Page 116 - World of Darkness

people in question. Penalties might apply if the informa- Mentor (• to •••••)
tion sought is little known (-1 to -3), confidential (-3), or
if sharing it could get people in trouble or harmed (-3 to - Effect: This Merit gives your character a friend and
5). Success doesn’t guarantee exactly the information for teacher who provides her with advice and guidance. Your
which your character looks. Contacts aren’t all-knowing, character’s mentor acts on her behalf, although the Sto-
and the Storyteller is perfectly justified in saying that a ryteller determines exactly how. A mentor usually offers
particular contact simply doesn’t know something. advice, allowing the Storyteller to use him to help guide
Dramatic Failure: The contact doesn’t tell your char- your character through tough situations. A mentor may
acter the full extent of what he knows, or provides mis- also use his influence or abilities to help your character
leading information. Perhaps he’s holding out for money out, although he probably wants to see his charge do things
or favors, or simply makes an honest mistake. for herself. A mentor is likely to give up in disgust on a
Failure: The contact doesn’t have the information pupil who constantly asks for aid. Mentors may also ask
your character needs. for something in return for their assistance, which can
Success: The contact is able to provide some infor- lead your character into some interesting situations.
mation that’s helpful to your character. The number of dots purchased in this Merit deter-
Exceptional Success: The contact is able to provide mines the relative power, knowledge and experience of
a wealth of information to your character, providing an- your character’s teacher. One dot indicates a mentor with
swers to questions that aren’t even asked. one or more specialized Skills and a small amount of ex-
Suggested Equipment: Gift (+1), small bribe (+1), perience in your character’s field of interest. Two dots in-
large bribe (+2), an outstanding favor (+1 to +3) dicate a mentor with a wide range of capability and expe-
Possible Penalties: Lack of bribe (-1), frequent and rience in your character’s field of interest. Three dots in-
recent requests (-1 to -2), information confidential (-1 to dicate a mentor possessing a broad range of Skills, years of
-3), information scarce (-2), information obscure (-3) experience and significant influence in your character’s
field of interest. Four dots indicate a mentor who not only
Fame (• to •••) possesses a broad range of Skills and decades (or in some
cases, centuries) of experience, he is also a preeminent fig-
Effect: Your character has a measure of recognition ure with major influence in your character’s field of inter-
in today’s media-saturated society, possibly as a performer, est. Five dots indicate a mentor with towering influence
athlete, politician or other sort of public personality. He’s and power in your character’s field of interest. A five-dot
frequently identified and can often get star treatment. On patron watches over your character and influences her life
the other hand, it’s difficult for your character to go places in ways both obvious and subtle, and likely has an agenda
without being recognized, and the media watches him in which your character is pivotal.
carefully.
Each dot adds a +1 modifier to your character’s So- Resources (• to •••••)
cialize (or Persuasion, where applicable) rolls among those
who are impressed by his celebrity status. Effects: This Merit measures your character’s mate-
Drawback: The more famous your character is, the rial resources, both possessions and wealth. All characters
more easily he is recognized by the public. The Storyteller are assumed to have a job or a source of income (trust
should apply the same +1 modifier per dot to a general fund, parents) that is sufficient to cover their basic needs:
Wits + Composure roll to see if he is recognized by any- food, shelter and transportation. Dots in this Merit repre-
one on the street. An exceptional success indicates that sent disposable income — wealth and assets that can be
one or more people are loyal fans who approach him for liquidated for more money in case of emergency. The num-
autographs, pictures and long conversations. ber of dots indicates your character’s general level of
wealth. One dot suggests low disposable income: $500 a
Inspiring (••••) month and approximately $1,000 worth of assets. Two dots
suggest moderate disposable income: $1,000 a month and
Prerequisite: Presence •••• approximately $5000 worth of assets. Three dots suggest
Effect: Your character is able to rally others in times significant disposable income: $2000 a month and maybe
of great distress, renewing their courage and determina- $10,000 worth of assets. Four dots suggest substantial dis-
tion in the face of adversity. posable income: $10,000 a month and $500,000 worth of
Once per game session, your character can exhort assets. Five dots suggest significant wealth: $50,000 a
those around him to redouble their efforts in the face of month and as much as $5,000,000 worth of assets.
great stress or danger. Make a Presence + Persuasion roll. Resources can be used to determine if your character
If the roll succeeds, any individuals who actively assist can reasonably afford a purchase or expenditure. Equip-
your character and who are within earshot regain one spent ment, weapons and items throughout these rules are as-
Willpower point (not to exceed their Willpower dots). signed costs in dots. The Storyteller can assign cost dots
The character may not use this Merit on himself, and may to other items during play based on what’s here. If your
not use it on the same subjects more than once a day.
character has the same or more dots in Resources, he can

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SOCIAL MERITS