This article has been verified for the current version (1.0) of the game.
In Empire of Sin, it’s all about being the boss. Being the big cheese comes with its perks, but it also brings a whole lot of responsibility. Rackets, gangsters, rival gangs - the boss has to manage them all. Picking which boss you want to use to take over Chicago is the first choice you’ll make upon starting the game. Each boss has their own personality, specialities, combat abilities, and unique missions. From the free-wheeling glitz and glamor of Goldie Garneau to the stoic, cold violence of Salazar Reyna, each boss allows you to play the game in your own way. A detailed break-down of each individual boss can be found in Appendix.
None of the bosses are blank slates - they’ve all come to Chicago with long histories behind them, and what they’ve been through has affected who they are today. Each boss has traits decided by their background. For instance, Frankie Donovan’s battles and losses in the Irish War of Independence have made him Brave, which increases his Initiative in combat while outnumbered. Each boss has their own mix of traits, and getting to know how those traits affect their performance is key to utilizing them effectively.
A boss’s background isn’t the only thing that defines their traits, though. The scrapes and antics you get up to while conquering Chicago affects them just as much. Becoming more notorious in the city will give you an infamous presence, allowing you to hire more adept gangsters, but it will decrease your relationship with the cops. However you act is going to affect you in the long run, for better or worse. Traits can be found on the Gangster sheet. A breakdown of all Traits and their effects can be found in the Appendix.
Not all bosses are created equal. While every boss knows how to run the same kinds of rackets, each has their own specialities, and more specifically, two specialities. These give boosts to two different kinds of rackets. Daniel McKee Jackson’s made his bones off the brothel and casino games, and therefore has a 25% decreased chance of his brothels being raided by the feds. His casino bonus ensures that he earns an additional 20% cash in his gambling joints.
Each boss also has their own Diplomatic Bonus as a way of dealing with other gangs. Mabel Ryley’s slick Cork talk gives her a 10% extra chance for her trade agreement suggestions to be accepted, while Goldie Garneau’s exuberant manner reduces threat generation in neighborhoods shared with other gangs. Leverage your Empire and Diplomatic Bonuses to give you the edge against the other bosses.
While it can be useful to have your boss remain in their safehouse and run their empire from above, they can be deadly in combat (particularly in the early game, before you have a chance to build up a decent sized crew). Each boss has their own powerful unique abilities. These abilities have long cool-downs, but can completely change the direction of a tense shoot-out. Sai Wing Mock can throw three poison bombs at his enemies, dealing massive damage on impact as well as poison damage over time, while Maggie Dyer can use her whip to draw a target to her and hit them with a devastating punch. Your boss can be a huge benefit in combat. But remember: if they die, it’s Game Over.
You can’t breeze around Chicago knocking down rackets and murdering your rivals without drawing some attention to yourself. Performing certain actions, like killing thugs or guards, completing missions, recruiting gangsters, getting rackets, and so on grants you notoriety. As you gain notoriety, you won't have to pay so much for upgrades, and the thrill of being in such a dangerous boss's racket will even have your customers spending more money. Better yet, the higher your notoriety, the better class of gangster you’ll be able to recruit to join your crew.
Bosses share the same combat and social stats as other gangsters in the game, but a boss’s Intimidation, Leadership and Persuasion stats affect dialogue, sitdowns with other bosses and the outcome of some events. Combat stats are described in detail in the Combat section.
Bosses have significantly more hit points than most other gangsters and goons you’ll be facing across Chicago - you don’t get to be the boss without being able to take a few hits.
You are notorious, just in from Brooklyn. You've mastered the ins and outs of the criminal world. Now that you've shaken off the shackles of your former cohorts, you're ready to dominate Chicago.
The child of immigrants from Salerno, Capone worked hard from childhood to put food on the table. His meteoric rise to gang leader has left him happy, if a little reckless. He maintains his power by allowing no disrespect.
Angelo Genna
Italian
A mastermind of both political maneuvering and moving hot goods, you have a grip on Chicago that's nearly become a stranglehold. You won't stop until you've demolished your enemies and dominated the city.
An immigrant from Sicily, Genna split his youth between hard labor and delinquency. With an angry fire in his belly like many young men, the only thing holding Genna's ambition back is his inexperienced naiveté. He prefers to shoot first if things start to go south.
Daniel McKee Jackson
African-American
You are generous and empathetic towards the downtrodden in Chicago. You are politically ambitious and a catalyst for change. Secretly, you operate one of the most profitable casinos in all of Chicago.
Daniel McKee Jackson stuck through strict schooling to complete his education despite the years of poverty he endured as a youth. He used his cunning to pull himself out, and his kindness to pull up the rest of his community. He values discretion in all his activities over all else.
Dion O'Banion
Irish-American
You may run a flower shop, but you're anything but delicate. With your powerful international connections and your strong base on the Irish North Side, you're ready to claim your piece of the city.
Born to Irish immigrants, O'Banion's faith does little to hold back his anger or cruelty. A delinquent from an early age, he cares about little but getting paid, no matter what he has to do to get it.
Elvira Duarte
Mexican
You are a queen atop a criminal empire that spans the city of Chicago. What you lack in brawn, you more than make up for in brilliance and bullets, and you provoke a fierce loyalty in those you employ.
A former gang leader in Mexico, Duarte fled to Chicago to start her empire anew. Having seen it all, nothing disturbs her calm demeanor. It is lonely at the top, but that suits Elvira perfectly. She's seen many empires fall due to loose lips, and survives through her dedication to discretion.
Frank Ragen
Irish-American
Your dirty money has lined the pockets of so many politicians, police chiefs, and city treasurers that you might as well run the city yourself. You plan to claim the city using a deft combination of votes and vice.
Ragen's Irish immigrant parents managed to instill a sense of religion in him, and not a whole lot else. He channeled his cruelty and intolerance into boxing as a young man, and now he pumps it into building up an empire. He relies on drawing like-minded individuals together.
Frankie Donovan
Irish
Hailing all the way from Ireland, you are a five-time marksman, fearless in combat, and incredibly cool under pressure. You came to Chicago to make a name for yourself, and nothing will stand in your way.
Donovan was forced to come to America in the aftermath of the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916, where he lost a brother. He fell in with the Cause after completing his schooling, and its outcome has left him angry, though brave. It hasn't dulled his fun-loving, flirty side, though, because Frankie can bounce back from anything.
Goldie Garneau
French-Canadian
You're the talk of the town. You run the most exotic and popular speakeasy in Chicago. Outwardly you appear frivolous and carefree, but underneath you are calculating every move. You won't stop until you're running the whole city.
Goldie was raised in Quebec, where she graduated from an incredibly repressive school. The school did little to repress her happy, flirty personality and her rebellious streak led her into a life of glitz and glamor. She is more of a lover than a fighter.
Joseph Saltis
Hungarian
Your bootlegging prowess, diplomatic nature, and sincere attempt at appearing refined endears the community toward you. You're ready to graduate from bar owner to business magnate and take control of the city.
Emigrating from the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a youth, Saltis worked as a child laborer before turning to crime to make some real money. He never lost respect for hard work. He started his own gang, and developed a taste for the finer things in life. His careful, cunning attitude has steered him well in Chicago.
Mabel Ryley
Irish
You are simultaneously vicious and kind. You've inherited control of the Alley Cats from your (now deceased) husband and you have your sights set on gaining control of the rest of Chicago.
Immigrating from Cork, Ireland, Ryley spent her youth avoiding her strict schooling and engaging in delinquency. Growing up without much, she takes an "easy come, easy go" approach to life. She gets ahead by remaining calm and careful in all matters.
Maggie Dyer
American
It doesn't take much for you to get what you want, either through pure intimidation or delicate persuasion. After years of managing the circus, you're ready to run a new menagerie of criminals and cohorts here in Chicago.
Raised in poverty, Dyer dropped out of reform school to work at the White City Circus. Those early years of misfortune have made her sullen, but brave. After running the circus for so many years, she knows that everyone has their price.
Sai Wing Mock
Chinese-American
You are bold, proud, and unflinching in your quest for dominance in Chicago. Just in from Chinatown, New York, you are determined to take control of all this city has to offer.
Sai Wing Mock arrived on the west coast as a young man, the child of a devoutly religious Chinese family. His calm and cunning nature led him to become a feared gang leader within the Hip Sing Tong. He gives nothing away for free, saying as little as possible.
Salazar Reyna
Mexican
All the way from Oaxaca, Mexico, you're in Chicago for two things: money and glory. You don't flinch from brutality and will kill to get your way if you have to. You're an unstoppable force, demolishing everything on your path to get to the top of Chicago.
A bloody incident out west in Los Angeles has made Reyna into a sullen loner, determined to place his trust in no one. Originally a boxer from Mexico, he was forced to flee to America in his youth.
Stephanie St. Clair
Martiniquais
Ferocious and fearless, there are few in Chicago who would dare defy you. You came to Chicago to conquer, as you did in New York. And you don't care who gets in your way.
Stephanie fled the West Indies and established herself as the Queen of Harlem through her cunning, tolerance, and with faith in the people around her. She lives by the mantra that no man (or woman) is an island.
Boss
Combat Bonus
Empire Bonus
Diplomatic Bonus
Al Capone
Rain of Fire: Al Capone fires a stream of bullets over the highlighted area. Anyone caught in the area of attack is suppressed and will take damage when they move.
Breweries: Reduces the cost of Production upgrades for Breweries.
Brothels: Reduces the cost of Ambience upgrades for Brothels.
Stronger Bonds: Higher passive Faction gain when in a Defensive pact.
Angelo Genna
Fan of Knives: Angelo can fillet his foes with a barrage of throwing knives. He picks one or multiple targets and once selected releases a flurry of blades at the targets.
Speakeasies: Reduces the cost for Speakeasy upgrades.
Breweries: An extra guard for Breweries.
At Your Service: Faction Rating (When honoring pacts): +100
Honor gain (When honoring pacts): +50
Daniel McKee Jackson
Last Rites: Jackson surgically unloads a full clip of his pistol into a target. If the target dies before the clip is empty, another target is automatically chosen. Each enemy killed by Last Rites reduces its cooldown.
Brothels: Reduces the chance of raids for Brothels.
Casinos: Increases the earnings from Casinos.
Founding Farther: Reduced threat generation (with large empire).
Dion O'Banion
Blastphemy: Dion shoots his target with an explosive shotgun slug, knocking them back and destroying their armor.
Breweries: Reduces the upkeep cost for Breweries.
Speakeasies: Reduces the cost of Ambience upgrades for Speakeasies.
Turncoat: Truces don't last as long.
Business Arrangement difficulty is higher.
Elvira Duarte
Devil's Breath: Elvira is the Devil on her enemy's shoulder. She blows a cloud of psychotropic smoke in her target's face. The entranced then becomes her ally.
Brothels: Reduces the cost of Security upgrades for Brothels.
Casinos: An extra guard for Casinos.
Peacemaker: Extra faction rating when making non-aggression pacts with other factions.
Frank Ragen
Home Run: Frank rushes a targeted enemy and delivers a powerful melee blow, knocking the enemy down. If the target is killed, you gain the Batter Up! effect and will strike any enemy that gets too close.
Breweries: Reduced Production rate for Breweries.
Speakeasies: Reduced Upkeep costs for Speakeasies.
Strength In Numbers: Reduced Threat generation when the crew size is 6 or greater.
Frankie Donovan
Unleash Fury: Frankie unleashes a flurry of melee strikes against an enemy. Every kill spurs on his fury more, restoring his AP, but causes him to become exhausted.
Speakeasies: Reduces the cost of Word of Mouth upgrades for Speakeasies.
Breweries: Increases the Production rate for Breweries.
Bygones be Bygones: Reduced negative effects with other factions (from previous wars).
Goldie Garneau
Killer Queen: Goldie brings enemies to their knees, by putting a mark on her enemies. Once marked, she fires a shot at each target. Each shot has an improved critical chance and ignores defense.
Speakeasies: Increased earnings from Speakeasies.
Casinos: Reduces the cost of upgrades for Casinos.
Room To Grow: Lower threat generation in shared neighborhood.
Joseph Saltis
Stampede: Joseph charges forward dealing a large amount of damage and knocking back the first enemy in his path. Any enemy caught in his path is damaged and knocked back.
Brothels: Increased earnings from Brothels.
Speakeasies: Speakeasies start with an extra level on their upgrades.
Jive Joint: Decreased neighborhood threat generation when opening a speakeasy.
Mabel Ryley
Swindler's Shot: Mabel marks multiple targets at once and takes a trick shot that ricochets between them. Anyone caught in the bullet's path, takes damage and has the Deep Wounds effect applied.
Casinos: Reduces the cost of Security upgrades for Casinos.
Casinos: Reduces the chance of raids for Casinos.
Fair Price: Higher chance to accept trades.
Maggie Dyer
Lion Tamer: Maggie targets an enemy with her whip and draws them to a nearby tile. She delivers them a devastating punch once they are in range, dealing damage and knocking them down.
Brothels: Reduces the cost of Security upgrades for Brothels.
Speakeasies: Reduces the chance of raids for Speakeasies.
The Heartbreak Kid: Reduced Faction rating lossed when breaking treaties and business arrangements.
Sai Wing Mock
Death Blossoms: Sai Wing Mock loves an explosive introduction. He selects three locations and throws a bomb at each one. Each bomb explodes into a cloud of smoke, poisoning all nearby characters.
Brothels: An extra guard for Brothels.
Casinos: Reduces the cost of Casino games.
Enemy Of My Enemy: Enemy trades and truces do not reduce faction rating with factions in business arrangements.
Salazar Reyna
Santa Muerte: Deliver unto the lady of Holy Death. Reyna wields dual revolvers and spins in a circle, firing a shot into all enemies around him that are within range.
Brothels: Reduces the cost for Ambience upgrades for Casinos.
Casinos: Increases the draw for casinos.
Head Hunter: Reduce threat generation when killing other bosses.
Stephanie St. Clair
Firing Squad: At Stephanie's command any friendly or allied characters that are within range of her will open fire at her selected targets.
Breweries: Reduces the cost for Storage upgrades for Breweries.
Casinos: Reduces the Security upgrade cost for Casinos.
Roll Of The Dice: Reduced neighborhood threat generation when opening a Casino.
Boss
Background
Life lesson
Personality
Physical
Al Capone
Child Labor
Gang Leader
Second Generation
Amazing What Talking Can Achieve
Barroom Brawler
Happy
Reckless
Thick Skinned
Angelo Genna
Child Labor
Delinquent
Immigrant
Shoot First
Angry
Naive
Small
Daniel McKee Jackson
Fell on Hard Times
Stayed In School
Strictly Schooled
Discretion is the Greater Part of Valor
Cunning
Kind
Thick Skinned
Dion O'Banion
Delinquent
Religious
Second Generation
Show Me The Money
Angry
Cruel
Immovable
Thick Skinned
Elvira Duarte
Fled To America
Gang Leader
Immigrant
Discretion is the Greater Part of Valor
Calm
Loner
Small
Frank Ragen
Boxer
Religious
Second Generation
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Cruel
Intolerant
Thick Skinned
Frankie Donovan
Fled To America
Immigrant
Stayed In School
A Cat has Nine Lives
Brave
Flirt
Brawny
Goldie Garneau
Immigrant
Stayed In School
Strictly Schooled
Lover, Not a Fighter
Flirt
Happy
Beautiful
Joseph Saltis
Child Labor
Gang Leader
Immigrant
The Work Praises The Man
Careful
Cunning
Giant
Thick Skinned
Mabel Ryley
Delinquent
Immigrant
Strictly Schooled
Easy Come, Easy Go
Calm
Careful
Thick Skinned
Maggie Dyer
Child Labor
Poverty
Reform School
Everyone Has Their Price
Brave
Sullen
Giant
Thick Skinned
Sai Wing Mock
Gang Leader
Immigrant
Religious
Say Nothing
Calm
Cunning
Brawny
Salazar Reyna
Boxer
Fled To America
Immigrant
Trust No One
Loner
Sullen
Hair Trigger
Stephanie St. Clair
Fled To America
Gang Leader
Immigrant
No Man Is An Island
Cunning
Tolerant
Small
Note: All bosses have the same base values for Health (150), Movement (6), and Defense (5).