Sirs, this is an overview on how the so called status used by the kindred works and also a look at how boons - akin to favours owed, but with a strict adherence to payment - function in their society.
16/06/2002 - Samuel Pearsden Chapter House Wellington
For an immortal people in a time when power cannot always be wielded with impunity, status plays a vital role in day to day interactions. Often, in strongly Camarilla cities, there will be a respected few, known as the Harpies, who are considered arbiters of fashion, style and propriety. In those cities, it falls to those kindred to assign status. .
Well, that's all well and good, but that does beg the question: So how does one gain status? As mentioned before, status is really a measure of reputation in the city and, as such, allows all of the players to participate in the process. The system is relatively simple. At the end of every session, each player should decide if there were any characters in particular who caught his eye. In the post mortem, then, the player would list these people, the status trait he thought they earned, and a short reason why, like so:
Miguel the Brujah - Dependable (He came through for my character despite all
odds)
Friedrich the Nosferatu - Untrustworthy (That bastard betrayed me!)
These comments should be made from your character's perspective - Status is an IC institution and is meant to represent the prevailing attitudes of characters and not players. The summary of these will be passed on to the Harpy, Clan Heads and Heads of Houses.
Here are some possible status traits and descriptions. This not an exhaustive list and there are many other possibilities. .
Positive: Trustworthy, Promising, Generous, Brave, Admired, Famous, Faultless, Honorable, Just, Respected, Loyal
Negative: Diabolist, Oath-Breaker, Untrustworthy, Cowardly, Repugnant, Uncontrollable, Rude
The golden rule is "He who has the most status is right."
Trivial Boons
These are one time favours, such as providing protection for someone for the
evening, using one of your Disciplines to aid another, or supporting another's
political move.
Minor Boons
Can last more than one evening and usually entail the bestower going out of
her way to do something for the receiver, such as allowing safe passage through
a hostile city, revealing crucial information to the receiver, or disposing of
some minor threat to the receiver.
Major Boons
Usually entail a great expenditure of time or resources on the bestowers
part. The effects of the favour usually last for many game sessions. An example
of such a boon would be teaching the receiver a new discipline or purchasing a
night club to serve as the receivers haven.
Blood Boons
Occur when the bestower places herself in potentially life threatening
situation in order to help the receiver (thus the name "Blood Boon").
The bestower is willing to shed her blood for the receiver
Life Boons
Involve the bestower actively risking her immortal life for the receiver so
that the receiver may live..