Dystopia Rising New York (DRNY) has always focused on the sketchy side of the wastes, with Requiem being home to thieves, assassins, and all manner of criminals. As we’ve incorporated national plotlines into our setting, it’s grown rich with layers of detail and possibilities for conflict. However, it can also confuse players… so here’s a quick guide to how crime works in Requiem.
The Survivor Ethos System (SES)
Before anything else, the Survival Ethos System (SES) is an out-of-character list of players who have opted into no-limit Character versus Character (CvC) conflict. It interacts with the Red Ledger, as well as Murder Inc. locally, but it is not a society membership in and of itself. You can sign up for the SES at operations.
Crime (Criminal Influence)
Criminal Influence is a skill any character can learn; it is not a society membership. As part of your skill use, you will be invited to a Criminal meeting where you might encounter plots, as well as have the opportunity to buy equipment “fenced” from other characters. Different levels of Criminal Influence (Basic, Proficient, Master, and the PFA, Inner Circle) may have their own meetings, but usually they’ll all occur at once.
In Requiem, crime-related meetings will generally be run by Essex (an NPC member of the Anastasia family). There will be little or no CvC, and missions will focus on theft, smuggling and other “for-profit” criminal activity.
Murder Inc.
Murder Inc. is a wide-ranging organization, reintroduced through the Dead Waters national event and described broadly in a document from Dystopia Rising Connecticut. It is a society membership, and to join, you need to have an existing member initiate you into the society. In Requiem, Murder Inc. focuses on politics, and almost always involves CvC. While you don’t don’t lose your society membership in a Murder Inc. faction if you’re not on the SES, all Murder Inc. modules (including organized meetings with NPCs) will require you to be on the SES.
Murder Inc. has always been an integral part of the Requiem setting, and we will continue to define how the organization functions locally. Much of the behind-the-scenes political power rests in this organization, and it was never entirely dormant. If you wish to participate in Murder Inc. in Requiem, remember these key points:
Murder Inc. in Requiem is always a CvC activity.
Participation in Murder Inc. will often include some extra effort. For example, it’s very important to the local setting that characters use disguises. While staff will provide mechanics to reduce barriers to entry, players will be expected to respect the customs and courtesies of Murder Inc. in Requiem.
Many of these customs and courtesies will be developed by local Murder Inc. members at game; so if you’re a member, be ready for some important discussions in January.
The Red Ledger
The Red Ledger includes a wide variety of talents, ranging from assassins to bounty hunters to just bad-ass fighters. It is a society membership, however, it functions a bit differently from other society memberships. If you’re on the SES, you decide if you’re part of the Red Ledger (as opposed to being invited by another member). Further, if you opt out of the SES, then you automatically opt-out of the Red Ledger (although you can rejoin the next game if you rejoin the SES).
In Requiem, there generally won’t be a Red Ledger meeting, but rather do work as it arises. As Requiem lacks law enforcement, a large number of Red Ledger tasks involve CvC or CvE when someone crosses one of the Families. They also do tasks like mercenary work and bounty hunting - if it’s violent but not necessarily secretive, think Red Ledger.