Prestige System

“Insanity in individuals is something rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs it is the rule.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche

The Malkavian Prestige System reflects the dynamic nature of the Clan. It is not a System that grants power or hierarchy, but it is usually linked to acknowledging one’s personal idiosyncrasies and how much a Clanmate can be relied upon. Some Malkavians use Prestige as nicknames, others as a form of prank. It’s useless to claim which application is correct, though…it’s much easier to just say that Malkavian Prestige is much more than mere internal social adjectives:

• Malkavian Prestige is always somehow directly related to the bearer. Prestige can come in the form of an adjective, a phrase or even a common expression. Its meaning can be connected to a generic trait of the subject or even to an event that best displayed this trait. Creativity on this labeling is almost limitless (almost, since other Malkavians may not like it and might not support it).

• Malkavian Prestige isn’t a Clan secret, however it is not meant to be discussed around outsiders. Even when Prestige is awarded to non-Malkavians, the appellations are kept as in-house as possible. They don’t need to know we respect them, and they don’t need to know how. And while it isn’t a crime to let a non-Malkavian know that they’ve developed a reputation within the Clan, half the fun can be their attempts to learn exactly what the reputation is!

• Malkavian Prestige can’t be used as Camarilla status. A Malkavian can’t force another Malkavian to obey them simply because they hold more Prestige. On the other hand, Malkavians should never completely ignore Clan Prestige either. For example, a Malkavian with very little Camarilla standing and the Malkavian Prestige of “War Machine” could indeed provide sage military counsel in a time of need.

And most importantly:

• Malkavian Prestige must be organic. It must change if the Clan opinion changes. Of course, these changes occur more quickly when affecting individuals with lower quantities of Prestige than when affecting more broadly-regarded individuals, but the very nature of Malkavian Prestige is dynamic and mutable.

Enlightened Ones
Malkavian Enlightened Ones are essential to the internal Malkavian social order. They are the shepherds of their regional flocks, the figurehead to whom the local Clanmates look. Nearly every region of the world plays home to a Malkavian Enlightened One, and it is the Enlightened One who ultimately assumes responsibility for the granting and removal of Malkavian Prestige. This by no means implies that all other local Malkavians are less respected. Quite the contrary, in fact. The position of Enlightened One is simply that: a position. Appropriately enough, it carries with it the Prestige of “Enlightened” – a Prestige that is gained upon elevation to the title and lost when removed from the title. In North and South America, the following Enlightened One regions have long since been established: Northern Midwest, Southern Midwest, East Coast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, Canada, North/Northeast Brazil, South Brazil, Southeast Brazil and Center-West Brazil.

However, Malkavians can – with the appropriate Malkavian Time ability – use Malkavian Time on another Malkavian to discover whether their madness is reading in the pattern of the Malkavian Madness Network. This takes a series of static challenges, with difficulty based upon the subject’s mental traits. Note: this should take up to 15 minutes of in-game time to resolve. This must be used within close proximity of the subject (i.e., not be used across cities). To help understand how this works, think of the following:

Enlightened One Prerequisites:
• 3 or more Malkavian Prestige
• Support from the majority of Malkavians in his/her region

Granting Prestige
Malkavian Prestige is granted through group approval and, when necessary, by an Enlightened One:

First Prestige: Given by the Primogen or the Sire to describe the individual’s character.
Second Prestige: Requires 4 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Third Prestige: Requires 8 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Fourth Prestige: Requires 12 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Fifth Prestige: Requires 15 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval

Malkavians may grant Prestige to non-Malkavians as well, although the standards are much higher:

First Prestige: Requires 4 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Second Prestige: Requires 8 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Third Prestige: Requires 16 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Fourth Prestige: Requires 24 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval
Fifth Prestige: Requires 30 Malkavians and Enlightened One approval

Removing/Changing Prestige
It’s much easier to change or remove than to create. With that in mind, as well as the dynamic nature of Malkavian Prestige, only 4 Malkavians need to agree to change or remove Malkavian Prestige. No Elder approval is required.

Negative Prestige
It’s much easier to change or remove than to create. With that in mind, as well as the dynamic nature of Malkavian Prestige, only 4 Malkavians need to agree to change or remove Malkavian Prestige. No Enlightened One approval is required.

First Negative:

Not a big deal. Someone with little intelligence, maybe someone who needs to be enlightened. If you are looking for random target for something bad, use them! Requires the support of 4 Malkavians and the approval of one Enlightened One.

Second Negative:

They are starting to be a problem. Be sure you know how they got here. If they cross your path, don’t offer help unless it is very important for you to do so. But remember, he/she has the potential to be dangerous. Requires the support of 8 Malkavians and the approval of one Enlightened One.

Third Negative:

The "walking dead"; must be ignored as a whole by the clan. The Enlightened Ones and any other Malkavian must make sure everybody knows he/she is that hated by the Clan. If you can’t give him problems, ignore him. If you can give him problems, welcome to the club! Requires the support of 12 Malkavians and the approval of two Enlightened Ones.

Negative Prestige can be removed in the same way it’s gained.

Reporting Prestige Changes OOC
• ANY change in Prestige, from the welcoming first to the fifth, from in clan to out of clan, must be reported to the Malkavian Coord.
• ANY regional "Elder" must be approved by the Malkavian Coord.
• ANY negative prestige above the first must be approved by the Malkavian Coord.

First Negative:	Not a big deal. Someone with little intelligence, maybe someone who needs to be enlightened. If you are looking for random target for something bad, use them! Requires the support of 4 Malkavians and the approval of one Enlightened One.
Second Negative:	They are starting to be a problem. Be sure you know how they got here. If they cross your path, don’t offer help unless it is very important for you to do so. But remember, he/she has the potential to be dangerous. Requires the support of 8 Malkavians and the approval of one Enlightened One.
Third Negative:	The "walking dead"; must be ignored as a whole by the clan. The Enlightened Ones and any other Malkavian must make sure everybody knows he/she is that hated by the Clan. If you can’t give him problems, ignore him. If you can give him problems, welcome to the club! Requires the support of 12 Malkavians and the approval of two Enlightened Ones.