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Context Analysis / BladesInTheDark

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1!!Dice roll distribution analysis
2Here is a roll distribution table for ''Blades'' and other "MediaNotes/ForgedInTheDark" games, calculated using [[https://anydice.com/ AnyDice]]:
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4|| '''Roll''' || '''1-3''' || '''4/5''' || '''6''' || '''CRIT''' ||
5|| '''0d''' || 75.0%|| 22.2%|| 2.8%|| 0.0%||
6|| '''1d''' || 50.0%|| 33.3%|| 16.7%|| 0.0%||
7|| '''2d''' || 25.0%|| 44.4%|| 27.8%|| 2.8%||
8|| '''3d''' || 12.5%|| 45.4%|| 34.7%|| 7.4%||
9|| '''4d''' || 6.3%|| 42.0%|| 38.6%|| 13.2%||
10|| '''5d''' || 3.1%|| 37.1%|| 40.2%|| 19.6%||
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12Comparing this table to that of ''MediaNotes/PoweredByTheApocalypse'', we can observe that rolling 0d in ''[=FitD=]'' is statistically roughly equivalent to rolling−2 in ''[=PbtA=]''. Because basic ''[=PbtA=]'' has no critical hits and defines the roll of 12 ambiguously[[note]]it is effectively a critical hit for advanced basic moves, but a regular strong hit in all other contexts[[/note]], we assume that a "CRIT" in ''[=PbtA=]'' is "rolling 13 to 15" in order to continue the comparison. Then, 1w is equivalent to roll+0, 2w ≈ roll+1, 3w ≈ roll+2, and so on. Interestingly, there is no roll in ''[=FitD=]'' that translates to roll−1 because the marginal advantage of rolling a single dice over rolling two and taking the worse one is statistically equivalent to going from roll−2 to roll+0.
13
14!!''VideoGame/Payday2'' [[Characters/Payday2 crew]] as Scoundrels
15The crew type of the Payday gang is hard to pin down exactly, since they go on very varied missions and can have a variety of skills, but judging from the promotional trailers, they would most likely be '''Bravos''': "Mercenaries and thugs" specializing in "battles, extortion, sabotage, and smash & grabs" (i.e. "going loud"). Individual members (the original lineup, at least) are much easier to pin down:
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17* [[VoiceWithAnInternetConnection Bane]] is the '''Spider'''.
18* Dallas/Mastermind is a mixed bag of the '''Slide''' (Controller tree), the Hound (Sharpshooter), and a bit of the Leech (Medic).
19* Chains/Enforcer is the '''Cutter''', specializing in raw brute force.
20* Wolf/Technician is the '''Leech''', with his technical know-how.
21* Houston/Ghost is the '''Lurk'''.
22* Hoxton/Fugitive is the '''Hound'''.
23
24!!''Anime/CowboyBebop'' [[Characters/CowboyBebop crew]] as Scoundrels
25Jet, as the [[TeamDad manager and planner]], is most likely the '''Spider'''; Spike, with his ImprobableAimingSkills, is the '''Hound'''; Faye is the '''Slide''', thanks to her manipulative tendencies; and Ed's hacker mojo makes her the '''Leech''' (or perhaps a tech-based '''Whisper'''). As for their crew type, "Bounty Hunters" is sadly not included in ''Blades'', so the closest match would, perhaps surprisingly, be '''Smugglers''', given how strongly their crew concept ties in with their [[CoolStarship iconic vehicle]], the ''Bebop''.
26
27!!''Series/PennyDreadful'' [[Characters/PennyDreadful cast]] as Scoundrels
28Vanessa is pretty obviously the Whisper, as the team's only medium, while TheGunslinger Ethan is clearly the Hound. TheTeamBenefactor Malcolm is probably the Spider, while Sembene with his kukris is the Cutter. Victor is the Leech (come on, he is ''Dr. Frankenstein''), and TheCharmer Dorian is easily the Slide.
29
30!!''Manga/BlackLagoon'' [[Characters/BlackLagoonLagoonDeliveryCompany crew]] as Scoundrels
31Rock is obviously the Slide (albeit speccing over into the Spider later), Revy is the Cutter (definitely not a Hound: remember, there is no "shooting action" in ''Blades'', and Revy is all about carnage, rather than careful tracking, like e.g. Roberta), Benny is a obviously the Leech, and Dutch is probably the Spider. Their crew type is clearly the Smugglers.
32
33!! ''[[Literature/GentlemanBastard The Gentleman Bastards]]'' as Scoundrels
34Chains is an obvious Spider, being the mastermind who rarely even leaves the den. Jean is an equally obvious Cutter, being a muscle-mountain specialized in two-weapon fighting. Sabetha meshes very well with the Slide playbook, being a specialist in social manipulation to the exclusion of all else. Locke could be either a Slide or a Lurk, being equally adept at second-story work and con artistry. The Sansa brothers are more difficult to pin down, explicitly being jacks-of-all-trades, and Bug is too young to really have crystallized in a role, though he leans towards Lurk as well. As for the crew type, Cult is probably closest, given the team's primary motivation is the worship of the Crooked Warden and stealing from the rich and mighty on His command.
35
36!! ''[[Series/PersonOfInterest Team Machine]]'' as Scoundrels
37Team machine is a Vigilante crew with a reputation for being very Mysterious. They also fit a Cult, with the Machine being the center of the cult. Their protected grounds is all of New York. They are Gargoyles.
38Finch is a Spider, coordinating the team, setting up opportunities, finding information. He has a powerful contact in The Machine.
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40Reese is a Cutter. He often fights up close against several enemies at a time, and in the beginning, does all the muscle work. If there was anyone who had a reserve of potential in Stress, it's him. He also shows attributes of a Hound, fighting at range and having an attack dog, but that only shows up when he's not the only fighter.
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42Shaw is an unambiguous Cutter. She's a close ranged fighter. She also shows some Spider tendencies when Finch gets captured.
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44Root is a slide. She switches between false identities like clothes. She's definitely quite Obsessed with The Machine.
45
46!! Series/{{Leverage}} C&A as Scoundrels
47Nathan is the Spider, Sophie is the Slide, Eliot is the Cutter, Alec is the Leech, and Parker is the Lurk. Together, they form a Vigilantes crew (even though their ''modus operandi'' is more like the Grifters).
48
49!! ''[[Webcomic/PurpleHyacinth Lune]]'' as Scoundrels
50Kieran is a Cutter. He's absolutely Not to be Trifled with. He probably has Reckless Trauma from his time in the Phantom Scythe crew.
51
52Lauren is a Slide. She's got Like Looking in a Mirror, but not because of her own skill in lying.
53
54Together they are Shadows with a hidden lair, but they use the Vigilante Payoff optional rules.
55
56!!''Series/PeakyBlinders'' as Scoundrels
57Among the Shelbys, both Tommy and Polly are Spiders, weaving their individual nets while each believes theirs is right for the family. Arthur (Jr.) is clearly a Cutter, being the main muscle of the family, while John is more of a Hound, thanks to his sniping expertise. Finally, Michael is probably a Slide, thanks to his preference of looking good over actual strategic planning. The Shelbys overall are clearly Hawkers (at least at the start), i.e. vice purveyors of booze and gambling.

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