Cover Identity and jobs

[meadicus]

As I understand it a cover id comes with all the papers required to prove to someone that you go by a certain name and work in a certain profession. That's fine for most situations but there are drawbacks.

For example you might get a cover ID which says you work in retail, maybe even at a specific shop. But if you go there none of the staff will recognize you and the cover is instantly blown.

So I was thinking of creating a modified pick, 'job'. Essentially it's 1 caliber higher than the equivalent Cover ID, but it actually includes the job it claims to, at a specific location chosen by the character. Higher power ratings gain access to more exclusive jobs, or jobs which had a higher level of security such as working at an airport.

So if he wants to watch a location he can use this pick to get a job as waiter in the restaurant opposite.

For example:

Caliber	PR	Example jobs
II	1	cleaner, office lacky, fast food server
III	2	waiter, receptionist, train ticket inspector, builder
IV	4	soldier, police officer, finacial advisor, local shop manager, town architect
V	6	commercial pilot, Low-ranking officer, stock exchange trader
25 rep	8	mid-ranking officer, major construction architect (i.e. city landmark)
40 rep	9	high-ranking officer, board member of a major international firm

This list almost certainly needs some work. Any thoughts?

[Crafty_Pat]

As I understand it a cover id comes with all the papers required to prove to someone that you go by a certain name and work in a certain profession. That's fine for most situations but there are drawbacks.

For example you might get a cover ID which says you work in retail, maybe even at a specific shop. But if you go there none of the staff will recognize you and the cover is instantly blown.

Well, you could go with a separate pick, but we've always envisioned - and run - that a cover identity includes whatever's needed to cover such the corresponding position, if any. A store might get a call from a "district supervisor" about a new hire that's being transferred, or an NPC might be available at a relay point when calls are made to verify a newcomer's status. The details are left up to you, but the intent is that the pick already covers it.

[meadicus]

the intent is that the pick already covers it.

Ah, well in that case my players will be happier. Thanks Pat.

[Rhishisikk]

YOU FOOLS!  I mean, yes, thank you Pat.  That does make the Cover Identity a much more useful pick, and introduces possible plot hooks and complications.  Anyone remember the number of times we've seen the civilian getting suspicious of the new transfer, for example?

[Crafty_Pat]

Certainly. The inserted agent still needs to fend for himself with the folks on the ground, which is where the fun happens anyway. 

[Krensky]

YOU FOOLS!  I mean, yes, thank you Pat.  That does make the Cover Identity a much more useful pick, and introduces possible plot hooks and complications.  Anyone remember the number of times we've seen the civilian getting suspicious of the new transfer, for example?

"So, James, what's happening? Aahh, now, are you going to go ahead and have those TPS reports for us this afternoon? Oh, oh, and I almost forgot. Ahh, I'm also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too..."

[Crafty_Pat]

"So, James, what's happening? Aahh, now, are you going to go ahead and have those TPS reports for us this afternoon? Oh, oh, and I almost forgot. Ahh, I'm also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too..."

"...yeeaah..."

[Salsa]

OMG I so need an NPC named Lumbergh right now!

We had a similar problem in my last game, character had a PR 4 Flottiljamiral (Commodore) cover ID. He got inside the navy base and I started rolling against his falsify check — he didn't mention preparing himself for that, just put the clothes on (and he didn't have a disguise kit) so I made a secret roll instead of considering it a take 10 or 20.

Anyway, the cover ID states that any suspicion will lead to (in this case) four investigation complex task checks against a DC 30. I let him wander around thanks to that, however, he interacted with a Kommendör (lower ranking officer, the equivalent of Captain) and this NPC's roll beat the disguise check but not the deception check. Which one should trump the other?

I went for the disguise check which made him look unlike a commodore one reason being that he's too young and that had the captain ask him to wait in a room while he checked at the command center for any info about an arriving commodore scheduled to come by that day which would probably be no good since four DC 30 checks are quite hard to obtain (but not impossible).

Was that the correct procedure?

P.S. this all happened right after another agent prompted an unscheduled explosion of an outbuilding garage and needless to say it only arose suspicion when the very same commodore asked if the facility didn't have a protocol for such situations and ordered the captain to check the event.

[Krensky]

Works for me.