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By now, you should have a good idea of what you look like and who you are… but this might be only one of several faces that you show the world. Most people have just one identity - but a criminal, spy, super, or vigilante might have multiple identities.

A functional alternate identity costs points; see Alternate Identity. On the other hand, keeping your identity a secret can be troublesome and expensive enough to qualify as a Secret Identity disadvantage. And if you have no legal identity, you are Zeroed.

In many countries - including the present-day United States - it is legal to use a false name for privacy as long as you do not attempt to defraud or interfere with public records. You can rent an apartment as 'Mr. Smith,' paying cash, without problems. But you can't get a driver's license, etc., legally. This sort of 'weak identity' costs no points, and is popular with rock stars and actors (who often use a 'stage name'), writers (in the form of a nom de plume), and traveling royalty.

Anyone can have a hasty or low-quality Alternate Identity. While useful, such a false identity will eventually be noticed and eliminated (and the user sought after!) This kind of identity is not considered an advantage, and costs no points; buy it with cash.

A standard Temporary Identity is guaranteed to be good for one week. At the end of that week, the GM rolls 3d. On a roll of 8 or less, the authorities have discovered the false records. Otherwise, the identity holds up for another week and the process repeats itself, but the 'discovery roll' is at a cumulative +1 for every week past the first (9 or less at the end of the second week, 10 or less at the end of the third week, and so on).

The price of a Temporary Identity is negotiable, and depends on your contacts, skills, and the setting. The cheaper the identity, the more frequently the GM will roll - a really cheap one might only be good for a day, with rolls every day! More expensive identities, lasting longer or starting at a lower number, might also be available.

Someone who is Zeroed can use a Temporary Identity.

A Secret Identity isn't the same as an Alternate Identity. If there are no false records to back up a Secret Identity, it doesn't count as an Alternate Identity. And if you use an Alternate Identity only to hold a secret bank account (for instance), and never try to 'live' that persona, it isn't a Secret Identity.