Connections
From Thought Police Interactive Fiction
Connections are the ties that characters have to people in the setting. They can be friends, business associates or even pawns. Each connection has a rating that approximately indicates how connected those people are to character, and to what extent they will provide assistance.
Each connection should be specified as particular people or places (as appropriate). Staff may request that a connection be made more specific or ask questions about specific details.
Contents |
Area
You are fairly popular in a particular neighborhood or local scene. People in that area will be generally friendly and willing to help you out within reasonable limits. You will be expected to maintain your reputation in order to sustain this respect.
Employees
People who do what you say, within reason, because they are paid to do so. They will expect to be paid and generally expect to fulfill a particular job function.
Followers
Those who choose to follow you out of admiration and adoration. They can range from obsessive fans to those worshiping you as an incarnate deity. They generally expect to be praised and acknowledged, as well as receiving words of wisdom and guidance.
Friends
People who generally and earnestly care about you and will help you out as they can. They will usually expect this friendship to be returned.
Insiders
People who are deep "in the system", such as a lifelong clerk at City Hall or an established parish priest in the local church. They are usually willing to provide an inside track to information and services, as long as risky operations are rewarded with some form of appropriate compensation.
Mentors
People in a superior position looking to groom and guide you. They will generally expect loyalty and obedience in exchange for their investment.
Partners
People who have agreed to work with you to build a business or advance a particular ideal. These people see themselves as your equal in the project and expect to fully participate in the venture. They also expect to receive their share of any profit or credit resulting from the partnership.
Sources
People who will tell you things, such as informants. They generally expect a generous “tip” or similar compensation for the “juicy” bits, but often will just chat (providing “free” information), provided your end of the discussion is similarly informative or interesting.
Vendors
People who know how to find things and love to sell them. This includes a wide variety of people, from well-respected antiquities dealers to well-connected drug-dealers. They generally expect to be paid and expect to make a sale if they went through the trouble of acquiring something for you.
Victims
People who will do what you want due to blackmail, threats or other coercion. They will generally dislike and fear their “master”, but fulfill requests out of fear.
Scale
| 1 – Knows your face; willing to do occasional trivial favors. |
| 2 – Knows your name and a bit about you; willing to do occasional minor favors. |
| 3 – You're a familiar face; Will perform moderate assistance on occasion. |
| 4 – You are a normal part of their life; Will perform serious favors occasionally. |
| 5 – You are very important, feared and/or loved; Will grant serious favors if you have the need. |
| 6 – You are extremely important; Very little they will not do for you. |
| 7 – You are integral to their existence; Willing to give up wealth, reputation or even their life, for your sake. |
