Status
From Edge of Darkness Wiki
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Your character has standing, credentials, authority or respect within an organization, group, company or social body. He might have an official position or title, or might simply be revered and honored within the group and therefore accorded a degree of authority. Your character might be a company vice president, a police sergeant or lieutenant, an army corporal or a nurse at a hospital. Or he could be a lowly member of the group whom everyone likes or who has won some acclaim and is allowed more standing than he is officially entitled.
Each acquisition of this Merit is dedicated to one type of authority, whether in an organization, society or circle. Examples include police, City Hall, criminals, unions, banks, a university faculty and hospital staff. In order to have authority in more than one venue, you need to purchase this Merit multiple times, each trait with its own dots. Thus, your character might have Status (Police) ●●, Status (Criminals) ●●● and Status (City Hall) ●, each acquired separately at character creation or during play. You would need to explain how he reconciles all this authority in the setting. The aforementioned character might be a dirty police sergeant who has paid his dues in civil elections and gained some recognition among city officials.
Status represents the privileges and liberties that your character is authorized to take within the confines and definitions of his group. Increasing dots reflect increasing clout. A cop with Status 1 can enter the suspect lockup and interrogation rooms, while a cop with Status 4 can enter the evidence locker without supervision or get involved in a crimescene investigation without specifically being called in.
Edge of Darkness and Status
“Status” is an out-of-character game term. It quantifies perceptions that exist in character, but no Kindred would describe herself (or anyone else) as having “Status 2,” and players should avoid using such terms as much as possible. The terms below can be woven into in-character conversation seamlessly and can even be used in out-of-character conversations between players to remain in the habit. These words are generally capitalized so that their system implications are clear. The phrases in quotations are other ways to convey the same information.
- Public is what you would say to a stranger, if asked about another character
- Private is what you would say to your friends while discussing another character
If a person does not hold a position, they should not rise above 1 unless they are just the unquestioned awesomeness of society, and simply haven't gotten a position yet, or have declined one.
Remember: If you're giving out higher Status than is appropriate, it will reflect poorly on you.
Rankings
- -: No Status; Lynch mob.
- •: Acknowledged (or “of low standing or rank”); This person, simply is. A good citizen, but nothing exceptional.
- ••: Recognized (or “of some standing or rank”); This person is a 'rising star', perhaps a Whip or Deputy.
- •••: Valued (or “of significant standing or rank”); This person does, or should, hold a considerable position or is well respected. Perhaps a Sheriff or Priscus.
- ••••: Respected (or “of high standing or rank”); This person should have a major say in affairs, or is already in the upper echelon/elite.
- •••••: Admired (or “of pre-eminent standing or rank”); You think as highly of this person as the Prince/Hierarch/Sovereign/Pack Alpha, or they are that figure, or should be.
For Example: For declaring Status, one would state that “William Scott is Acknowledged by Clan Gangrel,” “Dillon Radley is Respected in the domain of London,” and “In the eyes of the Invictus, none is more Admired than Joshua Musgrove himself.”
Vampire
Domain Status
Sins Against the City
- •••••: Speaking ill of the city or its leadership in public
- ••••: Failing to attend regular gatherings of the local undead; actively disrupting a gathering of the local Kindred
- •••: Hindering a local industry or resource; killing a local mortal in a suspicious manner without good cause; a Prince and Harpy exchanging City Status awards with one another more than once a year
- ••: Accidental public violations of the Traditions; deliberate private violations of the Traditions; murdering prominent local mortals without dire need; actively disobeying city elders
- •: Deliberate public violations of the Traditions; wanton slaying of mortals or destruction of property; betraying resident Kindred to outsiders (Lupines, foreign vampires)
Praiseworthy Deeds for the City
- •••••: Significantly expanding the city’s overall power, resources or reputation; assuming a position of leadership in the city
- ••••: Expanding the city’s overall power, resources or reputation in a minor way; removing a signifi cant obstacle or threat to local Kindred
- •••: Devising and implementing plans that further the goals of city elders; carrying out specifi c plans beyond the norm on behalf of city elders
- ••: Actively promoting loyalty to the city’s elders; obeying the edicts of all city elders
- •: Defending the city against outside threats; regularly attending local Kindred functions (without being disruptive)
Clan Status
Covenant Status
Mage
Consilium Status
Consilium Status represents a responsibility and acknowledgement in the affairs of the Consilium of the region.
- • “Rising star”; Liegeman (or –woman)
- •• “Accomplished individual”; Sentinel or Herald
- ••• “Much deserved reputation”; Provost
- •••• “Example to the Wise”; Councilor
- ••••• “Benefactor of the Awakened”; Hierarch
Order Status
The Order Status Merit represents rank, achievement and responsibility in a magical order, and is determined by how the character helps to fulfill or accomplish the order’s goals. It is not enough merely to be a powerful or exemplary individual of the order’s ideals — the order considers what its members have done to benefit its cause and combat its rivals before elevating members’ standing.
- • The character is an acknowledged member of the order in full standing.
- •• The character is recognized as a valuable member of the order or perhaps by a particular subsection of the order.
- ••• The character is valued by many of the order in the region, and nearly every member recognizes her.
- •••• The character is respected throughout the order, and a few mages outside the order may know her immediately as a member of her order.
- ••••• The character’s deeds are admired to all in the order, perhaps even in nearby regions. Many members of other orders recognize her face.
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