Goon: Mobsters in an Alternate 1920's

The other day I dreamed up a dangerous game of desperate folk doing what they needed to survive in a world that doesn't care for them.

For now, I'm calling it Goon.

The Setting

Imagine a world something like 1920's America, and nothing like 1920's America.

There's a City on the River Rhynne named San Rheese. Illegal casks of booze flow up river from Port Victoria to the factories of Cipolla City, and trains run from the civilized East steadily deeper into the untamable West.

And here in the center, at the Crossroads of the New World, we do what we have to do to survive.

The Players

The game is about little gangs vying for power and recognition in a corrupt world. Some are dedicated to the good of the people, and some to the size of their pocketbooks. It's up to the players to decide what their little gang will pursue, and how.

The System

I've taken cues from GLoG and Into the Odd to create a dangerous system where tomorrow is never guaranteed, and drawing a gun is a true act of desperation.

Gunplay: One of ItO's neatest tricks is the "Multiple Attackers" rule, that if multiple attacks target the same creature, only the greatest damage of those attacks applies. This slots really well into Gunplay, as some guns have a higher Rate of Fire than others. You can empty a clip firing at someone, but only the biggest hit will count, and that may often be enough to knock them out of a fight, if not put them in the ground. I've also done my best to account for tactical situations like Cover and Suppressing Fire.

One Page Character Roller: I'm really proud of a page in the center of the book for rolling characters. Roll all your dice, and consult the table corresponding to each dice to determine one facet of your character. Adjust for taste.

Older Characters: Players may choose to be an older character, reducing a random ability by d4 to gain an additional skill of their choice, or "Master" their existing skill.

Four Mobster Classes: Characters may take on one of four "Jobs", the Muscle, the Face, the Brain, or the Fixer. Each class grants a specialization, but doesn't dominate the story of the character, allowing all kinds of stories to be told in a relatively simple system. Theoretically other GLoG classes could be introduced, but they would need a bit of adjustment.

Referee/Solo Tables: Pages are also included for rolling up gangs, missions, and supporting details.

Economy: Everything is based on 1920's America, so if you need to buy something that isn't in the book, you can often find an accurate price online.

Can we fight Cthulu?

You can certainly try! But the game is mainly about mobsters, not fantasy monsters. That said, Referees can introduce just about whatever they want, as always.