MODERN ORGANIZATIONS:

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

by Stan!
Editing: Rich Redman Layout and Typesetting: Marc Schmalz
Creative Direction: Stan! Cover Design: Marc Schmalz
Proofreading: Vincent Szopa Cover Art: Jacob Elijah Walker
Art Direction: Stan! Interior Art: Zak Hennessey

Contents
Introduction ................................................................ 2 The House of Dusk .................................................. 13
What is in This Book? ................................................. 2
How to Use This Book ................................................. 2
Crime & Punishment................................................... 3
The Dimitriano Group ................................................. 3
Greasing The Wheels .................................................. 5
The Dwyer Commission .............................................. 6
Dynamic Action Points ................................................ 8
The Felt Flophouse .................................................... 9
Pure Luck ................................................................. 12
Go For the Jugular .................................................... 15
Unseen Hand............................................................ 15
Hyung, ADonna & McCormick ................................. 17
The Rule of Law ....................................................... 18
The Lords of Agony ................................................. 19
Mob Tactics .............................................................. 22
The Shield of Justice(The Shield of Retribution) 23
Firepower................................................................. 25
Appendix: Open Game License ............................... 26

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 Introduction
Perhaps the most natural instinct for human beings is to gather
into groups. Think about the number of groups the average
person belongs toa family, a collection of friends, a religious
congregation, a work group, one or more graduating classes,
plus any number of professional organizations (unions,
steering committees, advisory boards, etc.) and social groups
(fraternal orders, book clubs, sports teams, etc.). In its very
nature any roleplaying game hinges on its own unique type of
groupthe adventuring party.
Any campaign even vaguely set in our modern world
must, by default, contain dozens or hundreds of groups.
Some of these the GM will define in the process of creating
the campaignvillainous groups, support organizations, law
enforcement agenciesbut others will be virtually invisible
until they suddenly are involved (perhaps even required) for a
specific adventure. Then the GM will have to quickly generate
them or simply ad lib the encounter.
Modern Organizations: Crime & Punishment takes at least
some of the pressure off the GM by providing ready-to-use
organizations that are applicable across a broad range of modern
campaign styles. Not every group mentioned in this book will be
right for every campaign, but each GM should be able to find a
use for seventy-five percent of the material in this book.
What is in This Book?
The material in Modern Organizations: Crime & Punishment
focuses on those who commit criminal acts and the forces
dedicated to bringing lawbreakers to justice. This material
falls into two broad categoriesOrganizations and
Supplemental Rules.
Organizations
These are the meat of the bookgroups that the GM can place
into the game exactly as described or tinker with them so that
they more closely fit the needs of the campaign. Often a group
will come with a pre-generated character or game statistics for
a typical member of the groupready-to-use GM characters
that can be added to any game.
Supplemental Rules
In addition to the groups and the GM characters, there are
areas of boxed text throughout this volume that present
supplemental rules material for use in any modern d20 System
game. These rules are thematically linked to the organization
near which they appear, but they can be used in a game even if
the group is not.
2
How to Use This Book
Modern Organizations: Crime & Punishment is intended for use
by both GMs and players, although each will use the book in
different ways.
For the GM
Modern Organizations: Crime & Punishment is designed
to be a toolbox for the GM to use in building and running
a campaign. It presents a wide array of characters,
organizations, and optional rules that you can use to save
yourself precious time and give your campaign just the flavor
you want.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember, though,
is that you do not have to use all the material in Modern
Organizations: Crime & Punishment. In fact, you dont even
have to use all the details within any organizationchange
them to suit your needs. (For the sake of game balance,
however, we do recommend that you use each supplemental
rules sidebar as written or leave it out entirely.) Pick
and choose what is right for your campaign. Rename an
organization. Take a thematically important GM character and
attach her to an organization of your own devising.
For the Player
The first thing you should find out is which parts of Modern
Organizations: Crime & Punishment your GM plans to include
in the campaign. Then you should read (or avoid reading)
whatever sections he identifies so that you understand all the
ground rules for the game.
Beyond that, though, you can still make use of remaining
information that will not be part of your campaign. Use it as
a guide to what sort of organizations are in any worldwhat
types of groups your heroes can try to meet, avoid, or even
found. Use the characters and situations as inspiration for
developing your own heroes and shaping their attitude toward
the forces arrayed against them.
The Most Important Organization
No matter what material you use or ignore in this volume,
always keep in mind the needs of the most important
organization of allyour gaming group. Modern
Organizations: Crime & Punishment is intended to enhance the
experience of your modern d20 System game. None of the
groups or rules within this book matter at all unless they help
you to enjoy the game.
 Crime & Punishment
Most modern d20 System campaigns have a strong focus on
criminal activities. The heroes generally are either trying to
prevent or commit illegal acts of one sort or another (whether
the specific law is local, federal, international, or moral will
vary drastically from campaign to campaign). As a result, a
great many of the organizations that the heroes interact with
will also have particular interests in crime or crime fighting.
The groups and individuals detailed in this chapter can
serve as friends, foes, or expert resources for heroes on either
side of the war on crime. For example, the heroes may be
The Dimitriano Group
Solomon Dimitriano is a true American success story. Born
the day his parents arrived in this country, he literally began
life without a penny to his name. His father made a living as
a sanitation worker for fifteen years before being killed as a
bystander during a grocery store robbery gone bad. In order to
keep his family afloat, Solomon followed in his fathers footsteps
but he also attended night school, eventually earning an MBA.
He combined his education and his work ethic to buy a series
of failing small businesses and turn them all into profitable
companies, eventually purchasing (or driving out of business) all
local competition. Later, as he began to invest in real estate and
the stock market, Solomon was able to parlay his small collection
of properties into a financial empire: the Dimitriano Group. Now
he sits on the boards of several major conglomerates and is a
personal advisor to a cadre of local and national politicians.
Thats the official version of Solomon Dimitrianos life was voted out of office, two-thirds of the illicit economy
the truth is a good deal more convoluted, and decidedly less
ethical. The fact of the matter is that Solomon heads one
of the largest organized crime syndicates in the country,
perhaps the world.
Solomons father was a sanitation worker, but he made most
of his living as a collector for a local loan shark, and his death
was not accidental. In fact, the grocery robbery was just a cover
for a rival loan sharks bid to take over the territorythe elder
Dimitriano was simply a convenient symbolic target. Solomon
followed his father into both his lines of work. However, unlike
his father, the young Dimitriano had ambitions to be more
than just hired muscle. He started as a collector, but worked
his way up the organization, becoming the loan sharks right
hand man. All the while he continued his education and applied
modern financial theories to the business of racketeering with
phenomenal success. Solomon then used his money to buy
failing businesses to use as shells for money laundering.
Unexpectedly, though, Solomon was able to turn the
businesses around and make them profitable. It turns out
that his mind was equally adept at conventional and illicit
business planning. He reorganized his holdings into a
members of the House of Dusk or be faced with stopping one
of its highly trained assassins. They may be taken from their
usual work and assigned to the Dwyer Commission or belong to
the group that the task force is charged with stopping (perhaps
the Lords of Agony).
Whichever side of the law the heroes find themselves on,
though, they should never forget that in a world of action and
intrigue, a person is often measured by the quality of his or
her opponents.
conglomerate, bought new companies to serve as shells, and
started expanding. His success was quickly noticed by the
local organized crime dons, who began coming to Solomon for
advice and assistance in rearranging their own holdings. Soon
he was taking a small cut from almost every illicit operation in
town. And although it was possible to tie him professionally to
all sorts of suspected criminals, his dealings all seemed to be
above board and completely legal.
Things got especially interesting when a new mayor was
elected on a get tough on crime platform. Suddenly all the
crime lords found themselves facing dogged investigation.
Try as they might, though, the authorities were never able
to connect Solomon or the Dimitriano Group to any illegal
activities which, in turn, increased the amount of business
that the dons threw their way. By the time the crusading mayor
passed through Solomons hands. Although he technically had
no ownership over any of the ventures, he held a complete
stranglehold on virtually all local organized crime.
In recent years, Dimitriano has used his financial leverage
to arrange it so that particular gangs and dons control
particular aspects of the underworldthey all know that they
owe their current success to Solomons influence, and they
likewise know that their fortunes will quickly and dramatically
reverse if they cross him. None of the Mafiosos understand
the complex series of shell corporations, partnerships, and
sub-contracts that insulate Solomon from legal culpability, but
they know that it works.
A series of Attorney Generals have tried to find a way to
bring charges against Dimitriano. All have failed and managed
to ruin their political careers in the process. The Dimitriano
Group is a completely legitimate conglomerate and Solomon
Dimitriano is an honored member of the business community.
But rumors persist that Big Solly D is the man pulling the
strings on all local organized crime. He is so well insulated,
though, that he is more than a teflon donhes a ghostly
godfather, so untouchable its like he isnt even there. 3
 Crime and Punishment
Using the Dimitriano Group
Because it functions on several different levels of legitimacy,
the Dimitriano Group can fill two or more niches in a campaign.
First, the organization is a massively successful
conglomerate. The corporate logo can be a ubiquitous part
of the local scenery, found on trucks, boxes, bags, articles of
clothing, and buildings all over the city or region. Solomon
Dimitriano can be a local celebrity, seen at all the most exclusive
events, mingling with the rich and famous, and serving as an
advisor to politicians both at home and in Washington, D.C. The
heroes may find themselves investigating different companies
that all tie together under the Dimitriano Group umbrella, or
they may find themselves hired by the company (or by Solomon
himself) to investigate and help eliminate some misconduct
within one of the subsidiary companies. (Solomon will only
involve himself personally in lawful activitiesindeed, his public
actions make him seem like a crusader working to stamp out
corruption within his organization.) The fact of the matter is
that well over 90% of the companies in the conglomerate are
completely honest business ventures.
On the other hand, despite its success in the legitimate
business world, the Dimitiriano Group was created to be a
front and money laundering operation for organized crime and
it continues to serve that function to this day. Through their
investigations of particular events, criminals, or syndicates,
the heroes may find a trail that leads back to a company that
belongs to the Dimitriano Group. In every case, though, the
wrongdoing will trace back to a specific individual rather than
the company itself (these individuals are paid handsomely for
4 Firearms Proficiency, Streetfighting, Windfall.
being the fall guy). It will be impossible to draw a conclusive
link between the activities and the larger conglomerate.
Indeed, the minute illegal activities are revealed, the Dimitriano
Group legal team will begin moves to shut the guilty subsidiary
down and proactively cooperate with the authorities.
Over time the heroes may be able to uncover a pattern of
behaviornew front companies being added as quickly as old
ones are removed. Often staff that is laid off from a firm that is
closing immediately find themselves on the payroll of a newly
formed replacement. But, much to the heroes chagrin, they
will be unable to find any conclusive proof of a conglomerate-
wide conspiracy. However, if they push too hard they may find
there are wide reaching repercussionsfrom loss of account
information and lines of credit at businesses around the city, to
fraudulent use of their bank accounts, to physical assaults by
local thugs.
Solomon Big Solly D Dimitriano
Solomon Dimitriano is a brick of a man, standing over six
feet tall and nearly four and half feet wide at the shoulders.
Although he dresses in the most expensive European fashions,
he can never hide the fact that he grew up in a blue-collar
family. His vocabulary, mannerisms, and temper all mark him as
someone who grew up on the mean streets, and his manicured
fingernails do nothing to mask his rough, calloused hands.
Sol cultivates an air of sophistication, attending and even
sponsoring the opera, ballet, and art exhibits, but he always
seems out of place at these events. He surrounds himself with
friends and associates from the best socialite families, but
they often seem as intimidated as they are friendly. Very few
people disagree with Sol in public, and those that do often find
themselves on the receiving end of a barrage of foul language.
However, Solomon has never gone so far as to be physically
violent in public.
Solomon Dimitriano (Tough 6/Smart 4): CR 10; Medium-
size human male; HD 6d10 + 4d6 +40; hp 95; Mas 21; Init
+0; Spd 30 ft.; Defense 14, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+0 Dex,
+3 Tough, +1 Smart); BAB +6; Grap +8; Atk +10 melee (2d8
+4, nonlethal, brawl) or +10 melee (1d8 +3, bludgeoning,
brass knuckles) or +6 ranged (2d6, ballistic, Pathfinder); Full
Atk +10/+1 melee (2d8 + 4, nonlethal, brawl) or +10/+1
melee (1d8 +3, bludgeoning, brass knuckles) or +6/+1
ranged (2d6, ballistic, Pathfinder); FS 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.;
AL Dimitriano Group, organized crime; SV Fort +11; Ref +3,
Will +8; AP 10; Rep: +3; Wealth: 35; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 18,
Int 17, Wis 14, Cha 12.
Occupation: Criminal (bonus class skill: Knowledge
(streetwise)).
Skills: Drive +13, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (business)
+21, Knowledge (civics) +21, Knowledge (current events)
+16, Knowledge (streetwise) +17, Profession +17, Spot +15.
Talents: Remain Conscious, Robust, Stamina, Savant
(Knowledge (business, civics)).
Feats: Advanced Firearms Proficiency, Brawl, Educated
(business, civics), Great Fortitude, Improved Brawl, Improved
Damage Threshold, Iron Will, Knockout Punch, Personal
 Crime and Punishment
Possessions: Brass knuckles, cell phone, forgery kit,
holster (concealed carry), Pathfinder, suppressor (pistol), and
various personal possessions.
Tactics: Solomon may have grown up as a small-time thug,
but these days he prefers to let others (namely his body
guards) do his fighting for him. However, if things get out of
control he is still capable of defending himself. He prefers to
fight one-on-one and hand-to-hand, using his brawling skills.
Still, if it looks like his life is seriously threatened, Solomon will
draw and use his concealed Pathfinder.
Learning About the Dimitriano Group
The heroes can learn about the Dimitriano Group and its
owner, Solomon Domitriano, in several different ways. The
following charts present some information and the DCs for
skill checks needed to discover that information. In each
case, success at beating a DC grants that information and all
the information provided by any lower DC results. At the GMs
discretion, appropriate Knowledge checks may be used to
learn the same information.
Gather Information
This check represents the heroes talking with people who
live in the city where the Dimitriano Group owns and operates
subsidiaries. The information presented reflects the opinions
commonly held by average citizens (not law enforcement or
other official agencies). At the GMs discretion, the heroes
may instead use Knowledge (streetwise) to access this
information, but in that case the DCs should be increased by
at least +10.
DC 5: Dimitriano Group? Whats that?
DC 10: Do they have something to do with Solomon
Dimitriano? His picture was in the paper the other day,
attending some art gallery opening or something.
DC 15: The Dimitriano Group is one of those
conglomerates. They dont actually make anything themselves,
they just own lots of different companies.
DC 20: Solomon Dimitriano sponsors a lot of cultural
events. Theyre talking about naming a concert hall after him.
DC 25: The Dimitriano Group just avoided a nasty
scandal. It seems that a worker at one of the subsidiaries
was a major drug dealer. But the company helped prosecute
him and has donated a bunch of money to the local rehab
clinics. Its good to see a corporation that devoted to the
local community.
Greasing The Wheels
The following new feats are designed to reflect the direct
connection between money and political influence. The GM may
achieve the same results through roleplaying and distributing
strictly tailored Wealth rewards. However, if the practice of
bribery and influence peddling is central to the campaign (or
to a character concept), these feats provide a way to quantify
and regulate their effects.
DC 30: Solomon Dimitriano built that company from the
ground up. He started as a garbage man or something but it
turned out that has a head for good investments.
DC 35: This isnt the first time that a small part of
the Dimitriano Group was used for illegal activities. But I
guess thats what happens when you own so many different
companiesyou cant watch all of them all of the time.
DC 40: Some of the tabloids call Solomon Big Solly D and
suggest that hes been seen with some of the bigwigs of the
local organized crime scene. But no evidence of that has ever
been found.
Research
This check represents the heroes combing through the
archives of newspapers or magazines, or using the Internet
to call up available information on the Dimitriano Group. The
information represents a broad mixture of fact and editorial
opinion. At the GMs discretion, the heroes may instead use
Knowledge (current events) to access this information, but in
that case the DCs should be increased by at least +5.
DC 5: The Dimitriano Group is a conglomerate. Its
subsidiary companies range from small storefront operations
to regional franchises.
DC 10: The company is also heavily involved with donating
to and sponsoring the arts.
DC 15: The Dimitriano Group was in the news recently
because a local drug dealer was found to be working for one
of its subsidiary companies. No charges are being pressed
against the conglomerate, which is cooperating fully with the
authorities.
DC 20: This sort of thing has happened beforeother
subsidiary companies have been used by criminals for different
enterprises. But each time it is discovered, the conglomerate
has helped prosecute the responsible individuals and, when
appropriate, closed down the facilities.
DC 25: The Dimitriano Group is one of the few companies
of its kind that are privately owned. Although there is a large
bureaucracy and board of directors, the entire conglomerate
belongs to Solomon Dimitriano.
DC 30: Solomon Dimitriano is a self-made billionaire, having
built the Dimitriano Group from the ground up while earning a
living as a sanitation worker and getting his MBA at night school.
DC 40: Several of the people Solomon went to school
with have become major figures in the local organized crime
networks.
On The Take
You are the willing recipient of an ongoing monetary bribe.
Benefit: Every time you go up a character level you gain
an additional +1 Wealth bonus beyond what you normally
receive. This bonus comes from the fact that you are knowingly
accepting a bribe.
5
 Crime and Punishment
Normal: A character without this feat only increases his
Wealth score by making a successful Profession check (see
Regaining Wealth in Chapter 4 of the d20 Modern Roleplaying
Game).
Special: Before taking this feat, work with your GM to
determine the details of exactly what GM character is providing
the bribe and for what services. You are honor bound to
perform these services to the best of your ability. Failure will
result in the GM character sending agents to hurt or kill you.
If this burden becomes too much, you may buy your way
out of this responsibility by making a one time Wealth check
with a Purchase DC equal to 15 + the number of bonus Wealth
points you have received from this feat. For example, if you
had On The Take for 6 levels the Purchase DC would be 21 (15
+ 6). You will no longer get supplemental Wealth bonuses, but
you will also no longer be beholden to the GM character.
You may choose to begin accepting bribes again anytime
you go up a character level (be sure to inform your GM when
you do this).
Hired Help
You have bribed a particular person in lieu of future aid.
Benefit: You can get favors from the person you bribed.
In this way you can gain important (sometimes classified)
information, a loan of equipment or documents, or receive
other assistance in the course of an adventure.
Paying a bribe requires a Wealth check. The Purchase DC is
equal 15 + the number of favor points you want to gain (see
below). This check incurs all the usual Wealth losses involved
with buying an object or service with such a high Purchase DC.
The Dwyer Commission
Anyone who has watched a movie or television program about
law enforcement knows that police in a modern setting often
must perform their duties according to a very strict set of
guidelines. There are regulations saying when and how they
may gather evidence, question a suspect, and even defend
themselves. Some lament that while officers of the law must act
according to a certain set of rules, the criminals are free to act
in any way they like, giving them a distinct advantage. In times
of extreme need, however, a select group of agents may be
granted special permission to ignore some or all of the usual
rules. Such is the case with the Dwyer Commission.
Named for its commanding officer, Anton Dwyer, the
commission is a small team of exceptional officers that have
been transferred from their regular assignments. Having
been pulled from the SWAT, demolitions, and riot squads
(among others), this group represents the most highly
trained and motivated officers throughout the force. Rather
than the usual generalized purpose of maintaining the peace
or protect and serve, the Dwyer Commission has been
given an extraordinary assignment, though exactly what that
assignment is will vary from campaign to campaign (see
6 Using the Dwyer Commission below).
To get a favor you must make a successful favor check. To
make a favor check, roll 1d20 and add your current favor point
total. The DC of this check depends on the scope of the favor
being requested. You cannot take 10 or 20 on a favor check,
nor can you retry the check for the same (or virtually the
same) favor.
Difficulty Favor Favor
of Favor Check DC Point Loss
Simple 10 1
Complex 15 2
Difcult 20 3
Embarrassing 25 4
Dangerous 30 5
If the check succeeds the person you bribed will do what
you ask. However, your current favor point total drops by an
amount based on the difficulty of the favor. When your favor
point total drops below 1, the person will no longer perform
favors for you (feeling that youve already gotten what you
paid for).
Once per character level, you may make another bribe to
gain more favor points.
Special: Before taking this feat, work with your GM to
determine the details of exactly what GM character it is you are
bribing. This will be key in determining what sorts of favors the
character will be able to provide.
With the GMs permission, you may bribe more than one GM
character at a time.
Whether they are tasked with combating racketeering, gang
violence, or an invasion of subterranean humanoids, the fact
that the Dwyer Commission has been granted permission to
ignore the usual rules of due process means that they must
perform their duties as unobtrusively as possible. They have
a substantial budget (drawn in discrete chunks from other
departments throughout the city bureaucracy), the ability
to get necessary manpower temporarily transferred to their
command, and even to commandeer private property or
conscript civilian experts. The powers that be expect them to
get results, but also to do so in such a way that the average
citizen does not learn of their exceptional mandate.
Using the Dwyer Commission
The Dwyer Commission can be easily modified to fit into any
campaign where an extraordinary threat plagues the citizenry.
This threat could be a relatively ordinary crime wave grown out
of control (a gang war like those in 1930s Chicago), a realistic
threat unlike any seen in this country (an ongoing series of
major terrorist attacks within a single U.S. city), or something
completely fantastic (an occult group that worships dark gods
and employs zombie minions)it doesnt matter. Whatever
 Crime and Punishment
the threat, the Dwyer Commission can be at least part of the police; SV Fort +5, Ref +11, Will +9; AP 12; Rep: +5; Wealth:
authorities response. 13; Str 12, Dex 18, Con 15, Int 18, Wis 15, Cha 12.
Regardless of the threat, the commission will be a small unit Occupation: Law Enforcement (bonus class skills: Gather
with certainly no more than half a dozen permanent members. Information, Intimidate).
They will a tightly organized, militaristic team with Captain Skills: Drive +12, Gather Information +20, Hide +12,
Anton Dwyer as their leader. The individual members should all Intimidate +20, Investigate +27, Knowledge (current events)
be highly capable law enforcement officers each of whom has +14, Knowledge (behavioral sciences) +19, Knowledge
training in at least one specialty skill (demolitions, infiltration, (streetwise) +14, Knowledge (tactics) +14, Listen +16,
sharpshooting, etc.). The hope is that the team will have all the Move Silently +12, Search +19, Sense Motive +16, Spot
knowledge and training necessary to handle any situation. +12, Tumble +12.
In some campaigns the Dwyer Commission can be an ally or Talents: Contact (low), Contact (mid-level), Defensive Roll,
resource for the heroesa kindred group fighting the same Evasion, Exploit Weakness, Profile, Savant (Investigate), Trick,
sorts of opponents as they do. Another possible arrangement Uncanny Dodge 1.
would have the commission and the heroes be competitors Feats: Armor Proficiency (light), Combat Expertise,
both serving the same side of the conflict but each always Defensive Martial Arts, Dodge, Double Tap, Elusive Target, Far
trying to outdo the other. Finally, the Dwyer Commission could Shot, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Mobility, Nonlethal Force,
serve as an opponentif the heroes are fighting to bring Personal Firearms Proficiency, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot.
down a corrupt regime or simply playing members of a criminal Possessions: Beretta 92F, evidence kit, handcuffs (steel
organization, the commission could be the force assigned to and zip-tie), undercover vest, walkie-talkie (professional), and
capture or kill them. various personal possessions.
Tactics: Anton Dwyer is a true leader. He is a master tactician
Capt. Anton Dwyer and has the ability to get inside an opponents head, often
Anton Dwyer comes from a long line of police officers. For the understanding his quarries strategies better than they do. Hes
past four generations, every member of his family has served slowed down a little as since reaching the age of 50but not
on the force in one capacity or another, but none of them has much. He is still willing to get as physical as cops half his age.
served as honorably or as well as Anton. Of course, he also has the wisdom to know when hes better off
After earning a degree in criminology from an Ivy League taking a less direct approach. Basically, Captain Dwyer will use
school, Anton passed up full scholarships from top law schools the tactics that give him the greatest chance of successand
in order to enter the police academy. Upon graduating he turned his men execute his orders precisely and without question.
down several choice positions on the police commissioners and
mayors staffs in favor of an assignment on the beat.
Anton quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the most
decorated officer on the force, and he soon found that the
department considered him too valuable a commodity to
waste on walking a beat. He found himself as a spokesman for
the department, appearing on panels, doing media interviews,
and posing for pictures with every city and state politician who
wanted to add tough on crime the the next election platform.
He was actually considering taking early retirement when
the opportunity to lead the commission was presented to
him. Anton jumped at the opportunity to do real good for the
community without having the brass following his every move.
Now at the age of 52, Anton Dwyer is a tall, lithely muscled
man with close-cropped silver hair and a pencil-thin mustache
that is still naturally dark brown. His cold blue eyes reflect both
his cunning intellect and his brutal determination. He speaks
in short, clipped sentences so that even a casual comment
sounds like a barked order.
Capt. Anton Dwyer (Fast 5/Smart 5/Investigator 5):
CR 15; Medium-size human male; HD 5d8 + 10d6 + 30; hp
85; Mas 15; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; Defense 28 melee/27 ranged,
touch 25/24, flat-footed 24/23 (+4 Dex, +5 Fast, +2 Smart,
+3 Investigator, +3 undercover vest); BAB +8; Grap +10;
Atk +10 melee (1d3 +2, nonlethal, punch) or +12 ranged
(2d6, ballistic, Beretta 92F); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d3 +2,
nonlethal, punch) or +12/+7 ranged (2d6, ballistic, Beretta
92F); FS 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; AL Dwyer Commission, 7
 Crime and Punishment
Learning About the Dwyer Commission
The heroes can learn about the Dwyer Commission in several
different ways. The following charts present some information
and the DCs for skill checks needed to discover that
information. In each case, success at beating a DC grants that
information and all the information provided by any lower DC
results. At the GMs discretion, appropriate Knowledge checks
may be used to learn the same information.
Gather Information
This check represents the heroes talking with people who live
in the city where the Dwyer Commission currently functions.
The information presented reflects the opinions commonly
held by average citizens (not law enforcement or other official
agencies). If the heroes instead question members of the
police or other officials, reduce the DCs by at least 5. At
the GMs discretion, the heroes may instead use Knowledge
(streetwise) to access this information, but in that case the DCs
should be increased by at least +10.
DC 14 or lower: Dwyer Commission? Never heard of it.
DC 15: Does that have anything to do with Captain Anton
Dwyer?
DC 20: Captain Dwyer is one of the best cops ever to wear
the uniform. Hes got more medals than you can count, and I
heard he even turned down a few.
DC 25: Captain Dwyer got promoted out of the field. Now
I hear hes the commissioners favorite PR man. I also hear he
hates it.
DC 30: Have you noticed how Captain Dwyer isnt in the
news much anymore? I hear he pissed off someone at City Hall
and now hes got some kind of crap detail.
Dynamic Action Points
Action points provide one of the modern d20 Systems most
exciting mechanics, affording the players some measure of
ability to counter the effects of bad luck. Of course, such a
powerful capability comes with a strict counterbalancea finite
number of action points a hero can access.
But in a campaign where the Game Master wants to reward
heroic behavior, the limit on action points can sometimes have
a restricting effect on the heroes behavior. Players do not want
to put their heroes in dangerous situations where their actions
are unlikely to succeed.
For Game Masters who want to encourage more frequent
use of action points, rather than having players save them for
special events, we present the following variant rule.
Variant: Dynamic Action Points
When using this variant, the standard rules for using
action points still apply (see Chapter 1 of the d20 Modern
Roleplaying Game). The difference lies not in how you use the
action point but rather what happens afterward. In the standard
rules, once a hero uses an action pointno matter what the
8 situation or resultit is gone.
DC 40: I heard that Captain Dwyers running some kind of
special squad these days. But we never hear about it, so maybe
its just some parade formation.
Research
This check represents the heroes combing through the official
police records to call up all available information on the Dwyer
Commission. The information represents the only official
recognition of the groupbeyond this it is only discussed in
person and behind locked doors. At the GMs discretion, the
heroes may instead use Knowledge (current events), but in
that case the DCs should be increased by at least +15.
DC 19 or lower: No information available. However, they
may pull Anton Dwyers service record (along with the records
for 20 other officers named Dwyer, most of whom belong to
the same family)it mentions nothing about the commission.
DC 20: Five years ago Anton Dwyer was removed from
active duty to serve on a commission investigating emergency
preparedness.
DC 30: In manpower reports there are occasionally
records of an individual being temporarily assigned to the
Dwyer Commission. According to the office of records and the
commanding officers, these are merely typographical errors.
DC 40: The Dwyer Commission is included as a line item in
the budgets of more than half the internal departments. No
single group contributes more than a few thousand dollars, but
when totaled it is a staggering amount. No accounting is given
for how this money has been spent.
DC 50: The heroes turn up a misfiled report on a specific
incident in which the Dwyer Commission played a part. There is
no corroborating evidence to be found anywhere.
With Dynamic Action Points, every time a hero spends an
action point there is a chance that she will gain an additional
action point. The hero gains an additional action point only
under two specific conditionsthe d6 rolled for the Action
Point had a result of 6, or the action the hero performed was
especially heroic.
Rolling a 6: Whenever the hero uses an action point to add
to the result of a skill check, ability check, level check, attack,
or saving throw, if the 1d6 result is 6 then the hero gains an
additional hero point.
Example: Charles is playing Heather Reston, a 3rd-level
Fast hero who has only 2 action points remaining. Charles
has Heather fire her rifle at an enemy, but hes unhappy
with the initial result, so he decides to use one of the action
points to improve it. He rolls 1d6 and gets a 6. Not only
are 6 points added to the attack roll, Heather also gains an
additional action pointinstead of being down to only 1 AP,
she still has 2.
At 8th-level and higher, a hero rolls more than 1d6 when
spending an action point but still only adds one die result the
her d20 roll (see Chapter 1 of the d20 Modern Roleplaying
 Crime and Punishment
Game). Only the die whose result is used counts toward
Dynamic Action Points.
Example: In a similar situation Charles, playing a 15th-level
Heather Reston, spends an action point and rolls 3d6. The
results are 3, 6, and 6. Charles only gets to add the result of
one die to the attack roll (he chooses one of the 6s). Likewise,
only one die result is eligible for the Dynamic Action Point
bonus, so despite the fact that Charles actually rolled two 6s,
Heather only gains 1 AP.
Extreme Heroism: The other situation where a hero can
take advantage of this variant is by using an action point in the
performance of an especially selfless and valiant act. Exactly
what qualifies is left to the Game Masters discretion, but it
should not be an action such as defusing a bomb or climbing
a tree to get away from a rampaging lionthese are acts of
self-preservation not heroism. As a general rule, the hero
can only gain action points if for the sake of others he puts
himself into danger he otherwise would have avoided. The
action does not have to be successful, just sufficiently heroic.
Example: Tammie is playing Clinton Bell, a 6th-level
Charismatic hero with 4 action points. Clinton must make a Jump
check in order to escape from a burning building. Tammie rolls
The Felt Flophouse
In most U.S. states gambling is illegal, and where it isnt its highly
regulated. Still, gambling goes on all the time, its just small time
affairsoffice football pools, poker nights, back-room craps
games. But regulating gambling is not a high priority in most
cities, and a well-funded, enterprising individual can sometimes
find a way to turn this inattentiveness into a great deal of money
by running an illegal casino like the Felt Flophouse.
Whether you like to play poker, blackjack, craps, or just bet
on sports, the Felt Flophouse has a table for you. Despite its
name, it is not a grimy, smoke-filled, back-alley gambling den
in fact, the casino takes up an entire floor of Arturo Plaza, one
of the citys most expensive high-rise office complexes.
The Felt Flophouse is the brainchild of Double Down Jimmy
Arturo, a small-time hood who won the deed to an entire city
block in a high-stakes poker game. The buildings on the land
were condemned wrecks that served only as drug dens and
breeding farms for rats and cockroaches. Jimmy had it all torn
down and erected Arturo Plaza. While it may seem that Jimmy
Arturo has a head for real estate and urban renewal, the fact
of the matter is that the whole plaza was designed around the
idea of building a private casinothe incredible (and totally
legitimate) profit the office space nets is just a happy accident.
Located on a floor that doesnt exist in the official
blueprints (technically the fifteenth-and-a-half floor), the
buildings main elevators do not provide access to the Felt
Flophouse and neither do the stairwells. Patrons enter the
casino through a special freight elevator in the back room of
Bella Notte, a five-star restaurant on the ground floor (also
owned and operated by Double Down Jimmy). To get access
to the elevator, you must have a hundred-dollar chip from
poorly and decides to use an action point. She gets a result
of 5 and the check succeeds. This is not eligible as a Dynamic
Action Point because all Clinton was doing was saving his own
life. He now has 3 action points. After escaping the building,
though, he hears a child crying for help through a second
story window and he decides he must go back in to help. While
making a Climb check so Clinton can reach the window, Tammie
rolls poorly and decides to use an action point but only gets
a result of 2. The check fails and Clinton falls suffering some
damage, but the GM decides that this was a very noble thing
to do and so Clinton gains an additional action point. His total
remains 3. Now he just has to find a better way to rescue the
trapped child.
It is certainly possible for a hero to perform very heroic
actions without using any action points, but these will not allow
the hero to gain an additional action point. This variant is not
intended to allow the hero increase her pool of action points,
merely to slow the rate at which she depletes them. Likewise,
a hero cannot gain 2 action points from a single action. If the
result of the 1d6 roll is 6 then the hero gains an additional
action point, he does not gain a second no matter how heroic
the action he undertook.
the Felt Flophouse (to make a counterfeit chip requires a
successful DC 20 Forgery check). In case of emergencies, the
casino has stairs that lead to secret doors in the mens and
ladies rooms on the 15th and 16th floors.
Inside, the Felt Flophouse is richly and tastefully
appointedplush carpets, comfortable chairs, expensive
paintings and sculptures. Immediately next to the elevator
is a cashiers cage where visitors can buy chips. There are
tables for all the classic casino card and dice games, and a
bookmakers cage along the back wall. Food and drink are
provided through Bella Notte. Much of the clientele considers
the Flophouse to be superior to even the most expensive Las
Vegas casinos for two reasons: there are no slot machines,
so the atmosphere is relaxed and relatively quiet (punctuated
only by the cries of victory and defeat); and the Felt Flophouse
is a smoke-free establishment (the city is currently much more
diligent about enforcing the ban on indoor smoking in public
buildings than the one against gambling).
There is a price to be paid for all this opulence, though,
and thats at the tables. The minimum bets at any table in the
Felt Flophouse start at $100, and spectators are not allowed.
If youre not gambling then you will quickly draw the attention
of the pit bosses and security guards (exceptions are made for
the companions of high-rolling patrons).
The casino is a favorite spot for the citys rich and powerful
to have clandestine meetings. More than a few business
dealsboth legitimate and criminalhave been struck over a
night of poker in the Felt Flophouse, and it is one of the best
places in the city to go celebrity watching (if you have enough
money and luck to keep your seat). 9
 Crime and Punishment
Of course, the fact of the matter is that the casino is an half of the citys aldermen are regular visitors to the Felt
illegal establishment. There is a tacit agreement among all Flophouse, so there seems little chance that it will be forced
patrons to never speak in public about anything that happens to shut its doors anytime soon.
in the club. Still, the mayor, chief of police, and more than

10
 Crime and Punishment
Using the Felt Flophouse Tactics: Jimmy Arturo is a blowhard and a coward. He will
There are many potential uses for the Felt Flophouse, but talk tough, make empty threats, and act like a dangerous
the most basic one is simply as a place the heroes or other criminal right up until trouble really startsthen he will dive
characters can go to do make use of ranks theyve assigned under the nearest table or run for the closest exit.
to the Gamble skill. The minimum stake is Purchase DC 14,
though, so only characters of some means will be able to do Learning About the Felt Flophouse
this on a regular basis. The heroes can learn about the Felt Flophouse in several
Depending on the flavor of the campaign, the Felt different ways. The following charts present some information
Flophouse could also make a good setting for the heroes and the DCs for skill checks needed to discover that
to meet with clients, contacts, and informants. Likewise, it information. In each case, success at beating a DC grants that
could be a good spot to look for an enemy who has a taste information and all the information provided by any lower DC
for gambling. results. At the GMs discretion, appropriate Knowledge checks
Its possible that the heroes could be working for Jimmy may be used to learn the same information.
Arturo, perhaps as security guards or even dealers in the
casino. Alternatively, they could be trying to take Jimmy Gather Information
downhe has many underworld connections and the GM This check represents the heroes talking with people who
could tie him to any criminal enterprise appropriate for the live in the city where the Felt Flophouse operates or people
campaign. who visit there regularly. The average citizen likely has
never heard of the casino, though, so unless the heroes
Double Down Jimmy Arturo are asking the right caliber of people the GM may rule that
James Caesar Arturo looks and acts like a stereotypical their attempts automatically fail. At the GMs discretion, the
mobster. His manners are brusque and belligerent, he dresses heroes may instead use Knowledge (streetwise) to access
in loud shirts and wrinkled designer suits, and he always wears this information, but in that case the DCs should be increased
gold chains and a diamond pinky ring. Jimmys temper is short by at least +10.
and violent, and he carries a loaded pistol tucked into the DC 9 and under: Never heard of it.
waistline of his pants or in a shoulder holster. DC 10: Never heard of the Felt Flophouseand if you know
Hes a small-time hoodlum who lucked into the big time, whats good for you, youll stop asking questions like that.
and he has no allusions or aspirations of ever being anything DC 15: Its an underground casino. I hear people get shot
more. He enjoys the minor celebrity his casino gives him, but there every night and their bodies are never found.
is star struck whenever he meets a major celebrity (particularly
one that is famous for playing a mobster).
Jimmy has many vices in which he overindulges, including
smoking cigars, womanizing, drinking to excess, and extreme
violence. However, while he enjoys gambling he is not addicted
to itit is one of the few things he does in moderation (he
knows only too well how much the odds are stacked in the
houses favor).
Jimmy Arturo (Dedicated 6): CR 6; Medium-size human
male; HD 6d6 +6; hp 25; Mas 12; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
Defense 12, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (1 Dex, +3 class);
BAB +4; Grap +6; Atk +7 melee (1d6 +2, nonlethal, brawl)
or +1 ranged (2d6, ballistic, Derringer); Full Atk +7 melee
(1d6 +2, nonlethal, brawl) or +1 ranged (2d6, ballistic,
Derringer); FS 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; AL none; SV Fort +4,
Ref +1, Will +6; AP 8; Rep: +5; Wealth: 25; Str 14, Dex 8,
Con 12, Int 9, Wis 17, Cha 15.
Occupation: Criminal (bonus class skills: Gamble, Sleight
of Hand).
Skills: Bluff +4, Disguise +4, Gamble +18, Intimidate +4,
Investigate +1, Listen +5, Profession +12, Sense Motive +14,
Sleight of Hand +8, Spot +5.
Talents: Aware, Cool Under Pressure, Skill Emphasis
(Gamble).
Feats: Alertness, Attentive, Brawl, Confident, Deceptive,
Renown, Run, Windfall.
Possessions: Cell phone, Derringer, and various personal
possessions. 11
 Crime and Punishment
DC 20: The Felt Flophouse is actually a very classy
joint. You have to have a serious bankroll if you want to
play there.
DC 25: I hear that the mayor gambles there a few times a
month. Thats why it never gets shut down.
DC 30: The Felt Flophouse is on a secret floor in Arturo
Plaza. You have to go through this Italian restaurant to get in.
DC 35: The heroes learn the details of how to get in,
including a description of the $100 chip.
Research
This check represents the heroes combing through police
archives or talking with local officials. The information
represents a broad mixture of discreet facts and the personal
theories of members of the Vice Squad. At the GMs discretion,
the heroes may instead use Knowledge (current events) to
access this information, but in that case the DCs should be
increased by at least +15.
Pure Luck
From time to time, characters in a modern d20 System game
must make saving throws in order to determine how they
react to unexpected or unavoidable situations. Fortitude
saves measure a characters sturdiness, Reflex saves her
nimbleness, and Will saves test her resolve. But what about
the characters luck?
Luck is a very sticky subject, particularly when it comes
to roleplaying games. Some would argue that there is no
such thing as luck, merely statistics. Others would say that
while luck does exist, the randomizing factor of rolling dice
accounts for it. Still others think that there should be a
mechanism built into the game to simulate a character being
particularly lucky or unlucky.
The following variant rule and new feats are for campaigns
where characters are expected occasionally to rely on luck,
fate, kismet, or karma beyond the random element of chance
already present in allowing die rolls to determine various
successes and failures.
Variant: Luck Saving Throw
Like the other saving throws, a characters Luck save is a
combination of a base number plus some other modifier. The
base number is determined by what classes the character
has taken during her career. Unlike the other saving throws,
every basic class, advanced class, and prestige class has
the same progression. If luck is, as many would say, at least
partially a matter of knowing how to position yourself in an
advantageous way, then the more a character concentrates
on a single field of endeavor, the more lucky she will seem.
Conversely, the more she dabbles, the less likely she will be
to gain the experience necessary to cultivate good luck.
The base Luck save progression for all classes in a modern
d20 System game is as follows.
12
DC 9 and under: No records of any such establishment.
DC 10: The name Felt Flophouse appears in a few
Vice Squad departmental memos. They all say that despite
persistent rumors, no such establishment exists.
DC 15: The heroes discover memos written by members
of the Vice Squad theorizing that an illegal casino is being
operated under that name. No hard evidence had been
unearthed, but rumors persist.
DC 20: The heroes discover a memo from the mayors office
ordering the Vice Squad to cease any and all investigations into
the Felt Flophouse.
DC 30: The heroes discover records pertaining to the
firing of a Vice Squad officer who had a recurring alcohol
problem. The final incident was when the officer went to the
visitors office at Arturo Plaza and at gunpoint demanded to
be taken to the Felt Flophouse.
DC 40: In his deposition, the officer claims that an illegal
gambling den was being run on the fifteenth floor.
Class Luck Class Luck
Level Save Level Save
1st +0 6th +2
2nd +0 7th +2
3rd +1 8th +2
4th +1 9th +3
5th +1 10th +3
The other half of the equation depends on the characters
overall experience. Her total Luck save score is equal to her
base save + one half her character level (rounded down).
Example: A12th-level character who is Fast 3/Tough 3/
Daredevil 6 would have a base save of +4 (+1 each for her
Fast and Tough levels, and +2 for Daredevil). Her modifier
would be +6 (her character level halved). Barring other
modifying factors, the characters Luck save would therefore
be +10.
How to Use the Luck Save
Exactly what a Luck save will be used for may vary widely from
campaign to campaign (or even adventure to adventure). Every
Game Master will have different notions regarding situations
where luck should play a determining factor. As a general rule,
Luck saving throws are DC 15 (plus or minus any relevant
modifiers). Below are examples of some situations when the
GM might make use of the Luck save.
Imprecise Action: Any time a player is imprecise about her
characters actions at a key juncture. For example, if the hero
is defusing an explosive device and is faced with a pair of
wires (one of which will deactivate the bomb, the other will
detonate it) and the player says, I cut them both at once,
the GM might have her make a Luck save to see which effect
she triggers.
 Crime and Punishment
Random Chance: Whenever the situation involves an equal
amount of risk for everyone involved. For example, if a wild
bear is going to attack the nearest target, but three characters
are equally close. The GM might have the characters each make
a Luck save, with the bear attacking the one whose results
were lowest.
In Place of a Skill Check: In some instances, the Game
Master may wish to allow a character to make a Luck check in
place of a checks for skills such as Gamble, Listen, Search, or
Spot. In particularly desperate situations, the GM may wish to
extend this use to more technical skills such as Disable Device,
Demolitions, and Treat Injury.
Born Under a Bad Moon
You have bad luck. Unfortunate things happen to you for no
apparent reason.
Benefit: You gain a permanent 2 penalty to all Luck saves
in exchange for a permanent +2 bonus to one of your other
saving throws.
The House of Dusk
History is replete with examples of groups whose members
dedicated themselves to the assassins craftthe House
of Dusk is such an organization. The origin of the order
is shrouded in mystery. Some say that it began in 16th-
century Japan when a renegade ninja clan began teaching
their methods to European disciples. Others say that the
brotherhood was only formed in the last half of the 20th-
century when quick, affordable international travel and high-
speed data transfer made it possible for killers from around
the globe to share their murderous techniques. Whatever
their beginnings, though, there can be no doubt that the
House of Dusk is the most widespread league of assassins in
the world today.
An organization in only the loosest terms, the House
of Dusk might better be called a school of martial discipline
that is split into hundreds, perhaps thousands, of individual
cells called dens. There is no central body or committee that
oversees the various dens that comprise the House of Dusk.
In fact, no one knows for certain how many dens there are,
let alone all their locations. What marks the scattered dens
as a single group are a unique training regimen and a shared
philosophy that being a professional assassin is a not only a
viable career but, in fact, a noble one.
Members of the House of Dusk believe that it is completely
reasonable and ethical (if not legal) to use murder as a means
to foment political and social change so long as the killer
strikes as skillfully and precisely as a surgeon uses a scalpel
to cut away a tumor. The House of Dusk refuses to work with
and has nothing but contempt for terrorist or insurgent groups
that use suicide bombers and other imprecise, massively
destructive tactics.
The various dens do not, however, share a particular creed
or agendasome dens work to promote liberal agendas while
Special: A character may gain this feat up to 3 times. Each
time you take the feat, you select a different saving throw.
Born Under a Good Star
You have good luck. Fortuate things happen to you for no
apparent reason.
Benefit: You gain a permanent +2 penalty to all Luck saves
in exchange for a permanent 2 penalty to one of your other
saving throws.
Special: A character may gain this feat up to 3 times. Each
time you take the feat, you select a different saving throw.
Press Your Luck
You sometimes leave your fate up to blind luck.
Benefit: When a Fortitude, Reflex, or Will saving throw is
called for, you may spend 1 action point in order to use your
Luck save instead. You must do this before rolling the d20.
The DC of the save remains the same, as do the
consequences of failure.
others are dedicated to conservative ideals, some support
dictators while others work to spread democracy; just about
the only thing that all members of the House of Dusk agree
on is the method by which they fight to achieve goals
assassination. Experts can cite numerous examples where two
dens of the House of Dusk fought on opposite sides of the
same conflict. However, no member of the organization will
ever accept a contract to kill another member.
The one other thing that members of the House of Dusk
generally agree on is that theirs is a profession, not a hobby
or charity. No matter what their political leanings, members
of a den will only accept paying assignments. Certainly,
individuals will use their abilities to protect themselves, their
friends, and families, but they will otherwise not focus their
attention on a specific target unless there is client who pays
them to do so.
Once a den takes on an assignment, it will work to
complete it as efficiently as possible. If the first attempt
fails, the den will send more members to try again,
repeating the assassination attempt until such time as they
succeed, their client requests them to cease (they will not
refund any fees paid up front, however), or all members of
the den are killed.
Anyone who joins the House of Dusk gets a small tattoo
of a stylized d on the back of the hand near the base of
the thumb. Members also learn a secret handshake and a
handful of verbal signs and countersigns. Using these, they
are able to recognize members who belong to other dens.
Unless their paid assignments forbid it, one member of the
House of Dusk will always give aid (food, medical treatment,
shelter) to another. They will not, however, provide assistance
in performing an assassination unless their den has specifically
been contracted to do so.
13
 Crime and Punishment
Using the House of Dusk
The House of Dusk can serve as the attack arm of any
individual or organization in a modern d20 System campaign,
as long as that person or group is willing to pay generously for
their services. Even the heroes may make use of this group, if
their morals allow them to hire contract killers. (The exact price
for these services will vary from campaign to campaign, but it
should always be significant.)
There may be two or more dens operating independently
in any given area. Generally all local dens will be aware of
one anothers existence (there may even be an intricate
network of alliances and feuds among the dens). As a result,
even after the heroes identify the larger House of Dusk
organizaton, they may become confused about the groups
goals and allegiances. Eventually the truth should make
itself plain.
The heroes may be tasked with preventing a member
of the House of Dusk from killing a particular target, or
they may themselves be the targets. To make matters more
confusing, sometimes rogue members of the organization
ruthless individuals who kill to promote their own personal
agendas (and, more importantly, do so without obtaining a
paying client)may be working or living in the area. In this
case, the heroes may find themselves in the strange position
of being hired by the House of Dusk to stop the wayward
pupil. (The House of Dusk will never take arms against one
of its own, but they are not above paying someone else to
do it.)
14
Any character my attempt to join the House of Duskall
thats required is to learn of the groups existence and then
find a den whose beliefs and goals come close to matching
the characters. And, of course, convince the members of
that den that the character would make a valuable member
of the organization. Members of the House of Dusk take
their profession seriously and will only teach their craft to
someone they trust and whom they believe will be a worthy
addition to their brotherhood.
Typical House of Dusk Assassin
There is no actual typical member of this organization
each assassin is a unique individual with his or her own
personal motivations and goals. However, there is a fairly
common set of skills and abilities shared by many within the
House of Dusk. Below are statistics for an average mid-level
assassin.
House of Dusk Assassin (Fast 3/Unseen Hand 7): CR
10; Medium-size human; HD 10d8 +20; hp 70; Mas 14; Init
+9; Spd 30 ft.; Defense 24, touch 23, flat-footed 19 (+5
Dex, +4 Fast +4 Unseen Hand, +1 leather jacket); BAB
+7; Grap +10; Atk +12 melee (1d4 +3, piercing, knife) or
+13 (2d6, ballistic, Beretta 92F); Full Atk +12/+7 melee
(1d4 +3, piercing, knife) or +13/+8 ranged (2d6, ballistic,
Beretta 92F); FS 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; SA Sneak Attack
(+3d4), Ranged Sneak Attack (+1d4, 20 ft.); AL House of
Dusk; SV Fort +5, Ref +12, Will +6; AP 10; Rep: +2; Wealth:
10; Str 17, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Occupation: Athlete (bonus class skills: Balance, Drive,
Tumble).
Skills: Balance +6, Bluff +13, Drive +6, Escape Artist
+8, Hide +27, Move Silently +27, Sleight of Hand +12,
Tumble +19.
Talents: Evasion, Ranged Sneak Attack (1d4, 20 ft.), Sneak
Attack (3d4), Uncanny Dodge 1.
Feats: Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Improved Initiative,
Personal Firearms Proficiency, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
Simple Weapons Proficiency, Stealthy, Weapon Finesse (knife),
Weapon Focus (Beretta 92F).
Possessions: Beretta 92F, leather jacket, and various
personal possessions.
Tactics: There is no single set of tactics used by all
members of the House of Dusk. Each assassin has his or her
own individual style. However, they all share the common trait
of focusing all attacks possible on their assigned target until
that person is dead or the assassin is.
Learning About the House of Dusk
The heroes can learn about the House of Dusk in any
of several ways. The following charts present some
information and the DCs for skill checks needed to discover
that information. In each case, success at beating a DC
grants that information and all the information provided by
any lower DC results. At the GMs discretion, appropriate
Knowledge checks may be used to learn the same
information.
 Crime and Punishment
Gather Information
This check represents the heroes talking with local criminal
and underworld groupsstreet gangs, members of organized
crime, terrorist cellsor official agencies that have access
to classified materialsFBI, special task forces, particularly
powerful politicians. If the GM decides to allow Knowledge checks
to access this information, raise the DCs by +10 or more.
DC10: The House of Dusk is a group of mercenary
assassins. If a job meets their standards theyll take it, but
itll cost plenty. Theyre worth it, thoughdamn, those guys
are good.
DC 20: Theres more than one House of Dusk. There are
different groups using the same name, but they each have
different beliefs and goals. Sometimes they even work on
opposites sides of the same conflict.
DC 30: The heroes learn details about one or more dens
active in the local region. They learn roughly how many people
are in each den and what their philosophical and political
leanings are.
DC 40: The heroes gain information on how to contact one
or more local dens of the House of Dusk.
Go For the Jugular
On of the many differences between the fantasy and modern
incarnations of the d20 System is the lack of any way for
modern heroes to gain the sneak attack ability. With the
Unseen Hand advanced class, that difference is eliminated.
However, not all sneak attacks are equal.
Because of the different rules for triggering the effects of
massive damage, the sneak attack as presented in the standard
fantasy d20 System rules would be far too powerful when
used against modern heroes. The Unseen Hands sneak attack
abilities therefore have been modified to make them more
appropriate for modern d20 System campaigns. The rules for
how sneak attacks work remains relatively unchanged, but the
actual effects are slightly different.
Before allowing characters to gain levels in Unseen Hand,
Game Masters should be certain that they are comfortable with
the notion that someone attacking with a knife (or martial arts)
will in many instances inflict as much or more damage than
someone using a gun.
Unseen Hand
The human body is a frail vessel. Any fool with a club can
damage it, but a real expert knows how to strike at critical spots
in order to cause maximum damage. The Unseen Hand trains to
know these spots and how to strike them when the opportunity
presents itself. Whether he is an assassin, a bodyguard, or a
commando, the Unseen Hand devotes himself to one thing
striking down his foe with maximum efficiency.
Select this advanced class if you want your character to
specialize in sneaking up to striking devastating blows against
opponents from close range.
Research
This check represents information the heroes can amass
through newspapers, websites, and private sources for criminal
research. If the GM decides to allow Knowledge checks to
access this information, raise the DCs by +5 or more.
DC 20: The House of Dusk is a league of assassins whose
origins are shrouded in mystery.
DC 25: No one seems to be able to figure out what the
House of Dusk stands for. They perform assassinations that
support causes ranging across the whole political spectrum.
The heroes identify some local killings that were performed by
the organization.
DC 30: Each cell of the group (known as a den) is
autonomous and follows its own agenda. But no matter
how much a den supports a cause, they only perform
assassinations if they are paid. The heroes determine roughly
how many different dens are active in the local region.
DC 35: The heroes gain accurate information about all of
he dens working in the local region including each dens size,
political leanings, and a handful of names or aliases used by
the assassins.
The fastest path into this advanced class is from the Fast
hero basic class, though other paths are possible.
Requirements
To qualify to become an Unseen Hand, a character must fulfill
the following criteria.
Base Attack Bonus: +2.
Skills: Bluff 3 ranks, Hide 6 ranks, Move Silently 6 ranks.
Feat: Archaic Weapons Proficiency or Simple Weapons
Proficiency.
Class Information
The following information pertains to the Unseen Hand
advanced class.
Hit Die
The Unseen Hand gains 1d8 hit points per level. The
characters Constitution modifier applies.
Action Points
The Unseen Hand gains a number of action points equal to 6
+ one-half his character level, rounded down, every time he
attains a new level in this class.
Class Skills
The Unseen Hands class skills (and the key ability for each
skill) are: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Disguise
(Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information
(Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge
(behavioral science, civics, current events, history, popular
culture, streetwise, tactics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently
15
 Crime and Punishment
(Dex), Profession (Wis), Read/Write Language (none),
Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language
(none), Spot (Wis), Treat Injury (Wis), Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 5 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following features pertain to the Unseen Hand advanced
class.
Sneak Attack
The Unseen Hand has the ability, when making melee attacks,
to strike at vital spots to inflict extra damage. He may only do
this when his opponent is unable to defend herself effectively
from his melee attack.
The Unseen Hands attack deals extra damage any time
his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether
the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when
the Unseen Hand flanks his target. This extra damage is 1d4
at 1st level, and it increases by 1d4 every three Unseen
Hand levels thereafter. Should the Unseen Hand score a
critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not
multiplied.
With a sap or an unarmed strike, an Unseen Hand can make
a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage. He cannot use a
weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in
a sneak attack, not even with the usual 4 penalty, because
he must make optimal use of his weapon in order to execute a
sneak attack. (For details on nonlethal damage, see Chapter 5
of the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game.)
An Unseen Hand can sneak attack only living creatures
with discernible anatomies. (Some campaigns may feature
monstrous entities that lack vital areas to attack, for example
undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures.)
Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable
to sneak attacks. The Unseen Hand must be able to see the
target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to
reach such a spot. An Unseen Hand cannot sneak attack when
striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of an
opponent whose vitals are beyond reach.
Sneaky
The Unseen Hand spends a great deal of time learning to move
about surreptitiously. He must be able to get very close to his
target in order to be completely effective.
The Unseen Hand gets a bonus equal to his class level on
all Hide and Move Silently checks.
Bonus Feat
At 2nd and 5th level, the Unseen Hand gains a bonus feat,
This feat must be selected from the following list, and the
Unseen Hand must meet any prerequisites.
Acrobatic, Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Deceptive,
Dodge, Double Tap, Improved Initiative, Low Profile, Point
Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Stealthy, Weapon
Finesse, Weapon Focus.
Ranged Sneak Attack
At 3rd level, the Unseen Hand learns how to make sneak attacks
when using ranged weapons. He may only do this when his
opponent is unable to defend herself effectively from his attack.
The Unseen Hands attack deals extra damage any time
his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether
the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the
Unseen Hand flanks his target. This extra damage is 1d4 at
3rd, and it increases to 2d4 at 9th level. Should the Unseen
Hand score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage
is not multiplied.
The Unseen Hand can apply sneak attack damage to
ranged attacks only if the target is within 10 feet. He cannot
strike with deadly accuracy from beyond that range. At 6th
level, this range increases to 20 feet, and at 9th level it
increases to 30 feet.
Improved Feint
At 8th level the Unseen Hand gains the Improved Feint class
ability which functions identically to the feat of the same name.
The Unseen Hand can make a Bluff check in combat as a
move action. (Normally, feinting in combat requires an attack
action.) He receives a +2 bonus on Bluff checks made to feint
in melee combat.

Table 11: The Unseen Hand

Class Base Attack Fort Ref Will Defense Reputation
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special Bonus Bonus
1st +0 +0 +2 +1 Sneak attack 1d4, sneaky +1 +0
2nd +1 +0 +3 +2 Bonus feat +1 +0
3rd +2 +1 +3 +2 Ranged sneak attack 1d4 (10 ft.) +2 +0
4th +3 +1 +4 +2 Sneak attack 2d4 +2 +0
5th +3 +1 +4 +3 Bonus feat +3 +1
6th +4 +2 +5 +3 Ranged sneak attack 1d4 (20 ft.) +3 +1
7th +5 +2 +5 +4 Sneak attack 3d4 +4 +1
8th +6 +2 +6 +4 Improved feint +4 +1
9th +6 +3 +6 +4 Ranged sneak attack 2d4 (30 ft.) +5 +2
10th +7 +3 +7 +5 Sneak attack 4d4 +5 +2

16
 Crime and Punishment

Hyung, ADonna & McCormick

More and more lawyers seem to be a necessary part of daily But they did have clients. In fact, after less than a month in
life. No matter what business a person is in or where she lives, business, the firm was so busy that they had to take on extra
there is a seemingly omnipresent threat of someone filing staff. Most of the cases were mere formalitiesfiling paper work
suit against her. But lawyers generally charge hundreds of for moneys or services owedand even though the firm took
dollars an hour just for consultation fees, and the profession an unlawyerly small percentage as their fee, Hyung, ADonna &
has a reputation for being shady, manipulative, and miserly. McCormick still became an exceedingly profitable venture. By
And when they find themselves in situations where a lawyer is their first anniversary the company had opened a second office,
necessary, most people have no idea where to turn. For many then two more the following year. Now the firm has storefront
low-income residents of the city, the best solution is often the offices eight of the poorest neighborhoods and regularly
offices of Hyung, ADonna & McCormick, Attorneys at Law. scheduled office hours in community centers all over city.
The owners of this practiceTan Hyung, Vincent ADonna, The majority of the firms business comes from people
and Gregory McCormickgrew up on the same block in the who are unable to afford private legal counsel but too proud
city and have been friends for as long as they can remember. to seek assistance at the free municipal legal clinics. They
They remained close through high school and, although they also take on more affluent clients, but they dont show any
went to separate colleges and law schools, stayed as close as preference to these individualsin fact, they often give the
possible through the years. Eventually they wound up as junior distinct impression that the work they do for poor clients is
partners in different law firms within the city, still friends and more important (an attitude that does not sit well with paying
colleagues. Their connection would have remained completely clients). Still, there is some prestige and an appearance
social if not for Proposition M92. of working-class virtue that goes along with having Hyung,
The legislation in question was a proposal for the city to ADonna & McCormick represent you in a case.
use eminent domain to acquire the buildings that comprised Besides legal counsel, the firms offices provide notary,
the trios old neighborhood, evict the current residents, and licensing, tax preparation, and even bail bond services which,
convert the land into a massive parking structure and public because they all are underwritten or completely paid for by
transportation depot. The friends might never have become grants and donations, they provide for no fee to their poorest
involved if not for the wording of the proposition, which clients. Other clients are asked to pay a reasonable fee for
claimed that the new edifice was meant to improve the quality the services.
of life for neighborhood residents. Tan, Vincent, and Gregory
knew the residents, and they knew that they would get no
improvement in the quality of their lives by being forced to sell
their homes and relocate. In fact, the only improvement would
be for the executives working in the nearby business district
who now would have a more convenient and secure place to
park their luxury automobiles.
The friends families had long ago moved from the
neighborhood but they still had many friends there, so
they volunteered their time and legal expertise to organize
opposition to Proposition M92. In doing so they uncovered a
basketful of sweetheart deals the Mayors office had struck
with several contractors (who also happened to be big political
contributors). They also discovered a long list of other
injustices and violations that the local residents could fight
in the courts. It was only then that they found out that their
friends had little access to and no trust for legal professionals.
After a few evenings of discussion, Hyung, ADonna, and
McCormick decided to leave their current practices and create
a new partnership designed to serve the needs of the citys
middle- and low-income residents.
During their battle over Proposition M92 the group learned
a great deal about support programs, tax incentives, grants,
and zero-interest loans that were available to businesses
located in and servicing inner city neighborhoods. They put
this knowledge, along with various contacts made at their old
jobs, to such good use that the fledgling legal firm would be
profitable even if it didnt have a client for the first three years. 17
 Crime and Punishment
Using Hyung, ADonna & McCormick
The firm of Hyung, ADonna & McCormick can serve a nearly
unique position in most campaignsa law firm that actually
has the good of the people as its mission. They can offer to
represent the heroes if they have any legal entanglements
(and they will be especially likely to do so if the heroes are
known for taking actions that protect or support the helpless
and destitute). They can also serve as a source of assignments
for the heroes, sending clients to them when their situations
are beyond the purview of legal action (the law firm might
even offer to pay a fee for this assistance, or even put the
heroes on retainer).
Hyung, ADonna & McCormick is also a resource the heroes
can use when they need help in other legal avenuesobtaining
licenses, permits, and other official documents, filing taxes,
applying for grants, setting up and managing charitable
institutions, or any other function that goes more smoothly
when a lawyer is involved. Depending on the heroes financial
situations and their participation in other ventures with the firm,
these services can possibly be gotten at a substantial discount.
Learning About Hyung, ADonna & McCormick
The heroes can learn about Hyung, ADonna & McCormick in
several different ways. The following charts present some
information and the DCs for skill checks needed to discover
that information. In each case, success at beating a DC grants
that information and all the information provided by any lower
DC results. At the GMs discretion, appropriate Knowledge
checks may be used to learn the same information.
Gather Information
This check represents the heroes talking with people who live in
the city where Hyung, ADonna & McCormick currently have one
or more offices. The information presented reflects the opinions
commonly held by average citizens (not law enforcement or
other official agencies). At the GMs discretion, the heroes may
instead use Knowledge (streetwise) to access this information,
but in that case the DCs should be increased by at least +5.
DC 5: Theyre a fancy law firm that has ads hanging in
buses and subway cars.
The Rule of Law
In many modern campaign settings, the heroes adventures
will make it necessary for them to spend a great deal of time
interacting with the police or other law enforcement agencies.
These interactions can easily be adjudicated using the
existing skills and ability modifiers. However, there are several
personality archetypes that are not completely served by the
existing rules.
It is difficult, for example, to create a tough street thug who,
despite his lack of education in nearly every other area, has
a near encyclopedic knowledge of police procedure. Likewise,
one would have a hard time creating an obnoxious, unlikable
character who can talk his way out of a traffic ticket because
18 his father is the mayors golfing buddy.
DC 10: They have a series of free legal clinics that are
advertised on late night television.
DC 15: Hyung, ADonna & McCormick is a firm that
specializes in providing quality legal representation and other
services to low-income clients. The heroes also learn the
location of the nearest storefront office.
DC 20: The heroes learn the details of the law firms most
recent high-profile cases. The also are told the location of
several more storefront offices.
DC 25: They meet someone who has been helped by
Hyung, ADonna & McCormick and can give detailed explanation
of how the firm works and what they charge.
DC 30: The heroes learn the firms history and the
background of the senior partners.
Research
This check represents the heroes combing through the
archives of newspapers or magazines, talking with local
regulators or officials, or using the Internet to call up all
available information on Hyung, ADonna & McCormick. The
information represents a broad mixture of fact and editorial
opinion. At the GMs discretion, the heroes may instead use
Knowledge (current events) to access this information, but in
that case the DCs should be increased by at least +5.
DC 5: Hyung, ADonna & McCormick are a legal firm with a
handful of offices around the city.
DC 10: The heroes uncover details of a recent case the firm
has worked on.
DC 15: The firm specializes in providing quality legal
representation to low-income clients. It also has been awarded
numerous citations and awards for its work in the various
communities it serves.
DC 20: The heroes discover the personal histories of
Hyung, ADonna, and McCormick and learn how the firm came
into existence.
DC 25: The heroes uncover records showing the various
grants, programs, and state, federal, and municipal programs
that fund the firmnothing at all illegal. In fact they seem to
be making especially effective use of the funds.
The following new feats are intended to fill those gaps,
allowing for characters to improve their ability to interact with
law enforcement agents without making them charming or
persuasive in other situations. If the Game Master does not
want to encourage the creation of characters like that, then
she may not want to allow these feats in her campaign.
Just a Warning
Law enforcement or other authorities are well disposed toward
you because of your past exploits.
Benefit: You gain a bonus equal to your character level on
Diplomacy and Gather Information checks while dealing with a
particular type of authority or government official.
 Crime and Punishment
Special: Not all law enforcement agencies are impressed
by the same things. Indeed, sometimes they can be practically
antagonistic toward one another. Before taking this feat,
discuss with the GM exactly which type of authority you want to
be able to impress.
Letter of the Law
You may not have passed the Bar exam, but you know the law.
Benefit: You gain a bonus equal to your character level
on Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Knowledge (civics), and Gather
Information checks when dealing with lawyers, judges, or other
people who work within the judicial system.
Special: Laws are different from state to state (and sometimes
from county to county). At the Game Masters discretion, the
bonus provided by this feat may be decreased when you are
dealing with laws and statutes that are significantly different than
those you are used to. If the legal system is sufficiently different
(such as in a foreign country), you may gain no benefit at all.
Well Connected
Law enforcement or other authorities are well disposed
toward you because of your or your familys personal
connections.
Benefit: You gain a bonus equal to your Reputation
bonus on Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Gather Information
checks when dealing with a particular type of authority or
governmental official.
Special: Before taking this feat, discuss with the GM exactly
who it is that you know or is related to. This bonus will only
apply when dealing with characters who know and like that
person. For example, if you are the Mayors nephew you
will get the bonus when dealing with member of the police
squad but not visiting FBI agents. And you may actually get a
significant penalty when dealing with people who dislike the
mayor (such as a member of the City Board who ran against
the mayor in the election).

The Lords of Agony

There isnt a city in America (perhaps even the world) that
does not have at least a handful of street gangs. Some gangs
are organized around geography (with membership drawn from
anyone living within a specific collection of city blocks) while
others are based on race (with each nationality and ethnic
group having its own gang). A less common sort of gang
organizes itself around a shared belief system, philosophy, or
even religion. The Lords of Agony are an example of the latter.
In point of fact, the Lords of Agony began as a social
club or, at the very least, a sporting club of sorts. The
original members were a group of men who participated
in unlicensed underground ultimate fighting matches
beating one another senseless for the entertainment of a
bloodthirsty crowd.
The gang came into existence one night when a series
of fights were unexpectedly cancelled by the police raiding
the venue and arresting the promoters just as the first bout
got underway. Most of the crowd got away, including all the
fighters except the pair in the ring. The fighters found they
had a lot in common including the fact that they all were still
riding the adrenaline high of preparing for their boutsthey
desperately wanted to fight or do something violent to blow
off steam. Holding their matches anyway was a possibility,
but without the crowd egging them on the fighters did not
feel particularly compelled to come to blows with someone
they got along with. No, what they wanted was another group
of combatants they could fight against as a team.
They got their wish when they happened across a street
gang out trying to scare up trouble. The gangers mocked
and taunted the fighters, who were still bare-chested and
wearing only fighting trunks. Without a second thought, the
new friends took the bait and started a brawl despite the
fact that they were outnumbered more than two-to-one.
Their savagery and skill quickly overcame the gang (who
had been expecting only token resistance, if any) and the
youths soon were gathering up their fallen comrades and
fleeing. Someone wondered aloud, Who the hell are those
boxer dudes? And although most of the fighters merely
laughed, one called back, Were the Lords of Agony! When
the others asked what that meant, the man said that it just
something he and some friends used to say in high school
when they wanted to scare the nerds.
That would have been the end of it. In fact it was the end
of it for several weeks until graffiti began appearing on local
buses, trains, and buildingsvarious street gangs calling
the Lords of Agony out for a battle royale. Word somehow
had spread throughout the citys gangs about this new
group and all the established gangs were looking to prove
their dominance.
Since the underground fight promoters were all still
keeping low profiles, there were no matches for the new
friends to participate in. Whats more they actually enjoyed
the chaos of street fighting even more than their usual
bouts (which had to be at least regulated enough so that the
audience could safely watch). So when the graffiti became
more insulting, calling into question the Lords of Agonys
strength, courage, and parentage, the group decided to
respond. Through graffiti of their own, the group let it be
known that they accepted one of the invitations to fight.
They knew, though, that they only won the last fight
because of the element of surprise. They would need more
than a half-dozen bare-knuckle boxers to beat a whole street
gang, and so each one invited suitably violent acquaintances
to join their gang. However, when they gathered their
forces together they found quite a few more people than
they expectedtheir acquaintances had invited other
acquaintances until they really did have a small army waiting
to be led into battle. 19
 Crime and Punishment
Despite the fact that three opposing gangs showed up
instead of just one, the results were similar to the first
fightthe Lords of Agony thrashed their rivals convincingly,
then just disappearing into the night. This infuriated the other
gangs and frustrated the police. The newest gang in town was
essentially immune from reprisals and impossible to catch.
Unlike most gangs, the Lords of Agony were not interested in
turf or control over some of the citys drug tradethey were
simply in it for the violence.
Now what was once just a lark is a very real organization.
The new members of the Lords of Agony want to know when
the next fight would be, threatening to go out and commit
random acts of violence in the gangs name if a suitable event
is not arranged. The boxers find themselves as the leaders
of a group that is more bloodthirsty than any crowd they ever
fought for, and they have no idea what to do about it.
Using the Lords of Agony
The Lords of Agony is an organization at a crossroads. Its
history so far has been one of strongly regulated violence.
The original members were all highly skilled brawlers who were
simply looking to let off a little steam. The new, larger group
contains many people who are merely sadists looking for an
excuse to commit violent acts. The direction the group takes
from here is completely in the Game Masters hands.
On the one hand, some or all of the original members
could commit to taking strong control over the group. They
might organize a communication chain and arrange for more
20
rumbles with other gangs (there certainly is no lack of
gangs that would like to see the group beaten). Through
placement of ads in newspapers and personals sections, email,
graffiti, and just word of mouth, the Lords of Agony would
function like a small army of nomads, showing up at a specific
place and time to fight against a pre-arranged opponent, but
otherwise never gathering as a whole.
In this case, the organizers will attempt to enforce
particular rules of conduct. They will forbid members of the
Lords of Agony from using any firearm or bladed weapon,
and try to instill in them a type of warriors codefighting
only against those who seek battle, never beating an
opponent who is unconscious or helpless, and other
honorable standards. The gang will be encouraged to be self-
policing, with members taking responsibility for the actions
of others around themif you see someone breaking the
code, stop them. It remains to be seen how well this plan will
work when put to the test.
On the other hand, the original members may decide that
they simply do not want to have anything to do with this new
organization. They did not set out to start a street gang and,
really, the idea frightens and repels them. In this case, the
Lords of Agony will take a much different path.
New leaders will quickly rise to take the place of the
original members. However, rather than being skilled,
principled warriors, these new leaders will be misanthropic
sadists who enjoy the thrill of committing acts of violence
and brutality and being part of a raging mob. They will not
 Crime and Punishment
go through the formality of informing their intended targets
ahead of time, nor will they put any prohibitions on what
weapons or tactics members of the Lords of Agony may
employ. The gang will be something like a flash mob,
showing up at a particular place and flying into a violent
murderous rage at a particular time with no discernable
warning or provocation. They might attack another gang,
but they might also simply show up in any large group of
civilians (at a sporting event or in the middle of a crowded
shopping district).
The original members might actually work with the police
or even organize a completely new organization to combat the
new ultra-violent Lords of Agony.
Typical Lords of Agony Members
Like any large group, the Lords of Agony is comprised of a
wide range of individuals, each with his or her own unique set
of skills and abilities. However, for the GMs purposes, it can be
supposed that the vast majority of the gang members will have
similar stats. In general they will be Tough ordinaries ranging
in level from 3rd to 10th.
For every five typical members of the gang present,
there will also be one Tough hero whose level is equal to
heroes party average level. In addition, for every twenty
typical gang members present, there will also be one Tough
hero whose level is equal to the 5 + the heroes party
average level. Below is a typical mid-level heroic member of
the gang.
Lords of Agony Gang Member (Tough 5/Martial Artist
3): CR 8; Medium-size human; HD 5d10 + 3d8 + 24; hp 65;
Mas 20; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; Defense 19 melee/18 ranged,
touch 18/17, flat-footed 16/15 (+2 Dex, +3 Tough, +2
Martial Artist, +1 leather jacket); BAB +6; Grap +9; Atk
+9 melee (1d6 +3, bludgeoning, unarmed strike); Full Atk
+9/+4 melee (1d6 +3, bludgeoning, unarmed strike); FS
5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; AL none; SQ DR 2/; SV Fort +8,
Ref +3, Will +1; AP 10; Rep: +1; Wealth: 9; Str 17, Dex 15,
Con 17, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Occupation: Adventurer (bonus class skills: Spot,
Treat Injury).
Skills: Intimidate +11, Jump +6, Spot +6, Treat Injury +5,
Tumble +8.
Talents: Damage Reduction 1/, Damage Reduction 2/,
Flying Kick, Living Weapon (1d6), Second Wind.
Feats: Combat Martial Arts, Combat Reflexes, Defensive
Martial Arts, Great Fortitude, Improved Damage Threshold,
Personal Firearms Proficiency, Power Attack, Teamwork*.
* New featif the Teamwork feat is not available in your
campaign, replace this with Cleave.
Possessions: Cell phone, leather jacket, and various
personal possessions.
Tactics: As a general rule, members of the Lords of Agony
enjoy fighting just for the fun of it. They are not bothered by
being slightly outnumbered, counting on their ferocity and
fervor to give them an edge. (If their opponents have vastly
superior numbers or armament, though, members of the Lords
of Agony will break off or avoid the battle entirelythey are
enthusiastic, not stupid.) They prefer to fight hand-to-hand,
but many gang members are also ready and willing to fight
with knives or even guns if their opponents elect to do so.
Learning About the Lords of Agony
The heroes can learn about the Lords of Agony in several
different ways. The following charts present some
information and the DCs for skill checks needed to discover
that information. In each case, success at beating a DC
grants that information and all the information provided by
any lower DC results. At the GMs discretion, appropriate
Knowledge checks may be used to learn the same
information.
Gather Information
This check represents the heroes talking with people who
live in the city where the Lords of Agony are currently
functioning. The information presented reflects the opinions
commonly held by average citizens (not law enforcement or
other official agencies). At the GMs discretion, the heroes
may instead use Knowledge (streetwise) to access this
information, but in that case the DCs should be increased by
at least +5.
DC 5: The heroes learn that the Lords of Agony are a local
street gang. No one can agree from what part of town they are
fromevery person tells them something different.
DC 10: No one can ever remember having actually seen
the gang. In fact, the only place they really know them from is
seeing their names in graffiti.
DC 15: The graffiti always seems to involve one of the
well-known street gangs insulting the Lords of Agony or
challenging them to a fight. Perhaps the Lords of Agony
arent real after all.
DC 20: One of the local gangs claims to have actually
had an encounter with the Lords of Agony. They say that the
Lords jumped them with no provocation and beat them up then
disappeared into the night.
DC 25: A few weeks ago there was a big rumble where
the Lords of Agony actually beat three other gangs in a
massive fight.
DC 40: Someone the heroes talk to knows the name Lords
of Agony. Me and some friends used to use it in high school
when we threatened to beat up the nerds. This person gives
the heroes the names of the others who used the term and
one of them is an original member of the gang.
Research
This check represents the heroes combing through the
archives of newspapers or magazines, talking with local police
or other officials, or using the Internet to call up all available
information on the gang. The information represents a broad
mixture of fact and editorial opinion. At the GMs discretion,
the heroes may instead use Knowledge (current events) to
access this information, but in that case the DCs should be
increased by at least +10.
21
 Crime and Punishment
DC 6: The phrase Lords of Agony has been showing up
frequently in graffiti recently. No one knows what it means.
DC 12: The phrase is always used as the recipient of an
insult or a challenge. It might be a new slang term meaning
losers or jerks. It might even be a term for a specific
ethnic or cultural minority (if so, the graffiti is technically a
hate crime).
DC 18: A seventeen-year-old member of a local gang
was hospitalized a few weeks back and reported that his
Mob Tactics
The d20 System does an excellent job of distilling the
wild chaos of combat into an elegant, flexible set of rules.
Because it is designed to be a fair and balanced game,
however, there are some instances where the rules smooth
over some of lifes inequities, such as the very real, but
difficult to quantify, advantage that a large group can have
over a smaller one. Or the benefits gained by fighting in a
group that has been trained to fight as a unit rather than as a
collection of individuals.
The following new feat and variant rule are designed to
make fighting groups more dangerous, and mobs something
for even high-level heroes to fear. They will heavily tip the
balance of power in favor of larger groups, so the Game Master
should consider the repercussions closely before adding these
rules to her campaign.
Teamwork
You have trained in the maneuvers and tactics of fighting as
part of a larger group.
Benefit: When you and one or more allies who also have
the Teamwork feat are in melee combat with the same single
opponent, you get the benefits of flanking no matter where
you and your allies are standing.
Normal: You gain the benefits of flanking only if your
opponent is directly between you and an ally.
Special: Allies without the Teamwork feat can still gain a
flanking bonus in the usual way.
Variant: Mob Mentality
Individually, people act in very different ways, each according
to his or her own personality and beliefs. But when a large
group of people find themselves working toward a single
goal (particularly when the group is upset or the goal is
emotionally charged) the group takes on a life of its own.
Psychologists and combat tacticians alike have spent years
studying mobs and learning that they truly are more than
just the sum of their parts. Mobs are more dangerous than
individuals. They are capable of much greater damage and do
not act according to the normal of social or moral behavior. In
many ways, a mob of people is no more logical (and no less
dangerous) than a wild animal.
22
injuries were suffered during a fight between his gang and
the Lords of Agony. There are no records of any gang using
that name.
DC 24: Police responding to a report of gang violence
arrived too late but brought several unconscious youths in for
medical treatment. Under questioning they all claimed that the
rumble was arranged by the Lords of Agony. There remains
no further record of any such gang or organization.
For the purposes of this variant rule, a mob is any unified
group of human or humanoid opponents that outnumbers a hero
or group of heroes by 10-to-1 or greater. The mob must be a
contiguous group; in other words, all members of the mob must
be adjacent to one or more other members. Members of a mob
do not get individual actions and cannot use special abilities,
talents, or featsthey simply move in conjunction with the mob.
When fighting against a mob, each round a hero
automatically suffers damage. The damage inflicted is equal to
1d3 points of bludgeoning damage for every member of the
mob standing in a square adjacent to the hero. So a hero that
is completely surrounded by a mob will suffer 8d3 points of
bludgeoning damage per round until he can either get free of
the mob or disperse it. Despite the fact that damage caused
by a mob actually comes from several sources, it counts as a
single attack for the purposes of overcoming a heros damage
reduction and massive damage threshold.
If the mob is made up of non-human creatures, the
Game Master may change the amount of damage inflicted to
reflect the creatures natural abilities. For example, a mob of
werewolves might do 1d6 points of damage for every adjacent
mob member, or a mob of troglodytes might do 1d4 points of
damage for every adjacent mob member and cause the heroes
to deal with their stench effect.
Luckily for the heroes, mobs are so densely packed that it
is easy to find an available target. The heroes do not have to
make attack rolls. They just roll damage normally based on the
weapons they are using. A mob cannot be sneak attacked and
is immune to massive damage (the heroes cannot focus their
attacks against individuals within the swarming mob). Mobs are
immune to mind control and fear effects that target individuals,
but may still be affected by these effects if they target an area
that covers more than half the mob.
In order to disperse a mob, the heroes must do lethal
damage to it equal to twice the size of the mob. So a mob
of 10 people will disperse after the heroes inflict 20 points
of lethal damage, but a mob of 100 people will not disperse
until the heroes have inflicted 200 points of damage. Once
dispersed, the individual members of a crowd may stay in
close proximity, but they each act according to their own
personality and beliefs
 Crime and Punishment

The Shield of Justice (The Shield of Retribution)

Crime can be a big problem in a modern urban setting. There while defensive action such as neighborhood patrols were
are a finite number of law enforcement officials on duty at any good for preventing petty crime on the streets, the only way to
one time, and there are a seemingly endless number of petty, affect the hardcore violent crime that plagued the city was to
violent criminals waiting to victimize the citizenry when those take offensive measures.
officials are not around. Faced with this escalating threat, some Ray gathered several men and women he knew from his
citizens adopt a siege mentality, locking themselves in their days in the Army as well as a handful members of the Shield
homes and hoping that it will pass them by. Others, however, of Justice who had expressed a desire to take a more active
prefer to be more proactive. stand against crime. He explained to them that, just as the U.S.
Ray Ensino was one such motivated individual. Rather than Army has regular infantry and Special Forces, the Shield of
give in to the criminal element that plagued his city, he organized Justice needed a group of highly trained, motivated individuals
a neighborhood watch group. A retired Army Ranger, Ray was to strike against enemies that were particularly too powerful,
able to give his volunteers basic training in surveillance and determined, or well-connected. This new group, he said, would
self-defense. In order to give his volunteers a greater sense of be called the Shield of Retribution.
accomplishment and esprit de corps, he always referred to the This new secret organizations first assignment was to
group as a unit and their nightly walks around the neighborhood identify and neutralize the perpetrators the twenty-six killings
as missions. Most importantly, rather than refer to the group that plagued Ray Ensinos conscience. He made no bones about
as a neighborhood watch he called it the Shield of Justice. ithe wanted those responsible dead. And his new group
Ray presented members of the group with commendations of enforcers was more than happy to oblige. In less than two
for effective work. He rewarded individuals for alerting the months, before the police were able to solve any of the cases,
police to a crime in progress (drug deals, robberies, etc.) or the Shield of Retribution made the point moot by making a series
simply for helping a neighbor in need (bringing meals to the of surgically precise strikes and killing the individuals.
elderly, walking children home after school, etc.), giving them From that point on, Ray used the information gathered by
pins for minor accomplishments and medals for major ones. the various chapters of the Shield of Justice to plan a literal war
In a matter of only a few months, the neighborhood was not against crime, and used the members of the Shield of Retribution
only safer, but also a generally much more pleasant place. Ray to fight the battles. The vast majority of the volunteers know
was even able to convince the local merchants association to nothing about the dual nature of the organizationthey simply
buy red and gold varsity-style jackets that Shield of Justice
members could wear while on patrol.
Owning one of these jackets became a point of pride for
members of the organization. Wearing it marked them as
local heroes, particularly if it was festooned with medals and
pinsstrangers would stop them on the street just to shake
their hands, and not just in their neighborhood either. Thanks
to several newspaper articles and a story on the local news
broadcast, the Shields of Justice were becoming recognized
all around the city, and Ray Ensino was being asked to speak
at community functions and organize new chapters of the
organization for other neighborhoods.
Thats when disaster struck.
Perhaps a member of the Shield of Justice inadvertently
interfered with a major organized crime initiative. Maybe a street
gang simply wanted to prove that they were tougher than a
bunch of middle-aged do-gooders. Whatever the reason, in a
single night twenty-six men and women were brutally murdered
simply because they were wearing red and gold jackets. Several
of the victims were not even members of the Shield of Justice
they just happened to be wearing jackets of similar design.
To the credit of volunteers across the city, membership in the
Shield of Justice actually increased following this incident. Rather
than being scared off, people were becoming more determined
than ever to help rid their city of such violence. Unfortunately,
the incident had a different effect on Ray Ensino.
He was haunted by the belief that he was responsible for
the deaths of twenty-six innocent victims. Ray decided that 23
 Crime and Punishment
are giving their time to patrol the streets and make their homes
safer. But whenever Ray assists a new neighborhood in forming
a branch of the Shield of Justice, he scouts the new members for
likely candidates to join his inner circle.
Using the Shield of Justice
Any campaign that features a crime-ridden city (or even just a
neighborhood that has fallen on hard times) will have a place for
the Shield of Justice. These are concerned, motivated citizens
who are willing to take an active role in cleaning up their home. For
the most part they are middle-aged men and women without any
real skills in combattheyre just average folks (in other words,
ordinary characters). They are, however, generally trustworthy
and willing to provide the heroes with shelter, support, and most
of all information about the goings on in their part of town.
The Shield of Justice can be used as the spark for
adventuresmembers of the group bringing the heroes
information that starts a new investigation. The group can also
serve as a safety valvecalling in the police if the heroes get
into troubleor even a complicating factor if the volunteers
manage to put themselves in harms way.
It is certainly possible for a campaign to use only the Shield
of Justice. There are many similar organizations in the real
world. Ray Ensino started out as a man with a philanthropic
missionthere is no reason why he cannot stay purely that in
any given campaign.
Using the Shield of Retribution
Although this organization is described here as the secret inner
circle of the Shield of Justice, the background can be modified
to suit the needs of a particular campaign. What really matters
is that the Shield of Retribution is a small organization of
highly trained people who are engaged in fighting criminals
on their own terms. To be plainer, members of the Shield
of Retribution believe quite literally in the eye for an eye
philosophy of social justice.
Although the group aims to do good and protect innocent
citizens, the fact of the matter remains that the Shield of
Retribution is a gang of thugs and murderersits just that
their victims are all murderers and thieves themselves. Ray
Ensino runs the organization like a military unit. He demands
complete discipline and accountability from his troops, even
when their missions require the commission of capital crimes.
Members of the Shield of Retribution are usually heroic
characters. They often have military experience, but at the very
least have strong training in the use of firearms and hand-to-
hand combat. As a whole they believe that the ends justifies
the meansarson, battery, and even murder are acceptable
strategies to employ in order to eliminate the criminal element
in the city.
Ray Ensino
Although Ray was once a focused, assertive man trying to
make the world a safer place, the belief that he is responsible
for the deaths of twenty-six civilians and responsible for the
lives of everyone who wears a Shield of Justice jacket has
24 pushed him over the edge. He is now an obsessed, moody,
violent man who is willing to do anything to protect his people
and mete out retribution.
A shadow of his former self, Ray stands about six-feet tall
and has broad shoulders, but underneath he is too lean. He
trains compulsively, working out in the gym and at the firing
range daily, and has a nervous demeanor. Ray jumps whenever
someone calls out his name, and assumes a defensive martial
arts posture practically every time he is touched. Most
people believe that he is just worn because of all the public
appearances and fund raising hes done, but the truth of the
matter is that Ray Ensino is wound too tightand theres no
telling when hes going to snap.
Ray Ensino (Fast 3/Gunslinger 3): CR 6; Medium-size
human; HD 3d8 + 3d10 +18; hp 45; Mas 16; Init +8; Spd 35
ft.; Defense 22, touch 20, flat-footed 18 (+4 Dex, +4 Fast,
+2 Gunslinger, +2 light undercover shirt); BAB +5; Grap +7;
Atk +3 melee (1d4 +2, piercing, knife) or +10 ranged (2d6,
ballistic, Beretta 92F); Full Atk +3 melee (1d4 +2, piercing,
knife) or +10 ranged (2d6, ballistic, Beretta 92F); FS 5 ft. by
5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; AL Shield of Justice/Retribution; SV Fort +5,
Ref +8, Will +4; AP 9; Rep: +2; Wealth: 8; Str 15, Dex 19, Con
16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Occupation: Military (bonus class skills: Knowledge
(tactics), Survival).
Skills: Hide +12, Intimidate +3, Knowledge (tactics)
+6, Move Silently +15, Sleight of Hand +10, Survival +7,
Tumble +13.
Talents: Close Combat Shot, Evasion, Increased Speed,
Weapon Focus (Beretta 92F).
Feats: Double Tap, Improved Initiative, Personal Firearms
Proficiency, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Stealthy, Track.
Possessions: Beretta 92F, knife, light undercover shirt,
night vision goggles, walkie-talkie (professional), and various
personal possessions.
Tactics: Ray is a trained commando, and he applies the
tactics he learned as an Army Ranger to his work on the
streets. His missions are always tightly planned and secondary
personnel are highly trained and given clear directions
regarding the target, the rules of engagement, and what
to do should the plan fall apart. In general, these missions
revolve around assassinating criminalsdrug dealers, hit
men, kidnappers. He considers the good done for the innocent
citizens of the city to outweigh any moral questionability of his
actions. Once the assignment is complete, or it becomes clear
that it is unattainable, Ray and his team leave as quickly and
quietly as possible. They will not take action against anyone
other than their targets unless they come under direct fire.
Learning About
the Shield of Justice/Retribution
The heroes can learn about the Shield of Justice and the Shield
of Retribution in several different ways. The following charts
present some information and the DCs for skill checks needed
to discover that information. In each case, success at beating
a DC grants that information and all the information provided
by any lower DC results. At the GMs discretion, appropriate
Knowledge checks may be used to learn the same information.
 Crime and Punishment
Gather Information
This check represents the heroes talking with people who live
in the city where these organizations are currently functioning.
The information presented reflects the opinions commonly
held by average citizens (not law enforcement or other official
agencies). At the GMs discretion, the heroes may instead use
Knowledge (streetwise) to access this information, but in that
case the DCs should be increased by at least +5.
DC 5: Thats those guys who wear the red jacketsI think
theyre a gang or something.
DC 10: The Shield of Justice is a neighborhood watch
group. You can tell members because they wear red and gold
jackets with lots of pins and stuff on them.
DC 15: There are lots of individual branches of the Shield
of Justice operating in different neighborhoods. Theres one
guy who runs them all, though.
DC 20: Ray Ensino started the group a few years back to
help clean up his own neighborhood, now hes helping other
areas do the same thing.
DC 25: Ray is ex-Army. He teaches basic tactics and skills
to each new group he organizes.
DC 30: There are rumors that some members of the Shield
of Justice do more than just patrol their neighborhoods. People
say that sometimes they take matters into their own hands.
DC 35: I heard that a local drug pusher was murdered
the other night, and a witness saw someone in a red and gold
jacket do it.
Research
This check represents the heroes combing through the
archives of newspapers or magazines, talking with local
police or other officials, or using the Internet to call up all
available information on these organizations. The information
Firepower
The following new feats are designed to allow characters
to use firearms to shoot at particularly vulnerable spots on
their targets. They sacrifice accuracy in order to increase the
damage caused when they do hit.
These feats are appropriate for use in any modern
campaign that features guns and firefights. The GM should
be aware, however, that they make firearms even more
deadly than they already are. Adding these feats is likely to
significantly increase the frequency with which the Massive
Damage rules come into play.
Firepower
You have a knack for shooting targets in especially
vulnerable spots.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +3, Point Blank Shot,
Precise Shot.
Benefit: On your action, before making attack rolls for a
round, you may choose to subtract a number from all ranged
attack rolls and add half that number (round down) to all
ranged damage rolls. This number may not exceed your base
represents a broad mixture of fact and editorial opinion. At
the GMs discretion, the heroes may instead use Knowledge
(current events) to access this information, but in that case the
DCs should be increased by at least +10.
DC 5: The Shield of Justice is a loose affiliation of
neighborhood watch organizations. Members can be identified
by the red and gold jackets they wear.
DC 10: The group was founded by Ray Ensino a few years
ago. Wherever it has been introduced, it has reduced the local
crime rate by at least 15%.
DC 15: Ray has become a local media star. He has been
interviewed by just about every local magazine, newspaper,
and television station. He refuses to get involved with
politicshe says his only goal is to help people make their
streets safer.
DC 20: The Shield of Justice has given a greater focus on
self-defense since an incident a few years back when several
members were hurt while on patrol.
DC 25: The hero learns details about the 26 murders
(including the fact that not all of them were members of the
group). After that night, Ray stops appearing in the media
almost completely.
DC 30: A handful of police reports contain claims that
members of the Shield of Justice have been responsible for
aggravated assault. All these reports come from recidivist
drug dealers and violent criminals, though, and are not
considered credible.
DC 35: Several criminals that the police have been
investigating or monitoring have recently gone missing. All of
them resided in neighborhoods that were home to branches
of the Shield of Justice. There is no evidence linking these
two facts, but it is a coincidence that has not gone unnoticed
by officials.
attack bonus. The penalty on attacks and bonus on damage
applies until your next action.
Special: You may not use both Firepower and Power Attack
during the same round.
Improved Firepower
Your ability to shoot particularly vulnerable spots increases.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6, Point Blank Shot,
Precise Shot, Firepower.
Benefit: On your action, before making attack rolls for the
round, you may choose to subtract a number from all ranged
attack rolls and add the same number to all ranged damage
rolls. This number may not exceed your base attack bonus. The
penalty on attacks and bonus on damage applies until your
next action.
Special: Improved Firepower replaces the benefits gained
through the Firepower featthe two feats may not be used
in conjunction. You may not use both Improved Firepower and
Power Attack during the same round.
25
 Appendix: Open Game License
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places, and events; all artwork, trade dress, and graphic design elements.
Designation of Open Game Content:
All text in green boxes on pages 325.
Open Game License Version 1.0a
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display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)Open Game Content means the game me-
chanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such
content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art
and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor,
and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.;
Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan,
Stan!, Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on material by
Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell,
John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker.
Modern Organizations: Crime and Punishment, Copyright 2005 The Game Mechanics, Inc.;
Author: Stan!