We covered Character versus Character (CvC) conflict in three parts earlier, and it’s time to talk about the oddest case of CvC in Dystopia Rising: theft. Theft occupies a unique place in terms of consent: it’s inherent to the game via the rules there’s no real way to opt-out of it. To help players better understand it we’re recapping how to steal stuff, both with Basic Larceny and good, old-fashioned theft.
Consent and Theft
When you play Dystopia Rising you are inherently consenting to theft. It’s hidden in the section “Thick as Thieves” on page 158 (emphasis added):
Always remember that the player is more important than the character; just because your character is a master thief doesn’t mean you should try and steal every single item from someone you know may become upset. You do not need to check in with another player prior to using a thieving skill on their character, but you should prioritize the mental and emotional health of the player representing the character you are stealing from over your character’s fiction desire to steal.
So you don’t need to use the Conflict Check-In but you need to prioritize the emotional health of the other player. This is very different from what we’ve talked about in our Consent and CvC series! Instead of direct communication you need to be a bit of a mind-reader. Luckily there is a solution built-in: every theft in Dystopia Rising requires a Guide.
Using a Guide
Whether you use Basic Larceny or pick up an unattended object you will need to have a Guide present to monitor the theft. They’ll help you negotiate the situation and, if needed, gauge the other player’s reaction. When you steal something with Basic Larceny they’ll notify the other player and retrieve the card for whatever you stole. If it’s an unattended object they’ll help you register it in the theft log. Having a guide involved helps to meet the intent of the theft rules by ensuring there is a neutral third party considering the other player’s feelings.
What You Can’t Steal
The rules are quite clear on what can’t be stolen: anything on or under your bed is considered out-of-character and can’t be stolen. However, you can’t hide carded items there unless you’re on NPC shift. You also can’t steal a supply bag: you have to loot it and leave it behind.
Other Notes on Theft
Similar to causing infection loss, you have to remain in play for at least 4 hours as the character who committed the theft after you steal anything.
When you’re stealing from a body, you can only steal items from the supply bag or phys repped items. Don’t dig around in people’s pockets. In Dystopia Rising New York, we ask that if someone loots your supply bag while you’re wearing it, you also hand over all your cash.
You can pick a person’s pocket by attaching a black clothespin to it. You can do this if you spot where someone keeps their money.
If you steal a phys rep, you have to hang onto it for 30 minutes (so there’s a chance you get caught) and then turn it into operations (so the other person can use the phys rep).