Username: Stuelpner Karl,
or Karl A. Stuelpner, which refers to my "Karla" character.
Language(s): English or German.
(Even though I often see my Karla, or
Carlita, character as of Mexican descent, I don't speak Spanish, unfortunately.)
Method to RP: Skype is probably best, but I have virtually no experience in roleplaying. It may work better to exchange ideas from a third person viewpoint, rather than "being" the Zako or their killer. It might be better to play the role of the guy who hires women like Karla for small roles.
Personal Preferences/Tell us about your zako: They are not forced, brainwashed or driven by poverty. The main motivation is the relatively good pay for easy work with (as they believe) little risk. Enjoying to act important and to bully people can play a role too. The Zakos are not really interested in their boss's business, just looking out for what's good for them. Plus, they have a private life, with families and all, thus their mind may be occupied by other issues than the job.
My preferences cumulate into this character named "Karla", basically my alter ego: A chunky woman of about 30 years, mother of two, in a complicated relationship, quite nice and likeable, but also pretty lazy and a bit sloppy. Working casually in various jobs, more or less legal, she is on a mob boss's payroll, ending up as an obstacle to remove, or something similar.
Zako Skill Level: Maybe they are
very skilled in something, just not
in combat. Most likely they are just not nearly as skilled as they think they are or as they think it's enough to do the job. (Or to collect the pay while others do the job.) Some may be
physically strong, but mentally not so much. Or they can hit hard, but not sustain the response.
Preferred clothing/uniform: I love the female Zakos stripped down to
their underwear for some reason when they are suddenly involved into a combat situation. For example a soldier taking off parts off her uniform while
doing some physical labor. Or they are near the
boss who likes skimpy clothed women. Or their
uniforms are missing some parts because they aren't really prepared and nobody expected real oposition. (For male Zako, I like
vests or filthy undershirts, being the counterpart for the women somehow.)
Favorite Zako in media (Games, TV, Movies etc): I love
Bud Spencer style brawls, with the same baddies coming back several times until staying down for good.
Black Belt Jones was awesome too. It's also great to see prisoners getting their lives back by
taking the lives of those who make a living from keeping them in.
America 3000 was good, just like Supermen vs Amazons (especially
the end). Or Kick-Ass, a lot from Troma, or... (the list is endless.)
Favorite Scenario: My absolute favorite would be a group of women processing drugs until some cool vigilantes crash their party. Or the women guard the drug lord's mansion and have to be taken out one after another by an intruder.
Another idea would be a manhunt, with the prey becoming the predator. Or a "Home Alone" style invasion, replacing the two or four attackers (who can come back after almost any brutality before the big showdown) with about a dozen, who may get humliated several times, but once they get hit really hard, they won't get up anymore.
Lethal or non lethal (or both): Both can be fine, as the heroes don't care for the Zako's life one way or the other. There may be no need to kill them, but no use in leaving them alive either. Things should get painful and humiliating, with some fatalities and some survivors. I love a someway tragic end, so even when they survive, without permanent damage (which is a
possibility too), and it seems that they get off lightly, a harsh punishment is implied.
Lengthy prison terms or even the possibility of getting excuted (probably because of strict anti drug laws) are casually mentioned when Zakos are
marched off, to their shock and the enjoyment of the crowd.
Kinks: Showing the human side of the small fry baddies: They talk about their families, what they plan to do after work, have normal interests, quirks, etc. And, in contrast to this, their demise is presented as a joke, the heroes make snarky remarks. Basically, there are rather likeable people working for the evil side, and rather nasty people fighting for the good cause.
Turn offs: I don't like my Zakos to rape, or to murder innocent people. (At least not being successful in it.) They may kill in combat, though that's not very likely, considering their lack of skills. Also, I don't like people voluntarily sacrificing their lives, or people who risk theirs for others (and not for the money or the fame), like firefighters, getting killed.
A big turn off when it comes to looks are piercings. (They pretty much ruin many of Mr. X's pictures for me.) I'm also no fan of tattoos, especially when they cover big parts of the body, like the complete arm.