Merits & Flaws

You’ve got a decent-sized piece of property that, while non-magickal, is certainly useful: a manor house, a farm, a nightclub, bookstore, restaurant, grove, and so forth. The larger and more prosperous the property, the more points this Merit costs. Elsewhere known as the Merits: Nightclub and Mansion, this Merit demands a minimum rating in the Background: Resources, as noted below.

• (2 points) A relatively small property of roughly 3000 square feet /900 meters, with perhaps – if it’s a business – a trickle of income that slightly exceeds its expenses. Examples: a nice house, a comic store, a coffee shop, a penthouse apartment, etc. Minimum Resources: 3

• (3 points) A rather sweet place with dedicated servants /staffers, all necessary facilities (sewer, trash, Internet connection, etc.), and – if it’s a business – an income that contributes to your Resources Background. Examples:

A nightclub, a mansion, a small farm, a radio station, a large store, and so forth. Minimum Resources: 4

• (4 points) A substantial location, staffed with skilled (though mundane) employees and connected to an acre or two of associated land. Examples: A small office build­ ing, a family manor, an arena, a school, a medium-sized farm, a vineyard, a small laboratory, a library, and the like. At this level, it could also represent several smaller, two-point Properties as well. Minimum Resources: 5

• (5 points) An impressive holding that features an exten­ sive staff and a fair amount of property. Examples: An office complex, a stadium, a college, a major laboratory, a shopping center, an archive, and so forth. This level could reflect a number of two-point or three-point Properties, too. Minimum Resources: 6

Although this Merit, by itself, is in no way magickal or hyper­ tech-equipped, your Property could provide the base of operations for the Backgrounds: Allies, Backup, Chantry, Cult, Library,

Node, Resources, Retainers, Sanctum, and even Spies. (Baris­

tas overhear a lot of crazy stuff…) Unless you’ve got a dedicated manager for the Property, it also demands a certain amount of time and attention, and quickly falls into disrepair and /or bankruptcy if you leave it alone for a week or more while jaunting off on various adventures. Property also tends to attract interest from parties both mundane and otherwise, especially if there’s an ongoing rivalry with competing businesses, family enemies, an archnemesis, and so on. Cops take a dim view of wild stuff going down on your property, and the insurance costs can be murder if (read: when) your place gets trashed by extradimensional entities, HIT Marks, or raging Ascension Warriors.

Unless they’re part of the Backgrounds: Allies, Backup, Cult, or Retainers, employees of your Property Merit do count as Sleeper witnesses with regards to magickal deeds on and around such properties.