Sang Nordique

I have received a number of requests to explain how to go about creating a business in the Sang Nordique chronicle. So I figured it was about time to explain the whole thing and hopefully in a clear way that will allow players the opportunity to fully utilize this specialized Background for their characters. I hope this helps.

Firstly, the Business Background is not one, but multiple Backgrounds. One for each business the player wishes their character to control. Secondly, Business Backgrounds need to be tied to an Influence that the character possesses and the player may only buy as many levels of a Business Background as they have levels in the Influence tied to it. Thirdly, a business gives the character access to Backgrounds (or other abilities) in addition to those already on their sheet.

When you want to start a business, select an Influence and a name for the business and what that business does from a story perspective. Then choose a PRIMARY and SECONDARY Background from the list below for what game mechanics the business will provide to the character. Then spend 2XP and you have your first level of the Business Background!

List of Backgrounds for Businesses with PRIMARY and SECONDARY benefits:

• Allies
  • PRIMARY: Workers with access to any Ability
  • SECONDARY: Workers with access only to related Abilities
• Contacts
  • PRIMARY: Workers with access to any Information
  • SECONDARY: Workers with access only to related Information
• Fame
  • PRIMARY: Share any Influence in other chronicles
  • SECONDARY: Share only related Influence in other chronicles
• Herd
  • PRIMARY: 1 blood trait per level
  • SECONDARY: level 1 & 2 = 1 blood trait, level 3 & 4 = 2, level 5 = 3
• Resources
  • PRIMARY: as per LotN:R
  • SECONDARY: as per LotN:R divided by 2

PRIMARY and SECONDARY benefits do not have to be Backgrounds. If the business makes a product, then you can have access to modified or specialized versions as a benefit. If the business provides a service, then you can have access to that as a benefit. Come up with something interesting and ask an ST. Businesses are where you can get creative system wise, however the ST’s have the final sign-off on anything on your sheet.

The Business Background costs 2 XP per level (as any other Background) but you also need an equivalent level (or more) in the related Influence. There is a consequence due to this and it is there to offset the extra benefit of a Business. When you lose a level of the related Influence, if that puts your Influence level below that of the Business, then you lose a level of Business as well. The 2 XP you spent are gone forever. If you later re-grow the Influence back up, the Business does not return, you will have to spend the 2 XP again.

Example

Justin Case, the Ventrue, has the following Influences: Finance x 4, Industry x 3, Media x 3. He could have the following Business Backgrounds:

• MidTown Credit Union (Finance) x 3
  • PRIMARY: Resources (+$3,000 per PA) (interest rates)
  • SECONDARY: Contacts (can only investigate in Finance)
• Umbrie Computers (Industry) x 2
  • PRIMARY: Access to the latest tech toys (sometimes before they are released to the general public)
  • SECONDARY: Allies (computer, repair and security only)
• Stolid [magazine] (Media) x 3
  • PRIMARY: Contacts (can investigate anything!)
  • SECONDARY: Resources (+$1,500 per PA) (advertizing and subscription fees)

The player of Justin Case can buy 1 more level of MidTown and Umbrie, but not Stolid (at least not until he gets level 4 Media). If his Media is attacked and drops to level 2 then he loses his third level of Stolid until he re-grows his Media and re-buys the third level.