Edgerunner Guide

⚖️ Edgerunner Character Creation

“Roll the dice, spend the points, make it yours.”

The Edgerunner method (also called “Fast and Dirty”) gives you the best of both worlds — random stats that create memorable characters, plus full control over skills and gear choices.

🎲 What You'll Need

• 10d10 for STATs (1 roll per stat column)
• ~15d10 for Lifepath (roll as you go)
• ~4d6 for Role-specific Lifepath
• A character sheet — PDF · Expanded PDF · Markdown
• ⏱️ About 20-30 minutes

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📋 Overview

Step	What You Do	Time
1	Pick a Role	1 min
2	Roll STATs (10 rolls, column by column)	3 min
3	Calculate Derived Stats	1 min
4	Run Lifepath	5-10 min
5	Spend 86 Skill Points	10-15 min
6	Record your Gear	2 min
7	Install your Cyberware	2 min

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Step 1: Pick a Role

Your Role defines your special ability and your place in Night City. Set your Role Ability to Rank 4.

🎭 Role Gallery

Find Your Fit

Not sure? Ask yourself: “What do I want to be famous for?”

• Killing people? → Solo or Lawman
• Hacking systems? → Netrunner
• Talking my way out? → Fixer, Rockerboy, or Exec
• Building things? → Tech or Medtech
• Road warrior vibes? → Nomad
• Exposing secrets? → Media

Click any Role below to read their full page before deciding.

Role	You Are…	Role Ability
Solo	The combat specialist, the bodyguard, the killer	Combat Awareness — distribute points across 6 combat buffs (damage, initiative, awareness, etc.)
Netrunner	The hacker, the data thief, the digital ghost	Interface — jack into NET Architectures, fight ICE, control devices remotely
Fixer	The deal-maker, the broker, the one who knows everyone	Operator — build a crew of contacts for deals, intel, and hired services
Nomad	The road warrior, the outsider, the family	Moto — bonded vehicle with upgrades, plus call in convoy support
Rockerboy	The rebel, the performer, the voice of a generation	Charismatic Impact — influence crowds, inspire action, start (or stop) riots
Tech	The inventor, the modifier, the one who makes it work	Maker — craft, upgrade, and invent gear nobody else can build
Medtech	The street surgeon, the healer, the one who patches you up	Medicine — perform surgery, create pharmaceuticals, install cyberware
Media	The journalist, the truth-seeker, the one who exposes	Credibility — uncover truths, rally public support, build a following
Exec	The corporate shark, the power player, the one with resources	Teamwork — command a loyal team member who follows your orders
Lawman	The law, the judge, the one who enforces	Backup — call in institutional support (patrol officers, detectives, SWAT)

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Link to original

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Step 2: Roll Your STATs (Column by Column)

Edgerunner Method

Roll 1d10 for each STAT column — 10 rolls total, one per stat.

1. Find your Role’s Template Table below
2. Roll 1d10 for INT — look at the INT column, find that row, take the value
3. Roll 1d10 for REF — same process
4. Repeat for DEX, TECH, COOL, WILL, LUCK, MOVE, BODY, EMP

Why This Creates "Spikey" Characters

Because each stat is rolled independently, you might get a high INT but low REF, or vice versa. This creates characters with distinct strengths and weaknesses — more interesting than well-rounded templates!

Link to original

→ Open your Role’s STAT Template Table

Example: Kira Rolls Her Stats

Kira chose Fixer. She rolls 1d10 for each STAT column:

Column	Roll	From Fixer Table	Value
INT	3	Row 3, INT column	6
REF	7	Row 7, REF column	6
DEX	1	Row 1, DEX column	7
TECH	5	Row 5, TECH column	3
COOL	9	Row 9, COOL column	5
WILL	2	Row 2, WILL column	7
LUCK	4	Row 4, LUCK column	7
MOVE	8	Row 8, MOVE column	7
BODY	6	Row 6, BODY column	3
EMP	10	Row 10, EMP column	7

Kira ended up nimble (DEX 7) and lucky (LUCK 7) but physically weak (BODY 3) — she’ll talk her way out of fights!

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Step 3: Calculate Derived Stats

Derived Statistics

Once you have your STATs, calculate these values. They determine your survivability and humanity.

❤️ Hit Points (HP)

Your total health. When HP reaches 0, you’re in serious trouble.

Formula:

HP = 10 + 5 × ⌈(BODY + WILL) ÷ 2⌉

Plain English

Add BODY + WILL, divide by 2, round UP, multiply by 5, add 10.

HP Lookup Table — find your BODY on the left, WILL on top:

BODY\WILL	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
2	20	25	25	30	30	35	35
3	25	25	30	30	35	35	40
4	25	30	30	35	35	40	40
5	30	30	35	35	40	40	45
6	30	35	35	40	40	45	45
7	35	35	40	40	45	45	50
8	35	40	40	45	45	50	50

🩹 Seriously Wounded Threshold

When your HP drops to or below this number, you take -2 to all Actions.

Seriously Wounded = HP ÷ 2 (round up)

💀 Death Save

When you hit 0 HP, you roll 1d10 each turn. Need to roll ≥ BODY to survive.

Death Save = BODY

Mortally Wounded

At 0 HP, you’re not dead yet — but you’re dying. Each turn: roll 1d10.

• Roll ≥ BODY → Survive another turn
• Roll < BODY → Flatlined

🧠 Humanity

Your connection to your own emotions and identity. Cyberware costs Humanity.

Starting Humanity = EMP × 10

When your Humanity drops a tens digit, your EMP decreases:

Humanity	EMP
70-79	7
60-69	6
50-59	5
40-49	4
30-39	3
20-29	2
10-19	1
0-9	Cyberpsychosis

Cyberpsychosis

At 0 Humanity, your character becomes an NPC controlled by the GM.

📈 Movement

Value	Formula	Use
Walk	MOVE × 2 m/turn	Standard movement
Run	MOVE × 4 m/turn	Running (costs full Action)

📋 Quick Reference

Stat	Formula	Write On Sheet
HP	10 + 5 × ⌈(BODY+WILL)/2⌉	HP box
Seriously Wounded	HP ÷ 2 (round up)	SW threshold
Death Save	= BODY	Death Save box
Humanity	EMP × 10	Humanity box

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← Pick a Role · Step 2 of 7 · Lifepath →

Link to original

Example: Kira's Derived Stats

Kira has BODY 3 and WILL 7:

• (3 + 7) ÷ 2 = 5
• HP = 10 + (5 × 5) = 35 HP
• Seriously Wounded = 35 ÷ 2 = 18 (at 18 HP or less, -2 to all actions)
• Death Save = 3 (needs 3+ on d10 — at least she’s hard to kill outright)
• Humanity = 7 × 10 = 70

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Step 4: Run Your Lifepath

Create your character’s history, personality, and connections.

→ Go through the tables here: 📜 Lifepath Tables

What You'll Roll

• Cultural Origin & Languages
• Personality traits & style
• Family background & crisis
• Friends, enemies, and tragic love affairs
• Life goals
• Role-specific backstory

Don’t forget: Your native language is set at Rank 4 — write it on your skill list!

Example: Kira's Backstory

Kira rolls through the Lifepath tables:

• Cultural Origin: East Asian (Japanese as native language)
• Personality: Sneaky and deceptive — trusts no one
• Clothing: High Fashion — always dressed to kill (figuratively)
• Family: Corporate family that lost everything in the 4th Corporate War
• 2 Friends: A Netrunner contact and a street food vendor who hears everything
• 1 Enemy: A former business partner who stole her client list
• Life Goal: Rebuild the family name through underworld connections

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Step 5: Spend 86 Skill Points

Unlike Streetrat, you get to choose where your 86 skill points go. This is where your character’s personality really takes shape.

Rules

• 13 Basic Skills at Level 2 minimum (costs 26 points)
• Native Language at Level 4 from Lifepath (costs 4 points)
• No skill higher than Level 6 during creation
• ×2 Skills cost double (Martial Arts, Heavy Weapons, Paramedic, etc.)
• Remaining: 56 points to spend freely

Don't start from scratch

Check your Role’s Streetrat Skill Package — it shows which skills matter most for your Role. Use it as a baseline and customize from there.

→ See the Skill Shopping List for every available skill grouped by category. → See Quick Picks by Archetype for proven combos.

Example: Kira Spends Her 86 Points

Kira is a Fixer focused on social manipulation and deals.

Basic Skills (mandatory — 26 pts): All 13 Basic Skills at Level 2 ✓

Core Fixer Skills (30 pts):

Skill	Level	Cost	Why
Persuasion	6	6	Her primary weapon
Human Perception	6	6	Reading people
Streetwise	6	6	Knowing the streets
Trading	6	6	Better deals
Handgun	4	4	Self-defense
Evasion	+2 (to 4)	2	Staying alive

Support Skills (26 pts): Stealth +2, Wardrobe & Style 4, Business 6, Conceal/Reveal 4, Library Search 4, Deduction 4, Local Expert 2

Total: 86 ✓

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Step 6: Record Your Starting Gear

Your weapons, armor, and basic gear are predetermined by your Role (same as Streetrat). You also get 500eb to spend at the Bodega.

→ 📦 Find Your Role’s Starting Gear

Example: Kira's Fixer Gear

Weapons: Heavy Pistol (3d6) Armor: Light Armorjack (Body SP 11, Head SP 11) Gear: Agent, Scrambler/Descrambler, Radio Scanner, Disposable Cell Phone Cash: 500eb to spend at the Bodega

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Step 7: Install Your Cyberware

Every Role starts with free cyberware. Look up your Role’s chrome, install it, and subtract the Humanity Loss.

→ 🦾 Find Your Role’s Starting Cyberware

Humanity Loss at Creation

At character creation, Humanity Loss is a fixed number — no dice roll needed!

Example: Kira's Chrome

Fixer starting cyberware:

Cyberware	What It Does	HL
Neural Link	Foundation	7
Chipware Socket	Slot for skill chips	3
Cyberaudio	Audio foundation	5
Radio Communicator	Stay in touch	2
Scrambler/Descrambler	Secure communications	4

Total HL: 21 → Humanity: 70 - 21 = 49 (EMP drops to 4)

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✅ You’re Done!

Your character is complete. Here’s what to do next:

Ready to Play

• Learn the core rules: How to Play
• Understand combat: Combat Rules
• Optional: Visit Mama Ling’s Bodega — spend your 500eb on useful gear
• Browse gear you might want later: The Compendium

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❓ Common Questions

Can I put more than 86 points into skills?

No. 86 is your total budget. But you can improve skills during play with Improvement Points (IP).

What's the difference between Level 4 and Level 6?

With a STAT of 6, Level 4 gives you a Skill Base of 10 (50% success against DV 17). Level 6 gives you a Skill Base of 12 (about 65% against DV 17). It’s a meaningful jump!

Can I skip a Basic Skill?

No. All 13 Basic Skills must be at Level 2 minimum. This represents basic adult competencies — even the clumsiest person can have a simple conversation.

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