I have 2 questions.
1) Regarding Roles. Each says that you are good at a certain move. Does that actually influence the roll for the move?
2) Why do the different ranks give different options for attributes? I guess I haven’t seen the primary advantage of starting higher in rank.
Some common moves (for example: the Briefing move) can only be performed by the highest ranking PC. Similarly, the Owl has a special movie that grants +1 forward when you Act Up as long as you outrank the target. More generally, this is a military hierarchy. Higher ranking officers can order lower ranking ones around and have more power, privilege, and responsibility.
With regard to the Roles and the moves they’re good at, check the descriptions of the moves. Those will describe the effect for the Role that is good at them. The Roles do not give you a +1 or similar to the die roll itself – rather, most of them make the consequences/complications less bad. For example, on a 7-9 on the Repair move, you usually choose 2 complications from the list. A Protector chooses only one complication. Others, like Dreamers who get stuck making the Informal Interview move or Zealots who call out comrades during the Debrief move get other benefits.
Ah I see that it is separate on the move description. I missed it before.
Thanks for the excellent answer Alex!
The simple conceit in the rank hierarchy is that while higher ranking officers have more authority (and responsibility), enlisted people are more competent and actually get their hands dirty. This translates into a advantage in the fiction vs an advantage when rolling dice.