These rules are intended to replace the influence background in the book.

Below are the notes on the design process. The approved rules are found in Influence.

Design Goals The following goals are considered relevant for these new rules:

• Make the actual impact of having Influence more explicit
• The Influence rules should create meaningful roleplay opportunities
  • The rules should encourage networking and the selection of “acquintances”
  • The rules should encourage tenuous cooperation within a coterie
  • Conflicting interests can lead to both kindred-kindred and kindred-kine roleplay
• The Influence rules should highlight the inherent moral corruption in the World of Darkness

Foundation The new Influence rules are built on the following foundations:

• Cities are the main localities for Kindred, so the scope of the Influence background is always City-wide,
• The Influence background represents mainly political leverage,
• The Influence background is always tied to a specific city,
• Exerting influence over larger localities (at the state, regional, national or even international level) requires knowing the right people,
• Exerting influence over different spheres (public opinion, corporate activities) requires knowing the right people,
• Influence must be used or it is lost, so no “saving up” of influence,
• Location matters, exerting influence on national politics is easier from the capital

Todo The following points still need to be addressed (roughly in order):

• Small favours
• First round of comments and discussion
• Larger influences (for achieving grander goals)
• Opposing changes and influence
• Fixers, lobbyists and “acquintances” (for influencing other scopes)
• Second round of comments and discussion
• Process feedback
• Final proposal