Characteristics

The ten physical & mental Characteristics are the most important Character Attributes, combining to determine exactly how a particular character looks, thinks, acts and reacts in any given situation. The Characteristics themselves are described further down on this page under Characteristic Types. Characteristics are virtually unique in that these particular character attributes never change. An ugly character will always be ugly, and a short one will always be short. Similarly, his personality, ethics and personal mannerisms will also remain unchanged through the course of the game, dictated as these are by his Characteristics. Characteristics are also used to determine the Aptitude for each of a character's ten Abilities and ten Skills - literally, how good in a particular Ability or Skill he is capable of eventually becoming. For example, the Characteristics Reflexes and Composure are the two most important in determining a Character's aptitude for Marksmanship Skill, meaning that if he has naturally poor reflexes or easily becomes very tense, irrational or angry in tight situations, then he will never be much good in a gunfight or as a hitman because his reactions will always be slow and his aim very poor. All of a character's various Skills & Abilities are affected by three or more of his personal Characteristics, and to varying degrees for each. Generally speaking, the higher the rating for each Characteristic, the better, but this is not always the case: Aptitude in some of the Skills & Abilities can also benefit from a very low rating in one particular characteristic, but you have to determine for yourself what these might be. One fairly obvious example would be that being exceptionally ugly (ie. having very low Charisma) would be beneficial for any character developing his 'Interrogation' Ability, as a more frightening personal appearance can give a useful psychological edge in such circumstances. All else being exactly equal, a very ugly guy would make a more terrifying (and therefore more efficient) interrogator than might a good-looking guy. Characteristics have a graphical representation on the Character Profile screen for each character, with 1-9 stars for each and with 5 being deemed 'Average' for that particular Characteristic. Half stars indicate approximate mid point values, such as 7.5 rather than 7 or 8. A character's personal Characteristics play a very important part in almost everything he does, and in everything he is ordered to do. You should always take these important character ratings into consideration when deciding what rackets each of your men should operate, and what other orders they are asked to carry out.

Characteristic Types

Intelligence

Intelligence is probably the most important Characteristic of all. While even a severely 'intellectually-challenged' mobster can be a useful member of your organization given sufficient ratings in other characteristics, Intelligence contributes towards the learning speed of many Skills & Abilities. Generally speaking, a clever character will learn many things faster, and Intelligence will also play a great part in determining the aptitude for many Skills & Abilities, especially mentally-challenging ones such as 'Leadership Qualities', 'Business Acumen', 'Law Study' and 'Accountancy'.

Build

Build is literally the physical appearance of a character; a combination of height, weight and muscle. A very high rating in this Characteristic would indicate that the character is very tall and well-built, while a low rating would indicate a short, weedy guy. The Build of a character can be important in determining his aptitude for particular Skills & Abilities, the most obvious one being his 'Intimidation' Ability as skinny midgets don't tend to be very intimidating...

Stamina

Stamina is a combination of physical health & robustness. Of all the Characteristics, Stamina probably has the least effect in determining Aptitude for the various Skills & Abilities, but it's also used for one other important aspect of the game. Any character wounded in a gun battle is less likely to die shortly after if he has high Stamina, and indeed, his actual rate of recovery from any injury or illness will be dictated largely by his Stamina rating. A character with very low Stamina might, for instance, suffer additional complications from even a relatively minor wound, and might even eventually die after a long & lingering illness. A character's efficiency can be greatly impaired while injured, so the sooner he recovers, the better, making Stamina a very important Characteristic.

Charisma

Charisma is a combination of physical looks (literally, attractiveness), manner, and personality. A character with very high Charisma is not only usually good-looking but is also the sort who becomes the life of the party. He finds it easy to make friends, to inspire trust and confidence, and to positively influence those around him. People listen when he talks, and they respect his advice and opinions.

Conversely, a character with especially low Charisma is literally a social reject. Usually shy, uninspiring and quite plain, if not downright ugly, he will most often be found skulking in the shadows on Platform B, jotting down strange numbers in a little notebook.

NB: A Character's portrait, shown on his 'Character Profile' screen, might not necessarily do him justice! Use ratings to gauge appearances and other physical attributes, never the character's actual portrait.

Reflexes

Reflexes represents a combination of various physical attributes. Eye-to-hand coordination, athletic ability, as well as actual speed of reflexes, are all lumped together in this category. A character with good reflexes is able to react swiftly to any given situation, whereas one with a low rating in this characteristic is more likely to act like a rabbit caught in the head lamp, and freeze.

Reflexes is very much a danger-orientated Characteristic, affecting not only certain Skills & Abilities but also a character's performance in especially dangerous situations.

Creativity

Creativity is a power of the mind but it has very little to do with actual Intelligence. A creative character has the ability to consider any given problem from a number of angles, to form ideas and plans which less-creative people would likely never even dream of. Creative people can think on their feet & swiftly reach a conclusion for the best course of action in any given situation. Creativity can be important in determining the aptitude for many Skills & Abilities, and can also be a useful Characteristic to possess in abundance in certain tight situations, where doing something entirely unpredictable might be the only way to survive.

Morals

For obvious reasons, most criminals don't share quite the same idea of 'right and wrong' as the rest of us, but history has nevertheless proven that even the worst of them might well have their own particular, and sometimes peculiar, morals. In Vendetta, the Characteristic of 'Morals' should not be viewed in the usual 'right and wrong' sense of the word in which it would normally be considered. Morals in the game is more a matter of personal honour than in any real belief in the laws passed by those who manage to get themselves voted into public office...

For game purposes a character with high Morals is one whom considers his own honour above all things, in the sense that he lives by the underworld code. He would serve a life sentence rather than betray his friend, and he would die without being avenged rather than give the name of his killer to the hated authorities. Refusing to abide by the laws of society as a whole doesn't necessarily make him an evil man in the true sense of the word.

Conversely, a Vendetta character with low morals is the real low-life scum of the criminal underworld, and the one most likely to steal from (and rat out) his friends. But this is where it gets complicated: such men actually have their uses! A criminal with a high moral code - one revolving around personal honour - is less likely to enjoy, or even be willing to get involved in, particular activities & rackets. Criminals they might well be, but those with a high moral code object to harming or even threatening the innocent unnecessarily, especially women & children, and they would balk at such as inflicting unnecessary suffering & torture, even upon their enemies.

In Vendetta every major character you come into contact with will either be a criminal (in the eyes of the law) or will work closely with criminals. But never make the mistake of assuming they're all evil men, with no personal sense of the real difference between right and wrong. A character's personal morals will govern his reaction to literally everything he is ordered to do and affect the performance of every racket he is given to run.

Give very careful consideration to the morals of each character in your employ, and use each one accordingly.

NB: For your personal Boss Character the characteristic of 'morals' is entirely unimportant. You, the player, will through your actions in the game dictate the morals (or lack thereof) of your Boss character.

Toughness

Balls. No offence intended, that's just the best way to describe this particular Characteristic using typical mob lingo.

Toughness has nothing whatsoever to do with Build, Stamina or Reflexes. Toughness is all about guts; a purely mental attitude with no connection to any physical Attributes. Toughness is a combination of attitude, courage and enormous self-belief, with a willingness to see things through to the end regardless of the consequences. Tough characters walk as if they own the sidewalk, while bigger men step into the gutter to avoid them.

No criminal organization can operate effectively without at least some tough men in the ranks, if only to enforce discipline and ensure that the Boss is treated with the respect he deserves.

Composure

Composure is all about nerves. Like the 'Toughness' characteristic, Composure is a mental attitude having nothing to do with purely physical attributes. It's a frame of mind. A character with good composure is able to remain calm and think clearly and precisely even in the most difficult and stressful of circumstances: the modern phenomenon of 'road rage' could, for instance, be entirely attributed to a total lack of composure in a stressful situation.

A character's Composure can be a powerful component characteristic of many useful skills & abilities, especially the naturally stressful ones. In certain in-game situations it can also make the difference between life and death.

Conversely, characters with exceptionally low Composure might also have their uses, if coupled with the right blend of other characteristics. To continue the earlier reference to 'road rage'; this can be a terrifying sight when witnessed by people less prone to such outbursts of sheer, uncontrollable rage. Especially for the victims of such.

Aura

Aura is perhaps the most difficult of all Characteristics to define as it combines degrees of various characteristics (such as Toughness and Composure), and then adds a certain something to become a distinctly unique - and perhaps indefinable - characteristic all of its own.

Aura is nothing to do with a specific mental or physical characteristic, it's more to do with the overall impression others have of you. It's that certain something which commands, or even demands, Respect. It cannot be defined like 'Toughness' can, and it cannot be easily explained like 'Composure' can. Aura is the one indefinable Characteristic which makes real-life legends of the likes of Al Capone, and fictional legends of the likes of Don Corleone. Aura is the difference between being a nobody, and being a somebody.