Abilities & Attributes

When it’s time to set up puppets and get them dancing, this Ability reflects your ability to consolidate connections, facilitate access, introduce power-players to one another, and then lay foundations for the type of influence that gets things done. An “offstage” ability (like Research and Networking), Power-Brokering allows you to set up and manipulate networks of authority and then sit in the center of them and employ the folks who owe you favors. Is this magick? Oh, hell yes. Members of the Syndicate, NWO, Solificati, Virtual Adepts, and Celestial Chorus swear by this type of “enchantment,” as do the most efficient and influential Nephandi. Even Ecstatics, witches and shamans employ these sorts of connections among their related peers. Faces and titles may differ, but social power is universal.

Especially when combined with Mind spells, Power-Brokering lets you “make a few calls” to bring influential parties together and point them at common goals. Social-based rolls create those connections – typically composed of Manipulation + Power-Brokering, although Charisma, Appearance, Intelligence, Perception, and perhaps even – within some cultures – Strength could be combined with Power-Brokering as well. In conjunction with Backgrounds like Allies, Influence, Resources, and Spies, or Abilities like Etiquette, Cultural Savvy, Media, Politics, Subterfuge, and similar Traits, you can forge potent connections without ever resorting to Spheres; if you do nudge things a bit with True Magick, the results can be astounding… just ask the Technocracy… and the Nephandi…

For suggestions about the metaphysical applications of such influence, see the Mage 20 Instruments entries for Mass Media and Management and Human Resources (pp. 594-595), and Influence From a Distance and The Social Element in How Do You DO That?, pp. 116-120.

• Dabbler: You know how to talk to receptionists.

•• Student: Getting your foot in the door… and keeping it there… is easy enough.

••• Scholar: Power-players know your name and take your calls.

•••• Professor: “Mr. Koch will see you now.”

••••• Master: World-leaders consider you a friend.

Possessed by

Diplomats, Tycoons, Brokers, Celebrities, Activists, Journalists, Editors, Promoters, Politicians, Spies, Anonymous, Receptionists

Specialties

Media, Politics, High Finance, Hollywood, Tribal Councils, United Nations, Corporate Powers, Megacorporations, Underworld, Prison Culture, Inner Circles, Deals, Backscratching, Blackmail, Schmoozing, Making Friends

Ratings