Rockerboy
ROCK-AND-ROLL REBELS WHO USE PERFORMANCE, ART, AND RHETORIC TO FIGHT AUTHORITY
"I always knew what I had to do. It was really obvious. There were these scum out there who were messing with the world. They were killing people, burning the land, and lying to our faces when we caught 'em. So I decided I had to put the heat on 'em and make 'em sweat. That's why I becameе a Rockerboy. Music always gets hammered down to the Three A's: Axe, Attitude, and Audience. Me, I had an Axe and an Attitude. All had to do was get the third one.."
If you live to rock, this is where you belong. Rockerboys are the street poets, social consciences and rebels of the 2000's. With the advent of digital porta-studios and garage laser disk mastering, every Rocker with a message can take it to the street; put it in the record stores, bounce it off the comsats.
Sometimes, this message isn't something the Corporations or the Government wants to hear. Sometimes what you say is going to get right in the faces of the powerful people who really run this world. But you don't care, because as a Rockerboy, you know it's your place to challenge authority, whether in straight-out protest songs that tell it like it is, or just by playing kick-ass rock n' roll to get the people away from the TV sets and into the Streets. You have a proud history as a Rockerboy - Dylan, Springsteen, Who, Elvis, the Stones - the legions of hardrock heroes who told the truth with screaming guitars and gut-honest lyrics.
As a Rockerboy, you have the power to get the people up-to lead, inspire and inform. A song from you can give the timid courage, weak strength, and the blind vision. Rockerboy legends have led armies against Corporations and Governments. Rockerboy songs have exposed corruption, brought down dictators. It's a lot of power for a choom doing gigs every night in another city. But you can handle it. After all, you came to play!
Not all Rockerboys are strictly musicians, some examples of ones that fall into a broader role:
- Street Poet - Much like the rock singer, in that he performs in front of an audience. His medium is pure words, propelled by driving oration and theatrical flair.
- Performance Artist - The performance artist makes his or her statement by staging media events, plays, skits or visual presentations in public situations.
- Social Leader/Activist – As a social leader you are directly on the firing line for change. With your charisma, you can influence change in grassroots movements or national governments. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, or César Chavez were all activists.
- Politician - Contrary to what the Medias tell you, not all Politicians are corrupt, selfish wheeler-dealers. As a Cyberpunk politico, you draw your source from crusading heroes like John or Robert Kennedy, FDR, or Winston Churchill.
Role Ability: Charismatic Impact
With this ability, they can influence others by sheer presence of personality. They need not be a musical performer; they can influence others through poetry, art, dance, or simply their physical presence. They could be a rocker or a cult leader. As they grow in skill, they can affect larger and larger groups and call on their fans for greater and greater requests of loyalty.
When not in combat, a Rockerboy can turn a group of non-fans into fans by rolling Charismatic Impact + 1d10 against DV8 for a single person, DV10 for a Small Group of up to 6 people, and DV12 for a Huge Group.
When the Rockerboy wants to use their ability on a fan or a group of fans, the GM uses the list below to determine if the favor being requested is within the powers of the Rockerboy's current rank. If the favor is allowed, the Rockerboy rolls Charismatic Impact + 1d10 against the DV that corresponds with the current group. If the Rockerboy succeeds, the fan or group of fans will do the favor that was asked. If the Rockerboy fails, the Rockerboy can't ask the same favor from those fans for a week.
Charismatic Impact Ranks
Venues You Can Play: The best type of venue your Rockerboy can hope to play under most circumstances.
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): The impact your Rockerboy can have on a single fan by beating a DV8 on their Charasmatic Impact check.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10): The impact your Rockerboy can have on a group of up to 6 fans by beating a DV10 on their Charasmatic Impact check.
Impact on a Huge Group (DV12): The impact your Rockerboy can have on a large group of fans gathered to see them by beating a DV10 on their Charasmatic Impact check.
Charismatic Impact Ranks 1 and 2
Venues You Can Play: Small local clubs
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): Rockerboy can convince fan to do a small favor for the Rockerboy; buy the Rockerboy a drink or meal, give them a lift somewhere.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10): Rockerboy has a group of up to 6 fans to ask for autographs and other personal totems; fans will stop Rockerboy in streets to befriend them.
Impact on a Huge Group of Fans (DV12): You're kidding, right? You don't have huge groups of fans yet.
Charismatic Impact Ranks 3 and 4
Venues You Can Play: Well known clubs
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): Rockerboy can convince fan to do a major favor for the Rockerboy; go to bed with the Rockerboy, put a good word in for them, etc.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10): Convince a group of up to 6 fans to regularly hang out with Rockerboy; provide booze, drugs, or other party favors to the Rockerboy.
Impact on a Huge Group of Fans (DV12): Rockerboy has a strong local following; fans buy their recordings and merch.
Charismatic Impact Ranks 5 and 6
Venues You Can Play: Large, important clubs
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): Rockerboy can convince fan to commit a minor crime for Rockerboy; shoplift, help out in a fight.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10): Convince a group of up to 6 fans to act as the Rockerboy's personal "posse"; constantly hang out with them, do Rockerboy favors, and provide things for their personal needs.
Impact on a Huge Group of Fans (DV12): Rockerboy's fans are all over the City, often in nearby cities. They are strongly loyal and will often do major favors for the Rockerboy in exchange for attention.
Charismatic Impact Ranks 7 and 8
Venues You Can Play: Small concert halls, local video feed
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): Fan is willing to risk their life for Rockerboy without question.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10): Convince a group of up to 6 fans to commit a minor crime for Rockerboy; shoplift, help in a fight.
Impact on a Huge Group of Fans (DV12): The Rockerboy's fans are rabidly loyal. They fight with rival fan groups, support strong fan information networks, will band together to help Rockerboy.
Charismatic Impact Rank 9
Venues You Can Play: Large concert halls, national video feed
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): Rockerboy can convince fan to commit major crime for Rockerboy; steal expensive item, beat someone up for Rockerboy.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10): Convince a group of up to 6 fans to commit a major crime for Rockerboy; steal expensive item, beat someone up.
Impact on a Huge Group of Fans (DV12): The Rockerboy's fans are basically a brainwashed, cult-like following; they will riot, destroy property, and even kill for the Rockerboy.
Charismatic Impact Rank 10
Venues You Can Play: Huge stadiums or international video
Impact on a Single Fan (DV8): Fan is willing to sacrifice self for Rockerboy without question.
Impact on a Small Group of Fans (DV10):Convince a group of up to 6 fans to risk their lives for the Rockerboy; to act as personal protection.
Impact on a Huge Group of Fans (DV12): The Rockerboy's fans are now a worldwide following with strong, cult-like attributes. They will do almost anything for the Rockerboy if asked; they are a private army based on the Rockerboy's charisma.
It's Friday, and Rico Rico has had a stressful week, so he wants to party. He hits his favorite bar in the Combat Zone. When he arrives, he works the scene, being the sociable guy that he is, and the GM lets him know that the bartender is already a fan of his, which isn't surprising to Rico. Later that night, a bachelorette party visits the bar, lured by the novelty of drinking in such a dangerous part of the city, and Rico introduces himself to them. As he meets the small group, he rolls 4 (his Charismatic Impact Rank) + 1d10 vs. a DV8 to impress them. Succeeding, he turns them into his fans. Rico decides it would be a great time to really get this party started. He calls over one of the bartenders, and asks the single fan to do him a major favor and hook the bachelorette party up with a bottle of his favorite tequila, which happens to be the good stuff they keep behind the bar to protect it from errant bullets. He rolls 4 (his Charismatic Impact Rank) + 1d10 vs. DV10, and burns some LUCK just to make sure. It's a success, and the good times roll all night, granting Rico the stress relief he needed.
Role-Based Life Path
Some things are universal. Other things are pretty specific. One of these is how your day job (or night job or side job or whatever - we won't judge you) affects your life. The things that a hard-bitten Lawman on the Street has to face are way different from the glittering club life of a Rockerboy, and they both deal with shit no pampered or privileged Corpo could even imagine. To that end, find below a series of Role-based questions that supplement the regular Lifepath.
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