Miami 2012: Crime and sex in the Big Water [System-AH] [Ex]

[Thufir Hawat]

So, I'm planning to start a modern game, focusing on crime. It would be set in Miami, and characters should be somehow related to the criminal underworld, an/or the occult underground. The premise of the game would be their struggle to gain influence, by sex or more dishonest means!
Of course, such characters are under lots of stress. Stress has to be relieved. Need I explain more about possible sexual situations ?
(BTW, there's already a character, and we're talking a hired killer).

That said, despite the occult part - don't expect anything supernatural. People would believe in that, of course, but don't count on a talisman to protect you from bullets! Well, not that you can't hope...

System - rules, advice, and some explanation

So, the game is on this link. http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/70124/Atomic-Highway---Post-Apocalyptic-Roleplaying
Granted, it does require registration, but is free otherwise.
Now, keep in mind before even opening it - large parts of it are things you don't need to read. Actually, that would be the majority of it ! We're using a system that's meant for post-apocalyptic games, "Mad Max" style, for a modern action game. (It's got the advantages of being free, and being aimed towards novice players. Also, it's got all the rules you need for a modern action/adventure, what you actually need is to skip the rules for mutations and stuff).

So, after downloading, you only need to read pages 16-33 and 61-75 (I'm pretty sure people on this site don't need to read the "what is roleplaying, what's a GM and what's a player" explanation on pages 4-7 by now ).
After you read them, that's it for now, you can get to creating a character! Hopefully, what you read might give you character ideas - or you might already have an idea about the kind of character you want to play. Either approach works. Just create a character and describe her according to the rules.

But yes, of course, we're going to customize the skill packages. So, Natural skills for a modern setting are slightly different (that's what everybody would have).
And of course, Rearings and Pursuit skill packages require some clarifications, especially the Gear. Don't bother "rolling on tables", when the rules say - just write down whatever you think makes sense for your character.
Also, I make a change to the Customize package).

First, add Natural skills. These are things that everybody in the West knows, or you're just assumed to have a natural talent for.

Natural skills

Replace the list in the book with the following: Athletics 1, Lore 1, Brawl 1 or Zoofinity 1, Notice 1,  Persuade 1, Tech 1 and  Stealth 1 (because really, who has never sneaked through the house for cookies, and/or out of the house to go to a party ?)

Then you apply the skills you got until you started working. We'd use the ones in the book, with some changes in the spoiler. They depend mostly on where you grew up. Need I explain that people who lived on a farm might have a better idea how to use a shotgun, but likely don't know the streets that well?

Rearings

They can simply be applied with different flavour text. Where is your character from?
A metropolis? - Apply the Bartertown.
Straight from the army boot camp, or maybe a military family? - Apply the Remnant rearing.
Small village? - Apply Steader.
Was part of a biker gang? - use the Nomad rearing.
Trog, Tribal and Feral rearings aren't useful for today's society, barring a truly unusual character .

Then we come to their professional lives.

Pursuits, adapted for Modern games

Now, remember, these are mostly examples!
That said, what was/is your character doing for a living? Pick the appropriate package!

Farmer in an isolated community - Beastmaster
Bounty Hunter (or undercover cop) - Bounty Hunter package. It might work great for your character as well - not all bounties are collected for people you're bringing alive.
Mechanic that does work the authorities would like to learn about - Greaser
Driver that did smuggling for the organised crime - Hauler (or Outrider)
Illegal doctor - Healer
An MMA fighter or participant in underground "catfights" - Pit Fighter
Street Thug/Biker/Gang Member - Raider
Cop or Army - Sentinel
New Age Cult/Doomsday Cult leader - Shaman

....or, if you're not happy with any of these: simply distribute 10 points instead as you wish and as it would fit your concept. Also, pick gear, as above . Mind you, having Notice and Athletics or Brawl is quite important.

Once again, the "gear" is what you think fits the character, not limited to whatever is in the book!

Then you apply the Customize package. No surprises there, except I decided to give you slightly more points.

Customize

You get 5 points to add instead of 4 as per page 21. However, the limit "no skill raised above 4" still applies!

What is Fortuna

Now, that's not a concept that exists in all systems, so even some people that are familiar with them can use an explanation, I guess.
Fortuna starts making sense when you think of it as the "genre convention" resource. Like, the character used Heroic Effort, despite the character being weak ? Spend fortuna, get them more successes. Did she get beaten mid-game? Spend a point (or two, forgot that) and "it was only a flesh wound". The almost invincible stalker is pushed through the window (maybe after Heroic effort )? He might get up, normally. Spend Fortuna for a minor twist to get him staked to a pole !
Or you need access to a mobster's mansion, heavily guarded? Hey (fortuna spent for a major twist), I know a guy/gal who could get me in as his armcandy, and I can suggest him/her a threesome with that other girl if he takes her along as a driver !

Or of course, you could just limit it to simulate these moments when the character pulls through on sheer willpower and determination, and not spend it for dramatic effect, but to simulate "hidden reserves". We all have them, after all.

In the end, it's your call how you spend fortuna, it's still yours to spend!

And that's it.

Of course, again, if you've got any questions, feel free to ask!


P.S.: Big Water is where the name of Miami comes from, if anyone's wondering .

P.P.S.: People new to system games would have a definite advantage when I'm picking out the players. That's not a "first come-first served" game, although being fast with the character creation might bring some benefits. However, it all started when someone asked me whether I could introduce them to system games.

[Chaosfox]

Just wanted to say this looks interesting if I wasn't all ready dedicated to 4 other rp's (two on her two on another site) I would love to try this one out but it looks like it will be fun.

[AKunoichi]

I have work today and tomorrow so I wont have much time to read the system, but if this game is still open when I get free time I'll be interested.

[Thufir Hawat]

Just wanted to say this looks interesting if I wasn't all ready dedicated to 4 other rp's (two on her two on another site) I would love to try this one out but it looks like it will be fun.

Thank you for the kind words!
Also, gotta appreciate someone who doesn't overcommit !

I have work today and tomorrow so I wont have much time to read the system, but if this game is still open when I get free time I'll be interested.

I guess it should be open, pitch a concept when you're ready !

[AKunoichi]

I guess it should be open, pitch a concept when you're ready !

I'm thinking of some Bikini wearing gunwoman.
https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/e0/BikiniMercenaries.jpg (the one in the center)
If you don't like anime, well I have a bunch more pictures along the same lines.
https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/97/1307495880584.jpg
https://elliquiy.com/wiki/Category:Girls_With_Guns

[Thufir Hawat]

Sure, although I'd have to inquire where and how, exactly, she hides these guns until she decides to bring them to use !
I'm pretty sure the police in Miami might object if she doesn't hide them. And you totally don't want to deal with their SWAT team, from what I've heard of it !

[AKunoichi]

Open Cary is legal in the state of Florida (although open Cary laws won't stop people from calling the cops and then getting you arrested for "brandishing")

If we are gonna be semi-realistic though, She probably carries a compact handgun in her purse most of the time. And when it's time to fuck shit up, she has a gym bag with her AR-15 and tactical gear in it. Maybe several go-bags stored in various lockers throughout the city.


EDIT: No wait, it's NOT Legal in Florida :C
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_carry_in_the_United_States
Interesting, it seems like a lot of states that are otherwise permissive with guns, don't allow open carry, I didn't realize that. Maybe they are afraid of CCWers with itchy trigger fingers?

[Thufir Hawat]

Open Cary is legal in the state of Florida (although open Cary laws won't stop people from calling the cops and then getting you arrested for "brandishing")

If we are gonna be semi-realistic though, She probably carries a compact handgun in her purse most of the time. And when it's time to fuck shit up, she has a gym bag with her AR-15 and tactical gear in it. Maybe several go-bags stored in various lockers throughout the city.


EDIT: No wait, it's NOT Legal in Florida :C
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_carry_in_the_United_States

Compact handgun sounds more plausible, yes. Expect your actions to have at least semi-realistic consequences, otherwise, what's the point in a modern game?
The lockers are going to bleed your Hope through the ears, but overall, the concept sounds like fun !

[AKunoichi]

Well If I'm expecting trouble I can carry a bag with me can't I? I'm assuming hope is a player resource that used to declare things like "I have a stache hidden somewhere around here"?

[Thufir Hawat]

It's the resource I'm referring to, indeed. Although admittedly, I tend to mix up the names.
Anyway, it's in the rules, so you can check it when you want .

[AKunoichi]

Anybody else interested?

[Thufir Hawat]

So far, I've got one finished character, mentioned in the first post.

P.S.: To be clear, the game is going to start even so. However, usually more people do make it merrier, so I'm going to wait a couple days for character sheet submissions, before locking it.

[Isobel]

My character is inspired by the lovely Emily Mortimer in The 51st State/Formula 51...

She's a sexy assassin working, for reasons yet to be revealed, for a Miami crime syndicate.  She looks like such a sweet girl, and she is - so slender and pretty - until somebody has to be offed  .


This is going to be a fun rp, and for me a great chance to learn system rp.

[AKunoichi]

Okay sorry for the delay. Reading now.

Also, starting skills add right? If I get shoot 1 from my rearing and shoot 2 from my Pursuit, that means i start with shoot 3 before spending anything to raise it?

Also if I take a Glock 29, can it be a heavy handgun and still be concealable? 10mm auto is a powerful cartage, but the Glock 29 is a subcompact handgun.

[Thufir Hawat]

Okay sorry for the delay. Reading now.

Also, starting skills add right? If I get shoot 1 from my rearing and shoot 2 from my Pursuit, that means i start with shoot 3 before spending anything to raise it?

Yes, that's correct.

Also if I take a Glock 29, can it be a heavy handgun and still be concealable? 10mm auto is a powerful cartage, but the Glock 29 is a subcompact handgun.

Yes, but she's going to need a HUGE purse, compared to what most other women are likely to be carrying, of course . That might in itself attract attention. Sure, in some places, she wouldn't even be the only one with such a big purse...
Of course, you can simply have a smaller Medium gun as well, and leave the one you're not carrying at your home when not having any particular reasons to expect problems.

I guess she's proficient with Portuguese and English.

[AKunoichi]

It's actually a very small gun. http://i52.tinypic.com/v63z11.jpg, Even smaller without an extended magazine http://img.youtube.com/vi/vAitXW20TH0/0.jpg. It's specifically designed for concealed Cary and smaller than some 9mm and .22 handguns. It's biggest drawbacks are low capacity and recoil. Perhaps just use the heavy stat-line, but make it two handed?

And yes, she speaks English and Portuguese but NOT Spanish. That may or may not be a problem living in Miami.

[Thufir Hawat]

Indeed, 18 cm and less than 1kg aren't much, so I guess I shouldn't have listened to the guys that complained it's hard to carry concealed !

As for recoil, let's say you could shoot it one or two-handed, because logically you can. However, one-handed shots would require 1 success more, so a minimum of 2 successes to get a shot in. Which means you'd want to shoot it two-handed whenever you can, unless you've got Muscle of 4 or more !
Low capacity is self-explanatory.

As for not speaking Spanish, you could take it as a new language skill later.

Maria and Isobel's character are in a similar field, so it's up to the two of you to tell me whether you know each other .

[Isobel]

My girl is called Emily, she's 28 and from New Zealand originally.  She only speaks English, but otherwise communicates well and is likeable; she smiles easily and projects little aggression, without being unassertive.  Ostensibly she is not connected with the crime bosses she works for    .


When she was 22 she travelled, then in a lonely moment in California she accepted a coffee from a young man on the street and was brainwashed into a cult.  While out fundraising her potential was recognised by a local crime lord; she was partially de-programmed, re-programmed in an amateurish way, and eventually traded across to Miami.


Dunno what AK47 thinks about Maria knowing her?  Slightly perhaps?  If Maria is a 'normal' person she would probably like her, as far as she knows her at all? But depending what Maria is like obviously  .  If Maria is sexy Emily might fancy her, being 80% les.


Normally Emily only carries a small handbag/purse, but is occasionally seen in a business suit with a substantial briefcase, or dressed casually looking a bit like a hippie, with a shoulder bag    .

[AKunoichi]

Well my girl is named Maria Do Mar Carioca De Silva Torres. But Everyone calls her Mari because it's easier to remember.

Her Legal work is as a bail bondsman, repo agent, and bodyguard, but she's involved in lots of less legal business as well. But she also does a lot of hanging out on the beach and partying in the clubs when she's not shooting people.

If Emily is the type to skip out on bail or not pay her bills, she might find Mari after her. Alternately if she wants an Escort in both meanings of the word, she could Hire her. Or maybe they just met in a club?

[Isobel]

Oh Mari sounds like a fun character AK47!  Emily works in an architects' office, and is totally respectable, ostensibly.  The architects are in fact part of the mob's corrupt property empire but that's all kept quiet and Emily isn't used to threaten anybody, she's just used as the final solution  if rivals need to be removed or a corrupt official or cop turns into a liability.  Then the first they know about her secret life is that they're dead  .


I could imagine she might have encountered Mari when her firm used Mari to obtain payment from clients or something?  And by the sound of it Mari would be a girl she'd have noticed??

[nlwatson]

This sounds like a fun game and I am intrested in playing if it isn't to late.  I have just downloaded the pdf and broused though it.  I am starting to flesh out a character, where should i submit it once I have it compleated?

[Thufir Hawat]

It's your choice whether to post her here for all to see, or to post only a basic concept and maybe description. As soon as I get to start this, I'm going to make a characters thread, where everybody would be posted for reference.

And since you're fleshing her already, it's not too late, I'm definitely not going to post the first thread tonight !

[nlwatson]

The girl I plan on playing is Kelli Morris, a party girl liking fast cars and good times. She is a tall (5-9) slender 23 year-old with dark brown hair and green eyes. She recently relocated to Miami from LA after serving some time in LA County Lockup for trafficking illegal contraband.   She enjoys hanging out at clubs that have live dj’s spinning and the illegal street racing scene. 

Being exposed to criminal life since she was 16, she is still somewhat new, working with only one crew.  She tired quickly of everyone taking a cut of the profit, even her own crew members, often getting paid barley enough to get by.  She plans on doing it her own way in Miami, starting slow, building a rep, and putting her own crew together to run packages, and keep the local exporters stocked with high end parts and quality cars.

She is currently living with a wannabe model using her only for a free place to stay until she can put a bigger stake together and get her own place. she has no connections to anyone in Miami, and other than her parole officer in LA, who is probably to overworked to even care about her, she is unaware of any problems that could come up to hinder her plans.

[AKunoichi]

Hmm, my character is more likely to know (Or at least remember the name of) Nlwatson's character, if she bumped into her at a club. Emily might know Mari though, even if Mari doesn't know Emily.

[Thufir Hawat]

And now nlwatson's character is approved as well !
BTW, I'm getting a nice "Charlie's Angels, except not ridiculous" vibe from the characters overall. I'm helping one more player to make her first character, and we can start !