Cyberpunk’s new book is satire about the future of American gun culture

Cyberpunk RedThe tabletop prequel Cyberpunk 2077He knows something about the art of ranged combat. Set along the ruined, smoking edge of the West Coast in the year of our lord 2045, it’s an atavistic American hellscape polluted with nuclear fallout, a city-state crippled by late-stage capitalism, and a literal battleground for the most high-tech class warfare ever conceived by humankind. So yeah, there’s guns — plenty of guns — and a ruleset that deals with them expertly.

R. Talsorian Games, just like any great tabletop roleplaying game maker, knows that the primary purpose of their development team is to create a world rich in narrative hooks and backstories. The company’s latest product is Black chromeIt does all of that with great success. It’s much more than just a “tech and style guide” Please see the following: Cyberpunk Red. At its core, this equipment book is actually a stunning rebuke of our country’s ascendant gun culture, among other things. It’s also an excellent starting point for new players looking for a fun, thematic romp through a neon-soaked near future that does not have their best interests in mind.

How does a humorous firearm appear on paper? These weapons don’t just have stats. Like the Eye and the Hand of Vecna in Dungeons & Dragons, each of the guns in this book has a backstory, or the potential Please see the following:A backstory is essential for both game masters as well as eager gamers. Below are just some examples.

• The Arasaka Prototype Variable Assault Rifle is just your average excellent-quality rifle, but attach the right set of aftermarket conversion parts and you’ve got your own futuristic combat railgun. This gun recalls the current issues around auto sear switches that transform ordinary handguns to submachine guns.
• Georgia Arms Matchmaker is a literal pile of pipes that has been converted into a single-use shotgun. “Designed by dissidents,” as the description reads, it’s easy to see how weapons like this evoke the modern-day concerns over so-called “ghost guns,” do-it-yourself weapons of war that are currently just a 3D printer away from hitting the streets.

R. Talsorian games

• The Pursuit Security Incorporated Crowd Buster, which combines a public address system with an assault weapon, with the stated goal of “dispersing large, unruly mobs.”
• GunMart engage rocket launcher is based on the same logic that allows AR-15-style rifles in the hands deer hunter to project a future when armor-piercing, anti-tank weapons can be purchased at local Walmart.

R. Talsorian games

• The Sanroo Hello Cutie Ultra-K8 Assault Pistol has a self-cooling barrel and an audio playback feature that can pipe the user’s voice out with “selectable anime filters.” The “terrifying little machine pistol” was banned by the Japanese government “after a mass-shooting incident.” Now, the bright pink weapon — which giggles when you reload it, mind you — can be found for a good price in Night City if you have the right connections.
• The Tommyknocker is a combination shotgun and pistol that costs too much, yet it’s so heavy that you will have to fire it with one hand.
• The E-TACK Public Defender is the final option. The Taser was included in the little extra police stock. AndA ballistic pistol that is mounted on the same grip. Would you believe that it was “discontinued due to the difficulty of mentally switching between the two modes in combat situations”?

Think about a first-level player being provided with only these types of cursed weapons. Instead of looking forward to being armed, game masters may have a smaller group of cautious players. Black chrome. But they’ll also have many more stories to tell — and potential hooks for the kinds of morally ambiguous adventures needed to upgrade or augment their kit.

Maybe the initial early-game battle will encourage players to look for more parts. To make an upgrade possible, what will players have to do with their lives? Many items in the book directly answer this question. RequirePlayers must sacrifice their humanity points in order to get the highest-respected tech.

Black chrome There are many internal contradictions in this book. Sophie’s ChoiceMulti-devil deals are possible. It’s a complicated book for complicated characters, and it might just be one of the best new products that R. Talsorian has released for its marquee TTRPG franchise yet.

Black chrome It is now available online as well as at local bookstores. It is available online and at local bookstores. R. Talsorian games provided a digital pre-release copy for review. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. Although these partnerships do not impact editorial content, Vox Media could earn commissions from products sold via affiliate links. Find out more. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.