Roll a D10 - Cyberware Chop Shop Names

 

Not everything is new in a Cyberpunk world. Sometimes you have to get something that's been used before. Even when it's mechanical replacements for part of your body. Not to mention some of these places will be happy to take some 'salvaged' cyberware off your runners hands in exchange for cash or services rendered. So here are ten names for shady places like this. 

Cyberware Chopshop Names

1 – Parts is Parts

2 – RePsychoed Wares

3 – Second Hand Hands

4 – Scraped Up and Resold

5 – Freed From Meat

6 – Not Fresh But Refurbished

7 – Traumatic Team

8 – KMFDEAD

9 – Pre-Owned Chrome

10 – Parlor Reprocess

Roll a D10 - The Creatures Weakness

 

Something specific can hurt and possibly kill the creature. What is it?

 Weaknesses of the creature.

1 – Bleach, antiseptic and most harsh cleaning chemicals cause severe burns.

2 – High pitched whistling causes severe pain and is deafening to the creature.

3 – UV light sets the creatures skin on fire instantly and can reduce it to ashes withing a minute or two of intense agony.

4 – High pressure air, causes the creatures skin to blow off in large painful chunks.

5 – Radiation from a microwave, pushes the creature into fits of raging pain just being near one while it’s running.

6 – Good old fashioned fire, the biblical cleanser.

7 – Sunlight, how cliché.

8 – A book made of human flesh that it’s bound to. Destroy the book, destroy the creature.

9 – Knowing the creatures name, one you have that you can control it.

10 – Seeing it’s reflection in a highly polished large mirror will destroy it. Smaller mirrors will cause it pain.

Roll a D10 - More Affectations for Cyberpunk RED

 

During character creation in Cyberpunk RED you have a chart of Affectations you can roll on or choose from (page 47 in the corebook). Well here's another ten choices for you to add to that list. Some of these were suggested by my current game group. 

New Affectations list

1 – Fangs/Sharpened Teeth

2 – Overcoats/Long coats

3 – Lots of Jewelry

4 – Excessive amounts of makeup

5 – Face masks

6 – Elbow and Knee guards

7 – Eye glasses of various designs

8 – Cat Ear headbands

9 – Headphones

10 – Wristbands of different colors

Neon City (1991)

 

Neon City

You can watch this one for free over on Tubi or, if you really feel like it, you can pick up the Blu-Ray over on Amazon. 

This foray into post apocalypse film is an interesting treat. Mainly just because of some of the cast we have here. We have the always dependable Michael Ironside, then there is Vanity who has never been in what we would call a ‘good’ movie, Juliet Landau in a post Buffy appearance, oh Richard Sanders is here so nice to see Les Nessman working, then finally we have the walking wall himself Lyle Azlado. I mean how could you not watch this film with this line up. Okay, you could very easily not watch this film which is what so many others have done. But here I am, watching it.

Now one interesting thing is they don’t use your normal run of the mill nuclear apocalypse in this one. As the move goes on you find out we are in an environmental apocalypse. A real 80’s/90’s one which involved the ozone lair and air pollution. Something a bit different there. Taking place in “North America, Western Federation 2053 A.D.” so at least we don’t have the problem of the current year having caught up to this tale of the future.

The film opens with the usual credits and somebody riding a bike across the flattest land that I’ve seen in a while. Is this Kansas? Did they film this in Kansas? All with that wonderful background music that you just know you’ve heard someplace else and the red filter on the lens.

Soon we get to meet all the characters. Harry Stark (Ironside) a gruff ex-ranger who has dark past filled with loss. Reno (Vanity) a gruff convict on the run who has a dark past filled with loss. Dickie Devine (Nessman, I mean Sanders) a comedian/magician who has a dark secret about what he sells on the side. Bulk (Azlado) a big lovable bear of a man who has a dark past with Stark. Twink (Landau) a spoiled rich girl with a shiny happy past filled with zero loss. Plus several others. Most with dark pasts of some sort. Except Twink, she is dark free, which is really opposite of the role Landau is most known for.

Basic plot is basic. They are traveling across Damnation Alley… I mean across post apocalypse USA from one city that is trash to another less trashed city called ‘Neon City’ in a big ole’ fancied up camper truck. Mostly driving across what looks like Kansas during the winter, until there are suddenly hills out of nowhere for them to do things near. Many times I’m wondering if they used the pile of trash sets left over from the background of Spacehunter. But Max… I mean Stark continues on leading his band of intrepid travelers onward.

We get a good dose of how terrible things are when you can get ‘bye bye bags’ which are just jars of poison so you can kill yourself to escape the terrible things that have happened to you. Killer environment effects called ‘brights’ that can pop up out of nowhere during the day and cook you. A gang of scumbags that kills everyone else. But the roads seem to be in decent shape under the snow as this fancied up Winnebago plows along. Going from location to location to either kill things or have an awkward sex scene right in the middle of whatever the hell is going on.

The dialogue in some spots is a bit cringe and just dumb. Early on they use a lot of drunk cam for action scenes so you can’t see what the hell is going on. Acting is decent enough but nothing to write home about. Ironsides, as usual, does more acting with his facial expressions and forehead than anything else. But all in all this does rate slightly above most 90’s scifi post apocalypse fare.

All in all it was a fun to watch bad movie. Nothing great to write your parents about. I just wish Les would have survived, but I guess a bullet was more deadly than the WKRP Turkey Drop. Do I recommend it? Well yes, but don’t pay to watch it and don’t make time in a busy schedule to watch it either. But if you’re bored and got some time to kill then this makes a great filler.

"Don't forget to get my most important acting asset into the shot, my forehead."

The Receipt Jar App

 

Now this is not a paid advertisement and the first time I've ever posted anything like this. I am actually recommending an app that I have made a little bit of money using. Not a lot of money mind you, this is no gold mine, it takes a while. I've been using the Receipt Jar App scanning in my receipts for purchases. So far over the past few months I've made fifteen bucks. Now that's not much but it's still fifteen bucks I didn't have before.

It takes printed receipts from just about anywhere. It even works on the ones from the small business game shop I work at. You just build up points from scanning them in and after you reach a certain amount you can cash them out in a variety of way including e-gift cards. Me, I'm simple, and I have it put straight onto my PayPal. 

If you want to give it a shot HERE IS THE LINK to the app store. Also if you could please enter this code: JOHNN29CH and it will give me a few points for the recommendation. 

Again, it's not a gold mine. There is a limit on how many receipts you can scan in a seven day period. It takes time. But I will honestly say it has cost me nothing but a little bit of time to snap pictures. 

Weekly Health 11/25/24

 Starting weight: 362

Weigh in this week: 353.5

I'm down one pound this week. Bringing my total loss up to 8.5. It's slow but at least I'm tip toeing in the right direction. Had all sorts of folks give me eating advice. Most of it included buying food that cost two or three more times then what we are paying now. That is not an option at all. We barely make ends meet and I have to eat what's cheap. Which is usually stuff that's not very healthy. But I'm doing the best I can.

Getting easier to use the CPAP. At least this week wasn't bad. Almost yanked the machine into the floor one night when I was tossing and turning in my sleep more than usual.

Working more hours at work and back on a closing schedule again. Which means I'll be up walking more so that will help.

Everything else is about the same. 

Roll A D10 - Stories for your Media to chase

 

How about some stories that can be given out as assignments to your media characters. Some mundane, some potentially very deadly. These also work good as story hooks to throw out to see what the players want to do as well. 

Stories for your media to follow

1 – Out of control AI supervisor locks employees in until they reach their quota.

2 – Someone hijacking full septic clean out trucks and then setting them on autodrive spraying fecal matter all over high end neighborhoods.

3 – Follow up leads about a terrorist cell that has a flesh eating virus they plan on releasing. And they’ve used it on the last four reporters that came looking for them.

4 – Meet up and interview a Netrunner who hacks into hospitals and causes medicine bots to give fatal doses to patients.

5 – Follow around a politician to catch some dirt on him. Turns out to be the most wholesome non-corrupt person ever. They keep offering to pay more and more to catch them doing something.

6 – A series of warehouse burglaries which turns out to be food warehouses and the people breaking in are folks from a homeless encampment that are in desperate need of that food.

7 – Check on rumors of a black market cyberoptic reseller who puts hacks into the eyes that allows him to see direct video feeds from them.

8 – Someone is direct hacking screamsheet kiosks to give out unregulated news articles from guerrilla unregistered news agencies.

9 – Underground print shop making up unauthorized educational material and distributing it to poverty level families.

10 – Find information about a cannibalistic cult that has seeped into the higher society of the city and are purchasing children from orphanages for their rituals.

Roll a D10 Companies of Quality

 

The big corporations have the corner on the mass market. But their stuff is cranked out by the millions and everything looks the same. Plus the quality can sometimes take a hit as well. But there is always room for smaller companies to come in with highly specific areas of expertise. When you walk around with work by these folks you get notices for your style and for using the best.

Remember is you like the posts you see here you can always buy the blogger a Coffee to show your support. 

Here we go. Ten companies that are of high quality. 

1 – Urban Rapture. Makers of specialized, high quality firearms. Most are custom ordered for the buyers very specific demands.

2 – Flesh Grinder. They make very deadly melee weapons with all sorts of features. From things that spray blood when they hit to poison injectors.

3 – Hardshell. Body armor that is custom fitted to the buyer. Measurements are taken and every thing from load bearing points to flexibility is figured in.

4 – Power Projects. Makers of experimental powered armor and load reducing worn robotics.

5 – Shogun. Street bikes and riding gear with a kick. You want to go fast and look the top of the line at the same time? These are the folks.

6 – Inner Voice. The go too experts for personal communications technology. Producing the most reliable and malleable squad level communication equipment available.

7 – Lancer Tools. When a Techie needs to tools for his job, these are the people they can trust.

8 – New Atlantis. Premier makers of cyberspace technology and software. Also hosting on the most stable and popular virtual locations in the net.

9 – Hardwire. When your custom cyberware specifications go way beyond the normal these are the folks to hire for the job. Doing the most outrageous cyber mods in the world today.

10 – Nu U. If you need to change your appearance these are the sculptors you want. From simple nips and tucks to full on height adjustment and even full gender change. They are the best.

Roll a D10 - Modifications in a Techies car

 

I decided to have a bit more fun with this one. How about ten random things a Techie has done to their ride. Because we all know that they aren't going to run around in anything that is stock.

Modifications you may find on a Techies ride.

1 – Custom fitted hidden drop down armor for the windows and along the inside of the body.

2 – An electro scanner that pics up higher than normal power usage and charts it on a map used by multiple other techies.

3 – A rear facing scrambler that interferes with various frequencies of wireless communication.

4 – A mobile fold out repair bay built into their trunk.

5 – Faraday cage built into the backseat to throw salvaged or looted electronics in to prevent them from being traced.

6 – Multiple dash-cams facing every direction and kept in constant contact with a server via cellular towers.

7 – An amalgamation of agents/cell phones that are all shown as ‘driving’ to traffic monitoring apps. So it always sees a traffic jam and redirects other drivers away from wherever the Techie is driving.

8 – An anti-pursuit system built into the trunk. It launches full sized bricks covered in an instant adhering paste onto the pavement behind the vehicle as it’s driving.

9 – Full on old style no electronics gas guzzling land beast of a car. With a built in EMP device that has a range of 50 foot radius all around it. Can be used while driving of course.

10 – A full on radio hacker that hacks into the car radios of those around you and tunes them to the station, or streaming service, the Techie prefers.

Weekly Health 11/18/24

 

Starting weight: 362

Weigh in this week: 354.5

Edit: Did a reweigh three times. Stayed the same weight. Kind of a let down but at least I didn't go up.

I haven't said much about having to deal with being on a CPAP while I sleep now. But nothing much has changed. Still having issues getting used to it. Some nights are good, some nights are bad. I will admit on good nights when I get a good chunk of sleep I can tell the difference in how I feel when I wake up. But it's getting that good nights sleep on a regular basis which is the problem. 

Stress levels have been up this week due to certain things. But that is temporary and will pass at some point. But I could feel that blood pressure spike that's for sure. 

Roll a D10 - Random Cyberpunk bar names

 

How about ten random cyberpunk bar names for your game. Some with just the tiniest morsel of extra info. Made with a little help from my gaming group.

Cyberpunk Bar Names

1 – Hard Drive

2 – Leadheads (full of chromers)

3 – CZ Brews (combat zone sports bar)

4 – Slosh n’ Go (automated kiosk and conveyor belt serving drinks and drugs)

5 – High Caliber

6 – Wild Boys Clubhouse

7 – E.M.C. (Elegant Murderers Club)

8 – Minimalist Drinking Age (all drinks are clear and served in identical glasses)

9 – No Bootlickers (anti corp edgerunner bar)

10 – Electric Dead

If you are enjoying these D10 lists you can buy me a Ko-Fi as a sign of appreciation! 

Roll a D10 - Names for Netrunner Hangouts

 

Sometimes the netrunners just like to unwind around those who are of similar interests and occupations. Here are ten names for hangouts that netrunners may frequent. 

Netrunner Hangout Names

1 – The Digital Chimera

2 – Console Holster (western/cowboy themed)

3 – Monochrome (decorated with older tech)

4 – Lord Nikon’s Castle

5 – Secret Datafort

6 – Parasites

7 – Black Sky Infinity

8 – Dreamlounger

9 – Vaporware Vickies

10 – Dead Node

Roll a D10 - What is in the Nomads pockets?

 

Time for a little bit of cyberpunk flavored randomness. While looking through the pockets of a Nomad, either deceased, being searched or while the are unconscious, what do you find?

What did you find in the Nomads pockets?

1 – An old fashioned metal cased compass

2 – A chip box containing six different language chips

3 – High ends set of sunglasses in a bulletproof case

4 – A large key ring with 40+ different keys on it

5 – Small pocket journal written in code, no key is provided

6 – Pocket photo album of Nomad family members

7 – Highly polished palm sized mirror in a protective case

8 – Pack of high end triple nicotine cigarettes

9 – Pouch of caffeine infused long cut chewing tobacco

10 – Dataslug filled with various atlases and city maps

Roll a D10 - Who is the cult leader?

 

Who is the cult leader in the small town, the one no one would expect?

1 – The young popular science teacher at the middle school.

2 – Owner of the home-style bakery that opened up a couple years ago.

3 – The police dispatcher that helps organize the Christmas toy drive every year.

4 – That old guy who is always panhandling at a couple different intersections in town.

5 – The kindly old lady who has run that fabric and craft store in town for decades.

6 – The garbage collector.

7 – The guy who always seems to be working the counter at a local convenience store.

8 – The nice old man who sits at the local diner all the time talking about what he did “after the war”.

9 – A popular high school cheerleader who seems very shallow about everything.

10 – The town drunk who spends a lot of nights in the local jail sobering up.

KMFDM - JUKE JOINT JEZEBEL | REMASTERED | - Official Music Video

Weekly Health 11/11/24

 

Starting weight: 362

Weigh in this week: 354.5

Well now at least this time there is progress. I was up a pound last week to 360 but now I lost that and then some more. So I'm not down a total of 7.5 pounds. Just gotta keep going the same direction. 

Mentally I'm in the toilet but that's due to a lot of factors this week. Going to try to start working on some new material for Truly Rural this week and push myself to be at least a little productive. 

Time to go do some more walking around a local park while playing Ingress.

Deloraine - Odin, Havranů Pán (Lord of Ravens) - OFFICIAL VIDEO

Weekly Health 11/4/24

 

Starting weight: 362

Weigh in this week: 360

So I'm up one pound over last week. Not happy about that. But this week has been hard on me. Had a cold or sinus issue, messed with my sleeping on the CPAP. Last night I didn't even make it an hour because I was coughing to much. 

Weight wise I haven't been eating anything bad. But I didn't get out to walk as much due to weather and coughing. So I'm assuming that's part of it. 

Mental health is in the toilet as well. I've always had huge issues with 'imposter syndrome' with anything I work on. It's why I never finish hardly anything or just stop working on things I am getting done. That hit hard this week as well. 

Just a bad week. Hopefully. Next week we'll see if it's a trend. 

Only War Tabletop Terrain

 

One of the great things about working at a game shop is meeting lots of other gamers. Thankfully for me, most of the time it's a good thing. Especially when you see some of them really moving into the hobby and becoming creators.

Bud and Terry are two such folks. They met each other playing Warhammer 40k and quickly became great friends. Now they are in business together making some high end 3D printed terrain for tabletop wargames. Most of it with a Warhammer theme and feel.  

You can find them at their website, on Instagram and Facebook.

I enjoy talking with these guys every time they come into the shop. Although I've only got to hang out and talk to them a little bit while not on the clock. Someday that will happen more often I hope. 

But check out their growing business. It's pretty awesome.