REALITY CHECK

Progress when they investigate the Glitches,

the nature of the train, try to remember, etc
As the bar progresses, GLITCHES manifested by
the Neural Network get increasingly weird.

The voice making announcements on

the PA system is remarkably familiar
to them.
GM ADVICE
The ads inside and outside all say Answer the questions in italic collaboratively.
things like: don’t run, face them,
destroy now, go back, I’m here; Ask for details. What kind of passengers do we see?
anything showing the number 12. What does your cyberware look like? Where did you get
that sword from?

They notice the cityscape outside Whether you choose to be more up front about the
never changes (spot on a specific scenario’s true nature or not, don’t mind them figuring
building or landmark), like they are it out early. The Run is mostly about them dealing with
on loop or traveling in circles. the discovery. Besides, they can only take advantage of
the Simulacrum when the Reality progress bar is filled.
Whenever unconscious, PCs get
flashes of themselves laying down Once they realise they are in a Simulacrum, they might
with a strong light on their faces want to “hack reality”. Allow this by asking for a
and a familiar face looking at them. roll and/or a Stress cost just like on a Flashback.

The door to the next car leads to Skilled adversaries act whenever the fiction says so.
the opposite side door in the same If PCs choose to interfere, their rolls determine how
car (the Pac-man loop). effective those actions are.

Passengers start behaving like they

are in a cheap computer game: swap /RUN WRITTEN BY EMANOEL MELO
faces, seats, don’t react to the
mess, repeat dialogs. PLAYTESTED BY BRENO MACEDO, DIEGO SANCHEZ, NATHALIA FORTE

SOUND EFFECTS MIXING BY LUIGI CALISTRATO

The train suddenly starts to
descend at a very steep angle, FORMAT INSPIRED BY SEAN NITTER’S AND A COUPLE OF
causing an effect similar to zero-G. DRAKES’ SCORES FOR BLADES IN THE DARK

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE HACK COMMUNITY OVER

When the bar is filled up, they learn THE FORGED IN THE DARK DISCORD SERVER :BLOBWHALE:
that THIS IS A SIMULACRUM — a virtual AND TO DAVID LOMBARDO FOR FRUITIFUL FEEDBACK!
environment built for navigating highly
complex neural networks. Which Neural
Network is this? Why are they protecting it
from the Black Hounds? Why did they forget?
Move on to Act 2.
 MIND THE GAP IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD CBR+PNK /
OBSTACLES P.A. ANNOUNCEMENTS
RUN (OR SCENARIO) IDEAL FOR INTRODUCING BOTH Throw in occasional announcements over the
Black Hounds
Public Address system. This is a limited medium
PLAYERS AND GMS TO THE SYSTEM.
that the Neural Network uses to communicate
Paramilitary Squad with the PCs. Use the ones below or improvise.
THE WHOLE /RUN IS DIVIDED INTO THREE ACTS Slow, neural-linked weapons, assault gear.
(BELOW). EVERYTHING ELSE IS INFORMATION THE GM Running can cause accidents. Please, do not
MIGHT NEED TO ADJUDICATE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. At first they are there to make sure the PCs move run. Go back instead.
towards Car 22. Whenever PCs linger around for too
long, a new team respawns in a previous car. The use of firearms is prohibited inside the
SETTING vehicle. The Transmetropolitan Monorail Company
thanks for your compliance.
Neural Network
The /RUN happens inside a transmetropolitan
monorail train racing through an endless urban Today is a good day to die ride.
sprawl. The PCs are tasked with protecting and Will use its very limited control of the Simulacrum
delivering a Package. But something feels off. to alert the PCs, slow down their progress, help them Enjoy refreshments from our vending machines
fight the BLACK HOUNDS back and ultimately even try to spread throughout the train.
Unknown to them none of this is happening in kill them to prevent the delivery of the package:
meatspace, but instead inside a Simulacrum - We will reach destination in 23
0 minutes.
a virtual environment for navigating highly Manifest GLITCHES (see back panel).
complex neural networks. Their original goal was Fuck, [character’s name].
Deploy help: surveillance or troubleshooting droids.
to protect the NETWORK from a virus, but it was
overwritten when their minds were hacked. Electronically lock up all doors. Please, secure your packages (or throw them
through the window NOW).
Now they are unwittingly rushing to deliver THE
The Package (True form)
PACKAGE to infect the Neural Network’s core. Dear passengers, please get the fuck out
through car 12. Not 22. Twelve.
Present the STARTING SITUATION and let them Skilled Virus
decide what to do next. Follow from there. Well-armored, 4 tentacle-like arms ending with claws, Download the audio files:
no discernible head. emanoelmelo.itch.io/mind-the-gap

Act 1: Off the rails Act 2: Up to speed Act 3: Hopping off

They begin in car 18, with a package in hands, After further investigation (they’ve filled the Whenever they hop off (either through door
a flashbang just detonated. From one side, the Reality Check progress bar) they find out the package 12 or 22), they wake up in an underground
BLACK HOUNDS push their way through the crowd. is actually a virus and they were inadvertently facility. Cables all over them, plugs in their
On the other, an electronically locked door. delivering it to the Neural Network’s core (car 22). heads, wires monitoring vital signs etc.
Everything is makeshift, salvaged tech.
They recall their objective is to: Who sent the virus? Do they want to control or to
DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO THE EXTRACTION POINT AT destroy the Neural Network? Is there anyone else with them?
CAR NUMBER 22.
Their objective reverts back. Now they must either Whatever happens now depends on how successful
The NEURAL NETWORK slowly starts to intervene. PUSH THE BLACK HOUNDS AND THE PACKAGE BACK TO CAR 12 they were and how you answered the questions
or try to DESTROY THE PACKAGE. from Act 2. Wrap up and montage out as usual.
Communication attempts with external sources
only open opportunities for GLITCHES. However they approach the situation, THE PACKAGE
If a PC dies here, they also die in real life. itself will reveal its true form and fight back.