I've said this in the last thread talking about Inf-Money, so I might as well just copy-paste it.
The Inf!=Money argument isn't perfect, but that IS what was said by the Devs. The only way things really fit together for me, RP wise, is that our ID card is a piece of high tech equipment rather than just a plastic card. Your ID can be changed at any time and gets updated on the spot when your Security Level grows and you gain new powers (ever tried to get your Drivers License updated when you move? Yeah, that can take time).
I've RPed that the card itself is a miniature tracking device that records your actions as you do them. This is the only way that you can gain Inf when you're doing things that are supposed to remain a secret, like missions with Crimson, Indigo, etc. The card itself gets the scan "Powers used. Combatant Defeated. Relative Power Level: +1 Minion. Credit X Inf to account" which is then used for your expenses.
The Influence/Infamy has to be a definable amount when you consider the City Hall has set up an entire system to support its Heroes. In the extra info in the back of the old Blue King comic mentioned that the city used your Influence to pay for your rent, food, and such so Heroes don't need to struggle with a 9-5 Job and Heroing around it (and the Comic is canon; War Witch/Apex's Apartment, the comics Storyarcs being playable, Cyrus' Statue all help argue that they are, making the extra info/stories much like Star Wars' Expanded Universe Canon).
This would mean that Inf is a tangible currency of some kind, and the only thing you keep with you at all times is your ID Card. This would help explain that the card itself doubles as a kind of Debit Card for use in exchange for goods and services. This makes Inf less of an abstract, but also helps fill the gaps left by the abstract.
Also, in Issue 9 of the Blue King run.
"Knowledge is Power: By Paula Taylor
As a valiant defender of Paragon City, your life is safeguarded by Paragon City Medical Network. PaCMeN's high costs are covered by grants and donations by grateful citizens, but your remaining share is covered up-front by the city, through the Influential Offsets for the Unpaid.
The IOU program is Paragon City's way of recompensing heroes who sacrifice steady jobs on the altar of eternal vigilance. In return for securing our safety, we do our best to secur your finances. The more you do to safeguard the city, the more influence your name carries - influence the IOU can use to offset the costs of the training and services you require.
So please, when you see the red ink in your progress statement, don't see it as debt, but as an opportunity to help us help you. Give the city the service it's due, and let the IOU work for you.
This has been a Heroic Services Announcement by SERVE: Support, Education and Resources for Vigilante Excellence"
Sure, this is a little silly with the mention of 'Pacmen', but it sets the precedent that our Influence is a tangible currency. It's up to the player to accept it or not, since it's in the comic and while the comic is canon, it's, as I said, "Expanded Universe" canon so it's open for interpretation/debate.
I sit in my zen of not being able to do anything right while simultaniously not being able to do anything wrong. Om. -CuppaJo
It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.
[ QUOTE ]
My friend and I had a long discussion about influence. Here's how I undersand it based on our conversation.
Influence is not money. It's how well known you are and how willing people are to give you things... for free.
Imagine you're actually a superhero and you live in a world where people could help you fight crime by giving you things. You don't walk into a store to BUY gadget DOs. They actually give them to you. For instance, Bill owns the shop and last week you saved his friend from Hellions. He has a business to run and can't give you too much for free. He also has thousands of other heroes coming and going. But you've done him a service, and he's read about you in the newspaper, so you're worth a few free gadgets.
Word of mouth travels fast in CoH, which is why passing NPCs always talk about your exploits. It takes no time at all before people know you got some free stuff. They know you're awesome, but you've already been given things, so you don't need more stuff right now. At least, until you save that shopkeeper's uncle next week. A typical conversation when you're low on influence may sound like "Listen man, I know you're Superman, but I have a family to feed. I gave you all I can spare, but I'm hanging on to some things for Ultradude who destroyed that giant monster yesterday." After you do a big deed, people want to help out.
Why do you get no influence from fighting grays? Because, honestly, the city expects more of you. If you're Superman, they want you to be saving the world from metorites and cosmic death rays, not muggers on the street. There are thousands of heroes in the city who can do that. Get back to work. The exception here is that if you're exemped, you DO get influence. The reasoning here is that you're helping another individual (exemped to a person) or a group of people (task force) using your knowledge and expertise. Superman teaches a new hero how to save the world. There's influence to be had there.
You go to the market. People are still trading things for "free" there. You meet another superhero who invented an awesome invention, and is willing to give it to you. It's SO incredibly awesome and powerful that the city doesn't feel the need to help you out for quite some time, because you're ahead of the game and there are other heroes they need to tend to. As for the inventor who created the awesome gadget, the city says "Wow, that guy totally invented something that helped out SUPERMAN!" and now they're willing to help YOU out.
You find a lowbie friend, and vouch for him. Your influence is now his. Word spreads around town that Superman is supporting and promoting Sidekick Lad. Anyone who wanted to help out Superman should focus their efforts on the new, upcoming hero that Superman is endorsing instead.
[/ QUOTE ]
I knew it! This is the proof. Supers are all on Public Assistance.
Superman is on Welfare! 
Ninus Lvl 50 Bots/Dark/SM Mastermind Badges: 1384 @Ninus on Global
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I'm not Tony Stark, Batman, the Fantastic Four, or the Punisher. This is not Marvel or DC universe. This is Paragon City, where heroes are not vigilantes working outside the law but licensed, government subsidized arms of law enforcement.
Parasitic heroes? He, let 'em go on strike for a day to leave the citizens to the mercies of Arachnos, CoT, Council, and so on and see how "parasitic" they really are.
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