Character Creation Challenge 2022 27f: Leverage

Character Creation Challenge 2022

27f: Leverage

(OOP due to its licence ending, but a new form of the system is available through Cortex Prime)

Finally, a Crew of the five character types for Leverage, the Cortex Plus con and heist game based on the recently revived TV series of the same name, whose creator John Rogers later wrote a largely systemless con and heist advice chapter for FATE Worlds.

(Bias note: I created the original Les Fantômes, the Worlds’ Greatest Thieves con and heist genre Allegiance for Trinity Continuum.)

Each character Role - Grifter, Hacker, Hitter, Mastermind, Thief - is a “statistic” in the game, rated D4 to D12, combined with general Attributes, specific “neat trick” Talents, Role Specialties and personality-based Distinctions which can be good or bad in different circumstances.

The players’ arsenal includes the ability to reveal the plan through flashbacks rather than having to come up with it in advance, emulating the genre and the series in particular.

The rulebook gives the option to create a complete character but the default is to stop until a Session Zero “Recruitment Job” where the group as a whole can pitch Distinctions and other details. To make ready-to-run characters for one-shots and the like I’ll fill them in completely.

The original series Crew has the five Roles called out in the intro, but other Crews don’t have to. The gang from BBC series Hustle is heavy on Grifters and light on Hitters. Steve Dee created the Wheelman (PDF) as an alternative Role, while the original Leverage series has hardly any car chases.

So without further ado, a Crew based in London...

Lark

Grifter

“This is a beautiful piece. I’d say it’s better crafted than the original. But some buyers insist antiques should be ‘real’ for some reason.”

The Grifter is the social con artist, so a key Role in con episodes.

Background

Lark is the son of a family of antique dealers, occasional thieves and forgers, who joined the Crew to take down the security company who ruined their plans to get out of the business, and stuck around because actually helping people seems quite nice. Years of charming his way into various social strata have made him an expert in what people want to hear.

Sam Claflin

A bit Lovejoy, not by accident.

Primary Role

Grifter D10

Secondary Role

Thief D8

Tertiary Roles

Hacker D6

Hitter D4

Mastermind D4

Attributes

Two options here:

Focused: Two dice each at d10, d8, and d6.

Versatile: One die at d10, four at d8, one at d6.

Going with Focused

Agility D8

Alertness D10

Intelligence D10

Strength D6

Vitality D6

Willpower D8

Distinctions (3, 2 decided after Recruitment Job in group creation)

Charming

Friends In Low Places

Likes Pretty Things

Talents (2, decided after Recruitment Job in group creation)

How You Doin’? (Grifter, bonus to dealing with people attracted to him)

PDQ Rembrandt (Hacker, can forge faster than anybody)

Specialties (2, decided after Recruitment Job in group creation)

Roguish Smile (Grifter)

Art Forgery (Hacker)

28f: Finn, Hacker

29f: Mr. Burrell, Hitter

30f: Mihika, Mastermind

31f: Lana, Thief