Predator's Taint

[West]

So when does the fear reaction kick in?

For a Pro 1 user, never.

[Cayce]

How are predator's taint rolls handled? Do we not worry about rolls and just RP it unless an ST asks for one, or should we roll whenever we meet new vampires?

[West]

Generally, rolls are made only when the ST calls for them. Usually:
- In plot Scenes
- When players are not role-playing PT (and have most likely been reminded already)

[Cayce]

Thanks!

[West]

Awareness
Characters risk frenzy and Rötschreck only when they are aware of the presence of the other Kindred. It is entirely possible, say, for a vampire to see another, unknown vampire feeding in an alley and thereby cause her own frenzy check as her Beast senses the rival Beast. While the other vampire is preoccupied with feeding he remains oblivious; only when he becomes aware of the other Kindred does his Beast respond to the presence of the first. -- VtR p.168

Characters must be aware of the other. The Taint is not an aura that is projected around a Vampire; it's an instinctual recognition that the other person one has encountered is also a predator (unless Masked).
- This means you don't feel someone enter a room.
- This means you don't feel someone sneaking up behind you.
- This DOES mean that any awareness (sound of a voice, touch of a hand in darkness) triggers the Taint

Bump Le Reminder!

[Vampire ST]

There's been a lot of vampires making incredibly cursory mentions of Predator's Taint or flat out ignoring it.

Please remember -- we let you narrate it as a kindness.

If you don't narrate it, expect to be asked to roll it

[West]

Okay, you lazy fangers, it's on.

[West]

Y'all, for the most part, these are getting incredibly shoddy. Half-hearted sentence fragments shouldn't be the norm.

So let's talk about it.

I know it's really tempting. You know, thinking of your character as just a super pretty or super ugly person with cool powers. But they're not. They're vampires. There's something deep inside that only knows fear, hate, and hunger. Something they can barely control, and when they lose that control, turns them into a mindless animal.

It's not pretty. It's not smex3h. But it's part of them. A core, integral part, that's ripping away their Humanity and trying to turn them into a reflection of itself.

NWoD is just that -- a World of Darkness. It's a horror story. It's my job to bring the external horror to you, but it's your job to bring out the internal horror. The personal horror. Don't think of it as a chore -- but an opportunity. How do the deal with it? How has it changed them? Have they begun to accept or rationalize it? Learned to love, fear, or hate it? I enforce it because of mechanics, but it ought to be something you can and should wallow and revel in.

This is the story of hanging on to your Humanity.

Oh. One more thing?

Every month, we give you XP. It's based on how delicious your role-play is. If your role-play sucks? Don't be surprised if your XP amount sucks.

[West]

The Beast isn't subtle, nor does it have motives -- it's all about instant gratification. Kill. Run. Eat. That's it. It isn't some conscious companion that talks to you, or explains things. The conscious person can interpret or twist those instincts, but that's not the predator.

It's an animal, bro. It doesn't care about Status, or Resources, just like a polar bear doesn't give a shit about how nice of a car you drive when it tears you apart and eats you.