| I was sitting
at my desk, in my office. My feet, as usual,
lay on the hardboard, which covered the top
of my desk. The cheap wood had done its job
well for the last five years, so I never regretted
buying it at that auction. My Panama hat hung
in the corner, facing an antique mirror. Antique
wasn’t exactly the word I should use;
but I felt it it was a good way to enhance
the 'value' in my mind. I trimmed my fingernails,
while occasionally glancing at my door. I
loved reading my name backwards on the glass.
Suddenly, a black silhouette, slender, obviously
female appeared on the other side of the door.
“Come in,” I didn’t hesitate
to say “I’m on duty.”
The woman did hesitate though, her hand seemed
to be guided by contradictory orders. Then,
she somehow managed to pull herself together,
and the door opened.
“Mr. Chalmers,” she greeted me,
in a very soft voice “My name is Martha
Steward.”
“What can I do you for, ‘Mrs.’
Steward?” The name had immediately rang
a bell. This woman’s husband owned a
taxicab company. Pretty wealthy, for the norm,
at least, for the kind of individuals I usually
meet on the job. She wasn’t surprised
at my rapid deduction. I was a PI, after all.
“It’s my husband, Mr. Chalmers.
I fear for his life.” This was getting
interesting. The grey morning had promised
nothing, and the thin rain had been somewhat
depressing, but things were improving.
“I think he has crossed some people
he shouldn’t have…” she
continued, her face was hard to read, but
I was a pro and it was all in the eyes.
“Continue, please” I motioned
for her to take a seat. Maybe this would be
a productive day, after all…
“Dark Rooms with light slicing through
Venetian blinds; alleys cluttered with garbage;
abandoned warehouses where dust hangs in the
air; rain-slick streets with water running
down tin gutters; dark office buildings overlooking
crowded city streets” Is how the book
begins. I couldn’t have better defined
the Noir ambience.
A look, a feel. Darkness. Black. Noir is
a French term for “black” and
it is used to define a type of criminal or
detective story. The type that was born in
pulps in the 1920’s and made its way
into cinema in the 40’s. Instead of
conventional detective practice, where the
sleuth only focuses on solving a mathematical
puzzle, he gets involved. The world isn’t
simply black and white, but shades of grey.
Everywhere our “hero” goes, he
finds moral corruption; good and evil mixed
up like a cocktail. Even within. The Noir
“hero” has a dark past, many issues
that need solving, but he tries to attain
redemption. He is usually unable to get it
though, and that’s what makes him such
a tragic figure. Mean Streets takes you into
the atmosphere of Noir Film, and gives you
the chance to perform as one of these bleak
characters, in this bleak world.
The main book, a brief 58-page ride, cuts
through it and shares only valuable information
with the reader. It presents the potential
player and storyteller with the feel, the
setting, and an easy system called XPG.
XPG is a system used in Deep 7 RPGs, such
as Red Dwarf and, of course, Mean Streets.
To determine the outcome of an action, the
player uses the sum of a stat plus a category
(ability). Then, he or she rolls 2D6 (two
six-sided dice) and compares the sum. If the
roll is lower than the stat plus category
value, the action has succeeded. If the player
rolls double 1’s (nicknamed “Snake
Eyes”), the outcome is a critical success.
On a double 6 (nicknamed “Boxcars”)
the roll becomes a critical failure.
The damage system doesn’t require the
player to roll again for a result. Its result
is determined by multiplying the margin of
success from the weapon’s base damage,
sometimes adding bonuses. This is compared
to the character’s “Shrug”
value, his or her “damage soak,”
to determine how much damage actually went
through. The health system reminds me of the
one White Wolf uses, with seven levels of
medical condition. The system, as the book
boasts, is very simple and it’s easy
to use and adapt to your style.
Mean Streets is set in 1943 New York, a city
populated by gangs of Mafiosi and thousands
of people who just walk their lives, trying
to dodge the cruel reality. The book details
each of New York City’s boroughs and
all of the major crime families, besides some
other interesting info about the city and
the time period; all of this is backed up
by obvious good historical research, while
modified a bit for gaming purposes.
At the end of the book is the ever-useful
period price list (one thing I loved from
Call of Cthulhu), some recommended movies,
stats for various NPCs, and a nice New York
City map. Of course, the book includes an
adventure ready to play, based on a Fritz
Lang Noir film.
This game makes a good job filling a niche
not widely covered by popular RPG’s,
for one reason or another. Its simple system,
and its interesting setting makes it a good
pick for a troupe that don’t want to
study three 300-page-books just to start playing
a game.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to
help Mrs. Steward’s husband get out
of a little trouble he’s in. See you
later.
Reviewed by Matías Timm
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