Tribute

Every underworld Character above the lowest rank in a gang earns 'Tribute' (a 'payment of respect') from at least one other Character in the gang, and often two or three. Similarly, player-Bosses pay Tribute to a recognized superior Boss, and each receives Tribute from 0-3 Bosses below him. By this means are Syndicates and Mafia Families formed - with a hierarchy based entirely on this 'payment of respect'. The only underworld Characters who do not pay this weekly Tribute to another are the leading Bosses known as Heads of Syndicates and Mafia Families, and indeed it is this alone (the fact that they refuse to pay anyone else) which defines the very essence of a Head Boss. The weekly Tribute paid by one Character to another is a set percentage (30%) of his total net income, this being the income he has left after all his expenses are paid. Also from net income will he draw his own earnings and living expenses (also 30% of net income, which goes into his 'Personal Account') and a percentage for future investment & expansion (the remaining 40% of net income, which goes into his 'Business Account'). It is possible for a disillusioned or otherwise unhappy gang member to try to rob his superior by not paying the full weekly Tribute. Characters with good 'Accountancy' skills might discover this and act appropriately. Similarly, the semi-legitimate 'Accountant' Character has the ability to carry out an audit of another gang member's finances on the orders of the Boss, which would usually uncover any significant perfidy of this nature. The Tribute paid from one Boss to another Boss is also a percentage, but could be anything from 10-50%, with a default of 30%. This is set by the Head of the Syndicate or Family and applies to all Bosses under his control. Most will leave the Boss Tribute at 30%, though some will alter it at different times for various reasons. It is also possible for one Boss to attempt to cheat another out of some of his rightful Tribute, regardless of what the Head of his Syndicate or Family says it should be. However, as with his own Characters, any Boss can have one of his Accountants conduct an audit of any Boss paying him Tribute, to check that he is not being robbed. What you do if evidence of such perfidy is found is entirely your own decision. Bear in mind that a Boss can order the Execution of any Character ranked below him in the Syndicate / Family hierarchy, including any Boss Character. Executions only rarely fail.