NPCs your character knows.
In the manual under “Choose one close friend and one rival” the text states: “Each playbook has a list of NPCs that your character knows.” Then it goes on to state to pick a close relationship and a rival.
I have previously assumed that this list is contacts the player potentially knows, however it could be interpretted that they are all contacts and you just pick a close contact.
So my question to the group at large and John Harper specifically is what mechanical interaction if any is there with the contacts you dont pick on the play book?
The game doesn’t specify because both of those interpretations work.
Well that doesn’t help solve our predicament at all XD
Heh. You can say that you know all of the people on the list, but are neutral with them. So if you want their help, you need to offer them something.
With a long term project, an acquaintance might become a good friend, or you might even win over a rival.
Awesome, I can work with this. Love your work.
The way I’ve run it is that you can potentially call on any of your contacts for aid. Your friend is the one that will help you out for free, all the others will look for something in return. The rival or enemy could also possibly be called on for an assist, but be prepared to pay (literally or metaphorically) out the nose for it. Also, your rival/enemy may interfere with a job. For example, every time the Dolls do a job in the Docks, they get -1d on the Engagement roll, because Constance’s enemy Grace is well placed in the Dockers.