Dual Covenship Query

Kindred Status section in Blood and Smoke (pg. 113) states:

"Within Kindred society, there exist three types of Status: City, Clan, and Covenant. Each functions as the Status Merit on p. 123, within its purview. City Status allows its advantages within the scope of the assigned city. Clan Status only functions within its designated clan, and Covenant Status similarly within the chosen covenant.

City Status reflects a vampire’s sway in the city, whether official or unofficial. There’s no specific dot rating tied to a given position. For instance, a Prince may have three dots of City Status, if the city doesn’t respect his authority as much as the Sheriff with five dots.

Clan Status reflects notoriety and recognition within the clan. Typically, a character with high Clan Status is iconic within the clan. A character with five dots of Ventrue Status is whom most Kindred think of when they speak of the clan Ventrue. Kindred recognize a low-Status character as a frequent collaborator within clan circles.
A character may not gain Status in a clan to which she does not belong.

Covenant Status is generally tied to positions and direct authority within covenant structure. A character with five dots of Covenant Status is a regional leader within the covenant, a character with one dot has minor responsibilities to their organization of choice. Additionally, each covenant has available Merits that scale depending on Covenant Status dots.

A character could theoretically gain Status within multiple covenants. Most of the covenants will allow members to dabble in other organizations, so long as they don’t share secrets. The Ordo Dracul, for example, will not stop a member from attending Sanctified mass. But the moment she shares her knowledge of the Coils, she’ll find her Requiem cut abruptly short. Her combined dots in one type of Status (City, Clan, or Covenant) cannot exceed five, and she may never have as many dots in her affiliated group as she does to the group to which she belongs."

According to the books, you may have 5 dots of status in City status, 5 dots in Clan status, and 5 dots of status in Covenant.

City status and Clan status are no brainers, as you do not split these among groups. There is only 1 City Praxis. You have only 1 Clan.

The question matters to those who belong to more than one covenant (aka. dual covenants). I think we should go by the books: 5 dots total in Covenant, in whatever form this takes. 4 max in the primary and 1 in the secondary covenant, or 3 status in the primary and 2 in the secondary... etc.

A character who shares between two covenants should NEVER have status 5 in one covenant, because that person should have to prove ICly they can be trusted among their covenant. If you're trying to juggle two covenants, it's tough. There's always the suspicion that you are working primarily for the other covenant; not as dedicated. That said, Status 4 should be do-able for a player to achieve. Remember, this isn't a merit that is simply bought, but it has to be earned ICly through the clan voting you into that position. If you want 5 dots in a covenant, then go single covenant.

The "problem" is that the current house rule states:

"Houserule: Status in the first covenant is maxed at 3. Clan and City are not calculated in the combined dots. The total combined dots of both Covenants may not exceed 5. The highest of the two covenant status will be used to calculate city status." (see +help dual on the game)

Thus, someone who is dual covenant is being restricted in how they spend their 5 points of covenant status.

The point that Clan and City are not calculated in the combined dots is irrelevant, and should be removed from the House rule. I think that was added as a clarification of the book rules.


But as Gregory pointed out:
"What ... is the point of even imposing restrictions on [how a PC spends their 5 covenant dots]? The covenant must vote on allowing -any- status increase at all, and thus it's a self correcting problem. If the covenant doesn't like that the person is dual covenant, they won't vote the person up."

Ovidio, is this: "Personally, I feel the status of a dual-cov should reflect their status in the other covenants and the distrust therein. If Someone's a Crone2/Ordo3 dual-cov, then they should only get a +1 from their Ordo status with other Ordo and a -1 from Crone when dealing with internal affairs." +1 and -1 dice to any internal rolls? I am not following how this applies to the current question at hand. The current issue is: how is a dual covenant PC allowed to spend their 5 covenant dots?