The GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE TTRPG on Kickstarter Brings Section Formation to Your Table

The GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE TTRPG on Kickstarter marks the second major collaboration between Don't Panic Games and Mana Project Studio, following their successful Cowboy Bebop Role-Playing Game. This officially licensed cyberpunk tabletop RPG adapts Masamune Shirow's iconic universe through a modified Forged in the Dark system, letting players form their own Public Security Section during the birth of legendary Section 9 in 2027 Newport City.

Fifteen years after a meteor devastated Japan's capital, the ruins remain contaminated by otherworldly corruption and prowled by cyber-enhanced threats. Your team answers only to the Chief Director of Public Security and Prime Minister, operating as a black operations unit unknown to the public but feared by terrorists, corrupt officials, and digital criminals alike.

A Partnership Built on Proven Success

Don't Panic Games brings extensive anime licensing experience, having published Attack on Titan: The Last Stand and Naruto Ninja Arena alongside their acclaimed Cowboy Bebop RPG. Mana Project Studio contributes award-winning TTRPG design credentials, including the Golden ENnie-winning Nightfell and the Journey to Ragnarok setting for 5E.

Why This Matters for Backers

This isn't their first rodeo. The Cowboy Bebop collaboration demonstrated both studios understand how to translate anime properties into mechanically sound tabletop experiences while maintaining narrative authenticity. That track record reduces typical crowdfunding risk significantly.

The campaign launches with clear production timelines, established distributor relationships through Studio 2 Publishing and Cosmic Group, and shipping infrastructure across USA, EU, UK, and Asia hubs.

The Shell and Ghost Dichotomy

At the mechanical core sits the relationship between Shell (cybernetic body) and Ghost (consciousness). Actions divide into two macro-categories based on whether you're using Wired Actions connected to your cyberbrain or relying on human abilities through Natural Traits.

How the Dice Work

Roll pools of six-sided dice based on your Wired Actions rating. Results of 6 mean success. Rolling 4 or 5 achieves partial success with consequences. Landing on 1, 2, or 3 triggers failures that can spiral into cyber-horror backlashes—system crashes, personality fragmentation, or worse.

The Game Master defines consequences for failures and partial successes while managing the narrative through Situations and Effects mechanics designed for fast-paced cinematic play. This creates the tension between enhancement and humanity that defines Ghost in the Shell's philosophical core.

Playbooks and Specialization

Each operative chooses from distinct Playbooks that determine their role within the Security Section. Options include Elite Ranger for close combat superiority, Wizard Hacker for network infiltration, Special Investigator for analysis and interrogation, and Ace Sniper for precision elimination.

Cyber Enhancements vs Natural Traits

Cyber Enhancements make you increasingly wired, pushing toward full-borg status with capabilities far beyond baseline human. Natural Traits preserve humanity through skills, intuition, and emotional intelligence that no amount of hardware can replicate.

The choice matters mechanically. Heavy augmentation provides immediate tactical advantages but feeds the GM additional resources to escalate threats. Maintaining humanity keeps options open for social engineering, improvisation, and approaches that pure logic circuits can't process.

Memory Clocks and Identity Crisis

Mission after mission, Memory Clocks tick forward based on character actions and questions asked during investigation. When completed, these special tracks reveal fragments of your operative's past—memories erased, modified, or buried by bureaucracy and the securitarian state.

The Central Question

Who am I really? Who is the real enemy? These aren't abstract philosophical musings. They're mechanical systems that reshape your character as the campaign progresses, forcing players to confront whether their ghost remains intact or has been rewritten by forces beyond their control.

This Tabletop Roleplaying Game makes identity instability a core feature rather than background flavor, putting Ghost in the Shell's defining themes directly into gameplay.

Managing Your Public Security Section

Beyond individual operatives, players collectively manage the entire Public Security Section apparatus through HQ Characters shared by the playgroup.

The Four Pillars

The Director Chief makes vital strategic decisions. The Forensic Specialist structures crime scene analysis. The Cyberwarfare Operative collects data streams from network surveillance. The Technology Specialist provides high-level equipment and secures funding.

These shared characters enable flexible narrative techniques—flashback scenes, parallel operations, and foreshadowing events before they occur. One player might control their operative during a firefight while another uses the Cyberwarfare Operative to remotely disable enemy augmentations from HQ.

This framework keeps everyone engaged even when individual characters aren't in the spotlight, maintaining the cinematic pace of the anime series.

Mission Design and Emergent Narrative

The Mission Sheet functions as a story-map, tracking multiple simultaneous events through ticking clocks. The GM uses this tool to manage constantly emerging narrative as player actions trigger cascading consequences across political, criminal, and technological domains.

Plot Twist Mechanics

Special clocks designed for emergent storytelling can reveal how the most infamous villains hide uncomfortable truths or expose trusted allies as dirty traitors. The system doesn't railroad players through predetermined story beats—it provides frameworks for improvisation that react organically to player choices.

A wide selection of adventure sites gives GMs resources and flexibility to respond to decisions without losing narrative coherence. Want to investigate the corporate sector first? The materials support that. Prefer infiltrating terrorist cells? Tools exist for that approach too.

Nemesis Archetypes That Evolve

Enemy encounters go beyond stat blocks. Nemesis Archetypes include The Full-Borg—a destruction machine more shell than ghost, incapable of feeling emotions but nearly unstoppable in combat. The Hacker infiltrates everywhere, always one step ahead through advanced network mobility and detailed Section intelligence.

Dynamic Opposition

Through clock management and parallel tracks, the game stages brutal confrontations where enemies adapt to player tactics. May some adversaries be right? The mechanics encourage questioning whether your Section truly serves justice or merely enforces state power through violence.

These aren't questions the rulebook answers. They're tensions the system maintains across dozens of sessions.

What's in the Box

The Section 9 Box limited edition includes everything needed for complete play: Deluxe Edition Corebook with fabric debossed cover and metal foil design, Adventure Book with campaign guidance, hardcover Game Master Screen, nine six-sided dice, dice tray, Operative Cards Deck, standard Playing Cards, printed Quickstart ruleset, card sleeves, and playmat.

Stretch Goals Already Unlocked

Masterless Mode allows groups to play without a Game Master, managing events collectively through informed choices. Solo Mode provides complete rules for single-player campaigns or two-player games without a GM.

Additional stretch goals unlock Nemesis Archetype cards for quick reference, digital tokens for online sessions, and blank character sheets integrated into the GM Screen.

The Campaign Structure

The included Adventure Book contains a complete campaign from Public Security Section birth through member recruitment to full-scale operations. Each chapter develops events organically—political intrigue and corruption, organized terrorism, angry veterans with grudges against the system.

Designed for New Players

The supplement integrates seamlessly with core rules to guide even novice groups into tabletop roleplaying. You don't need Ghost in the Shell expertise to start playing, though fans will appreciate deeper lore connections throughout.

The chronological approach—starting at Section 9's dawn rather than during established operations—makes the setting accessible while preserving room for future expansions covering later eras like Stand Alone Complex.

Production and Fulfillment

The campaign funds in three languages: English, French, and Italian. English releases first, with translations following within three months. Not all future material guarantees three-language support—that depends on community interest in each region.

Shipping estimates range from 15-25€ for Europe to 40€+ for rest of world, collected through pledge manager after the campaign ends. Costs exclude VAT, calculated separately for EU and UK backers during fulfillment.

The creators acknowledge challenges working with Japanese licensors due to language barriers and high quality expectations. Production timelines account for approval processes that may cause delays, though both studios demonstrate consistent Kickstarter fulfillment track records.

Why This Campaign Deserves Backing

The GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE TTRPG on Kickstarter isn't just another licensed cash-grab. It's a thoughtful adaptation by studios who understand both the source material's philosophical depth and the mechanical requirements of satisfying tabletop play.

The modified Forged in the Dark system suits Ghost in the Shell's themes perfectly—emphasizing teamwork, consequences, and the gradual erosion of certainty about identity and morality. The HQ Characters framework keeps all players engaged. The Memory Clocks and Plot Twist mechanics ensure emergent stories rather than scripted railroading.

For fans seeking to explore what remains of humanity when consciousness becomes data and bodies become hardware, this offers the first opportunity to live those questions collaboratively around a table.

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FAQ About GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE TTRPG on Kickstarter

Can I play this without knowing the Ghost in the Shell anime?

Yes. The Corebook includes complete world lore, narrative tropes, and the state of 2027 Newport City. New players receive all necessary context while series fans enjoy deeper connections to established canon. The chronological setting at Section 9's birth makes it accessible for everyone.

What happens to my character if I get too augmented?

Heavy augmentation feeds the GM additional Fear they can use to escalate threats against you. While Cyber Enhancements provide immediate tactical advantages, they mechanically increase the dangers you face. The game doesn't prevent full-borg conversion, but it makes you pay for that power through vulnerability to hacking, psychological instability, and loss of human intuition.

How does the Masterless Mode work without a GM?

The Adventure Book's Masterless Mode supplement provides rules for collective event management. Players take turns framing scenes, defining consequences, and guiding narrative through consensus. The Mission Sheet and clock systems remain functional, with responsibilities distributed among all participants rather than centralized in one Game Master.

Are the Operative Cards Deck necessary to play?

No, but they streamline gameplay significantly. The cards contain Cyber Enhancements, Natural Traits, and Playbook quick references fully detailed in the Corebook. They're convenience items that keep key information accessible during fast-paced sessions rather than mandatory components.

Will future expansions cover Stand Alone Complex or other Ghost in the Shell eras?

The creators intend to provide material from various saga eras including ARISE and S.A.C., but the speed and scope depend on campaign funding levels and community support. Starting chronologically at Section 9's birth establishes the foundation for expanding into later periods through future releases.