This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Roleplaying in a Dark Future

Started by jadrax, May 09, 2011, 01:54:04 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

jadrax

A stab at a system for tracking fame, comments welcome:

Kudos and Fame

Successful PCs attract the attention of the media, and consequently, the public. A process recorded by the PCs Kudos points and Fame. Players should receive a point of Kudos each time they do something Media worthy, i.e. complete a mission of particular public interest or act flamboyantly in the media glare. This is a freeform system, mainly dependent upon the GM's judgement: Some guidelines include the PC gaining a point of Kudos each time they defeat an opponent with more Fame than them and the PCs gaining a point of Kudos whenever a Media reporter decides to feature them on TV or in a ScreamSheet. Kudos points can also be lost, although this is harder. For every year the PC fails to achieve any media attention they lose 1 point.

As the players accumulate Kudos, they receive a new Attribute called fame. This Attribute cannot be bought up with Experience, and its rating is wholly dependent upon how many Kudos points the PC has.
 
Fame
0: Obscure (Kudos 0-5)
1: Known (Kudos 6-10)
2: Respected (Kudos 11-15)
3: Famous (Kudos 16-20)
4: Star (Kudos 21-25)
5: Living Legend (Kudos 26+)

At higher levels of Fame, (known and beyond) players can attempt to use their reputation to generate media attention. This normally takes at least a week of dealing with the Media, and then making a roll using Fame as an Attribute. If 'Bad Things Happen', these can include investigation by the Authorities, Libel or Compensation Court Cases or even Assassination or Blackmail attempts.
The Price of Fame
High levels of fame can be problematic when trying to succeed on missions of stealth or duplicity. Even if an enemy gang has no idea that the PCs are there, they still might be put at a state of readiness when they have a Media Jetcopter hovering over their base. Prices often become inflated as well, after all a Media Star will want the best room, best entertainment and highest quality krill in their food. Some Sanctioned Operatives react badly to this constant intrusion into their lives, Redd Harvest spends more time shooting out media cameras than she spends shooting renegades, while the top Sanctioned Operative in the United Kingdom has responded by becoming completely anonymous.
Making Money

Advertising deal [Extreme (2) Fame/Persuade roll]
The PC receives $10,000 from a corporation in exchange for advertising a product on TV and in the ScreamSheets. The PC may only receive this payment if they do not have a current bounty. Note that being the face of an Advertising campaign for a Corporation may anger others. Corporation rivalry is intense, with many seeing discrediting a celebrity as equivalent to discrediting a product.

Magazine interview [Extreme (2) Fame/Persuade roll]
The PC receives $7,500 in exchange for helping a ScreamSheet such as Lifetime or Roadfighters compile an article on them – including an extended interview and action Holo-figure. If the PCs have a Fame of less than 4, then they also gain 1 Kudos.

Sponsorship deal [Fame/Persuade roll]
The PC receives $5,000 from a Corporation in return for having that Corporation's logo and product name prominently displayed on their vehicles and uniforms. The PC may only receive this payment if they do not have a current bounty. Note that receiving Sponsorship from a Corporation may anger others. PCs with GenTech logos pasted over their vehicles may find work from Freeburg hard to find, while NeoGen Agents may just shoot their vehicle on sight.

TV appearance [Fame/Persuade roll]
The PC receives $5,000 in exchange for appearing on chat shows and Vulture TV Roadfight programs. This takes up a day of the PC's time to tour the studios. If the PCs have a Fame of less than 3, then they also gain 1 Kudos.

TV documentary [Arduous (3) Fame/Persuade roll]
The PC receives $50,000 in exchange for starring in a fly-on-the-wall TV Documentary, something that always gains huge ratings in the PolicedZones. This process takes three months, with constant media attention. The PCs all gain 1 Kudos.

Vulture backhander [Extreme (2) Fame/Criminal roll]
The PC receives a $10,000 Backhander by a Vulture TV station in exchange for setting up a raid or Roadfight for transmission on demand. The Vulture TV station gets to choose the target. If the PCs have a Fame of less than 4, then they also gain 1 Kudos.