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Zaibatsu

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Zaibatsu is a cyberpunk roleplaying game based on the Cepheus Engine and other Classic 2D6 SF RPGs.

As the street soldiers of the world’s most powerful corporations (the Japanese zaibatsu) you become expendable and deniable employees fighting for profits, power and your lives. You’ve been recruited from the dark and murky Japanese underworld to carry out illegal terrorist activities on behalf of that employer and have one foot in the stylish corporate-minded boardrooms of the zaibatsu, and one foot in the filth and squalor of the criminal underworld.

Hired by duty-bound executives who must at all times remain respectable, the player characters are modern street samurai, urban warriors doing the disreputable things that no corporate executive could ever admit to. All set in a William Gibson-inspired futureworld: Tokyo gone global. Tokyo. The world’s capital, largest, most high-tech, most happening city on Earth.

Zaibatsu is a return to the early days of cyberpunk, when William Gibson’s Neuromancer was new and fresh, and when Japan looked to become the centre of a new, high-tech dystopian future. Altered Carbon, Bladerunner 2049 … cyberpunk is not going away...

In this game you will find:

  • Quick creation character generation, based on 16 Concepts.
  • Fast-play combat rules for intense, explosive firefights in an urban environment.
  • Advice on creating the perfect cyberpunk story.
  • Lots of technology – but as the early cyberpunks predicted it; no wi-fi and no cellphones.
  • Retrogenics – not cybernetics. The biotech corps have perfected retroactive DNA modification.
  • Innovative cyberspace hacking rules use a real deck - of playing cards - for super-fast computer system penetration. A breeze to use and available to any player character. 
  • Total immersion into 23rd century Tokyo. What to eat, where to shop, how to swear… it’s all here.
  • Maps and plans and plenty of them.
  • 6 fully-detailed missions, forming a story arc.
  • Fast character progression in rank, skills, money and status through the earning of promotion points.
  • Zaibatsu sits within Zozer Games’ HOSTILE setting and is compatible with that book (please note that part of the Technology chapter has been duplicated from HOSTILE).
  • Full colour throughout!

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Reviews (8)
Discussions (13)
Customer avatar
Shelby M September 14, 2022 8:56 pm UTC
PURCHASER
If anyone is running this game online and can use another player, please let me know!
Customer avatar
Jebi B June 16, 2022 8:31 pm UTC
Hello, how much is this game compatible with the new HOSTILE rule book without losing the fast action combat? From what I've seen this game is more "rules light" compared to the more detailed one in HOSTILE and has stuff like martial arts combat, cyberspace, different character generation, etc. Interested in running a side story connected to my main HOSTILE one, but I would like to avoid having my players learn a new system.
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Customer avatar
Paul E June 17, 2022 7:14 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Jeb, good luck with the game! The major difference in combat is Simultaneous combat (just like the old fast and furious Paranoia game), not using initiative. The firearms are 'generic', just use those in Hostile. The firearm range uses metres, not range bands. Just use Hostile weapon stats and rules. Martial arts combat adds a new set of fast-play rules, its just a page, though. For speedy play, the wound effects (End 0, two characteristics at zero) are cleaner and faster, but you can use those of the ones in Hostile, they are very very similar. There is a 2 page section n vehicle combat and damage that is much faster and cinematic than the ones in Hostile. I urge you to use the ones from Zaibatsu. I think that's it! If you have any more questions, please email me at: paulelliottbooks 'at' yahoo 'dot' com.
Customer avatar
Graham O April 23, 2022 3:00 am UTC
Is this included with the Hostile Mega Bundle? Because when i click on the bundle link, I don't see it.
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Customer avatar
Paul E April 23, 2022 6:24 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Graham, no it isn’t. Zaibatsu is a stand alone game, although it is set in the same world.
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Customer avatar
Lee S May 10, 2022 12:57 am UTC
PURCHASER
Might want to check into it.
It's showing at the bottom of the description above that it is in the bundle, under "Bundles containing this product:"
There's probably a glitch somewhere.
Customer avatar
Warren E January 07, 2021 10:24 pm UTC
PURCHASER
A lot of cyberpunk has players be sort of like mercenaries almost, switching between employers and having their own names like edgerunners (Cyberpunk 2020) or shadowrunners (Shadowrun).

Is there anything akin to that on Earth or not really? Because I notice the PCs are generally already part of a corporation's organization in some manner instead of being like I guess independent agents.

I don't quite think the PMCs featured in the HOSTILE core book are what I'm talking about I believe.
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Customer avatar
Paul E January 08, 2021 6:01 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
You can make them 'ronon', freelancers or veterans kicked out of a corp... that would probablycome with a fantastic backstory, or could be the focus of the first session. They are only briefly mentioned on pg 200 and page 53.
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Customer avatar
Paul E January 08, 2021 9:24 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Customer avatar
Asen G November 15, 2020 7:12 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is there any POD+PDF option?
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Customer avatar
Paul E November 16, 2020 8:18 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Yes, but it is through Lulu. If you search the Lulu website for Zaibatsu you will find the softback is sold along with a free copy of this PDF. Links are understandably not allowed here on Drivethru, however.
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Customer avatar
Asen G November 18, 2020 5:44 am UTC
PURCHASER
Lulu offers bundles now? OK, guess I should have looked some more! I bought the softback from them, but it didn't include a PDF...my fault.
Well, at least now I know to look for it if we need a second softback copy!
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Customer avatar
Paul E November 18, 2020 8:07 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi, it’s an informal system ... please send me an email to Zozer at talktalk.net.
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Customer avatar
Asen G December 11, 2020 7:43 am UTC
PURCHASER
OK, I didn't spot that message. I'll do that now...though you might be surprised at seeing my actual name :) !
Customer avatar
Eric B March 25, 2020 12:24 am UTC
PURCHASER
I bought first the pdf and liked it enough to get the hardcopy on Lulu. A great new cyberpunk rpg using the Cepheus engine (ie Traveller) that keeps it rules light and does not get hung up while telling the stories. I've run a few adventures both online and in person and rate this as 5 stars.
Customer avatar
Jean-Francois B February 22, 2020 5:50 pm UTC
Bought via Lulu; I pretty liked the integrated light system. And as usual for the rest, it's Hostile quality! :) Good work!
Customer avatar
Mark J April 12, 2018 4:09 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hello! Regarding the other skills table on page 24, is it supposed to read: 10-15, 4 skills, 7-9, 3 skills, 4-6 2 skills, 2-3 1 skill?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E April 14, 2018 5:15 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It is! It is! Well spotted, thank you! And I'm really glad you like the setting and the book.
Customer avatar
Jeff M March 02, 2018 8:42 pm UTC
PURCHASER
hello, have a question : Do you plan to do a lot of supplement books (new ''class'' new gears), source books (lore and background) or the core rule could be enough to play occasionnaly ?
.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E March 03, 2018 7:52 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Rather than add-on more books to Zaibatsu, I designed for it to be stand alone, and really, a referee can use many, many, different cyberpunk resources and supplements with it, for example the wonderful Augmented Reality add-on, on DriveThruRPG. Instead I will continue to add to the gritty, retro-SF setting behind Zaibatsu and HOSTILE. New setting books (not specifically for Zaibatsu) will be released throughout Spring and Summer.
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Customer avatar
Jeff M March 03, 2018 8:57 am UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks a lot for your answer, i might check it soon, and adding hostile for layer.
Reply
Customer avatar
Jeff M March 30, 2018 12:05 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hello again

I got an other question, do you plan to make an addon on more retrogenics, like claw fingers ?

from what i saw with the game, some part really reminds me Syndicate (not the FPS "reboot") and Salelite Reign with less cyber augmentations as the retrogenics remplace them.
Customer avatar
Kevin G February 26, 2018 8:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Page 6: "Tokyo 2225 AD"

It's a picture of Hong Kong, lol.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E February 27, 2018 5:53 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Yeah, quite right! I was in Hong Kong last April, too. Its the composition of that image - I love though, with the mid-level mist rolling around those night-time skyscrapers ... it's a real life image to rival the opening shots of Bladerunner 1982.
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Customer avatar
Kevin G March 01, 2018 4:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Yeah, I actually literally just got back from HK on Sunday and just thought it was funny (probably the jet lag)

It's definitely the epitome of cyberpunk and the shot you picked is nice and dramatic.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E March 03, 2018 7:54 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Although, the night-time lightshow as seen from the water was not as spectacular as I'd hoped, I was expecting Los Angeles 2019, but it was more of a few running lights and searchlights! Still - I absolutely loved Hong Kong ...
Reply
Customer avatar
Michael T March 25, 2018 5:08 am UTC
PURCHASER
Drop me a line if you're ever in town again, Paul! Would love to meet up in The Real.
Customer avatar
Alan B February 26, 2018 12:01 am UTC
PoD still coming?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E February 27, 2018 5:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
POD is on Lulu for the foreseeable future, and is available now.
Customer avatar
Dmitrii P February 25, 2018 10:23 am UTC
PURCHASER
Big fan of the original game (yes, the one that's still available on angelfire).
Some implicitly referenced rules are missing - e.g., taking damage and recovery. Those can be looked up in Cepheus SRD.
There's some inconsistencty in terms used (such as flechette/beehive, bullpup rifle/assault weapon).
Anyway, I'm glad to see this gem of oldschool cyberpunk role-playing in the new casing.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E February 25, 2018 3:54 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks Dmitri, yes the old 1994 version is still up there on those ancient sites... would you mind posting the page number for that 'taking damage' reference...? Or do you mean I've missed a section from Cepheus Emgine that explains about taking damage?
Reply
Customer avatar
Dmitrii P February 25, 2018 5:37 pm UTC
PURCHASER
> Or do you mean I've missed a section from Cepheus Emgine that explains about taking damage?

Oops, I'm wrong. Everything is where it should be. Somehow missed that section.
Thanks again.


Reply
Customer avatar
Paul E February 27, 2018 5:50 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
cool...that's great, it wouldn't be the first time I've forgotten to add something in, though.
Customer avatar
Warren E February 24, 2018 1:09 pm UTC
PURCHASER
If you're purchasing this from another country, like say the US, do foreign credit cards work? Because it's listed as £9.30, which would be $12.99 in US dollars.

I'm wondering how the transaction works since I live in the US and the price is in British pounds.
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Customer avatar
Paul E February 24, 2018 3:06 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I believe they do, add to cart and have a go, it should list all the cards it accepts, and will carry out the transaction. I pay in UK pounds, for example, when I'm buying books in dollars and Drivethru does the currency conversion. It should not be a problem.
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Pages
220
File Size:
14.03 MB
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File Last Updated:
October 02, 2023
This title was added to our catalog on February 23, 2018.