Shinkai Protocol
D&D 5e

Shinkai Protocol

A DnD cyberpunk submarine exploration game set on Nereus, a frozen ocean world where prisoner colonists build underwater societies beneath the ice. Japanese/cyberpunk aesthetic meets psychological horror and dark comedy - inspired by Barotrauma. Dive deeper. The abyss remembers.

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@lovereid911
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Versionv26
CreatedJul 11, 2026
UpdatedSep 4, 2026
A Subnautical Horror RPG

Dive Deeper. The Abyss Remembers.

On Nereus, a frozen ocean world beneath endless ice, prisoner colonists carve out fragile societies in the deep. Take command of a battered submarine, build a crew from unlikely survivors, and descend into waters haunted by ancient forces, corporate power, and the things people become when rescue is no longer coming. Shinkai Protocol is a cyberpunk D&D adventure of exploration, psychological horror, dark comedy, and impossible choices.

Glimpses
Author's note

EVENT: 甲号開拓演習 — Kōgō Kaitaku Enshū, “Alpha-Class Frontier Exercise” OPEN ALPHA EVENT • Ends October 4, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE — BY ORDER OF THE SHINKAI PROTOCOL AUTHORITY

All registered colonists are hereby invited to participate in the Alpha-Class Frontier Exercise. Explore Nereus, test its systems, survive its hazards, and report your findings. Playing during the Open Alpha, discovering problems, and providing feedback can earn exclusive achievements, event gear, and experimental equipment. Some rewards may follow you to future characters. Others will remain with the unfortunate individual who earned them.

Your vessel is a test platform. Your crew is a data-gathering unit. Your survival is statistically valuable. The Authority does not require your enthusiasm. It requires your participation. Report what works. Report what breaks. And if you somehow manage to break something that was not supposed to be breakable, please inform the appropriate personnel before attempting it again.

— Office of Deepwater Operations, Haken Bakufu

**BEACON UPDATE SERIES — Phase active:** Currently testing submarine travel to and from the beacon station. Expect submarine and narration mechanics to change during this time; updates released weekly where possible.

Current Version: Open Alpha 2.5 (Beacon Series) — Major Narration update that gives variety in scenes and will remove the constant bureaucratic notes in different settings.

This project is currently in Open Alpha to test core game mechanics. Please leave your feedback in the Discord. Content is actively being developed while we focus on making the game functional and fun for our players.

Discord: https://discord.com/channels/1490398767587918017/1540774022508445836

Recommended standard model: GLM 3.5 flash Recommended image model: GPT Image 2

Inside the World

1,115 entries · 52 types

Achievements
58 total
Adventuring Gears
123 total
Ammo
8 total
Backgrounds
4 total
Campaign States
1 total
Chapters
1 total
Characters
21 total
Character Memories
7 total
Classes
6 total
Class Features
207 total
Containers
1 total
Creatures
36 total
Encounter Trackers
1 total
Equipment Rules
10 total
Establishments
10 total
Factions
4 total
Feats
16 total
Game Master Instructions
24 total
Game Starts
3 total
Gameplay Toolbox Entries
9 total
Glossary Entries
142 total
GM Instructions
8 total
GM Instructions 1s
2 total
GM Instructions 2s
1 total
GM Instructions 3s
2 total
Headsets
3 total
Headwears
6 total
Implants
4 total
Innerwears
18 total
Locations
62 total
Lore
78 total
Lore 2s
1 total
Monster Rules
2 total
Morality Alignments
10 total
Narration Instructions
10 total
Outerwears
13 total
Patch Notes
1 total
Quest Trackers
7 total
Relationship Scorecards
26 total
Rules
9 total
Rules
1 total
Scene Trackers
2 total
Shinkai Progressions
1 total
Species
7 total
Subclasses
18 total
Subnauticals
13 total
Tools
31 total
Toolbelts
4 total
Traits
27 total
Vehicles
10 total
Weapons
46 total
Boats
0 total