GM resource
Session zero for Cyberpunk RED
Set expectations, tone, and table agreements. Session zero for Cyberpunk RED sets the table before the dice matter: agree on tone (high-tech, low-life cyberpunk dystopia), safety boundaries, and what each player wants from the game.
Checklist
- Talk through tone and boundaries: how hard the table wants to lean into what makes Cyberpunk RED distinct (high-tech, low-life cyberpunk dystopia).
- Walk the group through the core roll mechanic together so nobody is guessing at the table: Cyberpunk RED checks are Stat + Skill + 1d10 vs a Difficulty Value (DV). Your Role Ability defines your specialty, and cyberware adds power at a Humanity cost.
- Collect character concepts and connect them to each other before the first scene.
- Agree on logistics (session length, cadence) and which safety tools the table will use.
Common pitfalls
- Skipping the tone talk and hitting a mismatch mid-campaign
- Running session zero as pure character creation with no table agreements
- No shared safety-tool agreement before the first high-intensity scene