Talking about Dungeons & Dragons on the internet can sometimes feel like playing Dungeons & Dragons. Hours are spent navigating a strange labyrinth looking for interesting treasure and expanding knowledge. There are also traps, trolls and other dangers to beware.
Traversing the electronic tunnels of the online world has been a feature of role playing games like Cyberpuk Red and Shadowrun for many years. Netcrawl, a game currently crowdfunding on BackerKit,
“I’m writing Enchiridion of the Computarchs,” said James Pozenel, designer of Netcrawl. “A supplement for Mutant Crawl Classics RPG that takes Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG spells and converts them over to MCC RPG programs. After seeing the book someone asked if it was going to be part of a setting. At the time I said no, but a seed was planted.”
Pozenel chose the Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC RPG) as the rules set for Netcrawl. It’s easy to see why as they are a mix of moden ideas with old school sensibility. Players familiar with Dungeons & Dragons can jump in with both feet and learn the differences quickly.
“I think the DCC RPG rules are very light and at the same time gives the GM a lot of examples of how to provide rulings at the table. The core d20 mechanic is easy to understand for most players. The fun and wild parts of DCC are easy to explain and understand. Those fun and wild parts also come with a natural balance and cost during campaign play. Overall it’s one of the best RPGs to run at a table either at home or at a convention.”
While the game offers a chance to pull off cybernetic heists and technothriller action, there’s also room for headier exploration. Science fiction is at its best when it reflects the fears and problems of the age. There are more stories here than just ones where players loot digital vaults.
“The adventures, and really the entire game, are about exploring what technology means to us,” said Pozenel. “In many circles we are having conversations around AI, Deep Learning, LLMs, and generative content. People explore their problems through storytelling; TTRPGs (and Netcrawl RPG in specific) are a place for us to directly wrestle with the role of computer technology in our lives.”
The crowdfunding is for more than just the core book. Netcrawl Arcologies offers charts, advice and other tools for Game Masters to build their digital dungeons. There are also several adventures being written by big names in the DCC scene.
“I’ve gathered some veteran writers to contribute to this part of the project,” said Pozenel. “Brendan LaSalle, a Goodman Games staff writer, is developing a second level adventure that mixes a little steampunk into a cyberspace setting. Brian Shutter, creator of Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland, helms a 1st level adventure about a hacker causing havoc. The adventure by Julian Bernick, a long-time Goodman Games freelance writer, traps players in an abandoned, lawless cyber-wasteland. I wrote a 0-level adventure that mixes Star Crawl (a 3rd party DCC RPG published setting) with Netcrawl for some old fashioned space horror/hack the ship’s computer fun.”
Pozenel also looks to embrace open licensing to help his game expand. Smaller games like Dungeon Crawl Classics and Mothership grow because fans can make their own content. These third parties often drive development in new and unusual ways.
“I’d love to see what people do with Netcrawl RPG in their games. I imagine Netcrawl RPG will support 3rd party creators with simple licensing like Goodman Games and Tuesday Knight Games (and others) offer. This idea of mixing separate RPG settings together is one I hope to continue to foster.
Netcrawl is funding on BackerKit until October 3rd, 2024.
