The City Phase
some of the City’s nature is revealed
▸ The Overplayer hands the dice to a
player and makes a demand about the
city and its factions.
▸ The ‘punk Player immediately rolls
the dice and answers the demand in
that tone.
▸ The ‘punk Player writes something
down relating to their answer.
If they named a new faction or major
player, they write down its name and an
interesting detail on a new index card.
Otherwise, just add a new detail to an
extant faction.
▸ If a new Faction card was written, the
Overplayer adds it to the city in a spot
relative to the other Factions of the City.
The map is symbolic, not geographical.
▸ The ‘punk Player hands the dice to a
new player, making a specific demand.
▸ The dice are rolled, the new demand
is answered. The cycle continues.
▸ Between the time when a demand
is answered and another is made, any
player may request the end of the phase.
Player Opportunities
▸ To point the Overplayer toward
mystery.
▸ To change the nature of the City.
▸ To make the City complex and
connected.
Example Demands
# Show me who manufactures
weapons in this city.
# Show me where I can get
unregistered cyberware.
# Show me which conglomerate is
rumored to have criminal ties.
# Show me where the hackers live.
# Show me the newest faction shaking
up the status quo.
SHADES WITHOUT MIRROR
A Cyberpunk Hack of Swords Without Master by Veles Svitlychny
Swords Without Master by Epidiah Ravichol
The Perilous Phase
the ‘punks’ lives are on the line
▸ The Overplayer brings the Storm
whenever a ‘punk player is not
narrating. Without the dice, ‘punks slip
and struggle against the storm.
▸ Roll to interrupt the Overplayer and
deal with the Storm on your terms.
▸ Pick up the dice when you are done.
▸ Do not roll the dice again until
someone else has, but hold on to the
dice until you feel the time is right to
pass them.
▸ The phase ends if the ‘punk
player who just rolled chooses to end it
by handing the dice to the Overplayer.
Audience Desires
▸ To see the ‘punks in danger.
‘punk Players’ Duty
▸ To demonstrate your foes’
indomitability.
‘punk Players’ Opportunities
▸ To overcome the indomitable.
▸ To succumb to hardship.
▸ To have a glorious death.
Overplayers’ Duty
▸ To threaten the ‘punks.
▸ To present real and interesting foes.
The ‘punks Phase
the ‘punks’ skills are illustrated through
the demands of the players
▸ The Overplayer hands the dice to a
‘punk Player making a specific demand
to see that player’s ‘punk in action.
▸ The ‘punk Player immediately rolls
the dice and answers the demand in
that tone.
▸ The ‘punk Player may then hand the
dice to a new ‘punk Player, making a
specific demand of their ‘punk.
▸ The dice are rolled, the new demand
is answered and the cycle continues.
▸ Between the time when a demand
is answered and another is made, any
player may request the end of the phase.
Audience Desires
▸ To witness the ‘punks do what they
do best.
‘punk Players’ Duty
▸ To highlight what you love about the
other players’ ‘punks.
‘punk Players’ Opportunities
▸ To wander the city.
▸ To put ‘punks in complex situations.
▸ To play to the ‘punks’ flaws.
Overplayers’ Duty
▸ To present a seductive and
dangerous city.
The Conspiracy Phase
the city and its connections are revealed
through the experiences of the punks
▸ A ‘punk Player immediately rolls the
dice and reveals something their ‘punk
is just now discovering about the plots
and machinations of the factions and
people within the city.
▸ The ‘punk Player states how they found
this information. They then ask a loaded
question about how this information
relates to them, or what it costs them.
▸ The answer the Overplayer gives is
known by the ‘punk.
▸ After answering if the Overplayer
chooses to continue the phase, the
‘punk Player passes the dice to a new
‘punk Player who immediately rolls.
▸ After answering, if the Overplayer
chooses to end the phase, it ends.
Audience Desires
▸ To learn about the City and its stories.
‘punk Players’ Duty
▸ To bring to the story that which
interests you the most.
‘punk Players’ Opportunities
▸ To shape the City.
▸ To find the intriguing and thrilling.
▸ To shape the conspiracies in
unexpected ways.
Overplayers’ Duty
▸ To place interesting twists in the
conspiracies.
Example Questions
# “Who broke into my apartment while
I was on the other side of town?”
# “When do I notice that I am being
tailed?”
# “Why was this system so easy for me
to hack?”
NAME(S): Tones Named Elements
One of the named elements must be
____________________________________ AMN JEF part of a street gang, a corporate drone,
STREET or an augment/synth.
ELEMENTS: Loud, The ‘punks can only exist because the
Lively, city exists. At least one, but preferably
( Organic,
Urban,
most of the named things on a punk’s
sheet must relate to features and
factions that were created in the City

EDGES:
) Squalid,
Gritty,
Phase.
Algorithms
Analog, ...of Betrayal
____________________________________ A tale in which loyalties are not what
Violent, they seem.
Passionate, After the second Pattern is
finished, but before the last threat is
____________________________________ Melancholic, reincorporated, there must be at
Familiar least one ‘Punks Phase in which
a demand is made to see how a
HACK(S): ‘punk betrays or is betrayed by
gpq jef someone or something on that ‘punk’s
CORPORATE list of named elements.
____________________________________ Cool, ...the Near Future
Stymies Lessons Distant, A tale in which the ‘punks encounter
aA mM nN aM aN mA Digital,
near-future technology.
At least one element on each Pattern
jJ kK fF mN nA nM Antiseptic, thread must be about an image or
detail relating to a cyberpunk
Flip the Overtone. An unintended consequence and a Lifeless, technology. Players may only ever
The Overplayer escalates the situation. lesson. Cynical, introduce a new tech when an Enigma
Stymied ‘punks don’t quite manage The ‘punk introduces the consequence. is rolled.
what they were attempting. They then write a lesson they learned.
Efficient,
...of Intrigue
Remember, a Lesson is Learned but the Cybernetic, A tale in which lies are told and
Damage is Irreversible. Ominous, characters are manipulated to serve
hidden agenda.
Enigmas Minimalist At every Conspiracy Phase, a new
aA mM nN character with ulterior motives must be
introduced or the ulterior motives of an
Like a Stymie (the ‘punk is thwarted, the Overtone flips, the danger escalates), but existing character must be revealed.
the cause is wrapped in enigma.
Write a question about the enigma’s nature, then put in in the middle of the table.