The Beginner’s Guide To Cyberpunk RED | Overview

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Welcome to The Beginner’s Guide to Cyberpunk RED, a cyber-fueled game about surviving, thriving and rebuilding the dystopian world created by Mike Pondsmith and his team at R. Talsorian Games.
Cyberpunk Red, the latest entry in the Cyberpunk timeline, focuses on the rebuilding of the post-corporate war between the years 2023 and 2045. As such, it leads up to the years prior to the upcoming video game, Cyberpunk 2077. Due to this timeline, players explore a futuristic world that isn’t too detached from the current world we live in today.
#cyberpunkred #rtalsoriangames #cyberpunk2077
Introduction | 0:12
Complexity & History | 0:40
Corporate Wars | 2:00
Cyberpunks | 2:54
The Four Rules | 4:16
Player Characters | 4:43
Rockerboy | 6:08
Solos | 6:45
Netrunner | 7:01
Tech | 7:31
Medtech | 7:53
Media | 8:26
Exec | 9:00
Lawman | 9:30
Fixer | 10:16
Nomad | 10:52
Selecting Additional Roles 11:45
Analysis 12:54

[@davinci451]

"Corporations amass enough money, power, and tech to basically circumvent the basic structure of law." I thought you said this was fiction.

[@juramcclain666]

Grim!

[@justanotherdayinthelife9841]

100% Oligarchy in todays world.

[@--enyo--]

Yay tech monopolies. Sorry, oligopolies.

[@harrylane4]

The cyberpunk genre has always been about taking the truths many people, specifically many Americans, know but aren’t willing to admit and pushing those to the forefront

[@roosajarvinen5698]

Love me some escapist fiction...

[@machinaanguis4998]

Love how this is basically a R rated game but this is a "family friendly" analysis...

[@Sip_Dhit]

A powerful GM can alter any game to make it family friendly

[@bigd4wg510]

@@Sip_Dhit groovy

[@harrylane4]

Edgerunner finally got me to buy red. My friends are used to lighter settings, but I’m excited to really fuck ‘em up with this one

[@tba3625]

My favorite part is when he says "It's smashing time" and smashes that girl.

[@harrylane4]

@@tba3625 it was a cute little romance. You could tell he had a crush on her

[@KhoaLe-uc2ny]

@@harrylane4 espescially when he said to her: "you look like a cut of fuckable meat."

[@KhoaLe-uc2ny]

you want edgy grimdark why not let them play Warhammer 40k?

[@starcrafter13terran]

It can be a lot of fun. I GM'd one guy who spent all his time in dnd and he embraced being a lawman in my setting, which was without campaign at the time. I just ran it straight from the book, and it was brutal.

[@RavenShinyThings]

so glad that through the video game the actual table top got a rebirth

[@rolandkushm.d.710]

You got that backwards. R. Tal was working on Red before they even talked to CDPR.

[@hadeseye2297]

@@rolandkushm.d.710 Yeah, right. That's what SJW Mike said. V.3 was a disaster. He was damn lucky some video game studio wanted to do crpg.

[@rolandkushm.d.710]

@@hadeseye2297 says you, the anonymous internet coward.

[@hadeseye2297]

@@rolandkushm.d.710 "says you, the anonymous internet coward." Are you for real? Not everyone is a public whore. My private life is not for sale. Especially for morons like you. Believe he was working on it. Good Ol' PR SJW Mike. That whole game is a rip of of many other people's ideas. Did Pondsmith invented any original game?

[@AcesAndNates]

@@rolandkushm.d.710 definitely helped sales.

[@sovviedan6791]

2:45 "Whether it's Corpos vs. Corpos or **People** vs. Corpos" attaboy, thats the spirit

[@elvastan]

I think Japan is the only nation to successfully overcome the Megacorps. They kicked out and nationalized both Militech and Araska during the fourth corporate war and as of Cyberpunk RED and 2077, they control most of East Asia through Far Asian Co-prosperity Sphere. Arasaka was let back into the country, but they follow the government's orders, not the other way around.

[@generaljuno6895]

Arasaka dominates much of Japan's politics, economy, and policing, and has enjoyed fluctuating control over much of the "third world" - a term commonly assigned to United States of America. Arasaka literally controls the politicians, and that the only law that exists is either corporate law or gangs. Justice is non existent for the regular man. Japan is one of the worst places imo.

[@gentrol1630]

My DND DM wants to start playing this and asked me to be the GM. Just picked it up, so I'm gonna be reading all weekend. It's just me and him so far, so if anyone's interested or has played before let me know!

[@NrettG]

I'm in the same situation. I got the main book and the jumpstart kit trying to understand it all. I'm hoping to get some of my friends involved but damn is the world just a headdive into. The weapons and vehicles just engulf me from how diverse it all is.

[@gentrol1630]

@@NrettG nice, hit me up on discord (danoise#5025) if ya want and maybe we can help each other out ! I’m looking to get into a group or start one

[@Greyshadow_17]

Mine is similar, my group is putting D&D on the back burner and they all decided to play Cyberpunk, I wanted to play so I’m doing a bit of research.

[@lazyenjoyer1362]

Same thing except my friend said "Let's try cyperpunk!" So I got the pdf and gave it to him and downloaded the companion app... were trying this Friday a 1 on 1 one shot.

[@sdnpls]

Hoping that you plan to return making videos on Cyberpunk Red, I bought the rulebook and want to get into it but the setting is a bit daunting for me to incorporate in my head.

[@brence1984]

This is somehow very relevant at this point. Don’t ask me why, but all my Choombas are tripping over some Braindance game 🤣.

[@juramcclain666]

We gotta keep the Choombattas happy!

[@curtis8966]

I like to call it S.Q.U.I.D.

[@LordofSyn]

@@curtis8966 You would Lenny, you would.

[@JohnSmith-ox3gy]

Reject modernity, become a nomad.

[@elmeromogollon]

Medtech fails his medicine check -GM can I sue for malpractice?

[@pencilmage]

dropping rockerboy to go medtech is exactly what david lee roth did :)

[@justanotherdayinthelife9841]

Cyberpunk NEEDS to incorporate the gangs from Cyber generation, especially Arco-Runners and Go-Gangers at the very least.

[@GazpachoTabletop]

I just played a starter game yesterday and man do I dig the aesthetic

[@Monkey-vm1hw]

Incredibly helpful video. Kudos for the amount of effort and skill in this video

[@connordoyle2296]

Great rundown! Thanks!

[@esxivy1944]

I was trying to get into Cyberpunk because i like the aesthetic of the new Magic set xD And omg i was looking for cyberpunk 2020 and y was like wow this is REALLY complicated like wtf Then i realized that im an idiot. I really like this system, complex but not overwhelming

[@Thugmun1]

I love the music in the background! Pray tell, I need this for my work playlist! Thank you for this video❤

[@o0krazyboris0o]

My man. What a fantastic vid! Perfect length, great overviews, and awesome presentation. Thanks dude, you know have a new sub 👍

[@abvirt8604]

Great video man, super informative, great editing, great personality, definitely going to get a game going with the boys

[@juramcclain666]

Thank you so much my friend! Greatly appreciate the kindness.

[@CybernationUncensored]

keep me in mind for future Cyberpunk gameplay!

[@pickard72]

You did a great job on this video. Quick and to the point! I am ready to give CPR a try!

[@Moon-gc2cv]

Cool review man. Subed!

[@jacobhope6164]

Thanks a lot for the break down

[@nomadson615]

Planning on buying all the Cyberpunk pen and paper Rpg and I this is a good video for info.

[@digitalmoonbooks]

Great video I'm currently running cyberpunk red on roll20 this was helpful as a video to pass to my prospective players.

[@thealliedpowers]

11:30 really need that background music

[@MyersSgt]

Great job!

[@MsDarkspyro]

All these pictures are cool

[@thegrimm54321]

Awesome video! I've never once heard some pronounce archetype as "arch-type" lol.

[@ThePhanomas]

Excellent video. As a newbie is very helpful, thank you for making the video.

[@lucianmaximus4741]

Kudos from 444 Gematria!

[@mwrosser]

Great video! Where did you find all the awesome art?

[@juramcclain666]

All from the book!

[@genuinearity8790]

My friend is obsessed with CyberPunk after 2077 and Edgerunners, and he plans on running a campaign after we finish the one I'm running. Watching this to see if it helps either me, him, or the other players

[@HuevoBendito]

I dig the breakdown, though I don't know where that blurb about netrunners using shotguns comes from. Is that from older editions?

[@NayrAnur]

From what I've heard, the previous system has Netrunners not in the thick of the fight, but are helping out from the safety of their room, a luxury they no longer have during the time of the Red.

[@boinkmcbingo8890]

Yeah in cyberpunk 2020 netrunners basically had a whole second system running

[@NakanoHitori]

I'm about to run a campaign and I don't know what I'm doing, this is also my first campaign and first time DMing. It's my trial by fire. I had another ttrpg I wanted to run and not all the players wanted to keep going.

[@PlanetApathy]

So how did it go, Choom?

[@NakanoHitori]

@@PlanetApathy Well, I also ended up buying the supplement book Cyberpunk Red Tales of Red street stories. Mostly because I couldn't cook a whole story that also involved things like net running. It went decently but we never really finished the module because I missed a piece here and there. I'm currently trying to brew an Eldritch horror Cyberpunk game but since I don't know too much about Eldritch horror, I'm trying to run a Call of Cthulhu game to get some bearings that I can translate to cyberpunk

[@desigonzalez4760]

Bro imagine this, a nomad, rocker boy

[@qromaxwell6548]

i just finished 2077 and boi i want more

[@briellecusick6268]

I enjoyed thise bro thanks and enjoy the good drink

[@juramcclain666]

Thanks Bro it was fun to make!! Cyberpunk is crazy good!

[@superkami8618]

Oh my god... the song that starts when you go over the Lawman... what is it?

[@splitint3021]

I’m still trying to find it

[@juramcclain666]

@@splitint3021 Of Men And Wolves feat. Red Revision - State of Dystopia

[@splitint3021]

@@juramcclain666 thank you!!!

[@blakeloan3255]

Doing research for school assignments and I've never gotten into board games so a lot of this is very new to me. At 12:03 you started talking about getting up to level 4 and switching roles, yet keeping the abilities from the role you switched from including the new role abilities. You then mentioned being able to switch roles again once at level 4 again. My question is: do you get to stack up abilities from every role if you keep getting to level 4 and switching or are your available abilities capped at your current and previous roles? Hope that makes sense, I doubt a response before the due date of my assignment but I'm actually kinda interested in trying to get into the game anyway, so long as I can convince one more friend lol (Also, is the Jumpstart kit required to play or do I just buy the normal standard box? Or what all do I need lmao I ain't never got into anything like this before)

[@juramcclain666]

When you switch roles you maintain all previous benefits from your prior role. Benefits become more of a cumulative tool box!

[@juramcclain666]

Also, the jump start kit is everything you need to get going. Highly recommend

[@Alex-vy2zc]

@@juramcclain666 The jumpstart kit is running on an extremely outdated form of Cyberpunk red. Cyberpunk Red: Easy Mode is the free and updated version of the jumpstart kit

[@MissEdge102]

I just found out about this and I am obsessed XD

[@hadeseye2297]

Shadowrun - pre 6th edition games - are much better.

[@neilbaesel3767]

Shadowrun IS a fun game, but Cyberpunk came out first, and more faithful to the genre. Shadowrun is also quite "crunchy" ruleswise and can be intimidating to new players and difficult to run. I'll happily PLAY Shadowrun if someone else wants to run it, but I would never want to run it.

[@Kevlar-78]

@@hadeseye2297 Ehhhh... Not apples to apples man. I disagree. I love Shadowrun and Cyberpunk and the associated lores. SR is my favorite lore/ setting (save maybe 40k) But Catalyst is a disaster of a publisher. I would love for a capable publisher to take over the Shadowrun IP.

[@hadeseye2297]

@@Kevlar-78 Wholeheartedly I agree on Catalyst.

[@hadeseye2297]

@@neilbaesel3767 Time passes by and genre changes with it. Howor why? Depends on the technology itself. Have you heard what Willam Gibson wrote about Cyberjunk 2077 and a reply from a gamer? That's quite amusing story, when video game addict and fanboy bashes father of genre, for not liking crappy release that rather than being innovative, sticks to 80's imagining of dystopian future. If it comes to rules. Rules are what GM want them to be. Nobody says you have to use all of them, or that you can't change them. I think all good GMs tailor rules to their own desires. After all rules are also a tool for setting up the mood.

[@eoagr1780]

Neo-feudalism it’s an actual theory of a possible economic model that could take place in the near future, where corporations and ultra-rich families gain the power and means of production of the world , people basically live as serfs, labor is exchanged for security and space to live instead of a sustainable income, money is as worthless as Boliviar pesos . Private armies (mercenaries) become the norm. Countries are either extinct, weakened or become the main business partner of companies giving them free hand to create and manipulate laws.

[@nycto5335]

I mean considering how things are going i wouldn't be surprised 🤷‍♂️ Can't wait for the Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos nuclear war.

[@RotaFury]

Great video, I was wondering if you guys planned to cover this. Personally I cant wait to get it my self as well as run a game (sense I know no one who would run).

[@juramcclain666]

So happy you liked it! I actually plan on running some games for our discord! You should join and try to get in a game.

[@RotaFury]

@@juramcclain666 I'll look into it, believe I am already in the botch discord. Will try and keep an eye out, just have to wait for next paycheck for the book.

[@TheBotchPit]

Hey Fenrir, how you been?!

[@RotaFury]

@@TheBotchPit hanging in there you?

[@AbelPinales]

what is the name of the song that plays when the Cops show up? it isn't in the credits :( and I couldn't shazam it.

[@t.d.w.maverick5727]

Right on Cyber Homie.

[@t.d.w.maverick5727]

Homie, s, That Is.

[@thealliedpowers]

@@t.d.w.maverick5727 chooms

[@scottbruckner4653]

Second Edition was the best edition. Red is fun but I like second edition.

[@thedirtgoblinTDG]

What is the song at the outro?

[@boomerpro87]

I love the sound of all of this But where the heck are games being played online? I'm mostly in d&d as it's the most popular But I want to try other systems Like cyberpunk red Or dark heresy But while I can find dozens of d&d groups And heavily homebrew a sci-fi world into existence (as a DM) I can't find ANY cyberpunk red or dark heresy Or any other ttrpg system

[@kuroshinko427]

So how do I build David Martinez on tabletop?

[@Halo56782]

he forgot to mention the catgirls

[@tamary.leitmotiv]

is this a good game for a first pen and paper rpg game?

[@hadeseye2297]

What's your time at 400 yards?

[@CompactCowboy]

What song is playing towards the outtro Edit: I found it, power of balance by dissonance. (Dissidence?) I can’t remember but the song title is correct

[@azurelion6722]

what are the other songs?

[@Isabela0.0]

Thank u so much for your existence!!! :v

[@TheBotchPit]

And thank you for yours!

[@mrwoodcat]

wow so there is more to cyberpunk world

[@GraveEnd]

I’d wanna be a merc

[@clowniac6684]

Punk time

[@CeasedlifeGaming]

Where is the rest of this playlist lol

[@masterAilan777]

How can I find a game?

[@juramcclain666]

Hello Nathan! That depends on how soon you're looking to play! I know in our discord we have plans to run a few different games after the holiday. If you need it to be sooner I'd suggest lfg on d20. It's a wonderful game! Hope you find one that fits your needs my friend.

[@mike0rr]

I'm kinda confused. But from what I understand: CP V1 is 80s. V2 is 90s. V3 is 2000's but sucks and no one uses/likes it. Red is new (2020 range) but has no official rule book, just a starter set that covers enough. And I "think" we are waiting on a Red rule book. Am I wrong about this? Because I have V2s (90s) rule book and Reds starter set and want to start off on a good foot before I jump into Red, or CP tabletop in general. This is a tad confusing so I just want to clarify here if possible.

[@juramcclain666]

Red came out in Nov 2020. The hard cover sold out in a week or so. if you follow the links under the video you can actually go to Talsorians sight and purchase the book or be directed to Drive Thru RPG for the digital. I wouldn't say you are wrong at all just have dated intel my friend!

[@mike0rr]

@@juramcclain666 Yeah, been figuring out more and more. Wanna get my hands on a hard cover Red as soon as I can : )

[@patrickjohnson1649]

The Opening Song you guys used is Very Farty.

[@justanotherguy6345]

Please go more in depth with mechanics

[@jaceg810]

My minmaxing stupid ass taking 5 hours to compare guns and firgure out the math for aiming and autofire for my first character

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

:)

[@aiden_macleod]

Am I going insane? I'm looking at the core rule book and comparing it to the Fuzion system and I swear, the mechanics and character creation is almost copy/paste.

[@juramcclain666]

the Fuzion system was a collaboration between R. Talsorian and Hero games that is a mashup of the interlock and hero system so it would only make sense that RED was a refinement of that. The interlock has been the go to system for Cyberpunk 2020 as well.

[@aiden_macleod]

@@juramcclain666 Yes. I'm aware of that. My problem lies with some people praising Cyberpunk's mechanics and then hating on Fuzion when the two are almost twins.

[@harrylane4]

@@aiden_macleod I mean, there were people who loved pathfinder and trashed on DND 3rd edition, despite PF literally using the same system, some people just get an idea in their head and refuse to listen to logic

[@Yuzuki1337]

@@harrylane4 Pathfinder really is more of a D&D 3.75 - it irons out a bunch of the more wacky systems of 3.5 and generally feels a little more coherent. While I agree that they're both the same core, I can also see why people would like one and not the other.

[@jasonmountain4643]

Sounds like google and Facebook.

[@richardextall2002]

Cyberpunk belongs to a specific time and technological reference point. It cannot be technologically upscaled. If you do, it just becomes 'sci-fi'. I also don't like the current trend of pairing TTRPGs to PC/Console games. It's not needed and does nothing to expand either. It's purely a corporate trick to try and increase revenue out of the same IP. Personally, I'll stick to the early edition.

[@juramcclain666]

I can understand your stance on the matter for sure. I will say that the jump between media introduced a large group of people to the ttrpg in general. Evolution is necessary for growth! Every player of the video game is a potential player for your table.

[@richardextall2002]

@@juramcclain666 I hear what your saying. For me, cyperpunk will always have a 90s vibe, because that's when I discovered the cyberpunk TTRPG.

[@juramcclain666]

@@richardextall2002 I feel you there buddy! There was something so amazing about that time period that made everything feel gritty and vexing. I'm sure you bring that vibe to your table for sure!!

[@thenoble1]

TTRPGs are a space where it's hard to succeed financially. Tying into a AAA game gives extra budget to make the best TTRPG possible. You should not hate on something that enables your hobby.

[@nycto5335]

@@richardextall2002 I mean thats the magic of ttrpgs. You will always be able to play with the vibe and aesthetic you want along with whatever modern rule changes happen. Though I do understand concern and frustration considering new fans will associate the game and want to play with a completely different aesthetic, vibe, etc. to the one you love. I'm wondering if you've had that sort of issue when getting new players to the table. Edit: Tying it to a AAA game while corporate is still understandable. Like the other guy said it'll help enable the hobby. Though I guess I'm used to it since I've played videogames since I can remember. So stuff I like having videogames is just cool (ie. a tabletop I like having a videogame like in Cyberpunk's case now).

[@Yakito666]

Other than a, way too long, intro this video was great.

[@briansmaller7443]

Shame the vid game was so shitty. So much wasted potential. Love the rpg though.

[@danmcmurphy2823]

with patch 1.5 being out for some time now, i just dont see how people can still say that. unless youre playing on the last gen consoles of course

[@harrylane4]

@@danmcmurphy2823 it’s still not very good lmao. Well written though.

[@nycto5335]

My main issue with the game nowadays is that I wish the game had more of a Cyberpunk feel by having V work with team members more often. Only at the start does it feel like you're actually getting the full Cyberpunk feel. For most of the game V just rolls solo which is a shame imo. Other than that the game is pretty good. Hope the sequel or whatever other Cyberpunk they're working on doesn't face such a scuffed development cycle and all that.

[@briansmaller7443]

@@nycto5335 I understand that the updates have fixed a lot of the issues.

[@TheRoguePrince0]

It's a shame that cyberpunk 2077 was just another boring first person shooter.

[@darrenp9454]

It's way deeper than that, dude. The side quests, gigs, and NCPD calls add a lot of depth and immersion, so many plots and stories.

[@azurelion6722]

The real shame is that V rolls solo for most of the game. Most of the cyberpunk feel comes from working and maybe socializing as a team. Most of CP77's mid-game just feels lonely.

[@avenged-khaos]

@@azurelion6722 i guess you could call him a..... solo... ill see myself out