Chicago: Dark Requiem - Background & Influence Rules

Background Guidelines

Allies
Typically, Allies are used to perform tasks during the day or when the character is not able to, and they can do so with one dot of whatever ability the character would use. However, Allies are people who have their own lives, and thus are not always around to help. Chicago: Dark Requiem will use the game mechanics for Allies are found in LotN:R, with the exception that multiple-trait Allies are not allowed. Also, a character receives only one Ally per dot.
Contacts
Contacts are people you use to collect information about different spheres of Influence. Levels of Contacts work similar to levels of Influence. However, they are much more flexible than Influence, because you can decide where to apply your contacts each week. See the Influence & Contacts Action section below for full details.
Fame
Game mechanics can be found in LotN:R.
Information Network (Nosferatu Only)
Information Network is a Nosferatu Only background that goes beyond what you can normally do with other information sources. While it doesn't work like Contacts or Influence, it does is allow you to ask one question (per level) about what is going on in the city, be it regarding influences, locations, or even public figures. For each question that you ask, you will get multiple answers, though there is no guarantee all of them will be true or correct. Information Network may be used during downtimes (Influence Turns). You may also expend Information Network once per session to see if you can dig up something about your current interest. The more efficient your network is, the more likely you will be to have incorrect and irrelevant information ruled out.
Mentor
All Mentors at or above level 3 must be approved by the Chicago Storytellers. PC Mentors are not allowed. This is not to say that PCs can not "mentor" other PCs, but there is no need to reduce PC interactions to points.
Retainers
Retainers exist only to serve you, and are completely loyal to you (although they are not necessarily Blood Bound to you). However, Retainers do not have the specialized knowledge that Allies have. Each Retainer that a character has must have a character sheet that is turned into the STs. Like Allies, a character receives one Retainer for each dot. Experience can be spent into a NPC retainer to make it more skilled with ST permission.
Resources
Resources represent investments made by the character in savings accounts, mutual funds, IRAs, the stock market, etc. Increasing Resources first requires cash, specifically 4 x the new allowance per level of Resources. A character also needs the Finance Ability to increase his Resources, or needs to know someone who will help him, whether that is an Ally, Retainer, Childe, thrall, etc. Thus, the math goes like this:
Resources 1 => 1: $500 x4 = $2,000   The Finance ability can add additional income to the resources.
Resources 2 => 2: $1,000 x4 = $4,000   By expending a Finance ability you
Resources 3 => 3: $3,000 x4 = $12,000   Can gain up to $250 per LOTN:R.
Resources 4 => 4: $10,000 x4 = $40,000    
Resources 5 => 5: $30,000 x4 = $120,000    
The reason for the inequity between the how much you "pay" for Resources and the amount you get back if you liquidate them is that liquidating assets usually means that you're "selling short", i.e. removing money from your investments prematurely. When this happens, financial institutions typically don't give back all the money put in.

Influence Guidelines

Players cannot start with more than 3 levels of any one influence or more than 9 total levels of influence at Character Creation. Influences allowed at Character Creation depend on the current levels of Influence Caps.

You can not manage more Influence than the sum or your permanent Physical, Social and Mental Traits plus your number of Retainers. This limit counts against all of your total Influence – your combined levels cannot exceed this total. After all, there are only so many things you can do in a certain period of time. To obtain and maintain any influence within Chicago, your PC must either be based out of Chicago: Dark Requiem or actively play, by signing into the Chronicle and spending no less than 1 hour In-Character - Role-playing, a minimum of every 3 months.

When you use your Influence, you are spending your Influence Action Points in order to get something done.

You can make any Influence actions anytime during the month.

The Influence tables in Dark Epics & LotN:R detail what you can do with a specific number of Influence Traits – we have converted this to a slightly different system using Influence Action Points (IAPs). The tables can be used as a reference so that you know the ways you can spend your Influence to get things done in the city. Performing a certain action requires you to spend a number of Influence Action Points determined by various factors. The higher amount of Influence you have, the more IAPs and the more options you have to accomplish various goals in that area of the mortal society. See the Influence Action & Modifiers for more information.

Transferring of influence from one city to another will be very difficult, if not impossible. Individual cases will be considered, but there should be a very good explanation. Influences represent people you know and have control over within a sphere of Influence. Getting them to pack up and move to a different town on your whim is highly unlikely, even for a skilled manipulator. On the other hand, one can use influences from different cities to build influence in Chicago (in some cases). Again, this will be considered on an individual basis.

Influence levels now translate into Influence Action Points (IAPs) as follows. Note: At the end of each Month, any unspent IAPs are lost and your IAP pool is refreshed. IAPs do not carry over Month to Month, No Exceptions.

Influence Level

Influence Action Points (IAPs)

Formula

1

4

1x4 = 1

2

8

2x4 = 8

3

12

3x4 = 12

4

16

4x4 = 16

5

20

5x4 = 20

The IAP cost of Influence Actions follows the chart above. You can allocate any amount of Influence Action Points to any action, as long as you meet the minimum requirements of that action as published in LotN:R/DE and/or determined by a Storyteller.

All Influence Actions and all Influence Action Point Expenditures for Influence based in Chicago must be approved by the Influence ST and submitted by filling out an Influence E-mail to the Influence group list. The completion and information that result from the actions that you take are resolved at the end of the Month. Influence Action Points can be spent at any time during the Month.

Influence Level breakdown

In the World of darkness influences there are forces at work outside of PC vampire world of control, this includes. Elder Vampires, Garou, Mages, off shore conglomerates, ect. This is done as a game mechanic to not ham-string the ST’s as well as prevents 100% of the influences in any area to be held by just one clan or group.

As a PC you cannot have/own majority stock control of any land mark icons, this is a ST balance mechanic so future gamers can get a piece of the action to.

Also be aware that ownership and control is not always the same thing. You can however gain a controlling interest or a majority of voting Stock. As an example just because you own a Taxi service 100% does not mean your cabbies cannot be influenced by others, threw bribes or the blood. Your mechanics can strike, quit or be bribe, on the “take from the mob”, ect.

Influence caps

TBA

Naming Rights

TBA

Influence equivalents, we get asked all the time how much do I own/control with my Level X

Level 1: As a basic contact within an influence you can affect up to .001% of the Area or 20% of a small organization (were talking fewer than 150 employees).
Level 2: Middle management, influence you can affect up to .003% of the Area or 45% of a small organization.
Level 3: Upper Management, influence you can affect up to .008% of the Area or 100% of a small organization 2% of a big Company.
Level 4: Regional influence you can affect up to .01% of the Area or 51% of a medium organization or 9% of a big one.
Level 5: Same as Level 4 but you actions are now accelerated by 33% so any action that takes a month to complete at Level 4 can now be done in about 20 days.
Level 6: Same as Level 4 but you actions are now accelerated by 75% so any action that takes a month to complete at Level 4 can now be done in about a week. Also influence of large companies is now allowed up to 6% of voting stock.
Level 7 (NPC Only) Much like level 6 but actions can be completed in hours, ownership is allowed up to 15%.

Influence for cash

You can use your influence to raise capital for other projects, (to grow your influence) however it will expose your influence and make it vulnerable and straight cash into your pocket will have a negative effect at ST Decision. Safe levels of “fund raising” are as follows, but can be exceeded with a greatly increased risk.

Level 1: Can raise $20,000/month
Level 2: Can raise $60,000/month
Level 3: Can raise $100,000/month
Level 4: Can raise $150,000/month
Level 5: Can raise $230,000/month
Level 6: Can raise $500,000/month
Level 7: (NPC ONLY) Can raise $850,000/month

Influence & Contacts Actions and how they work

Actions and modifiers may be used in combination with each other. You have the option of performing a variety of Actions in a variety of combinations. Note that not all Actions have prerequisites.

Attack
Used for
Attacking and destroying other people’s Influence.
Prerequisite
Previously perform a successful Monitor-Trace.
Mechanics
The player who wants to attack someone assigns a number of IAPs to the action. That number becomes the level of the Attack. The player that is being attacked is then notified that their Influence is being attacked that Turn. The next Turn, if they Defend with an equal to or greater amount of IAPs, they retain their influence. If they are unable to successfully defend their influence, the victim drops a level of Influence at the end of that second Turn (the Turn they were trying to Defend on). The loss is permanent and XP/Build Actions must be taken to gain back the lost influence. Any partially completed Build Actions that were being performed by the victim are also lost.
How it works in game
Your character has used his associates in a particular influence to hinder and remove someone else’s influence. This is done by smear campaigns, rumors, nasty whispers and outright bribery at times. It can be anything from telling a particular influence community not to trust a person to bribing them all with the best bottle of chardonnay that you can find.
Block
Used for
Blocking other people’s Influence Actions
Mechanics
Establish an amount of IAPs to Block actions. Other characters must overcome this Block before they can spend IAPs on their own action. Each Block can only be put on one type of action, such as Builds, acquiring goods, etc. If you want to Block more than one type of action you must spend the IAPs individually for each type and they are considered separate Blocks. A Block can be targeted against a specific type of action for a single character, a multiple characters or anyone who has that one type of Influence.

Blocks from multiple people, acting individually, do not stack. Multiple Blocks against one type of action are not cumulative in effect. If there is more than one Block put in place on the same type of action, only the highest level is used to determine the success of the person attempting that action.

Anyone who attempts to perform an action in that particular influence will not be successful unless they have additional IAPs put into their action that are equal to, or greater than, the Block.
How it works in game
Your character puts the word out to prevent certain things from happening, intentionally. What you choose to prevent can be anything from other people Building to importing ammunition to getting information about what’s happening in the occult community. If you’ve got enough sway, you can pretty much prevent anyone from doing a type of action in a particular influence. Of course, this tends to make one many enemies – when they find out.
Boost
Used for
Overcoming Blocks or making an action happen faster than it normally would.
Mechanics
Spend your extra IAPs to perform an action, just in case someone has put up a Block.

If the IAPs spent into a Boost are equal to or greater than the level of a Block, the action is successful. The Block does not go away if one action beats it though. It can still be effective against any additional attempts to do that action for the rest of the Turn.

You may also use Boost to assist in speeding up the results of your action. Spending extra IAPs in Boost, when there is not a Block, possibly may give you faster results.
How it works in game
Since you have more control over an area of Influence than you really need to get something specific done, you’re able to put more people on the job to work harder or quicker and whatever that action is. This results in either overcoming someone else trying to stop people from doing that action or gets your action done much sooner than it would normally take.
Build
Used for
Gaining more influence.
Mechanics
Submit an Influence Card each Turn that states your intentions to Build up the Influence. A Build can take multiple turns, though they are not required to be consecutive.
How it works
You are taking the time to make connections in a certain community and stretch your contacts and knowledge within that community to manipulate and control it better. As your sway over the people in that community spreads, your influence grows.
Combine
Used for
Aiding the Influence actions of another character or aiding your own endeavors.
Mechanics
Borrow IAPs from your allies or take IAPs from your other areas of Influence and drop them into a particular action that you want to perform. These additional IAPs are used towards achieving your goal or to Conceal your action. IAPs received using a Combine action are halved and rounded down. Influence borrowed through Allies and the Mentor backgrounds are also subject to this rule.

Combine allows for the person assisting you to use either the same Influence or a complimentary Influence to assist you in accomplishing an action. (I.e. you could use Legal to assist Legal or Bureaucracy to assist Legal). Complimentary Influences are determined by both the ST and by the action that you are taking to achieve your goals. You may use only ONE type of complimentary influence to assist yourself or another character to achieve a goal. (I.e. a PC may use his Legal & Bureaucracy to assist your Legal but can not also use Politics to help out).
How it works in game
You’re using your own, or an ally’s, influence from another sphere to manipulate the one you are currently working in. Since the contacts from the other sphere aren’t as knowledgeable nor have as far of a reach in the sphere you’re manipulating, they can’t do as much as they could in their own area of expertise.
Conceal
Used for
Hiding what you’re doing.
Mechanics
Conceal can be used to hide to any Control action that is listed on the Influence charts in LotN:R & Dark Epics, as well as to Attack, Block, Build, or Monitor. The number of IAPs spent towards Conceal generates that Turn’s Conceal level. This is used to counter attempts from others who are trying to find your Influence.
How it works in game
Your character uses part of their sway over an influence area to hide their other actions that are being performed. The mortals that are your influence contacts work to ensure that your other machinations do not get found out by anyone who is watching what is going on in that influence.
Control
Used for
Performing “Standard Actions” based on the Influence lists in LotN:R & Dark Epics.
Mechanics
Control is just another word for the standard actions, based on the Influence lists in LotN:R & Dark Epics, that you can do each Turn. Control requires you to expend a set amount of IAPs to produce a given effect.

The Influence tables in Dark Epics & LotN:R to give you a good idea of what CONTROL Actions you can do with the amount of Influence you have. The amount of IAPs that must be spent on Control actions that are not listed in LotN:R or Dark Epics will be determined by the Influence ST.

The IAP cost of CONTROL Actions follows the chart above. Someone with an Influence at Level 5 can perform the one of following combinations or any other that equals 15 IAPs:

15 – Level 1 Action
5 – Level 2 Actions
2 – Level 3 Actions (with 3 IAPs left over)
1 – Level 4 Action (with 5 IAPs left over)
1 – Level 5 Actions
How it works in game
You are using your ability to manipulate a certain type of influence to get items or results from the mortal world that assists you in some way. This can be anything from covering up a break of the masquerade to obtaining weapons to getting a law passed that will help you in your endeavors.
Defend
Used for
Defending your Influence from possible Attacks from other characters.
Mechanics
Assign a number of IAPs as your level of Defense. The level of any Attacks directed at that Influence must exceed the Defend level
How it works in game
To employ this, you plus the level of your Influence in order to be successful.
Monitor (Watching, Tracing & Following)

Step 1: Monitor-Watch

Used for
Observing the use of a specific Influence. Used when you’re trying to get the “scoop” or the “feel” on a type of influence or to gather gene A Watch will let you know when and how often that Influence is attempted in the city Can also be used to look specifically for Attacks, Blocks, Builds, Follow (targeted at you), & others Tracing or Watching.
Mechanics
Spend a certain number of IAPs in the Influence that you have chosen to Watch. If your Watch level exceeds the level of someone’s Conceal, you will see what they are doing. However, watching will not tell you *who* is doing something unless you Monitor-Trace the action. Watching only gives you generalized responses that “someone in the city is doing something” and you what is going on in general with that type of Influence.
How it works in game
Your character has requested that their contacts gather information on what is happening in the city with that type of influence. The results are generalized because they’re literally watching everything that is going on and reporting all the things that they find to you.

Step 2: Monitor-Trace

Used for
Establishing the Identity of a character who’s Influence you have come into contact with.
Prerequisite
Previously perform a successful Monitor-Watch OR coming into contact with someone else’s Influence somehow.
Mechanics
The total IAPs spent on the Trace defines its level. If the level of this Trace exceeds the highest level of Conceal put up that Turn, the Trace is successful. Success will tell you the owner’s identity – but will not tell you how much influence they have. It also gives you a general description of the Influence and the ability to spend IAPs to Attack it on your next Turn.

Contact is defined as being Attacked by their Influence, successful Watching of a specific Influence, stopping one of their actions with Block or having one of your own actions stopped by their Block
How it works in game
Since your character already knows what someone is doing, they now want to find out WHO that person is. This occurs by putting word out to your mortal subordinates that you would like to know the name of the person that did XX action.

Step 3: Monitor-Follow

Used for
Following a specific character’s influence to see what they are doing with it.
Prerequisite
Previously perform a successful Monitor-Trace OR Having as someone Combine their Influence with yours.
Mechanics
Assign a number of IAPs to establish the level of your Follow action. The action will reveal all activities performed by the targeted person’s Influence, unless the activities are Concealed with an equal or higher number of IAPs.
How it works in game
You already know that someone has influence in a certain sphere; you’re able to ask your own associates in that sphere to keep an ear to the ground and keep an eye on what they’re doing with their influence.
Contacts
Used for
Collecting information about multiple spheres of influence.
Mechanics
Contacts work the same as levels of Influence, using IAPs for your actions. However, they are much more flexible than influence, because you can decide where to apply your contacts each week. Contacts can only gather information, they can not be used to Control any sphere of influence. Contacts can also be used to monitor an Influence. One can also conceal one's Monitor with Contacts as well, as well as conceal one's information collection. One can not combine Contacts IAPs with Influences; they must be used separately as their own actions.

The Contacts background refers to people who have a much broader knowledge base than a specific area of influence. Instead of all being focused in one area; they can encompass any area of Influence that you want to gather information about.
How it works in game
Your character uses their Contacts to find out information about a specific subject or person. Generally the results are less detailed than what you would garner from an Influence as it is encompassing a much larger knowledgebase of information.