Questions tagged [cyberpunk-2020]

For questions about Cyberpunk 2020 (later subtitled "The Classic Roleplaying Game of the Dark Future"), the 2nd edition of the Cyberpunk tabletop RPG created by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games. Following from the 1st edition (retrospectively known as Cyberpunk 2013) released in 1988, Cyberpunk 2020 (released in 1990) advances the timeline and features updated rules for combat, Netrunning, and character generation.

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29 votes
5 answers
6k views

Is "1d10 rerolling 1&2" equivalent to "1d8+2"?

Good old Cyberpunk 2020, 2nd edition, 2nd printing, offers two versions of rolling for statistics to players because point-Buy without rolling is for referees only. They read: Random: Roll 9d10 and ...
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What was reset in the canon between Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk Red?

Cyberpunk Red starts with a little text from the author of original Cyberpunk, and it contains in a nutshell, why Cyberpunk Red is not just a continuation of Cyberpunk 2020 and that there are a lot of ...
11 votes
0 answers
201 views

Are a data fortress's programs always visible in their cells, or only triggered when a netrunner passes by their cell?

In all the samples of Netmap, we can see a data fortress with walls, gates, CPUs, memories, and also programs in a determined cell. Now I wonder, when the netrunner enters in the subgrid and starts to ...
8 votes
1 answer
687 views

Does the GM have total discretion regarding when to force an addiction roll for drugs?

Cyberpunk 2020 obviously discourages player characters from voluntarily using drugs. The rulebook includes hints such as: Remember: Drugs are dangerous. Mess with them and you'll probably kill your ...
2 votes
1 answer
227 views

What are the Costs of Offensive Drugs and Poisons?

What are the costs of offensive drugs and poisons in Cyberpunk 2020? That is, the various types of drugs and poison set out in the Friday Night Firefight section that can be delivered via airgun, ...
15 votes
1 answer
261 views

Why roll a d6 when designing drugs?

I'm designing drugs, 'cause punk. (See Chapter 9: Drugs) I've chosen my effects, the drug's strength, and possibly even some side effects. Now I choose my duration, which (if minutes or hours rather ...
4 votes
1 answer
382 views

What book specifies rules for running fast on paired cyberlegs?

In Cyberpunk 2020, suppose you have a team with three members: Apple, Banana, and Canteloupe. Movement Allowance {MA): This is an index of how fast your character can run (important in combat ...
9 votes
1 answer
4k views

How to Build a Combat Viable Cyberpunk 2020 Character that DOES NOT Use Guns

I am a first time player of Cyberpunk 2020 and I am eight sessions into a campaign with a party of four. We have a Rockerboy, a Solo, a Nomad, and a Fixer (me). When I started making the character I ...
14 votes
2 answers
8k views

What are the difference between Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk Red?

Cyberpunk Red is the new update to Cyberpunk 2020 after the 4th Corporate War. Currently, only the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit is available. What are the main differences from the previous edition?
7 votes
1 answer
114 views

A Netrunner using a stealth program, apply the stealth effect only to his icon or also to all his programs active in the Netmap?

When the netrunner is in a cell of the netmap, and run program "invisibility" for instance, do the other programs launched by netrunner will be invisible as well? Or only the Netrunner "...
6 votes
2 answers
226 views

"Mission impossible"-style latex masks in Cyberpunk 2020?

It's a classic of spy movies: A character suddenly reaches for the back of his neck and tears off a latex mask he was wearing, which was perfectly imitating someone else's face, revealing that he had ...
8 votes
1 answer
265 views

As a player, how can I avoid stifling new players but also avoid letting things stall?

I have just started a Cyberpunk campaign. 2 of us are experienced RPG-ers, 1 hasn’t played in about 10 years and the other 2 are complete newbies. The GM is not new to RPGs, but is new to Cyberpunk, ...
4 votes
1 answer
109 views

Can you be detected while invisible?

If I have Invisibility running and see a Pitbull, does it automatically fail to detect me, or do we still make opposed stealth/evasion rolls? On the one hand, Invisibility says it "will allow the ...
8 votes
1 answer
305 views

When you are knocked unconscious while Net Running, do you drop out of your subgrid?

A runner took (physical) damage from a Hellbolt and failed their stun save--now they're unconscious. Do they drop out of their subgrid, or are they still jacked in?
7 votes
2 answers
901 views

Can a Medtechie use Medical Tech for First Aid checks?

Can a Medtechie use Medical Tech for First Aid checks? Or, in fact, is there any reason to, since it doesn't explicitly say a thorough patching up takes any more time than some first aid (other than ...
4 votes
1 answer
173 views

How do I handle overlapped/stacked suppressive fire damage?

The rules about suppressive fire in the core rulebook explain that you can use suppressive fire from 2 guns, simply add the rounds of both to the save formula (Save = number of rounds / width of fire ...
6 votes
2 answers
4k views

How do shotguns actually work in Cyberpunk 2020?

Everyone at my table has read the rules for shotguns in Cyberpunk 2020 and yet none of us understand how they are supposed to work. The closest I can come to understanding is that they are AoE ...
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

Did I handle this situation about a set of metal gear well?

I am planning on making my first foray into GMing very soon and had a character creation session with my players last night to kind of get a gauge on what they were feeling up for. I feel like I can ...
9 votes
1 answer
344 views

Are the Increased Stat borg option’s listed maximums in Chromebook 2 the maximum you can buy or the maximum for the stat?

In the Full Borg options in Chromebook 2, the Increased Stat option says Reflex maximum is 15, Body maximum is 20 and MA is 25. Is that the maximum number of +1's you can buy up to, or the maximum ...
10 votes
1 answer
344 views

Where is the damage rule for hot loads of .357 mag cased ammo?

In the source book Neo Tribes, there is a weapon named .357 mag Automatic Carbine. It does 2D6+3 (.357 mag) damage. This same weapon is listed in Blackhand's Street Weapons 2020. In this last ...
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is there an easy way to use d20 Modern's combat system in Cyberpunk 2020?

I really want to run a Cyberpunk 2020 game, but I hate cyberpunk's combat system. Is there an easy way to implement D20 modern style combat into Cyberpunk 2020? I really hate the damage soak stuff, ...
2 votes
0 answers
535 views

War: Cyberpunk 2020 vs Shadowrun [closed]

I've been reading a lot about Cyberpunk 2020 and Shadowrun, mostly 4&5e for Shadowrun. What I notice is there are large standing armies in Cyberpunk 2020, but in Shadowrun I only see "Security ...
5 votes
1 answer
4k views

How does using therapy to regain humanity work?

Cyberpunk 2020 Chromebook II p.101 There is table about therapy cost & effects. ...
8 votes
1 answer
4k views

What does a weapon's ROF mean and how do I use it when shooting?

The rulebook of Cyberpunk 2020 says: Attack up to your weapon's maxi rate of fire (ROF), or make a melee attack. For example my PC has ...
8 votes
4 answers
9k views

Guidelines for appropriate challenges in a Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0 game

I've owned a copy of the 2nd edition of Cyberpunk (Cyberpunk 2020) for years now but never had the ability or gumption to run a game (same for gurps). Lately though I've been playing and DMing a lot ...
3 votes
0 answers
253 views

How can I make one on one combat more epic in Cyberpunk 2020? [closed]

I would like more detail in fights between martial artists, to simulate a traditional Kung fu showdown. The regular system works well for combat with a group, but is too generic for the epic one-on-...
32 votes
12 answers
3k views

Justifications for the existence of cyberpsychosis

Several games (Cyberpunk, for one) have an effect like cyberpsychosis (defined here as "a psychotic aberration suffered by excessive users of cyberware"). Others, such as Eclipse Phase, consider ...
6 votes
2 answers
4k views

Are there any rules for degeneration of humanity?

Cyberpunk 2020 has a very black and white line for cyberpsycosis; above a certain level of humanity everything is fine, then one point over and bam, crazy street. NPC time. What I'm looking for is ...
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Where do you install a Cybersnake?

For a game of Cyberpunk 2020 I want to build a villan with a pair of cybernetic tusks who can function as Cybersnakes, effectively making him a cybernetic walrus-man. The problem is, the rules on the ...
7 votes
2 answers
786 views

What is the maximum altitude an Aerodyne can fly?

After many years without narrating one single Cyberpunk 2020 adventure, I decided to try a one-shot adventure for a monthly get-together RPG session we have here. I have almost everything set as for ...
19 votes
8 answers
2k views

How do I make my overpowered character more fun to play?

My friend is running a modified cyberpunk campaign, where we are fighting zombies during WWII in Germany. Fun stuff. However, I made my character a Martial arts boxer, giving them a 10 in reflex, ...
10 votes
7 answers
3k views

Cyberpunk chronicle... any ideas? [closed]

I want to run a Cyberpunk chronicle using a system that I designed, but have run out of ideas. I don't want to employ the clichés, like the AI who's gone sentient and want to merge his mind with ...
10 votes
3 answers
3k views

Cyberpunk 2020 Reflex question

I am fairly new to running Cyberpunk 2020, and wanted to make sure I am doing this right. On the PC sheet, Reflex is divided by a '/' mark. I assume it is for modifiers to the ability. Is this ...