What is CPU LARP?

Players create and take on the role of a Contractor, who is a member of a Union - a group of smugglers, guns-for-hire, street docs, spies, and more. The Union acts by a strict code known as the Union Accord:

• Make good stories
• Render aid to fellow Contractors
• Don't murder people
• Never rat out Contractors to the corps
• Handle arguments between Contractors internally

At its core, CPU is a LARP with two distinct indoor spaces. Participation in either space is voluntary.

In the Job space, you'll deceive your way into secured facilities, sneak past automated defenses, hack valuable terminals, and battle nefarious foes. First, you'll go through a player briefing, where staff will set expectations, clarify mechanics, and answer questions. You'll do a debrief after for any further questions. Learn more in Example: Job Playthrough.

In the Hub, you'll order UV-reactive drinks, gather information from contacts, spy on your enemies, and compete in other challenges and games. Learn more in Example: Contract Playthrough.

To start as a player, you'll build a player character (PC) and you will want to read what your abilities do. You'll need a costume. If you only want to be in the Hub, that's all you need to play!

You can also start as a non-player character (NPC), and all you need to do is read this quickstart section and show up! We'll provide costumes and equipment.

As you browse through the player's handbook, you'll notice many words that are capitalized such as Function, Command, and more. When they're not titles or proper nouns, using capital letters this way signifies that this word has a specific mechanical effect.

If you're new to CPU, or LARPing, or simply feel overwhelmed, don't try to read this whole handbook at once! To start playing as a NPC, check out the primer in the beginning of this doc.

You're of course welcome to read any and all of the handbook. But CPU is designed so you don't have to read the rules for abilities you don't have. Non-hackers can skip the hacking rules, non-crafters can skip the crafting rules, and so on.

The world of CPU

Community oath

We're creating a fantastic LARP experience and you're an essential part of that. So let's talk about expectations. In order to ensure everyone is aware of these expectations, we require players to sign the community oath. The point of this oath is not to list every good and bad behavior. Rather, please understand this oath as an intent. More than anything, be kind to each other. We are all gathering to enjoy a shared social experience and to create a wonderful narrative. We're all in this together.

Each player must sign this community oath before playing. If you witness any violations, report it to staff. Players found violating this oath may be warned, suspended, or banned.

• I will respect my fellow players as human beings. Violations include, but are not limited to, harassment and discrimination (based on gender presentation, sexual orientation, race, economic circumstances, age, beliefs, or otherwise)
• I will respect everyone's physical space. Violations include, but are not limited to, unwanted touching and excessive closeness in combat or elsewhere.
• I will respect the integrity of the game. Violations include, but are not limited to, using abilities you do not have, not taking your hits, using expired or broken items, and calling game halts for any reason besides a safety risk.
• I will not play while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• I will use technology appropriately. Violations include, but are not limited to, inappropriate use of cell phones during game time and having "in-game" discussions outside of appropriate game channels. If you have a reason you may need to use your cell phone during the game, clear it with staff first.
• I will immerse myself into the game. Violations include, but are not limited to, excessive out-of-character talking, treating NPCs as disposable, and having in-character conversations in out-of-character spaces, including between games.
• I will treat the space and props around me with respect, remembering that keeping good care of our space and our props keeps the hobby affordable. Violations include, but are not limited to, littering on the properties we play at and damaging the props we use.

Combat quickstart

If you want to participate in the combat/story space, you'll need to know some combat basics (please note this list inexhaustive, skipping some advanced combat mechanics):

• If you witness an unsafe situation, call "Hold!". All players must immediately stop what they are doing
• No arguing, disputing, discussing, etc. If there's any dispute, the person potentially being affected/hit decides whether or not they were hit. If there's any confusion, run it as best you can and discuss afterwards

Social quickstart

Your first Simulation

Now that you've created your character, you'll need your outfit! If you want to have any weapons, like a blaster or a sword, you'll have to bring that. You should also have the clothing that your character will wear. Optionally, you may find it useful to review the Costuming section, especially if you're making your own equipment. You'll want to have a plan for food and lodging. With regards to food, many CPU chapters have meal plans you can purchase, though they're not required. With regards to lodging, some chapters are on sites that have lodging included, but you'll have to provide any desired bedding materials. Then you're ready to play!

The best way to reach us is on our Discord: http://cpularp.com/discord

Creating your character in MyLARP

You can create your character sheet and access it during the game using a website called MyLARP, which you can find at cpularp.mylarp.dev. Once you've created your character sheet and submitted your backstory to your local chapter, the staff will review it and you'll be notified when your character is approved and ready for play!

Your story

Now it's time to cover the "who" and the "why". The following questions and prompts are suggestions for you to follow, but ultimately what you provide is up to you. We strongly recommend you provide plenty of information here, as it's where staff will look for information and inspiration to get you involved! Once you've figured out what you want for your back story, reach out to your local chapter and submit it to them.

Starting items

Every character begins with a set of items that don't expire, meaning even if you only attend occasionally, you'll have trusty items to ensure a fun play experience. All characters have:

• Budget Commlink

  This is represented by your smartphone and allows you to communicate with other characters using our Discord server.
• One weapon from the Starting Weapon List.
• One shield from the Starting Shield List or one weapon from the Starting Weapon List.

Many Functions also have associated starting items, shown in the starting Function item list. If you have any of these Functions at your first game, then you start with these items in addition to the two items above. Functions that you gain after your first game do not automatically come with starting items. If you start with a Function that grants you an item, speak to the staff at your first game so they can give you the card to properly mark your item and explain its abilities.

Roles

Roles are similar to "classes" from other systems. They begin with a brief introduction that describes what the Role is generally capable of and proficient at, however you are encouraged to take the Role in whatever direction you wish. One Mastermind might be an experienced security guard turned burglar, while another cut their teeth on the rungs of the corporate ladder.

Roles determine the list of Functions, sorted into Tiers, that you can purchase with experience points. Every character begins with the Standard Role and one additional Role, and can learn one more Role by spending experience points - see the Character Advancement section for details. Each Function in a Tier may only be learned once. If a Function appears multiple times, it may be learned as many times as it appears.

When a Function is listed with a keyword after it in parentheses, it means that Function is only usable through that keyword. So for example, "Tough (Melee)" is a single use of Tough, but only versus Melee Strikes, not Ranged Strikes or any other kind. Another example is that "Advanced Shield Proficiency (Small)" only applies for small shields, not large shields.

Functions with the "(all)" keyword, count as all potential keywords of that Function. Functions with the "(choose one)" keyword, must have one keyword selected when the Function is learned. Functions with the "(random)" keyword are given a random selection every time they are activated.

Functions also have types, such as "Utility Function" or "Social Function". For the most part these are simply descriptive and generally have no mechanical effect, although a few mechanics do interact with them.

Jobs

Jobs are self-contained adventures that players can experience together. Examples of a Job include raiding a corporation's research facility, rescuing a hostage from mercenaries, and hacking into a spy agency's databases. They will consist of one or more Scenes, have a physical space where the action takes place, and may lead to Contracts or even other Jobs. If you want a complete example, check out the Job Playthrough Example.

To start a Job, you'll want to use the queue system. This is when players should bring up their Knowledges (to see what they know) and inquire about valid targets for their Hacking and Strength Functions. This is also the time you can turn in many types of Secrets to make the Job easier!

At the beginning of each Job, staff will talk to you about the Job and its mechanics. This is a great time for any questions you may have.

To run a Job you have to know the first two Components of the Job: Goal and Location. The third Component of a Job is Time. You don't need to know the Time of a Job to run it, but it will always make the Job easier if you do.

• Goal - What's valuable?
  • Examples include: steal an item, sabotage a device, assassinate or kidnap someone, guard something valuable, etc
• Location - Where is it?
  • Generally this will be a building in the game world, identified specifically
• Time - When is it most vulnerable?
  • Designated as a value between alpha through zero, not specific real life times
  • These represent an abstraction, when guard shifts allow for a raid, for example, rather than a precise real-life time

You can learn Components of a Job from Functions, NPCs, and public job boards. Generally, the Jobs gained through Functions will be better than Jobs offered by NPCs, which in turn will usually be better than Jobs being gained through public boards. In a similar vein, you will sometimes be able to negotiate terms with Jobs gained from Functions, but almost never be able to negotiate Jobs gained through public boards.

You will be given a unique Job code with which you can identify a Job and should provide this when referencing a Job.

Jobs have additional details you can learn about them, usually via the Dig Dirt, Knowledge, or Scout Functions. When you activate Dig Dirt, you will always learn whether or not the NPCs will be resistant to social engineering, as well as an additional random detail. When you activate Scout, you will learn some information about the amount of stealth options in a Job, whether NPCs may see stealth or not, as well as an additional random detail.

Different Functions can provide different details, with some overlap. While there are many details that you can find, the table below gives you an idea of some of the common details you can find out, as well as how commonly a given Function provides that information.

Contracts

Contracts are opportunities for characters to perform specific, small tasks in order to obtain a reward. They can be abstract, such as playing a minigame, or concrete, such as collecting specific items.

Contracts will become available throughout the game, such as by public postings or offerings to faction members. You can also gain Contracts through some Functions. Generally, the best Contracts will be gained through Functions, with the weakest Contracts being gained through public job boards.

Using the queue system

When possible, staff will be using a job queue system. When you ask to queue a Job, staff give you a code. Staff will post in the ooc channel when the Job is being set up, and when it's ready to go. This allows everyone in your group to watch for when a Job is ready. You may only queue one Job at a time.

You should be ready to head to the Job area when the message is posted to keep Job downtimes short!

In the field

Back at the Hub

When you return from a Job or Contract, the fixer will send payment to the character who was initially contacted. You get to determine what to do with it, such as who gets paid and how much. The fixer will also want to know who gets the reputation credit. Make sure you comment on the ticket with the names of any characters who want to be credited for helping out. Some characters may not want it to be known that they helped.

Any time you are not in a Scene, you automatically begin Resting. After one hour of Rest, you Refresh all of your Commands and remove Exhausted or Recovering. If a Job has multiple Scenes that happen back-to-back out of character, staff will tell you if the in-character time between Scenes allow Rest.

Items such as Drinks and Meals might provide other beneficial effects. These can improve the effects of Rest or be entirely separate from Rest.

Between Simulations

Downed, dying, and unconscious

Once your character has been Downed, you are unable to fight, walk/run, activate any Functions, or activate any items but you do not have to drop anything. You may still weakly do very easy things like hand someone an item, drag yourself across the ground, and speak, assuming your needed limb is not broken. If you take another Strike or are unattended for 5 minutes, you are Unconscious. If you cannot lay on the ground, while Downed, you should hold a single empty hand out, palm up, while slumping your head and shoulders. This makes it clear to everyone that you are Downed.

If you are Unconscious, you are unable to do anything at all, and must drop everything held. You must drop to the ground. After 5 minutes unattended, you die and should immediately report to staff. If you cannot lay on the ground while Unconscious, you should hold a single empty hand out, palm down, while slumping your head and shoulders. This makes it clear to everyone that you are Unconscious.

You may finish off a character that is Downed or Unconscious. Simply hold a weapon above them, declare at a normal speaking pace and volume, "Finishing Blow!" Then, gently perform a legal Strike to their torso. The target is then immediately Dead.

You may search a helpless (Down, Unconscious, Dead, or all limbs bound) character. This takes thirty seconds of active roleplay of you investigating and searching the body. This should not include any physical touch unless both parties consent. After the search is complete, the helpless character must turn over all carried items cards.

Healing and recovering

Generally speaking, healing requires a Medical Function, although there are exceptions to this. You should see the Medical Functions section for how to be healed.

You can only be healed so many times before your body simply needs time to recover. The first time a given body part is healed in a Scene, you may act normally. After having been healed a second time (or more), a body part is Recovering. Recovering body parts restrict your actions as follows:

• Arm: With that arm, you may activate and carry items, but may not wield a weapon or shield.
• Leg: You may walk normally, but may not run. If both legs are Recovering, you can only move at a slow shuffle.
• Torso: You may not activate Functions that require a weapon or shield.

Weapon types

Body markers

Rather than having the person playing an NPC lie on the ground for the duration of a Scene, NPCs will sometimes drop knotted bandanas on the ground as a body marker shortly after they go Unconscious. Players and NPCs should treat these body markers as if they were actual bodies: They require Strength to move, they can be a target of Pick Pocket, and NPCs might be alerted if they discover a body.

Example: Hacking

Paradise is attempting to hack a terminal, and they have the following Functions: Hacking II, Repeat I, and Wipe Your Tracks. They also have a Budget Cyberdeck. This means that Paradise starts with 4 Tags on the terminal, once they complete their 30 seconds of Hacking roleplay. The terminal has an access cost of 1 Tag, which means that Paradise is already down to 3 Tags.

Paradise sees that there's a file on the terminal, marked A:1 M:2. They play it safe and access the file first (another action, so another 30 seconds of roleplay), and it's paydata. Score! They're down to 2 Tags. Paradise immediately takes another action (another 30 seconds of roleplay), and modifies the data, stealing it to sell later.

Paradise sees another file on the terminal, also marked A:1 M:2. They're out of Tags, but Repeat I means that since they already accessed a file, they can access all other files for 1 less Tag, to a minimum of 0. For 0 Tags and another action, Paradies accesses the next file, finding that it's a Secret.

Now for the tough part. Paradise is out of Tags, but wants that Secret. However, they've left digital tracks and may get caught. They could activate their Budget Cyberdeck, which gives them an extra Tag. However, even with the Repeat discount for the file modify action, it would take them 1 Tag to get the Secret, and 1 Tag to activate Wipe Your Tracks. They don't have enough to do both, so opt to activate their Budget Cyberdeck, take a Hacking action to activate Wipe Your Tracks, and get out of there. If there was a puzzle available, they may have been able to complete that to gain more Tags.

Example: Social encounter

Modifiers

These modify how the Command works.

Bestow (Command):

Grants one use of the named Command to the target that expires at the end of the Scene. You may not target yourself. You may only have one of each Command actively Bestowed upon you at a time (e.g. you may have received a Bestowed Tough and a Bestowed Pain, but not two Bestowed Tough, until you use the Bestowed Tough).

Burst (Command):

Everyone within arm's reach of the source is affected. The source will either be an item, like a grenade, or a person. Other characters and small obstacles don't block this Command but large static structures like walls do. The user will be affected if they are in range!

Power (Command):

This Command affects the target even if only their held items were struck. If you modify a Break or Disarm with Power, it becomes Power Strike Break or Power Strike Disarm, respectively.

Room (Command):

Everyone in line of sight of the source is affected. The source will either be an item, like a grenade, or a person. Other characters and small obstacles don't block line of sight for this purpose but large static structures like walls do. The user will be affected if they are in range!

Route (Target) (Command):

This Command causes another Command to affect the named target instead of its original target.

Targeted (Command):

This Command targets a specific character. For a friendly target, you may issue this Command by, "(Name) (Command)". For an enemy target, you must get their attention, point at them, and identify them while you issue, "(Identifier) (Command)".

Sources

These have no direct mechanical effect. Instead, other Commands may be limited to working with or against Commands of a specific Source. For example, Resist (Social) can only be used against Commands with a Social Source. The possible Sources are:

• Martial
• Social
• Tech

During a Scene, it is presumed that all Commands have the Source of the Scene unless otherwise stated. By default, Jobs have the Martial Source and Contracts or Scenes in the Hub have the Social Source. If your Command has the same Source as the Scene, leave out the Source in your call. For example, call Refresh instead of Social Refresh in a Social Scene or Pain instead of Martial Pain in a Martial Scene. This is intended to minimize the amount of calls necessary to be made, and staff can choose to require Sources to be declared for the duration of a Scene.

Rider Commands (Riders)

These Commands negatively affect their target. All Effects last for 10 seconds unless otherwise noted. All States last until changed.

• Break (Target)

  State

  Breaks the target. If the target named is different from the target hit, the Command automatically fails. Unless specified otherwise, the target can only be a weapon or shield. You must either hit the arm holding the target or the target itself (but only if the target is safe to hit).
• Cleanse

  Removes one Rider of the target's choice from the target.
• Daze

  Effect

  The character is unable to fight or activate any Commands/Functions/Items, but may move and speak.
• Disarm (Target)

  Effect

  The character must drop the target and cannot pick it up until the end of the effect. If the target named is different from the target hit, the Command automatically fails. Unless specified otherwise, the target can only be a weapon or shield. You must either hit the arm holding the target or the target itself (but only if the target is safe to hit). If the corresponding hand/arm was holding additional items, they must also be dropped on a successful Disarm.
• Fear

  Effect

  The character may not approach the source of the Fear in any way and may not activate any Commands/Functions, offensive or defensive, that include the source of the Fear as a target.
• Knockback

  Effect

  The character must take 10 steps back from the source of the Knockback and is Dazed until all 10 steps are completed.
• Knockout

  State

  The character is immediately Unconscious. Knockout clears at the end of the Scene.
• Lock

  Effect

  The character may not activate items, Commands, or Functions.
• Pain

  Effect

  The character may not use the limb in any way. Held items cannot be willingly dropped.
• Refresh

  Restores the use of a single Command, Combat Function, or Tanking Function. Unless otherwise noted, a Function may only be refreshed once per Scene. You cannot Refresh a Refresh. You cannot Refresh Check-in or Shift-activated Functions.
• Root

  Effect

  The character may not move either foot except to rotate them in place.
• Silence

  Effect

  The character may not speak or make any sounds intentionally and may not activate Social Commands.

Defensive Commands

These Commands protect you and can be used in response to being hit.

• Dodge

  A Dodge negates a single Strike and all Riders on that Strike.
• Nix

  Negates a Strike, but all Riders still apply. If you have Nix and Resist you can spend both to call Dodge.
• Resist

  Negates all the Riders on a single Strike but the Strike still applies.
• Tough

  Reduces a Strike to Pain. The same location is still affected. The Riders on that Strike still apply to the character. You may not call Tough if the struck location is currently suffering from a Pain. This includes when the Strike includes a Pain Rider.

Other Commands

These Commands may be issued with a number afterward, such as "Delay 5". The number represents a time, in seconds. So in this case, the defender would Delay the effect that were just hit with for 5 seconds.

• Delay

  A character issues this Command to delay the effect of a Strike or Rider. If the Command has only one part, such as a Targeted Fear, you may shorten your call to "Delay". If the Command is both a Strike and a Rider, and you can Delay both, call "Delay Both". Delay is not able to be prevented, such as by Fear or Lock. If you are hit several times in short succession, you may call "Delay All" instead of having to declare "Delay" for each.
• Immune

  A character issues this Command when they would be unaffected by a Command, such as "Immune Strike". If the Command has only one part, such as a Targeted Fear, you may shorten your call to "Immune". If the Command is both a Strike and a Rider, and you are immune to both, call "Immune Both". Immune is not able to be prevented, such as by Fear or Lock. If you are hit several times in short succession, you may call "Immune All" instead of having to declare "Immune" for each.

Combat Functions

• Advanced Armor Proficiency (Type)

  Typed

  You gain access to all granted Functions from worn armor of the given type if it is registered to you.

  You may select the same armor multiple times. If you do so, you may upgrade one Tough into a Nix of the same type for each additional time you select this Function beyond the first.

  Types:

  • Light
  • Heavy
  • Suit
• Advanced Shield Proficiency (Type)

  Typed

  You gain access to all granted Functions from held shields of the given type if they are registered to you. The types are:

  • Small
  • Large
• Advanced Weapon Proficiency (Type)

  Typed

  You gain access to all granted Functions from held weapons of the given type if they are registered to you. The types are:

  • One-handed Melee
  • Two-handed Melee
  • One-handed Ranged
  • Two-handed Ranged
• Ammo Hound

  You may carry an extra Magazine for ranged weapons registered to you.
• Armed To The Teeth

  You may have an additional weapon set.
• Durable

  You may call Tough for a limb even if that limb is suffering from a Pain effect.
• Fortify (Rank)

  Ranked

  If you are hit by a Strike with a Rider to a limb and do not call Dodge, Immune, or Resist versus the Rider, you may immediately call Nix. You may do this once per Scene per limb per Rank you have in Fortify.
• Master of Pain

  You may consume uses of Pain to use Break instead. This does not work with Pain Commands gained from items.
• Patroller (Rank)

  Ranked

  Once per Scene, you may actively patrol. This requires you to walk throughout the entire Scene, checking doors and windows in the Scene, and do so for at least a minute. If you stop actively patrolling for any reason, use any Commands or Functions, or get into combat, the timer resets.

  If you have started patrolling for at least one minute and continue to patrol, you gain the following benefit:

  • Rank 1: 1 use of Nix or Resist
  • Rank 2: 1 use of Dodge
  • Each additional Rank: +1 use of Dodge
• Resilient (Rank)

  Ranked

  At Rank I, your recovery times per body location are one hour instead of two hours. At Rank II, your recovery times per body location are thirty minutes instead. Anyone using a Medical Function on you adds your Ranks in Resilient to their Ranks in their Medical Function, if it has Ranks.
• Scary

  Once per Scene, when you use an Offensive Command on a character that you Downed, you gain a Secret. This Function will fail on some targets, like drones or characters that aren't part of Factions.
• Shield Proficiency (Type)

  Typed

  You may use shields of the given type, using them to physically block. You do not gain access to the granted Functions from the shield. The types are:

  • Small
  • Large
• Shoot First

  If you are the first character to make a Strike of any kind in a Scene and hit your target, you may immediately call three Strikes against the same target.
• Slippery Target

  As many times as you wish, when a Command is delivered by "Burst" or "Room", you may Route that Command to any character within arm's reach, by calling "Route You Command" and touching them.
• Treacherous

  Once per Scene, when you are the target of a Command, you may Route that Command to any target within arm's reach, by calling "Route You Command" and touching them.
• Weapon Proficiency (Type)

  Typed

  You may wield weapons of the given type, using them to physically block and hit. You do not gain access to the granted Functions from the weapon. The types are:

  • One-handed Melee
  • Two-handed Melee
  • One-handed Ranged
  • Two-handed Ranged

Crafting Functions

Crafting bespoke items is a hallmark aspect of cyberpunk, and we've included a rich system for crafting and customizing items in CPU. If you're interested in crafting, be sure to check out the Crafting section for full rules.

• Craft (Type) (Rank)

  Typed, Ranked, Time Units

  You may craft items of the given type. You need access to the schematic, the material requirements, and the time (TU) to use this Function and craft the item. You can learn more in the Crafting chapter. The types are:

  • Armor
  • Weapons
  • Utility
• Forgery (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  Each time you activate this, you may create a single forged document, such as a work order, search warrant, or bill of sale. This can be used to forge credentials with minor digital components only (so an ID badge with a scannable chip would be appropriate, but a USB drive would not).
• Machine Whisperer

  When customizing an item, you may activate this Function. If you do, you can add a quirk to the item, if it does not already have one.

• Professional (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  You have some kind of side gig or other source of income. You can pick whatever flavor you like for this, with staff approval. For each activation of this Function, you gain 1 Credit, plus 1/2 Credit for each extra Rank you have, rounding the final total up. Thus 1 activation with two Ranks is worth 2 Credits, but 2 activations with two Ranks is worth 3 Credits.
• Project Consultant

  Time Units

  You may lend your Knowledge Functions and other requirements to another character crafting an item or performing Research, even if you don't have the relevant Craft or Research Functions. This reduces crafting time by 1 TU to a minimum of 1, but a given project can only have its crafting time reduced by one character with Project Consultant.
• Project Lead

  Time Units

  You may coordinate any number of characters on crafting a Schematic or Research, as long as all characters have the relevant Craft or Research Functions. This allows them to share Knowledge Functions and other requirements, rather than requiring a single character to have all of them. This reduces crafting time by 1 TU to a minimum of 1, but a given project can only have its crafting time reduced by one character with Project Lead.
• Project Manager

  Time Units

  You may coordinate any number of characters on crafting a Schematic or Research. They do not have to have the relevant Craft or Research Functions. This allows them to share Knowledge Functions and other requirements, rather than requiring a single character to have all of them. This reduces crafting time by 1 TU to a minimum of 1, but a given project can only have its crafting time reduced by one character with Project Manager.
• Rapid Crafting

  Strenuous

  If an item costs 6 or more Crafting Points to craft, it instead costs 1 less, to a minimum of 1. If it costs 10 or more Crafting Points to craft, it instead costs 2 less, to a minimum of 2.
• Supply Chain (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  You have access to raw material suppliers. When you activate this, you will get access to a table of items you can buy, which will largely be Crafting Materials and Components but will include some fully-crafted items as well. Sometimes, there may be special items on the table!

  You will also have limited access to sell items, but staff must be notified prior to the event of any items you wish to sell.

  Higher Ranks provide access to better Crafting Materials and Components, more special items, and/or discounts, depending on the Simulation. You can activate this a maximum of three times at one Simulation.

Hacking Functions

Hacking is an integral part of the world of CPU. You can gain Device Tags, or Tags, to take special actions on hackable devices in a Scene. If you're interested in hacking, make sure to check out the full rules in the Hacking section.

• Backdoor

  You only need 20 seconds to take an action on a device you've gained Tags on during this Scene.
• Backdoor, Improved

  You only need 10 seconds to take an action on a device you've gained Tags on during this Scene.
• Brick

  You can spend 4 Tags to permanently disable a device. Until it is repaired, it may not be activated or used in any way.
• Hacking (Rank)

  Ranked

  You may spend 30 seconds of uninterrupted roleplay gaining access to a device to gain Tags equal to your Rank times two, up to a maximum of ten Tags. These Tags may only be spent for actions on that device. If you leave the device for any reason, engage in combat or take any other actions, you must start the roleplay over. You may only gain Tags on a specific device once per Scene.
• Mask

  You have a hidden identity when hacking. You may choose to be anonymous or adopt a pseudonym of your choice. This may not be used to imitate someone else.
• Reassign

  You may spend 2 Tags to fabricate a single access log entry, including modifying an existing one. This may be used to imitate someone else!
• Repeat (Rank)

  Ranked

  If you've already taken an action in a specific icon folder, further actions within that icon cost one fewer Tag per Rank (to a minimum of 0 Tags).
• Rigged

  You can spend 6 Tags to rig a terminal. You may Bestow Resist on any Character that they can only use against your rigged terminal. You may trigger the rigged terminal once to call Room Strike Lock. This deletes all files and data on the terminal at the end of the Scene.
• Root Device

  You may spend 6 Tags to wipe all software and data permanently from a device. If you have appropriate software for the device available, you can install that immediately. Otherwise, the device is unusable until appropriate software is found and installed.

  This process takes 30 seconds of roleplay to initiate and 5 minutes to complete after that. During the 5 minute window, no interaction is required for the process to work. If the process is interrupted, contact staff to determine the result.

• Root Exploit

  When you gain Tags on a device, immediately gain 2 more Tags on that same device.
• Wipe Your Tracks

  You may spend 1 Tag to remove any single entry from the device access log. This action does not create a device access log entry.

Medical Functions

While any Medical Function is being applied to a character, their timers for Downed and Unconscious are paused. All Medical Functions require two free hands and appropriate roleplay for the duration of the Medical Function. Appropriate props are highly encouraged.

Time required for First Aid and Fix Limb:

• Rank 1: 5 minutes
• Rank 2: 4 minutes
• Rank 3: 3 minutes
• Rank 4: 2 minutes
• Rank 5: 90 seconds
• Rank 6: 80 seconds
• Rank 7: 70 seconds
• Rank 8: 60 seconds

• First Aid (Rank)

  Ranked

  You may remove the Downed or Unconscious condition from characters. They are able to function normally, but are Wounded. You may clarify out-of-character with players if their character is currently Stabilized or not by asking, "First Aid, are you stabilized?".

  • Rank 1: 5 minutes
  • Rank 2: 4 minutes
  • Rank 3: 3 minutes
  • Rank 4: 2 minutes
  • Rank 5: 90 seconds
  • Rank 6: 80 seconds
  • Rank 7: 70 seconds
  • Rank 8: 60 seconds
• Fix Limb (Rank)

  Ranked, Strenuous

  You may heal broken limbs.

  • Rank 1: 5 minutes
  • Rank 2: 4 minutes
  • Rank 3: 3 minutes
  • Rank 4: 2 minutes
  • Rank 5: 90 seconds
  • Rank 6: 80 seconds
  • Rank 7: 70 seconds
  • Rank 8: 60 seconds
• Medic

  Strenuous

  When using First Aid, you may also remove the Wounded condition at the same time.
• Stabilize

  You may reset the timer on characters that are Downed or Unconscious with 30 seconds of appropriate roleplay. If they are hit again, their timer restarts. You should call "Stabilize" when using this Function.
• Surgery

  Time Units

  You may install implants, body patchwork enhancements, and other advanced medical equipment. This Function requires TU to activate. Different surgeries will have different schematics, which will define the action you can take, the effect, the cost in TU, and any other costs.
• Under Pressure (Rank)

  Ranked

  You may improve your Rank of First Aid or Fix Limb by one per Rank of Under Pressure if you are in the same Scene as active combat that could reasonably be a threat to you or your patient. You may only improve your Rank by a maximum of two from this Function.
• Walk It Off

  Once per Scene per Character, you can increase your Rank to Rank 5 when you activate First Aid or Fix Limb on a character that you have used a Social Command on in that same Scene.

Social Functions

Many Social Functions grant and/or use Influence. You start a Scene with 0 Influence, and can have a maximum of 5 Influence at any time. At the end of a Scene, all unused Influence is lost. You may not target yourself with Social Functions.

Some Social Functions reference factions and organizations. These factions and organizations must be registered with and approved by staff.

Fancy yourself an elusive spy, or a master interrogator? You'll want to check out the Faction and Intel System.

• Closer (Type)

  Typed, Time Units

  When you activate this Function, it gives you the Time for a Job of your choice. You must already know the Goal and Location of the chosen Job. If you have Closer (all) you may activate this Function on any Job, regardless of type. Activating Closer does not stop others from taking that Job.
• Connections (Type)

  Typed, Time Units

  When you activate this Function, you learn the Goal and Location for a random Job of the given type. If you have this Function multiple times, duplicates are "re-rolled". This may be influenced by your standings with the various factions and other factors. If you have Connections (random), you get a Job of a random type. Otherwise, you get a Job corresponding to the type of Connections you have.
• Contractor (Type)

  Typed, Time Units

  When you activate this Function, you are offered a random Contract of the given type. This may be influenced by your standings with the various factions and other factors. If you have Contractor (random), you get a Contract of a random type. Otherwise, you get a Contract corresponding to the type of Contractor you have.
• Deceptive

  Whenever you would be forced to answer a question, such as by Influential or an interrogation, you may spend 1 Influence to answer the question however you like instead.
• Dig Dirt (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  When you activate this Function, pick a Job you know the Location for. You can get blackmail, bribe preferences, and other kinds of information on some of the characters that will be present in the Job. This can lead to you finding out the Goal. You cannot activate Dig Dirt more times than your Rank on a single Job.

  As long as you have activated this at least one time on a Job, you will also learn whether or not NPCs in the Job will generally be resistant to social engineering or not.

• Embolden

  Any number of times in a Scene, you may spend 2 Influence to call Social Bestow Tough.
• Encourage

  Once per Scene, you may spend 2 Influence to call Targeted Social Cleanse.
• Energizing

  You may reuse Encourage and Inspire as many times as you wish but must spend the requisite Influence each time.
• Etiquette

  You know the appropriate way to greet people. In any Scene, you can clarify with staff as to what the appropriate way to address any notable public figure - such as VPs and higher ranks in corporations, generals in militaries, and politicians in national governments. It is ultimately up to staff whether or not the individual is notable enough for the Function to apply.

  Additionally, when you activate a Social Function on a superior in your organization and would gain Influence, you gain an additional Influence.

• Gossiper

  You may add a rumor to the rumors list before a Simulation begins. Staff may require you to send these to them for approval by a certain deadline before an event!

  At the beginning of each Simulation, you can pick a Faction and learn their current local Influence.

• Hometown Hero

  You may invigorate a character from your chapter. Once per Scene, you may spend 1 Influence and two minutes of roleplay with that character. If you do so, you can remove Downed from them or immediately fix a limb, temporarily. This damage returns at the end of the Scene.
• Influential

  Gain 1 Influence whenever you activate a Social Command on a friendly character and they do not call Dodge, Immune, or Resist.

  You may spend 5 Influence to compel a target character to provide a complete and truthful answer to a single question, out of character, to the best of their ability. You may request staff to ask the question on your behalf. The target must be a character that you have successfully used a Social Command on during the current Scene.

  You may pool your Influence with other characters to spend the 5 Influence for the single question. All characters that are contributing Influence must meet all of the requirements individually (must have used a Social Command on the target during the current Scene).

• Inspire

  Once per Scene, spend 3 Influence to call Targeted Social Refresh.
• Intimidate

  When you activate a Social Function on an enemy and they do not call Dodge, Immune, or Resist, gain 1 extra Influence.
• Know Everyone

  You can contact staff to reach any character by name. Depending on the character, they may respond by message, representative, or in-person. This may be immediate or as late as the next Simulation. This does not guarantee a friendly response.
• Know Somebody

  You know how to find someone with a chosen Role or Function. Depending on the character, they may respond by message, representative, or in-person. This may be immediate or as late as the next Simulation. This does not guarantee a friendly response.
• Leadership

  When you activate a Social Function on a lower ranking member of your organization and would gain Influence, you gain 1 additional Influence.
• Outgoing (Rank)

  Ranked

  You gain Influence equal to your Rank in this Function at the start of every Scene.

  You gain 20% more Reputation per Rank whenever you gain Reputation with a Faction. Reputation represents how much a Faction likes you, which means they may give you access to restricted items, discounts for their services, and unique offers for work.

  At the start of each Simulation, you may learn your current Reputation with one Faction of your choice per Rank in this Function.

• Pep Talk

  You may give a willing character a pep talk that takes at least one minute of roleplay. If you do so, you gain 1 Influence that must be spent on that character.
• Performance

  You may enact a performance of some kind - music, dance, a poetry reading, a live report, or something in that same vein. You must spend at least 10 minutes on the performance, and it must be obvious a performance is occuring. At the end of the performance, all characters that were there for the entire duration of the performance may choose one of the following benefits:

  • Remove Exhausted or Recovering
  • Refresh all Social Commands
  • Gain 4 TU

  Each character may only choose each benefit from Performance once per Simulation (so they may benefit 3 times in total, with different benefits each time).

• Popular

  You always have an invite to every social event run by NPCs. Staff may refuse this Function at their discretion, such as for a board meeting where the character is not a member of the board.
• Reporter

  You can create reports, and show these to characters at a later time. If they spend at least 10 minutes interacting with your report, they may choose one of the following benefits:

  • Remove Exhausted or Recovering
  • Refresh all Social Commands
  • Gain 4 TU

  Each character may only choose each benefit from Reporter once per Simulation (so they may benefit 3 times in total, with different benefits each time).

  As what qualifies as a "report" is quite broad, these reports are subject to staff approval to ensure they are of sufficient quality. You cannot benefit from your own Reporter.

  Further, when "Chumming It", you get an additional Secret the first time you gain a Secret from a character.

• Rumormonger

  You may add an additional rumor to the rumors list, with the same restrictions as Gossiper. In addition, whenever you gain Influence by calling a Command on someone that you created a rumor about in that same Simulation, gain an additional Influence.
• Socialite

  You gain one additional Influence whenever you gain one or more Influence.
• Tight-lipped

  When you would be forced to answer a question, such as by Influential or an interrogation, you can instead choose to not answer at all. You may activate this even if you would otherwise be unable to activate Functions, such as if you are Dazed. Additionally, you may spend 1 Influence to activate Tight-lipped to stop a Chumming It attempt.

Tanking Functions

• Expert Bodyguard

  When you activate Interfere or Protector, you may activate the appropriate defensive Commands for free.
• Rage (Seconds)

  For a number of seconds after activating this Function, you must call 'Delay' to all Strikes targeting you. At the end of your Rage, you suffer all of the Strikes immediately and you are Exhausted. If you have multiple uses of this Function, you cannot chain them together. You must announce "Rage" when activating this Function. You may use immediately after being hit by a Command or Strike, but must still resolve the original hit without the benefit of Rage.
• Rage, Improved

  You suffer none of the Strikes at the end of your Rage and should instead call "Immune".
• Interfere

  Once per Scene, you may Route any Strike targeting a friendly Character within arm's reach, by declaring "Route Me Strike" and touching them. You must be a legal target for the Strike, not Immune to the Strike, but you may activate defensive Commands against the Command.
• Living Blockade

  Whenever a Command is issued with "Burst" or "Room", you may instead suffer the Command for any friendly target within arm's reach by declaring "Route Me (Command)" and touching them. You must activate an appropriate Defense for each Command you take this way, or suffer the effect. In the case of location-based Commands, such as Break or Pain, you must select different legal targets until no legal targets remain. If you have no more valid defenses or legal targets, you cannot Route the effect to yourself.
• Protective Ward

  You may select a Ward at the start of a Scene. While you have a Ward, you may not also be someone else's Ward. You may call Interfere and Protector on your Ward as many times as you wish. You may only select willing targets or targets that are Helpless.
• Protective Ward, Improved

  If you are within arm's reach of your Ward, you may call Immune against all calls of Fear, Root, Knockback, and Knockout that target you. This does not work against Commands that you activated Interfere or Protector against.
• Protector

  Once per Scene, you may Route any Command targeting a friendly Character within arm's reach, by declaring "Route Me (Command)" and touching them. You must be a legal target for the Command, not Immune to the Command, but you may activate defensive Commands against the Command.
• Juggernaut (Seconds)

  For a number of seconds after activating this Function, you must call 'Delay' to all Commands and Strikes targeting you. This does not protect your held items. At the end of the timer, you suffer all of the Commands and Strikes immediately and you are Exhausted. If you have multiple uses of this Function, you cannot chain them together. You must announce "Juggernaut" when activating this Function. You may use immediately after being hit by a Command or Strike, but must still resolve the original hit without the benefit of Juggernaut.
• Juggernaut, Improved

  You suffer none of Commands and Strikes at the end of your activation of Juggernaut and should instead call 'Immune'.
• Unstoppable

  In order to activate Unstoppable, you must have at least 3 uses of any type of Nix available. If you do, you may consume 3 of those Nixes to immediately activate Juggernaut 10. You may chain Juggernauts granted by Unstoppable together but may not chain them with other sources of Juggernaut.

Utility Functions

• Alarm Sense

  You are immediately aware of all alarms triggered in a Scene you are in. All Hacking Actions invoking alarms are 1 Tag cheaper for you, to a minimum of 0.

  When going on a Job, you are aware if any NPCs that are able to see through Stealth, although not which ones. You will also get some information about how many stealth options are present in the Job. You should inform staff in advance of any Scene so they can make sure you are notified.

• Bind

  With 60 seconds of roleplay you can bind the arms or legs together of a single target. Bound arms cannot be used except to hold things. Bound legs cannot be used at all.
• Dark Web Merchant

  You have the ability to sell goods and services on the Dark Web. You may also have access to special options during hacking.
• Dark Web Operator

  You have access to the Dark Web - a network of clandestine merchants, spies, and worse. You may use it to acquire information or purchase goods or services. You may also have access to special options during hacking.

• Disguise

  You are unrecognizable as yourself. This has a significant costuming requirement and is subject to staff approval. You can avoid the costuming requirement by finding another player who will take over your character sheet and play as your character. This may only be activated once per Simulation. This cannot be used to imitate another character.
• Educator

  When you use Instruction to teach Functions, the student receives a 1 XP discount per Tier of the Function, instead of 1 XP total.
• Escape

  When exiting a Scene, you cannot be pursued. You automatically pass any ambush or escape Scenes.
• Escape Binds (Rank)

  Ranked

  You may escape binds.

  • Rank 1: 30 seconds of squirming, struggling, and the like - it should be obvious that you are attempting to escape.
  • Rank 2: 10 seconds of effort, and you are inconspicuous while doing so.
  • Rank 3: Instant escape.
• Experimenter

  You have the ability to develop new Functions. This is subject to staff approval, and will likely require collaboration with several other Characters and perhaps in-game factions. Contact staff well in advance of any Simulation at which you plan to use this Function.
• Explosives

  You can plant and detonate explosives safely. Unless otherwise stated, each explosive should have a physrep roughly the size of your hand. See the Explosives section for details on how to use them in combat.

  You may also disarm Explosives. This takes 60 seconds of appropriate roleplay with both of your hands completely free and functional. You must be within arms reach of the Explosive in order to disarm it. More complicated Explosives, such as some wired bombs, may have additional requirements, including playing a mini-game.

• Instruction

  Whenever you teach a character a Function, they receive a 1 XP discount. The recipient character must follow all the other normal rules for learning Functions.
• Junkyard Jockey

  When you Scavenge and gain Crafting Materials, you gain twice as many.
• Know-It-All

  You gain 1 Social Resist against any Commands issued by a Character that is a member of a group whose corresponding Knowledge Function you possess (such as a faction, Law, or Underworld). The Character must either be obviously identifiable as a member of that group, or you must know personally that they are a member of that group. You gain 1 Resist against any Commands originating from a source whose corresponding Knowledge Functions you possess (such as Hacking and Security Systems; Explosives and Weapons).
• Knowledge (Type)

  Typed

  Knowledge Functions give you extra information about Jobs, are used in Research and more. You may also use a Knowledge Function to get an estimate of an item's current market price, if that Knowledge Function is a requirement to craft that item.

  Available topics are:

  • Agriculture (This includes things like herbs, gathering, farming)
  • Architecture (This includes mechanical engineering)
  • Electronics
  • Explosives and Weapons
  • Hacking and Digital Security Systems
  • Medicine (This includes bioengineering)
  • Law (This includes the laws of each corp and surviving government)
  • Underworld
  • Any major faction
  • Chapter-approved topics (This includes plot-specific topics, or to represent backstory-related topics) or plot-specific topics
• Pick Locks (Rank)

  Ranked

  You can pick locks with 60 seconds of appropriate roleplay. In some Scenes, at the discretion of staff, this roleplay will be replaced with performing a puzzle or another appropriate action. You can unlock physical locks that have a Tier equal to or lower than your Rank in Pick Locks.
• Pick Pocket (Rank)

  Ranked

  You can steal items from other characters. You may only activate this once per character per Scene. You should notify staff that you intend to activate this Function and what Rank you will activate, and they will verify your actions. To activate this Function, you must slip a special item card into the target's bag or pocket or attach a specific physrep (such as a black clothespin) to the target. You should check your local chapter what card or physrep they use and whether or not you need to provide your own physreps. If, when staff consults the target (after a long enough interval to keep the theft from being obvious), they still have the card on them, the action is successful.

  • Rank 1: You steal 1 random item the target is carrying.
  • Rank 2: You steal 2 random items the target is carrying.
  • Rank 3: You may steal 1 named item the target is carrying.
  • Rank 4: You may plant 1 item on the target.
• Plant Traps

  You can plant already-crafted traps in 1 minute. Trap laying time must include properly setting up the trap physrep.
• Repair (Rank)

  Ranked

  You can repair broken items. For each 5 minutes roleplaying repairing items, and you can Repair one Tier worth of items per Rank you have in this Function. Tier 0 items count as one half instead of zero. For example, if you have Repair II and spend 5 minutes repairing, you can Repair four Tier 0 items, or two Tier 1 items, or a Tier 2 item. You must have access to an Engineering Workstation to be able to Repair.
• Research (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  You may ask out-of-game questions of staff by spending TU. Having Knowledge Functions relevant to the questions you are asking will give you much better results. You can either spend 1 activation by itself or 2 activations together, for different kinds of questions:

  • 1 Activation: You may ask 2 yes/no questions. Staff must be notified in advance what the questions are.
  • 2 Activations: You may ask 1 open-ended question. Staff must be notified in advance what the question is.
• Scavenge (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  When you activate this Function, you get a random result, representing your character exploring various locations for useful items. You can find out about additional Scavenge locations in-game. Some of the possible results from Scavenge include finding fully-crafted items, crafting materials, suffering injuries, and more!
• Scout (Rank)

  Ranked, Time Units

  You can activate Scout to get random physical details on a Job. For each activation of Scout, you get one random physical detail. You cannot activate Scout more times than your Rank on a single Job.

  As long as you have spent at least one activation on a Job, you will also be informed if any of the NPCs have high-level combat Functions. Further, you are aware if any NPCs are able to see through Stealth, although not which ones.

  You must know the Location for a Job in order to activate Scout on that Job. You do not need to know the Goal or Time. If the Location is incorrect, staff will tell you and this does not consume your activation of Scout.

  You may ask for specific details, such as looking for any gang presence in the area or checking for alternative entrances.

• Slip

  Once per Scene, you may activate this Function. If you do, you can immediately traverse one barrier. For example, you can pass through a locked door or move between two walls. You may not bring other characters with you, and the barrier remains in the same state (i.e. a locked door stays locked). If there is a black marker (generally black tape), you may not activate Slip to pass through that barrier.
• Strength (Rank)

  Utility Function, Ranked

  You can push, pull, break, and otherwise interact with objects in the world that require uncommon strength. Simply announce the Strength rank you are using. Staff will clarify when this is applicable. Otherwise, you cannot use Strength to interact with objects in the world.

  You can also move characters that are in the Downed, Unconscious, Knockout states and/or have all limbs bound, based on your ranks in Strength.

  • Rank 1: You can drag 1 character across the ground. Both of your hands must be empty when you do this, then placed on the target, and you may only move at a slow walk.
  • Rank 2: You can walk if you use 1 hand, or you can jog if you use 2 hands, following the other restrictions of Rank 1. You may drag one character in each hand at a walk.
  • Rank 3: You can jog and only need to use 1 empty hand. You may drag one character in each hand at a jog.

Item registration

Registration of an item can be done at any time. You do not need to contact staff to register an item. For an item that has never been registered to a character before, it takes effect immediately. For a previously-registered item, it takes effect at the beginning of the next Simulation. You can only be a registered owner to two weapon sets and two sets of armor at a time. You can remove yourself as a registered owner for an item at the end of any Scene.

A weapon set is defined as being a collection of weapons and shields that occupy two hands. Example weapon sets are a single two-handed weapon, two one-handed weapons, or a one-handed weapon and a shield. You may still use weapons, shields, and armor that are not registered to you, but you do not gain access to the Functions from those items until you register them to you. For ranged weapons, you do not get access to the Magazines from weapons that are not registered to you. An important exception to this is that you may fire off any remaining ammunition in a weapon that is registered to someone else.

Item expiration

All items, by default, expire at the end of a given month. For example, if you have an item with the expiration "12/25", that item expires after December 2025, though it is usable in events that start in December 2025. An important exception is all Budget items never expire.

Suppliers

Each Hub has a list of available items for each type. If you have the appropriate Craft Function, you can purchase any number of the items on the list that you have credits for. These represent your character's access to large quantities of basic items at a bulk discount.

Crafting items

Many items are craftable, requiring a combination of items and a Schematic to create. As long as you have the appropriate Functions and materials, you can craft any Schematic that you have access to, which is generally all of the Schematics loaded into the local Hub. Each Hub will have a collection of Schematics for you to use, and some of these Schematics may be unique to that Hub (i.e. no other Hub will ever have access to that Schematic). You may craft these items at Engineering Workstations.

Crafting Materials are basic, raw goods. Crafting Components are intermediary items, generally only used to create a finished product. Materials, Components, and other items can all be required to craft an item.

Craftable items have Tiers, ranging from 0 to 5. Items of higher Tier generally cost more - both to buy and build - and provide better benefits.

Upgrading items

You may upgrade items. In order to do so, you must have the appropriate higher level Schematic for the item and have the appropriate Craft Function. In addition, you must have access to something that allows you to upgrade items, such as a specialty item or a Workstation.

Customizing items

Items may be customized. Each item can be customized once per Tier of the item, starting with Tier 1 items having 1 customization slot. Two-handed ranged and melee weapons may instead have two customizations per Tier of the item. Customizations of the same name do not stack.

In order to install a customization into an item, you must first acquire the appropriate item and the desired customization piece. You must also have the corresponding crafting Function (e.g. Craft Weapon for weapons). Then, you spend your Time Units to get enough Crafting Points to craft the item you want to craft. Once you have spent your Crafting Points, the customization should be communicated with staff and then it is eligible to be used in play.

You may replace previous customizations, but this destroys the previous customization.

Base (T0) customization pieces can be bought through Suppliers with Craft Utility. Better (T1+) customization pieces can be crafted with Craft Utility. Additional customization Schematics can be unlocked through gameplay and are shared by everyone in a Hub.

Disassembling items

Sometimes, items just won't be useful to you anymore. This is when you may want to disassemble them. In order to disassemble an item, you must have access to an item that specifically allows you to disassemble items. You can even disassemble items that have expired. Disassembling an item gets you back some of the resources that went into crafting the item.

Learning Roles and Functions

In order to learn a new Function, a character must currently know more Functions in the Tier below it (Tier 1 has no requirement). For example, if you know one Tier 1 Function in Advocate, then you can learn one Tier 2 Function in Advocate. If you know two Tier 4 Functions in Polymath, then you can learn up to two Tier 5 Functions in Polymath. Functions from other Roles do not count.

To learn a Function takes three minutes of roleplay per Tier and requires a teacher. If you have a pair of Functions you are trying to learn, such as Brute's Tier 3 Fear and Silence, you can find separate teachers for both Functions, but cannot purchase the pair until you have been taught both.

Anyone that has already learned a Function can teach it. This includes yourself - if you already know a Function, e.g. Tough, you may teach yourself Tough again, and begin using it in the next Scene. You may only teach identical Functions - if you have Tough (Ranged), you may not teach Tough (Melee).

Different Tiers of the same Function are effectively different Functions for teaching and learning. For example, you would need to find someone with Strength III to teach you Strength III.

The source of a Function does not matter. As long as your teacher fulfills the requirements, you don't have to have learned the Functions from the same Role.

You may only have two Roles, not counting the Standard Role. To learn a new Role you must have a teacher and roleplay for thirty minutes as the teacher explains some of the basic techniques. As with Functions, anyone that has already learned the Role can teach it.

If you would learn a non-Ranked Function multiple times (such as a character with both Advocate and Anthrack learning Tight-Lipped twice), you instead gain Infamy equal to twice the spent experience points. You do not have to spend the teaching time to "learn" the Function again.

Costs:

• New Role: 20 XP
• Function cost: 4 XP per tier

Secondary characters

You may have two characters registered at any time. During a Simulation, you may switch between characters once. Your two characters should not have any direct interaction, nor should they have any interaction one step removed. For example, your primary character should not sell an item to someone who then turns around and sells it to your secondary character.

Death and retiring

If your character dies, you can no longer play that character. However, there are means for your character to still be impactful on the game, which we encourage you to find!

You may choose to retire a character for any reason. You can no longer play the character and it becomes available to staff for story purposes. Dead and retired characters no longer count against your character limit.

Your next character starts with the higher of the following options:

• 50% of your lost character's earned experience (maximum 50)
• 25% of your lost character's earned experience (maximum 100)

Secrets

Secrets represent bits of information specific to a Faction that would be harmful if they fall into the wrong hands.

You can acquire Secrets through activating Social Functions against members of a Faction. Having Knowledge in the target's Faction can sometimes get you higher-tiered Secrets as well.

There are three tiers of Secrets:

• Minor
• Moderate
• Major

There are six types of Secrets:

• Digital Security (DigiSec)
• Industrial
• Logistics
• Physical Security (PhiSec)
• Personnel
• Research and Development (RND)

Infamy

Infamy is an abstraction that represents some of your prestige and notoriety around the world of CPU - essentially, your "soft power". Between Simulations, you may spend any amount of XP to gain twice that amount in Infamy. You may select each of the following effects only once per Simulation. You may spend Infamy in the following ways:

• 2: Advance one Faction's project one tick
• 4: Gain a significant increase of Reputation with a Faction of your choice
• 8: Start a Faction project to unlock a new/existing Schematics (This requires significant staff approval)
• 16: Gain Knowledge (any single Faction of your choice)
• 32: Start a Faction project to unlock a new Role (This requires significant staff approval)

Your choices matter

A key emphasis of CPU is player autonomy. The choices that you make will have long-term impacts on the world. Groups that you work for will get stronger and reward you and your Hub with better technology from their specialty, such as new or improved Schematics, workstations, and resources. Groups

History rewind

Trending chart

Immersion and the unknown

We want to emphasize immersion as much as possible. We understand that not everyone has the means to acquire expensive costumes, so we will be linking resources and sharing ideas for budget options that meet our standards. We expect you to speak in-character as much as possible, and if you find that you must bring up an out-of-character topic, you do so in an in-character way, or, as a last resort, make the conversation as brief and as subtle as possible.

Sometimes, weird shit will happen, and you should roll with it unless you feel physically unsafe. Maybe a hacker turns off the lights or someone kicks through a wall, but whatever happens you should play it out. If you have concerns, bring it up to staff afterwards. Prioritize immersion!

Remember that this game is an abstraction and it is impossible to account for every situation. If you are unsure how a rule works and can't ask staff, play by the intent as best you can. It is your responsibility to understand how the rules related to your character and your items work.

This is a world where information is hoarded and misinformation is rampant. This means that both you as a player and your character will have a lot to learn through gameplay about the world at large, and you will have to question sources (in-character) about their veracity. This, combined with player characters having a strong influence on the fate of the game means that the available items may drastically impact the potency of your character and your capabilities. In simpler terms: if it seems like something is missing from the player's handbook, there's probably an item that fills in the gap.

Out of character issues

The game is designed to allow for some character versus character (CvC) play. We expect soft CvC to be common, such as undercutting the prices of another merchant PC or gossiping about them to ruin their reputation. We expect hard CvC to be uncommon, though possible in Job spaces, as sometimes two teams of Contractors will have conflicting goals. Regardless of how it goes, on an in-character level you're expected to say "Good Game!" after any encounter. We know this is a controversial topic, and we will be strict about enforcing good community behavior. If you are someone that has difficulty engaging with this in a healthy way, please avoid initiating CvC actions of any kind.

If you have a concern about another player, or believe they are violating the Community Oath, please speak with a staff member.

Karma

CPU is a community-driven organization and rewards the donations of equipment and time. Karma is our way of saying thank you for the community support we receive.

Roughly speaking, $20 of equipment is worth 10 Karma. In terms of custom equipment or volunteer hours, please reach out to staff for Karma value.

Rewards:

• 10 Karma: 1 Experience Point (limit two per character per month)
• 10 Karma: 5 Time Units (once per home Simulation)
• 20 Karma: A teacher for any Tier 2 or lower Function of your choice will come teach your character that Function
• 30 Karma: Unlearn any one Function your character has learned (may not be used to create an invalid character build)
• 40 Karma: A teacher for any Tier 4 or lower Function of your choice will come teach your character that Function
• 50 Karma: 5 Common Materials of any type (once per Simulation)
• 80 Karma: A teacher for any Tier 5 or lower Function of your choice will come teach your character that Function
• 90 Karma: Unlearn any one Role your character has learned (may not be used to create an invalid character build)
• 100 Karma: 5 Uncommon Materials of any type (once per Simulation)
• 100 Karma: You receive half-off your next event base entry fee

General keywords

Break:

Broken items cannot be used in any way until repaired.

Chapter:

Your local community for CPU. Chapters are regional, usually around a major city.

Command:

A verbally-issued mechanical effect.

Distracted:

This is an uncommon state, generally triggered by an ability or item. NPCs in this state won't notice you even in the open, as long as you're quick about moving from one hidden spot to another. They will take an extra attack before being able to activate abilities, if you're quick about it.

Down/Downed:

You are down on the ground. You are unable to fight, walk/run, activate any Functions, or activate any items but you do not have to drop anything. You may still weakly do very easy things like hand someone an item, drag yourself across the ground, and speak, assuming your needed limb is not broken. If you take another Strike or are unattended for 5 minutes, you are Unconscious. If you cannot lay on the ground, while Downed, you should hold a single empty hand out, palm up, while slumping your head and shoulders. This makes it clear to everyone that you are Downed. State

Exhausted:

You can no longer activate certain Functions until Exhausted is removed. See Strenuous. State

Function:

An ability that you can activate to achieve a specific effect or a passive ability. Usually requires issuing a Command.

Job:

Jobs are adventures that players can experience together. Examples of a Job include raiding a corporation's research facility, rescuing a hostage from mercenaries, and hacking into a spy agency's databases.

Magazine:

This is an abstract representation of your ammunition for a ranged weapon. Generally, you will have six shots per Magazine, and have one Magazine per ranged weapon (or two Magazines per two-handed ranged weapon), regardless of the actual capacity of the physrep.

Martial:

Means both Melee and Ranged.

Physrep:

Short for "Physical Representation". This is a prop that represents an in-game item.

Recovering:

A Recovering body part is one that has been healed a second time or more in the same Scene and is only partially functional. Generally, Recovering clears via abilities, items, or after two hours. Recovering affects a body part as follows: - Arm: With that arm, you may activate and carry items, but may not wield a weapon or shield - Leg: You may walk normally, but may not run. If both legs are Recovering, you can only move at a slow shuffle. - Torso: You may not activate Functions that require a weapon or shield

Rider:

An effect on a Strike besides the Strike itself.

Role:

A collection of Functions that you can purchase with XP.

Scene:

A single continuous encounter in which characters interact. Functions are typically refreshed at the end of each Scene. If you're unsure if you have entered a new Scene, ask staff. Returning to the Hub from a separate Job Scene counts as a new Scene for you and triggers a Rest, even if you have already been there. Sometimes, participating in a Contract will also count as a separate Scene, and returning to the Hub will trigger a Rest for you. Unless told otherwise, when all Players have exited a Scene, a Player should loudly declare, "End Scene!"

Simulation:

Simulations are full-length event experiences which will occur at a regular cadence (general one Simulation every one to three months). At a Simulation, players will usually convene in a social area, collect information on Jobs, and make plans. There will often be other areas where players will participate in Jobs.

Stabilized:

If you are Stabilized, you still count as Downed or Unconscious, but your timer is reset until you take another Strike. If you are Downed and Stabilized, you may weakly walk if you have at least one functional leg. After twenty minutes in this State, you are Wounded instead and are no longer Downed or Unconscious, even if you have three or more broken limbs. If a character asks you if you are Stabilized and they have First Aid, you must answer honestly.. State

State:

A positive or negative effect that lasts until changed.

Strenuous:

You cannot activate Functions with this keyword if you are Exhausted.

Strike:

A character's body is struck, typically by a physical weapon or projectile. When issued from a Command, it counts as hitting the torso. When you suffer a Strike to a limb, you lose use of that limb (this is a State). When you suffer your first Strike to the torso in a Scene, you are Wounded. Any subsequent Strike to your torso makes you Downed.

Unconscious:

You are unconscious, unable to do anything at all, and must drop everything held. You must drop to the ground. After 5 minutes unattended, you die and should immediately report to staff. If you cannot lay on the ground, while Unconscious, you should hold a single empty hand out, palm down, while slumping your head and shoulders. This makes it clear to everyone that you are Unconscious. State

Wounded:

You are Wounded if you have taken a Strike to your torso. Subsequent torso Strikes will make you Downed. Wounded is automatically cleared at the end of the Scene.

Role-type keywords

Role Type:

If an ability on this item has one of these keywords, you may only benefit from that ability if you have the corresponding role type: Martial Protector, Martial Director, Martial Manipulator, Martial Assault, Social Protector, Social Director, Social Manipulator, Social Assault, Tech Protector, Tech Director, Tech Manipulator, Tech Assault

Item keywords

# Charges ((Quality Level) (Item)):

This item has # charge(s). It may be recharged with 30 seconds of roleplay and spending 1 (Quality Level) (Item)

AR-linked:

You cannot make Resist calls against Tech calls targeting this item

Backstab:

You must be in a target's rear arc to use this ability. A good rule of thumb is that you can clearly see both shoulder blades

Concealable:

This item cannot be found while Searching

Delicate:

When you use this ability, it Breaks the item at the end of the Scene. You may not use Resist to prevent this Break

Exhausting:

When you use this item, you are Exhausted at the end of the Scene

Extra Customization Slot:

An item with this can have an extra Customization

Fadeaway:

Each time you stealth behind cover or under a stealth table for at least 30 seconds, you gain access to this ability

Flurry:

The set of 3 strikes before a required pause. (Or 6 if using 2 1HM)

Fragile:

You cannot make Resist calls against calls targeting this item.

X Hand(s):

This item takes up X number of hands in your weapon sets. It must be wielded to benefit from it

Heavy #:

You must have at least Strength # to wield this item. While wielding this item, your Strength is reduced by #

Inaccurate:

You cannot make Targeted calls with this item

Limited:

When you use this item, you may only benefit from higher Tier versions of this item for the rest of the Simulation

Mag Size +#:

Non-consumable Magazines shot through this item have +# shots per Magazine

Recharge (Function):

Once per Scene, per enemy, when you Down that enemy, you may Refresh an instance of Function that you have. If the Recharge is a typed version of a Function you have, you may Refresh that Function to gain a single call of the limited version. For example, if you have an item with Recharge (Tough (Ranged)) and you haveTough, you may Refresh your Tough but it converts into a Tough (Ranged).

Reinforced:

Grants 1x Resist that may only be used against Breaks and Disarms targeting this item

Reliable:

You may Repair this at a workstation even if you do not have the Repair Function. If you have the Repair Function, you may Repair this anywhere, though still with the normal time requirement

Required (Function):

You must have (Function) in order to use this item

Remote (Type):

This item enables Remote Contractor for the given Type

# Shot Magazine:

This is a special Magazine which counts as one of your Magazines and must be repped by a separate Magazine or a separate ranged weapon physrep. Does not benefit from abilities that increase Magazine size. Has # shots per Magazine

Short:

A melee One-handed weapon that is limited to 34" in length

Simple:

You may benefit from the T0 special abilities of this item even if you do not have the appropriate Advanced Proficiency

Unique:

You may only gain the unique benefits from one item of this type per Simulation (such as one Cyberdeck, one Medkit, etc). You can benefit from Unique items of different types, such as using a Cyberdeck and a Medkit in the same Simulation. If it is a consumable, you may only benefit from one item of the same name per Simulation

Workstation keywords

# Users:

The number of people that can use this Workstation simultaneously.

Vehicle keywords

Fast:

This allows you to interact with certain plot mechanics that require a Fast Vehicle

Size (#):

This item takes up # Storage as long as it is part of the vehicle

Stealth:

This vehicle does not count against your Vehicle limit for a Job, and may have special plot effects as well

Storage (#):

This item (generally a vehicle) has this much storage. Each storage can move one person, or can be used for other special effects for specific Contracts and Jobs

Vehicle:

As a plot effect, you may go quickly from location to location, Vehicles can take move their driver and additional people based on their Storage

Version 1.4

• Major reorganization
• Clarified the Quickstart section at the beginning
• Added a synopsis of the world to the Quickstart
• Added a "your first Simulation" section for new players
• Clarified and streamlined the Role Function lists
• Moved starting items to the Functions
• Clarified that starting items are only at character creation
• Clarified that players should pay and report reputation for their teammates
• Added "body markers" to represent bodies
• Added an overview of the setting
• Clarified the out-of-character issues section
• Clarified and streamlined the physrep regulations

Version 1.3.1

Additions/Changes (these are changes to the way the game works):

• Forgery benefits for having Ranks
• Tight-lipped, Anthrack have clear interactions with Chumming It / Interrogation
• When using Dig Dirt to get secrets, Knowledge (Faction) can allow that to pick that Faction

Clarified (these are how things worked already):

• Hacking requires two functional arms and physical contact
• Connections/Contractor are useable at travel Simulations
• Added section explaining disassembling items
• TU roleplay must be clearly something uncommon, not simply talking
• You get two items + the items from your Functions, and the two starting items are any shield/weapon from the Functions starting item list
• Rapid Crafting in Role definition fixed

Version 1.3

Additions/Changes (these are changes to the way the game works):

• Renamed "Tiered" Functions to "Ranked" Functions to reduce overloading of keywords
• Added forgetting a Role for Karma
• Renamed Reroute to Route
• Renamed Area to Room
• Added Burst Modifier
• Changed Backdoor I/II to Backdoor and Backdoor, Improved to remove ambiguity
• Resilient now improves the effect of Medical Functions upon you
• Added Power Source / Combat Focus labels to Roles (no functional change)
• Gave Workstations 3 Types: Medical, Engineering, Vice
• Supply Chain now allows you to sell items as well
• Performance Refreshes Social Commands, not Functions (this is a change to fix an unintentional writing of the rule)
• Changed Rage to Juggernaut, and Indomitable to Rage
• Changed Rage/Juggernaut to be able to be called immediately after a hit, but made it so the original hit must be resolved separately
• Three or more broken limbs Downs you, but only at the time you suffer the limb break. In other words, if you are later healed but still have three or more broken limbs, you are not immediately Downed again.
• Infamy options are now only 1/Sim
• Break/Disarm can now hit arm always instead of just for blasters
• Stabilize now resets timers instead of pausing them
• Changed Pain to not allow for "willingly" dropping items
• If you don't have Dark Web, you're now aware that data exists, even if you don't know how to access it
• Advocate/Bastion/Warden only trigger when enemies/environment down their allies
• Added a detailed Hacking Example section, with Repeat and items
• Starting items now listed
• Starting armor now exists
• Starting items no longer expire
• Advanced Armor/Weapon Proficiency now gives associated item
• Added Distracted State
• Added core item expiration (tick down per home Sim attended)
• Downed/Unconscious/Stabilized updated
• Reduced Medical Function timers
• Added Salvage card rules
• Added Rare Loot rules
• Added "Good Game" closing remark
• Updated base xp for first characters to 40 XP per character
• Added Time Units, converting almost all check-in abilities to this system. All other abilities that interacted with Check-in [Ch] or Shift-activated [Sh] Functions have been updated.

Clarified (these are how things worked already):

• Put in a huge amount of clarifying text, examples, and the like
• Immune is not stopped by Fear/Lock
• You don't need to call Immune for every hit
• Renamed Karma spend for instructor to teacher
• May weakly walk while stabilized
• Clarified that Functions can be passive
• Cannot benefit from your own Reporter
• Black clothespin is a valid physrep for Pick Pocket
• You still have teaching credits on rewrite
• Repair requires an Engineering Workstation
• You are affected by your own area effects
• Brought up player briefings/debriefings
• If an item improves a Function, you can only benefit from the improvement if you have the Function
• Can batch/group identical Commands
• You are affected by your own Area/Burst/Room Commands
• Reworded Unstoppable
• Dig Dirt is properly labeled as Ranked
• Chumming It / Interrogation lists are examples, not complete lists
• RND Secrets can be used to craft even if you don't have the Schematic
• Reworded Suit Armor proficiency to be more clear what it covers
• Dissimulator, Polymath ability cannot stack with itself
• Break/Disarm are only for weapons and shields
• Paired Functions can be taught separately
• Function tier "stacks" must be in the same Role
• Item registration doesn't require staff, and you can unregister items
• You may need to provide reps for Pick Pocket
• If item is tagged, you need to take item and tag to get item
• Exceptions can be made for boffers, both for pass/reject
• Rewording Hacking section to make it clear it's pre-Job Hacking
• Returning to the Hub counts as a new Scene for you
• Knowledge (Hacking and Security Systems) renamed to Knowledge (Hacking and Digital Security Systems)
• Scary does not work on all targets
• Explained how item expiration works
• Added Research example
• Added Reputation explanation
• Added some examples for starting schematics / items that can be crafted

Other Related Changes:

• Capped Vigil to a maximum of 10 tags gained
• Renamed the item keyword "Durable" to "Reinforced" to reduce name overloading
• Promoted Job Queue, Bow, Throwing Weapons, Resting Experimental Rules into the player's handbook

Version 1.2

Additions/Changes (these are changes to the way the game works):

• Cleaned up table of contents
• Changed wording on boffer grips to make it more clear that two-ended weapons are allowed
• Updated Instruction
• Renamed Dark Web to Dark Web Operator
• Removed [Sh] from Dark Web Operator
• Made it so you can teach yourself Functions you already know
• Made Bestow not work on yourself
• Made Bestowed Commands not stack on a single target
• Added flagging tape as a standardized method of marking OOG areas
• Added that Players should call end of a Scene
• Removed Tiers from Medic
• Added a gesture for signal too much emotional intensity
• Added section on Discovering Unknowns (Especially Items)
• Removed world, style, and setting information from the player's handbook
• Updated blaster allowed/banned list and rules around powered blasters
• Alarm Sense, Dig Dirt, Scout help you find out if NPCs see through Stealth
• NPCs generally announce when they spot Stealth
• Gave Outgoing the ability to determine your current Reputation with a Faction
• Added note about NPC not handing over blaster for respawns
• Allowed 2H melee weapons to have 45 degree swings
• Added [Ch] to Scavenge
• Gave benefit to selecting a Function multiple times
• Gave Gossiper ability to check faction local influence
• Made it so Tough can't be called under a Pain effect
• Removed Tough + Resist = Dodge
• Removed everything related to Augments (replaced by Customizations)
• Updated Easing Into It section
• Removed Pulses, shifted any associated mechanics
• Buffed Performance to compensate for removal of Pulses
• Added new Functions: Armed To The Teeth, Durable, Fortify, Hometown Hero, Junkyard Jockey, Machine Whisperer, Patroller, Pep Talk, Professional, Reporter, Scary, Slip, Supply Chain, Under Pressure, Walk It Off
• Changed Standard Role to have 12 Functions per Tier
• Changed every Role to have 8/7/7/6/6 Functions per Tier
• Changed Scout to be able to split more flexibly
• Modified when Polymath's ability activates to fits its flavor better
• Added Your First Game section
• Renamed Pickpocket to Pick Pocket
• Changed Pick Pocket to be card or physrep
• Changed Pick Locks to better PL Tier means more locks you can unlock
• Gave Project Lead / Manager / Consultant the ability to reduce crafting times
• Knowledge in a Faction sometimes leads to better tier Secrets against that Faction
• Updated Power Break/Disarm
• Broken arms cannot pick things up
• Updated Rigged
• Removed confusing rules around starting items and advanced proficiencies
• Added ability for Knowledges to check item prices
• Changed Check-in Functions to activate at any time
• Removed hands as legal targets for ranged attacks
• Reduced requirements for learning new Functions to equal numbers in each Tier instead of more in the lower Tier
• Reduce roleplay time for learning new Functions
• Renamed Dying to Unconscious
• Made new intro section
• Added Contract playthrough example
• Moved Job playthrough example to intro section
• Added more descriptive text to each Role
• Updated Repair due to Pulses being removed

Clarified (these are how things worked already):

• Added clarifying text
• Rephrased sections with frequent questions
• Removed excess/outdated text
• Refresh works on any single Command, Combat Function, or Tanking Function
• Officer's Social Silence to Targeted Social Silence
• Area calls measure from the source of the call, like a grenade, and only measure from the person if the person is the source
• How to call Immune in edge cases to reduce ambiguity
• Commands granted from Roles are usable once/Scene
• Crafting happens at a workstation
• Capitalized Nouns are a reference to a specific mechanical effect
• Explosives can be used in combat by throwing an appropriate physrep
• Explosives can be disarmed
• Guided path vs flexible path create characters mechanically the same, just with different methods to arrive to similar results
• Added links for character creation, background submission
• Cyberdeck is required for hacking
• Fixed language in Project Consultant
• Learning tiered Functions requires someone with the desired tier
• Cleanse only works on Riders
• Clarified that you don't need Closer/Time to run a Job
• Clarified that Job codes exist
• Clarified Strength
• Updated the Job Playthrough Example
• Rewording Scavenge
• Foam blasters are not legal targets for attacks
• Clarified, rephrased, and updated several sections with confusing/outdated text

Moved from Experimental into Core Rules:

• Crafting changes, including Suppliers, Upgrading, Customizing, Crafting Items From Scratch, Faction and Intel System, Acquiring Secrets, Interrogation, Chumming It, Other Ways to Collect Secrets, Uses for Secrets, Investigations

Other related changes:

• Buffed a large number of Schematics
• Released a large number of Schematics