WIRED

NEON
CITIES

MINIMALIST CYBERPUNK ROLEPLAYING

SCOTT MALTHOUSE
   ​ ​     ​ ​ WIRED NEON CITIES         

      ​ ​ inimalist Cyberpunk Roleplaying

Wired Neon Cities​ ​is a minimalist
cyberpunk roleplaying game set in an 80’s
style future, for 3+ players.
ASSIGN ATTRIBUTES
Characters will split the following numbers
between each attribute: 5+, 4+, 4+, 3+.
Brawn:​ used for strength and melee.
Nimble:​ used for ranged attacks and
agility.
Mind:​ used for intelligence and science.
Person:​ used for personal interactions.
In addition, characters have an assigned
number of wounds and special abilities.
Characters start with 2d6 x 100 bits.
 
CHOOSE A CLASS
Players choose a character class from the
following:
CYBERBLADE​ (6 wounds, Special:gain
an extra melee attack equal to half level
rounded up).
HACKER​ ​(4 wounds, Special: Reroll a
number a number of hacking rolls per day
equal to half level rounded up. Keep highest
roll.)
GUNNER​ ​(5 wounds, Special: :gain an
extra ranged attack equal to half level
rounded up).
MECHANIC​ ​(4 wounds, Special: can build
drones (see Drones).
DOC​ (4 wounds, Special: gain a number of
surgical actions equal to half level, rounded
up. A surgical action heals 2 wounds. Must
be adjacent to target.)
FACE (​ 5 wounds, Special: Reroll any Test
Person a number of times per day equal to
M
half level, rounded up. Keep highest roll.
DRONES  MOVEMENT
Mechanics can make or recharge a number
of drones per day equal to half class level
rounded up and no more than this can
exist at any one time.  INJURY AND DEATH
Spy Drone: ​Test Mind. Create a tiny
(1inch) spy drone. It lasts for 7 hours
before needing recharging. Spy drone
relays video to handheld screen. Build
time: 1 hour. Cost: 40 bits
Gun Drone: ​Test Mind. Create a gun
drone, 1ftxft. Drone attacks after you and
lasts for 4 hours before needing
recharging. Using Gun Drone stats. Build
time: 2 hours. Cost: 70 bits
MAKING TESTS
When a character needs to do something
that has a risk of failure, they must roll a
d6 on a relevant attribute. Meeting or
exceeding the number is a success.
Difficult tasks have a -1 to the roll and very
difficult tasks have -2.
COMBAT
Initiative:​ Each player Tests Nimble.
Successes act before enemies and failures
act after.
Actions​:​ Characters can make 2 unique
actions per turn, including move, attack,
use science, draw weapon and use an item.
Attacking:​ Attackers either Test Brawn
(melee attack) or Nimble (ranged attack).
If successful, the attacker has scored 1
damage against the opponent. Ranged
attacks in close combat get -1 penalty.
Characters and NPCs can walk 30ft per
turn or run 60ft as 2 actions.
Successful attacks do 1 damage, which is
deducted from the character or enemy’s
wound score. If a character reaches 0
wounds, they are unconscious and
unable to act. If they reach -1 wounds,
they are dead. Wounds heal at a rate of 1
per day.
CHARACTER ADVANCEMENT
As characters go on more adventures,
they gain more experience through
experience points (XP). XP can be spent
to level up. Gain XP as follows:
- Defeating opponent 1XP
- Completing adventure 3XP
- Great roleplaying 2XP a network or machine. To hack, Test Mind for
Once a character reaches 20XP x their every number of successes required. The more
level, they level up gaining 1 extra difficult, the more successful rolls needed.
Wound. There are a total of 6 levels. ● Simple - 1 success (eg. smart lock)
● Advanced - 2 successes (eg. simple
ULTRA WEAPONS network)
Ultra weapons provide a +1 bonus to ● Complex - 3 successes (eg. android
attack or damage rolls. These are rare brain)
and powerful. ● Superior - 4 successes (eg. Military
satellite)
HACKING Tracking: Some networks are alarmed. When a
Characters are able to hack into the fail is rolled, the network instantly tracks the
GLOWNET, which everyone is connected hacker, registering their whereabouts.
to - people and corps. There are four Firewall: A network with a firewall makes each
levels of difficulty when hacking roll difficult (-1)

Wired Neon Cities copyright Scott Malthouse and Trollish Delver Games 2017. Art by JE Stock art.  

ENEMIES
Opponents have one number they roll
against for tests and combat. Many also
have special actions
Android: ​A humanoid robot. 5+, 3
wounds, special action: none.
Biker Monk: ​Pray and slay. 4+, 5
wounds, special action: if another Biker
Monk is adjacent, get +1 to next melee
attack.
Cyberninja​:​ Street vigilante with sword.
3+, 6 wounds, special action: May make a
second melee attack.
Drone, Gun:​ A little spherical robot with
a repeater gun. 5+, 2 wounds, special
action: may carry an item weighing 5lbs or
less.
Electro Kiddie:​ Thug with shocking
powers. 4+, 5 wounds, special action:
Opponent must Test Brawn or become
stunned for 1d3 rounds.
Ganger:​ Gangland mook. 4+, 4 wounds,
special action: Opponent must Test Nimble
or become stunned for 1 round.
Hulk Sentry:​ Huge armoured guard. 3+,
10 wounds, special action: If Hulk Sentry
hits, target must Test Brawn or become
pinned.
Juicer:​ Drugged-up psycho. 5+, 5
wounds, special action: Make a Test. If
successful, Juicer regains 1 wound.
Police:​ Corp-hired security. 4+, 4
wounds, special action: Make a Test to gain
+1 to next ranged attack.
Ravager:​ Augmented assassin. 3+, 9
wounds, special action: Opponent must
Test Nimble or be paralyzed for 1d3
rounds.
ITEMS
Armour (+2 wounds while worn, 1000
bits)
Melee or ranged weapon (100 bits)
Fake ID (100 bits)
Adrenaline (+1 to Brawn for 1 hour, 50
bits)
Surgical kit (heals 2 wounds, 80 bits)
Food pills (1 day) (5 bits)
50ft rope (10 bits)
Grappling hook (30 bits)
Helmet (+1 wound while worn, 400 bits)
ICE (removes firewalls, 1500 bits)
ADVANCED COMBAT
Bull rush:​ Move and attack an
opponent. +1 attack, but opponent gets a
+1 to its next attack. Costs 2 actions.
Parry​:​ Opponent gets -1 to its next attack
against parrying character. Cannot attack
and parry in the same turn.
Flee:​ M​ ove twice movement away from
an opponent. Costs 2 actions.
Two weapon fighting:​ make a
second attack with -2 penalty.
Unarmed​:​ Unarmed characters have -1
to attacks.
STATUS EFFECTS
Poisoned:​ Take 1 damage each turn.
Paralysed:​ ​Cannot move or act.
Stunned:​ Take a -1 to all rolls
Pinned:​ Cannot move
Diseased​:​ Take 1 damage each turn and
-1 to all rolls.
Prone:​ On the ground. Takes an action to
stand. Attackers gain +1 to prone targets.
Frightened:​ Must move away from the
source of the effect each turn.
Wired Neon Cities copyright Scott Malthouse and Trollish Delver Games 2017. Art by JE Stock art.
AUGMENTATIONS
Characters can have a number of
augmentations equal to 2 + level. Some are
labelled as OPC (once per combat).
Air tank:​ You can breathe underwater
for 2 hours before needing to recharge.
Cost: 300 bits
Arm blades:​ Make a melee attack with a
+2 bonus. OPC. Cost: 500 bits
Climbing arms​: You can scale vertical
surfaces. Cost: 400 bits
Derma shield:​ Increase your maximum
wounds by 2 for 1d3 rounds. OPC. Cost:
1000 bits
Disguise​: You can alter your face to any
other face you have seen within 24 hours.
Lasts for 4 hours before it needs charging
for 7 hours. Cost: 800 bits
Eagle eye:​ Make a ranged attack with a
+2 bonus. OPC. Cost: 500 bits
Eye projector:​ Your eye can project a
moving image from your memory onto a
surface for 1 minute. Cost: 200 bits Reflexes:​ You cannot be given the
Flamer​: You shoot fire from your hands. prone or pinned effects. Cost: 900 bits
Make a +1 ranged attack. If it hits, the Stealth Mod:​ Attacks against you have
opponent takes 1 wound and is stunned for a -1 for 1d6 rounds. OPC. Cost: 1000 bits.
1d3 rounds. OPC. Cost: 1000 bits Telescopic vision: ​You can see
Head jack:​ You can plug your mind details up to 1 mile away. Cost: 400 bits.
directly into the GLOWNET. +1 when Thermal vision: ​You can see the heat
hacking. Cost: 200 bits signatures of anyone within 100ft, even
Hidden pocket:​ You have a small skin through walls. Cost: 600 bits.
pocket that can carry a small item (i.e. a Translator: ​Sits in your ear. Allows
knife). Cost: 150 bits you to understand any spoken language.
Night vision:​ You can see clearly in Cost: 400 bits
pitch darkness up to 80ft. Cost: 400 bits Voice modulator: ​You can mimic
Poison claws​: Make a +1 melee attack. adult male, adult female, boy or girl voices
If it hits, the opponent takes 1 wound as is by changing pitches. Cost: 600 bits.
poisoned for 1d3 rounds. OPC. Cost 1000
bits.
  
WIRED NEON CITIES
CHARACTER SHEET  
 
CHARACTER NAME:
CLASS:
LEVEL:

BRAWN:
NIMBLE:
MIND:
PERSON:
WOUNDS:

SPECIAL ABILITY:
AUGMENTATIONS:
 
EQUIPMENT

Wired Neon Cities copyright Scott Malthouse and Trollish Delver Games 2017. Art by JE Stock art.  
 WIRED NEON CITIES​: INTRODUCTORY SETTING
Welcome to the world of ​Wired Neon
Cities​. This is a cyberpunk game by way of
the 1980s. Think chiptune, Genesis games
and bright colours.
GLOW CITY
The main setting for ​Wired Neon Cities
is Glow City - a 100 mile neon-drenched
metropolis of mega corporations and tech
squalor. Everyone and everything in the
city is connected by the GLOWNET, either
with a personal deck or jacked directly into
the brain. Glow City is run by three
megacorps - government doesn’t exist.
MEGACORPS
Pink Cat:​ The corp with the cutest
veneer - Pink Cat produces all
entertainment in Glow City. From
producing the ever-popular Zazz vids to
managing the best musical talent in the
city, Pink Cat’s much-loved smiling feline
face can be found everywhere. Despite
being a favourite among the populace of
Glow City, the corp owners are ruthless
business people who aren’t against
cold-blooded murder if it means profit.
Zing!​: This corporation has the monopoly
on food in the city. Whether it’s the
sugar-packed Zing Cola, or the food pills
dispensed throughout the streets, Zing! has
its clammy hands on it. While people love
sugar and fat, there are certain ingredients
that are kept back from public viewing due
to their distasteful nature.
Pineapple:​ Pineapple is synonymous
with tech. From decks and head jacks to the
very GLOWNET that everybody uses on a
daily basis. By far the biggest corp,
Pineapple is also the most hungry for
blood, having hired an elite team of
assassins, sentries and police for security.
Those who have been bold enough to hack
Pineapple have found themselves in a body
bag within a few days.
LIFE IN THE CITY
The majority of people in Glow City are
not rich. The 1% live high in their towers
above the smog, served by android butlers
and paying blood money to get rid of their
enemies. The 99% are down on the streets,
where gangers roam, augment vendors
flog their wares and murder is only a block
away. Those who can afford it head to the
chop shop for a new arm, telescopic eye or
head jack. Depending on the surgeon’s
reputation, some don’t not survive the
procedure.
It’s no wonder so many people turn to
crime. A mixture of anger at the elite and
boredom leads some to take on freelance
jobs, becoming privateers for the corps or
the criminal underbelly of the city.
Wired Neon Cities copyright Scott Malthouse and Trollish Delver Games 2017. Art by JE Stock art.
CITY LOCATIONS The Iron Maidens:​ This all-female
Sushi Quarter:​ This is the place for biker gang is the bane of the Block
less-than-fine dining - grimy street food Quarter. They carry chains to whip and
sizzling in hot pans line the streets as choke their enemies.
people sit slurping synth noodles and Sick Boyz:​ A gang of psycho juicers
cramming down fish pills. who love nothing more than chugging
Neon Quarter:​ The bright lights of the adrenaline and shooting up stores. They
Neon Quarter attract a nightlife that never have very little motivation other than
seems to end. Clubs, bars and adult acquiring more drugs.
establishments are the name of the game The Reapers:​ An extremely organised
here - there’s never a dull moment when gang of assassins who take payments from
you mix drink, drugs and weapons. corps to take down their opponents.
Corp Quarter:​ Exactly how it sounds.
Gleaming towers - the headquarters of the
most important companies in the city.
Heavy security patrol the area - any
low-lifes dealt with swiftly and brutally.
Block Quarter: ​This is where the
majority of people live - all crammed into
huge block towers. Most are disgusting and
squalid, with apartments being mainly
one-room affairs. Typical rent is 100 bits
per month.
The Hive:​ While the Block Quarter is
bad, it doesn’t reach the level of poverty
that the Hive manages. This is the home of
many of the gangs in the city. They say that
if you live in the Hive and don’t belong to a
gang, then you’re a corpse.
GANGS
The Livewires:​ A gang identified by
their bright yellow jackets and colourful
mohawks, the Livewires are the biggest
gang in the Hive. Most members are fit out
with thermal vision and night vision,
making them the rulers of the night.
  
 

Wired Neon Cities copyright Scott Malthouse and Trollish Delver Games 2017. Art by JE Stock art.