Blood Magic

General

All blood magic is restricted, unless explicitly stated otherwise..

Whenever blood magic 'requires a teacher', it must be a PC vampire teacher who did not themselves need a teacher for it, and applies to all levels, other rules to the contrary notwithstanding.

Primary path is generally limited to certain choices, and increases automatically with the discipline (ask staff to update your +sheet for clarity).

Secondary paths are not available in chargen (because they have no baseline or freebie cost), and are generally limited by type of blood magic.

Blood magicians start with one free ritual at each level, but only during chargen.

• Example: If you start with Thaumaturgy 2, you also start with one level 1 ritual and one level 2 ritual. If you then raise Thaumaturgy to 3 with XP, you don't get a free level 3 ritual.
• Exception: Abyss Mysticism does not give free rituals.
• Learning a ritual generally requires learning the discipline at an equal/higher level first. (VtM 182)

Ghouls may learn blood magic, but get no Subrace discounts and are otherwise limited per '+rules ghouls', '+rules buying disciplines', and '+rules multiclass' as usual.

Thaumaturgical Countermagic (GttCam 108): Cannot be taken in chargen. Counts as a path for Tremere, a proprietary discipline (requires a teacher) for anyone else.

Specific types

Abyss Mysticism

Restricted to Lasombra with appropriate Path/Road of Enlightenment: Road of the Abyss Road of Night A descendant of one of those Roads Path of Evil Revelations, if the infernal entity's ultimate goal is to plunge the world into Abyssal darkness Paths None. Not a separate discipline, but an extension of Obtenebration. Manipulating the Abyss Variation of Arms of the Abyss (Obtenebration 3) requires at least (Obtenebration 3 Occult 2) or (Obtenebration 2 Occult 3). Variation of Shadowstep (Obtenebration 6) is not available. Rituals Requires at least Occult 3, and is +1 difficulty unless you have at least Occult 4 with specialty of Abyss Mysticism. Requires Obtenebration >= ritual level. Level 4+ rituals require Occult >= ritual level. References Lasombra 73 Players Guide to High Clans 175

Ahku

Restricted to Followers of Set Primary path Any listed Secondary paths No restrictions beyond XP cost. Path powers Roll varies by path and level Occult Library background applies if and only if the roll includes Occult Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes Roll Intelligence + Occult vs (3 + level) Botch = cancel all currently active ritual and path effects Occult Library background does apply References Blood Magic 113 Blood Sacrifice 24

All paths listed in '+liststats ahkupaths' as of 3/29/2020: Divine Hand Path of Duat Path of the Dry Nile The Snake Inside Ushabti Ahku also has these paths in common with Thaumaturgy (set "Has Thaumaturgy Paths" = 1 in chargen): Mastery of the Mortal Shell Path of Conjuring Path of Corruption Path of Curses Path of Mars Spirit Manipulation Thaumaturgical Alchemy Thaumaturgical Weather Control The Focused Mind

• Treated as "out of clan" for purposes of chargen (requires freebies) and XP costs, unless targeted by Additional Discipline merit.
• Anyone who has wraith sight active, and successfully detects Ahku via Awareness, will detect that a soul is being tortured. This may lead to risk escalation.

Dur-An-Ki

Restricted to Assamite sorcerers (set Type = Sorcerer during chargen) Shango Primary path Pick one: Lure of Flames Movement of the Mind Elemental Mastery Neptune's Might Spirit Manipulation Thaumaturgical Weather Control Secondary paths Must be lower than your primary path until you reach Dur-An-Ki 5. Path powers Spend a blood point Roll Willpower vs (3 + level) Botch = lose a permanent Willpower (+request) Laibon: Roll Orun instead, botch = lose permanent Aye Occult Library background does not apply (roll doesn't include Occult) Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes Roll Intelligence + Occult vs (3 + level) Occult Library background does apply References Assamite 73-74 Blood Magic 120 Blood Sacrifice 33

All paths listed in '+liststats durankipaths' as of 3/29/2020: Awakening of the Steel Covenant of Nergal Music of the Spheres The Evil Eye The Hunter's Winds Whispers of the Heavens Dur-An-ki also has these paths in common with Thaumaturgy (set "Has Thaumaturgy Paths" = 1 in chargen): Elemental Mastery Hands of Destruction Lure of Flames Movement of the Mind Neptune's Might Path of Blood Path of Conjuring Path of the Blood's Curse Path of the Father's Vengeance Spirit Manipulation Thaumaturgical Alchemy Thaumaturgical Weather Control The Focused Mind

Assamite sorcerers may learn other blood magic with a teacher, but:

• XP cost is increased by half (round up)
• Paths require +1 blood
• Rituals require triple the time and +1 success for any given result

Koldunic Sorcery

Restricted to Old Clan Tzimisce (set Clan = Old-Clan-Tzimisce during chargen) Primary path Any Way Secondary paths No restrictions beyond XP cost. Path powers Spend a Willpower Roll attribute (varies by Way) + Koldunism vs (4 + level) We use the path powers from Blood Magic, not Players Guide to High Clans Occult Library background does not apply (roll doesn't include Occult) Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes Shed (level) blood (may or may not be your own) Roll Intelligence + Koldunism vs (4 + level) Koldunic versions of Thaumaturgy rituals (PGttHC 190 'Shared Rituals') use this roll (not Int+Occult vs 3+level) Occult Library background does not apply (roll doesn't include Occult) References Blood Magic 127, 133 Players Guide to High Clans 183 Tzimisce 63

All paths listed in '+liststats koldunicpaths' as of 3/29/2020: Way Attribute Way of Earth Stamina Way of Fire Manipulation Way of Sorrow Manipulation Way of Spirit Charisma Way of Water Wits Way of Wind Perception

Necromancy

Restricted to Giovanni, Samedi, PCs with Wanga Primary path Sepulchre Path Secondary paths Cannot learn Bone Path or Ash Path until you reach Necromancy 3. Cannot learn both of those paths until you reach Necromancy 5. Path powers Roll varies by path and level Occult Library background applies if and only if the roll includes Occult Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes, but this varies widely by ritual Roll Intelligence + Occult vs (3 + level) Occult Library background does apply References VtM 161 Giovanni 67 Blood Magic 105 Blood Sacrifice 77

All paths listed in '+liststats necropaths' as of 3/28/2020: Abombo Ash Path Bone Path Cenotaph Path Mortuus Path Sepulchre Path

• For wangateurs, treated as "out of clan" for purposes of chargen (requires freebies) and XP costs, unless targeted by Additional Discipline merit.

The following house rules are currently under consideration and may or may not be adopted:

• Necromancy is divided into schools (Giovanni, Pisanob, Voudoun).
  • Each PC has one primary school. (Giovanni/Pisanob may switch during chargen, or existing PCs within a month after this becomes official.)
  • Paths outside your primary school are uncommon but allowed.
  • Rituals outside your primary school are +1 difficulty.
  • Harbingers of Skulls and Nagaraja are n/a (we don't allow PCs from these clans).
  • Gilberti is n/a ("their racism makes them better" belongs in the Gypsy bucket).
  • Reference: Rites of the Blood (V20) 85-86

• PCs learning Necromancy via Wanga:
  • May have more significant issues with being ridden by loa. (needs book/page reference and more details)
  • Penalties for learning Wanga post-chargen also apply to Necromancy.
  • Cannot raise Necromancy higher than Wanga.

• Limit secondary paths generally, not just Bone Path and Ash Path:
  • Cannot learn a secondary path until you reach Necromancy 3.
  • Cannot learn additional secondary paths until you learn Necromancy 5.
  • Existing PCs above this limit keep what they have, but cannot further increase those paths until their Necromancy is high enough.

Sadhana

Restricted to Ravnos priests (set Type = Priest in chargen) Primary path Any listed Secondary paths No restrictions beyond XP cost. Path powers Meditation skill must be at least as high as the path power (this restriction does not apply to rituals) Does not cost blood except as noted Roll Willpower vs (3 + level) Can substitute Intelligence + Meditation, but it's slower on par with rituals Botch = lose a permanent Willpower (+request) Occult Library background does not apply (roll doesn't include Occult) Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes Roll Intelligence + Occult vs (3 + level) Occult Library background does apply References Blood Sacrifice 53, 62

All paths listed in '+liststats sadhanapaths' as of 3/29/2020: Path of Blood Nectar Path of Karma Sadhana also has these paths in common with Thaumaturgy (set "Has Thaumaturgy Paths" = 1 in chargen): Elemental Mastery Hands of Destruction Movement of the Mind "Oneiromancy (thaumaturgy)" Path of Conjuring Spirit Manipulation Thaumaturgical Alchemy The Focused Mind and this path in common with Ahku (set "Has Ahku Paths" = 1 in chargen): The Snake Inside

• Treated as "out of clan" for purposes of chargen (requires freebies) and XP costs, unless targeted by Additional Discipline merit.

Thaumaturgy

Restricted to Tremere Primary path Path of Blood Secondary paths Must be lower than Path of Blood until you reach Thaumaturgy 5 Path powers Spend a blood point Roll Willpower vs (3 + level) Botch = lose a permanent Willpower (+request) Occult Library background does not apply (roll doesn't include Occult) Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes Roll Intelligence + Occult vs (3 + level) Occult Library background does apply Sabbat Allowed with restrictions, see below for details Anarch, Autarkis Allowed, but have much less of an IC support system Disallowed Dark Thaumaturgy (GttSabbat 98-104 or anywhere else) Sielanic Thaumaturgy Other house rules The Focused Mind 4 (Dual Thought): Can't be used for two mental disciplines in same turn, but can stack with Celerity. The Focused Mind 5 (Perfect Clarity): Bonus to your actions is limited to either -1 diff on all actions or -2 diff on mental actions (i.e. dice pool includes mental attribute). All Ward vs _____ rituals have corresponding Warding Circle vs _____ rituals, even if not explicitly listed in canon. References VtM 178, 182 Guide to the Camarilla 99 Tremere 51 Blood Magic 68

All paths listed in '+liststats thaumpaths' as of 3/28/2020, Sabbat Thaumaturgy highlighted: Biothaumaturgy Elemental Mastery Faux Path Green Path Hands of Destruction Hearth Path Lure of Flames Mastery of the Mortal Shell Movement of the Mind Neptune's Might "Oneiromancy (thaumaturgy)" Path of Blood Path of Conjuring Path of Corruption Path of Curses Path of Levinbolt Path of Mars Path of Praapti Path of Shadowcrafting Path of Technomancy Path of the Blood's Curse Path of the Father's Vengeance Path of Transmutation Spirit Manipulation Thaumaturgical Alchemy Thaumaturgical Countermagic Thaumaturgical Weather Control The Focused Mind Vine Of Dionysus

Sabbat Thaumaturgy

• Goratrix and all his descendants were wiped out in 1998 (Tremere 42-43), but PCs may still claim the 'House Goratrix' name and may have been Embraced earlier (by a non-Goratrix).
• Other Tremere may also work with the Sabbat under the table without joining them, subject to ICC if ICly caught.
• Tremere who have ever had a Vinculum (Vaulderie) blood-tie are automatically visible as such to other Tremere. (Tremere 43)
  • This is not subject to '+rules sniping', as it does not require using a power.
  • Removing the blood-tie does not remove the mark.
  • Leaving the Sabbat gives you the Double Betrayer flaw (Tremere 67) but does not remove the mark.
• Sabbat Thaumaturgy (GttSabbat 116-121, other sources at staff discretion) is available to Sabbat Tremere.
  • Non-Sabbat Tremere require a teacher.
  • Non-Tremere with their own versions of some parts (e.g. Assamite sorcerers) have normal access to those parts.

Wanga

Restricted to Serpents of the Light (Sabbat bloodline of Followers of Set) Samedi Tremere Others can learn it from a teacher, but only these groups can take it in chargen For anyone who didn't declare belief in wanga during chargen, all Wanga rolls are +1 diff and have a die-showing-1 added to the result Primary path Any listed Secondary paths No restrictions beyond XP cost. Path powers Spend a blood point (except The Flow of Ashe) Roll Willpower vs (3 + level) Botch = lose a permanent Willpower (+request) Occult Library background does not apply (roll doesn't include Occult) Rituals Default duration is (5 * level) minutes Roll Intelligence + Occult vs (3 + level) With believing participants (at least 2 * level) besides caster, roll is -1 diff, but it takes longer; default duration is (30 * level) minutes Occult Library background does apply Rituals in common with Thaumaturgy (Blood Sacrifice 81): wards/defenses, divinations, bone-related rituals, curses from a distance References Blood Sacrifice chapter 4

All paths listed in '+liststats wangapaths' as of 3/29/2020: Orisha's Fortune The Flow of Ashe Voice of the Wild Wanga also has these paths in common with Thaumaturgy (set "Has Thaumaturgy Paths" = 1 in chargen): Lure of Flames (Blood Sacrifice 75) Path of Blood Path of Conjuring Path of Corruption Path of Curses Spirit Manipulation Thaumaturgical Weather Control (Blood Sacrifice 75) and these paths in common with Ahku (Followers of Set 71, set "Has Ahku Paths" = 1 in chargen): The Dry Nile The Snake Inside

• Treated as "out of clan" for purposes of chargen (requires freebies) and XP costs, unless targeted by Additional Discipline merit.