I am happy to see that CD Projekt Red and R. Talsorian Games have finally done some proper cross promotion with the inclusion of theCyberpunk Red“Easy Mode” PDF for those who ownCyberpunk 2077, the video game based on the tabletop RPG. WhileCyberpunk 2077drew attention based on CDRP’s reputation built throughThe Witchervideo game series, at the time of its releaseit did not overtly draw attention to its pen-and-paper RPG source material. I wrote a Screen Rant article suggesting this very idea in 2022, and it’snice to see it finally happen.
When I wrote about howCyberpunk 2077has hidden TTRPG roots, I noted how it, and other video games,represented missed opportunities to support and grow the considerably smaller hobby of tabletop roleplaying. For perspective,Dungeons & Dragons, easily the market leader in TTRPGs, is estimated to have sold between 3 and 5 million copies of its 5th editionPlayer’s Handbook, which isDnD’s most successful edition of all time.Cyberpunk 2077has sold roughly 30 million copies.Cyberpunk Redcertainly benefited from the video game adaptation, but thereremains a numbers gap between video game fans and TTRPG hobbyists.
Better Late Than Never For Cyberpunk Red
Offering A TTRPG Starter Kit PDF Still Matters, Years Later
As reported byPolygon,Cyberpunk 2077’s December update added quick start rules forCyberpunk Red, the latest tabletop RPG edition of the game, along with a PDF ofCyberpunk 2020, the second edition of theCyberpunkTTRPG.Cyberpunk Redhad anEdgerunnersexpansion, capturing the vibe of the Netflix anime adaptation of the TTRPG, and it hascertainly already benefited from the IP’s multimedia exposure. Some metrics had it as the number three TTRPG in 2023, behindDungeons & DragonsandPathfinder, which is an impressive benchmark for the previously niche game, certainly the height of its success to date.
I think it’s fair to say most TTRPG fans play video games, but numbers confirm that only a small portion of the video game audience plays tabletop RPGs.
There were already numerouscyberpunk genre tabletop RPGsavailable at the timeCyberpunk 2077launched in 2020, with more being released every year, likeCities Without Number, or the TTRPG adaptations ofAltered CarbonandBlade Runner. Getting a free quick start PDF added four years after the game’s release (and two years after my article) is certainly better late than never. Still, there was massive buzz surrounding the game at the time of its release (albeit some of it negative) compared to now. It issad to think that moment could have done more to build new TTRPG converts.
I love the cyberpunk genre, and itlends itself remarkably well to TTRPGs as an alternative to the high fantasy ofDnD. I wrote aboutTimothy Leary’s plannedNeuromancervideo gameadaptation previously, a fascinating bit of gaming lore. William Gibson’s genre definingNeuromanceris one of my favorite novels. I was already aD&Dfan, butNeuromancermade me want to play games likeShadowrunand R. Talsorian’sCyberpunkTTRPG. Starting with cyberpunk might even be better than the more typical use ofDnDas an introduction to tabletop role-playing, andCyberpunk 2077can help create future role-playing fans.
Baldur’s Gate 3 & Other Adaptations Should Follow Suit
All Video Games Based On TTRPGs Should Include Basic Rules PDFs
Cyberpunk 2077wasnot the only game in which I advocated for the inclusion of a TTRPG quick start. TheShadowruntrilogy of video game RPGsshould have promoted theShadowruntabletop RPG more overtly, andBaldur’s Gate 3could easily include a PDF starter set forDnD. Nothing stops a player from enjoyingBaldur’s Gate 3and then seeking out a copy of aDnDstarter kit. Putting a tabletop RPG starter set directly in a video game fan’s hand (or hard drive)adds more likelihood that they will try it out and potentially discover a new favorite hobby.
I Wish Any D&D VTT Came Close To Solasta
Solasta showcases vertical movement and complex terrain in its Dungeons & Dragons battles. VTTs should replicate this experience, but they fall short.
Video games and tabletop RPGs are extremely compatible hobbies. There are quite a fewtabletop RPGs inspired by video games, and a video game is just as likely to give Game Masters ideas for their next campaign as a novel or a television series. I think it’s fair to saymost TTRPG fans play video games, but numbers confirm that only asmall portion of the video game audience plays tabletop RPGs. There have been video game adaptations of RPGs for decades, ranging from mega-hits likeBaldur’s Gate 3to obscure releases like theRiftsgame for the Nokia N-Gage.
While I doubt my article was the deciding factor, I am thrilled to seeCyberpunk 2077finally offering access toCyberpunk Red, hopefully starting a trend.
The long-delayedVampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2trailershave kept me excited about the game, but as much as I love the originalBloodlines, I haveeven more fondness for theVampire: The Masqueradetabletop RPG, along with the entireWorld of DarknessTTRPG line it spawned.Bloodlines 2could play a critical role in promotingVampire’s 5e tabletop RPG, currently published by Renegade Games, by including a quick start PDF with the video game on its release.Pathfinder’s video games could offer a taste of Paizo’s revamped second edition of the fantasy tabletop RPG,among many other missed opportunities.
Tabletop RPGs Need Less Gatekeeping, More Open Doors
TTRPGs Can Be Intimidating For Newcomers, But Video Games Can Aid Growth
Tabletop RPGs are a fantastic hobby, and I have loved playing and acting as Game Master in numerous campaigns with various systems and genres, over more than two decades of play. SomeTTRPGs are easier for new playersthan others, but thehobby itself can be strangely unwelcoming and impenetrable to many. This could be due to the social pressures of role-playing, or the unique form of collaborative storytelling it entails, but unfortunately, gatekeeping is also a major problem. Many veteran fans become calcified in their tastes and ideas about tabletop RPGs, and areless than supportive of new players.
The full PDF rules ofCyberpunk Redare available through DriveThruRPG.com. A physical version is available at rtalsoriangames.com and the game is also supported through the Roll20 virtual tabletop.
Video games, conversely, are anearly ubiquitous form of entertainment today. The RPG genre of video games owes its roots to tabletop RPGs, and RPG elements have bled across into nearly every type of video game. This connection makes video games a natural gateway to TTRPGs. I would argue that the video games literally based on tabletop RPGs don’t just have an opportunity to promote their source material, buta responsibility to do so. While I doubt my article was the deciding factor, I am thrilled to seeCyberpunk 2077finally offering access toCyberpunk Red, hopefully starting a trend.
