Cops

[Icosahedron]

I recently unearthed a copy of GURPS Cops, and perused it for background info on Law Enforcement - which it provided, in a 20th century USA sort of way.

Whilst I was at it, I extended our Rob's concept and developed a ULEP - Universal Law Enforcement Profile. I've included it here for you to use or abuse for private purposes.

Universal Law Enforcement Profile

This thirteen-digit string, with a 5-2-5-1 format, describes how Law Enforcement takes place in a locality. All characteristics have a 2D6-2 range.
Many of the characteristics are Virtuosity ratings (TM), a 2D6-2 score where A is angelic and 0 is satanic.


Law Level: 2D6-2 obtained from planetary characteristics.

Local Enforcement Level: (LL-1D6 but always < LL) This is a measure of how keen the police are to uphold the official planetary Law Level, a Jobsworth rating.

Local Control Level: (LL-1D6 but always < LEL) This is a measure of what they are actually able to achieve, bearing in mind the local politics and crime levels.
It may also give an indication of the Virtuosity of the local population.

Local Crime Level: This is a measure of the amount of crime or lawlessness in the locality. It is given by (10-LCL).

Local Organized Crime Influence: 2D6-2. This is a measure of the extent to which local crime is directed by criminal organizations. High score, high directive.


Local Media Nature: This is the Virtuosity Rating of the local media. Are they honest reporters or are they muckraking, intrusive paparazzi?

Local Media Independence: This is a measure of how much free speech is allowed to the Media. A high score denotes a free press.


Government Type: 2D6-2 obtained from planetary characteristics.

Local politics: The local political setup may or may not follow the official world Government type. Roll again for local government type and interpret in terms of the main government.

Political Independence: This is a measure of police independence from political interference. A high score denotes independence.

Local Political Corruption: This is the Virtuosity Rating of the local political setup.

Police Corruption: This is the Virtuosity Rating of the police force.


Conspiracy Relationship: This is a measure of freedom from Illuminati influence in the police force. It may be ignored in non-illuminated campaigns. NB. this is not the same thing as general corruption. A high score denotes independence.

The GM will also wish to add details such as the names and characteristics of street gangs, criminal organizations, local politicians and police brass.

NB. All Police Officers have a personal Virtuosity rating added to their UPP.

Note. Virtuosity may be subjective. Is a ‘virtuous’ officer one who upholds the law, or one who is ‘good’? In a free society they may be the same thing, but in a police state they may not. The meaning of Virtuosity is a question for the GM to decide.

Example ULEP: 66557-57-88866-4
This describes a LL6 society in which the police force is eager to uphold the law, but their performance is not quite up to scratch. Consequently, there is an average level of crime, and a fair amount of this is controlled by crime syndicates.
The Media is a typical mix of honest reporters and muckrakers, who have a fairly high degree of independence from government influence.
The government, both planetary and locally, is a civil service bureaucracy in which the police force is constitutionally independent - in theory. There is below average corruption in both politics and the police force, but it does still raise its head with some frequency. Although there is little general corruption or overt political influence on a daily basis, the police force remains to some extent an instrument of the Illuminati to bring about a New World Order in the long term.

 

[Icosahedron]

Again, for your private use:

Virtuosity Rating (TM).
Referee Guidance.

Most citizens are 1D3+5, some are 1D6+3. Most criminals are 1D6.
Ratings 0 and A are extremely rare and are applied by the GM.
V4+ are potentially redeemable, with varying degrees of time, effort and shock, V3- are more likely to drag would-be redeemers into corruption.

A An incorruptible paragon of virtue, a saint. (Mother Teresa, Sir Galahad)
9 A virtuous person of high moral fibre. Sainthood nominee. (Gandhi, Yoda)
8 An honourable person, unlikely to be tempted. (D’Artagnan, Poirot, Eliott Ness)
7 An average person, honest unless sorely tempted.
6 A loveable rogue, dabbles in dishonesty, but fair. (Robin Hood, Han Solo)
5 A rogue, low morals or easily corrupted. (Edmund of Narnia, Muttley)
4 A dishonourable selfish person. (Scrooge)
3 An amoral bully or corrupting influence. (Flashman, Uriah Heep)
2 A dastardly villain. (Sheriff of Nottingham, Moriarty, De Richlieu)
1 A fiend of depravity. (Dorian Gray, Mr Hyde)
0 A psychotic monster of despicable evil. (Caligula, Bathory)

 

[Icosahedron]

Hmm, either everyone thinks this is so brilliant it can't be improved upon, or they think it's so pathetic it's not worthy of comment.

 

[far-trader]

Or...

...their eyes glazed over at the idea of another string of digitized data to add to the UWP, USP, UPP strings :smirk:

I like the Virtuosity Rating actually. Might use that for NPC detailing.

Generally I'm not a fan of expanding on UPP ratings, like your expanded Law and Gov notes, and the canon versions I can't recall the names of at the moment. I find it more limiting rather than helpful, and just another bit of mire to bog down a game.

But it works for some so don't take a lack of comment (or my own negative) as discouraging

 

[Agemegos]

2 A dastardly villain. (Sheriff of Nottingham, Moriarty, De Richlieu)

Armand du Plessis, duc et cardinal de Richelieu? What have you got against him?

 

[far-trader]

Armand du Plessis, duc et cardinal de Richelieu? What have you got against him?

I suspect it is the characterization of him in The Three Musketeers

 

[Agemegos]

I suspect it is the characterization of him in The Three Musketeers

Even in The Three Musketeers he's okay. The musketeers find his realpolitick distasteful, but they figure he is on the right side: he is after all completely loyal to France. And there is no suggestion of cowardice in his characterisation. He plays fair when D'Artagnan turns out to have the warrant he gave to Milady. I wouldn't say there was anything of the dastard or the villain about his character.

 

[Agemegos]

8 An honourable person, unlikely to be tempted. (D’Artagnan, Poirot, Eliott Ness)

D'Artagnan was an adulterer who was not even faithful to his mistress. And he connived with enemies of his country to conceal the treasonous conduct of the Queen. And I seem to remember that he assaulted, gravely injured, and robbed the Comte de la Ward.

Poirot lied freely to trick witnesses into making disclosures and suspects into giving away their crimes. In the end, he became a murderer.

 

[casquilho]

As much as I can respect the amount of effort that went into thinking this out, I have to say you lost me as a user as soon as I read; "This thirteen-digit string...."

The idea of having to remember another string and what each spot means is just not interesting to me. I grow tired of all the one's I have to remember as it is.

Sorry.

Daniel

 

[Icosahedron]

Shucks! I've gone and exposed the fact that I haven't read any classic novels in over 30 years.
Maybe I should have used Aramis, De Winter and Marple? It would have been more PC anyway.

Never mind, if you can suggest some better examples, feel free; not that it affects the houserule any.

I don't use these strings as something to remember, they're just shorthand referee notes that can be looked up when I revisit a world, to remind me what the place was like without having to shuffle through pages of campaign notes, or to pregenerate for a world as a framework to add a little flavour.

 

[redwalker]

Hmm, either everyone thinks this is so brilliant it can't be improved upon, or they think it's so pathetic it's not worthy of comment.

It's good. I wish my players were motivated enough to learn more of the rules. I'm currently using GURPS rules and not liking them much. However, I'm not really in love with the idea of trying to teach my players anything else -- e.g. T20, Megatraveller, etc. I actually think T20 would be simpler but I hate the d20 six stats, so ...

You know, I think the bars are open in real life.

 

[Icosahedron]

Sounds like you need the simplicity of CT.

I only use GURPS and the others for 'chrome' or imagination support. I find some of the detail in GURPS, such as the Advantages, Disadvantages and Quirks can help to diversify charcters and locations, so that Fred doesn't always play the same mercenary character but with slightly different stats, and every Gov8, LL8 world isn't a cultural carbon copy of the last.

But once I've got the background sorted, I want simple, fun game mechanics to keep play flowing. CT does it for me.

 

[jatay3]

Again, for your private use:

Virtuosity Rating (TM).
Referee Guidance.

Most citizens are 1D3+5, some are 1D6+3. Most criminals are 1D6.
Ratings 0 and A are extremely rare and are applied by the GM.
V4+ are potentially redeemable, with varying degrees of time, effort and shock, V3- are more likely to drag would-be redeemers into corruption.

A An incorruptible paragon of virtue, a saint. (Mother Teresa, Sir Galahad)
9 A virtuous person of high moral fibre. Sainthood nominee. (Gandhi, Yoda)
8 An honourable person, unlikely to be tempted. (D’Artagnan, Poirot, Eliott Ness)
7 An average person, honest unless sorely tempted.
6 A loveable rogue, dabbles in dishonesty, but fair. (Robin Hood, Han Solo)
5 A rogue, low morals or easily corrupted. (Edmund of Narnia, Muttley)
4 A dishonourable selfish person. (Scrooge)
3 An amoral bully or corrupting influence. (Flashman, Uriah Heep)
2 A dastardly villain. (Sheriff of Nottingham, Moriarty, De Richlieu)
1 A fiend of depravity. (Dorian Gray, Mr Hyde)
0 A psychotic monster of despicable evil. (Caligula, Bathory)

Actually that looks to me more like a respectability rating then a virtue rating. For instance where is a virtuous person of high moral fibre who is a fanatic willing to do great evil for a "higher purpose". Would that be 9/1

 

[Icosahedron]

The old 'terrorist or freedom fighter' question.

Up to the GM I think. It's his/her universe and his/her morality that runs it.