In 2022, Free League Publishing released the Blade Runner RPG, based on the popular movie franchise of Ridley Scott from 1982 and the later iteration in 2017.
Like its movie predecessor, the Blade Runner RPG blends dystopian environments with futuristic technology. In this world, mega-corporations have the power, societal decay is in a free-fall, and off-world colonies are a last hope.
In this article, we will look at the inside of the 231 page, hardcover, Ennie Award winning tabletop RPG chapter by chapter.
Chapter 1: Fiery the Angels Fell
The first chapter dives into the history of the Blade Runner universe, from the definition of a Blade Runner, presenting a detailed timeline of what’s happened so far, touching on the rise of replicants and the Tyrell Corporation to the events leading to the year 2037.
It also presents a summary of Los Angeles in 2037 and what it’s like to be a Blade Runner, offering a context for the world the players will inhabit. The game stresses the cinematic style of gameplay and how it incorporates investigation, action, and emotional depth. In other words, this is a game for real adults.
Chapter 2: Your Blade Runner (Character Creation)
This chapter walks players through creating their own character in the Blade Runner RPG universe, starting with choosing whether they will be a human or replicant, selecting key attributes, skills, and specialties. It emphasizes customization and backstory to bring personal stakes into the narrative.
Personally, I thoroughly enjoy this kind of character creation. It has just enough options for you to choose from if you need a little help while giving space for you to choose some of the more personal elements.
One of the coolest character creation mechanics involves having the Game Runner (the GM), roll a six-sided die secretly for people who make humans. If they roll a six, they are secretly a replicant but do not know it. You would get to play out this reality in the game. This is a call back to the movie franchise, which is why it is so cool.
You can watch me create my character, Darius Keeler, in the video below.
Chapter 3: Skills and Specialties (Core Mechanics)
The main mechanic for the Blade Runner RPG is a version of the Year Zero Engine developed by Free League Publishing. It’s a version because you will not be rolling a die pool of d6s as you normally do, but a combination of two different polyhedral dice, depending on how you create your character. You still need to get a six or higher to succeed, but that’s where the similarity ends.
This is a much better system than the Year Zero Engine in my opinion. Though you ever only roll two dice, one for your base attribute and one for your skill, rolling a combination of two types of polyhedral dice allows for a decent chance of success. But we all know how that can go in a night of gameplay.
Chapter 4: Combat & Chases
Chapter 4 outlines the rules for social conflicts and tried-and-true combat, blending tactical mechanics with cinematic drama. It covers basic combat actions, movement, vehicle combat, and chases. It also includes the Blade Runner RPG’s unique stress mechanics that tie into the game’s emotional and psychological themes, which you will find in Free League Publishing’s other games like Alien and Vaesen (which is pronounced vaasun, not vaysun. I pronounced the wrong way for the longest until I got hip).
Chapter 5: A Tale of Two Cities
Here we dive deep into the landscape of the City of Los Angeles in 2037. The city is divided between lowborn and highborn of society. It covers things like the city life, culture, and breaks down the different sectors of the city, highlighting major landmarks and places of interests in each.
Chapter 6: The Powers That Be
This gets into the different factions of the City of Los Angeles in 2037, listing the different government agencies, special interests, media, criminal enterprises, and the influential Wallace Corporation. This chapter also lays out the background of the replicants.
Chapter 7: Working the Case
One of the sub-cultures in the Blade Runner RPG is the headquarters of the Blade Runner, the RDU (Rep-Detect Unit), also known as “The Tower” for work there. It lays out the details of who is in charge in terms of hierarchy and specific individuals, the different departments (criminal investigations, forensic sciences, etc.), and the general organizational politics and administration of the RDU.
It also has a special section dedicated to Wallace Resources, the corporation who has pledged to help the LAPD (but what does that really cost?).
Chapter 8: Tools of the Trade
The Blade Runner RPG has a host of equipment lifted right from the movies. From their Blade Runner badge to the KIA (Knowledge Integration Assistant), to the Spinner vehicle Harrison Ford flew around in. Of course, there are a few extra pieces of gear that weren’t in the movie, and a few more you probably forgot were.
Chapter 9: Running Blade Runner (Game Master’s Section)
The final chapter is for the Game Runner, providing guidance for GMs, focusing on building noir-inspired stories, balancing investigation and action, and creating morally complex narratives. Includes advice for pacing and engaging players in the game’s philosophical dilemmas.
Two More Things
One thing to note about this game is that it encourages two things that are outside what many would think of as a “normal” tabletop RPG, if there is such a thing.
First, the game requires small group play. That means two PCs at the most. Three is stretching it. The reason for this is that, second, it encourages the players to break up or separate to play through different parts of the cases the characters are investigating. Yet, another aspect about the game I love. Small-group play is right up my alley.
Even though I wasn’t a fan of the movies, I am a big fan of this game. There’s something much more inviting and enjoyable in creating your own story in that world than watching someone else’s play out across the film screen.
I currently have several hours of game footage for the Blade Runner RPG. A majority of it will be available to those who have an RPG Elite Membership. An excerpt will show up on the RPG Elite YouTube channel.
Get a copy of the Blade Runner RPG today by hitting any of the links. Though I didn’t include Blade Runner in my best tabletop RPGs for beginners, it’s still an easy enough game to catch on to for anyone.
