Is Tenpenny The Master Of The Crack Operation?

[Smash Bandicoot]

Makes alot of sense, Tenpenny drove Smoke to betray grove street and there's no real reason Big Smoke would just say "Oh hey, let's just be a master crack guy" and do it, Tenpenny most likely affords the coke for him and is the owner, Big Smoke is just a manager.

[LeatherJacketSoldier]

You mean, on a fashion like Tommy Vercetti? Tommy was working for Sonny Forelli and trying to find out who was behind the ambushed deal, but after killing Diaz he gave that up and took over Diaz' empire and even expanded it. I mean, if you watch again Big Smoke boss fight opening scene, Smoke says he doesn't give a sh*t about C.R.A.S.H., and that he's the leader of his own whole operation (in a similar fashion like Tommy did in the last missions of VC). Perhaps Tenpenny used him to do his own businesses, but Smoke's love for money and power made him see an opportunity to start trafficking drugs and building up his empire. And in The Green Sabre, Tenpenny orders Smoke to do what would be his last job: betray the Families. Smoke accepts because like Toreno would say: "It's your gang, but to me, it's just collateral."; at that point he's too blind for money to see what was he really doing.

1 minute ago, LeatherJacketSoldier said:

betray the Families

*definitely, to rub them out of the map.

[Smash Bandicoot]

4 hours ago, LeatherJacketSoldier said:

You mean, on a fashion like Tommy Vercetti? Tommy was working for Sonny Forelli and trying to find out who was behind the ambushed deal, but after killing Diaz he gave that up and took over Diaz' empire and even expanded it. I mean, if you watch again Big Smoke boss fight opening scene, Smoke says he doesn't give a sh*t about C.R.A.S.H., and that he's the leader of his own whole operation (in a similar fashion like Tommy did in the last missions of VC). Perhaps Tenpenny used him to do his own businesses, but Smoke's love for money and power made him see an opportunity to start trafficking drugs and building up his empire. And in The Green Sabre, Tenpenny orders Smoke to do what would be his last job: betray the Families. Smoke accepts because like Toreno would say: "It's your gang, but to me, it's just collateral."; at that point he's too blind for money to see what was he really doing.

*definitely, to rub them out of the map.

Thing is, I doubt Tenpenny would let him do what he wants, how did he get all the way to the 4th floor safely during the final mission? why didn't anyone attack him? simple, because he's the owner of the damn building.

[LeatherJacketSoldier]

17 hours ago, Smash Bandicoot said:

how did he get all the way to the 4th floor safely during the final mission?

Man, in normal gameplay you're supposed to eliminate all of Smoke's bodyguards in the building, to avoid receiving more bullets than necessary. Tenpenny just found the building was only filled with corpses, and realized CJ unknowingly gave him a safe way up. Tenpenny is just a bastard who benefits from every chaos he sees or is capable of creating. And Smoke, once he got enough money, got rid of Tenpenny's orders (after Badlands), and created his own drug empire. Because Smoke didn't mess with Tenpenny's businesses, Tenpenny didn't bother sending CJ kill Smoke, Tenpenny wouldn't benefit with that.

[Smash Bandicoot]

6 hours ago, LeatherJacketSoldier said:

Man, in normal gameplay you're supposed to eliminate all of Smoke's bodyguards in the building, to avoid receiving more bullets than necessary. Tenpenny just found the building was only filled with corpses, and realized CJ unknowingly gave him a safe way up. Tenpenny is just a bastard who benefits from every chaos he sees or is capable of creating. And Smoke, once he got enough money, got rid of Tenpenny's orders (after Badlands), and created his own drug empire. Because Smoke didn't mess with Tenpenny's businesses, Tenpenny didn't bother sending CJ kill Smoke, Tenpenny wouldn't benefit with that.

"Dead corpses"? there's still a wave of gangsters and bodyguards on the way out...

[LeatherJacketSoldier]

15 hours ago, Smash Bandicoot said:

there's still a wave of gangsters and bodyguards on the way out...

When Tenpenny leaves Smoke's office for the Crack Lab, he is seen shooting a shotgun in the lab with no one else on sight. Most likely, Tenpenny left before any gangster entered the building. What isn't explained is why they enter the building after Tenpenny sets it on fire (maybe they wanted to kill CJ at all costs), or if they were hiding in rooms CJ couldn't access why they bother in shooting CJ instead of running out for their lives.

[Lancerator]

They probably just cooperated and both kept their end of the bargain, no one running no one and shiet like during the beginning of VC. It was mutual. Tenpenny lawfully covered Smoke so he could score easily in LS and in contrast collect a paycheck. When Tenpenny was aware of CJ upcoming he most likely broke relationship with Smoke and local gangs so he could keep everything and then leave town.

[LeatherJacketSoldier]

30 minutes ago, Lancerator said:

They probably just cooperated and both kept their end of the bargain, no one running no one and shiet like during the beginning of VC. It was mutual. Tenpenny lawfully covered Smoke so he could score easily in LS and in contrast collect a paycheck. When Tenpenny was aware of CJ upcoming he most likely broke relationship with Smoke and local gangs so he could keep everything and then leave town.

That's what I wanted to say, but couldn't express it; thanks, friend. As far as players know, Tenpenny and Smoke cooperate at least until Badlands take place, because at the end of The Green Sabre Tenpenny says to CJ: "Smoke? Smoke does as he's told." (this is my translation, I played the game in spanish); on later C.R.A.S.H. missions Smoke isn't even referenced, and in missions where people talk with CJ about Smoke, Tenpenny isn't mentioned. Even Toreno mentions Tenpenny in Interdiction (if I'm not mistaken), but doesn't say Tenpenny and Smoke keep cooperating with each other.