Power Games

...or "How to Gain and Maintain Respect"

"You want some respect? Go out there and get it for yourself."  -Don Draper, 'Mad Men'

All too often I hear people complaining that their characters that are high Status, or who are in positions that should command respect, simply aren't given the respect they should be afforded. As respect is earned, and not given freely, the only person responsible for a character not having respect is the person who is playing them. All too often the person that wishes for respect is the same person that shows up to game wearing the same clothes they sit around the house in, doesn't understand the rules or setting, and is busy talking Out-of-Character (OOC) most of the game. The characters of such players don't garner respect, nor do people have any particular fear of eliminating their characters, as they are seen as little more than an inconvenience.

This post contains a number of ways to sharpen your character, making them an individual to be looked up to, admired, and as a valuable individual in a chronicle. This information is merely a small fraction of tips and methods for attaining respect, culminated from a number of sources, including famous authors, speech-writers, and psychologists.

Only you can make your character important and respected, through their active portrayal. No amount of background, or well-written material can be used as a replacement for how your character is viewed when you enter a live action game.

Dressing the Part

"Clothes make the man." - Mark Twain

There is a world of difference between the stoic character wearing a suit and tie and the gamer wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sandals; the first commands respect, while the second means that he isn't fully committed and would rather be lounging. Cheeto stains and a neckbeard do not command respect from people, nor does informing everyone that your PC happens to be wearing an impeccably tailored suit, while you are wearing khaki shorts and Crocs.

Similarly, a thug in armor, while may look interesting, doesn't quite command the respect of someone wearing utilitarian clothing. The armor makes you look like you're in a costume, while a motorcycle jacket and boots makes you look prepared for action. There's a line between what looks cool at a boffer larp, and what works well for a grim modern-day setting.

If you're unsure of what to wear for a character, leaf through a fashion magazine at a local convenience store, get an idea of what your character would wear. Understandably, gamers are often on a budget, however, the amount of thrift stores in existence means that you don't have to spend a fortune on a costume that accurately reflects the character. Your character might wear Armani or something from McQueen's Spring collection, however, you don't need to spend a fortune to look good enough to gain respect.

Regardless of the Fourth Wall, appearance is something that weighs heavily in people's minds, regardless of whether they admit it or not. Showing to a game looking good makes a good impression, and commands respect and attention. Who can respect someone that doesn't appear to have self-respect?

Acting the Part

"Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much."  - John Wayne

Your words should be clear, well enunciated and spoken slow enough for people to hear. Speak from the stomach, making sure that you are well heard and received. Humans are like all other animals, and react to loud noises.

When you speak, use absolutes, don't give people the ability to misinterpret what you state. Even though gamers are generally better educated individuals, small words are easier to comprehend, and less likely to be misinterpreted. When you do use a big word, restate your previous sentence with smaller words to ensure there is no miscommunication. Don't waffle about on topics. Make sure your views and desires are effectively conveyed and don't change your mind in mid-speech. Don't use words that convey that your mind is still processing, such as "uh" and "um", and only speak when you have something to state, not simply to fill the silent parts in a conversation.

Give pause and breathe in between sentences. This not only makes people hang on your words, but also gives them a short time to digest and process what you just said. Don't give too much of a pause, as people will think that your statement is done, and will begin their response.

Body language is also a large part in commanding respect. Proper posture with shoulders back and head high garners more respect than someone with hunched shoulders and stares at the floor when speaking. Practice your body language in a mirror, and see what works for you and what appears silly when viewed by others. Body language is as important punctuation about your statements as the content of your words. Avoid making silly gestures. These only serve to make people familiar and comfortable in your presence while you are in-character, which means they take you less seriously.

Read a book or two about speeches and body language. Watch speeches from such historic and charismatic leaders as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Adolf Hitler. Massive numbers of papers have been written about the effectiveness of their public speaking.

Knowledge is Power

Never volunteer information if you can avoid it. Many people are all too willing to converse about various aspects of their own personal agendas, which gives everyone insight to what they are doing, and how to thwart them. Don't give anyone pertinent information to your schemes or manipulations unless absolutely necessary.

One method to prevent from divulging such information is to write a small list of a half-dozen subjects that are conversation filler. Talk about local news articles and current events that you are uninvolved in, but seem interesting. Instead of giving a declarative statement, ask questions in a manner that almost makes you appear to have a stance on a subject, and let your conversation partner(s) debate and attempt to inform you. Let people talk about themselves, everyone is a narcissist at heart, and willing to give you ammo for you to use later.

Never appear surprised at a piece of information given. Quirk an eyebrow, give a sly grin, or say something along the lines of how such information is interesting. Doing so makes people believe that you know more than you actually do.

Be on Top of the Game

Learn the rules. You don't need to be a rules lawyer, but knowing and understanding the rules and how they relate to your character goes quite a distance. You're much more likely to garner respect when you are able to quickly locate things on your character sheet, or show your capability in using the abilities inherent to your character.

One method to assist in this aspect is the creation of a "supplementary sheet", an additional sheet attached to your character that has a list of the pools that you are likely to use, as well as a summary of your Disciplines and Merits and what they do. Writing the sheet also gives you insight into your character's strengths and what they should improve upon.

Always appear to have something going on behind the scenes, something that makes you busy, even if you don't. This makes people respect you, as they fear the unknown, and they want to get close to you to find out what nefarious plot you have brewing.

Make them Wait

When in a position of importance, you can take your time. However, there is a downside to taking too long to arrive at a gathering, in that if people wait too long, they may begin to move forward without you.

Showing up to a game an hour late, as long as you arrive fully prepared not only implies that you had more important business elsewhere, but also stymies the rare assassination attempt from a party of assailants (also termed as a 'boot squad'). If the assailants are forced to wait for an hour or two before getting their plans in motion, several of their key members may decide to abdicate their plans to go get involved in something else, thus possibly causing them to be less than effective in their attempt.

Arriving late to a personal request for your presence is a double edged sword. If you have judged incorrectly about the temperament and importance of the person requesting your presence, you run the risk of their punishment. However, if used on a person that is incapable or unwilling of bringing their ire down upon you , you have removed some of their power.

Can the OOC Chatter

Nothing makes you lose character quicker than OOC chatter, even your body posture will change, showing that you're less of a threat, and thus erode the foundation of respect that you've managed to construct. You can relax and act friendly during afters, or social events, and reiterate to people that you are not your character.

The less people that break down into OOC chatter and conversation means the more people actively pushing the game along. Avoid the temptation, and maintain character, because once character is broken, you have to overcome inertia to jump back in.