STATUS
You have something of a reputation and standing (earned or unearned) within the local community of Kindred. Status among Camarilla society is often derived from your sire's status and the respect due your particular bloodline; among the Sabbat, status is more likely to stem from the reputation of your pack. Elders are known for having little respect for their juniors, this Background can mitigate that somewhat.
High status among the Camarilla does not transfer to Sabbat society (an will most likely make you a notorious target for your sect's rivals), and vice versa. Similarly, anarchs can be considered to have zero Status, unless they have somehow garnered so much power and attention that they must be taken seriously. You may have occasion to roll your Status in conjunction with a Social Trait; this reflects the positive effects of your prestige.
The above is an insert from Vampire the Masquerade in regards to the Status background. Is sounds simple doesn't it?
Even if you answered that question with a "Yes", Status can be so much more complicated than what is presented in the core rulebook. It is for that reason that in Dark Realms RPG we have outlined how Status works in our setting further.
The Status background cannot be purchased either during creation or during gameplay. Status is awarded during gameplay based on the actions (or lack thereof) of your character. Unlike all other Backgrounds (and technically all other character stats), Status is a fluid trait that grows and wanes during a characters Requiem. It can be tarnished and destroyed simply because they've failed to appropriately play the political game, or chose to not play at all.
Your Status says more about you than you might imagine. We'll start to break down this system by examining each piece of information that you'll find in the Status/Hierarchy system.
We start to define status by recognizing that it is similar to other backgrounds in that it is available from level 0 to 5. Each level corresponds with a particular amount of "Status" that a character has. However, to understand these levels we have to understand that Status Level is not an In Character term. Status Level is an Out Of Character term used for storytelling purposes to define the standing a character has. However, the Status Level does correspond to a particular standing a character has within the area and is referred to as follows...
The Camarilla does not take lightly to disorder. The quality of the hierarchy system in a city defines the Praxis of that city. No 'good' Prince will ever allow her/his Praxis or Court to go untended. Court Positions demand respect but carry equally lofty responsibility. For these services to the Praxis, Court Positions typically carry significant benefits for the people who fill them. As such it can be expected that your Status will increase should you serve the Praxis in this manner. While each position may hold a different Status Level all Positions are referred to according to what is expected from that Position. Positional Status for the Court are as follows...
Any character who is granted Status within the city will, in addition to their Status Modifier, be assigned various Other Modifiers. The number of modifiers a Character will receive is equal to their Status Level -1 (or -2 if that Character also holds a Position). Your Status Modifiers will most likely be assigned to your character by the Prince. These represent a "why" to your Status Level. If you're a Respected (Status Level ●●) member of the Prince's city there must be a reason for it. Perhaps the Prince feels you are particularly "Loyal" or perhaps she's grown to "Cherish" your company. Whatever the reason, these Other Modifiers represent the reason. You may have occasion to roll your Status in conjunction with a Social Trait; this reflects the positive effects of your prestige. These Other Modifiers will determine which rolls you will be able to apply your Status toward.
As an example, since our above Character has Status 5 and is the Prince it would also be necessary for her to select three additional Modifiers to apply for herself (Status Level 5 - 2). These modifiers should give insight into why her 'people' support her Praxis. Perhaps our Prince has been very successful in creating wealth and harmony in the area. This would appear as follows...
But Status isn't all cupcakes and sprinkles. If your character does something in the Domain that doesn't necessarily result in a loss of Status it may instead warrant being given Negative status - they're going to be marked with a scarlet letter - oh for shame on you! It is possible for a character to retain their Status and still be viewed as "Savage" or "Unrefined" by their peers and the Prince herself. Any Negative Modifiers replace Other Modifiers.
As an example, our above Character has Status 5 and is the Prince and has been very successful in creating wealth in the area, but she's done so through brutal tactics and a no-mercy attitude. This would appear as follows...
Unfortunately, Status doesn't end there. If it wasn't enough to keep the Prince happy and perform well in her eyes, any Character who wishes to represent the pinnacle of Kindred Society must always mind the "rumor mill" that is Harpy gossip. There has never been a time in history, or an individual who has lived, that is above the devastating destruction the Harpies wield. After you're received all your complements, praise, or criticism from the Prince you must still pay the piper. An unfortunate truth behind the Harpy Assigned Modifier is that; although it is only one word to describe you, if it is powerful enough it may just negate everything the Prince has to say about you, at least in regards to your peers.
As an example, since our above Character has Status 5 and is the Prince and has been very successful in creating wealth and harmony in the area she receives the expected Modifiers. But the Harpy has observed that without the Seneschal the Prince would be utterly lost. The Prince and Seneschal believe this to be a well kept secret, but nobody is fooled. This would appear as follows...
You may have occasion to roll your Status in conjunction with a Social Trait; this reflects the positive effects of your prestige. Each level of Status provides additional dice to your dice pool for particular rolls. Each level of Status gives the following...
Status Modifiers
High status among the Camarilla does not transfer to Sabbat society (an will most likely make you a notorious target for your sect's rivals), and vice versa. Similarly, anarchs can be considered to have zero Status, unless they have somehow garnered so much power and attention that they must be taken seriously. You may have occasion to roll your Status in conjunction with a Social Trait; this reflects the positive effects of your prestige.
The above is an insert from Vampire the Masquerade in regards to the Status background. Is sounds simple doesn't it?
Even if you answered that question with a "Yes", Status can be so much more complicated than what is presented in the core rulebook. It is for that reason that in Dark Realms RPG we have outlined how Status works in our setting further.
The Status background cannot be purchased either during creation or during gameplay. Status is awarded during gameplay based on the actions (or lack thereof) of your character. Unlike all other Backgrounds (and technically all other character stats), Status is a fluid trait that grows and wanes during a characters Requiem. It can be tarnished and destroyed simply because they've failed to appropriately play the political game, or chose to not play at all.
Your Status says more about you than you might imagine. We'll start to break down this system by examining each piece of information that you'll find in the Status/Hierarchy system.
We start to define status by recognizing that it is similar to other backgrounds in that it is available from level 0 to 5. Each level corresponds with a particular amount of "Status" that a character has. However, to understand these levels we have to understand that Status Level is not an In Character term. Status Level is an Out Of Character term used for storytelling purposes to define the standing a character has. However, the Status Level does correspond to a particular standing a character has within the area and is referred to as follows...
- Status ●●●●●, This character is Luminary to the Kindred of the area.
- Status ●●●●, This character is considered Powerful to the Kindred of the area.
- Status ●●●, This character is very Influential when dealing with Kindred of the area.
- Status ●●, This character is Respected by the Praxis and Kindred of the area.
- Status ●, This character has been Acknowledged by the Praxis of the area.
- A character with no Status is Unacknowledged by the Praxis of the area. Unless this character is a Ghoul it is more than likely they can expect a visit from the Scourge very soon.
The Camarilla does not take lightly to disorder. The quality of the hierarchy system in a city defines the Praxis of that city. No 'good' Prince will ever allow her/his Praxis or Court to go untended. Court Positions demand respect but carry equally lofty responsibility. For these services to the Praxis, Court Positions typically carry significant benefits for the people who fill them. As such it can be expected that your Status will increase should you serve the Praxis in this manner. While each position may hold a different Status Level all Positions are referred to according to what is expected from that Position. Positional Status for the Court are as follows...
- Justicar: Faultless
- Archon: Empowered
- Prince: Exalted
- Seneschal: Esteemed
- Primogen: Revered
- Sheriff: Feared
- Keeper of Elysium: Honourable
- Harpy: Persuasive
- Scourge: Dreaded
Any character who is granted Status within the city will, in addition to their Status Modifier, be assigned various Other Modifiers. The number of modifiers a Character will receive is equal to their Status Level -1 (or -2 if that Character also holds a Position). Your Status Modifiers will most likely be assigned to your character by the Prince. These represent a "why" to your Status Level. If you're a Respected (Status Level ●●) member of the Prince's city there must be a reason for it. Perhaps the Prince feels you are particularly "Loyal" or perhaps she's grown to "Cherish" your company. Whatever the reason, these Other Modifiers represent the reason. You may have occasion to roll your Status in conjunction with a Social Trait; this reflects the positive effects of your prestige. These Other Modifiers will determine which rolls you will be able to apply your Status toward.
As an example, since our above Character has Status 5 and is the Prince it would also be necessary for her to select three additional Modifiers to apply for herself (Status Level 5 - 2). These modifiers should give insight into why her 'people' support her Praxis. Perhaps our Prince has been very successful in creating wealth and harmony in the area. This would appear as follows...
But Status isn't all cupcakes and sprinkles. If your character does something in the Domain that doesn't necessarily result in a loss of Status it may instead warrant being given Negative status - they're going to be marked with a scarlet letter - oh for shame on you! It is possible for a character to retain their Status and still be viewed as "Savage" or "Unrefined" by their peers and the Prince herself. Any Negative Modifiers replace Other Modifiers.
As an example, our above Character has Status 5 and is the Prince and has been very successful in creating wealth in the area, but she's done so through brutal tactics and a no-mercy attitude. This would appear as follows...
Unfortunately, Status doesn't end there. If it wasn't enough to keep the Prince happy and perform well in her eyes, any Character who wishes to represent the pinnacle of Kindred Society must always mind the "rumor mill" that is Harpy gossip. There has never been a time in history, or an individual who has lived, that is above the devastating destruction the Harpies wield. After you're received all your complements, praise, or criticism from the Prince you must still pay the piper. An unfortunate truth behind the Harpy Assigned Modifier is that; although it is only one word to describe you, if it is powerful enough it may just negate everything the Prince has to say about you, at least in regards to your peers.
As an example, since our above Character has Status 5 and is the Prince and has been very successful in creating wealth and harmony in the area she receives the expected Modifiers. But the Harpy has observed that without the Seneschal the Prince would be utterly lost. The Prince and Seneschal believe this to be a well kept secret, but nobody is fooled. This would appear as follows...
You may have occasion to roll your Status in conjunction with a Social Trait; this reflects the positive effects of your prestige. Each level of Status provides additional dice to your dice pool for particular rolls. Each level of Status gives the following...
- Status ●, +1 dice for applicable rolls
- Status ●● and ●●●, +2 dice for applicable rolls
- Status ●●●● and ●●●●●, +3 dice for applicable rolls
Status Modifiers
- Luminary : Charisma
- Powerful : Manipulation
- Influential : Charisma
- Respected : Manipulation
- Acknowledged : No attached bonus
- Faultless : Empathy
- Empowered : Politics
- Exalted : Expression
- Esteemed : Etiquette
- Revered : Leadership
- Feared : Investigation
- Honourable : Performance
- Persuasive : Subterfuge
- Dreaded : Intimidation
- Admired : Expression
- Adored : Empathy
- Cherished : Performance
- Commendable : Politics
- Courageous : Leadership
- Chivalrous : Etiquette
- Devoted : Investigation
- Famous : Expression
- Just : Investigation
- Loyal : Leadership
- Mysterious : Subterfuge
- Praised : Performance
- Resourceful : Politics
- Righteous : Intimidation
- Savvy : Subterfuge
- Stalwart : Intimidation
- Trustworthy : Empathy
- Valued : Etiquette
- Deceitful : Investigation
- Despised : Performance
- Foolish : Intimidation
- Incompetent : Expression
- Negligent : Leadership
- Powerless : Etiquette
- Reviled : Subterfuge
- Untrustworthy : Politics
- Violent : Empathy
- the Character we've been discussing during this post has Status ●●●●●, so she will receive +3 dice for applicable social rolls
- since she is the Prince, she automatically received the "Luminary" modifier. Any time she needs to roll her Charisma she will be able to add +3 dice to her rolls
- also since she is the Prince, she automatically received the "Exalted" modifier. Any time she needs to roll her Expression she will be able to add +3 dice to her rolls
- because of her behavior she then also receives the Adored, Just, and Valued modifiers. Because of these modifiers any time she needs to roll her Empathy (Adored), Investigation (Just), and Etiquette (Valued) she will be able to add +3 dice to her rolls
- finally, the Harpy believes the Prince is too flighty and passive to truly run the city and has assigned her the Negligent modifier, a Negative Modifier. Unfortunately for the Prince any time she is required to roll her Leadership she will suffer a -3 dice penalty to her roll
