@tragedyjones asked me to share something else I've worked on today, so I'm gonna do that. The following is a currency/reward system that functions both IC and OOC. Since we'll have a (slowly rising) cap on experience that can be gained, we'll no doubt eventually end up with some people who hit the cap and can't gain more experience until the cap rises, which might feel unfair when they're active, playing and running PRPs, while not getting the same rewards as other people. For that situation--a compromise! I present, the Black Chips.
Nigrum Denarius
The Black Chips
History
Black Chips — or nigrum denarius, as vampires originally called them — are a naturally occurring phenomenon found in and around Las Vegas and the Mojave that manifest in the rough shape of pebbles about the size of a half-dollar. When held by someone with a connection to the supernatural, the black chips synchronize to the bearer's nature.
Ever since the arrival of supernaturals in the area, the black chips have been hoarded and forged into the shape and size of actual casino-like chips and used as currency between the different supernatural creatures. They are the basis for, and have helped keep together, the Las Vegas Compact, functioning as bartering chips and payment for favors. The central bank of the Compact handles the forging and distribution of the black chips, which facilitates their supernatural use. In fact, unless forged, using the chips is rather difficult, and requires an effort of Willpower. Anyone finding the black pebbles (chips in their raw state) can take them to the Compact's bank and cash them in for a 10% payday based on the amount they bring in (e.g. if they brought in enough to make 10 chips, they would get 1 chip as payment).
The actual metaphysical origin of the black chips has eluded even the most dogged investigations, and it remains one of the most low-key mysteries of Las Vegas and the Mojave.
Anyone who discovered their true nature, regardless of how relatively mundane or unimpressive it might be, would surely be able to claim accolades across the area's entire supernatural community.
When used for one of their supernatural effects (listed below), the chips vaporize into a small cloud of dark smoke that dissipates in the wind. Studies done show that the black chips used in this matter reform as pebbles again after some time.
Functions
Supernatural creatures are not the only ones who can benefit from the black chips. Mortals can also use the chips' supernatural functions (except the first one listed, naturally). In the case of using the black chips as fuel, this does not replenish the character's pool, but rather replaces the expenditure. A vampire cannot 'feed' on a black chip, but they can fuel their Disciplines or heal with them. Although the unrefined "pebble" form still possess supernatural properties, they're too unstable for reliable use, and tend to just fizzle out when they aren't creating havoc.
Supernatural uses for the nigrum denarius:
- 1 = 3 points of appropriate fuel (vitae, essence, etc.);
- 1 = 1 Willpower point, useable alongside a character's own Willpower;
- 1 = 9-again on a single roll;
- 2 = 8-again on a single roll;
- 2 = re-roll a single roll, player picks which outcome counts;
- 3 = Rote for a single roll.
The mundane functions of the nigrum denarius are limited to the supernatural world, though in-the-know mortals who deal with supernaturals can still pay for services and favors with black chips — at their own risk, of course.
Mundane uses for the nigrum denarius:
- Black chips may be used to buy certain Merits that could be acquired with money (by ostensibly paying someone who takes black chips as payment, or buying money with them from someone with excess mortal wealth) at a Merit Rating x 5 chips per dot (so Resources ••• would cost 30 black chips). These Merits do not go on to benefit from Sanctity of Merits. Advantages bought this way tend to be either physical things that can be lost, or things that can be taken away (such as Resources), and are usually not traits that require monetary upkeep (such as Security or Staff). Merits and Merit types accessible in this manner include, but are not limited to:
Resources (trade for enough cash to invest the money wisely);
Safe Place (buy a place from another supernatural);
Supernatural Items (commission or lease Fetishes, Relics, Grimoires, etc.);
Library (buy mundane and advanced books and archives);
Alternate Identity (pay someone to create one for you);
Anonymity (pay someone to scrub you clean from databases, etc.).
- Chips are typically used to pay off favors from other supernatural creatures (or even internally within supernatural societies); some people don't accept black chips as payment for favors, though those people are typically frowned upon and may get the same treatment in return at the worst possible time;
- Many supernatural societies have supernatural items that they guard or keep archived, and within those societies, black chips can often be used to rent those items for specific amounts of time (depending on the item and its power).
Acquisition
Players can acquire black chips in many different ways. Black chips are used both as an IC reward/currency system across and within supernatural societies, but also as an OOC reward system for players that either go above and beyond to help the game thrive and prosper, or for players who aren't eligible for experience rewards due to the experience cap, so that they don't get screwed while others might be getting rewards.
All supernatural characters get # black chips during chargen as payment for subscribing to and promising to abide by the Vegas Compact. This includes minor templates (e.g. ghouls, wolf-blooded, acknowledged sleepwalkers, etc.). Mortal and Mortal+ characters without ties to a supernatural society must acquire their first black chip by their own means.
Black chips cannot be acquired through "chip finding" player-run-plots. Any chips or pebbles found during player-run-plots are essentially in replacement of beats that the character isn't getting because of already meeting the experience cap (1 beat = 1 black chip). Staff may award chips (typically uniformly) during plots, or as rewards for OOC reasons. Occasionally, staff may distribute game-wide awards of black chips for special occasions and to replenish those black chips vaporized for their supernatural effects.
Drawbacks
Black chips attract the attention of a lot of creatures beyond the supernatural ones that rule Las Vegas. Strix, Pandorans, Abyssal Intruders, and even ghosts, spirits, Ridden, and Hosts have been known to be attracted to them. Carrying too many black chips on one's person can be a dangerous proposition because of this. Hostile creatures are liable to attack characters who carry too many black chips around.
Origins
The true origin of the Black Chips is your mom. Duh.
