“Try Before You Buy” is an occasional segment of Astral Projections. It spotlights free or nearly free ($20 and under) supplements, quick-start rules, and modules for various RPGs.
This “Try Before You Buy” is a little different. It’s not really a review, but rather an overview, with just a touch of pride – because I was one of the collaborators on the 2.0 version of this homebrew supplement for Cyberpunk RED, which is all about the Medtech Role. In addition to being an editor, I did some writing and art.
“Medicine in the Time of the RED v1” was recommended to me a few months ago by a fellow player in a cyberpunk RED play-by-post game and I found it both useful and enjoyable. I soon found myself messaging with the author, StinkPalm007 and next thing I knew, I was part of the team – along with him and CapriciousNature – finishing up the new version.
So what’s Version 2.0 that isn’t in the Cyberpunk RED Core Rule Book? More of just about everything. First off, more street drugs, pharmaceuticals (the Cyberpunk RPGs’ equivalent of healing and buffing potions), and medical equipment. Plus a few new pieces of cyberware, as well as some expanded options for existing cyberware. And if your PC does too many drugs or takes on too much cyberware and consequently has problems with Humanity Loss or Addiction, there are more Therapies – at a variety of price points – to help them heal. There’s even a “Cold Kibble” option for an Addicted PC to break their drug habit on their own, with a little help from their friends.
“Medicine” also fills in some mechanical gaps in the core book. Chapter 7 covers using Skills in medical practice. There’s (unofficial) clarification on using Cybertech skill for Treatments/Quick Fixes. All the skills – from Brawl to Paint/Sculpt – not just the four (Cybertech, First Aid, Paramedic, and Surgery) medical skills. Do you need to restrain a patient or avoid being hit by a combative one? Brawl and Evasion. Coax a medical history out of a secretive/uncooperative patient? Conversation. This chapter also covers unusual tasks Medtechs might find themselves doing as part of a job – or just staying out of trouble in the Dark Future. Someone is offering good Eddies to fake their own death? Or just the cause of death? Conversely, do you want to find the real cause of someone’s death? Yes, everything you need to know about faking corpses, faking causes of death, and performing autopsies to detect the fakeries are right here.
Many Cyberpunk RED players who love it – including me! – nonetheless admit that there are some headscratchers in the Core Book, often related to economics. A big one is how much more expensive it is to get “found” cyberware installed. It’s often several times the cost of brand new cyberware including installation. In a setting where the economy is one of scarcity, where disruptions in both manufacturing and supply chain are thoroughly described in the “fluff,” to boot. The Cyberware chapter has tables with revised pricing that are more in line with Dark Future Economics, plus new rules for Discount Cyberware that can be a great bargain or a literal pain.
The updated “Medicine” is also a lot of fun to read. The authors don’t just talk about all the different types of Medtechs from stereotypical ripperdocs to veterinarians to latterday medicine men to therapists who synthesize their own pharmaceuticals. You are introduced to them personally, in two ways. Chapter 8 is Medical Professionals and Businesses. It highlights Night City Medtechs and clinics. The contributors of the Medtechs did so because they were willing to “share” their own PCs with other players. In addition, interspersed are vignettes, quotes, and interviews starring the various Medtechs. Some of those Medtechs may even be familiar to you from live-play streams – or Astral Projections.
Finally, I am pleased that a lot of sensitivity went into making “Medicine in the Time of the RED.” The Addiction chapter starts off with a discussion of safety when addiction is part of an RPG. Both writers and editors took this a step farther by being very careful not to use hurtful or outdated wording for descriptions and mechanics related to addiction, such as “Cure” or the noun “addict.” For similar reasons, contributors and Medtech characters alike have their pronouns included.
If you GM or play cyberpunk RED, I hope you’ll check out “Medicine in the Time of the RED.” It can be downloaded from the Cybernation Uncensored website. Cybernation Uncensored produces some very good livestreams, videos, and homebrew for not just Cyberpunk but Fallout and Dune RPGs. In fact, you may even see “Medicine” used on Livestreams or PbP servers as it has been adopted into use by several public GMs.
Disclaimer: If you haven’t already figured it out, I am a credited editor and contributor for “Medicine in the Time of the RED v2.0.”
Linda Whitson
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