Net Runner: Instructions v1.0 · 31 Oct 2026

1. Quick start

1. Press Use the Character Generator's Star, or type a quick hacker (Rep, People, Savvy).
2. Choose the computer, and say if it's an alien system, a sentient Robot, or has to be hot-wired.
3. Press Start the hack, then Roll for me (or type the dice you rolled).

2. Choosing the computer

There are six kinds, from a Personal Commlink (Rep 4) to Black ICE (Rep 8). The harder the computer, the more you can win, and the worse failure is. Decide first what you want: to control something, grab data (+1 on the Employer and Job table), manipulate data (remove a Warrant, green lights in a Pursuit) or steal something.

• Alien system: a computer not made by the hacker's race: −1 to the hacker's Savvy.
• Sentient Robot: its own Attributes give it +1 or −1.
• Hot-wire it: with no special equipment, you must touch the device and pass a Difficult Challenge first (2d6 against Rep − 1). Pass 1 and you may re-take it, counting a pass 1 as 0.

3. The rolls

The hacker rolls 2d6 against Savvy (+1d6 for a Net Runner; Logical and Initiative +1, Free Spirit −1). The computer rolls 2d6 against its Rep. A 6 always fails. More passes wins, fewer loses. On the same number, you may re-take it at once or stop.

For now (the book isn't clear): on the re-take, a tie counts as a loss; and the Rep d6 won or lost is the difference between the hacker's Savvy and the computer's Rep, at least 1.

4. Winning and losing

Win, and you gain Increasing Rep d6 and what that computer offers (Advanced and harder computers let you steal 1d6 to 3d6 more Increasing Rep d6: press Steal resources). Lose, and you gain Decreasing Rep d6; from a Complex computer up, a Warrant or Bounty is issued and Security comes for a Confrontation. Black ICE also tries to give you a heart attack: take a Shooting Damage roll. Every hack is kept in the play log: Save log (.txt).

5. In the Guided Campaign

During any Encounter in the Guided Campaign, press Hack a computer. The same steps run there; Add to this Encounter puts the Rep d6 into the Encounter, and a failed hack on a Complex or harder computer gives you a Warrant and makes next month's Involuntary Encounter a Confrontation.