Kris H.
@1matrixghost.bsky.social
Author of CHROMATIC SHADOWS: Occult Cyberpunk RPG. Matrix Ghost Games.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/23962/Matrix-Ghost-Games
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/23962/Matrix-Ghost-Games
Pinned
Kris H.
@1matrixghost.bsky.social
· Sep 12
Chromatic Shadows Basic Rules - Matrix Ghost Games | DriveThruRPG
CHROMATIC SHADOWS is an original weird cyberpunk tabletop roleplaying game. The BASIC RULES contain everything you need to jump straight into a strange new world of cyberpunk action and occult intrigu...
www.drivethrurpg.com
Greetings operators! Allow me to introduce, CHROMATIC SHADOWS: Occult Cyberpunk RPG. An original d6 dicepool system in the lineage of Shadowrun and Vampire, set in a weird-haunted Sprawl bubbling with strangeness & occult danger. Basic Rules are FREE!
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
With Chromatic Shadows, I boil the heist down to "mission phases," each with clear benchmarks and objectives. An interactive worksheet keeps things player facing. Once the "action phase" kicks in, an alert level begins to rise as PCs draw attention and the enemy gains awareness. #cyberpunk
You can criticize cyberpunk as kitch or as 90s anachronism, or as nostalgia, but I'm a true believer in the "cyberpunk heist" as an enduring part of rpg design space, right up there with the dungeon crawl. Might even say ,"more fun than a dungeon crawl".
January 31, 2026 at 6:57 PM
With Chromatic Shadows, I boil the heist down to "mission phases," each with clear benchmarks and objectives. An interactive worksheet keeps things player facing. Once the "action phase" kicks in, an alert level begins to rise as PCs draw attention and the enemy gains awareness. #cyberpunk
👾👻The dice rolling ethos of Chromatic Shadows.
🎲 Risk for reward.
🎲 Fictional framing is consequential to each test, and to who rolls.
🎲 No repeat tests. Forces adaptation and creative workarounds on failures.
🎲 Risk for reward.
🎲 Fictional framing is consequential to each test, and to who rolls.
🎲 No repeat tests. Forces adaptation and creative workarounds on failures.
January 31, 2026 at 2:34 PM
👾👻The dice rolling ethos of Chromatic Shadows.
🎲 Risk for reward.
🎲 Fictional framing is consequential to each test, and to who rolls.
🎲 No repeat tests. Forces adaptation and creative workarounds on failures.
🎲 Risk for reward.
🎲 Fictional framing is consequential to each test, and to who rolls.
🎲 No repeat tests. Forces adaptation and creative workarounds on failures.
Finished lines for Jadis the Generalist--cyberpunk character art for Chromatic Shadows Core. Colors next! Art by Ross Hayes.
January 30, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Finished lines for Jadis the Generalist--cyberpunk character art for Chromatic Shadows Core. Colors next! Art by Ross Hayes.
Close up shots of the new Chromatic Shadows character sheet. Maximum geometry for optimal cyberpunk vibes.
January 30, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Close up shots of the new Chromatic Shadows character sheet. Maximum geometry for optimal cyberpunk vibes.
New Chromatic Shadows sheet looking fresh!
January 30, 2026 at 4:29 AM
New Chromatic Shadows sheet looking fresh!
Here is Jadis the Generalist. Work in progress on the final piece of character art for Chromatic Shadows Core by Ross Hayes. Love that sassy bag toss so much :) #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 27, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Here is Jadis the Generalist. Work in progress on the final piece of character art for Chromatic Shadows Core by Ross Hayes. Love that sassy bag toss so much :) #cyberpunk #ttrpg
Getting further with the Character Role layout for Chromatic Shadows Core. Most of the final art is in place, slowly working through the pregen character stat blocks. I want to make it as easy as possible to just grab one of these operators and jump into a game. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 27, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Getting further with the Character Role layout for Chromatic Shadows Core. Most of the final art is in place, slowly working through the pregen character stat blocks. I want to make it as easy as possible to just grab one of these operators and jump into a game. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
I really like the idea of each major subsystem in Chromatic Shadows having a tightly designed "procedure card" that is just a page sized reference diagram you could drop down on the table depending on the scene. I could see one for hacking, combat, drones, vehicles, biotech.
January 23, 2026 at 9:58 PM
I really like the idea of each major subsystem in Chromatic Shadows having a tightly designed "procedure card" that is just a page sized reference diagram you could drop down on the table depending on the scene. I could see one for hacking, combat, drones, vehicles, biotech.
You can criticize cyberpunk as kitch or as 90s anachronism, or as nostalgia, but I'm a true believer in the "cyberpunk heist" as an enduring part of rpg design space, right up there with the dungeon crawl. Might even say ,"more fun than a dungeon crawl".
January 23, 2026 at 7:28 PM
You can criticize cyberpunk as kitch or as 90s anachronism, or as nostalgia, but I'm a true believer in the "cyberpunk heist" as an enduring part of rpg design space, right up there with the dungeon crawl. Might even say ,"more fun than a dungeon crawl".
Few more small upgrades to the Chromatic Shadows sheet. Boxes for "pharma agents", health for vehicles, drones & decks, and a reference for determining resistance pools for devices & vehicles. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Few more small upgrades to the Chromatic Shadows sheet. Boxes for "pharma agents", health for vehicles, drones & decks, and a reference for determining resistance pools for devices & vehicles. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
Looking for any excuse to include more dots and tiny boxes here. #chromaticshadows #cyberpunk
Working draft of the new Chromatic Shadows character sheet. Might revise further. Need to sit with it.
January 21, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Looking for any excuse to include more dots and tiny boxes here. #chromaticshadows #cyberpunk
Working draft of the new Chromatic Shadows character sheet. Might revise further. Need to sit with it.
January 21, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Working draft of the new Chromatic Shadows character sheet. Might revise further. Need to sit with it.
If I get any traction with Chromatic Shadows Core, I'd consider following up with an "Occult World" book, all about conspiracies, factions, neotribes, artifacts, antagonists, and adventure sites. Maybe scope it as a series of smaller zines, and put them out one at a time?
January 20, 2026 at 8:20 PM
If I get any traction with Chromatic Shadows Core, I'd consider following up with an "Occult World" book, all about conspiracies, factions, neotribes, artifacts, antagonists, and adventure sites. Maybe scope it as a series of smaller zines, and put them out one at a time?
Reposted by Kris H.
Shadowrun 2E was one of my first RPGs. Yesterday, I woke up and dug back in after a long time away from crunchy trad games.
While researching, I also dug into SINLESS, a Shadowrun retroclone by Courtney Campbell. It was cool!
A short thread about the QOL improvements and innovations in SINLESS.
While researching, I also dug into SINLESS, a Shadowrun retroclone by Courtney Campbell. It was cool!
A short thread about the QOL improvements and innovations in SINLESS.
January 19, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Shadowrun 2E was one of my first RPGs. Yesterday, I woke up and dug back in after a long time away from crunchy trad games.
While researching, I also dug into SINLESS, a Shadowrun retroclone by Courtney Campbell. It was cool!
A short thread about the QOL improvements and innovations in SINLESS.
While researching, I also dug into SINLESS, a Shadowrun retroclone by Courtney Campbell. It was cool!
A short thread about the QOL improvements and innovations in SINLESS.
Just reached the end of the current page count as far as writing and edits go, but I'm still a ways out from a complete first draft. Next step, jump into the more complicated pages: character sheets, maps, procedure references, pregens, etc. Steady progress.
Latest revision to the Chromatic Shadows Core cover art. I'm really feeling this new cloaked guy. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 19, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Just reached the end of the current page count as far as writing and edits go, but I'm still a ways out from a complete first draft. Next step, jump into the more complicated pages: character sheets, maps, procedure references, pregens, etc. Steady progress.
Another diamond in the rough from 4th Edition D&D: Vor Rukoth "ancient ruins adventure site". This was peak 4e as far as I'm concerned.
January 16, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Another diamond in the rough from 4th Edition D&D: Vor Rukoth "ancient ruins adventure site". This was peak 4e as far as I'm concerned.
Latest revision to the Chromatic Shadows Core cover art. I'm really feeling this new cloaked guy. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 15, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Latest revision to the Chromatic Shadows Core cover art. I'm really feeling this new cloaked guy. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
Have many of you small creators had the opportunity to play your own games as a player? I feel like that must be such a fun experience. I'd go so fucking hard playing Chromatic Shadows.
January 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Have many of you small creators had the opportunity to play your own games as a player? I feel like that must be such a fun experience. I'd go so fucking hard playing Chromatic Shadows.
Hey folks! I'm very happy to share the working cover for Chromatic Shadows Core, my upcoming occult cyberpunk RPG. Kickstarter this Spring!
January 13, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Hey folks! I'm very happy to share the working cover for Chromatic Shadows Core, my upcoming occult cyberpunk RPG. Kickstarter this Spring!
Work in progress from Chromatic Shadows Core, grabbed from the "character role" chapter. Fun detail--all of the commissioned character art here is based on existing PCs. The blank column is going to be a pregen you can play right away. Art by Ross Hayes. #occult #cyberpunk #scifi #indie #ttrpg
January 6, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Work in progress from Chromatic Shadows Core, grabbed from the "character role" chapter. Fun detail--all of the commissioned character art here is based on existing PCs. The blank column is going to be a pregen you can play right away. Art by Ross Hayes. #occult #cyberpunk #scifi #indie #ttrpg
Pulling together resources for a west marches style D&D 4e game set in the Chaos Scar. There's some real gems buried in these (not so) old issues of Dungeon.
January 5, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Pulling together resources for a west marches style D&D 4e game set in the Chaos Scar. There's some real gems buried in these (not so) old issues of Dungeon.
Latest chapter heading for Chromatic Shadows Core: Downtime Phases, work in progress. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 5, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Latest chapter heading for Chromatic Shadows Core: Downtime Phases, work in progress. #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
Latest piece of character art for Chromatic Shadows Core: Sphinx the hacker. Art by Ross Hayes. I'm unbelievably psyched! #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
January 2, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Latest piece of character art for Chromatic Shadows Core: Sphinx the hacker. Art by Ross Hayes. I'm unbelievably psyched! #occult #cyberpunk #ttrpg
Last Chromatic Shadows development post of 2025, just a little late. Happy New Year!
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
Chromatic Shadows: Universal Identification
One last development post for 2025! I've been circling around the concept of "universal identification" with respects to Chromatic Shadow...
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Last Chromatic Shadows development post of 2025, just a little late. Happy New Year!
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
Blog post after a short hiatus: Chromatic Shadows update and a random table!
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
Chromatic Shadows Update and a Random Table
The Next Big Thing: Chromatic Shadows Core It’s been several months since I last updated this blog. Although my infrequent postings might...
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Blog post after a short hiatus: Chromatic Shadows update and a random table!
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...
matrixghosttransmissions.blogspot.com/2025/12/chro...