Cyberpunk Setting

[JTwig]

I was thinking of creating a cyberpunk setting inspired by some of the great books, movies, and comics/anime of the gerne for my personal use. I plan on using many of the many of the corporations from the various Palladium settings such as Cyberworks, KSL, Armetech (sp?), and several from Century Station. It would be a pure sci-fi setting with some psionics.

My question is, has anyone done something similar? Any suggestions, or advice?

Thanks in advance.

[Jorel]

Nice post count.

[Cinos]

I'll do some big city Rifts games, it's pretty easy for them to have a Cyberpunk feel if you just make magic rarer.

[CyCo]

Or just play Cyberpunk 2020 (we won't mention that 203X drek).

8p

[JTwig]

Dependent on the tech level you want I have used all or parts of:
Lower future tech: Ninjas and Superspies (Cybernetics and SDC bionics)
Future tech: Heroes Unlimited (Mostly for SDC bionics)
High future tech : Rifts (some stuff from the Base book and mostly Mercenaries and Bionic Source Book)

I've also incorporated some ideas from other dark future books, movies, shows and anime/comics (including some stuff co-opted from other games).

One of my campaigns took place prior to the Golden Age (Cybernetics and SDC Bionics) and one during the Golden Age (Mix of Cybernetics, SDC Bionics and MDC bionics).

Personally I don't use psionics, magic or super powers for these games.

I'm going to be setting in the near future, roughly 2050, after a global economic depression brought on by huge natoinal deficits. I figured that I had to have a justification for corporations gaining equal and in some cases more power than the worlds nations. I'm writting it as a SDC setting, and using a modified Century Station from HU2 as the defult setting location. It already has a dark dystopia feel, just eliminate the superpowers. I will be using most of the pre-rifts corporation from Rifts and especially the one that have crossed over into other palladium game lines. It will be a traditional cyberpunk setting inspired by such classic as Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Blade Runner, etc. Now that I think about it, it could easily be an alternate pre-rifts "Golden Age" if I decide to make it an MDC setting.

Here is the basic background that I wrote up this afternoon on my lunch:
During the course of the late 20th and early 21st centuries the world’s governments created huge national debts. These deficits eventually came to a head in late 2020’s in the form of a global financial depression. Overnight many of the world’s governments became insolvent, resulting in massive chaos. Immediate result included riots in virtually every major city, and boarder conflicts as old nationalistic tensions flared. Though the worst eventually subsided, the next several decades would see world-wide food and energy shortages, increased armed conflicts (bush wars) and massive population shifts as refugees fled their nations for new homes, many times only to be force to do so once again within a few years.
Though commerce and investments may have slowed during the Global Depression, it did not stop. Just as the world’s most powerful nations were able to retain some order and control, so to were the world’s most powerful companies who continued their research and production (albeit at a much slower rate). In fact though reduced from what they once were, they soon discovered that the financial crisis had put them on more even footing with the world governments. Needed more than ever by their home nations these corporations found themselves with more political clout than they ever imagined.
Though it would take two decade the global economic landscape would eventually return to pre-depression levels. Five years after the official end to the economic depression a calm, relative to the last three decades of economic upheaval and warfare, has seen to settle over most of the world. Many of the corporations that have survived have formed partnerships of equals with their governments; such as Para-Tech Armaments, the KLS Corporation, and Cyberworks with the United States, or Triax and Mindwerks with the European Union. Others are the government in all but name; like Armatech with Japan.

[JTwig]

I'll do some big city Rifts games, it's pretty easy for them to have a Cyberpunk feel if you just make magic rarer.

I thought about that, but I think I want a dedicated cyberpunk setting. I've got lots of time since virtually everyone I use to game with have moved to more prosperous locals.

[Cinos]

I'll do some big city Rifts games, it's pretty easy for them to have a Cyberpunk feel if you just make magic rarer.

I thought about that, but I think I want a dedicated cyberpunk setting. I've got lots of time since virtually everyone I use to game with have moved to more prosperous locals.

You could hybrid RIFTS after a few decades where the wilds have been tamed (perhaps longer, not going to bother nitpicking plot bombs), and borrow stuff from Phase world? Actually sounds kinda cool off the cuff. Needs some dedicated net diving rules that are interesting though, I don't think any Palladium game has really explored that. Perhaps look at Astral Combat rules and go from there?

Nice post count.

It amuses me this comment has already become irrelevant

[Beatmeclever]

...Needs some dedicated net diving rules that are interesting though, I don't think any Palladium game has really explored that. Perhaps look at Astral Combat rules and go from there?

One of the early Rifters has "net-diving" rules. I don't have my books with me right now so I can't say which it is, but I will look for it when I get back to home.

[Cinos]

...Needs some dedicated net diving rules that are interesting though, I don't think any Palladium game has really explored that. Perhaps look at Astral Combat rules and go from there?

One of the early Rifters has "net-diving" rules. I don't have my books with me right now so I can't say which it is, but I will look for it when I get back to home.

Well, problem solved! Been ages since I've done a tech game, so didn't know that off the top of my head, hope it's awesome.

[JTwig]

...Needs some dedicated net diving rules that are interesting though, I don't think any Palladium game has really explored that. Perhaps look at Astral Combat rules and go from there?

One of the early Rifters has "net-diving" rules. I don't have my books with me right now so I can't say which it is, but I will look for it when I get back to home.

I think it was #3, but recall off the top of my head. I've got it on one of my book shelves, some were.

I worked on fleshing out corporate alliences and interactions, along with one of my custom companies. I've also decieded to incorp. the Glitter Boy and original SAMAS, as they both have pre-Rifts origins. Spent several hours writting SDC stats for both. If anyone wants I'll post some of my personal setting as I get it done (not any copy wrtted stuff). If not I'll just keep it myself.

also sorry for my spelling and grammer, i'm using my wife's little net book.

[Cinos]

I wouldn't mind seeing the stuff, check out Chaos Earth for other Pre-Rifts goodies though.

[CyCo]

There is also some hacking rules in Rifts Australia. It's in the section with a hacker orientated OCC (Book not handy atm).

[Mantisking]

...Needs some dedicated net diving rules that are interesting though, I don't think any Palladium game has really explored that. Perhaps look at Astral Combat rules and go from there?

One of the early Rifters has "net-diving" rules. I don't have my books with me right now so I can't say which it is, but I will look for it when I get back to home.

That would be Rifter #2.