Precious Ramotswe

[Ranxerox]

It seems odd to post her in Dark Champions, since the only thing dark about Precious Ramotswe is her skin. Still, she is a heroic level character existing in the modern age so I guess this is where she goes.

 

Precious Ramotswe

Val	Char	Cost
10	STR	0
10	DEX	0
10	CON	0
12	BODY	2
15	INT	5
13	EGO	3
15	PRE	5


2	PD	0
2	ED	0
3	SPD	10
4	REC	0
20	END	0
30	STUN	5

8m	RUN	-4
4m	SWIM	0
4m	LEAP	0
Characteristics Cost: 26

Cost	Power
15	Things Just Tend to Work Out Alright: Luck 3d6
Powers Cost: 15


Cost	Skill
3	Acting 12-
3	Bureaucratics 12-
3	Charm 12-
3	Conversation 12-
3	Persuasion 12-
2	Criminology 10-
3	Interrogation 12-
5	Deduction 13-
3	High Society 12-

3	PS: Private Detective 12-
2	PS: Philosopher 11-

2	AK: Botswana 11-
2	AK: Southern Africa 11-
2	AK: Gaborone 11-
3	CuK: Botswanan people 12-

3	Analyze:  Cattle 12-

2	TF:  Common Motorized Ground Vehicles
1	WF:  Rifles

3	Language:  English (completely fluent)
0	Language:  Setswana (idiomatic) (4 Active Points)
Skills Cost: 51

Cost	Perk
15	Followers
1	Fringe Benefit:  Business License: No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
2	Positive Reputation:  Detective Who Helps People (A large group) 11-, +1/+1d6
1	Positive Reputation:  Daughter of a respected cattle farmer (A medium-sized group) 11-, +1/+1d6
Perks Cost: 19

Cost	Talent
2	Resistance (+2 to roll vs. Acting)
2	+1/+1d6 Striking Appearance (vs. Botswanan males)
Talents Cost: 4

Cost	Equipment  (Equipment costs do not actually figure in Total Cost.  They are included here for reference only.)
White Van: Vehicles & Bases (0 Active Points)
Total Character Cost: 115

Pts.	Disadvantage
10	Dependent NPC:  J.L.B. Matikoni (husband) Frequently (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)
15	Psychological Complication:  Good Person Who Seeks The Best Outcomes For All Involved (Common; Strong)
5	Social Complication:  Woman In A Male Dominated Culture Infrequently, Minor
0	Physical Complication:  Traditionally Built (Infrequently; Barely Impairing; Custom Adder)
0	Psychological Complication:  Botswanan Patriot (Uncommon; Moderate; Custom Adder)
Disadvantage Points: 30
Base Points: 100
Experience Required: 15
Total Experience Available: 15
Experience Unspent: 0

 

Background Precious Ramotswe ( pronounced - raMOTsway) is the protagonist of the "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books.

 

Precious Ramotswe, or as she is normally called Mma Ramotswe (meaning Ms. Ramotswe and pronounced Mmara Motsway with a humming of the "M"s at the beginning) is the daughter of the late Obed Ramotswe a respected cattleman. After the death (or becoming late as the books refer to it) of her beloved father,. Mma Ramotswe sold some of the cattle willed to her and used the proceeds to open up the The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Botswanans were very skeptical about the notion of a female detective and initially the agency had no business. Despite the absence of business, Mma Ramotswe hired a secretary in an effort to appear more professional. The secretary that she hire, one Grace Makutsi, turned out very capable and would latter be promoted to assistant detective and eventually associate detective. Eventaully the agency did attract clients, and as Mma Ramotswe solved her clients mysteries and fixed there problems word of her ability spread. Now the lady detective is respected not just in the city of Gaborone where she works but in the whole of Botswana.

 

In addition to solving mysteries during the course of the series, Precious Ramotswe has found time to marry the proprietor of the Speedy Motors garage, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni; adopt two ophan children, Puso and Motholeli; and take on another assistant in the form of Mr. Polopetsi.

 

Personality/Motivation Mma Ramotswe considers helping other and solving their problems to be her vocation in life, and this is how she approaches her private detective work. If a would be client comes to her truly in need of her help, she will not turn him away regardless of his ability or lack thereof to pay. Her need to help others has also lead her to omit and even lie about her findings in order to protect her client or other innocent parties from the consequences of the truth. For example, she once covered up the discovery that a clients son was not really his child in order to protect the boy from being thrown out.

 

In addition to being kind and generous, Mma Ramotswe is also wise, understanding and tactful. She considers herself a traditionalist, but she can be very open-minded about how other people live their lives. Also, she is a strong believer in the greatness of her country, Botswana, and its people.

 

Quote "Why don't we sit down and have some tea, and you can tell me all about this difficult matter."

 

Tactics While Precious Ramotswe is keenly observant and good at deducing things, she is no Sherlock Holmes. Her investigative style relies more on her people skills and the questioning of potential witnesses and suspects until she has enough information to work out what actually happened. She does not involve herself in investigation of violent crimes as she considers these matters for Botswanan police.

 

While Mma Ramotswe is always extremely tactful, her assistant detective, Grace Makutsi, is often comically blunt. It is not uncommon for unflattering references to client weight, hieight, appearance to accidently slip off her lips. That aside, Mma Makutsi, is an able detective in her own right and her secretarial training frequently comes in handy when the agency has to go over someones financial books for clues.

 

Mr. Polopetse, a pharmacy assistant who lost his job over an error that he did not make, is Mma Ramotswe other assistant. He does not possess the detective skills of the two ladies, but he does have exceptional hearing and is an able bush tracker.

 

Campaign Use Precious Ramotswe most obvious campaign use is to draw the characters into an adventure in Botswana or elsewhere in southern Africa. She does not knowingly take on dangerous cases, and if she were to find herself in one she would quickly seek assistance. If the threat were international in origins she might very well look to the home country of the villians for allies.

 

Alternately, if the heroes were already adventuring in Africa they might run into Mma Ramotswe and her agency. She might offer them information on local happenings, investigative advice, or simply some wisdom served with a cup of tea.

 

Appearance Precious Ramotswe is an attractive, traditionally built (read large) Botswanan woman in her thirties.

[DusterBoy]

Re: Precious Ramotswe

 

I'd say you got that pretty much spot on, Ranxerox.

[Ranxerox]

Re: Precious Ramotswe

 

Thanks for the endorsement of the build. I have really enjoyed the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels, and she seemed like a good first character on which to try out my new Hero Designer.