Influence

Influence is binary --- you either have influence over someone, or you don't. If a move tells you to give Influence over you to someone who already has it, instead they get to shift your labels, one up and one down.

When someone with Influence over you tells you who you are or how the world works, accept what they say or reject their influence. If you accept what they say, the GM adjusts your Labels accordingly; if you want to keep your Labels as they are, you must reject their Influence (see move below).

Masks, page(s) 78

This move needs a certain level of drama and importance to trigger; it's not just any casual comment. If some other move is triggered, like comfort or support or provoke, go with that move instead. (page 78)

When you reject someone's Influence, roll plus nothing (though you can add +1 if you have Influence over them). On a hit, you successfully hold to yourself and tune them out. On a 10+, choose two. On a 7-9, choose one. clear a condition or mark potential by immediately acting to prove them wrong shift one Label up and one Label down, your choice cancel their Influence and take +1 forward against them On a miss, their words hit you hard. Mark a condition, and the GM adjusts your Labels.

Masks, page(s) 80

If you have Influence over someone, you take +1 to all moves towards them. This can even include assess the situation if they're the focus of your attention.

Masks, page(s) 79

When you take advantage of your Influence over someone, surrender the Influence you hold over them to choose one: give them -2 on a move they just made (after the roll) inflict a condition on them take an additional +1 on a move targeting them (after the roll)

Masks, page(s) 79

Adult NPCs have Influence over PCs by default, but they can lose it if the PCs reject their Influence. Young NPCs can gain Influence over the PCs too. When an NPC gets Influence on a PC they already have Influence on, the NPC instantly shifts up one of the PC’s Labels and shifts down another, without the PC getting to interrupt.

The GM can take influence over a PC as a GM move, generally as a result of a missed roll.

Examples

• An NPC taking Influence over a PC: Masks page 137.
• Adult NPCs telling a PC who they are or what they should be: Masks page 142.