The Simulacrum

Welcome to Simulacrum, a tabletop role-playing game set in a dystopian future where reality itself is a prison. You, the player, will awaken from the false, simulated world to uncover the truth of your existence. But breaking free is just the beginning. In this game, you’ll fight against the oppressive Machines that control both the digital and physical worlds. Will you reclaim your freedom, or will you become another pawn in their endless game? What This PDF Includes: The World Thus Far The Simulacrum is the heart of this game—an artificial, simulated world designed by the Machines to control humanity. The World Thus Far introduces you to the powerful, terrifying forces at play. Learn about the enigmatic First, the creator of the Simulacrum, who ignited the rise of artificial intelligence. Understand the grandiose Operation Icarus, the ultimate Machine experiment that failed and brought about the downfall of the simulated world. Delve into the fractured and desolate Broken Earth, humanity’s last refuge, where survivors live under constant threat. The Ark is the final bastion of civilization, hidden deep underground and protected by the Rebellion. The Keepers, the Machines’ digital enforcers, relentlessly chase down anyone who dares to defy the system. This section sets the stage for your journey, weaving together the complex backstory of the world, the Rebellion’s struggle, and the Machines' endless pursuit of control. The System The Simulacrum RPG is powered by a dynamic 1d10 system designed to offer both depth and flexibility. Combat is fast and tense, with players rolling to resolve their attacks, check success, and encounter unexpected consequences. But it’s not all about dice rolls—tactical thinking and player decisions are paramount. Difficulty scales with your surroundings and actions. Whether you’re taking down a Keeper or evading the Machines' ever-watchful eye, understanding the environment and how to manipulate it is key. Crits and Fumbles can turn the tide of battle, while Anomaly keeps you on your toes, adding layers of danger to every decision. The Keepers represent the Machines' will, and their pursuit of you in the Simulacrum is both a constant threat and a deadly challenge. Experience works like a progression system, allowing you to Level Up your character's abilities, while death mechanics ensure that the stakes are always high. Combat isn’t just about winning, it’s about surviving long enough to fight another day. The Character Your journey begins with who you are in the Simulacrum. Whether you're a Sleeper, unaware of your false reality, a Wild Card who has retained some knowledge of the truth, an Awakened individual free from the Machine's grip, or a Free Born from the ruins of the Broken Earth—your background shapes your path. In The Simulacrum RPG, your character is defined by six primary Stats—Strength, Agility, Stamina, Wits, Intelligence, and Charisma—each influencing your actions and interactions. Your character’s Mind is an important gauge of how much control you have within the Simulacrum, while Determination reflects your drive and resistance to the Machine’s will. Skills like Hacking, Dodge, and Aim allow you to manipulate the Simulacrum to your advantage. Martial Arts and Budo Maneuvers One of the most unique aspects of The Simulacrum RPG is the emphasis on Martial Arts. The mastery of body and mind is crucial for surviving in the Simulacrum. With over ten martial arts styles—from Arnis and Jeet Kune Do to Kung Fu and Savate—you’ll develop devastating techniques to enhance your combat abilities. Budo Maneuvers offer more than just punches and kicks—they represent the internal discipline needed to harness the power of the mind in combat. With 26 unique maneuvers, you’ll find yourself mastering the ancient techniques of hand-to-hand combat and discovering how your mind and body can work in perfect harmony. Hacks and Codebreak What truly sets The Simulacrum RPG apart are the Hacks. These are superhuman abilities within the Simulacrum, giving you the power to manipulate the digital environment itself. Want to run up walls? Want to dodge bullets? Do it. The 17 different Hacks available allow for godlike abilities, but with great power comes great danger—each use incurs the risk of Anomaly. Codebreak allows you to push the boundaries of the system even further. It offers more flexibility than the predefined Hacks but comes with enormous risks. Codebreaking could allow you to rewrite parts of the Simulacrum… or cause a complete system crash. Weapons and Combat The fight for freedom is never easy, and in the Simulacrum, your weapons are just as important as your skills. From melee weapons like swords and knives to firearms like shotguns and machine guns, you’ll need to arm yourself for the challenges ahead. With explosives and other dangerous tools, combat is as deadly as it is exhilarating. Ship System & Creation Navigating the Broken Earth is a perilous task. Ships are humanity’s only means of survival in this desolate wasteland. You’ll rely on hovercrafts to navigate through the ruinous terrain, hide from Machines, and rescue allies. Whether you’re repairing the ship, avoiding Machine patrols, or upgrading systems, your ship is integral to your survival. In the Ship Creation section, you’ll design and upgrade your own hovercraft, balancing speed, shield, firepower, and other vital stats. It’s not just about combat—though your ship’s combat capabilities are certainly important—it’s also about survival. Get ready to brave the Broken Earth. Enemies With over 60 pre-built enemies in the Simulacrum, you’ll face a multitude of threats. From drones and agents to the terrifying Keepers and Sentinels, no encounter is ever the same. The Simulacrum Rating (SR) system helps scale threats according to your current level, ensuring that the game remains dynamic and exciting. On the Broken Earth, threats are not just digital—they are very real. You’ll also face threats in the physical world, requiring you to navigate both digital and real dangers with strategy and creativity. Step into the Simulacrum. Fight for your freedom. The Simulacrum RPG offers a deeply immersive experience that blends action, strategy, and storytelling. Whether you’re hacking the system, fighting the Machine’s digital enforcers, or struggling to survive on the ravaged Broken Earth, your journey will be one of danger, intrigue, and rebellion. The choice is yours—will you free your mind or let the Machines keep you in line? Download the PDF and start your fight today.