Areas

In a normal roleplaying game, James Bond would have to roll his stats or spend points in an effort to make him “balanced” with the other characters. This could be argued as sensible but I feel that in a spy game such a requirement  is counter-intuitive to the goal of making characters that emulate spies from our favorite movies and books. Guys like James Bond and Jason Bourne have top scores in every stat. Jack Bauer can do anything, but he’s not the best at everything. If you’re Bauer, you may have to work a little harder in areas that aren’t your area of expertise.

Instead of stats, we have Areas. Each and every agent can operate inside any of these Areas, but each agent is the best at one of them. In this game, there are five Areas, not based on physical or mental abilities, but on the method an agent uses to get the job done.

Your agent ranks each Area from 5 to 1. Five being what their best at and 1 being what their worst at. You can change your Areas between Missions and there are Advantages that allow you to chance your numbers but in general you will always have a 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 Area.

There is a TV series that makes for a great parallel of the Areas. On TNT around December 2008 they started airing a heist show called “Leverage” that featured a team of crooks that come together to pull capers in the name of good. It’s a great show and well worth watching. It’ll also help you better understand the Areas of the game. When something comes up in the game you can ask your self, “Would this be something for Parker or Hardison?”

Capricorn

Capricorn is the brains of the team. On Leverage this is Nathan Ford. Capricorn is the leader, the idea man, the planner, the strategist, the researcher, and the mastermind. Capricorn organizes. Capricorn calls the shots. Capricorn sees the plan .Capricorn tells everyone what to do and how to do it. Capricorn is the closest thing this game has to a general mental statistic. Everything from research to tactics and from planning to doing a crossword puzzle fall into Capricorn’s Area. Capricorn is considered the de-facto leader Capricorn and get a few special rules through out the game.

• Once per game, the team leader can spend an Agent Point and force any other Agent a re-roll and take the new result. Force. That’s important, remember it. Operations can not do anything to interfere with this effect, any effect applied to the original roll is not applied to the re-roll. For example, Operations can not subtract five dice from the re-roll even if they spent Setback on the first roll.

Note: When all else fails and you can’t figure out which Area to roll… Use Capricorn.

Aries

Aries is the brawn of the team. On Leverage this is Eliot Spencer. Aries kills. Aries is the sniper, the gunslinger, the boxer, the martial artist, and weapons expert. Aries kills those who need killing. Aries takes the beating. Aries is the first one out of the plane. Aries is the one with blood on their hands. Sometimes that blood is the targets and sometimes its Aries’. Aries is the closest thing this game has to a general brute physical statistic. Everything from setting landmines to taking a punch and from surviving a fall to shooting a gun fall into Aries Area.

• Once per game, the hitman can spend an Agent Point and can kill anyone without rolling any dice. Anyone. That’s important, remember it. Operations can not do anything to interfere with this effect. For example, Operations can not spend Setback to cause this effect to miss Everybody Else or reduce Wagers made against Agents.

Gemini

Gemini is the con artist of the team. On Leverage this is Sophie Devereaux. Gemini is the grifter, the translator, the actor, the counselor, and the eavesdropper. Gemini lies. Gemini gets the girl. Gemini deals with the customers. Gemini convinces the terrorist to put down the gun. Gemini listens carefully and relates the hidden message. Gemini knows the right words. Gemini deals with people. Gemini is the closest thing this game has to a general social statistic. Everything from gaining trust to lip-reading and from seduction to intimidation falls into Gemini’s Area.

• Once per game, the faceman can spend an Agent Point and make anyone believe anything he wants. Anyone. That’s important, remember it. Operations can not do anything to interfere with this effect. For example, Operations can not spend Setback to cause “Plot Damage” in which the victim no longer believes Gemini.

Virgo

Virgo is the fixer of the team. On Leverage this is Alec Hardison. Virgo is the computer hacker, the mechanic, the driver, gunsmith and engineer.Virgo uses technology. Virgo knows computers. Virgo fixes the truck. Virgo hot-wires the car. Virgo runs the machine and hacks the computer. Virgo knows the best point on a building to set a bomb. Virgo builds the bomb. Virgo is the closest thing this game has to a general technology statistic. Everything from fixing a jet engine to bypassing security cameras and from upgrading a gun to building a bridge falls to Virgo’s Area.

• Once per game, the fixer can spend an Agent Point and either gain a free Rank 5 piece of Equipment for the duration of the mission or reduce any other piece of Equipment Five Ranks. Any piece. That’s important, remember it. Operations can not do anything to interfere with this effect, at first. For example, Operations can not spend Setback to reduce the Equipment Rank until after the Equipment is used for the first time. After the Equipment is used once it is treated as normal Equipment until the end of the mission.

Note: Equipment generated by the use of Virgo’s effect can be used for free on the first roll it is used with. This means you do not need to spend an additional Agent Point to roll in the Virgo created Equipment. After the Equipment is used once it is treated as Mission Equipment.

Scorpio

Scorpio is the thief of the team. On Leverage this is Parker. Scorpio is the thief, the infiltrator, the surveillance expert, the recon scout, the cat-burglar, and the pickpocket. Scorpio stays in the dark. Scorpio steals what they need. Scorpio is graceful. Scorpio is swift. Scorpio knows how to repel a building. Scorpio is never seen, unless they want to be seen. Scorpio is the closest thing this game has to a general physical grace statistic. Everything from scaling a building to picking a lock and from blending into a crowd to avoiding trip-wires fall into Scorpio’s Area.

• Once per game, the shade can spend an Agent Point to move through an area without anyone detecting him. Anyone. That’s important, remember it. Operations can not do anything to interfere with this effect. For example, Operations can not spend Setback to cause “Plot Damage” in which Scorpio is spotted in that area.

Note: An area in which Scorpio’s effect is useful is locally defined. Scorpio can’t vanish from a country or city by using this power, only local situations. Scorpio can vanish from customs at an airport if they get noticed but their effect ends once they have evaded security at the airport.

Special Effects and Other People

One of the most common questions in playtesting is “Can I use Scorpio’s power to hide other people?” and while the answer is “No” there is a bit more to it.

An Agent can not directly receive the benefit from any Special Effect they do not have an Expertise with.

Capricorn had to determine fate. Aries has to take the shot. Gemini has to tell the story. Virgo has to get the gadget. Scorpio has to do the sneaking.

There is a catch though; Agents can indirectly receive benefits.

Capricorn’s effect could turn out well for the other Agent. Aries could kill the sniper aimed at you. Gemini could convince the police you weren’t involved. Virgo could hand you the perfect weapon. Scorpio could steal your gun from the police evidence locker.

Aries can’t let you take the shot and Scorpio can not sneak you into the building. Only the Expert Agent can gain the Expertise benefit.