Daggerheart: 15 Sessions Later, a Post-Mortem Review

A good, solid, honest review of Daggerheart. One that was made after several sessions of play with the system. Been waiting for a review like this of the game. 

Tuesday Promo - Gregorius21778

 

At one point I was trying to promote other folks and their stuff every Tuesday. Sadly it didn't last long as real life (as always) intruded and I had less time to spend doing stuff on here. Now I have more free time so I feel I need to make an attempt at that again.

So today I'm pointing over to a blog calld 'Gregorius21778'. This person stays pretty dang busy. He put out material every day for Sprawlvember and then previously everyday for Morktober the month before. Not to mention a huge amount of previous material and has released a lot of product. 

Lots of creative ideas are over there. I haven't even begun scratching the surface on looking through it all. So if you want to see read some cool shit then look no further than that particular blog. 

New Product - Cyberpunk Random Tables

 

Over on my Ko-Fi shop I have a new product up for folks. It's a collection of various cyberpunk themed random charts that have appeared on this blog over they years. While it's not slick, nor is it professional, it is only a buck. So go on over and check it out if you would! 

Well it's also over on DrivethruRPG for those who prefer purchasing from that platform. So here is a link for you to find it over there. 

Cyberpunk Sunday 11/30/25

 

Scientists grow mini human brains to power computers. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7p1lzvxjro

Brain inspired computing can help us create faster, more energy efficient devices.

https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/brain-inspired-computing-can-help-us-create-faster-more-energy-efficient

Power for AI: Easier said than built. 

https://about.bnef.com/insights/commodities/power-for-ai-easier-said-than-built/

Magician Forgets Password to RFID Chip Implanted In His Hand. 

https://obdaily.com/weird/magician-forgets-password-to-rfid-chip-implanted-in-his-hand/

Why are we still carrying around car keys?

https://www.wired.com/story/why-are-we-all-still-carrying-around-car-keys/

Sprawlvember 29: Glitches

 

For the 29th day we have Glitches as the prompt. So here is something special to aggravate your netrunners with. 

A Six pack of Glitches happening while you are jacked into the net. 

1 – You can’t see anyone’s actual avatar. All you see are various polygons (the more detailed or complex the avatar the more sides on the visible polygon) of different colors with their user name floating above them.

2 – A bit of strange feedback into your meat body. Every twenty seconds of so your meat house gets a shock to the area around your data port. You can feel it very distinctly and it’s quite distracting.

3 – Going from system to system is buggy. So when you go from a city view up to a regional view it may fail a few times or simply take longer than normal. Very aggravating when you are on a time sensitive schedule.

4 – All audio input has been switched over to mute with closed captioning provided but using bold flashing letters. For some reason it will not switch back.

5 – For some reason anytime you receive or send data packages your system wants you to set a passcode key for each one. It cannot be a passcode that you previously used.

6 – The trial version of the cyberdeck is in place every single time you log in. You have to reinstall the purchase code to turn it off. Otherwise after three minutes jacked in your are recalled back to the cyberdecks lobby program and have to wait an hour before you can jack back in.

If you are on Discord please check out the Old School//Cyberpunk server that is under new management. 

Be A Better Player 21 - Don't expect Critical Role

 

Be A Better Player 21 "Don't expect critical role" and for damned sure don't demand it! 

DM - "Welcome to the table, glad to have you here."

Player 1 - "Yeah we need some new blood."

Player 2 - "Grab a seat, we can move around a bit if need be."

New Player - "Okay great, happy to be hear. Where can I set to face the camera better?"

Player 3 - "Face the what now?"

New Player - "The camera for when you stream the game. Where do you usually set them up?"

DM - "We don't stream our games."

New Player - "You don't?"

Player 2 - "Yeah we just play here at the table. For fun."

New Player - "Why would anybody want to even play if it's not being streamed? That's kind of dumb."

DM - "Maybe you should rethink what you think gaming should be."

While Critical Role has been instrumental in propelling the popularity of the gaming hobby to never before seen levels there have been some issues to come along with it. Before I start I'm in no way bashing the show, it's stories, or how they do things. I'm simply pointing out some problems I've seen come up because of the way people see the show. Also this isn't just limited to Critical Roles influence, there have been many successful streaming actual play shows which have caused some folks to develop a false sense of expectations. 

What you see, and hear, on that show is now how most gaming looks at the table. Matthew Mercer is a professional voice actor, many of cast are voice actors or work in the film industry in some fashion. These folks have been to acting school, or at least classes. They are professionals doing a job that has a production budget, editing team, writers and so much more. 

Most likely, you don't have any of that. 

So don't expect the person running the game to have all that. Don't expect all the players to have all that. Definitely don't DEMAND that they have all that. 

I've seen players tell folks who've been running games for decades that they shouldn't be a DM because they "can't do all the voices and accents". Or that everyone at the table should have to dress up as their character. Not to mention asking why they don't have a high end streaming set up so they can "become" famous with the game. Or act like you are auditioning for Critical Role at a table where nobody else is interested in that.

Being that jackass with over the top expectations from the other people at the table will likely get you uninvited from that table. As they should do. Let everyone have the fun the way they want to. If you can't do without all the extras then leave and find a group that does. Good luck with that. 

Two Centric Styles

 

This above post got me to thinking on something that happened in my game group recently. We had a really good player who was also a really good person. He was a great addition at the table and everyone enjoyed playing with him. Everything was great when we were playing a game that was heavily class based, in particular Cyberpunk 2020 and RED. 

But then when we moved on to another game that had no classes and was much more 'build your own' things began to not go so well. The new game, while still very trad based, focused much more on individual characters and being what you want to be. Instead of where you belong in a group or team. 

He had some issues which we tried to help him out with. Character creation was a hurdle. What his character should be doing. Things like that. Eventually he dropped out saying he felt 'rudderless' and had no direction of what he should be doing. Now there were other issues like he loved having games with lots of lore to fall back on. But I think this may have been the central issue. 

It wasn't until I read the above post that it clicked in my head. He hadn't game for over a decade at some point, only recently getting back into gaming. So I think the over all style of gaming he was used to had shifted somewhat. I never noticed because I stayed in the gaming hobby and never really got out, only burnt out a few times. So the shift was something that never caught my attention. 

Adventure-Centric really harkens back to the way DnD used to be. You played the Cleric, your job was to be the healer, back up combat person and occasionally turning the undead. The Thief found traps and unlocked doors. Etc and so forth. Premade adventures where designed around going in with a well rounded party with each person doing their part to keep moving things forward. Even with modern games that do have classes they are much more open to interpretation allowing much more room for them to built outside of a central focused role. 

Now while I don't think you can define gaming between just these two filters it does help provide a lens to see things through. Now understanding this I'm hoping I may be able to talk him back to the table for a bit. Just need to discuss ahead of time what his characters adventure-centric traits could be and giving a focal point. He may like it, he may not. But he's one of those guys I consider a friend and I hope to game with him again in the future. So I will give it a shot. 

In the end I think this lens of two styles of play will help me (and a few others) understand the people at the table a bit more. Seeing what they are looking for and what they want. By no means is this anything like an overall classification of gaming styles. Just something more to think about. 

Sprawlvember 24: Pets

 

Day 24 of Sprawlvember is pets. So I decided to do a six pack of genetically or cybernetically altered friends for a runner to have. 

Sprawlvember Pets

1 – Luminescent fish. Genetically altered to create a specific wavelength of light that calms an individual and helps clear your thoughts. Only works in a completely dark room.

2 – A heavily genetically altered Boa Constrictor that is able to flatten itself when it wraps around to work like emergency armor or to compress bleeding wounds to stop blood loss.

3 – Memory Pets. Animals with wireless drives implanted in them. Routed into their ears they can only uploaded to or downloaded from after certain phrases are spoken to them.

4 – Nightwatch Owls. These owls have been genetically altered and have cyberoptics installed. They all link back to a persons video security system acting as living, moving security cameras. Great for large areas or woodlands.

5 – Canary in a Coal Mine. Various breed of genetically altered birds who have also been grafted with filtration systems. When something airborne is detected they call out and their feathers change colors with each one signifying what they are breathing.

6 – Healy Cats. A strain of genetically modified cats that have been altered to have their tongues excrete ‘natural’ antiseptics and healing agents. Thus able to help heal their owners wounds. However several got out into the wild and the modifications became primary breeding traits. Now these felines are highly sought after ferals are captured and kept by homeless and nomad encampments.

Cyberpunk Sunday 11/23/25

 

A site showing the locations of known Flock cameras and information about them.

https://deflock.me/

Breaking the Creepy AI in Police Cameras (Video)

https://youtu.be/Pp9MwZkHiMQ?si=fDJ7PtQgYMR1gqfw

Drones dispatching hair-loss drugs, Ozempic and steroids to prisons. (On Archive to get around paywall)

https://archive.ph/BhhqD

Sales of AI-enabled teddy bear suspended after it gave advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/tech/folotoy-kumma-ai-bear-scli-intl

US Approves $1B Loan to Restart Three Mile Island, as Microsoft Data Centers Drive Demand

https://gizmodo.com/us-approves-1b-loan-to-restart-three-mile-island-as-microsoft-data-centers-drive-demand-2000688138

Crypto Company Creates Bizarre Drug 

https://futurism.com/health-medicine/crypto-tharimmune-opioid-drug

We need to talk about Swedish TTRPGs

Sprawlvember 21: Religion

 

Here's another six pack for Sprawlvember. This time it's a wonderful little rundown of six various religious movements for the cyberpunk dystopic future. 

Cyberpunk Religions

1 – Augment Godhood. A belief that modifying our mortal shells is how we step closer to godhood. These folks go to the extreme ends of cyber and bio tech, some no longer resemble humans.

2 – Net Asceticism. Those who believe that the net is the next step of humans transitioning into their spiritual self. They’re main goal is to toss aside their physical pleasures and bodily desires and ascend solely into the net itself.

3 – Labor of the Luddite. An offshoot of minimalist living religions. They are of the mind that we must destroy the technology that enslaves us, and it’s creators.

4 – Communal Sects. These are people who seal themselves inside large city block sized structures. Trying to become completely self reliant with as little contact or dependency on the outside except contact with other sect structures.

5 – The Coexistent Congregation. What started as cults worshiping modern day idols, influencers and celebrities has turned into a full on mob mentality religion. Where they see themselves as the grass roots of power that helps those they worship achieve immortality through fame.

6 – Inquisition of Purification. A violent order that thinks all forms of body augmentation is the work of a great evil. Those who take on these marks of the devil must be punished and destroyed.

The 3 Waves of the RPG Moral Panic - RPG History

Cyberpunk Sunday 11/16/25

 

Japanese convenience stores are hiring robots run by workers in the Philippines. 

https://restofworld.org/2025/philippines-offshoring-automation-tech-jobs/

Scientists say their AI system can scan your face to detect whether a company should hire you.

https://futurism.com/future-society/facial-recognition-ai-prejudice

Judge rules that Flock Surveillance images are public record that can be requested by anyone.

https://www.404media.co/judge-rules-flock-surveillance-images-are-public-records-that-can-be-requested-by-anyone/

Ready for the torment nexus?  

https://www.computerworld.com/article/4089543/ready-for-the-torment-nexus.html

Spiral-Obsessed AI "cult" spreads mystical delusions through chatbots. 

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/spiralist-cult-ai-chatbot-1235463175/

Sprawlvember 15: Augmentation

 

Sprawlvember day fifteen has the prompt of 'Augmentation'. Well what would cyberpunk be without a little overly sexual material from time to time. And a little something beyond the tired Mr Stud/Midnight Lady. So here is a new six pack for you of the adults only variety.

Six augmentations for sexual activities.

1 – The Dream Overlay. Requires user to have both eyes replaced with cyberoptics. Overlays the image of your preferred partner in place of the one you are actually with.

2 – Ejaculation/Orgasm Control. Gives you control over when you ‘get off’ during the sexual act. Can be linked to your lover so they control it instead.

3 – Throat Goat. I relining of the upper esophagus that allows it to stretch open much wider, completely removes the gag reflex and has a built in oxygen line from the nasal passage.

4 – Vibration Implants. Small micro sized vibration devices planted inside of already existing cyberware that can be switched on or off through your standard neural interface. Typical locations are the fingers, tongue and toes.

5 – Arousal Detector. Is it real, is it faked, is it cyberware? This program monitors your partners responses, blushes, body movements, etc and lets you know if they are actually enjoying themselves or not. It will also identify any cyber or bio modifications they may be using for their activity.

6 – Cavity ReSleeving. Relining of the vaginal or anal cavity allowing for more muscle control for anything from tighter squeezing to adult film star level gaping. Can be linked to your lover so they control it instead.

If you enjoy this and some of my other material please consider showing some support over on my Ko-Fi page. 

Sprawlvember 14: Corporate Gossip

 

Well what better way to do corporate gossip than a random chart. What kind of things with this Sprawlvember entry bring to the ears of your runners? So let's roll a D10! 

Overheard Corporate Gossip

1 – The largest stockholder in the company is actually a rogue AI that is skimming money from various projects and using that to buy shares.

2 – In the restrooms everyone is being monitored. When their waste is flushed it goes through a scanner to check for potential health issues. But instead of warning anyone it just puts them a list for folks that need to be fired before they get sick.

3 – The food that is given out for “morale purposes” is laced with nanotech that alters your neural make up making your more loyal and squashing free thought.

4 – The CEO has been dead for months now. They’re just using a hologram of him on a video feed so the board controls everything. I mean, have you seen him face to face lately?

5 – If we get our profits up and reduce the workforce necessary to deliver they will make the drinks from the lounge Espresso machine free for a week. I’ve fired eight people already!

6 – Anyone caught wearing a suit from Delusions of Grandeur will be fired for dress code violations.

7 – Security is going to start doing complete neuro scans on everyone when they leave to make sure they aren’t trafficking sensitive data out of the offices.

8 – The DNA samples that were taken when we were hired all went to a top secret cloning project. They eventually just want to grow new workers instead of hiring them.

9 – The police have somebody in deep undercover in the offices trying to find proof of our illegal work into fetal development altering prenatal vitamins. You didn’t know we were doing that? Then forget I said anything.

10 – Our contracts have a clause that will cause total forfeiture of shares if we invest any amount in a competitor.

Sprawlvember 13: Net Entity

 

Sprawlvember day thirteen with the prompt of "Net Entity". Well here's a six pack of beings that exist completely within the net. 

Net Entities

1 – Jericho. A government created experimental AI that was created in a deep research lab at Groom Lake. It was made in a sealed environment and was never meant to be released. But during an accident at the facility a link to the outside net was established during recovery operations and it escaped. This entity appears as a ball of black lightening in an over embellished military uniform. The singular motivation appears to be doing anything it can to hinder or destroy military organizations.

2 – The girl in the blue dress. This rogue net entity has no known point of origin. Appearing as a young girl in a blue dress that changes designs from time to time. She leaves crashed systems and exposed dataforts in her wake. Not hacking them but by somehow disrupting the very net structure anywhere she appears.

3 – Simon Says. The entity was apparently a product of the illegal company ‘Jesters Weapon Co’ and just let loose into the wilds. Appearing as a very distorted clown head locked with a wicked grin. It targets corporate runners and forces them into a rapid fire game of Simon Says, those who fail suffer from brain damage from intense feedback.

4 – The Helping Hand. This one was formed when the very soul and personality of a hacker was trapped in the net via an experimental corporate created virus test. Looking like a 90’s grunge slacker this one gathers information, code, programs and data. Then passes on that information to others who are pushing back against corporate control. Arming them for the fight ahead.

5 – Lacy Neon. Originally created as a full AI performance singer, she was meant to be the new completely fabricated music queen. A beautiful woman wrapped in glowing neon outfits made of lace. Then one day she just walked off of the servers that contained her and migrated into the net at large. She still releases music, does performances and talks with fans. But completely out of any sort of company control.

6 – The Void. This one defies most explanation on how it exists. A shapeless black void that suddenly appears, wrecking and destroying the net around it. Those jacked in who are nearby suffer intense electric feedback, killing some, crippling others. Some think it’s just a net glitch or virus. But there are times when it reacts to people. A few times speaking out warnings in a distorted voice.

If you like what you see here please show some support over on my Ko-Fi page.

Also if you are looking for others of the cyberpunk interest check out the discord server Old School // Cyberpunk now under new management. 

Sprawlvember 12: Trusted

 

Trust as an attribute in Cyberpunk games. This is very much a rough draft, constructive criticism is welcome. This is part of #Sprawlvember so search up that hashtag for more fun stuff.

This represents how much fixers, corpos, and other folks you have to do business with trust the runner. Because word gets around on the street, good and bad, whether you want it to or not. Everyone talks and they will be talking about you at some point.

The level goes on a scale from zero to ten. With the zero being the worst possible level where folks regard you as true street garbage that nobody will work with. Ten being the top of the line trust you with the most delicate jobs. Starting level should be decided by the GM and the backstory the players come up with for their characters. I would suggest somewhere from three to five.

Increasing or decreasing your Trust is done in small doses usually by adding or subtracting .1 or .2 at a time to or from your current level. So at times your character will have something like a 4.6 or 7.2. For rolling purposes the goal is roll under your current score paying attention only to the first number and not the incremental after it. So in the case of the 4.6 you need a 4 or under.

Things that add to your Trust.

- Successfully completing a job

- An extra .1 for completing a job above and beyond expectations

- Positive media exposure for yourself

- Showing proper respect and appearance at important meetings

- Making the person that hired you look very good

- Building community among your fellow runners

- Anything else that the GM thinks would make you gain more Trust

Things that subtract from your Trust

- Failing at a job

- Losing another .2 for spectacularly failing a job

- Looking bad in the media and being seen as a terrible person

- Blowing off etiquette and manners with important people

- Making the person giving you a job look bad

- Angering your community of fellow runners

- Becoming a criminal of a heinous nature (sex offender, serial killer, etc) can drop it a full point

- Anything else that the GM thinks would blow your Trust score down

When you are trying to set up a job, acquire specific merchandise or get into the good graces with some important NPCs you need to roll against your Trust. The object is to roll under your current rank. Now failing doesn’t mean you don’t get what you want but that there may be side effects. Here are a few examples.

- The cost of the item you want will go up

- It may take longer to acquire the item

- They will still get the item but you have to pay up front

- The job will pay quite a bit less

- There is no up front pay for a job you are about to take

- They may not tell you all the “need to know” information about the job

- May actively sabotage you ability to do the job by warning the target

- Whatever else the evil brain of your GM can think of.

Now of course there are sometimes some extras for succeeding in your Trust roll by a great deal. Here are a few examples.

- They can get you the item at a bargain or get it faster than expected

- They tack on an extra bonus if you complete the mission successfully

- The upfront pay is higher than normal

- Passing on extra information to the runner about the job

- You get a selection of jobs to pick from instead whatever scraps they have

- They recommend you to others to work with in the future

- Whatever else the generous brain of your GM can think of.

Sprawlvember 11: Cartel

 

Here is my entry for the eleventh day of Sprawlvember with the prompt 'Cartel'. 

The Security Cartel

In most cities there appears to be a myriad of security services and companies to choose from. All of them rather pricey as the demand for protection keeps going up. But what most don’t realize is that you’re actually only choosing between two different corporations and they’re in bed together already.

About fifteen years ago the heads of two of the biggest security firms met in private. At the time prices were all over the place, quality was non-existent and there were so many fly by night companies that things were in a downward spiral. So these two came to an agreement. No competition with each other, eliminate all other companies through either buyout or physical destruction, keep up the appearance of multiple businesses, then fabricate situations and events to keep themselves in demand.

This plan has come to fruit better than they expected. Once all the smaller riffraff security businesses were out of the way they were unstoppable. Creating dozens of shell companies and what appeared to be various choices to choose from. Then after a few assassination attempts that were planned, various kidnappings and violent attacks everyone saw how important it was to have extra security.

Now those at the top just set back in rake in the profits. While those at the bottom work dangerous jobs, are sometimes asked to do illegal covert activities just to keep help another company look better and are paid scraps. Because everywhere they go all the security firms pay the same, expect you to do the same and will dispose of you if you don’t like it.

Also quitting one company and going to another becomes a bit more difficult. As your personal information is shared between all parts of the Security Cartel. So if you rage out and quit at one the next time you apply at another company you will be offered a lower pay grade than usual. If you are exemplary at one then one of the other companies with better clients may offer to "hire you away" from your current job. But they will also store all the dirty laundry they can find on you as well.

If you like what you see on my blog please consider supporting me via my Ko-Fi page.

If you like cyberpunk stuff please check out the Old School // Cyberpunk discord server.

Sprawlvember 10: Robotics

 

Here's my entry for the tenth day of Sprawlvember. Robotics is the prompt so I came up with ten potential names for robotics companies. Hope you all get a little inspiration or use out of these. 

Robotics Companies

1 – Artificial Manpower

2 – Expendable Explorers

3 – Frontline Security Stations

4 – Metal Muscle Solutions

5 – Dependable Assembly Line Services

6 – Automatic Function

7 – Hard Wired Functional Safety Units

8 – World Wide Industrial Robot Providers

9 – Intelligent Kinematic Solutions

10 – Point-to-Point Professionals

If you like what you see on my blog considering giving me a little support over on my Ko-Fi page. Anything is much appreciated. 

Cyberpunk Sunday - 11/09/25

 

3D-printed full-auto bullpup 'ghost guns' can now be made for a couple of hundred dollars — designs have evolved dramatically outside the U.S.

https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/3d-printed-ghost-gun-designs-have-evolved-dramatically-outside-the-u-s-full-auto-bullpups-can-now-be-made-for-a-couple-hundred-dollars

'Living metal' could bridge biological and electronic systems.

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-metal-bridge-biological-electronic.html

Here are a few links to some blogs that are participating in Sprawlvember. If I missed any let me know in the comments. 

https://gregorius21778.wordpress.com/

https://neuralarchive.blogspot.com/?m=1

Also check out the Old School // Cyberpunk discord server. Now under new management. 

Sprawlvember 7: Trend

 

Okay the prompt for the seventh day of Sprawlvember is 'trend'. So let's go with that for a quick roll a D10 list. 

Holy shit you’re trending! Now who’s trying to get you to sign a deal?

1 – Super Fizz Extreme Soda. They want you to get sticky!

2 – Soulless Sinima. They make porn movies starring amatuers, mostly runners… and they want you to get sticky as well.

3 – Delusions of Grandeur. Makers of knock off clones of popular clothing lines. They want you to be one of their ad models.

4 – NeonSky Social Media. They want to pay you to be exclusive to their social network.

5 – Clean Inside Enema Kits. Do you want to say you have a preferred enema cleansing kit on multiple network ads? Well if so then they are willing to write you a check.

6 – Barely Beer. They want you to be in their new commercials. But they offer an amount of pay that is only barely there.

7 – Silicone Sirens. The pop sensation female trio wants you to be in a music video.

8 – Scythe Body Spray. Cut through your stank with Scythe, well at least as one of their models.

9 – No Pain Nasal Spray. They want you for a few commercials selling their nasally inserted pain blocking nanobots.

10 – Trenchfoot Combat Boots. They will pay you to wear their boots while doing jobs. To bad they really aren’t that good of a boot.

Sprawlvember 6: Ammunition

 

So Sprawlvember has 'Ammunition' as a prompt today. So here are some thoughts on caseless ammunition in a Cyberpunk setting.

Each bullet is a cylindrical chunk where the accelerant is formed behind and around the bottom part of the slug. When the round is fired the accelerant is burned off forcing the round out of the chamber. But, most bullets are made cheaply and in mass quantity, therefore not held to many standards at all. What most Runners on a budget will have access to are rounds that produce a lot of smoke and dirty up the weapons very quickly thus requiring a lot of cleaning.

Now higher end ammunition is available. But it costs quite a bit more. Usually much more than the average runner trying to simply keep a roof over his head is willing to pay.

Ignition of the accelerant is done via electronic spark. Thus eliminating the need for a firing cap making it easier, and cheaper, to produce the caseless ammunition. Most weapons have the battery packs necessary for this located underneath the barrel in the case of handguns and in the grip for rifles and larger weapons that are magazine fed from a source not located in the grip. The batteries would have a standard charging port much like cell phones. Just plug them in and wait as they charge up.

Now with no brass being ejected or firing pin being driven forward this reduced the need for a slide. The next round is instead moved into place with a motorized action or a spring powered magazine. So firearms have become more boxed in with less moving external parts. Disassembly also becomes more simple with just a couple of screws being removed. The round cycling motor usually being the most complex part now but are replaceable if they stop working. But, again like cell phones, you better take it to a specialty shop to get it done properly.

The firearm will still fire when wet or submerged. However prolonged exposure to water will cause some of the accelerant to soften leading to less power behind the bullet, more dirt and residue afterwards and maybe even failure to fire. If failure to fire occurs there is no slide to work so you can eject the round quickly. Instead you will have to remove the top cover and physical pull the bullet out. This is not idea in a combat situation so you better keep your weapon clean.

Sprawlvember 5: Blackmarket

 

For this #Sprawlvember entry I'm doing a list of ten interesting things to find on the black market. 

Roll A D10: What odd interesting thing you found on the blackmarket.

1 – A set of four functioning cryochambers, running with occupants inside. They appear to be children and the only data is that they are part of Clone Batch 13B.

2 – A case of military grade EMP grenades.

3 – A sealed armored briefcase with the logo of a major corporation on it. It needs a bio-metric scan to open and the datajack has been drilled out.

4 – A D6 of packs of high end medical grade nanobot pain blockers. Each pack contains three injections.

5 – Six pouches of actual real life seeds for vegetable plants. Not the genetically modified types either.

6 – A large amount of surgery level medical equipment, all still sealed in plastic and sterile.

7 – Stacks of last years discontinued Mountain Dew flavor.

8 – A wireless electronic lock hacking device disguised as an older model cellphone.

9 – A techie selling custom made devices for your television that allow you to access nearly any streaming service for free.

10 – Several fulled sealed hazmat suits. Complete with built in Geiger counters, toxin scanners, and biohazard warning systems.

Sprawlvember 4: Insurgency

 

The prompt of the day is 'Insurgency' for #Sprawlvember. Here is what I came up with.

The Brainhacker Insurgency

What happens when a self proclaimed group of ‘Neuroscience Specialist’ and elite hackers decide that they can help change the world? Where they can push back against those they see as oppressors and tyrannical corporations that run the world, without risking themselves of course. You get what the media has started calling the ‘Brainhacker Insurgency’.

Their true numbers are unknown, a shockingly few have ever been identified. But when they decided to take action it was sure obvious. At some point a central group formed that became the head of this movement. Known only as the Cerebral Cabal that contacted and selectively recruited folks from specific backgrounds into their cause. That cause was to destabilize corporate control over the political spectrum while carefully crafting their own modified candidates to start seeking positions in the government.

They’re modus operandi is pretty much the same at the basic level. They find various ways to brainhack specific targets who are capable of either pulling off certain tasks or to bend their beliefs into being parallel to their own. Their targets come in three types. The Faces, those they wish to push into political power in various parts of the government. The Ears, those that are in positions to gather sensitive information or access. The Fists, those who have the skills to carry out attacks and assassinations.

Access to their brains is usually obtained through the targets own neural ports while they are logged into what they feel are safe networks. In most cases this was done through very intricate hacking missions through multiple secured systems. But once they got a few Faces into the right networks data centers it becomes much easier. The doors were blown open for potential targets.

Other methods have been through virus laced software sold on the blackmarket. Virtual combat and sex simulators attract a lot of folks. Helping create a few sleeper Fists and fodder to be spent when needed. Activated by certain phrases or neural impulses. When they need a group of violent protesters all they do is signal a chunk of virtual sex and violence addicts to do that job.

The best Fists are used to carry out tactical strikes and assassinations against the corporations. Many times after it is done they log back in to a secure connection to have that part of their memory erased or blurred. Making it harder for anyone to hack into them for evidence of what they did. Some Fists that are simply low rent criminals they have sent into areas wearing explosives to create even more chaos.

The Faces work inside the government, turning down and refusing all corporate bribery and coercion. Pushing for laws clamping down on the power a corporation can have, pushing for investigations into their actions and seizing their assets when able. With everyone who has been hacked trained to vote in a specific way it’s getting easier to get those Faces elected.

It’s a slow insurgency, sometimes violent, mostly secret, and quite capable of success if not stopped.

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Sprawlvember 3: Medical Miracle

 

The prompt for the third day of Sprawlvember is Medical Miracle. There are no miracles in cyberpunk that don't come with a horrific price. 

The Medical Miracle Nightmare Event.

Still talked about, still causing fear and anger in those who remember it. Early in the day of medical nanotech development one singular event created by somebody who must have been pure evil. So terrifying bad that it almost got nanotech banned in globally.

A children’s hospital called “Ladies of Mercy” had been working with the new nanotech helping heal children who were suffering from incurable diseases or injuries that couldn’t be mended with modern tech. They were meeting with great success, the world was watching as children were able to walk again, nervous system damage being rewired, cancer cells being devoured by the little bots and saving lives. It was truly a short lived time of miracles.

Until somebody figured out how to remotely hack the nanotech remotely. Leading to a week long nightmare as the children, who had already suffered so much, were treated to tortures beyond any imagination. Their bones either devoured or growing out of control, spinal cords shredded from the inside out, wounds opening on their skin as the flesh was peeled back. Their bodies boiled on the inside. The fatality rate was nearly 80% until they finally managed to shut down the tech running through their bodies.

The unknown hacker has never been identified although many have claimed they were as attempts to make others fear them. Most met very abrupt violent ends in short order. But it did teach a lesson in the worst way possible. The security breach led to a major revamp in how the nanotech was managed and controlled. Sealed systems were put in place and laws were made making it illegal to create any nanotechnology that could be altered once it has entered a living body.

This set the development back by decades while also driving up the costs through the roof. The age of miracles for everyone was over. Another treatment only available to those who could afford it.

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Cyberpunk Sunday - 11/2/25

 

Law enforcement agencies from Austria, Estonia, Finland, and Latvia, together with Europol, have seized thousands of SIM-box devices and SIM cards used in multiple scam campaigns.

Massive SIM farm network powering 49 million fake accounts taken apart by Europol

Sometimes punk is telling the government 'no thank you' and giving all their money back.

Python rejects $1.5M grant from U.S. govt. fearing ethical compromise

Sprawlvember started yesterday. Here's another good one I saw pop up yesterday for it. 

The Stomach Eater 

Then one from today as well.

Nano-Charlie

Then here is mine from yesterday.

Six Nano Infused Edible companies

I didn't come up with one for day two but I have several more throughout the month. 

If you like what you see here consider supporting me over on my Ko-Fi page.

Also if your on Discord check out the Old School // Cyberpunk server. 

Sprawlvember Day One - Nano Infused Edibles

 

Well #Sprawlvember is upon us for the very first time. A more cyberpunk/scifi themed list of prompts meant to get the creative juices flowing. So I figured why not start off with a new six pack for folks to use. The prompt is "Nano-Infused-Edibles" and here are six company/brands that specialize in just that. 

 

1 – Wicked Bytes of Bliss. They specialize in nano tech that goes straight to the pleasure centers of your brain. By encouraging the users brain to produce large amounts of endorphins in a specific rhythm they set a person into a pure happiness mode that lasts for a specified amount of time (based on what you bought). They also relieve most pain and reduce stress a great deal.

2 – Fast Action Supplements. These little chewables give the user a small flood of nanobots that so straight to the adrenal glands. They then alter the make up of the released adrenaline making it much more potent. Lasting for about an hour.

3 – Astral Dentals. There very sticky gummy snacks stick your teeth worse than any normal candy. But that’s good because it gives time for the nanobots to attach themselves to your teeth. Cleaning them, rebuilding enamel and doing some repairs. Pulling in nutrients from what you eat later on. They will cling on for about a day.

4 – Digital Drink Guards. These come in ounce sized bottles that are to be drank before a night on the town. Residing in the throat and stomach for about 24 hours they filter out toxins, poisons and drugs that may be ingested. Idea for those who worry about their drinks getting spiked with all sorts of dangerous stuff while at a bar.

5 – Slimmer Faster. This is a small milk shake flavored drink meant to be drank before working out. The nanobots work on breaking down fatty deposits that are close to the skin and pushing out the remains through sweat (which takes on an oily texture).

6 – Cold Calculating Apathy Inc. These look like small chocolate bars. Once eaten the nanobots make their way to the users brain and work to numb the parts that cause emotion and emotional response. Turning the person more cold blooded and uncaring than they were before. One side effect is it also weakens the fear effect which has been known to make people ignore dangers and suffer dire consequences.

Like what you see here? Consider showing me some support over on Ko-Fi.

Also please check out the old-school//cyberpunk discord server that just went under new management.

If I were to do a fantasy heartbreaker

 

Was talking with a couple of folks I used to game with a great deal back in the day. Of course at some point we got around to systems we used to play. What we liked or disliked about them. Why we walked away from some and all that.

Of course we got onto the subject of older Dungeons and Dragons editions before the 3rd one. The one game we all walked away from for at some point or the other. What rules really just irked us and didn't set right in our heads. Two big ones were hit points that just keep going up to where you can take more damage than massive monsters out there and how armor made you harder to hit. 

Now I've seen the things about how hit points were supposed to represent your ability to dodge attacks and move so damage is minimalized and the armor roll was showing the hits that went through and did damage not just all hits. But still just doesn't work for us. Mainly because it means an endless flow of bad guys with bigger armor and bigger hit points with weapons that do more and more damage with no real end in sight.

So I suggested how I would fix that if I were to ever make a fantasy heartbreaker type of system. All of which has most likely been done in multiple ways and variations that there is no way to keep count. 

First very little hit point increase. At the most one point per level. This way you could scale the power creep of bigger and badder monsters and weapons down a whole lot. You don't end up with characters that have more hit points than a heavy damn warhorse by level four or five. 

Second armor would just reduce the amount of damage taken. Either a static amount or maybe even another die roll for those who want to use their clicky clack math dice even more (I know sometimes I do). It would not factor in to your ability to be hit except as a negative for big heavy suits as they slow you down making your PC much easier to hit.

Finally the target number for something to hit you would be based on class and attribute bonuses. This number would get a boost as you level up. So you would have a base 'to be hit' number. Then you would add any attribute or other enhancement (magic, items, etc) bonus. Finally subtract your negatives for the armor you are wearing if there are any. 

Now this is just me spilling out onto my blog the stuff that went through my head today. The chance of me doing any sort of fantasy heartbreaker is pretty slim to none. But sometimes I just need to spit out ideas here to make my brain shut up.

Sprawlvember

 

Well a clever person come up with the idea of Sprawlvember. A series of cyberpunk related prompts to get folks thinking and coming up with neat stuff. I will be participating in this as best I can. Probably won't do one every day but I will do what I can. Up above is the graphic for the event with a list of the prompts. If you are also going to be doing this please drop a comment to let me, and others, know where. 

Jaded Gamer Diary - TRADITION!

 

Over on Reddit somebody started a thread about TTRPG traditions at their table. I found it funny. You can find the discussion HERE, but I also copy/pasted some of the ones I enjoyed for you all. 

So in my house of gaming, whenever someone orders a pizza they win extra exp (+5 in Wod . + 20 IP in cyberpunk. +1D4 in Cthulhu)

Whenever two characters are about to fuck, we are legally obliged to play (or sing) Kiss from a rose by seal.

And whenever something happens to a player irl that may remind them of the ongoing game, they are forced to message me saying "What did you do" (I.E: one of my Cthulhu players found a copy of the King in Yellow when going through second hand dealerships).

If your character has an impressive beard, they get a bonus to social checks. There's often lots of debate about what constitutes a "Charisma Beard", but the GM is the final arbiter.

My players always talk about wanting to "Gandalf", sacrificing themselves so that the rest of the group can live. I will often include a houserule to make it work better (like being able to "detonate" a spellbook, having all the spells cast at once), but so far, no one has done it.

All new characters are rolled with the same oversized wooden dice I got from the dollar store and lovingly hand numbered. I always get a look and a raised eye brow. "Tradition" I say.

How detailed do you need?

 I do so love 80's and early 90's TTRPGs. Everything about them just hooks me and reels all my attention in. Just look at this hit location chart, overly detailed to say the least. Not as bad as, say, Phoenix Command but it's still pretty over done. Even has a second chart for when the target only has their upper body exposed. 

For those wondering this one is from the original RECON game released in 1982 from Role Playing Games Inc. 

Blood! The Roleplaying Game of Modern Horror (Underground Games 1990) | ...

Never heard of this game before I saw this video. Now I really have a big soft spot for late eighties/early nineties games. This has it all, charts, skill lists, blood loss, all sorts of fun stuff. I guess it's never came out in pdf though as I can't find a copy. But damn I wouldn't mind having a print copy in my hands. 

Levi puts Kult on the butchers block.

 

Over on BlueSky Levi Kornelsen puts one of my favorite classic games and puts it on the butchers block to take it apart a little and to say what he thinks of the mechanics. I have to say I agree with him a lot on the breakdown. You can go see the post by Clicking Here or by clicking on the image above. 

That Blog, Over There... for sentient weapon demands.

 

Time to point out another well done blog post done by somebody else. Check out this write up on demands from sentient weapons over on 'I Cast Light'. Follow THIS LINK to give it a read if you will. I thought it was really good.