Criminal

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Criminals come in all shapes, sizes, and shades of grey. Some are merely opportunistic jacks of all trades, such as pickpockets and thugs, while others are highly specialized, spending time researching and planning focused criminal enterprises. This latter group could include bank robbers, cat burglars, forgers, and confidence tricksters.

The criminal either works for someone, usually an organized "mob" or crime family, or works solo, perhaps occasionally teaming up with others when the reward is worth the effort and risk. Freelance thugs might work as muggers, stickup men, and armed robbers.

Whether bootleggers, corner-boys, or thugs, these are the soldiers of organized crime. They are supported by criminal organizations and they are the ones usually expected to take the fall for the gangsters above them. Their silence and loyalty is expected and rewarded.

Confidence tricksters are usually smooth talkers. Working alone or in a team, they descend on wealthy individuals, or communities, fleecing their targets of their hard-earned savings. Some schemes are elaborate, involving teams of scam men and rented buildings, others are simple affairs, transactions requiring only one con man and no more than a few minutes.

A fence is someone who trades in stolen property, usually taking in stolen goods and then selling them to other criminals or (unwitting) legitimate customers. Principally a middleman between thieves and buyers, the fence either takes a cut of the profit or, more usually, buys the stolen goods at a very low price.

Forgers are the artists of the criminal world, specializing in forging official documents, deeds and transfers, and providing phony signatures. Beginners work manufacturing fake ID's for petty criminals, while the best engrave plates for counterfeiting currency.

Hit men are the cold-blooded killers of the underworld. Usually hired from somewhere out of town, they arrive, do their work, then quickly disappear. It's strictly business. Often sociopaths, who seem to lack the ability to empathize with other human beings. Many follow strict codes of behavior. In spite of this, many marry, raise children, and in all other ways behave like model citizens.

Smuggling is always a lucrative and high-risk business. The smuggler usually has a public profession, such as boat captain, pilot, or businessman, allowing them to transport illicit products to a needy market.

Street punks are typically young street hoods, possibly looking for a chance to hook-up with real gangsters. Experience is probably limited to stealing cars, shoplifting, mugging, and burglary.

(see also **Gangster**)

**Assassin**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + (DEX x 2 or STR x 2)

**Credit Rating:** 30 - 60

**Suggested Contacts:** Few, mostly underworld; people prefer not to know them too well. The best will have earned a formidable reputation on the street

**Skills:** Disguise, Electrical Repair, Fighting, Firearms, Locksmith, Mechanical Repair, Stealth, Psychology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination

**Bank Robber**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + ( STR x 2 or DEX x 2)

**Credit Rating:** 5 - 75

**Suggested Contacts:** Other gang members (current and retired), criminal freelancers, organized crime

**Skills:** Drive Auto, Electrical Repair or Mechanical Repair, Fighting, Firearms, Intimidate, Locksmith, Operate Heavy Machinery, any one other skill as personal or era specialty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank\_robbery

**Bootlegger/Thug**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + STR x 2

**Credit Rating:** 5 - 30

**Suggested Contacts:** Organized crime, street-level law enforcement, local traders

**Skills:** Drive Auto, Fighting, Firearms, two interpersonal skills (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Psychology, Stealth, Spot Hidden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum-running

**Burglar**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + DEX x 2

**Credit Rating:** 5 - 40

**Suggested Contacts:** Fences, other burglars

**Skills:** Appraise, Climb, Electrical Repair or Mechanical Repair, Listen, Locksmith, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Spot Hidden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burglary

**Conman**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + APP x 2

**Credit Rating:** 10 - 65

**Suggested Contacts:** Other confidence artists, freelance criminals

**Skills:** Appraise, Art and Craft (Acting), Law or Other Language, Listen, two interpersonal skills (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Psychology, Sleight of Hand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidence\_trick

**Criminal (freelance/solo)**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + (DEX x 2 or APP x 2)

**Credit Rating:** 5 - 65

**Suggested Contacts:** Other petty criminals, street-level law enforcement

**Skills:** Art and Craft (Acting) or Disguise, Appraise, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Fighting or Firearms, Locksmith or Mechanical Repair, Stealth, Psychology, Spot Hidden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime

**Gun Moll [Classic]**

A female professional criminal. While many are fiercely independent, some are at the beck and call of mobster boyfriends - however, in reality this could easily be the other way around, with the moll working her boyfriend for all she can before skedaddling with all the cash and furs she can carry.

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + APP x 2

**Credit Rating:** 10 - 80 (Income is usually dependent on boyfriend's income)

**Suggested Contacts:** Gangsters, law enforcement, local businesses

**Skills:** Art and Craft (Any), two interpersonal skills (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Fighting (Brawl) or Firearms (Handgun), Drive Auto, Listen, Stealth, any one other skill as personal or era specialty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun\_moll

**Fence**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + APP x 2

**Credit Rating:** 20 - 40

**Suggested Contacts:** Organized crime, trade contacts, black market and legitimate buyers

**Skills:** Accounting, Appraise, Art and Craft (Forgery), History, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Library Use, Spot Hidden, any one other skill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fence\_(criminal)

**Forger/Counterfeiter**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 4

**Credit Rating:** 20 - 60

**Suggested Contacts:** Organized crime, businesspeople

**Skills:** Accounting, Appraise, Art and Craft (Forgery), History, Library Use, Spot Hidden, Sleight of Hand, any one other skill as a personal or era specialty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterfeit

**Smuggler**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + (APP x 2 or DEX x 2)

**Credit Rating:** 20 - 60

**Suggested Contacts:** Organized crime, Coast Guard, U.S. Customs officials

**Skills:** Firearms, Listen, Navigate, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Drive Auto or Pilot (Aircraft or Boat), Psychology, Sleight of Hand, Spot Hidden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggling

**Street Punk**

**Occupation Skill Points:** EDU x 2 + (DEX x 2 or STR x 2)

**Credit Rating:** 3 - 10

**Suggested Contacts:** Petty criminals, other punks, the local fence, maybe the local gangster, certainly the local police

**Skills:** Climb, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Fighting, Firearms, Jump, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Throw