The Role Playing Game SPARE CHANGE EDITION Special Note To minimize danger of fatal head explosion, do not read this book in its entirety. Read “In Brief” sections to get a general idea of the setting and game, then go back to read in depth for specific reference. Thank you for your cooperation. gmcf rfse (Order #27834702) FATES WORSE THAN DEATH the Role Playing Game SPARE CHANGE EDITION is published by Vajra Enterprises, Eureka California Written and Designed by Brian St.Claire-King Cover by Jason Juta Art by Lorie Albrecht (www.albrecht-illo.com), A’Lis, Samuel Araya, Paul C Butler, Leanne Buckley, Lance William Card, Jhoneil Centeno, Kari Christensen, Laura Dubuk, Randy Gallegos (randyg.com), Jason Juta, Kyri Konitou, Britt Martin, Rik Martin, Staffan Melin, Katie Miranda, Martina Pilcerova, Brian St.Claire-King, Jason Walton, Ursula Vernon Playtested by Jeremiah Barkman, David Reed, Amber Buhler, Skip Buhler, Tiffany St.Claire-King, Teresa Montalban, Gail Camaya Jotham McMillan, Karl Iliev, Victor Lim, Brennan Pike, Ryan Macklin, Scott Monday, Kevin Elser, Ethan Hamrick, Brian Formiconi, Gary Townsend, F. Douglas Wall, Chris Musgrave, Sean Musgrave Game Design Assistance by Robert Kwon and Tiffany St.Claire-King (Hey guys, no matter how much I argued with you at the time, I ended up taking most of your advice. Weird, huh? –Brian) Editorial Assistance by Tiffany St.Claire-King Additional Thanks to Matthew Thompson, Peter Geissert, Robert Kwon, Eric V. T. Nakano, Katie Riley, Brennan Pike, Jeffrey W. F. Walker, John Laviolette, Paul Barnett, Rob Lowry, Eeyore, Sandy Antunes, Chris Garland, Rebecca King, Steve Johnson and Guy McLimore. Copyright (c) 2005 by Vajra Enterprises. All rights reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole without permission from the publisher. VISIT WWW.FATESWORSETHANDEATH.COM gmcf rfse (Order #27834702) Introduction Chapter Three: The Black Market ...........................................077 Warning ....................................................................................001 Introduction ..............................................................................077 Table of Contents .....................................................................003 Data ..........................................................................................078 A Basic Overview of the Game ................................................005 Applications .........................................................................078 A Message From the City .........................................................006 Information ..........................................................................081 Cyberpunk vs. Fates Worse Than Death ..................................007 Operating Systems ...............................................................081 Tips For Survival In The City ..................................................008 Info Tech ..................................................................................082 Biotech .....................................................................................085 Chapter One: Character Creation ...........................................009 Chemical ..............................................................................085 STEP ONE - Character Concept ..............................................010 Non-Chemical ......................................................................092 STEP TWO – Personality Variables.........................................011 Protection .................................................................................093 Personal Ideals .....................................................................011 Sensory .....................................................................................095 Worldviews ..........................................................................012 Servants ....................................................................................096 STEP THREE – Attributes .......................................................013 Services ....................................................................................097 Sub-Attributes ......................................................................013 Tools .........................................................................................099 Health Attributes ..................................................................014 Transport ..................................................................................101 STEP FOUR – Socioeconomic Class ......................................015 Weapons ...................................................................................102 STEP FIVE – Character Class .................................................015 Chemical ..............................................................................102 Character Classes In Brief ...................................................016 Explosives ............................................................................104 STEP SIX - Choose Skills .......................................................017 Self-Defense .........................................................................105 Traditional ............................................................................106 Athletics (ATHL) .................................................................020 Bio/Med (BIO) .....................................................................020 Chapter Four: PC Groups ........................................................109 Combat (CMBT) ..................................................................021 Street People Families ..............................................................110 Creative (CRTV) ..................................................................024 Black Meds ..........................................................................112 Information (INFO) .............................................................025 Crackers ...............................................................................116 Military (MIL) .....................................................................025 Drakes ..................................................................................119 Psychic: Manipulative (PSYM) ...........................................027 Insomniacs ...........................................................................123 Psychic: Sensory (PSYS) .....................................................028 Keepers ................................................................................127 Tech (TECH) ........................................................................028 Water Rats ............................................................................130 Thief/Espionage (THIE) ......................................................031 Non-Family Street People ........................................................134 Sociological (SOC) ..............................................................031 Addicts .................................................................................135 Street (STRT) .......................................................................032 Gamblers ..............................................................................139 STEP SEVEN - Choose Equipment .........................................034 Jacks .....................................................................................141 STEP EIGHT - Bonus Characteristics .....................................035 Runners ................................................................................143 Advantages ...........................................................................036 Sex Workers .........................................................................144 Disadvantages ......................................................................039 Thieves .................................................................................150 STEP NINE – Character Advancement ...................................047 Well Gangs ...............................................................................152 Level One, Adventure One ..................................................047 Non-Gang Wells .......................................................................155 Gaining XP ...........................................................................047 Indie Gangs ..............................................................................156 Losing XP ............................................................................048 Indie Non-Gangs ......................................................................157 Spending XP ........................................................................048 Level Advancement .............................................................048 Disciplines ............................................................................049 Chapter Five: Encyclopedia ......................................................158 Black Market ............................................................................159 Chapter Two: Organic Rule Components ...............................051 Body Modification ...................................................................160 Basic Mechanics ......................................................................051 City Culture ..............................................................................161 Using Attributes