Page 83 - Chronicles of Darkness

the situation more comfortable. This should not require a a character stand up to threats, or Presence to protect and
roll during a first impression, but requires one if attempted maintain one’s reputation at a soiree.
later. An excellent impression requires a roll to influence Failed rolls impose a cumulative -1 penalty on further
the situation. For example, you may use a Wits + Socialize to rolls. These penalties do not go away after successful rolls.
find the right people to invite to a party. Perfect impressions When the player fails a roll, the Storyteller may choose to
require further factors. It may involve leverage, or playing to worsen the impression level by one. If she does so, the player
a character’s Vice (see below). takes a Beat. If this takes the impression level to hostile, the
Hostile impressions come from tense first impressions, attempt cannot move forward until it improves.
or threatening pitches. These interactions require you ma-
nipulate the impression, or to force the Doors (see below). Aspirations
Vices Aspirations are quick routes to influence. Find out a
character’s goals, wants, and needs, and they can help move
If your character knows her subject’s Vice, she can use interactions forward. If your character presents a clear path
it to influence the interaction. When presenting an offer and reasoning for how they’ll help a character achieve an
that tempts that Vice, move the interaction one step up on Aspiration, remove a Door.
the chart. As a rule of thumb, if by agreeing to the tempta- This doesn’t require follow through, but it does require a
tion the target character stands to gain Willpower, then the certain amount of assurance. If the opportunity presents it-
temptation is a valid form of influence. self, and your character pulls out of an offer, two Doors close.
Soft Leverage (Gifts and Bribes) Failure

Soft Leverage represents offers of services or payments in A social maneuvering attempt can fail utterly under the
order to lubricate social interaction. Make the offer. If the following circumstances:
recipient agrees, move the impression up once on the chart. • The player rolls a dramatic failure on an attempt to
Mechanically, this can be represented by certain Merit open a Door (the player takes a Beat as usual).
dots. For example, a bribe may be represented by a Resources
3 offer, or an offer for a particular service may be reflected • The target realizes he is being lied to or manipulated.
by Retainer 3. By default, these bribes give the recipient use This does not apply if the target is aware that the
of the Merit for a designated amount of time. character is trying to talk him into something, only if
the target feels betrayed or conned.
Impressions
• The impression level reaches hostile, and remains so
Impression Time Per Roll for a week of game time. The character can try again
Perfect One Turn during the next story.
Excellent One Hour Resolution
Good One Day
Average One Week Once your character opens the final Door, the subject
must act. Storyteller characters abide by the intended goal,
Hostile Cannot roll and follow through as stated.
If you allow players’ characters to be the targets of social
Opening Doors maneuvering, resolve this stage as a negotiation with two pos-
sible outcomes. The subject chooses to abide by the desired
At each interval, you may make a roll to open Doors goal, or offer a beneficial alternative.
to move closer to your character’s goal. The roll might be
different each time, depending on the character’s tactics. Go With the Flow
Some of the rolls might not even be Social. For example,
if your character is trying to win someone’s favor, fixing If the character does as requested, and abides by the
his computer with an Intelligence + Computer roll could intended goal, his player takes a Beat (see p. 76).
open a Door. Offer an Alternative
As Storyteller, be creative in selecting dice pools. Change
them up with each step to keep the interactions dynamic. If the subject’s player chooses, he may offer a beneficial
Similarly, consider contested and resisted rolls. Most resisted alternative, and the initiator’s player can impose a Condition
actions or contested rolls use either Resolve or Composure, (see p. 75) on his character. This offer exists between play-
or a combination of the two. But don’t let that stand as a ers, it does not need to occur within the fiction of the game
limit. Contested rolls don’t require a resistance trait. For (though it can). The alternative must be beneficial, and not
example, Wits might be used to notice a lie, Strength to help a twist of intent. The Storyteller adjudicates.
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infernal engines -dramatic systems