A sleek and flawless adaptation of a classic Sci-Fi setting to the realm of RPGs. The combination of neon-noir detective film mixed with streamlined mechanics provides a unique role-playing experience. Filled with moral quandaries and ethical conundrums, this game lends itself to a conversational, slow-burn type of pacing. The attention to detail in translating the world of Blade Runner is immense, creating a deep, immersive experience for both die-hards and newcomers alike.
Blade Runner the Roleplaying Game
Publisher: Free League Publishing
Price: ~$50
MonsterVine was provided with a copy of the game for review
As a long-time fan of RPGs my first reaction to hearing about this game was joy. As a long-time fan of Blade Runner my second reaction to hearing about this game was skepticism. My main concern; will Blade Runner’s gritty, smolderingly slow-burn nature be a good choice for pen-and-paper roleplaying, or is this just an ill-advised attempt to capitalize on a popular franchise. As it turns out, my fears were completely unfounded. Not only is this a brilliantly executed adaptation, but the innovative mechanics of this game feel calibrated to seamlessly integrate the player into the setting. Pouring over the stacks of handouts, players aides, and book material one begins to understand the deep admiration the creators of this game have for their subject matter, and that is always a very good sign when it comes to RPGs.
Blade Runner the Roleplaying Game thrusts you into the role of one of its titular protagonists. As a Blade Runner, your primary responsibility is to track down wayward Replicants (i.e. androids). Due to their superhuman abilities Replicants are necessary for the survival of humanity in the dystopian future of the year 2037. However, these same strengths can also pose a serious danger to society when a Replicant goes rogue. It is your job to gather clues about your suspects and bring them in ‘retired’ or alive, and here’s where the beauty of the Blade Runner setting kicks in. As you strive to mete out justice (or at the very least earn your next paycheck) the white and black of it all becomes inextricably blurred. After all, you are tracking beings that are indistinguishable from humans, created by humans, given synthetic memories to make them ‘more human than human’, thrown into some of the worst jobs in the galaxy, and last but not least treated as second class citizens.
After a time you begin to understand, possibly even sympathize with your quarry. I have only run a few sessions of this game, but it has already led to some of the deepest, introspective roleplaying I have ever experienced. A long-running gripe many RPG players have with their respective games is the “weight of choice”, or whether or not the decisions the players make will have a meaningful impact on the world they are playing in. This is not the case with Blade Runner the Roleplaying Game, as every action you take begs you to reconcile your duty with your beliefs.
Ok, great. The setting works, and for a self-professed Blade Runner fan that was not a very hard sell. The part where Blade Runner the Roleplaying Game really starts to emerge from the wake of its setting and establish itself as a beautifully crafted roleplaying game in its own right is in its mechanics. Much like there is a tool for every job, there is a system of mechanics for every setting. Take your fantasy RPGs for instance. The motive force behind these settings is usually action, supported by combat and loot. Bigger swords hitting bigger monsters casting bigger fireballs earning bigger gold now, now, NOW! There is absolutely nothing wrong with this kind of roleplaying, and I have enjoyed it for over 2 decades. However, this kind of gameplay necessitates a rule set that focuses on combat and spends a lot of time in the minutiae of loot economics. Now take a sleuthing, gritty, Sci-Fi RPG. The same kind of rules won’t necessarily apply, and they would certainly change the tone of the game significantly. The Blade Runner Roleplaying Game astutely realizes this and adapts, introducing some uniquely appropriate game mechanics.
Dice rolls mostly consist of two dice (at max 3), and let you combine attribute and skill rankings as the context of the check requires. This creates a very fluid motion to encounters, and gives the players a lot of creativity in how they solve problems. The mechanic I found the most innovative was the introduction of work shifts and time tracking. In this game, the party is encouraged to split up so that each player can spend their shift investigating or performing a certain action. This cleverly avoids the pitfall of many RPG systems where some characters can begin to dominate an encounter, leaving other players on the sidelines. It also creates a sense of urgency, as there is a concrete amount of time allotted to the players to accomplish certain milestones. Another mechanic I found refreshing was the hand-waving nature of currency in this system. Instead of counting your coppers, you are given an income ‘rank’. Your rank determines the brackets of things you can purchase, avoiding the need to get bogged down at the marketplace. All in all the mechanics remove a lot of the chaff associated with roleplaying, helping to keep the focus of the game on detective work. Blade Runner the Roleplaying Game feels much less like your traditional pen-and-paper RPG, and much more like a noir game of Clue with the boundaries removed.
My main critique of this game comes from the amount of supplemental material required to truly bring it to life. Generally, RPGs rely on people using their imagination, but when you are trying to piece together a complex murder mystery, notes, and details become key. The Starter Set does an amazing job of providing the Game Runner with image handouts, APBs, and newspaper clippings of outstanding quality. However, I see this as being almost prohibitively time/resource-consuming for your average DM to put together on their own. Hopefully, Free League Publishing will keep the pre-constructed ‘case files’ rolling out at a steady clip. That being said, the learning curve is par for the course and the setup/teardown is right in line with most RPGs.
The Final Word
The Blade Runner Roleplaying Game has everything you need to immerse yourself in this renowned Sci-Fi setting. Fine tuned mechanics create a smooth gaming experience that sets itself apart from other RPG systems. Chock full of ethical dilemmas, be prepared to reconcile your duty with your beliefs. Catch your perp, but try not to lose your humanity.
MonsterVine Rating: 5 out of 5 – Excellent
