hartopia
| d40 | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Laborer |
finding day labor where you can |
You’re one of the faceless millions forced to make a living with day labor and menial toil. Small businesses without the capital to mechanize their work often enlist such laborers, finding it cheaper to discard the injured than pay a street doc. For many laborers, the distinction between crime and legal work is too small to be worth distinguishing. Choose a general line of work for your laborer, be it construction, dock work, trucking, or the like. When you roll or pick the Work skill, you can substitute another skill for Work if a different one more perfectly reflects your usual labor. |
Exert |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
2 |
Bum |
a hard-bitten street survivor |
Vagrant, junkie, wino... sometimes “homeless person” if somebody’s trying to coax donations. Most in your situation are treated as nothing more than human detritus one step away from a welcome grave. Maybe you were born to a poverty indistinguishable from professional indigence or maybe some event threw you down from a better life, but you don’t intend to go quietly. Being a societal castoff in a dystopia like this one is something only the strongest survive for long. With the skills you have, you mean to do far more than just survive. |
Survive |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
3 |
Bureaucrat |
for a local government agency |
Somebody had to keep the wheels of government turning, and you were as good as any. The city governments may be little more than shells for corp exploitation, but they and their army of functionaries keep the power on, the slums contained, and some pretense of civic order in place. It can be a very lucrative line of work for those positioned to demand bribes and other inducement, but you’re going to need to collect your bonus pay in a more direct fashion. You know how the machine works, and that can be worth more than any sum of bullets. |
Administer |
Free Skill Know-0 |
Face |
4 |
Clergy |
whether formal or informal |
In the slums, people have little to rely upon but their own strength and God’s good mercy. Amid the desperation and desolation of the modern era, thousands of different faiths and sects have sprouted to give solace to their believers. Most of them are corp-sponsored marketing channels for selling spiritual retreats, blessed artifacts, and prestigious church ranks, but a few clergy still stubbornly serve God before Mammon. Such renegades are often thrown on their own devices, forced to collect their own tithes and deliver the Lord’s righteous judgment with their own right hands. |
Lead |
Free Skill Talk-0 |
Face |
5 |
Coder |
grinding code for somebody |
The corporate world runs on code, and you’re one of the people that keep it turning. High-ranking corporate coders are too tightly monitored to work as operators, but the ecosystem of freelancers, selftaught prodigies, and desperate climbers is always churning with new possibilities. You may be a true hacker, skilled at running code under the most stressful situations, or you might focus your operator skills in a more physical direction, keeping your programming knowledge as a backup tool for when your preferred weapon doesn’t suit the job |
Program |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Hacker |
6 |
Corp Security |
muscle for a local corp |
There are people hated more than corp security, but most of them are involved in blood feuds, religious wars, or undying gang vendettas. You’ve almost certainly left the uniform behind, but you still remember how the corporate world works, and more importantly, how its security units operate. You might still have a contact back in the corp you left, or a special reason to resent them. As ex-security, everyone knows that you’re never going back. They’d never let you live |
Combat |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
7 |
Corper |
a faceless cog in their machine |
Once one of the fortunate millions, those lucky enough to have a formal job contract with a megacorp. You were above the petty roil of subsidiaries, street shops, and freelancers that clawed for every day’s meal. Even the worst-paid corper could have something resembling a civilized life if they toed the corporate line. You didn’t, for one reason or another, and now you’re on the outside. This is not your world and these are not your people, but you’re going to have to learn to cope with this new life, because there’s no going back after what happened to you… or what it made you do |
Work |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
8 |
Criminal |
be it thief, mugger, or worse |
It’s theoretically possible to live in the slums without breaking a law, but nobody’s ever seen it done. You, however, weren’t just a criminal by necessity. You were a criminal as a calling, as a profession. Doing what the cops and the corps and the gangs forbade was how you made your living, either as a thief, a con man, an enforcer, or some other variety of lawbreaker. You violated the rules that mattered, breaking the customary detente of fear that keeps the streets functional. You’ve managed to stay ahead of the consequences so far, but there’s no telling how long your luck will last. |
Sneak |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Badlander |
9 |
Doctor |
whether corp med or street doc |
It was inevitable that the rise of cybernetic tech should have thrown off a host of second-order medical marvels. It’s thanks to these wonders that a street doc can do good even with nothing more than a battered medkit and a semi-clean table. You might have practiced as part of a corp-backed hospital, or served in a private clinic, or been something else that had a place in “good society” once. Perhaps you were always part of the street, a local who learned what was needed for their own reasons. Now you’re on your own. It’s not a problem, though; in a world like this, you’ll never lack work. |
Heal |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Medic |
10 |
Drone Jockey |
running overwatch |
With as much lead flying around as it does these days, drones are a popular substitute for expensive, trained human flesh. Most drone pilots are corp-employed, running security rigs for corp facilities or keeping a border watch up on isolated regions. Gang bosses and powerful locals also have use for their services, as an armed drone is much less concerned about being shot than a human flunky is. You might make drone piloting the main thrust of your work as an operator, but it could also be a sideline for the job you prefer to do now |
Drive |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Hacker |
11 |
Ganger |
rank and file of the street legions |
One of the lesser nobility of the street, most districts are ruled by one or more gangs. With enough tribute in cash and fearful reverence, a gang boss can hold the local violence down to a dull roar and make sure that thieves and troublemakers get dealt with quickly. There’s an endless need for ambitious, eager new recruits to handle these jobs, and if the mortality rate is high, well, nothing’s as cheap as human lives. You’ve had to cut ties with your old crew, either because they’re no longer around or because you did something that couldn’t be overlooked. Hopefully no hard feelings remain |
Combat |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
12 |
Law Enforcement |
such as cops are now |
Once one of the city enforcers, whether a beat cop, a detective, or a paper-pusher back at the precinct. There’s too much violence for the city cops to pay attention to anything but the most egregious street murder, and the only time they ever hurry is when big money is upset. Even so, a few idealists keep stubbornly trying to prevent their savage wards from killing each other with impunity. Maybe you felt that way once, but something happened that forced you to leave. The good news is that the street locals have nothing against you; cops aren’t nearly as brutal as the gangs are. The bad news is that you’re out here alone now. |
Administer |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
13 |
Manager |
a maintainer of cogs |
You ran things. If you were lucky, you ran things for a megacorp, one of the legion of petty middle-managers who kept the machine from binding up on itself. If you were less fortunate, you worked for a subsidiary corp, or a freelance organization, or a community co-op. In either case, you learned how to deal with the friction that human contact creates and the innumerable problems that crop up in a world where destruction is so much easier than order. You’re out of things to manage right now, but you still know how to make something out of a whole lot of confused nothing. |
Administer |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
14 |
Outlander |
born beyond the city |
Everybody lives in cities because cities are where everything is. Everybody except you. Despite all the pollution, all the toxins, all the outcasts too violent or too crazy to exist within city limits, you made your life in the outlands. Maybe you were born in a dying rural town, or maybe you run contraband between isolated city-states, or maybe you just couldn’t stand living in a human hive any more. Whatever the reason, you know how to survive where there isn’t a convenience store every two blocks, and how to deal with dangers that don’t wear a human face. |
Survive |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Badlander |
15 |
Performer |
musician, or artist |
Everybody wants to forget where they are, and you helped them do that. Whether singing, dancing, VR recordings, cam shows, comedy, or some other art, you’re good enough at it not to have starved yet, which is a considerable accomplishment. You still haven’t made it to the big time, and for one reason or another you’ve found it necessary to take up an operator’s work as well as that of an artist. It could be that stand-up’s not paying the rent, or you might have a performance in mind that a particular audience won’t ever forget |
Perform |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
16 |
Soldier |
working for a government |
A soldier’s work is never done, whether they’re wearing the patches of one of the remaining national governments or working under the colors of a corporate military division. Most corps prefer to resolve their differences through buyouts, legal action, and targeted assassinations, but some people just won’t listen to reason, and that’s where the hovertanks come in. For one reason or another, you’ve found it necessary to move on from that life. While you may not be as well-supported now as you were then, your familiarity with violence and quick death is something valuable to an operator. |
Combat |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
17 |
Spy |
in deep for your real employer |
There’s never been a perfect substitute for human intelligence, and you made your living as a source of it. Whether a gang mole, a corp infiltrator, a spy for a rival government department, or an actual agent of a foreign power, you kept your mouth shut and your eyes open, learning what others would keep hidden. Every resource gets spent sooner or later, however, and now you find yourself cut loose. An operator’s life isn’t so different from the one you’ve lived so far, and your professional talents will still find use in your new life |
Sneak |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Tech |
18 |
Trader |
peddler, hawker, or the like |
Everyone’s looking for a good deal, and you made your living out of finding those deals first. You might’ve been a small shopkeeper, a street peddler, a struggling business owner, or one of the countless other small fry trying to make a living in the shadow of the megacorps and their pet subsidiaries. Something happened that left your old plans in ruins, and now you’ve got to use your skills in a different line of work. Fortunately, the average operator is every bit as interested in the flow of money as any trader, and your talents will serve you well. |
Trade |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
19 |
Streetwalker |
whether cheap or high-class |
Once a professional distraction from the world, you might have been an ordinary streetwalker, an expensive companion, or some artistic jewel far above the tawdry business of physical contact. The work pays better than street labor, though the danger is often considerably greater. Professional experience has given you a talent for negotiation and diplomacy that can sometimes be more valuable than any amount of firepower, and as an operator, your value will be recognized in your achievements rather than your face. |
Talk |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
20 |
Technician |
freelance or corp-hired |
You know how to fix what’s broken, patch what’s damaged, and jailbreak what’s locked. With the megacorps preferring profitable obsolescence to active repair, anyone who can turn legal scrap into illegal gear has a role on the streets, and you’re good at it. Maybe you worked for a small shop, or freelanced for a subsidiary, or even made your own living out of piecework and favors done. An operator team always needs somebody to keep the guns firing and the armor intact, and your talents are critical for that work. |
Fix |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Tech |
21 |
Wild One |
born primitive and wild |
Standards of barbarism vary, but your operator comes from savagery and high violence. They may have survived an all-consuming war, or been deprived of critical materials or energy resources. Wild Ones are drawn from the impoverished underclass and technologically-impoverished inheritors of some former glory. (from Starts Without Number) |
Survive |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Melee |
22 |
Courtesan |
trading on pleasurable company |
Your operator’s career was one of proffered pleasure. Refined artists of conversation and grace command high fees in some societies, while others pay well for the simple company of certain people with the right bloodlines, special appearance, or auspicious personal qualities esteemed by their culture. (from Starts Without Number) |
Perform |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
23 |
Dilettante |
with money if not purpose |
Your operator never had a profession, strictly speaking, but spent their formative years in travel, socializing, and a series of engaging hobbies. They might have been the scion of a wealthy industrialist, a planetary noble’s younger offspring, or a hanger-on to someone with the money and influence they lacked. By the time your operator’s start, they’ve run through the money that once fueled their lifestyle. Extreme measures may be necessary to acquire further funding. (from Starts Without Number) |
Connect |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
24 |
Entertainer |
artful and beguiling |
Singers, dancers, actors, poets, writers… the city teems with artists of unnumbered styles and mediums, some of which are only physically possible with advanced technological support. Your operator was a dedicated entertainer, one likely focused in a particular form of art. Patrons and talent scouts can be temperamental, however, and sometimes a budding artist needs to take steps to find their audience. Or at least, to find their audience’s money. (from Starts Without Number) |
Perform |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
25 |
Merchant |
whether peddler or far trader |
Your operator was or is a trader. The nature of trade varies. For some, it’s a business of soberly-dressed people ticking off trades on virtual terminals, while on others it is a more active pursuit requirng the judicious application of monoblades and deniable gunfire against competitors. Sometimes a deal goes bad or capital needs to be raised, and a merchant’s natural talents are turned toward the perils of adventure. (from Stars Without Number) |
Trade |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Face |
26 |
Noble |
by blood or social capital |
Many places are ruled by a class of nobles, and your operator was a member of one such exalted group. Your operator has done something or been the victim of something to dislodge them from their comfortable place at court. Without their familiar allies, wealth, or influence, they must take a new place in the world, however distasteful that claiming might be (from Stars Without Number) |
Lead |
Free Skill Connect-0 |
Badlander |
27 |
Peasant |
whether primitive or high-tech |
A technologically-advanced city can usually produce all its necessary foodstuffs and basic resources with a handful of workers, the bulk of the labor being performed by agricultural bots. In more primitive places, or those with a natural environment that requires close personal attention to foodstuffs, a class of peasants will emerge. Thesepeople often become chattel, part and parcel of the area they occupy and traded among their betters like equipment. Your operator was not satisfied with that life and has done something to break free from their dirty, toilsome past. (from Starts Without Number) |
Exert |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
28 |
Traveler |
wunderlusted cyberpunk gunslinger |
This enigmatic figure is a nomadic gunslinger, forever on the move, navigating the sprawling concrete jungles and virtual realms with unmatched grace and precision. Adorned in a fusion of leather and high-tech armor, they're a master of both traditional firearms and cutting-edge cybernetic enhancements, making them a formidable force in a world where every shadow conceals a threat. Fuelled by a relentless wanderlust, they seek adventure in the darkest corners of the digital frontier, where danger and opportunity collide. (chatGPT Homebrew) |
Combat |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Badlander |
29 |
Vigilante |
relentless force of nature |
This character is cloaked in the shadows and armed with a dizzying array of high-tech melee weapons and cybernetic enhancements. Their body is a canvas of chrome and neon, adorned with circuitry that enhances their physical abilities to superhuman levels. (chatGPT Homebrew) |
Combat |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |
30 |
Mechanic |
freelance or corp-hired |
You possess the expertise to mend the fractured, mend the battered, and liberate the restricted. In a world where megacorporations prioritize profits over fixing things, individuals who can transform lawful scrap into illicit tech are invaluable on the urban streets, and you excel in this craft. Perhaps you were employed by a modest workshop, operated as a freelancer under a subsidiary, or established your own livelihood by trading in patchwork and fulfilling favors. Within an operator team, there's always a need for someone to ensure that the weapons keep firing and the armor remains in pristine condition, and your unique skills are indispensable for this crucial role. (chatGPT Homebrew) |
Fix |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Tech |
31 |
Hacker |
grinding code for somebody |
In the corporate realm, the backbone is comprised of lines of code, and you are a vital cog in this intricate machine. Those in high-ranking corporate coding positions are subjected to rigorous surveillance, rendering them unsuitable for operational roles. However, the dynamic landscape of freelancers, self-taught prodigies, and ambitious strivers continually spawns fresh opportunities. You may fall into the category of a genuine hacker, adept at executing code seamlessly even in the most intense scenarios. Alternatively, you might channel your operator talents in a more tangible direction, reserving your coding expertise as a secondary tool for situations where your primary weapon isn't the best fit for the task at hand. (chatGPT Homebrew) |
Program |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Hacker |
32 |
Artisan |
Maker of things |
Your character was a creator, skilled in various trades such as fabricating, engineering, constructing, or crafting unique and unconventional items. In modest, isolated communities, artisans often complement their livelihood with the same sustenance farming as their fellow residents. However, within the bustling metropolises, they might have become full-time professionals, possibly affiliating with exclusive guilds or brotherhoods devoted to their specific craft. While an artisan's craftsmanship primarily pertains to their original discipline, they often possess enough knowledge and adaptability to produce proficient results in other fields of work when required. (Worlds Without Number) |
Fix |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Tech |
33 |
Carter |
hauling goods or people |
These individuals may serve as transport specialists, embarking on treacherous journeys through unforgiving landscapes. They could be caravan workers responsible for safeguarding precious cargo over vast distances, or independent couriers, maintaining vital connections between isolated outposts. These relentless transporters may also serve as messenger riders, braving significant risks to ensure the secure delivery of small parcels. Originating from humble origins, a carter might come from the ranks of low-born peasants, yet their profession often takes them far beyond the horizons known to the privileged elite of their homelands. In their extensive travels, these rugged haulers swiftly acquire the necessary skills to navigate the most dangerous situations. (Worlds Without Number) |
Drive |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Hacker |
34 |
Hunter |
trapper, lone hermit, or recluse |
Both primitive tribals and bored nobles require hunts for their table and their pleasures, and such efforts often require professional hunters to help in the work. Hunger or greed has also been known to send poor peasants into the game preserves of their lords or deep into dangerous wilderness. The marksmanship and stealth of a well-practiced hunter tend to be useful skills in an adventurer’s line of work. (Worlds Without Number) |
Combat |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Badlander |
35 |
Hacker |
grinding code for somebody |
Within the corporate dystopia, the digital code forms the very foundation, and you play a pivotal role in this complex mechanism. Those occupying high-ranking corporate coding positions find themselves under stringent surveillance, making them ill-suited for hands-on operational tasks. Nonetheless, the ever-evolving landscape of independent contractors, self-taught prodigies, and ambitious up-and-comers consistently generates new possibilities. You may belong to the ranks of true hackers, highly skilled in executing code flawlessly even in the most intense circumstances. Alternatively, you might choose to channel your operator skills towards more tangible objectives, reserving your coding expertise as a secondary resource for situations where your primary weapon proves inadequate for the job at hand.. (chatGPT Homebrew) |
Program |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Hacker |
36 |
Drone Jockey |
running overwatch |
Given the constant hail of bullets in our contemporary world, drones have emerged as a cost-effective alternative to highly trained human operatives. The majority of drone operators work under corporate employment, overseeing security measures for corporate installations or patrolling remote, desolate territories. Notably, gang leaders and influential individuals within the community also find value in their services, as armed drones exhibit far less trepidation about gunfire compared to their human counterparts. You could choose to specialize in drone piloting as the primary focus of your role as an operator, or it could serve as an auxiliary responsibility while you pursue your current preferred line of work, (chatGPT Homebrew) |
Drive |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Hacker |
37 |
Doctor |
whether corp med or street doc |
It was inevitable that the rise of cybernetic tech should have thrown off a host of second-order medical marvels. It’s thanks to these wonders that a street doc can do good even with nothing more than a battered medkit and a semi-clean table. You might have practiced as part of a corp-backed hospital, or served in a private clinic, or been something else that had a place in “good society” once. Perhaps you were always part of the street, a local who learned what was needed for their own reasons. Now you’re on your own. It’s not a problem, though; in a world like this, you’ll never lack work. |
Heal |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Medic |
38 |
Doctor |
whether corp med or street doc |
It was inevitable that the rise of cybernetic tech should have thrown off a host of second-order medical marvels. It’s thanks to these wonders that a street doc can do good even with nothing more than a battered medkit and a semi-clean table. You might have practiced as part of a corp-backed hospital, or served in a private clinic, or been something else that had a place in “good society” once. Perhaps you were always part of the street, a local who learned what was needed for their own reasons. Now you’re on your own. It’s not a problem, though; in a world like this, you’ll never lack work. |
Heal |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Medic |
39 |
Doctor |
whether corp med or street doc |
It was inevitable that the rise of cybernetic tech should have thrown off a host of second-order medical marvels. It’s thanks to these wonders that a street doc can do good even with nothing more than a battered medkit and a semi-clean table. You might have practiced as part of a corp-backed hospital, or served in a private clinic, or been something else that had a place in “good society” once. Perhaps you were always part of the street, a local who learned what was needed for their own reasons. Now you’re on your own. It’s not a problem, though; in a world like this, you’ll never lack work. |
Heal |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Medic |
40 |
Slave |
indentured laborer, runaway prentice |
Slavery in this world varies from the pampered life of some favored house slave to a short, brutal existence in the mines and manufactories. It’s not unknown for the same slave to experience both ends of the spectrum as their charm fades or financial need forces a slimming of the household staff. In some lands a former slave can have hope of attaining honor and status, while in others they might expect an even worse state, without even the assurance of sufficient bread for their labor. Runaways, rebels, and ex-slaves are all well-represented among the desperate class of adventurers. (Worlds Without Number) |
Sneak |
Free Skill Quick Skills |
Gunslinger |