Future Genre Types: Dark Near Future - A bleak near future where no apocalypse ever came—though many wish it had. Civilization still stands, but only barely. Society has collapsed into a ruthless struggle where only the adaptable thrive. The economic divide has never been wider, and hedonism, greed, and short-term survival dominate daily life. Ethics survive only in archived history vids, not in the evening news. Most nations have devolved into repressive police states, maintaining order through surveillance and force rather than consent. This is the future of cyberpunk: neural interfaces and brain-to-computer links are commonplace, and the line between human and machine grows thinner every year. Humanity may have reached space—or may be trapped planet-side—but either way, the streets belong to violent highway warriors and their custom-built engines of mayhem. FeaturesFuture-Specific Events: Characters from this era use Dark Near Future Events.Personality: Any character from this future gains {1d4} Darkside personality traits from Darkside Traits and has a 50% chance to acquire an Exotic Personality Trait.Technology Level: Tech Levels typically range from 8–11, without interstellar travel capabilities.Cybernetics: A character has a 1 in 4 chance of starting play with implanted cyberlink hardware that allows direct neural connection to computer systems.
Character Species: Alien, Radially - Radially symmetrical. A starfish is an example of a radially symmetrical being.
Tech Level: Technologic Age - Nuclear power is used to create both electricity and deadly weapons. Orbital spacecraft visit nearby satellites and "unmanned" probes explore other planets in the solar system. Industrial lasers, small computers, and organ transplants are commonplace.
Home Culture: Developing - This is a culture that is making great strides to improve itself technologically, socially, and morally. Usually it is coming up from Barbarism or making a comeback from Decadence, or Retrogression (see below). A developing Culture is a "civilized" culture. Its governments tavorthose that offer representation of the peoples' interests. Its people are aggressive, have a good self image and a desire to make things better for themselves and their children. These people often place substantial emphasis on the moral concerns of technology development. Gameplay Benefits: {1d6}. On a result of 3-5. select one Lightside trait. On a result of 6, select {1d3} Lightside personality traits from Lightside Traits and one trait from Neutral Traits. Roleplay: A character from a Developing culture could easily be a pioneer, willing to take risks for the good of other people Instead of personal gain. Emphasis is placed on Lightside values. Survival Skills: (additional skills, GMs Discretion).
Social Status: Comfortable - This is the middle class of any Culture, regardless of the Tech Level or average wealth of its citizens. These folk usually live in clean, nicely apportioned homes or apartments, often in better neighborhoods. They eat regularly and occasionally very well. Children are schooled and often go on to higher education. They usually own conservative forms of transport - a modest ground car or other inexpensive vehicle. Luxuries include travel vacations, good food, the ability to hire occasional menial services, nice clothing, and leisure devices. This class includes "impoverished" nobility, upper level office workers, professors and teachers, skilled craftsmen and technicians, highly-skilled laborers, lower govem ment officials, low-ranking military officers, lesser clergy, and shopkeepers. Folk from this Social Status are considered to represent the mainstream of their Culture's beliefs and attitudes.
Social Status: Nobility: Commoner - Commoner/Not of a Noble Line
Birth Legitimacy: Legitimate - Legitimate Birth
Family Members: State-run Centre - Communal child care.
Siblings & Birth Order: 9 - second of 10
Home World: Racial Homeworld - Racial Homeworld
Home World Types: Hostile world - This world is unsuited to supporting life.
Place of Birth: Foreign Land - The character is born far from their familys homeland, culture, or species place of origin. See below for where in the foreign land.
Place of Birth: Forest Birth - The character is born among the trees, deep in a forest or jungle, without the protection of a hut or permanent structure.
Unusual Events at Birth: 3 events
Unusual Births Events: Seasonally unnatural weather occurred. This might include blizzards in summer, soaring temperatures in winter.
Unusual Births Events: A Mysterious stranger bestows a gift on the character at birth. See Gifts & Legacies below for the item and Others below for the stranger
Gifts & Legacies: A locked or sealed book or data recorder/player.
Others: A rival.
Rivals: Who?: An enemy of the family.
Rivals: Why?: They are sporting event rivals.
Rivals: What?: Friendly: Rival and character can still be friends. Rival enjoys competing against the character. Rival may even remain a good friend.
Unusual Births Events: Seasonally unnatural weather occurred. This might include blizzards in summer, soaring temperatures in winter.
Parents/Family Details: Both parents within the household have an occupation.
Sibling 1
Appearances: Simple Dress - The character wears plain, unadorned, utilitarian clothing.
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - High Income Jobs
High Income Occupations: Interpreter: speaks several important languages fluently. Is probably attached to a government office or a large corporation. Speaks {1d4} languages
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC's relationship with his family involves one of the following. NPC has married more than once, current spouse is number (roll {1d4}).
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC's relationship with his family involves one of the following. Is unfaithful to spouse.
Sibling 2
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - Blue Collar & Moderate Income Jobs
Blue Collar & Moderate Income Occupations: Manager: manages the operation of a restaurant, hotel or retail establishment.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC has an obsession regarding something that had happened (or might happen), something that dominates the rest of his life. The working out of a personality trait. - Neutral Trait
Personality Traits: Neutral: Rash - Rash: acts before thinking.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC has a patron.
In the Service of - Who is the Patron: A relative from See Other Relations.
Other Family Relations: Spouse - Spouse (husband or wife).
In the Service of - Why a Patron: The character is being prepared for a special task (the task is up to the GM).
In the Service of - What happened: Learn an occupation. See Occupations.
Occupations Selection: LoTech Occupation.
Lo Tech Occupations: Serf: an agricultural slave.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC had 1 to 3 unusual birth circumstances.
Unusual Births Events: Mother died in childbirth.
Death of a Loved One: The Inheritance: The Love One's estate is liquidated to pay off debts.
Death of a Loved One: The Inheritance: The Love One's estate is liquidated to pay off debts. The debts remain unpaid and the character is liable for {1d100} times his base starting money.
Death of a Loved One: The Events: Two additional Events
Death of a Loved One: The Events: A close friend of the deceased confides in the character that he or she believes the deceased was murdered.
Death of a Loved One: The Events: Paper/Data found in the deceased's home reveal a secret - Deceased was not a human being, but a cleverly made, self aware android. The deceased is not truly dead, since machines do not die (as we know it).
Unusual Births Events: Character's is born immediately after Something Wonderful occurs. Roleplay: Superstitious folk often associate one event with another. Others who know of this occurrence might link the character's birth to the other event.
Something Wonderful: A lasting peace takes hold in the land. If the character is currently in the Military, he is discharged with honors
Sibling 3
Occupations Selection: LoTech Occupation.
Lo Tech Occupations: Warrior.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: The accomplishment of a motivation. Work out the Motivation with the GM
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is from a foreign place (either land or world).
Sibling 4
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group Special Income Jobs
Special Income Occupations: Adventurer: a professional hero for hire. See below for his original occupation.
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - High Income Jobs
High Income Occupations: Dentist: fixes teeth that need repair.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC was originally from a different culture.
Tech Level: Mixed technology, one aspect higher - A key aspect of the culture's technology is more typical of a higher Tech Level (such as Transmatter being used by a Federation starship to beam crew planetside).
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is a military veteran.
Military Duties: Branch of Service: Army - Battlebot. Armored, robot-like battle machines.
Military Skills: Combat Skills: Improve ranged weapon skill (of choice)
Military Skills: Combat Skills: First Aid Training
Military Skills: Vehicle Skills: Improve an existing military skill
Military Skills: Vehicle Skills: Improve an existing military skill
Military Rank: Private/Seaman/Spaceman
Military Experience: A fierce war breaks out - A massive invasion of unknown alien enemies. The situation is grim. All Noncombat troops are put in the field as light infantry. The characters unit is in the thickest fighting for months and sees more action than most. The characters unit is in the thickest fighting for months and sees more action than most. Several battles occur. (See Battle Ready!)
War Time: The Character's side suffers light casulties.
War Time: Character sees action, but nothing noteworthy.
War Time: Regardless of the battle's outcome, the character is decorated for his heroism. If the character is an officer in the service of a Noble, the character is made a knight.
Sibling 5
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - High Income Jobs
High Income Occupations: Contractor: oversees the construction of private and public buildings.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: The accomplishment of a motivation. Work out the Motivation with the GM
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: The accomplishment of a motivation. Work out the Motivation with the GM
Sibling 6
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group Special Income Jobs
Special Income Occupations: Professional Escort. A companion for hire.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC possesses an unusual item.
Gifts & Legacies: A weapon.
Gifts & Legacies: Weapons: An ornate dagger.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is important in home village/town/city, not just another face in the crowd.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is noted for or hesitant to speak of something that occured in his past. NPC is persecuted or villainized for the occurance of an event.
Significant Adulthood Events: Exotic Personality Trait - The character develops an unusual or alien personality quirk.
Exotic Personality Traits: Categories: Behavior Tag - Behavior Tag
Exotic Personality Traits: Behavior Tags: Stuttering - Reduce Charisma attribute when talking - Penalize any speaking skills, more if the character is under pressure or nervous.
Sibling 7
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - High Income Jobs
High Income Occupations: Research Scientist: Medicine
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC has many enemies. The Rivals has not been heard from in a while
Rivals: Who?: A total stranger. See Others.
Others: Several others together.
Others: Someone known primarily by occupation / co-worker / client
Occupations Selection: An unusual skill is practiced as an occupation.
Unusual Skills: Tech Jury-Rigging - Able to keep advanced technology functioning using improvised parts and unconventional solutions.
Others: Employer. Characters current employer or Patron.
Rivals: Why?: They love the same person.
Rivals: What?: Jealous: Rival dislikes the character, and takes secret pleasure in embarassing, thwarting or beating him. Physical injury is usually not intended, but if it happens, it happens. Rival may be appear to be a friend or ally.
Rivals: Who?: An Alien. See Aliens.
Aliens: Insectoid - Beings that closely resemble insects or arachnids, often possessing exoskeletons, segmented bodies, mandibles, or compound eyes.
Aliens, Biology: Aerial - Flying beings adapted for sustained flight. They may possess wings, gas bladders, anti-gravity organs, or other flight mechanisms.
Talents, Mutations & Alien Abilities: Adaptive Metabolism - The characters body rapidly adapts to new diets and environments, reducing penalties from unfamiliar food, gravity, or atmospheres.
Rivals: Why?: They seek the same goal.
Rivals: What?: Jealous: Rival dislikes the character, and takes secret pleasure in embarassing, thwarting or beating him. Physical injury is usually not intended, but if it happens, it happens. Rival may be appear to be a friend or ally.
Rivals: Who?: Sibling (older).
Rivals: Why?: Rival is jealous of the character's possessions.
Rivals: What?: Intense: Rival hates the character, and goes out of his way to foil him. Secretly hopes for the chance to injure the character in some way (physically, emotionally, financially, socially, etc.)
Rivals: Who?: A relative. See Other Relations.
Other Family Relations: Mysterious - The person claims to be a relation, yet the character was not aware of the person's existence.
Rivals: Why?: Rival is jealous of the character's possessions.
Rivals: What?: Jealous: Rival dislikes the character, and takes secret pleasure in embarassing, thwarting or beating him. Physical injury is usually not intended, but if it happens, it happens. Rival may be appear to be a friend or ally.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is noted for an outstanding aspect of his personality. Noted for a Neutral personality trait.
Personality Traits: Neutral: Immaculate - Immaculate: clean and orderly.
Sibling 8
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - Low Income Jobs
Low Income Occupations: Farm worker: Agriculture technician
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC has an obsession regarding something that had happened (or might happen), something that dominates the rest of his life. A significant event from the past.
Significant Adolescence Events: Offworld Misadventure - The character becomes involved in a dangerous or strange incident on another planet.
Otherworld Events: Other Worlds: Chunk. An airless asteroid.
Otherworld Events: Reasons for Being Here: Explorer. The character finds himself aboard an exploratory ship, looking for untapped resources.
Otherworld Events: Events: The character gets lost in the wilderness. In the weeks that it takes to find him, he gains a bonus to his Wilderness Survival skills.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is noted for an outstanding aspect of his personality. Noted for an exotic personality trait.
Exotic Personality Traits: Categories: Behavior Tag - Behavior Tag
Exotic Personality Traits: Behavior Tags: Neatnik - This is an obsessively neat person. Personal effects are always clean, polished, sharp, well-organized, and neatly arranged. Dislikes mess and has a 10% chance to have a phobia regarding dirt.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC is noted for his extremely unusual personality. Link the Exotic Personality Traits together in some fashion. Collectively, they should make the NPC character even stranger, possibly a real weirdo.
Exotic Personality Traits: Categories: Mental Affliction - Mental Affliction
Exotic Personality Traits: Mental Affliction: Catatonia - Character collapses into a fetal position completely and totally withdrawing from the world - deaf, unfeeling, unseeing.
Exotic Personality Traits: Categories: Behavior Tag - Behavior Tag
Exotic Personality Traits: Behavior Tags: Addict - Character's day-to-day existence centers around a chemical substance, such as tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, caffeine, chocolate, etc. Character becomes "ugly" and unpleasant if deprived of the substance for too long. All skills drop by 1 Rank until character gets a "fix."
Exotic Personality Traits: Categories: Phobia - Phobia
Exotic Personality Traits: Phobia: Cold (Psychrophobia or Frigophobia)
Sibling 9
Appearances: Extremely short - The character is far shorter than average.
Occupations Selection: Occupation Group - Low Income Jobs
Low Income Occupations: Craftsman
Crafts Table 1: Gunsmith: makes and repairs solid projectile guns.
Noteworthy Items of Parents/NPCs: NPC won't speak of something that occurred in the past.
Significant Childhood Events:
Character runs away from home ... and falls into the hands of criminals.
Underworld Experience : The Wrong Path: The character wants to defy authority.
Underworld Experience: Types of Crimes: Independent criminal. The character is heavily involved in one or more of the following activities.
Underworld Experience: Independent criminal: Assassination
Underworld Experience: Independent criminal: Assassination
Underworld Experience: Independent criminal: Illegal gambling
Underworld Experience : Events: Character becomes an informant for the law. The character is labeled a snitch by the underworld and has a contract out on his life.
Significant Childhood Events: Family has the a certain attitudes towards the character. Father is distant and cold towards the character.
Significant Childhood Events: Rivals force the characters family to move to a new locale, probably on another world, or face reprisals.