All of the Mafioso action, none of the bloody horse heads
I can think of at least five different ways to take over the gas station down the street. I can cut the telephone lines at the rear, then rush the front counter. If it was a two-man job, I’d send a bruiser through the sliding glass doors, then cut the power so that the proprietor couldn’t escape. Better still, I’d go inside, possibly knock over a few candy bar racks to intimidate the owner, and put the screws to him until he decides to kick up a weekly protection fee to me, Fernando Bueno…Don Fernando Bueno.
While playing The Godfather II, these are the kinds of decisions you’ll have to make. As you grow your empire, you’ll have to take over small businesses, recruit new soldiers, promote crew members, and even knock over a few banks to rake in some extra dough. So before we get to all of the other nuances of becoming a Don, why don’t we start with the very first thing you need to know: How to take over a business.
Tip #1
Always case the joint first. Before rushing into a business with your guns blazing, always stroll around the perimeter first and locate all of the exits, the gas main, and the telephone lines. Whether it’s an electronics store or a swanky gin joint, businesses usually have more than one entry point. If you can’t get in through the front door because there’s too much muscle, get your demolitions expert or engineer to create a new entry point for you.
Tip #2
Vary your crew members’ specialties. Look, there’s no point in bringing three safecrackers to a business that requires a bruiser to bust down the door, you dig? By bringing a bruiser, an engineer, and a demolitions expert, you’ve pretty much guaranteed you can get into any building you want.
Tip #3
A stubborn Don is a dead Don. If the business you’re after is heavily fortified with a rival family’s goons, there’s no point in banging your head against the wall trying to take it over with a weaker crew. Instead, weaken the rival family by blowing up one of its businesses and removing their Crime Ring bonus. If that business was guarded by men wearing bulletproof vests, for example, remove the bulletproof vest bonus to make things easier on you the next time to try to take the joint.
Tip #4
Unmake Made Men. Whenever you try to take over a rival business, chances are the rival Don will send some of his tougher Made Men to provide the business under siege a little backup. You can ensure this doesn’t happen by either removing the rival family’s Made Men for good by meeting their kill conditions, or just send them to the hospital for a bit by whacking them some other way (and not meeting their kill condition). Either way, get them out of your hair before things get messy at a small business takeover.
Tip #5
Your crew is only as good as their leader. If you rush into a warehouse where all of the rival goons are ready and waiting, you’ll lead your men into a massacre. Instead, use your men like you would a military unit. Orchestrate their movements as they take over the business and cover each others’ backs. Use flanking procedures to take out rival soldiers, take cover behind walls, or even send your crew down one route while you take another to split the enemy’s fire. Fight smart.
No matter what method you choose when taking over a new business, always keep in mind that there’s more than one way to skin a cat. If your first attempt doesn’t work perfectly, try an alternate entrance or a different approach.
