I'm looking forward to Blade Runner.

Best Selling RPGs - Available Now @ DriveThruRPG.com
I watched the intro of the Westwood Studios game last night (about to replay it), and Colt McCoy mentions that he's been on other investigations rather than BR cases. So there are in universe examples of this happening, although the main sources have of course honed in on the big ticket replicant hunting cases.
 
I've only skimmed the book so far and haven't looked at the other materials.

As far as really quick and shallow impressions go -- visually, the book looks great. All of the art appears to be original illustrations, though -- no movie stills or anything like that. The organization seems to make sense as well and I could find information on specific topics pretty easily.

The rules for how to structure an investigation look really interesting and I am looking forward to giving those a closer read. For setting info, it's mostly focused on LA with only passing mention of other locations, which was a bit disappointing. I also thought the lack of write-ups for characters from the movies to be an odd omission, but maybe that was a contract thing.
 
Just had a quick scan through and it is a lovely, I mean really lovely, looking book so there are no worries there.

My focus is on the Promotion Points and Humanity Points elements of the system and how they are awarded. Now, this is only a quick look over so I may be missing something, but many of the examples given for how Humanity Points are awarded (remember these are used to increase skills) are not only in conflict with how Promotion Points are gained but could also lead to a loss of Promotion Points. This quick scan has done nothing to alleviate the concerns myself and others had upthread regarding how this will produce a narrow play style and, more worryingly, also how players will meta-game the two currencies and (knowing my group) take the piss out of it too because it does seem ridiculous. But, as I say, I've just scanned the rules at the moment so others may want to explain further and point out why this wouldn't be the case.

I think there's an adventure in the starter set so I may look at that to see what an investigation looks like but I doubt it will address the above concern but will have to see...

EDIT 1: Actually, I don't know how I got these PDFs sent to me. I only backed it at 5 SEK which is less than a quid!

EDIT 2: Someone on the KS comments has stated the following, with others agreeing:

In general the font size is too small. the main body text is in a 9 point font, and the index is in an 8 point font. Ideally for readability you want something closer to 12 point font.

May be an issue to consider for people here too.
 
Last edited:
So far, sounds like eventually not backing it was the right decision.
 
So far, sounds like eventually not backing it was the right decision.

I was on the fence too. I eventually decided to back it, of course, but I think I would have been ultimately content either way.

Overall, my impression is that it's very well done, but also very focused, to the point where if you don't want to do exactly what it wants to do the way it says to do it, you won't be happy.

Granted, FL did state upfront that that was the approach they would take, so I don't feel misled or anything.
 
Overall, my impression is that it's very well done, but also very focused, to the point where if you don't want to do exactly what it wants to do the way it says to do it, you won't be happy.

That's one of the reasons I decided not to back it. I'm not interested in using it for the type of play that they seem to be pushing for. If it turns out to be a good general resource book, I might buy it somewhere down the line.
 
My group is chomping at the bit to play now, but I didn't get a chance this week to take a look at it. They really want to explore the "what is it to be human" angle.

I'm interested in finding out more on the desolated urban areas with people clustering into parts of the city.
 
Additionally, all this LaMDA AI stuff that has been coming out this past month, REALLY has me wanting to ask some of the Voight Kampff test questions to LaMDA. Based on the transcripts I've seen, I think it would talk around them OR say something like "Oh, that sounds pretty traumatic. I would certainly help flip the tortoise over!" I think it would try to show it empathized by talking about empathizing.

bladerunnerholden.jpeg
 
The smaller font size has me concerned and a bit dismayed. <sigh> The pdfs looks wonderful baring that but I've not had a chance to really read through them yet.
 
For those who have both this FL game (Bladerunner) and their Twilight 2000, how similar are the base game mechanics?

(e.g. are they both stats+skills? are stats/skills/whatever rated in die types? are the pool sizes roughly the same? is the difficulty advice given to GMs similar? are their special abilities/feat-alikes characters can gain? etc)

I don't need a full review - just looking more for system impressions.

I own Alien, Forbidden Lands and Mutant Year Zero. I like the "Year Zero Engine". As I understand it, both TW2K and BR have tweaked the base system. I'd like to see how those tweaks work with the other Y0E games.
 
I don't have MY0, but I did receive the BR PDFs recently. I haven't had a chance to read them in detail, but it does look like they rate things in terms of die types.
 
Welcome to the Pub gruagach gruagach.

Thanks!

I don't have MY0, but I did receive the BR PDFs recently. I haven't had a chance to read them in detail, but it does look like they rate things in terms of die types.

Thanks! I got that much. Looking to see, for want of a better way to put it, which game between Twilight 2k and Bladerunner would give me more mechanical gee gaws compatible with other Year Zero Engine games.

Specifically, I really like using multiple die types (because of my dice addiction, I have lots of dice...). I'd like to take some of the cool mechanical tech (e.g. Alien RPG stress mechanic) and apply it to a base resolution of either TW2K or BR.

So looking for guidance on which of those two systems (TW2K or BR) would more easily enable such conversions.
 
If you're talking about the stress dice from Aliens specifically, I think you can just stick it in whole-hog, using d6's as presented. In T2k the Ammo dice work exactly the same way as the Stress dice during autofire attacks, and if you want to be adding that aspect of building up your stress for the advantage vs taking the risk of rolling the 1's that you can't push off, then you need to stick with the number of dice to make it work well.
 
If you're talking about the stress dice from Aliens specifically, I think you can just stick it in whole-hog, using d6's as presented. In T2k the Ammo dice work exactly the same way as the Stress dice during autofire attacks, and if you want to be adding that aspect of building up your stress for the advantage vs taking the risk of rolling the 1's that you can't push off, then you need to stick with the number of dice to make it work well.

Thanks for the information!
 
Anyone got their shipping notice yet?
Nope. I had to send weekly emails for four weeks to Free League customer service after waiting two weeks before that on a recent order that Funagain Logistics was fulfilling for them. If that gives you an idea of what to expect. I've currently got one other order in the hopper and this Kickstarter that Free Leagues mentioned was in the order queue to be pulled by Funagain. I loathe Funagain Logistics, they suck soooooo much.
 
Anyone got their shipping notice yet?

I got an email on thr 16th that said shipping in the US will start soon, but nothing on anything actually shipping yet. With this week being Thanksgiving, I wasn't expecting to hear about any activity before next week.
 
I got an email on thr 16th that said shipping in the US will start soon, but nothing on anything actually shipping yet. With this week being Thanksgiving, I wasn't expecting to hear about any activity before next week.
Someone at my local game shop actually got theirs. Which annoys me since I've yet to get a shipping notice, which Funagain is terrible about doing I've noted from others and my own personal experiences. I've backed almost everything that Free League has done Kickstarter wise and in a "all in" sort of way. Plus I've ordered a lot of other things from them via their webstore.

Due to the repeated and ongoing issues with Funagain Logistics I'm extremely unhappy. I've let Free Leagues know repeatedly about this and how it took my love of their products and what they do and soured it completely. Having to nag on each order on a weekly basis to get them to nudge Funagain Logistics to check on ones orders gets frustrating, stressful and old.

I didn't back their most recent Kickstarter because of it and have let them know that I'm not likely to back anymore until they fix the situation with Funagain Logistics. As it is, I'm still in the midst of getting items from four Kickstarters from them and one outstanding order. lol. No more.
 
Funagain is terrible when it comes to shipping notices. For example, here's what happened with my copy of Ruins of the Lost Lands from the TOR 2e Kickstarter:
  • I got a notice from UPS that a shipping label had been generated.
  • Three weeks passed with no updates. Meanwhile, the book showed up on the shelves at my FLGS.
  • My order was finally delivered by an entirely different carrier (the U.S. Post Office).
  • Two days later, I received a notice that my order had shipped. Wow, thanks.
And that's an order that they handled successfully. Last time I checked, a bunch of people were still waiting on their orders, while others had received two or three copies of the book.

Thankfully, although I backed Blade Runner, I only did so at the PDF level, so I didn't have to deal with that nonsense again.
 
I actually got my shipping notice (with tracking) on Monday, and it's supposed to be delivered on Saturday.
 
Funagain is terrible when it comes to shipping notices. For example, here's what happened with my copy of Ruins of the Lost Lands from the TOR 2e Kickstarter:
  • I got a notice from UPS that a shipping label had been generated.
  • Three weeks passed with no updates. Meanwhile, the book showed up on the shelves at my FLGS.
  • My order was finally delivered by an entirely different carrier (the U.S. Post Office).
  • Two days later, I received a notice that my order had shipped. Wow, thanks.
And that's an order that they handled successfully. Last time I checked, a bunch of people were still waiting on their orders, while others had received two or three copies of the book.

Thankfully, although I backed Blade Runner, I only did so at the PDF level, so I didn't have to deal with that nonsense again.
I didn't get a shipping notice on that one at all. The only reason I knew that the Ruins was in the queue to ship was that Free Leagues customer service reps mentioned it while doing research for the missing order from their website. lol. As it was Ruins just showed up with no packing slip, no notification that it was sent and I actually missed the three sets of replacement 12 sided dice that were strewn in the package in the popcorn packing material. It was only going back to my trash and going through the popcorn that I found them.
 
Someone at my local game shop actually got theirs. Which annoys me since I've yet to get a shipping notice, which Funagain is terrible about doing I've noted from others and my own personal experiences. I've backed almost everything that Free League has done Kickstarter wise and in a "all in" sort of way. Plus I've ordered a lot of other things from them via their webstore.

Due to the repeated and ongoing issues with Funagain Logistics I'm extremely unhappy. I've let Free Leagues know repeatedly about this and how it took my love of their products and what they do and soured it completely. Having to nag on each order on a weekly basis to get them to nudge Funagain Logistics to check on ones orders gets frustrating, stressful and old.

I didn't back their most recent Kickstarter because of it and have let them know that I'm not likely to back anymore until they fix the situation with Funagain Logistics. As it is, I'm still in the midst of getting items from four Kickstarters from them and one outstanding order. lol. No more.

With Kickstarters I take a long term view, they will show up when they show up. To be honest there have been a few I completely forgot about until I had a surprise package at my door.

Since Covid I've found tracking to be completely unreliable. I don't know why, it used to be pretty solid, but these days it is more of a suggestion. I've had lots of things turn up that don't show that they have even shipped. Funagain may suck, but it is possible that some of it is beyond their control.

Funagain is terrible when it comes to shipping notices. For example, here's what happened with my copy of Ruins of the Lost Lands from the TOR 2e Kickstarter:
  • I got a notice from UPS that a shipping label had been generated.
  • Three weeks passed with no updates. Meanwhile, the book showed up on the shelves at my FLGS.
  • My order was finally delivered by an entirely different carrier (the U.S. Post Office).
  • Two days later, I received a notice that my order had shipped. Wow, thanks.
And that's an order that they handled successfully. Last time I checked, a bunch of people were still waiting on their orders, while others had received two or three copies of the book.

Thankfully, although I backed Blade Runner, I only did so at the PDF level, so I didn't have to deal with that nonsense again.

USPS, FedEx and UPS have a complicated relationship. USPS is often the "last mile" for these two companies.
 
So what do you play in Blade Runner? People like Decker?
Replicants?
I mean it might get dull only hunting replicants (but that's me.)
 
So what do you play in Blade Runner? People like Decker?
Replicants?
I mean it might get dull only hunting replicants (but that's me.)
The site says: "The core game and its line of expansions will push the boundaries of investigative gameplay in tabletop RPGs, giving players a range of tools to solve an array of cases far beyond retiring Replicants. Beyond the core casework, the RPG will both in setting and mechanics showcase key themes of Blade Runner – sci-fi action, corporate intrigue, existential character drama, and moral conflict – that challenge players to question your friends, empathize with your enemies, and explore the poisons and perseverance of hope and humanity during such inhumane times."
 
So what do you play in Blade Runner? People like Decker?
Replicants?
I mean it might get dull only hunting replicants (but that's me.)
The setting is closer to the 2049 time than the original movie; characters are Blade Runners but can be either human or replicant. There's some legally tolerated use of replicants on Earth and BRs are responsible for investigating crimes against replicants as well as by replicants.

Sample cases from the random tables in the GM section include:
-a Replicant claims innocence because their owner ordered them to commit unlawful acts and they were forced to obey;
-a journalist requests protection after uncovering a damning conspiracy against Wallace Corp (the company making replicants);
-the Replicant Detection Unit must go undercover to suss out a criminal gambling ring hosting underground Replicant death matches;
-Replicants are being kidnapped and sold on the black market;
-LAPD Internal Affairs is investigating another Blade Runner for excessive use of force and abuse of power;
-an earthquake results in Replicant Blade Runners being enlisted as emergency responders; and
-an animoid owl with supposedly implanted memories of a dead Wallace Corp bio-scientist goes missing.

Characters are all cops in a unit that deals specifically with replicants, a population that looks and acts mostly human but is not seen as human and does not have human rights but are protected by something like property laws. Within that framework there's room for different missions, and there's certainly nothing in the game that would make it that difficult for alternate campaigns dealing with non-replicant crimes. But it is purpose-built - it's not a generic or sandbox cyberpunk/noir game.
 
Got my tracking number today. Here's hoping my shipment isn't messed up with missing and damaged items like I've seen that so many are.
 
Got my tracking number today. Here's hoping my shipment isn't messed up with missing and damaged items like I've seen that so many are.
Mine did. I got notification that my package arrived today. It was a big one as I used this kickstarter to grab a lot of Free League books from other games. I went downstairs and there were two packages for my neighbor. I took them over to her with the faint hope that my package would be on her doorstep.

It wasn't, so I went home to track it. It showed my package was delivered to the street address "Dock" in Brick, NJ, which is about 30 miles down the Garden State Parkway for me, and signed for by "Jonathan". No last name.

I tried putting in a claim on UPS, but it told me my description of the contents was invalid despite being the exact description of contents from my shipping notification. I tried about 50 variations before giving up and going to the chat bot, which directed me to the broken claim form, so I typed "speak to a human" a few times and it spat out a phone number to get a voicebot which asked for my tracking number. After three failed attempts to understand me it told me to use the chatbot and hung up.

All told, I spent about three hours getting nowhere. I'm going to try again after running my Strange Tales of Songling game tonight to see if things work better at a quieter hour.

And for the record, my email from Funagain does show my correct address, so I don't know there the broken address came from. I'm assuming UPS in this case.
 
Baulderstone Baulderstone WTF? I mean wow. You soaked up all my bad luck with Funagain Logistics! Egad. I was just coming to post that my package came in, everything included this time and no errors. Feel bad mentioning that now though. Email Free League, they're pretty great Daniel and Jenny Lehto have been super to deal with when it came to Funagain issues.
 
I received my package today. It had one deluxe core rulebook, game runner screen, and the starter set. Unfortunately, I ordered two deluxe core rulebooks. I triple checked.
 
So people have this now. Excellent. Let me ask the only question that matters to me - what are the mystery mechanics? (If any). I was really hoping that FL did something super cool there, but I have my doubts.
 
Maybe if the mystery rules are good I could just buy the PDF and import them into Cyberpunk Red!
 
It will probably take longer to arrive here in Canada but I'm looking forward to my copy!
 
Banner: The best cosmic horror & Cthulhu Mythos @ DriveThruRPG.com
Back
Top