Are you a Requiem regular? A visitor who’s coming for their first time? Dystopia Rising always offers zombies to fight and friends to meet, but Dystopia Rising New York also offers a chance to delve into our setting. But setting only matters if players can use it to role-play - you need something to do. So here’s three ways to get involved in the social and political play of Requiem next game.
Break a Law
There’s not many laws in Requiem, but the ones we have matter. Most laws come from either the Treaty of the Fold or the proclamation of Anton Anastasia, the High Lord Executioner. While the Treaty usually deals with large-scale structure, the High Lord Executioner’s laws are… problematic. For example, you can’t talk about defunct families, or lie to Anton. He’s been known to burn books and recently co-opted a player-run broadcast. Realize that Anton’s actions are supposed to push the players into action (and some are already taking action). Breaking a law in Requiem isn’t really being criminal, as most of the people of Requiem already are criminals. Instead, breaking a law is an act of civil disobedience, and let you respond to proclamations that deserve a response.
Make a Deal
Each family in Requiem has a unique trade list; these items can only be obtained by members of the Patron Families of Requiem. Not only do these items offer you the chance to do things beyond the basic rules of Dystopia Rising, you can also use them at other chapters that allow them (specifically, Dystopia Rising Texas). Working out trade routes between settlements can earn you a significant profit, as well as clout both in Requiem and abroad. However, the families aren’t just there to provide trade items. Each Family in Requiem serves a purpose, and interacting with members of that family can bring you specific benefits. For example, the Volkov are information brokers - do you want to learn a secret? Look for their distinctive costuming: masks and blue robes.
Preach Your Religion
There’s a law against preaching in Requiem, but this one goes one step further. Religion and the current state of politics in Requiem don’t mix. However, faith is an integral part of Dystopia Rising, and it’s not our intent to forbid faith-based role-play… it’s to make it dangerous. If you want to push against the current regime and change the status quo, pushing your faith is an excellent way to provoke a reaction. For those who want less risk, secret meetings or rituals in the deep woods are extremely appropriate means of resistance. Even lesser acts, such as having a party Saturday night run by Hedons, is a good way to promote role-play, as it’s sure to make some of the NPCs very uneasy.
The important thing to remember is that the political situation of Requiem is designed around consequences: if there’s a law saying “don’t do that” in-character, it really means “if your character does this, you get to be the focus of attention as everyone finds out what happens.” Maybe your character makes a mistake, maybe they’re brave enough to fight the powers that be, or maybe they’re trying to manipulate the laws to their advantage. But the important things is that you feel encouraged to “fuck around and find out.”