Boss Status Considerations

Your Boss Status is the most important rating in the game as this directly determines your Boss Rank, and therefore also the underworld rank of all members of your Personal Organization. Boss Status is a combination of Wealth, Influence and Respect, as follows:

Wealth

This is the most important consideration in the eyes of the underworld, and your wealth will contribute the most to your Boss Status. In particular, wealth which your Boss has already taken as his personal income (ie. is no longer able to use for investment & expansion) counts far more than does any other form of wealth. For specific details see the section on 'Character Finances' within this Chapter.

Influence

The total Influence held by members of your Personal Organization with other characters in the game is capable of adding a significant bonus to your Boss Status. However, only the highest level of influence held with each character applies, so multiple members having influence with the same character is no great advantage so far as your Boss Status is concerned. The social status of the target individual is also very important, meaning that Influence held with a powerful politician or high-ranking police officer has far greater effect on Boss Status than does influence held with a minor character.

Respect

This the term used for the effects applied to your Boss Status as a result of your actions in the game against rival Bosses, and for their actions against you. For example, as a general rule you will gain Respect for damaging and killing rivals (unless of much lower Boss Rank than you, in which case you would actually lose Respect), and you lose Respect for so long as attacks against you go unavenged (ie. where you have an unresolved vendetta against a rival). The modifying effects applied to your Boss Status as a result of 'Respect' can be considerable. During the game you will be able to see a break-down of your Boss Status at any time, showing exactly how the current rating has been determined and listing all the current modifiers being applied to it.