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The Speranza Clan The Speranza Clan is an Italian-American organized crime group based in Los Santos, as part of the 'Ndràngheta. The clan is a local cell - also called “locali” or “locale” - within the Commisso 'ndrina, primarily based in Siderno, Calabria, but also in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada. The clan has been active in Eastern Canada, including both the Greater Toronto Area and Montréal, Quebec, since the 1980s, with most of its original members migrating from the Ionian Coast. The current boss (or "Padrino") of the newly-formed West Coast cell is Canadian 'Ndràngheta boss Giancarlo Speranza, documented by law enforcement officials to be a longtime Canadian crime boss since the early 2000s. As of 2018, the clan's newest territory, and first within the West Coast of the United States, has expanded to Los Santos, San Andreas. History Italy In the 1980s, the Commisso 'ndrina were challenged by the Costa 'ndrina over the command of Siderno, Calabria, with the latter having returned from Toronto. In 1985, Giancarlo Speranza joined the reigns of the Commisso 'ndrina following his compulsory service within the Italian military. Giancarlo Speranza was born in Siderno, Calabria in 1965 into a traditional 'Ndrànghetafamily, and as such, received a position within the clan as it was his blood right, being a descendant of an honorary member. His late father, former sworn member and soldier Pasquale Speranza, was a long-time member of the Commisso 'ndrina and previously served under historical 'Ndràngheta boss Antonio Macrì. Giancarlo found his vocation within the clan as a camorrista (translates to "someone who collects extortion money") before becoming a feared sgarrista (soldier), and is suspected by Italian police to have been involved in over a half dozen unsolved, mob-related homicides between 1986-1990 in Italy. By 1991, the Commisso-Costa feud – that had spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, both Italian and Canadian police reports indicate there were 28 confirmed casualties among the Costas and eight among the Commissos. Boss Cosimo Commisso was sentenced to life imprisonment in Italy over the vendetta. Commisso's younger cousin, and Canadian counterpart, Antonio Commisso, succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan. INSERT: Surveillance photograph of Giancarlo Speranza (left) pictured in Downtown Toronto with then-crime boss Cosimo Commisso (right) before his imprisonment, circa 1991 Canada "If you were to look at the guy, you’d never guess he was a Mafia chieftain... He drove a car that was as plain as you could buy — no extras, no options, no flash, no nothing... He dressed very plainly, lived quietly as he could." —Larry Townsend, a retired RCMP Staff Sergeant who led an anti-Mafia unit that probed Speranza for years. Antonio Commisso's first order of business was to expand existing 'Ndràngheta operations in the Greater Toronto Area in Eastern Canada. Giancarlo Speranza was made a member of the Società Maggiore (or "Major Society") within the clan and relocated to Woodbridge, Ontario in late 1991. Canadian police, including RCMP, were unsure of Speranza's exact position within the upper echelon of the Toronto-based cell until the arrest and extradition of Antonio Commisso in 2005. Crippling federal indictments following Commisso's imprisonment sent the clan into disarray. Airport and travel records between Canada-Italy indicate Speranza taking a brief trip in Siderno, Calabria in late 2005 where he was spotted by Carabinieri officials meeting with various high-ranking 'Ndràngheta members. It is speculated by police that the purpose of this trip was for Siderno-based 'Ndràngheta to sanction Speranza upon the Camera di Controllo (or 'board of control') in Canada, formally making him Canada's newest crime boss. Speranza continued to operate behind the shadows as the newly-appointed patriarch, Padrino, of the Greater Toronto Area. Speranza's inner sanctum, his Società Maggiore within the clan, was comprised of several key organized crime figures during the Commisso-Costa war of the 1980s. Some of the Canadian-based 'Ndràngheta figures included: Stefano Varazzo, a licensed funeral home director (also first cousins with Pasquale Speranza), Santino Casciano, a renown cigar retailer with Cuban ties, and Nicola Milici, a Montréal night club owner and casino partner. Tensions between the local GTA 'Ndrangheta and Montréal-based Rizzuto crime family hit an all time high in 2009, when Montréal Godfather Vito Rizzuto's son, Nick Rizzuto Jr., was shot and killed near his car in the city's West End. Following the slaying of Rizzuto's son Nick Jr., many prominent Rizzuto family members were murdered or disappeared over the next half a decade. Canadian authorities believe Calabrian mobsters led by Giancarlo Speranza were among the suspects for the murders and disappearances although no formal charges were ever laid upon Speranza. The clan suffered major setbacks in 2015 after a joint police task force between RCMP and Montreal Police Service were able to convict and arrest various ranking members and associates. The probe, or operation, was codenamed and formally known as Project Hydra — referring to the Greek mythological figure. A number of prominent figureheads within the Toronto-based cell were indicted on charges of money laundering, racketeering, and participation in activities of criminal organization, including: Stefano Varazzo, Santino Casciano, and Nicola Milici. Giancarlo Speranza was only charged with participation in activities of criminal organization; he was acquitted of association charges in 2016. At the time, police announced they had penetrated the inner sanctum of a Toronto-based cell of the 'Ndràngheta. West Coast (Los Santos, SA) Following the mid-year trial, Giancarlo Speranza was noted by Canadian authorities to have reserved his presence to his main places of business: an Italian deli and bakery in the York area, and a dry cleaning shop in Vaughan. Speranza is rumored to have continued operating under the radar and microscope of law enforcement. In early 2017, Giancarlo Speranza boarded a one-way flight to Los Santos, San Andreas. There is speculation not only between law enforcement officials but amongst reputed mob journalists, experts, and reporters that Speranza is upstarting 'Ndràngheta operations in Los Santos. Many of Speranza's former colleagues implicated in Project Hydra had descendants living in the State of San Andreas. INSERT: Surveillance photograph of Nostriano Milici (far left), Nicholas Varazzo (center left), Joseph Casciano (center right), Giancarlo Speranza (far right), and an unidentified associate outside Romano Funeral Home in Strawberry, circa 2017 Joseph Casciano, son of Santino Casciano, moved the family cigar business to Los Santos following the passing of his father (natural causes; heart disease) whilst in prison. Nostriano Milici, son of Nicola Milici, owned and operated a bar outside of Downtown LS. Nostriano Milici possessed local union ties to the Teamsters through the Milici bloodline. Nicholas Varazzo, son of Stefano Varazzo (also second cousins with Giancarlo Speranza), was noted to have recently moved from Toronto to Los Santos as well. Nicholas Varazzo, similar to his father, was a funeral practitioner and mortician. Agents within the FIB have only been able to obtain photographs of Speranza meeting with his West Coast associates on one occasion: outside Romano Funeral Home in Strawberry following the burial service of Santino Casciano in early 2017. “The organization’s ('Ndràngheta) activities are carried out in impenetrable secrecy by independent families that are governed by extremely strict internal rules, that are closed to external influences, showing excellent entrepreneurial capabilities in both economic and financial crimes, of which all of the profits are skillfully reinvested using sophisticated money laundering techniques." Characteristics The 'Ndràngheta is closer to Cosa Nostra in nature than it is the Camorra; both are sworn secret societies which have a fair amount in common with freemasonry. Both groups have initiation rituals, ceremonies, and a formalized internal structure, and they also share similar criminal interests and activities. However, they are, and have always been, separate and distinct. The 'Ndràngheta tends to be a lot less selective than Cosa Nostra, for one thing, and its membership is thought to be much higher. However, it also has significantly fewer defectors, and historically has been much better at keeping its secrets. Part of the reason is the way the 'Ndràngheta is organised. Individual cells, or ”ndrine", are divided into two sections: the 'Società Maggiore’ (major society), and the 'Società Minore’ (minor society). The major society, which includes the boss and a select few others, holds back most of the important strategic details, while the newer (and less proven) recruits in the minor society are only told what they need to know – and thus can’t give much away. Members in the minor society can gradually work their way up through a series of different ranks, with a range of different names, usually awarded in recognition of some particularly vile act of violence or crime which proves their ‘worth’ or their ‘honour’. There is a vast catalogue of symbolism, rites, and cultural codes within the 'Ndràngheta: from secret and cryptic linguistic codes (San Luca), to tattoos (although practice of tattoos nowadays is less common) & iconography, and esoteric images & rules pertaining to not only joining the organization but one's specific role within 'Ndràngheta. In these secret codes, explanations and distinctions are made about the roles in the society, tasks, the members’ characteristics, and behavioral rules. The 'Ndràngheta, more so than any other type of Italian mafia (Cosa Nostra, Camorra, Sacra Corona Unita) is punctilious in its observance of old-fashioned underworld values and adheres to a much more strict code of conduct. There are coordination structures present in all the other territories where the 'Ndràngheta is present, outside Calabria, called Camera di Controllo (meaning 'board of control'), which always depend on the Province in Calabria, and hold the task to manage controversies, and, discuss and mediate conflicts between the local clans in a specific region of operation. Each Camera di Controllo is managed by a committee; representatives from each local clan in a region of operation. Currently, it is widely believed there are two outside of Italy: one in Canada in Toronto, and one in Australia, with none yet established within the United States. OOC The Speranza Clan is a portrayal of a modern-day 'Ndràngheta (Calabrian Mafia) cell within the United States. Although the Calabrian Mafia and traditional LCN & mob outfits are parallel in day-to-day activities, the make-up and structure behind the Calabrian Mafia is much more in-depth and extensive. It is mandatory that you possess basic knowledge regarding the background and history of the 'Ndràngheta (specifically within North America) before attempting to join this faction. Recruitment is handled strictly in-character. As such, our group holds extremely high roleplay standards and expects all of our members (and those affiliated with us in any capacity) to uphold server rules to the fullest. Upon associating with our faction, you are liable to be CKed at the administration and leadership's discretion for whatever reasons they deem necessary. Any questions, concerns, complaints, or private matters regarding the Speranza Clan can be directed to either @Rust or @Yazum. Please refrain from posting screenshots without the approval of the faction's leadership. Note: thread is subject to be updated sporadically based on IC developments. Special shoutout to @Rust for creating the whole faction thread. Man has been putting in work for this and also the Romano Funeral Service business thread.

Really proud in how far we have come since my batch has joined. We have a total of 5 divisions inside and were beginning to form a real command chain now. Recently we managed to have FD on at almost all time zones, which can help with those accidents that happen in the middle of the day or at night.

How to link your Discord So the process of linking your Discord to your UCP account is fairly simple and is highly recommended - especially if you are a Gold Donator. This way you can claim your Discord permissions on your own without having to wait for an admin - fast and easy! Step 1 - Finding your Discord ID (1 minute): 1. Press the Settings icon on the bottom left, it looks like this: 2. Go to "Appearance" and scroll all the way down, and activate "Developer Mode": 3. Go to any Discord channel and right click your name which appears on the list of channel participants on the right side. Then click "Copy ID". Step 2 - Linking your discord account (2 minutes): 1. Go to the Settings page on the UCP: 2. Navigate to "Edit Profile" and paste the ID you copied on the previous step right here and press "Link". 3. Go to Discord and copy the special code you received on a private message: 4. Go back to the UCP and navigate to "Edit Profile". Paste the code in the box and click "Apply". 5. Claim groups from your profile page All done! If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a message.

Thank you father

Yes just little things that happen several times a day that force us to get out there and roleplay, to keep us active during those times that it gets quiet (mornings in particular). Overall this kind of thing would increase FD/Player roleplay and activity, and in turn will work as a shock-wave effect that will overall increase all role-play and activity.

Great stuff! Even tho cops might be a pain in the ass but it's cool to RP with you all.

Why does it have to be anything other than a command? >Share assets with [Player] >Add assets to share >Both players can share one item freely with their own keys, access, what have you. Easy. Done. Simple. You guys over complicate things. If anybody's worried about sharing assets between alts then the SUPER SIMPLE solution is only allow the access to be granted to another online player. Super easy. No complications. Done.

Good idea, Cobra. I think this would allow some criminal roleplayers a chance to just let something go down and wait until either a smoke stack was reported, a fire alarm goes off, or a 911 call being made. It gives them a proper chance to actually get away or do what they need to do to get the full roleplay out of it. For the FD side it will be nice for us to keep receiving little scripts like this because it will encourage more of our Fire side of the Fire Department and potentially allow us to recruit more.

Business is business

I personally would love to see a rule against chain advertising, businesses posting the EXACT same advert 5 or more times in a row is super annoying and spams up my screen. I reckon a limit of 2 in a row should be plausible and also allows for other people to be able to advertise things instead of having to spam /cad or whatever advert it is just to get acknowledgement.

This is a potentially a good idea that can deter players from getting their fancy cars. Much like the car insurance and road tax did. I think this is good in the long run and will prevent some really crappy situations coming up in the future. But this also might cripple a lot of people's wallets if they're not making as much. But again, this will introduce a real class system into the server, which I think will offer a lot of interesting RP opportunities.

Update 1.3b Fixes Fixed some crashes that were introduced with the new RAGE update Fixed /ftransfer, the money will now properly save for the receiving faction /badge can now be used by LSFD and Government Fire flames will now properly respawn after the death of a player

I have numerous of positive remarks about the general sate of the server and its community, but since it would genuinely take me quite a while to put all of my thoughts into words, I'll instead try and summarize the main points I'd like to bring up. To start off with, every single person I have encountered here so far is nothing but pleasant and welcoming. This is just the general feeling I am receiving both from the community members and the staff team, and I think it shows a lot. Although the population of our server is not remarkably close to what other massive roleplay communities have to offer, I find the number of active players sufficient and satisfactory. Even though the map of Los Santos on GTA V is extremely large and many dead areas within the city can be spotted on the server, I believe that with time we will grow and this will no longer be an issue. With that being said, I'll take quality over quantity any day; and quality is something the server does not lack. Daily development of the server's gamemode and the amount of dedication and effort the developers put into creating an outstanding experience for all of us is something worth of mentioning too in my opinion. This is not trivial as many might think, and I'm saying it with full confidence as someone who came here from one of the most known SA:MP's roleplay communities and knows how things tend to work there. Most of the time it takes ages to get new features implemented, not to mention the casual bug fixes and improvements of the overall gameplay experience. This is something we should all be thankful for. If we also take into account the amount of daily suggestions we're seeing brought up by our own members, and the number of positive feedbacks we're encountering on this very thread only shows how much we, the community members, truly care for the server and its progress. It wouldn't be right of me to speak for anyone else, but the signs are there; it would take a blind man not to spot them.

Local deals on the automobiles

Good shit my brother, keep em stacking!

Why does it have to be marriage? Or family? Maybe you want your absolute best buddy that you trust with your life to share things with, share your vehicles and so on.

this is awesome, keep it up.

Unwanted Guests

Overall I like the idea as it can add some unique roleplay for all sides involved - be it the FD and the rest of the players who roleplay around such establishments. Maybe if the interior of a property actually gets damaged by the started fires, this feature would draw more attention from players who wish to protect their furniture and avoid paying for the caused damage.

OOC Section With our previous fighting system no matter who you were, a professional fighter who’s always on the grind or a random who pulled out of nowhere, technically you had the same odds to win, spamming LMB and hoping for the best. Recently we went through some discussion on how we can encourage roleplay and build a character arc around fighting, and not just see it as a throwaway sport / activity they one may have nothing else to do. We’re also working to build a hype around the fights which will be worked out via IC means, but if you plan on role playing as a fighter, make sure you play your part in it too. The general idea of the roll system remains that fighters will go back and forth with attack & defense rolls which are based on certain attributes. If the attacking roll comes out higher than the other fighter’s defense roll, they lose a point. If the defense roll will be higher in turn to a fighter’s attacking roll, they block the hit, with no change in points. After a certain number of successful hits, one fighter will come out on the top. The attributes will bump up over time based on activity and performance, details of which I will get into shortly. The system is a re-work of what we've previously used a year ago. Props to everyone who helped with this, specifically @DirtNasty for stat points & @Koko for fight styles / rank ideas. Fighter Playstyles. In order to get started, you’ll have to approach us IC and start training with our trainers, pick a fighting style you want to train around. Every fighter will now pick & grow with their playstyle, giving an essence to the character, the betting scene, post conferences and audience chatter. So pick whatever you feel suits your character the best! These are the base rolls for each fight style. Stat Points With stat points in addition to the base rolls, we aim and hope to see the training and dedication reflect in your character in order to have a better edge in the fights. Fighters will start with their base rolls, and up to 12 additional points will be offered as a character progresses. Stats: Each STRENGTH attribute increases the roll values (both minimum and maximum) for the attack roll. Each SPEED attribute increases the roll values (both minimum and maximum) for the defensive roll. ENDURANCE reflects the number of hits you can take. You’ll start out with an endurance of 2 which can be maxed to 4 over time. Overall, you’ll have 10 points to level up to, to reach at the peak performance. The maximum points you can spend on strength or speed would be 7. Endurance points easier put can be termed ‘milestone points’. When you get to the 4th point, you reach your first endurance milestone, meaning you’ll be able to take 3 hits now, similarly 4 hits at the 7th point. So, how to get additional stat points & improve your character’s game? As stated earlier, once you reach us out IC, you’ll get started with a fighting style you want to train around with a trainer. At this stage, the way to move up the ladder is to show face and activity around. Roleplaying twice a week at the gym gets you one point which must be monitored by one of our trainers till you're at 3 points. From here on, you simply train to maintain your point score. If you're not training twice a week, you lose points. So how do you get more points? This is the point the character will have to start working harder. > You'll get 1 point for winning champion titles. > You'll get 1 point through random public gym competitions such as races, triathlons hosted once or twice every month. > 1 point to be awarded for the fighter showcasing the most activity throughout the month. Thus after your third point, the upcoming points will be comparatively harder & take longer to achieve, since you’re at a point of the curve where it gets harder to progress and to get to the expertise. This will be your journey towards a semi pro level where things start getting serious. You may see a weekly pay from the gym, get to coach rookies, and start to see small-time sponsorships. You rack up a few more points, and you’ll carry the odds, hype & momentum with you to the point people know who you are for how you play and what you’ve achieved. Getting here will take fairly long and will be a process of anything but character development, dedication, ups & downs and so on. All in all, you'll have your share of fun in the process & don't forget, the path is the goal. Use of Steroids One personal pet peeve I've always had in regards to steroid usage on the server is, even though with an avenue of roleplay like the gym and the fights, I couldn't bring it to much use for the fighters, nor did I encounter a lot of people actively roleplaying cycles and such for their fights. The system gave us a chance to change that, so here we are. Use of steroids will grant an additional endurance point for the match. However, the portrayal of steroid abuse must be realistic and back up with enough roleplay. You will have to run your story through the faction administration and consistently roleplay steroid cycles, the effects of which must show an impact in other aspects of your characters as well. If we deem it’s up to the standard, you’ll be awarded with the bonus point. Example Match. On a foot note, I will also add that for some of you willing to fight, the system may come off overwhelming to begin with, which we completely understand. However, I can assure you it's not as hard to come around as it may seem once you're around and familiar, which we will help you get by during the training sessions. As for the spectators, while I do understand this style of fights printed in chats may come off as slow and boring, but let's not forget it's heavy text based roleplay we've all signed up for, and the fact that this way of carrying it out is opening several doors for roleplay. To spice the experience up for spectators however, we'll have people voice acting real time, roleplaying as the commentators via XMR. If anybody's interested to volunteer for this, feel free to PM me as well.

(( OOC email links @Sami & @Bronny )) (( Thanks to Sami for the graphics ))

ROMANO FUNERAL HOME Romano Funeral Home is a reputable funeral home within the city of Los Santos offering professional and affordable funeral services at a reasonable price. Whether it's funeral planning, funeral arrangements, burial, mortuary or cremation services you require, we can provide it all. Let our team here at Romano assist you in your time of need. We will treat you with utmost respect, and we'll help ensure your loved one is given the proper memorial celebration he or she deserves. • We offer services for all faiths • We work with all local cemeteries • We will help personalize the service ABOUT US Romano Funeral Home is a locally owned and operated funeral home serving families in Los Santos and the neighboring communities since 1983. We are a San Andreas-licensed (Cemetery and Funeral Bureau) funeral establishment ready to handle the arrangements for the passing away of your loved one. Our funeral directors are able to arrange several different kinds of service that you may choose for your dearly departed one. We are here to guide you in determining key decisions and take care of all the necessary legal documentation needed during this difficult time. Rest assured that our team here at Romano will create a special funeral service that will commemorate the life of your loved one. Death is inevitable, and no one is really prepared when that challenging time comes. When you want your family to have lesser burden in the future, you may want to get a funeral plan. Our funeral directors can provide you with professional assistance in arranging a funeral in advance. • In Business Since 1983 • Full In-Service Mortuary • Affordable Rates • Emergency Services Available SERVICES - Funeral Director Services - In-Service Mortuary - Funeral Pre-Planning - Burial - Cremation - Military Funeral Honors (DD Form 214 required) - Veteran's Headstones & Veteran's Burial Flags - Obituaries - Death Certificates CONTACT US ROMANO FUNERAL HOME 316 DAVIS AVENUE, STRAWBERRY LOS SANTOS, SA 90187 TEL: 156-4131 NOW HIRING - Funeral Services Associate (multiple positions available) - Crematory Operator (license required) - Embalmer (license required -- apprenticeship available) SUPPORTED BY THE LOS SANTOS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

In the ideal role-play server there is no need for grinding whatsoever, if you can exhibit and prove yourself to be capable of running or acquiring something the process should be expedited. Alas I'm one of those weird older roleplay boys who believes in RP over the RPG.