CHROME SHELLS & NEON STREETS

The sprawling megalopolis of the near-future is a dystopian urban hellscape, ruled by the wealthy
AUTHOR
Richard Woolcock

SYSTEM
elite. Megacorporations control the markets and flaunt the law with impunity, employing private Tricube Tales <
armies to protect their interests and pursue their goals. Glittering towers stretch into the polluted
BACKGROUND
sky, their bright neon signs and video panels broadcasting an endless cycle of advertisements. This Figu Design
ostentatious display of wealth contrasts starkly against the abject poverty of the lower city.
Life is cheap in the grimy streets of the Sprawl, where downtrodden citizens struggle daily to survive, STORY ICONS
and everything has a price. Gangs, drug dealers, and other criminals prowl the streets, seeking to turn a Delapouite and Lorc
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quick and easy profit at someone else’s expense, while backstreet hackers traverse cyberspace, bypassing
firewalls and evading AIs in search of valuable data to sell on the black market. ILLUSTRATIONS
You are a mercenary crew of outcasts, dissenters and misfits, taking on dangerous jobs from clients in Jeshields
need of your specialized skills—or perhaps they just prefer not to get their own hands dirty... Storn Cook

CHARACTER CREATION RESOLVING CHALLENGES JUST ANOTHER JOB

Each player creates a character as follows: When players attempt something risky, they roll Roll on the following tables to randomly generate
1. Choose a trait: Agile (used for reflexes, dexterity, 1-3 six-sided dice and must equal or exceed the the crews’ latest job:
stealth, and ranged combat), brawny (covers strength, difficulty of 4-6 on at least one die. Succeeding The crew must...
vitality, athletics, and melee combat), or crafty (covers on multiple dice indicates an exceptional success A Escort or deliver D Kill or sabotage
smarts, charm, alertness, and mental/social combat). (narrate an additional benefit), while rolling a “1” B Exchange or trade E Kidnap or steal
2. Select a concept: Street samurai, hustler, thief, on all dice indicates a critical failure (introduce a C Blow up F Frame or plant
hacker, techie, wheelperson, or saboteur. complication to the scene). The...
3. Pick a perk: Cybernetic arm, boosted reflexes, The GM chooses a trait and difficulty for each A Data stick D High-tech equipment
smartgun, custom cyberdeck, micro-drones, full- challenge. Most are difficulty 5, but a particularly B Mole, snitch or leaker E Dangerous fugitive
spectrum vision, or retractable claws. easy or hard task might be difficulty 4 or 6. Some C Rich executive F Drugs or medicine
4. Select a quirk: Inquisitive, cynical, obnoxious, challenges (e.g., combat) require multiple rolls. From, to, inside, or near a...
foolhardy, brooding, callous, or glory hound. Players usually roll 2 dice, but roll 3 dice if the A Home or hotel D Secure facility
5. Grab 3 karma tokens and 3 resolve tokens. challenge matches their trait. If a challenge falls B Bar or nightclub E Medical lab
6. Make up a name, and introduce yourself to completely outside the scope of their concept (e.g., C Repair shop F Corporate building
the group (e.g., “I’m Jason, a brawny street samurai a hustler hotwiring a car), they lose 1 die. While dealing with...
with full-spectrum vision and a cynical outlook”). A A local gang or cult D A bounty hunter
KARMA AND RESOLVE B Surveillance drones E Corporate goons
Each player has 3 karma and 3 resolve. Spend 1 C A freelance hitman F An old enemy or rival
karma after rolling to reduce the difficulty by 1, if
you can justify how your perk helps you. Recover RUNNING THE GAME
1 karma if you increase the difficulty by 1 before The GM should describe the opening scene, react
rolling, narrating how your quirk hinders you. to the players’ decisions, and assign the traits and
If you use a quirk and succeed at the challenge, difficulties for challenges. Offer players karma in
you may recover 1 resolve instead of 1 karma. return for complications based on their quirks!
For dangerous actions (such as combat), failure The players should make all the rolls, narrate
costs 1 resolve (or 2 on a critical failure). If a PC the outcome of their actions, and drive the story
runs out of resolve, they are eliminated from the forward whenever possible. They can also spend
scene—but death is primarily a narrative conceit, 1 karma to influence the story or discover a clue
and the PC usually returns later at full resolve. through their perk, at the GM’s discretion.
 PEOPLE AND THINGS PLACES OF INTEREST COMPLICATIONS
Described here are examples of people and things Described here are examples of locations for the Described here are example complications for the
for the mission generator (second table): mission generator (third table): mission generator (fourth table):

1. BLACK MARKET DATA 1. AI HOTEL 1. CHILDREN OF PURITY

This data stick contains pirated software, banned Some hotels are operated by AIs. They aren’t very A newly-formed doomsday cult has been rapidly
books, and stolen photos. It is just petty criminal popular, as the AIs are creepy and possessive, but gaining influence within the city. The charismatic
stuff, so why is there so much interest in it? their customer protection services are excellent. leader claims that cybernetic technology will lead
to the end of humanity, and must be destroyed.
2. TECHNOMANCER 2. NEW MUNICH BAR
A corporate programmer moonlights as a hacker, This dingy bar is frequented by mercenaries and 2. LIVE FOOTAGE
exploring cyberspace and stealing data. But this bounty hunters. It’s a good place for finding jobs The entire job is an elaborate setup. A corporate
time he has found something huge, and he plans and buying information. executive is using the crew for a live-fire exercise,
to sell it to the highest bidder. testing and recording the capabilities of her latest
3. CYBERWARE CHOP SHOP military project.
3. AMBITIOUS HOTSHOT A notorious local streetdoc has been stocking up
This up-and-coming executive is making a lot of on the latest cyberware, and he’s not fussy about 3. DEADLY SNIPER
enemies while climbing the corporate ladder. where it comes from. A local gang boss has hired a professional hitman
to eliminate a competitor and any associates they
4. BLEEDING-EDGE TECH 4. TITANIUM FORT might have. Unfortunately, the target happens to
The job involves top-secret prototype cyberware. This automated self-storage facility is known for be a contact for the crew’s latest job.
Unfortunately, this piece of cutting-edge tech has its top-rate security and surveillance systems, and
already been implanted in someone important. it guarantees complete privacy for its customers. 4. KILLER CYBORG
A rampaging cyborg is mercilessly hunting down
5. ESCAPED ANDROIDS 5. CHIMERALLUM INSTITUTE his target, putting him at cross purposes with the
A group of synthetic humans has fled from their This medical research lab is known to perform a crews’ mission objective.
owner, and they are trying to find someone who lot of controversial cybernetic experiments. It is
can remove their hardwired expiration date. always on the lookout for fresh volunteers. 5. SUITS AND SHADES
Corporate agents are shadowing the crew from a
6. PSY-BLOCKER 6. CHROME TOWER distance, waiting to make their move.
An experimental new medical drug was recently This stylish high-rise office building is monitored
stolen from a biotech lab. Designed to suppress by state-of-the-art surveillance systems. Security 6. RIVAL CREW
the symptoms of cyberpsychosis, this drug could guards protect the interior, ensuring the safety of Another crew has taken the same job as the PCs,
fetch a hefty sum on the black market. the corporate executives and their staff. and they already have a headstart!

ADDING A TWIST TO THE STORY

For further inspiration, roll two dice on the table below and use the symbol as an improvisational prompt (you don’t need to interpret it literally). For example,
A E might represent an escaping enemy or fast car chase, B B could indicate a sniper or some sort of weapon targeting system, C D might symbolize a clue or
observation, or perhaps something related to cybernetics, and F F could mean cyberspace, hacking or online activity.
AA AB AC AD AE AF BA BB BC BD BE BF CA CB CC CD CE CF DA DB DC DD DE DF EA EB EC ED EE EF FA FB FC FD FE FF