Cities Without Number vs Cyberpunk 2020
Compare Cities Without Number and Cyberpunk 2020 side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Cities Without Number | Cyberpunk 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Cyberpunk | Cyberpunk |
| Play Style | Sandbox, Classless, Noir, Ascending AC | Combat-Heavy, Skill-Based, Gritty, Deadly, Lore-Heavy, Career-Based, Corruption, Faction Play, Crunchy, Grimdark |
| Core Mechanic | 2d6 + attribute mod + skill for skill checks; d20 + modifiers vs. AC for combat. Edge and chrome (cyberware) add abilities and complications. Faction turn system runs corporate, gang, and government power struggles between sessions. Tag-based city generation creates districts and neighborhoods on the fly. | Stat + Skill + d10 against a difficulty value set by the GM (typically 15 for average tasks, scaling up to 30 for nearly impossible ones). Combat uses the same formula — REF + weapon skill + d10 against a target number modified by range. Hit location is rolled on a d10 table, and armor on each location absorbs damage separately. Cyberpsychosis tracks Humanity loss from cyberware installation, with characters losing Empathy as they augment. |
| Dice | 2d6 / d20 | d10 |
| Complexity | Medium | High |
| Accessibility | High | Low |
| Runnability | Very High | Medium |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Cost | Free / $$ | $$ |
| Publisher | Sine Nomine Publishing | R. Talsorian Games |
| Year | 2023 | 1993 |
| Best For | Cyberpunk sandbox campaigns with comprehensive GM worldbuilding tools, faction turns, and noir-tinged urban adventure — fully compatible with Stars Without Number and Worlds Without Number. | Groups who want a gritty, lethal cyberpunk setting with deep character roles, detailed cybernetics and gear, and a world where style matters as much as firepower. |
| Highlights | Free version is very generous, comprehensive sandbox and faction tools, seamlessly compatible with SWN/WWN family, noir investigation mechanics, detailed city generation system | Nine distinct character roles (Rockerboy, Solo, Netrunner, Techie, Media, Cop, Corporate, Fixer, Nomad) each with a unique Special Ability. Lifepath system generates detailed backstories, allies, enemies, and romantic history. Extensive cyberware catalog with mechanical and narrative consequences. Night City setting is richly detailed with corporate profiles, gangs, and neighborhoods. |
| Considerations | OSR combat can feel basic, cyberpunk genre may overlap with Shadowrun expectations, less support for narrative/story-arc campaigns | Netrunning subsystem operates on a separate timescale and can sideline other players during hacking sequences. Hit location and layered armor tracking add bookkeeping to every combat exchange. Rules for vehicle combat, martial arts, and fumbles are spread across multiple subsections with some inconsistencies between printings. |