Welcome to Katana-Ra: A Beginner's Guide to Neon, Steel, and Sorcery

Tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs) usually force you to choose between high-tech cyberpunk or dark fantasy magic. Katana-Ra breaks that rule entirely. It blends feudal Japanese aesthetics, towering megacorporations, alien contact, and dark Shinto occultism into a single, high-stakes universe.

If you are new to tabletop RPGs—or just looking for a quick breakdown of how this world works before jumping into your first session—here is everything you need to know about Katana-Ra’s setting, character options, and gameplay rules.

1. The Setting: A World Split Between Tech and Demons

Katana-Ra takes place across six distinct regions, each offering a completely different vibe for your adventures:

  • Shogu: A massive, stratified megacity where the mega-rich live in sky-high penthouses while the lower levels fight to survive.
  • Zensui: An atomic wasteland where portals to Jigoku (Hell) flicker open, spilling irradiated monsters into the world.
  • Ideyo & Tokahu: Traditionalist agricultural hubs and countryside regions preserving the old ways.
  • Nangatsu & Chibu: Industrial smog complexes and coastal resort towns catering to corporate elites.

Who Runs the World?

Society is dominated by the Keiretsu, a corporate syndicate made up of five massive clans:

  • Astanaga: Technology and political puppets.
  • Kimono: Media, culture, and entertainment dominance.
  • Hyōjun: Banking and global finance.
  • Hidden Samurai: Armaments, security, and private military.
  • Clan of One Blood: Ninjutsu, espionage, and black-market operations.

The Twist: Techno-Possession

Atomic warfare opened portals to Jigoku, unleashing oni (demons) and yōkai (spirits). In the modern age, these spirits do not just hide in dark forests—they corrupt technology. Evil entities can hijack cybernetic limbs, infiltrate military nanites, and turn augmented humans into corporate nightmares through techno-possession.

2. Who Can You Play?

When creating a character, you choose a Shokugyō (profession). Katana-Ra offers archetypes you will not find in typical RPGs:

  • Nexorcist: Nano-engineer exorcists who use high-tech gadgets and Shinto rites to purge evil spirits from corrupted tech.
  • Nexus Jacker: Cyber-hackers who dive headfirst into corporate networks.
  • Traditionalist Samurai: Warriors devoted to code and steel, resisting cybernetic upgrades to protect their souls.
  • Rikishi: Cyber-augmented sumo enforcers built to absorb massive amounts of damage on the front lines.

3. The Rules: How the Game Works

Katana-Ra uses a 1d10 system designed to keep gameplay moving fast without getting bogged down in endless math.

Paired Rolls: Action vs. Result

Instead of rolling one die to hit and another to see how much damage you deal, Katana-Ra uses paired rolls. You roll two ten-sided dice at the same time:

  1. The Action Die: Determines if your attack or skill check succeeds.
  2. The Result Die: Determines how effective or damaging that action was.

This simple mechanic cuts combat turn times in half while delivering clear, dramatic outcomes.

The Humanity Meter: Managing Your Kokoro

Your character tracks physical, mental, and spiritual stats, but the most crucial stat to watch is Kokoro (your spirit and humanity).

Installing heavy cybernetics makes your body stronger, but it permanently lowers your Kokoro.

Lower Kokoro leaves your mind and body far more vulnerable to techno-possession by demons lurking in the network.

It creates a constant strategic choice: Do you install that extra arm cannon if it risks losing your soul to an evil spirit?

4. Weapons and Large-Scale Combat

Combat ranges from street-level alley fights to massive war zones:

  • High-Tech Armaments: Equipping high-frequency blades that slice through metal, Kösen light weapons, or heavy ballistic firearms gives you an edge in close-quarters combat.
  • M-Scale Rules: When street fights turn into war, Katana-Ra utilizes M-Scale mechanics. This lets players pilot giant power armor, command tactical mecha, or battle colossal kaiju and giant oni without changing the core rule system.

Katana-Ra delivers a world where ancient traditions fight for survival against hyper-corporate greed and digital demons. Armed with a single pair of ten-sided dice, you are ready to forge your legacy in the neon shadows.

 

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