Abilities

Reference Lists
Archetypes	Attributes	Abilities	Backgrounds
Flaws	Merits	Misc	Powers

Abilities
Primary Talents	Primary Skills	Primary Knowledges
Secondary Talents	Secondary Skills	Secondary Knowledges

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some topics that are routinely brought up. If you question is not answered here, please open a +request.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some abilities listed are restricted. If you are unsure if your PC is eligible for it, ask staff.

What's the number scale for abilities?

Abilities
	Novice. For academic subjects, think 'high school' (and you actually remember it).
	Practiced. Think 'bachelor's degree'.
	Competent. Think 'master's degree'. You could probably build a decent career around this if you wanted.
	Expert. Think 'doctorate'.
	Master. Only a handful of mortals in the entire world reach this level.

Most dice pools consist of an attribute (also 0 to 5) plus an ability. For instance, in a foot race, Alice (Dexterity 4 Athletics 1 = total 5) and Bob (Dexterity 2 Athletics 3 = total 5) will be about even, but Charlie (Dexterity 4 Athletics 3 = total 7) will probably beat them both.

Lack of ability

What if I need to roll an ability that I don't have?

• Treat the ability as zero.
• Talents: No difficulty penalty. (VtM 120 et al)
• Skills: +1 difficulty. (VtM 123 et al)
• Knowledge: Auto-fail unless the ST decides otherwise. (VtM 126 et al)
• This includes supernatural powers using the ability in a dice pool, unless the power says otherwise.
• Exception: For supernatural perception (e.g. Awareness, Kenning), if you don't have it, then you auto-fail.

What are secondary abilities?

• More specialized than primary abilities.
• Typical base difficulty for all rolls is 6.
  • If a roll is stated in terms of a primary ability, then a relevant secondary ability can be substituted at -1 difficulty.
  • If a roll is stated in terms of a secondary ability, then a relevant primary ability can be substituted at +1 difficulty.
  • If a substitution is explicitly mentioned, then it's reiterating these clauses, not stacking with them.
  • Substitutions should be evaluated on a conceptual basis. There is some overlap. There is no centralized list of "the one and only primary ability that includes each secondary ability".
  • Substitutions for supernatural powers (with an ability in the dice pool) is not automatically allowed, in either direction, however the ST may choose to allow it.
• During character generation, a dot in a secondary ability costs half as much as a dot in a primary ability.
  • You can spend one of your baseline points on two dots in secondaries instead of one dot in primaries.
  • You can buy additional secondary dots for 1 freebie each.
  • Your baseline still can't raise secondaries above 3 (that requires freebies).
• After character generation, buying/raising a secondary ability costs the same amount of XP as a primary at the same level.
• This is loosely based on Players Guide to Garou page 177 (but the chargen costs are higher).

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Primary Talents

Alertness Brawl Empathy Kenning Shentao

Athletics Do Expression Leadership Streetwise

Awareness Dodge Intimidation Primal Urge Subterfuge

Details

Alertness Details This talent indicates your character's (small-a) awareness of the world around her. She is practiced in keeping one ear to the wind and one eye to the sky, even when distracted with other things. Alertness is a measure of how well your character picks up on subtle details and changes in her environment. This Talent is typically paired with Perception, and is best used when sensing physical stimuli (as opposed to moods or clues). Accounting Novice: You're no mindless drone. Practiced: Habitual eavesdropper. Competent: You keep a sharp eye on your surroundings. Expert: Whether from paranoia or good sense you are rarely caught off guard. Master: Your senses are on par with those of a wild animal. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 120 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 111 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 106 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 132 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 162 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 140 Athletics Details Athletics is aptitude for physical exertion, be it during relatively formal sports or simply in the course of active life. Climbing rocky cliffs, leaping chasms or playing brilliant games of badminton are all Athletics-based feats. This ability describes your character's general athletic prowess in both team and individual sports. It assumes a familiarity with the rules and play of the sport in question. Athletic feats that are directly related to combat are covered by Brawl, Dodge, Melee, and the other combat abilities, except in the case of thrown weapons. These require Athletics. Athletics Novice: You lead a moderately active existence. Practiced: You can compete effectively in local sporting competitions. Competent: You can support yourself, at least in large measure, with the prizes you win in challenges of physical excellence. Expert: Stories of your prowess circulate widely. Master: Your reputation precedes you, and would-be rivals feel awe at your ability. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 120 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 111 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 106 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 133 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 162 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 141 Awareness Details Similar to Alertness, but for supernatural things not obvious to normal senses. See House Rules/Awareness. Awareness Novice:You pick up strange vibes from certain places and people sometimes. Practiced:You know the supernatural when you see it or come in close contact with it. Competent: You can sense the flow of hidden forces through the world, peering behind the veil of mundane life. Expert: You pick up on subtle and hidden supernatural forces all around you. Master:You can sense a supernatural influence anywhere nearby, and you sometimes pick up on more distant forces, if they’re strong enough. References: WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 106 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 133 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 141 Brawl Details Brawling is the ability to fight without a weapon, including basic hand-to-hand maneuvers such as punching, kicking, grappling, throwing, scratching and biting. Brawling can get quite ruthless and sometimes inflicts serious damage if done properly. Brawl Novice: You don't immediately fold in the face of a fight. Practiced: You've had your share of tussels with neighbors and other local brawlers. Competent: You fight with confidence and competence, and you can count on winning or at least coming through a fight and remaining standing. Expert: You can take on most opponents and expect to win. Master: You do as much with your fists as many soldiers and knights do with their weapons. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 120 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 111 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 107 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 133 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 162 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 141 Do Details The Do skill represents a character’s all-around dedication to Akashic training methods, with an emphasis on the Dharmamukti, or unarmed combat arts. Do is the “secret art” whose many names are whispered of in martial arts legends, the progenitor of more modern forms and the most efficient, effective style of unarmed combat in existence. As a vital part of the Akashic paradigm, it serves as the focus for much of the Brotherhood’s magic. So much so that the magical and mundane aspects of the art are considered inseparable. Other Abilities must be purchased to learn it, and it is restricted to Akashic Brothers and very close allies. For more information, see WW4657 Tradition Book Akashic Brotherhood (Revised Edition) 61 and Advanced Combat Do Novice: Sometimes, the right movements come naturally, but usually you just respond by reflex. Practiced: Your mind and body work efficiently together, but remain separated by a lack of understanding. Competent: You can call yourself a Tao-shih without your master raising an eyebrow in amusement. Expert: Reflex and perception are one. Junior Akashics call you Sihing. Master: You never plan your movements in advance, or use a particular technique. You are movement and technique, and your actions flow with the Wheel. Possessed by: Akashic Brothers References: WW4657 Tradition Book Akashic Brotherhood (Revised Edition) 58 WW4657 Tradition Book Akashic Brotherhood (Revised Edition) 61 Dodge Details Whether your character dives for cover, ducks a punch or sidesteps an arrow, he knows the best way to avoid injury is not getting hit. Dodge simply describes your character's ability to get out of the way of any oncoming attacks. Dodge is the ability to get out of harm's way, whether in combat or in the face of other sorts of danger. It encompasses the use of cover and agile maneuvering, and it comes from the systematic training of a knight or the tough-and-ready experience and instincts of a thief or brawler. Dodges plays a crucial role in survival of any character who fights often, greatly increasing his chances of escaping damage. Dodge Novice: You reflexively avoid most minor sources of injury and show a measure of grace in your movements. Practiced: You're hard to hurt unless someone or something catches you by surprise. Competent: It takes serious effort for an opponent to hit you, you get out of the way of most thrown objects as well as immediate dangers. Expert: Only skilled warriors can expect to hurt you very much. Master: Wherever a threat is, you're almost inevitable somewhere else. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 120 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 111 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 108 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 133 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 142 Empathy Details Empathy is the ability to pinpoint what others are feeling. Through awareness of their facial expressions, body language and tone, your character gains a sense of the other person's general attitude, including her emotional state and her motives. With high levels of this trait, your character can sometimes tell whether someone is lying or not. Successful use of this talent prior to attempting to persuade, intimidate or use subterfuge on the same person reduces the difficulty number on the second action by one; failure increases the difficulty number by one. Empathy Novice: You seem sympathetic to people with whom you share something in common. Practiced: You share others' joys and sorrows, even when you haven't made any particular effort at it. Competent: You display keen insights into others' souls and enjoy a measure of respect or fear depending on how you use your wisdom. Expert: Few people can deceive you. Enemies mutter that you deal with dark powers, and friends believe that God has given you special perception. Master: Nothing human is mysterious to you. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 121 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 111 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 108 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 133 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 163 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 141 Expression Details Expression is the art of getting your point across, no matter what the medium. Expression covers the creation and delivery of speeches, poetry, and other writing. Expression Novice: Your talent has matured past crude poetry on notebook paper. Practiced: You could lead a college debate team. Competent: You could be a successful writer. Expert: Your work is Pulitzer material. Master: A visionary as yourself comes along only once in every generation. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 121 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 112 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 108 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 134 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 163 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 142 Intimidation Details The art of intimidation takes many forms from subtle threats to outright physical harm. Choice of method depends on the time, the place and those involved. Characters with this talent know how to get what they want from others when they want it. Intimidation Novice: Crude teenage bully Practiced: Mugger Competent: Drill sergeant Expert: Your air of authority cows casual passersby. Master: You can frighten off vicious animals. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 122 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 112 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 108 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 134 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 163 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 142 Kenning Details Kenning is the faerie sight, the ability to sense Glamour in whatever form it takes, be it a chimera, a changeling, or a freehold. Among other things, this talent allows a changeling to recognize a changeling who has slipped into the Mists or who has yet to achieve Chrysalis, sense the relative power of a chimera, and locate freeholds and trods. This insight is usually an impression. Gremayre is required to know specifics about what the changeling senses. Kenning Novice: Glamour tickles your senses. Practiced: You get impressions from locations that house freeholds. Competent: You can recognize an Undone changeling. Expert: Even the faintest traces of Glamour are clear to you. Master: The world of the supernatural is laid bare before you. Possessed by: Changelings References: WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 163 Leadership Details You are an example to others and can inspire them to do what you want. Leadership has less to do with manipulating people's desires than it does with presenting yourself as the sort of person they want to follow. This Talent is usually paired with Charisma rather than Manipulation. Leadership Novice: Captain of your Little League team Practiced: Student body president Competent: An effective CEO Expert: Presidential material Master: You could be the lord and master of a nation. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 122 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 115 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 108 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 136 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 163 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 143 Primal Urge Details This talent describes not only the bestial nature inside every shifter (or animal, for that matter), but also the level of gut feelings the character has in nonhuman forms. Characters with high Primal Urge can more easily rely on animal instincts for guidance and find it easier to transform into their non-human shapes. Moreover, werewolves with strong Primal-Urge find it easier to assume their various forms or take on partial transformations. Primal Urge Novice: Captain of your Little League team Practiced: Student body president Competent: An effective CEO Expert: Presidential material Master: You could be the lord and master of a nation. Possessed by: Shifters References: WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 113 Shentao Details Somewhere in the nexus of magic, Intuition, and Perception lays Shentao. It is the ability to perceive the shen and those humans who consort or hunt them. It is also the ability to divine the presence of drago lines and dragon nests. Shentao is partly cultural, therefore, hsien find it difficult to interpret the nature of Western supernaturals (+2 to the difficulty number). Shentao Novice: You know if you're sleeping on a dragon nest, or if you just slept with a shen. Practiced: You can locate dragon nests with ease. You always find True Jade. Competent: You can spot hsien, if given enough time. Sometimes you can determine the presence of other shen. You often find yourself traveling along dragon lines quite naturally. Expert: You can spot hsien unerringly. You can spot other shen if given enough time. Sometimes you can spot Western supernaturals as well. Master: Your gaze eventually reveals almost every supernatural item, place or being. Possessed by: Hsien References: WW7308 Land of Eight Million Dreams 88 Streetwise Details The streets can be a major source of information, aid and money, but their culture and rules of conduct are as complex as the noble courts. The streetwise talent indicates how versed your character is with the local rumor mill, street slang and street etiquette. It represents her savvy when among the less desirable elements of society, and determines not only how well she can survive but thrive and fit in among them. Streetwise Novice: You know which neighborhoods to avoid. Practiced: You're accorded respect on the street. Competent: You could head your own gang. Expert: You have little to fear in even the worst neighborhoods. Master: If you haven't heard it, it hasn't been said. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 122 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 113 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 109 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 134 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 163 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 144 Subterfuge Details This trait determines your character's ability to conceal his motives and feelings. Moreover, it allows him to decipher the motives of others and use their own plans against them. Subterfuge is the fine art of lying, deceit and underhanded manipulation. Characters skilled in this talent know how to call upon their best theatrics to influence situations and divert the blame without others realizing they've been manipulated. Subterfuge Novice: You tell the occasional little white lie. Practiced: Vampire Competent: Criminal lawyer Expert: Deep-cover agent or CIA. Master: You're the very last person anyone would suspect. References: WW2300 Vampire The Masquerade (Revised Edition) 122 WW3801 Werewolf The Apocalypse (Revised Edition) 113 WW4600 Mage: The Ascension (Revised) 109 WW92051 Wraith: the Oblivion (20th Anniversary) 134 WW92041 Changeling: the Dreaming (20th Anniversary) 164 WW8200 Demon: The Fallen 144

Secondary Talents

 Acting                   Artistic Expression      Biorhythms
 Blatancy                 Carousing                Diplomacy
 Dreamcraft (talent)      Fast Draw                Flight
 Fortune-telling          Grace                    Guile
 Haggling                 Helldiving               Homiletics
 Instruction              Interrogation            Intrigue
 Intuition                Juggling                 Lucid Dreaming
 Malkavian Time           Masquerade               Might
 Mimicry                  Negotiation              Newspeak
 Panhandling              Persuasion               Poetic Expression
 Public Speaking          Scan                     Scrounging
 Search                   Seduction                Sense Deception
 Style                    Swimming                 Throwing
 Ventriloquism         

Primary Skills

• Animal Ken:

• Crafts: This skill imparts a knowledge of artisan techniques in such fields as woodworking, leatherwork, glassblowing, or gem cutting. With crafts, your character can create lasting pieces of art and functional objects from various materials. The quality of these products depends on the number of successes achieved on the roll. A character should specialize when she reaches the expert level in this skill, if she hasn't already chosen her field.

• Drive: The drive skill represents your character's ability to operate motor vehicles, though it does not mean that she is familiar with all land vehicles. The storyteller may raise or lower difficulty numbers based on your character's experience with that particular type of vehicle. It also implies that your character has earned a driver's license, although this need not necessarily be the case. At higher levels, you can attempt to avoid someone who's tailing you ( if you know they're there ), and it allows you to attempt some stunts.

• Etiquette:

• Firearms: Skill in firearms means that you have a broad knowledge of all guns, from a simple .22 to an Ingram Mac-10 submachine gun. It does not include the ability to operate heavy artillery. Firearms includes the ability to care for and repair guns.

• Iskakku:

• Kailindo:

• Martial Arts (hard Style):

• Martial Arts (soft Style):

• Melee:

• Performance: The performance skill covers a broad range of artistic expression from acting to storytelling. It assumes that your character has the basic knowledge necessary and a certain talent in the field she has chosen. As well as defining your character's expertise and creative talent, this skill also represents her ability to captivate an audience and her stage presence, two relatively nebulous qualities. It assumes that some knowledge about the technical side of the society of your character's chosen field. Characters who take this skill should specialize when they reach expert level.

• Security: With the security skill, your character has a proficiency with the tools and techniques for lock-picking, hot-wiring cars, designing and deactivating burglar alarms, and opening safes. It can be used to conduct criminal activities or, on the other side of the coin, to prevent and investigate breeches of security. The more dots your character has in this skill, the more sophisticated the systems with which she is familiar.

• Stealth: Stealth is the ability to sneak about or hide without being noticed. Certain situational modifiers may be applied by the storyteller and is often rolled versus a difficulty number equal to the perception rating of the person that isn't supposed to notice.

• Survival: This skill describes your character's proficiency at surviving in an unfamiliar or dangerous environments. Inherent in it are the abilities to find shelter, scavenge or hunt food, and protect oneself from native predators and threats. It also encompasses tracing and finding safe passage through the area.

• Technology:

Secondary Skills

 Acrobatics               Animal Training          Archery
 Artillery                Biotech                  Blacksmith
 Blind Fighting           Blowgun                  Boat Handling
 Body Crafting            Brewing                  Bribery
 Brood Kenning            Calligraphy              Camouflage
 Carpentry                Climbing                 Cooking
 Dancing                  Debate                   Demolitions
 Disguise                 Divination (skill)       Elusion
 Energy Weapons           Escapology               Falconry
 Fast-talk                Fire Dancing             First Aid
 Fishing                  Forgery                  Gambling
 Game Playing             Gunsmithing              Heavy Weapons
 Helmsman                 Herbalism                High Ritual
 Hunting                  Hypertech                Hypnotism
 Indoctrination           Jetpack                  Jeweler
 Journalism               Jury-rig                 Klaive Dueling
 Larceny                  Leatherworking           Lip Reading
 Lockpicking              Maieusis                 Mechanic
 Meditation               Microgravity Operations  Mining
 Misdirection             Mnesis Emulation         Music
 Networking               Origami                  Parachuting
 Photography              Pickpocket               Pilot
 Police Procedure         Portents                 Pottery
 Psychoanalysis           Repair                   Research
 Ride                     Scuba                    Singing
 Skiing                   Sleight Of Hand          Soulforging
 Soulshaping              Speed Reading            Storytelling
 Temporal Sense           Torture                  Tracking
 Traps                    Vamp                     Webworking

Primary Knowledges

• Academics:

• Bureaucracy:

• Computer: Your character understands how to operate and possibly even program a computer. At higher levels, this may also include knowledge of designing and building a system, as well as complicated hacking. Any attempted use of a computer requires that the character have this knowledge.

• Cosmology:

• Enigmas: This knowledge represents a knack for piecing together and remembering information vital to many kinds of problem solving. It assists your character in solving the mysteries created by the storyteller. It is essential for divining secret pathways, understanding esoteric knowledge and answering the riddles of mystical guardians.

• Finance:

• Gremayre: This knowledge represents the character's understanding of faerie magic and lore. It can be used when creating oaths or working enchantments, or even to create new Arts. Gremayre gives a character essential comprehension into the in depth workings of all things relating to the Dreaming.

• Investigation: Whether your character is tracking down a lost relative or investigating a crime scene, this knowledge allows her to recognize potential clues and know the procedure for procuring information and records. It provides the ability to procure evidence, perform forensic analysis and predict crime patterns.

• Law: This trait deals with knowledge of legal rights, jurisprudence and jargon. A high level in law does not necessarily mean that the character is certified to practice law. Many criminals and lay people have learned about the judicial system through self study or personal experience.

• Linguistics: Languages supplemental to your character's native language must be purchased through this knowledge. Each level of linguistics allows your character to speak another language fluently. It also gives the character an understanding of general linguistics and the structure of the language. With this ability, your character can attempt to identify accents or read lips.

• Lore Bygone:

• Lore Changeling:

• Lore Demon:

• Lore Fera:

• Lore Garou:

• Lore Kuei-jin:

• Lore Mage:

• Lore Sewer:

• Lore Sorcerer-psychic:

• Lore Spirit:

• Lore Vampire:

• Lore Wraith:

• Lore Wyrm:

• Medicine: Medicine is the study of the human body and the various techniques used to cure its ills. This knowledge incorporates an understanding of the structure and functions of the body, the uses of medicine, and the diagnosis and treatments of diseases. Many methods exist for treating patients, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, chiroparactics, medicinal herbalism and standard medical practices. A character may specialize in any of these fields or assume an overall understanding of many healing methods. Medicine also implies a certain understanding of pharmaceuticals.

• Occult:

• Politics:

• Research (demon):

• Rituals:

• Science: The knowledge of science quantifies your character's understanding of the basic sciences: physics, chemistry, botany, biology, geology, astronomy and others. In particular, it defines the useful application of science to make things. A general expertise in all fields is considered applicable to levels one through three. Once your character has four dots, she should specialize in a particular field.

Secondary Knowledges

 Accounting               Alchemy                  Animal Speech (knowledge)
 Anthropology             Archaeology              Architecture
 Area Knowledge           Art History              Astrology
 Astronomy                Biology                  Biopsychology
 Body Control             Botany                   Chemistry
 Chimerical Alchemy       Church History           City Secrets
 Classics                 Computer Hacking         Computer Programming
 Conspiracy Theory        Construct Politics       Covert Culture
 Criminology              Cryptography             Culture
 Cybernetics              Dream Lore               Ecology
 Economics                Electronics              Engineering
 Enochian                 Ethnology                Fine Arts
 Forensics                Forensic Pathology       Garou Astrology
 Gematria                 Genetics                 Geology
 Heraldry                 History                  Hypermathematics
 Koldunism                Law Enforcement          Literature
 Logic                    Mathematics              Media
 Memories                 Metallurgy               Metaphysics
 Meteorology              Military Science         Mythology
 Naturalist               Navigation               Numerology
 Paleography              Paraphysics              Parapsychology
 Pharmacopoeia            Philosophy               Phlogeny
 Physics                  Power-brokering          Propaganda
 Psychodynamics           Psychology               Religious Rites
 Religious Scriptures     Sacred Geometry          Sacred Scriptures
 Saurimancy               Sociobiology             Strategy
 Subdimensions            Taxidermy                Terrorism
 Thanatology              Theology                 The Art Of Memory
 Toxicology               Tribal Lore              Umbrood Protocols
 Vice                     Virtual Space            Web Culture
 Xenobiology