Runehack RPG

Runehack Role-playing Game (Runehack RPG) is a game about people who strive to change their world. Few kingdoms of old remain because more and more cities worldwide are purchased by the governing megacorporations. Unlike previous groups that opposed them, Acumen aims to do so without violence by publicly revealing the truths that these companies are trying to hide.

The Dice

This game uses only six-sided (d6( and twelve-sided (d12) dice. Whenever the player uses one of their character's attributes, they get a choice to use it reliably (2d6) or recklessly (1d12). Both come with their own upsides and consequences, so the player can weigh the pros and cons before each roll.

Four Pillars

This game features four major pillars of experience:

• Social. Managing yourself and personal matters. This is the pillar that connects everything in the game.
• Spy. Infiltrating the megacorporations while evading the guards to seek the hidden truth.
• Tech. Accessing devices illicitly.
• Job. Earning money during downtime.

Each of these pillars features its own class-like options, which the character improves in individually. Someone might be focused on improving their Tech first, another character could try to balance their Social and Job tier, while somebody different could try to balance everything. Improve at your own pace!

Regarding Violence

Many tabletop roleplaying games expect the players to solve their characters' problems by killing the opposition. This game aims to discourage this as a solution to the problems. The reason why is first and foremost the focus of the game's most action-filled pillar. Spying is about seeking information and avoiding the enemies. A stealth game that lets the player get rid of the enemies can turn into a combat game when the player is found, or it can lose any challenge when the player removes too many enemies.

The players should be discouraged from solving their problems with violence in a game about subterfuge. Previous whistleblower groups received negative press coverage after using violence, and this ruined their public reception for good. The organization that employs player characters by default, Acumen, is therefore against cruelty.

The World

Runehack used to be a traditional fantasy world. It underwent an upheaval after the wilderness was overrun by paramorph—a species of dangerous shapeshifters. Massive city walls protect civilization from these predators. Over time, people reconnected through the invention of runetech—technology based on the runic magic inherent to this world.

Trust and Privacy

Hidden truths are everywhere. The megacorporations have world-shaping plans for the future. The Acumen work secretly to reveal them to the public. The origin of paramorphs. Even ordinary people who are not politically involved hide things from others. What can be trusted and what can stay hidden in a world of illusions and surveillance? Can the invasion of someone's privacy be justified?

Grimbright

The megacorporations are not ominous and scary. They are shiny, colorful, and inviting to others. Since they provide the public with comfortable lives, they are accepted with a smile.

What Means Are Justified

The groups that influence the world all pursue their goals, most of which put the groups into opposition. To achieve these goals, they have to go beyond what's acceptable. How far are they willing to go? What would it take to shake these moral foundations?

Explore the secrets hidden by the megacorporations through spying and hacking, invent your own runetech, develop relationships and a career, and visit the various cities this world can offer you in this unique grimbright setting.

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At the start of 2024, one of my new year resolutions was to publish this game. I've worked on it for years with passion and love, but I kept getting stuck on issues, and distracted with other ideas. While it's not perfect at the moment, I will keep working on it, improving it and expanding in the future. I look forward to hearing constructive feedback on it from outside my small circle of friends who helped me make this happen.

For the future, I plan to make a printer-friendly version along with its own custom artworks, more content for the players and GMs alike, and I'm considering even translating the game. I'd also like to prepare a PDF full of maps for the GMs to use, if there's enough interest and time. If there's anything else you'd like to see, please let me know!

Big thanks to everyone who helped me with this project across the many Discord servers where I shared parts of this game!

Game Information

Number of Players: 1-6
Page Count: 72, 80 for the GM
Language: English
Art: Viarca (cover art), Kate Chaste (illustrations)

Note: The version of rules for the GM contains everything in the version for the players, with some extra pages meant only for them.