Shadow Playbook 
Impersonator, spy, infiltrator
The hero of the spy genre. Secret agents in trenchcoats skulking around with sunglasses, using high-tech gadgets. Organizations known only by code names or three-letter acronyms.
Here is your license to kill. Call M.O.T.H.E.R if you need backup. If you’re caught, we never met.
When you play a shadow, you earn xp when you address a challenge with stealth or evasion. Sneak past defenses, stay out of sight, and for god’s sake don’t get caught. Sometimes the other side will respect you but more often than not they’ll kill you. Better not chance it.
| Starting Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | Finesse |
| | | | | Prowl |
Starting builds
If you want some guidance when you assign your four starting action dots and special ability, use one of these templates.
Simon Templar. Skirmish +2, Consort +2. Daredevil. This template is inspired by the Robin Hood of modern crime, The Saint.
Cleopatra Jones. Consort +2, Finesse +1, Sway +1. Reflexes. This template is inspired by the Special Agent to the President, Cleopatra Jones.
John Steed. Skirmish +1, Study +1, Consort +1, Command +1. Shadow. This template is inspired by the British secret agent who starred in The Avengers.
James Bond. Survey +2, Hunt +1, Tinker +1. Infiltrator. If you don’t know the most famous fictional spy in the world you might want to ask the Internet.
Shadow abilities
Infiltrator — You are not affected by quality when you bypass security measures.
Shadow — You may expend your special armor to resist a consequence from detection or security measures, or to push yourself for a feat of athletics or stealth.
Reflexes — When there’s a question about who acts first, the answer is you.
Daredevil — When you roll a desperate action, you get +1d to your roll if you also take -1d to any resistance rolls against consequences from your action.
Rook’s Gambit — Take 2 stress to roll your best action rating while performing a different action. Say how you adapt your skill to this use.
Trust in Me — You get +1d vs. a target with whom you have an intimate relationship.
Master of Disguise — When you use a disguise or other form of covert misdirection you get +1 effect level. When you throw off your disguise, the resulting surprise gives you the initiative in the situation.
Shadow items
In addition to the standard gear you have access to the following items:
Fine surveillance gear — Finely made communications gear for clandestine observation; bugs, tracer RFID tags, binoculars, long-range cameras and microphones. [1 load]
Fine disguse kit — A theatrical make-up kit and an impressive array of prosthetics. Or maybe a movie-quality rubber mask.
Concealed holdout pistol — A small pistol with a weak charge, easily concealed in a sleeve, boot, or waistcoat. The pistol has an extremely limited range; only a meter or so. It’s very difficult to detect on your person, even when searched.
Tiny surveillance drone — Mouse-sized (or even smaller) drone controlled by a watch or smartphone. Because it’s so small, it has a fairly limited range (typically a couple of rooms or floors away).