Legal and illegal roleplay: what is the difference and where to start?

Legal roles

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  PolicePatrol, traffic stops, crime scenes, arrests.

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  ParamedicTreating the injured, the hospital, the ambulance.

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  SheriffSmall towns and the countryside.

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  Lawyer and prosecutorCases, defence, court scenes.

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  Shop owner and businessmanA shop, a company, trade.

Illegal roles

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  Street gangThe hood, territory, colours, street business.

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  Rival gangEvery gang has another side.

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  MafiaFamily order, casinos, protection money, big jobs.

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  TriadAn organisation with its own rules.

The difference

In a legal role your job has rules, ranks and shifts; you answer to your superiors and to the faction. In an illegal role you carry the risk and the consequences yourself: getting caught, prison, losing what you built, and in the end even your character.

Illegal roleplay is not DM. A crime has a reason and a story behind it; shooting someone just to shoot is deathmatch, whatever colour you wear.

Both sides leave room for each other. A cop who gives the other side a chance to run, talk or surrender, and a criminal who plays fear when a gun is pointed at him, make the scene better for everyone.

Where should a new player start?

If you are new, a legal job is the easiest way to learn the city, the rules and the people. Most illegal factions want players who already know how roleplay works.

Your first role is not your last. Many good criminal characters started as a taxi driver or a mechanic.