PERFORM AMAZING FEATS! MAKE YOUR FORTUNE! OR ENFORCE THE LAW!

It’s the 1920s Prohibition era in the United States. Alcohol is illegal. Organized crime grows at an
unprecedented rate as gangsters get rich selling hooch to a thirsty populace. Law enforcement
struggles to keep up with an understaffed and underfunded Bureau of Prohibition.
You are one of a handful of people who have been gifted with super-powers!
Will you use your abilities to build a criminal empire as a super-powered gangster? Or will you
focus your powers to serve the law and bring these criminals to justice?
In this book, you’ll find everything you need to tell exciting stories of action, adventure, virtue,
and vice in the Roaring Twenties. With super-powers.

NerdBurger Games
NerdBurgerGames.com | NerdBurgerShow.com
A Super-Powered Game of Gangsters in the Roaring Twenties

Designed by Craig Campbell

Illustrated by Beth Varni
 A Super-Powered Game of Gangsters in the Roaring Twenties
Published by NerdBurger Games LLC

Designer: ........................................................................................................................................ Craig Campbell

Additional Design: ................................................................... Brandon K. Aten, Tim Eagon, James Introcaso,

................................................................................................................. Derek Kamal, Kevin Kulp, Matthew Orr

Editing and Proofreading: ......................................................................................................... Karen Franklin

Graphic Design: ........................................................................................................................... Owen St. Gelais

Cover and Interior Art: ..................................................................................................................... Beth Varni

Cartography and Layout: ........................................................................................................... Michael Brock

Playtesters: Cosdyn Akers, Christopher Bock, Angie Bond, Ryan Bond, Bradley Bowen, Mike Chrismer,
Chris Czerniak, Dawn Dalton, Greg Dalton, Brian Donnelly, John DuVal, Jamas Enright, Dale A. Gaus,
Richard Gillingham, Jason Hall, Louie Hall, Stephen Haluska, Nick Helton, Daniel ‘Alvyn’ Holland,
Patrick Holloway, Benji Horning, Gilbert Isla, Sharon Jackson, Curbis James, Joshua Lillis, Josh
Lorentzen, Dave Martin, Mathew, Adam Maxwell, Josh Maxwell, Michael, Daniel Monoula, Kevin Potter,
Samuel Schaefer, Daniel Sulhoff, Matthew Sulhoff, Morgan Tupper, Vladimirledeux, Lawrence Young,
Jordan Zohner

Special Thanks: Rudy Basso, Anthony Bonifonte, Michael Brock, James D’Amato, James Introcaso, Jim
Owczarski, Michelle Owczarski, Ben Riggs, Shevy Underwood

The CAPERS Core Game System (chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5) is released under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
All other setting or fictional elements (all other chapters) unique to CAPERS are Copyright © 2018
NerdBurger Games LLC.

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events included
herein is purely coincidental.

NerdBurgerGames@gmail.com
@NerdBurgerCraig
NerdBurgerGames.com
NerdBurgerShow.com

2
 KICKSTARTER BACKERS
CAPERS is a game well over two years in the making. While the team and I did a great deal of
the work to make the game a real thing, we couldn’t have finished it without the help of all the
wonderful backers on Kickstarter. We offer a big, heartfelt thank you to each and every one.
You’re all aces in our book!
Aaron “The Brow” Olson, Aaron Lim, Abe “Ammo” Nemoy, Adam “Curls” Bradshaw, Adam “Go Bears!” Sena, Adam
Herold, Adam Stein, Addison Land, AJ Carruthers, Alan D. Kohler, Alex “Gearhead” Lopez, Alex “SaintWalker”
King, Alex Kallam, Alexander “Grassdragon” Corbett, Alexander Thissen, Ali “Make Them Disappear Without”
Trace, Alice “Sparkles” Tobin, Aloysius Ewing, Altered Confusion, Amanda Od, Amy “Murph” Baughman, Ando
“Valentine” Poore, Andrew “Holistic” Greenberg, Andrew “Sprinkles” Tucker, Andrew “Droopy” Madsen, Andrew
“Getzit” Wright, Andrew Bennett, Andrew Moreton, Andy Hatton, Angelo R., Angus Abranson, Anthony “The
Dwarf” Shears, Anthony “Numbers” Bonifonte, Anton Cox, Arnis Kletnieks, Artemissed, Ashe “Banshee” Welch,
Asta Jersø, Austin “Divvy” Betz, Austin “One-Gun” Tyson, Beachfox, Ben “Clamps” Campion, Ben “Peepum” Krise,
Benjamin “Bear-Man” Rudolf, Benjamin “Benny Two Hats” Eastman, Benjamin “Pointblank” Mishler, Benjamin “The
Benj” Davis, Benji “Briefcase” Horning, Benthegreater, Berke “Smile” Canatar, Bertha Mae Popkins, Bethany Duck,
Bill “Bloody” Johnson, BL Puster, Bobby “Inky” Jennings, Brad “Biff” Davies, Brandon K. Aten, Brendan St. Gelais,
Brent M. Rose, Brian “DMRule” Southworth, Brian “Grump” Donnelly, Brian “Princess” Liberge, Brian Allred, Brian
Dean, Brian Huizingh, Bruce “Coffee hound” Marshall, Bryant Durrell, Bryce “Angry Beard” Jenkins, C J Hunter,
C Light, Callum S. Buckley, Camdon Wright, Cameron Kyle, Cap’n Wrecking-ball Wilson, Carl L Gilchrist, Carmen
Maria Marin, Carol Darnell, Cath “The Marrow” Bailey, Cecilia “Slink” Chase, Chance “Glint” Clement, Charles
“TemplarKnight” Owens, Charles “tinyurl.com/y8nazxrd” Moore, Chris “Fat Bob” Lackey, Chris “FSHSchmo”
Jernigan, Chris “Hot Toddy” Furness, Chris “Lamplight” Jennerman, Chris “Masked-Revenger” Blanchard, Chris
“Sherlock” Holmes, Chris “The Brain” Boyer, Chris Dubuque, Chris Haywood, Chris Marmo, Chris Mobber, Chris
S. Sims, Chris Tang, Chris Vogler, Christian “The Federalist” Lindke, Christo “SvenFatale” Meid, Christopher
“Calculator” Crossley, Christopher Grey, Claude Weaver III, Clayton A. Thomson, Clint “Hobbie” Okerstrom, Clint
Williams, Cole “The Boy” Sorensen, Coleman “Mr” Bland, Colin “Mephit James” Wilson, Colin “Psychosis” Smith,
Corey Rautenberg, Craig “Mystic Justice” Groff-Folsom, Craig Wright, Curt Campbell, Curtis “Crabapple” Davies,
DaftPhully, Dale A Gaus, Dan “Quixote” Urruty, Dan Suptic, Daniel “Dr Wilkenstein” Wilks, Daniel “Demon’s Smile”
Miller, Daniel Andrews, Daniel Kraemer, Danielle Bock, Danny “Cobalt-Blue” Harbison, Danny Atwood, Darkshifter,
Dave Hawes, David “Alchemist” Lupo, David “Cobra” Schmoker, David “Doc Blue” Wendt, David “Fast-Fingers”
Rubin, David “The Panda” Turner, David “Bourbon” Pelletier, David C. Ridout, Dávid Csobay, David Dolph, David
Kinsel, David Starner, Dawid “Dievas” Wojcieszynski, Derek “Flyboy” Kamal, Derek Knutsen-Frey, Det. Sgt. Kumar,
Devil’s Due, Dodds “Chainlink” Colley, Doug Atkinson, Doug Frye, Douglas H. Cole, DracoDruid, Drew “Double D”
Dunn, Drew W, Dylan Fuller, Earl Scott Nicholson, Ed Kowalczewski, Ed Moretti, Edgardo Cruz, Edouard “Doude”
Contesse, Edvard Blumentanz, Eleanor Hingley, Elisabeth Hedman, Ellen L Eames, Eloy “The Saint” Lasanta, Eric
Blair, Eric Coates, Eric from Bloat Games, Erik Bentzen, Erika “Barnstormer” Chappell, Est Cal, Eugene Chee,
Eva “Kitty Cat” Denehy, Fallon “Badger” Crowley, Filip “The Jinx” Johansson, Florian Hollauer, Forrest Sayrs,
Frank “The Tank” Hart, frank martin, Frankye “Chickie” Mace, Fred Van Lente, Gabel Gamers, Gabry “Capstone”
Fasano, Gary Rumain, Geard, Gerry “The Doctor” Tolbert, Gina “Miss G Vious” Ricker, Gordiac, Grahambo, Grand
High B*%@h, GrandiaKnight, Greg “Pudgy Pete” Farber-Mazor, Gregory Tompsett, Guy “Mr Fists”Larke, Guy Z.,
H. M. “Dain” Lybarger, H. Rasmussen, Heather White, Herman “Jack” Duyker, Heroic Rogue, Hungry For More
Games, “Irish” David Heeney, Ian “Smiling Eyes” Kelley, Ian McFarlin, Ingrid “Brezel” Dinkel, Isaias “Doc Z” Llamas,
J Morgan Rowe-Morris, J Quincy “Two Bits” Sperber, Jack “The Ghoul” Gulick, Jacob “Professor” Johnson, Jae
Euteneier, Jaime “Mithoron” Robertson, James “Mind Weave” Eck, James “Two Name” Miller-Marquez, James
“Three” Ross, James Dawsey, James Gabriel, James Hovey, James Introcaso, James Karaus, James Meredith, James
Moriarty, Jane “The Boss” DelFavero, Jared “Longshot” Taylor, Jarrett “Jumping Jack” Jackson, Jason “Big Man”
Bulmahn, Jason “Dr. Z” Zanitsch, Jason “Sticks” Italiano, Jason “The Amazing” Hughes, Jason “The Professor”
Leisemann, Jason Corley, jason e. bean, Jason Sackett, Jason, Kristin, and Peter Childs, Jay “Brisket” Loomis, Jay
“Wise Guy” Garmon, Jay Peters, Jeff “Mage Mook” Chan, Jeff “Ratcatcher” Troutman, Jeff Kahrs, Jenevieve “Tasha”
DeFer, Jennifer Fuss, Jeremiah “The Librarian” McCoy, Jeremy “Hard-luck” Hamaker, Jeremy Bodie, Jerod “Silver
tounge” Hartwell, Jesse “Bluenose” Newsom, Jessica “Tinker” Pratt, Jim Dagg, Jim Owczarski, Jim Zink, Jimmy
“Porkchop” Lindqvist, JK Koh, Joey “The Joey” Zehnder, John “Doc Spec” Westerfield, John “Kingbeast” Taber, John
“Professor” Powell, John “Sexy-Knees” Arcadian, John “Shadowcat” Ickes, John “Solicitor 6” Bacevicius,

3
 John “Tugboat” Hickman, John “Where?” Dallman, John “the banker” Godwin, John Desmarais, John Gotobed,
John Henry, Johnny “Diesel” Kennedy, Johnny “The Creeper” McNeely, Jon “Dustoff” Allen, Jon “The Animal”
Stephenson, Jon Forrster, Jon Nix, Jon Robertson, Jonathan “Buddha” Davis, Jonathan “Firefly” Meadows,
Jonathan “Samaritan” Combs, Jonathan Korman, Jonathan Song, Josef “Rubidium” Hoppe, Joseph “Mugsy”
Bowman, Joseph Barder, Joseph Evenson, Joseph Shillinglaw, Josh Maxwell, Josh Medin, Josh Weiner, Joshua
“Bootlegger” Reubens, Joshua Lutz, Joshua W. Pittman, Judd M. Goswick, Jupiter Jack, justchris, Justin
“Jthunderific” Koster, Justin “Moonshine” Nichols, Justin “Space Daddy” Spath, Justin “Tenk” Price, Justin
Cranford, KA Middlebrooks, Kaira “Valentine” Murphy, Kait Joven, Kameron “Snarlfox” Kinsey, Kassie “Arm
Candy” Kirk, Kate Louie-Hess, KC Jones, Kelvin Wood, Kenneth Gentile, Kenneth Hite, Kergillian, Kevin “Kevin”
Christens, Kevin Mowery, Kevin R. Smith, Krista “Dollface” Pekarek, Kristof “KiKiN” Lambrechts, Kristopher
Volter, Kurt “The Crucifixion” Granzow, Kyle “The Traveler” Thompson, Kyle Rivest, Lachlan Jones, Landan Smith,
Larry “The Crusher” Gray, Larry “The Sloth” Haught, LaTrice “Mocha Love Goddess” Simmons, Layne Delp, Liam
DiNapoli, Lisa “Curveball” Hunt, Lloyd “Wayne” Eason, Loki Carbis, Lon Niedermayer, Loren Small, “Mad” Mark
Katerberg, M&C Limited, M. Alan Hillgrove, M. S. Farzan, Madman, Marek “Torpedo” Hendziak, Maria “Poison
Lily” Maja, Mark “The Shark” Slattery, Mark Hanna, Mark Leymaster of Grammarye, Mark Richman, Martin
Schramm, Martinez. C, Mathieu “Mummy” Martinez, Matt Owens, Matthew “J Wall” Wallace, Matthew “Q” Johnson,
Matthew “Chisels” Franklin, Matthew Cranor, Matthew McFarland, Matthew Smitheram, Matthew Sulhoff, Mauro
Adorna, Max Battcher, McP, Megan “Moxie” Shiplett, Megan Tolentino, Micah “Tree Banger” Champagne, Michael
“Cobra” Ball, Michael “Dauntless” Anderson, Michael “Lasersniper” DeBondt, Michael “Mutt” Hutton, Michael
“Steelfists” Ramsey, Michael “Stoneshield” Parker, Michael “WickedDawn” Owens, Michael Bowman, Michael
Brock, Michael Chrismer, Michael Feldhusen, Michael Sandlin, Mike “Cast Iron” Nakagaki, Mike “Eleven Fingers”
Czajkowski, Mike “Prime” Williams, Mike Esmailzadeh, Mike J Carlson, Mirko “Mercurius” Schroeder, Montes,
Mordaine “Cider” Barimen, Morgan Ellis, N. Bad T., Nadia “The Annoyed” Rooks, Nathan “Take Nothing” Bailey,
Nathan “The Bookworm” Christenson, Nathan “Wendigo” Shugart, Nathan Reetz, Neal “The Beard” Powell, Neal
Dalton, Nessalantha, Nestor “Lento” Rodriguez, Niall O”Donnell, Nick “The Fist” Leidy, Nick “Gizmo” Pollack,
Niki “Randombandit” Nair, NJ, Nullpunkt, Ogre, Oliver Peltier “The Spanglemaker”, Olivia Kristin, Olivia Lorimor,
Panu “Possessed” Laukkanen, Patrice Mermoud, Patrick & Samantha Harris, Patrick Gearman, Patrick Pong,
Paul Alan Ludlow, Paul Grindrod, Peacock, Pete Griffith, Peter “Howler” Allen, Petey “DreamyP” Petrusha, Philip
W. Rogers Jr., Phillip Bailey, PK Sullivan, Praxis Descends, Preston Poland, pyhnux “carpaccio”, Randy “Terrier”
Lander, Rebecca “The Hedgehog” Slitt, Renee “Songbird” Middleton, Richard “DEADTRANCE” Rivera, Richard
“GenericBob” Smith, Richard “Vidiian” Greene, Richard C Plemons, Rob “Lockdown” Abrazado, Rob “Slick”
Wieland, Rob Jones, Robert “That Guy” Male, Robert “Thor” Edwards, Robert and Amanda Daley, Robert Raasch,
Rodney “Zephyr” Mick, Ronald H. Miller, Ronnie Kieklak, Rourke “Safe” Bywater, Ryan “The Curmudgeon”
Faricelli, Ryan “Whipstache” Hennesy, Ryan Kent, Ryan Macy, “Sharkstooth”, “Slick” Rick Hull, Sal, Sam “Human
Tractor” Piaggio, Sam “Rocketman” Smith, Sarah “Jester” Jensen, Sarah “Sugar” McLaughlin, saul asoyuf, SB,
Scott Baker, Scott Crosson, Scott Maynard, Sean “Thinker” Holland, Sean “Bean” Lipscomb, Sean “Matchstick”
Donnelly, Sean Leventhal, Sean Moulson, Serge “Mr. Silver” Beaumont, Seth Surber, Shevy “Adelle” Underwood,
Silvio Herrera Gea, Smiley, Spencer Graham, Spyros Veronikis, Stephan Szabo, Stephanie Bryant, Stephen “Bones”
Grote, Stephen “Chuckles” Meeker, Stephen “Mastermind” Photianos, Stephen “the confessor” Sale, Stephen
“The Godfather” Kenson, Stephen “Deadeye” Sargeant, Steve Arensberg, Steve Lord, Steven D Warble, Steven
Vest, Stewart Burwood, Susan Z, Svend Andersen, Sydney “Stardust” Lambert, “The Big Trench Coat Man” G,
“The Mancini Maulers”, “Twinkle Fingers” Orko, Teresa S. “Pyre” Jones, That Damn Mouse, The Dahgda, The Q!,
The Rangdo of Arg, thelibrarycat, Thomas “The Doc” Lacey, Thomas Faßnacht, Thomas Franz, Thomas Shey,
Tiffany Korta, Tim “Pirate” Gonzalez, Tim “Scorch” Eagon, Tim “The Enchanter” Snider, Timolution, Tobie “The
Tech” Hurst, Todd Trausch, Tom “Reynolds” Cross, Tom Gambino, Tom Ladegard, Tomi “Dogboy” Sarkkinen,
Tommy “Goldsmith” Gilder, Tommy “Gun” King, Tommy “Devildog” Herp, Tommy “Gunn” Huber, Trevor “Fang”
Ramirez, Trevor Kettelkamp, Trip Space-Parasite, Troy Pichelman, Uwe “Big Bear” Schumacher, Vicki Dixon, Vince
“Digiconda” Arebalo, Vinny “Iceman” Dorito, Walt Ciechanowski, Wendy “Argentum” and Rob “Maestro” Perkins,
Wil Cox, Will “Sleepy” Scott, Zach Rademan, Zachary Rees, Zealeus

4
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLAYER SECTION

Chapter 1: The Game���������������������������������������������������������������������6

Chapter 2: Character Creation ������������������������������������������������������13
Chapter 3: Rule System �����������������������������������������������������������������22
Chapter 4: Perks ��������������������������������������������������������������������������41
Chapter 5: Powers �����������������������������������������������������������������������42
Chapter 6: Goods & Services ��������������������������������������������������������62
Chapter 7: Trembium ��������������������������������������������������������������������64

GM SECTION

Chapter 8: GM Guidelines������������������������������������������������������������71
Chapter 9: Backdrops ������������������������������������������������������������������84
Chapter 10: Law Enforcement �����������������������������������������������������122
Chapter 11: Friends & Enemies ���������������������������������������������������126
Chapter 12: GM Toolbox ������������������������������������������������������������137

REFERENCE SECTION

Appendices ������������������������������������������������������������������������������153

5
 THE GAME
CAPERS is an action/adventure tabletop role-playing
game (RPG) set in the 1920s Prohibition era in the
United States.
Players portray powerful people – called Capers
by the general populace – who have been gifted with
superhuman powers that defy the laws of science.
Players can also portray exceptional people who don’t
have special powers.
In the game, you play a gangster working to make
their fortune in the vice-riddled 1920s. Alternatively,
you can portray a member of law enforcement working
to bring criminals to justice.
PLAYING THE GAME
In CAPERS, you and your friends tell a story set in
a fictional world, which exists in your imaginations.
Most people playing the game are players. Each player
portrays a single character and decides what that
character says and does. A character sheet describes
the character’s capabilities as they work according to
the game’s rules.
One person playing the game is called the Game
Master (GM). With few exceptions, the GM controls
everyone and everything that isn’t a player’s character.
The GM describes other characters, objects, and
events in the game in such a way that the players can
then choose how to interact with the imaginary world
through their characters. Sometimes the GM asks
the players to help fill in details about the world
during play.
When the game starts, the GM sets the scene,
describing what the characters sense and know.
The GM also creates a challenge for the characters
to overcome. This challenge could be a stand-alone
problem or it might be part of a series of tasks that
tell a larger story.
Challenges a character might have to overcome
include the following:
❖ Raiding a liquor warehouse
❖ Gunning down a rival and their goons
❖ Building their reputation
❖ Negotiating a deal
❖ Infiltrating a rival’s home or facility
❖ Blackmailing an informant
❖ Recruiting workers to build their empire
6
You react to a challenge by describing what your
character says and does. Other players do the same.
Sometimes, you refer to your character sheet and flip
some playing cards to determine if your character
succeeds. Tasks that might require card flips include
the following:
❖ Attacking someone
❖ Picking a lock
❖ Repairing a car
❖ Convincing a stranger to do something
❖ Searching for evidence to blackmail someone
❖ Covering up a crime scene
❖ Breaking down a door
What you and other players decide to have your
characters do, along with card flips, determines
whether you succeed or fail. The GM narrates the
outcome of the situation. Then the group moves on
to the next challenge.
It’s important to note that CAPERS is a cooperative
game. Players might portray characters who are vastly
different from one another and who have competing
motivations, but in the end, they’re on the same team.
They watch each other’s back.
The game has no set end. You can play one game
that tells a whole story in a few hours. Such games
usually have well-defined and short-term goals,
providing everyone with a sense of closure and
satisfaction at the conclusion. This kind of game is
often called a one-shot.
You can also play a series of games that make up a
longer story. These longer games are called campaigns.
In a campaign, the story can be more complex, with a
series of arcs that lead to a grand finale.
CAPERS is a game of action, adventure, virtue,
and vice in a world coming into its own. It’s a
world of booze, gambling, prostitution, theft, fraud,
racketeering, subterfuge, and espionage. Your
character will risk their life to find their place in this
world, regardless of which side of the law they fall on.

Summary of Game Mechanics
Players use a deck of standard, poker-style playing
cards (52 suit cards plus 2 jokers) to determine if they
succeed or fail at tasks. The GM uses their own deck.
Your character has six Traits – Charisma, Agility,
Perception, Expertise, Resilience, and Strength.
Each Trait is ranked 1-3 (higher if you have the right
Powers). Your character also has a few Skills, things
they’re particularly specialized in, like Deception,
Guns, or Sciences.
When you make a Trait Check, look at the Trait’s
rank. That is your Card Count. If you have a Skill
appropriate to the Trait Check, your Card Count
increases by 1. Situational factors might also influence
your Card Count.
To make your Trait Check, you flip cards. You can
flip as many cards as your Card Count but can stop at
any time and take the most recent card flipped as your
check. The pip count of the cards flipped (2, 3, 4, etc.
on up to ace high) determines success or failure of
your check. The suit of the card flipped determines the
degree of success or failure, starting at clubs (lowest)
and proceeding alphabetically to spades (highest).
For example, your character wants to shoot their
pistol. This is an Agility/Guns check. Your character’s
Agility is 2 and they have the Guns Skill, so their card
count is 3. You can flip up to three cards. Your first card
is the king of clubs, almost certainly a success but just
barely a success as clubs is the lowest suit for degree
of success. You can stick with that card or flip another
one and hope to get a success with a higher degree of
success. Or you might fail. There’s more to it, but that
covers the basics.
You also have access to a resource called Moxie,
which allows you to do a number of things, including
gaining an extra card to flip when you attempt an action.
Interview between D.O.J. Agent Vanessa
Elliott and Joe Spade, witness to the May 20th
shootout at the Hawthorne Hotel. Interview
conducted 9:40 p.m. on the evening of
the shootout.
Agent Vanessa Elliott: Name and occupation?
Witness Joe Spade: Joseph Spade, butcher.
Agent: And why were you at the Hawthorne
Hotel? Kind of a pricey place for a butcher.
Witness: My kid brother’s youngest is graduating
high school. I came to Cicero for it. My folks
put me up at the Hawthorne. Snazzy joint.
Chapter 1 – The Game
IT’S ALL A GAMBLE
Characters in CAPERS may find themselves
gambling – playing poker, craps, or blackjack
– as part of the story. If you’re playing a
gangster, your character is gambling with their
life by being a criminal. If you’re playing a law
enforcement officer, your character is gambling
with their life just doing their job.
The game embraces the idea of gambling with
success by using a playing card game mechanic
that allows you to gamble lesser success for a
chance at greater success…or potential failure.
Additionally, the game mechanic encourages
“counting cards,” that is, keeping track of what
cards are left in your deck…or at least having
a sense of what’s available. Knowing that
you have a lot of kings and aces in the deck
might lead you to take some risks with your
character. And that’s part of the fun.
Themes
While CAPERS is primarily an action and adventure
game, it’s certainly possible to inject deeper themes
into the story, should you wish.
Characters have virtues and vices that can put them
at odds with each other and even create internal conflict.
You can inject love interests, rivalries, families, betrayals,
and all manner of other subplots outside of the main arc.
Many gangsters in the 1920s were well-known for
doing good in their communities. They had their own
codes of honor and breaking these codes often had
dire consequences.
Law enforcement officers of the era are fighting
a losing battle. Crime and corruption are so rampant
that little can really be done to stem the tide of alcohol.
But it’s not about winning the war. For these folks, it’s
about fighting the battles.
What You Need to Play
Each player, besides the GM, needs a character,
described on a character sheet, along with a pencil or
pen. Every player, including the GM, needs a deck of
poker-style playing cards (52 suit cards plus 2 jokers).
Everyone also needs access to the rules.
The GM needs an adventure, which is a scenario
the players experience through their characters’ points
of view with the GM as a guide. Playing through an
adventure allows the group to create a story together.
Such adventures might be published, written by the GM
before the game, or improvised during play.
7
Chapter 1 – The Game
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CONTENT
CAPERS can be played in a “comic book
style,” that is, treating it as a PG-rated action/
adventure story. Descriptions of violence might
remain light and campy. No deep personal
issues will likely come into play.
But you and your friends might want to ramp
up the violence, describing it in more detail.
You might choose to touch on difficult, mature
subjects. If you do this, it’s a good idea to
have a way for players (including the GM) to
indicate they don’t want to explore that subject
in a game where they’re trying to have fun.
There are a variety of ways to address this, but
one of the most common is the X-card. Place
an index card with a big “X” drawn on it in the
middle of the table. At any time, if a player
feels the game is moving into territory they’re
uncomfortable with, they can pick up the X-card.
At that point, play pauses. Everyone ends
discussion of the problematic content. Hard
stop. Avoid the content. No questions asked.
There’s more to be said about this method (as
well as other methods of doing the same thing)
and all of that can be found easily online.
WHY ARE CAPERS CALLED CAPERS?
No one knows for certain who was the first person with
extraordinary abilities, the first “Caper.” It’s possible that
Capers have been around for ages. There is evidence
of people capable of extraordinary things throughout
recorded history. If any of those people were gifted with
wondrous capabilities, there is no record.
The following IS known. In 1912, a thief broke
into the First National Bank of Omaha, Nebraska in
the depths of night. This thief stole over two hundred
thousand dollars single-handedly.
Investigators discovered that the safe had been
wrenched open, its locking mechanisms bent and
broken. When police caught up to the thief, they
cornered him in an alley between two five-story
buildings. He was wearing tight-fitting clothes, a mask,
and a cape. The thief scurried up the sheer brick walls
as if he were a spider.
After a prolonged pursuit, authorities finally
apprehended the thief, a young man named Artie
Reisner. It took six officers to wrestle Artie to the
ground. Three of them suffered broken bones in
the process.
8
Mabel Smythe, a reporter from the New York Times,
caught wind of the unbelievable story and interviewed
Artie in jail in Omaha. Smythe recounted the entire tale
in a story with the headline, “Daring Caper in Omaha.”
Given Artie’s attire, the public latched onto the term
“Caper,” but not in the way Mabel intended.
Now, years later, people refer to those with
spectacular capabilities as Capers.
AFTER THE GREAT WAR
In the 1920s, the world is recovering from World
War I (then known as “The Great War”). This conflict
took a toll on populations, resources, industries,
and economies as never seen before. Empires fell.
Democracies were born. Cultural norms shifted. The
world recovered.
The people of the United States left the war behind
feeling disillusioned that the conflict had not achieved
the high ideals promised by President Woodrow
Wilson. The U.S. set about rebuilding itself and helping
rebuild Europe.
The years following the Great War saw the
rise of cinema and the creation of Hollywood, the
proliferation of automobiles due to the efforts of Henry
Ford and other entrepreneurs, new opportunities for –
and rebellion of – women, and significant development
in medicine, science, and the arts.
It also heralded the taming of the beast known
as alcohol.
THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM
The historical events and actions that led to Prohibition
in the United States are many and complicated. In a
nutshell, here’s what happened.
Alcohol had been viewed as a problem by a variety
of political, health, and religious activists for many
years. Drunkenness was seen as the source of domestic
violence, religious immorality, and saloon-based
political corruption.
For many years, organizations such as the Women’s
Temperance Union and Anti-Saloon League petitioned
communities and won support in making many townships
and counties “dry” by prohibiting production and sale
of alcoholic beverages.
In time, these movements gained enough traction
to address the problem of alcoholism on a national
level. In December of 1917, the U.S. Senate proposed
the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. It passed into law on January 16, 1919.
One year later, its restrictions went into effect. On
January 17, 1920, the entire United States was, at least
by legal standards, “dry.”
The Volstead Act (the common name for the
National Prohibition Act) was passed to enact and
enforce the strictures laid out in the Eighteenth
Amendment. The production, importation,

transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages became
illegal and actionable by law enforcement.
There are some who would say criminal organizations
across the country began getting very rich the day after
the Volstead Act passed.
THE ROARING TWENTIES
The 1920s in the United States – and in Canada and
much of Western Europe – is known as the “Roaring
Twenties,” due to it being a period of sustained
economic growth and distinctive cultural changes.
Women gained the vote in the U.S. and defied
cultural norms with the “flapper” look. New artistic
styles were explored. Art deco was at its peak.
Jazz music took the country by storm. The idea of
“modernity” took hold in the public consciousness as
traditions were eschewed.
A period of relative normalcy fell over politics after
the decidedly hyper-patriotic stances of politicians
during the war era. The general population focused
on the advancements of the era, societal changes,
economic wellbeing, and a re-investment in the idea of
the American Dream.
All of this makes for a highly romanticized look
back at the era. While all was not rainbows and roses
during the ‘20s, CAPERS embraces this romantic ideal,
centering on the larger-than-life gangsters and federal
agents who opposed them that are integral to the time.
Chapter 1 – The Game
The game is one where great wealth and prosperity
are attainable by breaking the law and where true
nobility comes in upholding that law. A night at the
cinema could turn into a bloodbath. A parlay with a
rival could result in a booming business – or complete
destitution. It’s high fashion riddled with blood stains.
It’s a hit brokered at a speakeasy. It’s the wind in your
character’s hair as they speed their roadster out of
town while chased by a man running faster than their
car and firing bolts of electricity from his fingertips.
Prohibition Personalities
Some of the names associated with Prohibition are well
known. Al Capone. “Lucky” Luciano. Eliot Ness. These
and other remarkable, larger-than-life characters are
part of the CAPERS world.
That said, most of the gangsters in the real world
1920s were of Italian or Irish descent and almost
all were male. The world of CAPERS is an alternate
version of our own where more varied types of people
can be found in these professions. Charles “Lucky”
Luciano has been reimagined as Carla “Lucky” Luciano,
right-hand-woman to New York boss Arnold Rothstein.
Al Capone’s mentor(ess) is now Giada Torrio, rather
than Joe. Additionally, a wider variety of races,
ethnicities, and ages are presented in the game.
9
Chapter 1 – The Game

What Year is It? Electric irons, washing machines, vacuum

cleaners, electric toasters, refrigerators, and garbage
Put simply, CAPERS is set in the 1920s. It’s not set in
disposals bring changes to the modern home.
a specific year. The world of CAPERS incorporates
Drive-in restaurants provide a convenient
everything that is the 1920s. The fictional versions of
alternative to sit-down dining for an increasingly
notable historical figures are all doing their thing. Any
mobile populace.
gun, car, or other bit of technology that was available at
Other new inventions include sunglasses, self-
any point during the real world 1920s is available in the
winding wristwatches, instant cameras, the jukebox,
game world.
and frozen foods.
This is done to reduce the “history lesson headache”
Steel has become an affordable construction
for players and GMs alike. Additionally, it allows
material, leading to the age of the skyscraper. New
everything that’s interesting and fun about the era to
York and Chicago compete for the honor of having the
exist simultaneously.
world’s tallest buildings.
Electric lighting is prevalent, even in middle class
homes, though gas lighting still exists in some older
buildings. The telephone is over fifty years old.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD?

The world of CAPERS is one of super-powered ENTERTAINMENT

people in the 1920s. This game focuses on The shortened work week allows people to engage in
Prohibition, including hotbeds of illegal entertainments that they simply wouldn’t have had time
activity, gangsters, feds, and so on. for previously.
Could this game be ported into other parts of Stage productions become popular, particularly
the world and what’s going on there? Absolutely! in large cities. Broadway is born in New York with the
If you’re a history buff – or like to do research – construction of several new theaters.
it’s easy enough to just grab the rules here and Cinema gains popularity, with stars like Rudolph
create your own setting, giving Capers things to Valentino, Greta Garbo, and Charlie Chaplin drawing
do in that part of the world during the 1920s. patrons to luxurious “movie palaces.” Over 75% of
people attend at least one movie per week. Most films
are silent, with a recorded score underlying the action
on screen, but sound has begun to show up in select
movie palaces outfitted for it.
A CONSUMER SOCIETY Sporting events become destinations for those
wanting to get out of the house. Baseball is ruled by
With the industrial revolution well underway, the
George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Jack Dempsey reigns
United States shifts from a production society to a
over the boxing ring. Jim Thorpe amazes onlookers on
consumer society. The average work week drops from
the football field. Golf, swimming, and tennis are also
60 hours to about 45 hours, opening up Saturday and
popular, particularly among the elite.
Sunday as days off of work for the first time.
The moving assembly line and automation in a
variety of fields allows factories to pump out consumer
goods at a rate never before seen. With their new-found
free time, Americans start spending money on non-
essential items. Shopping becomes a favored pastime
and the introduction of the Sears-Roebuck catalog
allows people to purchase items through the mail.
The airplane is still too expensive for all but the
richest to utilize for personal flights, but air-mail is
born. Businesses use airplanes to ship products to
areas where trains don’t go.

INVENTIONS
A plethora of inventions change the way people live their
daily lives. With Henry Ford’s moving assembly line,
the Model T becomes affordable. Traffic signals keep
people safe at intersections. Radio comes into wide use,
connecting people and spreading news across many miles.

10
 Chapter 1 – The Game

ART AND MUSIC

In art, the surrealists challenge viewers with
the irrational juxtaposition of images and highly
interpretive presentation. The bold lines and geometric
shapes of art deco dominate cutting edge architecture
and even make their way into painting, sculpture, and
advertisements.
Harlem grows as a cultural center, ushering in a
renaissance with writers like Langston Hughes and
Jean Toomer. F. Scott Fitzgerald publishes The Great
Gatsby and Earnest Hemingway writes The Sun Also
Rises and A Farewell to Arms.
Duke Ellington and Al Jolson draw crowds into
jazz halls as America’s first musical art form comes into
its own.

HEALTH
Gone are most – but not all – of the plagues of the past.
Recent scientific work has resulted in immunizations
for diphtheria and scarlet fever, leaving measles as the
most dangerous childhood disease. Use of vaccination
against a variety of diseases is on the rise but not yet
common. Penicillin has been developed and insulin
provides diabetics with promises of longer life.
Influenza still rages through population centers
from time to time and diseases like polio, tuberculosis,
and smallpox are still present.
Researchers have recently discovered the In addition to outlawing alcohol, the Volstead Act
existence of vitamins, leading to better understanding results in increased production of soft drinks. Hotels
of the body’s building blocks. and restaurants obeying the law replace bars with soda
Easier access to and refrigeration of fresh fruits fountains offering a wide variety of flavors. Vineyards
and vegetables leads to an upswing in general health. manufacture grape juice.
Speakeasies and private clubs become the liquor
FOOD AND DRINK establishments of the day. In most areas, their locations
are kept hidden from public view. In hotbeds of illegal
Foods of the era are as abundant and varied as later
alcohol distribution like Chicago, New York, and
times – except amongst the poor – given the ease of
Atlantic City, they’re relatively easy to find.
transportation and refrigeration. Potatoes and bread
Prices range from a few cents to over a dollar per
are still the staples of many meals, but now surrounded
drink, based on quality and rarity. Imports from Ireland,
by a wider variety of vegetables and meats.
England, France, Spain, Italy, Cuba, and Puerto Rico
Recipes which called for small amounts of beer,
are prized as top shelf drinks. Small local breweries
wine, or liquor as ingredients are reinvented with grape
and distilleries operate in private. Some produce
juice as well as cooking sherry and rum extracts, which
excellent product, but most offer a drink only slightly
aren’t illegal.
better than “bathtub gin” as the owners try to make as
“Exotic” international food comes into
much money for as little effort as possible.
popularity. Italian restaurants flourish as do Chinese
establishments.
With the economic boom, there is a surge in high-
end restaurants serving fine cuisine in ostentatious
dining halls. Multi-course meals taking up to two
hours to eat are common among those who can afford
the extravagance.
At the same time, the poor and underprivileged find
themselves begging for scraps and lesser food sources
simply to survive.

11
Chapter 1 – The Game
CAPERS IN 1920s SOCIETY
People with super-powered abilities are new to the
world and many regular folk aren’t sure how to feel
about them. As the world re-imagines itself in the
wake of the Great War, Capers find themselves filling a
variety of roles.
Society’s Views
Public perception of Capers varies widely. Some
view them with simple curiosity. Others are secretly
or overtly fearful of them. Many simply ignore their
existence until it impacts them directly.
Often, public opinion of those with special abilities
fluctuates with news of their activities. A report of a
Caper attacking police or robbing a bank results in
public outcry. When news of a Caper saving someone’s
life surfaces, people cheer.
In the press, stories about Capers are like tabloid
stories of today. They’re sensational tales told to
tantalize and excite the imagination. They often
misrepresent the events and people involved in favor
of generating sales.
Institutions
The federal government has acknowledged the
existence of Capers and takes a very specific view of
them. The Department of Justice has recently enacted
a Registry of Abnormal Persons and has begun tracking
locations and activities of Capers. Inclusion in the
Registry is entirely voluntary, resulting in many Capers
still flying under the government’s radar.
Local law enforcement is generally wary of super-
powered people, given their capabilities. At this level,
though, local Capers often have a more personal
relationship with the police.
Religious institutions are torn on the subject of
Capers. More stringent, less forgiving groups see
Capers as abominations or the work of the devil.
More liberal organizations view them in the same
light they apply to anyone else; it’s all about what’s in
their hearts. A given Caper might encounter religious
intolerance if they perform their super-powered feats in
view of particularly religious folks.
Some hospitals and doctors refuse to treat those
with abilities, concerned that their differing physiology
might endanger the practitioner’s ability to treat them
properly, which can result in lawsuits and the loss of
one’s medical license. Most doctors, however, follow
the Hippocratic Oath. These doctors have discovered
that Caper physiology is no different than that of a
normal human, at least in terms of medical procedures.
The military actively recruits Capers to serve,
though candidates are put through rigorous mental and
emotional testing to ensure they’re not dangerous. That
said, the military is going out of its way to not promote
12
people with abilities beyond the lower ranks, over fear
of such people having too much power.
The media absolutely loves Capers. Articles,
interviews, and news reports about Capers and their
exploits make their way into most publications and
radio. Particularly flashy stories drive sales to new
heights all the time. Film footage of Capers performing
superhuman feats make their way into news reels
before movies.
Employment
While some Capers prefer to remain anonymous
and work regular-Joe jobs, newfound capabilities
often propel a person into dangerous, exciting, and
glamorous fields.
Beyond the Capers found in organized crime and
law enforcement that lie at the core of this game,
people with superhuman abilities can be found in a
variety of jobs. Many with flashy abilities find work
as performers at entertainment halls, circuses, and
carnivals. Those with superior physical ability join
the military, become professional athletes, and work
jobs which require great strength and endurance like
mining, logging, and construction. Some few – actors,
dancers, speakers – have found life in the public
spotlight to suit them.
And of course, there are people with powers
working in everyday jobs. You might encounter a
car mechanic who can stretch their arms to work on
two parts of a vehicle at once. You may run into an
incredibly fast typist or a foundry worker who lifts
enormous pieces of equipment on their own. A stage
magician might actually be able to disappear.
SUPERHERO VS. SUPER-POWERED
A MATTER OF SCALE
CAPERS is not a superhero game in the sense
of real-world comic books and the movies
based on them. Characters generally don’t
wear capes or masks. They don’t become all-
powerful, godlike beings. Their powers don’t
threaten to tear down countries or destroy
the world.
But the characters do affect the lives of those
around them, friend and foe alike, as well as
the city where they live. Their actions have
consequences, just not on a global scale. At its
core, CAPERS is a game about gangsters and
cops who happen to have superpowers.
 CHARACTER CREATION
The most important part of a game like CAPERS is
the characters, as portrayed by the players. Whether
they’re members of law enforcement upholding
the Volstead Act or ne’er-do-wells looking to take
advantage of it, the characters drive the story.
TYPES OF CHARACTERS
There are three types of characters in CAPERS.
Regulars
The bulk of the people in the world are Regulars. These
are your average, run-of-the-mill folk. While there are
certainly talented people among their number, they are
limited by what the human body, mind, and spirit have
been capable of throughout the ages.
Exceptionals
Secondly, there are Exceptionals. These people are
special in some way. They are tougher and more skilled
than Regulars, possessing special talents called Perks
and a sort of inherent importance granted them by the
cosmos for no particular reason.
Capers
Finally, there are Capers, who possess one or more
unique characteristics that stretch beyond the normal
realm of man.
You can play a Caper or an Exceptional. The
character creation rules account for both options.
Exceptionals typically have a broader base of good
general capabilities along with special Perks. Capers
have a narrower base of general capabilities augmented
by fantastic Powers.
The rules below will guide you through creating
a character from start to finish. If you’re playing an
Exceptional, use the Perks but not Powers. If you’re
playing a Caper, use the Powers but not Perks.
CHARCTERS IN THE FICTIONAL 1920S
The 1920s United States of CAPERS is not
exactly like the real 1920s United States. This
game romanticizes the world of the gangsters
and bootleggers. Young and middle-aged white
men don’t make up the bulk of the movers and
shakers in the game world.
Your character can be of any sex, gender, race,
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and so
forth that you wish. These differences do not
impact the world of CAPERS…unless you and
your friends want them to.
Similarly, your character can be differently
abled, confined to a wheelchair, or can suffer
from any of a variety of physical, mental, and
social ailments or disorders. It’s up to you how
you want to incorporate such things into your
games. The game as presented does not impose
any penalties on you for these choices. These
things are left up to you.
Criminals vs. Law Enforcement
Generally speaking, there are two ways you can
play CAPERS. The players might portray a group of
criminals looking to make their fortune or they may
play a group of law enforcement officials.
Criminal characters might be enforcers, cleaners,
bruisers, drivers, or sharpshooters. They might be
leaders, burglars, business owners, or old-school
gangsters. Regardless, they need a reason to work
together. It’s up to the group to determine what these
reasons might be, with the help of the GM.
As for law enforcement, players might portray
Department of Justice agents, D.O.J. support staff,
county sheriffs, local cops, or constables. These
characters might be independent bounty hunters,
private investigators, or “operatives” for the Registry
of Abnormal Persons. Their primary reason to work
together is enforcement of the Volstead Act, but there
might be additional reasons.
13
Chapter 2 – Character Creation

MAKING YOUR CHARACTER Example Law Enforcement Concepts

Before you play CAPERS, you need to create a ❖❖ Agent
character. This chapter takes you through that process, ❖❖ Bounty Hunter
step by step. ❖❖ Cop
You can always come back to different parts of the
❖❖ D.O.J. Operative
character creation process as you develop ideas for
your character. ❖❖ Lead Agent
❖❖ Private Investigator
Concept ❖❖ Sheriff or Deputy
First, come up with a concept. This is the general type ❖❖ Support Staff
of character you’re going to play. It’s just a starting
point. You’ll flesh out details as we go.
1. Name
Example Criminal Concepts Choose a name for your character. Give them a
nickname based on some aspect of their personality,
❖❖ Advisor
their physical appearance, or one of their
❖❖ Bruiser extraordinary capabilities.
❖❖ Burglar
❖❖ Businessperson 2. General Description
❖❖ Cleaner Fill this information out on your character sheet.
❖❖ Driver Modify this information as you flesh out your character
in subsequent steps.
❖❖ Enforcer
❖❖ Gangster 3. Three Anchors
❖❖ Leader Your character's Anchors – Identity, Virtue, and Vice –
❖❖ Sharpshooter are their core personality characteristics.
Each serves as a guide for roleplaying as well as

14

providing you with opportunities to earn an important
in-game resource called Moxie.
You’ll need to make a choice for each of these
three roleplaying guides eventually. If you have a strong
idea of who your character is, fill this information in
now. As you develop your character further, you might
return to this section and make modifications.
The lists of Anchors below are just suggestions.
You can develop more with the approval of the GM.
You can choose your Anchors or determine them
randomly. To determine them randomly, draw a card
for each and refer to the appropriate list below. “R”
refers to a red card. “B” refers to a black card. If you
draw a Joker, draw again.
Identity
Your character’s Identity is who your character is at
their core. It’s a guiding principle for your roleplaying.
It’s a term that other characters might use when
describing your character’s actions and beliefs.
But it’s not everything. Your character can have
many facets to their personality. But, when in doubt
about how your character might react to a situation,
their Identity can make for a pretty good guide.
And keep in mind your character’s Identity might
change over time. Actions have consequences. If your
character experiences a trauma or a great victory or
something else that changes their viewpoint on life and
themselves, change their Identity.
Card Identity
Autocrat: You seek control of every situation
you find yourself in. Gain Moxie when you
R2
stay in control of an important situation
or encounter.
Bee’s Knees: You’re suave and know it.
R3 Gain Moxie when you impress others with
your confidence.
Bravo: You don’t tolerate weakness of body,
mind, or character, especially in yourself.
R4
Gain Moxie when you make someone
back down.
Crackerjack: You’re great at the things you do
and enjoy proving it. Gain Moxie when you
R5
succeed at something difficult without
any complications.
Crusader: You have a long-term goal. Gain
R6 Moxie when you complete a step on your
way to that goal.
Deviant: You just don’t fit in. Gain Moxie
R7 when you defy the norm with
no repercussions.
Chapter 2 – Character Creation
Examiner: You believe everything can be
explained and you seek solutions to prove
R8
this. Gain Moxie when you work out a
significant problem to a satisfying solution.
Glory Hound: You look for affirmation in all
R9 things. Gain Moxie when others praise you
for a significant deed.
Leader: You like to be in charge. Gain Moxie
R10 when everyone follows your lead and you
successfully lead the group.
Loner: While you appreciate your
compatriots, you’re more comfortable
RJ
acting on your own. Gain Moxie when you
accomplish a significant task with no help.
Manipulator: You find ways to make others
RQ do what you want. Gain Moxie when you get
everything you want out of someone else.
Martyr: You are more than willing to sacrifice
your own happiness, adulation, and life for a
RK
greater cause. Gain Moxie when you suffer
for your convictions.
Masochist: You enjoy the trouble you invite
RA into your life. Gain Moxie when trouble
arises in your life and you suffer from it.
Planner: You have a plan for any situation.
B2 Gain Moxie when your plan comes off
without a hitch.
Pushover: You are unimposing and non-
confrontational. Gain Moxie when you
B3
manage to avoid confrontation and
still succeed.
Rebel: You seek to upset the status quo
in almost everything you do.
B4 Gain Moxie when you change the status
quo or change someone’s opinion on
something controversial.
Reveler: You live for today and seek
B5 new experiences. Gain Moxie when you
experience something for the first time.
Rogue: You’re out for yourself and willing to
betray others if it furthers your agenda. Gain
B6
Moxie when you get everything you want
without any complications.
Ruffian: You prefer solving problems through
physical violence and intimidation. Gain
B7
Moxie when you deal with a situation
through violence.
Screw-Up: You are unfocused. Gain Moxie
B8
when you succeed despite your lack of focus.
15
Chapter 2 – Character Creation
Sidekick: You support one of your
compatriots in everything they do. Gain
B9
Moxie when you help your “boss” accomplish
something and boost their confidence.
Stickler: You try to be perfect in everything
you do. Gain Moxie when you make your
B10
way through a significant encounter and you
do everything right.
Teacher: You seek to educate those around
BJ you. Gain Moxie when you better someone
with thoughtful teaching.
Thrill-Seeker: You’re not happy unless you’re
BQ putting your life in danger. Gain Moxie when
you barely make it out of a perilous situation.
Trickster: You enjoy playing pranks and
fooling people. Gain Moxie when you
BK
get away with a noteworthy prank or get
someone to believe something you make up.
Villain: You are depraved and willing to
BA commit vicious acts. Gain Moxie when you
show your vicious side in full view of others.
You can gain Moxie if your character stays consistent
to their Identity.
Virtue
Your character’s Virtue is their most morally
commendable characteristic. It’s something that others
respect and look up to them for. It’s a quality they never
betray no matter the cost.
Choose a Virtue from the following list or draw
a card.
Card Virtue
Best Friend: You are best friends with one of
2 your compatriots and are willing to lay down
your life for them.
Caregiver: You go out of your way to help
3 Phobia: You are deathly afraid of something
others in need.
Commitment: You are loyal to an organization,
4 small group, or family and do whatever they
ask of you.
Compassion: You won’t unnecessarily harm
5
another in word or deed.
Dignity: You take pride in your reputation and
6 K
never sully it.
Generous: You like to share your wealth and
7
good fortune.
8 Honest: You do not lie…ever.
Loyal: Once you have given your word, you
9
never break it.
16
10 Moderate: You never over-indulge in anything.
Pacifist: You won’t knowingly take a
J
human life.
Reliable: You’re always there when the chips
Q
are down.
Respectful: You show others respect,
K regardless of whether or not they’ve
earned it.
Tolerant: You are particularly accepting of
A
people not like yourself.
You can gain Moxie if your character stays true to
their Virtue when it would be easier to ignore it to
accomplish something.
Vice
Your character’s Vice is their greatest weakness. It
regularly causes problems for them and takes a long
time to overcome, if they manage to overcome it at all.
Choose a Vice from the following list or draw a card.
Card Vice
Alcohol: You are addicted to alcohol and
2
rarely turn down a drink.
Arrogant: You simply do not back down
3
when you think you’re right.
Avarice: You are greedy and envious
4
of others.
Drugs: You are addicted to heroin, opium, or
5
another strong narcotic.
Gambling: You love rolling dice and playing
6
cards and often make risky bets.
Hysterical: You’re difficult to hold back
7
or control.
Paid Companions: You enjoy the company of
8
prostitutes or gigolos, or perhaps both.
9 fairly common (darkness, guns, the
opposite sex).
10 Reckless: You take huge risks without thinking.
J Self-Pity: You don’t think much of yourself.
Q Temper: You anger easily.
Vain: You think very highly of your
own appearance.
A Vengeful: You constantly have a score to settle.
You can gain Moxie if your character is hindered by
their Vice.
 Chapter 2 – Character Creation

5. Trait Defenses
Each Trait has an associated Trait Defense score.
This number indicates how difficult it is for others to
overcome your character’s raw ability in that Trait.
For example, if your character has a Strength of
2, their Trait Defense is 9. Another character trying to
overcome your character’s raw physical power would
need to flip a 9 or better to do so. As with Traits, higher
is always better.
Assign the defense for each Trait.

Trait Score Trait Defense

1 8
2 9
3 10
4 J
5 Q

6. Skills
Skills define things your character is particularly adept
at. They might be things your character has studied
in depth. They might be things your character has a
natural affinity for.
Select for your character a number of Skills equal
to 2 plus their Expertise score. Following is a list of
Skills available. More information on each can be found
4. Traits in the Chapter 3.
Six Traits define your character’s core capabilities. ❖❖ Acrobatics
They are:
❖❖ Athletics
❖❖ Charisma ❖❖ Business
❖❖ Agility ❖❖ Conveyances
❖❖ Perception ❖❖ Deception
❖❖ Expertise ❖❖ Diplomacy
❖❖ Resilience ❖❖ Fisticuffs
❖❖ Strength ❖❖ Guns
❖❖ Humanities
You use these Traits to have your character attempt to ❖❖ Insight
do things in the game. More information on each can be ❖❖ Mechanicals
found in Chapter 3.
Traits are rated between 1 and 3. The maximum ❖❖ Melee Weapons
for a non-Caper is 3. Capers can gain a Trait rating of 4 ❖❖ Ranged Weapons
or 5, but only by taking the appropriate Power. ❖❖ Sciences
Assign scores to your Traits as follows. Higher ❖❖ Sense
is better.
❖❖ Sleight of Hand
❖❖ One Trait with a score of 1. ❖❖ Stealth
❖❖ Four Traits with a score of 2. ❖❖ Willpower
❖❖ One Trait with a score of 3.

17
Chapter 2 – Character Creation
7. Perks, Powers, and Trem-Gear
If you’re playing a Caper, your character has access
to Powers, special capabilities that defy the laws of
science and reason. You might get some trem-gear
eventually, but you start with just Powers.
If you’re playing an Exceptional, your character
has access to Perks instead of Powers. Perks make
your character a little better than the average person
but don’t bend the laws of reality like Powers do.
Additionally, your character can take trem-gear which
mimics the abilities of Powers, but your character
doesn’t have any inherent Powers.
Capers - Powers
You have three options for starting Powers.
❖❖ Choose a Minor Power at rank 2.
❖❖ Choose two Minor Powers each at rank 1.
❖❖ Choose a Major Power at rank 1.
Refer to Chapter 5 for a full list of Powers, including
how Boosts are used.
When your character gains rank 1 in any Power,
choose three Boosts your character knows for that Power.
Each time your rank in a Power increases by 1, select one
additional Boost your character knows for that Power.
Some Powers require a Power Check in order to
target their effects. The Power Check works like a Trait
Check in that the rank of that Power determines how
many cards you can flip to use the Power. Keep that in
mind when choosing these types of Powers. If you only
take one rank, you’ll only have one card to flip.
THE COSMETICS OF POWERS
Powers are evident when used. Flashy Powers
like Cold Beam have this built in; your character
shoots ice and frost from their hands or eyes.
More internalized Powers are trickier. What does
a character with Super Agility look like when they
move? Do they have a preternatural swiftness and
coordination that unsettles onlookers? Do they
leave a slight blur behind them?
What about Body Armor? Is the character’s skin
just hard to the touch? Is it vaguely bark-like? Is it
flecked with bits of reflective crystal?
As you choose Powers – and later gain new ones
– take some time to determine what they look like
when used. Characters with Powers stand out.
18
Exceptionals – Perks and Trem-Gear
You have five options for starting with Perks and trem-gear.
❖❖ Choose two Perks.
❖❖ Choose one Perk and a piece of trem-gear that
mimics a Minor Power at rank 1.
❖❖ Choose two pieces of trem-gear that each
mimic a Minor Power at rank 1.
❖❖ Choose one piece of trem-gear that mimics a
Minor Power at rank 2.
❖❖ Choose one piece of trem-gear that mimics a
Major Power at rank 1.
Refer to Chapter 4 for complete information on Perks.
If you want any trem-gear for your character, look
through the Powers and determine which Power or
Powers you want your trem-gear to mimic. Refer to
Chapter 7 for more information on trem-gear.
When your character gains rank 1 in a piece of
trem-gear, choose three Boosts that piece of trem-gear
can use. Then choose one of those three Boosts. That
Boost is always applied to the Power’s standard effect
and doesn’t require you to reduce your Card Count to
activate it. You can’t choose a Boost that replaces the
standard effect, only one that augments the standard
effect. You must reduce your Card Count as normal to
use other Boosts.
Each time the rank in a piece of trem-gear increases
by 1, select one additional Boost the trem-gear can use.
8. Body
Your character’s Body score represents how hard it is
to hit them in physical combat.
Your character’s Body score is equal to their Agility
Defense plus any bonuses provided by Powers.
9. Mind
Your character’s Mind score represents how difficult
it is to affect their mind.
Your character’s Mind score is equal to their
Perception Defense plus any bonuses provided
by Powers.
10. Hits
Your character’s Hits score represents how hard
your character is to take down. It’s a combination of
physical toughness, sheer willpower to keep going
while hurt, and a little bit of luck. If a character’s Hits
drops to 0, they fall unconscious and might die.
Your character’s maximum Hits is equal to 4 + (2 x
their Resilience score) + (2 x their Charisma score).
 Chapter 2 – Character Creation

11. Speed 13. Gear

This score represents how far your character can You keep track of what equipment your character
move, in feet, in one round. owns. You don’t need to track everything here, but you
Your character’s Speed is 30’ plus any bonuses should at least cover your most commonly used items
from Powers. as well as valuable or rare ones.
Your character starts with $150. Purchase whatever
12. Moxie gear you want with that money.
Each character has a pool of points called Moxie.
You spend Moxie to gain advantages in game play in 14. Level
a number of ways. You’ll regain Moxie on a regular Your character starts at 1st level.
basis, meaning your Moxie pool fluctuates dramatically
during the game.
Your character’s maximum Moxie score is 5. You
start your first adventure with 3 Moxie.

1 14
Colm "Knuckles" Buckley 1 1. Concept and Name
Name Level 2. General Description
3. Three Anchors
5 DEFE DEFE DEFE DEFE DEFE DEFE

8 9 9 9 9 10
N

1
•

+
SE

SE

SE

SE

SE

SE
•

C A P E R S
6 4. Traits
1 2 2 2 2 3
4 Athletics
Fisticuffs 5. Trait Defenses
Insight
Melee Weapons
C A P E R S 6. Skills
Charisma Agility Perception Expertise Resilience Strength Skills 7. Powers OR Perks/Trem-Gear
Character
10 8 9 11 12
2
Big, burly, Irish to the core.
12 9 9 30 3 8. Body
Wears workman's clothes. Max Hits Current Hits Body Mind Speed Moxie
9. Mind
13 Weapon Damage Range
10. Hits
Description Bicycle, cigars and Fists Color --
lighter, playing cards,
Former bare-knuckles boxer. Injured battered pocket watch
Brass Kunckles Color+1 -- 11. Speed
his hands two years ago. Now works
as an enforcer for Nucky Johnson.
Gear Weapons
12. Moxie
Powers | Trem-Gear | Perks
Background 13. Gear
7
Name Concussion Beam Type Minor Rank 2
Rough and tumble. Regular
You pummel targets from a distance with a bolt of pure force.
drinker. Competitive. Has a 14. Level
soft spot for kids. Description

Mannerisms
Power Check vs. Body Anything 30' Instantaneous
Activation Target Range Duration
Anchors
You deal Suit Hits damage (force) to one target.
3
Ruffian - Gain Moxie when you deal Effect
with a situation through violence.
Damage, Jump, Push, Range
Identity
1
-

Boosts
Reliable - Gain Moxie when you
are there when the chips are down. Name Type Rank
Virtue

Description
Phobia (darkness) - Gain Moxie
when your phobia hinders you.
Vice
Activation Target Range Duration

Damage by Suit/Color Effect

♠:4 ♥:3 ♦:2 ♣:1

1
-
Black : 2 Red : 1 Boosts

19
Chapter 2 – Character Creation
CHARACTER ADVANCEMENT
Whenever your character gains a level, you gain
2 Advancement Points (AP). Spend the points on
the character advancements listed below. Major
advancements cost 2 AP. Minor advancements cost
1 AP apiece.
Major Advancements – 2 AP Each
❖❖ Increase Trait: Increase one Trait score by
one point (to a maximum of 3). Modify the
appropriate Trait Defense. Increase Body,
Mind, or Hits as appropriate. If you increase
your Expertise, gain a Skill.
❖❖ Major Power: Gain a new Major Power at rank
1 OR increase by 1 the rank of a Major Power
your character already has.
❖❖ Trem Gear: Gain or improve a piece of trem-
gear that mimics a Major Power as described
for “Major Power” above. Refer to Chapter 7.
Minor Advancements – 1 AP Each
❖❖ Skill: Gain a new Skill.
❖❖ Minor Power: Gain a rank of 1 in a Minor
Power your character doesn’t have OR increase
by 1 the rank of a Minor Power your character
already has.
❖❖ Trem Gear: Gain or improve a piece of trem-
gear that mimics a Minor Power as described
for “Minor Power” above. Refer to Chapter 7.
❖❖ Perk: Gain a Perk. You can only choose this
option if your character has no Powers.
Agent: Were you aware that the Hawthorne is
owned by Giadda Torrio?
Witness: I don’t know who that is.
Agent: What did you see this evening? Start
from the beginning.
Witness: I was in the lobby, havin’ a
carbonated. I had just walked over from my
nephew’s graduation and my dogs were killin’
me. Anyway, a couple of fellas get in a tussle in
the lobby. One of ‘em says, “you owe Capone
twenty Gs” or somethin’ like that and the other
tells this fella, “dry up!”
Agent: Dry up?
Witness: Right, you know, like shut up and go
away. Anyway, the fella askin’ about the money
gets rough. Fisticuffs were exchanged. And the
other fella pulls a knife.
20
WHAT DOES “LEVEL” MEAN?
Your character’s “level” is a handy way for the
GM to keep track of all characters’ relative
power and capability. It doesn’t inherently
mean anything about your character.
When you gain a level, nothing automatically
improves simply because that number went up.
You spend your two Advancement Points to
make actual changes to your character sheet.
Traits can’t be rated higher than 3 for non-Capers.
Capers can have Trait scores of 4 or 5 but only by
taking the appropriate Powers.
Remember to make adjustments to other scores
that are dependent on your Traits, Powers, and Perks
if necessary.
❖❖ Update Trait Defenses as necessary.
❖❖ Body = Agility Defense + Power bonuses
❖❖ Mind = Perception Defense + Power bonuses
❖❖ Hits = 4 + (2 x Resilience) + (2 x Charisma)
❖❖ If your character’s Expertise goes up, they gain
a Skill.
When your character gains rank 1 in any Power,
choose three Boosts your character knows for that
Power. Each time your rank in a Power increases by 1,
select one additional Boost your character knows for
that Power.
When your character gains rank 1 in a piece of
trem-gear, choose three Boosts that piece of trem-gear
can use. Then choose one of those three Boosts. That
Boost is always applied to the Power’s standard effect
and doesn’t require you to reduce your Card Count to
activate it. You can’t choose a Boost that replaces the
standard effect, only one that augments the standard
effect. You must reduce your Card Count as normal to
use other Boosts.
Each time the rank in a piece of trem-gear
increases by 1, select one additional Boost the trem-
gear can use.
The rate at which characters level up and gain APs
is left to the GM, but the players should be aware of the
intent. Leveling up characters every 2-3 play sessions
allows for a full campaign that lasts up to fifteen or so
sessions and is a good rate. A mini-campaign might see
characters level up at the end of every session.

AN EXCEPTIONAL GAINING
POWERS LATER
You can start the game playing an Exceptional and gain
Powers later in the campaign. To do this, simply create
an Exceptional character and progress that character
as you play.
When you and the GM decide it’s an appropriate
time for your character to develop Powers, the next
time you level up your character, you can choose
Powers when you spend your APs.
Once you gain even one rank in a Power, you can
never again choose any Perks to add to your character,
though you keep any Perks your character already has.
STARTING AT HIGHER LEVEL
The GM might have you start with a higher level
character. If this happens, create a level 1 character as
described above and then spend as many additional
APs as the GM assigns.
OTHER REWARDS
In addition to APs to spend on your character, the GM
might reward you with other things. Examples include:
❖ Specific rare or hard-to-find gear
❖ Access to restricted areas (usually in the form
of keys or special credentials)
❖ A new contact
❖ A promotion within the organization or federal
agency your character works for
❖ Private offices
❖ A club (or other operation) for your characters
to run
❖ Subordinates you can order around
❖ A car provided by the boss or government
Chapter 2 – Character Creation
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
As you play your character through multiple game
sessions, you might want to give thought to how your
character could change in non-game-mechanics terms.
Just like in real life, things that happen to your
character and things your character does may change
their outlook and personality. Relationships between
characters and NPCs may change. Your character might
have beliefs shattered (or choose to change beliefs).
Characters’ immediate and long-term goals might
change. These changes might require changes in one or
more of your character’s Anchors.
As your character advances and grows, give some
thought to the following.
❖ Has your character’s motivation changed?
❖ Has your character’s skillset or Powers
changed their role within their organization?
❖ Has your character engaged in any activities
they feel bad about? Do they want to
make amends?
❖ If your character has a code of honor or a line
they won’t cross, have they broken that code or
crossed that line? How has that affected them?
❖ Has your character come to care about
anything more than wealth or enforcing the
law? What do they do when these thing conflict
with each other?
❖ If your character has been targeted by any
NPCs, do they want revenge? Immediate
vengeance or a long, slow death?
❖ Has your character come to fear or hate
anyone or anything?
❖ On the flip side, has your character fallen in
love or developed a strong relationship with
someone? What will your character do if a
loved one is threatened?
❖ Has your character been betrayed and how do
they react to that?
❖ Has your character’s experiences made them
feel invincible or vulnerable? A combination
of both?
A little time spent examining your character’s
development can help you play your character better
and create a stronger narrative for everyone involved
in the game. Additionally, more complex characters are
often the most memorable.
21
 RULE SYSTEM
These rules are meant to help you play a CAPERS
game, but they don’t cover everything that can come
up in play. When they don’t, the GM makes a ruling by
using common sense, building consensus, and making
sure everyone is having fun. If it makes sense, you all
agree, and you’re having fun, it’s right.
Regardless of how the rules are worded, they apply
to everyone who is playing unless an exception is
made. The GM might have exceptions players don’t.
TRAITS
Each character has six Traits that define their capabilities.
Charisma is your character’s personality and force
of will. It defines how your character interacts with
others, regardless of whether they’re telling the truth or
lying. It also governs their maximum Hits.
Agility is your character’s physical dexterity.
It governs both their flexibility and hand-eye
coordination. It comes into play with ranged combat,
as well as tumbling, balancing, and sleight of hand. It
also governs their Body score.
Perception is your character’s ability to take in
everything around them. It covers sight, hearing, all
the other senses, and your character’s ability to read
others’ motives, strengths, and weaknesses. It also
governs their Mind score.
Expertise is your character’s book smarts,
intelligence, and ability to draw conclusions in a logical
manner. It covers many areas of academia. It also
governs the number of Skills they have.
Resilience is your character’s physical toughness.
It defines how your character resists physical pain
as well as mental exhaustion. It also governs their
maximum Hits.
Strength covers your character’s raw physical
power. It comes into play in melee combat and in
performing feats of strength, such as jumping, climbing,
lifting, and swimming.
Each Trait is assigned a score between 1 and 3. A
score of 1 indicates the character isn’t very capable
in that area. A score of 2 indicates the character has
a modicum of capability. A score of 3 indicates the
character is very capable.
Powers can increase a character’s Trait score to 4
or even 5.
22
SKILLS
In addition to Traits, characters have a series of Skills.
These represent things the character has spent significant
time studying or training in. They might also represent
things for which the character has an inherent affinity.
Following is a list of Skills available in CAPERS.
Acrobatics covers full body nimbleness, tumbling,
and balance.
Athletics involves physical feats of strength such as
lifting, swimming, jumping, and climbing.
Business covers all manner of business, from large
corporations down to mom and pop shops.
Conveyances covers large, moving apparatuses
such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, planes, and boats.
Deception involves selling a story, making up alibis,
and getting others to do what you want through lies.
Diplomacy involves the ability to speak eloquently,
rally others, and convey thoughts clearly, all while
being honest and forthright.
Fisticuffs includes all manner of unarmed fighting –
boxing, wrestling, and the like.
Guns covers all manner of firearms, from pistols to
Tommy guns.
Humanities covers the human sciences of art,
literature, geography, linguistics, politics, philosophy,
and religion.
Insight involves perceiving others’ intentions as
well as their strengths and weaknesses.
Mechanicals covers simple machines and small
mechanical devices like padlocks, traffic lights, and
bicycles, among others.
Melee Weapons involve use of clubs, knives,
swords, and the like.
Ranged Weapons pertains to archaic weapons you
use at a distance like bows and crossbows as well as
thrown weapons.
Sciences covers the hard sciences of mathematics,
physics, chemistry, biology, and the like.
Sense involves sight, hearing, smell, and so forth,
covering how your character perceives and reacts to
everything around them.
Sleight of Hand pertains to feats of manual
dexterity and trickery like performing magic tricks or
quickly concealing a pistol.
Stealth covers the ability to remain unseen and unheard.
Willpower involves staying focused while under
duress, in pain, or lacking sleep.

Skills are fairly broad umbrellas of related capabilities.
There’s no physics skill; that’s covered by Sciences.
There’s no wrestling skill; that falls under Fisticuffs.
There’s no gambling skill. While being a good gambler
is certainly an art unto itself, it’s more a matter of how
one gambles. Examples follow.
❖❖ Agility/Sleight of Hand: Dealing from the
bottom of the deck, palming cards, deck
manipulation, and so forth.
❖❖ Charisma/Deception: Manipulating opponents’
expectations and playing the bluff game.
❖❖ Expertise/Sciences: Simply playing the odds
smartly at a game like craps, where you can’t
really affect the dice outcome.
Each Skill can apply to a number of different Traits.
For example, Skill with guns aids a character with
the following.
❖❖ Charisma/Guns: Do stage tricks with a gun
during a performance.
❖❖ Agility/Guns: Fire the gun accurately.
❖❖ Strength/Guns: Hit someone with the butt of a
gun without damaging it.
❖❖ Expertise/Guns: Know how to take a gun apart
and put it back together.
Chapter 3 – Rule System
YOUR CARDS
Each player uses their own standard deck of poker-
style playing cards (52 suit cards plus 2 jokers) to play
CAPERS. One of the jokers must be designated as the
good joker and one designated as the bad joker. If one
of the jokers in your deck has a trademark on it, make
that the bad joker. If one joker is black and one is red,
the black one is the good joker. Alternatively, you can
write on each joker card with a marker to make it clear
which is which.
The GM has a similar deck of cards they use for all
non-player characters (NPCs).
At the beginning of the game, shuffle your deck and
place it face down in front of you. This is your draw deck.
When a rule calls for you to “flip” a card, you take
the top card of your draw deck and place it face up in a
discard pile. You then refer to the pip, suit, or color of
the card to determine specific effects.
The “pip value” of a card is the number (or jack,
queen, king, or ace) shown on the card. Twos are
lowest. Aces are highest.
Reshuffling Your Deck
You’ll shuffle your discard pile back into your deck
at the end of all significant encounters. Significant
encounters include all combat encounters as well as all
other encounters where more than two or three Trait
Checks are made by each character.
23
Chapter 3 – Rule System
The GM has final say as to when discard piles are
shuffled back in. The GM may also call for everyone to
reshuffle after a series of minor encounters or may let
you play through a larger portion of your deck before
calling for a reshuffle.
Ranking of Suits and Colors
The suit of a flipped card is important in CAPERS. The
suit is used to differentiate amount of damage, gaining
bonuses, suffering complications, and so forth. As a
general rule, suits rank in alphabetical order from clubs
(less damage, complication takes place) to diamonds to
hearts to spades (more damage, character gains a bonus).
Similarly, the color of a flipped card might
determine something important to game play. As a
general rule, black is always better than red.
TRAIT CHECKS
When you want your character to do something,
announce your intentions to everyone. Think of what
the task is in terms of what a character might do in
a movie. Narrate the attempt. Once you’ve described
your character’s intentions in narrative terms, you’ll
determine what you need to do with the rules.
If the task is fairly simple or has no real
consequences for failure, the GM will tell you what
happens when your character completes the task.
There’s no reason to slow down the game with rules for
such simple actions.
If a task is difficult or failure at the task has
consequences, the GM can call for you to make a
Trait Check.
When you make a Trait Check, look at your Traits
and select the one that is most applicable to the task
your character wants to accomplish. Make a note of
that Trait’s score. If you have a Skill that pertains to
the task you’re performing, add 1 to that Trait score.
The resulting number is the Card Count for that Trait
Check. This is the maximum number of cards you can
flip while making the Trait Check. This count can be
increased or reduced in other ways.
The GM determines the Target Score (TS) for your
check and keeps this information secret. As a game
progresses, you might pin down the TS for certain
tasks after attempting them multiple times.
Flip one card. The pip value of the card indicates
success or failure. The suit indicates degree of success
or failure.
If the pip value of the card you flipped equals or
exceeds the TS, you succeed at the task. Otherwise
you fail. If your Card Count for this check is 1, you
announce the result and the GM tells you whether you
succeed or fail.
If your Card Count is higher than 1, you have a
decision to make. You can stick with the initial card flip
or you can flip additional cards to try to attain success
24
or greater success. You can flip additional cards as long
as the total number of cards flipped does not exceed
the Card Count for the check. You can stop and accept
the current card flip at any time. If you get to the
last card you’re allowed to flip, you’re stuck with
that result.
If your Card Count is 0, you can’t attempt that check.
Target Scores range as follows, starting at 4, aces high.
Target Score Task Difficulty
4 Routine
6 Easy
8 Average
10 Challenging
Q Hard
A Incredible
These Target Scores are guidelines. The GM can set a
TS that falls between defined ones.
Sometimes the rules call for increasing a TS by +1
or +2. Once you hit 10, jack, queen, king, and ace are
the next in line. Think of the jack as 11, queen as 12,
king as 13, and ace as 14.
The GM describes the result of your Trait Check with
any necessary additional information. Alternatively, they
may have you narrate the result of your Trait Check.
Degrees of Success and Failure
The suit you flip with a Trait Check can modify the
check’s result beyond simple success or failure.
If you succeed and get spades for the suit, you gain
a Boon on your check. Your character performs the
task better. Refer to Boons, below.
If you succeed at the check and get clubs for
the suit, your character succeeds, but there’s a
Complication. See Complications, below.
If you fail at the check and get spades for the suit,
your character fails, but you gain some motivation for
your next turn. See Motivations, below.
If you fail at the check and get clubs for the suit,
your character fails at the task and suffers a Botch. See
Botches, below.
If Your Trait Check Was Successful:
Suit Degree of Success
♠ Success with a Boon
♥ Normal Success
♦ Normal Success
♣ Success with a Complication

If Your Trait Check Was Unsuccessful:
Suit Degree of Failure
♠ Failure with Motivation
♥ Normal Failure
♦ Normal Failure
♣ Botch
As a general rule, if your card is black, something happens
beyond simple success or failure. If your card is red, it’s
just a success or failure.
Boons (Success with Spades)
If you succeed on a Trait Check and get spades for
the suit, you receive an added benefit called a Boon. A
Boon makes things more difficult for the target of the
Trait Check or provides you with some sort of benefit.
You and the GM work out what effect the Boon
has. Some examples appear in the Trait Descriptions
section of this chapter. An easy standby is for the
GM to grant you advantage (see the Advantage and
Disadvantage section in this chapter) on the next Trait
Check you make related to the Trait Check during
which the Boon occurred.
Complications (Success with Clubs)
If your character hits the TS for the Trait Check but
gets clubs for the card’s suit, they are successful but
suffer a Complication. A Complication impedes the
character in a minor way or brings about unexpected
(and unintended) consequences.
A Complication never negates the success of the
Trait Check. It just provides a minor downside the
character has to deal with.
A good default Complication is for the character to
suffer disadvantage on their next Trait Check. See
the Trait descriptions below for a list of other
possible Complications.
See the Trait descriptions below for a list of other
possible Complications.
Motivations (Failure with Spades)
If you fail on a Trait Check and end up with spades as
the suit, you gain motivation to push harder on your
next turn. You gain one Moxie, but must use it on a
Trait Check or Power Check on your next turn. If you
don’t use this Moxie on your next turn, it is lost.
Botches (Failure with Clubs)
If you fail on a Trait Check and end up with clubs as the
suit for your card, you Botch. You also Botch if you flip
the bad joker.
Not only do you fail, but the GM imposes an extra
setback due to the failure. In combat, a Botch might
Chapter 3 – Rule System
mean your character falls down or drops a weapon.
If your character is sneaking around, they might be
spotted. If your character is trying to impress someone,
they might anger them instead. If your character is
using a Power, it might backfire on them.
After the effect of the Botch is resolved, you finish
your turn. Your character can finish moving if they still
have movement left (and haven’t fallen down). Your
character can still speak and perform Free Actions.
If you flipped the bad joker, your turn immediately
ends and your character can’t act until your next turn.
When you Botch, the GM awards you 1 Moxie to
mitigate your losses.
SUCCESS AND/SUCCESS BUT…
You can think of Boons and Complications
in terms of saying, “You succeed at the task”
followed by “and” or “but.”
If you get a Boon on a check, you succeed on
the check, AND something beneficial happens.
If you get a Complication on a check, you succeed
on the check, BUT something problematic occurs.
FAILURE AND/FAILURE BUT…
You can think of Botches and Motivation in
terms of saying, “You fail at the task” followed
by “and” or “but.”
If you get a Botch on a check, you fail on the
check, AND something bad happens.
If you get Motivation on a check, you fail on
the check, BUT something helpful happens.
Aces
If you flip an ace, your character succeeds at the
attempted task (obviously), and you gain a Boon for
the check. This means flipping the ace of spades gives
you two Boons for that check.
Jokers
If you flip a bad joker, you immediately end your turn
and can’t draw another card, regardless of how many
you have available. You fail at any check you were
attempting and suffer a Botch. Your character cannot
act again until your next turn.
If you flip a good joker, you succeed at the check
and gain a Boon. Additionally, you immediately take
another Trait Action.
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Chapter 3 – Rule System

DEFE

EXAMPLE TRAIT CHECK

9

N
1

SE
+

•
Mike is playing Jerry, who wants to climb the S
Athletics

2
outside of a building to get into an open top
story window. Looking at Jerry’s Traits, Mike Fisticuffs
determines that requires a Strength check. The
Insight
GM, Craig, remarks that the window is pretty
high up there and that a fall could really hurt
S Melee Weapons
(so there are consequences).
Strength Skills
Jerry’s Strength score is 2 and he has the
Athletics Skill. This makes the Card Count for
the Trait Check 3.
The building exterior is brick with some Probably
handholds, but a tough climb. Craig sets the TS not high
for this Trait Check at 10. Mike doesn’t know this. enough.
Mike flips a card from his deck and gets the
8 of hearts. While the hearts suit provides for
a pretty solid degree of success, Mike doesn’t
think 8 is high enough to hit the TS, and he’s
right. If Mike chose to stop here, his character
would fail to climb the wall. Close,
but no cigar.
Mike flips another card and gets the king of
Comes with
clubs. Mike’s pretty sure a king succeeds,
complications.
but the clubs suit provides for just minimal
success. Mike could stop now. Jerry would
successfully climb the wall, but he’d suffer a
complication (like being spotted).
Mike chooses to take a chance and flips the
last card he has available in his Card Count. Now we’re
He gets the jack of spades. Since this is the last sittin’ pretty!
card he can flip, Craig announces that Jerry is
successful at climbing the wall and the spades
suit mean he gains a Boon. Craig decides Jerry
climbs at full speed instead of half speed and
has no chance of being spotted.

Traits and Skills
Even though a Skill can be paired with most any Trait
for a Trait Check, certain Trait and Skill combinations
are of particular importance in CAPERS. These are
described as “Trait/Skill” when necessary. For example,
shooting a gun is referred to as an “Agility/Guns” Check.
Trying Again
If you fail a Trait Check, you make no progress toward
performing the task you attempted. The GM determines
if you can try again and whether the failure has
any consequences.
If you’re trying to pick a lock with a TS 10 and
you flip an 8 or 9, the GM might decide you’re making
progress but haven’t quite completed the task yet. It’ll
just take more time. On the other hand, if you fail the
check by a lot, the GM might decide you simply aren’t
skilled enough with that type of lock. If you fail and get
clubs for the suit, you suffer a Botch, and the GM might
decide you break one of your picks off in the lock,
preventing further attempts entirely.

26

Advantage and Disadvantage
The circumstances your character is in might make a
Trait Check easier or harder, granting you advantage
or disadvantage respectively. Conditions in which you
have advantage might include attacking from higher
ground, teaming up on one foe, sneaking around at
night while wearing all black, aiming for a round
before firing, or trying to persuade a person who likes
you. Situations in which you have disadvantage could
involve attacking a foe who is hard to see, using the
wrong tool for the job, being distracted, looking for
something in dim light, or trying to persuade someone
who dislikes you.
If you have an advantage on a Trait Check, the
Card Count for that check increases by 1. Having a
disadvantage on a Trait Check means the Card Count
for that check decreases by 1. If this reduces your Card
Count to 0, you can’t attempt the check.
Even if you have multiple circumstances that grant
you advantage, you only increase the Card Count by 1.
Similarly, if you have multiple disadvantages, you only
decrease the Card Count by 1. However, if you have
any advantage while also having any disadvantage,
they cancel each other. In that case, you make the Trait
Check normally.
“Cinematic” Advantage
Sometimes your character performs an action that
doesn’t necessarily seem like it should gain advantage
but simply looks cool in the mind’s eye.
GMs are encouraged to give characters advantage
on a Trait Check when the character does something
cinematic like swinging from a chandelier or crawling
across the top of a speeding car. A good rule of thumb
is to grant advantage to a character each time he tries
something like this for the first time or if he tries it at a
particularly important moment in the story.
Getting Help
Other characters can help you with performing a task.
How many characters can reasonably help is left up
to the GM, though the maximum is three. Some Trait
Checks must be performed by you alone.
Each character helping must have the appropriate
Skill for you to gain a bonus from them. For each
character helping, increase the pip value of your card
flips by 1. If this puts your card flip at an ace, and you
still haven’t accounted for one or more helpers, you
automatically get a Boon on the check, just like any
time you get an ace.
Chapter 3 – Rule System
Reaction Checks
When taking actions on your turn, your character is
putting forth significant effort in the task. They’re
focused and putting a bit of time into the attempt.
Sometimes, the GM will determine that your character
must simply react to something without any preparation.
This is called a Reaction Check and it’s a Free Action.
When you need to make a Reaction Check,
the GM will tell you which Trait and Skill to apply.
Flip one card and one card only. Add your score in
the appropriate Trait to the pip value of the flipped
card. Add a +1 if you have the applicable Skill. If this
adjustment puts your total above an ace, note it as “ace
plus one,” “ace plus two,” and so on. Report the result
to the GM who will tell you if you succeed.
The most common types of Reaction Checks are
initiative checks and checks to quickly avoid damage.
Group Trait Checks
Sometimes all of the characters engage in the same
action at the same time in the same place. The entire
group can suffer from the failure of one character, and
that’s no fun. To alleviate this, the GM can call for a
group Trait Check.
When this happens, every player makes the Trait
check called for. If half or more of the characters are
successful, the whole group succeeds. If less than half
succeed, the entire group fails.
For example, five characters are attempting to
sneak through the woods and approach a rival’s secret
liquor warehouse. The GM calls for every player to
make an Agility/Stealth check. Once all the cards
are flipped, it’s revealed that three of the characters
succeeded on the check. Therefore, the entire
group succeeded.
Agent: What happened then?
Witness: The fella with the knife takes a swing
at the other one. And outta nowhere there’s this
flash of light and this sort of shimmery thing
appears in front of the fella wantin’ the money
and stops the knife.
Agent: Shimmery thing?
Witness: Yeah. Like fireworks but just sittin’
in one place. It was red and yellow. The knife
push bounces off it and the fella who almost
got stabbed gets a wiggle on.
27
Chapter 3 – Rule System
STYLES OF PLAY
WHAT KIND OF GAMBLER ARE YOU?
The CAPERS rules involve a certain level of
gambling, at least some of the time. Sometimes
you fail and flip another card without thinking
much. Sometimes you get the ace of spades
and stick to that.
Some of the time, however, you’ll have to make
decisions. There are a variety of ways to approach
this. Some players are conservative and will stick
with a card as soon as they’re successful, even if
just with minimal success. Their characters can
be counted on to be useful a great deal of the
time, though sometimes minimally.
Other players will be more aggressive.
They’ll keep flipping cards until they see a big
success…or just fail. They’ll fail more often,
but their successes will be more impressive
The important thing to keep in mind is that
there’s no wrong way to play. There’s a place
for every type of player in the game.
28
MOXIE
You have a pool of points called Moxie you can use
to gain benefits in the game. Moxie represents added
effort and determination people can exert when they
really need to succeed.
Using Moxie
You can spend Moxie to gain a variety of bonuses for your
character. The following table shows all of the Moxie uses,
costs, and limits on the number of points spent for each
use in one round. Each use is described after the table.
Moxie Use Cost Limit
Increase Card Count by 1 1 1
Reduce Damage 1 --
Gain Boon 1 1
Shape the Narrative 1 1
Take Extra Trait Action 2 1
Recall a Card 1 1
Reshuffle Your Deck 1 1
Self-Sacrifice 1 1
❖❖ Increase Card Count: Increase your Card Count
by 1. You can do this at any point during a Trait
or Power Check, but you can only spend 1
Moxie on a check in this way.
❖❖ Reduce Damage: Reduce damage you just took.
Flip a card and check the card’s color. If it’s black,
you reduce the damage taken by 4. If it’s red, you
reduce the damage taken by 2. If it’s the bad joker,
you don’t reduce any damage (regardless of other
effects that affect damage reduction). If it’s the
good joker, you reduce all the damage.
❖❖ Gain Boon: Gain a Boon on a successful check
normally allowed a Boon but currently
without one.
❖❖ Shape the Narrative: Modify the GM’s description
of the scene or situation in a minor way, provided
the GM approves. For example, you might find a
needed piece of gear on site or gain unexpected
assistance from an NPC you know.
❖❖ Take Extra Trait Action: Take one extra Trait
Action on your turn.
❖❖ Recall a Card: Choose a card you flipped for your
current Trait or Power Check and use that card in
lieu of the card currently in play. You cannot recall
a card from a previous Trait or Power Check.
❖❖ Reshuffle Your Deck: Reshuffle your discard pile
into your draw deck.
❖❖ Self-Sacrifice: When a character who is adjacent
to your character takes damage, you take the
damage instead.

You can track your character’s Moxie on your character sheet
or on scrap paper, or you can use tokens like poker chips.
Gaining Moxie
The GM awards Moxie. Each time one of the following
instances occurs, the GM should award points. You
gain Moxie when:
❖❖ An encounter ends and you were involved, and
the encounter was significant enough that the
story moved forward.
❖❖ Your character demonstrates their Identity OR
they stay true to their Virtue in the face of an
easy out OR if their Vice causes them problems
during the encounter. You can only gain Moxie
for one of these instances during any given
encounter.
❖❖ Your character does something cool or
impressive.
❖❖ You were entertaining enough that all the other
players and the GM agree you deserve a prize.
❖❖ Your character Botches, and the GM assuages
your pain with minor recompense.
Chapter 3 – Rule System
TRAIT DESCRIPTIONS
The following sections describe what each Trait allows
you to do, along with Target Scores for example tasks
and possible Boons.
The Target Scores below are guidelines. The
GM might increase or decrease a TS slightly as
circumstances dictate.
Charisma
Social interaction is governed by your character’s
Charisma. It covers how they convey information
diplomatically, convince people to follow a plan, and
lead others. It’s how they inspire people. It also comes
into play when they lie, craft an alibi, or trick someone.
Finally, Charisma represents their personal force of will.
TS Example Task
Rally a group of NPCs to help you with a
8
simple task
Get simple info out of a hostile NPC
Pass off a simple lie
10 Get complex info out of a hostile NPC
Convince a few NPCs to end hostilities
Pass off a major lie
Rally a group of NPCs to help with a
Q
difficult/risky task
Convince many NPCs to end hostilities
Get an NPC to help with a potentially
A
deadly task
Sway many hostile NPCs with a lie
Possible Boons
❖❖ Get the target to give you more information
❖❖ Get the target to tell you a secret
❖❖ Sway more people than you initially intended
❖❖ Get a hostile target to start liking you
Possible Complications
❖❖ Sway a group, but one NPC doesn’t believe you
❖❖ Get the information, but the NPC lies or is
misinformed about one thing
Possible Botches
❖❖ Anger the target
❖❖ Get caught in a lie
❖❖ Be thought a liar when telling the truth
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Chapter 3 – Rule System
Agility
This Trait covers your character’s motor skills, bodily
dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. They use it to
perform acrobatic stunts, sneak, balance, and react
quickly. It comes into play when determining initiative
in an action sequence. They use it to perform sleight of
hand and drive vehicles.
TS Example Task
8 Balance on a 1’-wide surface
Sneak past an unwary person
Squeeze through a tight space
Dodge a small, fast-moving object
10 Do a back flip
Balance on a 1”-wide surface
Escape from rope restraints
Dodge a large, fast object
Palm a coin or playing card
Hit a specific spot on a dartboard
Drive like a professional driver
Q Do a series of flips
Escape from handcuffs
Perform a complex magic trick involving
several sleight of hand feats
A Perform an Olympic-level acrobatic routine
Escape from a strait jacket
Drive like a stunt driver
Possible Boons
❖❖ Grab an object while performing acrobatics
❖❖ Slip restraints onto someone while escaping
from them yourself
❖❖ Drive so well that pursuers are put at
a disadvantage
❖❖ Deal 2 additional damage with a Guns or
Ranged Weapon attack
Possible Complications
❖❖ Balance well, but drop a held item
❖❖ Dodge an object, but fall prone in the process
❖❖ Drive well, but damage the car in a minor way
❖❖ If in combat, take Color Hits damage
Possible Botches
❖❖ Sprain a joint, decreasing your Speed for a time
❖❖ Get in a minor accident while driving
❖❖ Bump into something hard or sharp
30
Perception
Perception is how your character perceives everything
around them. It covers their sight, hearing, etc. as well
as how they discern others’ motivations, strengths,
and weaknesses.
TS Example Task
8 Discern how tough someone is
Expose a simple lie
Identify an out-of-place object in a tidy room
Determine a person’s greatest weakness
10
or strength
Determine a person’s motivations
Find a hidden object
Pick out details 50’ away
Listen in on a conversation in a noisy room
Q Expose an intricate lie
Find a well-hidden object
Identify an out-of-place object in a
messy room
Unweave a multifaceted web
A
of misinformation
Identify an out-of-place object in a large
scene of utter chaos
Possible Boons
❖❖ Gain additional insight into a person without
the target being aware of your scrutiny
❖❖ Gain advantage against a foe whose weakness
you’ve determined
❖❖ Make a connection to other known information
❖❖ Remember precisely where an object was
Possible Complications
❖❖ Notice what you were looking for, but become
momentarily distracted by something else
❖❖ Determine someone’s weakness, but hesitate to
act on it
Possible Botches
❖❖ Miss an important clue
❖❖ Believe a truth to be a lie
❖❖ Miss something important going on around you
while scrutinizing other things

Expertise
This Trait covers your character’s intelligence, memory,
and logic. They use it to recall something from their
studies or experiences, solve riddles, as well as build,
disable, and fix things. It’s important for knowing the
ins and outs of business, law, and politics.
TS Example Task
Recall something you read or saw in the
8
past month
Teach complex information to a person
Know the local laws
Develop a technical schematic of a
simple device
Make a simple repair to a mechanical
device or conveyance
10 Solve a simple riddle
Recall something you read or saw in the
past year
Build a simple mechanical device
Make a complex repair to a mechanical
device or conveyance
Recall something you read or saw in the
Q
past ten years
Teach complex information to a group
Know all the laws pertaining to your
business
Develop a technical schematic of a
complex device
Build a vehicle from the ground up
A Solve a tough riddle
Know obscure laws or business tactics
Build a complex mechanical device
Possible Boons
❖❖ Recall additional information
❖❖ Extrapolate more information based on logic
❖❖ Inspire someone you’ve taught to make a
discovery or extrapolation of their own
Possible Complications
❖❖ Remember the information, but neglect an
important piece of it
❖❖ Successfully teach someone, but make them
dislike you in the process
Possible Botches
❖❖ Fail to teach, angering your student
❖❖ Remember a completely incorrect, older
version of what you’re trying to recall
Chapter 3 – Rule System
Resilience
Your character’s ability to withstand pain and injury
is covered by Resilience. It helps them resist disease,
toxins, and poison. It’s important for resisting torture
and keeping their wits about them when under stress
or when they haven’t had enough sleep.
TS Example Task
8 Resist mental fatigue from staying up all night
Resist a simple disease like the common cold
10 Keep your wits in a frightening situation
Resist a mild poison
Resist mental fatigue from staying up three
Q
days straight
Resist torture performed by an
inexperienced torturer
Resist a strong poison
A Resist torture performed by an expert torturer
Possible Boons
❖❖ Build up a resistance to a poison or disease,
granting you advantage on future checks
to resist
❖❖ Get your second wind and continue at full
speed even when tired
Possible Complications
❖❖ Stay awake, but lose track of what you were
doing, causing a delay in your task
❖❖ Resist a poison, but weaken your immune
system, making you more susceptible to other
poisons or diseases for a short time
❖❖ If in combat, take Color Hits damage
Possible Botches
❖❖ Become weakened even more than the poison
or disease would weaken you
❖❖ Fall asleep if exhausted
❖❖ Scream in pain and pass out
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Chapter 3 – Rule System
Strength
Strength is raw physical force. It comes into play when
your character makes unarmed, melee, and thrown
weapon attacks. They use it to climb, swim, jump, and
bash things.
TS Example Task
8 Break down a light wooden door
Climb a rope or rough surface at half speed
Jump 8’ with a running start
Jump 3’ with no running start
Swim in choppy water at half speed
10 Break down a heavy wooden door
Climb a brick wall at half speed
Jump 12’ with a running start
Swim in rough water at half speed
Q Climb a wet brick wall at half speed
Jump 16’ with a running start
Jump 5’ with no running start
Swim in stormy water at half speed
A Break open a reinforced door
Jump 20’ with a running start
Possible Boons
❖❖ Knock someone down
❖❖ Push someone 10’
❖❖ Disarm someone
❖❖ Break something beyond repair
❖❖ Deal 2 additional damage with a Fisticuffs or
Melee Weapon (including thrown weapon) attack
Possible Complications
❖❖ Knock someone down, but fall on top of them
❖❖ Swim well, but inhale some water causing you
to sputter and stop progressing for a round
❖❖ Climb a wall, but do it slowly, risking being seen
❖❖ Hit someone, but damage your weapon
❖❖ If in combat, take Color Hits damage
Possible Botches
❖❖ Injure yourself
❖❖ Break something you’re holding
❖❖ Smash into something hard or sharp,
taking damage
❖❖ Fall while climbing
32
TRAIT CHECK CONSISTENCY
The Trait Check information provided on the preceding
pages provides guidelines that cover a wide variety of
situations. But they don’t cover absolutely everything
your character might attempt to do.
It’s the purview of the GM to make the call on
what a Trait Check accomplishes, but players should
always have a say. For things not explicitly covered in
the rules, find what works best for the group and stay
consistent.
CHARACTER VS. NPC TRAIT CHECKS
Sometimes your character takes actions that are
directly opposed by an NPC’s capabilities.
When this happens, you make a Trait Check against
the NPC’s Trait Defense. Treat this Trait Defense as the
Target Score for your check.
Each Trait Defense is based on its associated Trait,
starting at 8 and progressing up by 1 for each point in
the Trait.
Trait Score Trait Defense
1 8
2 9
3 10
4 J
5 Q
Conduct the Trait Check like any other using the TS
you determined here. If you meet or exceed the TS, you
succeed. Boons and Botches apply as normal.
The GM uses these same rules when having NPCs
attempt Trait Checks opposed by your character.
CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER TRAIT
CHECKS (OPPOSED CHECKS)
Sometimes your character takes an action that is
directly opposed by another player’s character.
When this happens, both players make Trait Checks
for their characters based on appropriate Trait/
Skill combinations. They flip each of their cards
simultaneously with the other player. If one player
chooses to stop and stick with their current flip, the
other player can continue flipping cards if they haven’t
reached their Card Count for the check. The player
that chose to stop first cannot flip more cards after the
second player stops, even if that player still has cards
available in their Card Count.
Let’s suppose Adam wants to hide from Maria.
Adam is considered the “active character” since he’s
the one initiating the hiding.

Adam’s player makes an Agility/Stealth check.
Maria’s player makes a Perception/Sense check, They
flip cards simultaneously and compare results as they
do so. Adam gets the queen of spades on his second
flip and chooses to stop. Maria continues flipping cards
since her Card Count is 4.
Adam’s result must equal or exceed Maria’s result
in order for Adam to successfully hide from her.
Both players can spend Moxie on opposed checks.
Once a player has chosen to stay with their flipped
card, they’re done and can’t spend Moxie.
SOCIAL INTERACTION
As you navigate the world of CAPERS, you are bound
to meet a variety of other characters, some controlled
by other players and some controlled by the GM.
Interactions with these characters can take place in
a variety of ways. How you choose to relate with
other characters in the game is a matter of your
personal preferences.
Some players like to act in character, taking on
accents, having different attitudes than normal, and
otherwise becoming someone else for a little while.
For example, while playing her character, Marcelo
“Glimpse” Bianchi, Alison might say, “I casually walk
behind Buckley as Dunston’s cronies look on. As I pass
behind Buckley, I quickly whisper, ‘they’re the only
two here. We can take them if we move now.’” Alison
Chapter 3 – Rule System
speaks with a slight Italian accent and winks slyly at
the player portraying Buckley as she speaks.
Other players prefer to describe their actions from
a third person perspective and not get into character
as deeply. If Alison played Marcelo this way, she might
portray the previously described scene by saying,
“Marcelo slips behind Dunston and comments that
there’s only two cronies and Dunston and Marcelo
should be able to take them out.”
Regardless of how you portray your character, the
GM decides if a Trait Check is called for. Sometimes
how you portray your character is enough. At other
times, such as if you’re trying to rally NPCs, tell lies, or
intimidate others, the GM can require Trait Checks.
THE ACTION SEQUENCE
Play in a CAPERS game is often free-flowing. The
GM describes a scene. Players announce what their
characters do. The GM responds. Time passes in the
game world in increments that make sense to everyone.
Sometimes, however, more structure is required
so timing and the sequence of events are clear to
everyone. This happens most often when characters
fight. It can also happen when the characters race
against time to solve a problem.
Time
When time and the chain of events need to be more
exacting, an action sequence begins. An action
sequence happens in increments called rounds, which
are roughly 6 seconds long in the game world but take
much longer to play out. Every round, players take
turns deciding what their characters do and resolving
those actions. The GM also has turns to control other
aspects of the game, including NPCs. Once everyone
has taken a turn, a new round begins.
Surprise
If one group is unaware of another group at the start of
an action sequence, the members of the unaware group
are surprised. Those who aren’t surprised can act for
one round while those who are surprised can’t.
It’s possible that some members of a group are
surprised when others aren’t. The GM decides when
this situation occurs and, if it does, allows those
who might be surprised to make a Perception/Sense
Check. The default TS for this check is 8, although that
score can change if one group is sneaking or other
circumstances dictate surprise is more or less likely.
Initiative
At the start of an action sequence, an initiative order
must be determined. To determine your place in the
initiative order, make an Agility/Sense Reaction Check
for your character.
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Chapter 3 – Rule System
The GM makes such a similar Reaction Check for
each NPC. Alternatively, they may group some NPCs
together and have them act on the same initiative for
ease of play.
The GM, or someone elected to do so, lists the
participants from highest score to lowest. This list
is the initiative order, and those higher on the list
take a turn before those lower on the list. This order
changes only rarely and is used from round to round to
determine the order players take turns.
If you draw the good joker, you go first. If you draw
the bad joker, you go last. Boons mean nothing during
this check.
If two participants tie with their check result,
the tie is broken by the suit of the flipped card,
alphabetically from spades on down. Spades goes first,
then hearts, and so on down to clubs.
If two players tie in both pip and suit, they decide
who goes first. The GM resolves these types of ties
among NPCs. If a player’s character and an NPC tie
in pip and suit, the player’s character goes first in the
initiative order.
When your turn comes up, you undertake the
activities you desire by taking actions.
EXAMPLE REACTION CHECK
Mike is playing Jerry and a fight breaks out.
Jerry’s Agility score is 3 and he has the Sense
Skill. Mike flips one card, an 8. He adds four
to the card (3 for the Agility score +1 for the
Sense Skill), taking it to Q. Mike’s character
will act on a queen, which is pretty good.
Actions
You can take the following actions on your turn.
Trait Actions are attempts to perform a specific
task by making a Trait Check. You can take only one
Trait Action on your turn unless you spend Moxie to
take another. Power Checks are a special type of Trait
Action and are discussed later.
Free Actions are simple and short activities that
can feasibly occur alongside your Trait Action, such as
opening an unlocked door, dropping an object, falling
prone, and so on. The timing of such actions is up to
you, and you might be able to take more than one Free
Action on your turn. The GM judges whether you can
accomplish a task as a Free Action, as well as the
limit on the number of Free Actions you can take.
No activity that requires a Trait Check can be a
Free Action.
34
Distance and Movement
Distances in CAPERS are measured in feet, and the
typical person can walk about 30’ in a round. This
distance is a character’s Speed. Other creatures have a
Speed, too, and can move that distance in a round.
During an action sequence, you can move during
your turn. You can split this movement up how you like
during your turn. You might move before your Trait
Action, or after it, or both.
An obstacle, rough terrain, or other issues might
slow you down. If the GM describes an impeding
situation, such as a debris-strewn floor, or you engage
with one, such as climbing through a window, the GM
can charge you some of your Speed to move through
the impediment. The default is that an impediment
costs you double the normal amount of Speed to move
through. The GM is free to decide if the hindrance is
even greater than the default.
If a hindrance is particularly challenging, such as
a 10-foot-wide hole in the floor, the GM can require a
Trait Check to deal with it. Such a check is part of your
movement and not considered your Trait Action for
the turn.
Special circumstances might also cost you extra
Speed. For instance, for a human, climbing, crawling,
and swimming are slower than walking, so a human
moving in one of these modes is like a human moving
across impeding terrain. Running downhill can be
quicker than running on level ground, so you might
gain a little bonus Speed when going downhill. Based
on these examples, the GM is also free to decide that
other circumstances slow you down or speed you up.
Jogging and Sprinting
You can increase your movement on your turn by
jogging or sprinting. Jogging lets you move up to
double your Speed, but you suffer disadvantage on all
Trait Checks and Power Checks that turn for doing so.
You can sprint, moving up to triple your Speed. While
sprinting, you can’t take any Trait Actions other than
those required by the GM to deal with impediments
while moving. Sprinting for an extended period of time
may require Resilience/Willpower Checks, at the
GM’s discretion.
Falling Down and Standing Up
Falling prone is quick, so it’s a Free Action. Standing up
uses 10’ of your movement for the turn.
Delaying Your Turn
You can delay your turn and jump back into the
initiative order later. If you delay, you take a normal
turn when you reenter the initiative order. During
future rounds, your turn happens at this new point in
the initiative order.

If an effect is in play that ends on your turn, it ends
on where your turn used to be in the initiative order,
not on where your turn falls after delaying. You or the
GM need to keep track of where your turn used to fall
in the initiative order.
Readying an Action
You can use your turn to ready yourself for action while
you wait for a specific event - a trigger - to happen. You
describe the trigger and the Trait Action you prepare
to perform in response, such as attacking any foe that
moves next to you. You can instead prepare to move in
response to a trigger. For instance, you might choose to
have your character leave the room if an alarm sounds.
What happens next depends on if the trigger occurs.
If the trigger happens and you can perceive it, the Trait
Action or movement you prepared in response happens
immediately, interrupting the current turn. Once you
perform your readied action, the turn you interrupted
resumes. If the trigger fails to happen, you lose the
opportunity to act until your next turn comes up.
ATTACK AND DAMAGE
When you attempt to damage another character or an
object with a weapon or other harmful effect, you are
using your Trait Action to attack. You choose a target
and resolve the Trait Check for the type of attack
you’re making. If your Trait Check succeeds, you hit
and damage your target.
Melee Attacks
Melee attacks can be made only against targets that are
next to you. You make a Strength/Melee Weapon Check
or a Strength/Fisticuffs Check (if you’re unarmed) to
resolve a melee attack. The TS for your attack is your
target’s Body.
You can throw some types of melee weapons as
well as things like rocks. Doing so requires a Strength/
Ranged Weapons Check.
Ranged Attacks
Ranged attacks can be made against any target you can
see, provided the target is within range of the attack.
You make an Agility/Guns Check or an Agility/Ranged
Weapons Check to resolve a ranged attack. The TS for
your attack is your target’s Body.
Ranged weapons have two range ratings separated
by a slash, the first representing short range and the
second representing long range, both in feet. Attacks
made out to short range suffer no penalty. Attacks
made above short range and out to long range suffer
disadvantage. Attacks cannot be made beyond
long range.
Chapter 3 – Rule System
BULLETS, SHELLS, AND TOMMY GUNS
Damage and ranges of different types of guns
vary, but attacks with guns are made at a 1:1 ratio.
One Action allows for one bullet or shell to be
fired, regardless of the type of gun being used.
This doesn’t reflect real-world gun capability,
but it keeps things simple and allows the action
to move at a faster pace.
Throwing Things and Range
If you throw a weapon or other object with the intent
of dealing damage, you make your Trait Check against
the target’s Body and apply disadvantage for range
as normal.
If you simply want to get the thrown object next to
someone or something, your TS is 7 and range is 20/60.
Damage
A successful attack deals physical damage, reducing a
target’s current Hits. Damage dealt is dependent upon
the damage rating of the weapon. Most weapons have
a rating of “Suit” or “Color,” meaning you deal damage
according to the suit or color of the last card flipped as
described below.
You don’t make a separate card flip to determine
damage. The damage is based on the suit of the card
you accepted during your Trait Check.
Suit Damage
♠ 4
♥ 3
♦ 2
♣ 1
Color Damage
Black 2
Red 1
Some weapons have a damage rating of “Suit+#”
where the “#” is a number. This means you determine
the damage from the suit of the card and then add the
number. For example, “Suit+2” means the weapon deals
damage based on the card’s suit plus 2 additional Hits.
35
Chapter 3 – Rule System

Weapon Table Mental Attacks

Weapon Dmg Range Rnds* Cost Mental Attacks are made using certain Powers. The
individual Power will describe the check required to
Fists/Feet Color -- -- -- make the attack. The TS for your check is your
Brass target’s Mind.
Color+1 -- -- $2
Knuckles
Knife/Dagger Color+1 20/60 -- $5 Mental Damage
Improvised Color+1 20/60 -- -- A successful mental attack might deal damage,
Club/Staff Suit -- -- -- reducing a target’s current Hits. Individual Powers
Saber Suit+1 -- -- $20 describe how much damage the attack does, in terms
of Color or Suit as normal. Refer to the Damage tables
Bow Suit 100/300 -- $6 by Suit and Color under Physical Damage.
Derringer Suit 30/100 2 $12
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 6/12 $25 Objects
Rifle Suit+1 100/300 10 $50 Objects, like creatures, have a Body score. This
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150 1/2/5 $70 statistic reflects how difficult it is to hit or damage
Tommy Gun Suit+2 100/300 20/50 $225 the object. The larger the object, the easier it is to hit.
Smaller objects are harder to hit. The faster an object is
*A character can reload 3 rounds or 1 magazine/ drum moving, the harder it is to hit. The following table
by giving up 15’ of Speed for the round. gives examples:

Derringers are small pistols that hold 2 rounds, each
fired with a different trigger.
Pistols are either six-shooters that hold 6 rounds in
a rotating cylinder or 12 rounds in a magazine.
Rifles hold 10 rounds.
Shotguns come in three varieties. Single barrel
shotguns hold 1 cartridge. Double barrel shotguns hold
2 cartridges, each fired by a different trigger. Pump-
action shotguns hold five cartridges.
Tommy guns use 20-round magazines or
50-round drums.
EXAMPLE ATTACK
Mike is playing Jerry and wants Jerry to fire his
pistol, which deals Suit+1 damage.
Mike makes an Agility/Guns Check. Jerry’s
Agility score is 3 and he doesn’t have the Guns
Skill, so his card count is 3. Mike’s first flip is
the ten of diamonds, likely a hit, but it’ll only
deal 3 damage (2 because he flipped diamonds
+1 because it’s a pistol). He flips a second card
and gets the queen of hearts. This is likely a hit
and deals 4 damage, so Mike decides to stick
with that flip.
If Mike had continued, he might have ended
up with spades on a hit, but would have been
risking worse damage or even failure.
Body Example Objects
4 Building, wall, adjacent man-sized object
6 Stationary vehicle
8 Door or window up to 20’ away
Moving car, thrown object, small
10
stationary object
Q Speeding car, small thrown object
A Very small thrown object
An object’s Hits describes its durability, which is
usually a matter of material and sometimes size. The
following table gives examples. The Hits damage
required destroys a portion of the object involved as
appropriate. For example 2 Hits will cut a rope, but it
won’t destroy the entire rope.
Hits Example Materials
1 Paper, light cloth, glass
2 Rope, very heavy cloth, leather
5 Thin sheet of wood, plaster
10 Wood stud
20 Thin metal
40 Half inch of concrete, metal plate
If an object is serving as cover or otherwise protecting
something or someone else, an attack must deal at least
as much damage as needed to destroy the object (or a
portion thereof) before it stops providing protection.
For example, you need to deal 5 Hits damage to a
plaster wall before you can injure a person on the other
side of the wall.

36

Dropping to 0 Hits
If you drop to 0 Hits, your character is either
temporarily removed from the story or will die. It’s
your choice.
If you choose to have your character temporarily
removed from the story, they are knocked out.
Alternatively, they might be captured briefly or
otherwise removed from the immediate vicinity of the
action. If they are knocked out, they wake up when
they have at least 1 Hit.
If you choose to have your character die, you take
one more turn before they die. This extra turn is your
character’s last, so spend Moxie and do everything you
can to make it memorable.
On that final turn, you can spend any amount of
your remaining Moxie to influence the narrative. For
example, you might say your body plunges through a
window, taking a foe along to the street below. The GM
decides how many Moxie you have to spend to achieve
your goals.
If you reduce an enemy to 0 Hits, you decide at
that moment whether to kill them or knock
them unconscious.
Chapter 3 – Rule System
Regaining Hits
You regain Hits over time. You regain 1 Hit every
hour while awake and engaging in normal day-to-day
activities. You don’t regain any Hits while performing
strenuous activities.
You regain 3 Hits every hour while sleeping.
Note that it is possible for these recovery rates to
vary slightly based on in-game situations at the GM’s
discretion. For example, sleeping on a boat in storm-
tossed seas wouldn’t allow you to recover as quickly
as normal. Additionally, the GM might determine that
an NPC who suffered serious injuries requires a longer
time to recover.
Death vs. Imprisonment
Some Capers and Exceptionals may be harder to kill
than others. The GM may, at their discretion, determine
that an Exceptional or Caper NPC has only been
rendered unconscious.
You can question the NPC, turn them over to the
authorities, and so forth. Ultimately, that NPC may
end up in prison. This contingency is put in place for
GMs to have the opportunity to bring about a climactic
moment in the ongoing story where that NPC is finally
defeated once and for all.
All of this said, the GM should only exercise this
option occasionally. Most of the time, the players
decide what happens with an NPC brought to 0 Hits.
REACTION CHECKS
Damage usually comes from direct attacks that are the
result of a Trait Check made against your character.
Occasionally, though, your character can be subjected
to damage or other effects they must resist or avoid.
Resisting requires a Reaction Check.
The GM tells you which Trait and Skill apply to
the Reaction Check you’ll use to resist with. They also
determine the TS for the check and whether success
negates or reduces the damage (usually by half). The
TS for negating or halving the damage starts at 8 and
progresses upward. Difficulty is based on how hard
the damage is to avoid or reduce. For instance, a huge
explosion centered on your character is difficult to avoid.
Charisma is used to resist psychological exhaustion,
mental torture, taxing cerebral activity, and mind-
altering effects.
Agility is used to dodge incoming attacks or otherwise
get out of the way of dangers like oncoming traffic or
an explosion.
Resilience is used to resist physical pain, exposure
to extreme temperatures, poison, disease, and
physical exhaustion.
Strength is used to resist being moved against your
will or knocked prone.
37
Chapter 3 – Rule System

SPECIAL ATTACKS SPECIAL DAMAGE

Sometimes characters attack their foes looking for an
outcome other than dealing damage. Here are a
couple examples:
Grapple
Make a Strength/Fisticuffs Check versus the target’s
Body. Success indicates you grab the target. With a
Boon, you might pin a limb or temporarily blind the target.
The target is unable to move and suffers
disadvantage on all checks until free. Attempting
to free oneself from a grapple requires a Strength/
Fisticuffs Check or Agility/Fisticuffs Check against
the grappler’s Strength Defense. This attempt is a Free
Action that can be attempted once per round on the
target’s turn. Successfully escaping uses up 15’ of the
character’s movement for the round.
Disarm
You can disarm a target by making a Melee Weapon
attack or a grapple check against the target’s
Strength Defense.
If using a weapon, a successful disarm check
results in the target dropping the object. With a Boon,
you decide where the object falls or you knock it into
your hands. If using a grapple, a successful disarm
check results in you wrestling the object away from
the target.
Sometimes you take special damage, which is damage
that’s more than raw harm or damage that’s from
sources other than direct attacks. Special damage often
requires Reaction Checks to avoid the damage (or
lessen it) and comes with complications.
Energy
There are five types of energy in the game – acid,
cold, electricity, fire, and force. The first four listed
are exactly what you’d expect them to be. Force is a
special case. Force energy is a rush of near-invisible
kinetic energy or sonic vibration that causes physical
effects or deals damage.
Sometimes Hits damage has an energy subtype.
Certain Powers can cause such damage and other
Powers can prevent or shield you from such damage.
More often, energy is something your character is
exposed to and must attempt to resist or avoid.
If your character is hit with a small amount of
energy damage, the GM may call upon you to make
a Reaction Check to avoid the damage. When the
potential damage is greater, the GM may call upon you
to make a Reaction Check to halve the damage your
character takes.
Physically dodging this type of damage often
requires an Agility/Sense Reaction Check. Withstanding
unavoidable damage requires a Resilience/Willpower
Reaction Check.
Damage from energy can vary. The GM determines
how much damage you take by flipping one or more
cards and adding up their Color or Suit values as
described in the table. “2 x Suit” means flip two cards
and add up their Suit values. The good joker counts as
4 damage. The bad joker counts as 0 damage. If the GM
flips a joker in this way, no other effects are generated
by the joker.

Energy Hits Reaction Check

Type Damage Example to Avoid/Halve
Acid 1 x Color Splashed on hand/arm/etc. Agility/Sense TS 10 to avoid
1 x Suit Splashed on quarter of body Agility/Sense TS 10 to halve
Cold 1 x Color Stuck in refrigerator overnight Resilience/Willpower TS 8 to halve
1 x Suit Stuck in freezer overnight Resilience/Willpower TS 10 to halve
2 x Suit Stuck in blizzard overnight Resilience/Willpower TS Q to halve
Electricity 1 x Suit Fork in an electrical outlet Agility/Sense TS 10 to avoid
3 x Suit Struck by lightning Resilience/Willpower TS Q to halve
Fire 1 x Suit Running through burning building Agility/Sense TS 8 to avoid
2 x Suit In a small fiery blast Agility/Sense TS 10 to halve
3 x Suit In a large fiery blast Agility/Sense TS Q to halve

38

Falling
For every 10’ you fall beyond the first 10’, the GM flips one
card and your character takes total Hits damage of the
combined Suit values. The good joker counts as 4 damage.
The bad joker counts as 0 damage. If the GM flips a joker
in this way, no other effects are generated by the joker.
If there’s a way to soften the blow or otherwise
slow your character’s fall, the GM may give you a
Reaction Check to halve falling damage.
Suffocation
After your character has held their breath for a number
of rounds equal to five times their Resilience score,
your character might suffocate. At the end of each of
your turns, you must succeed at a Resilience/Willpower
Check or fall unconscious. The TS for this check starts
at 4 and increases by 2 every round, up to ace.
Poison
Using poison in CAPERS is as much a matter of finding
a way to poison the target as it is to adjudicating the
effects of the poison and any resistance the target
may have. The GM will require you to find a way to
poison the target’s food, inject them with the poison, or
something similar, based on the poison you’re using.
Resisting a poison’s effects requires a Resilience/
Willpower Check. The TS for this check and the results
of succeeding or making the check vary by poison.
A paralytic poison (such as medical anesthesia)
prevents a person from moving and if strong enough,
renders them unconscious. TS varies between 9
and queen. Successful resistance renders the
character unaffected.
A debilitative poison (such as weakened versions of
cyanide or oleander) affects a target’s motor functions
and clarity of mind but does not paralyze them. TS
varies between 10 and king. Successful resistance
reduces how long the poison affects the character.
A deadly poison (such as arsenic) kills a character
if they don’t resist. TS varies between queen and ace.
Successful resistance results in the character taking
significant Hits damage (at least 2 x Suit Hits) and
being debilitated, requiring bed rest and professional
care for several days.
Explosives
Given characters are running around with Powers,
explosives don’t come into play often. However, they
can be handy in some situations.
All explosives have a damage rating and a blast
radius. The damage rating is the amount of damage
dealt to anyone or anything within the blast radius. For
every blast radius increment you move away from the
explosive’s location, the damage is reduced by 1 x Suit.
At 0 x Suit, no damage is sustained from the blast.
Chapter 3 – Rule System
Explosives Table
Explosive Dmg Blast Cost
Nitroglycerin (8 oz.) 2 x Suit 5’ rad. $5
Dynamite (one stick) 3 x Suit 10’ rad. $6
Grenade 3 x Suit 10’ rad. $10
Characters hit by an explosives attack get an Agility/
Sense Reaction Check to halve the damage (rounded up).
A Botch when handling nitroglycerin results in the
nitro exploding. In some circumstances, Botches can
cause explosions with dynamite as well.
STANDOFFS
A standoff is a tension-filled buildup to a fight. You
stare down your foes, assess their strengths, and ready
yourself for the coming fight. Standoffs don’t happen
before every combat, but they can provide a nice build-
up before an important or unexpected fight.
During a standoff, all players and the GM make a
series of quick decisions which will have an impact on
how the fight plays out.
The standoff rules can slow down the flow of the
action. Use them when appropriate to add a bit of tension.
But they’re certainly not required before every combat.
During Each Phase
During each of three phases, all players and the GM
engage in three rounds of Countdowns.
During each Countdown, each player and the GM
put their fingers on their decks. The GM calls, “three,
two, one” and everyone either flips the top card or pulls
it toward them without flipping it. (During Phase 2, all
involved have an additional option.) GMs may split the
NPCs into groupings and flip/pull one card for each
group during each phase.
Ideally, this entire process will move very fast. Be
prepared to make your choices quickly.
Phase 1: Staredown
Perform the Countdown.
If you flip the top card, it becomes your initiative
card for when the fight begins.
If you pull it toward you, it becomes an extra card
you can use during any Trait Action during the coming
fight. Once used during a Trait Action, such a card is
discarded as normal.
Phase 2: Ready Yourself
Perform the Countdown.
If you flip the top card, it becomes your initiative
card for when the fight begins. If you’ve previously
flipped a card, you get your choice of those cards for
your initiative.
39
Chapter 3 – Rule System

If you pull it toward you, it becomes an extra card

you can use during any Trait Action during the coming
fight. Once used during a Trait Action, such a card is
discarded as normal.
If you don’t do anything with the card, you may do one
of the following:
❖❖ Speak one sentence to your allies or foes with
no other effect.
❖❖ Speak one sentence to your foes in an attempt
to intimidate them. Make a Charisma Check
based on how you’re trying to intimidate them.
❖❖ Make a Perception/Insight Check to assess the
strengths and weaknesses of one foe.
❖❖ Use one Power that only affects you. This can
include Powers that allow you to maintain a Boost.

Phase 3: Hammers Back

Perform the Countdown.
If you flip the top card, it becomes your initiative
card for when the fight begins. If you’ve previously
flipped a card, you get your choice of those cards for
your initiative.
If you pull it toward you, it becomes an extra card
you can use during any Trait Action during the coming
fight. Once used during a Trait Action, such a card is
discarded as normal.

Commence Combat
Everyone with one or more initiative cards flipped
chooses which card to use and applies their Perception
Trait and Sense Skill as normal to determine initiative
order. All players discard any unused cards. Anyone
who didn’t choose to flip a card goes last in initiative
order. Ties are adjudicated per normal rules.
Commence combat as normal. Any cards you’ve
pulled toward you can be flipped in conjunction with
any Trait or Power Check you make during this combat.
These cards don’t count against your Card Count for
that turn. Once used, the card goes in your discard pile.
STANDOFFS ONLINE
If you’re not playing CAPERS at a table
with everyone else where you can see what
everyone is doing with their draw decks, you’ll
need to tweak these rules a bit.
At the end of each Countdown, each player can
flip a card (for initiative) or declare, “Keep” to
indicate keeping a card. Players who do this
simply keep track of how many cards they’ve
stockpiled for later.
During Phase 2, they can also declare, “Action”
to indicate they want to take one of the actions
allowed during that phase.

40
 PERKS
Perks are special bonuses and abilities that make
Exceptionals tougher and more capable than normal
people, but lack the flash of Powers.
SELECTING PERKS
Options for selecting Perks during character creation
and character advancement are described in Chapter 2.
Your character can gain each Perk only one time
unless the Perk states otherwise.
Fleet of Foot
Your character’s foot Speed increases to 40’.
Hardy Body
Your character gains +1 to their Body score. You can
select this Perk up to two times.
Lucky
Once per game session, when you Botch, you succeed
instead. Treat the success as if you got spades on the
card and apply a Boon to the success. If the Botch
card was the bad joker, you do not end your turn
immediately and continue to resolve your turn.
You can select this Perk up to three times. If you do
this, you can use this ability once per game session per
number of times you’ve selected it.
Power-Resistant
Each time your character’s Body or Mind is targeted
with a Power, you flip a card. The TS for the Power
targeting you is your current Body or Mind (as called
for by the Power) or the card you flipped, whichever
is higher. If you flip the bad joker, ignore it and flip
another card to replace it. If you flip the good joker, the
Power automatically fails against you.
Additionally, any time a Power has an effect
that you can resist by making a Trait Check, you
automatically succeed on that check the first time the
Power calls for you to make it.
If you select this Perk, your character can never
gain Powers in the future, not even temporarily.
Quick Reflexes
Whenever you make a Reaction Check (including initiative
checks), flip two cards and take the better of the two.
Refocus
Once per game session, you can “re-flip” your entire
Trait Check. Ignore the results of your current Trait
Check (even if you Botched) and start over from
scratch. You can't use this Perk to "re-flip" after you flip
the bad joker.
You can select this Perk up to three times. If you do
this, you can use this ability once per game session per
number of times you’ve selected it. You can only use
this Perk once during a given Trait Check.
If you choose this Perk and your character gains
Powers later, you can only use this Perk on Trait
Checks. You can never again use it on Power Checks.
Specialty Skill
Choose one Skill your character already has. This
Skill becomes a Specialty Skill. Instead of increasing
your Card Count by 1 when you make a Trait Check
involving this Skill, you increase your Card Count by 2.
Additionally, your character never Botches this
Skill. If you Botch a Trait Check involving this Skill,
treat it like a normal failure. If you get the bad joker,
you don’t Botch, but your turn still ends immediately.
You can choose this Perk multiple times, each time
choosing a different Skill in which to specialize.
You can denote this on your character sheet with a
“2” after the Skill’s name.
Tough
Your character’s maximum Hits increases by 4.
Wily Mind
Your character gains +1 to their Mind score. You can
select this Perk up to two times.
41
 POWERS
Many characters in CAPERS are gifted with super-
human abilities that allow them to do things others
can only dream of. Your character might have
great strength or superhuman speed, the ability to
manipulate objects from afar, powers that damage
or affect others’ minds, a special communion with a
specific type of energy, or any of a wide variety of other
capabilities. These abilities are called Powers.
TYPES OF POWERS
There are two broad categories of Powers – Minor
Powers and Major Powers.
Minor Powers
Minor Powers are focused. They provide your character
with very specific capabilities that are only useful in a
few circumstances. They also tend to be flashier.
Many Minor Powers require a Power Check to
use successfully.
Major Powers
Major Powers provide capabilities that are broadly
useful across a variety of tasks or by giving your
character bonuses that are always in effect.
Some Major Powers increase your Traits beyond
the normal maximum of 3. You must have a rating of 3
in the Trait in order to take the associated “Super Trait”
Power. These Powers increase the likelihood of you
succeeding at Trait Checks with that Trait and provide
some additional benefits.
Some Major Powers simply provide ongoing,
permanent bonuses or special capabilities usable at
will without a Trait Check.
POWER CHECKS
When you need to make a Power Check, it works the
same way as a Trait Check, but using your rank in the
Power as your Card Count. You use a Trait Action to
make a Power Check.
Skills are not applied to Power Checks, but all the
other ways of modifying a Trait Check apply to Power
Checks. You can gain advantage or disadvantage, enjoy
Boons, suffer Botches, spend Moxie to augment them,
and so forth.
42
The Target Score (TS) for the check is defined in
the Power’s description, though it might require GM
adjudication. You flip cards as you would for Trait
Checks and can stop and take the result of the last card
flipped at any time.
If a Power has any special rules associated with it,
this information is provided in the Power’s description.
Some Powers simply grant bonuses and don’t have
checks associated with them.
Boosts
Powers have Boosts, special augmentations that
improve the Power's capability, make it more versatile,
or provide other effects.
You declare you are using one or more Boosts at
the beginning of your turn, before you take your Trait
Action or movement. You can only use each Boost
one time during your turn, but you can use up to three
different Boosts during your turn, even if they’re from
different Powers. If a Boost augments a Power, it can
only be used for the Power it’s associated with.
For each Boost you choose to employ, you reduce
your Card Count by one for all Trait or Power Checks
you attempt this turn. If this reduces the Card Count
for your Trait or Power Check to 0, you can’t attempt
the check.
Agent: I see.
Witness: Suddenly, two other fellas come out
of a side door and they got Chicago typewriters
and they start shoutin’ at the fella who’s runnin’
out. That’s when all hell breaks loose.
Agent: What do you mean?
Witness: All of a sudden there’s this flapper with
a gun and her beau and he’s gettin’ all blurry.
Agent: What happened next?
Witness: I dove behind the concierge desk is
what happened next.
Agent: Describe it as best you can.
Witness: I’m tryin’ to find a way out and I see all
these guns goin’ off and, well…

Boosts happen in addition to the standard effect
of the Power unless the Boost text specifies otherwise.
For example, if a Boost says “Instead of standard
effect…” you use the Boost effect in lieu of the
standard effect. You can still apply other Boosts to this
alternate effect, unless the Boost states otherwise.
You can use Boosts from multiple Powers, but
many only provide benefits to the Power they are
associated with. Some Boosts, however, are applicable
outside of a Trait or Power Check. Such Boosts allow
you to modify or increase your character’s movement,
increase their Body or Mind scores, and so forth.
For example, let’s say your character has Super
Strength (with the Jump Boost) as well as Heat Beam
(with the Damage Boost). You could activate the Jump
Boost for Super Strength, costing you one from your
Card Count for that turn. You could also activate the
Damage Boost for Heat Beam by reducing your Card
Count by one more. When you move, you incorporate
a 30’ jump for the Jump Boost. If you hit with Heat
Beam, you deal extra damage from the Damage Boost,
but your Power Check for Heat Beam is made with a
reduction of two in the Card Count.
Using Boosts Outside of
Action Sequences
Boosts have a real effect on your character’s capabilities
during action sequences. The more Boosts you use, the
less cards you have available when performing your
Trait Action or Power Check.
Sometimes Powers don’t require Actions to use
them. And sometimes your character uses these Powers
with Boosts outside of an action sequence, where there’s
no Action to be penalized by using Boosts.
When this happens, you can still only use a maximum
of three Boosts that turn.
Losing your Capability
It’s possible for your character’s Powers to be temporarily
deactivated by mysterious effects. If this happens, none
of your Powers or Boosts function. You can’t perform
the feats listed in their descriptions and you lose all
bonuses provided by them.
Chapter 5 – Powers
Descriptors
Each Power lists a series of descriptors that describe
exactly how the Power functions.
Name and Rank
This is simply the name of the Power. The end of this
line also lists the range of ranks for the Power. This
defines how many times your character can take that
Power, thus improving its potency.
Powers listed as “1” can only be gained one time
and can’t be improved further. Powers listed with a
range of numbers can be taken up to the maximum
shown. Each time you increase the rank of the Power,
it becomes more powerful. For example, you might
create a starting character with Heat Beam 2. Over
time, you might increase the Power to rank 3, then 4,
and finally 5 (which is the maximum for that Power).
Type
This entry tells you if it’s a Major Power or a Minor Power.
Description
This entry provides a brief description of what the
Power allows you to do.
Activation
Some Powers are activated as a Free Action. This
means you can use the Power one time during your
turn as a Free Action.
Some Powers are activated as a Trait Action. Many
such Powers require a Power Check against a TS to
determine success or failure of the ability. If this is
the case, this entry defines the TS for the check. Some
Powers require you to spend your Trait Action to activate
them but don’t require an actual check. Such Powers
have an activation of “Trait Action.” With such a Power,
you use up your Trait Action to gain the Power’s effect.
Some Powers don’t require any activation and
are denoted “NA.” These are usually effects with
continuous durations.
Target
This entry defines the type of target the Power can
affect. A target of “creature” means any animal,
including humans.
Range
A Power’s range is the distance out to which it can
be activated. The effect of the Power must be within
that range when first activated. If an effect is created
within range but then the Caper moves farther away or
the object being affected moves farther away than the
Power’s range, the Power ceases. If a Power doesn’t
work at range, this entry is denoted “NA.”
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Chapter 5 – Powers

Duration
Some Powers are continuous. This means you gain
their benefits all of the time. Some are listed as
“continuous once activated.” These Powers can be
turned on and off. Many Powers are instantaneous;
they happen and are done.
A few Powers have a specific duration listed in this
entry. This defines precisely how long the effect lasts. If
it ends after a certain number of rounds, it ends at the
end of your turn during that final round.
You can maintain some Power’s effects using a
Boost that specifically extends the duration of the
effect. Additionally, some Boosts have “(M)” after their
name. Such Boosts can be maintained from round to
round by reducing your Card Count by one as normal
on each of your turns.
You can maintain a maximum of three effects and/
or Boosts in any combination from round to round.
Boosts
This section lists a series of augmentations you can
activate by reducing your Card Count for Trait or
Power Checks that turn.
Other Stuff
Anything not described in the Power is up to you, with
the GM’s approval. For example, Heat Beam doesn’t
specify where the beam originates. Do you fire a beam
from your eyes? Do you sling a small fireball from one
hand? If your character has the Puppeteer Power, do
they wiggle their fingers when manipulating objects?
Do they concentrate intently? If they have Super
Strength, are they big and burly or simply very tall and
imposing? It’s all your call.

Effect
This defines the standard effect of the Power. If the
Power’s activation is continuous, you gain this effect
all the time. If the Power is activated as a Free Action,
it tells you what the Power does when you spend that
action. If the Power requires a Trait Check or Power
Check, it tells you what the Power does if the check
is successful.
Some Powers don’t provide a specific effect but
rather prompt you to choose a Boost to be the standard
effect when you gain the first rank in the Power.
Powers that provide bonuses to Body and Mind
do not stack with each other. You take the better of
the bonuses provided. For example, if your character
has Body Armor rank 2, they gain a +2 bonus to their
Body. The Body Boost associated with the Super Agility
Power does not benefit your character.
If a Power provides increased Speed for a
particular movement mode (walking, flying, etc.) a
character only gains that bonus for that mode unless
it is stated otherwise. For example, a rank 1 Speedster
with Speed 60’ who then takes 1 rank of Flight flies at
Speed 30’, as described under the Flight Power.
Any time a Power deals damage with no Power
Check involved, the person dealing the damage flips
a card to determine the damage dealt. The good joker
counts as spades with a Boon. The bad joker counts for
no damage.

44

MINOR POWERS
Acid Stream 1-5
Minor Power
You create a stream of corrosive acid.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body
Target: Anything
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage (acid) to one target.
If you hit the target with a Boon, you also deal 1 Hits
damage (acid) to one target that is adjacent to the
initial target. Alternatively, you corrode a small object.
Acrid Cloud Boost (M): Instead of standard effect,
you create a 10’ radius sphere composed of stinging,
airborne acid. Anyone entering or beginning their turn
in the field takes Color Hits damage (acid). You can
maintain this Boost out to this Power’s range.
Blast Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal Suit
Hits damage (acid) to all targets in a 5’ radius area
within range. Use each target’s individual Body scores
as Target Scores for one Power Check. It’s possible to
hit some targets with the Power Check and not others.
Control Boost: You deal only as much damage as you
want. Choose your normal Power Check damage or any
lower amount, minimum 1 Hit.
Chapter 5 – Powers
Cutting Boost: You can cut through up to 8” of concrete
or a thin metal plate.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by
+2 Hits damage (acid).
Immunity Boost (M): You are immune to acid damage
until the beginning of your next turn.
Liquefy Boost: Instead of standard effect, you liquefy a
single small, non-stone, non-metal object.
Persistence Boost: The target takes Color damage on
each of your turns until the acid is neutralized. The
target can neutralize the acid by spending all of their
movement doing so or by suffering disadvantage on
checks during the turn spent clearing away the acid.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Alter Form 1
Minor Power
You change the fundamental nature of your
physical form.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: When you select this Power, choose one Boost
to use as the standard effect for this Power. It is no
longer considered a Boost; it counts as the standard
effect. This does not count as one of the three Boosts
you get when you take rank 1.
Density Decrease Boost (M): Instead of standard effect,
until the beginning of your next turn, you become lighter
as your body’s density decreases. You can climb and
swim at half your Speed without making Trait Checks.
Density Increase Boost (M): Instead of standard effect,
until the beginning of your next turn, you become
heavier as your body’s density increases. You can’t
be knocked over. You deal +1 Hits damage with all
Fisticuffs and Melee Weapon attacks.
Gaseous Form Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
transform into a barely visible, gaseous cloud the same
size as your normal body until the beginning of your
next turn. While in this form, you are invulnerable to all
attacks except fire, cold, and force attacks, and those
that target your Mind score. You can’t affect anything
physically or speak, but you can fly at Speed 30. You
can squeeze through any narrow space. You can’t use
any of your other Powers.
Immovability Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, until
the beginning of your next turn, you can’t be moved
from where you are by any outside force.
Liquid Form Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
transform into a pool of liquid the same general size as
your normal body until the beginning of your next turn.
While in this form, you are invulnerable to all attacks
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Chapter 5 – Powers
except energy attacks and those that target your Mind
score. You can’t speak, but you can manipulate things
physically and can move at Speed 30. You can squeeze
through any narrow space and can move up inclined
and vertical surfaces at Speed 15. You can’t use any of
your other Powers.
Body Armor 1-2
Minor Power
Your skin is tough or sheathed in a hard material.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: At rank 1, your Body increases by 1. At rank 2,
your Body instead increases by 2.
Body Boost (M): Increase your Body by 1 until the
beginning of your next turn.
Energy Boost (M): Choose an energy type (acid, cold,
electricity, fire). You take half damage from that energy
type until the beginning of your next turn.
Fall Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
you can fall from any height without taking damage.
Healing Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
turn, each time you spend Moxie to prevent Hits
damage, you prevent 2 additional Hits damage.
Imbue Boost (M): One person gains your Power bonus
to their Body score until the beginning of your next
turn. The two of you must be within 30’ of each other
for this to function.
Rebound Boost (M): One time before the beginning of
your next turn, when a projectile misses you, it instead
strikes the attacker, dealing damage based on the
attacker’s card flip to make the attack.
46
Bone/Organ Shifting 1
Minor Power
You manipulate your bones and organs to create a
variety of effects.
Activation: Free Action unless noted otherwise
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: When you select this Power, choose one Boost
to use as the standard effect for this Power. It is no
longer considered a Boost; it counts as the standard
effect. This does not count as one of the three Boosts
you get when you take rank 1.
Bone Armor Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, until
the beginning of your next turn, your Body increases
by 1.
Bone Spurs Boost: Instead of standard effect, bone
spurs grow from your hands. You can attack with them
as Fisticuffs, dealing Suit Hits damage. You can retract
or extend them as Free Actions.
Bone Throw Boost: Instead of standard effect, you can
fling little bones from your hands as an Agility/Ranged
Weapon attack that deals Suit Hits damage at a range of
30/100. Your hand bones regrow immediately.
Organ Shift Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, one
time before the beginning of your next turn, when a
physical attack hits you, the attack misses instead.
Slither Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you can
liquefy yourself as a Free Action, allowing you to pass
through areas as small as one square inch. While in this
form, you can’t do anything except move and reform
yourself, which requires a Free Action.
Cold Beam 1-5
Minor Power
You create a freezing blast of arctic energy.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body
Target: Anything
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage (cold) to one target.
Alternatively, you cool or freeze a small amount
of material.
 Chapter 5 – Powers

Blast Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal Suit
Hits damage (cold) to all targets in a 5’ radius area
within range. Use each target’s individual Body scores
as Target Scores for one Power Check. It’s possible to
hit some targets with the Power Check and not others.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by
+2 Hits damage (cold).
Encasement Boost: The target is partially encased in
ice. If you encase a hand/arm, the target can’t use that
hand/arm until it is freed. If you encase a foot, the
target can’t move from that spot until freed. Breaking
free requires a Strength/Athletics check at TS 10 and
uses up the target’s movement for the turn.
Fog Boost: Instead of standard effect, you create a 20’
radius sphere of fog within range. Actions requiring
sight within or through the fog suffer disadvantage. The
fog persists until it dissipates naturally.
Ice Shape Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
create a simple object made of ice. It can have no
moving parts and must fit inside a cube with sides
equal to 2 times your rank in Cold Beam in feet. If you
make a melee weapon, it deals Suit damage (cold). You
can give this item to another person while maintaining
this Boost.
Immunity Boost (M): You are immune to cold damage
until the beginning of your next turn.
Ramp Boost: You create an ice ramp that you ride up to
50’ as your movement. The ramp can rise up to 30’. It
lasts until it melts.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Slick Boost: Instead of standard effect, you make a 10’
radius area within range slippery until the ice melts.
Moving across the ice requires an Agility/Acrobatics
Check at TS 8 + your rating in this Power or fall prone.
Blast Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal Suit
Hits damage (force) to all targets in a 5’ radius area
within range. Use each target’s individual Body scores
as Target Scores for one Power Check. It’s possible to
hit some targets with the Power Check and not others.
Boomerang Boost: If you hit the target, you pull it 10’
toward you.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by
+2 Hits damage (force).
Jump Boost: Instead of standard effect, you quickly fire
your beam at the ground to jump up to 50’ horizontally
and/or vertically.
Knockdown Boost: If you hit the target, you knock
it prone.
Penetration Boost: You can shoot through up to 8” of
concrete or a thin steel plate.
Push Boost: If you hit the target, you push it 10’.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Strafing Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal 1
Hits damage (force) to up to four targets. Use each
target’s individual Body scores as Target Scores for one
Power Check. It’s possible to hit some targets with the
Power Check and not others.

Concussion Beam 1-5

Minor Power
You pummel targets from a distance with a bolt of
pure force.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body
Target: Anything
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage (force) to one target.
Alternatively, you nudge a small object or knock it over.

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Chapter 5 – Powers

Dimensional Manipulation 1-3
Minor Power
You can extend your senses to other realms and even
transport yourself and others through space.
Activation: Trait Action (requires one minute)
Target: Varies
Range: Varies
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: You can manipulate dimensions. Initiating this
Power requires one minute of concentration during
which you spend your Trait Action each turn focusing
on the Power.
At rank 1 you can see into the Astral Plane. You can
see all objects and creatures there to the normal extent
of your vision. You automatically know if someone
else is viewing you with this Power. You see invisible
objects and creatures and you see through all illusions.
At rank 2, you create a floating, shimmering disc in
the air within 30’ of you. This disc functions as a gate to
a location in the world you’re on up to 100 miles away.
Any creature can enter the gate to be transported to the
location, but must do so willingly. At rank 3, the gate
can connect to the location on any Earth corresponding
to the location where you are in the current world.
While using rank 2 or 3 of this Power, you take Suit
Hits damage every round after the first that you keep a
gate open.
If you are familiar with the location you wish to
connect to, the connection happens perfectly. If not,
you must choose a direction and distance to travel,
though those who pass through the gate will always
appear on the surface of the world.
Damage Reduction Boost (M): You only suffer Color Hits
damage for each round you keep the gate open after
the first when using ranks 2 or 3 of this Power.
Distance Boost (M): At rank 2, the gate allows you to
travel up to 500 miles. At rank 3, the gate allows you
to travel up to 10 miles away from the corresponding
location in the other Earth.
Hearing Boost (M): You can also hear what you’re
viewing with rank 1 of this Power until the beginning of
your next turn.
Projection Boost (M): While using rank 1 of this Power,
you can send your “astral self” to another place. Your
astral self travels at a speed of 100 miles per minute.
You can sense through your astral self based on the
Boosts you choose to combine with this Boost.
Share Boost (M): One person, who must be touching
you, can sense everything you sense with rank 1 of this
Power until the beginning of your next turn.
Smell Boost (M): You can also smell what you’re viewing
with rank 1 of this Power until the beginning of your
next turn.
Trigger Boost (M): Choose a location for a gate to be
created with rank 2 or 3 of this Power. The gate is not
created, but instead a “trigger” is created. This trigger
can be any word spoken or action taken within 30’
of the future gate location. Alternatively, the trigger
can be spoken or acted out by you anywhere in the
world. When triggered, the gate appears immediately,
regardless of whether you are present at its location
or not. Once triggered, the gate functions as described
in the Effect entry. You must maintain this Boost
continually until the gate is triggered.
Dimensional Pocket 1
Minor Power
You summon forth small objects seemingly
from nowhere.
Activation: Free Action, once per turn
Target: Special
Range: You
Duration: Continuous
Effect: A small extra-dimensional space follows you
wherever you go. It is completely invisible. The space is
2’ in diameter with a 1’ diameter opening only you can
access. You can place a non-living object into the space
or retrieve it as a Free Action once per turn, though it
can hold multiple objects up to its size capacity. Living
beings cannot be placed in the pocket.
Ally Boost: Any object or object summoned can appear
in the hands of others within 30’ of you that you can see.
Multi Boost: You retrieve or place up to three items into
the space at one time instead of just one.
Pocket Boost: The object or objects you retrieve
can appear in a pocket, handbag, suitcase, or other
container that you are wearing or holding or that you
can see within 30’ of you.
Return Boost: You can return all objects you just
retrieved to the dimensional pocket as a Free Action on
the same turn you retrieved them.
Size Boost (M): The dimensional pocket is 5’ diameter
while you maintain this Boost.

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 Chapter 5 – Powers

Electric Bolt 1-5 Energy Resistance 1

Minor Power Minor Power
You create an arc of pure electricity. Your body resists the effects of a particular type
of energy.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body
Target: Anything Activation: NA
Range: 30’ Target: Self
Duration: Instantaneous Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage (electricity) to one
target or Color Hits damage (electricity) to two targets. Effect: When you select this Power, choose one energy
Alternatively, you power a small electrical device for type (acid, cold, electricity, or fire). You take half damage
one minute. (rounded down) from that energy type. If you choose
If you attack two targets, use each target’s cold, you are not affected by low temperatures. If you
individual Body scores as Target Scores for one Power choose fire, you are not affected by high temperatures.
Check. It’s possible to hit one target with the Power
Diminish Boost: You diminish or extinguish your energy
Check and not the other. The first target must be within
type in a 2’ radius sphere within 30’. You can put out a
range of this Power. The second target must be within
fire OR melt ice/snow OR dissipate electricity OR dilute
30’ of the first target.
acid, as appropriate to the chosen energy type.
Blast Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal Suit Imbue Boost (M): One person gains your resistance or
Hits damage (electricity) to all targets in a 5’ radius invulnerability until the beginning of your next turn.
area within range. Use each target’s individual Body The two of you must be in physical contact with each
scores as Target Scores for one Power Check. It’s other to maintain the shared ability.
possible to hit some targets with the Power Check and Immunity Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
not others. turn, you are immune to the chosen energy type.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by Rebound Boost (M): One time before the beginning
+2 Hits damage (electricity). of your next turn, when an attack which you have
Field Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you create a immunity to would hit you, it instead strikes the
10’ radius sphere of ambient electrical energy. Anyone attacker, dealing damage based on the attacker’s card
entering or beginning their turn in the field takes Color flip to make the attack.
Hits damage (electricity). You can maintain this Boost Switch Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
out to this Power’s range. choose a different type of energy that you are resistant
Immunity Boost (M): You are immune to electricity to instead of your chosen type.
damage until the beginning of your next turn.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Sheathing Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
are sheathed in electricity until the beginning of your
next turn. Your Fisticuffs and Melee Weapon attacks
deal Suit Hits damage (electricity). You are immune to
damage from this Boost.
Shutdown Boost: Instead of standard effect, you cause a
single electrical device within range to shut down.
Strafing Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal 1
Hits damage (electricity) to up to four targets. Use each
target’s individual Body scores as Target Scores for one
Power Check. It’s possible to hit some targets with the
Power Check and not others.
Supercharge Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
cause one electrical device to become supercharged.
That device operates at heightened efficiency as long as
you maintain this Boost.

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Chapter 5 – Powers

Flight1-2 Size Boost (M): At rank 1, the plane increases to 8’x8’.

Minor Power
You can soar through the air with the greatest of ease.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: At rank 1, you can fly at Speed 30’. At rank 2, you
can fly at Speed 60’. You can carry a maximum of 30 lb.
of gear with you.
Chaperone Boost (M): You can carry one willing person
with you while flying until the beginning of your next turn.
Cloud Boost: You fly quickly through an area of dirt and
debris, kicking it up. This creates a cloud of debris that
lasts for three rounds. Actions requiring sight within or
through the cloud suffer disadvantage.
Damage Boost: If you fly at your target first, a successful
Melee Weapon or Fisticuffs attack against that target
deals 2 additional Hits damage.
Knockdown Boost: This turn, you land with such force
that all creatures within 20’ of you are knocked prone.
Speed Boost (M): You can fly at double your normal fly
speed until the beginning of your next turn.
Force Field 1-2
Minor Power
You create a shimmering wall of force that protects you.
Activation: Free Action
Target: NA
Range: 0
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: At rank 1, you create a 4’x4’ translucent,
shimmering plane of force next to you. At rank 2,
you create a bubble of force that surrounds you to a
distance of 2’. You can only generate one force field at
a time. The force field cannot move. If you move from
where you are located, the force field ends. It absorbs
physical and energy attacks originating from the
other side of it. If it’s a bubble, it protects you from all
attacks from all sides.
Mobile Boost: You move the force field with you as you
move as long as you move 60’ or less in a round.
Persistent Boost (M): Leave the force field in its current
configuration and location. You can travel up to a mile
away from it.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 30’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Rebound Boost (M): One time before the beginning of
your next turn, when a physical attack is absorbed by
the force field, the attack instead strikes the attacker,
dealing damage based on the attacker’s card flip to
make the attack.
At rank 2, the bubble can enclose one additional person
besides you.
Heat Beam 1-5
Minor Power
You fire a concentrated beam of super-heated energy.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body
Target: Anything
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage (fire) to one target.
Alternatively, you heat up or cook a small amount
of material.
Blast Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal Suit
Hits damage (fire) to all targets in a 5’ radius area
within range. Use each target’s individual Body scores
as Target Scores for one Power Check. It’s possible to
hit some targets with the Power Check and not others.
Control Boost: You deal only as much damage as you
want. Choose your normal Power Check damage or any
lower amount, minimum 1 Hit.
Cutting Boost: You can cut through up to 8” of concrete
or a thin metal plate.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by
+2 Hits damage (fire).
Ignition Boost: The target catches fire and takes Color
damage on each of your turns until extinguished. The
target can extinguish themselves by spending all of
their movement doing so or by suffering disadvantage
on checks during the turn spent extinguishing
the flames.
Immolation Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
are covered in flames until the beginning of your
next turn. You can set fire to objects by touch. Your
Fisticuffs and Melee Weapon attacks deal Suit Hits
damage (fire). You are immune to fire damage from
this Boost.
Immunity Boost (M): You are immune to fire damage
until the beginning of your next turn.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Shimmer Boost (M): Superheated air around you causes
people attacking you at range to suffer disadvantage.

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Hypnosis1-2
Minor Power
You can put people in trances, extract and implant
information, create post-hypnotic suggestions, and
even modify their memories.
Activation: Charisma/Willpower vs. Target’s Mind
Target: Any intelligent creature
Range: 30’
Duration: 1 round
Effect: At rank 1, you place the target into a trance
until the beginning of your next turn. The target sits
or stands quietly, awaiting your instructions, doing
nothing on their next turn. You can extend the duration
of this effect with the Extend Boost. At rank 2, you can
ask your target questions while they’re in the trance,
which they will answer truthfully. If you ask a question
that is too personal, such as one that might jeopardize
their life or the life of someone they love, the target
doesn’t answer.
Resisting: If you maintain the Power using a Boost, the
target can attempt to resist by making a Perception/
Willpower Check vs. your Mind. This can be attempted
once at the end of each of the target’s turns. Success
indicates the target shrugs off the effect. Success
with a Boon results in the target being immune to this
Power for 24 hours.
Chapter 5 – Powers
Amnesia Boost: The target does not remember being
hypnotized. Additionally, you can use this Boost to
erase a memory you previously implanted with the
Implant Boost.
Extend Boost (M): You keep the target under hypnosis
until you stop using this Boost.
Extraction Boost: You dig deep and ask a very personal
question that the target must answer truthfully. You
must have rank 2 in Hypnosis to use this Boost.
Implant Boost: You implant a single, simple false memory
in the target’s mind, which the target believes to be real
until you choose to negate it using the Amnesia Boost.
Post-Hypnotic Boost: You create a post-hypnotic
suggestion by defining a trigger and an action for the
target. Once awoken, if the trigger happens, the target
performs the action. The target will not undertake any
action that would jeopardize their life or the lives of
those they love with this action.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Twin Boost: Apply the standard effect to two targets.
Use each target’s individual Mind scores as Target
Scores for one Trait Check. It’s possible to affect one
target and not the other.
Mental Shield 1-2
Minor Power
You shield your mind against mental damage and
mind manipulation.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: At rank 1, your Mind increases by 1. At rank 2,
your Mind instead increases by 2.
Healing Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
turn, each time you spend Moxie to prevent Hits
damage, you prevent 2 additional Hits damage.
Imbue Boost (M): One person gains your Power bonus
to their Mind score until the beginning of your next
turn. The two of you must be within 30’ of each other
for this to function.
Immunity Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
turn, you are immune to emotion manipulation and
mind control Powers.
Mind Boost (M): Increase your Mind by 1 until the
beginning of your next turn.
Quelling Boost: Negate any emotional state on yourself
or a willing target within 30’.
Rebound Boost (M): One time before the beginning of
your next turn, when an attack that targets your Mind
misses you, it instead strikes the attacker, dealing damage
based on the attacker’s card flip to make the attack.
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Chapter 5 – Powers
Power Augmentation 1-2
Minor Power
You can energize and de-energize your own Powers,
as well as those of others.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Self
Range: Touch
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: At rank 1, you can choose one Power you
already have and increase the rank of that Power
(energize it) by 1. At rank 2, you can choose one power
you already have and increase the rank of that Power
(energize it) by 2. You cannot increase any Power
beyond the maximum rank available for that Power
normally. You do not gain any additional Boosts for
the chosen Power. Only one Power can be affected by
Power Augmentation at any given time.
Cancellation Boost (M): Choose a character within
range. If you do not use the Range Boost, you must
touch the character to use this Boost. Until the
beginning of your next turn, Powers used by that
character don’t affect you.
De-Energize Foe Boost (M): Until the beginning of your
next turn, de-energize one Power possessed by another
character. You reduce the rank of that Power by your
rank in this Power, to a minimum of 1. The target does
not lose any Boosts when this happens. If you do not
use the Range Boost, you must touch the character to
use this Boost.
Energize Ally Boost (M): Until the beginning of your
next turn, energize one Power possessed by a willing
ally. You cannot increase any Power beyond the
maximum rank available for that Power normally. If
you do not use the Range Boost, you must touch the
character to use this Boost.
Power Sense Boost: Choose a character within range.
You immediately know what Powers that character has,
but not the ranks of those Powers. If you do not use the
Range Boost, you must touch the character to use
this Boost.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 30’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Twin Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
choose a Power both you and a willing ally have in
common and energize that Power for both of you per
your rank in this Power. Neither of you gains additional
Boosts for the chosen Power. If you do not use the
Range Boost, you must touch the character to use
this Boost.
52
Power Sharing 1-3
Minor Power
You can use other peoples’ Powers and grant yours
to them.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Any Caper
Range: Touch
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: You touch a willing character and gain one of
their Powers at a maximum rank of your rank in this
Power. The target does not lose the Power. You do not
gain any Boosts for that Power. You can only gain one
Power by using Power Sharing at any one time. You can
dismiss the Power you gained as a Free Action.
Boosting Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
turn, you gain two Boosts the other character has for
the Power you gain.
Loan Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, choose a
Power you have other than Power Sharing. Choose
a target within range. That target gains the specified
Power at your rank in Power Sharing. You don’t lose
the Power. They don’t gain any Boosts for the Power.
The target gains that Power for as long as you maintain
this Boost. You can dismiss the Power you loaned out
as a Free Action.
Power Sense Boost: Choose a character within range.
You immediately know what Powers that character has,
but not the ranks of those Powers. If you do not use the
Range Boost, you must touch the character to use
this Boost.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 30’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Steal Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
you can use this Power on an unwilling target. You can
maintain this Boost to keep the Power you gained from
the unwilling target.
Trigger Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, choose
an inanimate object within range. You imbue that
object with a Power you have up to your rank in Power
Sharing. Set a trigger for under what circumstances
the object will unleash the standard effect of the
Power (without any Boosts), including who or what
the object will target. When the trigger happens, the
object unleashes the Power’s standard effect. You must
maintain this Boost until the effect takes place or it is
lost. You can only have one object empowered in such
a way at any given time.
 Chapter 5 – Powers

Swing Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next

turn, you can swing through trees, rafters, etc. by
your prehensile feature, moving at your normal Speed
without needing to make a Trait Check.

Probability Manipulation 1
Minor Power
You can manipulate the probability of something good
or bad happening.
Activation: Free Action
Target: NA
Range: NA
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: Look at the top card on your deck and place it in
your discard pile if you want to. Discarding a card with
this Power has no effect.
Special: Only one deck can be manipulated at a time. The
player or GM must flip at least one card from the deck
you manipulated before you can use this Power again.
Control Boost: Instead of standard effect, look at the
top three cards of anyone’s deck. Rearrange the cards
and place them on top of that deck.
Rejection Boost: Instead of standard effect, look at the
top card of anyone else’s deck and place it in their
discard pile if you want to.
Repeat Boost: Use this Boost only at the beginning of
Prehensile Feature 1 your turn. Instead of the standard effect, place the top
card of your discard pile onto the top of your deck.
Minor Power Your turn then immediately ends. You cannot place the
One of your body parts is prehensile. You can use it good joker on top of your deck with this Boost.
like an extra limb. Reveal Boost: Instead of standard effect, look at the top
card of anyone else’s deck. You can tell them what the
Activation: NA
card is if you want.
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: When you take this Power, choose hair, tongue,
or tail. This feature functions as another limb for
you. It can hold items and operate controls. You gain
advantage on any Trait Check where having a third arm
would be beneficial, such as climbing or wrestling.
Attack Boost: As a Trait Action, make a Strength/
Fisticuffs Check to attack with your prehensile feature.
It deals Suit damage.
Grapple Boost (M): If you have a target grappled and
they are suffering disadvantage, you can function as if
you had one arm free and maintain that grapple.
Parry Boost (M): Increase your Body by 1 until the
beginning of your next turn.
Speed Boost (M): If you have a prehensile tail, until the
beginning of your next turn, your foot Speed increases
by 10.

53
Chapter 5 – Powers
Psionic Beam 1-5
Minor Power
You pummel a target’s mind with pain.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Mind
Target: Any creature
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage to one target.
Alternatively, you give a target a momentary
headache twinge.
Blast Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal Suit
Hits damage to all targets in a 5’ radius area within
range. Use each target’s individual Mind scores as
Target Scores for one Power Check. It’s possible to hit
some targets with the Power Check and not others.
Confusion Boost: If you hit the target, it also suffers
disadvantage on all Trait Checks until the beginning of
your next turn.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by
+2 Hits damage.
Deafening Boost: If you hit the target, you also deafen it
for one minute.
Forgetting Boost: If you hit the target, they cannot
target you with any attack or Power on their next
turn. Additionally, they don’t see or hear you until the
beginning of your next turn.
Knockdown Boost: If you hit the target, you also knock
it prone.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Strafing Boost: Instead of standard effect, you deal 1
Hits damage to up to four targets. Use each target’s
individual Mind scores as Target Scores for one Power
Check. It’s possible to hit some targets with the Power
Check and not others.
Taunting Boost: If you hit the target, they must attack
you on their next turn. If they do not have the means to
attack you, they must attempt to find the means, close
the distance to you, etc.
Puppeteer1-5
Minor Power
You control small objects from a distance.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body (held item
uses holder’s Strength Defense)
Target: Any non-living, unattended object weighing less
than 30 lb. that fits in a 2’ cube
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You move the unattended object up to 30’, cause
it to “activate/deactivate”, or otherwise influence it in
subtle ways.
54
Break Boost: Instead of standard effect, the object
falls apart and needs to be repaired/rebuilt before it’s
useful again.
Damage Boost: Instead of standard effect, the object
launches and deals Color Hits damage to a target
within 30’ of it. If the object is sharp or otherwise
dangerous, it deals Suit Hits damage.
Dance Boost: The object dances erratically for three
rounds, even if you have moved out of range.
Movement Boost: You move the item up to 60’.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Steal Boost: You can target objects held by another
character. Getting the object out of their hands requires
a Power Check vs. the target’s Strength Defense.
Twin Boost: Apply standard effect to two items of the
same weight/size if they weigh 30 lb. or less together.
Weight Boost: The object can weigh up to 60 lb.
Sonic Scream 1-5
Minor Power
You let loose with your powerful voice, shaking and
moving things, and dealing damage.
Activation: Power Check vs. target’s Body or Mind,
your choice
Target: Anything
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: You deal Suit Hits damage (force) to one target.
Alternatively, you nudge a small object, knock it over,
or cause it to vibrate.
Damage Boost: Damage from this Power increases by
+2 Hits damage (force).
Deafening Boost: If you hit the target, you also deafen it
for one minute.
Jump Boost: Instead of standard effect, you quickly
fire your vocalizations at the ground to jump up to 50’
horizontally and/or vertically.
Knockdown Boost: If you hit the target, you knock
it prone.
Push Boost: If you hit the target, you push it 10’.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Shatter Boost: Instead of standard effect, you shatter
all fragile objects (glass, clay, etc.) within 10’ of you.
Alternatively, you can shatter just one object
within range.
Volume Boost: Instead of standard effect, until the
beginning of your next turn, your voice can be heard
clearly up to a mile away. It can also be heard clearly
on the other side of up to 2’ of concrete.

Speak with Objects 1 Emergency Boost: Instead of standard effect, you
Minor Power
You speak to the spirits of inanimate objects to
learn things.
Activation: Free Action
Target: One object within range
Range: 30’
Duration: Continuous once activated.
Effect: You ask one question of a simple, natural object.
This object must be naturally occurring, such as a rock
or tree. The object’s spirit answers you psychically,
projecting its answer into your mind. Its answer is always
simple and appropriate to the type of object it is and
what it can “see” or “know.” For example, the spirit of a
tree knows what has happened around it but not what
happened further into the forest. It might speak of days/
months/years in terms of sunrises/moon-circles/winters.
Animate Boost (M): The object speaks out loud so that
anyone within 30’ can hear it.
Complex Object Boost (M): You can speak to a more
complex man-made object that has moving parts, like a
pistol or a motorcycle.
Corpse Boost (M): The object may be a dead body. If it’s
a human body, it has the personality it had in life and
might need to be convinced to cooperate.
Simple Object Boost (M): You can speak to a simple,
man-made object with no moving parts, like a ceramic
bowl or metal hammer.
Telepathy1-2
Minor Power
You can read thoughts and project your own thoughts
to others.
Activation: Charisma/Insight vs. Target’s Mind
Target: Intelligent creature
Range: 30’
Duration: 1 round
Effect: At rank 1, you can hear the target’s thoughts for
1 round. The target knows someone is listening to their
thoughts but doesn’t know who. At rank 2, you can
project your thoughts into a target’s mind. The target
hears you, but is not compelled to do anything.
Amnesia Boost (M): The target doesn’t know you’re
listening to their thoughts. You must use this Boost the
entire time you’re listening for this to happen.
Deep Boost: A successful check reveals a deep thought,
such as a secret the target is keeping or their greatest
weakness or love.
Double Boost: At rank 1, you can listen to two minds at
once. At rank 2, you can listen and speak to two minds
at once.
Chapter 5 – Powers
mentally contact one willing target within one mile
instead of the normal range. You project one short
sentence (ten words or less) to this target. They can
respond with an immediate one-word reply.
Group Boost (M): You share thoughts with up to six
willing targets within range.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Weather Manipulation 1-5
Minor Power
You can call the forces of weather to produce a variety
of effects.
Activation: Trait Action, unless noted otherwise
Target: Anything
Range: 30’
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: When you select this Power, choose one Boost
to use as the standard effect for this Power. It is no
longer considered a Boost; it counts as the standard
effect. This does not count as one of the three Boosts
you get when you take rank 1.
Cold Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, create a
20’ radius sphere of super-cold air within range. All
creatures within area suffer disadvantage on all checks
while this Boost is maintained.
Fog Boost: Instead of standard effect, you create a 20’
radius sphere of fog within range. Actions requiring
sight within or through the fog suffer disadvantage. The
fog persists until it dissipates naturally.
Heat Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, create a
20’ radius sphere of intense heat within range. All
creatures and objects in the sphere suffer 1 Hits
damage (fire) at the end of your turn.
Lightning Boost: Instead of standard effect, make a
Power Check vs. one target’s Body. Deals Color+1 Hits
damage (electricity) to the target.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Sleet Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, create a 20’
radius area of sleet and ice within range. Moving across
the ice requires an Agility/ Acrobatics Check at TS 8 +
your rating in this Power or fall prone.
Thunder Boost: Instead of standard effect, make a
Power Check vs. one target’s Mind. Success deals
Color+1 Hits damage (force) to the target.
Whirlwind Boost (M): As a Free Action, a small
whirlwind surrounds the lower half of your body. Until
the beginning of your next turn, you fly at Speed 30.
Wind Boost: Instead of standard effect, you call forth
a burst of wind. Choose one target within range. That
target is pushed 15’.
55
Chapter 5 – Powers
Agent: Continue.
Witness: It weren’t just that first fellas that’s
some sorta Caper. A bunch of ‘em were. I
wasn’t even sure who was shootin’ at who at
this point. And I only saw part of it cuz I was
hidin’ and all. Like I says, all hell breaks loose.
Agent: Okay, let’s take a step back and keep it
simple. You say you saw several Capers. What
sorts of abilities did they exhibit?
Witness: The fella who owed money, the first
one, he was blockin’ bullets with that shimmery
thing he could make. He moved it around a
bunch of times. The blurry fella moved real
fast, like you could barely see him sort of fast.
He was punchin’ at the folks firin’ guns.
56
MAJOR POWERS
Animal Affinity 1-3
Major Power
You take on aspects of various animals and even
transform into animals.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: When you select this Power, choose one Boost
other than Lesser Animal Form or Greater Animal
Form to use as the standard effect for this Power. It is
no longer considered a Boost; it counts as the standard
effect. This does not count as one of the three Boosts
you get when you take rank 1.
At rank 1, you can use Boosts to take on aspects
of certain animals. At rank 2, you can select Lesser
Animal Form Boost. At rank 3, you can select Greater
Animal Form Boost.
You must take the Animal Form Boosts multiple
times to gain multiple animal forms. Your clothing and
held objects meld into your body when you transform.
If you lose the form’s Hits score in damage, you revert
to your normal form with those Hits lost. You can’t
transform again until you regain those lost Hits.
Cat Eyes Boost (M): You can see in darkness until the
beginning of your next turn.
Claw or Bite Boost (M): You grow claws or fangs that
deal Suit Hits damage and count as Fisticuffs until the
beginning of your next turn.
Fins and Gills Boost (M): Until the beginning of your
next turn, you sprout gills and can breathe underwater.
Your hands and feet become webbed and you swim at
full speed without making checks.
Greater Animal Form Boost (M): When you take this
Boost, choose a level 3 or 4 animal. You transform into
that animal while you maintain this Boost. You take on
all aspects of that animal except you keep your normal
Charisma, Expertise, Perception, and Mind scores as
well as all of your Skills. You cannot use any other
Animal Affinity Boosts when in this form. You cannot
use any Powers that require an ability that humans
have and animals don’t, such as speaking a language.
Lesser Animal Form Boost (M): When you take this
Boost, choose a level 1 or level 2 animal. You transform
into that animal while you maintain this Boost. You
take on all aspects of that animal except you keep your
normal Charisma, Expertise, Perception, and Mind
scores as well as all of your Skills. You cannot use
any other Animal Affinity Boosts when in this form.
You cannot use any Powers that require an ability that
humans have and animals don’t, such as speaking
a language.

Owl Ears Boost (M): You can hear perfectly across ¼
mile until the beginning of your next turn.
Scent Boost (M): You can track by scent like a dog until
the beginning of your next turn.
Wings Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
you sprout wings and can fly at Speed 30.
Dimension Step 1-2
Major Power
You can instantly travel across space.
Activation: Give up half your movement for the turn
Target: Self
Range: 30’
Duration: Until the portals close
Effect: At rank 1, you create a 6’ diameter portal next
to you and another one at a location you can see
within range. You can look into your portal to see out
of the other. You can fire projectiles or energy powers
through the portals. If you step through your portal,
you exit the other one and both portals close. At rank
2, the second portal can be anywhere within range,
even if you can’t see the location. If a solid object
exists where the other portal opens, you exit the portal
adjacent to the object. Regardless of rank, both portals
close at the end of your turn if they’re still active.
Chaperone Boost: You can bring one willing person
with you when you go through the portal.
Force-Blast Boost: Choose one target adjacent to the
distant portal. The target takes Color Hits damage
(force) when you step through.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Redirect Boost (M): One time before the beginning of
your next turn, when a projectile attack hits you, it
misses you instead as a small pair of portals redirect
the projectile.
Size Boost: Both portals are only 2’ in diameter.
Slingshot Boost: Give up all your movement for the turn
to use this Boost. When you step through the portal,
you appear at the other one, take the rest of your turn,
and then are drawn back through the portal to your
original location. Your turn then ends. If you take
someone with you using Chaperone Boost, you can
leave them there or return with them to your original
location. The portals close after you return.
Chapter 5 – Powers
Elasticity1-2
Major Power
You can stretch your limbs, torso, and neck.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: At rank 1, you can elongate up to two limbs
(including your neck) up to 15’ each as a Free Action.
You can reduce back to normal as a Free Action, but
can’t elongate and reduce on the same turn. At rank 2,
you can elongate all four limbs and your neck up to 15’
each. You can reduce back to normal as a Free Action,
but can’t elongate and reduce on the same turn.
Far Punch Boost: You elongate one limb up to 30’ and
make one Fisticuffs or Melee attack where your hand
or foot now is, then immediately retract the limb.
Fling Boost: You fling an object weighing less than thirty
pounds up to 100’. If you make an attack in this way, it
is a Strength/Ranged Weapons check.
Ladder Boost (M): You elongate your legs and arms up
to 20’ each. Other characters can climb up or down you
at full speed without making any Trait Checks.
Missed Me Boost (M): One time before the beginning
of your next turn, when a physical attack hits you, the
attack misses instead.
Stride Boost (M): When you elongate your legs, your
foot Speed increases by 30’.
Tie Up Boost (M): You elongate two limbs and wrap
them around a target that you are adjacent to. The
target can escape using normal rules for escaping a
grapple, but the TS is increased by this Power’s rating.
Goo Generation 1
Major Power
You secrete viscous, sticky goo from your hands.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: You create sticky goo that covers your hands. You
cannot be disarmed. You can climb vertical surfaces at
your normal Speed without making Trait Checks.
Ball Boost: You fire a single ball of goo at any target
within range 30’. Make an Agility/Ranged Weapons
check to hit the target.
Ceiling Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
you can climb on the underside of horizontal surfaces
at your normal Speed without making Trait Checks.
Non-Sticky Boost: Any goo you create this round is
not sticky.
57
Chapter 5 – Powers

Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’

until the beginning of your next turn.
Rope Boost: You shoot a rope of goo from your hand to
an object or surface with a range of 30’. You can climb
the rope or swing on it. You can snap it backward to
pull a small object into your hand. If you want to pull
a held object to your hand, make a Strength/Athletics
check against the target’s Strength Defense.
Web Boost: You create a 10’ diameter web between two
or more surfaces/objects.

Illusions1-2
Major Power
You create a realistic illusion from nothing.
Activation: Trait Action
Target: NA
Range: 30’
Duration: 1 round
Effect: At rank 1, you can create a visual and auditory
illusion that fits inside a 10’ cube. At rank 2, you can
create a visual and auditory illusion that fits in a 15’
cube. In both cases, the illusion remains static
once created.
Adornment Boost (M): Instead of standard effect, you
create a small illusion (must fit in a 3’ cube) that must
be placed on your person. You can only have one
illusion of this nature in existence at any one time. It Influence Emotions 1-3
cannot be used to change your body’s physical shape
or size. Major Power
Extend Boost (M): The illusion persists until you stop You can manipulate others peoples’ emotions.
using this Boost. You can alter the illusion on your turn Activation: Charisma/Willpower vs. Target’s Mind
as a Free Action. Target: Any intelligent creature
Movement Boost (M): When you create the illusion, Range: 30’
you can program it to repeat certain movements and Duration: 1 round
sounds for its duration.
Physicality Boost (M): The illusion can interact with Effect: At rank 1, you impose a simple emotion on
(and even attack) one creature or other physical the target. Choose joy or lust (positive emotions) OR
object of your choosing until the beginning of your choose anger, sadness, or fear (negative emotions). The
next turn. The illusion attacks using your Trait/Skill, target feels the emotion and makes choices according
as appropriate to the attack type. If you hit, the attack to how it influences them. At rank 2, you can maintain a
deals Color+1 Hits damage. It does not deal damage simple emotion in the target by using Positive Emotion
based on what the attack looks like. Boost or Negative Emotion Boost, as appropriate to the
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’ type of emotion created with this effect. You can also
until the beginning of your next turn. create more complex emotions using Positive Emotion
Size Boost (M): Increase the size of the cube by 5’ on Boost and Negative Emotion Boost and maintain them
each side. as well.
Resisting: If you maintain the Power using a Boost, the
target can attempt to resist by making a Perception/
Willpower Check vs. your Mind. This can be attempted
once at the end of each of the target’s turns. Success
indicates the target shrugs off the effect. Success
with a Boon results in the target being immune to this
Power for 24 hours.

58

Amnesia Boost: The target does not remember having
their emotions manipulated.
Negative Emotion Boost (M): You can imbue more
complex, negative emotions into the target. Each time
you use this Boost, choose disgust, shame, pity, envy,
pride, or confusion. You must have rank 2 in Influence
Emotions to select this Boost.
Positive Emotion Boost (M): You can imbue more
complex, positive emotions into the target. Each time
you use this Boost, choose trust, anticipation, surprise,
friendship, kindness, love, courage, or hope. You must
have rank 2 in Influence Emotions to use this Boost.
Range Boost: The range of this Power increases to 100’
until the beginning of your next turn.
Soothing Boost: Immediately calm a target within range,
removing the effects of an over-active emotion.
Twin Boost: Apply the standard effect to two targets.
Use each target’s individual Mind scores as Target
Scores for one Trait Check. It’s possible to affect one
target and not the other.
Invisibility1
Major Power
You can disappear from view.
Activation: Free Action
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: You become invisible but cannot move more
than 2’ per round. You can only turn yourself invisible
once per round. Invisibility includes your clothing and
gear carried. If you attack, you become visible. Any
item you let go of or drop immediately becomes visible.
Attack Boost (M): You don’t become visible when
you attack.
Imbue Boost (M): One other person becomes invisible
when you do until the beginning of your next turn. The
two of you must be in physical contact with each other
to maintain the other person’s invisibility.
Move Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
you remain invisible while moving up to your normal
Speed during the round.
Run Boost (M): You must have used the Move Boost this
turn to use the Run Boost. Until the beginning of your
next turn, you remain invisible while moving more than
your normal Speed.
Chapter 5 – Powers
Mimic1-2
Major Power
You can change your appearance to look like
other people.
Activation: Trait Action
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous once activated
Effect: At rank 1, you can take on the appearance of
any other person within one foot of your height, but
you can’t mimic their voice. At rank 2, you can take
on the appearance of any other person and mimic that
person’s voice if you have heard them speak. Changing
forms requires a Trait Action. Your clothing does not
change. If you fall unconscious or die, you revert to
your normal form.
Garb Boost (M): You change the appearance of your
clothing along with your physical appearance.
Height Boost (M): You are not limited by height when
changing appearance.
Language Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
turn, you can speak one language the person you’re
mimicking can speak while mimicking them. You
cannot read and write this language.
Quicken Boost: You change form as a Free Action.
Read/Write Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next
turn, you can read and write one language the person
you’re mimicking can read and write.
Speedster1-2
Major Power
You run far faster than any normal human being.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: At rank 1, your Speed is 60’. At rank 2, your
Speed is 90’. You cannot carry anyone with you at these
increased speeds.
Chaperone Boost (M): You carry one willing person
with you at your increased speed.
Damage Boost: If you run at your target first, a
successful Melee Weapon or Fisticuffs attack against
that target deals 2 additional Hits damage.
Lightning Boost: Choose one target that you run
past during the turn. The target takes Color Hits
damage (electricity).
Speed Boost (M): Until the beginning of your next turn,
increase your Speed rating by 30’.
Water Walk Boost (M): You can run across water until
the beginning of your next turn. If you stop on the
water, you sink.
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Chapter 5 – Powers

Whirlwind Boost (M): Use all your movement to run Intimidating Boost (M): Automatically intimidate an
quickly in a 10’ radius circle. If there is dirt or debris in NPC with a Perception of 2 or less.
the circle, you kick it into a whirlwind, blocking sight Liar Boost: All NPCs automatically believe the next lie
into, out of, and through the cloud. you tell as long as it is within the bounds of reason.
Minion Boost (M): Automatically bring an NPC with a
Super Agility 1-2 Perception of 2 or less under your sway, socially. The
NPC will do whatever you ask of them as long as it
Major Power won’t endanger their life.
You are far more agile than any normal human.
Activation: NA Super Expertise 1-2
Target: Self
Major Power
Range: NA
Your intelligence outstrips that of most people.
Duration: Continuous
Activation: NA
Effect: Your Agility must be a 3 before taking this
Target: Self
Power. At rank 1, your Agility increases to 4. At rank 2,
Range: NA
your Agility increases to 5.
Duration: Continuous
Balance Boost (M): You maintain your balance on
Effect: Your Expertise must be a 3 before taking this
anything tightrope size or larger until the beginning of
Power. At rank 1, your Expertise increases to 4. At
your next turn.
rank 2, your Expertise increases to 5. Each time you
Dodge Boost (M): Your Body increases by 1 until the
increase your Expertise by 1, you gain a Skill. You treat
beginning of your next turn.
Botches on Expertise Checks as normal failures.
Escape Boost: Automatically escape a grapple or escape
from bonds/handcuffs. Aid Boost: As a Trait Action, you describe how to do
Focus Boost (M): You can move at full speed while something to someone else. That person gains advantage
sneaking or balancing until the beginning of your on their next Trait Check to perform that action.
next turn. Craft/Repair Boost (M): You craft or repair an item in
Precision Boost: Your Guns and Ranged Weapon attacks half the time normally required. You must maintain this
deal +2 Hits damage until the beginning of your next turn. Boost while crafting or repairing.
Squeeze Boost (M): You can squeeze through any space Disable Boost (M): You disable an item in half the time
wider than one foot square until the beginning of your normally required. You must maintain this Boost while
next turn. disabling. If disabling the item would have taken one
Trait Action, you disable it as a Free Action.
Super Charisma 1-2 Flaw Boost: After studying something for five minutes,
you notice the biggest flaw in the situation or system.
Major Power Memory Boost (M): You recall information heard or
You are far more charming and willful than seen previously with great clarity, to the point that you
most people. can write down or draw it perfectly. You must maintain
this Boost while re-creating the information.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: Your Charisma must be a 3 before taking this
Power. At rank 1, your Charisma increases to 4. At rank
2, your Charisma increases to 5. You treat Botches on
Charisma Checks as normal failures.
Damage Prevention Boost (M): Until the beginning
of your next turn, when you spend Moxie to prevent
damage just taken, you prevent two additional points
of damage.
Exhaustion Boost: Immediately shrug off any effect
that makes you exhausted, tired, or otherwise
unfocused mentally.
Hits Boost: Gain 2 Hits.

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 Chapter 5 – Powers

Super Perception 1-2 Super Strength 1-2

Major Power
Your perception and common sense outshine others.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: Your Perception must be a 3 before taking this
Power. At rank 1, your Perception increases to 4.
At rank 2, your Perception increases to 5. You treat
Botches on Perception Checks as normal failures.
Emotion Sense Boost (M): Choose one target you can
see within 30’. You sense their emotions.
Health Sense Boost (M): Choose one target you can
see within 30’. You know how many Hits the target
has remaining.
Lie Detector Boost (M): Choose one target you can see
within 30’. Until the beginning of your next turn, you
always know if the target is lying.
Nightvision Boost (M): You see perfectly in all but
total darkness.
Reactive Boost (M): Your Mind increases by 1 until the
beginning of your next.
Taster Boost (M): You detect the presence of poisons
and toxins with but a taste of a substance.
Major Power
You are far stronger than any normal human.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: Your Strength must be a 3 before taking this
Power. At rank 1, your Strength increases to 4. At rank
2, your Strength increases to 5. Your Fisticuffs and
Melee Weapon (including thrown weapon) attacks deal
the better of Suit Hits damage or their normal damage.
Damage Boost: Your Fisticuffs and Melee Weapon
(including thrown weapon) attacks deal +2 Hits
damage until the beginning of your next turn.
Jump Boost: Jump up to 30’ as part of your movement.
Knockdown Boost: If you hit the target, you also knock
it prone.
Penetration Boost: You can punch or throw through up
to 8” of concrete or a thin steel plate to hit something
on the other side.
Push Boost: If you hit the target, you push it 10’.
Range Boost: Ranges for your thrown weapons double
until the beginning of your next turn.

Super Resilience 1-2

Major Power
You are healthier than the average person.
Activation: NA
Target: Self
Range: NA
Duration: Continuous
Effect: Your Resilience must be a 3 before taking this
Power. At rank 1, your Resilience increases to 4. At
rank 2, your Resilience increases to 5. You require only
four hours of sleep per night. You heal Hits at twice the
normal rate.
Cure Boost: Immediately cure yourself of any disease
you’ve contracted.
Damage Prevention Boost (M): Until the beginning
of your next turn, when you spend Moxie to prevent
damage just taken, you prevent two additional points
of damage.
Detoxifying Boost: Immediately shrug off the effects of
all toxins, alcohol, and other drugs.
Exhaustion Boost: Immediately shrug off any effect
that makes you exhausted, tired, or otherwise
unfocused mentally.
Hits Boost: Gain 2 Hits.

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 GOODS & SERVICES
Clothing General Equipment
Item Cost Item Cost
Men’s boots $5 Ax $4
Men’s coat $10 Bicycle $10
Men’s hat $4 Broom $0.50
Men’s overcoat $15 Canteen/thermos $2
Men’s shirt, chambray $1.50 Cigar $0.15
Men’s shirt, silk $5 Flashlight $0.60
Men’s shoes, dress $8 Guitar $10
Men’s shoes, work $3 Hammer $1
Men’s tie, silk $5 Handcuffs $6.50
Men’s trousers $5 Lantern oil (gallon) $0.25
Women’s blouse $4 Lantern $4
Women’s coat $30 Lockpicks $5
Women’s dress, fancy $12 Matches (100) $0.25
Women’s handbag $2 Padlock $1
Women’s hat $2 Paint (gallon) $2.50
Women’s shoes, heels $7 Paint brush $2.50
Women’s shoes, pumps $2 Pipe $4
Women’s skirt $1.75 Playing cards $0.50
Radio $100
Services Rope (50’) $8
Shovel $3
Item Cost
Spectacles $10
Doctor visit $10
Tobacco, smoking (pouch) $1
Room, boarding house (day) $3
Umbrella $3
Room, high-end hotel (day) $15
Watch $5
Room, low-end hotel (day) $7
Watch, fancy $25
Shave and a haircut $0.50

Food & Drink Entertainment and Information

Item Cost
Item Cost
Burlesque admission $1
Breakfast $0.50
Concert ticket $10
Luncheon $0.50
Dance ticket $2
Dinner $1.25
Movie ticket, evening $0.25
Dinner, fancy $2.50
Movie ticket, matinee $0.15
Beer (glass) $0.10
Newspaper, Sunday $0.05
Liquor, cheap, glass $0.20
Newspaper, weekday, daily $0.02
Liquor, cheap, bottle $4
Sporting event ticket $2
Liquor, expensive, glass $0.50
Steeplechase/pony race admission $2
Liquor, expensive, bottle $10

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 Chapter 6 – Goods & Services

Transportation Firearms
Item Cost Item Cost
Buckboard $100 Derringer $12
Buggy $200 Pistol $25
Horse $200 Rifle $50
Saddle bags $10 Shotgun $70
Saddle $50 Tommy Gun $225
Train ticket (per mile) $0.10 Ammunition
Derringer/Pistol Rounds (50) $6
Vehicles Rifle Rounds (50) $10

Item Cost Shotgun Shells (20) $4

Tommy Gun (20-round magazine) $3
New
Tommy Gun (50-round drum) $5
Roadster $1,050
Sedan, 5 passenger $1,250
Sedan, 7 passenger $1,700 Explosives
Sedan, 5-passenger, high-end $2,000 Item Cost
Truck $750 Detonation wire (50’) $4
Motorcycle $300 Detonator, plunger $20
Tire (each) $11 Dynamite (one stick) $6
Used Fuse cord (50’) $1
Roadster $400 Grenade $10
Sedan, 5 passenger $550 Nitroglycerin (8 oz) $5
Sedan, 7 passenger $650
Sedan, 5 passenger, high-end $800 DAMAGE TABLES
Truck $300
Motorcycle $100 Weapon Table
Weapon Dmg Range Rnds Cost
Real Estate
Fists/Feet Color -- -- --
Item Cost Brass Knuckles Color+1 -- -- $2
House, 8-room, furnished $5,000 Knife/Dagger Color+1 20/60 -- $5
House, 8-room, furnished, fancy $20,000 Improvised Color+1 20/60 -- --
Speakeasy, small, furnished $8,000 Club/Staff Suit -- -- --
Speakeasy, large, furnished $20,000 Saber Suit+1 -- -- $20
Brewery/distillery, small, furnished $20,000 Bow Suit 100/300 -- $6
Brewery/distillery, large, furnished $50,000 Derringer Suit 30/100 2 $12
Casino, small, furnished $40,000 Pistol Suit+1 50/150 6/12 $25
Casino, large, furnished $100,000 Rifle Suit+1 100/300 10 $50
Hotel, 10-story, 100-room, furnished $650,000 Shotgun Suit+2 50/150 1/2/5 $70
Tommy Gun Suit+2 100/300 20/50 $225
Hand Weapons
Explosives Table
Item Cost
Arrows (dozen) $1 Explosive Dmg Blast Cost
Bow $6 Nitroglycerin (8 oz.) 2 x Suit 5’ rad. $5
Brass knuckles $2 Dynamite (one stick) 3 x Suit 10’ rad. $6
Club -- Grenade 3 x Suit 10’ rad. $10
Knife $5
Saber $20

63
 TREMBIUM
Chapter 5 describes how characters can use Powers
that are inherent to them. However, there are also ways
to introduce science-bending capabilities to the world
of CAPERS by injecting a little “mad science” and
technology into the game.
These rules are optional since they change the
flavor of the world a bit. Make sure to confirm with the
GM that everything in this chapter is going to be part of
the game.
WHAT IS TREMBIUM?
Shortly after people with strange abilities began
appearing, scientists started looking for the source.
After a few years, chemists discovered a previously
unknown element in the blood of people with abilities.
The element vibrates and trembles in its natural state,
leading to it being named trembium.
Shortly after, it was also determined that trembium is
radioactive, emitting what scientists have dubbed trem-
waves. Research has begun in harnessing trembium and
trem-waves, but thus far scientists have only scratched
the surface of this strange material’s potential.
Recently, scientists discovered that trembium exists
naturally on Earth, but only in very small quantities
in a very few remote locations. Trembium detection
methods are in their infancy and only occasionally
successful. Experts believe that the unstable, trembling
properties of the element is responsible for the
difficulties in pinpointing it in nature.
Trembium Shots
Trembium can be shot directly into a character’s
bloodstream to temporarily imbue the subject with
extraordinary capabilities. A single shot provides a
character one of the following for twenty-four hours.
If the subject has one rank in Super Resilience, the
effects only last twelve hours. If they have two ranks in
Super Resilience, the effects last six hours.
❖ Minor Power: The character gains a minor
Power at rank 2.
❖ Major Power: The character gains a major
Power at rank 1.
64
Multiple shots of trembium provide multiple benefits
but don’t increase the duration of the effect.
The GM chooses which Powers they want these
characters to have or can determine them randomly
using the list of Powers in Appendix 3. With the
GM’s permission, players choose the effects if their
characters are injected with trembium shots.
Anti-Trembium
Everything has its opposite, and trembium is no
exception. Anti-trembium has been discovered recently
and is being studied by a few select scientists in North
America and Europe.
Anti-trembium negates the effects of trembium. A
dose of anti-trembium injected into the bloodstream
suppresses all of a Capers’ Powers for twenty-four
hours. If the subject has one rank in Super Resilience,
the effects last only twelve hours. If the subject has two
ranks in Super Resilience, the effects last six hours.
Trem-Wave and Anti-Trem-Wave Guns
Guns that fire trem-waves and anti-trem-waves have
been developed very recently. These large, two-handed
guns need to be loaded with a dose of trembium or
anti-trembium. The element within the gun is then
subjected to a highly explosive charge. The resulting
wave blasts from the gun, hitting all targets within a
cube 20’ on a side directly in front of the firer.
Each person hit is affected as if they received
a single shot of trembium or anti-trembium as
appropriate to the gun’s load.
These guns can only hold one charge at a time
and the firer must spend one minute reloading and
preparing another shot.
Super Soldiers
A few military scientists have started working on ways
to imbue fantastic abilities in people on a more long
term basis to create super soldiers.
Subjects first undergo rigorous testing to determine
if they’re physically capable of withstanding extended
trem-wave treatments. Only the toughest individuals
are chosen.
The subjects then undergo an extended treatment
regimen during which they receive regular trembium
shots and extended trem-wave exposure sessions.
 Chapter 7 – Trembium

A handful of soldiers have passed through the

initial stages and now exhibit a few Powers that seem
to have taken hold permanently.

Trembium and Anti-Trembium-

Laced Locations
Some areas on Earth are laced with miniscule amounts
of trembium or anti-trembium. These areas can be as
small as a 10’-diameter area or as large as a quarter
mile across.
The waves created by the trembium or anti-
trembium in these areas create strange effects.
In areas laced with trembium, all Capers’ Powers
increase by one rank (but can’t exceed the normal upper
limits of individual Powers). Non-Capers who spend
more than a day in a trembium-laced area gain Powers
as if they were given a single trembium shot. The effects
last as long as the characters remain in the trembium-
laced area and dissipate immediately upon leaving.
In areas laced with anti-trembium, Capers’ Powers
are decreased by one rank and can be negated in
this manner. In particularly strong areas, all Powers
are negated entirely. The effects are immediate upon
entering the area and Powers return to full strength
immediately upon leaving the area.

TREM-GEAR AND TREM-SUITS

A handful of inventors have discovered ways to imbue Trem-Suits
trembium into technology, allowing these items to
A trem-suit is simply a series of trem-gear items that
exceed the power of their more mundane counterparts.
are integrated together and function as a suit. A trem-
suit is a highly specialized piece of equipment, fitted
Trem-Gear and articulated to work for a specific person. As such,
Gear augmented with trembium comes in two varieties. it can only be used by the person for whom it was
Some trem-gear items have limited charges and specifically crafted.
can only be used a few times before they become It’s possible for individual parts of the trem-suit
inoperable. These items might belong to antagonists as to be used individually if it’s reasonable that such
“cool toys” they use to achieve their ends. a part can be disassembled from the suit easily. A
Limited-use trem-gear is usable by any character. It piece of trem-gear affixed to the forearm or a helmet,
has a number of charges determined by the GM (usually for example, could be removed from the suit easily
1-5). Each time a character uses the item by activating enough. Consult the GM for approval on which pieces
the Power within it, reduce the number of charges of the trem-suit can be used individually.
by one. (A Power that normally has a duration of Getting into or out of a trem-suit takes one minute.
Continuous functions for ten minutes when a charge is This time can be halved if another character aids
spent.) When all charges are spent, the gear is useless. the wearer.
Other trem-gear items are considered permanent
parts of a character’s gear. They should be available
to the owner most of the time and function without
limitations, just like standard Powers. Since the Powers
are tied to the gear, there will be times when the
character doesn’t have access to it. The GM is within
their rights to make this happen occasionally. For
example, when your character attends the governor’s
ball, it’s unlikely they will be able to wear a big helmet
that gives them the Telepathy Power.

65
Chapter 7 – Trembium

Character Creation and Advancement Creating Trem-Gear and Trem-Suits

Permanent trem-gear and trem-suits are part of Characters with trem-gear and trem-suits might have
standard character creation and advancement. See this equipment given to them by a benefactor or create
Chapter 2 for complete information. it themselves, at the GM’s discretion.
When you gain rank 1 in a piece of trem-gear, Each piece of trem-gear – whether a solo piece
choose three Boosts that piece of trem-gear can use. or added to a trem-suit – requires one week of work,
Then choose one of those three Boosts. That Boost minimum eight hours each day. The GM may allow
is always applied to the Power’s standard effect and you to bank that time during character downtime
doesn’t require you to reduce your Card Count to in adventures leading up to the point where your
activate it. You can’t choose a Boost that replaces the character advances and gains the gear or suit.
standard effect, only one that augments the standard
effect. You must reduce your Card Count as normal to Damage and Repair of Trem-Gear
use other Boosts. and Trem-Suits
Each time the rank in a piece of trem-gear increases
by 1, gain one additional Boost the trem-gear can use. If a character using trem-gear (including trem-suits)
Trem-gear designed for a specific individual is is hit by by a physical attack, including energy-
usable only by that individual. You cannot create trem- based attacks, it’s possible for the trem-gear to
gear for someone else’s character. Limited-use trem- become damaged.
gear is the purview of the GM. If the attacker gets a Boon as part of the attack, the
attacker could determine that the gear is damaged and
ceases to function for one round. If that character suffers
another attack with a Boon, that second Boon could be
used to have the trem-gear be damaged until repaired.
EXAMPLE TREM-GEAR
Repairing a piece of trem-gear or a trem-suit
A full list of possible trem-gear would be as damaged in this way takes a half hour and the tools
long as the Power list. It’s up to the GM and necessary for the task.
players to come up with specifics for what the
trem-gear looks like.
Think in terms of slightly bulky items made of
metal, wood, leather, and rope. Trem-gear is
strange, fantastic, and out-of-the-ordinary in
terms of 1920s technology. Some example
ideas follow.
Concussion Rifle – This bulky, two-hand rifle
is outfitted with a series of metal bulbs in
succession that build up and release a beam of
force, mimicking the Concussion Beam Power.
Anti-Flame Suit – This full-body suit of
clothes features visible surfaces laced
with crisscrossing gold wires that keep the
wearer cool, mimicking the effects of Energy
Resistance (fire).
Rocket Pack – This large, heavy, metal
backpack is affixed to the wearer with a heavy
leather harness. A control arm juts from one
side and down along the wearer’s hip, allowing
manual manipulation of the pack’s capabilities.
It mimics the Flight Power.

66
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 GM GUIDELINES
RUNNING THE GAME
In CAPERS, the GM is in charge of everything except
the players’ characters. It’s your job to present
challenges to the players, set Target Scores for many
of the Trait Checks, officiate rules discrepancies, and
make the players really work for their successes.
Most of all, you’re there to facilitate the players
through a fun story. If the game starts to drag, move it
along. If the players are at an impasse, provide a clue. If
the game veers into joking around, let it happen, but be
sure to get everyone back on track in a timely manner.
A roleplaying game is, at its heart, improvised,
cooperative storytelling. Everyone takes turns adding
to the story. Here are some things to keep in mind
when running the game, along with some methods to
add depth to the story.
Player Agency
The characters are always the center of the story.
Everything they do should have some sort of
consequences, whether they are immediate and minor
or far-reaching and life-changing.
Make sure to give each player their turn in the
spotlight. And learn what each of them wants from
the game. If one player likes their character to get into
gunfights, make sure they get a cool gunfight from time
to time. If another player likes to roleplay their fast-
talking swindler, give the player the chance to show off.
It may be necessary to occasionally shift focus
away from the characters to make a point, inform the
players of something important, or foreshadow/recall
some event. That’s fine, but make sure to get back to
the characters as soon as possible.
Improvisation
Even if you plan out your adventures, even if you lay
out every possible complication that might arise for
each and every encounter, the players will surprise you.
Roll with the punches. Take what the players bring
to the game and build on it. Whenever possible, say
“yes, and…” to any request that doesn’t involve flipping
cards. If you must say “no,” say, “no, but…” and provide
the player with an alternative.
When a player asks questions, they are usually
asking because they want the thing they’re asking
about. If a player says, “Is there a car speeding by?”
they probably want there to be a car speeding by
because they have an idea for doing something cool
with that speeding car. If it’s not going to interfere with
some important plot element, give the player what
they want.
Improvising within a game can be a daunting task.
Just remember that the players want to have fun just as
much as you do. They want you to succeed with your
improvising, so they’ll often cut you some slack as you
find your way.
The Rule of Cool
If a player wants to do something really cool with their
character but there isn’t a method for doing that thing
provided in the rules, make one up. If a player wants
to try something crazy, let them. If it’ll be cool, give it a
chance to happen.
You might need to set a TS fairly high or make up
a house rule for the situation. Just let the players know
this and be consistent with it in the future.
Leading Questions
Building on the above, when you’re improvising, you
might ask the players questions in order to keep things
moving and get them more involved.
One or two leading questions at just the right
moment can expand the encounter, give the players a
sense of contributing even when their characters aren’t
active, and help build an engaging story.
If you introduce an NPC, you might ask, “How do
you know this character?” and let one or two players
fill in details. If you introduce a car accident that has
recently taken place, ask “How did the crash happen?
What did your character see?” The players’ responses
to questions like these will build the encounter
description. It’ll give you time to plan your next move
in your head. And it might even spark a whole subplot
you hadn’t previously thought of.
Setting the Stage
When describing an NPC, scene, or encounter, be
descriptive but don’t over-do it. Don’t nail down every
little detail. Leave some openings for players to ask
questions. A few memorable details can go a long way.
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Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
With NPCs, height and hair color are all well and
good, but what about the character’s voice? Do they
have a distinctive piece of clothing or gear? Do they
repeat a certain phrase a lot? Do they call people by
nicknames? Do they have a previous relationship with
one of the characters?
For scenes, what’s most noticeable about the
locale? Is it loud? Prettily decorated? Is it twilight? Is
there a notable person or vehicle present?
Provide enough information to set the stage, imbue
the encounter with the mood and tone you want it to
have, and then give the story back to the players. If you
nail down too many details, you run the risk of limiting
player choices and might slow the game down.
Have Fun
Above all, have fun. Figure out what makes the
game fun for the group, for you, and for each player
individually. Find ways to combine those elements in
entertaining, surprising ways.
Fostering fun also means knowing when to take a
break from the fun. If things get bogged down, suggest
a short break for people to grab a snack or check their
email. Everyone will come back to the game refreshed,
and maybe with a few new ideas in their heads.
72
So too, if the group is getting burned out on
CAPERS itself, take some time off. Run a one-shot
of another game – or have another player GM it. Play
some board games. Watch some gangster movies for
inspiration. If you’ve been playing gangsters, switch to
playing the feds.
Sharing the Narrative
Some player groups get into narrative storytelling
and improvisation more than others. If your group
likes to get more involved, you can “share the
narrative” occasionally.
When the players engage in an encounter that
doesn’t have a lot of specifics defined or when they go
off in a direction you didn’t plan for, you can alleviate
some of the burden of coming up with things on the fly
by calling upon the players to help you.
For example, suppose the players decide to
have their characters ambush an adversary in the
alley behind their main foe’s speakeasy. You have the
adversary’s stat block, so you can run the encounter.
But an alley is kind of a boring place. How do you spice
it up a bit?
Start by describing the basics of the alley from the
point of view of the characters. Then go around the
table and ask each player a question. What else do you
see? Is anything moving? What’s noteworthy about this
alley? Is anyone else here? What can you see at the
end of the alley? The players help fill in the blanks by
quickly describing things you may not have thought of.
If a player tries to get an in-game bonus out of
their narrative description, don’t shoot it down. Instead
tailor it back a bit and make it clear that while it may
add flavor or allow the character some flair, there’s no
special mechanical bonus being provided.
This isn’t part of the system for spending Moxie to
shape the narrative and gain some sort of advantage.
Nothing the players describe should inherently swing
the encounter in their favor. Rather, it should flesh out
the scene and help the players engage with the story,
since they had a hand in creating that moment.
The Internet Is Your Friend
This is just a brief overview of some aspects of running
a game. There are literally thousands of web pages out
there chock full of advice and ideas. Don’t be afraid to
use them.

USING THE RULES
The rules are covered for everyone earlier in this book.
But there are some things that are meant for the GM’s
eyes only.
Trait Checks and Target Scores
The baseline Target Score (TS) for Trait Checks is 8. It
represents a moderately difficult task performed when
under duress or when failure holds consequences.
Most Trait Checks that would be TS 4 or 6 should
be easily accomplished if the characters have time and
there isn’t a significant penalty for failure. For example,
if a player says their character is going to look for a
specific person in a crowded saloon, and has plenty of
time to do it, let them do it and describe that it takes
some time.
That said, when players undertake more difficult
Trait Checks, it’s up to you to set the TS. Most of these
TSs should be in the 8-Q range. Only use Target Scores
K-A for exceedingly difficult tasks.
Also, keep in mind that some tasks are impossible.
Use your best judgment if the players want to try
something that is seemingly impossible. When
appropriate, give them chances to make checks at
Target Score K or higher, but don’t overdo it. If the task
seems impossible, offer the players alternatives that
give them part or most of what they’re looking for, but
at a better chance of success with lower TSs.
Staggered Target Scores
The GM might set a range of TSs for a particular Trait
Check, Each TS within this staggered range represents
“how well” the character succeeds. For example, a
Trait Check to listen at a door might have a TS 8 to
hear that there’s someone in the room and a TS 10 to
determine what the person is saying or doing.
In these cases, a Botch occurs if the character fails
to hit the lowest TS and gets clubs on their card.
Agent: What about the woman in the
flapper dress?
Witness: She was just shootin’ but she was a
real crackerjack. Even in all that chaos, she hit
everyone she shot at. Put one of the gun-totin’
fellas down with a shot to the head.
Agent: Where were you at this time?
Witness: Behind the desk still. Just pokin’ my
head up now and again to look for a way out.
Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
OPTIONAL RULE
STRESS-INDUCED DISADVANTAGE
If you’re playing CAPERS as mostly an
adventure game, you won’t have use for this
optional rule. But, if your group focuses on
story twists and emotional stresses suffered
by the characters, they might have to deal
with disadvantage.
In these cases, a character suffering significant
emotional distress – due to the loss of a loved
one, for example – suffers disadvantage on all
Trait and Power Checks until the character
has found some modicum of closure. Another
character might temporarily alleviate the
penalty with a rousing speech or choice use of
the Influence Emotions Power.
Dropping to 0 Hits
When a character reaches 0 Hits, the player has a
choice. Either the character is knocked unconscious
or the character will die, but gets one additional
round of actions.
Rather than knocking the character unconscious,
you have the option of having the character taken out
of the action in some other way. The character might
be forced out of the area where the action is taking
place. They might be kidnapped or nabbed by the
police for a short time, only to return later. Go with
whatever seems appropriate at the time. However,
make sure the character isn’t gone from the story for
too long. That player is going to want to get back in the
mix as soon as they are able.
When such a character returns to the action, they
should suffer a penalty for an encounter or two. The
easiest way to do this is to impose disadvantage on all
Trait and Power Checks for a short while.
If the player chooses to have their character die, the
character has one more round to act. Fail or succeed, at
the end of their final turn, the character dies.
Let the player spend as many Moxie as they have
left and can find ways to spend. They can increase their
Card Count, modify the narrative, and gain an extra
Trait Action. If what they’re doing for their last round
on Earth is something that will aid another character,
they can give away Moxie. Remind the player that this
is their character’s last hurrah, and they should use up
every resource they have.
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Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines

Players Shaping the Narrative Adjudicating Powers

Players can spend a Moxie to shape the narrative This part can be tricky. The Powers in CAPERS are
during play. This is intended to give the players a small described with some detail but a lot is left to player and
amount of control in the storytelling (outside of what GM interpretation. This is done on purpose.
their characters do). It’s not meant to derail the story Powers should be fun. There’s a certain amount of
or allow the players to bypass important encounters limitation that has been placed on each to keep things
without any real effort. under control, but too much limitation makes a Power
Generally speaking, expenditure of Moxie to shape less interesting and less inviting to play.
the narrative should only provide an immediate aid to When interpreting aspects of Powers not defined in
help where the players are stuck or provide for a more specifics, focus on what would make using that Power
entertaining encounter. the most fun. And be consistent. If everyone agrees
One Moxie shouldn’t provide a player with a long- on the interpretation, it’s fun, and it’s implemented
term benefit, though you can allow a longer-term benefit consistently, you’ve gotten it right.
if you wish by having the player spend 2 or 3 Moxie.
Example uses for using Moxie to shape the Trembium and NPCs
narrative include the following:
Since the trembium rules are optional, none of the
Caper NPCs presented in this book have trem-gear. If
❖❖ Discovering a useful clue or bit of equipment
you want their Powers to come from trem-gear rather
that will aid the player in the immediate future.
than inherent capability, simply choose one Boost from
For example, discovering a needed key or extra
each of their Powers and apply that Boost all the time
magazine of ammunition.
without reducing their Card Count. Invent what the
❖❖ Adding a flavorful narrative element to the trem-gear looks like and you’re ready to go.
encounter that provides a small bonus for that
encounter only. For example, describing how a
light fog has rolled in, providing an advantage
on Agility/Stealth checks to hide.
❖❖ Providing a narrative element that causes the
NPCs to react a certain way very briefly. For
example, a car backfiring that distracts the
characters' rivals momentarily just as they’re
about to escape.

This Moxie use is a balancing act. It requires a certain

level of trust between the GM and players. As is the
case with any rule, you can choose to ignore this rule
if the players attempt to abuse it. Or you can simply
charge more Moxie if the players try to get more bang
for their buck.

HOUSE RULES

This book presents a complete game that can

be played as is. But there’s no reason you
shouldn’t modify the game setting or rules to
better suit your and your players’ preferences.
Once purchased, a game like CAPERS
becomes the property of the players. Make
it what you want it to be. Or play it as is. It’s
your call.

74

DESIGNING ADVENTURES
As GM, your primary duty is to run adventures for
your players.
An adventure tells a story where the players’
characters are the stars. The typical adventure is
comprised of three basic parts:
❖❖ Setup: The GM introduces the central conflict of
the story directly or provides the players with a
hook that draws them to the central conflict.
❖❖ Challenges: The GM presents a series of
challenges that the players must solve,
overcome, or bypass in order to move forward.
❖❖ Resolution: The characters arrive at the finale
of the story where the final moments play out
and the central conflict is resolved. Secondary
conflicts encountered during the story may
remain unresolved and could become primary
conflicts in future adventures or remain
complications in the future.
This is the simplest version of an adventure and is well-
suited for one-shot game sessions.
Other Types of Adventures
You can also design adventures that work differently
than this.
For example, the central conflict might occur over
the course of the multiple game sessions. The players
work their way through a series of lesser conflicts,
learning more and more about the central, over-arching
conflict as they go. At the end of the final adventure in
this series, the players overcome this central conflict.
This type of “adventure series” is ideal for a longer
CAPERS campaign.
You might let the players determine the course of
events. Ask them what they want to do and then place
challenges in their way. When the opportunity to present
a greater conflict – a rival gang, the feds, irate townsfolk,
or a traitor in their midst – presents itself, bring that to
the fore. It’s not uncommon for players in this situation
to help write the story for you by offering ideas for the
types of challenges they fear running into or conflicts
they’d like to see in play. This option is also excellent for
a longer CAPERS campaign, particularly for GMs who
enjoy improvising based on player choices.
Regardless of how an adventure plays out,
eventually you’ll come to the end. If it’s a one-shot
adventure, that’s all there is. If the players continue on
a longer campaign, it’s time for you to figure out the
next adventure or ask the players what they’d like to do
next, depending on your GM style.
There are many ways to structure adventures and
lots of advice on GMing available. The internet is chock
full of ideas.
Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
ENCOUNTERS
Following is some advice on presenting and
adjudicating encounters.
How to Succeed in an Encounter
For the most part, CAPERS encounters don’t have to be
“won” in specific ways. The players have many options.
Getting information from an enemy might involve
beating the enemy up until they spill their guts. It might
involve coercing or tricking them into giving up the
info. It might involve hiring a private investigator to dig
up the dirt. It might involve stealing files from inside a
locked safe.
If the players’ course of action seems reasonable,
let them run with it and improvise as necessary.
And, truth be told, failure is okay, too. In fact,
failures often provide some of the best stories in a
game like CAPERS. Occasional failures increase the
stakes for the rest of the adventure and they make the
“win” in the end all the more enjoyable.
Encounter Basics
Encounters in CAPERS vary widely.
Some encounters are very short. A quick scene
where one or two characters question an NPC is an
encounter, though it likely won’t be worth any Moxie.
It’ll just answer a question and move the story forward.
On the other end of the spectrum, some encounters
are long and complex. A massive fight in a complicated
location is an example of such an encounter. This type
of encounter moves the story forward (or maybe brings
it to its conclusion) and is almost certainly an encounter
where some of the players will earn some Moxie.
Regardless of the length or complexity of the
encounter, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
❖❖ An encounter should move the story forward.
If the characters want to confirm some basic
information or look up something they can
find easily in a phone book or at their favorite
speakeasy, it’s not really an encounter. Provide
the information needed and move on.
❖❖ Planning for an encounter isn’t an encounter.
When the players spend ten minutes
formulating a plan for how their characters
are going to deal with their newest rival, by all
means let them work it out. But help make sure
they wrap it up in a timely manner so they can
enact the plan. That’s where the story actually
moves forward.
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Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
Things to Keep in Mind
Whether you design an encounter in advance of a game
session or improvise something during play, there are a
few things you should take into account:
❖❖ What does the encounter accomplish? That
is, how does it move the story forward? You
should have a good idea of how the encounter
affects the players in the long term and how it
might change future encounters.
❖❖ Where and when does the encounter take
place? Location and time of day set the stage
for the encounter. Try to be evocative. Finding
an NPC in a busy restaurant at lunch time
is more interesting (and more complicated)
than finding the NPC at their desk. Try to
incorporate some more evocative locales some
of the time to keep things interesting.
❖❖ Who is involved? Are there specific NPCs
involved? Is there the potential for passersby to
become involved?
❖❖ What possible complications can you
introduce? In CAPERS, you’re helping guide the
players through their characters’ stories, but
there should be challenges along the way. The
goal of the encounter is the primary challenge,
but a good GM adds one or two complications
to the encounter to keep things surprising.
The most important thing to know about encounters
is that they’re not intended to stymie the players
completely. They should be challenging but fun to
overcome with some ingenuity and luck.
If the story grinds to a halt due to the players
having trouble getting past a specific encounter,
provide them with options to circumvent the
troublesome encounter, introduce a character who is
willing to give them some help, or otherwise help them
move the story forward.
76
Types of Encounters
You can provide players with a variety of types of
encounters during a CAPERS game. It’s often best
to vary the encounter types so that the story doesn’t
become repetitive. Of course, if your players like
kicking butts, there’s nothing wrong with running an
entire adventure comprised of combat encounters.
Here are some ideas for different types of
encounters and what they often entail. Sometimes, you’ll
develop an encounter that includes two or more of these
things into a more complex and significant encounter.
Investigation: These encounters involve talking to
contacts and witnesses, examining evidence, and
formulating conclusions. Examples include figuring
out who sabotaged the casino’s grand opening or
discovering what really happened to that missing
hundred thousand dollars.
Skill: This covers encounters where success is
primarily achieved through Trait Checks not in combat.
Examples include a lengthy car chase or getting a
group of NPCs to help with a risky plan.
Combat: This type of encounter is pretty
straightforward. These are things like beating an
adversary and their bodyguards to a pulp or taking out
a bunch of speeding cars by shooting out the tires.
Roleplaying: These encounters rely less on dice rolling
and more on the players portraying their characters,
although a few Trait Checks might be involved.
Examples include schmoozing information out of
politicians at a gala and convincing a group of flunkies
to take action.
Exploration: These encounters primarily involve
discovering important or useful people, places, and
things in the game world. When the characters go
looking for the abandoned car with a lost briefcase in
the back or search their adversary’s office for a hidden
ledger, it’s an exploration encounter.
Espionage: This covers getting or using information
secretly, like spying on an illicit deal or devising a code
to track illegal shipments.
Subterfuge: This is lying. Often a component of another
greater goal, subterfuge includes things like feeding
false information to a foe or bluffing your way into an
exclusive club by claiming to be someone you’re not.
Stealth: These encounters involve getting somewhere
without being noticed and leaving no trace of your
presence. Stealth encounters include breaking into a
liquor warehouse or sneaking past a foe’s guards.
 Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines

Combat Difficulty
Combat can be tricky to plan for. The nature of the
game and random chance involved makes it impossible OPTIONAL RULE
to be sure how tough a particular combat encounter
will be. GANG ATTACKS
Below is a rough spread of numbers and types of Sometimes you might want to have gangs
adversaries and how they relate to combat difficulty. of Regulars attack a character as a group,
This breakdown assumes four characters in the group. particularly in close melee combat. Making
If there are more or less than four characters in your multiple Trait Checks for each NPC to attack the
group, adjust the number of Exceptionals or Capers character can get tedious and slow things down.
present among the foes accordingly.
If you have a group of similar NPCs attacking a
single character, instead make one Trait Check
Combat
Number/Type of Foes for the attack, but increase the Card Count by 1
Difficulty
for every NPC beyond the first. Use just that one
Very Easy 1-2 Regulars Trait Check to determine damage as normal, but
1 Exceptional/Caper add +1 Hits damage per NPC beyond the first.
Easy 3-5 Regulars
1 Exceptional/Caper with 1-2
Regulars
Moderate 2 Exceptionals/Capers Game Session Rewards
2 Exceptionals/Capers with 1-2 If you plan to run a campaign, you’ll give the players
Regulars chances to improve their characters.
Character advancement as described in Chapter 2
Tough 3 Exceptionals/Capers
assumes you advance all characters one level every
3 Exceptionals/Capers with 1-2 so often. The speed of advancement is up to you. You
Regulars might advance characters after every game session if
Very Tough 4 Exceptionals/Capers you’re running a short 4-5 session campaign. You might
wait three game sessions if you want to run a longer
3 Exceptionals/Capers with 3-4
12-15 session campaign.
Regulars You also have the option of handing out single
2 Exceptionals/Capers with 5-6 Advancement Points from time to time. This allows
Regulars players who want to purchase minor advancements to
get them faster. Of course, players saving up for a major
An easy combat is one where there is little chance advancement will have to wait a bit. If your players are
that any of the characters will fall near 0 Hits. A okay with this, it’s a fine way to handle advancement.
moderate combat is one where it’s likely that one of the CAPERS tops out at level 5, so plan accordingly.
characters will fall to 0 Hits. In a very tough combat, it’s
almost guaranteed that one of the characters will fall Other Types of Rewards
to 0 Hits and possibly two or three of them will. Very The end of a game session is a good time to give other
tough combats should be rare. Most important combats types of rewards to the players. Following is a list of
should fall into the easy to tough range. possible other rewards:
The easiest way to account for the role random
chance plays in a combat is to not reveal all of your ❖❖ Specific rare or hard-to-find gear
foes at once. Let the characters start the fight against a
❖❖ Access to restricted areas (usually in the form
few of the foes and add reinforcements as you see fit to
of keys or special credentials)
keep the fight interesting. It’s easy to add foes and have
it be believable. It’s more difficult to suddenly have half ❖❖ A new contact
the enemies run away when you realize the characters ❖❖ A promotion within the organization or federal
are significantly outgunned. agency they work for
❖❖ Private offices
❖❖ A club (or other operation) of their own to run
❖❖ Subordinates they can order around
❖❖ A car provided by the boss or government

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Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines

NPCs NPCs Fleeing a Fight

Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are the supporting cast Sometimes, it’s important to the story for the NPCs
for stories centered on the player’s characters. Just to fight to the death. This is most common in more
like with the players’ characters, there are Capers, important encounters, particularly the final encounter
Exceptionals, and Regulars. of a story.
However, there are many reasons an NPC might
Exceptionals and Capers flee a fight. They might be required to report back to a
superior. They might be smart enough to realize they’re
Exceptional and Caper NPCs use the standard outmatched. They might not be very good combatants
character creation rules. These NPCs always have in the first place. They might be cowards. Regulars are
goals and agendas, though they may not be known to more likely to flee than Exceptionals. Exceptionals are
the characters initially. more likely to flee than Capers. You make the call on
Exceptional and Caper NPCs are often the whether an NPC flees or not.
primary antagonists in a CAPERS story, though that
doesn’t have to be the case. That said, when the most
important – and most action-packed – encounters NPCs and Moxie
come along, it usually involves a face-off between two NPCs have a set number of Moxie. You can spend
groups of Capers, often with some NPC Regulars and Moxie for the characters’ adversaries in the same ways
Exceptionals present as well. the players can. Mark off the Moxie as they’re used by
the characters’ foes.
Everyday Capers If the players leave an NPC alive and encounter
them later, the NPC has regained one Moxie in between
While the game focuses on gangsters and members these meetings.
of law enforcement with special abilities, it is entirely
possible for the characters to encounter other
characters with special powers. Following is a list of NPCs and Healing
occupations these Capers might have: Regaining Hits in CAPERS is relatively easy. It just takes
time and rest. It’s reasonable to assume that Regulars
❖❖ Athlete regain Hits more slowly than Capers or Exceptionals.
❖❖ Con Artist Regulars regain 1 Hit per 4 hours spent sleeping
or resting and engaging in no significant activity. If you
❖❖ Construction want injuries to remain longer for NPCs for dramatic
❖❖ Dock Worker purposes, go for it.
❖❖ Doctor
❖❖ Door to Door Salesman
❖❖ Engineer
OPTIONAL RULE
❖❖ Entertainment Host
❖❖ Entrepreneur GM’S MOXIE POOL
❖❖ Factory Worker While each player tracks Moxie for their
❖❖ Farm Hand character, the GM has to track Moxie for
❖❖ Fortune Teller multiple NPCs. This can be a bit daunting.
❖❖ Inventor Instead of tracking Moxie for each NPC, create
❖❖ Investigator a pool of Moxie points that any NPC in an
encounter can use. When an encounter begins,
❖❖ Reporter add 2 Moxie to the pool for every Exceptional
❖❖ Scientist or Caper NPC in the encounter. Add 1 Moxie
❖❖ Security for each Regular NPC in the encounter. If
❖❖ Soldier reinforcements arrive later in the encounter,
add Moxie to the pool as appropriate to the
❖❖ Spy NPCs’ types.
❖❖ Teacher
As the encounter progresses, you can spend
❖❖ Writer Moxie from the pool for any NPC.

78

OPTIONAL RULE
THE MOXIE DECK
The base game assumes players track Moxie
with poker chips or some other token and use
the standard Moxie rules provided in Chapter
3. If you want to add some complexity to
Moxie use, you can use a Moxie Deck. This
deck of cards is an accessory product for the
CAPERS game.
When using the Moxie Deck, players draw
cards from the deck to represent their
character’s Moxie. They can spend those cards
on any of the standard Moxie uses described in
this book. However, they can also spend a given
card on a special Moxie use described on that
card. The GM uses the Moxie Pool optional rule
and draws Moxie cards as well. The GM can use
any card from their Moxie pool for the alternate
effect described on it, just like the players.
The Moxie Deck cards are summarized below
with effects listed after the name of the card.
A New Suit: Change the suit of your current
card flip to anything except spades.
Everything’s Nifty: Negate a Complication you
just suffered.
Get a Wiggle On: Immediately move 30’ via any
movement mode you have.
I’m All Jake: Negate all effects of an attack that
just hit you.
I’m Swell: Select a Perk you don’t have. You
have it until the end of your next turn.
I’m the Real McCoy: Select a Boost you don’t
have for one of your Powers. The Boost
activates for one round.
You’re a Crackerjack: Spend during someone
else’s turn to give their character advantage.
You’re the Bee’s Knees: Give this Moxie card to
another player at any time.
Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
Soldiers and Staff
Gangsters can’t get their work done without the soldiers
doing the dirty work. Neither can federal agents and police
officers do their jobs properly without staff members.
As a campaign progresses, the characters might
befriend, hire, or be rewarded with NPCs who aid them
in their endeavors.
If the characters are gangsters, these NPCs are
called soldiers. They help the characters, cover things
up for them, do their work for them, run the day-to-
day of whatever the characters are in charge of, and
become available to be thrown under the bus when the
characters no longer have a use for them.
If the characters are law enforcement officials,
these NPCs re called staff. They function in much the
same way as soldiers do for gangsters, though their
motivations are likely different.
As long as the characters treat their soldiers/staff
well and these subordinates don’t actually see others
being sacrificed or cheated for the characters’ ends,
they remain loyal.
Keep in mind that soldiers and staff are there to
provide support in the most menial terms. They aren’t
the focus of the story. They don’t engage in combat,
except in the direst of circumstances.
They carry out grunt work. They occasionally
provide useful information, and they can take the
blame, but only so often.
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Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
OPTIONAL RULE
ANTI-TREM ROUNDS AND WEAPONS
Chapter 7 describes trembium and anti-
trembium and their uses. A natural outgrowth
of this material is the question, “What about
weapons and ammunition infused with anti-
trembium?” This information is presented here,
for the GM, as it presents a unique challenge.
Introducing a rule that can regularly rob
characters of their Powers is tricky business.
Only use these rules if your players are up for it.
If a Caper is hit with a bullet or other weapon
(such as a knife blade) infused with anti-
trembium, that Caper reduces the ratings
of all of their Powers by 1. The character
does not lose any Boosts when this happens.
If they are struck a second time by such a
bullet or weapon, the ratings of their Powers
are reduced by 1 additional point. A Power
cannot be reduced below 1 in such a manner.
Completely negating Powers with anti-
trembium requires the substance be injected
directly into the bloodstream. This reduction
remains until the character has healed at least
one Hit, by any means.
It is advisable to keep use of such weapons
rare, only bringing them to bear in the story
at dramatically appropriate times. The
characters can’t buy anti-trembium at the
corner store. They might have to search for it,
make the right contacts, or even steal it from
someone very dangerous.
80
CREATING A REGULAR
Regulars function much like Exceptionals and Capers,
with a few key differences.
Traits
Starting Trait scores for Regulars work just like for
other characters.
❖❖ One Trait with a score of 1.
❖❖ Four Traits with a score of 2.
❖❖ One Trait with a score of 3.
Trait Defenses
Trait Defenses for Regulars work just like for
other characters
Trait Score Trait Defense
1 8
2 9
3 10
Skills
Skills for Regulars work just like for other characters
Each Regular has a number of Skills equal to 2 plus
their Expertise score.
Body
A Regular’s Body score is equal to their Agility Defense.
Mind
A Regular’s Mind score is equal to their
Perception Defense.
Hits
Regulars have fewer Hits than Capers and
Exceptionals. A Regular’s maximum Hits is equal to
their Resilience score plus their Charisma score.
Moxie
Regulars have a maximum of 1 Moxie,
Speed
A Regular’s Speed is 30’.
 Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines

ADVANCING A REGULAR
Advancement for Regulars works just like it does for
other characters, though Perks, Powers, and trem-gear
cannot be chosen.
Whenever a Regular gains a level, choose one of
the following advancement packets to improve the
character’s capabilities.
❖❖ Increase Trait: Increase one Trait score by
one point, to a maximum of 3. Modify the
appropriate Trait Defense. Increase Body,
Mind, or Hits as appropriate. If you increase a
Regular’s Expertise, they gain a Skill.
❖❖ Two Skills: Give the Regular two new Skills.

CREATING AN ANIMAL
Animals function a bit differently from characters and
can come with a range of capabilities.

Traits
Assign Trait scores appropriately for the type of animal,
relative to human capability. For example, even the
smartest animals only have an Expertise score of 2 and
few have Charisma higher than 1. But many animals
have high Perception and Agility scores.

Trait Defenses
Trait Defenses for animals work just like they do for Hits
characters. The strongest animals can have Strength An animal’s maximum Hits is equal to 2 times its
scores of 4 or even 5. Occasionally, other Traits can be Resilience score. You may choose to assign a slightly
higher than the best humans. higher or lower Hits score if it seems appropriate for a
particular animal.
Trait Score Trait Defense
1 8 Moxie
2 9 Animals have a maximum of 1 Moxie.
3 10
4 J
Speed
Pick an appropriate Speed for the animal, relative to
5 Q
the 30’ baseline for humans.
Skills
Special Abilities
Assign Skills as appropriate to the animal. Fisticuffs
Many animals have special abilities such as the
covers all unarmed fighting ability so this includes bites
ability to fly, a nose keen enough to track by scent, or
and claws for animals.
particularly tough hide. These abilities are listed at the
bottom of the animal’s stat block. If bonuses are listed,
Body such as a +1 to Body, those stats have already been
An animal’s Body score is equal to its Agility Defense. adjusted appropriately.

Mind
An animal’s Mind score is equal to its Perception Defense.

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Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
ADVANCING AN ANIMAL
Generally speaking, animals don’t need to be advanced
to higher levels, though you might create young and
adult versions of the same animal. All stat blocks
provided in this book are for adult animals.
CREATING POWERS
Creating new Powers is a bit of an art unto itself. If you
want to create a new one for your game, first make sure
you’re very familiar with the Powers already described
in this book. You’ll see patterns emerge.
If you create a new Power, it’s probably best to
make it clear to your players that the Power should be
considered in constant playtest. If something proves
too powerful or too weak or too versatile, changes will
need to be made. Following are some guidelines for
each “component” of a Power.
Power Rank
The range of a Power’s rank is a reflection of how it
grows in effectiveness. A Power that requires a Power
Check will have a rank range of 1-5 so that players can
have more cards to flip when making their checks. A
Power that has a basic effect and a more advance or
versatile effect might have a rank range of 1-2.
It’s important to make sure there are enough
Boosts for a Power that has a large rank range. Even
after a player has built their character to maximum
rank in a Power, there should be one or two Boosts
that they didn’t gain. This helps the Power be a little
different for two characters that both have it.
Try to provide for at least 2 ranks of a Power
whenever possible. Players enjoy making their
characters’ Powers better over time. Only the simplest,
most limited Powers should have just one rank.
82
Major vs. Minor
Major Powers have broad, far-reaching effects. Each
rank in a Major Power conveys significant capability.
This makes it more expensive to purchase and advance.
Minor Powers are more limited. They tend to be
focused in one or two areas and are often flashier. They
do one or two things really well but don’t have the
versatility or broad effect of Major Powers.
Activation
If a Power deals damage or provides a character with
an encounter-altering or NPC-affecting capability, it
should require a Trait Action to activate. The player
should feel it’s a real, significant choice to pick
between shooting a gun and using a beam Power or
manipulating an NPC’s mind.
A Power that affects movement, modifies a Trait or
other character score, or provides a minor capability
for a limited time should be activated as a Free Action.
If a Power is always active on a character, even if
the character isn’t always using it, there’s no activation
required. It’s just there.
Target
This part is usually self-explanatory: does a Power
affect the character with the Power, or does it affect an
object or other characters.
Range
If the Power can affect something or someone other
than the bearer of the Power, it needs a range. The
default range for standard effects is 30’. CAPERS is
not a game of SUPER Powers. These abilities have
limitations and this short range reflects that.
Duration
This one is often obvious as well. Some powers are
instantaneous. They’re used, do their thing, and that’s
it. Some are continuous, always “turned on.” Some
are “continuous once activated.” These Powers can be
turned off and on, usually as a Free Action.
If a Power has a detrimental effect, a limited
duration or Maintaining a Boost to keep it going
is appropriate.

Effect
This is the most basic effect the Power has. When you
think of the name of the Power, this is probably the
thing that comes to mind.
Powers that have multiple levels of complexity
will have separate entries for each rank in the Power.
If there’s a Power Check involved, this complexity is
accounted for by the increase in Card Count.
Following are guidelines for standard effects in
terms of relative capability across many Powers:
❖❖ Base damage for an effect that only deals
damage should be Suit Hits damage.
❖❖ Damage that is a side-effect/add-on of the
main effect should be no more than Color
Hits damage.
❖❖ If the effect boosts Body or Mind, it should do
so by 1 per rank only. Speed increases at 30’
per rank. Alternate modes of movement should
start at speed 30’ and increase with more ranks.
❖❖ Powers that allow you to choose one of the
Boosts to use as the standard effect require
multiple, balanced, interesting Boosts to
choose from. If there’s one Boost that is
clearly the best choice all the time, make it the
standard effect or re-design the Boost.
❖❖ Be careful how different Powers interact.
Speedster increases normal walking/running
speed. Flight has a speed of its own and is not
dependent on Speedster increases. This is done
on purpose.
❖❖ Effects that manifest as an area, such as
Illusions and Force Field, start small and get
larger with rank or Boosts.
❖❖ Higher ranks for Powers that don’t require
Power Checks should increase versatility or
size of the effect.
❖❖ The more versatile you make a Power, the less
“powerful” each of the different effects should
be. Versatility is a significant benefit unto itself.
❖❖ No Powers take away player agency or make
a character utterly indestructible. There’s no
mind control Power for a reason. It’s not in the
“scope” of the game.
❖❖ Any Power that negatively affects a character
for longer than an instant (not including
damage) should include a way to resist it, shrug
it off, or lessen the effects.
Chapter 8 – GM Guidelines
Boosts
There are three basic types of Boosts. There are those
that increase the effectiveness or complexity of the
standard effect. There are those that allow you to do
something related to the Power but not really part of
the standard effect. And there are those that can be
used in place of the standard effect.
Try to provide a variety of Boosts that do each of
these things. This gives players more choices and helps
differentiate characters that have the same Powers
from each other.
Following are some general guidelines for
creating Boosts:
❖❖ Powers with only one rank should have
approximately five Boosts. Powers with
two or three ranks should have six or seven
Boosts. Powers with five ranks should have
nine or ten Boosts.
❖❖ There are several Boosts that have been used
for many Powers. Use them in new Powers if
they are appropriate.
❖❖ Area of effect Boosts deal the same damage
as the standard effect, but the area affected
shouldn’t be too large.
❖❖ Area of effect Boosts that have a non-damaging
effect and also deal damage should deal, at
most, Color Hits damage.
❖❖ Unless there’s a very good reason, the range of
a Power should never exceed 100’
❖❖ Include extra effects that have nothing to
do with the standard effect, but are fun
nonetheless. Options include extra movement,
moving other characters and objects around
or knocking them over, affecting senses, and
creating an area effect that is difficult to deal
with but not an insurmountable obstacle.
❖❖ A Boost for a normally non-damaging Power
that allows an attack or that can hinder
a character’s choices (like with Influence
Emotions) should have a Trait Check called
out specifically.
❖❖ No Boosts should be purely cosmetic. They
should all have real, tangible effects.
83
 BACKDROPS
ATLANTIC CITY
Recent History
Incorporated in 1854, Atlantic City grew slowly until just
recently. In recent years, city leaders have expanded
the famous Boardwalk with additional hotels and
attractions. This effort has resulted in some locals
referring to the city as “The World’s Playground,” a
rather overblown title for a city of less than 50,000 souls.
In the late 1910s, a steady stream of Capers
was seen in Atlantic City, coming to perform on the
Boardwalk. Many still perform there today, though a
few have gotten involved in the more lucrative world
of bootlegging.
In the end, it was Prohibition that put Atlantic City
on the map. Seen by many as a little “backwoods,”
A.C. is an ideal docking point for countries exporting
alcohol to the United States. Bootleggers regularly
receive shipments from England, Ireland, Germany,
Cuba, and Puerto Rico, among others. Additionally, its
small size and remote location makes it ideal for illegal
breweries and distilleries.
The World’s Playground
Unlike in many other large cities, in Atlantic City, the
booze flows freely – and publicly. Cards, dice, and
money fly across tabletops. Ladies of the night are
everywhere. Tobacconists offer exotic imports. The
Boardwalk boasts every entertainment you can think
of, including several of questionable moral style. If you
can think of a vice, A.C. has it in spades.
The purveyors of these vice-riddled establishments
all fall in line under Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the county
treasurer and one of the richest men on the east coast.
The Treasury
Many members of Nucky’s crime syndicate refer
to themselves as The Treasury or The Treasury
Department. They do so in honor of Nucky’s position
as county treasurer, but Nucky himself doesn’t care for
the term.
84
However, Nucky does care about how his gang
functions. To this end, he receives regular reports
passed up the line from every branch of his criminal
organization. Few things happen in Atlantic City
without Nucky’s notice.
The Treasury has its fingers in nearly every illegal
activity you can think of. A.C. functions as a port city
for alcohol importation and distribution. There are
numerous public speakeasies and bars located through
the city, many of them along the Boardwalk. Brothels
and casinos proudly display their signs. Nucky gives
out loans and collects significant interest payments.
Bookies taking all manner of bets flourish. And there’s
been a rise in drug trafficking and use in the city.
The only aspect of the modern criminal organization
that doesn’t really exist in A.C. is racketeering.
Protection schemes are almost unheard of, given that
pretty much everyone is under Nucky’s sway.
Nucky’s entire organization is a finely tuned
machine. Money flows up. Orders flow down. A
motivated criminal can make excellent money in just a
short time.
There’s one main reason Atlantic City can flout its
impropriety so easily. The majority of police officers
in Atlantic City are under Nucky’s thumb and open
to bribery. A handful of federal officers have been
assigned to the city, but the federal agents’ office is
severely understaffed relative to the river of booze
flowing through the city.
One Man on Top
Most illegal activity in A.C. is controlled by Nucky.
Atlantic City is ideal for stories revolving around
infighting within the gangster organization as people
jockey for position and wealth. Rivals from without
have to be put down quickly. Additionally, given the
transient, vacationing population, A.C. is ideal for
stories set on the periphery of bootlegging.
Law enforcement stories can revolve around law
enforcement getting a foothold and finally holding
Nucky and his compatriots to the letter of the law. The
legal fight in A.C. is currently a losing battle, but that
could change.

Notable Organizations
The Left Hand
The lack of a significant federal presence in Atlantic
City has given rise to a loose affiliation of townsfolk
intent upon taking law enforcement into their own
hands. If the feds are the government’s right hand,
these folks are the left hand. And the right hand rarely
knows what the left hand is doing.
You can use a variety of stat blocks for members
of the Left Hand – Tough, Shop Owner, and Street Thug
are particularly appropriate.
The Rowdy Gals
This 100+ strong (and growing) gang of young women
seeks respect and female equality by cracking skulls
and defying female norms. While flappers embrace non-
traditional clothing (showing quite a bit of skin) and
life outside of marriage and children, the rowdy gals
eschew femininity in its entirety.
Members dress in traditionally male clothing, drink
hard, smoke cigars, and pick fights. They apply for –
and get – jobs in traditionally male-dominated areas.
They do this not to get noticed or be different but to
show others that women are going to play new roles in
the changing world.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Notable Locales
The Boardwalk
Approximately four miles long, this wide wooden
walkway is elevated above the adjacent beach. It
offers excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean and
hosts a variety of street performers and side-show
style attractions. Attractions include fortune-tellers,
wonders of the Orient, spiritualists, displays of new
inventions, and a variety of Capers performing for
assembled crowds.
Many of the main businesses and hotels are
located along the Boardwalk. Three long piers jut into
the ocean. Two of these piers are primarily used for
docking sailing vessels. One contains a traveling circus
for much of the summer.
Boardwalk Hall
This massive convention center brings a great deal
of business to Atlantic City. The central venue can
accommodate as many as 14,000 people in concert
seating and has become a hotspot for hosting big-name
boxing matches. The space is also rented by national
and local organizations for hosting of conventions
and conferences.
Bradley’s Candy Shop
As the inventor of saltwater taffy, David Bradley is well
known. His shop on the Boardwalk is constantly full of
kids – and kids-at-heart – seeking his treats.
His thriving business has allowed him to start a
side business providing loans to those in need. Interest
rates are high and David is not one to let a slight pass.
When necessary, David collects what is owed him in
brutal manner.
Dolly’s Supper Club
Dolly’s was established by Dolores Harris five years ago.
Dolores passed recently and her son, John, took over,
keeping the club’s name to honor his beloved mother.
Dolly’s is staffed almost entirely by black personnel
and draws a mostly black patronage. Recently, some of
the hipper residents of Atlantic City have discovered
its excellent food and nightly jazz performances. Back
rooms can be rented for illicit dealings.
First Stage
This 20-foot square, raised platform stands near
the midpoint of the Boardwalk. Here, a variety of
performers stage simple plays, give juggling and magic
shows, and sell their wares on a rotating basis. Barkers
call to passersby to keep audiences engaged between
acts. Several local Capers perform here regularly.
85
86

Janey’s Boarding House
This large flophouse sits a couple blocks off the
Boardwalk. It boasts low prices for a cot and simple
meals of stew, porridge, and the like. The proprietor,
Janey Higgins, treats her guests with respect and
doesn’t tolerate any funny business.
Lady X
This swanky nightclub lies at the midpoint of the
Boardwalk. The low, wooden building stands out
in stark contrast against the mostly brick and stone
buildings along the shore.
Lady X features live jazz music, swing music, and
dancing every night of the week. During the day, the
hall functions as a restaurant. Sometimes, patrons can
watch rehearsals while dining.
The club is owned by a mysterious woman also
known as Lady X. She watches over all from a screened
balcony at the back of the performance hall. Few get
the chance to see her in person.
Madame Fortune
This small, unassuming storefront is the bread and
butter of Lady Zora, a local psychic and palm reader.
Sporting only a sign with a large hand, palm outward,
and the words “Madame Fortune,” it’s easy to miss.
The Mill
This infamous speakeasy is the most notable joint
located outside the city. An old, abandoned sawmill
now houses nightly drinking and gambling.
Liquor prices are lower here, away from the hustle
and bustle of Atlantic City. Gamblers can lose their
money on blackjack, poker, craps, and roulette. A fist
fight is guaranteed every night.
The Nightingale
This off-Boardwalk nightclub is owned by Nucky
Johnson but has seen three changes in management
in the past year. Each time a new person or crew took
over the club, something went wrong, resulting in
management being “replaced.”
The Nightingale is a four-story maze of rooms and
corridors. The labyrinthine layout allows for a great
deal of privacy for parties coming to the club. Some
rooms feature gambling areas, others bars. Most of the
third floor is dedicated to a brothel. The fourth floor
houses offices and a swanky, invitation-only saloon
called “The Perch.”
The club can’t seem to shake its reputation for
bad luck, having suffered a small fire, several notable
gunfights, and assorted other problems in the past
three years. It’s had several managers come and go due
to these problems.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
This 14-story masonry structure is one of the older,
larger hotels on the Boardwalk. It’s most notable for its
most prominent resident.
Nucky Johnson’s residence and offices encompass
the entire 9th floor. Fully one-third of the 9th floor
is outfitted as a private club Nucky uses to entertain
special guests. The townsfolk call it Club Nucky.
The Ritz contains three restaurants, a massive
casino, a variety of drink halls and saloons, and a
grand ballroom. It’s easily the most opulent and most
expensive hotel in A.C.
Traymore Hotel
The massive Traymore Hotel stands proudly on the
Boardwalk. The central tower rises thirteen stories,
with the top floor simply called the penthouse, not
“13.” Two long wings, each six stories tall provide
additional lodging.
The Traymore houses two casinos, five bars, a
variety of smoking lounges, and an active bet booking
house. While not as fancy as the Ritz, it’s one of the
finer establishments on the Boardwalk.
Notable People
Agent Barbara Holloway
Agent Holloway is the head of Atlantic City’s meager
Bureau of Prohibition field office. She has three other
agents and an assistant working with her. The field
office is so small that it is forced to share space with
the city’s post office.
Agent Holloway is slight of build with ebony skin
but is tougher than she looks. She is exceedingly polite
in most dealings and believes it is her true calling to
enforce the Volstead Act and keep alcohol off the
streets. That said, she’s had little luck thus far.
Agent Holloway is a Caper who can fly and
possesses significant strength.
Alfio Romano
This Italian gambler wanders from joint to joint, plying
his gambling trade. He’s been gambling professionally
for over a decade and is familiar with pretty much
any game of chance you can think of, though he’s
particularly adept at blackjack.
Over the years, Alfio has amassed a significant
fortune which he keeps in one of Nucky Johnson’s
safes, for a hefty monthly fee. He intends to use the
money to bring his family to the U.S. from the old
country and set them up for life once he has all the
funds he needs.
Use the Gambler stat block for Alfio.
87
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Anna “Scraps” Jones
Anna lives on the streets of Atlantic City, eking out a
living through begging and running messages around
town. She’s kind and unassuming, with dirty brown
hair and big, sad eyes. She dresses in layers of clothing
pulled from other people's trash.
She’s an efficient message courier due to her ability
to transform into a wiry, brown whippet. In her dog form,
she’s skittish and jumpy, rarely approaching anyone too
close. Locals have named her dog form Scraps.
Anna is a Caper who can transform into a dog.
Claudine Adams
Growing up in Newark, Claudine was fascinated
with learning all about other peoples’ lives, writing
everything she learned about others down in a
collection of journals. In time, she learned she could
parlay the most sensitive information for money and
gifts, an act she refers to as “bartering” and
not “blackmailing.”
Today, she’s Nucky Johnson’s top spy. She keeps
her eyes on everyone’s business and her fingers in
everyone’s pockets. When she gets into trouble, a “risk
of the business” as she says, she produces a Tommy
gun from her dimensional pocket and takes care
of business.
Claudine is a Caper who can turn invisible.
Claudine
Adams
88
Enoch
"Nucky"
Johnson
Enoch “Nucky” Johnson
As County Treasurer, Nucky Johnson has had his
hands on the city’s purse strings for many years. He
happily shares his wealth with people who come to him
for help, garnering a generous reputation among the
common populace.
Members of his crews sing a different tune, noting
Nucky’s vicious side and absolute control over everything
alcohol-related. A small group remains loyal to Nucky,
keeping him safe, but it’s only a matter of time before the
other fractured crews join up and come after him.
Nucky gets a cut of every alcohol deal and every
construction project in the county. He also receives
kickbacks from dozens of other endeavors and
organizations and owns multiple drinking and
gambling establishments.
Despite his financial power, Nucky is without any
extraordinary abilities. He’s simply an extremely savvy
businessman who has surrounded himself with like-
minded, extremely loyal followers.
Nucky is an Exceptional with no Powers.
James “Flicker” Utz
James is an accomplished sleight of hand artist and
magician who performs regularly on the Boardwalk,
often at the First Stage. Most of his act is standard
magical fare, drawing a modest crowd.
Recently, James has been ending his show with a
trick he calls The Vanishing Man. He hides himself in
a curtain-stand and then disappears, reappearing from
behind the crowd.
James is a Caper who can teleport short distances.

John “Blackjack” Harris
John owns Dolly’s Supper Club and administrates it
with an iron fist. If anyone gets out of line, he beats
them senseless with a blackjack, his weapon of choice
and also the source of his nickname.
John’s mother was killed in crossfire between some
bootleggers three years ago and John is constantly
searching for those involved. Thus far, he has
personally killed three of the perpetrators.
Use the Tough stat block for Blackjack.
Lady Zora
Zora is a middle-aged woman of Slavic origin who owns
Madame Fortune. Despite what some think, she has no
special abilities. Lady Zora is simply very perceptive and
very convincing. Her fortune telling is a complete sham.
Use the Con Artist stat block for Lady Zora.
Mayor Eleanor Bader
Mayor Bader is responsible for much of the recent
economic growth along Atlantic City’s famous
Boardwalk. She got Boardwalk Hall built and worked
diligently to bring a wide variety of entertainments to
the city.
She’s well off, but wants more. Recently, she
has started dabbling in alcohol importation and
distribution behind Nucky’s back. She’s also feeling
out his more dissatisfied employees to see who she
can sway to help her.
She masquerades as Lady X, owner of the club of
the same name. She has no Powers; her disguise
is entirely clothing, makeup, and an
excellent performance.
Eleanor’s husband, Charles, is not involved in
politics, preferring to run a hardware store instead. He’s
unaware of her machinations and alternate identity.
Eleanor is an Exceptional with no Powers.
Nikolai Petrov
The surly, Russian shopkeeper, known by locals as Uncle
Nikolai, runs a sundries store a block off the Boardwalk.
His store is filled with all manner of bric-a-brac along
with many useful day-to-day items. There are even some
valuable antiques to be found if you look hard enough.
Nikolai doesn’t tolerate fools or bullies and keeps his
store clear of anyone that would be a problem.
Petrov lost his legs in combat during the Russian
Civil War and immigrated to the U.S. shortly after. He
uses a bulky wheelchair to get around, inside which
he’s hidden no less than five weapons.
Use the Shop Owner stat block for Petrov.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Officer Barney “Blarney” O’Hanrahan
This police officer has a knack for being everywhere
at once…and always with his hand out. Barney is on
the take with everyone in town, looking the other way
when he sees lawbreakers, for a price.
He got his nickname from his penchant for telling
tall tales. These stories always begin, “A couple
months back…”
Use the Cop stat block for Officer O’Hanrahan
Old Hoke
Hoke is an old hobo who wanders the Boardwalk,
begging for change. He’s a kindly old fellow and hardly
a nuisance. He’s also the best source of information
regarding what’s happening along the Boardwalk.
A few coins, a meal, a pack of smokes, or a small
bottle of booze gets the information you need, if Hoke
likes you.
Use the Hobo stat block for Hoke.
Rita Herrera
Rita – “Ree” to her few friends, Miss Herrera to
everyone else – is Nucky’s right-hand woman.
Unassuming and seemingly emotionless, she does
everything from delivering messages to killing in broad
daylight with the same stolid attitude.
Rita is almost completely deaf, though you
wouldn’t know it to talk to her. She’s mastered the
art of reading lips and often eavesdrops from across
the room on behalf of her employer. She’s practiced
her speaking to sound as much like hearing people as
possible, but occasionally slips.
Use the Hitman stat block for Rita.
Rita
Herrera
89
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Robert “Snap” Washington
Snap works as an enforcer and bodyguard to Nucky
Johnson. He’s tall and lanky with dark skin. Most
consider him stand-offish, though he is so only because
of his job. Anyone who gets to know Robert comes to
see a caring, warm-hearted soul who simply does what
he does because it’s all he knows how to do.
Robert is a Caper who can make psychic attacks.
Sheila
This young woman is the cliché “hooker with a heart
of gold.” She plies her trade on the Boardwalk, culling
Johns from the crowds wandering the attractions along
the shore.
She keeps a small apartment just off the Boardwalk
but gives much of her money to local families in need
of a little financial aid
She’s an excellent source of information for those
seeking to know who’s cheating on whom.
Use the Prostitute stat block for Sheila.
Kwan Shu
Shu is a focused, steel-hearted up-and-comer in Nucky’s
organization. She’s capable, insightful, and very, very
jealous of Nucky’s wealth.
Miss Kwan is quietly organizing a coup, seeking
out like-minded individuals both in Atlantic City and
from around the region. So far, she has about thirty
loyal followers. It’s only a matter of time before she
gets enough people to try to take Nucky out and install
herself as the queen of A.C.
Shu is an Exceptional with no Powers.
Agent: What happened when the police arrived?
Witness: By this time, a couple of the shooters
was already eighty-sixed. There was blood all
over. I think there was a couple o’ what you
call…bystanders.
Agent: Innocent bystanders.
Witness: Yeah. Like I says, it was all chaos.
A couple o’ cops come in the front door not
knowin’ what to expect. And all the shooters
turn on them!
90
Gangster Story Hooks
Blood vs. Alcohol
A local has started a distilling operation in an abandoned
barn and is selling her goods in town. The distiller is
Gracie, Nucky’s favorite niece and a member of the
Rowdy Gals. The characters have to quietly put her out
of business or find a way to bring her into the fold.
Freeways Aren’t Free
Nucky sends the characters to “convince” the local
planning board to approve a paved highway from
Atlantic City to New York. They run into more than
they bargained for. The feds have foreseen this and
have undercover agents on the board.
Coup Who?
Mayor Bader has decided it’s finally time to take on
Nucky. She’s swung over one hundred of Nucky’s lower
echelon workers to her side and teamed up with Kwan
Shu. They have put a plan into motion to take out their
rival’s lieutenants and, eventually, Nucky himself.
Should the assassination fail, Bader has feds ready
to roll in from New York to take him down with the aid
of some of Nucky’s more knowledgeable compatriots,
now turned traitors.
The characters must ferret out Bader and Shu’s
plans and decide to get on board or bring them down
on behalf of Nucky.
Law Enforcement Story Hooks
Help
Word from Washington is that the D.O.J. has some
extra money. If the characters can make several
legitimate busts in Atlantic City, they can get additional
federal aid in the form of bodies, guns, and cash.
Law vs. Justice
One of the characters’ fellow agents is murdered…after
being tortured. The characters have a choice to make.
They can serve the law and find and apprehend the
killer. Or they can serve justice and make an example
of the killer for all Atlantic City gangsters to remember.
Chaos!
The Left Hand mounts a massive offensive against
organized crime, burning known speakeasies and
beating gangsters in the streets. A full-blown riot runs
deep into the night. The characters must diffuse the
chaos, make arrests, and keep from getting killed by
Nucky’s gang who see the riot as a perfect opportunity.
 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

ATLANTIC CITY NPCs Claudine Adams Caper 4

Trait Score Defense
Agent Barbara Holloway Caper 5 Charisma 3 10
Agility 2 9
Trait Score Defense Perception 3 10
Charisma 1 8 Expertise 2 9
Agility 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Perception 3 10 Strength 1 8
Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Skills
Strength 5 Q Business, Deception, Diplomacy, Guns, Insight, Sleight
of Hand, Stealth
Skills
Acrobatics, Diplomacy, Fisticuffs, Guns, Insight, Stealth Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Hits: 10 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Weapon Damage Range Derringer Suit 30/100
Fists Suit - Tommy Gun Suit+2 100/300
Knife Suit 20/60
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Power/Rank Boosts
Invisibility 1 Imbue, Move, Run
Power/Rank Boosts Dimensional Pocket 1 Multi, Pocket, Return
Super Strength 2 Damage, Jump, Push, Range
Flight 2 Chaperone, Damage, Gear: Fancy dress, jewelry, handbag, cash, cigarette
Knockdown, Speed holder, cigarettes, gold lighter
Gear: Notepad and pen, spectacles, flashlight, handcuffs
Enoch “Nucky” Johnson Exceptional 5
Anna “Scraps” Jones Caper 2 Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9
Trait Score Defense Agility 3 10
Charisma 2 9 Perception 3 10
Agility 2 9 Expertise 3 10
Perception 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Expertise 1 8 Strength 1 8
Resilience 3 10
Strength 2 9 Skills
Business, Deception, Diplomacy, Guns, Insight, Sense
Skills
Acrobatics, Deception, Fisticuffs Hits: 16 Body: J Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Weapon Damage Range Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Fists Color - Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Knife Color+1 20/60
Perks
Power/Rank Boosts Hardy Body, Lucky, Power-Resistant, Tough
Animal Affinity 2 Lesser Animal Form (dog),
(Cat Eyes standard) Owl Ears, Scent, Wings Gear: Pinstripe suit, lots of cash, cigarettes and lighter,
fancy pocket watch, carnation in lapel
Gear: Pockets filled with baubles, trinkets, and junk

91
Chapter 9 – Backdrops

James “Flicker” Utz Caper 2 Robert “Snap” Washington Caper 3

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9 Charisma 1 8
Agility 2 9 Agility 4 J
Perception 1 8 Perception 2 9
Expertise 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9 Strength 2 9
Skills Skills
Acrobatics, Diplomacy, Fisticuffs, Insight, Sleight of Athletics, Deception, Fisticuffs, Guns
Hand
Hits: 10 Body: J Mind: 9
Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 8 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Weapon Damage Range Fists Color -
Fists Color - Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Power/Rank Boosts
Dimension Step 2 Chaperone, Force-Blast, Power/Rank Boosts
Range, Slingshot Super Agility 1 Dodge, Focus, Precision
Psionic Blast 4 Blast, Confusion, Damage,
Gear: Wallet, some cash, magic tricks, deck of cards
Range

Mayor Eleanor Bader Exceptional 3 Gear: Fine clothing, wallet, cash, silver cigarette case
and lighter, multiple expensive rings
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Kwan Shu Exceptional 4
Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10 Trait Score Defense
Expertise 3 10 Charisma 3 10
Resilience 2 9 Agility 2 9
Strength 1 8 Perception 2 9
Expertise 2 9
Skills
Resilience 3 10
Deception, Diplomacy, Humanities, Insight, Sense
Strength 2 9
Hits: 14 Body: 10 Mind: J
Skills
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Business, Deception 2, Mechanicals, Melee Weapons 2
Weapon Damage Range
Hits: 16 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Fists Color -
Moxie: 3 Speed: 40
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Weapon Damage Range
Perks
Fists Color -
Hardy Body, Wily Mind
Knife Color+1 20/60
Gear: Festival pamphlets, cigarettes in fancy case, Pistol Suit+1 50/150
lighter
Perks
Fleet of Foot, Hardy Body
Gear: Cash, small booklet with list of names, flask

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 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

CHICAGO
Recent History
In less than a century, Chicago has grown from a rural
hamlet on the shores of Lake Michigan into one of the
largest metropolises in the world. After literally raising
itself out of the muck and surviving a conflagration
that would’ve doomed most other cities, Chicago
annexed its neighbors and built itself into an industrial
powerhouse that attracted a flood of immigrants from
across the globe. Now it’s second only to New York
City in terms of population and economic might.
Unfortunately, crime is endemic to Chicago, and
it has only worsened with the advent of Prohibition.
Warring gangs have divided the city into fiefs and
bootlegging generates profits that would’ve been
unthinkable a few years ago. Flush with cash,
organized crime has extended its reach into all aspects
of civic life, and local law enforcement is hopelessly
corrupt. However, a coalition of civic reformers and
federal politicians has turned their attention to cleaning
up Chicago and they want results fast.
City of Broad Shoulders
Chicago is a city of contrasts. Great wealth and
crushing poverty, heedless sprawl and carefully
planned neighborhoods, as well as immaculate parks
and industrial hellscapes all coexist within its borders.
It’s a center of trade, industry, and finance, but also of
art, architecture, music, and sports.
Despite rapid urbanization and its leaders’
pretensions, Chicago never lost its lawless, frontier
quality. Gangs dominate nearly every neighborhood,
criminals hobnob with the city’s elite, and violence is a
solution to just about every problem.
The Outfit and the North Side Gang jointly operate
casinos in Cicero, but their uneasy alliance is rapidly
deteriorating. Not only do they vie over the lucrative
Gold Coast market, but the North Side Gang secretly
hijacks The Outfit’s liquor shipments and then sells
them back at inflated prices. To make matters worse,
one of The Outfit’s closest allies, the Sicilian Genna
family, has sworn to kill O’Banion.
A City at War
While the streets of Chicago have always been violent,
the city now teeters on the brink of war. Both factions
marshal their resources while proxies engage in bloody
skirmishes, and now not a day goes by without a
shootout or bombing.
The city’s elite paid little attention to the rise of
organized crime as long as the money, sex, and booze
flowed and the violence was restricted to working-class
neighborhoods. Now that gunshots echo throughout
the Loop, they’re desperate to contain the escalating
violence. Both the Chicago Police Department and the
Federal Bureau of Prohibition are in the gangsters’
pockets, so the city’s political and business leaders
look to outsiders for help – especially as they plan to
host another World’s Fair soon. Allies in Washington
have dispatched an ambitious young agent named
Vanessa Elliott to tackle the problem, but others look
to enlist Capers in their crusade against crime.

The Outfit
The largest and most powerful criminal syndicate in
Chicago is The Outfit, an Italian-American organization
that controls the Loop, the South Side, and the
neighboring suburb of Cicero. Within its territories, the
Outfit controls gambling, prostitution, racketeering,
and bootlegging, in addition to scores of legitimate
businesses. It was founded in Little Hell by Big Jim
Colosimo around 1902. Several years later, he hired
his niece Giada Torrio to deal with Black Hand
extortionists, and in 1920, her protégé Al Capone
murdered him and she seized control of his criminal
empire.
The Outfit’s chief rival is the North Side Gang, a
multiethnic alliance of gangsters led by Dean O’Banion.
As their name suggests, they control the northern third
of Chicago and most of the city’s shuttered breweries
and distilleries. This forces their competitors to buy from
them, rely on smuggling, or produce their own alcohol.

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Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Notable Organizations
Street Gangs
Every Chicago neighborhood is home to groups of
wayward youth that engage in petty crime. These gangs
– often associated with amateur athletic clubs – are
farm systems for more powerful criminal syndicates,
serve local political bosses (who are often gangsters
themselves), and defend their neighborhoods
from outsiders.
Though they are often organized along ethnic lines,
geography ultimately determines their loyalty. For
example, almost every South Side Irish gang is tied to The
Outfit. Two of the most notorious gangs in Chicago are
the Forty-Two Gang (Italian) and Ragen’s Colts (Irish).
Unione Siciliana
The Unione Siciliana is an Italian-American benefit
society. However, the collective political and economic
clout of its membership makes it attractive to
organized crime and its Chicago chapter has been
under mob control since the late Antonio D’Andrea –
defrocked priest, labor leader, Democratic politician,
and mafioso – was elected president in 1919.
Under the leadership of D’Andrea’s successor,
Mike Merlo, the Unione Siciliana has been keeping the
peace between the North Side Gang and The Outfit at
the behest of the New York Mafia. Unfortunately, Merlo
is dying of cancer and various factions are already
jockeying for control. Amongst the leading contenders
is Angelo Genna.
Notable Locales
Back of the Yards
Located south and west of the Union Stock Yards
on Chicago’s South Side, this polluted slum – made
infamous by Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle – is
home to Eastern European and Mexican immigrants
who work in the nearby meatpacking plants
and slaughterhouses.
To the north of the neighborhood lies Bubbly
Creek, so named because gases escaping from the
decomposing animal waste dumped into its waters
cause it to effervesce.
The Black Belt
The Great Migration brought thousands of black
Americans from the Southern U.S. to Chicago. Most
settled on the South Side. Residents have begun calling
this area “Bronzeville.”
The Black Belt is a vibrant black community
second only to Harlem. It’s the epicenter of jazz, blues,
and gospel in the city. Every night, the clubs on the
Stroll, a 15-block long bright light district, are filled
94
with patrons of all colors. It is also home to black
newspapers, social activists, artists, and writers.
However, the area is not without its problems.
Poverty is rampant, Irish gangs are a constant threat, and
the police are inattentive at best. The largest criminal
enterprise in the Black Belt is the Policy Racket, and the
so-called Kings and Queens of Policy rake in thousands
of dollars a week via their illegal lotteries.
Cicero
Cicero is a suburb bordering the West Side of Chicago.
It’s a burgeoning industrial town, home to Western
Electric’s massive Hawthorne Works, which employs
more than 40,000 workers. Cicero is also completely
controlled by the Outfit.
Giada Torrio ordered Al Capone to establish a base
in Cicero in order to evade Chicago law enforcement
under the administration of the reformist Mayor
William Devers. In short order, Capone put the city’s
government and most of its police department on
The Outfit’s payroll and opened many speakeasies,
bordellos, and casinos.
Torrio and Capone maintain control of Cicero
through strong-arm tactics that ensure the re-election
of their favored candidates.
Courthouse Place
Courthouse Place is a large Romanesque building
located on the Near North Side of Chicago. It houses
the Cook County Criminal Courts, the Cook County
Jail, and the gallows. Currently, the jail is at twice its
capacity, the courts are backlogged due to a lack of
space, and the authorities have no idea how to deal
with Caper inmates.
The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast, a stretch of palatial mansions and
upscale hotels along the shore of Lake Michigan,
is easily the most fashionable and wealthiest
neighborhood in Chicago. The recent opening of
the Michigan Avenue Bridge has connected the
neighborhood to the rest of the city, though it remains
purposefully segregated from the immigrant slums
occupying the western edges of the Near North Side.
Hawthorne Hotel
The Hawthorne Hotel in Cicero is the Outfit’s suburban
headquarters. Next door is the Hawthorne Smoke
Shop, Capone’s first gambling venture in Cicero.
Also nearby is the Ship, perhaps the Outfit’s most
lucrative casino, although it’s co-owned by the North
Side Gang. Dean O’Banion’s insistence that Angelo
Genna immediately pay back a $30,000 marker is one of
the reasons that the Sicilians are out for blood.
When Giada Torrio is out on the town, she’s usually
here, with several bodyguards.
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Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Lexington Hotel
The Outfit has many headquarters in Chicago but the
Lexington on the Near South Side is Capone’s favorite.
Built in the 1890s to accommodate visitors to the
Columbian Exposition, the Lexington is a veritable
fortress dubbed “Capone’s Castle” by the press. Escape
tunnels connect the Lexington to nearby saloons and
brothels, and rumors persist that Capone and Torrio
have stashed hundreds of thousands of dollars in a
vault beneath the hotel.
Little Hell
The slums in and around Goose Island on the Near
North Side are called “Little Hell” because of the gas
works located just to the east whose flames light up the
night sky. However, it’s truly a hellhole that even the
police fear to enter.
Little Hell was originally settled by the Irish, but in
the 1890s, Sicilian immigrants began arriving in large
numbers, and before long Irish, Sicilian, and Black
Hand gangs were fighting in the streets. Ironically,
both the North Side Gang and the Outfit originated
in Little Hell. Today, it is a flashpoint between the
two organizations, as the Outfit-allied Genna family
competes with the North Side Gang for control.
Little Italy
The neighborhoods surrounding Taylor Avenue on the
Near West Side are predominantly Italian (mostly from
Southern Italy and Sicily), hence the moniker. It’s the
territory of the Genna Crime Family, who operates
from a warehouse on Taylor Avenue (ostensibly an
olive oil and cheese import business). Little Italy is also
home to the headquarters of the Unione Siciliana and
Jane Addam’s Hull House.
The Loop
The Loop is the geographic, commercial, cultural, and
political center of Chicago. Located south and east of
the Chicago River, the neighborhood is named after the
Union Loop, the downtown hub of the city’s elevated
train, called “the L” by locals. The Loop is experiencing
a building boom and skyscrapers dominate its skyline.
It also hosts the city’s busiest shopping district,
Chicago City Hall, and Grant Park, home to the Art
Institute of Chicago.
On the other side of Roosevelt Road, the Loop’s
southern border, is the South Loop. This neighborhood
is home to Chicago’s skid row and several vice districts.
In addition, the Outfit’s various Chicago headquarters,
including the Lexington Hotel, are located nearby.
Schofield’s Flowers
This unassuming flower shop located across the
street from Holy Name Cathedral on State St. is the
headquarters of the North Side Gang. Part-owner
96
Dean O’Banion uses it as a front and meets with his
underlings in the rooms above the shop. O’Banion,
who loves flowers and is a talented arranger, often
works at Schofield’s, which is the florist of choice for
mob funerals.
Notable People
Agent Bill Gardner
At age 46, Bill Gardner is the oldest member of the
Untouchables and Vanessa Elliott’s right-hand man.
A native Ojibwe born in North Dakota, Gardner was
a multi-sport athlete at Carlisle Indian Industrial
School, lawyer, and coach before joining the Bureau
of Prohibition.
He’s an expert at undercover work and regularly
infiltrates the Outfit. Battling gangsters provides Gardner
with a thrill he hasn’t felt since his playing days.
Use the Federal Agent stat block for Gardner.
Agent Vanessa “Ness” Elliott
Vanessa “Ness” Elliott is an ambitious young Bureau of
Prohibition agent with a flair for self-promotion tasked
with bringing down the Outfit. Born and educated in
Chicago, she returned to her hometown to pursue a
career in law enforcement at the urging of her wife
Edna’s brother. She leads a special task force of 11
handpicked agents dubbed “The Untouchables” by the
press because they refuse to take bribes.
Elliott’s operation is in its early stages, but her
raids are already starting to impact the Outfit’s bottom
line. However, she worries about a parallel I.R.S.
investigation upstaging her own work. Although she’s
an honest and fearless cop with a keen interest in
forensic science, Elliott has a depressive personality
and is both a heavy drinker and womanizer.
Elliott is an Exceptional with no Powers.
Agent Vanessa
"Ness" Elliott

Al
"Scarface"
Capone
Al “Scarface” Capone
Though only in his 20s, Alfonse Capone is one of the
most powerful and feared mobsters in Chicago. He
moved to the city in 1919 to work for Jim Colosimo
under Giada Torrio, and his first job was as a bouncer
and roper at the Four Deuces nightclub. Capone rapidly
ascended through the ranks, and after Torrio’s coup, he
became her second-in-command.
Unlike Torrio, Capone enjoys the spotlight and has
become a local celebrity who frequents nightclubs, fancy
restaurants, and sporting events wearing pinstripe suits,
rakish fedoras, and flashy jewelry. The local press treats
him gingerly and depicts him as a Robin Hood-like rogue
who donates large sums to charity.
However, Capone is largely responsible for
the increasing bloodshed in Chicago; he’s more
willing than Torrio to use indiscriminate violence to
achieve his goals. Capone is also quite insecure (he
conceals the scars on the left-side of his face and
detests the nickname “Scarface”), which fuels his
explosive temper and brutality, traits worsened by his
extraordinary abilities.
Capone is a Caper with immense strength who
shrugs off physical pain.
“Bloody” Angelo Genna
Angelo Genna and his five siblings control the Sicilian
mafia in Little Italy. In 1919, they obtained a license
from the federal government to manufacture industrial
ethanol, which they sell illegally to the Outfit after
dying it brown and sweetening it with glycerol. Their
operation is supplemented by hundreds of basement
stills scattered throughout Little Italy.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
The mean-tempered and violent Angelo is the
gang’s muscle and leader. He has political aspirations
and hopes to take over the Unione Siciliana with
the aid of Josefina Esposito after Mike Merlo’s
death. Angelo’s decision to sell his family’s liquor in
neighborhoods claimed by the North Side Gang is
at the root of the recent tensions between Chicago’s
criminal factions.
Use the Gangster stat block for Angelo.
Daniel McKee Jackson
Daniel McKee Jackson is Chicago’s reigning King of
Policy (policy being a friendly term for “illegal lottery”).
An undertaker by trade, Jackson operates several
funeral parlors across the Black Belt alongside his
empire of speakeasies, gambling dens, and brothels.
Luckily, the Outfit isn’t all that interested in the
policy racket, though his silent partner is a Sicilian
businessman and Capone associate named Julius
Benvenuti, and they supply his speakeasies with booze.
In addition, Jackson is a vocal supporter of Capone’s
ally, Big Bill Thompson and regularly turns out the
black vote for his Republican Party machine.
The soft spoken Jackson is well-respected in his
community. His lottery and connections provide much
needed jobs, and he funnels his illicit profits into his
mortuaries, allowing him to provide respectable funerals
to working-class black folk at affordable prices.
Use the Gambler stat block for Jackson.
Dean O’Banion
Dean O’Banion is the Irish-American leader of the North
Side Gang. In his youth, O’Banion’s family moved to
Little Hell, where he befriended Vincent Drucci, Bugs
Moran, and Hymie Weiss. The four became affiliated
with the infamous Market Street Gang before forming
their own crew, which pioneered liquor hijackings. That
brought them to Giada Torrio’s attention.
The two rivals forged an uneasy truce. Torrio
would respect O’Banion’s territories and give him
control of some speakeasies in Cicero in return for
a cut of the profits and an end to the hijackings.
Unfortunately, their partnership is proving untenable.
O’Banion bristles at his share and refuses to be bought
off with brothel money (O’Banion is a devout Catholic
opposed to prostitution), and Torrio’s allies, the
Gennas, are intruding on his turf. An already-annoyed
Torrio isn’t inclined to restrain them.
Despite being a ruthless gangster, O’Banion is
a devoted husband, talented singer, and inveterate
prankster. He walks with a limp (the result of a
childhood accident) and enjoys working part-time as
a florist.
O’Banion is an Exceptional with no Powers.
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Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Elizabeth Watkins “Lady Death”
Many male reporters deride their female peers as “sob
sisters,” but not Elizabeth Watkins. She works for the
Tribune, which is the city’s hanging newspaper, and
she’s probably their most zealously anti-criminal writer.
However, she has a secret. When guilty criminals are
acquitted – a common occurrence in Chicago – she dons
a black hood and metes out her own punishment. Most
of her victims are found hanging from street lamps or
electrocuted. Her journalistic colleagues have christened
her alter ego “Lady Death,” much to her bemusement.
Watkins is a Caper with telekinetic and
electrical abilities.
Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti is a Sicilian gangster and one of the Outfit’s
top lieutenants. Nitti came to Chicago in the 1910s and
operated as a jewel thief, fence, and liquor smuggler.
Though he originally worked with Dean O’Banion, Nitti
joined forces with Torrio and Capone, who acquired
his smuggling network and Canadian contacts. Despite
being nicknamed “The Enforcer,” Nitti is more of a
businessman and accountant. When Capone and Torrio
are out of town, they often leave him in charge. Nitti is
also secretly claustrophobic and fears imprisonment.
Use the Gangster stat block for Nitti.
Georgette “Bugs” Moran
Georgette “Bugs” Moran is a close childhood friend and
confidante of Dean O’Banion. Although lightly regarded
by her peers, Moran is quite savvy. She’s interested in dog
tracks and labor racketeering, and has pushed O’Banion to
expand their bootlegging activities into the Chain O’Lakes
region north of Chicago, beyond the reach of the Outfit.
Like other members of the gang, Moran views herself as a
devout Catholic and abhors prostitution. She harbors an
intense dislike for Torrio and Capone as a result.
Use the Gangster stat block for Moran.
98
Giada
"The Fox"
Torrio
Giada “The Fox” Torrio
The Italian-born Torrio immigrated to New York as
a child and grew up on the Lower East Side. She led
numerous street gangs and attracted the attention of
Paul Kelly, the leader of the Five Points Gang. He acted
as her mentor. In turn, she recruited and mentored
other young criminals, including Al Capone.
Torrio moved to Chicago at the request of Jim
Colosimo, her uncle by marriage. By 1920, she was
virtually running his organization herself, as he was
too busy with his mistress. When Colosimo divorced
her aunt and forbade bootlegging, Torrio had Al
Capone kill him. They’ve been operating the Outfit
ever since.
Although Torrio can be as violent as any other
mobster, her true talents are her organizational and
deal-making skills. However, a recent conviction for
violating federal Prohibition laws has made her wary of
further prosecution. She’s started mulling retirement,
but recent overtures from Dean O’Banion regarding a
jointly-owned brewery are proving irresistible.
Torrio is an exceptionally charismatic Caper who
can influence the emotions of others.
Hymie Weiss
Hymie Weiss is a Polish-American gangster and second-
in-command of the North Side Gang. He’s a violent
hothead who once shot his own brother because he
teased him for not serving during the Great War, and
he’s reportedly the only man that Capone fears.
 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

Weiss suffers from severe migraines and fainting

spells, which makes him both fatalistic and fearless. Mikey
However, Weiss is cunning, a good organizer, and "The Wrench"
provides O’Banion with excellent counsel. He is also Sbrocco
a devout Catholic who attends mass at Holy Name
Cathedral and always carries a rosary and Bible. Like
his compatriots, he detests prostitution and regards his
Italian rivals as “dirty pimps.”
Use the Hitman stat block for Weiss.

James “Mad Bomber” Belcastro

Nobody in Chicago knows explosives like James
Belcastro, the Outfit’s chief bomber. Belcastro began his
career in Little Italy, working with the Black Hand. When
Torrio and Capone took over, they offered him a job.
He now bombs saloons that refuse to buy the
Outfit’s liquor, as well as his bosses’ enemies. His
bombs have killed nearly 100 people. Belcastro loves
watching his handiwork, and sometimes, when a job
requires a personal touch, he uses his Powers instead
Mikey “The Wrench” Sbrocco
of an explosive device.
His sometimes unpredictable demeanor has been Growing up in Little Hell, Mikey became a plumber’s
tempered lately by a burgeoning relationship with one apprentice and then journeyman. When a violent
of Capone’s underlings, an “enforcer” named Henry. outburst with a customer dashed his hopes of
Belcastro is a Caper who can generate becoming a master plumber, Mikey took to odd jobs
explosive blasts. around town.
When Prohibition began, he saw an opportunity
Josefina “Diamond Jo” Esposito to ply his formidable physique as an enforcer and
bodyguard to the Outfit. In time, he gained Torrio’s
Josefina Esposito is a middle-aged restaurateur and
notice and often “takes care of business” for her. A
Republican Party ward boss in Little Italy fond of
well-read and cultured brute, Mikey enjoys singing
diamond-encrusted jewelry. She’s also involved with
opera or reciting poetry while crushing the kneecaps of
organized crime, having been a protégé of Antonio
his targets with his trusty pipe wrench.
D’Andrea and rival of Jim Colosimo.
Mikey is a Caper who can float things from afar.
Today, she controls the Forty-Two Gang and is allied
with the Genna Family and the Outfit. However, she
William “Big Bill” Thompson
intensely dislikes Capone and has aligned herself with
a faction of the Illinois G.O.P. led by Senator Charles William “Big Bill” Thompson is the former mayor
Deneen opposed to Capone favorite “Big Bill” Thompson. of Chicago and head of the local Republican Party
Use the Politician stat block for Esposito. machine in Cook County. He’s also brazenly corrupt
and closely associated with Al Capone. He even owns a
Matas Andris “The Piggy Man” floating speakeasy called the Fish Fans Club Boat.
Thompson is a tall, imposing man, an unabashed
Matas Andris is a laconic Lithuanian immigrant who
populist prone to making outlandish statements, and is
once worked as a meatpacker in the Union Stock
proudly Anglophobic. He’s also gearing up for a return
Yards. One day he awoke with a pig snout and Powers.
to politics, and Capone has promised to support him by
Ashamed of his deformity, Matas hides in an abandoned
any means necessary.
warehouse near Bubbly Creek. However, he’s a good-
Use the Politician stat block for Thompson.
hearted fellow who uses his Powers to protect his
fellow immigrants from street gangs. Neighborhood
youths call him “The Piggy Man”
Matas is a Caper who exudes foul-smelling, acidic
slime from his skin.

99
Chapter 9 – Backdrops

Gangster Story Hooks Dairy Daze

Duffy’s One Way Ride
John Duffy, a hitman from Philadelphia, got drunk and
murdered his girlfriend. He was last seen outside the
Four Deuces getting into a car. His body was found the
next day. The police are focusing their investigation on
Al Capone, and while he’s publicly defiant, he orders
the characters to find the real killers. Since Duffy was
affiliated with the North Side Gang, he suspects Dean
O’Banion is trying to frame him.
Hijacking!
A major shipment of Canadian whiskey is due any day.
Are the characters smugglers who must protect their
shipment, or are they hijackers who plan on stealing it
for themselves?
The Outfit controls two-thirds of Chicago’s labor
unions, but not the Milk Wagon Drivers. Now they’ve
kidnapped the union’s president and dispatched James
Belcastro to punish them. Can the characters stop the
Mad Bomber and free the union’s president? If so, can
they also keep the Outfit from undercutting the union
by opening its own dairy?
War is Hell
The characters are working in Little Hell when a
vicious gang war erupts between allies of the Gennas
and the North Side Gang. Unfortunately, they’re
trapped between the warring factions, who’ve turned
the neighborhood into a shooting gallery. The police
refuse to intercede, so the characters are on their own.
They’ll need both their brawn and wits to survive.

The Pineapple Primary

The Republican Party primary is approaching and Big
Agent: Officers Cortez and Hall.
Bill Thompson and Charles Deneen are fielding opposing
Witness: Yeah. These two had no chance. The
slates. Thompson has called on his friends in the Outfit
blurry fella ran by ‘em and distracted ‘em.
to ensure a victory, and the characters are ordered to do
Everyone else left opened fire. That’s when I
whatever it takes to secure a win. However, they must do
got my chance.
so without attracting the attention of the U.S. Marshals.
Agent: Your chance to…
Witness: I skedaddled on out o’ there. Ran over
Law Enforcement Story Hooks to that parlor off the side o’ the lobby and out
the side door. That’s when I got this.
Blown Cover?
Vanessa Elliott is worried. Bill Gardner went
undercover at the Lexington Hotel and was apparently
onto something big. However, he’s missed his last two
check-ins, and she wants the characters to investigate
without blowing his cover. Is Gardner a turncoat? In
need of rescue? If he’s dead, can they uncover the
information he learned?

100
 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

CHICAGO NPCs Dean O’Banion Exceptional 5

Trait Score Defense
Agent Vanessa Elliott Exceptional 3 Charisma 3 10
Agility 1 8
Trait Score Defense Perception 3 10
Charisma 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Agility 2 9 Resilience 3 10
Perception 3 10 Strength 2 9
Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Skills
Strength 1 8 Business, Deception, Guns, Mechanicals, Sleight of
Hand, Willpower
Skills
Diplomacy, Guns, Humanities 2, Insight 2, Sense Hits: 16 Body: 8 Mind: Q
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Hits: 18 Body: 9 Mind: J
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Weapon Damage Range Blackjack Color+1 -
Fists Color - Tommy Gun Suit+2 100/300
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150 Perks
Power-Resistant, Re-Focus, Wily Mind (x2)
Perks
Tough, Wily Mind Gear: Modest suit, smock, pruning shears, wad of cash,
cigarette lighter
Gear: Pant suit, trench coat, notepad, pencil, flashlight,
hip flask, cigarette lighter
Elizabeth Watkins “Lady Death” Caper 3
Al “Scarface” Capone Caper 4 Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9
Trait Score Defense Agility 3 10
Charisma 2 9 Perception 2 9
Agility 2 9 Expertise 2 9
Perception 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Expertise 1 8 Strength 1 8
Resilience 5 Q
Strength 4 J Skills
Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Humanities, Insight,
Skills Stealth
Business, Fisticuffs, Melee Weapons
Hits: 16 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Hits: 18 Body: 9 Mind: 9 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Weapon Damage Range Fists Color -
Fists Suit - Derringer Suit 30/100
Baseball Bat Suit -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Power/Rank Boosts
Electric Bolt 2 Blast, Damage, Range,
Power/Rank Boosts Shutdown
Super Resilience 2 Damage Prevention, Puppeteer 2 Damage, Dance, Movement,
Detoxifying, Exhaustion, Hits Range
Super Strength 1 Damage, Knockdown, Push
Gear: Notepad, pencil, glasses, black clothing, rope
Gear: Pinstripe suit, fedora, several diamond rings,
wallet filled with cash, diamond-encrusted cigarette
lighter

101
Chapter 9 – Backdrops

Giada “The Fox” Torrio Caper 5 Matas Andris “The Piggy Man” Caper 2
Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 5 Q Charisma 1 8
Agility 2 9 Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10 Perception 2 9
Expertise 2 9 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 1 8 Resilience 3 10
Strength 2 9 Strength 2 9
Skills Skills
Deception, Diplomacy, Insight, Willpower Athletics, Insight, Sense, Stealth
Hits: 16 Body: 9 Mind: 10 Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Power/Rank Boosts
Power/Rank Boosts Acid Stream 2 Cutting, Liquefy, Persistence,
Influence Emotions 2 Amnesia, Positive Emotion, Range
Soothing, Twin Goo Generation 1 Ball, Range, Rope
Super Charisma 2 Hits, Intimidating, Liar, Minion
Gear: Muddy overalls, tattered shirt, antique pocket
Gear: Conservative dress, modest jewelry, purse, wad watch
of cash, cigarette lighter
Mikey “The Wrench” Sbrocco Caper 3
James “Mad Bomber” Belcastro Caper 2
Trait Score Defense
Trait Score Defense Charisma 2 9
Charisma 1 8 Agility 1 8
Agility 2 9 Perception 2 9
Perception 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Expertise 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Strength 3 10
Strength 2 9
Skills
Skills Deception, Fisticuffs, Humanities, Melee Weapons
Deception, Mechanicals, Ranged Weapons, Stealth
Hits: 12 Body: 8 Mind: 9
Hits: 10 Body: 9 Mind: 10 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Weapon Damage Range Fists Color -
Fists Color - Pipe Wrench Suit -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Power/Rank Boosts
Grenade 4 x Suit 30/100
Puppeteer 4 Break, Damage, Movement,
Power/Rank Boosts Range, Steal, Weight
Concussion Beam 2 Blast, Damage, Knockdown, Hypnosis 2 Amnesia, Implant,
Push Post-Hypnotic, Range
Heat Beam 2 Blast, Damage, Ignition,
Gear: Work clothes, wallet, cash, tattered paperback
Immolation
book
Gear: Cheap suit, cigarette lighter, watch, goggles

102

NEW YORK CITY
Recent History
Welcome to the center of the universe! Since the 1700s,
New York City has been a bustling metropolis with a
diverse immigrant population. In the 1800s it became
the biggest city in the hemisphere. Just before the turn
of the century, the five boroughs consolidated into the
New York we know today.
After the Great War, the streets of the “City That
Never Sleeps” began to run with booze and the sound
of jazz music. The Great Migration saw an influx of
southern black Americans and the start of the Harlem
Renaissance. Prohibition has created a window for the
Mafia to thrive. Dozens of towering skyscrapers now
graze the atmosphere. New York has come into its own.
The City That Never Sleeps
New York City is loud. Day and night, subway cars,
automobiles, construction equipment, foot traffic,
music, delivery trucks, all the sounds of life can be
heard the city over.
New York City is becoming the face of 1920s
American life. Corporations have settled in. Huge
numbers of immigrants come to stake their claim.
Manhattan is the nucleus of a massive atom where
anyone can get anything they want at any time – and
many are struggling to be the provider.
In the midst of this growth and chaos, street gangs
vie for control of territory and a corner of the booze
market. And law enforcement can barely keep up.
The Company
The pace of life, massive population, and geography of
New York make it a hotbed of criminal activity during
Prohibition. One man stands at the top, Arnold “The
Brain” Rothstein. Rothstein is the man responsible
for importing booze in the first place. He is a king of
gamblers and owns brothels, casinos, and speakeasies.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
With judges, police, and gangsters in his pocket, there is
little that The Brain can’t get away with in New York.
His organization is known as The Company, and
such is its influence that the political machine of New
York knows that if they want to get anything done,
they need Rothstein. If that isn’t enough, he has been
called in, and paid handsomely, to mediate tensions
between rival New York street gangs, no easy task
when the gangs are often heavily split along ethnic and
neighborhood lines. However, the truces between these
gangs are not set in stone. The tenuousness of these
agreements is like a tightrope that everyone walks; if
one person shakes the line, they all might come down.
Meanwhile, the immigrant neighborhoods of
lower Manhattan churn out gangs that enforce their
borders like wild wolves. Some of these come together
and form something greater, such as the crew run
by Joe “The Boss” Masseria. His is a purely Italian
organization that is taking over the crime families and
growing into a threat ready to bump against Rothstein
when the time is right.
The New York City Police Department seems to
finally have its head on straight after many years of
ineptitude. It has the numbers and the training – and
now significant federal support – in spite of some
officers living on the take or failing to do the right thing
in their home neighborhoods. The question is, will it
make a difference?
Uneasy Truces
Rothstein is the man, and other large gangs like
Masseria’s hold a piece of the pie, but New York makes
for an unspeakably large pie. Those with ambitions of
power might want to take a larger piece, though most
are content with their own little bit.
In such a large area, stories of New York can cover
a wide breadth of activity, from local neighborhood
protection to unifications, to big picture stuff like
helping Rothstein grow his business and keep the peace.
Or, maybe it’s time The Brain was brought down by
rivals like Masseria, or busted up by law enforcement.
103
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
Notable Organizations
The 40 Thieves
It used to be there wasn’t much to Harlem, but,
when the booze dried up, all that changed. Now
there’s a battle going on between black ownership of
speakeasies and casinos and the outsiders who want
to control them. In the dead center of the conflict is
Stephanie St. Clair, the “Madam Queen of Policy” and
her gang.
The 40 Thieves want to keep their territory in
Harlem protected at all costs and have no problem
getting rough when the occasion calls for it. They are a
loose association of men and women in the employ of
St. Clair, making sure lottery games run smoothly and
that alcohol can be found.
The Five Points Gang
Years ago, there were two gangs worth knowing in the
City: The Eastman Gang and the Five Points Gang. The
latter is still around, centered around their namesake
in lower Manhattan where five streets intersect. The
Five Points Gang is a training ground for such notables
as Carla “Lucky” Luciano, Al Capone, and Giada
Torrio. At one point, they were the long arm of the
political machines of the city, making money hand over
clenched fist.
However, the Five Points Gang is on the decline
and out of its depth in the new reality of Prohibition.
Notable Locales
Battery Park
On the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island, sprouting
out like a weed in the urban jungle is Battery Park.
A green space of 25 acres, it’s named for the artillery
stations that it featured many years ago.
Battery Park is home to many monuments and
public pieces of art, landscape designs, and a few
trees. The park is also nestled up alongside the
waterfront and it is easy enough for a small boat
to dock there and unload its contents, without the
appropriate documentation.
City Hall
Not far from the Brooklyn Bridge, in the center of
Lower Manhattan, is the grand City Hall of New York.
For 100 years this mammoth of architecture has
pumped legislative dealings through the arteries of city
streets and been a home to corruption and swindle. Its
facade is marvelous, but often overshadowed by the
never-ending handoff of bribes and threats from able-
bodied thugs to their elected officials. Rothstein knows
the place especially well, as his interactions with
Tammany Hall often lead him right here.
104
Grand Central Terminal
Most newcomers to N.Y.C. arrive by boat from their
native land, but when someone new comes on the
scene from another part of town or another major city,
it will be through Grand Central. The building is well-
named. The gigantic structure has beautiful, domed
ceilings and inspiring columns like something from
ancient Rome. Trains from within and without the city
make their journey here and the traffic means a lot of
faces from within the criminal world and beyond
make appearances.
Harlem
What was once a mixed neighborhood is now the
heart of the black community in Manhattan. On these
unassuming uptown streets, somewhat removed from
the activities of Lower Manhattan, something special is
happening. Here is an explosion of art, culture, music,
and more.
In Harlem, one can find the infamous Cotton Club
on Leon Avenue, the Savoy Ballroom on Lenox, and the
bustle of Seventh Avenue. For all the beauty growing
here, there is plenty of nefarious activity going on as
well. There are just as many speakeasies, casinos, and
brothels here as there are on the south side of town.
Little Italy
Centered around Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan,
Little Italy is like a piece of Naples scooped up and
brought over to America by immigrants not quite ready
to let go of their homeland. At this time, Little Italy is
home to thousands of Italian immigrant families. The
older population, the “nonnis”, hardly speak English,
and why should they? When all of your neighbors are
Italian, you speak Italian.
The Italian identity is deeply ingrained here and
anyone wishing to make an inroad would do well
to respect it. As the heart of Italian life in Lower
Manhattan, it’s also home to the ethnic Italian gangs,
including many of the crime families.
Lower East Side
Lower Manhattan, and the island as a whole, is
exploding with newcomers from all over the world,
and most of them are coming from Europe. The Lower
East Side is a melting pot not only of ethnicities, but
of ideas. Here is where radicals and free thinkers
and artists spend their time building community and
sipping coffee in stuffy cafes. From comedy to painting
and writing, this is where many of the greats of the
next century will be born.
It’s also a poor area, known as much for tenement
housing as art and free thought. As such, far away from
the prying eyes of law enforcement, it’s a breeding
ground for the local gangs.
105
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
The Lower East Side Toy Co.
An illegal establishment should not be an easy thing
to find, so when one approaches the Lower East Side
Toy Company, one expects just that: a toy shop. Head
around back, though, and you’ll enjoy one of the finer
drinkeries in New York. It features a wide, wooden bar,
gambling tables, low light, and suave company. The
back room is associated with no particular gang and
is often considered neutral territory where many deals
have been struck.
The Plaza Hotel
Though slightly removed from the bootlegging bustle of
Lower Manhattan, the Plaza Hotel is the place anyone,
fed or gangster, takes a special guest. Besides its
impressive architecture, the Plaza is where high rollers
and dignitaries stay when they’re in the New York
and where they would meet any connection of theirs,
nefarious or otherwise.
A huge hotel also has a huge staff, and so many
organizations, the police, and the gangs have contacts
inside the hotel to keep tabs on who’s there and what
they’re doing.
The Savoy Ballroom
In contrast to the Cotton Club, a segregated club in the
middle of Harlem, the Savoy Ballroom is a welcoming
dance hall for folks from all over New York. Here the
most impressive swing bands and swing dancers in the
world congregate to dance the night away.
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall is as much an organization as a place.
The Tammany Society is the political machine of the
Democratic Party in New York and its reach is far. Its
current “Wigwam”, or headquarters, is a large building
on East 14th Street. Within are more than mere political
offices, though. There is a theater, oyster saloon, bar,
cafe, ladies’ bazaar, and more.
Tammany has had affiliation with street gangs
and organized crime for years and is currently heavily
under the influence of Rothstein.
106
Notable People
Alfred Mineo
The crime families of New York are a complex web of
relationships, to say nothing of the rest of the Mafia
in surrounding cities. Hitman Alfred Mineo is caught
in the middle of this web. He currently works for the
D’Aquila crime family, but has ties to other families as
well, most notably Masseria and his crew. Those who
know understand the pressure this can put on a man,
and those who know understand that only one can be
The Boss. When the time comes, Mineo is likely to turn
his back on D’Aquila and join Masseria.
Use the Tough stat block for Mineo.
Arnold “The Brain” Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein truly earned his nickname. Many
believe him to be the man who took organized crime
from thuggish street activity to the level of properly run
business. A lifelong gambler, Rothstein has taken the
opportunity afforded him by Prohibition to dominate
criminal life in New York and he’s making connections
across the country.
He’s the biggest player in the Jewish mob and
runs illegal casinos and bars, mitigates disputes with
other gangs, and even went so far as to fix the 1919
World Series. Rothstein leads the illegal importation
of alcohol into the U.S. and has a well-established
criminal name. Some say he’s making millions of
dollars in the process. Those in his employ could be
tied to any one of his many operations from booze
running to political gangsterism to games of chance.
The question is only this: how high can the tower be
built before it falls?
Rothstein is an Exceptional with no Powers.
Arnold
"The Brain"
Rothstein

Carla
"Lucky"
Luciano
Carla “Lucky” Luciano
Like many of her contemporaries, Lucky was born in
Europe – specifically the island of Sicily – but raised
on the streets of New York. As a teenager, Lucky
had already decided it was more profitable to start
gambling and running protection on local families than
to complete school.
A former member of the Five Points gang – and
once working for Joe Masseria – Lucky has come into
her own recently as one of the closest accomplices
of Rothstein. She’s learning a great deal from him,
but Lucky is an ambitious woman with a vision for
the money to be made in drug running. Her only true
weakness is her love for her new girlfriend, Jill Darby.
Lucky is a Caper with tough skin and the ability to
manipulate probability.
Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson
A violent temper led to a series of events that put
young Bumpy in Harlem. This temper would prove
useful in criminal dealings and the young man has been
quickly taken under the wing of Stephanie St. Clair as
her enforcer. He’s already shown signs of leadership
and St. Clair even trusts him with limited negotiations,
priming him to perhaps take over her affairs in Harlem
and beyond.
Use the Hitman stat block for Bumpy.
Jill “Legs” Darby
Born to immigrant parents, Jill used her legs from the
get-go, walking before her time, and outrunning the
boys. She’s kept outrunning those boys into adulthood,
taking no husband and accepting no suitor – indeed,
she prefers women.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
She spends her off-duty time at the gambling
houses and speakeasies, living up to her raucous
reputation. On-duty, she ensures that Rothstein’s
booze coming in through the city makes its way to
Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and many of the
smaller surrounding states.
Legs is a Caper who is incredibly fast.
Joe “The Boss” Masseria
When two gunmen opened fire on him at point blank
range, and Masseria survived with nary a scratch, this
Sicilian-born gangster earned the title of “the man who
can dodge bullets.”
Everyone knows that Joe has aspirations of being
“The Boss of Bosses” over all the New York crime
families. He’s well on his way to consolidating power,
with only a few families not yet under his sway. The
largest of these is Francine Yale, the bootlegger queen
of Brooklyn, but Brooklyn is over the bridge and The
Boss is set to run Manhattan.
Full of bluster, The Boss now runs a sizable portion
of the booze, gambling, and prostitution businesses
in the city and has immense support within the Italian
community. His only looming threats are the D’Aquila
crime family and The Company.
While Joe runs the gang, his wife, a matronly
woman named Olivia, runs their home. He’s
surprisingly timid in her presence.
Masseria is a Caper who can manipulate his own
bones and organs.
Joseph “The Sport” Sullivan
Being older than many of his associates has given Joe
Sullivan something of a superiority complex. The Sport
is a gambler of mammoth proportions, and so it was
inevitable that he would cross paths with Rothstein.
At first it was a simple friendship focused around the
odds, but then the Sport decided on the fix.
He bankrolled Rothstein, possibly under some
unnatural influence, to fix the 1919 World Series, and
though they got away with it, Rothstein was forced
to testify while Sullivan was not, leaving the two in a
tenuous spot. The Sport splits his time between New
York and Boston, working his influence on Rothstein and
whomever else he sees fit to play a role in his schemes.
The Sport is a Caper with a hypnotic gaze.
107
Chapter 9 – Backdrops

Meyer Lansky
Stanley
Even as a young boy in Russia, Meyer Lansky had a
"Rattler"
way with numbers. He knew how many (or how few)
Rogers
bites of bread were probably left, he counted how
many times his mother coughed before she died, and
even logged the miles on the journey to America.
Now, Lansky puts that ability to use for The Company.
Rothstein runs the show, but Lansky fixes the numbers.
He is usually found hard at work at one of
Rothstein’s many properties. Lansky is already close
with Lucky Luciano, and the two seem to be growing
closer. Stray observers can’t tell if it’s romantic
(it isn’t) or if the two just have dreams of a bigger
criminal enterprise.
Lansky is an Exceptional with no Powers

Richard Enright
Being the chief of the New York City Police Department
is no easy job and the Volstead Act has not made it any
easier. The current keeper of the title is Richard Enright,
a bulldog of a man with a reputation to restore. This
reputation has been cast into doubt by what many see
as a lackadaisical police department that only enforces
Prohibition policy when it suits them.
With the public and politicians breathing down his
neck, Enright is looking to push his police force into
high gear, to crack down on bootlegging and corruption
both. It’s a tall order, but he believes himself to be the
man for the job.
Use the Cop stat block for Enright.
Sonny Scofield
Sonny is an errand runner for the N.Y.P.D., but being a
9-year-old street kid means your loyalties aren’t worth
much. So, whether he knows it or not, he may be the
most criminally informed person in New York. The
police trust him, the gangsters trust him, and he spends
his days running all over Manhattan delivering items
and messages.
Use the Kid stat block for Sonny.
Stanley “Rattler” Rogers
Rogers grew up in an affluent family in Manhattan
with all the trimmings of high society. His aristocratic
lifestyle was cut short with the Panic of 1907, when, at
age 13, his family’s fortune was wiped out. Left to grow
up on the street, young Stanley turned to petty crime.
Now a ruthless, middle-aged man, Rogers has
worked his way up Rothstein’s organization, using his
bitterness and doubting nature to keep the top guy
on the lookout for those who would betray them. His
cold, calm demeanor rattles others’ psyches, earning
him his nickname.
Rogers is a Caper who can manipulate cold.
Stephanie St. Clair, “The Madam Queen of Policy”
A tough upbringing can create a tough person, and
Queenie is as tough as they come. When she saw how
much money could be made selling drugs and running
lotteries, St. Clair grabbed the ball and kept running.
She runs the numbers games in Harlem and the
surrounding neighborhoods.
But that’s not enough for her. She’s also active in
the community, informing her fellow Harlem residents
of their legal rights and calling out the police for
corruption (ironic as some are in her pocket). She
is not eager to give up what she has gained, so she
is often at odds with The Company and the crime
families. Now, she runs the 40 Thieves, her businesses,
and her men under the assumption that the sky is truly
the limit.
St. Clair is an Exceptional with no Powers.
Toto D’Aquila
Head of the D’Aquila crime family, Toto disputes
anyone calling Joe Masseria “The Boss”. While his
organization is not what it used to be, with The
Company and Masseria breathing down his neck, Toto
D’Aquila is still a prideful man with enough power to
back up some of his talk.
He remains the final big obstacle to Joe taking over
the crime families of New York and has a firm grip over
what’s left of Italian Harlem. In his advancing years,
he’s begun using a cane, but never in front of the other
crime family heads.
Use the Gangster stat block for D’Aquila.

108

Gangster Story Hooks
Keep the Peace
The Knockouts, an Italian street gang, and the Born
Fighters, a Jewish gang, have been in conflict for years
and are ready to call a truce. While neither gang can
afford his “services,” Rothstein has agreed to help
broker this peace and the characters have to help him.
When the first meeting is attacked by a mysterious
third party, it seems this peace will be harder to buy
than initially thought.
The One That Got Away
Eustus Smith came all the way from Georgia to Harlem
hoping for better. When he found himself in the employ
of Stephanie St. Clair, it seemed his dreams had come
true! But that wealth and freedom came with a hefty
price, and after a job went sour and one of his own got
killed, Eustus was not seen again. St. Clair thinks he’s
run off downtown or to one of the Boroughs. It’s up to
the characters to find him, before fear gets the better of
him and he spills his guts.
The Boss of Bosses
Masseria is anxious. His ambition is now not limited
to merely controlling the crime families, but all of New
York. And yet the time may not be right. The Boss asks
the characters to assess his own organization and the
strength of his enemies. This means surveilling their own
people, as well as The Company, the D’Aquila Family,
and the 40 Thieves. If things seem to be in Masseria’s
favor, it might be time for him to make his move.
Law Enforcement Story Hooks
Your Good Name
The characters have been working to take on
the D’Aquila crime family for months, gathering
information and building an informant network. A
meeting has been arranged between the local law and
Alfred Mineo, an important consigliere of the crime
family, to get key information on when he will turn
in his boss. Mineo doesn’t show, the police contact
has gone A.W.O.L., the presiding officer thinks the
characters had something to do with it, and it’s time
for the characters to clear their names.
Chapter 9 – Backdrops
The Battle for Battery Park
Bumping right up against the Upper Bay makes Battery
Park unique among the green spots of New York. Most
gangs have some contact paid off there so they can use
the waterfront to slip booze and anything else into or
out of the city.
Chief Enright knows this and knows it’s time to
crack down, starting with a big shipment due in for The
Company next week. It’s up to the characters to work
their contacts and shut it down, or to prepare for the
fight that will surely come that night.
Family Honor
Detective Joseph Weber is a good cop, one who kept
his head above the bribes and trouble of the N.Y.P.D.
But when he came home two nights ago, his wife had
been shot and killed in their bedroom. Weber has not
been seen since.
An errand boy for The Company barged into police
headquarters just yesterday, ranting about Weber
shooting up one of Rothstein’s casinos and killing a few
toughs. The characters need to find and stop Weber
before he goes too far and sets off a war between The
Company and the N.Y.P.D.
Agent: The bruise. How did that happen?
Witness: As I scrambled out that side door, I
stumbled and fell face first into a trash barrel.
Messed up my vision pretty good, too. You’re
a little blurry, ma’am, like that other fella. You
sure you ain’t a Caper?
109
Chapter 9 – Backdrops

NEW YORK NPCs Jill “Legs” Darby Caper 2

Trait Score Defense
Arnold “The Brain” Rothstein Exceptional 5 Charisma 2 9
Agility 3 10
Trait Score Defense Perception 2 9
Charisma 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Agility 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Perception 2 9 Strength 1 8
Expertise 3 10
Resilience 2 9 Skills
Strength 2 9 Acrobatics, Athletics, Guns, Sleight of Hand
Skills Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Business, Deception, Diplomacy, Guns, Insight, Sense, Moxie: 3 Speed: 90
Sleight of Hand, Willpower
Weapon Damage Range
Hits: 18 Body: 9 Mind: 10 Fists Color -
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Weapon Damage Range Power/Rank Boosts
Fists Color - Speedster 2 Chaperone, Damage,
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Lightning, Speed
Perks Gear: Flapper dress and hat, purse, some cash
Lucky, Tough, Wily Mind
Gear: Pair of dice, expensive suit and bowtie, a wad of Joe “The Boss” Masseria Caper 4
cash Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10
Carla “Lucky” Luciano Caper 4 Agility 3 10
Perception 2 9
Trait Score Defense Expertise 2 9
Charisma 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Agility 3 10 Strength 3 10
Perception 2 9
Expertise 3 10 Skills
Resilience 2 9 Business, Deception, Guns, Willpower
Strength 3 10
Hits: 14 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Skills Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Athletics, Fisticuffs, Guns, Stealth, Willpower
Weapon Damage Range
Hits: 12 Body: J Mind: 9 Fists Color -
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Weapon Damage Range Power/Rank Boosts
Fists Color - Bone/Organ Shifting 1 Bone Armor, Bone Spurs,
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Organ Shift
Energy Resistance 1 Immunity, Rebound, Switch
Power/Rank Boosts
Body Armor 1 Body, Healing, Rebound Gear: Cheap suit, wallet, fancy watch, car keys, wad of
Probability Control, Rejection, Reveal cash
Manipulation 1
Gear: Trench coat, wad of cash, notebook full of
contacts

110
 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

Joseph “Sport” Sullivan Caper 2 Stanley “Rattler” Rogers Caper 3

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Charisma 3 10
Agility 1 8 Agility 1 8
Perception 3 10 Perception 2 9
Expertise 2 9 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9 Strength 2 9
Skills Skills
Deception, Humanities, Insight, Sleight of Hand Deception, Melee Weapons, Sense, Willpower
Hits: 14 Body: 8 Mind: 10 Hits: 14 Body: 8 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Knife Color+1 20/60
Power/Rank Boosts Power/Rank Boosts
Hypnosis 2 Amnesia, Extend, Extraction, Cold Beam 4 Blast, Damage, Encasement,
Implant Ice Shape, Range, Slick
Weather Manipulation 2 Fog, Heat, Lightning,
Gear: Fine suit, pocket watch, pen & notepad, glasses
(Sleet standard) Whirlwind

Meyer Lansky Exceptional 2 Gear: Fine clothing, wallet, cash, gold lighter, old photo
of his parents
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Stephanie St. Clair Exceptional 3
Agility 1 8
Perception 2 9 Trait Score Defense
Expertise 3 10 Charisma 3 10
Resilience 2 9 Agility 2 9
Strength 2 9 Perception 2 9
Expertise 3 10
Skills
Resilience 2 9
Business, Diplomacy, Humanities, Insight, Sciences
Strength 2 9
Hits: 14 Body: 8 Mind: 10
Skills
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Business, Conveyances, Deception, Fisticuffs,
Weapon Damage Range Humanities
Fists Color -
Hits: 18 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Knife Color+1 20/60
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Perks
Weapon Damage Range
Lucky, Wily Mind
Fists Color -
Gear: Pen & paper, wallet with cash, suit and tie Knife Color+1 20/60
Pistol Suit+1 50/160
Perks
Quick Reflexes, Tough
Gear: Expensive dress, purse, a lot of jewelry, some
cash

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Chapter 9 – Backdrops

ATLANTA Notable People

The Big Peach Thalia Kotas

If being infamous for being burnt to the ground during This teenager has made it her business to know where
that “March to the Sea” business wasn’t enough, Atlanta every single cache of hidden liquor is within Atlanta.
experienced another great fire in 1917. Those who have She’s not yet sure if she’s going to sell the information
decided the city deserves a third chance get to decide on to the Prohibition Bureau or gangsters who would like
the city’s new shape. Many buildings in Atlanta’s urban to gain a foothold in Atlanta.
core are new and more are being built. On the surface,
things may be new but old tensions linger. The city has James “The Deacon” Grady
grown so quickly in recent years as workers moved With personal connections to most of the “good old
in to join the construction boom that competition for families” of Atlanta’s upper crust, Grady represents
jobs and living space is high. Atlanta is young, vibrant, those who want to rebuild Atlanta. He sees Prohibition
and volatile with strong civic pride and a sense of being as a good way to move riff-raff off the streets. It is also
ready to take its place among the great cities. great for business. An expert in false humility and at
The dominant cultural forces in the city support associating himself with powerful people, Grady is
Prohibition. As the capitol of a predominately rural frequently seen at upscale civic events despite being
state, Atlanta hears a lot from politicians about the “just” a department store owner. Similarly, he is known
good Prohibition does. Most of the residents let such to run his church despite being “only” a deacon. He
lectures go in one ear and out the other. With ready seems to have his fingers in every pie in the city.
access to the farms and orchards in the immediate
outskirts of the city, the favored alcohol in Atlanta is James “The Deacon” Grady Exceptional 4
fruit cider. City officials and the police have the more
relaxed view that a little vice is perfectly acceptable Trait Score Defense
as long as it’s not too obvious. Speakeasies, card Charisma 3 10
houses, and other illegal businesses are regularly shut Agility 2 9
down by raids, but the vacuum is soon filled by new Perception 2 9
establishments, often in the same basements and back Expertise 2 9
rooms, often run by the same people. Resilience 3 10
Strength 2 9
Notable Organizations Skills
Business, Deception, Insight, Fisticuffs, Guns,
Momma’s Boys Willpower
Holly “Momma” Turner is a former social worker who Hits: 16 Body: 10 Mind: 9
has turned orphans and street toughs into a major Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
up-and-coming organized crime outfit. By smuggling
large amounts of liquor into the city using trains, the Weapon Damage Range
Boys plan to undercut the Deacon and corner the Fists Color -
market. They have already taken over most of the more Pistol Suit+1 50/150
obviously criminal operations in town, such as brothels Perks
and underground no-holds-barred fight rings. Hardy Body, Power-Resistant

Notable Locales Gear: Wallet, cash, list of names

Greenhill Manor
A former plantation now surrounded by suburbs, it is
one of the few antebellum homes still owned by the
family who built it. Somewhere in the vast acreage
of farms and woods are the cider-making and liquor
distilling operations of the Deacon.

112
 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

BOSTON Huntington Avenue

Stroll down Huntington, past Symphony Hall, and
speakeasies are a common sight. Some may be
Beantown
frequented by music-lovers, especially closer to the
Not many Bostonians call it Beantown; that’s a name Symphony, but most are filled with laborers. It’s said
used by sailors, smugglers, and tourists. But that you can recruit a Caper here, if you know in which
Beantown name is being reinforced across the city, speakeasy to look.
with restaurants offering rum-baked beans – with a
whole lot of extra rum – to take home as “sweet beans”
Notable Person
to those who know to ask. Local law hasn’t caught on
yet, but it’s only a matter of time, assuming you can find
a cop who isn’t already corrupt. Charles “King” Solomon
Boston is a city in decline, and over 4,000 King Solomon is a Jewish-Russian mob boss who
illegal bars help people drink away the knowledge. controls the majority of Boston bootlegging, narcotics
Speakeasies have to pay off corrupt cops to stay in (mostly cocaine and morphine), and illegal gambling.
business, and they can afford this by renting rooms to He owns Boston’s Cotton Club, the Cocoanut
prostitutes. Corruption is so rampant that many cops Grove nightclub, and most of Boston’s major
bank over $20,000 yearly while working a $40/week job. speakeasies. More interestingly, he runs a fleet of rum-
running vessels that smuggle illegal Latin American
Notable Organizations rum into the city, and he uses his Powers to ensure that
his ships dock under the cover of heavy fog.
The Gustin Gang
Charles “King” Solomon Caper 3
Named after a street in South Boston, this mostly Irish-
American gang plagues Boston’s sprawling underworld. Trait Score Defense
Frank Wallace uses his ex-boxer brother Steve as Charisma 3 10
enforcement, and the “Tailboard Thieves” earn their Agility 1 8
reputation by hijacking delivery trucks and committing Perception 2 9
armed robbery. They even fake badges like those of Expertise 2 9
Prohibition Agents, stealing shipments from other Resilience 3 10
thieves and bootleggers. Strength 2 9
This makes them less than popular amongst other
criminals. In time, Frankie and his lieutenant Bernard Skills
“Dodo” Walsh will certainly become targets of the Business, Deception, Diplomacy, Insight
North End gangs. Hits: 16 Body: 8 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Watch and Ward Society
Weapon Damage Range
With alcohol technically forbidden, this morally
Fists Color -
righteous organization is responsible for the
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
appellation “Banned in Boston,” taking it upon itself to
protect Bostonians from moral turpitude by censoring Power/Rank Boosts
questionable literature and reading material. Weather Manipulation 4 Cold, Heat, Range, Thunder,
They embody Boston’s puritanical mores, and have (Fog standard) Whirlwind, Wind
recruited at least one member with remarkable Powers
to help reduce bootlegging and moral weakness. Gear: Fine suit, pocket watch, cigars, lighter

Notable Locales

The Great Molasses Flood Zone

Recently, a massive molasses tank burst on the North
End, sending a 25’ wave of liquid brown sugar roaring
down the street at 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150.
The entire area is still sticky with the stuff, bringing
children from all over to enjoy a free treat – with some
dirt mixed in. Rumor has it that a Caper is behind the
flood, but no one has proof.

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Chapter 9 – Backdrops

CINCINNATI George Remus

Self-proclaimed “King of the Bootleggers,” German-born
Remus runs a $15 million per year operation employing
The Queen City
thousands, and he and his wife Imogene live high on the
Efficiency. That’s what you get in Cinci, and it’s always hog while his ten distilleries fund a lavish lifestyle.
been like this. Leading up to Prohibition, Cincinnati was Use the Gangster stat block for Remus.
one of the biggest beer-brewing and beer-drinking cities
you could find. Cincinnati is peaceful, as far as big cities The Queen
go. This peace is mostly the doing of a single person.
She has a notorious reputation. She’s wreathed in
Currently, a middle-aged woman known only
mystery, seemingly everywhere at once, believed to be
as “The Queen” effectively runs the city. She’s not
in her 40s but how can you tell when her appearance
mayor, but she might as well be. She keeps politicians
seems to always change? It’s her voice that stays the
appeased, bootleggers in line, gang violence to a
same, a smoky, hard, flat tone that leaves no room
minimum, law enforcement adequately bribed, and yet
for disagreement.
somehow manages to keep her name out of the papers
In fact, The Queen is the alter ego of an elderly
all the while.
woman named Agatha Mullins. Bored beyond
People say the Queen never has the same
imagination by forced retirement from the local
appearance twice, that she could be anybody and you’ll
newspaper, she decided to stop writing indignant
never know when you’re actually talking to her. And if
letters to local politicians and instead use her secret
you cross her, you’ll never quite understand how she
mimicry Powers to make Cincinnati into a place that
set you up to take a long, hard fall.
she and her long-time partner Beatrice actually want to
live in.
Notable Locales Beatrice has no idea about Agatha’s second life,
and Agatha uses her extraordinary ability and excellent
Death Valley Farm common sense to make sure things stay that way.
George Remus’s fortified distillery appears to only
be accessible by dirt road, but a 100 foot long The Queen Caper 5
underground tunnel leads to a loading area. Alcohol
is distilled in the attic and piped or dumb-waitered Trait Score Defense
down to the basement. It’s one of the few distilleries in Charisma 3 10
Cincinnati that has yet to be raided. Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10
John Hauck Brewery Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9
Sometimes, even making the 0.5% near beer isn’t
Strength 2 9
enough to stay on the right side of the law. When this
brewery was busted, federal agents poured 45,000 Skills
gallons of near beer into nearby sewers, popping off Business, Conveyances, Deception, Diplomacy, Guns,
manhole covers and flooding the streets. The shuttered Insight, Sense, Stealth
brewery is now used as a secret lair for Capers who
need lots of space and relative privacy. Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Notable People Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Carl Wiedemann Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Heir to the Weidemann brewing fortune, Carl is a Power/Rank Boosts
womanizing, hard-drinking, Harvard-educated playboy Mimic 1 Garb, Height, Quicken
who owns 20 racehorses and who will gladly bet you
Gear: Fancy dress and hat, purse, lots of cash
that he doesn’t have a gambling problem.
Weidemann is a man with a mission, playing every
angle with every gang in an effort to make himself even
wealthier than he already is. A mouthy alcoholic, it’s
only a matter of time before he says the wrong thing to
the wrong person.
Use the Con Artist stat block for Wiedemann.

114
 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

DETROIT Liberty Motor Car Company

This small automobile manufacturer was just getting
its wheels spinning when Prohibition hit. Facing stiff
Motor City
competition from the over abundance of Detroit car
If you want to enforce Prohibition, you may not want makers, owners Percy and Billie Owen started brewing
to do so in a city that’s a stone’s throw (if you have beer in the back rooms of the shop.
Powers) from the Canadian border. They still make cars, but they mostly use them to
The Detroit-Windsor Funnel is the nickname given transport alcohol. And their showroom is a front for a
to the area where smugglers bring in alcohol across the cozy little speakeasy where they serve their fine brews.
Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Even winter doesn’t
slow down bootlegging. When rivers and lakes freeze,
Notable Person
smugglers drive or skate across the ice while dragging
sleds of whiskey behind them.
Once in Detroit, a city sometimes referred to as Chae Rhee
“Whiskeytown” due to its many speakeasies featuring One of the few people fighting back against the
the brown liquor, a thriving delivery system sends Purple Gang isn’t a federal agent or another criminal
that alcohol across the Midwest and the upper East organization. It’s an unexpected vigilante who works
Coast. Hijacking of illicit alcohol trucks has become for them.
commonplace when people think they can get away Chae Rhee is a Korean-American ten-year-old.
with it. But those who cross the Purple Gang often find Used as a runner by the gang, no one realizes that he’s
out that preying on the delivery system and living to possessed with an astonishing intellect and the ability
spend the profits are two very different things. to turn invisible. His eidetic memory and ability to work
out probabilities means that he’s begun playing the gang
Notable Organization against itself, using invisibility to plant false evidence
that causes gang members to turn on each other.
Chae has recently befriended Izzy Bernstein,
The Purple Gang
putting him smack dab in the middle of the Purple
Also known as the Sugar House Gang, this mostly Gang’s inner workings.
Jewish mob of hijackers and bootleggers are Detroit’s
most powerful criminal organization. Their tendency
Chae Rhee Caper 3
towards violence makes even Al Capone wary of them.
The mob was formed by Abe, Joe, Raymond and Trait Score Defense
Isadore (or Izzy) Bernstein, the children of Eastern Charisma 2 9
European immigrants who started as petty thieves. With Agility 3 10
some tutoring from older neighborhood gangsters, they Perception 3 10
turned to armed robbery, extortion, and kidnapping. Expertise 2 9
They now control the city’s gambling, drug, liquor, Resilience 2 9
and vice. If you’re in Detroit and you need a hitman, the Strength 1 8
Purple Gang is who you go to.
They’re getting sloppy, though, dressing well and Skills
taking chances. Someone is going to take advantage of Acrobatics, Mechanicals, Sleight of Hand, Stealth
them someday. Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Notable Locales
Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Deutches Haus
This massive German ethnic hall-turned-famous Power/Rank Boosts
speakeasy is less than subtle. It’s a maze of bars, Invisibility 1 Attack, Move, Run
casinos, parlors, and dance halls. People of power – Super Expertise 1 Aid, Disable, Memory
criminal or otherwise – who visit Detroit are almost Gear: Pockets full of trinkets, lock picks, a bit of cash
always introduced to the Haus, as it’s called by locals.

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Chapter 9 – Backdrops

KANSAS CITY Notable People

Paris of the Plains David “Doctor Dave” Ahlberg

The ornate civic centers, brilliant musical acts, and This snake oil salesman sells faux curatives, unguents,
vibrant night life which give the city its moniker are all and salves to the less-educated of the city’s population.
supported by the Pendergast political machine which If you’re using the Trembium rules, he also has access
runs the city. It’s not that bad of a system, as long as to a few stolen vials of trembium shot solution.
everyone plays by the rules. The gangsters like to think
of themselves as town founders and people who give Tom “T.J.” Pendergast
back to the community. It is well known they will look The beating heart, the seething brain, and the grasping
after widows and orphans and someone from the Club hand of Kansas City are all Thomas Joseph Pendergast.
can always provide a sympathetic ear. Rising from a bartender to a businessman to a town
Of course, the Club has the loyalty of the mayor councilor, Pendergast is behind almost everything
and the police force. There are reprisals from the which happens in town – both above board and below.
authorities for anyone who tries to sell alcohol, but the His word is law and noting happens in Kansas City
police are never around when Pendergast’s boys are without trading favors with Pendergast and his people.
plying the same wares. For the average person who Use the Crime Lord stat block for Pendergast.
just wants a drink, there are many barely concealed
speakeasies throughout the city, all raising their glass, Miles Oglethorpe
and paying their cut, to the Club. The foremost jazz band leader in the city, Miles has
his own club. His band also regularly offers public
Notable Organizations performances and stops in to play private clubs. Those
who happen to hear Oglethorpe when he’s blowing a
The Club good set know his music creates visions of other worlds.
The Pendergast political machine controls practically
every aspect of city life. It sees all applications, Miles Oglethorpe Caper 3
approves all permits, does all deals, fixes all elections.
Trait Score Defense
The terms of most deals involve a little cut to pass up
Charisma 3 10
the chain of command or a promise of future favors.
Agility 3 10
Nothing is forgotten. Collections always come due.
Perception 2 9
Expertise 1 8
Notable Locales Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9
West Bottoms Tavern
Skills
The shabby riverfront tavern where Pendergast got his Business, Diplomacy, Insight
start slinging suds is still connected to the city’s most
powerful man. If anyone wants to get any business Hits: 14 Body: 10 Mind: 9
done with Pendergast someone is always available to Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
pass the message along. Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
The Second Floor
An unassuming yellow brick building on Main Street Power/Rank Boosts
is the hub of the Club. From the second floor offices, Illusions 2 Extend, Movement, Range,
Pendergast runs his empire of “donations” and his Size
system of “contributions” to his friends in politics. Doing Gear: Wallet, cash, notebook full of dates and contacts
business with the man himself is a privilege few earn.

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 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

LOUISVILLE Notable People

Derby City Catalina “The Shark” Alameda

The city is famous for two of the region’s exports – The Shark is the most infamous bookie in Louisville.
bourbon whiskey and thoroughbred horses. Close Alameda takes bets on nearly anything, playing betters
enough to the South to practice the art of “southern against each other masterfully to keep her bank
charm,” and connected via river and rail to the northern account full and her reputation spotless. Recently, she’s
manufacturing economy, Louisville is occasionally in begun setting odds for upcoming alcohol busts along
conflict over its own identity. with associated fines and jail times.
City authorities are more focused on keeping
organized crime out of town than actually stopping Henrietta Bingham
alcohol consumption. Given the strong distillery Daughter of a judge and newspaperman, Henrietta is
tradition in Kentucky, local moonshiners can supply both well-educated and well-heeled. She is known for
the immediate needs of local drinkers. Most of the her irrepressible spirit of adventure and for a list of
commercial distilleries have been shuttered, but lovers which includes women and men. Henrietta hosts
everyone considers the industry simply on hold. wonderful parties attended by the most interesting
Warehouses full of aging casks of bourbon dot the people she has met from all walks of life.
countryside, standing locked and guarded, waiting for Use the Politician stat block for Henrietta.
better days. A few distilleries have managed to stay
open, producing alcohol “for medical use.” Dr. Oswell Wright
Many folks find Louisville a nice, quiet place to It is not uncommon for doctors to write a prescription
visit. Gangsters from Chicago, in particular, stop by for a few ounces of liquor a day to “aid digestion”
Louisville to “beat the heat.” Some like the idea of a or “calm headaches.” The prescription entitles the
comfortable retreat, just a few hours away. Others see patient to legally acquire a few pints of liquor every
the city as ripe with opportunities. month. What sets Dr. Wright apart from others in his
profession is the sheer number of patients he seems
Notable Locales to be treating at any one time. He is able to advise
hundreds on their health and has made a fortune in the
The Seelbach Hotel process. His new husband, Donald, wants him to retire
but has had no luck so far
Perhaps the premier downtown hotel, the Seelbach
offers visitors the finest hospitality in the Midwest. The
Oak Room connected to the lobby has everything a Dr. Oswell Wright Caper 1
thirsty customer might want. The password is changed
Trait Score Defense
nightly, but the front desk kindly provides it to all
Charisma 2 9
guests upon request. Tunnels below the street allow
Agility 2 9
the drinks to come in and patrons to leave discretely
Perception 2 9
should any trouble arise.
Expertise 3 10
Resilience 2 9
Churchill Downs
Strength 1 8
South of the city center is the famous track where the
Kentucky Derby has been run every year since 1875. Skills
The track serves as the heart of the race industry, and Business, Diplomacy, Insight, Sciences, Sense
plenty of cash flows through the betting windows. The Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 9
mix of groomsmen and jockeys, owners and gamblers, Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
race fans and yokels makes race days at the track an
appealing destination for criminals and schemers of Weapon Damage Range
all types. Fists Color -
Power/Rank Boosts
Hypnosis 2 Amnesia, Extraction,
Implant, Twin
Gear: Doctor’s bag and instruments, cash

117
Chapter 9 – Backdrops

MIAMI Notable People

The Magic City Bill McCoy

Welcome to Dade County, where rum-running is a
storied tradition, lawless bootleggers swagger along the
beach to display their ill-gotten wealth, and nighttime
Miami River gunfights turn the water red with blood.
Thirsty from sitting in the sun? Any alcohol you
want can appear just like magic if you ask a local, and
no one will blame you if you barely think about the
high seas machine gun piracy that makes this possible.
Accessible by the sea and isolated from the heart
of the country, Miami is a near-perfect hub for alcohol
importation. Local papers even complain about Federal
interference being a drain on tourism.
Rum runners and the Coast Guard play a cat and
mouse game off shore as high-powered speedboats
bring in liquor from the Bahamas. The mangroves and
canals of Miami are rife with hidden caches. Smugglers
dart under low bridges to evade patrol boats, and
gunfire sprays innocents along the Miami River as over-
zealous patrol boats try to stop smugglers by force.
Miami is beset by tropical storms and the occasional
hurricane almost every year. As storms near, importers
attempt to sell their wares out-of-state as quickly as
possible. Devastation caused by these storms has
destroyed more than one rum-runner’s warehouses.
This Miami sailor is a rum running pioneer, anchoring
just outside of U.S. territorial waters and creating
“Rum Row”, where a fleet of smaller boats pick up and
deliver alcohol that McCoy imports from the Bahamas.
He never waters down his booze, making his liquor “the
real McCoy.”
Use the Gangster stat block for McCoy.
Marta Zuniga
This Cuban bodyguard works for Capone when he’s in
town, and for whoever will pay her when he isn’t. She’s
a tall, powerful woman who has no patience for racism
or sexism, and the full and unquestioning loyalty of
Capone means that few gangsters in Miami would be
stupid enough to cross her.
Zuniga is equally loyal, although she’s vulnerable to
being arrested for tax evasion if any federal officer is
brave enough to attempt it.
Her clients have survived a number of
assassination attempts with Zuniga at their side.
Enemies ascribe it to her skill and tactical awareness,
but that’s not the whole picture.
Marta Zuniga Caper 1

Notable Locales Trait Score Defense

Charisma 1 8
Agility 2 9
Dade County Jail
Perception 2 9
It says a lot about political corruption when you Expertise 2 9
realize that federal inmates at the Dade County Jail Resilience 3 10
are being secretly released at night for the purpose Strength 2 9
of bootlegging. Whether to tend stills or for a more
permanent “unofficial release,” this is a jail where Skills
money talks. Conveyances, Fisticuffs, Guns, Stealth
Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Nautilus Hotel Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
This Miami Beach showpiece features two private
Weapon Damage Range
islands, gondola rides, gardens, a polo field, and a
Fists Color -
casino. It’s a great place to see and be seen if you’re in
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Miami high society – or want to be.
Occasionally it hosts a bevy of gangsters from Power/Rank Boosts
around the country – including Giada Torrio and Arnold Force Field 2 Mobile, Persistent, Rebound,
Rothstein – who come looking to harness the imports Size
that Miami boasts. Rumor has it the feds are preparing
Gear: Functional clothing, lock picks, some cash
a sting for the next such meeting.

Roman Pools
Originally named the Everglades Cabana Club, this
major entertainment establishment features dining,
night clubs, stores, dancing, and a whole lot of alcohol.

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 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

MILWAUKEE Notable People

Brew City Anne “Big Annie” Thompson

Much of Milwaukee’s population is of German and Big Annie runs a protection racket through the
Polish origin, making beer drinking a way of life. When downtown, east side, and west side of Milwaukee. She
the Volstead Act went into effect, the large breweries in has multiple brothers and cousins on the police force
America’s Brew City were hit hard. They shifted their and holds that over every small brewer she comes
production to making cheese, malt syrup, yeast, and across. Pay her a “reasonable fee” every month and
candy, among other things. you’ll never see cops at your door.
The closing of the large breweries in Milwaukee Use the Tough stat block for Annie
caused the city’s economy to suffer early on, but the
local populace stepped up. The descendants of German Joe Czarnecki
and Polish immigrants quickly dusted off their families’ Joe is a Great War veteran who has taken to fighting
recipes and began brewing in secret in basements, gangsters and hoodlums on the streets of Milwaukee.
sheds, and barns. Beer production in Milwaukee is This facially-scarred vigilante is irate at the lack of
not what it once was, but the broad variety is enticing. federal intervention in brewing and distilling across
These small brewers sell their beer all over the city as the city. He’s decided to take matters into his own
well as much of Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, hands along with a band a friends he’s dubbed The
Indiana, and Michigan. Rabble Rousers.
The sheer breadth of beer brewing in Milwaukee Czarnecki gained city wide esteem when he was
makes it nearly impossible to police. Local law honored by the mayor upon his return from war. His
enforcement officials make occasional raids, putting popularity keeps local gangsters and thugs from doing
only a tiny dent in local brewing. If a brewing anything more than threaten him should he continue
establishment gets too large, it becomes a target. his ways.
Milwaukee is also home to nearly 1000 soft drink For Rabble Rouser members, use the Street Thug
parlors, many of which also sell locally brewed beer stat block.
under the table.
Joe Czarnecki Exceptional 4
Notable Locales
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9
Pfister Hotel
Agility 2 9
About a year into Prohibition, the Pfister Hotel began Perception 2 9
a series of renovations. At any given time, an entire Expertise 1 8
floor of the Pfister is deemed “closed for construction.” Resilience 3 10
In truth, half of the floor is being refurbished and the Strength 3 10
other half is serving as a speakeasy.
The Pfister caters to the well-to-do traveler, Skills
providing ample entertainment and liquor in a subdued, Athletics, Fisticuffs 2, Guns 2, Stealth
tightly controlled atmosphere. Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
The Lincoln Hotel Speak
Weapon Damage Range
The Lincoln Hotel is an old, dilapidated hostelry that
Fists Color -
is well-known for featuring a soft drink parlor which
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
serves alcohol. Recently, the feds arrested the owners
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
and boarded up the illegal shop. The extensive stores
of alcohol behind the shop are just waiting to be raided Perks
by bootleggers looking for an easy score of salable beer Hardy Body, Lucky, Power-Resistant
and liquor.
Gear: Cash, smokes and lighter, blood-stained
handkerchief

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Chapter 9 – Backdrops

NEW ORLEANS The Port

Crescent City
New Orleans is very proud of its long history and its
uniquely blended heritage. Though its importance
as a banking and trading capital have passed away
with the decline of river shipping in favor of rail, New
Orleans retains its self-image as connected to the
world beyond. Like so many port cities, it is a polyglot
mix of a little bit of many different cultures, including
Native, Spanish, French, African, and English. Like
the city’s famous cuisine, the different elements are all
experienced together, creating something new, unique,
and special at almost every crossroads.
With so much possibility for volatile interaction,
the police force of “N’awlins” are perhaps the strongest
force in any major American city. There are quiet
places where being caught for a crime is unlikely, but
on the public streets the police ensure peace through
brutal enforcement of law and order. An angry crowd
might be able to lynch a scapegoat from time to time,
but the city has never had a riot. The police always
show up in force whenever a crowd starts to grow
restless. The one time the police relax their guard is
during Carnival, a festival time culminating in Mardi
Gras or “Fat Tuesday.”
Notable Organizations
A little bit of everything comes in or goes out of the city
via the Port of New Orleans. Despite population declines
in recent years, the port remains one of the most active
in the United Sates. With so much movement of goods,
it is almost impossible for the police to keep track
of everything going on in the port and many illegal
activities take place on and along the river.
Notable People
A. Baldwin Wood
Known familiarly as “The Engineer,” he is the designer of
the pumps which have opened low-laying areas outside
of the old city to modern development. His simple screw
pumps have been hailed as miracles of modern design.
He is known by sight to most in the town.
Use the Gambler stat block for Baldwin.
Chief Allie Balian
Chief of Police Balian runs her department with a
“tough on crime” stance. With an almost 30-year career
full of examples of her brutality, everyone knows she is
more than talk. The police have a reputation for turning
small fry into informers and big fish into corpses while
resisting arrest. She is respected by the city elite for
her results, but she rarely attends social events as she
prefers working to frivolities.

The Moyse Family Chief Allie Balian Caper 3

This family of Cajun locals advertise “tours of the
Trait Score Defense
bayou.” in fliers pasted all over town. Ma, Pa, and
Charisma 1 8
daughters Flora, Joelle, and Odette will gladly take you
Agility 3 10
on a tour that passes by a few dozen stills selling Cajun-
Perception 3 10
made liquor deep in the wetlands.
Expertise 3 10
Resilience 2 9
Notable Locales Strength 2 9
Skills
Bourbon Street
Athletics, Deception, Fisticuffs, Guns, Sense, Willpower
This is the most famous street in the city and the center
of the annual celebration of Mardi Gras. The floats and Hits: 10 Body: 10 Mind: 10
marchers which move down the street are sponsored Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
by social clubs known as krewes which spend months Weapon Damage Range
preparing to dazzle crowds of revelers. Competition Fists Color -
between krewes for prestige and pride of place does Pistol Suit+1 50/150
not usually turn violent. Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Power/Rank Boosts
Alter Form 1 Density Increase,
Gaseous Form, Immovability
Gear: Cash, handcuffs, flashlight

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 Chapter 9 – Backdrops

PHILADELPHIA Rivals of the Bruno crime family and Max Hoff’s

gang, they have no qualms about brutal murder, and
neither do the wide variety of people who work
City of Brotherly Love for them.
The name is definitely undeserved, as the number of There are plenty of rumors that some or all of
regular, open gang fights that occur in Philadelphia the Lanzetta Brothers are Capers, and that such
boggles the imagination. abilities run in the family. Problem is, people who
Pennsylvania is referred to as a “bootlegger’s spread such rumors in public have a very nasty habit
Elysium” with every city “as wet as the Atlantic Ocean,” of turning up dead.
and Philadelphia is notorious for being an open town: Use the Gangster, Hitman, and Tough stat blocks
open for drinking, open for corruption, and open for for the Lanzettas.
complete defiance of Prohibition.
Previously a beer brewing city, brewery activity General Smedley Butler
has barely slowed as the city’s law enforcement gladly A respected Marine, Butler was recently assigned to
accepts bribes. So too, many politicians work to Philadelphia as the Director of Public Safety – more or
introduce local legislation that allows illegal industries less a Police Commissioner – after a mayoral candidate
to thrive. pleaded for help in cleaning up the city. He’s smart,
The truly unfortunate side of all of this is the plight strong, and frustratingly incorruptible. In his first year
of the law-abiding populace. The lack of any real law alone he closed 2,500 speakeasies, ten times more than
enforcement combined with no clear cut underworld were shuttered in the previous year. By land, river, and
leaders brings near constant brawling between the rail, agents under Butler’s command are beginning to
city’s many criminal gangs, leaving the city in a state of make bootlegging a very dangerous operation indeed.
perpetual upheaval. Butler may not last long in the job due to political
pressure, as the local politicians aren’t exactly big
Notable Locales fans of his zeal and honesty. It doesn’t help that he
only reluctantly employs Capers, putting more faith in
Cherry Street Barbery proper training and years of demonstrated loyalty over
strange abilities.
At the corner of 22nd and Cherry you’ll find this barbery,
first licensed in 1905. Just as the word, “barbery” hides
a “bar,” so too does the business hide a speakeasy. General Smedley Butler Exceptional 5
Men enter through the front, women through a back
Trait Score Defense
entrance, to keep up appearances. You can get a shave, a
Charisma 2 9
haircut, and two bottles, reasonably priced.
Agility 2 9
Perception 2 9
Quaker City Brewing
Expertise 3 10
Owned by an elderly and eccentric brew master Resilience 3 10
named Reinhardt Kolb, this brewery refuses to stop Strength 2 9
brewing beer.
If you’re using the Trembium rules, Kolb’s signature Skills
beer, Quake, functions as a Trembium shot, giving Deception, Diplomacy, Fisticuffs, Guns, Insight,
extraordinary abilities to those who imbibe a bottle. Melee Weapons, Willpower
Demand is high and supply is low, leading to frequent Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9
fights in the small tavern. Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Notable People
Fists Color -
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
The Lanzetta Brothers
This family of six brothers runs a successful Perks
bootlegging operation. There’s Leo (the Leader), Pius Lucky, Power-Resistant, Quick Reflexes, Tough
(the Brain), Ignatius (a notably good dresser), Lucien Gear: Fine clothes, pipe and tobacco
(who has a terrible temper), Willie (the Quiet One),
and Teo (the Baby, and quite handsome). Together the
Italian siblings pay the poor to distill alcohol in their
row homes, and then sell it at boosted prices.

121
 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Organized crime existed in the U.S. before Prohibition
began. Networks of criminals working together
permeated most major cities. These organizations
controlled gambling dens, houses of prostitution, and
bookies. They ran racketeering and protection rings to
extort money from local businesses. They flourished but
were mostly held in check by local law enforcement.
When Prohibition was enacted, criminal
organizations across the country jumped at the chance
to create a new, illegal revenue stream. The illegal
import, brewing, distilling, transport, and sale of
alcohol are very lucrative and law enforcement has
had a very difficult time keeping up with the increased
criminal activity.
A lack of a centralized authority to curtail illegal
liquor is perhaps the biggest hurdle police and federal
agents have in their way.
122
THE FEDERAL LEVEL
Enforcement of the Volstead Act stretches across
multiple agencies on the federal level.
U.S. Coast Guard
This branch of the armed forces patrols the oceans
around the country. It is responsible for seizing
alcohol being imported illegally. Its successes are few
and far between.
The sinking of the R.M.S. Lusitania, which escalated
international tensions just prior to The Great War, still
looms large in the minds of Coast Guard leadership. They
generally consider protecting U.S. borders from exterior
threats more important than stopping liquor freighters.
U.S. Treasury’s I.R.S. Bureau
of Prohibition
While the taxation of income existed in the U.S. since
the 1860s, it wasn’t until the Sixteenth Amendment to
the Constitution was passed in 1913 that a national
income tax program existed.
This young bureau barely had its feet under itself
when Prohibition came into effect, leaving it ill-equipped
to expand as needed to deal with the rise in criminal
activity the Volstead Act brought about. Additionally,
the criminal element is incredibly resourceful in finding
ways to hide its illegal income and the burgeoning I.R.S.
simply isn’t prepared to ferret out many criminals.
U.S. Department of Justice Bureau
of Prohibition
The Bureau of Prohibition at the U.S. Department of
Justice is the country’s largest organization working
to enforce Prohibition laws. With field offices in most
large U.S. cities as well as a handful of smaller towns
and a staff of many thousands, it seeks to apprehend
bootleggers in the act and bring them to trial.
Of the three main federal law enforcement agencies,
the D.O.J. Bureau of Prohibition is easily the most
successful. The bulk of feds encountered by the
characters will be members of this bureau.
Members of the D.O.J. and I.R.S. bureaus work
together and are often collectively referred to as
Prohibition Agents.

U.S. Department of Justice Abnormal
Persons Registry
Shortly after the appearance of the first Capers, the
U.S. government founded a registry to track people
with superhuman abilities. Its efforts have met
with some success, but many Capers are wary of
government interference in their lives. The registry has
yet to start forcing Capers to register, but some fear
this is inevitable.
Recently, the registry has begun covertly recruiting
Capers for a two-fold purpose. First, it allows them to
continue to build their list of super-powered people to
keep an eye on them. Secondly, and more importantly,
they can entice these Capers into working with law
enforcement agencies to help fight criminal Capers.
There are currently almost two hundred Capers
acting in conjunction with federal law enforcement.
They are dispatched in teams as needed to combat
criminal organizations that employ Capers.
LOCAL EFFORTS
One would think that local law enforcement – police,
constables, and the like – would serve well to curb
the rise in bootlegging. Unfortunately, the vast wealth
generated by crime kingpins makes it very easy to
pay off local cops. As many as half the police officers
in most major cities are on the payrolls of criminal
organizations. In some cities, nearly all the cops have
been bought. Federal agents are constantly vigilant to
ferret out bad cops in their midst.
Vigilante Groups
“Freelance” groups of vigilantes come and go in many
of the big hotbeds of Prohibition activity. Such vigilante
groups might be made up of well-organized, like-minded
citizens or might be little more than a gang of thugs
intent on protecting their families and livelihoods.
Regardless, the lifespans of these vigilante
groups are usually short. If the members don’t lose
interest and actually make a dent in the local criminal
organizations, the gangsters find ways to dissuade them
from continuing.
Players Portraying Law
Enforcement Characters
A law enforcement character controlled by a player
might be a member of the Abnormal Persons Registry.
Alternatively, the character could be an “independent
contractor” hiring their services out to law
enforcement agencies when the need arises.
Chapter 10 – Law Enforcement
There’s no mechanical difference in how such
characters play relative to playing a criminal Caper.
The main difference is in the types of stories that the
GM will tell. Instead of building a fortune in illegal
activities, such characters are working to bring these
criminals to justice.
The Clergy Coalition
A loose affiliation of clergymen has formed recently
to battle “demon liquor.” The clergy see alcohol as not
only illegal, but also a vice that turns people from God,
leading to violence and lasciviousness.
In some cities, this coalition has gained significant
traction and recruits civilian parishioners to report
illegal activities, aid law enforcement when requested,
and work to dissuade those on the cusp from falling to
the evils of alcohol.
Additionally, there are many coalition members
who are perfectly comfortable with “doing God’s
work” by beating lawbreakers to a pulp and burning
warehouses to the ground.
“ON THE TAKE”
Corruption is rampant within law enforcement. It’s
one of the primary reasons enforcing Prohibition is
so difficult.
Criminals employ bribes, threats, and political
leverage to get law enforcement officials in
their pockets.
Married cops and agents are particularly susceptible
to threats against their families. Removing the family
members to a safe house can provide immediate
relief, but ultimately results in the loved ones living a
protected, secluded, unfulfilling existence. Some law
enforcement officials don’t wish to subject their loved
ones to such a life.
Bribes most often come in the form of money
and free booze. Twenty dollars can get a cop to look
the other way for a day. A regular weekly or monthly
payment of $100 can get many low-ranking officials
to focus their efforts elsewhere. Particularly savvy or
gutsy officials might ask for more.
Many bootleggers and crime bosses have friends
in the political world and can arrange for promotions
and demotions of problematic cops and feds with
relative ease.
If things really get out of hand, some criminals will
kill a family member or friend to get a cop off their
backs. Killing an officer is a last resort as it can often
motivate what few honest officers are in the area to
seek revenge for their fallen boy in blue.
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Chapter 10 – Law Enforcement

Notable Law Enforcement Personnel

Agent
Jacob
Agent Jacob Willis Willis
Agent Willis has built a wide network of low-level
informants through strategic arrests of those at the
bottom of criminal organizations. Using information
gleaned from them, he’s made bigger busts on those
higher up in organized crime. His name is known in all
major cities in the U.S.
Despite being one of the Bureau’s most decorated
agents, Jacob Willis has fallen to temptation and
corruption on more than one occasion and used his
contacts in crime to make himself secretly wealthy as
well as aid his friends’ business endeavors.
Agent Willis is a Caper who can fire concussive beams.

Director Javier Vargas

Vargas is the director of the D.O.J. arm of the
Prohibition Bureau. He answers directly to Congress
and the Secretary of the Treasury. A middle-aged Director
Latino, Vargas is an accomplished politician with a Javier
strong sense of justice and great ambition. Vargas
Recently, Vargas has begun exhibiting strange
powers. He’s kept them to himself as he secretly fears
what the government might do with registered Capers
once they’ve outlived their usefulness.
Vargas is a Caper who can walk on walls and shoot
sticky strings from his hands.

Edith and Eleanor Shenk

Dark-haired twins, Edith and Eleanor Shenk were among
the first people added to the Abnormal Persons Registry.
They were groomed early to aid the Department of
Justice in hunting down criminal Capers and dealing with
other problems caused by people with abilities.
Edith and Eleanor groom themselves and dress
exactly alike in an attempt to confound their quarry.
They only appear together then they need to combine
forces to take down their prey.
Edith is the kinder of the two, with a soft laugh and
warm smile. She sees her job as necessary and tries to Agent: If you were running to flee the chaos,
treat people with respect. Eleanor, on the other hand, how did you end up here in front of me?
revels in her power and has a darker demeanor. Witness: I ran down the street and around a
Edith and Eleanor are both Capers. Edith is corner, fully intendin’ to get out o’ Dodge.
preternaturally perceptive and agile. Eleanor has Ran right into a flatfoot woman who had
hardened skin and can blast ice from her hands. come runnin’ to the gunfire. She brought me
to you. Said I looked suspicious. I say that’s
baloney. But she said I needed to make a
statement at least.

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 Chapter 10 – Law Enforcement

Agent Jacob Willis Caper 4 Edith Shenk Caper 5

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Charisma 2 9
Agility 2 9 Agility 5 Q
Perception 2 9 Perception 5 Q
Expertise 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Strength 1 8 Strength 1 8
Skills Skills
Deception, Diplomacy, Guns, Insight, Sense Diplomacy, Guns, Insight, Sense
Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9 Hits: 12 Body: Q Mind: Q
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150 Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Power/Rank Boosts Power/Rank Boosts
Concussion Beam 4 Blast, Boomerang, Damage, Super Perception 2 Emotion Sense, Lie Detector,
Jump, Knockdown, Push Nightvision, Taster
Force Field 2 Mobile, Persistent, Rebound, Size Super Agility 2 Dodge, Escape, Focus,
Precision
Gear: Notepad and pen, flashlight, handcuffs, list of
names and phone numbers Gear: Badge, cuffs

Director Javier Vargas Caper 3 Eleanor Shenk Caper 4

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Charisma 1 8
Agility 2 9 Agility 2 9
Perception 2 9 Perception 3 10
Expertise 2 9 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 3 10
Strength 1 8 Strength 2 9
Skills Skills
Athletics, Diplomacy, Guns, Insight, Sense, Stealth Acrobatics, Athletics, Melee Weapons, Sense
Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9 Hits: 12 Body: J Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Knife Color+1 20/60
Perks Power/Rank Boosts
Hardy Body, Refocus Cold Beam 4 Blast, Damage, Fog, Ice Shape,
Range, Slick
Power/Rank Boosts
Body Armor 2 Body, Energy, Fall, Healing
Goo Generation 1 Ceiling, Range, Web
Gear: Badge, cuffs
Gear: Wallet, handcuffs, flashlight, notebook and pen

125
 FRIENDS & ENEMIES
EVERYDAY CAPERS Alexa Katzarov
Not every Caper in the world is a member of law A medical school drop-out Alexa is mostly self-taught
enforcement or a hardened criminal. Some are just in the medical arts. She offers “doctor” services to
simple folks living simple lives who one day wake up those who wish to keep their Powers secret.
with a strange ability. Some hide their abilities. Others
embrace them. Following are a handful of everyday Alexa Katzarov Caper 2
Capers you can sprinkle into your game regardless of
Trait Score Defense
where it’s set.
Charisma 2 9
Agility 3 10
Aarifa Samaha
Perception 3 10
A recent immigrant from Morocco, Aarifa works as Expertise 2 9
a newsgirl. She has aspirations of being a journalist Resilience 1 8
and employs her heightened senses to keep abreast of Strength 2 9
everything happening on the streets.
Skills
Aarifa Samaha Caper 1 Deception, Fisticuffs, Sciences, Sense, Sleight of Hand
Hits: 10 Body: 10 Mind: 10
Trait Score Defense Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Charisma 2 9
Agility 2 9 Weapon Damage Range
Perception 4 J Fists Color -
Expertise 2 9
Power/Rank Boosts
Resilience 2 9
Bone/Organ Shifting 1 Bone Spurs, Bone Throw,
Strength 1 8
Organ Shift
Skills
Gear: Doctor’s bag with instruments, cash, weathered
Acrobatics, Humanities, Sense, Willpower
copy of Grey’s Anatomy with notes about her
Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: J capabilities
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Power/Rank Boosts
Super Perception 1 Emotion, Lie Detector,
Night Vision
Gear: A bit of cash, photo of little brother, jacks and
ball

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 Chapter 11 – Friends & Enemies

Barbara Janecek Daniel D. Wolfe

A skilled tattoo artist, Barb is adept at coaxing stories This professor of writing and literature wrote a
out of inanimate objects and sometimes aids cops, book called Behind the Lines, a “fictional” tale of a
reporters, and the occasional criminal in learning more spy during The Great War who avoided trouble by
about what an object has “witnessed.” disappearing. Is Wolfe the soldier in the tale?

Barbara Janecek Caper 1 Daniel D. Wolfe Caper 2

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Charisma 2 9
Agility 2 9 Agility 2 9
Perception 2 9 Perception 3 10
Expertise 2 9 Expertise 3 10
Resilience 1 8 Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9 Strength 1 8
Skills Skills
Business, Guns, Sense, Sleight of Hand, Willpower Diplomacy, Humanities, Insight, Science, Sense
Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 9 Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Power/Rank Boosts
Power/Rank Boosts Invisibility 1 Attack, Move, Run
Speak with Objects 1 Animate, Corpse
Gear: Tweed suit, wallet, cash, matches, pipe, tobacco
Simple Object
pouch
Gear: Stylish clothes, cash, cigarettes, lighter
Jackie Coleman
Bridget Malone Ms. Coleman is a tough cookie who’s used to getting
Malone is a rogue researcher on the subject of people out of trouble, presuming the price is right.
Powers. Her distrust of the government and scientific She’s a slick lawyer with a stellar record.
institutions forces her to research in private.
Jackie Coleman Caper 1
Bridget Malone Caper 3
Trait Score Defense
Trait Score Defense Charisma 2 9
Charisma 2 9 Agility 2 9
Agility 1 8 Perception 3 10
Perception 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Expertise 3 10 Resilience 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Strength 1 8
Strength 2 9
Skills
Skills Business, Deception, Diplomacy, Humanities, Sciences
Business, Diplomacy, Guns, Humanities, Sciences
Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Hits: 12 Body: 8 Mind: 10 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Weapon Damage Range Fists Color -
Fists Color -
Power/Rank Boosts
Power/Rank Boosts Alter Form 1 Density Decrease,
Mimic 2 Garb, Height, Language, (Liquid Form standard) Gaseous Form, Immovability
Read/Write
Gear: Fine clothes, purse, cash, address book
Gear: Nice clothes, doctor’s bag, cash, research journal

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Chapter 11 – Friends & Enemies

Lorna Kingsley Robert Stelmachowski

This tall, sultry black jazz singer has seen her career Robert runs a clockwork repair shop. He can often be
skyrocket in recent years and regularly tours with found tinkering with a clock with his tail, inventing a
different bands. She belts out tunes with a deep, rich device with his hands, and talking to customers.
voice that betrays her secret Power.
Robert Stelmachowski Caper 2
Lorna Kingsley Caper 3
Trait Score Defense
Trait Score Defense Charisma 2 9
Charisma 3 10 Agility 3 10
Agility 2 9 Perception 2 9
Perception 3 10 Expertise 3 10
Expertise 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Strength 1 8
Strength 1 8
Skills
Skills Acrobatics, Business, Insight, Mechanicals, Sciences,
Business, Diplomacy, Humanities, Insight Sleight of Hand
Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 10 Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Power/Rank Boosts Power/Rank Boosts
Sonic Scream 4 Damage, Deafening, Prehensile Feature 1 Grapple, Speed, Swing
Knockdown, Push, Range, (tail)
Volume
Gear: Dirty workman’s clothes, cash, matches, tools
Gear: Simple skirt and blouse, purse, cash
Wayne Sall
Peter “Dreamy” DeSilva Always ready to help someone in need, expert bike
Born Peter Polinski, Dreamy grew up shining shoes and mechanic Sall is a bit of a neighborhood hero. His
entertaining people with his impersonations. He’s now driving goal is to improve others’ lives however he can.
the newest star of the silver screen and the press.
Wayne Sall Caper 3
Peter “Dreamy” DeSilva Caper 2
Trait Score Defense
Trait Score Defense Charisma 1 8
Charisma 3 10 Agility 2 9
Agility 2 9 Perception 2 9
Perception 1 8 Expertise 5 Q
Expertise 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Strength 2 9
Strength 2 9
Skills
Skills Acrobatics, Business, Conveyances, Fisticuffs, Insight,
Deception, Humanities, Insight, Sleight of Hand Mechanicals, Willpower
Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 8 Hits: 10 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Power/Rank Boosts Power/Rank Boosts
Illusions 2 Adornment, Physicality Super Expertise 2 Aid, Craft/Repair, Flaw,
Extend, Movement Memory
Gear: Fancy clothes, wallet, cash, multiple pens Gear: Wallet, a little cash, pockets full of tools

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 Chapter 11 – Friends & Enemies

EXCEPTIONAL NPCs Detective Exceptional 2

Trait Score Defense
These Exceptionals don’t have Powers but are Charisma 1 8
otherwise tougher and more skilled than most of the Agility 2 9
people in the world. Perception 3 10
Expertise 2 9
Cleaner Exceptional 4 Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Skills
Agility 2 9 Deception, Fisticuffs, Guns, Insight, Mechanicals,
Perception 3 10 Sense
Expertise 3 10
Hits: 10 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Resilience 1 8
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Strength 2 9
Weapon Damage Range
Skills
Fists Color -
Business, Conveyances, Deception, Insight,
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Mechanicals, Sense, Stealth
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Hits: 16 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Perks
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Quick Reflexes, Refocus
Weapon Damage Range
Gear: Wallet, handcuffs, flashlight, notebook and pen,
Fists Color -
lock picks
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Federal Agent Exceptional 3
Perks
Lucky, Tough Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9
Gear: Wallet, lots of cash, cleaner’s kit, prybar, lock Agility 3 10
picks Perception 2 9
Expertise 2 9
Crime Lord Exceptional 4 Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Skills
Agility 2 9 Diplomacy, Fisticuffs, Guns, Insight, Sense, Stealth
Perception 3 10
Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Expertise 2 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9 Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Skills
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Business, Deception 2, Diplomacy, Insight 2
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Hits: 14 Body: 10 Mind: J
Perks
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Lucky, Refocus
Weapon Damage Range
Gear: Wallet, handcuffs, flashlight, notebook and pen
Fists Color -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Perks
Hardy Body, Wily Mind
Gear: Wallet, lots of cash, cigars, gold lighter, fancy
watch

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Chapter 11 – Friends & Enemies

Gangster Exceptional 2 Tough Exceptional 3

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9 Charisma 1 8
Agility 3 10 Agility 3 10
Perception 2 9 Perception 2 9
Expertise 1 8 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 3 10
Strength 3 10 Strength 3 10
Skills Skills
Deception, Fisticuffs, Guns Athletics, Fisticuffs, Guns, Melee Weapons
Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 9 Hits: 16 Body: J Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fist Color -
Brass Knuckles Color+1 - Knife Color+1 20/60
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Perks
Tommy Gun Suit+2 100/300
Hardy Body, Tough
Perks
Gear: Cash, girlie magazine
Lucky, Refocus
Gear: Wad of cash, smokes and lighter, picture of his/
Vigilante Exceptional 1
her best gal/guy, small bottle of hooch
Trait Score Defense
Hitman Exceptional 5 Charisma 2 9
Agility 2 9
Trait Score Defense Perception 2 9
Charisma 1 8 Expertise 1 8
Agility 3 10 Resilience 2 9
Perception 2 9 Strength 3 10
Expertise 2 9
Skills
Resilience 3 10
Athletics, Fisticuffs, Guns
Strength 3 10
Hits: 16 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Skills
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Guns 2, Melee
Weapons, Sense, Stealth Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Club Suit -
Moxie: 3 Speed: 40
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Weapon Damage Range
Perks
Fist Color -
Hardy Body, Tough
Knife Color+1 20/60
Pistol Suit+1 50/150 Gear: Picture of dead friend/wife/child
Rifle Suit+1 100/300
Perks
Fleet of Foot, Quick Reflexes
Gear: Cash, notebook and pen, smokes and lighter

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 Chapter 11 – Friends & Enemies

REGULAR NPCs Con Artist Regular 3

Trait Score Defense
These are some of the regular folks that the characters Charisma 3 10
might encounter in the world of CAPERS. Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10
Bouncer Regular 5 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 1 8
Trait Score Defense Strength 2 9
Charisma 3 10
Agility 2 9 Skills
Perception 3 10 Deception, Diplomacy, Insight, Sleight of Hand, Stealth,
Expertise 1 8 Willpower
Resilience 3 10
Hits: 4 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Strength 3 10
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Skills
Weapon Damage Range
Athletics, Fisticuffs, Insight, Melee Weapons, Sense
Fists Color -
Hits: 6 Body: 9 Mind: 10 Knife Color+1 20/60
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Gear: Wallet or purse, some cash, counterfeit papers
Weapon Damage Range and identification as needed
Fists Color -
Club Suit -
Gear: Wallet with some cash, list of names

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Cop Regular 3 Hobo Regular 1

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 2 9 Charisma 2 9
Agility 3 10 Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10 Perception 2 9
Expertise 1 8 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 3 10
Strength 2 9 Strength 1 8
Skills Skills
Athletics, Fisticuffs, Guns, Melee Weapons, Sense Deception, Fisticuffs, Stealth, Willpower
Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 10 Hits: 5 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30 Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Billy club Suit - Broken bottle Color+1 -
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Gear: Sundry useless items, three small booze bottles
Gear: Wallet with picture of family, bribe money,
handcuffs, flashlight Kid Regular 1

Gambler Regular 4 Trait Score Defense

Charisma 2 9
Trait Score Defense Agility 3 10
Charisma 3 10 Perception 2 9
Agility 2 9 Expertise 2 9
Perception 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Expertise 3 10 Strength 1 8
Resilience 2 9
Skills
Strength 2 9
Acrobatics, Deception, Insight, Sleight of Hand
Skills
Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Deception, Diplomacy, Fisticuffs, Insight, Sense, Sleight
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
of Hand, Stealth
Weapon Damage Range
Hits: 5 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Fists Color -
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Rocks Color+1 20/60
Weapon Damage Range
Gear: Ball and jack, interesting rocks, candy
Fists Color -
Brass Knuckles Color+1 -
Gear: Deck of cards, wad of cash, smokes and lighter,
small bottle of hooch

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Mob Goon Regular 4 Politician Regular 4

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 1 8 Charisma 3 10
Agility 3 10 Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10 Perception 3 10
Expertise 2 9 Expertise 3 10
Resilience 3 10 Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9 Strength 1 8
Skills Skills
Conveyances, Deception, Fisticuffs, Guns, Business, Deception, Diplomacy, Humanities, Insight,
Mechanicals, Melee Weapons Willpower
Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 10 Hits: 5 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30 Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Fists Color -
Knife Color+1 20/60
Gear: Cash, pamphlets, cigars, cutter, and lighter
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Gear: Wallet or purse, some cash Prostitute Regular 3

Party-Goer Regular 2 Trait Score Defense

Charisma 3 10
Trait Score Defense Agility 2 9
Charisma 3 10 Perception 3 10
Agility 2 9 Expertise 1 8
Perception 3 10 Resilience 2 9
Expertise 2 9 Strength 2 9
Resilience 2 9
Skills
Strength 1 8
Acrobatics, Deception, Diplomacy, Melee Weapons,
Skills Sense
Acrobatics, Diplomacy, Insight, Sense
Hits: 5 Body: 9 Mind: 10
Hits: 5 Body: 9 Mind: 10 Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Weapon Damage Range Fists Color -
Fists Color - Knife Color+1 20/60
Gear: Cash, fancy clothes, invitation, jewelry Gear: Cash, whistle, handcuffs

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Shop Owner Regular 2 Thief Regular 3

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 3 10 Charisma 2 9
Agility 2 9 Agility 3 10
Perception 2 9 Perception 2 9
Expertise 3 10 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Resilience 2 9
Strength 1 8 Strength 2 9
Skills Skills
Business, Diplomacy, Humanities, Insight Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Fisticuffs,
Mechanicals, Stealth
Hits: 5 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30 Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color - Weapon Damage Range
Fists Color -
Gear: Cash
Knife Color+1 20/60

Street Thug Regular 2 Gear: Cash, rope and hook, lock picks, glass cutter,
sack, beef jerky
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 1 8 Truck/Cab Driver Regular 3
Agility 2 9
Perception 2 9 Trait Score Defense
Expertise 2 9 Charisma 1 8
Resilience 3 10 Agility 3 10
Strength 3 10 Perception 3 10
Expertise 2 9
Skills
Resilience 2 9
Deception, Fisticuffs, Guns, Melee Weapons
Strength 2 9
Hits: 4 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Skills
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Conveyances, Fisticuffs, Insight, Melee Weapons,
Weapon Damage Range Sense, Willpower
Fists Color -
Hits: 3 Body: 10 Mind: 10
Knife Color+1 20/60
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Pistol Suit+1 50/150
Weapon Damage Range
Gear: Cash, smokes and lighter, blood-stained
Fists Color -
handkerchief, small bottle of hooch
Brass Knuckles Color+1 -
Shotgun Suit+2 50/150
Gear: Cash, magazine

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ANIMALS Falcon/Hawk Animal 1

Trait Score Defense
These animals are mostly useful in conjunction with Charisma 1 8
the Animal Affinity Power, but some NPCs might have a Agility 3 10
pet or two. Perception 4 J
Expertise 1 8
Crocodile Animal 4 Resilience 1 8
Strength 1 8
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 1 8 Skills
Agility 2 9 Acrobatics, Fisticuffs (Bite/Talon), Sense
Perception 2 9
Hits: 2 Body: J Mind: J
Expertise 2 9
Moxie: 1 Speed: 5 (50)
Resilience 3 10
Strength 3 10 Weapon Damage Range
Bite Color -
Skills
Talon Color -
Athletics, Fisticuffs (Bite/Tail), Sense
Special
Hits: 6 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Flying: The falcon/hawk flies at Speed 50.
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Small: The falcon/hawk gains +1 to Body.
Weapon Damage Range
Tail Suit - Gorilla Animal 4
Bite Suit+1 -
Trait Score Defense
Special Charisma 1 8
Swimmer: The crocodile can swim at its full Speed. Agility 2 9
Tough Hide: The crocodile gains +1 to Body. Perception 2 9
Water Stalk: The crocodile gains advantage on Agility/ Expertise 2 9
Stealth checks while in the water. Resilience 3 10
Strength 4 J
Dog Animal 2
Skills
Trait Score Defense Acrobatics, Athletics, Fisticuffs, Ranged Weapons,
Charisma 1 8 Sense, Willpower
Agility 3 10
Hits: 6 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Perception 2 9
Moxie: 1 Speed: 30
Expertise 2 9
Resilience 2 9 Weapon Damage Range
Strength 2 9 Fists Suit -
Skills Special
Athletics, Fisticuffs (Bite), Sense, Stealth Natural Climber: The gorilla climbs at full speed
without making Trait Checks.
Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Tough Hide: The gorilla gains +1 to Body.
Moxie: 1 Speed: 40
Weapon Damage Range
Bite Color+1 -
Special
Scent: The dog gains advantage on Trait Checks to
track prey.

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Horse Animal 3 Owl Animal 1

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 1 8 Charisma 1 8
Agility 2 9 Agility 2 9
Perception 2 9 Perception 3 10
Expertise 1 8 Expertise 1 8
Resilience 3 10 Resilience 1 8
Strength 3 10 Strength 1 8
Skills Skills
Athletics, Fisticuffs (Bite, Kick) Acrobatics, Fisticuffs (Talon), Sense, Stealth
Hits: 6 Body: 9 Mind: 9 Hits: 2 Body: 10 Mind: 10
Moxie: 1 Speed: 50 Moxie: 1 Speed: 5 (40)
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Bite Color - Talon Color -
Kick Suit -
Special
Special Flying: The owl flies at Speed 40.
Working Animal: The horse never makes Resilience Night Vision: The owl does not suffer penalties for
checks to carry loads for a long time as long as it gets seeing in darkness.
enough sleep. Small: The owl gains +1 to Body.

Monkey Animal 1 Wolf Animal 3

Trait Score Defense Trait Score Defense
Charisma 1 8 Charisma 1 8
Agility 3 10 Agility 3 10
Perception 2 9 Perception 2 9
Expertise 2 9 Expertise 2 9
Resilience 1 8 Resilience 2 9
Strength 1 8 Strength 3 10
Skills Skills
Acrobatics, Insight, Stealth Athletics, Fisticuffs (Bite), Sense, Stealth
Hits: 2 Body: J Mind: 9 Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 9
Moxie: 1 Speed: 20 Moxie: 1 Speed: 40
Weapon Damage Range Weapon Damage Range
Bite Color - Bite Suit -
Special Special
Natural Climber: The monkey climbs at full speed Pack Hunter: The wolf gains advantage on attacks
without making Trait Checks. whenever another wolf is attacking the same target.
Small: The monkey gains +1 to Body. Scent: The wolf gains advantage on Trait Checks to
track prey.

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 GM TOOLBOX
This chapter contains a variety of tools a GM can
use to expand the game beyond the core rule set to
incorporate the CAPERS versions of some common
comic book/graphic novel tropes.
ALTERNATE EARTHS
The characters live in one world, but that doesn’t mean
they can’t travel to others. You could introduce the idea
of a multiverse, a setting across many dimensions, in
your story. These alternate Earths exist parallel to the
characters’ home world and can be viewed through
the Dimensional Manipulation Power. Characters can
also travel to these worlds by using the Dimensional
Manipulation Power or by discovering gates.
Alternate Earths share many people, places, and
events with the characters’ world of origin, but most of
these details have some level of variation. For instance,
most alternate Earths have a person named Al Capone.
On one, he might be a crooked police chief. On another
he’s a homeless painter. And on another, Capone might
still be a mob boss, but a female named Alice.
If you create your own alternate Earth, think
about what makes the world different, since those
distinctions define the dimension. What follows are
some example Earths you can add to or modify in your
game. For ease of understanding, the characters’ world
of origin is referred to as Principal Earth.
The Astral Plane
The Astral Plane is the dimension that connects all
universes. It allows travel between alternate Earths.
Capers with the Dimensional Manipulation Power
use the Astral Plane to peer into and step into these
other worlds.
The Astral Plane is infinite, without gravity, and
bathed in red light. Creatures that travel between worlds
pass through the Astral Plane on their way and often get
glimpses of what lies within it. They may see bodies in
suspended animation, strange creatures, swirling eddies,
and beams of light stretching into the distance.
CAPEK’S EARTH
Capek’s Earth is a dimension that many Capers will
find very similar to Principal Earth, with the notable
difference being a large population of humanoid
automatons. It was discovered by a dimension-hopping
Caper who named it Capek’s Earth in honor of science
fiction writer Karel Capek, who coined the term “robot.”
The Rise of the Automatons
During the Great War of this Earth, the militaries
of the Central Powers and the Allied Nations were
engaged in an increasingly intense arms race.
Machine guns, chemical weapons, and tanks were just
the tip of the iceberg when it came to the destructive
designs of the talented teams of weapons engineers
both sides employed.
The first automatons, dubbed “Metal Men” when
they hit the battlefield, were originally designed to
replace the soldiers in a conflict which was taking an
increasingly alarming toll on the population of Europe.
While resistant to damage and the chemical weapons
being used, they were slow and unable to carry out
complex orders.
Soldiers in the trenches found them to be
uncomfortable to be around at first, but on more
than one occasion, their presence either deterred
an attack or they were able to be used in place of a
human soldier. The lifesaving potential, and their
heavy use in physical labor, outweighed initial lapses in
combat effectiveness. They were initially used as blunt
instruments against the enemy, when brute force was
needed, but as tactics developed and models improved,
automatons became more widely accepted.
After the war ended, the factories that developed
and built the automatons pivoted to design new robots
and repurpose combat automatons for use in the
civilian markets. Many soldiers returning from the
front had been around automatons and already had
a high level of comfort with them. Seeing them used in
factories, farms, ports, railyards, and warehouses didn’t
seem out of the ordinary at all. The greater population
took some time to adjust to their presence, but in time
they proved useful.
Eventually, automatons started to appear in other
areas of public life. There were automatons taking
tickets at the theater, shining shoes, driving taxis,
preparing meals, and carrying groceries. Now, they
have become so ingrained in the daily lives of the
people of Capek’s Earth, people can’t imagine what
they would do without them.
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Robot vs. Android always try to complete their programming, but can
reprioritize tasks if given instruction by someone with
There are two types of automatons found on Capek’s
the proper authority or credentials. Robots can only
Earth: The Robot and the Android. There are a number
accept relatively simple commands. Complex tasks
of similarities between the two, mainly surrounding
outside of their base programming are almost always
their construction and general appearance. All
interpreted incorrectly or outright ignored.
automatons are made of metal and have a copper,
Robots tend to be very literal in their interpretation
bronze, iron, or silver coloring. They are humanoid in
of directions. They can respond to questions or
appearance with two arms, two legs, and some kinds of
instructions they don’t understand, but will do so in
head, even if it is just a faceless dome or continuation
an obviously mechanical and monotone voice, and in
of the torso.
simple sentence responses.
Those with a distinct head may have sculpted facial
Androids are more expensive luxury items. Owning
features in addition to lenses and optical sensors. Some
an android on Capek’s Earth is much like owning an
may have additional limbs depending on their designed
automobile on Principal Earth. They are expensive, but
function. These limbs could also include tools,
not unattainable for most people.
attachments, compartments, and weapons.
Androids are roughly human-sized with similar
Automatons never need to eat or drink, but they
proportions, and many more of them have humanoid
require at least four hours of inactivity so they can plug
facial features. These are the automatons one is most
in and recharge their internal power supplies.
likely to see in service positions. Restaurants, hotels,
Robots are specifically designed for physical labor,
shops, private companies, and many citizens invest in
security, and combat. Though they come in many
these machines to assist them in daily tasks.
shapes and sizes, generally, these are larger than the
Androids are programmed with more complex and
average human, with stout frames and thick limbs.
relatable personalities, and are better able to respond
These automatons are most often seen in industrial
to requests and questions. Like robots, androids will
settings, but can also be seen hauling crates and
always follow their programming, but are able to
packages while making deliveries, and sometimes even
accept more complex direction.
pulling streetcars.
They also have a fair amount of autonomy in
Robots are normally programmed to do specific
interpreting instructions. While a robot with the
tasks and can do these amazingly well. They will
instruction “Take this package over there” would
literally pick up a box and carry it to the destination,
an android might pick it up, carry it to the location,
set it down gently, or may even interpret the package
was meant for a specific individual and hand it to that
person. This autonomy granted to the androids by the
designers has allowed them to flourish in their daily
roles and become widely accepted in society.

Life in Capek’s Earth

Because automatons are everywhere, life on this
alternate Earth has a number of differences. There
are an increased number of factory worker and
service jobs revolving specifically around building and
maintaining automatons
The rigors of daily life are also lessened by the
presence of automatons. Those who can afford an
android will often have it run errands, wash dishes,
clean the house, do laundry, and the like. This has
allowed many to have more free time, which is spent in
social or philanthropic pursuits, or just used as general
leisure time.
Automatons have also allowed many industries to
come up with new ways to capitalize on this new-found
leisure time. Robots and androids have started to be
included in exhibition baseball games, with talks of
a special league being introduced to play when home
teams are playing away games.

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Prohibition still occurred in Capek’s Earth with
automatons playing a role on both sides. Rumrunners
and gangsters use their own automatons for defense,
protection, and delivery of goods, while the feds use
automatons in law enforcement. These inclusions only
serve to make confrontations between the two sides
more deadly, especially when automatons are used to
target people instead of solely against other automatons.
As a result, there are special law enforcement
divisions which are dedicated to the investigation and
prevention of automaton crime. In their investigations,
they regularly validate automaton programming to
make sure they can track down the individuals giving
the instructions. These routine measures allow them to
reassure the governments of the world and the general
populace that automatons lack self-awareness and are
still operating under the orders of humans.
Capek’s Earth Story Hooks
Here are a few reasons the characters might enter
Capek’s Earth:
❖❖ The characters wish to acquire their own
automaton for use in their own endeavors on
Principal Earth.
❖❖ A rival group gets their hands on a military
combat robot from Capek’s Earth. The
characters travel to the alternate Earth to learn
how to combat the machine.
❖❖ The characters enter Capek’s Earth to learn
about the creation of automatons to bring the
industry to Principal Earth, only to realize just
how closely guarded a secret it really is.
❖❖ Principal Earth is discovered by a criminal
organization that intends to use their
automatons against unsuspecting gangs and
law enforcement there so they can establish a
foothold in a new world.
Automaton Rules
GMs can create their own automatons for use in their
CAPERS games. An automaton is created just like an
Exceptional character, but there are some specific
rules which need to be followed.
❖❖ Robots have a Charisma of 1 while Androids
have a Charisma of 2. Neither can be improved.
❖❖ All Automatons start with a Resilience of 3.
❖❖ Strength, Agility, and Resilience can each
be increased to 5 through normal NPC
advancement, instead of the normal limit of 3.
❖❖ Automatons can never take the Diplomacy,
Deception, or Insight skills.
Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox
There are a number of benefits available to automaton
NPCs which set them apart from other characters. Since
they lack organic parts, they are immune to certain
conditions which once plagued humans on the battlefield
of the Great War. These resistances and their ability to be
modified are also reflected in these rules below.
❖❖ Do not require food or water.
❖❖ Require a 4 hour charging period each day.
❖❖ Are unaffected by poisons, toxins, or disease.
❖❖ Can have “Features” which are representative
of special parts, attachments, weapons, or
tools. When you create an automaton, you can
substitute a Feature in place of a Skill. You can
do this up to two times at character creation.
❖❖ A Feature can be selected for 1 AP when
advancing an automaton.
Features
Features can be selected from the list below or created
by the GM. Each Feature can only be selected once.
❖❖ Alternate Power Source: The automaton can
run for an extended period of time using a
backup, alternate power source. The most
common are diesel or ethanol generators.
When using this, the automaton can go an
additional 24 hours before needing to be
recharged and refueled.
❖❖ Battery: The automaton can power other
electrical devices when the device is plugged in.
The automaton can power one device for one
day without requiring faster recharge for itself.
For every device after the first that it powers for
a full day, it needs to recharge two hours earlier.
❖❖ Clamp: The automaton cannot be disarmed
while holding an object or fall while holding
onto a surface.
❖❖ Compartment: The automaton has a storage
compartment of roughly one cubic foot
somewhere on its body. It can be used to carry
weapons, cargo, contraband, packages for
delivery etc.
❖❖ Extendable Arms: The arms of the automaton
can reach up to 10 feet. Fisticuff and Melee
Weapon attacks can be made against targets 10
feet away.
❖❖ Extendable Legs: The legs of the automaton
can extend up to 10 feet. Only about half of
this height can be maintained while running.
Increase Speed by 10 when in use.
❖❖ Gun: The automaton has a gun mounted
somewhere such as on the arm, torso, or
shoulder. This gun cannot be disarmed.
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❖❖ Internal Weapon: One weapon feature can Buddy Bot Service Android Exceptional 3
be made to be retractable, stored internally,
and deployed when needed. This requires a Trait Score Defense
previous weapon feature be chosen, such as Charisma 2 9
Saw Blade or Gun. Agility 2 9
❖❖ Mindless: The automaton is immune to attacks Perception 2 9
that target Mind. Expertise 2 9
Resilience 3 10
❖❖ Piston Fist: The fists of the automaton are
Strength 1 8
reinforced and powered by a steam piston to
deal heavy damage on a punch. Its fists deal Skills
Suit Hits damage. Business 2, Conveyances, Humanities, Mechanicals 2
❖❖ Reinforced: Additional structural or armor Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9
reinforcement increases the automaton’s Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Body by 1.
❖❖ Rocket Boost: The automaton gains the ability Weapon Damage Range
to fly as though it had the Flight power at rank Fists Color -
1. This cannot be upgraded. Perks
❖❖ Saw Blade: A large buzz saw blade is mounted (2 Specialty Skills)
on one arm. This weapon deals Suit+1 Hits Features
damage. This weapon cannot be disarmed. Battery, Clamp, Speech Imitation, Tool Kit
❖❖ Speech Imitation: The automaton’s mechanical
voice is replaced by a more human one. Up
to five different voices can be programmed.
FLIPSIDE
Alternatively, some of those voices can be Flipside is an alternate Earth with a unique entrance
alarm sounds or buzzers instead. mechanism. Each person in Principal Earth has a
version of themselves on Flipside, called a duplicate,
❖❖ Tool Kit: The automaton has a built in tool kit
or dupe for short. A person of Principal Earth can learn
with wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers, etc.
to transport their consciousness into the body of their
which can be used when making applicable
dupe on Flipside. This process is known as flipping
Trait Checks.
and requires one minute of sharp mental focus on
one’s dupe. Once you introduce Flipside, it’s your call
Automaton NPCs regarding how characters learn to flip over. They could
be told about the process by an NPC or you could
Mk. III Combat Robot Exceptional 5 devise a whole adventure that introduces the idea.

Trait Score Defense Entering Flipside

Charisma 1 8 When a person flips into the body of their dupe, the
Agility 2 9 dupe’s mind is suppressed until the flipper returns to
Perception 2 9 Principal Earth. While flipped, a person’s actual body
Expertise 2 9 disappears from Principal Earth and lies in limbo in
Resilience 4 J the Astral Plane. If a dupe’s body dies while inhabited
Strength 4 J by a flipper, the dupe dies and the flipper returns to the
Skills corresponding location in Principal Earth where the
Athletics, Fisticuffs, Guns, Sense death occurred. If a person’s dupe is dead when they
jump into Flipside, they appear in their actual body
Hits: 18 Body: 9 Mind: 9 in the corresponding location where they jumped on
Moxie: 3 Speed: 40 Principal Earth.
Weapon Damage Range Dupes might vary quite a bit from their Principal
Piston Fists Suit - Earth counterparts in appearance and personality. A
Machine Gun Suit+2 100/300 Caper’s dupe may have different Powers.

Perks
Flipside Distinctions
Tough, Fleet of Foot
Flipside is very similar to Principal Earth in that the
Features Great War happened and ended the same way. There
Gun, Piston Fist is still Prohibition and the rise of the organized crime,

140

and there are people with Powers in the world.
There are many cosmetic differences between
Principal Earth and Flipside. Atlantic City has no
Boardwalk. Instead there’s a paved path along the
ocean everyone calls the Beachstreet. In New York
City, the Empire State building was never constructed
and the Statue of Liberty is a man on a horse. Small
changes like this can be seen all over Flipside. Stores
have different names, houses are painted different
colors, and baseball teams have different mascots.
Cosmetic distinctions aren’t the only details that
make Flipside unique. Some of the more significant
changes to Flipside may seem cosmetic at first, but
closer examination reveals their impact. Here are a
few examples:
❖❖ Atlantic City has two paved highways leading
to it from the north and west. As a result, the
city is more crowded than its Principal Earth
version. Nucky Johnson’s gang in Atlantic City
clashes more frequently with those in New
York and Chicago since travel is far easier.
Every gangster is trying to move in on every
other gangster’s turf on a national scale, which
creates more blood in the streets. It also
makes travel easier for the characters. These
highways are lined with cops trying to catch
the criminals. Car chases that end in fiery
crashes are common on these roads.
❖❖ Al Capone was gunned down early in his
criminal career, leaving Giada Torrio in charge
without Capone’s aid. Given this, Chicago is in
even greater turmoil than in Principal Earth.
The Irish gangs hold greater sway as Torrio’s
gang fights to hold onto control.
❖❖ Zeppelins were never invented. The only real
way to travel over the Atlantic is by boat.
Cramped cabins and seasickness aren’t for
everyone, so fewer people from Europe make it
over to America and vice versa.
❖❖ The money used in Flipside is actual gold
coins instead of dollar bills. Cash being harder
to conceal easily leads to an abundance of
muggings and robberies, sometimes in public
in broad daylight.
These small changes make the world of Flipside a
more violent place than Principal Earth. When the
characters travel to Flipside, this detail may not be
apparent until they witness a brazen act of violence in
public firsthand. The circumstances of Flipside make
fewer people willing to surrender and more folks
willing to use fists and weapons to solve problems. Law
enforcement, criminals, and many civilians walk the
streets armed and ready for danger.
Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox
Flipside Story Hooks
Here are a few reasons the characters might
enter Flipside:
❖❖ The characters are tricked into flipping for the
first time by an enemy. They must find each
other, figure out where they are, and discover a
way home.
❖❖ Principal Earth Al Capone figures out how
to flip. The characters go to Flipside to take
him on in a world where Capone has less
power or to help him establish a new criminal
enterprise there.
❖❖ The characters enter Flipside to kill their
dupes. Once they do that, they can use
Flipside’s highways for faster travel between
Chicago, New York, and Atlantic City. Once
they arrive at their destination, they can flip
back to Principal Earth.
❖❖ The characters try to bring back as much gold
from Flipside as possible. The only way to do
this easily is to not have a dupe on the other side
so that you flip your own body between worlds.
MADWORLD
Madworld is a place of extreme danger for Capers.
No Capers, or freaks as they’re known in Madworld,
use their Powers in public. On this Earth, those with
Powers are feared, hunted, and murdered.
During Madworld’s Great War, the Central Powers
recruited bloodthirsty Capers to slay thousands of
Allied troops. After the war, when many American
Capers rose to take on bootleggers, organized
crime bosses used old newsreels of the Central
Powers’ Capers’ violence to create propaganda that
manufactured a fear of people with Powers. Regular
folk in Madworld’s America got caught up in a
panic and called for the death of all Capers, leaving
bootleggers free to do as they please.
Madworld Law Enforcement
Terror grew into a public campaign that became real
political action. Using any Power is outlawed. Freaks
must join a national registry. Those with Minor Powers
are allowed to work normal jobs, but have weekly
check-ins with government agents acting similar to
parole officers. If any use of a Power is suspected by
the parole officer, the offending freak is arrested and
executed.
Freaks with Major Powers who register are kept
in government facilities that are essentially prisons.
In these places, the government runs experiments on
drugged and bound freaks to “cure” them. So far no
one has been cured but many have ended up insane
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or dead. It is theorized that the government is also
brainwashing the people kept here to use them as
soldiers should another war be declared.
Any freak caught willfully using a Power to
perpetrate a crime is sentenced to death. To that end
every local police force has an elite freak-hunting team
referred to as a goon squad. These teams have the
authority to operate outside the law to hunt freaks.
They are equipped with Tommy guns and back-up
pistols. Members of a goon squad are selected because
they have incredible investigative and combat skills in
addition to a burning hatred of freaks. These groups
have been known to operate with criminals to get their
gruesome job done.
People of Madworld
In some ways the public’s response to freaks is even
harsher than that of the United States government.
Fearful citizens walk the streets armed to the teeth.
When word about a freak gets out, civilians form
vigilante gangs that stop at nothing short of murder.
This sometimes happens even if there is no evidence
the accused is a freak.
Thanks to the propaganda of organized crime,
most citizens value safety from freaks above all. Many
report their own freak family members, neighbors,
and friends, knowing it will result in a loved one’s
imprisonment or death. Nefarious individuals may file
false reports of rivals or enemies as freaks just to get
them out of the way. The suspicion such an accusation
brings can ruin a suspect’s life.
Madworld Criminals
No one has profited more from the events in Madworld
than criminal organizations. There are no do-gooder
Capers upsetting illegal enterprises and the police are
mostly occupied catching people with Powers. While
the bootlegging business is booming, gun running is
even better. After manufacturing the fear of freaks,
criminal organizations profited from that panic by
selling the public the means to defend themselves.
Alcohol and guns are not the only means of income
for organized crime in Madworld. Crime bosses provide
protection from freaks to the terrified public… for a
fee. Those who don’t pay might suddenly find their
home ransacked by a freak (secretly on the crime
boss’ payroll).
There’s another form of protection money criminal
enterprises collect. It comes from people with Powers.
Criminal gangs have teams dedicated to uncovering the
identities of and blackmailing freaks who want to keep
their Powers a secret.
142
Many criminal bosses have used the freak panic
to become well-known public figures. On this Earth
Al Capone is not known for being a bootlegger. He is
a dedicated civilian who speaks out against the freak
threat and raises money for politicians who vow to
lock every villain with Powers away. Capone is still a
bootlegger in Madworld but that is not how the public
knows him.
Freak Life
The best many freaks can hope for in Madworld is to
live a quiet life and never use their Powers. If exposed,
freaks have limited options. They can register with the
government, they can go on the run, or they can seek
help from criminal enterprises, who protect freaks in
exchange for services as hired muscle.
Freaks that go on the run are relentlessly hunted.
There are rumors of a network of freaks called the
Underground who have safe houses, secret routes,
and allies in positions of power. The Underground
uses these resources to hide those with Powers who
have been exposed, but there’s no actual proof that the
organization exists.
Freaks who embrace working with criminals find
a better quality of life but are still treated like second-
class citizens. The bosses take care of these powered
assets and provide them with a place to stay, a little
cash, and protection from the law. The rank and file
of criminal gangs wield authority over freaks, treating
them like tools and weapons, not people. While this life
is miserable, it is the best many freaks can hope for in a
world with limited options.
Madworld Story Hooks
Here are a few reasons the characters might
enter Madworld:
❖❖ A multiverse-traveling bounty hunter captures
the characters and sells them into criminal
service on Madworld.
❖❖ The characters enter Madworld to save a Caper
ally who was sent there by an enemy.
❖❖ The characters’ doubles in Madworld discover
Principal Earth. They trick the characters into
going into Madworld, where they become
wanted criminals while the doubles live a
better life on Principal Earth.
❖❖ The Underground discovers Principal Earth.
The organization recruits the characters to
help rescue wanted freaks and bring them to
safer worlds.
 Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox

OMEGA EARTH People traveling shorter distances have the option

of using teleportation platforms. Networks of these
On Omega Earth, technology has far surpassed that platforms exist in every city. Standing on a platform
of Principal Earth thanks to invaders from outer and punching the code of another platform instantly
space. Flying cars, wrist communicators, ray guns, transports the person to the desired platform. This
teleporters, alien residents, and more make Omega technology is currently only used within cities; it’s not
Earth a unique world. yet powerful enough to transport people more than
The Great War on Omega Earth began when the fifty miles.
Orions came out of the sky in their saucer-shaped Perhaps Omega Earth’s biggest advancement has
spaceships hungry for resources and destroyed many been in communication. It seems most every person in
of the world’s major cities, including New York. The America wears a special wrist communicator. These
people of Omega Earth came together, but the Orion inventions connect people all over the globe. The
threat was too great. If not for Capers, the human race three thousand mile range is changing the way friends,
would not have held on for as long as it did during the families, and businesses stay in touch.
bloody invasion.
While people with Powers aided in the defeat
of the Orions, a disease won the real victory. When
Omega Earth Gear
doctors saw that tuberculosis had a more rapid Item Cost
infection rate among the Orions, they not only halted Force Field Generator (per 1000 SF) $10,000
research into treatments for the disease, they burned
all the information they had. The infection spread Hoverbike $3000
like wildfire and the Orions were easily overpowered. Hovercar $8500
The few surviving aliens surrendered and the Great Hovertruck $7800
War was won. Humanity beat the odds, but as a result Teleportation Pad Trip $10
tuberculosis is now a huge problem on Omega Earth.
Wrist Communicator $500
New Technology
With peace on Omega Earth, every nation turned to Omega Earth Weapon Table
boosting technological capabilities. New defenses Weapon Dmg Range Rnds Cost
became the world’s number one priority due to the fear
Laser Whip Suit+2 10/20 -- $500
of another invasion.
Scientists have only scratched the surface of Laser Pistol Suit+3 100/300 -- $1000
researching the Orions’ technology and they’ve already Laser Rifle Suit+4 150/500 -- $3000
created laser pistols and rifles that mimic those the
aliens used. These guns fire lasers at an alarming rate Cities of Tomorrow
and never need to be reloaded (though the delicate The skylines of Omega Earth are dotted with all
machinery inside can easily break). manner of buildings that look like skinny columns
Weapons are not the only military fruit born from topped with large domed structures. These buildings of
studying Orion technology. Force field generators are tomorrow are practically all that makes up New York,
six foot cubic objects that weigh almost a ton. The since the old city was destroyed by the Orions. Each
generators can create a field large enough to cover building has its own small community inside, filled with
the building in which they are contained. Powered by apartments and businesses, and a farm on the roof. The
gasoline, the machines only maintain a force field for as domes regulate temperature and the skinny column
long as they burn fuel. The generators are only found in leading to the ground allows for a single, secure access
secure government buildings and the homes of the very point into the building.
wealthy thanks to costly installation and upkeep.
When it comes to transportation, the people of
Omega Earth move in style. Cars with levitator pads
where the wheels used to be drive faster than they ever
did on the ground. The inventions can fly up to 100’
above the ground!

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The Orions Orion Greenskin Alien 3

The typical Orion leader is a green-skinned, hairless
Trait Score Defense
humanoid with a thin body and bulbous head. They have
Charisma 2 9
a circular mouth, two facial slits for nostrils, and black
Agility 2 9
eyes with no visible pupils or irises. These Orions are
Perception 3 10
telepaths who can read minds and influence emotions.
Expertise 2 9
Two other variants of Orions exist. The three-eyed,
Resilience 2 9
purple-skinned Shifters were spies during the Great
Strength 1 8
War. They can shapeshift into any humanoid form. The
six-armed, black chitin-skinned Bruisers are shock Skills
troops who exhibit superior strength and toughness. Deception, Diplomacy, Guns, Stealth
Many of the surviving Orions are imprisoned in
Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 10
secure government facilities, but a few actually turned
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
on their people to fight for humanity and are allowed
to be a part of Omega Earth’s society. Most humans Weapon Damage Range
are prejudiced against aliens, so they tend to be loners, Fists Color -
though they might spend time with other free Orions. Laser Pistol Suit+3 100/300
There are a few Orions in hiding who never
stopped fighting the Great War. They search for other Power/Rank Boosts
like-minded brethren, hoping to rise against humanity Influence Emotions 2 Amnesia, Negative Emotion,
once again. Range, Twin
Telepathy 2 Deep, Double, Group, Range
Orion Bruiser Alien 5
Orion Shifter Alien 2
Trait Score Defense
Charisma 1 8 Trait Score Defense
Agility 2 9 Charisma 3 10
Perception 2 9 Agility 2 9
Expertise 2 9 Perception 2 9
Resilience 5 Q Expertise 2 9
Strength 5 Q Resilience 2 9
Strength 1 8
Skills
Acrobatics, Athletics, Fisticuffs, Melee Weapons Skills
Acrobatics, Deception, Insight, Sense
Hits: 16 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30 Hits: 14 Body: 9 Mind: 9
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Weapon Damage Range
Fists Suit - Weapon Damage Range
Laser Whip Suit+2 10/20 Fists Color -
Laser Pistol Suit+3 100/300
Power/Rank Boosts
Super Strength 2 Damage, Jump, Penetration, Power/Rank Boosts
Range Mimic 2 Garb, Height, Language,
Super Resilience 2 Damage Prevention, Quicken
Detoxifying, Exhaustion, Hits
Prohibition
Prohibition laws and organized crime exist on Omega
Earth. Criminals enjoy and take advantage of the
world’s advanced technology and even have scientists
of their own working on projects with Orion tech.

144

Omega Earth Story Hooks
Here are a few reasons the characters might enter
Omega Earth:
❖❖ The characters wish to acquire tech from
Omega Earth to make their lives on Principal
Earth easier.
❖❖ The characters learn about Omega Earth’s
tuberculosis problem and travel to that world
with information on treatments.
❖❖ Orions from Principal Earth’s universe invade
and the characters travel to Omega Earth to
learn how to defeat the aliens.
❖❖ Bootleggers from Omega Earth use superior
tech to invade and take over the criminal
enterprises of Principal Earth.
SUPER PRISONS
Powerful criminals require extra-strong prisons. With
criminal Capers in all major cities, the government
had to build holding facilities designed to house
people with super strength, mind influencing, and
teleportation Powers. Prisons are the ultimate place
to go question a criminal source or stage a jailbreak.
Since you’ll likely need a prison at some point during
a CAPERS story, two are provided in this section for
you to use as is or modify.
FLAT HILLS PENITENTIARY
Northwest of Chicago, near the Illinois-Wisconsin
border, many of the world’s most dangerous Capers are
imprisoned beneath the ground in Flat Hills Penitentiary.
Most who drive the lonely road near where the prison
sits never know a fenced-in, one-story office complex
sits atop seven sub-basements of violent criminals.
Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox
Each level of the prison is separated from the
others by a single heavy iron door. Each door is locked
with a seven-digit combination that changes daily and
is known only by the warden and guard captains.
Should a prison break ever occur, Flat Hills is less
than a mile away from Fort Branagan, an army base
with troops on call for just such an event.
The Pit
Inmates have dubbed the two lowest levels of Flat Hills
as The Pit. The most powerful criminals in the prison
are housed here. Each cell is customized to hold the
Caper inside. Criminals with super strength are kept
in reinforced cells with doors stronger than any bank
vault. Capers with advanced mental Powers are kept in
soundproof cells without windows. These inmates are
allowed no visitors, rarely leave their cells, and have
little interaction with the guards. The most powerful
criminals are kept drugged or chained (or both) to keep
their Powers in check. Note that The Pit’s criminals are
not necessarily the worst of the worst in Flat Hills, but
they are the most powerful.
Gen Pop
The three middle levels of Flat Hills house the general
population, or gen pop, of the inmates and are where
guards spend most of their time patrolling. Each
correctional officer is armed with a shotgun and a club.
The inmates are allowed out of their cells for a few
hours each day to mingle with the rest of the prisoners
and get exercise. If any inmate is caught outside their
cell during lockdowns or normal lights out hours, they
are immediately shot.
Because more interaction is allowed in gen pop,
these levels of Flat Hills are actually the most dangerous
for inmates. Criminals fight, steal, and do worse out
of sheer boredom. When gen pop criminals are caught
acting up, guards send them to the Pit as punishment.
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The Offices Anna “Cupid” MacIntyre Caper 2

The two sub-basements above gen pop and the ground
Trait Score Defense
level of Flat Hills are administrative offices, break
Charisma 3 10
rooms, therapy centers, medical clinics, research
Agility 1 8
facilities, and visitor checkpoints. All visitors and
Perception 2 9
employees of Flat Hills must show identification and
Expertise 2 9
submit to a physical search and mind reading by a
Resilience 2 9
Caper on staff.
Strength 2 9
Criminals can volunteer for medical experiments
run on these levels and are rewarded with pay or time Skills
knocked off their sentences. All experiments have two Deception, Insight, Sense, Stealth
things in common: they require Capers as subjects and
Hits: 14 Body: 8 Mind: 9
risk harming them.
Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
People of Flat Hills Weapon Damage Range
The following people work or are inmates in Flat Fists Color -
Hills Penitentiary: Power/Rank Boosts
Influence Emotions 2 Amnesia, Positive Emotion,
Anna “Cupid” MacIntyre Range, Twin
Anna is one of the newest inmates in the Pit. The
Gear: Cigarettes and lighter
twenty-three year old uses her Power to manipulate
politicians into affairs so she can later blackmail them.
Anna is a Caper with the Influence Emotions Power. Caleb Waldrop Caper 4
Trait Score Defense
Bill “Hothead” Allen
Charisma 2 9
Bill got locked up after robbing banks in Chicago. Agility 2 9
While he has no Powers, he has a penchant for setting Perception 3 10
fires. Now he runs a gang in gen pop called the Chicago Expertise 2 9
Fire that collects protection fees in the form of Resilience 2 9
cigarettes and other contraband. Strength 3 10
Use the Thief stat block for Bill.
Skills
Caleb Waldrop Athletics, Fisticuffs, Guns, Sense, Stealth, Willpower
The prison’s head of security can read minds. The Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 10
handsome, young thirty-something is also the boyfriend Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
of the warden. Word among the inmates is that any
Weapon Damage Range
visitor can get past Caleb’s mind reading scan with a
Fists Color -
big enough bribe.
Club Suit -
Caleb is a Caper with the Telepathy Power.
Power/Rank Boosts
Warden Molly Vesper Telepathy 2 Deep, Emergency, Group,
Vesper is an honest woman in her fifties who has Range
worked in law enforcement her whole life and distrusts Gear: Keys
anyone with Powers who isn’t Caleb Waldrop.
Use the Cop stat block for Vesper.

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STONE BEACH PRISON
Five miles off the coast of New York City is a barren stone
island of black rock. Here stands Stone Beach Prison.
A Grand Experiment
Most of the regular prisoners in Stone Beach are
serving at least one life sentence. It’s always been a
place for the worst criminals imaginable – all violent,
all deadly. When Capers got into the criminal game,
the government scrambled to build places that could
contain them. Before these prisons could be built,
Jebediah Gand, the greedy warden of Stone Beach, saw
an opportunity to increase his prison’s revenue and
proposed a plan.
Convicts with Powers who commit less violent
crimes like robbery, bootlegging, smuggling, and
destruction of property are sent to Stone Beach to live
alongside non-Powered prisoners who are murderers and
worse. The idea is that fear of these hardcore convicts
keeps the inmates with Powers in line. When a Caper
first arrives at Stone Beach, this idea seems to work.
Prisoners eager to prove themselves start fights with
Capers. Anyone with Powers learns to keep quiet or ends
up beaten or dead when they initially come to the prison.
Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox
Over time, the experiment doesn’t hold true. Gangs
within Stone Beach try to recruit Capers and turn
those less violent criminals into hardcore convicts who
commit even worse crimes when they re-enter society.
Defenses and Guards
The prison and its yard are kept behind a forty-foot-
high stone wall topped with barbed wire and machine
gun nests. No visitors are allowed at Stone Beach
Prison. Only ships transporting guards or supplies can
get within 500’ of the island. Other vessels that get too
close are given a warning and then fired upon.
Corrupt guards armed with Tommy guns and clubs
patrol the prison’s various wards. They’ll do favors for
inmates who have friends on the outside for the right
pay-off. The guards dole out punishments and look the
other way as it pleases them, which often leaves the
inmates free to fight and murder each other.
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People of Stone Beach Juanita Destaro Caper 4

The following people work or are inmates in Stone
Trait Score Defense
Beach Prison:
Charisma 2 9
Agility 3 10
Gregory Maister
Perception 2 9
Maister is in his forties. He keeps a tidy appearance. Expertise 2 9
Most never suspect this man killed and ate an entire Resilience 2 9
family in Atlantic City before his arrest. Strength 2 9
Use the Shop Owner stat block for Maister.
Skills
Juanita Destaro Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Fisticuffs,
Mechanicals, Stealth
Destaro is a twenty-year-old thief in Stone Beach for
killing eleven people during a heist gone wrong. She Hits: 12 Body: 10 Mind: 9
now runs the Skulls, a gang that actively recruits Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
Capers at the tip of a shiv.
Destaro is a Caper who can share and Weapon Damage Range
augment Powers. Fists Color -
Shiv Color+1 20/60
Madame Markovia Power/Rank Boosts
Madame Markovia has the ability to see the past Power Augmentation 2 Energize Ally, Power Sense,
history of objects and speak with the dead. The Range, Twin
thirty-something used her talents to take money from Power Sharing 2 Boosting, Range, Steal, Trigger
grieving clients and was imprisoned for fraud. Gear: Cigarettes
Markovia is a Caper who can speak with objects
and manipulate a dimensional pocket.
Madame Markovia Caper 1
Warden Jebidiah Gand Trait Score Defense
The warden is a greedy man in his sixties who will do Charisma 2 9
anything for a bribe. Agility 2 9
Use the Politician stat block for Gand. Perception 3 10
Expertise 1 8
Resilience 2 9
Strength 2 9
Agent: Thank you, Mr. Spade. Just a couple more
Skills
questions. You say there was a man with a knife.
Deception, Insight, Sleight of Hand
Witness: Yeah, the first fella.
Agent: Right. Another witness saw the man Hits: 12 Body: 9 Mind: 10
with the knife as well. She described this Moxie: 3 Speed: 30
man, and, well, I’ll be confounded if she’s not
describing you to a tee. Weapon Damage Range
Witness: I been told I got one of those faces. Fists Color -
Agent: The problem is, one of the men who Power/Rank Boosts
came from the side room with a Tommy Gun Speak with Objects 1 Complex Object, Corpse,
had his throat slashed. We have a lot of bodies, Simple Object
but no knife. Level with me. Do you know Dimensional Pocket 1 Ally, Pocket, Size
where the man with the knife went?
End of interview. Gear: Tarot deck

Addendum by Javier Vargas, Director, D.O.J.

Bureau of Prohibition:
Agent Elliott reports she was looking down at her
notebook while asking that last question. When
she looked up, the witness had disappeared.

148

CLONES
Sometimes the only person you can trust is yourself.
Creating a clone is a useful, though costly, tool for any
person looking to work with a reliable counterpart,
frame an enemy for a crime, or kill and replace a
specific person.
Alternate Earth Doubles
The first way to create a clone (sort of) is to call forth
a double from an alternate universe. The easiest way
to get a double for yourself is to grab one of the other
“yous” from one of the Alternate Earths.
Another method requires three Capers with the
Dimensional Manipulation Power to be in the same
room with the individual whose clone they are trying
to bring forth. One Caper leads the group and must flip
cards in their deck until they flip an ace. The number
of cards flipped equals the number of days the group
must focus power on calling forth a duplicate without
doing anything else other than eating and resting. A
clone called forth in this way is plucked from a random
alternate Earth. Their personality and appearance are
chosen by the GM. Being from an alternate Earth, the
clone does not necessarily have everything in common
with its Principal Earth counterpart.
Creating a Clone from Scratch
Clones can also be created via a scientific process that
requires $50,000 of raw materials, a lab, and an expert
in cloning (usually an NPC). The process calls for the
person being cloned and the expert to work in the lab
for 30 days without doing anything else other than eating
and resting. The person being cloned must permanently
give a piece of themselves to the process. What the
person gives determines the number of clones created.
❖❖ Giving up one Skill, 1 rank in a Minor Power, or
two Boosts creates one clone.
❖❖ Giving up one point of one Trait score or 1 rank
in a Major Power creates two clones.
Clones created in this way have the same personality,
appearance, and (post-cloning) statistics of the original
clone. All clones are controlled by the GM.
NEMESES
It seems almost every person with Powers has a
nemesis, a hated enemy Caper who stops at nothing to
destroy them. Giving each character a nemesis is a great
way to make your stories iconic, engaging, and personal.
Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox
Nemesis Origin
A character’s nemesis should have a background
similar to the character with a few slight variations
that caused them to take a different path in life. The
character and nemesis might have grown up in the
same neighborhood, worked in the same field, or
experienced the same important life events. They might
even have a friendly past relationship as childhood
friends, siblings, coworkers, or lovers.
Something dramatic happened along the way
that made the nemesis take a different path, likely
a path the character might have taken in similar
circumstances. In short, if the character is a good cop,
the nemesis is an evil cop or vice versa.
The Why of Being a Nemesis
The nemesis should have a deeper reason for hating
the character than the simple dichotomy of good and
evil. The nemesis could blame the character for ruining
their life in some way, have an odd obsession with
the character that borders on love, or simply see the
character as a threat to a particular worldview.
Nemeses often toy with their enemy characters.
A quick murder would be too kind. They seek to
cause as much pain as possible and may not even
desire the death of the character. Some nemeses
seek permanent suffering or a character’s broken
moral code as an endgame.
Powers
A nemesis could have the same Powers as a character,
or a nemesis could have an opposite Power (such as a
Heat Beam when the character has a Cold Beam) or a
Power that counteracts what the character can do (such
as a Mental Shield to defend against a Psionic Beam).
Some nemeses have no Powers, but this only drives
them to greater efforts to take down their hated foe.
Live to Fight Again
Nemeses should live beyond one encounter with the
character they despise. The more they can antagonize
the person they hate, the deeper the story becomes.
These antagonists almost always have a plan or the
luck to make it out alive when the odds are against
them. Nemeses are like rats that just keep showing up.
Draw out the story and then let the characters be the
one to force a nemesis into a final confrontation.
Since the characters work together, there’s every
chance their individual nemeses might team up at
some point to take the characters out. Their shared
hatred bonds them together just as the characters’
shared motivations to defeat the nemeses will bond the
players together.
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ANIMALS WITH POWERS Creation/Summoning Powers

If you want to shake up the threats the characters ❖❖ Goo Generation
might face, you can add animals into the mix. Certain
gangster masterminds might have animals as pets or Dimensional Powers
guardians in their hideaways. If you really want to ❖❖ Dimension Step
shake things up, animals can have Powers.
Body Manipulation Powers
What Powers Are Appropriate?
❖❖ Alter Form
An animal can have any Power you want it to have.
❖❖ Body Armor
That said, Powers that require conscious decisions
aren’t ideally suited and should rarely be used with ❖❖ Bone/Organ Shifting
animals. Following are Powers that are particularly ❖❖ Elasticity
well-suited to animals. ❖❖ Invisibility
❖❖ Prehensile Feature
Energy Powers
❖❖ Acid Stream
It’s probably best to stick with Powers that are easy
❖❖ Cold Beam to adjudicate and simple in nature. Animals bring a
❖❖ Electric Bolt different feel to many encounters, and animals with
❖❖ Energy Resistance Powers doubly so.
If you add Powers to an animal, adjust their
❖❖ Heat Beam
level appropriately to help you keep track of their
capabilities relative to the characters.
Mobility/Movement Powers
❖❖ Sonic Scream Society’s Reaction
❖❖ Flight If animals have Powers, it’s important to consider
❖❖ Speedster the reaction of the general populace. Pets might be
a bit less common among people who are worried
Trait Increase Powers that Fido might suddenly start dripping acid from his
mouth. There may be whole governmental and health
❖❖ Super Agility
departments dedicated to dealing with attacks and
❖❖ Super Perception protection from such animals.
❖❖ Super Resilience On the other hand, such animals can be quite
❖❖ Super Strength the attraction for zoos and wildlife refuges. Large
cities boast zoos with special cages devised to keep
Powered animals inside and patrons safe. Rural
areas might feature a wildlife refuge with one or
two special attractions.

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Fire-Breathing Wolf Animal 4 THE EMPOWERING EVENT

Trait Score Defense The following presupposes that you’re using Chapter 7
Charisma 1 8 to describe the nature of Powers using trembium and
Agility 3 10 the associated science behind it.
Perception 2 9 Trembium is intentionally kept mysterious in
Expertise 2 9 Chapter 7. As the GM,you may wish to expand on that
Resilience 2 9 information and focus more on trembium as a central
Strength 3 10 part of the story. So, too, you may wish to unleash an
empowering event in your campaign.
Skills
Athletics, Fisticuffs (Bite), Sense, Stealth What Is An Empowering Event?
Hits: 4 Body: 10 Mind: 9 An empowering event is a spectacular happening that
Moxie: 1 Speed: 40 infuses more people with trembium, even if only for
a short time. It’s up to you to determine how long the
Weapon Damage Range
effects of such last.
Bite Suit -
An important aspect of using an empowering
Power/Rank Boosts event is determining how widespread it is. Is it a global
Heat Beam 2 Damage, Immolation phenomenon? Does it affect the whole country or just
Immunity, Range the local region.? Is anyone susceptible to gaining
powers? Only certain types of people?
Special
If you choose to introduce such an event, take
Pack Hunter: The wolf gains advantage on attacks
care that NPCs gaining Powers doesn’t overshadow the
whenever another wolf is attacking the same target.
players’ characters. Even if other people have Powers, the
Scent: The wolf gains advantage on Trait Checks to
players’ characters are always at the center of the story.
track prey.
What Causes the Event?
Disappearing Owl Animal 2
You may keep the explanation vague. However, if
Trait Score Defense you want to put a reason behind the event, here are
Charisma 1 8 some ideas.
Agility 2 9
Perception 3 10 ❖❖ An alignment of planets
Expertise 1 8 ❖❖ Significant earthquakes or volcanic eruptions
Resilience 1 8 ❖❖ The testing of a powerful weapon by the military
Strength 1 8
❖❖ An illness that spreads among the populace,
Skills making people sick for a while, but
Acrobatics, Fisticuffs (Talon), Sense, Stealth ultimately abating
Hits: 2 Body: 10 Mind: 10 ❖❖ Increased solar flare activity
Moxie: 1 Speed: 5 (40) ❖❖ A new inoculation distributed among
the populace
Weapon Damage Range
Talon Color - ❖❖ Explosion at a research facility
❖❖ Discovery of an alternate Earth
Power/Rank Boosts
Invisibility 1 Attack, Move, Run
Special
Flying: The owl flies at Speed 40.
Night Vision: The owl does not suffer penalties for
seeing in darkness.
Small: The owl gains +1 to Body.

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Chapter 12 – GM Toolbox

What Happens During the Event? Rules Information

During an empowering event, trembium vibrates and If the empowering event is weak, every character who
trembles more rapidly the world over. It may “multiply” already has Powers sees the ranks of their Powers
in the bloodstreams of people who already have increase by 1 for the duration of the event. If a Power’s
Powers, causing their Powers to increase or causing rank is already maximized, there may be no additional
them to gain additional Powers. effect, or you may determine that the character
It may manifest in people who previously had no gains all the Boosts for that Power that they didn’t
Powers. Such people might gain Powers at a low rank previously have.
or may be imbued with significant capabilities. If the event is moderate in strength, characters
It’s up to you to determine how long the with Powers have their Powers increase as described
empowering event lasts and its effects, but here are a above. Additionally, 10-40% of the population gains a
few things to keep in mind. Power at rank 1 or 2.
It will likely cause some level of panic and even If the event is strong, characters with Powers have
chaos among the populace. People have been slowly their Powers increase as described above and gain an
getting used to the idea of persons with extraordinary additional Power at rank 1 or 2. Additionally, 50-100%
abilities. To have many suddenly appear would be a of the population gains a Power at rank 1 or 2. Some of
shock. There may be riots and widespread fear. If many them gain more than one Power.
of the newly empowered people engage in crime or
feats of public spectacle, the panic will be greater.
Some organizations and institutions may react
strongly, perhaps violently, to such an event. Law
enforcement agencies will likely mobilize as many
officers as possible to quell panic and deal with crime.
Many religious people may seek sanctuary in holy
places, seeking assurance that all will be well.
There will almost certainly be many accidents as
people hurt themselves – and others – trying out their
new Powers. There may be a sharp rise in violence
and crime as people are emboldened to do things they
otherwise wouldn’t be able to get away with.

What Happens After the Event?

After an empowering event, it’s unlikely that the world
will simply return to normal as it was beforehand.
Certainly, some people who were empowered during the
event will be satisfied to have a few stories to tell, but
not everyone will be happy with what has happened.
Some people will be downright angry that they’ve
lost their Powers, feeling cheated by the universe. They
may simply lash out. But they may also begin seeking
out ways to get their Powers restored.
An empowering event will change society’s view
(as well as the views of many institutions) regarding
Powers. Law enforcement may be bolstered in
preparation for a subsequent event. Governments
may enact laws to deal with future threats. Religious
institutions may become convinced the end times are
coming. Scientists will work harder to learn more
faster and seek funding for studies.
Regardless of the length or severity of
an empowering event, it should have lasting
repercussions that color the remaining story you and
your players are telling.

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 APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY
Advancement Point (AP)
Points you gain when your character gains a level. You
spend AP to improve your character’s capabilities.
Advantage
The result of a character being in a better-than-normal
situation during a Trait Check. This results in the player
increasing their Card Count by one for that check.
Body
The Target Score a physical attack Trait Check must
match or beat for the attack to be successful.
Boon
A special bonus gained when a character performs
particularly well on a Trait Check.
Boost
A special augmentation of a Power that provides an
alternate effect or improves the standard effect.
Botch
A drawback suffered when a character performs
particularly poorly on a Trait Check.
Caper
A character possessing extraordinary powers that bend
the laws of nature.
Card Count
The maximum number of cards you can flip during a
Trait Check or Power Check. If your Card Count drops
to 0, you can’t attempt the check.
Character
A fictional person that exists in the world of the game.
Color
The color of a playing card, which sometimes
determines degree of success or failure of a Trait Check.
Complication
A downside that comes with a Trait Check that just
barely succeeds.
Deck
A standard deck of poker-style playing cards, 52 suit
cards plus 2 jokers. Each player needs one, as does
the GM.
Disadvantage
The result of a character being in a less-than-ideal
situation during a Trait Check. This results in the player
decreasing their Card Count by one for that check.
Encounter
An interaction with the game world which has a
defined beginning and end, wherein one or more tasks
are accomplished by the characters and the story
moves forward.
Energy
One of five special types of physical damage (acid,
cold, electricity, fire, and force).
Exceptional
A character that possesses greater skill and toughness
than the average person but doesn’t have Powers.
Free Action
A short, simple action that a character can take that
doesn’t require a Trait Check.
Game Master (GM)
The member of the gaming group that controls the world
that the characters interact with. The GM controls NPCs,
describes the setting, and presents challenges for the
players and their characters to overcome.
Hits
The measure of how hard it is to take a character down.
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Appendices
Identity
A descriptor for your character that defines their core
self in one word. Used as a guide for roleplaying.
Initiative
The result of a Reaction Check used to determine when
a character acts during an action sequence.
Maintain
The ability to keep a Power or Boost active
continuously by reducing your Card Count every turn.
Mind
The Target Score a mental attack Trait Check must
match or beat for the attack to be successful.
Motivation
A game-rule incentive that comes with a Trait Check
that just barely fails.
Moxie
A pool of points players spend to improve their
characters’ chances of success in Trait Checks as well
as to gain other bonuses. They represent a combination
of determination and luck.
Non-Player Character (NPC)
A character that is controlled by the GM. NPCs are
support characters, allies, and foes in the story.
Perk
A special ability or quality that an Exceptional has in
lieu of Powers.
Player
A member of the game group that controls one of the
main characters of the story.
Power
A special capability that defies the laws of physics
and reason, allowing a character to perform
superhuman feats.
Power Check
A special type of Trait Check that involves activating
a Power.
Reaction Check
A type of Trait Check where the player only flips
one card, generally used when reacting quickly to
something without thinking.
154
Regular
A normal person without any extraordinary capabilities.
Round
Approximately 6 seconds of game world time.
Skill
A specialized area of study or natural talent that
increases your chances of success when making an
associated Trait Check.
Speed
How far a character can move in one round, measured
in feet.
Suit
Clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades on the playing
cards. The suit often determines the degree of success
or failure of a Trait Check.
Trait
One of six core abilities that define your character.
Trait Action
An action that a character takes which involves making
a Trait Check. Power Checks are also made using a
Trait Action. Some Power Checks require you use your
Trait Action to activate the Power but don’t require an
actual check.
Trait Check
When a player or the GM flips cards to determine
whether a character accomplishes a task. The card flip
is compared to a Target Score to determine success or
failure as well as degree of success or failure.
Trait Defense
The Target Score required to perform an action that is
directly opposed by another character. It’s based on the
character’s Trait score.
Target Score (TS)
The pip value a card must meet or beat during a Trait
Check for the attempt to be successful.
Vice
Your character’s greatest weakness.
Virtue
The one conviction your character holds most dear,
one they’ll never violate.
 Appendices

APPENDIX 2: 1920s SLANG Canary: A woman with a pretty voice.

Caper: A criminal act or robbery. Also, in this game, a
From a purely character perspective, one of the things
person with extraordinary abilities.
that is most different in the world of CAPERS is
Carry a Torch: To have a crush on someone.
language. While you can certainly play the game using
Cash or Check?: “Do you kiss now or later?”
the parlance of our modern times, many players will
Cash: A kiss.
enjoy peppering the slang of 1920s America into their
Cat’s Pajamas: Something splendid or stylish.
characters’ voices.
Chassis: The female body.
Following is a lexicon of words and phrases used
Cheaters: Eyeglasses.
in the 1920s, arranged alphabetically.
Check: “Kiss me later.”
Ciggy: A cigarette.
All Wet: Describes an erroneous idea or individual, as
Clam: A dollar.
in, “He’s all wet.”
And How: I strongly agree.
Daddy: A young woman’s boyfriend or lover, especially
Applesauce: An expletive akin to “Dammit.”
if he’s rich.
Attaboy: Well done. Also Attagirl.
Dame: A woman.
Dapper: A flapper’s father.
Balled Up: Confused; messed up.
Dead Soldier: An empty beer bottle.
Baloney: Nonsense.
Deb: A debutant.
Bank’s Closed: No kissing or making out, as in, “Sorry,
Dick: A private investigator.
Mac, the bank’s closed.”
Dogs: Feet.
Bearcat: A hot-blooded or fiery girl.
Doll: An attractive woman.
Beat One’s Gums: To make idle chatter.
Dolled Up: Dressed up nicely.
Beef: A complaint or to complain.
Don’t Know from Nothing: Don’t have any information.
Bee’s Knees: An extraordinary person, thing, idea;
Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels: “Don’t do
the ultimate.
anything stupid.”
Beeswax: Business, as in, “None of your beeswax.”
Dough: Money.
Bell Bottom: A sailor.
Drugstore Cowboy: A man who hangs around on a
Berries: Attractive or pleasing, as in, “It’s the berries.”
street corner trying to pick up women.
Bible Belt: Area containing the South and lower
Dry Up: “Shut up.” “Go away.”
Midwest where fundamentalism flourishes.
Ducky: Very good.
Big Cheese: The most important or influential
person; boss.
Earful: Enough, as in, “I’ve had an earful.”
Big Six: A strong man; from auto advertising for the
Edge: Intoxication or a buzz, as in, “I’ve got an edge.”
new and powerful, six-cylinder engines.
Egg: A person who lives the big life.
Bimbo: A tough guy.
Bird: General term for an “odd” man or woman, as in,
Fall Guy: A person framed for a crime.
“What a funny old bird.”
Fire Extinguisher: A chaperone.
Bluenose: An excessively puritanical person; a prude.
Fish: A college freshman. Also, a first-timer in prison.
Bootleg: Illegal liquor. Also, to make illegal liquor.
Flapper: A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman who
Someone who makes illegal liquor is a bootlegger.
often wears short skirts and has short hair.
Breezer: A convertible car.
Flat Tire: A dull, insipid, disappointing date.
Bronx Cheer: A loud spluttering noise, used to
Fly Boy: A glamorous term for an aviator.
indicate disapproval.
Frame: To give false evidence; to set up someone.
Bull: A policeman or law-enforcement officer, including
Fried to the Hat: Intoxicated.
railroad security officers.
Bum’s Rush: Forceful ejection from an establishment,
as in, “Give him the bum’s rush.”
Butt Me: “I’ll take a cigarette.”

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Appendices

Gams: A woman’s legs. On the Lam: Fleeing from the police.

Get a Wiggle On: “Get a move on.” “Get going.” On the Level: Legitimate; honest.
Giggle Water: An intoxicating beverage; alcohol. Orchid: An expensive item.
Gin Mill: An establishment where hard liquor is sold; Ossified: Intoxicated.
a bar. Owl: A person who’s out late.
Glad Rags: Fancy clothes fit for going out on the town.
Gold Digger: A woman who associates with or marries Palooka: An average or below-average boxer. Also, a
a man for his wealth. social outsider.
Goofy: In love. Piker: A cheapskate. Also, a coward.
Pill: An unlikable person.
Hair of the Dog: An alcoholic drink, especially a shot, Pinch: To arrest.
imbibed to alleviate a hangover. Pipe Down: “Stop talking.”
Handcuff: An engagement ring. Pushover: A person easily convinced or seduced.
Hayburner: A gas-guzzling car. Also, a horse one loses Putting on the Ritz: Doing something in high style.
money on at the races.
Heebie-Jeebies: The jitters; the creeps. Ragamuffin: A dirty or disheveled individual.
High-Hat: To snub someone, as in, “I high-hatted him.” Razz: To make fun of.
Hit on All Sixes: To perform at 100 percent efficiency, Real McCoy: The genuine article.
from a car “hitting on all six cylinders.” Ritzy: Elegant.
Hooch: Bootleg liquor. Rubes: Money or dollars.
Hood: A hoodlum or criminal.
Hoofer: Dancer. Sap: A fool.
Horsefeathers: An expletive akin to “Dammit.” Scram: To leave or exit.
Hotsy-Totsy: Pleasing. Scrooched: Intoxicated.
Sheba: A sexy woman.
Iron: A motorcycle. Sheik: A sexy man.
It: Sex appeal, as in, “She’s got it.” Shiv: A knife.
Sinker: A doughnut.
Jake: Okay, as in, “Everything is Jake.” Speakeasy: An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor.
Jalopy: An old car. Spifflicated: Intoxicated.
Jane: A woman. Spiffy: Elegant in appearance.
Joe: Coffee. Struggle Buggy: The back seat of a car.
John: A toilet. Swanky: Fancy.
Joint: A club, usually one selling alcohol. Swell: Wonderful. Also, a rich man.

Keen: Attractive or appealing. Take for a Ride: To drive off with someone with the
Kisser: Mouth or lips. intention of killing them.
Tomato: A woman.
Left Holding the Bag: To be cheated out of one’s fair Torpedo: A hired guard who carries a gun.
share. Also, to be blamed for something.
Level with Me: “Be honest.” Upchuck: To vomit from drinking too much.
Lit Up: Intoxicated.
Live Wire: A lively person. Wet Blanket: A solemn person; a killjoy.
What’s Eating You?: “What’s wrong?”
Mac: A man.
Middle Aisle: To marry, as in, “We middle aisled.” Zozzled: Intoxicated.
Moll: A gangster’s girlfriend.
Mrs. Grundy: A priggish or extremely tight-
laced person.

Neck: To kiss with great passion.

Nifty: Great; excellent.
Nobody’s Home: Describing someone who is dumb.
Now You’re on the Trolley: “Now you understand.”

156
 Appendices

APPENDIX 3: POWER INDEX Hearts – Mental and Dimensional Powers

Following is a complete list of all of the Powers 2 Hypnosis (minor)
available in CAPERS. You can flip cards to generate 3 Influence Emotions (major)
random powers for NPCs. Just assign an appropriate
4 Mental Shield (minor)
rank on your own.
5 Probability Manipulation (minor)
POWER INDEX 6 Psionic Beam (minor)
7 Speak with Objects (minor)
Clubs – Energy and Mobility/Movement Powers 8 Telepathy (minor)
2 Acid Stream (minor) 9 Dimension Step (major)
3 Cold Beam (minor) 10 Dimensional Manipulation (minor)
4 Concussion Beam (minor) J Dimensional Pocket (minor)
5 Electric Bolt (minor) Q Choose one from the Hearts list.
6 Energy Resistance (minor) Choose one from the Hearts list and flip
K
another card.
7 Heat Beam (minor)
A Choose two from the Hearts list.
8 Puppeteer (minor)
9 Sonic Scream (minor)
Spades – Body Manipulation and Power Manipulation
10 Flight (minor)
2 Alter Form (minor)
J Speedster (major)
3 Animal Affinity (major)
Q Choose one from the Clubs list.
4 Body Armor (minor)
Choose one from the Clubs list and flip
K 5 Bone/Organ Shifting (minor)
another card.
6 Elasticity (major)
A Choose two from the Clubs list.
7 Invisibility (major)
Diamonds – Trait Increase and Creation/ 8 Mimic (major)
Summoning Powers 9 Prehensile Feature (minor)
2 Super Agility (major) 10 Power Augmentation (minor)
3 Super Charisma (major) J Power Sharing (minor)
4 Super Expertise (major) Q Choose one from the Spades list.
5 Super Perception (major) Choose one from the Spades list and flip
K
6 Super Resilience (major) another card.
7 Super Strength (major) A Choose two from the Spades list.
8 Force Field (minor)
Joker Trem-Gear. Flip a card to determine the
9 Goo Generation (major)
Power(s).
10 Illusions (major)
J Weather Manipulation (minor)
Q Choose one from the Diamonds list.
Choose one from the Diamonds list and flip
K
another card.
A Choose two from the Diamonds list.

157
Appendices

APPENDIX 4: COMMON NAMES IN THE
1920s
Names come and go. There are some that are
evergreen, popular during most any period of history.
But there are others that belong wholly or mostly to
certain times.
Following is a list of common 1920s American
names from an historical perspective.
Mitchell, Moore, Morgan, Morris, Murphy, Nelson,
Parker, Patterson, Perry, Peterson, Phillips, Powell,
Price, Reed, Richardson, Roberts, Robinson, Rogers,
Ross, Sanders, Scott, Simmons, Smith, Stewart, Taylor,
Thomas, Thompson, Turner, Walker, Ward, Washington,
Watson, White, Williams, Wilson, Wood, Wright, Young
Common Chinese Surnames
Chang, Chen, Chou, Liu, Wong

Common Traditionally Female First Common German Surnames

Names Fischer, Muller, Schmidt, Schneider, Weber
Agnes, Alice, Alma, Ann, Anna, Anne, Annie, Audrey,
Barbara, Beatrice, Bernice, Bertha, Bessie, Betty, Common Greek Surnames
Beverly, Catherine, Charlotte, Clara, Dolores, Doris,
Dorothy, Edith, Edna, Eileen, Elaine, Eleanor, Floros, Kokinos, Marinos, Michel, Pachis
Elizabeth, Ella, Ellen, Elsie, Emma, Esther, Ethel,
Eva, Evelyn, Florence, Frances, Geraldine, Gertrude, Common Indian Surnames
Gladys, Gloria, Grace, Hazel, Helen, Ida, Irene, Jane, Jai, Patel, Reddy, Shan, Sharma
Jean, Jeanne, Jessie, Joan, Josephine, Joyce, Juanita,
Julia, June, Katherine, Kathleen, Kathryn, Laura, Common Italian Surnames
Lillian, Lillie, Lois, Lorraine, Louise, Lucille, Margaret,
Bianchi, Esposito, Ferrari, Rossi, Russo
Marian, Marie, Marilyn, Marion, Marjorie, Martha,
Mary, Maxine, Mildred, Myrtle, Nancy, Nellie, Norma,
Patricia, Pauline, Pearl, Phyllis, Rita, Rose, Ruby, Ruth, Common Japanese Surnames
Sarah, Shirley, Thelma, Theresa, Vera, Viola, Violet, Ito, Kobayashi, Nakamura, Saito, Yamamoto
Virginia, Vivian, Wanda, Willie, Wilma
Common Korean Surnames
Common Traditionally Male First Kim, Kumar, Lal, Pak, Rhee
Names
Albert, Alfred, Allen, Alvin, Andrew, Anthony, Arnold, Common Latino Surnames
Arthur, Benjamin, Bernard, Bill, Billy, Calvin, Carl, Diaz, Flores, Garcia, Gonzales, Hernandez, Lopez,
Cecil, Charles, Charlie, Chester, Clarence, Clifford, Martinez, Perez, Ramirez, Rivera, Rodriguez, Sanchez,
Clyde, Dale, Daniel, David, Donald, Earl, Edgar, Torres
Edward, Edwin, Elmer, Ernest, Eugene, Floyd, Francis,
Frank, Fred, Frederick, George, Gerald, Gilbert,
Common Romanian Surnames
Glenn, Gordon, Harold, Harry, Harvey, Henry, Herbert,
Herman, Howard, Jack, James, Jesse, Joe, John, Gabor, Ionescu, Popa, Radu, Stoica
Joseph, Kenneth, Lawrence, Lee, Leo, Leon, Leonard,
Leroy, Lester, Lewis, Lloyd, Louis, Martin, Marvin, Common Russian Surnames
Melvin, Michael, Milton, Norman, Oscar, Paul, Peter, Ivanov, Petrov, Popov, Smirnov, Sokolov
Philip, Ralph, Ray, Raymond, Richard, Robert, Roger,
Ronald, Roy, Russell, Sam, Samuel, Stanley, Theodore, Common Scandinavian Surnames
Thomas, Vernon, Victor, Vincent, Wallace, Walter,
Warren, Wayne, Willard, William, Willie Christensen, Hansen, Jensen, Larsen, Madsen

Common English (and related) Common Turkish Surnames

Surnames Arslan, Demir, Kaya, Polat, Yavuv
Adams, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Bailey, Baker,
Barnes, Bell, Bennett, Brooks, Brown, Bryant, Butler,
Campbell, Carter, Clark, Coleman, Collins, Cook,
Cooper, Cox, Davis, Edwards, Evans, Foster, Gray,
Green, Griffin, Hall, Harris, Hayes, Henderson, Hill,
Howard, Hughes, Jackson, James, Jenkins, Johnson,
Jones, Kelly, King, Lee, Lewis, Long, Martin, Miller,

158
 Appendices

APPENDIX 5: NPC INDEX Capers

Character Type Page
Regulars Aarifa Samaha Caper 1 126
Character Type Page Barbara Janecek Caper 1 127
Hobo Regular 1 132 Dr. Oswell Wright Caper 1 117
Kid Regular 1 132 Jackie Coleman Caper 1 127
Party-Goer Regular 2 133 Madame Markovia Caper 1 148
Shop Owner Regular 2 134 Marta Zuniga Caper 1 118
Street Thug Regular 2 134 Alexa Katzarov Caper 2 126
Con Artist Regular 3 131 Anna “Cupid” MacIntyre Caper 2 146
Cop Regular 3 132 Anna “Scraps” Johnson Caper 2 91
Prostitute Regular 3 133 Daniel D. Wolfe Caper 2 127
Thief Regular 3 134 James “Bomber” Belcastro Caper 2 102
Truck/Cab Driver Regular 3 134 James “Flicker” Utz Caper 2 92
Gambler Regular 4 132 Jill “Legs” Darby Caper 2 110
Mob Goon Regular 4 133 Joseph “Sport” Sullivan Caper 2 111
Politician Regular 4 133 Matas Andris “Piggy Man” Caper 2 102
Bouncer Regular 5 131 Peter “Dreamy” DeSilva Caper 2 128
Robert Stelmachowski Caper 2 128
Exceptionals Bridget Malone Caper 3 127
Character Type Page Chae Rhee Caper 3 115
Vigilante Exceptional 1 130 Charles “King” Solomon Caper 3 113
Detective Exceptional 2 129 Chief Allie Balian Caper 3 120
Gangster Exceptional 2 130 Director Javier Vargas Caper 3 125
Meyer Lansky Exceptional 2 111 Elizabeth Watkins “Lady D” Caper 3 101
Agent Vanessa Elliott Exceptional 3 101 Lorna Kingsley Caper 3 128
Federal Agent Exceptional 3 129 Mikey “The Wrench” Sbrocco Caper 3 102
Mayor Eleanor Bader Exceptional 3 92 Miles Oglethorpe Caper 3 116
Stephanie St. Clair Exceptional 3 111 Robert “Snap” Washington Caper 3 92
Tough Exceptional 3 130 Stanley “Rattler” Rogers Caper 3 111
Cleaner Exceptional 4 129 Wayne Sall Caper 3 128
Crime Lord Exceptional 4 129 Agent Jacob Willis Caper 4 125
James “The Deacon” Grady Exceptional 4 112 Al “Scarface” Capone Caper 4 101
Joe Czarnecki Exceptional 4 119 Caleb Waldrop Caper 4 146
Kwan Shu Exceptional 4 92 Carla “Lucky” Luciano Caper 4 110
Arnold “Brain” Rothstein Exceptional 5 110 Claudine Adams Caper 4 91
Dean O’Banion Exceptional 5 101 Eleanor Shenk Caper 4 125
Enoch “Nucky” Johnson Exceptional 5 91 Joe “The Boss” Masseria Caper 4 110
General Smedley Butler Exceptional 5 121 Juanita Destaro Caper 4 148
Hitman Exceptional 5 130 Agent Barbara Holloway Caper 5 91
Edith Shenk Caper 5 125
Giada “The Fox” Torrio Caper 5 102
The Queen Caper 5 114

159
Appendices

APPENDIX 6: INSPIRATION
Need some resources to help you wrap your head
around the 1920s or the overall feel of a game like
CAPERS? Here you go.

Film
❖❖ Casino (Martin Scorsese, 1995)
❖❖ Gangs of New York (Martin Scorsese, 2002)
❖❖ Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
❖❖ Miller’s Crossing (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1990)
❖❖ Once Upon a Time in America (Sergio
Leone, 1984)
❖❖ Prohibition (Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, 2011)
❖❖ The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
❖❖ The Untouchables (Brian DePalma, 1987)
❖❖ Pretty much any gangster movie with
James Cagney

Television
❖❖ Boardwalk Empire (Terence Winter, 2010)

Comics/Graphic Novels
❖❖ Dick Tracy (Chester Gould, 1931)
❖❖ Masks and Mobsters (Joshua Williamson, 2012)
❖❖ Road to Perdition (Max Allan Collins, 1998)
❖❖ Sin City (Frank Miller, 1991)

Non-Fiction
❖❖ Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
(Daniel Okrent, 2011)
❖❖ Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the
1920s (Fredrick Lewis Allen, 1931, 1959,
1964, 2000)
❖❖ The Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life from
Prohibition through World War II (Marc
McCutcheon, 1995)

Games
❖❖ Adventure! (White Wolf Game Studio, 2001)
❖❖ Godlike (Arc Dream Publishing, 2002)
❖❖ Necessary Evil (Pinnacle Entertainment
Group, 2004)
❖❖ Rotted Capes (Paradigm Concepts, 2013)

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 Appendices

APPENDIX 7: FULL INDEX Falling 39 Perception 30

Federal Agencies 122 Perks 18, 41
Flat Hills Penitentiary 145 Philadelphia 121
Aces 25 Flight 50 Playing Cards 23
Acid Stream 45 Flipside 140 Poison 39
Action Sequence 33 Force Field 50 Power Augmentation 52
Actions 34 Free Action 34 Power Checks 42
Advancement 20 Power Descriptors 43
Advantage 27 Gear 19, 62 Power Sharing 52
Adventures 75 Goo Generation 57 Powers 18, 42, 82
Agility 30 Goods and Services 62 Prehensile Feature 53
Alter Form 45 Grapple 38 Probability Manipulation 53
Alternate Earths 137 Great War 8 Prohibition 8, 9
Anchors 14 Group Trait Checks 27 Psionic Beam 54
Animal Affinity 56 Puppeteer 54
Animals 81, 135, 150 Heat Beam 50
Atlanta 112 Hits 18, 37 Ranged Attacks 35
Atlantic City 84 Hypnosis 51 Reaction Checks 27, 37
Readying an Action 35
Body 18 Identity 15 Regulars 13, 80
Body Armor 46 Illusions 58 Resilience 31
Bone/Organ Shifting 46 Influence Emotions 58 Roaring Twenties 9
Boons 25, 29-32 Initiative 33
Boosts 42, 43 Invisibility 59 Skills 17, 22
Boston 113 Sonic Scream 54
Botches 25, 29-32 Jokers 25 Speak with Objects 55
Speed 19
Capek’s Earth 137 Kansas City 116 Speedster 59
Capers 12, 13 Standoffs 39
Character Creation 13 Law Enforcement 122 Stone Beach Prison 147
Charisma 29 Level 19 Strength 32
Chicago 93 Louisville 117 Suffocation 39
Cincinnati 114 Suits 24, 25, 35
Clones 149 Madworld 141 Super Agility 60
Cold Beam 46 Major Powers 42 Super Charisma 60
Colors 24, 35 Melee Attacks 35 Super Expertise 60
Complications 25, 29-32 Mental Attacks 36 Super Perception 60
Concussion Beam 47 Mental Shield 51 Super Resilience 60
Miami 118 Super Strength 60
Damage 35 Milwaukee 119 Surprise 33
Delaying Your Turn 34 Mimic 59
Detroit 115 Mind 18 Target Scores 24, 73
Dimension Step 57 Minor Powers 42 Telepathy 55
Dimensional Manipulation 48 Motivations 25 Trait Action 34
Dimensional Pocket 48 Movement 34 Trait Checks 24, 26, 73
Disadvantage 27 Moxie 19, 28, 29 Trait Defense 17, 32
Disarm 38 Traits 17, 22
Nemeses 149 Trembium 64
Elasticity 57 New Orleans 120 Trem-Gear 18, 65
Electric Bolt 49 New York City 103
Empowering Events 151 NPCs 78, 126 Vice 16
Encounters 75 Virtue 16
Energy Damage 38 Objects 36
Energy Resistance 49 Omega Earth 143 Weapons 36, 63
Exceptionals 13 Opposed Checks 32 Weather Manipulation 55
Expertise 31 Orions 144
Explosives 39, 63

161
 Name Level

DEFE DEFE DEFE DEFE DEFE DEFE

N

N
1
•

•
+
SE

SE

SE

SE

SE

SE
•

•
C A P E R S

C A P E R S

Charisma Agility Perception Expertise Resilience Strength Skills

Character

Max Hits Current Hits Body Mind Speed Moxie

Weapon Damage Range

Description

Gear Weapons

Powers | Trem-Gear | Perks

Background

Name Type Rank

Description

Mannerisms

Activation Target Range Duration

Anchors

Effect

Identity
1
-

Boosts

Name Type Rank

Virtue

Description

Vice
Activation Target Range Duration

Damage by Suit/Color Effect

♠:4 ♥:3 ♦:2 ♣:1

1
-
Black : 2 Red : 1 Boosts
 PERFORM AMAZING FEATS! MAKE YOUR FORTUNE! OR ENFORCE THE LAW!

It’s the 1920s Prohibition era in the United States. Alcohol is illegal. Organized crime grows at an
unprecedented rate as gangsters get rich selling hooch to a thirsty populace. Law enforcement
struggles to keep up with an understaffed and underfunded Bureau of Prohibition.
You are one of a handful of people who have been gifted with super-powers!
Will you use your abilities to build a criminal empire as a super-powered gangster? Or will you
focus your powers to serve the law and bring these criminals to justice?
In this book, you’ll find everything you need to tell exciting stories of action, adventure, virtue,
and vice in the Roaring Twenties. With super-powers.

NerdBurger Games
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