The following is taken from page 29 of Laws of the Night (some of the higher levels of Influence in the tables below were taken from Laws of Elysium, pages 26-29), and sums up the basic idea of Influences and how they are used:
"Influence is the mechanism by which Kindred control the daily affairs of the innumerable hordes of kine for their often inscrutable reasons. In a practical sense, Influence can make any Kindred's life easier. It can be used to protect one's haven, hunting habits or illegal activities, not to mention the power it can levy against one's foes; or fellow Kindred.
Characters may expend Influence Traits to accomplish goals relating to a specific aspect of mortal society. Many Influences, such as Street and Underworld, perform similar functions, but generally one will be more efficient at performing the task in question. Set by the Storyteller, the difficulty of a task equals the number of Traits that must be expended to accomplish the task, and can be subject to sudden change depending on circumstances. The suggested guideline listed along with each area of Influence can change dramatically between chronicles or even between sessions. After all, you may not be the only Kindred attempting to Influence something."
 An asterisk (*) next to an entry means that you do not have to expend the Traits to gain this effect; you merely have to have that many Influence Traits to gain the listed effect. You still have to say that you are trying to do whatever it is, though; it doesn't just happen automatically.

~Bureaucracy~
The organizational aspects of local, state, or even federal government fall within the character's sphere of control. She can bend and twist the tangle of rules and regulations that seem necessary to run our society as she sees fit. The character may have contacts or allies among government clerks, supervisors, utility workers, road crews, surveyors and numerous other civil servants.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1----*Trace utility bills
2-----Fake birth certificate or driver's license,
------Disconnect a small residence's utilities,
------Close a small road or park,
------Get public aid ($250).
3-----Fake a death certificate, passport or green card,
------Close a public school for a single day,
------Turn a single utility on a block on or off,
------Shut down a minor business on a violation.
4-----Initiate a phone tap,
------Fake land deeds,
------Initiate a department-wide investigation.
5-----Start, stop or alter a city-wide program or policy,
------Shut down a big business on a violation,
------Rezone areas,
------Obliterate records of a person on a city and county level.
6-----Arrange a fixed audit of a person or business.
7-----Control over state bureaucrats (legislator, judge, etc.).
8-----Utilize the resources of internal federal agencies; FBI, DEA, ATF, INS, etc.
9-----Affect foreign policy; utilize the resources of the CIA; access the Secret Service.
10----You can affect change in national legislature and judiciary; you keep the president's number in your Rolodex.

~Church~
Even churches are not without politics and intrigue upon which an opportunistic Kindred may capitalize. Church Influence usually only applies to mainstream faiths, such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and the Islamic faith. Sometimes other practices fall under the Occult Influence. Contacts and allies affected by Church Influence include: ministers, bishops, priests, activists, evangelists, witch-hunters, nuns and various church attendees and assistants.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----Identify most secular members of a given faith in the local area,
------*Pass as a member of the clergy,
------Peruse general church records (baptism, marriage, burial, etc.).
2-----Identify higher church members,
------Track regular congregation members,
------Suspend lay members.
3-----Open or close a single church,
------Dip into the collection ($250),
------Find the average church-associated hunter,
------Access to private information and archives of church.
4-----Discredit or suspend higher-level members,
------Manipulate regional branches.
5-----Organize major protests,
------Access ancient church lore.
6-----Borrow or access church relics or sacred items.
7-----Use the resources of a Diocese.
8-----You control a nationally known evangelist or organization of comparable stature.
9-----You have access to the Society of Leopold or other Church-sponsored hunter groups; you have influence in a monastic order.
10----You have sway in a major sect.

~Finance~
The world teems with the trappings of affluence and the stories of the rich and famous. Kindred with the Finance Influence speak this language of money and know where to find capital. They have a degree of access to banks, megacorporations and the truly wealthy citizens of the world. Such characters also have a wide variety of servants to draw upon, such as CEOs, bankers, corporate yes-men, financiers, bank tellers, stock brokers and loan agents.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----Earn money,
------Learn about major transactions and financial events,
------*Raise capital ($1,000),
------Learn about general economic trends,
------Learn real motivations for many finanacial actions of others.
2-----Trace an unsecured small account,
------Raise capital to purchase a small business.
3-----Purchase a large business.
4-----Manipulate local banking (delay deposits, credit alterations),
------Ruin a small business.
5-----Control an aspect of citywide banking (shut off ATMs),
------Ruin a large business,
------Purchase a major company.
6-----Spark an economic trend.
7-----You own many businesses locally, and contribute greatly to the local economy.
8-----You can affect the financial stability of other cities within 50 miles of Crucible.
9-----You have the wealth and backing of a major corporation/Fortune 500 company; you own several businesses; Wall Street jumps when you sneeze.
10----You number among the richest people in the world.

~Health~
In our modern world, a myriad of organizations and resources exists to deal with every mortal ache and ill, at least in theory. The network of health agencies, hospitals, asylums and medical groups is subject to exploitation by a Kindred with Health Influence. Nurses, doctors, specialists, lab workers, therapists, counselors and pharmacists are just a few of the workers within the health field.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----*Access a person's health records,
------Use public functions of health centers at your leisure,
------Fake vaccination records and the like,
------Get a blood trait.
2-----Access to some medical research records,
------Have minor lab work done,
------Get a copy of coroner's report.
3-----Instigate minor quarantines,
------Corrupt results of tests or inspections,
------Alter medical records.
4-----Acquire a body,
------Completely rewrite medical records.
------Abuse grants for personal use ($250),
------Institute large scale quarantines,
------Shut down businesses for "health code violations".
5-----Have special research projects performed,
------Have people institutionalized or released.
6-----You control an outpatient clinic/blood bank.
7-----You control a major metropolitan hospital.
8-----Access and manipulate most all local goings-on in the medical community.
9-----Obtain national funding, drug research and cutting-edge medical information.
10----Discuss matters with the Surgeon General; influence in the World Health Organization.

~High Society~
An elite clique of mortals exists that, by virtue of birth, possessions, talent or quirks of fate, hold themselves above the great unwashed masses. High Society allows the character to direct and use the energies and actions of this exceptional mass of mortals. Among their ranks, one can find dilettantes, the old rich, movie and rock stars, artists of all sorts, wannabes, fashion models and trendsetters.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----*Learn what is trendy,
------*Learn about concerts, shows or plays well before the public,
------Obtain hard-to-get tickets for shows.
2-----Track most celebrities and luminaries,
------Be a local voice in the entertainment field,
------"Borrow" $1,000 as idle cash from rich friends.
3-----Crush promising careers,
------*Hobnob well above your station.
4-----Minor celebrity status.
5-----Appear on a talk show that's not about to be canceled,
------Ruin a new club, gallery, festival or other high society gathering.
6-----Major local celebrity status.
7-----The local social scene is completely malleable to your whims.
8-----National celebrity status... you often get calls from major talk shows.
9-----You're on guest lists across the country; part of the social scene in several cities.
10----International celebrity status.

~Industry~
The dark world of the Gothic-Punk milieu is built by pumping and grinding machinery and the toil of endless laborers. A character with the Industry Influence has her ashen fingers in this pie. Industry is composed of union workers, foremen, engineers, contractors, construction workers and manual laborers.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----*Learn about industrial projects and movements.
2-----Have minor projects performed,
------Arrange small "accidents".
------Dip into union funds or embezzle petty cash ($500)
3-----Organize minor strikes,
------Appropriate machinery for a short time.
4-----Close down a small plant,
------Revitalize a small plant.
5-----Manipulate large local industry.
6-----Cut off production of a single resource in a small region.
7-----Organize major strikes.
8-----Control at least one national union.
9-----Arrange major "accidents," such as chemical leaks and factory fires; orchestrate a large-scale walk-out or factory recall.
10----Oil spills, chemical accidents, factory shutdowns... all in a night's work.

~Legal~
The Kindred presence is even present in the hallowed halls of justice and the courts, law schools, law firms and justice bureaus within them. Inhabiting these halls are lawyers, judges, bailiffs, clerks, DAs and attorneys.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----Get free representation for small cases.
2-----Avoid bail for some charges,
------Have minor charges dropped.
3-----Manipulate legal procedures (small wills, minor contracts, court dates).
------Access public or court funds ($250),
------Get good representation.
4-----Issue subpoenas,
------Tie up court cases,
------Have most legal charges dropped,
------Cancel or arrange parole.
5-----Close down all but the most serious investigations,
------Have deportation proceedings held against someone.
6-----Control a city or circuit judge; can circumvent city court system.
7-----Control a law firm; can circumvent state court system.
8-----Oversee the parole board; arrange a governor's pardon; speed up a scheduled execution; can circumvent circuit court or federal court; may have sealed records opened.
9-----Can have cases presented in the Supreme Court; access to federal court documents.
10----You can arrange a presidential pardon.

~Media~
The media serves as the eyes and ears of the world. While few in this day and age doubt that the news is not corrupted, many would be surprised at who closes these eyes and covers those ears from time to time. The media entity is composed of station directions, editors, reporters, anchors, camerapeople, photographers and radio personalities.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----*Learn about breaking stories early,
------Submit small articles (within reason).
2-----Suppress (but not stop) small articles or reports,
------Get hold of investigative reporting information.
3-----Initiate news investigations and reports,
------Get project funding and waste it ($250),
------Access media production resources,
------Ground stories and projects.
4-----Broadcast fake stories (local only).
5-----Kill small local articles or reports completely.
6-----Broadcast fake stories (regionally).
7-----Control a major metropolitan newspaper; have an editorial position.
8-----Carry a White House press pass.
9-----Manipulate the content of a nationally read magazine.
10----Broadcast fake stories (nationally); Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner and you.

~Occult~
Most people are curious about the supernatural world and the various groups and beliefs that make up the occult world, but few consider it anything but a hoax, a diversion or a curiosity. They could not be farther from the truth. This Influence, more than any other, hits the Kindred close to home and could very well bring humanity to its senses about just who and what shares this world with them. Among the occult community are cult leaders, alternative religious groups, charlatans, would-be occultists and New Agers.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----Contact and use common occult groups, practices,
------*Know some of the more visible occult figures.
2-----*Know and contact some of the more obscure occult figures,
------Access resources for most rituals and rites.
3-----Knows the general vicintity of certain supernatural entities and possibly contact them,
------Can access vital or very rare material components,
------Milk impressionable wannabes for bucks ($250),
------Access occult tomes and writings (part of an alleged Book of Nod),
------Research a basic ritual.
4-----Research an intermediate ritual.
5-----Access minor magic items,
------Unearth an advanced ritual.
6-----Research a new or unheard of ritual or rite from tomes or mentors.
7-----Research Basic Ritual from other sect.
8-----Research Intermediate Ritual from other sect; access a partial copy of The Book Of Nod.
9-----Research Advanced Ritual from other sect.
10----Access a near-complete version of The Book of Nod.

~Police~
"To protect and serve" is a popular motto among the chosen enforcers of the law. But these days, even those ignorant of Kindred have reason to doubt the law's ability to enact justice. Perhaps they should wonder whom the law defends, whom it serves and why. The Police Influence encompasses the likes of beat cops, desk jockeys, prison guards, special divisions (such as SWAT, homicide, and gang task force), detectives and various clerical positions.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----*Learn police procedures,
------Police information and rumors,
------Avoid traffic tickets.
2-----Have a license checked,
------Avoid minor violations,
------Get "inside information".
3-----Find bureau secrets,
------Get copies of an investigation report,
------Have police hassle, detain or harass someone.
4-----Access confiscated weapons and contraband,
------Start an investigation,
------Get money, either from evidence room or as an appropriation ($1000),
------Have some serious charges dropped.
5-----Institute major investigations,
------Arrange setups,
------Instigate bureau investigations,
------Have officers fired.
6-----Paralyze departments for a time,
------Close down an investigation.
7-----Instigate SWAT raids.
8-----Get people extradited.
9-----Have police chiefs replaced.
10----Complete control of the city police.

~Political~
It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If this is so, the movers and shakers among the Kindred should be quite taken by the artful and cut-throat antics of their mortal counterparts in the field of politics. Some of these individuals include statesmen, pollsters, activists, party members, lobbyists, candidates and the politicians themselves.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1-----Minor lobbying,
-----*Identify real platforms of politicians and parties,
-----*Be in the know.
2-----Meet small time politicians,
------Have a forewarning of processes and laws,
------Use a slush fund or fund raiser ($1000).
3-----Sway or alter political projects (local parks, renovations).
4-----Enact minor legislation,
------Dash careers of minor politicians.
5-----Get your candidate in a minor office,
------Enact amore encompassing legislature.
6-----Block the passage of major bills,
------Suspend major laws temporarily,
------Use state bureaus or subcommittees.
7-----Usurp countywide politics,
------Subvert, to a moderate degree, statewide powers.
8-----Call out a local division of the National Guard,
------Declare a state of emergency in a region.
9-----Get your candidate in a major office;
------ control Senate subcommittees.
10----You have people inside the Oval Office or the UN;
------ Influence diplomatic relations;
------ Can acquire diplomatic immunity.

~Street~
Disenchanted, disenfranchised and ignored by their "betters", an undercurrent of humanity has made its own culture and lifestyle to deal with the harsh lot life has dealt them. In the dark alleys and slums reside gang members, the homeless, street performers, petty criminals, prostitutes and the forgotten.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1----*Have an ear open for the word on the street,
-----*Identify most gangs and know their turfs and habits.
2----*Live mostly without fear on the underside of society,
------Keep a contact or two in most aspects of street life,
------Access small time contraband.
3-----Often get insight on other areas of Influence,
------Arrange some services from street people and gangs,
------Get pistols or uncommon melee weapons.
4-----Mobilize groups of homeless,
------Panhandle ($250),
------Can have a word in almost all aspects of gang operations,
------Get hold of a shotgun, rifle or submachine gun.
5-----Control a single medium-sized gang.
6-----Access large quantities of contraband.
7-----Acquire automatic weapons.
8-----Control all gang activity in the city.
9-----Nothing happens on the street with out you knowing about it.
10----You drew up the blueprints for the L.A. riots.

~Transportation~
The world is in constant motion, its prosperity relying heavily on the fact that people and productions fly, float or roll to and from every corner of the planet. Without the means to perform this monumental task, our "small" world quickly returns to a daunting orb with large, isolated stretches. The forces that keep this circulation in motion include cab and bus drivers, pilots, air traffic controllers, travel firms, sea captains, conductors, border guards and untold others.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1----*A wizard at what goes where, when and why,
-----*Can travel locally quickly and freely.
2-----Can track an unwary target if they use public transportation,
------Arrange passage safe from mundane threats (sunlight, etc.).
3-----Seriously hamper an individual's ability to travel,
------Avoid most supernatural dangers when traveling.
4-----Temporarily shut down one form of mass transit,
------Route money your way ($500).
5-----Reroute major modes of travel,
------Smuggle with impunity.
6-----Extend control to nearby areas.
7-----Isolate small or remote regions for a short period.
8-----Can travel nationally without problems.
9-----Shut down major airlines or cause serious delays for other travelers.
10----Travel internationally with almost no degre of risk.

~Underworld~
Even in the most cosmopolitan of ages, society has found certain needs and services too questionable to accept, and in every age, some organized effort has stepped in to provide for this demand regardless of the risks. Among this often ruthless and dangerous crowd are the likes of hitmen, Mafia, Yakuza, bookies, fencers of stolen goods and money launderers.
 [Boy1b by Mike Birkes] Cost______Desired Effect
1-----Locate minor contraband (knives, small-time drugs, etc.)
2-----Obtain pistols, serious drugs, stolen cars, etc.,
------Hire muscle to rough someone up,
------Fence minor loot,
------Prove that crime pays (and score $1000).
3-----Obtain a rifle, shotgun or submachine gun,
------Arrange a minor robbery.
4-----White-collar crime connections.
5-----Arrange gangland assassinations,
------Hire a hitman or firebug,
------Supply local drug needs.
6-----Control local Mafia family.
7-----Control a major money laundering operation(3,000),
------Drug cartel, or pornography empire.
8-----Have a word in most crime syndicates across the country.
9-----Arrange high-level political assassinations.
10----Some international terrorists are under your control.

~University~
In an age where the quest for learning and knowledge begins in schools, colleges and universities, information becomes currency. University Influence represents a certain degree of control and perhaps involvement in these institutions. Within this sphere of Influence, one will find the teachers, professors, deans, students of all ages and levels, Greek orders, and many young and impressionable minds.
 Cost______Desired Effect
1----*Know layout and policy of local schools,
------Access to low level university resources,
------Get records up to the high school level.
2-----Know a contact or two with useful knowledge or skills,
------Minor access to facilities,
------Fake high school records,
------Obtain college records.
3-----Faculty favors,
------Cancel a class,
------Fix grades,
------Discredit a student.
4-----Organize student protests and rallies,
------Discredit faculty members,
------Acquire money through a grant ($1000)
5-----Falsify an undergraduate degree.
6-----Arrange major projects,
------Alter curriculum intitution-wide,
------Free run of fascilities.
7-----Falsify a post-graduate degree.
8-----Have faculty fired; assure tenure.
9-----Close down school districts;
------Affect curriculum statewide.
10----Complete control of curriculum, faculty and all records;
------Falsify doctorate; seat on the Board of Regents.

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