Ruby — Roleplayer Guild

Game Information

⪭ Site Rules 
Follow site rules, obviously, when posting to any of this game's threads.

⪭ GM Decisions 
For all aspects of this roleplay, GMs get final say. We'd rather reach a collaborative agreement on any issue where possible rather than issue any unilateral judgment, however, it should be noted. So talk with us if there's an issue or disagreement.

⪭ Character Sheets 
Make sure all the required information is on a Character Sheet when submitted for review. If your Character Sheet goes from WIP to Awaiting Review, do let the GMs know.

⪭ Character Sheet Review 
It may take some time for your Character Sheet to get reviewed, especially those heavy on equipment and history. Patience is appreciated. Only move your Character Sheet over to the Characters tab after you've been given the okay by a GM.

⪭ Characters 
Each character will be a Merc. What your background is, what your skill-set is, even what your equipment/gear/possessions are will largely be up to each player. Our only rule for this is they have to be good enough to get recruited, but not so good they're considered top-tier Mercs. Think Jackie Welles at the start of Cyberpunk2077.

⪭ Character Deaths 
Characters can die, don't do something awfully stupid and you should be fine. We're not out to arbitrarily kill anyone's hard-earned character. Do not post killing another PC without the other player and a GM being okay with that before hand.

⪭ Posting Level & Requirements 
Casual to High Casual/Advanced/whatever you want to call it these days. Each player will have two weeks to post, with additional time allowances for IRL issues that might arise.

⪭ Equipment 
Weapons and gear will follow a tier structure of Basic, Expensive, Luxury/MilSpec. Cyberware will follow a similar tier structure, Basic, Expensive, Luxury/CorpSpec. This will be expanded on in the Character Sheet section.

⪭ Setting Knowledge Requirement 
If you've played the game Cyberpunk2077, you know enough about the setting to play this game. If you want you can go find the most recent Cyberpunk RPG corebook, Cyberpunk Red, but it's not necessary.

⪭ Discord 
Obviously use this thread for expressing interest and any questions, but if you'd like to live chat with the GMs and other potential players we've thrown up a Discord server you can reach here.

Night City is better than it's been in a long time. The NCART system is fully repaired, the Night City Data Pool is one of the most efficient and safest of all municipal Data Pools, and there simply isn't a better operating environment for most corporations outside home territory where the corporation has full control of a host nation government. (See; Arasaka, Japan.) Some outlying areas have been modified to allow for infrastructure of new neighborhoods and suburbs, with the conversion of older neighborhoods Dammed into Reservoirs of water to act as springboard along with new NET and power infrastructure. Construction of the transcontinental maglev line has undergone major progress and investment, connection between Night City and Chicago of NUSA to be completed no later than 2080. 

Night City has struggled in other areas. The metrics of crime and aggregate Quality of Life (QoL) have both slowed their growth in 2077, though neither metric is currently trending in the right direction. The recent tensions between Arasaka and Militech corporations have highlighted the dangers of large scale influence by major corporate entities, though new Major Jefferson Peralez has announced initiatives to combat gang violence, raise corporate taxation, increase NCPD response time outside Corpo Plaza, and community outreach programs. Political observers quickly point out Peralez has also announced anti-homeless initiatives and a tax hike on private citizens, along with corporations. 

The city has largely rebuilt after the incredible damage of the Fourth Corporate War and the nuclear bombing of the old Arasaka Tower. While Combat Zones were expansive and covered large sections of Westbrook and Downtown, today the only Combat Zone is in a small section of Pacifica. The Night City City Council has come to terms with Kang Tao, allowing new demolition and construction within the failed Pacifica district at incredibly low cost (rumored to be a symbolic single Euro-Dollar) to Kang Tao in return for assurances Kang Tao will bring the Pacifica Combat Zone and overrunning crime problem to heel. Proof that while The Reunification War has left Night City a free state, it has also allowed foreign corporate influence not seen since the 2020s. 

While Night City itself is on the upswing, and most crime is on the decline (outside crimes against corporations and sex crimes), the streets are far from calming their collective shit. While the best Merc since Morgan Blackhand, V, proved just what a top tier Merc can do in modern Night City, they did so blazing a trail through nearly every district and gang in the city. Many of the gangs suffer drains of revenue, leadership, or both. As such the Scav presence has increased in nearly every district of Night City, there have ever been reports of Scav conducted abductions where they haven't been since soon after the Fourth Corporate War, such as corporate apartment buildings in Corpo Plaza. 

Former CorpoRats, former Gangers, former Lawmen, and more have found it more lucrative to try to make it on their own as a Merc than join a gang. Merc groups have become to pop-up, groups of Mercs that work together to find greater success. While this is nothing new, and the afore mentioned V is rumored to have been part of an ill-fated Merc group before hitting the Big Leagues, this was closer to the exception than the rule. Most mid-level Mercs either operate in a group, have operated in a group, or wouldn't mind working in a group. Fixers have responded by cultivating their own roster of various Merc groups, and will often nudge one Merc in the direction of other Mercs. 

Gangs are increasingly hostile to Mercs, tired of being targeted by the mid-level Solo looking to practice their skills or newest gear on little trained gonks wearing gang colors. Some Fixers still prefer lone Mercs, or hastily put-together Merc groups, then cultivating Mercs. Thus far no Merc group has been able to dictate terms to Fixers, though some Mercs have survived long enough to become Fixers on their own, these Fixers specializing in scouting Mercs and putting together teams. With the rise of Mercs have come an increase in Fixers, most with shadowy and mysterious ties, or low-level Fixers that would sell out their own mothers for a quick ascent within the ranks of Night City Fixers. 

Saburo Arasaka's death began a chain reaction that, largely, ended with a crash and boom in the world of Night City's gangs. Whether it was getting caught up in a cold war between Arasaka and Militech, or finding the NCPD swooping in to take advantage of gangs that suddenly found themselves abandoned by corporate protectors, or just victims of the uptick in Merc activity--2077 was a bad year for the gangs of Night City. Especially hard hit were the Maelstrom and the Voodoo Boys. The leadership of both gangs is largely rumored to have been gutted whole. Tyger Claws have also sustained severe damage, both to mid-level leadership and various revenue streams like drugs, human trafficking, and various clubs. The streets are more dependent on Mercs than they have been since 2020, so much so NetWatch and NCPD have both newly established Merc Desks and Task Forces. 

The ongoing conflict between the Valentino and 6th Street gangs seems unphased by the misfortune of other gangs. Both Valentinos and 6th Street have shown no decline in influence or resources, and both remain fixated on each other. Some Corpo watchers openly wonder if the raise in intensity of conflict between Valentinos and 6th Street is tied to this new cold war between Arasaka and Militech; conspiracy theorists claim each gang has become little more than proxy fronts for the two long time corporate rivals. NCPD informant reports dispute this analysis, with one classified informant claiming, "The 'Tinos ain't no Tyger Claws, some of them may be taking Arasaka money and protection, but not all. And not the most O.G. amount those motherfuckers."

While some expected the Mox to benefit the most from the misfortune of Maelstrom and Tyger Claws, that has not seemed to be the case. The small, non-territorial gang has largely remained that way. Despite a Mox backed effort to violently take-over the Tyger Claws dollhouse located in MegaBuilding H8, Clouds, the cloud is currently closed after what NCPD believes to be Tyger Claw retaliation. Mox informants are divided whether the Clouds incident was actually a Mox effort, or the efforts of a splinter Mox faction. The Watson MedCenter has reported an increase in violent theft of cyberware and the kidnapping of several doctors; N54 reporters have described this rash of highly targeted theft a clear sign that Maelstrom are rebuilding faster than expected. 

Not that long ago, the Afterlife was Rogue and the newly returned Dex. Now both are zeroed and gone, but not forgotten...though in different ways. Dex has become a cursed name in the Afterlife, and it's not uncommon for Mercs to refer to a Fixer known to use and throw-away Mercs as, 'just another Dex in the system.' Rogue, on the other hand, is a well-remembered name with a drink in her honor. That's probably no accident given the new owner of the Afterlife; the Merc everyone simply knows as V. Has V gone straight Fixer, have they stayed Merc? Hard to say, because no one has seen V in some time. There sure as shit ain't a 'V' on the drink menu, so you gonks know they aren't zeroed. 

Along with more familiar faces like head bouncer, Emmerick Bronson, and resident Netrunner, Nix, the Afterlife is filled with new faces both in terms of Mercs and Fixers. Taking the place of the top Fixer in the bar is a well-known, and generally well liked, former Corpo Plaza focused Fixer and current (ex?) rockerboy Dino Dinovic. Those on the outside looking say if you're big time enough to get access to the Afterlife's more private back-of-house section, 'Hades', you'll find more mysterious Fixers like Mr. Hands. Wilder rumors claim this is where sightings of V happen these days. Those Mercs with the street cred to get back into Hades...well, they just don't say anything. 

A popular game for those entering Afterlife for the first time is to look for signs of the long-storied ghost of Morgan Blackhand. Ask around, however, and you're met with stone-cold silence...for the most part. According to one of the drinkslingers, Claire, it's worth noting there ain't no 'Morgan Blackhand' on the menu. She's just sayin'.  

Arasaka Corporation was on top of the world going into 2077. They had largely regained most ground lost at the end of the Fourth Corporate War, forcing NUSA and Militech to the negotiating table to end the Unification War, cementing their status back at the top of the Night City foodchain. While most analysts saw it more along the lines of 1A and 1B between Arasaka and Militech for the soul of Night City, those within Arasaka clearly saw it as a matter of Militech slipping behind them for control of the Free City. 

2077 was not nearly as kind to Arasaka as the years proceeding it were. Not only did Saburo Arasaka die, whether murdered from within or assassinated by Militech/NUSA forces (depending on who you believe), not only did the factions within Arasaka nearly come to actual blows, but it's clear to anyone that looks that Militech has gained ground on Arasaka within Night City. This perception was cemented with the Merc assault on Arasaka Tower, which resulted in the destruction of vital infrastructure to the Relic product. 

Yorinobu Arasaka has returned to Tokyo, while Hanaka Arasaka has retreated from public life to focus on personal and family matters. Michiko Arasaka has taken over her grandfather's former office in Night City's Arasaka Tower, a move that is perhaps more than symbolic; many former Saboru supporters within Arasaka are rumored to have thrown their support behind Michiko's faction within the megacorp.

Militech International Armaments has had a relatively fantastic last half century. Not only did the Fourth Corporate War establish them as a true megacorporation in the world, not only did they found some measure in success by forcing Arasaka into being a Japanese only centered corporation and put a serious delay in Saburo Arasaka's plans of world domination, but they nearly found themselves in control of all North America via the NUSA Reunification War. Instead Arasaka showed back up as a true world-wide megacorp, and force NUSA--and by extension Militech--to settle for most of North America. Those who believe Militech will be happy with all their gains, instead of focusing on their losses, know nothing of Militech. 

With over 60% of all NUSA government contracts belonging to Militechas well as the multiple times the NUSA has 'nationalized' Militech, many analysts consider the true leader of Militech to be former Militech CEO and current NUSA President Rosalind Myers instead of current CEO Lucas Harford. Whoever is really in control seems largely irrelevant on a practical level; Militech and NUSA have long been considered more intertwined than most corporations and their host nations. Speculation has surfaced than while the Reunification War was mostly a success, Arasaka entering the conflict when they did prevented from Militech and NUSA from cementing the former Free States as true NUSA controlled territories. Indeed, many of the former Free States seem to be NUSA States in name alone. 

Both Myers and Harford have been reported, in private, to claim Night City is the key to kicking Arasaka out of North America for good.  

The meteroic rise of Kang Tao has seen it go from a Taiwan high-tech manufacturer to a Chinese megacorporation and a worldwide leader in bleeding edge Smart Weapons and computer systems. Where Militech has used owning over 60% of NUSA government contracts as a springboard, Kang Tao owns nearly 75% of government contracts in China. This fact, along with bold choices and excellent multi-front strategy, have set up Kang Tao as a true rival to Arasaka in Asia--something considered nearly impossible in the height of the Fourth Corporate War. 

Despite the greatness in the achievement of getting to their new lofty position, Kang Tao continues to push and grow. Most recently they have announced large acquisitions and expansions that will see them trying to become a major player in the crowded-at-the-top markets of defense and private security. They are one of the few megacorps in the world focusing on trying to make the world's oceans navigable once again despite major dangers of remaining sea mine zones, as well as  autonomous submersible drones and underwater weapons platforms leftover from the Fourth Corporate War. 

Their rise, and their current efforts, could be in a precarious state their long-time CEO passed away. The Kang-Tao Board of Directors has recently promoted Vice President of Research and Development, Xiaohan Ling, as the new CEO. Mrs. Ling had spent time recently in Night City at Konpeki Plaza, holding meetings with various Night City, Arasaka, and Militech officials. Some suspect Mrs. Ling, and Kang-Tao, of trying to find avenues to muscle into the top tier of corporations in Night City in terms of power and influence, no matter the cost to Arasaka or Militech. Although both Arasaka and Militech have avoided any kind of open rivalry or conflict with the Chinese-based megacorp, despite return attacks on a Kang-Tao AV and the recruitment of a high-level Arasaka executive, it remains to be seen whether that is a trend that can continue after the Reunification War and the renewed importance of Night City to the lucrative North American market.

By far one of the smaller corporations on a list of major players in Night City. While they are not considered a rival of any other corporation, or government, some analysts do wonder if there is something to the fact that Biotechnica does not have an office anywhere within NUSA; instead both their North American offices reside in locations outside NUSA jurisdiction with locations in the Republic of Texas and Night City. The true source of Biotechnica's growth has always been CHOOH2; the answer to the world's fossil fuel crisis in the early 21st Century. The raise in dust levels from the Himalayan War, as well as the increase in dust storms and hurricanes from the growing severity of Global Warming, only further cemented CHOOH2 as the global fuel standard. 

Within years of it's development nearly vehicle and power planet converted to CHOOH2. Although Biotechnica held worldwide patents, it lacked the production facilities to meet nearly overnight worldwide demand, forcing it to license production to several large agribusinesses and petro-corporations. These deals made Biotechnica an extremely wealthy, but still not very large, company. SovOil and Petrochem have the exclusive rights into producing the fuel worldwide, although these licensing deals are rumored to be coming to a close in the near future. Arasaka has become a key client and contractor for Biotechnica, spearheading the CHOO2 Services market, supporting the production and distribution of CHOOH2 without actually producing the fuel itself.

Arasaka's CHOOH2 services and distribution contract is reportedly the first of the massive CHOOH2 based contracts to expire. Biotechnica has leveraged their contracts and copyrights to avoid being absorbed by a larger megacorp, growing and expanding in the last thirty years to include everything from bio-weapons to major efforts in cloning, reforestation, and medicines and vaccines. Founder and longtime CEO Nicolo Loggagia died under mysterious circumstances two years ago, ushering in Lars Marsted as the new CEO. Harvard educated and the business mastermind for the corporation behind all CHOOH2 licensing, Mr. Marsted was recently seen in Night City to oversee the investigation into the death of highly prized employee, and Biotechnica Night City Regional Director, Joanne Koch.

Night Corporation is the smallest corporation on this list, as their focus is entirely on Night City and it's immediate surroundings. They are also, perhaps most impressively, the most secretive and mysterious of all corporations on this list. No one knows exactly how much capital NightCorp has in reserves, what it's exact lines of credit are, let alone what it's main source of revenue is. Despite some projections, no one even knows how many people NightCorp actually employees. It's a level of secrecy no other corporation in the world has been able to duplicate. The corporation is part Richard Night's legacy, the visionary industrialist who laid the bedrock of Night City. It was founded by Night's widow, Miriam, who used the money her late husband left behind to build it from the ground up and structure it around Night's ideals and principles.

While Miriam was the longest tenured CEO of NightCorp, her death saw a succession of CEOs with diminishing compentency. Each new CEO achieved less than the one before, many in the Night City business sector believing it was only the Fourth Corporate War's fallout that allowed NightCorp to survive at all. With Arasaka forced to become a Japanese-only corporation for decades, as well as the massive public relationships crisis surroudning Militech following the near destruction and nuclear fallout of Night City, it was NightCorp that was left holding the bag to rebuild Night City--a task Night City, and NightCorp itself, didn't have the resources for. 

Despite this, somehow, Night Corps was able to rebuild large sections of Night City. From shrinking the amount of Combat Zones in the city to the post-Fourth Corporate War estimate of half the city being a Combat Zone, down to a single small region in Pacifica being considered a true Combat Zone, to rebuilding the NCART system by elevating tracks and modernizing the system, NightCorp was able to engineer and construct solutions for a vast majority of Night City's population. Although it's argued NightCorp has not been able to fulfill it's promises to North Watson or Pacifica, the modern day Night City of 2077 would not exist without the efforts of NightCorp. Working with the technology firm Data Tech, NightCorp was able to make Night City the first city in the world to have a fully functioning and efficient Data Pool, allowing restore cheap and reliable communication across Night City for the first time since the crash of the first NET. 

Despite changing CEOs twice in the last seven years, NightCorp has made two surprise announcements: that by 2080 the city's subterranian maglev system will connect Night City with the NUSA city of Chicago, and a related strategic partnership with Chicago based Storm Technologies, a growing rival to Militech on the North American continent in the areas of aerospace, technology, and defense. 

Weapons and gear will follow a tier structure of Basic, Expensive, Luxury/MilSpec. Cyberware will follow a similar tier structure, Basic, Expensive, Luxury/CorpSpec.

When creating your character please understand you're, at best, a mid-level Merc. Jackie Welles has been our example, because he has enough reputation to get into Afterlife, he has a Luxury pistol. Similar to V at that stage in Cyberpunk2077, while V's weapons aren't above Basic, the Kiroshi optic is CorpSpec, bringing Jackie and V on the same Tier as a Mid-Level Merc. Enough Street Cred to get the job, but not enough Street Cred to own the street the job is on, or be expected to do the job solo.

As such keep that balance in mind when deciding weapons/armor/gear/cyberware for your character. As a general rule of thumb, one piece of Luxury/MilSpec/CorpSpec cyberware. No numerical system in place for this, just keep to the spirit of the intended Mercs and don't try to power play.

Format provided by @Lord Wraith. You can use whatever format you wish, just so long as the required information is all there. 

 N A M E
N A M E

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"Witty Quote"
 C H A R A C T E R   P O R T R A I T
C H A R A C T E R   P O R T R A I T 
 C H A R A C T E R   S U M M A R Y
C H A R A C T E R   S U M M A R Y

Given Middle Surname
_________________________________________________________ 
Age   |   ♀/♂   |   Sexuality
_________________________________________________________
Marital Status   |   Occupation   |   Affiliation
 P H Y S I C A L   P R O F I L E
P H Y S I C A L   P R O F I L E

▼   P H Y S I C A L  T R A I T S
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	► Build - Descriptor
	► Ethnicity - Colour
	► Hair Colour - Colour
	► Eye Colour - Colour
	► Other - Scars, Tattoos, Piercings etc
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 C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S
C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S

▼   C H A R A C T E R   I T E M S
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	► Items - Related Information
	
▼   K N O W N   A S S O C I A T E S
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	► Name - Description/Relevance

▼   S K I L L S
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	► Skill - Description/Relevance

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 C H A R A C T E R   H I S T O R Y
C H A R A C T E R   H I S T O R Y

This is where you outline your vision for the character including any notable changes or differences from the regularly accepted canon. This should be a short summary that provides insight into where the character is in terms of their overall progress and development. You could also include any notable differences from the standard canon you've added to your character.

 D E T A I L E D   A P P E A R A N C E
D E T A I L E D   A P P E A R A N C E

A full physical description to compliment your face claim and physical profile. In addition to physical attributes, this section can be used to flesh out personal mannerisms such as how the character carries themselves, do they talk with their hands or other such notable details. A sense of personal style can also be described here along with any other elaboration needed to complement the physical profile such as a description of tattoos, coloured hair etc.

 P L O T ( S )   &   G O A L ( S )
P L O T ( S )   &   G O A L ( S )

Why do you want to play this character, what is the driving motivation behind both this desire and the character themselves. What do you hope to accomplish and where do you want the character's story/stories to go? For a driving character, there should be enough of an outline present to interest other players along with specifications towards how many players you're looking to involve or available roles. For supporting characters, this should indicate either a plot you've arranged to be part of or the type of plot you're looking to be involved in. Roaming characters have the privilege of doing either or simply stating a roadmap for the character to exemplify how you'd ideally like them to move between plots.
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