I wasn't sure if I should post it in the house-rule-section or here...

What do you think of the following card as a reward for finishing Eye for an Eye (which I relocated to the vicinity of Middenheim):

For social checks with nobility you may exhaust this card (before rolling). Then the following apply:
(add <w> if in the vicinity of Middenheim)

<boon><boon> add one <success>
<bane><bane> add one <challenge>

My idea is to have a representation of the friendship to Aschaffenberg, so I don't have to decide with every social encounter, if one knows/ likes/ hates Aschaffenberg.

Any further/ different ideas welcome!

It might be more appropriate to make this a 'condition' card, rather than a talent. A talent is more something inherent to you as a person. Your friendship with Lord A is something that you developed, but could easily lose again!

Edge of Night has a whole plotline where there are rivals to Lord R. von A., so I don't think it's appropriate.

If you play EoN just give them a free advance or two on the favour track for Lord A.'s family. Even if not, political rivalry etc. is too good to pass up so being up with one family not same as with all.

If not consider a "lord A." patronage benefit, -1 advance cost on transition to "Agent" career if for his family, free use of stabling/shelter at his estate or somesuch otherwise.

I give out a lot of writs to my patients. They are single or two-use items. They are things like letters of introduction, favors, etc. It's a nice supplement to gold.

jh

Second the writs, just remember most PC's are illiterate, they can be "Rosencrantz and Guildensterned" easily.

I actually had an illiterate PC seeking work with one noble family give a letter of recommendation from their rival because he didn't know better. Good times.

This would be great for a strange eons thing. Here is one i did up: dl.dropbox.com/u/167876/writ

jh

I do like your idea of the reputation card. Actively socketing it in is a good representation of whether you're playing up your ties to the family. If you stick with that route, I would consider it having a passive social [w] for Nobility dealings (to encourage its use); with an exhaust for [y] on a single check, and extra penalties if the check fails (Lower 1 influence for each [failure], to all social checks while it recharges, or [p] to future social interactions with that NPC.)

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I've gifted similar to the writs mentioned, though I called them recommendations.

The Player may select one career keyword. The recommendation counts as that keyword when transitioning careers.

For example, the player chooses Combat. The recommendation explains how the character showed great valor. When the character transitions careers, he (or she) may consume the writ to ignore the XP that would be spent on the Combat keyword.

It's like granting +1 XP, but is more flavorful and doesn't ramp power quite as quickly in the short term. I've found it also gives the more serial-killer-esque players more incentive to trust/help NPCs when a good word can further ease the next career transition, and gives the less-involved players more incentive to look ahead at possible career transitions. I hope that it also is encouraging my players to branch out a bit more and not feel railroaded into "obvious" career tracks.

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Patronage, introduced in one of the supplements is another good way if the players wish to continue dedicating their service to Aschaffenberg as a "quest hub," granting a few benefits.

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A third possibility to consider: granting a specialization such as Charm (Aschaffenberg), Guile (Aschaffenberg), Folklore (Aschaffenberg) or similar that applies when on the business of the family. Which skill can play up to how the individual character acted in the scenario and create a more unique reward. This reward has a rather narrow scope, so as a GM you need to go out of your way to make it apply every so often.

Thanks for all the responses!

I think I will have to mull this over some more...