Cities Without Number is a cyberpunk RPG by Kevin Crawford, offering a free PDF edition with sandbox worldbuilding tools, hacking mechanics, and old-school gameplay for immersive dystopian adventures.
Overview of the Game
Cities Without Number is a cyberpunk tabletop RPG designed by Kevin Crawford, blending neon-lit dystopia with sandbox gameplay. It offers a free PDF edition, making it accessible to new players while providing depth for veterans. The game is part of the “Without Number” series, sharing a system with Stars Without Number and Worlds Without Number. Players explore a gritty future filled with cyberware, hacking, and corporate intrigue. The game emphasizes flexibility, with tools for creating custom districts and managing factions. Its mission tags and backdrop options allow GMs to craft unique campaigns. Whether running a standalone game or integrating it into other settings like Shadowrun, Cities Without Number delivers a versatile and immersive cyberpunk experience with a focus on storytelling and player agency.
Key Features of the Cyberpunk Setting
Cities Without Number immerses players in a gritty, neon-lit dystopia where megacorps and street tribes vie for power. The game features a robust system for cyberware and hacking, allowing players to customize their characters with high-tech enhancements and engage in seamless hacking mechanics. Faction management enables players to lead or interact with gangs, corporations, and other groups, adding depth to the game world. The setting also includes tools for creating custom districts, allowing GMs to craft unique urban environments. With its focus on chrome and misery, the game blends the aesthetic of classic cyberpunk with sandbox-style gameplay, offering a versatile and immersive experience for players who enjoy both storytelling and strategic gameplay.
Importance of the Free PDF Edition
The free PDF edition of Cities Without Number is a cornerstone of accessibility, allowing new players to dive into the cyberpunk sandbox without cost. This edition includes the core rules, character creation, and setting tools, making it a complete experience. Its availability democratizes entry, enabling GMs to share it effortlessly with players. The free PDF also serves as a gateway to the game’s expansive worldbuilding and faction mechanics. As part of Sine Nomine Publishing’s tradition of quality, the free edition ensures that financial barriers don’t hinder participation, while its content-rich nature makes it a valuable resource for both new and veteran players alike.
Character Creation and Development
Cities Without Number offers streamlined templates and flexible ability score options, allowing players to customize characters with ease. The system balances simplicity with depth, ensuring unique playstyles.
Streamlined Character Creation Templates
Cities Without Number provides two-page quick creation templates, making character generation fast and accessible. These templates guide players through streamlined ability score generation, with options for 3d6 rolls or manual assignment. The system allows customization, letting players adjust one ability to 14 if desired. The extensive foci list offers diverse skill specializations, while the Administer skill proves niche but valuable for contracts and legal battles. This approach ensures unique playstyles while maintaining simplicity, making it ideal for both new and experienced players. The templates are particularly useful for GMs aiming to start campaigns quickly, ensuring everyone is ready to dive into the cyberpunk sandbox seamlessly.
Ability Score Generation and Customization
Cities Without Number offers flexible ability score generation, allowing players to choose between 3d6 rolls or manual assignment. The system includes options to adjust one ability score to 14 if desired, ensuring customization. Players can also reroll if results are too low, providing balance. This approach blends randomness with control, letting players craft unique characters. The ability scores influence skills and foci, making customization key for tailored playstyles. The game’s flexibility ensures accessibility for new players while offering depth for veterans, making character creation both intuitive and engaging in this cyberpunk sandbox setting.
Skills and Foci System Explained
Cities Without Number features a robust skills and foci system, allowing players to define their characters’ expertise. Skills represent broad areas of proficiency, while foci provide specialized enhancements within those skills. For example, the Administer skill can be paired with foci like Legal Expertise or Corporate Tactics, enabling unique abilities in negotiation, contract management, or faction leadership. This system ensures characters are both versatile and highly customizable, catering to diverse playstyles; Foci also add narrative depth, making each character’s abilities feel distinct. The interplay between skills and foci creates a balanced yet flexible framework, allowing players to excel in specific roles while maintaining adaptability in the game’s cyberpunk sandbox setting.
Game Mechanics and System
Cities Without Number blends old-school simplicity with cyberpunk complexity, featuring 2-page character creation templates, 3d6 ability scores, and a flexible skill system with foci for customization.
Core Rules and Gameplay Loop
The core rules of Cities Without Number are designed for simplicity and flexibility, using a d20-based system with a focus on skill checks and narrative storytelling. The gameplay loop revolves around player-driven exploration, combat, and social interactions, with clear rules for task resolution. The system emphasizes player agency, allowing for creative problem-solving and sandbox-style play. Combat is fast-paced, with straightforward mechanics that avoid excessive complexity. The game also includes robust tools for hacking, cyberware, and faction management, making it versatile for both new and experienced players. The free PDF edition provides all necessary rules, ensuring accessibility for everyone. This approach creates a balanced mix of old-school charm and modern cyberpunk elements, making Cities Without Number a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
Hacking and Cyberware Mechanics
The hacking system in Cities Without Number is designed to be intuitive and engaging, using a verb-noun structure that keeps the game flowing without resorting to complex sub-systems. Players can execute hacks seamlessly during gameplay, with clear rules for success, failure, and consequences. Cyberware integration is equally streamlined, offering a wide range of implants and enhancements that players can customize to fit their characters. The game balances depth with accessibility, ensuring that even new players can grasp the mechanics quickly. The free PDF edition provides detailed tables and guidelines for both hacking and cyberware, making it easy for GMs and players to incorporate these elements into their campaigns. This system enhances gameplay while maintaining the game’s sandbox and narrative focus.
Gang and Faction Management
Cities Without Number includes robust rules for managing gangs and factions, allowing players to form alliances, control territories, and engage in power struggles. The game provides tools for creating custom factions, complete with motivations, resources, and influence. Players can lead their own organizations, navigating the complexities of loyalty, resources, and rivalries. These mechanics seamlessly integrate with the game’s sandbox design, enabling dynamic worldbuilding and narrative-driven conflicts. The free PDF edition offers detailed guidelines for faction creation and management, making it easy for GMs to weave these elements into their campaigns. This system adds depth and replayability, allowing players to shape the world and its power structures in meaningful ways.
Worldbuilding and Setting Design
Cities Without Number provides tools for crafting custom districts and system-neutral worldbuilding, enabling GMs to create immersive cyberpunk settings with neon-and-dust aesthetics and integrate them seamlessly with other RPG worlds.
Tools for Creating Custom Districts
Cities Without Number offers robust tools for crafting unique districts, blending neon-and-dust aesthetics with functional design. The free PDF provides GMs with detailed guidelines to create immersive, cyberpunk-inspired areas, from sprawling corporate enclaves to gritty slums. These tools emphasize sandbox creativity, allowing for tailored environments that reflect the game’s dystopian themes. Players can explore districts filled with faction dynamics, street-level activities, and hidden opportunities, making each area feel alive and integral to the story. The system’s flexibility ensures that even new GMs can build compelling settings, enhancing the overall narrative and gameplay experience.
System-Neutral Worldbuilding Resources
Cities Without Number provides extensive system-neutral tools for crafting cyberpunk worlds, making it versatile for any RPG. The free PDF includes district creation guidelines, faction rules, and mission tags that GMs can adapt to other settings. These resources emphasize sandbox design, allowing for rich, immersive environments. Whether integrating into Shadowrun or other cyberpunk games, the tools enable unique worldbuilding without tying players to a single system. The game’s old-school approach ensures compatibility across various RPG frameworks, making it a valuable resource for GMs seeking to enhance their campaigns with detailed, customizable settings.
Integrating with Other Settings (e.g., Shadowrun)
Cities Without Number seamlessly integrates with other cyberpunk settings like Shadowrun, offering a flexible system for GMs. The free PDF provides tools for adapting its mechanics, such as faction and district creation, to enhance existing worlds. Players can leverage the game’s sandbox approach to craft unique stories within familiar settings. This compatibility allows GMs to layer CWN’s cyberpunk elements onto Shadowrun’s rich lore, creating a hybrid experience. The system’s adaptability ensures that both new and veteran players can enjoy a cohesive narrative without learning entirely new rules, making it an excellent addition to any cyberpunk RPG campaign.
Resources and Support
Cities Without Number offers extensive resources, including a free PDF edition, deluxe print options, and a dedicated subreddit for community support and shared content.
Free PDF Edition and Its Benefits
The free PDF edition of Cities Without Number is a cornerstone of accessibility, offering the complete core rules and setting for players and GMs alike. This edition is fully shareable, making it easy to introduce new players to the game without cost barriers. It includes tools for character creation, worldbuilding, and gameplay mechanics, ensuring everyone can dive into the cyberpunk sandbox experience. The PDF is compatible with both digital and print use, and its portability allows for seamless integration with other systems like Stars Without Number. This free version is a testament to the game’s commitment to inclusivity and flexibility, providing a robust foundation for endless adventures in a dystopian future.
Deluxe Edition and Print Options
The Deluxe Edition of Cities Without Number offers a premium experience, featuring high-quality printing, sewn bindings, and exclusive content. Available through platforms like DriveThruRPG, it includes enhanced artwork and expanded rules, making it a must-have for dedicated players. Print-on-demand options provide a tactile way to enjoy the game, while the deluxe version is ideal for collectors and fans of physical media. For those who backed the Kickstarter, a limited offset-print edition with superior paper quality is available, showcasing the game’s polished design. These print options complement the free PDF, offering players a choice between convenience and a luxurious tabletop experience, ensuring Cities Without Number is accessible in the format players prefer most.
Community and Subreddit Support
The Cities Without Number community thrives on its active subreddit, where players and GMs share tips, resources, and campaign ideas. This hub fosters collaboration, with discussions ranging from hacking mechanics to faction management. Fans often highlight the game’s versatility, especially its compatibility with other settings like Shadowrun. The free PDF edition has made it easier for newcomers to join, sparking lively debates and creative builds. Kevin Crawford’s involvement in the community further enriches the experience, as he engages with feedback and ideas. Whether you’re a veteran or new to cyberpunk RPGs, the subreddit offers a welcoming space to explore and enhance your Cities Without Number experience, ensuring you never run out of inspiration for your next adventure.
Why Play Cities Without Number?
Cities Without Number offers a unique blend of cyberpunk sandbox gameplay, versatile worldbuilding tools, and a thriving community, making it an accessible and engaging choice for both new and veteran players.
Comparison with Other Cyberpunk RPGs
Cities Without Number stands out among cyberpunk RPGs for its balanced mix of complexity and accessibility. Unlike Cyberpunk Red, it offers a more streamlined system, while its sandbox focus differs from the narrative-driven approach of CY_Borg. The free PDF edition makes it an excellent entry point for new players, unlike premium titles like Shadowrun. Its modular design and faction management tools provide depth without overwhelming players, appealing to both veterans and newcomers. The game’s portability and integration with other settings, such as Shadowrun, add versatility. Overall, Cities Without Number strikes a unique chord, blending old-school mechanics with modern cyberpunk themes, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a flexible and immersive experience.
Unique Features and Sandbox Potential
Cities Without Number shines with its modular design and extensive tools for custom worldbuilding. The game offers a unique blend of old-school mechanics and modern cyberpunk themes, providing players with a high degree of flexibility. Its sandbox potential is enhanced by system-neutral resources, allowing GMs to craft unique districts and integrate the game with other settings like Shadowrun. The hacking and cyberware mechanics are streamlined, keeping gameplay fluid without sacrificing depth. Faction management adds layers of strategy, enabling players to build and lead organizations. With its free PDF edition, Cities Without Number is accessible to newcomers while offering veteran players a rich, customizable experience. This versatility makes it a standout choice for cyberpunk enthusiasts seeking a dynamic, immersive RPG.
Accessibility for New Players
Cities Without Number is designed to be welcoming to new players, offering a free PDF edition that makes it easy to join the game; The streamlined character creation process includes quick-start templates, reducing complexity for beginners. Players can choose from pre-defined ability scores or manually assign them, with options to adjust stats for balance. The old-school system is intuitive, blending familiar RPG elements with cyberpunk twists. The free edition serves as a perfect introduction, allowing new players to explore the setting and mechanics without cost. Additionally, the game’s modular design and clear rules ensure that even those unfamiliar with cyberpunk RPGs can dive in and start playing quickly. Community support, including forums and resources, further aids new players in getting started.