In Rogue, as in the world of organized crime, each participant plays a specific role, depending on the Heist of the night. Characters are their rogues, and those rogues have additional powers depending on the role they take during a particular Heist. These roles changes each game, sometimes in the middle of a session. In Rogue, players’ roles are defined based on how much control they can exert over the story of a specific Heist. Some roles, such as the Lug, have a great deal of control over each Heist’s story. Others, like the Bookie, have almost none.
Lug
The Lug controls the narrative and creates setting and color. The Lug draws on previously narrated events to create a Hook and a coherent plot for the other players. The Lug also controls any other elements of the game not explicitly given to another player to control. In many ways, the Lug is akin to the traditional “Game Master” role of many roleplaying games. The Lug sets the Mark for all challenges (see Conflict), determines what the Score will be and the Challenges (see The Heist) to be overcome for achieving it. All such Challenges are resolved this way, from actual in-game fights to diplomatic negotiations, to agreement on whether or not the King has a back door on his castle. In game, the Lug is the rogue who is too closely tied to the Heist to participate directly without endangering the mob.
Bookie
In the world of professional thieves, the Bookie is the one who keeps track of accounts, numbers, and debts. He is, in other words, the power behind the power, the person who knows what happened to whom and when. In Rogue, the Bookie controls all rules-based elements of game organization. The Bookie keeps track of all challenges’ renitence and rolls all the dice not rolled by players for their own rogue’s actions. The Bookie also adjudicates rules disputes between players.
Boss
The Boss is the leader of the mob of rogues. The Boss commands the mob in conflicts and speaks for them in the story. The Boss also has limited control over the narrative. She is responsible for urging the group members to make decisions, choose courses of actions, and if necessary, choosing a course of action for the group. The Boss is the player responsible for making sure everyone is having a good time and participating in the narrative.