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Status is your reputation among the kindred of the Camarilla. With the right of destruction reserved for the prince, reputation is the resource kindred fight viciously over. Status defines the level of trustworthiness or respect a Kindred has within Camarilla Society. It tells other Kindred how to regard and weigh a Kindred's word, as well as the "pecking order" within Kindred society. It puts a clearer distinction upon your rank, and standing in the Camarilla. In simplest terms, the higher your status, the more respect you can demand, or be ignored if you have less. When a dispute is to be adjudicated between Kindred, and there is a lack of evidence, Status, and who has more of it, is going to be the deciding factor in who is right.
Status will only pertain to one specific Sect/Faction. Status is never accepted or respected across Sect divisions, although a Camarilla Vampire who learns a Sabbat member's Status may alter her choice on how to interact with that Vampire.
This primer is intended to provide a central location for the various systems used on City of Hope to manage Status. Understanding the various systems, how they're expected to be used, and the many details scattered all about, can be quite daunting. But understanding is necessary to make use of these valuable tools to better immerse ourselves in roleplaying as kindred.
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Status Basics
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Status on City of Hope is based on a point system, with a variety of ways to affect the total score. There is no hard cap on the total, but there are consequences if one dips into the negative.
- Acknowledged: Once acknowledged ICly by the Prince, each Kindred is given five (5) points of Status as a base (and also given IC).
- Scandal: Each point of scandal from +harpy, from each category, subtracts a point of Status rating while each point of negative scandal adds to your Status rating. (i.e.: on your +sheet it will list your Scandal by Behavior, Court, or Praxis. If it is a negative #number then that will raise your status. If it is a positive #number, it will lower your status.)
- Titles: Titles/Positions one holds have a Status value associated which are added to your total as long as you hold the title. If you have more than one title, only the one with the most status counts. No stacking! You can check if you have one with the command: +effects
- Prince/Imperator, Duke/Duchess = 25
- Seneschal, Primogen, Keeper, Court Harpy = 20
- Scourge, Sheriff = 15
- Assistant Harpy, Assistant Keeper, Deputy, Whip = 10
Systems
Our status system was based originally on a 15 page document created by OKC by Night, titled "A Harpy's Primer" (not to be confused with a published book of the same name). That game has since ended and the document is no longer available for free online. Our current PC Harpies have been working on a new version designed for City of Hope, and is still in development. Contact Amelie or Colombe to get a link to a copy.
We have also implemented Status Traits, as developed by MET. For more details, check out Status Traits. They do not affect our numbered Status system, but most likely if you are involved in a scandal, or something that gains you kudos? They may also come into play.
Tracking
Here are commands that are helpful for keeping track of status and things that may effect it.
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What does it tell me?
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| +boons
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Lists your current status, any boons you have offered or offered to you that are not accepted or declined yet, then any boons owed to you, or owed by you to others.
For more information check out: Boons or Prestation
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| +effects
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Lists all the +effects on your PC, including titles, acknowledgement, status traits, and when you have spent willpower, blood, been hurt, etc.
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| +harpy
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Lists your scandal from the harpies, also visible on your +sheet
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| +harpy/log
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Lists all your scandals with text about each and their number values. Default is for the last 30 days. If you add a number after it (+harpy/log 60), you will get that many days worth instead.
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| +roster camack
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Lists all currently approved PCs in the Camarilla faction that have been officially acknowledged by the Court and have logged into the game over the last 2 weeks. For a full list, try "+roster/all camack".
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| +roster vamcam
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Lists all currently approved PCs in the Camarilla faction that have logged into the game over the last 2 weeks. For a full list, try "+roster/all vamcam".
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| +status
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Lists all currently approved PCs in the Camarilla faction that have logged into the game over the last 2 weeks in order of their status #'s, from highest to lowest. There is no additional switches to get a list of all.
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Status Values
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The main place you will see your total Status is on +roster vamcam or camack (and clan rosters). That current value is your current standing within the Prospect praxis, with all that entails for relative Status. If something changes, it will generally not be reflected until the server updates at midnight (Mountain Time).
The maximum value is your five (5) points for being acknowledged, plus any merits that apply (i.e.: Prestigious Sire), plus the value of your title, plus the total scandal points on +harpy. The current value subtracts from the above total your total boon points owed and total scandal points.
Example:
You've been acknowledged (+5), have a Prestigious Sire Merit (+1), have been named a Whip (+10), have (0) praxis scandal, (+4) behavior scandal, and (-3) court scandal.
Formula: 5 + 1 + 10 + (-4) + 3 = 15
There are other Merits and Flaws that may also factor into the calculation to a small degree. Caitiff also begin in the negative from the start.
The Status Background used to be worth some additional points of status, but staff has removed that House Rule, and no longer has any numerical value. If you still have it, you can use it for some social rolls, as outlines in the VTM Corebook.
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Status and You!
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Why should you care about status?
- Because it could save your butt, IC!
- High Status doesn’t mean that you are in a position of power in Court, although they often go hand in hand.
- It does mean that you are well respected by your fellow Kindred and if you ever end up having issues with a Kindred who has a lower Status rating than you do... Well, guess who the Imperator and the Harpies are going to side with?
How do I gain or lose Status?
So, now that we have an idea of how Status works IC, we need to understand how the Status system works OOC and how one gains/loses Status.
- You can Gain Status for holding a Court Position. (i.e.: Deputy, Whip, etc.) You can then lose it when you leave the position.(See table above for commands to check that.)
- You can gain or lose Status based on your IC behavior and/or accomplishments.
- * Harpy Requests are the only way outside of a Court position to gain or lose status after character generation.
What is a Harpy Request?
Harpy Requests: Known as a "+harpyreq" (+help +harpyreq) can be filed by any Camarilla Kindred whenever another Kindred does something to warrant a gain or loss of Status. If you decide to fill one out, you will select the type of scandal you think it fits under, and give a brief IC explanation of the situation/scandal/praise you wish to say to the harpies.
* Note: It is generally considered to be bad form to file a +harpyreq for your own character.
For a list of scandals/praise, and more details on harpyreqs, please see the HarpyReqs FAQ.
Things to keep in mind
- The target/subject of the +harpyreq does not receive any notice that a +harpyreq has been filed.
- The one filing the +harpyreq will have a +myjob added to their myjobs.
- The harpies will receive the job on their lists, which will include what you have added, as well as listing out what your status # is at the time, as well as the status of the target. Status /does/ get considered, so choose wisely before you submit OR consider asking someone of higher status to voice the concern for you.
- Once a +harpyreq is filed, it will be reviewed by the Harpies and a decision will be made. This can take awhile sometimes, as we all have RL to attend too. So, don’t stress if there is no response right away. The only response you will get when the job is closed is that the Harpies made a decision.
- Once the Harpies have looked over the +harpyreq, Status will be adjusted as needed. Status can be gained for good behavior, or lost for bad behavior. It is easier to lose Status, than it is to gain Status.
- Just because a +harpyreq is filed, it does not guarantee a loss or gain of Status. Often enough, the Harpies will just shrug their shoulders IC and go ‘meh.’
- If there is a tie/stalemate in the decisions by the PC Harpies, HoneyBadger (as the NPC Harpies in Court) will step in and break the tie, which could be by a dice roll.
- Once Status is approved for the good or ill of the character, it will show up on +harpy and +harpy/log.
- Status will be adjusted on a character’s +sheet once the servers update. Give it a day or two. Normally it will be reflected when the server updates at midnight (mountain time).
- Generally, the Harpies will get up in Friday Court and Gossip about those who have lost or gained status now and again. Sometimes it will be delayed due to whatever else is on the agenda, or RL issues with the players.
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