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affinity ranks;
✽ AFFINITY RANKS | ||||||||||
Areas of Repute Within Aifaran are some unofficial factions that represent some of the interests or aspects of the city life. These are not ICly recognized groups (that is, there are no guilds or formal organizations representing these areas that a character can approach ICly) in that they have no defined structure, but merely areas of general repute.
Upon application acceptance, each character will receive a randomized set of starter rankings totaling 20 points altogether, which are randomly distributed throughout all the factions using RNG when a character joins the game. This point cap will prevent anyone from being able to max out too many affinity factions at one time. OOCly, each faction has ranks from 1-5 (with 1 being the lowest, 5 the highest), with each rank producing multiple different types of interaction with that group throughout the month. Players can choose to have their characters experience one or more of these instances to happen, depending on what their rank standing is with that respective group. Characters will not be required to experience all instances for all factions in a given month. This Google Spreadsheet is kept current by the mods that can be viewed by the players at any time, so players will always have access to their various Affinity standings at a glance. EXAMPLE: CRIME Rank 1 • Slippery Fingers: You are targeted for pickpocketing on the street! • Get Trashed: Your property (home, work, etc) suffers vandalism. • Shakedown: Your preferred places of patronage are harassed for protection money. Rank 2 • Supply & Demand: You sense eyes on you frequently, and when looking to purchase your usual staples, you find them either out of stock or ridiculously marked up in price. If asked, the shopkeepers will avoid answering the questions, as if they've been intimidated into silence. Rank 3 • Swag Swap: You are targeted for a mugging, but you're offered a cheap set of crystal glasses in exchange for all you lose. • Insurance: You're offered an insurance policy against theft for the month, but if you don't pay up, you may be more heavily targeted. Rank 4 • Mistaken Identity: During what looks like it will be a mugging, the perpetrator seems to recognize you and breaks off the attempt. • Guardian Criminal: Alternatively, during what looks to be a mugging, ANOTHER mugger will intervene, successfully chasing the first offender away from you. Rank 5 • Sudden Windfall: An anonymous person mails you a package containing what is definitely stolen, but likely untraceable, money and luxury items, the contents of which are now yours to do with as you please! Affinity Rank Changes Each month as part of AC, players will be required to submit their rank changes, moving 4 points total per month in any combination of their choosing. An affinity cannot be ranked at 0 or over 5, and all the Affinity ranks must collectively total 20 points - so points being added to one rank must come from subtracting from another rank, etc. Part of the AC requirement is a (VERY) brief description of the character's behaviour that led to the fluctuations in affinity. EXAMPLE AC COMMENT: Character: Bugs Bunny AC Proof 1 (required): LINK AC Proof 2 (optional): LINK Allegiance Rank Changes: +2 Sci-Tech, -2 Faith Notes: Bugs offered to teach a class on network basics to some less-than-tech-savvy elders (+2 Sci-Tech) but flipped off some Ban Om devotees when they wouldn't take a hint (-2 Faith). Affinity FAQ What happens if my character gets randomized Affinity starting ranks that don't make sense? IE; my sweet cinnamon roll gets a high Crime ranking? That's half the fun! ICly, it's explained by characters arriving that don't have any background in the city yet. Since these aren't literal, recognized factions, it's a little bendable. Maybe they're going with a gut feeling. Maybe they just don't like your character's face. Who knows! These rankings aren't static either - they go up or down with each AC, depending on what you want for your character. What if I don't want to use any of the monthly instances for my faction rankings? You don’t really have to if there isn’t anything in there you’d want to play with. Or make up something (reasonably) within the parameters that would be better suited to your character. Why do I have to move Affinities rankings around every month? As your character interacts with the peoples of Khu Ioduan, they will naturally get along with some groups and people, but not others, just as in the real world. Adjusting Affinities rankings is based on how you think your character's choices have been viewed by the various factions in the city. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' standing with the factions, so don't worry about keeping a set number; every option has new opportunities! | ||||||||||
SCI-TECH
RANK 1
• Mission Grime: If you participated in the mission or simply came in contact with anyone who did, be prepared for a tech nightmare. The disruption in the Dreaming seems to have clung to you, causing every kind of technology to protest your existence. Your yimo won't even turn on, the Skyway has mechanical issues, consoles fritz out, and even appliances go haywire around you. All. Month.
• Jury-rigged: Some mad scientist has decided to repair an appliance in one of your preferred places of patronage or your workplace with the equivalent of a paperclip and chewing gum. It may burst into flames; spew foul-smelling liquid directly at you; or undergo a rapid unscheduled disassembly into dozens of pieces that spread across a truly ridiculous area. That is definitely a gear sticking out of the wall, so here's hoping you ducked.
RANK 2
• Tech Support's Least Favorite: Your yimo has been glitching inexplicably, but every time you take it to a professional, the glitches miraculously disappear for the duration of the visit. More than one technician hides when they see you coming.
RANK 3
• Sidewalk Safety: Some parts of the city have temporary awnings put up over sidewalks to provide some protection from the gyroshei that are harassing the city. They do a decent job of shielding you from droppings. That is, until a gyroshei tries to land on one and it collapses on you in a mass of feathers and squawking and canvas and metal.
• Barrier Watchparty: The shimmering, rippling barrier is unnerving for most people, but it has the scientists positively abuzz with excitement. Oh yes, they understand the worries, but they also want to understand what this phenomenon is. So they set up a beach party just outside the city! Come join them. It can be freaky to watch the wispy glow day or night, but there's plenty of free alcohol and snacks to go around. Careful though - you might end up between to researchers arguing to the point of fisticuffs.
RANK 4
• Coral Corale: With the sudden die-off of coral in Shuyul Bay, researchers are calling for volunteers to help scour the reefs up to a day's journey from Aifaran. It's a huge undertaking and you'll be equipped with snorkeling gear - or scuba, if you have experience. There's no pay involved (unless you make a really good impression and someone may offer you a job), but you'll be fed and transported.
RANK 5
• MacGyver Miracle: Whether you're a complete tyro or an engineering expert, you definitely only have a vague idea of this piece of tech you've been tasked with working on. Somehow, using completely improbable parts and techniques, you finish the project. The Opara Core wants you to consult with them regularly now, and someone jokingly wishes you could donate your brain to science rather than go back to your homeworld.