The Splatbook Actual Play: Netcrawl!
Jul 16, 2025
James Pozenel, game designer and creator of Netcrawl, explains his cyberdungeon RPG where the whole party dives into a server. The conversation covers Netcrawl’s DCC-rooted mechanics and shared skill system. Players face techno-spiders, investigate monitor vortices, and confront the Core Queen dragon in a surreal, party-wide cyberspace adventure.
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Keep Skill Rolls Straightforward
- Avoid imposing fumble/crit rules for routine skill checks unless you want cinematic table moments.
- Keep skill resolution simple and treat 1s/20s as ordinary unless the table likes drama.
A Brain-Shaped Cyber Chamber
- The party rides spider-like carriers into a brain-shaped chamber of monitors where bugs enter vortexes.
- Visual, surreal imagery drives the session's tone and opens creative options for play.
Offer Small One-Time Boosts
- Use one-time datagram bonuses to let players temporarily boost specific checks.
- Offer small, expendable perks so players can influence outcomes without permanent power creep.
