I’m currently in the middle of cropping down my list of Acquaintances in order to free up Influence. This isn’t the first time I’ve done this, and doubtless won’t be the last, but it does feel odd that as a Paramount Presence I’m limited to the same total amount of Influence that I could achieve as a person of no importance whatsoever.
The biggest costs for Influence are having and being a patron. Proteges cost 7 points each (plus an additional 1 to be an Acquaintance), and Patrons cost that or more. It’s been a long time since I needed Patronage, but I don’t want to abandon my patron - she was nice to me and we still exchange cards at Christmas, it would feel very rude! Likewise there are a couple of proteges that don’t need my help anymore, but whom I’m on good terms with and it would feel rude to kick them out, too. As I continue to play and take new proteges, I anticipate that the number of proteges who don’t need Free Evenings but whom I don’t want to get rid of is going to increase.
As far as I’m aware, the only thing Influence is used for is that having a high amount can be used to meet one of the Paramount Presence requirements. If the Influence cap could be increased for Paramount Presences, I think that would cover most long-term players who are in similar situations to mine. And it would make sense, too, from an in-game perspective. If I can be a Patron of Patrons, then surely I should have an Influence cap high enough to keep those proteges.
Edit: to clarify the Patron/Protege cost. If Proteges/Patrons cost less Influence per, that would have roughly the same effect as increasing the cap (allowing keeping those relationships even after the Protege is no longer in need of them).
edited by Dalencienn on 10/6/2018