For lack of a better excuse, this file is a result of wanting a more detailed drug system that covers more possibilities. It's based off of the information supplied in the CP2020 rulebook, the Hardwired, When Gravity Fails, and Protect and Serve supplements, and the Interface magazines (specifically Issue 3 of Volume 1). If drugs aren't an important part of your campaign, you may want to stick with the normal rules found in the core rulebook. However, a good deal of Cyberpunk literature (Gibson, Williams, and Effinger's stuff especially) involves the main characters and their struggles with drugs.
Like any good pharmacist who respects himself, the development of a drug is carried out with, first of all, good pharmacological material. Count about 1500 eb per strength point of the drug (unless you have good connections).
In a way the design follows standard rules, namely :
The drug will be finalized after so many hours with a roll of Pharmaceuticals / Difficulty.
In case of failure of the GM reserves the right to apply the effect of his choice. The drug becomes unstable and damages the material, it has only side effects, zero potency, etc.
In the Beginning, man created drugs. And for a while, they were good.
That is, until they wore off...
People take drugs for any number of reasons. The most common among these is to "escape". The drug makes you feel good, and for a while you forget your problems. It's a form of relaxation, like a chemical massage. The reasons cyberpunks take drugs are similar, but there's also more to it than that. Some people take drugs to give them that extra something, that special "edge" that makes them just that much better. While much of this can be psychological, some of it can be attributed to a drug's effect on the person's physiology.
Below are listed certain drug effects, what happens if you OD while taking one, and what they mean to the discerning pharmaceutical gourmet. Note that a drug effect can only be used once. This is only a draft and you can create your own according to your wishes or needs. It's best not to communicate the actual difficulty to a player with a low level of Pharmaceuticals so as to always leave them in doubt about what they are doing.
| Difficulty | Primary effects |
| 5 |
Depressant : depressants slow you down. They reduce tension, stress, and help you relax. The down side is that they also reduce your Reflex score by an amount equal to the drug's strength. While you may wonder why someone might want to take a drug like this, remember that alcohol is a depressant, and it's the most popular drug around. Euphoric : these drugs make you feel really, really good. They give a "rush" that lasts for as long as the drug's duration. Soporific : soporifics put you to sleep. Otherwise known as sleeping pills or tranquilizers. A user who wishes to resist the effects of these drugs must roll a Body check using the potency of the drug as a negative modifier. Failure indicates immediate unconsciousness for the duration of the drug. Success means that the user gets a negative modifier equal to the drug's potency to all actions until the drug wears off. |
| 10 |
Antibiotic : these drugs prevent infection, or stop an existing one. While I could fill an entire file on microbiology, and the effects of antibiotics on germs, this would do very little for game play. Assume that an antibiotic, when employed against an infection that is susceptible to it, will cause the infection to cease spreading and the user to become well more quickly, where the potency of the drug is the multiplier. For example, someone with strep throat who takes a +2 potency antibiotic will get well twice as fast, and so on. Anticoagulant : the opposite of coagulants. Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting. While usable as a quick antidote from a coagulant overdose, such drugs can also be employed to allow an affected user to bleed to death. Assume that someone who has used anticoagulants and is subsequently wounded for four or more points of damage will lose an additional point per turn until he dies from blood loss or the bleeding is stopped. Aphrodisiac : these drugs increase a person's sex drive and libido. The user will be physically uncomfortable unless involved in a sexual situation, and in the case of some stronger drugs, this may not even help unless the user is continually stimulated. While under the influence, the user has a negative modifier to Seduction checks equal to the drug potency. Coagulant : these drugs cause blood to clot, and prevent blood loss. In games where blood loss is a genuine concern, assume that a patient's blood loss is reduced by as many points as the drug has in potency. In other cases where blood loss does not apply, the drug potency may be added to a First Aid or Medtech roll when stabilizing a patient. Contraceptive : these drugs prevent pregnancy. They have a base effectiveness of 80%, plus 5% for every point of drug potency. Hallucinogen : wow, man, look at the butterflies. These drugs make the user see things that aren't there. While under the influence, or "tripping", the user is prone to see anything his frying imagination can cook up. Such hallucinations depend on the mood of the subject (as well as the GM!), but aren't usually terrible unless the drug itself is bad. Pain negation : pain killers, plain and simple. These drugs allow the user to ignore wound penalties by one level per two potency points the drug has. For example, someone who is seriously wounded and takes a +2 potency pain killer acts as if he is only lightly wounded, and so forth. Stimulant : while under the influence of these types of drugs, the user has increased energy and stamina. This is reflected by adding the drug's potency to his Endurance skill checks. However, someone under the influence of such a drug may have trouble sleeping. Stun reducers : like pain killers, but these are usually taken before one is actually wounded. They allow the user to gain a bonus to his stun/shock and death saves, +1 for each point of drug potency. People under the influence of powerful stun-reducing drugs have been known to walk through a shower of high caliber bullets as if pebbles were being rained upon them. Of course, most of them died later on. |
| 15 |
Antidote : antidotes add their potency to saves made against poisons, toxins, etc. Normally, these drugs are tailored to reduce the effects of one specific substance. Enhanced perception : the user of these sorts of drugs starts to notice the most intricate of details. While this adds the drug's potency to his Awareness score for the duration, the user may be overcome by his increased sensory powers. Loud noises, bright lights, intense tastes and strong odors have twice the normal effect on him. Hypnotic : hypnotic drugs, in high doses, are used to produce sleep during surgery. In low doses, they make many users speak and talk less guardedly about things they might otherwise have trouble speaking about. Due to this side-effect, hypnotics are routinely used as "truth serums" by corporate, military, and government agencies. In game terms, hypnotic drugs reduce the user's Cool by their potency, while at the same time granting a bonus equal to the drug's potency to anyone using Interrogation, Human Perception, or Interview on the subject. Increased healing rate : these drugs speed up the body's natural healing process by 1/2 point per point of drug potency per day. Available only by prescription. |
| 20 |
Attribute increase : this increases an attribute by the drug's potency rating for the drug's duration. Almost any attribute can be increased except Attractiveness and Chance. |
Side effects are the negative side of drugs. There is no drug without side effects, and every drug has at least one side effect. Side effects can be divided into two categories, immediate and deferred.
Immediate side effects are the most dangerous; they occur as soon as the drug is absorbed, even before the effects are felt, causing permanent damage to the person. This effect can only be selected once per drug.
| Difficulty | Immediate side effects |
| -4 |
Addiction tolerance : people who are addicted to the drug gain a tolerance to its effects. While still hooked on the drug, they gain no benefit from it unless they double or triple their dosage. Even when the dosage is upped, users only gain benefits equal to those normally indicated for a second (or third) dose (which is to say, half), but they are still at risk of overdose. |
| -4/-8/-12 |
Psychologically addictive : this side effect reflects the psychological effect the drug has on its user. A user who is psychologically addicted to a substance is convinced he needs the drug, and feels he can't perform without it. This side effect has three costs, reflecting on how addictive the substance in question is : -4 is slightly addictive, -8 is mildly addictive, and -12 reflects that the drug is highly addictive. |
| -5/-10/-15 |
Physiologically addictive : these drugs are physiologically addictive. A drug with this side effect causes the user to physically require the drug in order to function. This side effect has three costs which reflect on how addictive the chemical in question is : -5 is slightly addictive, -10 is mildly addictive, and -15 reflects that the drug is highly addictive. |
| -6 |
Genetic damage : drugs with this side effect screw with a person's genes. In practical terms, this can result in severe birth defects among the user's progeny. Make a note every time the drug is taken. If the user ever manages to sire a child, roll 1D10. If the roll is less than or equal to the number of times the drug has been taken by the user in his lifetime, there may be some sort of defect/mutation in his child. To determine the defect, use the "Offspring Mutation Table" on page 22 of Deep Space, treating all rolls of "Favorable" as "Harmless". Nightmares : the subject suffers terrible nightmares every time he falls asleep. The first time a user of such a drug sleeps after a dose, he must roll under his COOL -4. Failure indicates that he wakes up screaming after 1D6 hours of restless slumber, and will be unable to sleep again for hours afterwards. Nightmares caused by the side effect cannot be recalled by the user, and reflect on his most primal fears. Addicts of such drugs often use them in conjunction with stimulants since they know that monsters are waiting for them behind their closed eyelids... Permanent sense loss : the drug causes the user to lose a sense (touch, smell, hearing, taste or sight) permanently. Roll 1D10. On a roll of 1-3, the affected sense is gone, forever. This is due to nerve damage, so senses enhanced with cybernetics (optics, hearing modules, tactile boosts, etc) are affected as well. It is possible to regain the sense with expensive nanosurgery involving nerve reconstruction. Severe withdrawal symptoms : only usable for addictive drugs. Withdrawal symptoms are twice as bad as they would normally be. A drug with the Lessened withdrawal symptoms feature cannot contain this side effect. |
| -8 |
Possible attribute loss : this side-effect covers the possible loss of an attribute from a variety of factors which could result from drug ingestion. Attributes that can be damaged this way include Intelligence and Tech (brain damage), Reflex and Movement Allowance (nerve degeneration), Body (immunodeficiency and muscle atrophy), and Empathy and Cool (psychological damage). Every time you take the drug in question, roll 1D10. On a roll of 1-3, you've lost a point from one of these attributes permanently. Sterility : using this drug can cause the junkie to become unable to sire children by damaging his sexual glands directly. In severe cases, sexual function is completely impaired, and impotence will result. Roll 1D10 each time the drug is used. On a roll of 1-3, the user's sexual fertility is destroyed. |
| -10 |
Carcinogenic : the drug causes cancer in laboratory tests, and the surgeon general recommends that you stick a loaded gun in your mouth as opposed to taking the substance. Every time you use the substance, roll 1D10 (or have your GM do it for you, secretly). On a roll of 1-3, you've got a little bitty tumor growing somewhere in your body. Of course, tumors continue to spread and grow, don't they... Coma : by using this drug, characters risk falling into a deep coma. When the drug is taken, roll 1D10. On a result of 1-3, the character becomes comatose for 1D10 days per potency point of the drug. Unless properly cared for, death will most likely result from starvation and dehydration. |
| -12 |
Cardiac arrest/heart attack : this particularly deadly side effect indicates that the drug puts massive strain on the user's heart, risking a severe heart attack. Roll 1D10. On a result of 1-3, cardiac arrest results. Roll another 1D10, and then make a death save as if you were at the resulting Mortal level. For example, if the second 1D10 roll results in a 6, the user makes a death save as if at Mortal 6. Failure indicates death. |
| -15 |
Death : the drug that this side effect is attached to is no better than poison. Each time you use it, you must make a Death Save as if you were at Mortal 2. Failure indicates your heart stops and you die. Pretty simple, eh ? Nerve degeneration : this side effect is reserved for those really nasty drugs that only idiots and guinea pigs imbibe of. Every time you use this drug, your Reflex stat is reduced by 2. If it ever reaches 1, you've contracted a serious case of Parkinson's Disease, and all you can do is drool. At least you can use those neat handicapped parking spaces now. If it goes to 0 or below, roll up a new character, chombotta, and remember to say no to drugs. |
Deferred side effects consist of two groups, immediate deferred (ID) and synchronized deferred (SD).
ID are triggered as soon as the drug reaches the end of its duration. The effects are applied immediately.
SD are also triggered at the end of the drug's duration, but have a duration equivalent to that of the drug. Alcohol represents the SD well with the euphoric state followed by the unpleasant effects we know (hangover).
The deferred side effects can be selected twice per drug : once in ID and once in SD. As with the effects, it is up to you to develop your own side effects.
Deferred side effects can be bought as "possible side effects" at 1/2 cost, dropping fractions. A possible side effect only occurs on a 1D10 roll of 1-5. For instance, if "Kidney / Liver failure" is bought as a possible side effect, it will grant only a -4 cost modifier (instead of -8), and its effects will only be felt 50% of the time.
| Difficulty | Deferred side effects |
| -2 |
Acne : the drug causes the user's face to break out due to excess oil production or stress. Normally, this could start out as a small problem, but frequent use of the drug can cause a more serious acne problem to develop (negative modifiers to ATT, as well as the increased chance of infection). Bad breath : this side effect indicates that halitosis develops. The character's breath will be incredibly rank, granting him a -3 modifier to all social rolls involving direct, face-to-face contact. No amount of brushing or listerine will help. Bloodshot eyes : the drug induces red, puffy, bloodshot eyes. Vision is not impaired. Cold sweats : this side effect causes the character to sweat for no apparent reason. No amount of anti-perspirant will do, since every pore on his body is working a double shift. Sweaty characters suffer no real modifications, though they may grow dehydrated or get the chills in cold or air-conditioned environments (-1 to all checks involving Reflex). Their palms will be slippery, and they will stink. Incredibly sweaty characters may also incur negative modifiers to social rolls. Constipation : constipation prevents a character from performing normal bowel movements for the duration of the side effect. No matter how bad the character feels he has to go, no amount of straining, grunting, or groaning will help. The character will feel as if he is carrying a lead weight in his colon, and will receive a -1 modifier to all actions involving physical exertion, including Initiative rolls. Dandruff / Eczema : the user's skin cracks and peels away. This side effect could be confined to the user's scalp, a specific part of the body, or the body as a whole. Complications include reduced Attractiveness. In addition, the user tends to leave little bits of himself behind at crime scenes, and police will have no problem isolating his DNA. Dehydration : the subject cannot retain water at all, and will suffer from symptoms such as cotton mouth and dry eyes. This side effect is usually accompanied by either nausea, diarrhea, diuretic, cold sweats, or a combination of the four. Diuretic : the drug increases the amount of urine produced and secreted by the body. The user affected by this will exhibit excessive urination, at least once per hour of the effect's duration, if not more. Easily bruised : even small bumps and thumps leave large bruises on the user. These bruises tend to be painful and noticeable, but don't affect the user otherwise. Excessive salivation : the drug causes the user's salivary glands to work double time. Unless he continues to swallow his saliva as it is produced, it will dribble down his chin and onto his body in an incredibly disgusting fashion. This side effect can also be used to emulate the "mad dog" effect of foaming at the mouth. Flatulences : the user gets terrible abdominal gas, and must vent uncontrollably for the duration. While being mildly painful, the real disadvantage to this side effect comes with the stench it causes, as well as the potential embarrassment. Then again, there are people who enjoy this sort of thing, so who am I to judge ? Hair loss : the drug causes hair loss in both men and women. Eighty or ninety percent of the user's head hair falls out effortlessly in large clumps. Most users of the drug are left with a mangy-looking scalp and small patches of unhealthy-looking hair here and there, modifying the character's ATT by -2 or more. Heartburn / Acid indigestion : the drug causes an excess production of stomach acids. While this is uncomfortable and rarely serious, it can result in ulcers in the stomach and esophagus. Impotence / Frigidity : while the user might desire to have sex, he or she is physically incapable for the duration of the side effect. Light sensitivity : the drug dilates the pupils and induces red, bloodshot eyes. The character is at a loss in any situation involving a bright light (-2 to all actions in daylight) unless wearing sunglasses or equipped with flare compensation. Characters with cybereyes are still affected by bright lights, since this side effect focuses on the optic nerve rather than the eye itself. Loss of appetite : the character will not eat, and will not feel hungry. People hooked on drugs with this side effect tend to be thin and emaciated. Characters who don't eat will starve within a couple weeks if not given treatment. This is reflected in the loss of one BODY point every three or four days. When the character's BODY reaches 0, he will die. If normal food consumption is resumed, the character will recover one BODY point a day until he reaches his original score. Runny nose : users suffering from a runny nose are constantly sniffling and blowing their noses. This doesn't really help, though. Roll 1D10. On a roll of 1 or 2, the character develops a bloody nose. While having no real game effect, he will be dripping blood everywhere. It will take between three and five minutes of constant pressure to stop the nose from bleeding, but the character still has a serious case of the sniffles. Strange skin pallor : the drug tints the user's skin a strange color. This can indicate that the drug makes its user's skin pale, or that his lips turn blue, but it can also indicate a more severe chromatic variation to his epidermis. Like, say, your whole body is blue. Like a smurf. Technicolor excreta : the user's bodily waste, be it urine or feces or both, turns a strange color. This effect lasts twice as long as the drug duration. The munchies : the drug with this side effect causes the user to grow really irrationally hungry. The character will eat any edible substance, and will believe that it's the best thing he's ever tasted. Tinnitus : due to severe ringing in ears, the user has trouble hearing soft to medium volume sounds. As such, he suffers -2 to all noise-related awareness rolls. Tremors : the user experiences violent tremors in his face and hands. The palsied fellow has his Reflex reduced by 2. Water retention : due to nonfunctional kidneys or other less traumatic problems, the user of a drug with this side effect will retain water for the side effect's duration. He will not be able to urinate, and will become bloated for the duration. Weight gain : the drug causes the user's body to store excess energy in the form of fat. Users of drugs with this side effect tend to be quite large and overweight, while addicts suffer from obesity. Every time a drug with this effect is used, the user gains 1D3 kg. Due to the extra weight he is carrying, an overweight character suffers a -1 to MA for every 12 kg he weighs past his "ideal weight". In addition to the physical effects, in the superficial atmosphere of Cyberpunk 2020, where everyone is fashion-model perfect, overweight people might suffer a social stigma worse than their 20th century counterparts. |
| -3 |
Itchy : the character suffers from a terrible itchy sensation all over his body. No amount of scratching or hydrocortisone will stop the irritation. Due to trouble concentrating, the character is at -1 to all activities. Habitual users of drugs that cause itching are usually walking scabs. |
| -4 |
Depression : the character becomes depressed, and doesn't feel like doing anything. Anything he attempts to do will suffer a -2 modifier, because he just doesn't really care. Severe cases of depression can cause feelings of hopelessness, and characters who are normally unstable may feel like dropping the final curtain by committing suicide. Diarrhea : the drug causes sudden, painful, and explosive diarrhea. The unlucky soul will be unable to control his bowels for more than a few moments at a time. Dizziness : the drug causes severe dizziness. The character suffering this effect will have trouble walking in a straight line or, for that matter, standing. This results in the user's Reflex and MA being halved for the duration of the side effect. In addition, he looks damn weird as he lurches around, bumping into objects and people. Headaches : the drug causes blinding headaches. The character cannot focus on anything for long periods of time, and has trouble seeing. Loud noises and bright lights will make this side effect worse. Hives : the character develops itchy and painful hives all over his body. Not only does he suffer from the "Itchy" side-effect, but the have-related rash covering his body is obvious and unattractive, as well as being incredibly uncomfortable. Insomnia : the character cannot sleep, no matter how tired he is. Characters suffering from lack of sleep tend to be cranky and unable to concentrate. Subtract -1 from all actions until the character gets at least six hours of sleep. Internal bleeding : for some reason, the drug causes the user's guts to hemorrhage and bleed. For every two hours of side effect duration (or every fraction thereof), the user takes one box of damage. Blood may show up in the users stools, urine, and/or vomit. Loss of inhibition : anyone suffering from loss of inhibition will do things that they normally would be adverse to doing. For instance, someone who wouldn't normally consider raping a helpless teenage girl might think it's a good idea at the time and throw inhibitions to the wind. Much of this side effect must be role-played. If game mechanics enter into it, however, the player must roll under his character's COOL score on a 1D10 in order to consider his actions and stop. Modify the character's COOL score by the drug's potency, using the number as a negative (instead of positive) modifier. Memory loss : the user will have no memory of what has happened while under the effects of the drug. If he tries really hard (Very Difficult Intelligence check), he can remember vague events, but no specifics (names, phone numbers, conversations, etc). Nausea : the character must make a stun/shock save at -2 or throw up. The nausea is painful and will extend into dry heaves. For the duration the character may not safely eat or drink anything. If he attempts to eat anything, a new stun/shock save at -2 is in order. Failure indicates more vomiting. Sense reduction : the drug reduces the user's sense of touch, smell, hearing, taste or sight for the duration of the side effect. All rolls made which rely on the sense in question receive a -4 modifier. For example, someone suffering from sense reduction sight would be at a -4 to shooting his weapon due to blurred vision or near-blindness. All Awareness rolls made with the appropriate sense are also at -4. Sexual arousal : the drug turns the user on, yet to a lesser degree than most aphrodisiacs. Anyone attempting to seduce the user gains a +1 bonus. In addition, all outward signs of arousal are visible and quite obvious. If the drug with this side effect is an aphrodisiac, roll 1D10. On a result of 1 or 2, a permanent state of arousal occurs, and doesn't go away... ever. Is that a truncheon in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me ? Sleepy : the drug makes the user sleepy. A character who is overcome with sleepiness must make a successful stun/shock save or fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. Soporifics with this side effect induce a deep, coma-like state that can last for 1D10 days. |
| -4/-6 |
Numbness : at a -4 cost modifier, this drug causes the user's extremities to become numb and void of feeling. Fine manipulation is impossible, and walking is impossible unless the character is given support. At -6, the lack of feeling extends to the whole body. Since the user is experiencing no pain, the GM should secretly keep track of his wounds. |
| -5 |
Delusions : anyone suffering from delusions is under the impression that something that is highly unlikely is actually happening. Such delusions can be as minor as believing that Saburo Arasaka is controlled by aliens, or as serious as believing that you actually are Saburo Arasaka. Hallucinations : this side effect causes unlooked-for hallucinations. Such hallucinations can be traumatic or harmless, depending on the situation. Any hallucinogenic drug with this side effect causes a "bad trip" 95% of the time. Lack of concentration : the character cannot concentrate on any one thing for more than a couple minutes. His mind is restlessly wandering, and he is easily distracted. For the duration, he suffers a -3 to all actions. Paranoia : while this side effect lasts, the user is convinced that everyone and everything is out to get him. While most of this will have to be role-played, a few Cool rolls at appropriate times may be called for. Reduced attribute : this drug reduces an attribute by an amount equal to the drug potency for an amount of time equal to the duration. All attributes can be reduced except Attractiveness and Chance. If a physical attribute (Reflex, Body, MA) is reduced below zero, make a Death Save or die. If a mental attribute (Intelligence, Tech) is reduced below zero, the user slips into a deep coma for the duration. In the case of Empathy being lowered below zero, assume that user is sociopathic and is liable to do anything. A Cool score below zero indicates total nervous breakdown. Suicidal tendencies : the user becomes depressed or agitated, convinced that life is meaningless and that it might as well end as soon as possible. While possessed of suicidal tendencies, a character must roll under his COOL score -2. If the roll is failed, he must take immediate suicidal action. The method he uses is whichever is most convenient, be it putting a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger, or jumping off his fifth floor balcony into the moving traffic below. Needless to say, users of such drugs eventually do society a favor. |
| -6 |
Aggressive behavior : a character experiencing such behavior will act to satisfy his own needs with little regard for the feelings of others, is irritable and easily provoked. He will not back down from a fight, and may even attempt to initiate one. He will have no respect for authority, and any suggestion that he is incapable of anything will be seen as a challenge. Gee, sounds like your typical Cyberpunk character... Cowardice : the character will exhibit his most timid side, and will be more likely to run from trouble. Any time the character tries to accomplish a task which may cause him physical harm, he must make a save against Cool at -2 in order to show some guts and stick around. If he fails, he must run or hide, whichever is more convenient. Difficult respiration : anyone experiencing the effect of difficult respiration is suffering from either shortness of breath, asthma-like symptoms, a tightening of the diaphragm muscles, or a combination of the three. On a roll of 1 on 1D10 indicates the subject cannot, in fact, breathe at all, and will suffocate unless proper medical attention has been administered. Running is out of the question, as is most other high- and low-impact exercise. Increased pain sensitivity : the drug makes little pains feel much, much bigger. Big pains will incapacitate the character as he writhes around in agony. While this effect lasts, the character makes all stun/shock saves at -2, and gains a -4 to resist torture. Paralysis : characters suffering from paralysis cannot move, speak, and they may have trouble breathing. Paralysis can take many forms, from complete muscle relaxation to a painful tightening of the entire muscular system. While paralyzed, the user is completely helpless and can perform no actions. Reduced awareness : the user of a drug with this effect is oblivious to the world around him. While sense reduction only affects one of the senses, reduced awareness affects them all. All skill rolls which rely on any of the user's senses suffer a -4 modifier, and all Awareness rolls are made at -6. |
| -8 |
Kidney / Liver failure : taking this drug will cause a user's kidneys and liver to work overtime while filtering his blood stream of the nasty substance. This can cause these organs to fail. Roll 1D10. On a roll of 1, the user's kidneys and/or liver have stopped functioning. Unless proper medical attention is sought, the character will die within twenty-four hours due to poisons running unchecked through his bloodstream. |
| -10 |
Irrational fear : anyone suffering this side effect will develop a sudden intense fear of a random object, thing, or circumstance, determined by the Game Master. The character will stop at nothing to put as much distance between himself and the object/situation he fears. If escape is impossible, he will fight like a cornered animal. Psychotic rage : a result of some of the worst combat drugs. The user goes berserk, attacking the nearest friend or enemy, he doesn't really care which. If a Difficult Resist Torture/Drugs roll is made, the user may specifically ignore a friend or ally and focus his attention on a target of his choice. |
Not all drugs are created equal. Some are less potent than others, while some are dangerously strong. Hence, you have drug potency. Usually the cheaper drugs are of potency 1 or 2. However, the maximum potency rarely exceeds level 5. However, if your lab technician wants to design something phenomenal, he will see his production and design costs multiplied by 2 for every point above level 5. So for a drug of power 6, the factor will be x2, for a power of 7 the factor will be x4, etc.
Add the number chosen for the drug's potency rating to the base difficulty.
Drug effects don't last forever. Eventually, the human body will filter out its blood supply, and normal functions will begin anew. The amount of time the drug lasts for determines the final base difficulty number. The difficulty number is used when a character attempts to create a drug from raw materials. Subsequently, it also helps determine the drug's base cost per dose, since drugs that are difficult to create are usually much more expensive than drugs you can produce using Mr. Wizard's Chemistry Kit.
To get the final difficulty number for a drug, add together the cost of its effects, its side effects, its potency, and multiply that sum by the difficulty modifier of the drug's duration. Voilà ! You're almost done ! Remember that no drug's difficulty can be lower than 1, or a negative value. If your final difficulty number is negative, drop the negative symbol and use the number as if it were a positive.
The drug's administration method defines its physical characteristics and how the user will interface with it. Is it something you can smoke ? Is it a pill ? Do you use a syringe or an air hypo to inject it ? The drug form also determines how much the final drug will cost, whether or not it can be "cut", and how fast it takes effect.
| Drug form | Time to effect | Cost multiplier | Can it be cut ? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pill, tablet | 1D6 x 10 minutes | x0.5 | No |
| Gel cap, caplet | 1D6 + 10 minutes | x1 | No |
| Paper tab | 1D10 minutes | x1 | No |
| Smoked, inhaled | 1D10 rounds | x1 | Yes |
| Powdered, snorted | 1D5 minutes | x1 | Yes |
| Injected | 1D5 rounds | x1.5 | Yes |
| Liquid | 1D10 minutes | x1.5 | Yes |
| Derm, slap patch | 3D10 seconds | x2.5 | No |
| Contact | 1D10 + 5 seconds | x2.5 | No |
Pill, tablet : this is your typical pill. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Pills are generally chalky and taste bad unless coated. They are the cheapest form of drug administration since they take a horribly long time to go into effect.
Gel cap, caplet : this includes drugs that are specially coated for ease of swallowing, and that are time-released for a quicker effect than tablets. Most people prefer this form to tablets.
Paper tab : a paper tab is a piece of paper that has been soaked in a concentrated liquid drug and then dried. The user places the tab onto his tongue and sucks on it until the drug takes effect. This form of drug has always been a popular way of administering hallucinogens like LSD.
Smoked, inhaled : these drugs come in a form that is easily burnt. The smoke or fumes produced are then inhaled directly through a device, usually a pipe. Sometimes, tobacco or cigarettes are soaked in a liquid drug and then dried and smoked.
Powdered, snorted : powdered drugs which are snorted make their way to the lungs, sinuses, and mucus membranes where they are absorbed by the body. This form of use is less offensive to some than smoking, but it also takes a little longer for the drug to take effect.
Injected : most injected drugs are concentrated liquids designed for direct entry into the bloodstream. Some start out as powdered drugs, but are liquefied in a process known as "free basing". Some people prefer this method of using, and will pay the extra cash to avoid the risks of free basing the product themselves.
Liquid : liquid drugs are usually swallowed like a drink. Some can be mixed with normal soft drinks or fruit juices to cut the taste, though some are designed to be quite tasty all by themselves. While it may take the drugs longer to take effect, this is by far one of the most comfortable methods of imbibing.
Derm, slap patch : an adhesive sticker which is placed upon the skin, and the dose of the drug is then absorbed. Derms are convenient to use, easy to transport, and, if sealed in plastic, they have a good shelf life. However, the adhesive can irritate sensitive skin and cause an itchy rash.
Contact : contact drugs are absorbed directly by the skin, almost instantly. They are usually hard to keep for long periods of time, as they are unstable and "go bad" quickly. However, they are the easiest and most comfortable way to administer drugs (or poisons) to yourself or an unsuspecting victim.
Drugs are "cut" for any number of reasons. Most powdered drugs are already cut with an inactive substance, since they would be far too powerful (and possibly deadly) if they weren't toned down. Of course, most dealers don't have your safety in mind when cutting their products. Unscrupulous dealers want to make their stock last a lot longer, so they cut it down and charge normal price.
It is up to the individual user to check the quality of the dope he buys. A drug that is cut loses potency equal to the percentage it is cut by, rounding down. For example, a potency 4 euphoric that has been cut 25% with baby laxative will have a relative potency of 3, as opposed to 4 (its potency is reduced by 25% of the original potency). If cut 50%, it will only have a potency of 2, and so on.
Not all drugs are illegal. At the same time, though, not all drugs are available at Save-On drugs, either. So we come to the question of legality. Decide for yourself if the drug you're designing is something that the average vice squad would want to see on the street. Legality is important, because it helps determine the base cost of the drug in question.
The base cost (in Euro) of a drug is determined by multiplying the final difficulty number by the legality multiplier supplied on the chart below. The resulting number is the base cost for obtaining the substance on the street. The drug's final cost is determined by the form that it comes in.
| Drug legality | Cost multiplier | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Legal/common | x1 | Alcohol, tobacco, Smash |
| By prescription only | x5 | Valium, Xanax, sleeping pills |
| Type C illegal | x5 | Marijuana, stim, Blue Glass, Rezzin |
| Type B illegal | x7.5 | Dorph, Synthcoke, Boost |
| Type A illegal | x10 | Black Lace, Taz |
| Experimental | x25 |
Some drugs are addictive. Someone who is addicted to a drug is physically or mentally dependent on it. Without their drug, they cannot operate at full capacity. When a drug is used, an addiction save may be called for. This depends entirely on how addictive the drug is (see the entries for Psychological and Physiological addiction side effects).
How often an addiction save is called for depends on how addictive the drug is. Slightly Addictive drugs require an addiction save every 1D6+4 times they are used, Mildly Addictive drugs every 1D3+2 times they are used, and Highly Addictive drugs require a roll each and every time they are used.
I recommend that the GM roll this number and make a note of it secretly. That way, players will only have a general idea how many times they can take a drug safely before they're forced to roll for addiction. If such a roll is called for, the user must roll above the drug's Addiction Number on 1D10. The addiction number of a drug is equal to it's potency times 1.75 rounding fractions to the nearest whole number.
| Drug potency | Addiction Number |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 7 |
| 5 | 9 |
Once a drug has worn off (see Drug duration), an addict will need to get another dose. However, he won't necessarily need one right away. The chart below details the time a user can go before he is incapacitated by his need for the drug. When the user's most recent dose has worn off, roll the requisite number of dice under Time to next dose to determine how long it will be before his cravings for the drug return.
If at that time he doesn't get a fix, roll the number of dice under Time to withdrawal to determine when, exactly, withdrawal symptoms will appear. It is recommended that the GM roll these values and keep them secret.
| Drug potency | Time to next dose | Time to withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| +1 | 1D6 hours | 5D6 hours |
| +2 | 2D6 hours | 4D6 hours |
| +3 | 3D6 hours | 3D6 hours |
| +4 | 4D6 hours | 2D6 hours |
| +5 | 5D6 hours | 1D6 hours |
Anyone attempting to kick a psychological addiction must stop taking the drug altogether. Withdrawal symptoms include -2 to all actions until withdrawal is complete (about a week or so). A strong psychological craving for the drug will remain, and a character who was once hooked may need to make a Cool roll (Resist Torture/Drugs applies) to resist the temptation if offered the drug again.
Physiological addiction is much stronger and harder to break. Kicking such an addiction takes about two weeks of treatment. All of the character's physical and mental attributes are reduced by half to reflect on the severe mental and physical anguish of the process. As with psychological addiction, the character will still crave the drug, and the same Cool roll applies if he comes into temptation's way.
Users may take multiple doses of a drug, but the drug's effects will not be doubled. In fact, for each subsequent dose after the first, halve all beneficial effects the drug grants, rounding fractions down. All negative side effects are not halved, however, making this a risky proposition. For example, a drug that causes death as a side effect taken twice will cause two subsequent death saves to be made. While it may seem safe to take less powerful (and dangerous) drugs like they were M&M's, there is still the topic of Overdose.
When someone takes multiple doses of a drug, he increases his risk of becoming sick by introducing too much of the chemical into his body. If the total potency of combined drug doses is ever greater than 10 plus the character's BTM score (assume the BTM is a positive number), the character has a chance to become terribly ill from overdosing. The effects of an overdose vary greatly, depending on the drugs taken. Check the individual Drug Effects entries to find out exactly what happens to the user of the drug. If a drug has more than one effect (ie, a drug that acts as both a Euphoric and a Stun Reducer), apply both sets of OD results.
Multiply the base Euro cost of the drug by the drug form cost multiplier to find the drug's final cost per dose. This is an average price, based on the price of materials used and man-hours of work involved. Dealers will charge what the market will bear, however, and price increases during shortages and police crackdowns are all too common. On the up side, drugs which have a very low demand will cost significantly less. Final price is determined by the GM's discretion.
Total difficulty = Effects + Side effects + Drug potency x Duration multiplier
Base cost = Total difficulty x Legality multiplier (see Legislation)
Final cost = Base cost x Cost multiplier (see Administration method)
As an aside to CP2020 drug designers everywhere : I've gotten queries in the past concerning the Drug Lab and its use in making what I would refer to as "poisons". These "poisons" are drugs that are utilized for their negative side effects only, in order to kill or incapacitate characters.
Let me stress that this system wasn't originally written with this in mind. The negative side effects of a drug are meant to be unintentional (from a designer's point of view), and to aid players and GMs in constructing chemicals that can be reasonably replicated by players in game time. In essence, by cutting a few corners, a drug designer can make a functional cocktail which might have a few bad side effects. Realistically speaking, he doesn't necessarily "pick" a specific side effect. Outside of making random side effect charts (which I loathe doing), I can't see any way to fix this sort of problem.
On the other hand, if someone wishes to actually design a drug with a specific side effect, a GM might consider adding the effect's difficulty modifier to the drug difficulty, since the drug is being engineered to have a nasty edge. This is, of course, the GM's option (and one that I recommend). These rules are easy for unscrupulous players and GMs to abuse. They allow a great deal of complexity and choice when constructing drugs for use in games. It is my strong recommendation that players and GMs who wish to use these rules do so with caution, lest you create monsters.
