[OWBN-Council] [Proposal][Bylaw Revision] Paragon Merit for Non-Ventrue
Open Votes
This proposal is made in accordance with the Coordinator Bylaw 3.C.iii.Genre Coordinators must pass before Council any plot, R&U bylaw revision, R&U named characters, Coordinator-NPC Character Resurrections, territory requests, in character enforced policy, or in character binding edict they wish to use which they can reasonably expect to affect multiple chronicles and these proposals follow the Autopass Vote Procedure.
Proposal
I, Sarah Murphy, hereby propose that 6 point merit, Paragon printed on page 77 of Clanbook Ventrue be regulated for non-Ventrue characters, both PC and NPC.
Bylaws Before: NA
Bylaws After:
10.m. v.67. Paragon Merit for Non-Ventrue - PC: Disallowed - NPC: Disallowed - Coordinator: Ventrue
Ventrue pcs with this version only need to buy the merit for the Influence background once, allowing them to increase their cap on as many Influence spheres as the PC/NPC’s Storytellers allow.
These restrictions do not apply to the 7 point Paragon merit printed on page 178 of V20: The Black Hand: A Guide to the Tal Mahe Ra.
Legacy - None
FAQ
There are two merits in the White Wolf books by the same name. What is the text and source for each?
From Clanbook: Ventrue (Revised), p. 77 - 6 pt Social Merit.The Embrace has awakened within you an aspect of personality that others find particularly compelling. You may select any one Background from the following group: Allies, Black Hand Membership, Clan Prestige, Contacts, Fame, Herd, Influence, Mentor, Resources, Retainers, Sabbat Status or Status. Your maximum Trait score in that Background may exceed your normal generation limit by one. For example, a 10th-generation Kindred may take this Merit and enjoy the benefits of a Contacts Background of 6. You may take this Merit for only one Background, which may drop (and therefore rise again) at the Storyteller's discretion. Players should choose this Merit only for a Background that makes sense -- a Camarilla archon is unlikely to have a Black Hand Membership Background of 7, for example.
From V20: The Black Hand: A Guide to the Tal Mahe Ra, p. 178) - Paragon (7pt. Merit): Others find you particularly compelling. Select one Background from the following group: Allies, Contacts,Domain, Fame, Herd, Influence, Mentor, Resources,Retainers, or Status. You receive one free dot in that Background, and your maximum Trait score in that Background may exceed normal Generational limits by one."
2. What’s the narrative difference between the two merits called “Paragon”?
The flavor text of 7 point merit from the V20 TMR guide says simply “Others find you particularly compelling.”
The flavor text of the 6 Point Merit from the Ventrue Clanbook says: The Embrace has awakened within you an aspect of personality that others find particularly compelling. “. This implies that it is the Embrace, and a feature innate to the Ventrue blood rather than just a personality trait.
3. What would the functional, mechanical differences between the two merits be?
Ventrue PCs with the 6 point Paragon merit from the Revised Clanbook would only need to buy the merit for the Influence background once, allowing them to increase their cap on as many Influence spheres as the PC/NPC’s Storytellers allow.
Non-Ventrue PCs would only have access to the 7 point merit in V20: The Black Hand: A Guide to the Tal Mahe Ra, p. 178), which only allows for the increased cap on a single sphere of influence.
4. Why is Paragon (6) Disallowed, and not just Coord-Approval?
Clanbook Ventrue: Revised features only one unique merit. Paragon. The Ventrue, narratively, are supposed to be better at wielding Influence than any other type of Kindred. This revision helps to support that narrative with mechanics by giving Ventrue a meaningful edge over the other clans in what is supposed to be their forte.
Ventrue don’t have as much access to much unique printed content/mechanics compared to other clans.
5. But other vampires are also good at wielding Influence? Why should only Ventrue PCs have access to this merit?
They certainly are! They can even put points into the 7 point merit from the V20 TMR book to emphasize their mastery. As good as vampires are at influencing humanity, the Ventrue, especially Camarilla Ventrue, place a unique and specific emphasis on it.
Much of the flavor text and fiction in the published source material on Ventrue focuses on the Clan’s special expertise and finesse in knowing which buttons to push and levers to pull for maximum effect without being too heavy-handed and potentially attracting the attention and wrath of humanity. (The Inquisition, what a show!)
Two out of three of their in-clan Disciplines are centered around manipulating and controlling humans, both directly and indirectly.
They historically Embrace mortals with temporal power, wealth, and power who already have an understanding of establishing and maintaining power and (lower-case i) influence.
The Agogue - In contrast to many clans, the Ventrue benefit from an extended formal training from their sires, and other members of the clan, with a specific focus on establishing Influence. The “final exam” involves the neonate establishing Influence without any help, without violating the Traditions, and without impinging upon any other Ventrue’s sphere of Influence. (P.51) Other clans do not place such a focus on Influence in the education of childer. Thus, it makes sense that the Clan has an edge over all others in their ability to use Influence
6. Why doesn’t this proposal allow for Legacy?
Players of and STs for Non-Ventrue Characters with the merit can contact the office to have their merit reviewed individually by Team Ventrue.
8. If a Ventrue PC has bought the Ventrue Paragon merit more than once in order to cover multiple influence spheres, how would you recommend we handle it regarding XP?
Our recommendation to Storytellers is to let these Ventrue PCs re-allocate or refund the points, but we leave that in the capable hands of local STs.
It’s likely that NPCs with this merit have it for backstory and flavor for their own local chronicles. We believe that storytellers should have all the tools they need to tell stories for their own chronicles, and there is no need to regulate this merit out of local storyteller hands. I am happy to cooperate with any Coordinators with NPCs with the merit, and help them to develop something cool.
9. How many PCs will this affect?
Ventrue PCs: Likely the majority of them.
Non-Ventrue PCs: Unknown, as the merit is not currently regulated.
10. Will this prop result in restrictions on the 7 point merit in the V20: The Black Hand: A Guide to the Tal Mahe Ra, p. 178)?
No. This prop will only apply to the Merit in Clanbook: Venture Revised ONLY. The V20 7pt Paragon Merit is NOT affected by this prop. It is part of the source material for the Tal Mahe Ra, and would fall under the auspices of a different Coordinator.
11. Are there plans to update the current Ventrue Packet to reflect this rules change.
Yes, timeline TBD.