Territory System
E
very person or even some groups of people want to have their own safe place to call home. On City of Shadows we have a system setup to help defend and raise more space. While this is not a replacement for the various Lair-Type Merits, this is used in conjunction with them to make sure the area around the lair is safe and in the control of the appropriate groups. Why does someone want territory? While there as many justifications for wanting territory as there are Cadres who claim it, the simple fact is that, for the inhuman denizens of the world forced to live a shadowed life, often pretending to be human, that they need it. Few creatures can survive alone, and none do so in a vacuum. The most hardened, isolated Gangrel Elder still needs blood to subsist on, even if the draw of city lights left them centuries prior. What does territory do? Territory provides a Cadre with protection, in the form of myriad defenses. Hardened walls and pit traps are equally important as zoning commissions and a press of bodies. In game terms, there are four bonuses to every territory:
- Unique Bonus
- This is a bonus available only to those who claim a given territory, such as unique knowledge or access to a rare resources.
- Cost Reduction
- This is a trio of merits which, when purchased by a Cadre member, refund 1 beat.
- Specialty
- A specialty that Cadre members can access.
- Superiority
- When within a territory they control, Cadre members receive +2 Dice to react to surprises and ambushes.
H
ere is a list of the common terms used in the system that we use to maintain and control the Claimed Territories of various Cadres.
- Cadre
- A blanket term for Packs/Coteries/Motleys/Cabals
- Territory
- A geographically contiguous area that can be controlled, either physically, legally, socially, or spiritually.
- Location Value (LV)
- A numerical representation of the difficulty and energy needed to secure an area.
- Clout
- The sum total of money, mystic power, physical prowess, social support and mental trickery a Cadre can devote to claiming and maintaining territory. Clout is the total of all relevant social Merits, Mental Merits, Discipline Dots, Renown, Arcana Dots, Contract Dots, Rites, and Coins available to a Cadre. This creates a die pool that can be used to enhance Territory Actions, both offensive and defensive. This is an abstraction of a groups total power, not an exact measure.
How do I get territory?
O
btaining territory is not simply as easy as moving in to an unclaimed neighborhood, even if you killed the previous residents. To obtain territory, a Cadre must invest time and resources in relation to the value of the territory. Territories have an LV, whether claimed or not. While a vigorously defended territory will have a much higher LV than a neglected, or even abandoned one, all territories have an LV that is needed to be overcome to claim the territory. The hows and whys of an LV are abstractions designed to cover everything from bribing local politicians, haggling with local gangs, bartering or intimidating local spirits and simple construction and renovations.
T
o attempt to claim a territory is an Extended Action with a difficulty equivalent to the LV of an area. The dice pool is chosen at the beginning of the action, and becomes the mean of the attribute and skill among all Cadre members (rounded up). Dice from the Cadre's Clout pool can be added on a one for one basis to a given roll. Coins instead add successes to a roll which succeeds, akin to Weapon Damage. The number of rolls is determined by the base die pool, and is NOT impacted by ANY other traits - these are accounted for in the Clout pool. The time between rolls is 2 days, which CAN be halved on an exceptional success.
T
o obtain an unclaimed territory simply requires the acquisition of successes equal to the LV. To take over a territory from another Cadre becomes a Contested and Extended Roll, unless the present owners are unwilling to defend their claim. Both parties choose their die pools in secret, as well as any Clout dice they wish to add. Each roll represents two days of maneuvering. After the rolls, the Cadres are informed who won and who lost. The first Cadre to accumulate Victories equal to ⅕ of the LV (Round up) of the territory claims the territory. The defending Cadre is considered to have one banked victory for every month they have already claimed the territory.
In Practice aka an Example
The Up-Town Hustlers are a small coterie of Vampires - primarily allied with the Carthian Movement, though they do have one member in the Circle of the Crones. They want to lay claim to the Avondale neighborhood in Northwest Chicago.
There are 4 members of the coterie - Daeva Dan, Nosferatu Nick, Gangrel Greg and Mekhet Melissa. They have the following relevant merits (Combined): Allies (Street Crime) 2, Resources 5, Status (Carthian Movement) 4, Status (Circle of the Crone) 2, Mentor 3, Carthian Pull 3 for a total of 19. They have a total of 18 dots in Disciplines among them. This gives total Clout of 37. They attempt to use subtlety and social means to infiltrate the territory, which is currently undefended. The Storyteller decides that this will be a roll of Manipulation + Streetwise. Daeva Dan has Manipulation 4 and 2 Streetwise, Nosferatu Nick has Manipulation 2 and Streetwise 1, Gangrel Greg has Manipulation 1 and 0 streetwise, while Mekhet Melissa has Manipulation 3 and Streetwise of 2. This gives a pool of 3 Manipulation and 2 Streetwise. 5 Dice, and 5 rolls. The use of Clout will be essential to accumulate the 20 successes required.
Now it is time for the rolls. The Coterie decide to spread their clout out as evenly as they can. 9 dice to the first roll, and then 7 to each additional roll.
Their first roll, which accounts for two days, goes well, with a total of 6 successes! They choose to reduce the total number of successes needed by their effective Streetwise of 2, giving them 6 of the now 18 they need.
The next roll, which again accounts for 2 IC days, nets only 2 successes - not a lot of progress. 8/18.
The third roll is another great one, with 3 tens, rerolling to two more successes for 5. This gives a total of 13, and the Cadre chooses to reduce the target number further to 16.
On roll 4, the Cadre gets 3 success, leaving them with the required 16. They also have a remaining 7 Clout to use this month, which they immediately use 6 of to raise the LV to 13.
Protecting what you've claimed.
O
nce claimed, Turf is in a period of upheaval. For the first month after being claimed, the initial LV is ½ of what was needed to claim the territory. Any remaining clout may be spent on a 2 for 1 basis to immediately reinforce the territory’s LV. Thereafter, LV can be raised up to 5 per month by spending Clout, again on a 2 for 1 basis.
In Practice aka an Example
The Uptown Hustlers have held onto Avondale for two months, returning the LV up to 23. However, the benefits of the area have attracted the attention of the Ghost Strangler Society, a Pack of Uratha who want to muscle in. In the intervening time, the Uptown Hustlers have increased their mystic ability and mundane influence - their total Clout is now 44. The Ghost Strangler Society have the following Members - Bethany Boneshadow, Bernadette Blood Talon, Harry Hunter in Darkness, Ivy Ironmaster, and William Wolfblood. For merits, they have the following totals: Allies (Legal) 2, Allies (Ghost Hunters) 1, Contacts 6, Resources 9, Status (City Hall) 2, Sounds of the City 2, Patient 2, for a total of 24 clout. From Supernatural means they have a total of 17 Gift Facets, 4 Rites, and 6 dots of Fetishes for 27 more, giving them a total of 51 Clout.
The Uptown Hustlers defend with a Strongarm campaign against their local criminal associates, using Strength and Streetwise. Their average strength (Without Vigor, which is applied as Clout) is 3 and, after improvements, so is their Average Streetwise, giving them a pool of 6.
The Ghost Strangler Society seek to use their intellect and mystical mojo to turn the area to their favor, using Intelligence and Occult. They have an average dice pool of 3 Intelligence and 2 Occult.
The Uptown Hustlers don’t want to use all of their clout, as they wish to improve the LV. So they only apply 5 to their first roll. The Ghost Strangler Society meanwhile wish to apply fast pressure, adding 10 dice to roll 1.
Roll 1: Uptown Hustlers get 4 Successes. Ghost Strangler Society gets 4 Successes. Nobody gets a Victory. However, due to their prior Ownership, the UH have 2 of the needed 5 already.
For the second roll, the UH stay convervative, with 5 (34 Clout remains) while the GSS need a win and add 11 (30 Clout remaining).
Roll 2: Both side roll poorly, with UH getting 1 success and GSS 3. The score is 2 for UH, 1 for GSS.
Next roll UH ups to 9 dice (25 Remaining) where GSS pull back and use 5 (25 Remaining).
Roll 3: UH get 3, GSS get 4. Score is tied at 2 each.
For roll 4, both sides add 10 Clout, leaving both with 15.
Roll 4: UH 4, GSS 7. Score is UH 2, GSS 3.
For roll 5, both sides are running low on resources, but UH needs to fight hard. They spend 7. The GSS are conservative and add 3.
Roll 5: UH 3, GSS 2. Score is 3-3.
The 6th roll uses the same pools, leaving UH with 1 Clout and GSS with 9.
Roll 6: UH 3, GSS 2. Score is 4-3.
For roll 7, UH has only 1 clout left, which they use. GSS has 9 and add 4.
Roll 7: UH 2, GSS 4. Score is 4-4
On roll 8, UH have no clout remaining. GSS have 5, which they spend.
Roll 8: UH 2, GSS 5. GSS claim with 5 and the LV resets to ½ of 23 (round up) for 12.
| Territory Name | Location Value | Specialty | Cost Reduction | Unique Bonus | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Park | 15 | Hiking (Survival) | Greyhound, Multilingual, Library | With an hours work, a meal can be found to satisfy any dietary requirement. Even the undead. | Open |
| Archer Heights | 15 | Homeless (Streetwise) | Anonymity, Barfly, Sympathetic | A safe-place in the back of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, that can be used once a a week. | Open |
| Armour Square | 20 | Research (Academics) | Library, Good Time Management, Eidetic Memory | Once a month, spend a Resources point to get a plus +3 to a research roll. | Open |
| Ashburn | 15 | Ghost (Occult) | Danger Sense, Eye for the Strange, Empath | Once per month, spend a point of Willpower to be able to find out something about a death. | Open |
| Auburn Gresham | 15 | Flirting (Socialize) | Direction Sense, Defender, Vice-Ridden | Once a month, spend a Resources point to be able to cover your tracks for a crime or failed event. | Open |
| Austin | 20 | Props (Crafts) | Stunt Driver, Allies (Media), Fame | Once a week, spend a Resources point to get access to a film business prop for a day. | Open |
| Avalon Park | 15 | Manners (Socialize) | Common Sense, Patient, Closed Book | Once a month, spend a resource point to procure a dead body. | Open |
| Avondale | 15 | Cuisine (Crafts) | Language (Polish), Hardy, Taste | Once a week, find someone willing to assist with an artistic project (+3 to Crafts roll) | Open |
| Belmont Cragin | 15 | Neighbors (Empathy) | Sympathetic, Virtuous, Patient | Once a month, gain the benefits of therapy as per a therapist with the Empath merit. | Open |
| Beverly | 20 | Architecture (Academics) | Iron Will, Contacts (Finance), Staff | Once a week, spend a Resources point to reserve a section in the Beverly Arts Center for an evening. | Open |
| Bridgeport | 25 | Baseball (Academics) | Bar Fly, Demolisher, Good Time Management | Once a month, spend Resources point to host a suite at a Sox game and gain +3 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| Brighton Park | 15 | Trains (Drive) | Encyclopedic Knowledge (Drive), Multilingual, Hobbyist Clique | Once a month, spend a Resources point to access an empty freighter car for any personal use. | Open |
| Burnside | 20 | Murderous Stare (Intimidation) | Quick Draw, Vice-Ridden, Air of Menace | Once per week, spend a point of Resources to gain access to Staff (Gangbangers: Streewise) for one day. | Claimed |
| Calumet Heights | 15 | First Aid (Medicine) | Patient, Tolerance for Biology, Indomitable | Once per month, use up to 2 dots worth of hospital-specific Resources. | Closed |
| Chatham | 15 | Business (Academics) | Allies (BBB), Common Sense, Vice-Ridden | Once per month, succeed at a social roll (difficulty 2) to hire services as per the Fixer merit. | Claimed |
| Chicago Lawn | 15 | Gardening (Crafts) | Multilingual, Holistic Awareness, Sympathetic | Once a month, use authentic Middle Eastern catering to give +2 to social rolls at a public event (if the food is served). | Open |
| Clearing | 20 | Security (Larceny) | Fixer, Allies (Transportation), Automotive Genius | Once a month, spend a Resource point to move an illegal item Size 1 or 0 in or out of the city. | Open |
| Douglas | 20 | History (Academics) | Encyclopedic Knowledge (History), Area of Expertise, Virtuous | Once per month, use a Resources point to make use of a college intern as Retainer 3 for a day. | Open |
| Dunning | 20 | Mental Health (Science) | Meditative Mind, Patient, Iron Will | Once per month, spend a Resources point to use the personal information of a mental patient as Alternate Identity 2. | Open |
| East Garfield | 15 | Real Estate (Academics) | Direction Sense, Holistic Awareness, Demolisher | Once a month, spend a point of Resources to retain the services of Retainer 3 (Day Laborer) for day. | Open |
| East Side | 20 | Shelter (Survival) | Direction Sense, Iron Stamina, Hobbyist Clique | Once per month, spend a Resources point to gain the services of a guide for +3 to Survival rolls for a day. | Open |
| Edgewater | 20 | Carousing (Socialize) | Holistic Awareness, Multilingual, Safe Place | Once per week, can obtain a moderately fresh corpse from Graceland Cemetery without a roll. | Open |
| Edison Park | 20 | Foraging (Survival) | Direction Sense, Meditative Mind, Fleet of Foot. | Once per week obtain holy water or sacrament blessed with true faith from the Saint Juliana Catholic Church. | Open |
| Englewood | 15 | Gangs (Streetwise) | Danger Sense, Vice-Ridden, Tolerance for Biology | Once a week, make a social roll to fulfill any Vice. | Open |
| Forest Glen | 25 | Gardening (Crafts) | Fleet of Foot, Inspiring, Table Turner | Spend a point of Resources to gain +1 to social rolls as per Striking Looks for a day. | Open |
| Fuller Park | 15 | Urban Ecology (Science) | Vice-Ridden, Untouchable, Anonymity | Once a month, spend a Resources point to cover up a minor crime by dead-ending the evidence in the neighborhood. | Open |
| Gage Park | 20 | Running (Athletics) | Parkour, Fleet of Foot, Greyhound | Once per week, satisfy a Pride virtue by winning an athletic event. | Open |
| Garfield Ridge | 20 | Rivers (Survival) | Multilingual, Interdisciplinary Specialty, Direction Sense | Once per month, spend a Resources point to have a weatherproof shelter set up in the marshes for +2 to survival rolls for one outing. | Open |
| Grand Boulevard | 15 | History (Academics) | Virtuous, Iron-Willed, Inspiring | Once a month, use a point of Resources to reserve the Harold Washington Cultural Center for an evening. | Open |
| Grand Crossing | 15 | Engineering (Science) | Patient, Indomitable, Automotive Genius | Once per month, succeed on a social roll to get advice from a mechanic for +3 to one Crafts project. | Open |
| Hegewisch | 15 | Wetlands (Survival) | Holistic Awareness, Patient, Virtuous | Once a week, succeed on a social roll to find a place to sleep in the Harbor Estates trailer park. | Open |
| Hermosa | 20 | Finance (Academics) | Language (Spanish), Good Time Management, Taste | Once a month, make a social roll (difficulty 3) to gain Safe Place 5 for a night in the Honduran Consulate. | Open |
| Humboldt Park | 15 | Trends (Socialize) | Taste, Language (Spanish), Virtuous | Once per week, with a successful social roll, get a table at any restaurant on Division Street or free access to any one meal. | Open |
| Hyde Park | 30 | Industry (Science) | Library (Any), Encyclopedic Knowledge (Any), Interdisciplinary Specialty (Any) | Once a month, spend a Resources point to gain access to a student intern as a Retainer 3 for one day. | Closed |
| Irving Park | 20 | Architecture (Academics) | Common Sense, Taste, Multilingual | Once per week, make a social roll to get a table at any restaurant in the neighborhood without notice and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| Jefferson Park | 20 | Navigation (Streetwise) | Barfly, Safe Place, Hobbyist Clique | Once per week find a safe place to sleep. | Open |
| Kenwood | 20 | Calming (Empathy) | Common Sense, Holistic Awareness, Library (Academics) | Once a month, use a Resources point to reserve a section of the Blackstone Library after hours and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| Lakeview | 25 | Emotions (Empathy) | Barfly, Taste, Hobbyist Clique (Athletics, Expression, Crafts) | Once a month, with a successful social roll (difficulty 3) fulfill any Virtue | Closed |
| Lincoln Square | 15 | Bureaucracy (Politics) | Allies(Government), Retainer, Staff | Once per month, you can find a willing and suitable mortal "employee" for a task. (Permanent acquisition requires Experience Expenditure.) | Open |
| Lincoln park | 25 | History (Academics) | Encyclopedic Knowledge (Academics), Good Time Management, Contacts (Finance) | Once a month, spend a Resources point to gain access to the Lincoln Park Zoo after hours and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Claimed |
| Logan Square | 20 | Landscaping (Crafts) | Multilingual, Virtuous, Inspiring | Once a week, succeed in a social roll (difficulty 2) to find a Safe Space 2 in one of the neighborhood churches or parks. | Claimed |
| Loop | 50 | Business (Academics) | Resources, Retainer (Any), Status (Any) | Once a week, spend a Resources point to reserve any business, theater, or restaurant for the entire day and gain +3 to social rolls while there. | Closed |
| Lower West Side | 15 | Art (Crafts) | Multilingual, Patient, Common Sense | Once a week, succeed on a social roll to find a Safe Place 2 within the neighborhood. | Open |
| McKinley Park | 15 | Small Talk (Socialize) | Hardy, Closed Book, Hobbyist Clique | One per month, succeed on a social roll to reserve the park for a special event. | Open |
| Montclare | 15 | Suburbs (Academics) | Interdisciplinary Specialty (Suburbs), Good Time Management, Virtuous | Once a month, use a point of Resources to use a neighborhood teen as Retainer 2. | Open |
| Morgan Park | 20 | Shelter (Survival) | Eye for the Strange, Meditative Mind, Trained Observer | Once a week, succeed on a Survival roll to find a Safe Place 3 for a night somewhere in the neighborhood. | Open |
| Mount Greenwood | 15 | Legal Rights (Academics) | Safe Place (1,2), Defender, Small Unit Tactics | Once per month, spend a Resources point to organize a community rally. | Open |
| Near North | 35 | Finance (Academics) | Allies (Media), Resources, Taste | Once per week, succeed on a social roll to acquire the use of a lavish venue for an evening and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Closed |
| Near South | 35 | Football (Athletics) | Iron Stamina, Library (Any), Encyclopedic Knowledge (Any) | Once a week, succeed on a social roll (difficulty 2) to gain access to any museum in the neighborhood after hours for an evening and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| Near West Side | 35 | First Aid (Medicine) | Library (Any), Parkour, Contacts (Any) | Once a week, succeed on a social roll (difficulty 2) to acquire a suite at the United Center for an evening and gain +3 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| New City | 15 | Nightlife (Socialize) | Closed Book, Taste, Patient | Once a month, spend a Resources point to throw a private party at any club in the neighborhood. | Open |
| North Lawndale | 15 | Security Systems (Larceny) | Vice-Ridden, Anonymity, Relentless | Once a week, spend a Resources point to satisfy any Vice. | Open |
| North Park | 25 | Cross Culture (Socialize) | Barfly, Multilingual, Iron Stamina | Once a month find someone that can translate a spoken or written language to english. | Open |
| North center | 20 | Public Speaking (Expression) | Virtuous, Multilingual, Contacts (Media) | Once a month, succeed on a social roll to have a sponsored community event thrown with the theme of your choosing. | Open |
| Norwood Park | 20 | First Aid (Medicine) | Common Sense, Tolerance for Biology, Direction Sense | Once per month acquire fresh bio-waste from the hospital. | Closed |
| O'Hare | 20 | Black Market (Streetwise) | Fixer, Pusher, Support Network | Once per month find someone to courier a message of package. Treat it as Anonymity 2 for tracking purposes. | Closed |
| Oakland | 15 | Carpentry (Crafts) | Eye for the Strange, Hobbyist Clique (Any), Safe Space | Once a week get baked goods from neighbors. | Claimed |
| Portage Park | 15 | Bargains (Persuasion) | Fleet of Foot, Language (Polish), Taste | Spend a point of Resources to be able to obtain any meal at any time from within the neighborhood. | Open |
| Pullman | 20 | Engineering (Science) | Encyclopedic Knowledge (Trains), Direction Sense, Patient | Once a week, succeed on a social roll (difficulty 3) to have a public space in the neighborhood reserved for private use for a day. | Open |
| Riverdale | 15 | Environment (Science) | Air of Menace, Vice-Ridden, Anonymity | Once a week, spend a point of Resources to fulfill any Vice. | Claimed |
| Roger's Park | 20 | Running (Athletics) | Iron Stamina, Multiligual, Holistic Awareness | Once per month, spend a resource point to hire students for a +3 bonus to a research check. | Open |
| Roseland | 15 | Rumors (Streetwise) | Indomitable, Closed Book, Hobbyist Clique | Once per month, find an abandoned house to occupy for a day as a Safe Place 3. | Claimed |
| South Chicago | 15 | Bureaucracy (Politics) | Multilingual, Patient, Trained Observer | Once a month, on a successful politics roll (difficulty 3) gain enough signatures to support a political initiative. | Open |
| South Deering | 15 | Toxins (Science) | Hardy, Sympathetic, Patient | Once a month, with a successful social roll (difficulty 2), find a connection as per the Fixer merit. | Closed |
| South Lawndale | 15 | Retail Therapy (Socialize) | Virtuous, Taste, Common Sense | Once a month, spend a Resource point to use Marshall Square Theater privately for a day and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| South Shore | 20 | Civil Law (Academics) | Virtuous, Inspiring, Area of Expertise (Any) | Once a month, spend a Resources point to reserve the South Shore Cultural Center for a private event and gain +2 to social rolls while there. | Open |
| Uptown | 20 | Sale Pitches (Persuasion) | Direction Sense, Meditative Mind, Trained Observer | Once per month, find someone that can get you what you need as per the Fixer merit. | Open |
| Washington Heights | 20 | Accounting (Academics) | Holistic Awareness, Virtuous, Meditative Mind | Once a month, succeed on a social roll to eliminate criminal activity in the neighborhood for an evening. | Open |
| Washington Park | 20 | Art History (Academics) | Eye for the Strange, Inspiring, Table Turner | Once per week, spend a Resources point to have a neighborhood youth function as Retainer 2 for one task. | Open |
| West Elsdon | 15 | Law (Academics) | Multilingual, Virtuous, Closed Book | Once a month, succeed on a social roll to have the West Elsdon Civic Association raise funds for a benefit of your choice. | Open |
| West Englewood | 15 | Basketball (Athletics) | Scarred, Alternate Identity, Danger Sense | Once per month, succeed on a social roll (difficulty 3) to have someone in the neighborhood stopped by police and searched. | Open |
| West Garfield | 15 | Dealers (Streetwise) | Tolerance for Biology, Quick Draw, Danger Sense | Once a month, spend a point of Resources to procure an unidentified corpse. | Open |
| West Lawn | 15 | Automobiles (Science) | Multilingual, Automotive Genius, Hobbyist Clique | Once per month, spend a Resources point to get the use of an unregistered car for a day. | Open |
| West Pullman | 15 | Environment (Science) | Hardy, Vice-Ridden, Interdisciplinary Specialty | Once per week, spend a Resources point to have a homeless person function as Staff (Streetwise). | Open |
| West Ridge | 15 | Religious Works (Academics) | Peacemaker, Safe Place, Support Network | Once per month, spend a point of resources to get a +3 bonus to research efforts related to the local religious groups. | Open |
| West Town | 20 | Festivals (Socialize) | Multilingual, Virtuous, Holistic Awareness | Once per week, succeed in a social roll (difficulty 3) to find someone in the neighborhood with information functioning as Library 1 (Any) | Open |
| Woodlawn | 25 | Research (Academics) | Library (Any), Mentor, Area of Expertise (Any) | Once a month, spend a point of Resources to find an intern to function as Retainer 3 for a day. | Open |