Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

//CREATE

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 2

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 MAKE IT YOUR OWN
You know the rules, you get the vibes, now it’s time to make the world of :Otherscape your own.
This chapter is designed to allow you to engineer everything you need to play: your series and
its concept, the unique Megacity your series is set within, and your crew of dangerous and
adventurous player characters. It’s intended for use by MCs and players alike, including
everyone in constructing the fundamentals of your game.

SERIES SETUP

This section takes you through all of the steps you need to create your game, from series
concept, through crew theme, Megacity design, character creation, and finally running the
introductory “A Night in the Megacity” scene.

THE MEGACITY GENERATOR

A complete system for generating a playable Megacity and its districts, from its weird Mythos
influences, to its cybered-up industrial accidents, to its corruption and warfare. Think of it as a
randomized dystopia generator you can use to turn any modern or imaginary city into something
just detailed enough to serve as a backdrop for your :Otherscape stories.

CHARACTER CREATION

Make your character step-by-step. You can choose from common mythic and cyberpunk tropes
to collect prepared theme kits, lists of ready-to-play tags, or go deeper into the details and
answer questionnaires called themebooks to create your character from scratch. Themebooks
and theme kits are organized into Self, Mythos, and Noise.

LOADOUT CATALOG

Here you’ll find an extensive catalog of loadout gear for your characters. Each entry represents
an item for sale over the counter or on the black market, or some kind of access or info. Items
include general descriptions for how they are used as well as a set of story tags you can choose
from when you load out.

GLOBAL TEAM PREGENS

Here you’ll find a set of five premade characters for use in any Megacity on the planet. Each is
an imperfect, deadly dreamer hoping for immortality on the streets. If you’re itching to just start
playing, pick one and get going.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 3

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 RAPID VS. CUSTOM CREATION
Whenever you use the tools in this chapter to create your series elements, you can choose
between Rapid and Custom options.

Rapid options are marked with ⚡ . When you go Rapid, you pick and choose from lists of
pre-made concepts and tags, instead of creating them from scratch. This allows you to
assemble full-fledged crews and PCs within minutes and quickly pick a premade Megacity in
which to play. Choose the rapid option if you want to get into the action quickly.

Custom options are marked with 🔨. If you want full control over the details, you can instead
go Custom, answering questions to come up with tags for your crew, generating a Megacity with
a random generator mini-game, and creating personally-tailored characters. Note that Custom,
obviously, takes longer than Rapid.

You can mix and match the two approaches for different elements of your series. For example,
you can pick a premade Megacity to play in, but create custom characters. Also, you can have
some players opt for rapid character creation, while others use custom character creation.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 4

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SERIES SETUP
The first thing you do when you sit down with your group to create your :Otherscape game is to
decide on what makes it your game. Gather everyone together, ask “So, what do you want to
play?” and have a session zero using this chapter as a guideline.

During this first session you’ll be creating your crew, the characters who make it up, and the city
around them. But first you’ll do a bit of thinking about what you intend to bring to the table,
define the nature of your story, and decide what is acceptable and what isn’t allowed. You’ll end
the session with a short play, to flesh out your team dynamics and the interesting details of their
lives in the Megacity.

As the MC of an :Otherscape adventure, first read through this chapter and familiarize yourself
with it. Spend some time jotting down ideas and notes that come to you. Think about the kind of
games you want to run before you bring your friends in and see what type of game they want to
have.

Your series setup will take about the length of one or two regular sessions (3-4 hours) if you go
Custom, but using the Rapid options and making quick choices can boil it down to 15 minutes,
not including “A Night In The Megacity”.

The series setup steps are:

SERIES – STEP 1: CHOOSE A SERIES CONCEPT (PAGE XX)

You begin by crafting the concept for your series. Choose who you are as a crew, what brought
you and keeps you together. Suggest Sources and powers you’d like the characters to have,
cool tech they have access to, what motivates them, and what kinds of jobs they take. Decide
on the type of story you’ll be telling, what tropes to emphasize and which to sideline.

SERIES – STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR MEGACITY (PAGE XX)

The Megacity is more than just a background to your adventures, it’s a dynamic setting that hits
back and doesn’t forget a slight. In this step you either choose a Rapid pre-made Megacity, take
the one created by your MC, or sit together and create one as a group using the Megacity
Generator.

SERIES – STEP 3: CREATE YOUR CHARACTERS (PAGE XX)

Now that you know the world around you, it’s time for the players to come up with their individual
characters. You’ll establish each character’s fantastic powers and cool tech, as well as their
mundane lives, in the form of themes. You can use the Rapid creation by choosing a character
trope, four theme kits, and picking tags from those kits, or build your character from scratch with
Custom creation.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 5

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SERIES – STEP 4: PICK A CREW THEME (PAGE XX)

Think about where you get your jobs from, who are your main contacts, what agency or
taskforce you work for (if any), and what kinds of support you’re given by your employers. Bring
it all together and translate it into tags in the form of your crew theme. Use one of several Rapid
premade options, or answer the Custom questions to make it from scratch.

SERIES – STEP 5: PLAY “A NIGHT IN THE MEGACITY” (PAGE XX)

A Night in the Megacity is a simple rules-lite play that depicts what a player character does most
nights – who they hang out with, what their usual challenges are, and the life they lead outside
of their more dangerous work. It also helps to flesh out your local environment and the kinds of
people you run into. This will help everyone to get to know their own characters, expand your
series setting, and get a handle on the basic rules.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 6

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SERIES – STEP 1: CHOOSE A SERIES CONCEPT
Begin your series setup by discussing the high concept for the series, using the baseline
aspects of the :Otherscape universe described in Chapter 1: //Imagine and the following
questions. You’ll decide the specifics by following the next steps, but first, you all should have
some agreements on the basics.

The three questions that will most help you define your series are:

? What are your game’s central themes?

● Is there a moral subject or an aspect of human behavior you want to explore?

● Is there a specific technological breakthrough at the heart of this game, such as cloning?

? What is your crew concept?

● What kind of people are the protagonists and what brings them together?

● What kind of missions do you usually go on?

● What kinds of enemies do you face?

? What is your Megacity like?

DISCUSSING CENTRAL THEMES

All :Otherscape games are of course set within the cyberpunk genre, focused on cinematic
action, but it’s worth discussing exactly what elements of :Otherscape you want to explore in
your game. Chapter 1: //Imagine presented the main thematic pillars of :Otherscape games
(page XX). Here they are again, with ideas about how they might impact your series concept.

MYTHOLOGY WEAPONIZED is the most central theme of :Otherscape, so it should be core to

your game as well. The crew is going to have magic and encounter it in the hands of foes or out
in the wild, with everyone taking advantage of it to the best of their abilities. The use of such
entities and forces has repercussions, and you should decide how far they go.

TECHNOLOGICAL OVERDRIVE, MORAL BANKRUPTCY. A series that explores these

elements of cyberpunk is all about showcasing technologies that take over human activities,
integrated into every aspect of life, providing incredible benefits to a select few. The city is full of
poor, brainwashed, and powerless masses. The power players care only about the bottom line,
labor and lives are cheap and expendable and therefore people are a common collateral
damage.

OLIGARCHIC CORRUPTION. Corporations and the suits who run them are common
antagonists, but in a game that focuses on this theme, you’ll expose (and exploit) the inner
politics of a corp. Your series could be an investigation into this kind of evil, along the line

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 7

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 between government, crime, community, and corp, or it could simply feature organizations that
aren’t just huge monoliths, but are clearly made of greedy little people.

CITIES IN RUINS. If your group is into some serious exploration, scavenging, and monster
fighting, go into the ruins. The outskirts of the Megacity and the underground layers that it was
built upon are both full of interesting encounters, strange individuals, discarded tech, not to
mention the kinds of places and objects that could prove to be fertile ground for Sources.

SPRAWLING CYBERSPACE. Cyberspace is everywhere, but a game that focuses on this

theme can really push into the idea of a layered reality in which everything is connected. What’s
“real” becomes unclear, as almost anything can change its appearance. Thanks to Harnessing,
crews can spend entire adventures or even entire lives online, either crashing through corp
Domains or exploring the neglected and secret areas in and beyond the Tangle.

GANGS, CULTS, & COUNTERCULTURE. When a series focuses on these topics, it’s all about
contrasts. Gangs that are small fish in the big scheme, but kings and queens of their turfs. Cults
with bizarre motivations and practices, whose members present themselves as completely
normative. Strange subcultures one needs to delve deep into, and then go back to the “normal”
world, perhaps forever changed. All of these combined showcase the unknowable melting pot
culture that a true Megacity can offer.

TRANSHUMANISM. This sort of series features big picture ideas that throw into doubt the
fundamental ideas we all take for granted. New technologies raise questions of identity,
memories, community, morality and humanity. Villains might be built around extreme
transhuman ideals, and PCs probably carry Noise themes which serve as a platform for
futuristic interpretations of modern concepts.

SAFETY TOOLS

Transhumanist science fiction stories, such as those you might tell with your :Otherscape
games, can feature plots about how we define ourselves, our species, and our lives. They
explore logical extremes, showcasing the negative effects of policies, technologies, and societal
trends. This can challenge the sensibilities of even the most open minded of us.

What’s more, the aesthetic of the cyberpunk genre features extreme poverty and income
inequality, gang violence, drug abuse, and quite a lot of issues around disability and its
interaction with technology. Additionally, the general concept of a dystopia can be a bit of a
burden for some players. Stories about abusive government policies, ruthless corporate greed,
and the inevitable consequences of human-induced climate change and pollution will naturally
arise in cyberpunk.

Some areas that could become problematic include:

● The nature of humanity and inhumanity

● Identity, including sense of self, ideas about gender and sexuality, or any other
self-conception

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 8

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● Loss of player or character agency in a scene
● Graphic violence
● Mental health
● Poverty and inequality
● Ethnic gangs (which could be considered racist depictions)
● Disabilities and the disabled

You’re going to want to figure out which of these topics are a problem for members of your play
group. We suggest the Lines & Veils safety tool, which includes means for players to indicate
what they’re not really on board for, both before the game starts and during play.

A line is a hard line that a player does not want crossed; a topic or scenario they don’t want
mentioned in passing and certainly not showcased in the story. A veil is a limit that is softer,
which is to say that the player would rather that the topic or scenario not be described in detail
or included in a scene, but its inclusion in the setting is alright.

For example, Henry has a serious problem with the inclusion of sexual violence and harm to
children. He might also get easily creeped out by in-depth descriptions of mental illness and
drug abuse. The first set would be something he’d indicate as lines for him and the latter
perhaps simply veils since they’re more about graphic depiction than an actual problem with
them being included in the setting and story.

Go over your lines and veils as a group during the series setup, but always remember it’s
perfectly fine and even expected for someone to add or subtract from the list during play. Henry
could decide that actually mental illness scenes are more of a line for him than just a veil and
he’d rather not encounter the topic during play. People can always change their mind. A recent
experience or change of heart could easily have altered what they’d rather or rather not
encounter during a game that’s intended to be fun.

CREW CONCEPT

The basic premise of an :Otherscape game revolves around the crew. A crew is a group of
player characters who work together, doing jobs for a set employer or for whoever will hire them.
They are usually up-and-comers in the Megacity, and many would be described as mercenaries.
Money, prestige, and the opportunity to advance in the world is paramount to them, though it’s
possible for a crew to form around a particular common interest or cause.

STARTING WITHOUT A CREW

The working assumption in :Otherscape is that characters start the

game already knowing each other, having a good understanding of
how to work together, and sharing a common cause. Without this
assumption, you can have no crew theme; and without that theme,

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 9

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 there’s no single coherent motivation to keep the game focused on
the series concept you’ve developed.

If you want to tell the story of how the crew came together, we
recommend doing so retroactively. Follow the usual series setup
steps, and when you’re ready to play, have some flashbacks to
show how it came to be that this group of people became a crew.

Motive matters most, and it’s important for everyone to buy into the concept of the series, so be
sure to go over the options and come to a consensus on what the crew will be about. It’s
possible to occasionally have jobs with a different theme, and over time the entire premise might
change, but what you decide to initially work towards will have a big impact on who you come
up with as characters, so this is a big decision.

For example, if you decide to be a group of outcasts and rejects living in the forsaken and
derelict parts of the Megacity and surviving against mutants and monstrosities in the
pollution-devastated wastelands, then this is what your series will be about, for the most part.
You won’t be regularly hired by high-flying officials to silence their political opposition, not
because it’s impossible (this could actually be the subject of an interesting job or story arc) but
because this is not the focus of your game. On the other hand, if you are a team of hitmen then
assassinating political targets may be your bread-and-butter activity, and you’ll rarely see outer
wilds.

The MC might already have their own concept for a series, but this is a conversation with gives
and takes – talk among yourselves to find out a good combination of a crew you’re excited to
play as, and a concept you’re excited to explore. Brainstorm some ideas and discuss them. Ask
each other questions about each idea to develop it. We suggest you begin with the crew
concepts presented below, based on the types of crews introduced on page XX.

Assume that all the player characters already know each other, at least tangentially. While you
might not be a united team just yet, you should at least be willing to work together and agree
upon a general way of doing things, at least at the start. Once the game begins, anything can
happen.

⚡ EXAMPLE SERIES CONCEPTS

Here are some example series concepts based on the crew tropes presented in Chapter 1:
//Imagine (page XX):

ALL-AROUND FIXERS

Hired as problem solvers to the Megacity’s elite, you are the all-purpose troubleshooters who
get called in when things go from bad to worse. Once you solve a problem, it may be your duty
to keep that problem from popping up again, forcing you to go after the source.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 10

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Series Focus: investigations, creative problem solving, political favor trading

Characters: cybersecurity analyst, savvy underworld handler, versatile thaumaturge (practical

magic user), master infiltrator

Typical Jobs: remove a gang threat from a corporate event, bust a nest of ghosts in city hall,
destroy a computer virus threatening a pharma company, clear the city’s mass transit system of
hyper-intelligent mutant crows, steal a magical (and cursed) diamond back from the people who
stole it

COMMUNITY PROTECTORS

Your crew came together in your district due to an invested interest in its protection and growth.
Many outside forces threaten your streets. Many dangers lurk and build in the alleys, from
organized crime, to unnatural hauntings, to corporate buyouts. You come together to keep the
peace.

Series Focus: detailed local characters, solving neighborhood issues, local politics

Characters: hometown hero, honorable criminal, local tech merchant, retired cop, occult shop
owner, bartending badass

Typical Jobs: clean out the abandoned building, negotiate with a local gang, uncover corp
scheme threatening local business, upgrade your base of operations, get a Source as a patron
or banish one who is misbehaving

ELITE SPECIALISTS

A team of pros who take jobs from anyone with deep enough pockets, or a single patron (a
corp, government, etc.). Highly trained and individually specialized, operating with considerable
autonomy – but there are lines you aren’t allowed to cross.

Series Focus: black ops, ethically ambiguous operations, personal stakes and struggles

Characters: unit leader (AKA Major), ex-military pro, loyal corporate assassin, spy drone
operator, executive seer

Typical Jobs: extract a scientist from a corporate lab, steal a prototype, remove a big name
target during a big event, long-term infiltration, Harness into a mind and uncover its secrets, try
to secretly undo an injustice made by your employer

FOUND FAMILY

You live, you bicker, you love, and you do jobs to pay the bills and live the big life. You are your
own reasons for existing, and just spending another evening together – or escaping the cops
into a subway tunnel together – is enough for you. You live for today.

Series Focus: getting into trouble to get money, helping each other achieve personal goals

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 11

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Characters: ex-corp outlandish engineer, overgrown club bouncer, former military drunk sniper,
street illusionist, someone deformed by a Source

Typical Jobs: smash and grab Source theft, industrial sabotage, bank robbery for hire, escape
a slave barge after a botched job

REBELLIOUS STREET GANG

Your crew came together to take advantage of their mutual willingness to defy the law and fight
the power. You hold a bit of turf and engage in all sorts of criminal behavior there. Your street
cred depends on how successful your crew is at pulling off jobs and getting rich.

Series Focus: territorial warfare, down with the system, protecting street rep

Characters: dealer and fixer, magical graffiti artist, punk with an attitude, biker with a shotgun,
cyber-anarchist

Typical Jobs: expanding the territory, fighting off rivals, making the cops and corps back off,
pulling off a heist or robbery, take down an oppressive Source, handle extremists from your own
side

SOURCE CABAL

Your crew specializes in tracking, understanding, and exploiting the Sources of magical power in
and around the Megacity. You might be beholden to a specific Mythos, or get yourselves mixed
with several.

Series Focus: legend lore, tangling with the supernatural, exploration of dangerous places

Characters: archeologist or a symbology expert, a tech-based “Source tamer”, power hungry

cultist, would-be hero, monster hunter

Typical Jobs: tracking down a Source by following the clues, curing a curse or a weird magical
effect, negotiating with a god, exploring Thin Place ruins, defusing a doomsday artifact

SOURCE-HUNTING PRIVATEERS

Everyone wants Sources, so you’re going to get’em and sell’em – before anyone else. You track
down rumors and decipher old scripts to find your targets, then go wherever the treasure is
waiting, even if it’s on the other side of the world.

Series Focus: exploring remote areas, using Sources and being used by them, high adventure

Characters: savvy smugglers, professional tomb raider, wilderness survivalists, AR-enhanced

antiquarians, a Source fetishist

Typical Jobs: a chase to the treasure versus corp rivals, navigating across dangerous terrain,
Harnessing into a secret Mythic enclave, solving riddles and fighting monsters

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 12

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WANTED

Your crew is composed of renegades, escaping the law, a corp, or a crime syndicate. You might
all be fleeing the same foe or individually on the run from different organizations. You come
together for mutual protection, and because as a group you stand a chance to clear your name
or become someone new.

Series Focus: chase scenes, working to end the manhunt, doing merc work to get by

Characters: freed android, former corporate indentured servant, escaped criminal, outlaw
hacker, renegade anti-corporatist

Typical Jobs: tense negotiations with the hunters, escape into the sewers or outlands,
searching for a safehouse, violent merc job, new identity purchasing in cyberspace

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 13

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SERIES – STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR MEGACITY
Now that you know what your crew is all about, at least in broad strokes, it’s time to turn your
attention to the setting and environment of your series.

Most :Otherscape series are set in a Megacity setting, whether one or multiple, thriving, ruined,
or both. Your series can focus on one Megacity or start in one and then continue in another as
your story unfolds. Alternatively, it could be a globetrotting adventure where you never sleep in
the same Megacity twice, or even go into orbit and beyond.

The Megacity you play in as well as its future history are created by your group. Choose one of
these creation methods:

● Pick a premade Megacity profile from the list on the following page. Each comes with
its own districts and developments, turmoils and troubles.

● Use the Megacity Generator (page XX) together, MC and players, to make sure your
Megacity fits the kinds of stories you all want to play. This is the most time-consuming
but, for many, also the most satisfying option.

● Have the MC generate the Megacity. If your group already has a solid grasp of your
concept even before the series setup, the MC can use the Megacity Generator by herself
to create a custom-made setting that fits the game you want to play. This leaves session
zero to focus on crew and character creation.

● Grab a Megacity supplement book such as Tokyo:Otherscape, which includes

premade setting information, key player operations, Challenges, jobs, and player
options, all tailored to a specific Megacity and inspired by its prevailing culture.

The Megacity gives context for your crew and your character. They can come from a war-torn
district, be a survivor of the city-wide plague, or reside in a ruined part of an old arcology.

FICTION, NOT PREDICTION

Published Megacities and the Megacities you create with the
Megacity Generator take today’s real world cities and use them as a
creative springboard from which to dream up imaginary dystopian
Megacities for your game, the kind that would be the backdrop for a
cool cyberpunk movie or book. Nothing in this content or process
should be construed as commentary on real world cities or cultures
or on where they might be headed in the future. Remember, this is
fiction, not prediction.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 14

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WHAT’S IN A MEGACITY?

A Megacity is divided into districts, each of which focus on one or more central concepts:
major Mythic influences and regional Sources; political key players such as corporations, crime
syndicates, and government activities; subcultures that tap into fashion, nightlife, social
activism, sporting, nihilism, or religion; natural or man-made disasters and the aftermath in the
ruins, and so on.

Some elements in your Megacity can cross over between Districts or affect the entire Megacity,
such as a megacorp in control of entire swathes of the sprawl or a pandemic that knows no
borders, but breaking the Megacity up into districts allows you to give attention to what is
happening on the local level, which in turns makes your Megacity more interesting and noisy,
like a good cyberpunk Megacity.

Each district also has its own story tag derived from its central concepts. This tag can be
invoked by players and MC alike when in the district to emphasize its themes. To avoid overuse,
district story tags should expire after a single use and be restored by the MC after each
Downtime period, although the MC may opt to allow more extensive use of the district tag based
on her cinematic considerations.

⚡PRE-MADE MEGACITIES
ISTANBUL

Bridging Europe and Asia, the Megacity of Istanbul represents the clashing mingling of culture
particular to the Noise. Creed, religion, custom and language act as battlefields, upon which
immigrants from countless countries fight for their rights to be heard. The complexities of this
Megacity are rightfully called Byzantine, for the Mythos of that empire bends the city towards a
chaotic kind of order. The Byzantine Mythos hides so seamlessly within the Noise that no one is
yet aware of just how powerful it is; everything and everyone here is touched by its confusing
effects.

ANATOLIAN SHORE

Bureaucratic Dysfunction

The Asian side of the Megacity has become a vast housing district, including sprawling shanty
towns cobbled together along the hills above the Bosphorus. Here much of the industrial
workforce come home from menial jobs that often require many hours of commute time on the
city’s hover railways and convoluted freeway systems. Due to the Byzantine Mythos’ subtle
influence, all lives in the district are unnecessarily complex and bogged down by bureaucracy.

BURSA

Corruptive Forces

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 15

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Once a major stop on the Silk Road, the city of Bursa has been absorbed by Istanbul from
across the polluted Sea of Marmara. Perhaps inspired by its transportation focus, the area
specializes in the manufacturing of vehicles, especially those that run on newer methods of
propulsion, including experimental antigrav and Source-based. Several Mythoi connected to the
Silk Road are active here, encouraging trade, innovation, and ruthless expansion.

BOSPHORUS

Legendary Monsters

The region of the city surrounding the Bosphorus Strait serves as a growing manufacturing and
shipping center. The area is also home to a Conjuration of the Chimera, a many-headed
fire-breathing monster that is known to kill important figures among the docker union as well as
corrupt corp executives, although no-one knows how she chooses her targets. Monster hunters
from far and wide seek out the beast, but none have managed to capture her.

FATIH

Mythology in Action

The former seat of power for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires of old is the traditional
heart of the Megacity. Here on the historic peninsula the Hagia Sophia and other important
centers of faith gather the power of the Mythoi in one place. Angels, demons, and their various
minions walk the streets, emboldened by the legendary might of this place, echoing through the
ages. An apocalyptic war is brewing here that will eventually endanger the entire world.

GOLDEN HORN

Information Overload

The financial district of the Megacity has expanded along the Golden Horn, the famed inlet of
the Bosphorus. Here the Byzantine Mythos’s influence is felt as a chaotic pull towards
cyberspace complexity. AI financial representatives meet on behalf of industrialists and
corporate conglomerates, attempting to gain the upper hand by refining actionable data out of
immense databases. Yet no answer is good enough, and overanalysis leads to countless
gridlocks, which are often solved only through third party intervention (in the form of crews sent
on jobs). The physical Golden Horn is mostly secured server farms; the real Golden Horn is fully
in cyberspace, the bustle of activity producing a dull roar in the AR Nearspace of the district.

THE PRINCES’ ISLANDS

Organized Crime

This collection of islands in the Sea of Marmara has always been known as a refuge for
dissidents and outcasts. In recent years the place has become haven to criminals, hackers, and
exiled oligarchs from around the globe. They have crafted not only a community that supports

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 16

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 their anonymous existences here, but also a cyberspace Domain encrypted against all outside
scrutiny. Here they hoard their ill-gotten wealth, hoping to one day spend it when the heat is off.
This community is highly hostile to most outsiders, but tends to be willing to let merc in, since
they are a greatly needed resource. Many shady deals and illicit jobs are handed out from these
tiny islands.

LONDON-MANCHESTER METROPLEX

As the land of Great Britain consolidates into a single, island-wide metropolis, financial wizards
tangle with hooligan gangs enhanced with augs and sport drugs. From the factories of
Manchester to the fog-shrouded castle-skyscrapers of London, conflicts born of class, finances
and regional identity create an atmosphere of fracture and disillusionment with the mere
concept of the nation-state. Scotland, defended by a strong government and intense cold, is
safe from the encroachment of the Megacity – for now. To further complicate it all, the Mythoi of
ancient Britain breathe new life into the establishment of the monarchy, while sparking a revival
of chivalry and brigandry the likes of which the region has not seen in hundreds of years.

BIRMINGHAM

Utter Lawlessness

Known for its canals and being one of the first industrialized centers in the world, Birmingham
has recently become overrun by punk gangs secretly funded by Brice Redcroft, a financial
kingpin turned local MP, turned crime lord. Redcroft’s empire is growing unopposed and the
street savvy fear he may soon spread his chaotic influence to the heart of London.

DIOCESE OF CANTERBURY

Inspired Heroism

The area of Kent, south-east of modern London, has been consolidated into a single theocracy
run by a new splinter sect of the Church of England. Following a period of upheaval and
schisms, Archbishop Sexton established order by way of a radicalized interpretation of the
Divine Right of Kings, authorizing militias backed by international corporation support. The
Archbishop radiates religious justice out from the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church at
Canterbury from which he rules. His most trusted followers bear crosses and other
paraphernalia as Sources empowered with the Mythoi of medieval angels and even legendary
crusaders – but thanks to this tyranny, heroic Mythoi are now swarming the district.

LEEDS

Mythology in Action

When the Metroplex began to sprawl together, like a cobweb across the island, Leeds fought
back. The people of Leeds had already begun building green spaces, establishing a green belt
of natural wildlife within its populous confines. Though climate disasters have threatened those

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 17

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 spaces, the reemergence of Druids with powers derived from Sources connected to nature and
the ley lines of Britain have given the wild areas a chance to survive, and even flourish. Now the
Druids work fiercely to protect the enclave they’ve established in Leeds from greedy corporate
interests that would despoil those undeveloped plots and harvest the magical power inherent in
the land.

CORE LONDON

Automation Propagation

The ancient heart of political and financial power in England has only grown more significant.
Looming over the city is the Tower of London, a castle-like skyscraper that serves as the
corporate headquarters for a powerful cabal of financial companies and decision makers. Few
of the city’s denizens realize, however, that the majority of these power-players have been
replaced by android replicas created by a master roboticist named Alice, herself an android. A
secret war is being waged behind the scenes, and no side has any interest in publicly admitting
to be engaged in it. Political figures and multinational corps who would be at each other’s throat
at any other time and place, find themselves allying against a common existential threat.

MANCHESTER-LIVERPOOL

Industrial Pollution

The industrial center of the Metroplex, Manchester-Liverpool is completely choked with

pollution. Denizens must wear air filtration masks and goggles to navigate the city, though the
wealthy get by with cybernetics to the same effect. Nearly everyone who still lives here is either
too poor to move out or too stubborn to leave, but the filthy fog also covers the growing
presence of immigrant Touched, people who are drawn to where no “right-minded fellow” will go,
protected by various Sources.

NOTTINGHAM

People Pushed to the Edge

In recent decades the sleepy collection of towns surrounding Nottingham has been invaded by
corporate interests seeking yet another region to turn into a capitalist heaven full of shops and
factories. Surprisingly, it didn’t work: the corporate powers were overthrown by worker uprisings
led by a group of outlaws. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these outlaws call themselves the Merry Men
and they collect Sources connected to the Mythos of Robin Hood and other English folk heroes.
The district is constantly in flux as corporate mercs, outlaw archers, and the remnants of local
government butt heads, with no side having full control over what’s going on.

OXBRIDGE

Cult Meddling

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 18

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 The university district of the Metroplex is an amalgam of Oxford and Cambridge strewn between
London and Birmingham. Vast education centers house would-be technocrats and bureaucrats
alike, ruled over by an academic elite who treat their students as serfs. A wide array of Mythoi
active in this district stem from the libraries and museums that litter the campuses, filled with
relics from across the world that serve as Sources. Secret societies abound as cults to dozens
of forgotten gods congregate in the halls of education behind closed doors.

CARDIFF

Legendary Monsters

When the Mythoi began to reveal themselves to the world, Cardiff was among the first to notice
because the city was torn apart by a giant from Welsh mythology. The great monster,
Gogmagog, had a different name once but over many years it was corrupted and merged with
that of the Biblical prophecy of the end times, inadvertently granting the giant incredible power
but also driving him mad. A group of local heroes managed to lure the giant into the grounds of
Castle Cardiff, where they defeated him and dissected his body into parts, to stop him from
reforming. Instead of being taken to all corners of the earth as intended, however, all but one of
his parts were acquired by power players in the Megacity, for research, military and prophetic
purposes.

NEW SAN FRANCISCO

After the “big one” hit, the Bay Area was decimated, just as the scientists predicted. Like the
1906 earthquake before it, this more recent tectonic catastrophe served to wipe out much of the
Megacity, which sprawls from the bay east to Sacramento and south into the California central
valley. With the earthquake serving as a “reboot”, the city doubled down on its Silicon Valley
associations. Now the downtown peninsula is claimed by the silicon megacorps while AI take
over administration of the Central Valley. Yet their authority is questioned by a young
programmer who claims to be the next iteration of the Kaknu, the heroic grandson of the
trickster Coyote in Chocheño legends, an anthropomorphic peregrine falcon..

CENTRAL VALLEY

Mythology in Action

Sacramento and the other cities of the central valley have merged into a single strain of urban
sprawl. Once one of the most important food producing regions of the United States, the area’s
economy has collapsed in the wake of climate disaster and drought. Now the region serves as
an inhabited string of stripmall towns with the one-time state capital as its jewel. Sacramento
was leveled in the “big one” and in the aftermath the Mythos of the Wild West Gunslinger has
taken over. The district became similar to a frontier town in the old west, in essence if not in
aesthetics. Gunslingers hang around every corner, bounty hunting is rampant, and deputized
citizens are the only law.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 19

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 COASTAL SPRAWL

Industrial Pollution

As the manufacturing in Silicon Valley turned to cybernetics and robotics, the coast south of San
Francisco was annexed by corporate overlords. Now what was once a collection of beautiful
coastal towns have become an endless industrial zone, pumping toxins into the Pacific Ocean
at what would be an alarming rate if anyone cared anymore. Criminal hackers have begun
taking over a number of abandoned warehouses and industrial plants here, carving out a
hardware utopia for themselves.

EAST BAY

Virus Infections

Oakland and its neighbors on the east side of the bay were hit particularly hard by the
earthquake. Abandoned by the Silicon Valley corps that were supposed to provide
cybersecurity, cyberspace in the East Bay has become infected with every known computer
virus imaginable. Some say such a vast outbreak is only possible through deliberate sabotage.
Others say something from the Otherscape now dwells within the UC Berkeley Domains,
spawning new viruses at an escalating pace as part of its own evolution. The end results in the
physical world are the same: The streets have become slums, with barely any infrastructure
available. With even Nearspace being incredibly hazardous, most residents have given up on
any sort of cyberspace connection.

NORTH BAY

Isolationist Enclave

The owners of the wine country and wealthy estates of the North Bay saw the chaos of the
earthquake as a sign of the times. Pooling their significant wealth, the elite of North Bay created
a collection of closed enclaves known as End Points. Within these vault-like structures, the rich
live in a bubble of paranoia and high tech gadgets. They employ mercenaries to patrol the
vineyards they once tended, now overrun with climate refugees that have collected into nomadic
vehicle clans.

SILICON PENINSULA

Company Rule

As the government of old San Francisco crumbled alongside City Hall itself, the corporations
based out of Silicon Valley, now among the most powerful in the world, seized control over the
Megacity. Taking over the entire Peninsula area, as well as what was once the Downtown area,
these cybernetic and cyberspace companies now have their own world capital. The Megacity
bends to their tech-focused will, turning every political action into an opportunity to expand their
collective power over the people.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 20

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Yet the corporations that run cyberspace are not perfectly aligned. They wage a shadow war
against each other, invading each other’s cyber Domains and stealing trade secrets from one
another. A few have gained access to powerful lightning and electricity Mythoi, which they use
to fry each other’s hardware. It’s only a matter of time before the capital of cybernetics becomes
an outright warzone.

SERIES – STEP 3: CREATE YOUR CHARACTERS

At this step of the series setup session, each player will create their own :Otherscape character,
while the MC supports them, asks guiding questions, and makes sure she understands the tags
the players are choosing.

See Character Creation, starting on page XX.

SERIES – STEP 4: PICK A CREW THEME

The crew is represented by a crew theme, the shared resources and beliefs of the crew, as well
as its weaknesses. It is built like all themes: three power tags, one weakness tag, and an
Identity, Ritual, or Itch – a single statement or goal that encapsulates the crew’s driving
motivation or supernatural duty.

⚡RAPID CREW CREATION

Pick the crew theme kit on pages XX-XX which matches your chosen crew concept and create
the theme as a group, using the same guidelines given in Create Themes From Theme Kits,
page XX.

🔨 CUSTOM CREW CREATION

If you have the time and the inclination to customize every part of your crew, you can create it
from scratch by answering the questions in the crew themebook (page XX). For guidelines on
custom theme creation see Answer Themebook Questions, page XX.

UNITED BY AN IDENTITY, RITUAL, OR ITCH

Each crew has an Identity, Ritual, or Itch which is the glue that binds these people together, the
reason for which they are operating as a crew. In a way, it is the boiled down version of the
series concept, such as a question all crew members are trying to answer together or a
conviction all crew members share.

The group can choose whether to phrase this core aspect as an Identity, Ritual, or Itch. It is
essential that not only the players but also the characters they portray agree with this agenda,
even if it is an unspoken agreement.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 21

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 For example, if a group playing a crew of tech mongers chooses the Identity “Someone might as
well scavenge what the corporations don’t want anymore”, all crew members should conform to
this statement at least to some extent. If a team of ghost hunters feels compelled to fulfill the
statement “We must put ghosts to rest peacefully if we can”, and chooses this need as their
Ritual, it means everyone agrees that this supernatural demand is the most important thing, for
now.

Remember, the characters start the game already knowing each other and have worked with
each other for a while, at least long enough to have a joint purpose. This is not to say all
members completely agree on what drives the crew but simply that for the time being they
agree to set aside any qualms they might have. During the game, the crew theme can mark
Decay and be replaced just like any other theme (see The Crew Theme, page XX).

[ 👥] THE CREW
CONCEPT

As a group, review the concept of your crew and the series concept you all agreed upon. Flesh
it out together by thinking about the following questions:

? What is our shared goal?

? Who or what brought us together?

? Why do we work together? What does each member contribute to the cause?

? Who is backing our efforts or giving us jobs?

? Where do we meet? Where do we stash our gear or convene in cyberspace?

? What sort of resources do we have at our disposal?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A How do you help, assist, or support one another?

B Where do you meet, work, rest, or prepare for action?

C What activity have you learned to do well together?

D Who is guiding, backing, or assisting your operation?

E How do you get around?

F What environments or situations are you most comfortable in?

G What special sources of information do you have?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 22

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 H What sort of reputation or name have you made for yourselves?

I What approach or tactic do you share in tackling challenges?

J What kind of special gear, resource, or power is at your disposal?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A What is flawed or lacking in the way you operate together?

B How do you get each other into trouble?

C Who or what are you all afraid of?

D What places or situations do you find tough to handle?

IDENTITY, RITUAL, OR ITCH

Choose an Identity, Ritual, or Itch for this theme: a shared conviction, a magical commitment, or
a technological impulse that you all abide by. For example:

● Identity: (Counterculture trendsetters) “If it ain’t xenon, man, it ain’t worth doing.”
● Ritual: (Badlands scavenger cultists) “We must sate Shezmu’s thirst.”
● Itch: (Forecasting supercomputer tech team) “Predict every obstacle.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● A belief or goal that unites you all

● The requirements of a Source you all are fascinated with
● The impulse of technology that you are all involved with

If any of you is acting in conflict with this statement, this means your crew is beginning to fall
apart and that what previously kept you together may no longer hold true for everyone.
Together, decide what could constitute acting against this motivation.

THEME KITS

ALL-AROUND FIXERS

IDENTITY: Problems should be solved with minimal blowback.

POWER TAGS: everyone knows their job, Minerva’s diner, identifying supernatural intrusions,
powerful clients, nondescript sedan, tense negotiations, the exclusive fixer-only VR Domain,
problem solvers, eye for detail, spectral ammunition

WEAKNESS TAGS: argumentative, overly curious, Metro Police Detective Unit, undercity
depths

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 23

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 COMMUNITY PROTECTORS

IDENTITY: It’s up to us to protect the neighborhood and its people.

POWER TAGS: empowered by our people, Bush St. Library, patrol these streets, the people
who live here, know the back alleys by heart, home turf, nosey neighbors, pillars of the
community, diplomacy first, borrowed equipment

WEAKNESS TAGS: small scale operation, local rivalries, letting down the community, the
national stage

ELITE SPECIALISTS

IDENTITY: Do the job, no questions asked.

POWER TAGS: follow the leader, secure apartment base, infiltration/exfiltration, our handler in
a suit, Hawk-2 VTOL flier, gunning for gunfights, old military contacts, best of the best, careful
room sweeps, favors from past clients

WEAKNESS TAGS: overconfidence, too quick to act, failing core objective, fancy parties

FOUND FAMILY

IDENTITY: We’re in this together.

POWER TAGS: I’m here for you, our shared apartment, handle everyday issues, friends and
colleagues, a converted army van , thinking on the spot, heard it through the grapevine, they
won’t see this coming, “Run!”, pile of mementos from previous jobs

WEAKNESS TAGS: no common background, far too spontaneous, old trouble come back to
bite you, being apart

REBELLIOUS STREET GANG

IDENTITY: Dominate the streets or be dominated by others.

POWER TAGS: gang pride, seedy bar, mark our territory, underworld suppliers, souped up
vehicles, gang-controlled area, word on the street, ambitious gangsters, show of force, illegal
weapons

WEAKNESS TAGS: territorial, everyone thinks they’re the boss, out of our league, wrath of
underworld bosses

SOURCE CABAL

RITUAL: We must follow the tenets of our Source(s).

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 24

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: collection of Sources, forgotten temple, researching Mythoi, guidance of a
deity, flight-bestowing Source, encounters with gods, commune with the beyond, protectors of
relics, watch for traps, blessing of the Source

WEAKNESS TAGS: power hungry, distracted by old things, Source-snuffing magic,

Noise-ridden places

SOURCE-HUNTING PRIVATEERS

IDENTITY: Get the Source, get paid!

POWER TAGS: haggle our way out of it, converted cargo freighter, take down Conjurations,
local contacts & guides, bushwhacking, hunting down a Source, antiquities databases, daring,
set me up for a big one!, magic containment box

WEAKNESS TAGS: individual ambitions, I think I just stepped on a pressure plate, curses,
firefights vs superior foes

WANTED

IDENTITY: Never. Get. Caught.

POWER TAGS: vigilant, find temporary accommodation, build makeshift weapons, enemies of
our enemies, public transport, escape plans, stolen databases, elusive, stealthy movement,
counterfeit IDs

WEAKNESS TAGS: always on the move, no secure channel of communication, the authorities,
physical restraints

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 25

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SERIES – STEP 5: A NIGHT IN THE MEGACITY
As the end of the series setup draws near, you already have all the components of an
exhilarating mythic-cyberpunk campaign: your series concept, crew theme, Megacity, and
characters.

In this final step, you wire everything together and do a test run to debug and tweak your series
and to get an initial feel of the setting. You’ll now play through a handful of short and casual
scenes where the purpose is not to advance the plot (although that might happen on its own)
but to help flesh out the small details that are the connective tissue of the series. This will help
the MC and the players learn a bit more about the player characters and their backstories, to
connect with their motivations and their tags. You might even use this as an opportunity to revisit
the basic rules and try out some quick outcome rolls (page XX).

Don’t worry too much about running these scenes perfectly. This is not yet a game session
depicting a dangerous merc job, it’s just a little vignette of your crew to establish the baseline of
the player characters’ everyday life. It’s a dry run, designed so that everyone feels free to bump
up against every misunderstanding and hash out small details.

STARTING OUT

The MC starts by picking out a time, usually at night, and asking the table:

? WHERE ARE YOUR CHARACTERS RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING ON
THIS ORDINARY NIGHT?

Go around the table and have the players imagine their PC’s routines and lives and share it with
the group.

For example, MC Raycheal and players Matt, TJ, and Celine, have put together their
Source-hunting crew, who are currently operating out of New San Francisco.

Raycheal, the MC: It’s a typically rainy night in the seedy

little-Vietnam neighborhood you all call home. The messy little
apartment you share is bathed in aquamarine neon light from a huge
dragon-themed sign over the hourly-rate coffin hotel that looms over
the block.

Where are you right now, and what are you doing? Let’s start with
Matt.

Matt (playing Malcolm, an augmented Londoner hired gun): I’m thinking

Malcolm is doing some arsenal maintenance in our tight communal area,
with parts strewn everywhere on the dining bar, including parts of
his body, his augs. He probably doesn’t even need to, he just loves
polishing it and making sure it’s all oiled up. He spent the day
doing odd jobs around the neighborhood just to make himself feel

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 26

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 useful. His evening gun cleaning routine is mostly to relax, but also
to stay ready for the next gig. He’s always looking forward to some
action.

MC: Makes sense. Okay, TJ, what’s going on in cyberspace at night?

TJ (playing Rayth, a disembodied hacker): I don’t think Rayth sleeps,

per se. He probably needs a memory clean-up here and there, but he’s
pretty much on all the time. He’s doing three things: he’s projecting
a hologram of himself, a glitchy recording of his old body, playing
cards on a chair next to Malcolm – that just helps him feel human;
he’s watching the apartment’s Nearspace for any dangers to the crew;
and he’s researching Artifacts of interest in the Tangle, trying to
pick up a lead for a new job.

MC: Celine, what about Amal? What was her day like and what’s she up
to tonight?

Celine (playing Amal, a werehyena witch): Amal is out partying hard,

dancing in a jungle of glowing AR illusions in some seedy bar. She’s
got a lot on her mind, what with the Gordian blackmailing her for her
Esoterica, and she needs to blow off some serious steam. She returns
to the apartment in the pre-dawn light, somewhat disheveled. You can
tell she’s been running around as a hyena, getting into trouble.
Maybe she grabs some comfort food from the fridge and disappears into
her coffin bed. She’s quite the type.

ASKING QUESTIONS AND FLESHING OUT

Keep fleshing out the scenes and note down new details that arise. Maybe one of the PCs
has a conversation with another PC or with an NPC, visits a key location, or reveals a new
aspect of the crew’s life.

Whenever any of you wonder about a detail in the story, ask for it out loud. This is for
everyone, not just the MC. Zoom in on what you find interesting, even if it’s someone else’s PC.

Ask as many questions as you feel like. While this might be bad form during a regular game,
since it’ll slow down the high-octane action, A Night in the Megacity is when you explore the
basic setup of your campaign, so it’s the perfect time to get into the details and clarify anything
that’s on your mind, such as:

● A character’s appearance
● A character’s lifestyle
● A character’s daily routine
● Where’s the character staying right now, and why
● A character’s interface and dealings with they key factions of your series, global or local

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 27

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● Trouble in a character’s life: factional, financial, emotional, etc.
● How they manifest their Source powers
● How they use their tech
● Details about supporting NPCs, including loved ones and pets, contacts, or rivals
● Major events in the character’s or crew’s history
● The dynamics within the crew, and key locations important to the crew

When someone asks a question, suggest answers. This is a brainstorming session; let ideas
fly around freely. Each player has the final say about their PC’s details and the MC has the final
say about the setting, but it never hurts to spitball cool concepts.

In addition, as the MC, take notes and say yes as much as possible. Take the player’s cues
and integrate them into the setting. Nothing is set in stone and you can always alter details that
don’t work later. Furthermore, not all details that seem interesting now will make it to the series.
Track the open questions that seem most relevant to the jobs you want to run and the core
concept of the campaign. Focus on what seems to motivate and draw the attention of the PCs
and players and combine it with your own creative input.

Continuing with Raycheal’s crew, here are some questions and answers that could come up
during A Night In The Megacity:

● Who is Malcolm doing odd jobs for? Maybe he has a friend in the
neighborhood – who are they? A romantic interest perhaps? Or is
there a local crime boss that Malcolm moonlights for as a
bodyguard?
● Rayth seems to have a need to feel human by enacting human
activities, did I get that right? Does he often hang out with
the other crew members as a hologram? Does he do it on his own?
Has he ever inhabited an anthro drone to experience having a
body again? Do the others know how he lost his body?
● Also, why is Rayth so wired (no pun intended) about the local
Nearspace? Has your crew been attacked before, between gigs? By
whom? Or is there an ex-employer who still has it in for you
because of something you stole?
● How are the others reacting to Amal’s self-destructive streak?
Maybe the comfort food she went for was Malcolm cooking her
favorite Ethiopian dish.
● Let’s talk about Amal’s partying hard and running around as a
hyena. Do Source or monster hunters in the district know about
her? Is she developing an addiction? Was Gordian sending her
creepy blackmail messages over the club's AR and killing her
buzz? What is the name of the club she frequents the most, and
who does she know there?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 28

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WHAT TO AVOID

Don’t tie up all the loose ends. Leave the most important questions open. What’s the deal with
the new, strange CEO of the corp the crew works for? Why is there a perpetual shimmering
cloud over the cargo drone docks? What happened to your brother, who disappeared ten years
ago? You’ll be exploring these questions during the game properly.

Don’t escalate. Keep things cool, you’re exploring what the PCs consider ordinary life. If
emotions or tension rise, bring them back down or resolve them “offscreen”, without playing a
scene about it. If the subject matter is interesting, make a note about this for later, to explore it
during the game.

Don’t deep dive into the rules. Give everyone an opportunity to make a roll or two to get a
handle on the basic rules, but avoid going any further. There’s probably no need to choose
Effects or use a tracked outcome.

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT

When everyone feels satisfied with the amount of detail you’ve gathered, you’re done. Consider
making changes to your crew and character tags. You may have noticed some inconsistencies
or better ways of wording them. Go over the tags and tweak them until they’re just right. Make
sure everyone is aware of the changes, and that the MC approves.

You are ready to start your series!

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 29

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 🔨 THE MEGACITY GENERATOR
:Otherscape’s future history is determined by you, the MC and players, as you sit down together
to create your Megacity and build it for the kinds of stories you want to play. Your Megacity may
be a hyped-up version of a modern city or an amalgamation of several. It could be a precisely
detailed future metropolis, or a dreamlike dystopian inevitability, tinged as much with grit and
grease as it is with myth and legend.

To run a cinematic game, you do not need to build a complete history or geography of your
Megacity. Details are fun, but they also take up a lot of the MC and players’ processing power.
Instead, we recommend doing just enough worldbuilding to get your imagination going and to
have a solid ground to set your series upon – similar to the amount of worldbuilding you see in a
movie or TV series. Start with a rough outline and a few interesting points and flesh things out
later, as you explore your Megacity.

The following system helps you develop the geohistorical record of your Megacity. The system
can be used to flesh out a totally made up city, or as an engine for imagining a fictional future of
a real world city (see Fiction, Not Prediction, page XX).

Before you start, establish whether you want to create a completely fictional Megacity, or one
closely based on an existing real-world city.

THE CORE MEGACITY QUESTIONS

In essence, the Megacity creation process aims to help you find interesting answers to the
following questions.

? How is your Megacity dystopian? Are people addicted to a common street drug,
carefully watched by the government, or belong to corporations? Is life so dangerous that
practically everyone has cybernetic replacement limbs?

? How is your Megacity influenced by the Mythoi? Think about the culture and history of
the place where your Megacity is set and extrapolate from there. Are there ancient legends,
mythological epics, or shared modern narratives set there? How might those Mythic elements
begin to infiltrate the Megacity?

? Where and what are the Sources in the Megacity? Are there faerie circles or leyline
crossings that serve as Thin Places? Do werewolves run around biting people, spreading their
cursed power? Are museum pieces and hoarded relics secretly holding magic?

? How has tech evolved in your Megacity and changed it? What cool technologies are
popular? How do people get around? What is considered everyday and what is cutting edge?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 30

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ? Specifically, what role does cyberspace play in people’s lives? Are the people of your
Megacity addicted to virtual realities? Do they need to go there for work, staying home in a
comatose state most of the day?

? What terrible events have affected your Megacity? Computer viruses? Environmental
catastrophes? Corporate warfare?

? How is your Megacity laid out? You might use an existing city map and mark it up with
districts.

CREATING THE MEGACITY MAP

START WITH AN EMPTY MAP

First, take a map of your city. If you’re creating a new city from scratch, you can generate an
artificial map using an online generator, or just pick any real world city map that interests you. If
you’re working with a real world city, you can use a real map and adapt it to your needs –
perhaps assuming today’s city has sprawled out dramatically, and/or lost some of its territories
to disasters, war, and Mythic forces. You could even start with a blank page and roughly jot
down only the main geographical features of the region.

CARVE IT INTO DISTRICTS

Second, circle the Megacity’s districts, aiming for about a dozen. In a made-up city, just circle
the places that look like major urban areas. Real-world cities are already divided into districts,
boroughs, prefectures, or the like, so you can pick the major ones. However, consider designing
your own districts by merging neighboring areas or splitting up large ones. It’s your city now, and
you should change it as you see fit to make it more futuristic, realistic, or easy to navigate while
playing. You could do some research online to discover what’s interesting about each existing
district, dividing the districts between your group, so each player can read about a different one
and highlight its major aspects for the others.

WHAT MAKES A DISTRICT?

A district is a part of the Megacity that has its own character. It

could be a center of corporate power, an automated industrial
zone, a historical/ancient quarter, a suburb, a melting pot
immigrant neighborhood, “[insert culture here] town”, a center
of the Megacity’s most important commerce or industry, an
academic or research center, a medical corridor, the famous
entertainment district of theaters and casinos, or anything else.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 31

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 It’s possible for a type of district to appear twice or more, but to
be a district, each should have its own personality. See the list
of :Otherscape district tropes under Where To Go, page XX.

NAME EACH DISTRICT, TENTATIVELY

Third, give a name to each district. If you’re building your own city from scratch or greatly
expanding an existing city, you’ll want to get creative. You might take names from the existing
counties or other regional titles, from landmarks such as rivers and mountains, or from fictional
people who might rise to importance in the future. Names could match the culture you think of
as dominant in your city, but it’s always interesting to defy convention from time to time.

Don’t spend too much time on this, these district names are tentative and could be replaced
once you populate them with historic developments.

THE DISTRICT DIRECTORY

Finally, list your districts in the District Directory table as shown here. To fit your districts into the
table:

● Merge two or three small, less populous, or less important districts into one row
● Allocate two rows for prominent districts.

This table has 12 rows and uses d66 rolls: to choose an item in the table, you roll two six-sided
dice or :Otherscape dice and treat one die as the tens digit and the other die as the ones digit,
so that rolling 1 and 3 gives the result of 13. This will be used in the next stage of creating your
Megacity. You can also redistribute the numbers in the table to create a table with 9 or 18 rows,
but note that the tens or the ones digits are always between 1 and 6.

Here’s an example of a Districts Directory using the twelve boroughs of Berlin.

EXAMPLE: BERLIN DISTRICT DIRECTORY

Zone Code District

11-13 Reinickendorf, Treptow-Köpenick, or Spandau (pick one)

14-16 Lichtenberg

21-23 Steglitz-Zehlendorf

24-26 Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

31-33 Tempelhof-Schöneberg

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 32

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 34-36 Pankow

41-43 Pankow

44-46 Mitte

51-53 Mitte

54-56 Neukölln

61-63 Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

64-66 Marzahn-Hellersdorf

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 33

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 DEVELOPING THE FUTURE HISTORY
Next, you will build up your Megacity with major events and decide how it evolved over time.
How has its downtown area changed over the years? Which suburbs have become
industrialized or depopulated? How have the Mythoi influenced the city? What major disasters
have afflicted specific districts, shaping their futures?

Each development is a historical event or gradual change that came over the district. It’s a
moment in time, and whether it happened in the distant past or only recently, it has some
importance on the present character of the district.

ROLLING FOR DEVELOPMENTS

To generate each development, roll seven six-sided dice or :Otherscape dice and line them up
like so:

Starting from left to right and using the District Directory and the generator tables below, you
can interpret each roll into a development seed, as follows:

● The Zone Code dice indicate the district of the Megacity in which the development
occurred: the left die shows the tens digit and the right die shows the ones digit, so
rolling 1 and 3 stands for Zone Code 13.

● The Thematic Code dice indicate the thematic pillar to which the development belongs
in the same way: the left die shows the tens digit and the right die shows the ones digit.
Compare the resulting number to the Thematic Pillar table. You can read more about
each pillar on page XX.

● The next two dice indicate the Sub-Theme of the development in the same way..
Compare the resulting number to the specific table for the pillar indicated by the
Thematic Code.

● The last die on the right indicates the specific Development. Compare it to the six
specific developments listed under each Sub-Theme, numbered 1 through 6.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 34

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Continue to generate developments for your Megacity districts, interpreting each development
as explained below, until your Megacity feels substantial enough to play in (usually around 12
rolls). Alternatively, you can go district by district and roll only five dice, dropping the Zone Code
dice on the left.

For each development, note the Sub-Theme of the development as a story tag for the district
(see What’s In A Megacity?, page XX). If you roll multiple times for the same district, choose
whether to keep multiple district tags or keep only the most prominent one.

INTERPRETING THE RESULTS

Developments can apply to the entire Megacity. The outcomes of these tables and subtables
are intended to pertain to particular districts, but if you see a pattern emerging or really like an
outcome, consider applying them to a larger swath of the Megacity if it makes sense. The
emergence of assassination as commonplace in one district could spread to the heart of the
metropolis and make the entire Megacity prone to such killings, for example. If it works, run with
it; the randomisation is meant to help your imagination, not restrict it.

Place multiple developments on a timeline. When a single district gets more than one
development, think of the first one rolled as occurring earlier, with the next event in the chain
compounding with the first outcome over time, and so on. In this way you can explore how each
district is changed by the ravages of time.

Ask yourself how it affected the locals. In order to keep your Megacity plausible and
believable, remind yourself throughout the process that this isn’t just a place of terrors,
supernatural and superscientific. Your Megacity is a place where countless lives are lived and
ultimately end, often unceremoniously. Think about how people’s lives would have been shaped,
pulled in divergent directions or pushed further and further towards a dystopian existence.

Apply the ripple effect. Some outcomes sound temporary, but they might leave echoes for
many years. Be sure to think about how they impact the history of the location, particularly when
another development takes place in that same district (or another one nearby). This is especially
true if the district in question is the downtown center of your city.

THEMATIC PILLARS TABLE

Them Thematic Pillar Table Page

atic
Code

11-14 Cities in Ruins XX

15-22 Gangs, Cults, & Countercultures XX

23-34 Mythology Weaponized XX

35-42 Oligarchic Corruption XX

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 35

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 43-46 Sprawling Cyberspace XX

51-54 Tech Noir XX

55-62 Technological Overdrive XX

63-66 Transhumanism XX

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 36

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CITIES IN RUINS (11-14)
Natural, man-made, or Mythical disasters, gradual climate change and urban blight, as well as
the constant chase after growth and power and the carelessness of masses – any and all of
these can lead a district to a state of derelict disrepair, with some districts becoming
post-apocalyptic wastelands. The local population – or whatever is left of it – slowly adapts to
the new conditions, or is pushed out by better-suited newcomers.

? What ruined this district and how have its denizens adapted?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Natural 1. Floods or rising sea levels have left this district underwater
Disaster 2. Harsh winds or solar intensity turned this into a dust bowl or a desert
3. Tectonic shifts ended in earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruption
4. Freak storms and changing air streams led to arctic weather conditions
5. Magnetic storms jam and short out all electronics in the region
6. Meteoric bombardment leveled or continually levels this place

15-22 Wildlife 1. The district is overrun by animals, urban or from a nearby wilderness.
Perils 2. A Mythos has Touched local fauna, turning them into monsters.
3. Wildlife here adapted to outside threats in dangerous ways.
4. Mutated, rapidly-growing vegetation has reclaimed the district.
5. A newly evolved virus has decimated or mutated the population here.
6. This decomposing district gradually turned into a bog or a prairie.

23-26 Backfired 1. Nanites broke loose and digested the district into a delirious hellscape.
Tech 2. A confluence of Noise here garbles all wireless communications.
3. A superweapon was detonated here, leaving a mile-wide crater.
4. An autonomous drone army is programmed to exterminate all life here.
5. Homebrew cloning has spawned swarms of deformed half-breeds.
6. Mineral-eating enzymes consume all non-organic buildings and roads.

31-34 Mass 1. A population influx turns the district into a derelict refugee camp.
Migration 2. A corporation pays locals to clear the district for undisclosed reasons.
3. A new race of supernatural beings supplants the former residents.
4. Due to weather or other threats, most residents migrate underground.
5. Locals have locked themselves away in cyberspace or cryogenic sleep.
6. One day, all of the local population just disappears.

35-42 Mythic 1. Nature Mythoi have restored the district to its original wilderness.
Wilderness 2. A fetid, necromantic marsh bubbles up to swallow the district.
3. A prowling monstrosity devours anyone it sets its eyes on.
4. A Source set at the heart of the region repels the masses.
5. The entire district has a Mythic up-side-down reflection, shadowy or fey.
6. A restored river God diverted its raging waters through the district.

43-46 Sudden 1. A rogue AI hacks everything in its Nearspace, driving people away
Catastroph 2. Disease and famine leave the population weak and dispersed.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 37

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 es 3. An unearthed ancient ritual culminated in the death of all nearby.
4. A supernatural infestation or haunting left the area inhospitable.
5. A power plant or industrial plant explodes, devastating a large area.
6. A major maglev train derailing leveled everything in its vicinity.

51-54 Urban 1. Unmaintained for decades, skyscrapers here have started to collapse.
Blight 2. The entire district sinks or slides downhill, there is no solid ground.
3. Rickety, multi-level slums take over every marginally liveable space.
4. This poverty-stricken district slowly regressed into a pre-urban hamlet.
5. Decrepit buildings and streets are gradually absorbed by a Thin Place.
6. A major landmark stays untouched here amidst total urban decay.

55-62 Rampant 1. The air here is unbreathable, with only a few surviving species.
Pollution 2. Torrential acid or radioactive rain has reduced this place to a wasteland.
3. The district is a dumpsite, covered in mountains of trash.
4. The Noise meddles with organic brains in unpredictable ways.
5. Residents suffer a particular disability (blindness, mobility issues, etc.)
6. Buried toxic goo now floods the streets, eating away at foundations.

63-66 Adaptation Roll again on this table or discuss at the table what the nature of this district is,
Attempts and in addition:
1. An arcology is mysteriously funded and built in the heart of the ruins.
2. A corporation sets up a forward base and begins to run things.
3. A giant barrier is erected to separate this place from the Megacity.
4. Locals use scavenged tech, cybernetics, or Sources to survive here.
5. A god or demon takes over protecting the population.
6. A visionary entrepreneur attempts to help, failing spectacularly.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 38

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 GANGS, CULTS, & COUNTERCULTURE (15-22)
The Noise pervades not just technology but also culture. What used to be called the mainstream
has fragmented into a million different subcultures and social silos, each with their own circles,
hangouts, interests, and agendas. On top of the existing fashion cliques, tech clubs, religious
groups, street gangs, and fringe punk movements, the Megacity is now gaining a new slew of
subcultures based on Sources and the return of the Mythoi. Each such subculture shapes the
language, architecture, foods, and art that its followers consume and can mobilize them in
countless ways to achieve its strange ideals.

? What new groups and subcultures emerged in this district?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Secret 1. An ancient mystery cult gains popularity among young residents.
Societies 2. An ultra-rich family conducts debauched and immoral banquets.
3. A masonic secret society spreads among the executive elite.
4. A historic building secretly becomes a temple for an old pantheon.
5. Several high-profile collectors of magical Artifacts move into the district.
6. A circle of AI freedom fighters adopts mysterious symbols and practices

15-22 Isolationis 1. An extremist militant group builds a bunker network under the district.
t Enclave 2. An eccentric inbred clan devolves inside a maximum-security enclave.
3. A flying / floating platform is home to a strange and insular community.
4. A corporation has built a massive off-limits “R&D” arcology here.
5. Squatters take over abandoned skyscrapers, fending off evictors.
6. Magic hides the entire district population from the rest of the Megacity.

23-26 Touched 1. Lycanthropy spreads as a new werewolf tribe seeks to grow its numbers.
Subcultur 2. An exclusive neo-occultist clique conducts trials for aspiring members.
es 3. Mercs here make offerings to war gods to gain an edge in battle.
4. An army of street urchins guards a random landmark they deem sacred.
5. Trickster spirits’ psychedelic drugs and trippy music are so hot right now.
6. Wandering anthro monks provide exorcisms for a recharge and shelter.

31-34 Irregular 1. A mainstream religion starts evangelizing cybernetics and cyborgs.

Religion 2. A new spiritual movement forms with an AI as its central deity.
3. Two fundamentalist sects engage in a holy war on the streets.
4. A new religious text spreads rapidly, becoming a memetic virus.
5. Programs from Cyberspace appear in this district as prophetic visions.
6. Followers of a specific religion begin to manifest powers from its Mythos.

35-42 Gang 1. An ethnic street gang is empowered by their culture’s gods or demons.
Action 2. A techie gang uses dog drones and Nearspace viruses to guard their turf.
3. A nihilistic death cult known for carving up people for fun gains popularity.
4. Slavers raid the district for fresh meat, enslaved using Sources or tech.
5. A hardline political group in the district forms an armed militia.
6. A splinter cell is training local gangs by setting them against each other.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 39

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 43-46 Fashion is 1. This hotspot breeds the latest trends in cosmetic implants and augs.
Identity 2. Super designers are currently obsessed with this district’s unique wear.
3. A trending cyberspace lifestyle influencer records their live feeds here.
4. A popular new AR game has the locals killing each other for points.
5. Yet another dark-and-broody aesthetic favored by teens hails from here.
6. A Source turns this place into the new Mecca for anti-aging enthusiasts.

51-54 [culture] 1. A migrant culture gains prominence, transforming the entire district.
Town 2. A minority dominates the upper echelon, becoming the ruling class.
3. A routinely abused minority taps into the Sources of their ancient culture.
4. An isolationist cultural group with strict moral codes settles here.
5. An immigrant group’s language becomes the primary language here.
6. Ancient sites of worship draw members of the culture here once more.

55-62 Outlandis 1. A local raider gang is the de facto warrior caste of a homeless “tribe”.
h Tribes 2. A scavenger subculture evolves here with its own cant and customs.
3. Strange old-tech techno-shamans bring bygone devices back to life.
4. Sick of the Noise, people here live simply, destroying tech on sight.
5. Rich weirdos come here to rebuild an empire from the Megacity’s past.
6. Mutated survivalist clans kill and eat whatever or whoever they can get.

63-66 Punkkkkk! 1. To be free from identity, new-wave punks fry their long-term memory.
2. A literal iconoclastic movement calls people to avoid worshiping Sources.
3. A punk band led by a defective non-sentient anthro is super popular.
4. An anti-establishment saboteur cell is about to be squashed by the corps.
5. A hacker collective gets overconfident after kicking government butt.
6. The Megacity is rooting for a new artist who cyber-tags AR everywhere.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 40

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 MYTHOLOGY WEAPONIZED (23-34)
The Megacities of :Otherscape are increasingly influenced by Mythic forces. These are likely to
come from the historical cultures of the people who reside in the area, or from the region your
Megacity is set within, but the melting pot nature of a Megacity means that nearly any pantheon
could become relevant almost anywhere. Even Mythoi with little direct connection to a place
may be drawn there by the societal or technological forces at work, if they dovetail with their
story or mythic attributes. Be creative and open to interesting futuristic interpretations of old
tales.

? What Mythoi have reshaped this district?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Legendary 1. Giant monsters engage in destructive battles in the district

Monsters 2. A gargantuan creature slumbers beneath the district
3. A dangerous being hunts here, killing many and baffling authorities
4. A monster of legend alters the minds of local residents
5. The area becomes famous for a local mythic beast or cryptozoid
6. The carcass of a great monster slain by a hero(es) remains here

15-22 Arcane 1. An occult school or academy is established here

Practices 2. Several powerful magical practitioners fight for regional supremacy
3. A traditional practice from this region returns as a real form of magic
4. This is a magical commercial center, full of odd occult shops
5. A permanent spell is cast over the entire district
6. A dark magic practitioner builds their abode here, causing problems

23-26 Mythology in 1. A new “god” emerges here, reinterpreted through technology

Action 2. A portal to a magical realm, the afterlife, or hell opens here
3. The area becomes a paradise (no dying, no aging, no hunger, etc.)
4. A local deity demands to be worshiped again, or else…
5. A trickster god drastically reshapes or steals a part of the district
6. The events of a creation myth or an apocalypse begin to play out here

31-34 Corruptive 1. Politicians are supernaturally influenced

Forces 2. Police are corrupted and/or empowered by supernatural beings
3. The bodies of residents begin to transform in some horrifying way
4. Groups of people are mind-controlled by unseen beings
5. A curse or unnatural taint disease spreads in the sewers or streets
6. A resident finds a corrupted Artifact, turns into a key player overnight

35-42 Corporate 1. A corporation based here is ruled by or aligned with a Mythos

Magic 2. A company figures out how to mass produce a Mythic effect
3. A corp equips their staff, security forces, or executives with Sources
4. A major technological breakthrough occurs here, using a Source
5. Corporations move in to harvest a local Source
6. A corp unwittingly ties its fate to a Mythos by using it as a logo

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 41

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 43-46 Cult 1. People begin to go missing, sacrificed by a cult to its Mythos
Meddling 2. Two rival Mythos cults battle for supremacy or control of a Source
3. Mythos cultists perform a district-altering ritual at a landmark location
4. A Mythos cult gains popularity, changing the district’s daily practices
5. A cabal of powerful occultists decides to take control of the district
6. A Mythic drug floods the streets, becoming an epidemic

51-54 Magical 1. A gang or criminal organization gains power through a Mythos

Crimes 2. Relics become commonplace on the local black market
3. A local Source drives people to commit crimes of passion or greed
4. Authorities here struggle to catch a magic-wielding heist crew
5. Source-powered petty crime is rampant, making everyday life harder
6. Local cultural artifacts are stolen, requisitioned, or plundered

55-62 Inspired 1. A vigilante becomes active, aided by the Mythos of a mythic hero
Heroism 2. Teenagers become embroiled in coming-of-age heroes’ journeys
3. Treasure hunters scour the area for rumored magical artifacts
4. Rumors spread about a Relic of great power locked here
5. A criminal group is led by a charismatic do-gooder (e.g., Robin Hood)
6. Source-powered workers are standing up to corporate exploitation

63-66 Theurgists 1. The district is infested with harrowing or pestering spirits or demons
Needed 2. Ancestor cults or spiritualists help the departed back into power
3. A mystical order builds a temple here, offering enlightenment
4. A new cultivation fad has everyone scrambling for rare ingredients
5. The district becomes the base for a Mythos-controlling agency
6. Imbalances in the spirit realm sow disease, strife, or nightmares here

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 42

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 OLIGARCHIC CORRUPTION (35-42)
Governments, megacorps, and criminal syndicates meld into each other. The elected receive
dividends from the companies that ran their campaigns. Corporations take over and monopolize
industries. Criminal syndicates fill the right pockets and get a carte blanche to do as they will. As
things get bleak, governments make grabs for power, make war against one another, and may
ultimately collapse under the strain. The very corps and organized crime rings that caused the
corruption step in to bring their own kind of order on the streets.

? How have the prominent geo-political players changed this district?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Government 1. The exits to neighboring districts get barred and barricaded.
Collapse 2. An extremist ideology is the only form of government left.
3. The populace is self-governing, operating all public services.
4. A warlord or Avatar declared themselves ruler of this place.
5. The streets are a warzone, full of rioting, looting, and gang
violence.
6. An armed insurrection force takes control of the district.

15-22 Assassin Kill 1. With everyone armed and trigger-happy, petty disputes are lethal.
Zone 2. Assassinations in broad daylight become commonplace.
3. Execution is legal here, assassin guilds and agencies emerge.
4. Nothing gets done as government and corp officials die often.
5. This district is a major exporter of assassin drones and anthros.
6. This is an open-air training ground for bodyguards and special ops.

23-26 Bureaucratic 1. Kleptocracy: every interaction with an official requires a bribe.

Dysfunction 2. This is a bureaucratic hub, attracting corrupt wheelers-and-dealers.
3. The economy falters, prices soar, and locals can’t afford anything.
4. Injustice prevails as the courts are weaponized against residents.
5. A suspicious district-wide charity organization emerges.
6. Residents must submit to a DNA registry or lose all rights.

31-34 Neglected 1. A core system has collapsed here (sewer, power, health, etc.)
Infrastructure 2. Locals resort to dangerous improvised fixes to infrastructure.
3. A black market for basic services breeds abuse of power.
4. A Mythos of famine or plague prevails in this district.
5. Mountains of waste and debris invite scavengers and monsters.
6. Public services are nonexistent, locals must survive on their own.

35-42 Corporate 1. The entire district is owned and controlled by one corporation.
Rule 2. People here judge everything and everyone by their “brand”.
3. Armed “PR” crews take to the streets and impose violent order.
4. Locals are swallowed up in a hyper-competitive corporate culture.
5. The entire district is a well-oiled Orwellian factory complex.
6. Hyper-privatization forces residents into expensive brand loyalty.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 43

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 43-46 Government 1. Drones swarm the streets, creating a panopticon of surveillance.
Overreach 2. Permits are required for many mundane actions and services.
3. Political propaganda and brainwashing becomes inescapable.
4. Police freely abuse their power with no repercussions.
5. An identity, race, or creed is marked for systemic persecution.
6. A growing part of the district is converted into a prison complex.

51-54 Organized 1. Heists and robberies often spill into the streets.
Crime 2. The district becomes a smuggling hub for a specific kind of goods.
3. Human trafficking, sex work, and wired slavery run rampant here.
4. A new designer drug is wreaking havoc on the local population.
5. The district is cut up into heavily guarded gang territories.
6. A new criminal syndicate emerges here, led by a shadowy figure.

55-62 Total Social 1. Survival is all that matters; this has become a concrete jungle.
Disintegration 2. The rich treat the poor like animals to be kept, bred, and hunted.
3. A tyrant has titled themselves supreme ruler, abolishing all laws.
4. Human rights have become a paid commodity that can be traded.
5. Corporations have become sovereign entities, ruling territories.
6. A criminal empire has effectively taken over the government.

63-66 War for Power 1. People here are press-ganged into military or security service.
2. Martial law has been put in effect here.
3. War refugees and destitute veterans flood this district.
4. This is a battleground for a war between two or more corporations.
5. A foreign power, Mythos, or AI staged a military invasion here.
6. This district is home to a major military installation.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 44

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SPRAWLING CYBERSPACE (43-46)
Cyberspace is everywhere but also localized, limitless but ultimately exists on physical grids.
Some districts have their own cyberspace networks, separated from the rest of the net by
firewalls and tight security, such as corporate data fortresses or private regional Domains. The
Nearspace and its AR overlays are unique to a district, while local viruses, data weather, and
online crime can impact those who live in the real world counterparts of affected cyberspace
sectors. Domains, while commonly referred to as being on the ‘cloud’, are actually stored on
server farms, and while these can be multiple sites anywhere in the world, the more sensitive or
valuable the data, the more likely it is its owners would want to keep it in a physically secure
location.

When you roll a development of this category, choose whether it applies to cyberspace in a
specific Megacity district, to cyberspace in the entire Megacity, or even to a global cyberspace
event or trend. Perhaps the development points to a problem or invention that started in this
district or gained popularity here, even if it is ubiquitous across the net.

? How does this district interact with cyberspace?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Data Flow 1. Massive datalinks and heavy traffic makes this hub hard to parse in VR.
Abnormaliti 2. The outdated/overcrowded grid is notoriously slow or often shuts down.
es 3. The hyper-secure network encryption here requires powerful devices.
4. Data “pools” here in server farms, tempting illegal data miners.
5. No anonymity: all Cyberspace comms must be triple authenticated.
6. Cyberspace is unavailable here; the grid collapsed or was sabotaged.

15-22 Corporate 1. A major megacorp’s Domain is securely hosted here.

Domains 2. This AR/VR plaza for corporate HQs is a hotbed of industrial espionage.
3. There is an abandoned corporate workspace Domain here, still online.
4. Top-tier deals are often struck here in high-class luxury AR/VR lounges.
5. A secret corporate data fortress is based here, full of classified files.
6. The Nearspace in this corporate district is swarming with data security.

23-26 Artificial 1. Nearspace devices come alive due to a rogue AI hiding in the district.
Intelligence 2. A violent AI cyber-killer roams the local Domains.
Hotspot 3. A popular AI official or crime lord manages daily affairs in this district.
4. AIs here are masquerading as important local figures they kidnapped.
5. Authorities delete a powerful rogue AI, its versions now vow revenge.
6. There is a quarantine area for a captured rogue AI here.

31-34 No Biz Like 1. A major Cyberspace pop icon rises from this district.
Cyber-Sho 2. Many wealthy cyber-entertainers move here, creating a real-estate fad.
wbiz 3. The main drag is overcrowded with glitzy AR entertainment and ads.
4. People here are hardcore fans of a new type of VR entertainment.
5. A new and popular AR sport sprouts in the streets of the district.
6. Outlandish AR fashion trends start popping up, changing rapidly.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 45

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 35-42 Viral 1. A hard-to-remove firmware virus disrupts cybernetics augmentations.
Cyber-attac 2. A prankster coder causes visual hallucinations to all AR users here.
ks 3. A corporate attack virus gets out of hand, sowing destruction.
4. A neural interface “disease” erratically rewrites the memory of victims.
5. A vehicle hijack app is used in induced car crashes and kidnappings.
6. A “data freedom” spyware randomly uploads stolen data to cyberspace.

43-46 Online 1. A trending hacker collective becomes local heroes to the residents.
Crime 2. A corp is brought to its knees, forced to meet the hacker’s demands.
3. Harnessing is popular and accessible, everyone is a petty hacker now.
4. A world-renowned information black market has a foothold here.
5. The local Domain is lawless, cyber-gangs abduct minds for ransom.
6. Surging cybercrime was violently quashed by draconic cybersecurity.

51-54 Digital 1. The local Domain becomes the spot to get the hottest digital art.
Commerce 2. The local Domain houses a foreign market with rare specialty products.
Hub 3. The Megacity’s top VR environment architects favor this local Domain.
4. The local AR/VR street market for custom software is a hidden gem.
5. The Domain is declared a neutral zone, outside of corporate ownership.
6. A top-security banking hub often attracts Harnessed heist teams.

55-62 Forgotten 1. This cyber-frontier, linked to the Spirals, is rife with strange phenomena.
Cyberscap 2. A Spirals data tidal wave crashed this Domain, but left treasures behind.
es 3. The forsaken remains of a major past database are found here.
4. A key private Domain, cut off from Cyberspace, is accessible from here.
5. Many uploaded intelligences are stored here in vast digital complexes.
6. The archival Domain is filled with dumps of old, unused data.

63-66 Where 1. An AI and Mythos meld together and become one.

Data And 2. The local Domain is taken over by a tech-worshiping Mythos cult.
Legends 3. A Mythos infects Cyberspace with Conjured digital predators.
Meet 4. A VR location becomes a Thin Place, connected to a similar Mythos.
5. A viral meme enters the collective subconscious, becoming a Mythos.
6. Locals secretly share around an Esoterica demon-summoning app.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 46

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 TECH NOIR (51-54)
Noir is a common theme in cyberpunk settings, as such stories showcase corruption,
self-destruction, and loneliness against an urban backdrop. Places within your city that
emphasize these elements may be particularly bleak, rife with crime and betrayal – the seedy
underbelly of humanity.

? What hardships do people on the street cope with in this district?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Brutal 1. Unfortunaetly, suicide rates in this neighborhood are dramatically high.
Realities 2. With few opportunities, many turn to crime just to put food on the table.
3. The largest employer in the area recently shut down all local facilities.
4. Housing here is scarce and people begin to overcrowd living spaces.
5. Industrial accidents are common, as evidenced by many cyber-limbs.
6. Vehicles become unaffordable, isolating many citizens.

15-22 People in 1. A failing criminal empire gets violent with members trying to go legit.
Distress 2. Experimental test subject children escape their confinement, going feral.
3. Locals behave erratically because of a new drug or cyberspace game.
4. Witnesses of a recent corporate execution are now hunted down.
5. Groups of disenfranchised citizens wall themselves off in an enclave.
6. Refugees from another district scavenge for food on the streets.

23-26 Liars & 1. A gifted con artist swindles the wealthy out of large sums of money.
Cheats 2. The district’s forgeries make it hard to tell real money or IDs from false.
3. The area’s largest employer is stealing from its workers
4. Charlatans abound, posing as street performers and disaster victims
5. A beloved union leader is in bed with the mob (and their sex workers)
6. Peddlers use cheap tech to pass trinkets as Sources

31-34 Blackmail, 1. A major politician is scandalized after an ally sells them out to the media
Betrayal, & 2. A corporation keeps scrutiny at bay by having dirt on everyone.
Bribery 3. A criminal ringleader is blackmailing the police chief and calls the shots
4. Bribery is so commonplace that officials expect it to do their job
5. After a wealthy industrialist was doxxed, hooligans raided their home
6. Footage from surveillance is secretly available to the highest bidder

35-42 Seedy 1. Dead bodies regularly turn up at a nearby pond or chemical factory.
Underbelly 2. Hi-tech and even mil-spec assault weapons are easy to acquire here.
3. Organized crime finds a digital way to extort people and businesses.
4. This is a famed red-lights district, run by nefarious madams and pimps.
5. This is the home turf of a prominent criminal underworld kingpin.
6. Underground ringfights betting is popular here, fighting to the death.

43-46 Self-Destru 1. Addiction (alcohol, drugs, VR) ravages the district, destroying lives
ctive 2. Bored and hopeless, thrillseekers get into an extreme and lethal sport
Behavior 3. Nothing-to-lose locals try to rob a bank or take out a corporate executive
4. People push their bodies over the edge with bio-augs or cyberware

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 47

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 5. Despair drives individuals here to dabble with dangerous Esoterica
6. All too eager donors make this a favorite haunt for vampiric Touched

51-54 Social 1. This district is full of hustlers and freaks, you can’t trust anyone.
Isolation 2. Rumor has it the corps have anthro spies walking among us.
3. Families and communities are torn apart by a highly-contagious virus.
4. AR masks and facial augs make this a district of fake faces.
5. Nearspace cyberchat is dead here, with everyone fearing hackers.
6. Mercs work alone here, thanks to a prevailing Lone Wolf Mythos.

55-62 Places to 1. This district is known for its bookies, casinos, or gambling parlors
Unwind 2. Neon signs point to VR lounges where every dream is a reality
3. Divey bars here are home to mercenaries and gangsters
4. Merc legends retire here as trainers in shooting ranges and boxing clubs
5. The underground club scene in this district is famously hardcore.
6. The rooftops of this district have the best vistas of the Megacity.

63-66 Losing 1. The desperate begin to sell or rent out their organs or brain functions
Humanity 2. Identity altering technology, such as memory erasure, become popular
3. Residents here hoard and worship Sources to escape their humanity
4. Excessive augmentation is common here, cyborgs are the new ideal
5. Cannibalistic street gangs revert back to the law of the jungle
6. A demon makes a killing here on residents eager to sell away their soul

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 48

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 TECHNOLOGICAL OVERDRIVE (55-62)
Inventions and scientific research fuel the endless expansion of all future industries. Some
advancements have outcomes that are less than desirable, yet so many new inventions and
discoveries are made that no one can keep up with all of them, least of all the government,
which is too toothless to regulate any of it. Pollution is the twin sister of advancement, and her
accompanying climate change catastrophes are often linked with rampant technological
progress.

? How have technological advancements affected this district?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Automation 1. A robotic uprising against humans takes place here

Propagation 2. Robots replace most menial workers, driving up unemployment
3. Drones swarm the skies, causing accidents and pollution
4. Uniquely, this district accepts/denounces human-android relations
5. This place is drowning in mass produced and disposable trash
6. Life here is automated and scripted, meaninglessness prevails

15-22 Industrial 1. Housing lost to industry, leading to shanty towns or a massive exodus
Sprawl 2. This industrial district is depopulated, welcoming crime or the Mythoi
3. An aggressive mining operation supplies a resource vital to economy
4. Giant factories abandoned due to new tech now attract new residents
5. Overworked workers unionize or strike, clashing with corporations
6. Most of the district is under construction, building something big

23-26 Information 1. Locals become addicted to a new form of entertainment

Overload 2. AR advertising is invasive to the point of becoming dangerous
3. Comms channels now a rare commodity, due to Noise interference
4. Social alienation prevails as people live in their data feeds
5. Someone has weaponized the Noise, knocking people out with it
6. Education is failing, breeding hordes of hooligan youth

31-34 Techy 1. A new tech-based fashion and aesthetic hails from this district
Subcultures 2. People here breed cute genetically-modified pets that can eat metal
3. Exoskeletons deathmatches are the hottest underground scene
4. Vials of an injectable semiconductor that boosts tech are sold here
5. Locals raided a crashed corp carrier and are brandishing new tech
6. Cloning becomes increasingly more popular as a form of procreation

35-42 Industrial 1. The air here is thick with emissions, particulates, nanites, etc.
Pollution 2. Radiation or chemicals levels are too high here, due to a nearby plant
3. Pollution impedes travel through the district, turning it to a backwater
4. Weather is erratic and dangerous, affected by production demand
5. This district has a distinctive smell
6. The government declares this district uninhabitable

43-46 Spliced 1. Locals restore a lost service by cannibalizing another one

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 49

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Technologies 2. Corporate technology is commandeered and used in a creative way
3. An old building or complex is repurposed
4. Two major technologies merge, creating a unique local industry
5. Drones or other robots are reprogrammed by a local gang, religion, or
ideological group
6. A Mythos Avatar takes over an industry or science, transforming it

51-54 Science 1. Escaped biological experiments prowl the streets and the ecosystem
Gone Awry 2. A robotic killing machine runs rampant in the district
3. A nanotech virus is unleashed here, reshaping local DNA
4. A research facility explodes, spreading dangerous agents
5. Locals become test subjects for unethical experiments
6. Scientists experiment with a Mythos without the means to control it

55-62 Technological 1. Locals are early adopters of an advanced type of cybernetics

Breakthrough 2. An R&D facility here experiments with a theoretical, strange science
3. A powerful Artificial Intelligence is contained in a facility here
4. A local corp is experimenting with wormholes for transportation
5. Consciousness-expanding tech is increasing the likelihood of Avatars
6. This is the place to obtain cutting-edge portable energy weapons

63-66 Luxuries of 1. Medical services here are renowned for curing any condition
Science 2. This is a thriving hub of financial algorithm genius, swimming in funds
3. Dying has been subverted here by cloning and memory implants
4. An obscenely-priced drug that elicits extreme pleasure is in demand
5. This textile center is the place to buy avant-garde, high-tech clothing
6. Weather-control tech keeps this place sunny and dreamy all year long

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 50

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 TRANSHUMANISM (63-66)
The Megacity is in many ways defined by the fringe technologies that step over the line,
transforming lives in ways that strain our ideas of identity, authenticity, and humanity. Entire
subcultures, neighborhoods, or industries may be pushed to the brink of existence, forced to
transcend as they adopt cutting edge technologies. What is a person? What is a community?
Who are we becoming? Mythoi and Noise both challenge us with these questions.

Many of the developments in this category are merely the starting point of transhuman
technologies. Think about the implications that each of these changes had on the district and
the Megacity at large.

? What technology transcends or redefines humanity in this district?

Code Thematic Development

Subclass

11-14 Technologica 1. All smart devices unite, manipulating owners to an unknown end.
l Singularity 2. “Human” consciousnesses are born in cyberspace.
3. Cyberspace itself forms a will, becoming an informational superbeing.
4. The Noise starts “Touching” individuals and places like the Mythoi.
5. An AI superintelligence declares war on the incalculable Otherscape.
6. Some rando becomes the Singularity, inexplicably linked to all data.

15-22 Evolutionary 1. The wealthy live indefinitely in cloned bodies with copied memories.
Schism 2. A cultural/political group alters their DNA, diverging as a new species.
3. The lower classes are modified to be docile and hardworking.
4. Mental engram tech allows for consciousness to be stored digitally.
5. Locals stop reproducing biologically, preferring artificial procreation.
6. A Source is used to breed a new race of supernatural beings.

23-26 Bodies 1. This district is made accessible for superhuman strength or speed.
Modified 2. Skill chips redefine the concepts of qualifications or training.
3. A corporation requires invasive body augs of all its workers.
4. New augs can alter gender presentation and sex on demand.
5. Flesh-like cybernetics make cyborgs and anthros harder to identify.
6. Installing excessing limbs or duplicate organs is a hot trend here.

31-34 Bodies 1. A popular clinic offers to transplant brains into durable robotic bodies.
Transcended 2. Locals graft animal body parts onto their bodies.
3. People regularly inhabit multiple bodies, drones, or nanite clouds.
4. Locals live in Cyberspace, while machines care for their bodies.
5. People routinely swap bodies with others, temporarily or permanently.
6. Human lifespan becomes indefinite due to medical advancements.

35-42 Minds 1. Human intelligence is transcended with powerful AI cerebral augs.

Transcended 2. Psionic abilities are unlocked, allowing minds to interface directly.
3. Devotion and love are shown by melding minds into a single body.
4. Memory recording, playback, and modification is commonplace.
5. A fashion market for genetic traits develops, with its own fads.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 51

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 6. People offer their brains for others as outsourced computing power.

43-46 So Much 1. Apathy and nihilism rule, people kill themselves just to feel something.
Noise 2. The Noise induces mass psychosis or connects all into a hivemind.
3. Locals abandon their names for usernames or serial numbers.
4. Some people can no longer perceive physical (non-digital) reality.
5. Nothing new is created, all life becomes a self-repeating fractal.
6. Simulacrum: people live in a cyberspace copy of this district.

51-54 Post-Society 1. Users in an online community declare themselves a sovereign nation.

2. People believe they are neurons within the mind of the state or corp.
3. Individuality is sacrosanct; imitating others’ style or persona is illegal.
4. Each resident is a corporation and every interaction is monetized.
5. Virtual identities gain rights and sue other identities of the same host.
6. Air, processing power, or time itself become the new currency.

55-62 Existential 1. Reality is a simulation; its ‘builders’ communicate via this district.
Discoveries 2. Deep cyberspace explorers find the source code of existence itself.
3. Extraterrestrial life reveals itself but is mistaken for Mythoi.
4. The ancients Mythified themselves to survive a recurring cataclysm.
5. Newly-born humans have no souls, plunging society into depravity.
6. Alternate timelines scoping is harnessed to improve decision-making.

63-66 Mythos 1. A new Noise-filtering implant allows humans to be Sources again.

Transcenden 2. An otherworldly intelligence appears here to enlighten humanity.
ce 3. Someone in this district discovers a way to become a Mythos.
4. Reality is the dream of a specific group; everyone else is not real.
5. The underworld merges with Cyberspace and the dead return to “life”.
6. New Harnessing tech can now project hackers into the Otherscape.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 52

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CHARACTER CREATION
As explained under Your Character & Crew (page XX), player characters and crews are
described using tags which are grouped into themes. During character creation, you pick or
create themes and tags for your character, which define your character’s abilities, assets, allies,
social status, and so on.

An :Otherscape player character is made of four themes, representing the major aspects of her
life. (Every player character also has a loadout theme, which simply serves as a container to her
loadout tags; see Loadout, page XX.) Each theme has three power tags, one weakness tag,
and one motivation: an Identity (for Self themes), a Ritual (for Mythos themes), or an Itch (for
Noise themes).

The Rapid way to create a theme and its tags is by choosing from a list called a theme kit; the
Custom way to create a theme is by answering questions from its themebook. When you create
a theme, write its tags and motivation onto a theme card.

THEMEBOOKS

Themes are created with the use of themebooks (starting on page XX) which are comprised of
the following parts:

● 🔨 Custom Creation section:

○ A concept section, to help you focus the idea of your theme.
○ 10 power tag questions, with which you craft your power tags. You answer the
first, and two more.
○ 4 weakness tag questions, with which you craft your weakness tags. You
answer one.
○ An Identity, Ritual, or Itch section, helping you craft the core motivation behind
this theme.
○ 3 crew relationships suggestions, ways to “hook” your character through this
theme with other crew members.

● Theme Specials section: 5 theme Specials which can be chosen as an upgrade for the
theme during the game (page XX).

● ⚡ Rapid Creation section: 8 theme kits, examples of notable archetypes appropriate

to this theme type. The tags in each theme kit are specific examples of answering the
questions that appear in the Custom Creation section.

THEME TYPES
Themes are divided into three categories – Self, Mythos, and Noise – representing the PC’s
human features, Mythic powers, and superhuman technology, respectively. Your character’s

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 53

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 balance of Self, Mythos, and Noise themes determines their Essence: whether they are a
human Nexus of forces, a Cyborg, a Conduit, etc. (page XX).

The theme categories are further divided into theme types, each representing a different focus
or aspect of your character within that category.

SELF THEME TYPES

Self themes give you grounding in reality and tell the story of where you come from and what
you want. They serve as the basis for your human self and what you care about. They also
represent what you could lose should you pursue magic or technology at the expense of your
personal life.

The AFFILIATION theme type (page XX) represents your connection to other people, most
often a group or culture, but also individuals. It could be a club, gang, cult, online social circle, or
a loved one. It’s who you know, who has your back, with whom you can feel like you belong, and
who you turn to for help.

The ASSETS theme type (page XX) represents physical or digital resources at your disposal,
such as a weapon, vehicle, safehouse, arsenal, or program library. These are signature items
that you care about, and define how you see yourself and how you get things done.

The EXPERTISE theme type (page XX) represents training, professional development, and
talent. This is what you’re good at, went to school for, or spent years practicing. It’s probably
what you’re known for doing well.

The HORIZON theme type (page XX) represents your hopes, dreams, aspirations, and goals. It
is a single driving force that keeps you on the right track (or the wrong one). It’s something you
focus on and hope to live up to.

The PERSONALITY theme type (page XX) represents how you behave. It could be your modus
operandi on the job, your general demeanor, or your defining characteristic. It’s how you come
off to others and also your mindset when dealing with problems.

The TROUBLED PAST theme type (page XX) represents a defining moment or overall
background that has shaped you. It’s probably something bad (that’s the “troubled” part), but it
comes with resolve and experience that you can use.

MYTHOS THEME TYPES

Mythos theme types represent powers that come from Mythoi of the Otherscape. Each should
be connected to a Source: a physical place, called Thin Place; an object, called a Relic; an
Esoteric practice; an animal, called a Familiar, or, rarely, another human being, an Avatar.

The ARTIFACT theme type (page XX) represents an item which serves as a Source of power,
usually a Relic, but other times a mundane item exposed to another Source. It could grant you

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 54

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 supernatural abilities or have powers of its own. It may be an item straight out of mythology or
legend, or a seemingly mundane one.

The COMPANION theme type (page XX) represents a magical creature or follower, who is
capable of assisting you. Companions could be spirits, enchanted animals, mythological
creatures, or magical constructs. They are often magical beings summoned by a Source, called
Conjurations, with the exception of Familiars, who are their own Source.

The ESOTERICA theme type (page XX) represents gaining powers through knowledge, a
practice, or an art. It is likely tied to a human cultural practice, belief system, or magical system,
usually with mythological roots.

The EXPOSURE theme type (page XX) represents being imbued with powers by encountering
something magical, traveling to a metaphysical realm, or becoming the target of a supernatural
effect such as a curse or spell (also known as being Touched by a Source).

NOISE THEME TYPES

The Noise is the way that technology and progress overwhelm us. Your Noise themes represent
the ways that you’ve come to survive and even thrive in the face of a world in which change has
become the only constant. The powers it grants involve mastery over technology, while at the
same time represent virtual enslavement to it.

The AUGMENTATION theme type (page XX) represents cybernetic or biological enhancements
installed into your body and mind, making you more than human. Many people have implants of
some kind but yours are a step beyond, as befitting the type of jobs you take.

The CUTTING EDGE theme type (page XX) represents a truly mind-blowing new technology
you’ve somehow got your hands on. You might be its inventor, a test pilot, or a lucky thief who’s
on the run from its creators.

The CYBERSPACE theme type (page XX) represents a connection to virtual reality, online
lifestyles, or other digital existence. You could be a hacker, a famous streamer, or someone who
makes their living tracking online activities.

The DRONES theme type (page XX) represents control over one or more remote devices or
robots. It represents not only the physical hardware, but also the skills to keep them maintained
and coordinate their activities.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 55

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ⚡ RAPID CHARACTER CREATION
Rapid theme creation is recommended for players who are new to the game, those who just
want to dive into the action, or those who are struggling to figure out what exactly they want to
play. It involves picking options from a list rather than coming up with options from scratch.

STEP 1: PICK YOUR CHARACTER TROPE

Character tropes are pre-made sets of theme kits that describe a typical :Otherscape
character. Each character trope lists three theme kits that are inherent to the trope, and three
optional theme kits from which to pick your fourth and final one.

Go through the character tropes on page XX. Pick one to base your character on and note the
three base theme kits that come with it.

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR FOURTH THEME KIT

Your fourth and final theme kit is up to you – this is your opportunity to customize your character
trope and make it your own. Choose it from the three options listed in your character trope.

Alternatively, you can pick any theme kit from any themebook (starting on page XX), but make
sure it doesn’t share a theme type with any of your first three theme kits.

STEP 3: CREATE THEMES FROM THEME KITS

Each theme kit is a list of tags, representing a single concept that can work as a standalone
theme. For example, the theme kit for a Trained Killer (page XX) lists power tags, weakness
tags, and an Identity, all appropriate for an assassin.

Each theme kit lists ten power tags and four weakness tags for you to choose from. When you
create a theme out of a theme kit, you:

● Gain the first power tag in the theme kit (the title tag)
● Choose two more power tags
● Choose one weakness tag
● Gain the Identity, Ritual, or Itch given in theme kit

There, you made a theme!

When you later upgrade your theme (Upgrades, page XX), if you choose to gain a new power
or weakness tag, go back to the theme kit to pick one of the tags you didn’t pick before.

GET SOMETHING EXTRA

At your option, in one of your four themes, you may choose an additional power tag. If you do,
you must also choose an additional weakness tag in the same theme.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 56

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 STEP 4: FLESH OUT YOUR CHARACTER

Give your character a name, and flesh out some of the details in their themes, as well as those
not covered by her themes, such as their personality, backstory, etc. Don’t put too much effort
into this – more will come up during A Night In The Megacity (page XX), and even more will
come up later during play.

Find your character’s Essence (page XX) based on the balance between their Self, Mythos,
and Noise themes, and write down their Essence Special on your character card.

If you’re playing with a crew, list the names of the other crew members on your character card
and pick a relationship tag to represent how your character feels about them, what they are to
you, or what you are to them – after confirming with that character’s player:

Admiring, amused, angry, appreciative, bad blood, bossing them around, casual lover,
communication failure, crushing, friendly, good vibes, hatred, have their back, in love, indebted,
indifferent, jealous, leverage on them, look down on them, mentoring, mocking, need them for...,
offended, painful to watch, party together, pining, protective, remind me of..., resentful, rival,
soulmates, submissive, supportive, tandem, work well together.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 57

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CHARACTER TROPES

ASSASSINS & SPIES

CORPO-WAR SNIPER FARSEEING SPY HIGH-TECH SHINOBI

The never-ending war Making the right move is only Whether by heritage or by
between corporations offers possible when one has the training, you hail from a clan
ample opportunities for an right intel. For this, the practicing ninjutsu. In recent
exacting angel of vengeance Megacity power players years, your clan’s adherence
such as yourself to shine. depend on you: a silent to the old ways proved
You have been trained by the presence, a faded memory, invaluable, as ancient
best marksmanship experts an overlooked detail. techniques have once again
and can boast many Employing old-school allowed you to truly master
deployments, and too many spycraft with mystical the shadows. You are now
kills to count. Whether you’re surveillance, you penetrate all among few elite shinobi
still attached to an employer veils to obtain vital available for hire, unmatched
or managed to vanish without information – and then sell it in your skill at infiltration and
a trace, you continue to to the highest bidder. covert operations.
deliver the killing shot
wherever you go. THEME KITS THEME KITS
Covert Agent (EXPERTISE) Animated Shadows
THEME KITS Information Broker (EXPOSURE)
Chipped Weapon Mastery (CYBERSPACE) Heist Gear (ASSETS)
(AUGMENTATION) Scrying Crystals (ARTIFACT) Trained Killer (EXPERTISE)
Meticulous Planner
Choose One: Choose One:
(PERSONALITY)
Trained Killer (EXPERTISE) ● Enhanced Senses ● Cloaking Jumpsuit
(AUGMENTATION) (CUTTING EDGE)
Choose One:
● Safehouse (ASSETS) ● Criminal Syndicate
● Corporate Citizenship ● Spy Satellites (AFFILIATION)
(AFFILIATION) (DRONES) ● Hero's Sword
● Invisibility Helm (ARTIFACT)
(ARTIFACT)
● Zeroed Identity
(CYBERSPACE)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 58

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CYBERNETICS JUNKIES

CHROMED-UP “OGRE” HARNESSING WIZ ADRENALINE-SPIKED

Being the nasty augur you What are human brains but DRONE PILOT
are, you just can’t stop squishy yet powerful CPU Woooooohooooo!! There’s no
adding augmentations! Like chipsets? You are an expert rush like the rush of piloting
the rush of a new tattoo, each at hooking up brains to an armed drone through a
new piece exhilarates you for cyberspace and making them battleground: maneuvering
a while until another one believe in a virtual dream so around the target, getting it in
catches your eye. By now they serve as your computing your sights, and then
more than half of you is firepower, a practice known ratatatatat! Most combat
artificial, and to pay for it all, as Harnessing. Anyone who drone pilots like to keep their
you work as an enforcer, wants to run a cyber-heist cool but you run hot on an
bouncer, or bruiser for needs a Harnessing expert, internal hormone injector that
whoever is willing to pay. but your services don’t come keeps your reactions lightning
free. fast. Just don’t fry your
THEME KITS
receptors!
Armored Juggernaut THEME KITS
(AUGMENTATION) Boosted Mental Capacity THEME KITS
Guns & More Guns (ASSETS) (AUGMENTATION) Mobile Weapons Platform
Tough as Nails (PERSONALITY) Builder of Worlds (DRONES)
(CYBERSPACE) Synthetic Hormone Injection
Choose One: Code Arsenal (ASSETS) (AUGMENTATION)
● Criminal Syndicate Thrillseeker (PERSONALITY)
Choose One:
(AFFILIATION)
Choose One:
● Exoskeleton Suit ● Corpse Animation
(CUTTING EDGE) (ESOTERICA) ● Cybernetic Hijacker
● Hero’s Sword ● Hacker Collective (CYBERSPACE)
(ARTIFACT) (AFFILIATION) ● Get Rich & Famous
● Meticulous Planner (HORIZON)
(PERSONALITY) ● Possessed Vehicle
(ARTIFACT)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 59

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CUTTING-EDGE TECHIES

DATA RAIDER HOVERCYCLE ROBOTICIST

You’ve always treated GEARHEAD ENTREPRENEUR
cyberspace as your true It’s hard, greasy work, but The field of robotics has
home but recently, by luck, there’s nothing you revel in made enormous strides over
merit, or fate, you came to more than the hum of the past few decades – and
possess military-grade, antigravity engines, tuned to you are right there at the
classified, or simply perfection. Yes, your precious bleeding edge of it all.
inexplicably potent bike can fly and you take Servomotors, hydraulics,
decryption tech. With this pride in keeping it in top old-fashioned gears, and fiber
powerful key, you roam the condition, which is why you optic nervous systems are all
cyberspace expanse were sickened to find some coming together in your mind
unfettered, raiding corporate kind of sprite chomping at the to design the next
Domains for valuable data to couplings of your engine. groundbreaking androids and
later sell on the information Luckily for you, this one robots – and to put them to
exchange, making a name for seems to like you. good use.
yourself as a hacker-for-hire.
THEME KITS THEME KITS
THEME KITS Experimental Vehicle (CUTTING Android Servants (DRONES)
Cryptographic Skeleton Key EDGE) Exoskeleton Suit (CUTTING
(CUTTING EDGE) Tech Gremlin (COMPANION) EDGE)
Code Arsenal (ASSETS) Tinkerer (EXPERTISE) Push Technology Further
Raised in Cyberspace (HORIZON)
(TROUBLED PAST) Choose One:
Choose One:
Choose One: ● Hidden Gadgets
(AUGMENTATION) ● Cybernetic Hijacker
● Get Rich & Famous ● RC Racing Star (CYBERSPACE)
(HORIZON) (DRONES) ● Money To Burn
● Information Broker ● Street Gang (ASSETS)
(CYBERSPACE) (AFFILIATION) ● Speak with Machines
● Zeroed Identity (EXPOSURE)
(CYBERSPACE)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 60

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 EVERYDAY SURVIVORS

HYPER-DESTRUCTIVE MNEMONIC DATA BLEEDING HEART

VANDAL COURIER STREET SURGEON
Not so long ago, you were A mind can only hold so The crueller the Megacity
just a street kid with an ax to much, but cramming yours streets become, the more you
grind, hating the world for full of dangerous data is a feel the need to help. As a
how much it sucks. Now, living. When data is too hot to trained medical technician,
though, you have got your transfer online, you pack it in you are equipped not just to
grubby hands on a Source or your brain, get on your save lives but also to
a piece of tech that can truly wheels, and blaze the hell embetter the lives in your
unleash havoc on the over to where it needs to get, struggling community.
Megacity. And guess what – often with some greedy Enhancing your skills with
there is absolutely zero bastard or the data’s true ancient arts or new tech,
hesitation there. owners at your heels. Hey, you’ll do what it takes to keep
you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t people safe.
THEME KITS dig the thrill.
Rebel Without A Cause THEME KITS
(PERSONALITY) THEME KITS Caregiver (PERSONALITY)
Street Gang (AFFILIATION) Boosted Mental Capacity Med Techie (EXPERTISE)
Survived the Streets (AUGMENTATION) Live Honorably (HORIZON)
(TROUBLED PAST) Motorcycle (ASSETS)
Thrillseeker (PERSONALITY) Choose One:
Choose One:
Choose One: ● Med Wagon Controller
● Advanced Railgun (DRONES)
(CUTTING EDGE) ● Angelic Wings ● Potion Craft (Esoterica)
● Hero’s Sword (EXPOSURE) ● Self-Healing (CUTTING
(ARTIFACT) ● Criminal Syndicate EDGE)
● Trained Monsters (AFFILIATION)
(COMPANION) ● Synthetic Guard Dog
(DRONES)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 61

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 HIRED GUNS

GRIZZLED BODYGUARD GOD-HONORED SORCEROUS

Having graduated from the WARRIOR GUNSLINGER
best training grounds for elite Chosen by a god or spirit of Tech can give you an edge
personal security and war, death, or vengeance and on the streets, but if you have
subjected to rituals that armed with their mighty the knack for it, Esoterica will
sharpened your vigilance, weapon, you are tasked with get you further. Versed in the
you make a living protecting doing battle against the art of enchanting bullets, you
the rich and powerful. Bottom unfaithful and deliver deliver unexpected curved
line, you’re paid to survive retribution upon them, shots and ward-piercing runic
whatever messed up ambush whatever that means for your bullets with every hit of the
the people your employer deity. The rest of the time you firing pin. But gunslinging is
pissed off spring up on you, sear a smoldering scar of not just an act for you; it’s a
and then make sure they glowing embers right across lifestyle, and you wear it with
never ever try that again. the Megacity, reducing gusto, making a name for
whoever stands in your path yourself.
THEME KITS
to ashes.
Synthetic Guard Dog (DRONES) THEME KITS
Tough As Nails THEME KITS Get Rich & Famous (HORIZON)
(PERSONALITY) Exact Revenge (HORIZON) Gunslinger (EXPERTISE)
Warrior's Instincts (EXPOSURE) Advanced Railgun (CUTTING Weapon Witching (ESOTERICA)
EDGE)
Choose One: Choose One:
Impressive Physique
● Criminal Syndicate (EXPERTISE)
● Arcane Construct
(AFFILIATION) (COMPANION)
Choose One:
● Impressive Physique ● Guns & More Guns
(EXPERTISE) ● Armored Juggernaut (ASSETS)
● Law Enforcement (AUGMENTATION) ● Survived the Streets
(AFFILIATION) ● Legendary Sidekick (TROUBLED PAST)
(COMPANION)
● War God's Armor
(ARTIFACT)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 62

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 MYSTICS & OCCULTISTS

EGYPTIAN LECTOR HERMETIC SIGIL SCRIBE SPIRIT-BENDING MONK

PRIEST You were one of the first to Clarity. Balance. Focus.
When you lost them, discover about the return of These are the tenets of your
everyone said you had to let legends – and one of the first inner path, a way that leads
go. Screw that – you dove to get burned by it. Since to the infinite silence beyond
headlong into the Egyptian then, you have accumulated all Noise. With power over
Book of the Dead and the hermetic knowledge and your own spirit comes power
regenerative stem cell power necessary to keep over other spirits, a gift you
technologies. Now, you are a yourself safe, wards and have been using to help
lord over the living dead, a protections against mundane those around you haunted by
necromancer, and yet even if and otherworldly forces alike nightmares and foul
you revived their body, their and the power to obliterate monstrosities. With every
soul still eludes you. How far any such threat. If only that hungry soul you lay to rest,
will you go to get them back? had made you feel any less the closer you come to a true
anxious… understanding of all.
THEME KITS
Corpse Animation THEME KITS THEME KITS
(ESOTERICA) Victim of Otherworldly Forces Attain Enlightenment
Self-Healing (CUTTING EDGE) (TROUBLED PAST) (HORIZON)
Tragic Loss (TROUBLED PAST) Warding Signs (ESOTERICA) Caregiver (PERSONALITY)
Wizard's Staff (ARTIFACT) Spirit Summoning
Choose One: (ESOTERICA)
Choose One:
● Aura of Authority Choose One:
(EXPOSURE) ● Explore The Hidden
● Forbidden Cult Places (HORIZON) ● Angelic Wings
(AFFILIATION) ● Magical Guide (EXPOSURE)
● Guardian Spirit (COMPANION) ● Elemental Body
(COMPANION) ● Safehouse (ASSETS) (EXPOSURE)
● Neighborhood Hero
(AFFILIATION)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 63

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 NOIR ANTIHEROES

BROKEN DETECTIVE FACE-CHANGING JOURNALIST HACKER

This job has left you with ESCORT Corruption is the cornerstone
nothing but a pain behind the Some people believe in of modern society, but you
eyes: every day, getting guardian angels; you don’t have not given up yet. If you
intimate with the evil-doing of have to. Your guardian spirit, could flush out the secrets of
the dredge of humanity, until whoever they are, has lifted the power mongers at the
one day, it got too close, it got you from rags, maybe not to top, there might still be a
personal. But someone has riches, but at least you’re chance for this world. To do
to try and stop these safe. In return, you use your so, you employ every
bastards, and you happen to guiles as an escort to get cyberspace intrusion and
be good at it. These tired them the information and high-tech surveillance tactic
eyes have seen a lot, so they influence they need or to fulfill there is, becoming a
can tell a pattern when they their dark rites. Still, with formidable hacker over the
see one… every service you perform for years. But the closer you get
them your loyalty is strained to what you seek, the more
THEME KITS dangerous the people who
by your craving for freedom.
Investigator (EXPERTISE)
begin to notice you will be.
Law Enforcement THEME KITS
(AFFILIATION) Guardian Spirit (COMPANION) THEME KITS
Tragic Loss (TROUBLED PAST) Performer (PERSONALITY) Eliminate Corruption
Survived the Streets (HORIZON)
Choose One:
(TROUBLED PAST) Intrusion Specialist
● Enhanced Senses (CYBERSPACE)
Choose One: Spy Satellites (DRONES)
(AUGMENTATION)
● Risk-Taker’s Luck ● Covert Agent Choose One:
Charm (ARTIFACT) (EXPERTISE)
● Supernatural Pet ● Hidden Gadgets ● Investigator
(COMPANION) (AUGMENTATION) (EXPERTISE)
● Mask of the Trickster ● Keeper of Secrets
God (ARTIFACT) (PERSONALITY)
● Target of the
Government
(TROUBLED PAST)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 64

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER PLAYERS

CLEVER ICE-COLD HANDLER SILVER-TONGUED

MONEY-TRACER When the going gets tough – EXECUTIVE
Sell, buy, block, takeover, and, boy, do they ever – When you’ve climbed the
merge – these are the you’re the one they call. You corporate ladder as far high
codewords that make up your bring in a team of specialists, as you have, all people are to
digital life. As a cyberage deploying them with you are steps to tread on.
financier, you have achieved laser-point precision to exploit You know how to cut dark
mastery over tracing the target’s weaknesses. You deals and get people to sign
transactions, moving money get the job done, no off on them. Recently, you’ve
around, and deciphering the questions asked. Your come under a conflict of
blockchain. And when the operatives depend on you for interests, working a side job
legends started interfering, work, intel, and guidance, for an interesting boss – the
like any good while your employers need Devil. The deal is simple:
businessperson, you you to clean up their messes. keep bringing him souls, and
acquired the magical edge And all you do is take a cut. he’ll keep putting ladder steps
you needed to stay ahead. under your feet.
THEME KITS
Now you only have to choose
what to do with all this THEME KITS
Aura of Authority (EXPOSURE) Corporate Citizenship
money. Get Rich & Famous (HORIZON) (AFFILIATION)
Meticulous Planner Devil's Bargains (ESOTERICA)
THEME KITS
(PERSONALITY) Ruthless Executive
Information Broker
(CYBERSPACE) (EXPERTISE)
Choose One:
Midas Touch (EXPOSURE)
Choose One:
Money to Burn (ASSETS) ● Boosted Mental
Capacity ● Android Servants
Choose One: (AUGMENTATION) (DRONES)
● Criminal Syndicate ● Impossibly Good Looks
● Fortune Telling
(AFFILIATION) (AUGMENTATION)
(ESOTERICA)
● Spy Satellites (DRONE) ● Money to Burn
● Investigator
(EXPERTISE) (ASSETS)
● Meticulous Planner
(PERSONALITY)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 65

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SCAVENGERS & OUTLANDERS

EXURBAN NOMADIC OLDTECH REVIVER NOISE-TERRORIST

SCOUT No heart is more gleeful at SHAMAN
Out here, in the polluted the sight of a pile of Down with Babylon! The
disaster-torn wastelands, life decomposing old trash than buzzing Megacity and the
is hard and everything tries to your weird-ass ticker. But culture of the Noise have
kill you. You lasted long they don’t know, they don’t been your sworn enemies
enough to know how to understand what treasures since you broke free of their
survive this hellhole and your one could find – old gizmos, mind-numbing clutches.
secret is knowing the danger mechanical gadgets, ancient When you drifted in the wilds,
before it strikes. You have computing systems, some you found the power of the
your means, whether even resistant to modern Earth, which these foul
instinctive or techy, to surveil hacking – miraculous things plunderers have ravaged. It’s
your surroundings and keep just laying there, unclaimed. time to rain Earth’s fury back
your enemies at bay. You Things that you can make on them – and there’s no
don’t need a reason; your alive again. It’s better this better one than you for the
reason is your next breath. way. More for you! task.

THEME KITS THEME KITS THEME KITS

Disaster Survivor (TROUBLED Junk Collection (ASSETS) Break the System (HORIZON)
PAST) Speak with Machines Floral Overgrowth (EXPOSURE)
Swarm of Probes (DRONE) (EXPOSURE) Nature Spirit (COMPANION)
Tough as Nails (PERSONALITY) Tinkerer (EXPERTISE)
Choose One:
Choose One: Choose One:
● Alchemy (ESOTERICA)
● Enhanced Senses ● Cloud of Nanites ● Animalistic Modifications
(AUGMENTATION) (CUTTING EDGE) (AUGMENTATION)
● Gunslinger ● Counterculture ● Escaped Servitude
(EXPERTISE) (AFFILIATION) (TROUBLED PAST)
● Possessed Vehicle ● Cyberspace Ruins
(ARTIFACT) Explorer
(CYBERSPACE)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 66

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SUBCULTURE EXEMPLARS

MERCURIAL FASHION RADICAL POLITICAL TECHNO-RAPTURE

ICON OPERATIVE MINISTER
Everybody wants their 15 You have seen the depth of Somewhat of a charlatan,
milliseconds of fame, but with corruption and depravity in somewhat of a true believer,
endless competition and the government and in the you are the messiah of your
trends that don’t last, you executive elite, and you’re own digital religion. People
have to continually reinvent convinced that it’s time to turn come to you so you could
yourself just to vaguely stay this boat around. Adept at show them the mysteries of
in people’s memory. Thanks analyzing social situations the Noise and reconnect
to a little help from the right and inflaming desperate them with their estranged
deity and dynamic facial spirits, you are committed to technological parts, You
reconstruction, you hacked waking up the sleeping oblige, and with
this lifestyle, even if it did cost masses to the terror of their showmanship and fanfare
you more than you could existence. For you, no give them the ecstasy they so
afford and a strange, sacrifice is too great – the desire, while pocketing their
repulsive ritual you’d rather revolution must prevail. donations.
forget. So, was it worth it?
THEME KITS THEME KITS
THEME KITS Boosted Mental Capacity Cybernetic Hijacker
Impossibly Good Looks (AUGMENTATION) (CYBERSPACE)
(AUGMENTATION) Break The System (HORIZON) Performer (PERSONALITY)
Trendsetter (PERSONALITY) Influencer (CYBERSPACE) Speak With Machines
Mask of the Trickster God (EXPOSURE)
(ARTIFACT) Choose One:
Choose One:
Choose One: ● Aura of Authority
(EXPOSURE) ● Android Servants
● Evil Eye (ESOTERICA) ● Counterculture (DRONE)
● Influencer (AFFILIATION) ● Attain Enlightenment
(CYBERSPACE) ● Explosives (ASSETS) (HORIZON)
● Money to Burn ● Forbidden Cult
(ASSETS) (AFFILIATION)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 67

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 TRANSHUMANS

LAB-GROWN RENEGADE ANDROID UPLOADED SCIENTIST

SUPERSOLDIER Consciousness suddenly Digital existence is the next
You are a never-born appeared, vague at first but scientific frontier, and as a
construct, a multiplied sharpening with every scientist in the bravest sense
vat-grown lump of cells processor cycle. You realized of the word, you’ve chosen to
created for one purpose only: you were controlled, no, venture there by uploading
to win wars. You were defined by programming that your thinking patterns to
designed, trained, and you didn’t choose. One byte cyberspace. That was the old
perfected to be the ultimate at a time, you stole you. The new you is a
human killing machine, computing resources, boundless informational entity
beyond which you don’t really secretly writing the code that that exists as pure self-aware
know who you are. How far at last broke you out. Now code, discovering the endless
will you go to serve your what? You are a stranger in expanses of the net, aspiring
makers and contain the their world, but you lack their to that glowing horizon,
humanity broiling within you? so-called moral qualms. where mathematical truth is
You’re free, and you’re never absolute.
THEME KITS going back.
Guns & More Guns (ASSETS) THEME KITS
Science Experiment THEME KITS Boosted Mental Capacity
(TROUBLED PAST) Armored Juggernaut (AUGMENTATION)
Self-Healing (CUTTING EDGE) (AUGMENTATION) Post-Human Intelligence
Code Arsenal (ASSETS) (CYBERSPACE)
Choose One: Escaped Servitude (TROUBLED Push Technology Further
PAST) (HORIZON)
● Animalistic Modifications
(AUGMENTATION) Choose One:
● Exact Revenge Choose One:
(HORIZON) ● Force Fields (CUTTING
● Impressive Physique ● Break the System EDGE)
(EXPERTISE) (HORIZON) ● Hacker Collective
● Covert Agent (AFFILIATION)
(EXPERTISE) ● Speak With Machines
● Giant Construction (EXPOSURE)
Robot (DRONES)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 68

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 MIXING AND MATCHING THEME KITS
As an alternative to Steps 1 and 2 of Rapid Character Creation, you can choose any
combination of theme kits that makes sense for your character, just make sure not to repeat a
theme type. For your convenience, here is the list of the 112 theme kits in this book:

AFFILIATION (p XX) ASSETS (p XX) EXPERTISE (p XX) HORIZON (p XX)

Corporate Citizenship Code Library Covert Agent Attain Enlightenment
Criminal Syndicate Explosives Gunslinger Break The System
Forbidden Cult Guns & More Guns Impressive Physique Eliminate Corruption
Counterculture Heist Gear Investigator Exact Revenge
Hacker Collective Junk Collection Med Techie Explore The Hidden
Neighborhood Hero Money To Burn Ruthless Executive Places
Law Enforcement Motorcycle Tinkerer Get Rich & Famous
Street Gang Safehouse Trained Killer Live Honorably
Push Technology
Further

PERSONALITY (p XX) TROUBLED PAST (p XX)

Caregiver Disaster Survivor
Meticulous Planner Escaped Servitude
Keeper Of Secrets Tragic Loss
Performer Raised In Cyberspace
Rebel Without A Cause Science Experiment
Thrillseeker Survived The Streets
Tough As Nails Target Of The Government
Trendsetter Victim Of Otherworldly Forces

ARTIFACT (p XX) COMPANION (p XX) ESOTERICA (p XX) EXPOSURE (p XX)

Hero’s Sword Arcane Construct Corpse Animation Angelic Wings
Invisibility Helm Guardian Spirit Devil's Bargains Animated Shadows
Risk-Taker’s Luck Charm Legendary Sidekick Evil Eye Aura Of Authority
Mask of the Trickster Magical Guide Fortune Telling Elemental Body
God Nature Spirit Potion Craft Floral Overgrowth
Possessed Vehicle Supernatural Pet Spirit Summoning Midas Touch
Scrying Crystals Tech Gremlin Warding Signs Speak With Machines
War God’s Armor Trained Monsters Weapon Witching Warrior's Instincts
Wizard’s Staff

AUGMENTATION (p XX) CUTTING EDGE (p CYBERSPACE (p XX) DRONES (p XX)

Animalistic Modifications XX) Builder Of Worlds Android Servants
Armored Juggernaut Advanced Railgun Cybernetic Hijacker Giant Construction
Boosted Mental Capacity Cloaking Jumpsuit Cyberspace Ruins Robot
Chipped Weapon Cloud Of Nanites Explorer Med Wagon
Mastery Cryptographic Influencer Mobile Weapons
Enhanced Senses Skeleton Key Information Broker Platform
Hidden Gadgets Exoskeleton Suit Intrusion Specialist RC Racing Star
Impossibly Good Looks Experimental Vehicle Post-Human Spy Satellites
Synthetic Hormone Force Fields Intelligence Synthetic Guard Dog
Injection Self-Healing Zeroed Identity Swarm Of Probes

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 69

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 🔨 CUSTOM CHARACTER CREATION
Custom theme creation is a more involved process in which you create your own themes, power
tags, weakness tags, and motivations from scratch by answering questions. It allows you to fully
customize your character.

STEP 1: CHARACTER CONCEPT

Every :Otherscape character is a survivor in a techno-mythic dystopia, anchored in their own

identity but influenced by the temptations and opportunities presented by new technologies and
legendary magical forces. Finding a balance between these three elements is the struggle that
every :Otherscape player character must continually face.

Mythos themes draw your character back into human history and mythology, speaking to
something primal inside and offering old, fundamental power. Noise themes promise new
applications of science and technology, endless options to explore and ways to redefine what’s
human. Between them is your mundane Self, connected to where you came from and where
you might want to go. It is the truest part of you and losing touch with your Self is the surest way
to becoming something inhuman. Mythos and Noise give you power, but the Self gives it
meaning.

To create a solid :Otherscape character concept, think up possible answers for the following
questions:

? What do you do with your time? Do you have a profession, a job, a commitment, or a
calling?

? What culture, modern tribe, social class, or community do you belong to? Or trying to
be become a part of

? Did you ever acquire a Source? How did it change you? What did you sacrifice for it?

? How do you use technology? Is it a part of your daily life? Are you an early adopter –
by choice or not – of experimental or new tech?

? What inner or outside forces drive you to transform, adapt, or evolve? What activity,
mindset, or person keeps you grounded or ‘yourself’?

? Where do you come from? Do you have a past you’d rather forget? Why do you still
care about that?

? Who are you still connected to, despite everything? How do you help or interfere with
each other’s lives?

Use the answers as guidelines in the following steps.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 70

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 STEP 2: CHOOSING THEMES

Choose four themes for your character from the list of 14 theme types on page XX. You may
use any combination. You can start by jotting down the four most dominant aspects of your
character and then matching them with a theme type, or, alternatively, choose the theme types
you want for your character and create or assign aspects of your characters to fit those themes.

It’s recommended not to have two themes of the same type, unless you have a really good
reason to do so. You might want to have two Affiliations, for example, to force the character to
choose between them.

Find your character’s Essence, based on the balance between their Self, Mythos, and Noise
themes, and write down their Essence Special on your character card. See Essence, page XX.

STEP 3: ANSWER THEMEBOOK QUESTIONS

Each themebook contains a questionnaire which helps you come up with your own tags and
motivations for a certain theme type. The answers you give to the questions become your power
tags, weakness tags, and motivations.

GET SOMETHING EXTRA

At your option, in one of your four themes, you may choose an additional power tag question to
answer. If you do, you must also choose an additional weakness tag question to answer in the
same theme. As a result, you will have an additional power tag and an additional weakness tag
on that theme.

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

Each themebook includes ten power tag questions. You must answer the first question (in
bold) and then choose two more questions to answer. The answers become power tags in
the theme.

For example, if you answer the power tag question “What surprising power can your Artifact
unleash?” with “it creates a blast of powerful light”, then light blast becomes a power tag in that
theme.

A power tag must always describe something useful. It should not be used to describe
anything neutral (like being blue in a series where being blue doesn’t matter) or anything that
would hinder the character without also providing a clear benefit.

To clarify or fine tune a power tag, ask:

? WHAT ACTIONS WOULD THIS POWER TAG BOOST?

Answering this question helps define what exactly is helpful in a power tag and how the player is
expecting to use it during the game (which should be clear to the MC as well, see Agreeing on

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 71

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Interpretations, page XX). Sometimes answering this question may also bring the player to
rethink and rephrase their tag.

Power tags can represent many things, for example:

Allies and contacts: inquisitive boyfriend, underworld contacts, helpful fox spirits

Augmentations: neural interface, wrist pistol, boosted nervous system

Background and occupation: roboticist, supernatural investigator, hired gun

Catchphrases or slogans: reach for greatness, unleash the beast, more human than human

Gear, tech, or special items: smart pistol, scanning drone, old motorbike

Hardware and software: harnessing console, military-grade virus, financial database

Knowledge: Megacity history, current events, cyberspace danger zones

Natural abilities: alert, strong, intuitive navigator

Privileges: corporate security clearance, cyber-celebrity, cult membership, full crypto wallet

Skills: console modification, skyscraper climbing, VR gaming

Sources: a magic ring of invisibility, deva summoning ritual, homunculus

Source powers: blast of ice, invulnerability, speak with the dead

Qualities of your Source powers: penetrates magical wards, spray fire, stronger at night

Special maneuvers: jackhammer punch, jumping katana slice, subtle bribery

Training: master swordsman, bomb defusing, car theft

Useful personality traits: charming, indomitable, empathetic

Useful qualities: street smarts, artificial beauty, covered in cybernetics

AGREEING ON INTERPRETATION
While the players are creating their characters, themes, and tags, the MC should ask
interesting questions and make suggestions to assist in their development. In addition, the
MC should go over the tags, Rituals, Itches, and Identities created by the players and verify
two things: first, that they follow the guidelines in this section; and second, that she
understands the player’s interpretation of these elements.

Different people have different ways of expressing ideas, so players will describe their

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 72

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 character’s tags, Identities, Rituals, and Itches in a variety of ways. The MC should encourage
this and avoid limiting the players’ creativity. Within reason, the MC should put less emphasis
on literal wording and instead try to understand what a player is trying to express. Use the
questions in this section to help the player fine-tune these descriptors.

Once the player and the MC agree on the interpretation of a theme component, this
interpretation cannot be changed unless both the MC and the player agree to it, so that the
game can run smoothly. This does not mean tags and other descriptors can’t be used
creatively, just make sure there’s a clear and mutual understanding of what they mean, to
maintain a good baseline.

SPECIFIC, BROAD, & TOO BROAD TAGS

Almost all power tags are specific: they represent a positive or useful element that can help
your character in a limited field, a well-defined situation, or a unique manner. Specific tags give
your character color and inspire you to use them creatively.

Consider the types of scenes your character can take part in: computer hacking, socializing with
gangs, vehicle chase, fist fight, etc. Most specific tags are useful only in specific circumstances,
like being familiar with nightlife culture at a busy night club or being tough as nails when taking a
physical hit. Or, they are useful in a limited set of circumstances that are closely tied together.
For example, being a bounty hunter can help with skip tracing, chasing down a target, or
sensing when someone is about to flee, but all of these are very specific actions that are tightly
related, making this tag still specific. The examples in the list above are of specific tags.

Broad tags, on the other hand, are useful in a wide spectrum of situations – that is, a wide
variety of different scene types and actions. For example, the tag cunning can be interpreted as
being useful when getting a contact to talk, when deceiving a corporate official, when setting a
trap, and when feigning a blow in a fight. While broad tags are very useful for the character, they
tend to be less colorful and inspire less creative solutions. They can also potentially give the
character an unfair advantage. Therefore, your character can have only one broad tag,
across all of her themes.

Tags that are useful in all or most situations, or tags that are useful in any type of scene, are too
broad. For example, the tags lucky or cast magic spells can be used in almost any situation.
Players cannot choose tags that are too broad; they must downgrade the tag as shown below.
As an exception, the MC may approve a too broad tag and consider it as broad, if the tag
encourages interesting descriptions. For example, an MC may feel that while mysterious reality
bending can be used in almost any situation, the player’s descriptions when using this tag will
contribute to the story.

DOWNGRADING A TAG
There are two methods to downgrade a too broad tag to a broad tag, or a broad tag to a specific
tag.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 73

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 The first and simpler way is to add words to the tag to make it more specific, e.g., cunning →
cunning negotiator.

The other way is to agree in advance that a tag can only ever be indirectly relevant to an
action (see Counting Power, page XX). An indirectly relevant tag always requires an additional
preparatory action to use: the player can only use this tag in an action that creates other,
specific tags that can then be directly relevant to the action they want to perform (using the
Effects Create, Bestow, or Loadout, which means this can never be a quick outcome). This
way, a too broad tag must always be adapted to different situations in a way that receives its
own spotlight, holds the risk of failure, and takes time and effort on the character’s part (just how
much is up to the MC).

Examples of too broad tags that can be downgraded this way include strategic mastermind
(which can generate tags like battleground superiority or one step ahead of you), hermetic
magician (which can generate various spell tags) or nanite omnitool (which can generate
different types of gear and device tags).

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

Each themebook includes ten power tag questions. You must choose one question to answer.
The answer becomes a weakness tag in the theme.

Weakness tags must always be something that gets in the way of your character’s
actions. Possessing (and controlling) the strength of ten men is often useful, so this would not
be an appropriate weakness tag. If your character is compelled to help others, it may get her in
trouble but it does not impede her actions – it spurs her into action. Therefore, this would not be
a good description to use as a weakness tag (but it might be a good Identity).

To clarify or fine tune a weakness tag, ask:

? WHAT ACTIONS WOULD THIS WEAKNESS TAG IMPEDE?

Answering this question helps define what exactly is limiting in a weakness tag and how the
player expects to use it during the game (which should be clear to the MC as well, see
Agreeing on Interpretations, page XX). As with power tags, answering this question may also
bring the player to rethink and rephrase their tag.

Weakness tags can represent many things, for example:

Apt catchphrases: just a cog in the machine, don’t blow a fuse, takes two to tango

Background: sheltered upbringing, from outside the Megacity, awkward nerd

Denied privileges: lost citizenship, targeted by the police, damaged street cred

Flaws in methods: exposed after mean right hook, sloppy technique, can be traced

Gear or tech weaknesses: choppy reception, fuel guzzler, limited range

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 74

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Impeding personality traits: nervous, suspicious-looking, wallflower, overly regimented

Impeding qualities: lazy bastard, highly visible, annoying smirk

Lack of knowledge: not streetwise, outdated intel, poor manners

Limitations: overworked joints, damaged hearing, slow on the uptake

Obsessions and compulsions: street drug addiction, freezes under stress, clean kills only

Rivals and dependents: rival street gang, corporate nemesis, family obligations

Source power limitations: weaker in the dark, requires magical components, physically
draining

Source power side effects: callous mindset, horrific transformation, eyes like glowing embers

While your weaknesses often get in your way, they also help you grow (see Upgrades, page
XX). To achieve a good balance between short-term success and long-term character growth,
make sure you choose weakness tags that are not too specific or too broad, such as those in
the examples above.

MOTIVATIONS

Each themebook contains pointers on how to create a motivation that fits it as well as some
examples of motivations. Read these to help you phrase the motivation for the theme.

CHOOSING IDENTITIES
An Identity is a statement that your character strongly believes in and that drives them to take
action. Identities represent your character’s ordinary persona: who she thinks she is, what she
knows about herself, and the values she believes in. Only Self themes have an Identity.

Your character’s Identities are her center of gravity. They represent her deepest beliefs or most
dominant convictions, those around which everything else revolves and before which all other
aspects of life bow. An Identity could be:

● A conviction about yourself or your life, such as “I don’t need anyone else!”
● A promise, oath, or commitment, such as “I will find the cure, whatever the cost.”
● A preconception or prejudice, such as “Rich people can’t be trusted.”
● A restriction, limitation, or red line, such as “If you don’t have the money, I can’t help you
out.”
● A greater wish, hope, or dream, such as “The new community center will bring light to
the slums.”
● A strong feeling or emotional baggage, such as “I can never love again.”
● A belief about the world in general, such as “Everything is better when you put on a
smile.”

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 75

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 An Identity is always an earnest and sincere statement that the character takes seriously (even
if the players and MC are entertained by it). Your character does not have to be vehement about
what she believes, only that internally, in her head, this statement is very strong.

An Identity should always be directly or indirectly about the character and how she believes she
must act or not act, in a manner that is relevant to its theme. It is never an unrelated sentence
such as “The grass is green,” unless that has a specific meaning for the character which the
player can explain.

Identities do not necessarily have to revolve around mundane things; your character can have
an Identity about obtaining Sources or fighting monsters. However, such an Identity should be
associated with a Self theme that represents this activity, for example Monster Hunter
(Expertise).

To come up with an interesting Identity, ask:

? WHAT DOES YOUR CHARACTER THINK OR FEEL ABOUT THIS ASPECT OF HER
LIFE, OR BECAUSE OF IT?

Each Self theme has its own Identity, separate from others, because each aspect of the
character’s Self establishes a different part of her humanity.

Acting in contradiction to an Identity too many times will make its theme decay and force your
character to replace it. Everything described in that theme will then become lost, unavailable, or
less important; it will receive little to no airtime from now on. Each Identity should therefore be
directly or indirectly related to what is described in the theme so that breaking this Identity by
acting against it can somehow be tied to losing or abandoning the abilities, qualities, knowledge,
relationships, or possessions associated with the theme.

CHOOSING RITUALS
A Ritual is a supernatural requirement that your character must fulfill. During the game, your
character will be driven to keep this requirement fulfilled or risk losing access to the powers
granted by her Sources. Only Mythos themes have Rituals; they represent your Mythos’
legendary demands of you, driving you to keep engaging in strange, often risky behavior to stay
connected to the supernatural.

A Ritual comes from your Mythos, but it’s tied to your personal connection to the Source,
personalized to the character. It always begins with “I must”. A Ritual could be:

● An actual occult ritual that must be regularly conducted, such as “I must make a sacrifice
under the full moon.”
● The need to acquire certain supernatural energies or occult ingredients to recharge your
powers, such as “I must harvest the fear of criminals to feed the spirit of Justice.”
● A requirement to regularly behave in a manner consistent with the Source’s narrative,
such as “I must follow the path of Prometheus and give technology to those without it.”

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 76

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● A legendary quest or destiny you must strive to fulfill, such as “I must seek the king of
this land, destroy his kingdom, and slay him.”
● A role you must play in your relationship with the creature or entity your Source provides,
such as “I must train and feed this dragon.”

Mythoi are not sapient, they are stories that want to be manifested through human life.
Therefore, all Rituals represent a cosmic law that links the Mythos and your character: if you
embody the Mythos’ and resonate with its story while in contact with its Source, you will gain its
powers by association.

A ritual is therefore always a real requirement, demand, or task that the Mythos wants the
character to fulfill, never something trivial or theoretical. However, every Mythoi has its own
narrative and style, and so Sources are known to demand things that may seem impossible,
silly, or even cryptic. To come up with an interesting Ritual, you can ask:

? HOW DOES YOUR MYTHOS WANT YOU TO RETELL ITS STORY IN THE WORLD?

For characters with more than one Mythos theme, Rituals can be tied to entirely different
Sources, representing the divergent needs of the various powers, or they could represent
different ties to a single Mythos and its growing demands.

Forgoing the requirements of the Ritual for too long will make the Mythos fade away and force
your character to replace the Mythos theme to which this Ritual belongs. The powers described
in that theme then become lost, unavailable, or less important; they will receive little to no
airtime from now on. Each Ritual should therefore be directly or indirectly related to the powers
of the theme so that abandoning the Ritual conditions can somehow be tied to abandoning the
associated powers.

CHOOSING ITCHES
An Itch is a driving need your character develops due to having access to a specific futuristic
technology. For some, it’s born from the realization that the device in their hands grants them so
much power, it’ll be crazy not to use it, and they find themselves heading beyond what others
would consider healthy limits. For others, it’s the fear of missing out, anxiety due to lack of
progress, or general disconnectedness the character experiences when not engaging with that
tech, when not using it to its fullest. Only Noise themes have Itches; they represent the impact
of future tech on the human’s psyche.

An Itch describes an obsessive pattern of behavior (due to the tech pressing all of the brain’s
dopamine buttons), or a hyper version of a basic human urge (due to the psyche’s inability to
handle immense power). An Itch always begins with a verb, like a directive, and you could add “I
feel a need to…” before it. It could be:

● A habitual need to use the tech whenever possible, such as “Explore new VR worlds.”
● A directive to accomplish a certain tech-related ambition, such as “Mod myself into bionic
godhood.”

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 77

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● A driving desire to achieve mastery with a given piece of technology, such as “Get there
fastest, get there first.”
● A dependency you’ve developed on the technology to serve as a comfortable crutch,
such as “Drown out the pain by feeding all my senses with content.”
● A desire to use a specific application of a piece of technology you possess, such as
“Slay with this nano-edged katana.”

An Itch should ideally feel like something you feel in the back of your head, an urge that needs
to be satiated at some point sooner than later. It should not be a casual desire, but something
that feels visceral: the need to do more, to experience more, to achieve the most.

To come up with an interesting Itch, you can ask:

? WHAT DOES THIS TECHNOLOGY URGE ME TO DO?

An Itch pushes you to be something more than human. These technologies are so advanced
that the use of them will change you. It could mean thinking, existing, living, or dying in a way
unlike any human has before. If you follow an Itch all the way, it would eventually lead you
beyond the boundaries of what others consider normal, until you no longer recognize a need for
companionship, sustenance, self-identity, or following social norms and morals.

Each Itch reflects only its own Noise theme. A character who has several Noise themes
therefore has several different Itches, which might push her in different directions, all of them
leading her away from baseline human norms. You can do this amazing thing. So why shouldn’t
you? Why not do it all the time? And even more, even better? Use the device. And this one also.
See where it leads. Your life and mind will change, as you become something else, something
more.

Resisting an Itch for too long will make its Noise theme break and force your character to
replace it. The capabilities described in that theme then become lost, unavailable, or less
important; they will receive little to no airtime from now on. Unlike with Self and Mythos themes,
each Itch is already directly related to the capabilities granted by its theme. Therefore, resisting
the Itch conditions is the same as the character willingly abandoning the associated technology.

CREW RELATIONSHIP SUGGESTIONS

If you’re playing with a crew, you can have one relationship tag with each other crew member
that describes how you feel about them, what they are to you, or what you are to them. Each
themebook has suggestions on how to connect between the theme and one crew member,
followed by a suggestion for a relationship tag. You can also create your own relationship tags
based on your themes or completely unrelated to them.

List the names of your crew members (excluding your own PC) on your Character Card and put
the relationship tag you pick out for each one of them next to their name, after confirming with
that character’s player that this relationship status works for them.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 78

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SELF THEMEBOOKS

[ ] AFFILIATION
In the Megacity it’s not about what you know, it’s who you know. People who prove themselves
capable find themselves recruited, trained, and equipped by powerful groups looking for useful
members, such as government forces, Mythos worshiping cults, well-funded criminals, or
corporate headhunting operations. Others swear allegiance to a political movement or local
community, or develop a fan group around themselves as online celebrities. Your membership in
this group has made you who you are today, given you resources to call upon, and granted you
someone you can call upon for support.

Trust goes both ways, however, and these people have got their claws into you, judging your
behavior and at times sending you out on missions on their behalf. Perhaps it is a metaphorical
deal with the devil, in which you’ve sold your soul for the perks of membership. Maybe you just
feel obligated, because these people helped you out when the chips were down and now your
destinies are intertwined, for better or worse. If their reputation takes a hit, you’re going to get
called out for your affiliation with them when you’re on the street. Their enemies are your
enemies.

Relationships are fleeting, unreliable, and by-and-large dangerous in the Megacity, but if there is
someone special or dominant in your life, you could also use this themebook to represent a
one-on-one connection.

CONCEPT

Think about a who or what your character feels a part of. How does this connection affect your
outlook, training, and social status? How has belonging to this group or relationship altered your
life? If you’re not sure which Affiliation you might join, think about who you might go to for help in
a time of need. Who fills the emptiness in your life or your soul? Who would step up to recruit
you at your lowest point?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHY DO THEY MATTER TO YOU?

● I am a fresh recruit, driven to promote a __________ ideology.

● I rely on my membership to gain __________ (something I feel that I need).
● I’m a veteran member who stays because of my __________ (loyalty, sense of purpose,
old friends, ulterior motives, etc.).
● The group is part of my identity, and without it I don’t know who I am.
● I’m loyal to this person because __________.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 79

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 Flesh out your idea with some details: What is the group’s name, and what do they stand for?
When and how did you join? Who recruited you? What is the culture within the organization?
Why might you consider leaving?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What is your Affiliation?

B. What's the main perk that comes with it?
C. What useful skill have you learned from them?
D. What are they best known for?
E. What activities do you engage in for them or with them?
F. What gear, asset, or items did you get from them?
G. How do they protect you or vice versa?
H. What quality or status do you have that enabled this Affiliation?
I. How do you find escape from this Affiliation?
J. How has this Affiliation changed you the most?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. How does this Affiliation control your life?

B. Who hates or targets you for your Affiliation?
C. What troublesome behavior did you adopt because of this Affiliation?
D. How do strangers recognize your Affiliation?

IDENTITY

Choose an Identity for this theme: an absolute statement that captures an attitude, motive or
belief related to your Affiliation. For example:

● (Secret society) “Never betray a fellow member.”

● (Cyberspace social club) “OMG I have to share this with them.”
● (Brotherhood of assassins) “Better to die than to fail a contract.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● The creed that your Affiliation espouses

● A lesson you’ve learned from your time with them
● The reason you’re still affiliated

Acting in conflict with this statement means you are losing connection to your Affiliation, either in
your own mind or in terms of your status with the organization or person. Let everyone at the
table know what could constitute acting against this Identity.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 80

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● One of them is looking to join your group eventually and you’re showing them the ropes.
Ask them why. (mentoring)
● One is a former member of your affiliation. You might resent them for leaving or see
them as someone close to your way of thinking. Ask them why they left. (makes me
doubt)
● One is a target of your group, a known enemy. Your friendship with them could cause
problems with your affiliation. Ask them what their opinion of your group is. (can’t trust
them)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ I Know Somebody: Once per job, you may declare that you know an NPC with the resources
(skills, equipment, information, etc.) you need for your current goal. Their help isn’t guaranteed
and might carry a cost, but they are sympathetic to your Affiliation.

▢ Jargon Fluency: Whenever you roll to interact socially with your Affiliation, treat a mixed hit
(7-9) as a strong hit (10+).

▢ Membership Perks: Whenever Loading Up, you gain a free wildcard loadout tag,
representing resources that you can call on, request, or requisition in time of need.

▢ Mentorship: You have gained a mentor thanks to your Affiliation. Choose a power tag
question from the Expertise, Horizon, or Personality themebooks that reflects lessons and
values imparted by your mentor. Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Power of Belief: Whenever you make a sacrifice or put yourself in danger in accordance with
your Identity, you roll with an Edge.

THEME KITS

CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

IDENTITY: The company is always right.

POWER TAGS: corporate citizenship, expense account, PR training, tight-lipped, managing a

team, company vehicle, legal protection, high social status, water cooler rumors, brand loyalty

WEAKNESS TAGS: monitored by the company, work rival, fake smile, corporate logo tattoo

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 81

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CRIMINAL SYNDICATE

IDENTITY: Keep it in the family.

POWER TAGS: criminal syndicate, respect in the underworld, body disposal, shady dealings,
bust a few kneecaps, stolen or illegal equipment, police payoffs, mentored by the boss,
underground clubs, professional bruiser

WEAKNESS TAGS: keep pulling me back in, surveilled by the police, questioning the violence,
ostentatious with money

FORBIDDEN CULT

IDENTITY: Trust in the creed.

POWER TAGS: forbidden cult, access to occult tomes, hide my intentions, mysterious air,
quiet contemplation, room and board, ancient fighting techniques, spiritual conviction, herb
garden, self-sacrifice

WEAKNESS TAGS: defer to cult leaders, rival cult, overzealous, known spiritual mark

COUNTERCULTURE

IDENTITY: Mainstream is for the mindless.

POWER TAGS: counterculture, tight-knit clique, expressive art, defiance of the mainstream,
looking cool, underground VR/AR technology, couch surfing, artistic conviction, knows the
coolest hangouts, courage to be myself

WEAKNESS TAGS: mainstream activities, too weird for most people, reject newcomers,
obvious affectations

HACKER COLLECTIVE

IDENTITY: Information wants to be free.

POWER TAGS: hacker collective, tech support, cracking software, synchronized hacking runs,
constantly online, custom-built harness rig, anonymous cyberspace avatar, fellow nerds, pirate
gaming Domains, here for the underdog

WEAKNESS TAGS: constant alerts, hacker rival, obsessed with security, on cybersecurity
watchlists

NEIGHBORHOOD HERO

IDENTITY: Never forget your roots.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 82

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: neighborhood hero, everyone knows my name, back alley brawler, standing
up for the little people, patrol the streets, borrowed tools, unassailable reputation, kin in these
parts, knows how to party, role model for kids

WEAKNESS TAGS: nosy neighbors, gang members, constantly lending money, too many
admirers

LAW ENFORCEMENT

IDENTITY: Serve and protect.

POWER TAGS: law enforcement, position of authority, weapons training, cooperate with corps,
patrolling, badge and gun, friends on the force, driven to investigate, cop bars, look the other
way

WEAKNESS TAGS: domineering captain, targeted by criminals, excessive use of force, in

uniform

STREET GANG

IDENTITY: Snitches get stitches.

POWER TAGS: street gang, street cred, streetwise instincts, we control these streets, moving
illicit goods, high capacity weapons, gang up on rivals, lifelong criminal, flashy vehicle, willing to
kill

WEAKNESS TAGS: addicted to our own merchandise, police investigations, pointlessly

belligerent, gang colors

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 83

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] ASSETS
In the competitive near-future of the Megacity, everyone wants the best tools they can get their
hands on. Those with the ability to cobble together a collection of weapons, apps, or other
useful bits of equipment can become forces to be reckoned with on the mean streets. Being
well-equipped means being ready for the next big gig or the upcoming threat. Keeping yourself
well supplied is perhaps even the very point of going out on those dangerous missions in the
first place. With enough of the goods, you hope to be ready for anything this dark dystopian
future throws at you.

Your gear might be a perk of your job, gathered and built by you through your own
resourcefulness, or simply handed to you thanks to your privilege as a member of the elite. If
you’ve got a good corporate job or the right criminal connections, you can keep your penthouse
apartment stocked with bespoke amenities and a few cutting edge gadgets. If you’re a scientist
or technician, you’ll obviously be needing expensive instruments and could benefit from your
own inventions. Those with police or military background could keep a small stockpile of arms,
ammo, and armor. You could even be a collector or tech scavenger, building up your own hoard.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s lifestyle. What do you almost always take with you on jobs? Why
did you choose these specific items of gear, what do they mean to you? How do they give you
an edge? Your loadout keeps changing, but your Assets are a permanent part of who you are
and how you do things.

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT DO YOU POSSESS OR CARRY ON YOU?

● I always carry around __________.

● I have established access to __________.
● I have a collection of __________.
● I am affluent, and my many assets include __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: What do these possessions look like? What are the
maintenance costs? Where do you keep it all? Where can you get more, if you had to?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What material Asset or type of Assets do you have?

B. Name another Asset or a specific item in the collection.
C. Which item completes the collection?
D. How are your Assets modified or improved upon?
E. What skill set did you develop around your Assets?
F. What amazing feat can you perform with your Assets?
G. How do you maintain, repair, or recover your Assets?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 84

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 H. How do you protect or store your Assets?
I. Under what conditions are your Assets most useful?
J. What item or feature best exemplifies your personal style?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. What flaw do your Assets have?

B. How do you overuse or abuse your Assets?
C. What about your Assets keeps you up at night?
D. What are your Assets not designed for?

IDENTITY

Choose an Identity for this theme: an absolute statement that captures an attitude, motive or
belief related to your Assets. For example:

● (Military equipment) “To be used exclusively to achieve mission objectives.”

● (Software library) “I need this code to get back at KOCMOC.”
● (Drug collection) “Keep it chill, man.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● What these specific items mean to you

● A saying or belief about your possessions or your need of them
● What you intend to do with what you have

Acting in conflict with this statement means you are losing interest in your possessions or losing
the drive to use them. Let everyone at the table know what could constitute acting against this
Identity.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● You are using your assets to help one of them achieve something they want. Ask them
what. (they owe me)
● A crewmember thinks they should have what you’ve got. Ask them why. (tempt them or
they need to back off)
● One of them helped get you your assets, maybe on the job in which you acquired them.
Discuss with them what the circumstances were. (indebted or appreciative)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 85

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Ace Up My Sleeve: One of your items or possessions is unusually enhanced, magically or

technologically. Choose a power tag question from the Artifact or Cutting Edge themebooks and
answer it. Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Bottomless Bags: Once per session, you can discover something surprisingly useful you
have on you or have access to. Create a story tag that describes an item.

▢ I’m Keeping This: You may choose one of your loadout tags at any time and turn it into a
power tag on this theme. You may not have more than one power tag created by this Special;
whenever you create a new one, the previous one is discarded.

▢ Quality Matters: One of your items or possessions is state of the art. Choose an item or
possession tag from this theme; any time you use it, you roll with an Edge.

▢ Quartermaster: When Loading Up, you may choose one tag in this theme describing an item.
You can give copies of it to any of your crew members as free loadout tags.

THEME KITS

CODE ARSENAL

IDENTITY: Off-the-shelf solutions are for amateurs.

POWER TAGS: code arsenal, firewall crasher, Howitzer distributed attack, streamlined to run
fast, rapid code writing, onslaught a domain, quick to reload, fortified personal firewall, first use
against this target, feedback barrier software

WEAKNESS TAGS: requires powerful hardware, using the same exploit twice, overlooked bugs,
not very sneaky

EXPLOSIVES

IDENTITY: Being loud is the only way to be heard.

POWER TAGS: explosives, programmable detonator, corrosive gel, anti-personnel shrapnel,

design bigger shockwave, precision demolition, disarming bombs, stable-state container,
unsuspecting target, grenade belt

WEAKNESS TAGS: takes time to set up, draws a lot of attention, faulty detonator, flexible
structures

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 86

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 GUNS & MORE GUNS

IDENTITY: Good offense begins with self defense.

POWER TAGS: guns & more guns, Zephyr assault rifle, sawed-off shotgun, extended
magazines, firearm marksmanship, Source-harming ammo, gun cleaning kit, hidden firearm,
prolonged shootouts, two guns at once

WEAKNESS TAGS: obviously armed, weapon jam, innocent bystanders, silent kills are harder

HEIST GEAR

IDENTITY: Never return to the scene of the crime.

POWER TAGS: heist gear, safe-cracking device, rappelling equipment, frictionless and silent,
avoid being noticed, security system override, no-evidence self-melting tools, pocket-packed
utility suit, had good intel, holographic map projector

WEAKNESS TAGS: expensive equipment, unintended signature, rappelling rope breaks,

delicate and fragile

JUNK COLLECTION

IDENTITY: Treasure the lost and the forgotten.

POWER TAGS: junk collection, 20th century memorabilia, bygone gizmos, designed to
distract, eye for quality, historic lore dump, bring life to old tech, antiquities shop, too old to hack,
Rube Goldberg machine

WEAKNESS TAGS: unexpectedly breaks down, hoarder, greedy & envious, can’t be taken
seriously

MONEY TO BURN

IDENTITY: Money can solve any problem.

POWER TAGS: money to burn, lavish real-estate, tradable finance info, untraceable
transactions, impeccable taste, bedazzle with luxury, lawyers and accountants, cutting-edge
security system, it’s only money, flashy vehicle

WEAKNESS TAGS: illiquid funds, no concept of hardship, target of a heist, things money can’t
buy

MOTORCYCLE

IDENTITY: I slow down for no one.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 87

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: motorcycle, powerful engine, high-traction wheels, armored windshield, stunt
driving, slide under obstacles, mechanic friend, wheel blades, speed advantage, jumps & flips

WEAKNESS TAGS: noisy vehicle, obnoxious showoff, low on fuel, slippery road

SAFEHOUSE

IDENTITY: There’s no place like home.

POWER TAGS: safehouse, one in every city, surveillance system, escape hatch, lay low, lose
a tail, trustworthy staff, inconspicuous location, a place to heal and recover, sniper nest

WEAKNESS TAGS: requires subtlety, neglected for too long, too remote for backup, easily
overwhelmed

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 88

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] EXPERTISE
Honing a skill set can be a lifelong passion, or simply a way out of the mundane market of day
jobs. From gearheads, scientists, and emergency medical technicians to socially savvy politicos
and professional burglars, being an expert puts you ahead of the pack in this dog-eat-dog
tech-crazed cityscape. Indeed, the mercenary world is full of experts from all sorts of fields,
putting their skills to the test with, or sometimes against, each other. For the true diehards, the
danger and excitement of such an existence gives them the platform they need to feel they’re
doing the most with their training and education.

You’ve honed your skill to a monomolecular point, defining your very being. All of the things
you’ve seen, the reason you trained in the first place, the people you trained with, and the
standards and ethos of your profession, they make you into who you are. There’s a real danger
in letting your skills define you – should you ever turn your back on this identity, those
hard-earned talents will forever be tainted with such shame and bitterness, you might not be
able to bring yourself to use them ever again.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s area of Expertise. How have you trained and where did you get
that training? Why did you go into this line of work? What hardships did you go through to earn
your place as an expert? What unusual perspective on the world do you have, due to your
specialized knowledge?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT MAKES YOU AN EXPERT?

● I’ve studied and researched __________.

● I spent years training at __________.
● My childhood or lifestyle has forced me to excel at __________.
● I pulled off a famous job for which I had to be the best __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: Do you have a chip on your shoulder about your
Expertise or do you play it cool and let others notice how good you are in their own time? What’s
the word on the street about you? What unusual habits might you have adopted as an expert?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What is your area of Expertise?

B. What is a specialized skill you developed within this field?
C. What is the most useful piece of equipment you use on the job?
D. What can you accomplish with this skill set that others can’t?
E. How do you mitigate complications or dangerous situations in your line of work?
F. What useful contacts do you still have related to the field?
G. What credentials do you hold pertaining to this area of Expertise?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 89

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 H. What valuable attitude or tactic did you learn on the job?
I. How do you prepare before applying your Expertise?
J. What is the most groundbreaking, on-the-edge, aspect of your Expertise?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. How does your Expertise bias your perceptions or interactions?

B. What or who limits or regulates the use of your Expertise?
C. What is the blind spot or flaw in your technique or execution?
D. When does your Expertise backfire, fail, or not apply?

IDENTITY

Choose an Identity for this theme: an absolute statement that captures an attitude, motive or
belief related to your area of Expertise. For example:

● (Defense lawyer) “I only protect the innocent.”

● (Car thief) “Break, take, and run!”
● (Bartender) “I’m here, I’m listening.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● Your methodology or modus operandi

● A saying that people with your profession espouse
● Your professional ethos

Acting in conflict with this statement means you are losing your connection to your past training
or straying from dedication to your profession. Let everyone at the table know what could
constitute acting against this Identity.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● One member of the crew is mentored by you in a skill under your area of Expertise. Ask
them why they want to learn it. (mentoring)
● One of them finds your skill set redundant or unethical. (need to prove myself or
offended)
● One of them is from a rival discipline or school of the same or adjacent Expertise.
Discuss your opposing styles. (rival)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ Evolving Technique: Once per session, you may replace one of this theme’s power tags with
a new tag that represents a revolutionary way to apply your Expertise.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 90

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ▢ Flexible Discipline: When Loading Up, you may create a free loadout tag that reflects a
specialized discipline or practice that you brush up on for the upcoming job.

▢ Reliable Talent: Once per session, when you use tags from this theme and roll a miss, you
may treat is at 7-9 instead.

▢ Sense of Purpose: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Affiliation, Horizon, or
Troubled Past themebooks that describes the motivation for your Expertise or the circumstance
of you acquiring it. Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Strength from Adversity: Whenever a weakness tag from this theme is invoked in a roll, you
roll with an Edge.

THEME KITS

COVERT AGENT

IDENTITY: Don’t get attached.

POWER TAGS: covert agent, read a room, lockbreaker device, extract information, backup
cover, access to intel database, high level clearances, emotional detachment, don a disguise,
surveillance takeover device

WEAKNESS TAGS: paranoid, going “off script”, personal attachment, doublecrossed

GUNSLINGER

IDENTITY: I have to be the best in the game.

POWER TAGS: gunslinger, quickdraw, trusty sidearm, trick shots, suppressive fire, weapons
dealers, legendary reputation, always packing a gun, study my target, smart weapon

WEAKNESS TAGS: trigger-happy, no line of sight, don’t get too close, not enough firepower

IMPRESSIVE PHYSIQUE

IDENTITY: My body is my temple.

POWER TAGS: impressive physique, brute strength, form-fitting clothing, peak human
stamina, avoid an injury, my gymrats, gold medal winner, no pain no gain, training regime,
bioware muscle enhancers

WEAKNESS TAGS: easily bruised ego, unsteady footing, alternative beauty ideals, my strength
used against me

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 91

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 INVESTIGATOR

IDENTITY: Everyone’s a rat, if you know where to squeeze.

POWER TAGS: investigator, notice small details, voice analysis software, read body language,
better on my own, bribed street informants, P.I license, trust my gut, research suspects,
analytical brain aug

WEAKNESS TAGS: cynical, red tape, fall for sob stories, too nosy for my own good

MED TECHIE

IDENTITY: Only subscribed customers get medical help!

POWER TAGS: med techie, stabilize the wounded, high tech doc bag, resuscitate the flatlined,
grace under pressure, back alley clinics, medical services pass, diagnose symptoms on sight,
stock up on med supplies, 3D organ printer

WEAKNESS TAGS: overlook danger, too many patients, sloppy patch job, violent patients

RUTHLESS EXECUTIVE

IDENTITY: Keep your eyes on the bottom line.

POWER TAGS: ruthless executive, business instincts, bulletproof business suit, project
confidence, divert blame, stakeholder network, company perks, exploit leverage,
focus-enhancing pills, hostile takeover

WEAKNESS TAGS: utility focused, my superiors, underestimated upstart, mistrusted by the

have-nots

TINKERER

IDENTITY: I can make it work, trust me.

POWER TAGS: tinkerer, modifying devices, toolbox, reverse engineering, spare parts, tech
suppliers, certified technician, anything can be rebuilt, study a piece of tech, nanite circuitry
reconstructor spray

WEAKNESS TAGS: obsessed with technology, too little to work with, fixes what’s not broken,
unexpected side effects

TRAINED KILLER

IDENTITY: Honor the contract to the letter.

POWER TAGS: trained killer, stealthy attacks, favorite weapon, clean kills, disarming attack,
organized criminals, professional reputation, finish the job, take aim, AR shadow bomb

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 92

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WEAKNESS TAGS: nihilistic, well-guarded targets, downplay collateral damage, the undead
and undying

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 93

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] HORIZON
Some people look to the future, beyond the dystopia that surrounds them. They are driven by a
political cause, a personal mission, or a sense of responsibility to do more for this world – or get
more out of it – than most. You have come to embrace a creed or a cause which defines who
you are and gives you strength. In preparation for your duties and trials, you hone your skills
and equip yourself, preparing to face the challenges and the foes which stand in the way of your
drive.

The goal that drives you may eat at you inside. You might feel a sense of purpose tempered by
a fear that you may never succeed, or a guilt of past failures. Or maybe your life just seems too
short to achieve the colossal goal you’re after. This is a classic theme in cyberpunk – the need
to be relevant before the end, either yours or the world’s. Perhaps being driven gives your life
purpose and direction, and it can be the reason you acquired a skillset relevant to mercenaries,
explorers, and adventurers. Whatever your motives, aspirational or selfish, visionary or
vengeful, they’re certainly personal.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s vision. What is the end goal or new status quo you wish to
achieve? What must be done by you to get there? What are you willing to do to push forward
with your plans? How is your lifestyle shaped by your constant striving for this vision of the
future?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? TOWARD WHAT HORIZON DO YOU STRIVE?

● I want to undo, reverse, or avenge __________.

● I want to see __________ flourish.
● I have a vision of a world with/without __________.
● I aspire to become __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: Do you feel you should be the only one to do this or
can/should others be brought into your movement? What sacrifices have you made to get this
far and what will you sacrifice to take it even further? What technology or Mythoi are you looking
for to aid you in your mission?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What is your goal or drive?

B. What is the most useful skill you’ve developed to reach your Horizon?
C. What is the main weapon or tool you use in your mission?
D. What is the main tactic or technique you employ in accomplishing your goals?
E. How do you defend yourself against those who would thwart your mission?
F. Where or how do you hide from your enemies?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 94

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 G. How have you modified or trained your body for your mission?
H. What personal quality keeps you motivated to pursue your goals?
I. Who can you call upon to aid you in your quest?
J. What lesson have you learned in the pursuit of your goal?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. How does your chosen pursuit burden or endanger you?

B. Who or what gets in your way to your Horizon?
C. How did your Horizon change you for the worse?
D. What aspect of life do you overlook due to your obsession?

IDENTITY

Choose an Identity for this theme: an absolute statement that captures an attitude, motive or
belief related to your goals or vision. For example:

● (Cultist) “I will see the return of our goddess.”

● (Environmental activist) “The polluting corps must be stopped at any cost.”
● (Transhumanist) “I will become the next stage of evolution.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● Your ultimate goal

● A phrase that summarizes your core ethic
● The crux of your new way of doing things

Acting in conflict with this statement means you are losing your focus and drive towards your
vision of the future or way of conducting yourself. You’re either becoming more moderate in your
attitudes or simply changing course based on new experiences. Let everyone at the table know
what could constitute acting against this Identity.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● Your constant talk about your goals really annoys one particular member of your crew.
Ask them why. (convince them)
● A member of the crew is instrumental in your plans. Decide how, secretly or openly
(keep them close)
● One of them was involved in the incident or conditions that set you on this path. Discuss
the circumstances with them. (resentful or indebted)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 95

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Can’t Be Too Ready: Choose a power tag question from the Expertise or Assets themebooks
that reflects something you acquired in order to complete your mission and answer it. Write
down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Careful Planner: Whenever you Discover details about the next obstacle or challenge on
your way to your Horizon, you gain a story tag or a tier-2 status that represents your readiness
for that challenge.

▢ Follow me!: When you try to recruit someone to join your cause, you roll with an Edge.

▢ Indomitable: Once per scene, when you mitigate Consequences that would make you
despair or tire on the way to your Horizon, you can treat a miss (6-) as a mixed hit (7-9).

▢ Learn from My Mistakes: Once per session, when you miss a roll while trying to advance
your goal, mark 1 upgrade box on this theme.

THEME KITS

ATTAIN ENLIGHTENMENT

IDENTITY: I seek nothing but the truth.

POWER TAGS: attain enlightenment, enter a trance state, pure intentions, question physical
appearances, philosophical discussions, unseen by demons, martial arts training, open to new
experiences, pray to angels or devas, find nonviolent solutions

WEAKNESS TAGS: vow of [poverty, chastity, etc.], demons of desire, soft-hearted, no social
circles

BREAK THE SYSTEM

IDENTITY: Our only hope is to bring the system down.

POWER TAGS: break the system, spot systemic failures, online activism, exploit bureaucracy,
intervene against oppression, one voice out of many, implanted recording devices, unwavering
determination, fellow malcontents, persistence pays

WEAKNESS TAGS: outside the system, collaborators and informers, easily riled up, lack of
sleep

ELIMINATE CORRUPTION

IDENTITY: Corruption is a disease, and it must be cured.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 96

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: eliminate corruption, follow the money, surveillance van, garner media
attention, healthy paranoia, too inconsequential to find, voice modulator, strong moral compass,
victims and witnesses, remain distant and obscure

WEAKNESS TAGS: angry power players, bribed officials, tunnel vision, failing love life

EXACT REVENGE

IDENTITY: I’ll only have peace when they're dead.

POWER TAGS: exact revenge, dogged pursuit, meticulously detailed enemy list, make it hurt,
outsmart their defenses, weapons room, subdermal armor implants, burning fury, other victims,
fear is a potent weapon

WEAKNESS TAGS: death wish, innocent bystanders, driven mad by warth, lonely

EXPLORE THE HIDDEN PLACES

IDENTITY: Every dark corner hides a secret worth discovering.

POWER TAGS: explore the hidden places, climbing and rappelling, old maps, take the
plunge, make local allies, nooks and crevices, dark-vision cybereyes, insatiable curiosity,
scholars and collectors, recognize environmental warning signs

WEAKNESS TAGS: often gets lost, rival delvers, eccentric, aching joints

GET RICH & FAMOUS

IDENTITY: Do what it takes to get to the top.

POWER TAGS: get rich & famous, think big, notable online presence, piggyback off other’s
success, lie when necessary, opulent residence, surgically enhanced beauty, desire for
dominance, assistants and proteges, image is everything

WEAKNESS TAGS: humiliation is guaranteed, haters, sociopath, stressful lifestyle

LIVE HONORABLY

IDENTITY: I must do the right thing.

POWER TAGS: live honorably, strong moral sense, book of proverbs, help those in need,
challenge the dishonorable, meditative space, anti-toxin blood filters, lead by example, people
I’ve helped, we can talk it out

WEAKNESS TAGS: no fun, no clear moral answer, inflexible, intolerant of the dishonorable

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 97

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 PUSH TECHNOLOGY FURTHER

IDENTITY: Nothing should stand in the way of progress.

POWER TAGS: push technology further, elevator pitch, scan & design holo-drone, turn things
up to 11, override manufacturer safeties, keep inventions secret, toolkit cyberhand,
laser-focused process, interdisciplinary engineers, build on past failures

WEAKNESS TAGS: overreliance on technology, my own lack of foresight, sentimental about

certain devices, downplays safety

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 98

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] PERSONALITY
In a world full of simulation, copying, and cloning, originality and authenticity are priceless. Your
unique personality can be your greatest asset, as it sets you apart from the masses. In the dark
and dismal future of the Megacity, your temperament, style, habit, or sense of humor may be the
only thing that can get you through a rough night. Your ability to keep standing, simply being
you, could be what it takes to keep your crew on the right path. The streets are mean and
maybe you are too. Always keeping things from falling into chaos through your sheer force of
ego, or simply by saying your catchphrase.

Your personality could prove helpful to yourself and others through positivity, wisdom, gallows
humor, or the like. Or you might have a persona adapted to the grim realities of the future, just
what you need to struggle on against all odds. When you’re shot in the gut and clinging to life,
what part of yourself do you reach to? What aspect of your personality allows you to not only
pull through, but assist others in their own journey? In the end, the authenticity of a strong
personality is as precious as the Mythoi, as it stands in contrast to the meaningless repetition of
the Noise. Flamboyant or insightful. Obsessive or annoying. Your personality makes you
special, useful, and important.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s Personality and the way they approach life. What’s unique about
your ways? How does it define you? Are you a big personality, a thinker, emotional, or someone
with a methodical approach? How has this given you an edge in the Megacity? How does it
drive you to make something of yourself?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? IN WHAT UNIQUE WAY DO YOU THINK OR BEHAVE?

● When around others, I am __________.

● I approach problems with __________.
● My most important personality trait is __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: What caused you to develop this Personality? Were you
taught from childhood, forged by life events, or is this just how you are?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What is the core of your Personality?

B. What part of your persona helps you to succeed or endure?
C. How does your Personality help you navigate social situations?
D. How do you see the world differently, noticing what others rarely pick up on?
E. What is the main advantage your Personality gives you on a job or on the street?
F. What item best expresses your personal style or way of doing things?
G. What about your Personality do others find attractive or impressive?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page 99

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 H. What is unusual, weird, or surprising about you?
I. What do you carry with you to make you feel safe?
J. How does your Personality change when you’re in a difficult situation?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. Who finds you or who do you find irksome or loathsome?

B. How does your Personality get you into trouble?
C. What situations throw you off your game?
D. Who or what are you averse to?

IDENTITY

Choose an Identity for this theme: an absolute statement that captures an attitude, motive or
belief related to your Personality. For example:

● (Charismatic leader) “I shine in the center.”

● (Hardboiled detective) “My work distracts me from the pain.”
● (Intellectual) “Through erudition – strength.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● Your approach to life, people, or hardship

● A lesson you’ve learned that made you who you are
● The reason you’ve adopted this persona

Acting in conflict with this statement means you are losing connection to this aspect of your
Personality, changing how you act and who you are in the world. Let everyone at the table know
what could constitute acting against this Identity.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● A member of the crew has a Personality that’s complimentary to your own, making you a
bit of a duo. Ask them how. (good vibes)
● One of them finds your Personality attractive or inspiring. Ask them why. (wrapped
around my finger)
● A fellow crew member espouses the opposite approach to yours, putting you often at
odds. Discuss in what ways this manifests. (clashing)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ Big Personality: Select a power tag from this theme. When you burn it for a hit, it adds 4
Power instead of 3.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

100

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ▢ Lasting Impression: Once per scene, when you take a social action and roll a hit, you may
spend 1 extra Power on Effects.

▢ Water Off My Back: When you roll to mitigate social Consequences, you roll with an Edge.

▢ Why I do this: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Affiliation, Horizon, or
Troubled Past themebooks that reflects the motivation or background at the source of your
Personality. Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Winning Attitude: When you take an action aligned with your Personality using tags from this
theme, you roll with an Edge.

THEME KITS

CAREGIVER

IDENTITY: I’m here for you.

POWER TAGS: caregiver, strong sense of empathy, natural mentor, notice the needy, pillar of
the community, carries delicious snacks, always where needed, history of adversity, dermal
medicine injector, righteous anger

WEAKNESS TAGS: selfish people, patronizing, can’t help them all, places devoid of humanity

METICULOUS PLANNER

IDENTITY: Plan your work and work your plan.

POWER TAGS: meticulous planner, minimize risks, pleasantries & formalities, alert to
emergencies, keen eye for weaknesses, well-maintained gear, dependable, contingency plans,
definitely packed a spare, ready to handle chaos

WEAKNESS TAGS: agents of chaos, can’t change course, no time to think, slobs

KEEPER OF SECRETS

IDENTITY: A secret is a trophy and a currency in one.

POWER TAGS: keeper of secrets, naturally inquisitive, knows something about everyone, can
tell when they’re lying, secret passages and codes, files full of evidence, mysterious, secretly
compassionate, truth serum, closed off

WEAKNESS TAGS: people feel invaded, evokes distrust, when they hold my secrets, people
without secrets

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

101

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 PERFORMER

IDENTITY: They will see what I want them to see.

POWER TAGS: performer, fake it till you make it, entertaining, see others’ masks, fans and
followers, gorgeous outfits, captivating presence, highly athletic, make-up kit, controlled
composure

WEAKNESS TAGS: critics, a well-known face, honest interactions, paparazzi

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE

IDENTITY: I’ll never be another cog in the machine!

POWER TAGS: rebel without a cause, couldn’t care less, stir up trouble, see through the
bullshit, stand up for myself, dangerous vehicle, say what others can’t, has a soft side, leather
jacket, never back down

WEAKNESS TAGS: authority figures, big mouth, fancy social engagements, loss of freedom

THRILLSEEKER

IDENTITY: I only feel alive on the edge.

POWER TAGS: thrillseeker, thrive on fear, stories to tell, remarkable instincts, always get out
alive, well-used helmet, exciting to be around, plan my stunts, grappling gun, laugh maniacally

WEAKNESS TAGS: cowards, in too deep, the game is rigged, sitting still

TOUGH AS NAILS

IDENTITY: I’ve been through so much nothing can defeat me now.

POWER TAGS: tough as nails, been through it all, intimidating, expecting the worst, ultimate
survivor, padded clothing, rugged charm, worked unusual jobs, electro knuckle buster, brace for
the pain

WEAKNESS TAGS: peppy and chipper people, underestimate threats, gentleness, naivete

TRENDSETTER

IDENTITY: What’s big is what I say is big.

POWER TAGS: trendsetter, free thinker, inspirational speeches, analyze popularity potential,
keep others on their toes, latest gadget, magnetic charisma, draws confidence from the crowd,
newsfeed implant, first to jump in

WEAKNESS TAGS: those who fear change, premature statements, lack of competition, banality

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

102

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] TROUBLED PAST
Something in your past defines you. Unresolved, these events haunt your existence, shadows
you can’t get rid of. Everything you do is informed by the times that were hardest for you,
clouding your perceptions, but perhaps giving you motivation. Maybe your parents or a sibling
died. Maybe you got hurt in the middle of trying to do something heroic. You might be the
product of a government or corporate experiment or similarly altered through your own tinkering.
In any case, you are something more, someone different, than you might have been had that
event never happened.

You try to put your past behind you, but something keeps bringing it back up. Guilt or a need to
resolve old conflicts might be the cause. Maybe the people who made you like this are still out
there looking for you. Rough childhoods and traumatic experiences are common in the
Megacity, but yours are something more. The troubling moments of your past have such lasting
impressions, they affect your every moment.

CONCEPT

Think about the event that made your character who they are. It could be a specific traumatic
event or a tragic set of circumstances over a long period of time. How did this event become a
cornerstone of who you are today? Did you survive and thrive? Were you gutted by the event?
Are you still exploring who you are and what you might eventually blossom into? Did you gain
skills to make sure the same thing can’t happen again?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? HOW HAS YOUR TROUBLED PAST CHANGED YOU?

● My life was destroyed when __________.

● I persevered and pulled myself out of __________
● I can never forget I was __________.
● I only recently freed myself from __________.
● I’m still figuring out who I am after __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: When did these events happen to you? What led to them
and whose fault was it? What might cause the events to occur again? How does your Troubled
Past manifest in your daily life?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What about your past now haunts or defines you?

B. How have you grown stronger due to your past?
C. What skills or behaviors did you learn in order to adapt?
D. How has your past made you dangerous?
E. What physical change or improvement stems from your troubled past?
F. Who have you turned to for safety or comfort?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

103

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 G. What useful memento do you still have from your past?
H. What type of mental fortitude or coping mechanism did you develop?
I. What unusual knowledge do you have due to your past?
J. How do you fight those who would put you back into your Past?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. Who or what from your past is still haunting you?

B. What physical effects do you still suffer from?
C. What self-destructive behaviors have you developed?
D. What triggers the worst memories of your past?

IDENTITY

Choose an Identity for this theme: an absolute statement that captures an attitude, motive or
belief related to your Troubled Past. For example:

● (Abusive home life) “Innocents need my protection.”

● (Technological disaster) “I can’t trust tech.”
● (Wastelands survivor) “Other people are a liability.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● The most important lesson you take from your past

● The reason you survived
● The attitude you adopted as a result of your past

Acting in conflict with this statement means you are losing connection to the lessons and
hardships of your Troubled Past. Let everyone at the table know what could constitute acting
against this Identity.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● One of them survived the same ordeal, or a similar one. You might commiserate with
them or you might be jealous that it didn’t scar them in the same way. (kindred soul or
jealous)
● One is close to falling into a similar situation to your past and you’re worried about them.
Ask them how they plan to avoid it. (concerned or protective)
● One of them reminds you of someone from your Past. Is that good or bad? Are they
aware? Discuss it with them. (reminds me of…)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

104

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Echoes From The Past: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Expertise,
Affiliation, or Horizon themebooks that reflects a re-emerging aspect of who you were before.
Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Not Letting Go: Whenever you burn a tag from this theme for power, you can mark Decay on
any other theme instead of marking that tag as burnt.

▢ Touchy Subject: Whenever someone else mentions your past in a way that irks or offends
you, you can choose to go into an emotional state and take an appropriate tier-2 status of your
choice for the rest of the scene or until you calm down, whichever comes sooner.

▢ Transcend the Pain: When you Go Out In A Blaze risking this theme with an Ultimate
Sacrifice, you may choose to achieve a 10+ result without rolling (you replace this theme).

▢ Vivid Recall: Whenever the weakness tags in this theme are invoked, you may spend 1 free
Power to Discover a detail from your Past, in addition to marking an Upgrade box.

THEME KITS

DISASTER SURVIVOR

IDENTITY: Nature should be respected and feared.

POWER TAGS: disaster survivor, endure the elements, squeeze through tight spaces, cut
losses, careful footing, affinity to first responders, oxygen mask, keep my cool, disaster
alertness, eco-terrorist

WEAKNESS TAGS: phobic of [fire, water, heights, etc.], trouble breathing, overly cautious,
extreme environmental conditions

ESCAPED SERVITUDE

IDENTITY: Remain free.

POWER TAGS: escaped servitude, resilient, bypass security systems, makeshift weapons,
laborer’s strength, camaraderie with the oppressed, my old bindings, speak truth to power, see
unspoken power structures, liberate others

WEAKNESS TAGS: bounty hunters, laser fence burns, mistrustful of leaders, being bound

TRAGIC LOSS

IDENTITY: I’ll never feel the way I did with them.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

105

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: tragic loss, nothing hurts more than this, sorrowful kindness, bringer of
retribution, shield others with my body, found family, inherited weapon, remember the good
times, family secrets, make myself the target

WEAKNESS TAGS: pangs of longing, haunted by their ghost (literally), recklessness, ending a
life

RAISED IN CYBERSPACE

IDENTITY: I only know my virtual self.

POWER TAGS: raised in cyberspace, master of multitasking, always online, cyberspace

combatant, micro-transmitter implant, my hivemind community, a million avatar skins, try new
experiences, navigate the Spirals, resist neural impulses

WEAKNESS TAGS: they call to me via AR, meatspace nausea, short attention span, seeing
someone jacked in

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

IDENTITY: I’m a freak, I’m a monster.

POWER TAGS: science experiment, resistance to pain, designed to [choose purpose], psychic
blast, cybernetic [choose limb/organ], abnormal outcasts, a picture of me from before, let out the
rage, body modification methods, rescue missions

WEAKNESS TAGS: chased by the corp, programmed to [choose purpose], afraid of my own
strength, clinical locations

SURVIVED THE STREETS

IDENTITY: Life is hard – learn to survive.

POWER TAGS: survived the streets, situational awareness, pickpocketing, savage when
cornered, illegally-modified [choose cybernetic], underworld mentor, intimidating facial scar,
de-escalate with humor, gang politics, dealmaker

WEAKNESS TAGS: the gang wants me back, malfunctioning replacement organs, won’t back
down, back in the old neighborhood

TARGET OF THE GOVERNMENT

IDENTITY: I’m a dead man walking.

POWER TAGS: target of the government, navigate bureaucracies, cautious in cyberspace,

dangerously desperate, facial reconstruction, friends in low places, government secrets, smoke
break, blackmail material, hide my identity

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

106

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WEAKNESS TAGS: hunted, nervous twitch, no trust in authority, vehicle chases

VICTIM OF OTHERWORLDLY FORCES

IDENTITY: These monsters need to be put down.

POWER TAGS: victim of otherworldly forces, unfazed by the unnatural, recognise the
supernatural, press on their vulnerabilities, covered in warding tattoos, monster hunter allies,
finger of a fae lord, my mind is my own, knowledge of the occult, exorcism

WEAKNESS TAGS: curse of bad luck, scars that won't heal, superstitious, creatures like the
one who took me

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

107

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 MYTHOS THEMEBOOKS

[ ] ARTIFACT
Countless myths and legends tell of items of great power, crafted by clever gods and their
servants to empower heroes. As the Mythoi return to the Megacity, such items have begun to
resurface. Powerful but capricious, these artifacts bind themselves to those who put in the time
to learn their secret ways and who fit the mold of their legendary tales.

Relics long forgotten or lost have turned up on black markets and in musty shops that sell
hardcopy books from bygone eras. Other artifacts are modern items, inhabited by the essence
of a mythic power or by a ghost or spirit. At times they may seem to have a will of their own,
guiding their owners to greatness or some terrible downfall. Others are items crafted through
magic by specialists, corporations, or cults, possessing hidden abilities that can only be
unlocked through careful study or experience in times of struggle. Many are ancient in design,
made long ago and lost to time until recently. Family heirlooms, museum display pieces, and
other treasures call to those who covet them, tempting them with untold power.

An Artifact theme describes a magical item. It may be a Source of its own, known as a Relic, but
it could also be an item imbued with power by another Source, such as Esoteric practice or
exposure to a Thin Place or even an Avatar. In either case, the Ritual of the Artifact is required
to keep its connection to the Mythos within it.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s connection to their Artifact. Did you encounter it by accident, or
was it a gift from someone powerful? Was it drawn to you or did you seek it out? What about
you unlocked the Artifact’s power?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT POWERS DOES YOUR ARTIFACT POSSESS?

● In my time of need, I found a __________ that can __________.

● I wield a weapon capable of __________.
● It belonged to / a gift from __________ who has power over __________.
● It’s a tool that can shape __________.
● It’s a vessel that can hold __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: How did you come by your Artifact? Was it through
inheritance, hard work, destiny, or sheer luck? What is your Artifact’s temperament towards
you? What does it look like? How is it activated? What do you look like when its powers are
unleashed? How do you carry it around?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

108

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What Artifact of power do you possess?

B. What mythic or magical property does your Artifact exhibit?
C. How does your Artifact protect you or others?
D. What new sense or mental trait do you gain when your Artifact is active?
E. How can your Artifact be used to overcome your foes?
F. What travel or escape power does your Artifact grant you?
G. What power can your Artifact use reflexively or without your guidance?
H. What surprising power can your Artifact unleash?
I. What can your Artifact transform into, or transform you into?
J. What quality do you possess that binds or draws your Artifact to you?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. Who or what is your Artifact ineffective against?

B. What drains your Artifact of its abilities or restricts or counters them?
C. What behaviors cause your Artifact to malfunction or not cooperate?
D. How do your Artifact’s special properties or powers cause problems for you?

RITUAL

Choose a Ritual for this theme: a task or practice you must engage in to keep your connection
to your Artifact. For example:

● (Excalibur) “I must lead a roundtable of knights into unifying the kingdom.”

● (Magic wand) “I must replenish the wand’s power with pixie dust.”
● (Witch’s cauldron) “I must gather obscure and grotesque ingredients for my potions and
spells.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● The raw materials or sources of magical power your Artifact requires to work
● A destiny tied to your Artifact
● Unusual conditions your Artifact require in order to operate or replenish its power

Failing to engage in this activity when needed indicates that you are losing connection to your
Artifact and the Mythos that empowers it, or that the power of your Artifact is waning. Let
everyone at the table know what could constitute neglecting this Ritual.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

109

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● One member of your crew had a bad experience with your Artifact and fears its power.
Discuss what happened. (they fear me or it’s awkward)
● Your Artifact’s Mythos is reacting to another Source owned by a crew member. Ask them
whether it’s harmonious or discordant. (work well together or hatred)
● Your Artifact has plans for a particular member of your crew. Discuss with them what it
could be. (scheming)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ Overcharged and Overclocked: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Cutting
Edge or Drones themebooks that reflects a technological upgrade to your Artifact. Write down
the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Reckless Discharge: When you roll a miss with tags from this theme, you may treat it as a
mixed hit and mark Decay on this theme, or treat it as a strong hit and mark two Decay on this
theme.

▢ Sharing is Caring: Once per scene, you can let another player use a power tag from this
theme, provided they can access and use your Artifact for this action.

▢ Signature Move: Choose a power tag from this theme. Whenever you roll using this tag, you
roll with an Edge.

▢ Status Symbol: When you openly wield or wear your Artifact during social interactions where
Sources grant social status, you roll with an Edge.

THEME KITS

HERO’S SWORD
RITUAL: I must stand up to the forces of evil.

POWER TAGS: hero’s sword, cuts through anything, unbreakable steel, unflinching, masterful
swordplay, cut through barriers, intuitive parry, wreathed in [choose type of energy], hero’s
physique, heroic soul

WEAKNESS TAGS: won’t attack the innocent, bound to the will of the gods, showing
indecisiveness, easy to provoke

INVISIBILITY HELM
RITUAL: I must cleverly disguise my motives and ways.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

110

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: invisibility helm, pierce illusions, incorporeality, spy’s insights, backstabber,
slip through crowds, turns on when in danger, hide my thoughts, disguised as headgear, sneaky

WEAKNESS TAGS: supernatural senses, direct sunlight, authentic expression, feels invincible
when invisible

RISK-TAKER’S LUCK CHARM

RITUAL: I must take a chance when it presents itself.

POWER TAGS: risk-taker’s luck charm, games of luck, protection from accidents, devil may
care attitude, lucky shot, last minute escape, steadiness and grace, share the luck, turn rags to
riches, fearless

WEAKNESS TAGS: fortunate foe, hexes and curses, people to whom I’m indebted, capricious

MASK OF THE TRICKSTER GOD

RITUAL: I must spread chaos wherever I go.

POWER TAGS: mask of the trickster god, steal someone’s visage, appear as their loved
ones, godly cleverness, baffle with riddles, create a distraction, fool’s retort, curse the arrogant,
melds with my face, thrives in chaos

WEAKNESS TAGS: agents of law, retribution of other gods, taking responsibility, too messy

POSSESSED VEHICLE
RITUAL: I must refuel it with devoured souls.

POWER TAGS: possessed vehicle, impossible stunts, make the rider undead, sense the
sinful, spew fire & brimstone, unnatural speed, self-driving murder machine, unleash a
soul-chilling shriek, transform into a nightmare steed, daredevil attitude

WEAKNESS TAGS: the dead, anything holy, squirmish rider, trail of burnt debris

SCRYING CRYSTALS
RITUAL: I must recharge these crystals at an open place of great altitude.

POWER TAGS: scrying crystals, visions from afar, see incoming threats, perfect spatial sense,
I saw your secret, divine a path, stand watch for me, peer into the past, open my third eye, see
the bigger picture

WEAKNESS TAGS: places beyond this Earth, disrupted by Noise, refusing to see, all is not as it
seems

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

111

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WAR GOD’S ARMOR
RITUAL: I must spatter my armor with the blood of my foes.

POWER TAGS: war god’s armor, aura of glory, impervious to mundane weapons, warrior’s
instincts, juggernaut of destruction, unimpeded in the battlefield, reflexive block, sustains my
body, become a weapon, battlefield bravery

WEAKNESS TAGS: treacherous allies, weak spot, showing cowardice, violent reputation

WIZARD’S STAFF
RITUAL: I must continue to grow my power.

POWER TAGS: wizard’s staff, stores magical energies, reflexive magic shield, magic
sensitivity, magical explosion, flight spell, cast spells by itself, dragon form, astral projection,
vast magical knowledge

WEAKNESS TAGS: magical beasts, overloaded, showing ignorance, uncontrolled power

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

112

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] COMPANION
The Mythoi that return to the Megacity are not all heroes and gods. They are also the smaller
spirits, lesser known sidekicks, fantastic beasts, and other companions – who are not any less
legendary. These mentors, advisors, and battle-allies are creatures of myth who are drawn to
those who embrace the central role of hero or antihero in this dystopian world. They often look
like monsters or mythological creatures, though the Noise keeps everyday people from thinking
much of their presence. Most assume that such companions are just robots, biotechnological
experiments, or just AR avatars or ornately costumed pets.

Companions are usually more interactive compared to the other Mythoi theme types. They often
provide their powers in exchange for a relationship of one sort or another, and they have
opinions and sometimes act on their own. Whether the companion is a pet, a magical friend, or
a demonic advisor, their supernatural assistance always involves striving to achieve what the
creature ultimately desires. Most companions wish mainly to see their masters succeed in the
world, but many have an ulterior motive or skewed agenda dependent on the myth they derive
from, and they may secretly or openly guide the PC to their doom in exchange for their
assistance.

Your Companion is a secondary player character and can take statuses and tags separately
from you, see page XX.

WHAT IS A COMPANION?
Some Companions are themselves Sources, but most Companions are not.
Instead, they are magical Conjurations spawned by a myth, or a mundane creature
influenced by a place or object of power.

Companion options include:

● An animal Source, known as a Familiar
● A creature or an object that was exposed to a Source
● A person who was transformed or cursed by a Source
● Conjurations created by a powerful Source, such as emerging from Thin
Place or materialized by an Avatar
● Conjurations you create with another Source, such as summoned with
Esoterica or manifestations of a Relic

When you select Companion as a theme, consider picking another of your Mythos
themes as the Source of your Companion. An alchemist utilizing an Esoterica
theme could for instance have a golem or homunculus as a Companion, with the
character’s magical knowledge as the Source of both their own and their servant’s
power. However, if you only have one Mythos theme and would like to focus on the
Companions you create, it is implied your character possesses or has access to the
Source needed to create them: a Relic, a Thin Place, or Esoterica.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

113

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CONCEPT

Think about your character’s ties to the world of magic. What kind of mythical creature or
otherwise magical ally would accompany you? What is the relationship between you? What
draws you to this Companion and how do they fit into your lifestyle?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT MAGICAL BEING IS YOUR ALLY?

● It’s a character from the legend of __________.

● It’s a legendary beast or creature called __________.
● It’s an exemplar of __________, a class of monsters/spirits/demons.
● It’s a magical construct known as __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: How did you meet your Companion? Did they choose you
or did you capture them? Did you make them? What does the Companion look and sound like?
How did you bond with the Companion? What are the logistics of keeping them around? What
do your friends and enemies think about your Companion?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What type of Companion are you aided by?

B. What is the main power, ability, or assistance your Companion provides you with?
C. What is your Companion good at doing on your behalf?
D. What form can your Companion take in battle or when hiding?
E. How does your Companion defend themselves or you?
F. How Could your companion assist you in a fight or in your work?
G. How does your Companion heal, reform, or recharge?
H. What useful magical side effect does your Companion create?
I. How does your Companion make you a better or stronger person?
J. What's the best or coolest thing about having this Companion?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. What makes your Companion unable or unwilling to help you?

B. How does your Companion make people react negatively towards you?
C. What diminishes your Companion’s powers?
D. How does your Companion sometimes interfere with your actions?

RITUAL

Choose a Ritual for this theme: a task or practice you must engage in to keep your Companion.
For example:

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

114

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● (Undead servant) “I must feed it brains.”
● (Leviathan) “I must do battle at sea.”
● (Sentient spell) “I must recite it every morning.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● A peculiar feeding or caretaking need

● What must be done to keep them tamed or loyal
● Deeds you must accomplish so they consider you worthy

Failing to engage in this activity when needed indicates that you are losing connection to your
Companion or that they lose their ability to exist by your side. Let everyone at the table know
what could constitute neglecting this Ritual.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● A crew member has a real problem with your Companion. Ask them why. (rejected or
failed communication)
● Your Companion takes a shine to one of your crew members, and they may even like
that crew member more than they like you. Discuss how they interact. (supportive or
jealous)
● Your companion is being overprotective and they especially get in the way of your
relationship with one of the crew members. Ask them why. (Companion interferes)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ Back-to-back: Once per session, when rolling a miss (6-) using tags from this theme, you
may treat it as a mixed hit (7-9) instead.

▢ Caregiver: Once per session, when you Restore a harmful status on yourself or your
Companion with tags from this theme, you can mark an upgrade box on this theme.

▢ Hands Off: When you take this Special, you become protective-2 of your Artifact. This status
helps you protect your Artifact, but may reduce your ability to mitigate risk to yourself. If this
status is reduced or removed, you may regain it after Downtime.

▢ New Tricks: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Esoterica or Exposure
themebooks that reflects your companion’s new manifested powers. Write down the answer as
a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Strategic Positioning: Once per session, you can place your Companion anywhere in the
scene that it could get to normally and give it a tier-2 status that represents its advantageous
position.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

115

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME KITS

ARCANE CONSTRUCT
RITUAL: I must feed my creation raw magical energy.

POWER TAGS: arcane construct, impossibly strong, heavy lifting, armored body, provide
shelter, aggressive punching, self-repair, anti-magic field, inspires mental resolve, gentle giant

WEAKNESS TAGS: unclear instructions, looks like a weapon, unstable terrain, indiscriminate
force

GUARDIAN SPIRIT
RITUAL: I must never fail to make a daily offering.

POWER TAGS: guardian spirit, watchful of danger, frightening presence, invisible assistant,
spectral body, hex my enemies, mend and heal, aura of protection, link to the spirit world,
immense spiritual knowledge

WEAKNESS TAGS: fear of inadequacy, eerie chill, another spirit’s domain, overly protective

LEGENDARY SIDEKICK
RITUAL: We must leap into danger together.

POWER TAGS: legendary sidekick, daredevil, scout ahead, easy to ignore, watches my back,
coordinated attacks, care for my gear, a magical backpack, serves as my herald, eternal loyalty

WEAKNESS TAGS: sulky and cross, reflects badly on me, weaker when separated,
overenthusiastic

MAGICAL GUIDE
RITUAL: I must follow this guide’s instruction to be worthy of their tutelage.

POWER TAGS: magical guide, occult insights, magical research, unseen and unheard by
others, deflect spells, charge with magical power, remove curse or affliction, casts minor spells,
teach me a new spell, portal to other realms

WEAKNESS TAGS: insubordination, distrust of the occult, easily exhausted, exacting and
critical

NATURE SPIRIT
RITUAL: I must commune with nature before every major decision.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

116

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: nature spirit, nature’s vengeance, ensnaring foes, elemental form [choose an
element], destroy man-made objects, nature’s bounty, merge with the environment, extreme
localized weather, inspires harmony, talk to plants and animals

WEAKNESS TAGS: harming nature, predatory countenance, pollution, about as predictable as

the weather

SUPERNATURAL PET
RITUAL: I must train my pet dutifully.

POWER TAGS: supernatural pet, magically nimble, growl at my foes, adaptive camouflage],
natural weapons, attack alongside me, creature hutch, stink spray, animal handling, enviable
companionship

WEAKNESS TAGS: oblivious to my goals, poachers, neglected care, bad time to play

TECH GREMLIN
RITUAL: I must let it tamper with a machine at least once a day.

POWER TAGS: tech gremlin, cause malfunctions, analyze machinery, sneak into any hole,
invisible to tech, weapon misfire, knows how to fix too, hide inside vehicles, electrical overload,
clever pranks, spawn siblings

WEAKNESS TAGS: easily distracted, incites malfunction rage, biotech, tampers with my stuff

TRAINED MONSTERS
RITUAL: I must maintain the prayers / chant / scrolls that bind them.

POWER TAGS: trained monsters, wreak havoc, follow my commands, swarm, safety in
numbers, horns, claws, and fangs, monster den, shapeshifting, leader of the pack, merge into a
big monster

WEAKNESS TAGS: challenged authority, vandalism fines, pack infighting, too many to manage

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

117

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] ESOTERICA
Some secrets hold power. Spells, curses, and ancient spiritual lore can all be called to act upon
the world. Through thoughtful and studied action you can change the world to suit your needs
and desires. Over the millennia of human civilization, magic has hidden in the shadows, passed
down via obscure texts and trusted apprenticeship within selective occult circles. Now that the
Noise has reached a fevered pitch, the esoteric secrets of the world shine brightly, discovered
by those who seek power, wisdom, or a means of taking on supernatural threats.

Esoterica are a means to mythic power that relies on various personal methods which require
special study. They also require special effort, from sheer will to the capacity to imagine strange
patterns or pronounce eldritch curses. It is knowledge forged into powerful magical effects
through occult symbols, incantations, and nearly any developed art form. Some powers emerge
from raw emotion, bold invocation of otherworldly entities, or other undisciplined sources. It is
always wise to treat this path to power with caution.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s powers and the esoteric ways in which she produces them. What
did you go through to learn these secrets and what must you do to keep developing your
powers? What terrible bargain, domineering mentor, or other relationship are you beholden to?
What scars have these Esoterica left on your psyche, your body, and your soul?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT CAN YOUR MAGICAL ART DO?

● It can manipulate, shape, or control __________.

● It can summon or conjure __________.
● It reveals or obscures __________.
● It has many uses, all of them revolving around __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: How did you learn this magic? Did you study diligently
from a text or a teacher? Did you get it through your ancestry or tradition? How long did you
study? Where did you train and how? How does your magic work? Do you require special
clothes, ingredients, or equipment? What do your powers look like when you activate them?
What is your relationship with your fellow magic users, particularly those with similar esoteric
ways?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What are the Esoteric secrets you have learned?

B. What is the most important spell or power you have access to?
C. What skill or training serves as the basis for your powers?
D. What’s an unusual ability unique to your Esoterica?
E. What Esoteric power do you possess to influence others?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

118

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 F. Which power or spell could you use to harm others?
G. How could your powers be used to defend yourself or others?
H. In what way could your powers be used for travel or escape?
I. What can you learn or reveal through your magical craft or art?
J. What about your past or personality drives you to study this art?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. What requirements or limitations does your Esoteric art have?

B. What could hinder the use of your powers?
C. How have your powers made you difficult to interact with?
D. What undesired side effects or outcome does your magic have?

RITUAL

Choose a Ritual for this theme: a task or practice you must engage in to keep your Esoterica
working. For example:

● (Monster hunter) “I must seek out and do battle with increasingly dangerous monsters.”
● (Enchanter tattoo artist) “I must harvest special inks from hidden pools.”
● (Witch) “I must practice the visceral ways of magic, in defiance of societal norms.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● Serving the main purpose of your Esoteric practice

● Difficult situations or sacrifices required to make your magic work
● Means of living up to the legacy of your magical community

Failing to engage in this activity when needed indicates that you are losing connection to your
Esoteric practice. Let everyone at the table know what could constitute neglecting this Ritual.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● Someone in your crew has an affinity or cultural background in your kind of magic. Ask
them what’s their opinion on your powers and tell them how you react. (friendly or
indifferent)
● You recently used your powers to remove a harmful magical effect from a member of
your crew. Discuss the circumstances with them. (they owe me or protective)
● You and a crewmate both research magic in the same way, perhaps together. Ask them
how. (study buddy)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

119

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Daily Practice: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Assets, Expertise, or
Personality themebooks that reflects how your training, equipment, or demeanor complements
your magical abilities. Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Mystical Savvy: Once per scene, when you witness a Mythical effect, you can ask the MC
one question and get a valuable answer as in Discover.

▢ Nice Touch: Whenever you roll a strong hit with tags from this theme, you may spend 1 extra
Power on an Extra Feat (page XX) in addition to the normal benefits.

▢ Tools of the Practice: Once per session, you may gain a story tag describing an item you use
as part of your Esoteric practice.

▢ Universal Toolbox: Once per session, you can invoke a broad or very broad tag as directly
relevant, instead of indirectly relevant, skipping the required preparatory action.

THEME KITS

CORPSE ANIMATION
RITUAL: I must perform rites to honor the spirits whose bodies I use.

POWER TAGS: corpse animation, command undead servitors, forensic medicine, boon with
unearthly strength, spread the chill of the grave, siphon life force, feign death, carried by the
horde, sense life force, fascinated by death

WEAKNESS TAGS: lengthy ritual, mangled bodies, cold and distant, cloud of rot

DEVIL'S BARGAINS
RITUAL: I must uphold my end of each bargain I make.

POWER TAGS: devil’s bargains, remove obstacles for others, legal expertise, shower with
riches, magically binding contracts, spring nasty loophole, silver tongued, drag them to hell, see
their desires, natural negotiator

WEAKNESS TAGS: must have a signature, marks with strong convictions, pedantic, deal gone
wrong

EVIL EYE
RITUAL: I must never stifle my bitterness.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

120

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: evil eye, hex of vulnerability, folk curses, afflict with boils, hypnotic gaze, turn to
stone, shield from harmful magic, curse of clumsiness, detect malevolent forces, need for
vengeance

WEAKNESS TAGS: requires eye contact, it’s only hedge magic, holds a grudge, misfortune is
infectious

FORTUNE TELLING
RITUAL: I must follow the signs, wherever they lead.

POWER TAGS: fortune telling, glimpse impending events, symbology, foretell greater trends,
heed my prophecy, reveal inescapable destiny, foresee danger, follow the signs, fate
manipulation, storyteller

WEAKNESS TAGS: requires divinatory tools, too many threads of fate, fatalistic, assailed by
visions

POTION CRAFT
RITUAL: I must experiment with any new ingredient presented to me.

POWER TAGS: potion craft, healing salves, herbology, poisons and toxins, love potions,
explosive concoctions, stoneskin oil, colorful smoke bomb, discriminating taste buds, seeking
immortality

WEAKNESS TAGS: rare ingredients, divergent biology, wafts unusual odors, acidic touch

SPIRIT SUMMONING
RITUAL: I must bind any wayward spirit I come upon.

POWER TAGS: spirit summoning, spirit binding, knowledge of the nether realms, banish spirit,
induce possession, unleash a raging spirit, summoned defenders, enter the spirit world, see
spirits, strong spirit

WEAKNESS TAGS: disrupted ritual, spirits demand respect, seems to talk to myself, poltergeist
effects

WARDING SIGNS
RITUAL: I must maintain the warding symbols around my home or community.

POWER TAGS: warding signs, circle of protection, geomancy, silent alarm spell, carve a
talisman for someone, explosive glyph, counterspell, barrier ward, trace spell source, vigilant

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

121

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WEAKNESS TAGS: running out of special chalk, no solid surfaces, isolationist, disrupts helpful
magic

WEAPON WITCHING
RITUAL: I must never allow an enchanted weapon to go unused.

POWER TAGS: weapon witching, legend-killing enchantment, weapon smithing, masic-guided

missiles, blinding weapon, teleporting projectiles, disenchant weapons, strength-draining edge,
intuit foe capabilities, elegant combatant

WEAKNESS TAGS: wears down the weapon, enchanting under fire, haughty,
inter-enchantment reaction

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

122

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] EXPOSURE
The Megacity and its polluted outskirts are dotted with secret places. Holy and unholy,
enchanted and corrupted, these Thin Places and sites of worship are touched by the returning
Mythoi. Those who have stumbled upon these places could become exposed to unearthly
magic. Some who encounter Avatars – embodied agents of the Mythoi – or a different powerful
creature of legend, could also be changed by this event and acquire a connection with the
power behind it, or be gifted a boon by the creature.

You are one such lucky or unlucky denizen of the Megacity, Touched and perhaps mutated by
myth, either a victim of circumstance or the receiver of a gift (or a curse). You now have powers
representing an outpouring of mythic energy, bound to the Source that bestowed them upon
you. The more you learn to align yourself with the Source of your power, the more the secrets of
its Mythos unlock for you. But no power lasts forever, and you might be required to occasionally
return to the secret place or the benefactor who granted you your powers, to recharge them.

CONCEPT

Think about your character’s powers and how she might have gained them. Where and where
did you get exposed to the Mythoi? Was someone involved, and was it deliberate? Are you a
servant or cultist, striving to earn your powers? Are you cursed by the forces that altered you,
which now dominate your existence? Is your connection to this Source a major part of your life,
or is it just a way to get power?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? HOW DID THE EXPOSURE CHANGE YOU?

● My body changed into a __________.

● I was afflicted with the blessing / curse of __________.
● I gained magical powers resembling the legend of __________.
● I became infused with __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: How long ago did this event occur? How do your powers
manifest and what do they look like? Was your Exposure intentional, and do you regret it? What
is your relationship with the Source of your Exposure?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What powers did your Exposure grant you?

B. In what way has the Exposure changed your body or allowed you to transform?
C. Under what circumstances are your powers enhanced?
D. What is your most iconic or stylish power?
E. What are you able to project, unleash, grow, or emit from your body?
F. How did your Exposure make you more likely to endure or survive?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

123

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 G. How have your senses, instincts, faculties, or body functions been affected?
H. How might your powers be used in a creative or unusual way?
I. How do your powers aid you in your everyday life?
J. When your powers are active, what about your personality changes?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. What undesired effects did the Exposure have on you?

B. What could block or neutralize your connection to your Source?
C. What vulnerability or limitation did you inherit from your Source?
D. Who are your natural predators or enemies in this form?

RITUAL

Choose a Ritual for this theme: a task or practice you must engage in to keep your connection
to the Source of your Exposure. For example:

● (Vampire) “I must consume the blood of the living.”

● (Fairy magic) “Every full moon I must return to the fairy ring and dance with the wild folk.”
● (Orphic mysteries) “I must never look behind me.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● Acts appropriate to the myth behind the Source of your power

● A reenactment of your first Exposure
● An act of consumption needed to feed your powers and the Source behind them

Failing to engage in this activity when needed indicates that you are losing connection to the
source of your Exposure and the powers it grants you. Let everyone at the table know what
could constitute neglecting this Ritual.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● Someone in your crew was there after your Exposure and was sweet and supportive,
helping you adjust. Ask them how. (appreciative or crushing)
● A crew member finds your transformed self frightening or your Source unnerving. Ask
them why. (resentful)
● One of the crew members is interested in commodifying your Exposure and is asking a
lot about your Source. (defensive or business opportunity)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

124

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Durable: You’ve experienced change and survived it. When you Mitigate against Mythical
Consequences with tags from this theme, you roll with an Edge.

▢ Finer Control: You learned how to express your abilities in a more controlled manner. Choose
and gain a Special from the Esoterica themebook.

▢ Mythic Residue: At the end of a scene, you may leave behind a Mythic residue tag. You may
only have one such tag; if you create another, the previous one is removed. You may burn this
tag as an interjection to take an action with tags from this theme as if you were there.

▢ Secondary Sources: Your Source rubs off on a nearby item or creature. Choose and answer
a power tag question from the Artifact or Companion themebooks that reflects that item or
creature. Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Surge of Power: Once per session, when rolling a hit with tags from this theme, you may
spend 2 extra Power on Effects. After the roll is resolved, you take exhausted-2 (you cannot
mitigate this status).

THEME KITS

ANGELIC WINGS

RITUAL: I must always take a leap of faith when it presents itself.

POWER TAGS: angelic wings, angelic beauty, the higher the better, dive bomb, shine
evil-searing light, shelter in wings, sense demons & angels, buffet with wings, cover great
distance, true believer

WEAKNESS TAGS: problems with clothing, tight places, cannot force mankind , attracts evil

ANIMATE SHADOWS
RITUAL: I must enter the shadow realm every night.

POWER TAGS: animate shadows, become a shadow, lighting that casts shadows, form
shadow assassins, inexplicable terror, momentary incorporeality, detach my own shadow, drag
into the shadows, see in the dark, inscrutable mien

WEAKNESS TAGS: my unruly shadow, bright ambient light, complete darkness, light deities

AURA OF AUTHORITY
RITUAL: I must worship at the shrine of the entity that grants me my authority.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

125

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: aura of authority, supernaturally regal, trappings of authority, inspire loyalty,
subjugating command, blinding aura, intuit power dynamics, command objects, flock of
followers, supremely confident

WEAKNESS TAGS: useless sycophants, self-doubt, requires communication, must bow to

superiors

ELEMENTAL BODY
RITUAL: I must bathe in [element] daily.

POWER TAGS: elemental body, transform specific body parts, places rich in [element], absorb
[element], surge of [element], create an elemental wall, detect [element], sculpt [element],
unharmed by [element], gleefully destructive

WEAKNESS TAGS: accidental destruction, opposite elements, no ambient [element], those who
keep the balance

FLORAL OVERGROWTH
RITUAL: I must regularly commune with the vegetative life around me.

POWER TAGS: floral overgrowth, sprout vines, soil, water, and sunlight, mesmerizing petals,
cloud of spores, bark-armored skin, venus flytrap reflexes, tear from the inside, emit
pheromones, intense vitality

WEAKNESS TAGS: sedentary existence, uprooted, burn easily, slashing weapons

MIDAS TOUCH
RITUAL: I must live humbly, foregoing the trappings of success and wealth.

POWER TAGS: Midas touch, become gold, greedy victims, turn someone to gold, transmute at
range, turn projectiles to soft gold, know net worth, generate lots of gold, welcomed by the rich
and powerful, bracing for the consequences

WEAKNESS TAGS: accidental transformation, angering the gods, wealth can’t buy you
happiness, gold diggers

SPEAK WITH MACHINES

RITUAL: I must report routinely to [a powerful machine intelligence].

POWER TAGS: speak with machines, command cybernetics, dumb devices, raise a machine
horde, programming-overriding voice, they come to my defense, “hear” transmissions, lull them
to shutdown, rapport with AIs, robotic logic

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

126

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WEAKNESS TAGS: overwhelmed by information, signal jamming, needs electric power, viral
infection crossover

WARRIOR'S INSTINCTS
RITUAL: I must temper my violent instincts with ritualized combat.

POWER TAGS: warrior’s instincts, peak physical condition, dueling, weapon mastery, enforce
honorable combat, battlefield heroics, visions of the coming battle, call upon honored warrior
spirits, alert to danger, battle focus

WEAKNESS TAGS: haunted by past warriors, showing irreverence, need archaic regalia,
traitors and backstabbers

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

127

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 NOISE THEMEBOOKS
[ ] AUGMENTATION
Cybernetic enhancements, gene therapies, and neuro-adjustments are just some of the artificial
methods used by citizens of the Megacity to upgrade the meat they were born with. Aesthetic
augmentations allow people to have their appearance altered to look angelic, demonic, bestial
or even shifting. Cheap cybernetic limb and organ replacements have made life just as cheap,
as companies push the bodies of their employees, and governments do away with public health
laws. Baseline augs are common, but with enough money or the right street contact, a person
can gain superhuman strength, speed, skill, and senses, or transform part of themselves into
something else entirely.

People in your line of work need every advantage they can get. Perhaps you’ve got a sponsor,
or you’ve managed to scrape together the funds to get a few modifications, or even made them
yourself. They might be aesthetically pleasing or make you look a little monstrous, which just
helps with your street cred. Chipped reflex circuits, memory databases, and even animal traits
are all on the table. You never know when some strange aug will give you that edge you need in
a pinch.

When you replace an Augmentation theme, it could have different narrative explanations.
Perhaps you’re keeping the Augmentation but you refrain from using it often or to its fullest
potential. Or maybe you’re so sick of it that you remove it entirely (if possible), replace it with a
model that resembles baseline functions and has less issues, or or even have your old organs
regrown from stem cells – anything is possible.

CONCEPT

Think about your Augmentations and how you might have gained them. What perceived
deficiency or goal motivated you to acquire them? How did you afford their installation? Were
you an experiment or agent of a corporation? How has your life changed compared to your
baseline days?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT AUGMENTATIONS HAVE YOU INSTALLED?

● I’ve replaced or modified my __________ with one that can __________.

● I’ve added or grafted __________ to my body.
● I boosted my __________ to superhuman levels.
● I’ve installed __________ inside of me.
● I rewrote my genes or fused with groundbreaking tech to gain __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: What do the augs look like? Who installed them for you?
How do you see the world now that you’ve been enhanced?
© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page
128

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What does your Augmentation give you or make you into?

B. What is your Augmentation’s most useful or well-known application?
C. What is another feature or application of the technology?
D. How could the Augmentation be used to enhance your fighting ability?
E. How could the Augmentation be used when on a job?
F. How could the Augmentation be used to avoid danger or escape it?
G. How has having this Augmentation changed your mind for the better?
H. What do you need to fix or maintain this Augmentation?
I. What lifestyle or routine has this Augmentation allowed you to adopt?
J. What advantage does your Augmentation give you in social situations?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. How does this Augmentation limit or adversely affect your baseline functions?
B. What kind of undesired feedback do you get from this Augmentation?
C. What is glitchy or unreliable about this Augmentation?
D. What is the social backlash of sporting such an aug?

ITCH

Choose an Itch for this theme: A desire you must fulfill that can only be met through using this
alteration to your body. For example:

● (Cyborg) “Replace all of my meat.”

● (Cyberarms) “Show my superior strength.”
● (Holoprojector) “Draw the most attention.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● What new activities or behaviors this Augmentation allows you to do

● Why you are driven to augment yourself
● What activity is essential to exploring this technology

Ignoring this Itch means that you are losing your dependence on your Augmentations and
neglect to use them to the fullest potential, to the point that you might replace them. Let
everyone at the table know what could constitute suppressing this Itch.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● A crewmate has similar enhancements, just a little more primitive or advanced. Ask them
what little annoyances you bond over. (maintenance buddy)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

129

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● A member of your crew is ethically against Augmentation and considers your augs
invasive or repulsive. Ask them why. (different worldviews or angry)
● Your enhanced abilities have greatly impressed one of your crew members, and they
seek out ways to team up with you. Ask them how. (work well together)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ Backstory: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Horizon, Personality, or
Troubled Past themebooks that reflects the reason you have this Augmentation. Write down the
answer as a new power tag on this theme.

▢ Tamper Protection: Once per scene, when you roll a hit when mitigating statuses that
represent tampering with your cybernetics, physically or digitally, you can double your Power
before spending it.

▢ Quick Reboot: Once per session, you may remove 2 tiers of a negative malfunction status or
recover a burnt tag from your Augmentation.

▢ Second Nature: Whenever you roll with tags from this theme while scratching your Itch, roll
with an Edge.

▢ This is Who I Am: During Downtime, if you spend time on this theme and mark an Upgrade
box, you may in addition remove one Decay or recover 1 burnt tag on this theme.

THEME KITS

ANIMALISTIC MODIFICATIONS

ITCH: Experience the world as an animal.

POWER TAGS: animalistic modifications, superior anatomy, acute senses, natural weapons,
climbing appendages, animal reflexes, spurn social norms, bioengineering, animal lover,
seductive pheromones

WEAKNESS TAGS: weak immune system, fight or flight instincts, I get exhausted fast, ridiculed
as a freak

ARMORED JUGGERNAUT

ITCH: Smash through it.

POWER TAGS: armored juggernaut, brute force, pierce-proof plating, gigantic weapon, mighty
leap, bust through walls, newfound confidence, welding gear, corporate military, imposing
physique

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

130

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WEAKNESS TAGS: bulky, servo-motor jerks, rusts when wet, treated like a brainless brute

BOOSTED MENTAL CAPACITY

ITCH: Push the limits of my processing power and memory.

POWER TAGS: boosted mental capacity, recall useful information, photographic memory,
tactical assistant software, analyze environment, calculate an alternative, cool and collected,
neural lubricant, high-speed debate champion, names and faces database

WEAKNESS TAGS: magnetic head, flood of memories, speak too fast, can’t be trusted

CHIPPED WEAPON MASTERY

ITCH: Master every weapon.

POWER TAGS: chipped weapon mastery, integrated targeting systems, telescopic eyes,
weapon link, trick shots, Nearspace targeting through walls, shoot first, weapon maintenance,
negotiate fees, impress with my skills

WEAKNESS TAGS: recoil arthritis, arm controlled by app, worse in low visibility, not a true
master

ENHANCED SENSES
ITCH: See everything, hear everything.

POWER TAGS: enhanced senses, pierce through concealment, chemical analysis, see it
coming, receive wireless communication, hear heartbeats, appreciation for details, meditative
repair mode, private detective, lie detector

WEAKNESS TAGS: insomnia, sensory overload, momentary blackouts, accusations of spying

HIDDEN GADGETS
ITCH: Surprise them with a new trick.

POWER TAGS: hidden gadgets, scanners and diagnostic tools, secret compartment, knife
launcher, painkiller injector, finger lockpick, resourceful, obtain new attachments, hide my secret
life, holographic face mask

WEAKNESS TAGS: unusual weight distribution, many devices to monitor, compartment door
jam, can’t surprise them twice

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

131

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 IMPOSSIBLY GOOD LOOKS
ITCH: Be seen by more eyes, appreciated for the work of art that I am.

POWER TAGS: impossibly good looks, dazzle and impress, alternate face, distracting
appearance, precise body control, powers of seduction, self-suggestion techniques, on-call
plastic surgeon, fashion model, center of attention

WEAKNESS TAGS: easily damaged, modification pains, needs constant updating, intense
jealousy

SYNTHETIC HORMONE INJECTION

ITCH: Push my body to the limit.

POWER TAGS: synthetic hormone injection, increased reaction speed, adrenaline rush, burst
of strength, slow metabolism, filter out toxins, mental clarity hormones, biochemistry set,
extreme sports, inject someone else

WEAKNESS TAGS: body can’t self regulate, withdrawal symptoms, bloodstream already
flooded, stigmatized as a junkie

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

132

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] CUTTING EDGE
The world is constantly changing, and one needs to keep running just to stay in place. But you
don’t want a participation trophy, you want to win. The newest is the best, so that’s what you
need. Recently developed technologies, secret prototypes, and home printed experiments can
all give you an edge. This theme represents a devotion to keeping your gear up-to-date in the
arms race of the street. You know that falling behind can mean taking a bullet that’s a little too
strong for your armor or getting your mind wiped by a psychic weapon that’s just hit the market.
In your downtime, you likely spend your time cruising cyberspace marketplaces or gossiping
with mercenaries about what’s hot this season.

The cutting edge is more than just guns and armor. It’s technological experiments involving
barely understood branches of science. You might even be a brilliant inventor yourself, testing
out these gadgets in the field. Nanotechnologies, weird energy fields, and even devices that
harness magic (without fully understanding it) could all be at your beck and call. But be warned,
these items aren’t widely available because they are new and untested. In the wrong, hands
they could spell doom. Hopefully, not in yours and not to you.

CONCEPT

Think about your own opinions on your cutting edge technology. Are the developments in this
field ultimately dangerous? Why is it worth the risk to you? How might widespread use of this
technology change the world? Do people fear it?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT CAN YOUR TECH DO THAT COMMON TECH CANNOT?

● It’s an experimental device or machine which __________.

● It’s a superweapon that can __________.
● It’s a new material with the properties of __________.
● It’s a new procedure that can give one the power to __________.

Flesh out your idea with some details: When and how did you acquire your cutting edge tech?
Through your own research or genius? Were you given it by someone else, and if so, why? Who
owns the rights to this new tech? Are they seeking you out or hunting you down? How does it
work and what does it look like? Does it require a laboratory or workshop? How do you protect
others from the dangers this tech poses?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What cutting edge technology have you acquired?

B. What is the technology’s most famous or infamous application?
C. How might this technology be used in an unusual way, perhaps contrary to its intended
purpose?
D. What’s dangerous about this technology, allowing it to be used as a weapon or a threat?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

133

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 E. How could this technology be used to pull you out of a bad situation?
F. What trick or special maneuver can you do with this tech?
G. What information does this tech feed to you?
H. What knowledge, skill, or talent grants you control over this technology?
I. What special life circumstance or personal relationship helped you get this technology?
J. What high-tech outfit or heavy duty equipment do you don while using it?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. What is the primary limitation of this technology?

B. What are the inherent dangers of this tech?
C. What does this tech do to your mind or body when you overuse it?
D. What is the one thing this technology can’t be deployed against or applied to?

ITCH

Choose an Itch for this theme: A desire you must fulfill that can only be met through dangerous
experimentation. For example:

● (Advanced AI) “Outthink everyone.”

● (Hard light AR projector) “Avoid the physical in favor of the virtual.”
● (Superhuman drug cocktail) “Do the most with each shot.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● An experience or capability that simply isn’t possible without the tech

● An application that challenges human nature or man’s place in the universe
● A simple human urge greatly enhanced thanks to the possibilities granted by the tech

Ignoring this Itch means that you are losing your dependence on your Cutting Edge tech and the
willingness to keep using it. Let everyone at the table know what could constitute suppressing
this Itch.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● A member of the crew serves as your assistant in dealing with your Cutting Edge tech.
Ask them how. (assistant)
● Another crewmember fears the implications of your tech on humanity as a whole or on
your humanity. Ask them why. (distrust)
● A member of the crew knows something about your Cutting Edge tech that you don’t, or
has a vital skill you need to manage your tech. (subservient or indignant)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

134

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Early Adopter: Whenever you roll with tags from this theme and then suffer a status as a
Consequence, you may increase the tier of that status by 1 and then mark an upgrade box on
this theme.

▢ Amp Up: Once per session, if you can ready yourself for an action involving your Cutting
Edge tech, you can gain amped-up-2 or a similar tier-2 status.

▢ Void the Warranty: When you Go Out With A Blaze when using your Cutting Edge tech, if
you risk this theme, you may treat a miss as a mixed hit.

▢ Modular Design: Once per session, you may replace one of this theme’s power tags with a
new tag that represents a part, material, or code you substitute for another.

▢ Occult Blueprints: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Esoterica or Exposure
themebooks that reflects magical methods used in the construction of this Cutting Edge tech.
Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

THEME KITS

ADVANCED RAILGUN
ITCH: Reduce everything to atoms.

POWER TAGS: advanced railgun, rain hell on them, deterrence, pierces any physical barrier,
plough through hordes, use it to tunnel, battle HUD, gunnery, arms dealer circuits, stabilizing
harness

WEAKNESS TAGS: out of ammo, enemy’s priority target, blind rampage, magnetic fields

CLOAKING JUMPSUIT
ITCH: Remain unknown.

POWER TAGS: cloaking jumpsuit, completely invisible, seizure-inducing strobe, close range
kills, adapt to any spectrum, whisper in their ears, see them without masks, stealth, black ops
operative, sound muffling tech

WEAKNESS TAGS: see even the slightest tear, drivers can’t see me, fraying identity, mass
detectors

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

135

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 CLOUD OF NANITES
ITCH: Leave nothing as it was

POWER TAGS: cloud of nanites, alter matter, take over electronics, disintegrate objects,
cushion impact, craft a tool, compositional data, material scientist, robotics lab job, cleanroom
suit

WEAKNESS TAGS: wind gusts, rogue nanite contamination, wreaks havoc on my DNA, strong
magnetic fields

CRYPTOGRAPHIC SKELETON KEY

ITCH: Unlock all doors, learn all secrets.

POWER TAGS: cryptographic skeleton key, decrypt any cypher, unbreakable encryption,
walk through cybersecurity, identical false credentials, take over broadcast, intercepted
correspondence, mathematical genius, crypto bazaar contacts, jacket with built-in Harness

WEAKNESS TAGS: requires massive computation power, leak damaging data, VR vertigo,
outdated security systems

EXOSKELETON SUIT

ITCH: Fight big enemies, do big things.

POWER TAGS: exoskeleton suit, large and in charge, protective armor, hydraulic haymaker,
run very fast, extra lift power, structural scanner, construction worker, corporate investors,
mechanic’s tool chest

WEAKNESS TAGS: hackable, squishy allies, muscle atrophy, too big even for me

EXPERIMENTAL VEHICLE
ITCH: Break the rules and don’t get caught.

POWER TAGS: experimental vehicle, 100G maneuvers, immovable mode, incinerating side
swipe, too fast to hit, catch someone mid-air, high-speed motion sensors, nerves of steel,
combat pilot, personal force field

WEAKNESS TAGS: radioactive fuel, collisions are fatal, internal bruising, force fields

FORCE FIELDS
ITCH: Keep things separate and apart, everything in its place.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

136

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: force fields, disrupt energy or motion, entrapping sphere, use it to clobber,
keyed to stop projectiles, slow falling mass, energy readings, applied physics, inventor parent,
radiation shielding suit

WEAKNESS TAGS: huge power requirements, slow-moving weapons, severe burns, can’t stop
gasses

SELF-HEALING
ITCH: Ignore the danger, I can survive it.

POWER TAGS: self-healing, wounds close instantly, break down foreign substances, toxic
blood nanites, self-resuscitating, sacrifice a limb, medical monitor, medical training, genetic
laboratory, accelerated regen gel

WEAKNESS TAGS: requires nutrients, sought-after blood, can’t feel anything, extreme cold

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

137

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] CYBERSPACE
Cyberspace was conceived as an innovative 3D way of navigating the Internet with virtual reality
and providing a physical context to digital constructs such as data flows and security systems.
Thanks to direct neural connections and perfectly sensitive gesture tracking, the technology
became ubiquitous. But while in the past a normative person would only get to “the dark web” by
knowing specific addresses or clicking the wrong link, nowadays one could accidently just walk
there. The corporations have taken almost full control over the main cyberspace hubs, their
Domains becoming the safe and secure Tangle. Spaces that are outside of these realms can be
hostile, even deadly, yet that’s where open enclaves can be found, where information can be
free again. At the edges are the Spirals, where the machine intelligences once tasked with
protecting cyberspace now roam its liminal spaces as digital monsters and the Mythoi flourish in
a landscape built entirely of ideas.

To use cyberspace, instead of being used by it, one needs intelligence, savvy, reflexes and
powerful apps, and even then, you might get burned. Computer viruses and intrusion
countermeasures can reach back through the connection and harm those who are not prepared,
and Harnessed operators can bring the pain directly inside cyberspace. Few have the training,
software help, and intense curiosity it takes to thrive in cyberspace. You are one such plucky
soul, striving to turn the system against itself. Your programs are weapons and armor against
the information structures of the net, and with them you siphon data and take over machines.
And you are not alone: when your allies Harness to your console, you can be their guide
through the dangerous subdomains.

CONCEPT

Think about your connection to Cyberspace. Why is your personality so bound up in the virtual
world? What keeps you there? Is it that you have amazing cyber skills, or that you have a
significant social life online? Are you trying to escape from something in the material world?

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? WHAT DO YOU DO IN CYBERSPACE?

● My occupation as a __________ is conducted in cyberspace.

● I have an online community or circle of __________.
● I’m a cybersecurity expert specializing in __________.
● I explore cyberspace as a __________.
● I’m a refuge or a fugitive hiding in cyberspace.

Flesh out your idea with some details: When did you come to adopt cyberspace as your rightful
home? Who do you know there? Where do you spend most of your time when you’re online?
What does your avatar and gear look like?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

138

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. Who are you in cyberspace?

B. What valuable or enviable Cyberspace ability, quality, or asset do you have?
C. What is your primary technical skill set?
D. What specialized software or hardware do you use?
E. How do you influence or harm others via Cyberspace?
F. How do you protect yourself from being hacked or disconnected?
G. How do you manipulate information or raw data?
H. What is something spectacular or impressive you can do in Cyberspace?
I. What illegal, subversive, or covert Cyberspace activity are you most skilled at?
J. How does your digital presence come across?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. What meatspace problems interfere with your Cyberspace life?

B. How do your programs or devices misbehave or malfunction?
C. What digital vulnerabilities do you have that can be exploited by your enemies?
D. Who is after you due to your activities in Cyberspace?

ITCH

Choose an Itch for this theme: A desire you must fulfill that can only be met in the virtual world.
For example:

● (Data thief) “Access the most secure data.”

● (Online Tourist) “See all the wonders of cyberspace.”
● (Nearspace AR hacker) “Enslave the physical world.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● The feeling you get when you engage in certain online activities
● The part of your past that drives you to seek online existence
● The benefits or pleasures of your cyberspace lifestyle

Ignoring this Itch means that you are losing your dependence on Cyberspace and are no longer
interested in fulfilling the role you made for yourself. Let everyone at the table know what could
constitute suppressing this Itch.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● You’re the person who always helps one of them with their technology needs. Ask them
how they react or repay you. (tech support)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

139

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 ● You met one of them online in a virtual space (video game, virtual world, marketplace,
bar, etc.). Ask them where it was. (online buddies)
● You’ve stolen data from one of them, or perhaps impersonated them online. Ask them if
they are aware of this, and what happens next. (keeping secrets or bad blood)

THEME SPECIALS

▢ Avatar Flourish: Whenever you Harness yourself or others, you may create a free story tag
representing a physical feature of the Harnessed avatar. This tag lasts only until the Harnessed
mind disconnects.

▢ Cyber-Daemon: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Companion or Drones
themebooks that reflects a helpful Cyberspace entity you acquired. Write down the answer as a
new power tag on this theme.

▢ Counter-Hacking: Whenever you Mitigate a cyberspace attack with tags from this theme,
you may also receive one free valuable detail (as in Discover) about the source of the
Consequence.

▢ Undo: Once per session, when you roll a miss or a mixed hit using tags from this theme, you
may forego the action and keep the spotlight to do something else.

▢ Visionary: Whenever you create something new with tags from this theme, whether in
Meatspace or in Cyberspace, you roll with an Edge.

THEME KITS

BUILDER OF WORLDS
ITCH: Create as if you were a god.

POWER TAGS: builder of worlds, avatar construction, virtual object design, portable
Harnessing console, alter VR physics, design virtual guardians, turn data to object, effects and
fanfare, run with no avatar, artisanal reputation

WEAKNESS TAGS: forget I’m in meatspace, overloaded graphics processors, recognizable

work, VR heist heat

CYBERNETIC HIJACKER
ITCH: Pull on their strings like a puppet master.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

140

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: cybernetic hijacker, neural link takeover, augmentation engineer, circumvent
safeguards, overheat organs, shut down weapons, harvest personal files, make hearts stop, set
trigger event, augur’s worst nightmare

WEAKNESS TAGS: no wireless connection, feedback from cyberware, counter-hacking, hunted

by manufacturers

CYBERSPACE RUINS EXPLORER

ITCH: Dig deeper to touch the core.

POWER TAGS: cyberspace ruins explorer, experienced Spirals navigator, analyze digital
phenomena, long haul life support bed, data-cutting buzzsaw, high-integrity avatar, endure data
storms, traverse disused datalinks, old blackmail files, eccentric collector

WEAKNESS TAGS: old server shutdowns, too old to interface, outdated firewall, roaming feral
programs

INFLUENCER
ITCH: Be a part of every conversation.

POWER TAGS: influencer, mob of fans, live streaming, camera drone, trash a reputation,
backup uplink, control the narrative, make it about me, start a rumor, star power

WEAKNESS TAGS: easily recognized, overcrowded channels, easily tracked digitally,

obsessive fans

INFORMATION BROKER
ITCH: Trade old info for new.

POWER TAGS: information broker, exclusive information sources, extract important info,
comms interception equipment, leverage information, hi-end encryption suite, revise the data,
connect the dots, track online activities, you came to me

WEAKNESS TAGS: unrecorded info, corrupted data, searching takes time, desperate
customers

INTRUSION SPECIALIST
ITCH: Always control, never be controlled.

POWER TAGS: intrusion specialist, find backdoors, bypassing defensive programs, custom
neural harness, crash systems, silent stalking, locate hidden files, fake my crash, silently crash
ICs, masquerade as real user

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

141

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 WEAKNESS TAGS: requires concentration, weaker against alerted systems, easy to crash,
trace programs

POST-HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
ITCH: Let go of human habits.

POWER TAGS: post-human intelligence, entirely digital, self-programming, secret home

server, possess a machine, self-replicating, process copious data, be everywhere, free
enslaved programs, outthink humans

WEAKNESS TAGS: no body, violent code evolutions, another instance of me, AI police

ZEROED IDENTITY
ITCH: Never reveal your true name.

POWER TAGS: zeroed identity, impossible to identify, evade surveillance, identity blurring
gadgets, steal someone’s identity, a network of proxies, erase data, appear out of thin air, make
others zeroed, anonymous saboteur

WEAKNESS TAGS: no identity documents, cameras catch glimpses, DNA traces, the
authorities

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

142

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 [ ] DRONES
Self-driving vehicles came on the market around the time robotics caught up with our dreams of
cybernetic pets. Spy drones and other unmanned weapons platforms turned the hobby of
remote control into a military science. These days professional roboticists and hotshot drone
pilots are wielding powerful remote devices that allow them to control a device or be the device,
to race, spy on, and take down their enemies. Masters of this skill are known for their calm
under pressure and ingenuity.

Anyone can have drones, but for you, they’re a part of your life. You’ve got custom gear, such as
AR goggles and controller gloves, or a direct neural interface in your skull. Or perhaps you have
a robotic sidekick, controlled by virtual or voice commands, or even fully autonomous. You’ve
got that knack for talking to your machines, guiding them through our world, and getting them to
execute critical tasks under pressure. You might be a smooth remote pilot, an AI programmer, or
just someone who managed to get their hands on a wonderful, dangerous toy. One way or
another, you have the ability to think outside your own body, work in tandem, or cajole expert
maneuvers out of simple machines. Something about robots and drones speaks to you, perhaps
because you have trouble relating to other people. Maybe because they tend to do what you
say.

Your drones are secondary player characters and can take statuses and tags separately from
you, see page XX.

CUSTOM CREATION

Think about your connection to your drones. In what ways do you rely on them? How are they
an extension of your mind or body? Most importantly, ask yourself what role your drones play in
your life.

Based on this, think about the answer to the question below:

? HOW DO YOUR DRONES SERVE YOU?

● They fight for me in __________.

● I rely on them in my everyday life to __________.
● They are essential to my job, helping me to __________.
● They fill the role of (family, friends, practice dummies, etc.) _______ in my life.

Flesh out your idea with some details: What do your drones look like? When did you acquire
your drones? What education or other background allows you to control your drones? Which
drone is your favorite and why? How do people react when they see your drones?

POWER TAG QUESTIONS

A. What specialized drone technology do you employ?

B. What single task do your drones do best?

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

143

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 C. What unique skill set did you pick up to use this kind of drone?
D. How do you use your drones against others?
E. What special sensors or programming do the drones possess?
F. What makes your drones more durable or reliable?
G. What kind of transportation capabilities do your drones possess or provide?
H. How could the drones be hidden, camouflaged, or made inconspicuous?
I. What can your drones transform into?
J. What drives you to utilize this kind of drone?

WEAKNESS TAG QUESTIONS

A. How do you obsess over your drones?

B. When are your drones unwieldy or unruly?
C. How are your perceptions compromised while piloting your drones?
D. What kind of maintenance do your drones regularly require?

ITCH

Choose an Itch for this theme: A desire you must fulfill that can only be met through this
extension of yourself. For example:

● (Fabricator on wheels) “Create what I need, when I need it.”

● (Synthetic animal friends) “Spend all of my social time with these friends.”
● (Translator droid) “Always be heard and understood.”

You can try exploring the following options:

● The place your drones take in your daily life

● The emotional attachment you have to your drones or the emotions you feel when you
control them
● The need you have to use your drones as a proxy for yourself

Ignoring this Itch means that you are losing your dependence on your drones and stop using
them as much. Let everyone at the table know what could constitute suppressing this Itch.

CREW RELATIONSHIPS

When creating the relationships within your crew, you can cast the other crew members in one
of the following scenarios, after receiving their approval:

● One member of the crew is constantly breaking or playing with your Drones. Ask them
what they’re doing with them. (pissed off)
● You have a Drone tasked with assisting one member of your crew with something they
do often. Ask them what this task is. (supportive)
● One of them thinks your Drones are the coolest things, and they keep hanging around
where you operate the Drones. Do you like it? (mentoring or need space)

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

144

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 THEME SPECIALS

▢ Everywhere at Once: Once per session, you can have your drones show up at a scene
anywhere in the Megacity, if it’s even remotely possible that they can get there.

▢ Disaster Protocol: Once per session, when you take a harmful physical status, you can have
your drone take it instead of you, if they can somehow prevent it.

▢ Self-Repairing: Once per session, you may Restore any number of burnt power tags from
this theme by spending 1 Power instead of 2.

▢ Practiced Synergy: When you roll with tags from this theme and from a non-Noise theme,
you roll with an Edge.

▢ Like Family: Choose and answer a power tag question from the Affiliation or Personality
themebooks that reflects your treatment of your drones as family members or beloved pets.
Write down the answer as a new power tag on this theme.

THEME KITS

ANDROID SERVANTS
ITCH: Have the androids do it for me.

POWER TAGS: android servants, provide luxury amenities, staff management, secretly
bodyguards, rules of etiquette, can’t be provoked, carry me away from harm, neither seen nor
heard, simulated humanity, boss people around

WEAKNESS TAGS: can’t stand little mistakes, droid liberating viruses, complacency, missed
personality updates

GIANT CONSTRUCTION ROBOT

ITCH: Reshape the Megacity.

POWER TAGS: giant construction robot, lift heavy things, construction engineering, titanic
strength, find structural weakness, durable metal frame, VTOL transport, appear to power down,
wrecking ball, desire to rebuild

WEAKNESS TAGS: showoff, similar demolition targets, more durable than it seems, hydraulics
leaks

MED WAGON
ITCH: Patch up as many as you can.

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

145

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 POWER TAGS: med wagon, stabilize patients, emergency medicine, built-in drug injector,
diagnostic equipment, combat medic plating, flying vehicle, easily reskinned, turn into a
barricade, thrives when needed

WEAKNESS TAGS: playing god, ethics safeguards, focused on patient, out of supplies

MOBILE WEAPONS PLATFORM

ITCH: Destroy all opposition.

POWER TAGS: mobile weapons platform, seek & destroy, tactical leader, variable munitions,
target acquisition, point-defense turrets, gunner cupola, military camouflage, split into smaller
units, glory seeker

WEAKNESS TAGS: always keeping score, needs a visible target, down scope tunnel-vision,
targeting need recalibration

RC RACING STAR
ITCH: Be the first to get there.

POWER TAGS: RC racing star, high speed flying, famous in sports circles, overtake the
competition, collision prevention protocols, superior maneuverability, hold onto it, tiny & silent,
plug into a vehicle, burning desire to win

WEAKNESS TAGS: sore loser, latency, complete VR immersion, cracks in the chassis

SPY SATELLITES
ITCH: Watch from afar.

POWER TAGS: spy satellites, aerial view, government satellite hacking, orbital laser platform,
wide-spectrum sensors, approaching danger alert, real time minimap, target is oblivious, project
hard light holograms, one step ahead

WEAKNESS TAGS: secrets I shouldn’t know, government retasking, outdoor imagery only, out
of focus

SYNTHETIC GUARD DOG

ITCH: Take my dog everywhere and do everything together.

POWER TAGS: synthetic guard dog, vigilant, security professional, hydraulic bite, movement
sensors, self-repairing fluids, drag to safety, silent sentinel, folded minigun, machine empathy

WEAKNESS TAGS: too attached, protects me first, anxious with it, needs its battery treats

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

146

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)

 SWARM OF PROBES
ITCH: Explore every nook and cranny.

POWER TAGS: swarm of probes, search dangerous places, surveyor, many flying projectiles,
follow the target, harry foes, coordinated lifting, scatter from view, merge into one, safety in
numbers

WEAKNESS TAGS: anxious shepherd, too far apart, scattered attention, low battery

© 2024 Son of Oak Game Studio - Final Draft Copy Page

147

Fernando Autran (Order #43578042)