merely interlaced with dark elements and magical items finished in chrome. _________________ The opinions prevalent in one age... are confuted and rejected in another and rise again to reception in remoter times. Thus the human mind is kept in motion without progress.
- Samuel Johnson, Preface to Shakespeare |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Masada
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 107
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
*Masada scribbles notes* ...look up "dystopia"...
hehe!
I see what you mean. The notion of dystopia is mostly flavour. It would be something that would have to really drip off every encounter. I had not connected a dehumanized society as a part of cyberpunk, but now that I think about it I agree. Human life becomes cheap and easily replaced. As a GM I find hard to "live" in a really dark world--I find it physically draining. But I think you can capture the feel of it without getting that down and dark about it. I can see how folks would want to make it more D&D cheery. Playing in a world where a Corporation is only interested in you while you make more money than you cost and then dumps you is... a bit too close to home! _________________ We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
Game Blog |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Luke Site Admin

Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 2697
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
sophmelc wrote: | I'd love to take you up on that offer... |
I have the following products (only the ones with * are printed versions). Let me know what you are interested in and I will bring them along to Fright Night.
Green Ronin
Rulebook*, the Companion*, the Bestiary*, Worlds of Adventure, the Warrior's Handbook*, the Adept's Handbook*, the Expert's Handbook*, Fantasy Paths*, Cybernetics, Damnation Decade, Freeport Companion, all the Bleeding Edge modules with True 20 conversions*, and all the Blue Rose books*.
Third Party
Caliphate Nights, Mecha vs Kaiju, Magic Item Creation (for Nevermore), Legends of Excalibur, Blood Throne
Free Fanmade
True Force, Narnia, Conan _________________ Playing: Doomstones (WFRP2e); Shades of Terra (Exalted: Dragonblooded)
Running: Thousand Thrones (WFRP2e)
Planning: Incarnadine Crucible (Exalted: Alchemicals); Tale of Twin Kings, Angels of Death and the Lover Who Stole All Things (Exalted 1e) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Luke Site Admin

Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 2697
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Masada wrote: | What elements of a cyberpunk game seem most fun to you? |
I am currently playing a "hacker" in a CthulhuTech PbP campaign suffering from disassociative disorder, with heavy Cyberpunk inspirations.
Though not a Cyberpunk purist by a long shot, I have enjoyed extrapolating the recent trends of technology into the future to come up with various ways it impacts on one's personality and the way you interact with others. It has been fun to play out.
Plus me likes the cool tech toys (waiting for Mash to respond in 3, 2, ...)  _________________ Playing: Doomstones (WFRP2e); Shades of Terra (Exalted: Dragonblooded)
Running: Thousand Thrones (WFRP2e)
Planning: Incarnadine Crucible (Exalted: Alchemicals); Tale of Twin Kings, Angels of Death and the Lover Who Stole All Things (Exalted 1e) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Mashugenah Site Admin
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1239 Location: Gallifrey
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Third Party
Caliphate Nights
This any good? I've periodically thought of acquiring it, to round out my Arabian stuff... _________________ The opinions prevalent in one age... are confuted and rejected in another and rise again to reception in remoter times. Thus the human mind is kept in motion without progress.
- Samuel Johnson, Preface to Shakespeare |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Luke Site Admin

Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 2697
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mashugenah wrote: | This any good? I've periodically thought of acquiring it, to round out my Arabian stuff... |
I liked it. It was pretty accurate to the source material, well researched, physically attractive, with clean mechanics and a nice touch with a shared narrative mechanic for stories told IC to provide flashbacks (like in Arabian Nights).
Its flaw was that it was $50 setting for an RPG that cost $30. As such, many people didn't fork the cash out for it. _________________ Playing: Doomstones (WFRP2e); Shades of Terra (Exalted: Dragonblooded)
Running: Thousand Thrones (WFRP2e)
Planning: Incarnadine Crucible (Exalted: Alchemicals); Tale of Twin Kings, Angels of Death and the Lover Who Stole All Things (Exalted 1e) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sophmelc
Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 782
|
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Luke wrote: |
Green Ronin
Rulebook*, the Companion* |
These two would be wicked!
Thanks _________________ Planning: A pulp/steampunk LARP, a sci fi short run
Reading: not much
Playing: Fall: A BtVS game, Reverie
Blog - Mostly Geek |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Luke Site Admin

Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 2697
|
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
sophmelc wrote: | These two would be wicked!
|
FWIW I thought the Companion was the poorest True 20 book to date. _________________ Playing: Doomstones (WFRP2e); Shades of Terra (Exalted: Dragonblooded)
Running: Thousand Thrones (WFRP2e)
Planning: Incarnadine Crucible (Exalted: Alchemicals); Tale of Twin Kings, Angels of Death and the Lover Who Stole All Things (Exalted 1e) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sophmelc
Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 782
|
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Luke wrote: |
FWIW I thought the Companion was the poorest True 20 book to date. |
Ok, in that case just the core book if that's cool. Cheers! _________________ Planning: A pulp/steampunk LARP, a sci fi short run
Reading: not much
Playing: Fall: A BtVS game, Reverie
Blog - Mostly Geek |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Masada
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 107
|
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
sophmelc wrote: | Sounds interesting. If you're thinking of running anything I'd be keen to have a go.
| I'm kicking around ideas for one-shots. I have a natural fear of commitment though... If I get enough time and inspiration, I'll try to have some thing for a WARGS meeting. If the family plans on being home for Kapcon, then I may sign up for a session there. But it will probably be mid November before I can do anything with it. _________________ We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
Game Blog |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|