Chuck Dee

Takers is another game I made for the 24-hour RPG contest, built from the ground up for one-on-one play for one GM and one player. In the dystopian future presented by the game, The player takes the role of the Taker, and forms their own network of contacts and the crew that they depend on for support. They also create the community that they support. By taking risky scores to build up the community and the inhabitants within it, the Taker leads the defense and development of the community. Keep in mind that the Player's crew are not just extensions of the Taker, but have their own goals and motivations, and sometimes these tense situations can fray that relationship. These relationships are not necessarily permanent- death, betrayal, and abandonment are always threats when putting the crew at risk.

Part 1: Envisioning the Character

I'm going to make Delmar Booth – he's a street rat, but knows the corp hustle. He does this because there's tragedy in his backstory of some sort, and he tries to keep others from facing that same tragedy.

Part 2: Building the Character

Create Your Taker

Name: Delmar Booth

Concept: Delmar Booth was what passes for middle-class in an arcology, only a little above the streets. But he never had to worry about where his food was going to come from, where he would sleep, or indeed even what he would be. He would take over his father's contract, and live the same life. At least that's what he grew up thinking. The reality hit him at 12, when the corp decided to downsize his block, and suddenly 1200 souls were put into the grinder that was unemployment. His father tried to provide, but was woefully unprepared for this change of circumstance. Eating a bullet was his way out. His mother wasted away after that, no matter how Del tried to keep her alive. He turned those instincts towards making sure others from his block survived. He found out he was a natural leader and survivor, and he actually thrived in the chaos that followed.

Summary: Rebel streetrat with an eye for the hustle but a heart for the downtrodden.

Problem: Though he tries to trust in others, he has a natural inclination to do things himself, and to blame himself when things fail. I'll summarize that as He takes the world on his shoulders

Drive: His parent's death and the disintegration of his community are his core defining event, and because of that, I'll say that He wants to keep others that depend on him from facing the tragedy he faced.

Aptitudes: His strengths are his mind, his charisma, and his preparedness. I'll summarize those with the following three aptitudes – His analytical mind is always thinking three steps ahead. He's a charismatic leader with a way with words. He always has an exit.

Recruit Your Crew

As Del is going to take the role of Fixer and Face, he has those two points covered. So he'll get a Hacker, a Hitter, and an Investigator. I don't want to spread him thinner than that.

Xander and Del were friends in the old arcology, and he helped behind the scenes to make sure that Del had the edge on the mean streets, hacking into all sorts of systems for payola and information. Xander is Hacker – 3.

Fox was on the other end of one of Xander's hacks. He was impressed, because he had the best set up his mesh security, so in exchange for some of Xander's time, he helps piece together inforamation that Xander gets for Del, and finds things out in realspace. They've developed a real symbiotic relationship. Fox is Investigator – 3.

Chiara was on the other side of one of Del's ops. Thankfully, it ended without violence for them, because seeing her in motion, Del knew his crew couldn't take her. Most of the time Del's ops are bloodless, but when they think they'll need backup, they ring Chiara. Chiara is Hitter – 1.

Build Your Community

The Klamath is a burned out block, shored up with the help of those that stayed with Del as he rose through the ranks of those that had been cast out of the Arcology. It is located on the edge of the Decklund district.

Danger: 2 Dearth: 2 Dictum: 3

Morale: 4 – The community is made up of mostly those that were disenfranchised by the corp, and they already had strong ties. That is maintained to this day. Assets: 2 – Though the block hadn't been completely looted, there was little left when they moved in. The community has scavenged to build up their stores, but they are on the raggedy edge. Defense: 4 – Being on the outskirts, there is not much beyond the community but the outer walls of the arcology, giving them good natural defenses. the community was once more affluent before the fire, and had its own walls also insulating them. The largest weakness they have is the nearby park- it's a good place for foraging, but could also hide attackers until they're uncomfortably close to the community.

Part 3: Final Character and Conclusions

Name: Delmar Booth

Delmar Booth was what passes for middle-class in an arcology, only a little above the streets. But he never had to worry about where his food was going to come from, where he would sleep, or indeed even what he would be. He would take over his father's contract, and live the same life. At least that's what he grew up thinking. The reality hit him at 12, when the corp decided to downsize his block, and suddenly 1200 souls were put into the grinder that was unemployment. His father tried to provide, but was woefully unprepared for this change of circumstance. Eating a bullet was his way out. His mother wasted away after that, no matter how Del tried to keep her alive. He turned those instincts towards making sure others from his block survived. He found out he was a natural leader and survivor, and he actually thrived in the chaos that followed.

Concept: Rebel streetrat with an eye for the hustle but a heart for the downtrodden. Problem: He takes the world on his shoulders Drive: He wants to keep others that depend on him from facing the tragedy he faced. Aptitudes: His analytical mind is always thinking three steps ahead. He's a charismatic leader with a way with words. He always has an exit.

Crew

Xander: Hacker – 3 Fox: Investigator – 3 Chiara: Hitter – 1

Community

Decklund Danger: 2 Dearth: 2 Dictum: 3

The Klamath Morale: 4 Assets: 2 Defense: 4