Cyberpunk Pdf | Gurps
The original softcover is a brittle collectible now. The PDF is forever.
Q: Is the GURPS Cyberpunk PDF system agnostic? A: No. It requires the GURPS 3rd Edition Basic Set. However, 60% of the book (setting, gear descriptions, NPC archetypes) can be used with any TTRPG, from Savage Worlds to Cyberpunk RED.
Q: Does the PDF include the missing "Secret Service" foreword? A: Yes. The modern legal PDF includes a new introduction (written in 2005) that details the raid. It is chilling to read.
Q: Is it good for solo play? A: Surprisingly, yes. GURPS’ reactive combat system and the PDF’s random "Urban Encounter" tables (p. 127) allow for solo dungeon-crawling in a digital tower.
Q: Is there a hyperlinked version? A: The official Warehouse 23 version has internal hyperlinks for the index. The DriveThruRPG version generally does not.
The GURPS Cyberpunk PDF is not just a game supplement. It is a time capsule, a history lesson, and a functional ruleset that hits harder than any modern cyberpunk game. Its lethal simulation style forces players to think like real criminals—carefully, quietly, and with a backup plan.
Whether you are a collector wanting to own the book that terrified the US government, a Game Master tired of heroic power fantasies, or a lore master studying the evolution of the genre, this PDF deserves a permanent spot on your hard drive.
Stop scrolling through inflated eBay listings for a crumbling physical copy. Head to Warehouse 23, pay the $12, and download the GURPS Cyberpunk PDF today. Just remember: In this world, you don't get a second chance. Roll 3d6.
About the Author: A tabletop RPG historian and GURPS fan since 1995. Has run seven complete cyberpunk campaigns using the original 1990 rules.
The GURPS Classic: Cyberpunk PDF is a high-tech, low-life sourcebook for the GURPS 3rd Edition system, though it remains compatible with 4th Edition with some minor adjustments . It is widely available for legal digital purchase at a standard price of $9.00 . Official Purchase Links
You can find the official PDF through the following reputable digital storefronts:
Warehouse 23: The official online store for Steve Jackson Games . gurps cyberpunk pdf
DriveThruRPG: A major digital retailer for tabletop RPGs, offering the 128-page PDF for immediate download . Content Highlights
This supplement provides the essential tools to build a gritty, dystopian future :
Cyberwear & Implants: Detailed rules for cybernetics, brain implants, and "chipped" skills .
Netrunning: Hardware and software rules for hacking into computer networks or navigating cyberspace .
Campaign Design: Over 30 pages of advice on world-building and writing adventures within the cyberpunk genre .
New Mechanics: Introduction of specific advantages (e.g., Alternate Identity) and disadvantages (e.g., Cyber Rejection Syndrome) tailored for the genre . Related Supplements
If you are looking to expand your campaign, you may also be interested in: GURPS Classic: Cyberworld : A detailed guide to a specific dystopian setting GURPS Classic: Cyberpunk Adventures
: A collection of three pre-written scenarios for the setting GURPS Classic: Cthulhupunk : A fusion of cosmic horror and cyberpunk . Are you planning to run a custom setting, or
GURPS Cyberpunk is a legendary tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) sourcebook published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1990. While it is a high-quality "genre toolkit" for running near-future dystopian campaigns, it is most famous for being the subject of a real-world U.S. Secret Service raid that nearly shut down the company. Historical Significance: The "Seized" Book
The book's legacy is inextricably tied to a 1990 raid on SJG offices.
The Raid: On March 1, 1990, the U.S. Secret Service raided SJG and the home of author Loyd Blankenship, seizing computers and the manuscript for GURPS Cyberpunk. The original softcover is a brittle collectible now
The Misconception: Agents allegedly viewed the game’s detailed "Netrunning" rules as a "handbook for computer crime".
Legal Impact: SJG sued the Secret Service and won in 1993, a landmark case for digital civil liberties that directly led to the founding of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
Marketing: Following the raid, SJG famously added a note to the cover: "The book that was seized by the U.S. Secret Service!". Game Content & Mechanics
The sourcebook is designed for the GURPS 3rd Edition system, though much of its lore and technical descriptions remain useful for other systems.
Characters: Detailed archetypes including Netrunners, Corporates, Street Samurais (Cops), and Celebrities.
Cyberwear: Comprehensive rules for bionic enhancements, sensory implants, and neural interfaces.
Netrunning: A massive chapter detailing realistic computer networks and immersive cyberspace.
Technology: Lists near-future gadgets, from monomolecular blades to advanced medical tech like braintaping and cloning.
World Building: Guidelines for designing "high-tech, low-life" settings, including corporate dominance and urban decay. Availability & Current Status
Format: The book was originally a 128-page softcover but is now officially available as a GURPS Cyberpunk PDF through SJG's online store, Warehouse 23.
4th Edition Status: As of 2024, there is no direct "Cyberpunk" sourcebook for GURPS 4th Edition. Modern players often use GURPS Ultra-Tech for gadgets, though it lacks the specific hacking rules of the original. The GURPS Cyberpunk PDF is not just a game supplement
For the uninitiated, GURPS (Generic Universal RolePlaying System) is a system designed to work in any setting—fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or historical. The "Cyberpunk" supplement applies that universal engine to the gritty, high-tech, low-life future popularized by William Gibson’s Neuromancer and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.
The GURPS Cyberpunk PDF contains:
Unlike other cyberpunk games that lock you into one specific world, GURPS allows you to run cyberpunk in a homebrew city, a retro-80s vision of 2020, or even a transhumanist sci-fi colony.
The search for the GURPS Cyberpunk PDF is not just about finding rules for laser guns and cyberdecks. It is about connecting with a crucial moment in RPG history—a book that was so convincing in its portrayal of techno-anarchy that the United States government treated it as a threat.
Whether you are a nostalgic old-school gamer who wants to revisit the 1990s vision of the future, or a curious new player looking for a gritty, simulationist take on the genre, this PDF belongs in your digital library.
Get it legally at Warehouse 23. Run a one-shot where the characters attempt to steal a "portable computer" with a staggering 1 GB of RAM. Watch your players debate the ethics of replacing their limbs with chrome. And remember: in the world of GURPS Cyberpunk, the system is always watching—but with these rules, you can fight back.
Meta Description: Looking for the official GURPS Cyberpunk PDF? Our ultimate guide covers the book’s history, contents, where to buy from Warehouse 23, and why it still defines tabletop cyberpunk in 2025.
Tags: gurps cyberpunk pdf, steve jackson games, cyberpunk rpg, warehouse 23, gurps 3rd edition, netrunning rules, secret service raid
The meat of the book (pun intended). Over 50 cybernetic implants are detailed, from basic cybereyes and reflex boosters to full body replacement (cybershells). It introduces the "Essence" or "Soulburn" mechanic—a GURPS-specific humanity cost that limits how much chrome a character can install before becoming a cold, sociopathic monster.
A complete matrix system. Unlike later games that simplified netrunning, GURPS Cyberpunk treats cyberspace as a parallel combat zone with ICE (Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics), data fortresses, and programs that act like weapons. It is crunchy, dangerous, and rewarding.
This is the meat of the PDF. It includes: