Question about tiers and the mechanics behind gang size.

Question about tiers and the mechanics behind gang size.

Question about tiers and the mechanics behind gang size.

How do you make use of the gang when your moving up the food chain and the number behind Tier I (3-6 gang members), Tier II (12 members) … so forth.

Can the players name them, and make use of classes as powerful as PCs? Like recruit (aquire assets) classes to broaden the skills of the gang/crew?

Or is the number just a figure of people guarding the turf?

7 thoughts on “Question about tiers and the mechanics behind gang size.”

  1. Gang cohorts don’t have classes, experts do. Gangs have types like thug or rook. No individual gang member should ever be as powerful as the PC’s. Otherwise they will turn into Legolas from Lord of the Rings, everyone’s favorite character and overshadowing the PC’s(Frodo and Sam). The PC’s will realize this and suddenly bring them on every score, this effectively turns a gang into a gang and an expert.

  2. If you want gangs to take a bigger role instead of the abstract way that Blades approaches them, take a look at the rookies and squads in Band of Blades.

  4. Cohort gangs should get a name. Consider names like “the Baker Street Boys” or “paid murder hobos” which provide sufficient detail. You could use a name like “Mad Willie and those guys” but being just specific enough is usually better.

    The types given as suggestions for cohort gangs are intentionally a specific list, which is different from (and less skilled sounding than) the PC playbook abilities.

    Note that the types of cohort experts are freeform, but the examples given are suspiciously similar to the terms used as PC ability names. This too is intentional, so you end up with right level of detail for the cohort at hand. Read as: one which does not outshine the PCs

  5. Thank you for clarification, and additional notes on experts/cohorts.

    So, the gang number is just there for size. So when they go up against (war) an higher tier gang how do you make use of that number in a brawl? Is there any mechanics or just fiction, like the other gang have the upper hand (desperate/limited)?

    Eric Brunsell Will do!

  6. Yep.

    So, scale is one of three factors, and can be an advantage or disadvantage (or ignored), depending on the goal and approach (as usual, see Effect and Factors)

    Ex: Their gang is bigger and they can bring this to bear in an outdoor area, so the GM says this gives them +1 effect [it is ruled a “dominant factor”]. That Desperate roll for a straight-up brawl to KO them now could kill the other gang while “only” risking level 3 harm to their own gang. This effectively improves their position to do what they originally intended (making it Risky to KO instead).

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