Over the last several weeks I've been looking through a bunch of old posts trying to figure out why there has been an uptick of confusion and misinformation occurring about IC or OOC expectations. The reason I found is that there is no shortage of conflicting information from over the years ranging from player opinions or simply just rules being created or revoked without revisions occurring in the multiple places they were listed (i.e. the wiki). To resolve this, I'm creating this thread to represent a one stop shop for rules and expectations. If there is conflicting information it should be discussed here and the main post will be updated to reflect the most current and accurate information. Once a decision is made here we should update the wiki to match (if a conflict exists).
Elysium, Laws, and Information Thread
Source
Elysium
Acknowledgment
Laws of the Domain
What is the difference between a 'formal' Court and an 'Eternal' Court?
A formal Court is an announced gathering, usually quarterly (every three months). Generally, the Court officials should all be in attendance. Failure to attend results in loss of Acknowledgment (see Laws of the Domain, above). Formal Courts can only be entered the first week that they are open unless explicit permission is obtained from a Vampire Storyteller. Since it is an event proper, the doors 'close' to new arrivals.
An Eternal Court is an unofficial gathering. It's the coming and going of Kindred throughout the Domain into and out of Elysium, compressed into a single snapshot. It's a random night, and attendance is not required. Eternal Courts can be entered at any time throughout the month. The doors never close, except that one cannot exit and re-enter.
When do Courts 'happen', in Continuity?
I'll try to Sticky the threads, but sometimes I forget. Regardless, they should be considered Sticky, and that means that they enter continuity on the day the thread opens.
Can a character leave and re-enter Court?
No. Although this may not be an accurate depiction of Kindred moving in an out of Elysium, it helps us keep continuity sorted. This means characters cannot leave, obtain information/scene/etc. and then re-enter with that information. This, coupled with the Sticky nature of the Scene, keep everyone on an even playing field on the grand stage of the Danse Macabre.
Can characters have private conversations? Can they go into private rooms?
No. Court is a public stage. If you want a private conversation, it should be in a private Scene. Everyone is watching, and eavesdropping. It's what makes Court... Court. If you want to try to whisper, or some other means of keeping something on the down low, then it should be narrated and accompanied by a Subterfuge roll (which can and probably will be Contested by others).
This is only for surreptitious information transfer. You don't have to roll to lie, unless another person rolls to see if you're lying. Because Vampire. It's assumed everyone is lying all the time
Is the first character to post the first and only character in Elysium?
No. To simulate the fluid nature, consider there to be others present. Obviously you won't be able to interact with them -- yet -- but they're there. This also means someone can post into Court and 'overhear' a prior post.
Entry posts are your character's first impression. Have fun with them, take time. And remember Predators Taint.
What information is available in Elysium?
Consider the Laws of the Domain to be accessible, as well as Who's Who. Maybe they're snippets overheard, or listed on a billboard -- it doesn't matter. Just know that characters can 'absorb' this information freely.
The Cacophony is also available. You don't have to interact with a character directly to know what they've said Publicly about someone.
Often times, gatherings will also be 'posted' in Elysium, as well as other items of note and news. Please remember that it is incredibly inappropriate to 'billboard' information in Elysia unless you are the Prince, Seneschal, Harpy, or a Keeper for Court or Domain business -or- a Priscus or Covenant leader for Clan or Covenant business.
Can I sneak [weapon/item] into Elysium?
You can try, in a separate Scene. To keep the game flowing and not be bogged down by individual pat-downs, it's assumed weapons and such (Nox clearly states it has a metal detector) are surrendered upon entry. The only exceptions are Court officers. Entering an Elysium thread assumes the character has done so. If the character wishes to attempt to bypass these measure, it needs to be role-played and the appropriate rolls made. As a courtesy, we assume the restrictions are adhered to; we do not assume that they are ignored and successfully bypassed.
Clan & Covenant Meetings
Invitations to group meetings should be posted in the cacophony with 2 weeks of real life notice. All such meetings are considered stickied for the purposes of continuity.
Predator's Taint
Source thread
Wiki House Rule
Predator's Taint is generally role-played versus rolled in social Scenes. We do ask that you be mindful of it; ignoring it repeatedly may necessitate a roll.
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.
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. 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.
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
Potency
There are no "degrees" of Taint. A BP10 Vampire feels identical to a BP3 Vampire to a BP1 Vampire. There is either Anger or Fear.
- Anger is triggered if the other is the SAME OR LOWER
- Fear is triggered if the other is HIGHER
Aspect of the Predator
This power only affects the user. A BP1 Vampire does not appear as a higher BP to a BP3 Kindred. It simply allows the user to experience anger instead of fear.
Acknowledgement
Source
Acknowledgment
Priscus
- Will now be handled by the Prisci (or Whips if the Prisci is not available)
- Will now be permanent (no 'temp' Acks that need the Prince or Seneschal to rubber stamp them)
- The Prince and Seneschal can still perform acknowledgements as needed.
Acknowledgement and poaching clarification
Source
Please be aware of Acknowledgement is. Acknowledgement is entrance into the Prince's court. It is not to simply exist in the domain. NPC Vampires do exist within the city, however they can hold no city or clan status and mechanically speaking shouldn't have a herd or haven more than two dots. Existence in the domain does not equal poaching. What constitutes poaching:Acknowledgement means you have the possibility of getting tenancy, or of earning status within the domain. It means you are not a faceless unimportant nobody, but a kindred of quality, or the possibility of quality. You can be unacknowledged, but that means that your ability to be part of the domain, and your ability to earn status, or ever be not hungry, is restricted from you.
- Establishing a haven or herd above two dots
- Feeding from any rack without permission
- Feeding within the domain after being banished either to the barrens or entirely
Hunting, Tenancy & Regencies
Source
Subinfeudation
- Tenancy will now be granted (and possibly revoked) by Prisci
- Tenancy only grants expanding your haven beyond two dots or establishing a site
- Herd development is a hunting right which can only be granted by the Prince, your Priscus or a Regent
- Favor (Rack access) can only be granted by the Prince or a Regent
- Court officers are granted Tenancy, Hunting rights and Favor (This does not include deputies or Prisci)
- There are no current regencies
Multiple titles
Source
The current rule is that you can hold one Domain title PLUS one Clan title PLUS one Covenant title.
Disciplines and Powers
Source
- All Vampires gain Heightened Senses
- Auspex 1 is replaced by Beasts Hackles, allowing the revelation of another Vampire's BP and/or AVP
Source
- Auspex vs. Obtenebration invokes a clash of wills
Vampire Resistance
Source
Vampire uses a House-Rule for Resistance.
This is being changed so that the Automated Resistance portion uses Blood Potency (or other supernatural trait) instead of a second Attribute. This should make it a little bit easier to deal with Kine on these types of rolls and more accurately represent a supernatural creature's ability to, errr, Resist.
Tracking Willpower, Vitae, and Health
Source
Power Icon Info
First and foremost, power icon usage is mandatory. If you did not document the spend with a power icon then the spend did not happen regardless of what was narrated. This means blush did not happen, skills did not activate and extra dice thrown will be retracted.
Health and Willpower is a total amount, shared between Scenes. You'll only have one track for each, total, rather than per Scene. Vitae is tracked individually for each scene.
- Constant (single) track for Health
- Constant (single) track for Willpower
- Variable (per scene) track for Vitae
How will we implement it?
Pretty easy. As current Scenes close, just don't add new Scene info. Stick with what you've got until just one set of tracking is left.
So if I burn Willpower in one Scene, it 'disappears' from other Scenes?
Pretty much. It's open for interpretation. Poof. It's gone. Don't hand-wring over the how or why.
And Health? Suddenly spouting wounds is a little awkward?
Yeah, it is. Maybe it 'takes visible effect' as Scenes end. Really, I'm not sure. It'll probably make more sense on a case-by-case basis. The thing is, we still have that problem with the current method, so we're not creating a new problem -- but we are solving one. This might make Healing Wounds a bit easier and sensible.
But how will we handle Willpower refreshing now?
Two words: Virtue. Vice. When's the last time anyone ~needed~ to enact them for Willpower? So they might be a little more important now, too. However. At the beginning of each calendar month, your Willpower will refresh to full regardless, to simulate the nights of resting. So you'll just need to manage it month-to-month.
Ghouls and Mortals
Source
Retracting this for the time being.
They're officially returning, and playable as PCs. However, as before and as bandied about in Chat, they must be attached to a major template/Vampire character in some way. Maybe the Mortal doctor is Konrad's night doctor. Maybe the ghoul is Cody's replacement. The reason for this is that these minor templates have to hook into the game:
- They need a reason for existing in the Vampire sphere
- They need a reason that a random Vampire wouldn't kill them for lolz
Understand, though, two important things:
- Ghouls and Mortals are squishy (like, really squishy)
- Kindred aren't obligated to treat either with anything like respect
Ghouls should also follow the guidelines of the Ghouls sourcebook -- that is, there are massive themes of addiction and usury that go along with being a ghoul.
Multiple Characters
Source
Yep, that's coming back, too. You can have a second toon in Requiem again; however:
- You have to have been active for six months first.
- Multi toons can't be in the same Clan, Covenant, Coterie, etc.
- Multi toons cannot work towards the same goals.
Crossover
Source
Not currently supported
Your toons can get help from other, non-Vampire toons, for plots.
For example, David Regan could get Ava to help him look at his blueprints. Or go explore the sewers.
Your toon cannot get help from other, non-Vampire toons, for Domain politics (pvp).
For example, Martha could NOT get Varyx to Scry on David Regan.
Now, this is a big change, so let's drill down a bit:
Sensible Reveals
Reveals can happen... but they need to make sense. Maybe Ava sees David get shot and wonders why he doesn't bleed. Maybe Martha sees bullets curve around Varyx' Space Shield. But keeping your secret should be just as important -- no reveals for the sake of reveals.
- A reveal should NOT include the particulars of your society. Maybe David could tell Ava that Martha is a colleague, but not that they both belong to a mystical sect devoted to overcoming the Curses.
- Reveals should NOT include weaknesses that could be used in PvP against other supers.
- No one can OUT another character.
There's a lot of potential, fun drama here. Let's just be cool about it, though.
At it's core, a reveal should be a Big Fucking Secret. Every venue's society has big proscriptions against reveals, and probably pretty harsh consequences for those caught making revelations. If, when, a Reveal happens, its going to be closely scrutinized. Bad reveals would be the main reason for discontinuing this new experiment.
Changelings
Changelings are going to be OOC limited in Vampire.
- No Kenning to out Vampire PCs
- No Pledges with Vampire PCs
- A Changeling must have been active for six months prior to crossing over
Mages
Mages are going to be OOC limited in Vampire. It's going to be necessary to keep Vampire plots 'playable' for their primary focus -- Vampire characters.
- No Divination spells
- No Sympathetic spells
- No Mage Sight on Vampire PCs
- A Mage must have been active for six months prior to crossing over
However your characters want to rationalize it is fine, but that's an OOC expectation from Changelings and Mages coming into the Vampire 'space'. These restrictions may get tweaked after we see how things go, but there it is.
Status
Source
In the past, Team Crimson has generally had to start it or remind players to start it. It can get tiresome, especially for old players who have done it a billion times, but it's fun for new players. More importantly, because of how we do Status, it's how they rise (or fall).
If you are a Clan Priscus (or Whip) or Covenant leader (or second), I'd like you to take the initiative to do begin Status when faction meetings conclude (or notable events happen). The STs shouldn't have to baby-sit this, or remind anyone. Likewise, Court officers should do the same for Domain Status. Wod.Infant has done a fantastic job of doing so with the Harpy, Velma Star, after official Courts.
This is an out-of-character expectation of the position(s).
What this means is, we expect you to do itIf you do not, we'll find someone willing to
I'm not trying to be a hard-ass, or rude, just Keeping It Real and transparent. As we move forward with some tweaks to Requiem, we're going to make sure that leadership is clear, and that seconds are available if the primary is not -- so there shouldn't be any issues.
Everything you need to know about Status can probably be found here on the wiki's Talk page for Status.
Obfuscating vs Size of items
It is highly discouraged to walk around with an obfuscated item (typically a weapon) greater than a size of three. It is obfuscated, not in a bag of holding, which means it is still incredibly inconvenient to maneuver without drawing attention to the item. You can still do it but don't be surprised when it bites you in the ass.
Quick Draw vs Size of items
The quick draw merit is only effective with weapons of size 2 or less.
Invictus Survival Guide
Prestation
This Masquerade tradition is only lightly spoken of in the Invictus book, but since it is in full force in Edge of Darkness, I thought I'd expound upon it.
Drawn from the 2nd ed. The Vampire Player's Guide and the 2nd ed. Laws of the Night.Prestation is the name the Kindred give for the art of using Status, and is technically defined as when one Kindred officially becomes indebted to another for services rendered. In reality, however, Prestation is a far more complicated system than that, and its rules are enforced with lethal zeal by its participants.
Players should first make it clear who's doing the favor and who's receiving it. The receiver owes a Boon to his bestower which must be categorized as a Trivial, Minor, Major, Blood, or Life Boon:
Trivial Boons are one-time favors of small scope, such as appearing at a soiree one would not otherwise attend, acting as a messenger to another vampire and passing along information, keeping an eye on a favored Retainer for the evening, and so on.
Minor Boons can last more than one evening, and they usually entail some sort of inconvenience, such as allowing safe passage through a hostile city, revealing confidential information, or aid in disposing of some threat.
Major Boons usually involve a significant expenditure of time or resources on the bestower's part. The effects of the favor usually last for many game sessions. An example of such a Boon would be teaching the receiver a new Discipline, purchasing a nightclub to serve as the receiver's haven, or rendering substantial aid in disposing of a threat while there is an element of risk.
Blood Boons occur when the bestower places herself in a potentially unlife-threatening situation in order to help the receiver. Thus the name "Blood Boon" - the bestower is willing to shed her blood for the receiver.
Life Boons involve the bestower actively risking her immortal life for the receiver so the receiver may live.
Keep in mind that all Boons are relative. This is such an essential tenet of Prestation, that it deserves to be in bold-face and all caps: ALL BOONS ARE RELATIVE. This means that you, as a vampire, can charge "whatever the market will bear". A hundred bucks may not mean squat to that filthy rich Ventrue, but if that's what a desperate Gangrel needs to survive, the Gangrel might well wind-up getting charged a Major or even Blood Boon if he's in grave enough danger! Similarly, that same Gangrel might be able to easily defeat a mortal stalker that is troubling a Toreador in his city, but he still charges her a Major Boon because she can't get rid of him herself.
Such fluctuations in the value of a Boon lead some to complain of "Boon extortion" or "inflation", but that's the way business has been done for as long as even the Ancients can remember. The only way for a receiver to rid herself of a Boon permanently is to repay or ignore the favor. Welshing on Boons is a grave insult in Kindred society, often resulting in a scandal that alert Harpies are all too eager to circulate. In the Domain of Darkeport, with its tradition of trials and system of vampiric jurisprudence, this almost always results in a grievance being brought against the offender (later articles will expand on this, but essentially there is an active legal system in the Domain).
Getting yourself out of debt is usually an event arranged through roleplaying. Typically, players eliminate Boons by returning equivalent favors. However, if the bestower is in sufficient danger, you might pay off your debt by returning only a small favor; indeed, you might even be able to put the original bestower in your debt! It all rests on a sense of timing and a character's skill at bartering. Other Kindred may resent you for doing so, but during a crisis a matter of Prestation may seem a small price to pay.
Draft this Post
