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If you were a smuggler and was trying to get past a coalition inspection point and there was no magic or psi detected by the dog boys how could you quickly slip the corruptible sergeant a quick 1000 credits? On a smaller note if you were playing a city rat game and had to slip a door man 200 credits to get to the vip section to make contact with some one how would you handle that?

tradeable items like gems or precious metals.

The Galactus Kid wrote:tradeable items like gems or precious metals.

what he said.

or possibly some pre-rifts artifacts, like CD's and DVD's. time to use those "1d6x1000 credits worth of black market items" every OCC seems to get

Roleplay it!

If you need mechanics, here's some thoughts.

1) The GM needs to decide how open the NPC might be to a bribe and how far are they willing to bend the rules. Alignment is a good modifier here as is the old adage "everyone has their price". The GM also needs to decide how likely the NPC will be to go through with the action once bribed and how the NPC will respond if the bribery goes bad.

2) Then the player should roleplay out a conversation to figure out what the NPC is really like before making that bribe. If there is a skill or attribute you feel is useful, throw that into the mix. Trust / Intimidate, Charm / Impress, Interrogation, Gambling, Seduction and Streetwise are all good starts depending on the situation.

3) Then the player makes the initial offer. Is it enough? If not, what's the NPC reaction? Does the NPC up the bid? Do they haggle or is the deal off? And what happens next? Does the bribed dude get caught and squeals? Does he come back for more cash later, saying that he will blow their cover?

Roleplay!
Roleplay!!
Roleplay!!!

If you got Telepathy or Empathy and are sure you're not being psi-snooped, engaging your psychic powers while chatting up a possible bribee is a good way of seeing what gets his attention...seeing a spike of interest in things like 'ancient culture' or 'i know somebody who deals in gemstones', or 'is platinum legal tender around here?' can help find the bait for a bribe.

I guess my question wasn't clear enough when I look back at it.
How do I discretely hand a Sergent 2000 credits so the other solders around don't see? When I hand him a card by the time he can verify the amount on it we're long gone who knows where. If it's black market items or gems/metals, what is he going to do, pull out a jewelers loop or a scale? I need to discretely hand some one 2bills quickly and quietly and out of site in a routine check point; so going behind the bushes will definitely draw attention and this has to be quick.

My problem is how to deal with a cashless society for this sort of common underhanded practice. I'm thinking of putting coalition script into my game or something like that, with severe penalties for counterfeiting (summery execution? ). How do you make it difficult to counterfeit the script with all this high tech/magic/alien tech and psi (for those who have seen "fire starter" know what I mean). I need a quick and dirty thing to do quick and dirty transactions where verification is instant and for the most part unquestionable.
please Help.
(why did my buddy really like the idea of a smuggler/ criminal type...oy)

pestigor wrote:I guess my question wasn't clear enough when I look back at it.
How do I discretely hand a Sergent 2000 credits so the other solders around don't see? When I hand him a card by the time he can verify the amount on it we're long gone who knows where. If it's black market items or gems/metals, what is he going to do, pull out a jewelers loop or a scale? I need to discretely hand some one 2bills quickly and quietly and out of site in a routine check point; so going behind the bushes will definitely draw attention and this has to be quick.

My problem is how to deal with a cashless society for this sort of common underhanded practice. I'm thinking of putting coalition script into my game or something like that, with severe penalties for counterfeiting (summery execution? ). How do you make it difficult to counterfeit the script with all this high tech/magic/alien tech and psi (for those who have seen "fire starter" know what I mean). I need a quick and dirty thing to do quick and dirty transactions where verification is instant and for the most part unquestionable.
please Help.
(why did my buddy really like the idea of a smuggler/ criminal type...oy)

In todays real world some cell phones have the capability to transfer funds. I would think that universal debit cards could work on the same principle so if you had some ones say account name, you could send funds to them wirelessly and at a press of a button. I'd say a palming or concealment roll would make it discrete enough.

On the other hand we always played credits as legitimate transactions. The not so legitimate transactions involved a variety of black market goods. Pre-rift coins or small hand held goods.

It's a post-apocalyptic game, so items may have unique value.

Candy (Pre-rifts candy may be seen as a delicacy)? Jewelry? cigarettes? Toys ("I can tell you have kids, would your kid like one of these?").

I'd have the players role-play some salvaged item and do a mental affinity roll of some kind to convey how well they convince the bribe-ee that it's desirable.


Then again, The Oldest profession uses The Oldest means of exchange, if your game is up for that.

When a player in my game wants to bribe someone in a covert way its best to do their homework. A bribable NPC is likely to be known to be bribible to the criminal community. The right city rat can tell you what you want to know when it comes to boarder or check point gaurds.
In the situation mentioned above, I would have a pass phase that the sargent responds too. Say, "Sargent, their aren't any little green men in this town are there?" Then you must hand the guy a card with the bribe ammount. He dosn't have to check it, because the CS can always find some reason to screw you over once you are in the city. So when he checks the card later, if the amount isn't right he can just make up a reason to have a ISS Dog Pack hunt you down and kill you.
Something like the previous exsample is a possible way the curruption gets done with out the officals getting in trouble.

Carl Gleba wrote:

pestigor wrote:I guess my question wasn't clear enough when I look back at it.
How do I discretely hand a Sergent 2000 credits so the other solders around don't see? When I hand him a card by the time he can verify the amount on it we're long gone who knows where. If it's black market items or gems/metals, what is he going to do, pull out a jewelers loop or a scale? I need to discretely hand some one 2bills quickly and quietly and out of site in a routine check point; so going behind the bushes will definitely draw attention and this has to be quick.

My problem is how to deal with a cashless society for this sort of common underhanded practice. I'm thinking of putting coalition script into my game or something like that, with severe penalties for counterfeiting (summery execution? ). How do you make it difficult to counterfeit the script with all this high tech/magic/alien tech and psi (for those who have seen "fire starter" know what I mean). I need a quick and dirty thing to do quick and dirty transactions where verification is instant and for the most part unquestionable.
please Help.
(why did my buddy really like the idea of a smuggler/ criminal type...oy)

In todays real world some cell phones have the capability to transfer funds. I would think that universal debit cards could work on the same principle so if you had some ones say account name, you could send funds to them wirelessly and at a press of a button. I'd say a palming or concealment roll would make it discrete enough.

On the other hand we always played credits as legitimate transactions. The not so legitimate transactions involved a variety of black market goods. Pre-rift coins or small hand held goods.

I really like the idea that a debit card could be that functional, considering I've been playing rifts since 1991 back when cell phones weighed 8 Lbs, I think a universal credit/debit system with anonymity would be perfect.

I also like the ideas of doing some info scrounging/social engineering for bribes that have a longer time frame to set up.
As always anytime you can get a role playing situation there is no telling what good stuff I can pull out of it as G.M.
Thanks so far.

I don't know if anyone here watches the series, but USA airs a great show about a burned spy called Burn Notice. They are on their "summer" break and will come back on the air in either November or December. Now, you are probably wondering why I am mentioning this, well there is a reason. Often times I miss an episode and have to catch it on Hulu, well USA also makes other short 1 minutes or so clips of viewers asking the main character, Michael Westin, questions. These clips are called "Ask a Spy". The whole reason I bring this up is because the topic of bribing people is one of the topics covered. There are about 30 "Ask a Spy" clips that can be viewed here:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/56608/burn-no ... s-p5-sr-i2

If you want a quick overview of what Michael suggests in that particular clip, I will give it to you as best as I can remember. When working with paper money (as that is all that is available to us in the modern day to easily bribe someone like a sergeant in front of his troops with out arising their suspicions), you fold the bill in quarters so that the it's denomination can easily be seen as you hold it in your palm. You then shake their hands and if they accept the amount, all they have to do is close their hand as his hand pulls away from your's. The video offers a better explanation as it has visuals and stuff like that.

Let me explain to you how this works. The CS is not a group of incorruptible soldiers.

CS Sargeant: So I understand you travel with D-bees, Randolf Bunsengard.

Randolf: Yeah. So what? Is it a crime to travel with lesser beings?

CS Sargeant: Some of them might be wanted felons.

Randolf: I don't know anything about that.

CS Sargeant: Why don't you and I have a talk in private?

Randolf: Whatever. (Gun butt to the head. Ow.)

CS Sargeant, in private: Look, five hundred credits a head if you want to get out of this with your ass intact, and a thousand if you want us to escort you out of CS Territory.

Randolf: What happens if I don't take it?

CS Sargeant: Then I ask you if you want to go double or nothing. And believe me. You'll prefer double to nothing.

Spinachcat wrote:Roleplay it!

<snip>

Roleplay!
Roleplay!!
Roleplay!!!

I second the green leafy feline.

Lucky wrote:Maybe the cred stick has a small LCD display on it that displays the current amount. I picture something about the size of the blizzard authenticator, perhaps thinner.

This. If the CS can make dog tags have RF transmitters with all of the soldiers medical history I'm sure they could put a counter on a debit card.

Supergyro wrote:Then again, The Oldest profession uses The Oldest means of exchange, if your game is up for that.

Ha! Classic!

I would have to say that it would be more of a physical contact only because that would be more secure. If it was by proximity, then someone somewhere would have devised a way to drain all of the credits off of a credit chip.

Wow. I was just about to roll up a smuggler and all this is giving me some ideas.

Pike wrote:Wow. I was just about to roll up a smuggler and all this is giving me some ideas.

It better, because an unimaginative smuggler without ideas is going to have a very short career, especially if he's facing customs officials who ARE imaginative.

dragonfett wrote:I don't know if anyone here watches the series, but USA airs a great show about a burned spy called Burn Notice. They are on their "summer" break and will come back on the air in either November or December. Now, you are probably wondering why I am mentioning this, well there is a reason. Often times I miss an episode and have to catch it on Hulu, well USA also makes other short 1 minutes or so clips of viewers asking the main character, Michael Westin, questions. These clips are called "Ask a Spy". The whole reason I bring this up is because the topic of bribing people is one of the topics covered. There are about 30 "Ask a Spy" clips that can be viewed here:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/56608/burn-no ... s-p5-sr-i2

If you want a quick overview of what Michael suggests in that particular clip, I will give it to you as best as I can remember. When working with paper money (as that is all that is available to us in the modern day to easily bribe someone like a sergeant in front of his troops with out arising their suspicions), you fold the bill in quarters so that the it's denomination can easily be seen as you hold it in your palm. You then shake their hands and if they accept the amount, all they have to do is close their hand as his hand pulls away from your's. The video offers a better explanation as it has visuals and stuff like that.

I hate Hula!!!!

That said there is already Blind Credit Card with pre-pain amounts, that is no different than what the CS has. Most smaller Kingdoms will use a a local currency with bills and/or coins. It only the big kings that have Debit/Credits system like we see now.

Precious gems and items over credits is always a boon, something he can sneak past his employers too is something to consider--offering a Coalition guy a new HD. TV might look like a good deal but how's he ever going to get it out?

The rest of it is role play, if you are looking for a system why not roll M.A as a percentage and then add +5% per level, then convince your Game Master to let you buy the Bribe skill something nice and simple like (25% base +5% per level).

Though again, I really think its better and will ultimately be more fun for you and the Game Master to play it out. It's kind of part of being a smuggler. The other PC's might be able to use psionics to float cars on top of enemies or bust some serious mechanoid ass with their boom gun but your moment to shine is in being the best at what you do and no amount of stats are going to make you a "good" smuggler or rogue character. That's all on you. Youre the guy that is expected to have the witty one liners or cunning ideas that get the party's ass out of the proverbial fire.

Don't try to bribe a CS official with black market goods. He's likely to bust you, whether or not he keeps the goods for himself.

As for Credits, I see no reason why each credit card couldn't have a digital readout on the front that shows how much is left in the card.

As for how to slip him the bribe, there have been several good suggestions already.
Personally, I'd either role-play it, or make a Streetwise check, or make a Mental Affinity check, or (most likely), a combination of the three depending on the precise circumstances.

Just for the hell of it, you might consider the CS printing the occasional Memorial Coin that would have some value. That way, you can use euphemisms like, "I wish you'd reconsider letting me inside my friends Prosek and Cabbot will vouch for me!"

Killer Cyborg wrote:Don't try to bribe a CS official with black market goods. He's likely to bust you, whether or not he keeps the goods for himself.

As for Credits, I see no reason why each credit card couldn't have a digital readout on the front that shows how much is left in the card.

As for how to slip him the bribe, there have been several good suggestions already.
Personally, I'd either role-play it, or make a Streetwise check, or make a Mental Affinity check, or (most likely), a combination of the three depending on the precise circumstances.

Just for the hell of it, you might consider the CS printing the occasional Memorial Coin that would have some value. That way, you can use euphemisms like, "I wish you'd reconsider letting me inside my friends Prosek and Cabbot will vouch for me!"

I feel completely retarded for not thinking of using the Street Wise skill.

*offers a gun to the room in general*

Anyone want to put me out of my misery?

May my final words be "Cyborg is right."

You could always just shoot them and loot the bodies. That's what our group seems to do most of the time.

as far as my view on slipping people some "coin" I am thinking that the official currency works several ways.
for the CS I see creds as having several implementations:
official cred sticks these are something roughly the size of an authenticator or rsa device or thumb drive https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... 1WT4cFJhqk

another implementation would be a one time preloaded cred cards or slips something a bit smaller and definitely thinner say the size of an sd mini, or micro sd card also something closer to the size of a modern credit card I could even see these preloaded cards as having color and number badging to give you a value at a glance. for example a red card has 10's of creds on it so a 1 is 10, and a 9 is 90, a blue one has hundreds on it another color has thousands on it etc.
then you have the cred coins they have similar values but an alternate marking system, and look more like chips from casino's
because I can pretty much guarantee that someone in every system will set up a way to transfer "money" off the books.

I can't believe this is even a thing / question / issue.
-sigh-
It's called ROLE-PLAY, not Roll-play. Play it out and use dice ONLY if needed.
Kids these days... back in my day you slipped an Orc a sack of gold plated copper and a hogshead of grog and you were done.
Now you need tables & flowcharts to get [censored ]done. Get offa my lawn!