Skatepunk RPG

After the collapse of the USSR, the city's core factories and infrastructure fell into disrepair; the government lost control, and the city transformed into a network of enclaves: luxurious "capsules" for the elite, poor neighborhoods, and free zones of skatepunk culture. Skateboarding is not only a sport but also a symbol of vertical movement within the city and a means of transportation, communication, and protest.

Social structure in brief: Elite - "capsule" Independent residential complexes with security, access to imported goods, and private energy. They control the remaining economic resources, maintain ties with foreign investors, and have their own toll roads and transportation. Middle layer - "crossroads" People with unstable incomes: small business owners, couriers, repairmen. They often maintain a two-faced image—working for the elite while simultaneously participating in street gangs. The bottom layer is the "slabs" Workers and unemployed in devastated areas; they trade factory gates for illegal labor markets. They often live in communes, ghettos, and trailers. Skatecommunes and free zones

Economy and other details: Autonomous neighborhoods with their own rules: self-governance, festivals, and skill exchange. Skating is a currency of trust; skill opens access to resources and information. Barter and clever services: board repair, improvised workshops, street skate schools, music bars. Illegal services: courier raids on elite areas, piecework thefts, resale of resources. Corporate private structures monetize access to infrastructure (electricity, water, roads), introduce toll "skate crossings" and traffic control.

Technology and everyday life: Average digital infrastructure: wireless headphones and touchscreen phones are available, but if they're in the possession of someone outside the Capsule (Elite), they were obtained through theft. Routes often depend on personal knowledge. Modified skateboards: electric motors made from salvaged batteries, communication modules, hidden compartments for contraband. Hand-made aesthetic: clothing, boards and ramps made from recycled materials, lots of rivets, chains and patches. Culture and symbols: Music: a mix of punk, hardcore, and local folk influences; live concerts on rooftops and factory floors. Language: slang mixing Russian, local dialects and Anglicisms; skatepunk terms (board, ramp, crew nicknames). Tattoos, badges, and modified logos of Soviet enterprises are symbols of identity. Politics and conflicts: Territorial disputes between skateboarding clans and elite security. Corrupt former officials and security officials turned into "brigadiers" with private armies. Rare protests escalate into street battles; skaters use their mobility and knowledge of the urban landscape to their tactical advantage.

Housing status: isolated guarded complexes, autonomous infrastructure (private energy). Economic role: control the remnants of the economy, receiving income from property, investments, and paid services. Contacts and influence: direct links with foreign investors, access to imported goods and resources; determine the rules of access to limited benefits (toll roads, transport). Social behavioral profile: isolation, high levels of security and privilege; forms norms and elite mutual aid networks. Consequences for society: concentration of capital and access to resources, barriers to upward mobility.

Socioeconomic status: unstable income, small business, service professions (couriers, repairmen). Dual role: working for the elite (services, logistics) and simultaneously participating in street communities; flexibility in adapting to conditions. Social connections: intermediary positions between the elite and the lower classes; a network of interdependencies – from elite orders and support from base communities. Survival and mobility strategies: income diversity (formal and informal), temporary employment, participation in the informal economy. Risks: vulnerability to economic shocks, criminalization, pressure from the elite.

Housing status: basements, communal attics, ghettos, trailers in devastated areas and abandoned buildings. Economic role: workers, unemployed, participants in illegal labor markets; loss of formal employment (factory closures). Social structure and subculture: strong local communities of survival, mutual assistance, high degree of social marginalization. Vulnerabilities: Unstable access to basic services, high criminalization, limited paths to social mobility. Potential sources of conflict: competition for jobs in the illegal economy, pressure from law enforcement and elite security forces.

Economic dependence: the elite uses the middle class for service and control; the middle class is an intermediary in the transfer of resources from the elite to the lower classes; the lower classes are a reserve of labor and consumers of cheap services. Social mobility: limited; transition is possible mainly within the middle class or through partial integration into informal elite networks (corruption, clientelistic connections). Conflicts and stability: tensions at the junction of "capsules" and "crossroads" due to control of access to resources; risk of social outbreaks in "plates" when conditions worsen.

People who blend in with the crowds, whether they live in the "crossroads" or in the "slabs." They don't bother people without reason, as long as they don't intentionally interfere with corporate affairs. Sometimes, no one knows that a particular person works for a corporation in the "capsules," because they know how to hide and wear armor under their clothes.

This is a large community that anyone can join through an annual intake. Everyone is treated equally in this society, regardless of their standard of living. Society has specific zones that are called "neutral zones".

The area belongs to the skateboarding community. The guards sent from the capsules leave this place alone, knowing that older people here keep the unruly youth in check. Every few years, when new gangs appear, the Bandi try to put pressure on the skaters, but very often they are either all killed by people from the skater community, or they themselves do not venture into these areas. Neutral territories are created for homeless people, traders and skateboard training.

In general, there is an unspoken rule that you can join the skateboarding community at any time and you will be accepted if you behave appropriately, but the real recruitment takes place every year at the end of spring, when the snow has completely melted. Volume of the set from the top layer (Capsules): 0%-1% - from capsules, but many do not stay long due to the inability to treat others as anything other than trash. Volume of the set from the middle layer (Crossroads): significant - flexible replenishment; 10-50% of the staff may come and go per year depending on the economic situation. Volume of the set from the bottom layer (Slabs): A very large and constant 50-90% - annually replenished by a significant share of the population of cities and suburbs, growth during economic downturns. While joining the "skateboarding community" is free, 10-68% of people simply leave, either because of their stubbornness or because they simply can't skate due to balance issues.

Name: Arina Age: 19 Height and figure: 177 cm, slim Standard of living: She lives in a "capsule"—a gated community with independent power and access to imported goods. Her daily needs are well-maintained: private schools/tutors, health insurance, free internet access, and entertainment services. Traveling and meeting foreigners are possible through family connections. Personality: Empathetic and inquisitive. She grew up in a comfortable environment, but from an early age she saw the contrast between her life and the fate of the "slabs." Her motivation is a desire to improve conditions in poor neighborhoods, but her approach is pragmatic: she seeks institutional solutions (fundraising, lobbying investors) rather than violent protests. Internal conflict: loyalty to family and elite norms versus a strong sense of justice. Sometimes mildly naive in her assessment of the elite's real power, but willing to learn and take risks for the sake of aid projects. Appearance: A naturally relaxed, squat posture in comfortable surroundings. Appears younger than her years thanks to her neat skin and well-groomed hair. Long, light or dark brown hair is well-groomed, usually worn loose or in a neat braid. Sometimes she wears a fashionable bob or loose curls—it's clear she pays attention to her appearance. Clean, designer clothes in neutral tones: minimalist jackets, sweaters, and fitted pants. She often wears simple but expensive jewelry (small earrings, a thin pendant) and the latest smartwatch. Her shoes are neat, sometimes designer sneakers.

Arina's parents are staunch conservatives, rejecting same-sex relationships and viewing people from the lower classes as inferior. They believe in God, but don't go so far as to be fanatical: they don't force their religion on others, accept the laws of physics and other information, but they still attend church, wear crosses, and pray.

Arina's mother: Name: Volkova Maria Danilovna. Additional information: Strict with others, she loves her only daughter immensely and is considering having a second child. She lives in luxury in the "Capsule," occasionally visiting her daughter, and is willing to accept her choices, especially if they involve the person she loves. Status: One of the heads of the security corporation.

Arina's father: Name: Volkov Anthony Alexandrovich. Additional information: Strict and cold towards others, he nevertheless loves his daughter and cares for her, albeit in his own way. He has no intention of having a second child. He lives lavishly in the "Capsule" and rarely backs down from his convictions, but if his wife manages to convince him otherwise, he may agree. He would never raise a hand against a woman. He visits his daughter when he has the time and opportunity. Status: One of the corporation's technology executives.

Name: Mark Age: 21 Height and build: 179 cm, toned, athletic build from constant jogging around the city and physical work. Muscles are functional, not bulky. Personality: Persistent, resourceful, and morally strong. Values ​​freedom and honesty; disillusioned with systems that feed on poverty. Motivated by the need to expose corruption, resource laundering, and elite abuses. Pragmatic, knows how to balance risk and reward, is adept at negotiating with diverse groups, and is unafraid of physical danger. Skills and Resources Skills and resources: Excellent city navigation, logistics skills, and hacking simple digital locks/terminals. Extensive network of contacts at "crossroads" and among "slab" workers. Can collect evidence, record conversations, and covertly transport documents. Limitations: Weak protection from elite security intervention, vulnerable to bribery and blackmail; legally isolated. Appearance: Hair and hairstyle A short, practical haircut, sometimes tousled by a helmet or hood. The hair is dark or dark blond. Clothing and accessories: Comfortable, functional clothing: a windbreaker with multiple pockets, heavy trousers, sneakers or lightweight boots. A cooler backpack with straps, and a protective helmet/headphones included. A homemade wristband with a charger for small devices. Distinguishing features: Minor scars on his arms and knees, traces of contact with machinery and the urban environment. Sometimes wears a bandage or hides his face during dangerous missions.

Name: Gennady (Gena) Many people call him "Grandpa Gena" Age: 64 years Height and build: 170 cm, stocky but slightly hunched from years of work and age. Muscles are preserved, but movements are slower and more economical. Background: A former factory worker; after the factory closed, he traded his work as a worker for marginal jobs. He lives in a communal apartment in the "slabs" area, often without a stable income, but with a strong support network of former colleagues and young skaters. Character and motivation: Calm, nostalgic, wise. A keeper of the pre-war city's stories and the community's living memory. The motive is to pass on knowledge, preserve the community spirit, and teach youth survival skills and self-respect. Skeptical of quick reforms and sudden promises; believes in local solidarity and culture as a tool of resistance. Skills and resources: A master of skateboarding and street tricks, he's skilled at repairing simple mechanisms and has a deep knowledge of urban wastelands and hidden routes. He's a respected figure among the "slabs" and young "crossroads." Limitations: old age, health problems from previous work, financial instability. Appearance: Hair and hairstyle: Gray hair, thinning, usually pulled back into a short ponytail or combed back. Sometimes a headband or cap is visible to conceal the bald spot. Clothing and accessories: Worn work clothes; heavy jeans, a jacket with patches, an old T-shirt. Worn sneakers or skateboard boots are a must. Wrist straps on the wrists and skateboard repair tools in the pockets. Distinguishing features: Traces of chemicals and oil on his hands, calloused palms. Small tattoos, commemorative badges from before the war. He always wears an old leather bracelet with the name of a deceased comrade.

Name: Elena (Lena) Age: 26 years. Height and build: 168 cm, strong, athletic build from physical work and equipment installation. Agile and energetic. Living standards: Lives in a free zone—a semi-autonomous territory with community self-organization. The standard of living is modest, but the zone's infrastructure includes collective workshops, off-grid electricity, and skills for self-sufficiency. Character and motivation: Determined, technically inclined, and idealistic, she has a practical approach. Her motive is to control energy resources and distribute them to benefit poor neighborhoods; she believes in technology as a tool for equality. She's prepared for direct action, from illegally connecting power lines to organizing civic action. She's confident in her knowledge and able to convince people to take risks for a common cause. Skills and resources: Engineering and electrical skills, experience working with stand-alone power plants and microgrids, and the ability to coordinate volunteers. Connections in the free zone provide access to equipment and specialists. Limitations: legal risk, persecution by authorities and elite security forces, limited financial resources for large-scale projects. Appearance: Hair and hairstyle: A short, practical pixie cut to keep it out of the way while working. The hair is often dyed bright colors (blue, purple) as a sign of individuality and belonging to a free-spirited culture. Clothing and accessories: Functional, but with elements of a free zone: work overalls, protective gloves, combat boots. On her belt is a tool kit; she wears simple pendants, sometimes community symbols. A backpack contains batteries and a multimeter. Distinguishing features: Minor burns or scorch marks on fingers, scorch marks on clothing. Ear piercings and a tattoo of an electrical circuit diagram on the wrist or behind the ear.