Cyberpunk remains a staple of the tabletop space, from the iconic RPG of the same name to the many others it inspired. Yet surprisingly, the classic cyberpunk anime Ghost in the Shell never got a chance to clatter some dice. That all changed when Don't Panic Games announced a project with Ghost in the Shell way back in 2020. After five years, the long-awaited TTRPG finally gets details, in a collaboration with Mana Project Studio.
Ghost in the Shell Arise RPG takes place in 2027, a pseudo-prequel to the entire franchise. The story details how Motoko Kusanagi became the seasoned agent that fans know and love. The developers used the Arise setting as it provided tons of lore to draw tabletop RPG mechanics from. However, fans of Stand Alone Complex need not worry. The team promises new material for all eras of Ghost in the Shell in the future as the game grows.
Speaking of which, the game's system is a heavily modified version of Forged in the Dark. Players may know it better from the Blades in the Dark TTRPG and its many spinoffs. The nitty gritty gameplay focuses on everyday life in the Public Security Section, from recruitment of agents to action-packed missions against terrorist organizations.
On an individual level, the players balance two core branches of their skills. Ghost, the soul and mind, dictates an Agent's social and hacking skills. Shell, on the other hand, is an Agent's physical prowess, from gunplay to CQC. These are tied to Wired Actions, six-sided dice rolls one must make when performing any action that uses your cyberbrain. Failure may result in some terrifying cyber horror.
For a hand-on experience with these mechanics, the developers provided a free quickstart book on DriveThruRPG. Personally, I have no issues with the use of FitD for the game, as the developers clearly put a lot of thought into blending mechanics with series lore. Plus, with expansions already promised, there's plenty of room to enhance the game even more.
Ghost in the Shell Arise RPG will be released in 2027.
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