Influence

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Revision as of 13:34, 13 September 2017 by imported>WhoopingCrane (→‎Endeavors)
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Overview

Influence uses the categories from Laws of the Night (WW5013) 96-104, documented using +notes:

  • Bureaucracy
  • Church
  • Finance
  • Health
  • High Society
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Media
  • Occult
  • Police
  • Political
  • Street
  • Transportation
  • Underworld
  • University

PCs can +request to use Influence for the types of actions listed, based on a monthly cap. Example: A PC with Influence (Bureaucracy) 2 could pull strings to acquire one fake driver's license per month, or trace two utility bills per month.

Some actions may have broad long-term effects, e.g. a PC with Influence (Political) 4 gets the city council to alter the laws against vandalism. Staff will maintain a central list of such effects and take them into account when relevant.

Each PC may have a total of up to 5 dots in Influence, allocated to as many or few categories as desired (e.g. Underworld 5, or Underworld 3 + Media 2, but not Underworld 5 + Media 5; for that, you need two PCs working together).

PCs can also allocate some of their Influence to various types of endeavors and modifiers, based on Dark Epics (WW5027) 64-69.

  • These are evaluated in the order received.
  • Each type of Influence is evaluated separately. One type cannot affect another type.
  • "X counters Y" is treated like resisted successes (1:1) with X as the defender (wins ties). Neither one is used up, if they're involved in another conflict then they're re-evaluated at full strength. (Examples: A Block that was ineffective against a Boosted action can still be effective later against an insufficiently Boosted action. A Conceal can be effective against any number of Traces.)
  • Contacts background can be used like Influence for purpose of Follow, Trace, or Watch. (Dark Epics 54)

Basic uses

'Basic use' refers to these direct actions listed in Laws of the Night.

Bureaucracy
Dot-filled.png Trace utility bills
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Fake a birth certificate or driver's license
Disconnect a single small residence's utilities
Close a small road or park
Get public aid ($250)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Fake a death certificate, passport, or green card
Close a public school for a single day
Shut down a minor business on a violation
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Initiate a phone tap
Fake land deeds
Initiate a department-wide investigation
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Start, stop or alter a city-wide program or policy
Shut down a big business on a violation
Rezone areas
Obliterate records of a person on a city or county level
Church
Dot-filled.png Identify most secular members of a given faith in the local area
Pass as a member of the clergy
Peruse general church records (baptism, marriage, burial, etc.)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Identify higher church members
Track regular church members
Suspend lay members
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Open or close a single church
Find the average church-associated hunter
Dip into the collection plate ($250)
Access private information and archives of a church
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Discredit or suspend high-level church members
Manipulate regional branches of the church
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Organize major protests
Access ancient church lore and knowledge
Finance
Dot-filled.png Learn about major transactions and financial events
Raise capital ($1,000)
Learn about general economic trends
Learn real motivations for many financial actions of others
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Trace an unsecured small account
Raise capital to purchase a small business (single, small store)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Purchase a large business (a few small branches or a single large store or service)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Manipulate local banking (delay deposits, some credit rating alterations)
Ruin a small business
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Control an aspect of city-wide banking (shut off ATM's, arrange a bank "holiday")
Ruin a large business
Purchase a major company
Health
Dot-filled.png Access a person's health records
Fake vaccination records and the like
Use public functions of health centers at your leisure
Get a single Blood Trait of mortal blood
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Access some medical research records
Have minor lab work done
Get a copy of coroner's report
Instigate minor quarantines
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Corrupt results of tests or inspections
Alter medical records
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Acquire a body
Completely rewrite medical records
Abuse grants for personal use ($250)
Have minor medical research performed on a subject
Institute large-scale quarantines
Shut down businesses for "health code violations"
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Have special researches projects performed
Have people institutionalized or released
High Society
Dot-filled.png Learn what is trendy
Obtain hard-to-get tickets for shows
Learn about concerts, shows, or plays well before they are made public
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Track most celebrities and luminaries
Be a local voice in the entertainment field
"Borrow" idle cash from rich friends ($1,000)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Crush promising careers
Hobnob well above your station
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Minor celebrity status
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Get a brief appearance on a talk show that's not about to be canceled
Ruin a new club, gallery, festival or other posh gathering
Industry
Dot-filled.png Learn about industrial projects and movements
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Have minor projects performed
Dip into union funds or embezzle petty cash ($500)
Arrange small accidents of sabotage
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Organize minor strikes
Appropriate machinery for a short time
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Close down a small plant
Revitalize a small plant
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Manipulate large local industry
Legal
Dot-filled.png Get free representation for minor cases
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Avoid bail for some charge
Have minor charges dropped
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Manipulate legal procedures (minor wills and contracts, court dates)
Access public or court funds ($250)
Get representation in most court cases
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Issue subpoenas
Tie up court cases
Have most legal charges dropped
Cancel or arrange parole
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Close down all but the most serious investigations
Have deportation proceedings held against someone
Media
Dot-filled.png Learn about breaking stories early
Submit small articles (within reason)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Suppress (but not stop) small articles or reports
Get hold of investigative reporting information
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Initiate news investigations and reports
Get project funding and waste it ($250)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Ground stories and projects
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Broadcast fake stories (local only)
Kill small local articles or reports completely
Occult
Dot-filled.png Contact and make use of common occult groups and their practices
Know some of the more visible occult figures
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Know and contact some of the more obscure occult figures
Access resources for most rituals and rites
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Know the general vicinity of a certain supernatural entities and (possibly) contact them
Access vital or rare material components
Milk impressionable wannabe's for bucks ($250)
Access occult tomes and writings
Research a basic ritual from your sect
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Research an intermediate ritual from your sect
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Access minor magic items
Unearth an advanced ritual from your sect
Police
Dot-filled.png Learn police procedures
Hear police information and rumors
Avoid traffic tickets
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Have license plates checked
Avoid minor violations (first conviction)
Get "inside information"
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Get copies of an investigation report
Have police hassle, detain or harass someone
Find bureau secrets
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Access confiscated weapons or contraband
Have some serious charges dropped
Start an investigation
Get money, either from the evidence room or as an appropriation ($1,000)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Institute major investigations
Arrange setups
Instigate bureau investigations
Have officers fired
Political
Dot-filled.png Minor lobbying
Identify real platforms of politicians and parties
Be in the know
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Meet small-time politicians
Garner inside information on processes, laws and the like
Use a slush fund or fund-raiser ($1,000)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Sway or alter political projects (local parks, renovations, small construction)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Enact minor legislation
Dash careers of minor politicians
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Get your candidate in a minor office
Enact encompassing legislature
Street
Dot-filled.png Open an ear for the word on the street
Identify most gangs and know their turfs and habits
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Live mostly without fear on the underside of society
Access small-time contraband
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Get insight into other areas of Influence
Arrange some services from street people or gangs
Get pistols or uncommon melee weapons
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Mobilize groups of homeless
Panhandle or hold a "collection" ($250)
Get hold of a shotgun, rifle or SMG
Have a word in almost all aspects of gang operations
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Control a single medium-sized gang
Arrange impressive protests by street people
Transportation
Dot-filled.png Know what goes where, when and why
Travel locally quickly and freely
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Track an unwary target if he uses public transportation
Arrange passage safe (or at least concealed) from mundane threats (robbery, terrorism, sunlight, etc.)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Seriously hamper an individual's ability to travel
Avoid most supernatural dangers when traveling (such as Lupines)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Shut down one form of transportation (bus lines, ships, planes, trains, etc.) temporarily
Route money your way ($500)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Reroute major modes of travel
Smuggle with impunity
Underworld
Dot-filled.png Locate minor contraband (knives, small-time drugs, petty gambling, scalped tickets)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Obtain pistols, serious drugs, stolen cars
Hire muscle to rough someone up
Fence stolen loot
Prove that crime pays (and score $1,000)
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Obtain a rifle, shotgun, or SMG
Arrange a minor "hit"
Meet someone in "the family"
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Make white-collar crime connections
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Hire a demolition man or firebug
Supply local drug needs
University
Dot-filled.png Know layout and policy of local schools
Have access to low-level university resources
Get records up to the high school level
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Know a contact or two with useful knowledge or Abilities
Have minor access to facilities
Fake high school records
Obtain college records
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Call in faculty favors
Cancel a class
Fix grades
Discredit a student
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Organize student protests and rallies
Discredit faculty members
Dot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.pngDot-filled.png Falsify an undergraduate degree

Endeavors

  • Attack. Pick a target that you previously Traced. If you allocated more dots than they have dots, then they lose a dot.
  • Block. Pick a basic use. For the next month, attempts to do that thing in the city fail unless accompanied by an equal/greater Boost. Multiple Blocks against the same basic use don't stack, only the largest one applies.
  • Combine: For every two dots that you allocate, someone else can reuse one of their already-used dots for a basic use.
  • Follow: Pick a target that you previously Traced. Learn about all their attempted uses of Influence within the next month.
  • Growth: Not used. You can buy Influence as fast as you can accumulate XP.
  • Trace: Requires one of the following:
    • You were successfully targeted with Attack, Block, or Combine
    • You previously succeeded at a Watch or Block
    • The target consents to your Trace
    • Someone else previously succeeded at a Trace and tells you what they found

Learn who performed the action and whether their Influence in the city exceeds yours.

Note: If someone shares their Trace, you still need to do your own Trace before you can follow up with an Attack or Follow.

  • Watch: Pick a basic use that you could perform, or Attack, Block, Follow, Watch. Learn about all attempted uses of that action within the two weeks before or after. (If you pick Follow, you only learn about Follow attempts that target you.)

Modifiers

  • Boost. Attach to a basic use. Counters Block.
  • Conceal: Attach to a basic use. Counters Trace.
  • Defend: Counters Attack for one month.
  • Stealth: Attach to a basic use, Attack, Block, Follow, or Watch. Counters Follow and Watch.

Example

  • Alice has Influence (Bureaucracy) 5. She allocates 4 to initiate a phone tap on Bob's business, and 1 to Conceal her actions. No one else attempts to use Influence in October, so it succeeds.
  • Bob somehow finds out about the phone tap. If he allocates Influence (Bureaucracy) 2+ to Trace the attack, then he learns that Alice did it. If he allocates only 1, then he ties Alice's Conceal and learns nothing.