Difference between revisions of "Cabal (IB)"

Revision as of 21:41, 17 October 2025

A Cabal is a covert political alliance—agenda-setters who move levers through intrigue, favors, and pressure. In the habitats and along the lanes, they sway councils, route licenses, media narratives, and patronage webs. Goals vary: force a reform, seat a proxy on a board, break a rival bloc, or midwife a new polity.

Heat & Wanted Level

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ | ☐☐☐☐

Credit

☐☐☐☐ | Vault ☐☐☐☐ | Vault 2 ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

Special Abilities

Masters of Intrigue: Each PC may add +1 action rating to Command, Consort, or Sway (up to a max rating of 3).
Manners: +1d to Consort and Sway in high society (councils, boards, guild salons).
Network of Allies: Treat up to three +3 Faction statuses as if they were Turf.
Patronage: Advancing your Tier costs half the usual Credit. Who is your patron? Why do they fund you?
Revolutionaries: +1d to Command and Sway when dealing with workers, residents, and the underclass.
Rumor Mill: You may always use Consort as a flashback to Set Up a later Command or Sway action.
Whispered Secrets: +1d to Gather Information about influential figures, blocs, and committees.
Additional Playbook: Select another crew playbook. You may now choose its Upgrades and Special Abilities. Immediately gain access to the Crew XP track.

Crew XP

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 XP (or mark 2 XP if that item occurred multiple times):

Use intrigue, manipulation, or persuasion to advance your agenda or control others.
Contend with challenges above your current station.
Bolster your crew’s reputation or develop a new one.
Express the goals, drives, inner conflict, or essential nature of the crew.

Contacts

Arlen, a habitat councilor.
Cassio, an inter-polity envoy.
Ilyas, an intelligence analyst.
Lanthys, a trade regulator.
Merva, a clandestine cell organizer.
Saruul, a sector noble-patron.

Crew Upgrades

Starting Upgrades Cohort (Rooks), Hidden Lair, 2 of choice.

Cabal Only Upgrades ☐ Classy Clothes — (+1 apparent lifestyle) ☐ High Society Contacts — (+1d Engagement on Social plans) ☐ Manifesto — Gain +1 Reputation when you add or improve a cohort. ☐ Spies — +1d to Gather Information about individuals. ☐ Grease — +2 Credit payoff on scores that influence specific individuals. ☐ Salon — +1d Engagement on plans involving high society. ☐ Network — During downtime, roll dice equal to your Tier. Gain Credit equal to the highest result, minus your Heat. ☐ Safehouse — Reduce Heat by 2 per score. ☐ Turf — Reduces the Credit cost multiplier to advance crew Tier. (May be taken multiple times.) ☐ Lair — Your network’s secure base of operations. ☐ Cold Drop — +1d to Acquire Asset rolls. ☐ Firebrand — During downtime, roll dice equal to your Tier. Gain Credit equal to the highest result, minus your Heat. ☐ Flashpoint — +1d Engagement on plans involving commoners. ☐ Influence — +2 Credit payoff on scores that sway a group. ☐ Informants — +1d to Gather Information about political groups. ☐ Cover Identities — +1d Engagement on Deception and Social plans.

Common Crew Upgrades

Available to all crews. See Crew Playbooks for an explanation of all terms below.

Base: ☐,☐ Life support, ☐,☐ Power, ☐,☐ Maneuver, ☐,☐ Gravity, ☐,☐ Camouflage, ☐,☐ Security.

Assets: ☐,☐,☐,☐ Investment — Reduces the base cost of improving Tier, before multiplication.

Installations: ☐,☐ Quarters, ☐☐☐☐ Training, ☐,☐ Vault, ☐,☐ Venue, ☐,☐ Prison, ☐,☐ Workshop, ☐,☐ Medical.

Vehicles: ☐,☐ Shuttles, ☐,☐ Fighters, ☐,☐ Runabouts.

Quality: ☐ Documents, ☐ Gear, ☐ Implements, ☐ Supplies, ☐ Tools, ☐ Weapons.

Vices: ☐ Faith, ☐ Gambling, ☐ Luxury, ☐ Obligation, ☐ Pleasure, ☐ Stupor, ☐ Weird.

Cohorts ☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐,☐ Cohort: (Max 2 per tier). Each cohort begins with one Flaw. ☐ Add Edge or remove flaw from one cohort. Repeatable

Cohorts

Each cohort is either a Team or an Expert with one Type and one Flaw. A maximum of 2 cohorts for each Tier. Each cohort needs this data.

Name:

☐ Team or ☐ Expert. This is where your initial upgrade investment is checked.

Type: First type is free. You can add one additional Type by spending an upgrade. ☐ Agents, ☐ Engineers, ☐ Marines, ☐ Scientists, ☐ Security, ☐ Winghands.

Edges. Each cohorts can add edges as if they were upgrades. ☐ Armored, ☐ Elite, ☐ Fearsome, ☐ Independent, ☐ Loyal.

Flaws. Each cohorts can remove flaws at the cost of an upgrade: ☐ Ally, ☐ Compromised, ☐ Intelligent, ☐ Principled, ☐ Savage, ☐ Unreliable, ☐ Wild.

Damage: Cross one box per level of harm: (☐ Armor), ☐ Weak, ☐ Impaired, ☐ Broken.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{IB}}
-A cabal is an alliance of political actors who aim to push an agenda. Using intrigue and persuasion, the cabal works to influence society around them. Their goals can vary widely: starting a revolution, installing a pretender to power, advancing a social cause, defeating a rival faction, or pursuing an entirely different agenda.
+A '''Cabal''' is a covert political alliance—agenda-setters who move levers through intrigue, favors, and pressure. In the habitats and along the lanes, they sway councils, route licenses, media narratives, and patronage webs. Goals vary: force a reform, seat a proxy on a board, break a rival bloc, or midwife a new polity.
 === Heat & Wanted Level ===
 ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ | ☐☐☐☐
-=== Coin ===
+=== Credit ===
 ☐☐☐☐ | Vault ☐☐☐☐ | Vault 2 ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐
 === Special Abilities ===
-# '''Masters of Intrigue:''' Each PC may add +1 action rating to Command, Consort, or Sway (up to a max rating of 3).
+# '''Masters of Intrigue:''' Each PC may add +1 action rating to '''Command''', '''Consort''', or '''Sway''' (up to a max rating of 3).
-# '''Manners:''' Gain +1d on Consort and Sway in high society.
+# '''Manners:''' +1d to '''Consort''' and '''Sway''' in high society (councils, boards, guild salons).
-# '''Network of Allies:''' Treat up to three +3 faction statuses as if they were turf.
+# '''Network of Allies:''' Treat up to three '''+3 Faction''' statuses as if they were '''Turf'''.
-# '''Patronage:''' Advancing your '''Tier''' costs half the usual coin. ''Who is your patron? Why do they support your cause?''
+# '''Patronage:''' Advancing your '''Tier''' costs half the usual '''Credit'''. ''Who is your patron? Why do they fund you?''
-# '''Revolutionaries:''' Gain +1d on Command and Sway when dealing with the poor.
+# '''Revolutionaries:''' +1d to '''Command''' and '''Sway''' when dealing with workers, residents, and the underclass.
-# '''Rumor Mill:''' Crew can always use Consort as a flashback to Set Up a Command or Sway action.
+# '''Rumor Mill:''' You may always use '''Consort''' as a flashback to '''Set Up''' a later '''Command''' or '''Sway''' action.
-# '''Whispered Secrets:''' Gain +1d to Gather Information about influential figures and groups.
+# '''Whispered Secrets:''' +1d to '''Gather Information''' about influential figures, blocs, and committees.
-# '''Additional Playbook:''' Select another crew playbook. You may now select its Claims, Special Abilities, Crew Contacts, and Upgrades. Immediately gain access to the Crew XP track.
+# '''Additional Playbook:''' Select another crew playbook. You may now choose its '''Upgrades''' and '''Special Abilities'''. Immediately gain access to the Crew XP track.
 === Crew XP ===
 At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 XP (or mark 2 XP if that item occurred multiple times):
-# Use intrigue, manipulation, or persuasion to further your agenda or control others.
+# Use intrigue, manipulation, or persuasion to advance your agenda or control others.
 # Contend with challenges above your current station.
-# Bolster your crew's reputation or develop a new one.
+# Bolster your crew’s reputation or develop a new one.
 # Express the goals, drives, inner conflict, or essential nature of the crew.
 === Contacts ===
-# Arlen, a politician.
+# Arlen, a habitat councilor.
-# Cassio, a diplomat.
+# Cassio, an inter-polity envoy.
-# Ilyas, a spy.
+# Ilyas, an intelligence analyst.
-# Lanthys, an official.
+# Lanthys, a trade regulator.
-# Merva, a secret society agent.
+# Merva, a clandestine cell organizer.
-# Saruul, a noble.
+# Saruul, a sector noble-patron.
 === Crew Upgrades ===
 '''Starting Upgrades'''
-Cohort (Rooks), Hidden Lair, 2 of choice.
+Cohort ('''Rooks'''), '''Hidden Lair''', 2 of choice.
 '''Cabal Only Upgrades'''
-☐ Classy Clothes (+1 apparent lifestyle)
+☐ Classy Clothes — (+1 apparent lifestyle)
-☐ High Society Contacts (+1 engagement roll for Social plans)
+☐ High Society Contacts — (+1d Engagement on '''Social''' plans)
-☐ '''Manifesto''' — Gain +1 Reputation when you add or improve a cohort.
+☐ '''Manifesto''' — Gain +1 '''Reputation''' when you add or improve a cohort.
 ☐ '''Spies''' — +1d to '''Gather Information''' about individuals.
-☐ '''Grease''' — +2 Coin payoff on scores that influence specific individuals.
+☐ '''Grease''' — +2 '''Credit''' payoff on scores that influence specific individuals.
 ☐ '''Salon''' — +1d Engagement on plans involving high society.
-☐ '''Network''' — During downtime, roll dice equal to your Tier. Gain Coin equal to the highest result, minus your Heat.
+☐ '''Network''' — During downtime, roll dice equal to your '''Tier'''. Gain '''Credit''' equal to the highest result, minus your '''Heat'''.
-☐ '''Safehouse''' — Reduce Heat by 2 per score.
+☐ '''Safehouse''' — Reduce '''Heat''' by 2 per score.
-☐ '''Turf''' — Reduces the Coin cost multiplier to advance crew Tier. ''(May be taken multiple times.)''
+☐ '''Turf''' — Reduces the '''Credit''' cost multiplier to advance crew '''Tier'''. ''(May be taken multiple times.)''
 ☐ '''Lair''' — Your network’s secure base of operations.
 ☐ '''Cold Drop''' — +1d to '''Acquire Asset''' rolls.
-☐ '''Firebrand''' — During downtime, roll dice equal to your Tier. Gain Coin equal to the highest result, minus your Heat.
+☐ '''Firebrand''' — During downtime, roll dice equal to your '''Tier'''. Gain '''Credit''' equal to the highest result, minus your '''Heat'''.
 ☐ '''Flashpoint''' — +1d Engagement on plans involving commoners.
-☐ '''Influence''' — +2 Coin payoff on scores that sway a group.
+☐ '''Influence''' — +2 '''Credit''' payoff on scores that sway a group.
 ☐ '''Informants''' — +1d to '''Gather Information''' about political groups.
 ☐ '''Cover Identities''' — +1d Engagement on '''Deception''' and '''Social''' plans.
 {{ : Include Crew Commonalities (IB) }}
-=== Opportunities ===
-{| class="wikitable" align=right
-|+ '''Random Forms'''
-|-
-|
-# Air
-# Animal
-# Darkness
-# Death
-# Earth
-# Electricity
-# Fire
-# Flux
-# Ice
-# Illusion
-# Kinesis
-# Life
-# Light
-# Metal
-# Mind
-# Order
-# Plant
-# Space
-# Time
-# Water
-|}
-# Spirit of a random [[Powers (FiD)#Forms|Form]].
-# Monster of a random [[Powers (FiD)#Forms|Form]].
-# Magic secrets of a random [[Powers (FiD)#Forms|Form]].
-# Sorcerous specialist of a random [[Powers (FiD)#Forms|Form]].
-# Magic item of a random [[Powers (FiD)#Forms|Form]].
-# Power source of a random [[Powers (FiD)#Forms|Form]].
-# Cartel opportunity.
-# Cult opportunity.
-# Delver opportunity.
-# Glimmer opportunity.
-# Manhunter opportunity.
-# Soldier opportunity.
-# Traveler opportunity.
-# Troupe opportunity.
-# Warden opportunity.
-# A charismatic speaker is rallying crowds to oppose your cabal’s agenda. Deal with them.
-# A city official has gone missing under suspicious circumstances.
-# A disgraced noble wants to regain their title and offers to share hidden knowledge in exchange for your support.
-# A dying noble with no heirs wants to ensure their legacy by naming your cabal as benefactors—if you can secure their last wish.
-# A foreign power seeks to destabilize the region and offers your cabal a fortune to assist their covert operations.
-# A growing cult worships a forbidden power and seeks influence over key officials.
-# A hidden vault containing important historical artifacts has been discovered.
-# A key military commander’s loyalty is in question.
-# A master spy approaches your cabal with a dangerous proposition: work together to eliminate a key figure.
-# A merchant's guild controlling vital trade routes demands an alliance. Use their resources for your gain or cripple their monopoly.
-# A new law threatens your cabal’s activities. Either sway lawmakers to your cause or ensure the law is never enforced.
-# A noble house hires your cabal to undermine a rival by any means necessary.
-# A once-loyal ally is being blackmailed by your enemies. Free them from their bonds or let them fall to ruin.
-# A political marriage is about to take place. Interfere, or just network?
-# A political marriage is offered.
-# A popular entertainer is gaining influence among the masses, rivaling your cabal's sway. Neutralize their threat or co-opt their talents.
-# A powerful aristocrat is back talking you, threatening your reputation.
-# A powerful merchant guild threatens to sway the political landscape in your enemy’s favor. Sabotage their operations.
-# A powerful power-weilder offers to enchant your cabal’s assets, but their price may be steep—and their true motives unclear.
-# A pretender to an important post offers a lucrative partnership to put them in power, but can you trust their promises?
-# A prominent aristocrat is rumored to have an unsavory secret that could ruin them. Investigate and use it to your advantage.
-# A reclusive scholar holds knowledge of ancient power that could shift the balance in your favor. Convince, coerce, or steal from them to claim it.
-# A reformed criminal with ties to your cabal’s enemies offers to sell out their former associates—if you can protect them from retaliation.
-# A rising politician seeks your help to sway the common people in their favor.
-# A rival cabal has infiltrated your political circle. Identify and dismantle their network before they can act against you.
-# A rival faction has blackmail material on a powerful official. Steal or destroy it to weaken their influence.
-# A rival faction plans a coup. Infiltrate their ranks and decide whether to assist them or sabotage their plans from within.
-# A secret assassination plot is in motion targeting a figure you have plans for. Uncover the conspirators and decide whether to stop or assist them.
-# A secret society invites your cabal to a clandestine meeting. They claim to share your goals but may have their own hidden agenda.
-# A wealthy faction is backing your political rivals. Break the alliance or ally with their enemies.
-# An aristocrat falls in love with one of the crew.
-# An influential cult could be swayed to endorse your cabal’s agenda, but first, you must deal with their internal opposition.
-# An uprising is brewing, and its leaders seek your counsel. Will you help guide them to power, or exploit their cause for your own ends?
-# Someone is spreading vicious rumors about you.
-# The city’s criminal underworld is being united under a powerful new leader. Can you strike a deal or disrupt their growing influence?
-# There is a strong sentiment to end political corruption.
-# Whispers of rebellion stir among the lower classes—can you manipulate them to your benefit?
-# You learn of a scandalous affair between members of two powerful rival groups.
-# The Cabal uncovers blackmail material on a prominent merchant guild leader.
-# An influential noble offers the Cabal a secret alliance in exchange for sabotaging a rival.
-# The Cabal learns of an impending peasant revolt and must decide whether to support or suppress it.
-# A key member of the Cabal is accused of heresy and faces trial by the church.
-# The Cabal intercepts a coded message revealing a foreign power's plot to destabilize the city.
-# A wealthy patron offers funding if the Cabal can ensure their controversial invention is legalized.
-# A trusted informant disappears after hinting at corruption in the city watch.
-# The Cabal is invited to a masked ball where critical political alliances are forged.
-# The Cabal must smuggle an exiled scholar back into the city to secure their research.
-# A secret society rivaling the Cabal seeks to expose their operations to the public.
-# A plague outbreak provides the Cabal an opportunity to sway public opinion through relief efforts.
-# The Cabal's printing press is seized by authorities for distributing subversive pamphlets.
-# An assassin targets a Cabal member who holds vital information about an upcoming election.
-# The Cabal discovers a forgotten noble bloodline and debates using it to install a puppet ruler.
-# The Cabal must navigate a dangerous deal with a notorious criminal syndicate to fund their goals.
-# A rival politician offers to share power if the Cabal helps them secure a military contract.
-# A famous artist is commissioned to create a work that could inspire rebellion if completed.
-# The Cabal gains evidence of embezzlement in a key infrastructure project and must exploit it.
-# A charismatic preacher gains popularity by denouncing the Cabal's agenda.
-# The Cabal is tasked with protecting a young heir whose policies could benefit their cause.
-# The discovery of an ancient artifact could either legitimize the Cabal’s claims or doom them.
-# A disgraced merchant approaches the Cabal, offering access to secret trade routes in exchange for protection from their rivals.
-# A prominent judge seeks your help to uncover a bribery scandal that threatens their career.
-# A hidden cache of magical weapons has been discovered in a recently unearthed ruin.
-# A powerful family offers their ancestral lands as an alliance gift, but their loyalty is questionable.
-# A celebrated war hero asks for your support to discredit their rivals and secure a political position.
-# A prominent scholar claims to have decoded an ancient prophecy relevant to your cabal's goals.
-# A notorious bandit king offers to align with the Cabal if you can help eliminate a rival gang.
-# A new festival creates an opportunity to influence public sentiment through targeted displays or sabotage.
-# A wealthy noble has an unguarded vault during a family dispute—exploit it or mediate for profit.
-# A rival cabal spreads rumors about your members, threatening your alliances and reputation.
-# A secret passage into a heavily guarded district is revealed by an informant. Use it wisely.
-# A foreign diplomat seeks an audience, offering an alliance to shift the balance of power in the city.
-# A charismatic revolutionary seeks the Cabal's backing to overthrow the ruling elite.
-# A recent earthquake has exposed a hidden network of tunnels beneath a powerful rival's estate.
-# A rival faction’s prized informant wants to defect but demands a steep price for their loyalty.
-# A city-wide curfew threatens your operations; manipulate the authorities or find covert ways around it.
-# A rising playwright offers to embed subtle propaganda into their work for the Cabal’s agenda.
-# An influential trade guild is caught smuggling contraband. Decide whether to expose or partner with them.
-# A powerful sorcerer offers forbidden knowledge in exchange for your help eliminating a mutual rival.
-# A renowned chef is secretly funding a resistance movement. Decide whether to expose or control them.
-# A recently deceased noble's will contains clauses that could greatly benefit your cabal—if manipulated.
-# A religious festival brings a wave of pilgrims, creating opportunities for influence and recruitment.
-# An underground fighting ring offers lucrative alliances but draws dangerous attention from the law.
-# A long-lost heir to a minor noble family appears, seeking the Cabal’s aid in reclaiming their title.
-# A rival faction is weakened after a failed operation; capitalize on their disarray to expand your influence.
-# A powerful alchemist offers to supply your cabal with experimental elixirs in exchange for rare components.