Replicant Society Stress Triggers (old post)

 

How about a way back post. This is something that I originally posted fourteen years ago. Was working on a Blade Runner type of game called Replicant Society where the PC's where the replicants trying to survive and hide among the human population. I think somebody has already done something like that since then.

But still some of the ideas I had for stress triggers make me want to try and actually make a little mini game. Really rules light, more about handling stress and surviving in plain sight. Maybe one day. Anyways here's my original thoughts on the matter.

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Been hashing out some ideas for a game based on Blade Runner and the novel it was adapted from 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep'. Currently it's called Replicant Society and the players will be the Androids. This first little bit I posted over on my G+ stream. Might as well do a repost here.

Here are some quick ideas on stress triggers and android model types. This is all just ideas I've been writing down over the last couple of days.

One thing that androids do not have is a lifetime of experience. This is especially true in the area of the minds ability to handle stressful situations. Thus it become necessary to track the various types of stress that they are especially vulnerable to. Now some model types are more resistant to various types of stress than others. Now let's look at the four key stress triggers.

Socialization – This is the ability to handle constant social interaction with a variety of people in multiple situations.

Sexual Contact – The intimacy of sexual contact with a living being.

Combat – This is one stress trigger that androids tend to share with their human counterparts.

Emotional Crests – Intense amounts of any specific emotion. Be it fear, happiness, love.

Now the various model types are listed below. Each has specific triggers that they are more resistant while others they seem more susceptible to.

Administration – Resistant to Socialization.
Pleasure – Resistant to Sexual Contact and Socialization. Susceptible to Combat.
Combat – Resistant to Combat and Emotional Crests. Susceptible to Sexual Contact and Socialization.
Caregiver – Resistant to Emotional Crests and Socialization. Susceptible to Combat.
Labor – Neutral regard with all triggers.
Entertainment – Resistant to Socialization. Susceptible to Combat.

Cyberpunk - Nano Handkerchief

 

Today I have a seemingly simple item that most higher up corporate folks wouldn't mind having in their pockets. It's always nice to have a health checkup whenever you need it. 

The Nano Handkerchief

Really a corpo things, most base level runners couldn’t afford it or wouldn’t bother paying for something like this. It appears to be a regular cloth handkerchief with a variety of possible of fabric types or designs on it. But it’s laced through with nano sized scanners that are linked back to a network.

Whenever it comes into contact with bodily fluids like spit or phlegm (or whatever others) the nano goes to work analyzing it. Searching for germs, viruses, signs of sickness and all that. The result are then fed back to the network and then passed on to the owner. All within a few seconds. Giving them a possible heads up on an oncoming illness, or even toxic exposure.

At the end of each day they are placed in a ‘cleaner box’. It’s a flat thin box made in the dimensions of the handkerchief so that it can be laid out flat inside. Then it safely removes all contaminants overnight without damaging the nanotech laced into the fabric.

2026 Gaming Resolutions

 

Once again it's that time of the year. My new years gaming resolutions presented in six pack formula.

First lets look at last year (you can see the post HERE).

1 - Achieved although it morphed. See this years number 2. 

2 - Achieved. 

3 - Not so much. Got one thing out and just barely. And no playtesting on my own games. It stays the number 3 for this year.

4 - Didn't really happen. Had opportunity but other issues made it not happen.

5 - Achieved. Continuing that course.

6 - Somewhat achieved. Had off and on moments that's for sure. It's going to number 1 this year.

While I did decent with last years I didn't manage them all. But that's okay, it did help motivate me to get some stuff done. Here we are with the gaming resolutions for the new year. 

1 - Keep updating my blog on a regular basis. At least two posts a week of some sort. Just sometimes hitting that wall really knocks me down. But this is what's helping me keep my mind off the dumpster fire of a world that is happening around me so I can have a few moments to breathe. 

2 - My Tuesday night group fell apart when the time frame was no longer viable for me and a couple other players. But now a Sunday midday group has formed to take it's place. So I want to keep that going just like before. Currently I swap out GM duties with a friend each week. 

3 - More releases for my Truly Rural Productions stuff on DrivethruRPG. I'm especially motivated to do this after getting my first medal for "Be A Better Player Vol One". Most will be collected material from my blog. Going to keep pushing it on Ko-Fi and itch as well even though nobody seems to buy my stuff from there. I'm also eyeballing the Year Zero Engine for doing a full game release at some point, but likely not in 2026. Of course this means facing my imposter syndrome head on more than ever before.

4 - Run a few other games than normal. First up is Vaesen at some point. Got everything I need but just need to get my butt in gear and do it. Really enjoyed playing it at DieCon this year and love the whole premise. Then I also want to run 1st ed Vampire the Masquerade, but I'm not sure everyone in my current group would like it.

5 - Continue building the little webpage I have going for the Sunday group. If it gets decent enough maybe I'll share it outside my little group of players. Maybe slowly work towards my friends homebrew system getting published at some point.

6 - Cull some of my gaming collection down. I really need to focus on what I am going to use, things with memories attached and stuff like that. So much of what is on my shelf will never be used nor do I have any really attachment to. Time to clear out some stuff and focus. 

That Blog Over There - Psionic Cyclops

 

It's Tuesday once again. So that means it's time for me to point you over towards another blog or site that is worth checking out. The time it's Psionic Cyclops.

Once again this is a very old school style focus of games. But this is also a new blog. With some in depth world building articles, various musing on new zines, play reports. It looks like a blog that is really off to a good start. Hoping the person behind it can keep things going as we need more good blogs like this around. 

See who else I've made a Tuesday Promo post about trying to give them a bit of notice.

Know of another blog or site that you think could use a little promotion? Drop a message and a link in the comment section. Sometimes we can only find out about new places if someone points them out.

Be A Better Player hits DrivethruRPG Copper

 

After nearly eight years one of my products over on DrivethruRPG finally made a medal. Over the weekend somebody bought a copy of "Be A Better Player" that finally put it over the mark. It now has that copper best seller icon hanging on the page. I know this may not seem like a big deal to some folks but to me it is. A level of achievement showing that some of my work has paid off a little bit. 

So hopefully I see another product reach that level at some point in the future. 

Cyberpunk Sunday 12/28/25

 

Why Waymo went down in San Francisco. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91465377/waymo-san-francisco-outage-robotaxi

Woman suffers AI psychosis after obsessively generating AI images of herself. 

https://futurism.com/health-medicine/ai-psychosis-startup-images

Grimes says she has AI psychosis, recommends you should get it too.

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/grimes-ai-psychosis

Home Depot deploys Havana-style sonic weapon against day laborers. 

https://futurism.com/future-society/home-depot-sonic-weapon

Clandestine Societies is on DrivethruRPG

 

Okay so I tried something a bit different with this release. I put it up on my Kofi page first, then I put it on my itch io page a week later. This has resulted in, checks notes, zero sales. So now it's time to put it up on DrivethruRPG and see what happens. 

So head on over there and check out Clandestine Societies Issue Two. It's a small collection of supernatural, horror and occult articles. Mostly system agnostic, but when mechanics are supplied it's done using the WaRP OGL from Atlas Games.  Hey it's only a buck so check it out if you don't mind.

Hopefully I'll have issue three ready to go here in a two to three months. I know I've got plenty of material to dig through to fill it up with.