Post by Tami on Dec 2, 2006 0:25:09 GMT -5
Though vampirism is a curse, the Blood of Caine grants great mystical powers to those with the insight and dedication to pursue them. These powers are known as Disciplines.
Following is a list of the more common disciplines wielded by Vampires and other supernatural creatures. Rare Vampires and stranger creatures may not have powers on the list, as there are mysteries that remain hidden in the world of darkness. Each clan possesses Disciplines that are common among their ranks. However, it has been whispered that Vampires can learn Disciplines outside their clan’s strength but at a much greater cost
The use of any disciplines, successes are not always automatic particularly in room where dice rolls are not used. Just because you slam somebody with such and such, level so and so, does not mean that person will be fully effected. You may have to use the power over several turns or posts especially if the level requires successes. Keep that in mind and play fair, especially when the discipline you are using has serious effects. Your victim may become aware of what is happening and be able to respond with either a counter attack or running away. Also keep in mind that some of the disciplines are exceedingly rare and you can't just come up with one and have it in the middle of game play.
While it may seem simple to solve all one's problems with supernatural powers, the repercussions of the matter go simply beyond achieving a goal. Sure, a vampire Elder with potence Level 6 could simply smash anyone who stood before him. A coterie of Brujah can summon their rival until she ran out of willpower to ignore it. It's not that things aren't possible, they just aren't done.
Many vampires regard disciplines as vulgar ways to achieve one's goals. A lazy vampire dominates a subject into doing something for him, while a crafty vampire subtly influences his intended mark. This latter practice also leaves less trace of the vampire's presence, an individual acting of his own free will isn't going to have Kindred up in arms by talking about mind control and other threats to the Masquerade. Vampires do not use their powers ostentatiously or recklessly without good reason.
Obviously this is truer of some disciplines than others. Thaumaturgy makes no attempts to be something other than what it is: magic. Celerity is literally inhuman speed. Disciplines are, by their very nature, edges that the Kindred can use when their own faculties fail. A Prince who dominates the city's Kindred into submission will not have much respect, as the other vampires don't choose to respect her, they are forced to.
Vampires often harbor antipathy for others who use disciplines on them. Kindred who take cavalier attitudes towards discipline use Dominating vampires into telling the truth before their peers, cultivating false support through Presence, etc will be received poorly by other vampires. Our above mentioned Prince would quickly find herself snubbed by primogen and harpies if she used such heavy-handed tactics. This is also the reason disciplines are verboten at Elysium. Even Aura Perception requires a scrutiny of the individual whose aura the vampire reads; is the Kindred going to stand by the door and stare intently at everyone who enters the Nightclub?
Disciplines are used largely for "when the shit goes down", not as crutches for nightly existence
Following is a list of the more common disciplines wielded by Vampires and other supernatural creatures. Rare Vampires and stranger creatures may not have powers on the list, as there are mysteries that remain hidden in the world of darkness. Each clan possesses Disciplines that are common among their ranks. However, it has been whispered that Vampires can learn Disciplines outside their clan’s strength but at a much greater cost
The use of any disciplines, successes are not always automatic particularly in room where dice rolls are not used. Just because you slam somebody with such and such, level so and so, does not mean that person will be fully effected. You may have to use the power over several turns or posts especially if the level requires successes. Keep that in mind and play fair, especially when the discipline you are using has serious effects. Your victim may become aware of what is happening and be able to respond with either a counter attack or running away. Also keep in mind that some of the disciplines are exceedingly rare and you can't just come up with one and have it in the middle of game play.
While it may seem simple to solve all one's problems with supernatural powers, the repercussions of the matter go simply beyond achieving a goal. Sure, a vampire Elder with potence Level 6 could simply smash anyone who stood before him. A coterie of Brujah can summon their rival until she ran out of willpower to ignore it. It's not that things aren't possible, they just aren't done.
Many vampires regard disciplines as vulgar ways to achieve one's goals. A lazy vampire dominates a subject into doing something for him, while a crafty vampire subtly influences his intended mark. This latter practice also leaves less trace of the vampire's presence, an individual acting of his own free will isn't going to have Kindred up in arms by talking about mind control and other threats to the Masquerade. Vampires do not use their powers ostentatiously or recklessly without good reason.
Obviously this is truer of some disciplines than others. Thaumaturgy makes no attempts to be something other than what it is: magic. Celerity is literally inhuman speed. Disciplines are, by their very nature, edges that the Kindred can use when their own faculties fail. A Prince who dominates the city's Kindred into submission will not have much respect, as the other vampires don't choose to respect her, they are forced to.
Vampires often harbor antipathy for others who use disciplines on them. Kindred who take cavalier attitudes towards discipline use Dominating vampires into telling the truth before their peers, cultivating false support through Presence, etc will be received poorly by other vampires. Our above mentioned Prince would quickly find herself snubbed by primogen and harpies if she used such heavy-handed tactics. This is also the reason disciplines are verboten at Elysium. Even Aura Perception requires a scrutiny of the individual whose aura the vampire reads; is the Kindred going to stand by the door and stare intently at everyone who enters the Nightclub?
Disciplines are used largely for "when the shit goes down", not as crutches for nightly existence