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ramona
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 ===== Secondary Talents ===== ===== Secondary Talents =====
-(Of the one offered, below are the Secondary Talents available to Vampires)\\+(Of the one offered, below are the Secondary Talents available to Vampires, with corresponding rolls, requirements and results.)\\
  
-Blatancy: Through theatrical flairaudience appraisal, and raw audacity, you’re good at getting away with blatant acts of magick. Typicallythis involves using tried-and-true dodges: “We’re shooting a movie,” “It’s all an illusion,” “Haven’t you ever seen a flash-mob before?” – that sort of thing. As you might expect, such claims typically require props to lend credibility to your claims (a “camera crew,” stage magic gear, a pack of willing conspirators, etc.). If and when you have the goods to back up your dodge, however, you can pull reality over people’s eyes more often than you would be able to do otherwise+=== Diplomacy === 
-• Novice: “No, seriously – we’re filming a video. +You’ve got a knack for smoothing things overmaking friends, and getting people to see past their differences. When you need to, you can also back up your guile with spine. A combination of ingratiating people skillssocial psychologyknowledge of the situationand innate timing allows you to gain people’s respect and then maneuver them to your desired point of viewA good diplomat can be transparent about his motives and yet still have people doing what he wants them to do while believing it’s their idea to do so.\\ 
-•• Practiced: “That just looked easyIt took me years to figure out how to do that trick.” +• Novice: Advice columnist.\\ 
-••• Skillful: “All the necessary permits and explanations are posted on our website. +•• Practiced: Relationship counselor.\\ 
-•••• Expert: “We did this trick on Mythbusters. +••• Skillful: Hostage negotiator.\\ 
-••••• Master: “Nothing to see here – move along. +•••• Expert: Noted diplomat.\\ 
-(Source: M20 Core Book, page 291)(roll: Performance)+••••• Master: Jimmy Carter.\\ 
 +(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 19)(Vampire roll: Manipulation)
  
-Carousing: You can be the life of the party. This Ability is the knack of having a good time at a social event and making sure that others enjoy themselves as well. It involves knowing the best places to go, eating and drinking without making a fool out of yourself and drawing out others so that they'll have fun. +=== Haggling ===  
-• Novice: You can hold your liquor and keep your wits about you. +You are skilled at bargaining and can reduce another's price, or get some other concession, under most circumstances. To bargain, make an opposed roll using your Manipulation + Haggling against the other character's Wits + Haggling (or Wits + Alertness). Each net success you score reduces the price by five percent if you are buying, or increases the character's offer by five percent if you are selling. Failure means the price does not budge. A botch angers the other character, driving her away in disgust or worsening her offer by 50 percent in either direction (Storyteller's call).
-•• Practiced: You've been to a few parties in your time, and people find you an enjoyable guest. +
-••• Competent: You know how to wine and dine someone quite well. +
-•••• Expert: Everyone wants you at their parties. +
-••••• Master: Your gatherings are the greatest social events around. +
-(Source: Mummy: The Resurrection, page 60)(Requirements: Blush of Health merit, enough dots in Resources background to equal the size and scope of party, Contacts background who can bring their associates. Charisma roll. +
- +
-Diplomacy: You’ve got a knack for smoothing things over, making friends, and getting people to see past their differences. When you need to, you can also back up your guile with spine. A combination of ingratiating people skills, social psychology, knowledge of the situation, and innate timing allows you to gain people’s respect and then maneuver them to your desired point of view. A good diplomat can be transparent about his motives and yet still have people doing what he wants them to do while believing it’s their idea to do so. +
-• Novice: Advice columnist. +
-•• Practiced: Relationship counselor. +
-••• Skillful: Hostage negotiator. +
-•••• Expert: Noted diplomat. +
-••••• Master: Jimmy Carter. +
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 19)(roll: Manipulation) +
- +
-Haggling: You are skilled at bargaining and can reduce another's price, or get some other concession, under most circumstances. To bargain, make an opposed roll using your Manipulation + Haggling against the other character's Wits + Haggling (or Wits + Alertness). Each net success you score reduces the price by five percent if you are buying, or increases the character's offer by five percent if you are selling. Failure means the price does not budge. A botch angers the other character, driving her away in disgust or worsening her offer by 50 percent in either direction (Storyteller's call).+
 • Novice: Bargain hunter • Novice: Bargain hunter
 •• Practiced: Market trader •• Practiced: Market trader
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 (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 23) (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 23)
  
-Homiletics: You can give persuasive homilies, and inspirational sermons. You manage to turn almost any daily event into a life-enriching experience with many lessons to learn. This can be used from the pulpit, from a street corner, or even at the local bar; the audience can be congregation or a circle of friends+=== Interrogation === 
-• Novice: You can retell a good homily you once heard. +You are able to extract information from people by fair means or foul. Using mixture of threatstrickery and persistent questioning, you ultimately unearth the truth.\\ 
-•• Practiced: You can construct a small sermon of your own. +• Novice: Nosy neighbor\\ 
-••• Competent: You can do this every week if you have to. +•• Practiced: Movie cop\\ 
-•••• Expert: You actually make people listen. +••• Competent: Talk-show host\\ 
-••••• Master: You have changed lives. +•••• Expert: Investigative journalist\\ 
-(Source: The Inquisition, page 54f) (roll: Manipulation, diff 8. This can be done once a month to gain a dot in Contacts.)+••••• Master: Spymaster\\ 
 +(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24)(Roll: Manipulation)
  
-Instruction: You’re really good at relaying informationteaching material, and helping other folks understand potentially complex principles. It’s not so much that you’re an expert on the subject at hand (though you might be), but that you’ve got a knack for taking your subject and making it easier to comprehend. A very useful Talent for mentors, professors and, of courseinstructors for any given course of study, this Ability helps your character share his expertise with other characters+=== Malkavian Time === 
-• Novice: You can pass along basic concepts+This Malkavian-specific Trait represents a Lunatic's particular connection to her clan's shared subconsciousness; needless to sayit's quite supernatural in nature. It allows the Malkavian to “plug into” the floodwaters of the Madness Network and filter out messagesimpulsesshared visions, and knowledge of upcoming clan gatherings.\\ 
-•• Practiced: A topic’s finer points are easy for you to express+• Novice: Your “cousins” are usually surprised when you manage to make it to a gathering.\\ 
-••• Skillful: Assuming you know something, you can teach it+•• Practiced: You've become accustomed to the occasional Call.\\ 
-•••• Expert: You’re one of those folks that people want to learn from+••• Skillful: You sometimes hear echoes of messages that might not be intended for you.\\ 
-••••• Master: A master of all aspects of learning, you’re a teacher that pupils recall for the rest of their lives+•••• Expert: When one of the family dies, you know.\\ 
-(Source: M20 Book of secrets, page 19)+••••• Master: You are the undisputed local authority on what is necessary.\\ 
 +(Source: Clan Book Malkavian (Revised Edition), page 59)
  
-Interrogation: You are able to extract information from people by fair means or foulUsing mixture of threatstrickery and persistent questioningyou ultimately unearth the truth+=== Masquerade === 
-• Novice: Nosy neighbor +This Talent cannot be taken during character generation, and is available only to vampiresMasquerade reflects how skilled character is at appearing to be mortal: feigning respirationcreating a heartbeatproducing pink skin (by bringing blood to the surface), sneezing, masking vampiric tendencies, et al. Masquerade may be paired with a Social Attribute to determine whether the character successfully passes as a mortal among mortals.\\ 
-•• Practiced: Movie cop +• Novice: You might succeed - in ideal circumstances.\\ 
-••• Competent: Talk-show host +•• Practiced: You are able to pass casual inspection.\\ 
-•••• Expert: Investigative journalist +••• Competent: You are undetectable under most normal circumstances.\\ 
-••••• Master: Spymaster+•••• Expert: You may succeed even under duress.\\ 
 +••••• Master: Even a witch-hunter would be fooled.\\
 (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24) (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24)
  
-Intrigue: Machiavelli’s ghost smiles upon you. In the vicious whirlpools of backstabbing power, you’re force to be reckoned with. A combination of instincts, audacity, knowledge, guile, and ruthlessness gives you insights and edges that most folks lack. You may serve a greater purpose, work toward hidden agendas, or simply enjoy making puppets dance. Whatever your ultimate purpose, you’re a player, not a pawn, in your personal Game of Thrones. +=== Panhandling === 
-• Novice: Ned Stark. +You are skilled beggar. You are able to get people to give you money just by asking for itThe art of panhandling is performed through a subtle blend of ManipulationEmpathyIntimidationStreetwise and Subterfuge. You know whom to ask, how to approach them, what to say, and how to avoid police. This is a useful Talent for picking up quick cash or for creating a cover.\\ 
-•• Practiced: Cersei Lannister. +• Novice: You can tell a good hard-luck story.\\ 
-••• Skillful: Varys the Spider. +•• Practiced: You can gain sympathy from most people.\\ 
-•••• Expert: Littlefinger. +••• Competent: Real smooth. You can hit even the hardhearted for a few bucks.\\ 
-••••• Master: Tyrion Lannister. +•••• Expert: People want to take you home and feed and clothe you.\\ 
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 19f) +••••• Master: You can get whatever you want (within reason) for free.\\
- +
-Lucid Dreaming: Most folks float through dreams with no sense of control. Not you. When you choose to assert yourself in the dreamlandsyou may shift the tone of a dreamchange locationsconfront nightmares head-on, or even construct dreams of your choosing. +
-In game terms, this Talent lets you manipulate your surroundings in a dream (Perception + Lucid Dreaming, difficulty 6); shape new structures (difficulty 8); or take complete control over that dream and your place in it (difficulty 9). +
-• Novice: You’re aware of your dreams and can remember them if you choose. +
-•• Practiced: You can try to dream a certain dream. +
-••• Skillful: Some control over your dreams. +
-•••• Expert: You know how to influence and read dreams as aspects of your inner self. +
-••••• Master: You understand themetaphysical elements of dreams and can manipulate them, recall them, inspire them, or share them to your will. +
-(Source: M20 Core Book, page 294) +
- +
-Malkavian Time: This Malkavian-specific Trait represents a Lunatic's particular connection to her clan's shared subconsciousness; needless to say, it's quite supernatural in nature. It allows the Malkavian to “plug into” the floodwaters of the Madness Network and filter out messages, impulses, shared visions, and knowledge of upcoming clan gatherings. +
-• Novice: Your “cousins” are usually surprised when you manage to make it to a gathering. +
-•• Practiced: You've become accustomed to the occasional Call. +
-••• Skillful: You sometimes hear echoes of messages that might not be intended for you. +
-•••• Expert: When one of the family dies, you know. +
-••••• Master: You are the undisputed local authority on what is necessary. +
-(Source: Clan Book Malkavian (Revised Edition), page 59) +
- +
-Masquerade: This Talent cannot be taken during character generation, and is available only to vampires. Masquerade reflects how skilled character is at appearing to be mortal: feigning respiration, creating a heartbeat, producing pink skin (by bringing blood to the surface), sneezing, masking vampiric tendencies, et al. Masquerade may be paired with a Social Attribute to determine whether the character successfully passes as a mortal among mortals+
-• Novice: You might succeed in ideal circumstances+
-•• Practiced: You are able to pass casual inspection+
-••• Competent: You are undetectable under most normal circumstances+
-•••• Expert: You may succeed even under duress+
-••••• Master: Even a witch-hunter would be fooled.+
 (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24) (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24)
  
-Mimicry A skilled imitator, you can mimic voices or sounds; the higher your rating, the greater your ability. The human larynx is quite flexible, capable of a wide vocal rangeAt the lower levelsyou can imitate accents or the voices of specific people, while higher levels help you fake an impressive range of sonic phenomena+=== Public Speaking === 
-• Novice: You mock celebrities for fun. +You are able to mold the emotions of a crowd by making a speechThis might be at a political rallyin a courtroom, at a lecture or even at the barricades once the revolution is underway. Whatever you want your audience to feel is what it feels.\\ 
-•• Practiced: Given time and practice, you can mimic a decent range of accents and voices. +• Novice: Entertaining speaker\\ 
-••• SkillfulYour impersonations can fool folks who’re familiar with the people or sounds you’re imitating. +•• Practiced: Compelling speaker\\ 
-•••• Expert: You’re like that dude in those old Police Academy flicks. +••• CompetentInspiring speaker\\ 
-••••• Master: Your ability to mimic almost anyone or anything is downright unsettling. +•••• Expert: Popular champion\\ 
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 20)+••••• Master: Demosthenes\\ 
 +(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 25)
  
-Negotiation: An acute perception for what people want makes you a master wheeler-dealer. Combined with social savvy and the ability to say “No” when you need to do so, this perception lets you bring other folks around to your point of viewhelps them strike bargains, and puzzle out the potential agendas that drive them to – and away from – the bargaining table+=== Sense Deception === 
-• Novice: You mediate disputes at home+Over the years, you have developed the ability to know instinctively when people are not telling you the truth or not telling you the whole truth. There is a way they look, a tone of voicea movem ent of the eyes - you can't analyze itbut it's always there and your instincts rarely let you down
-•• Practiced: You’re good at herding cats toward common destination+• Novice: Sometimes you can tell, hut you still get suckered - though more rarely than the average person does.\\ 
-••• SkillfulYour arbitration skills are in professional demand+•• Practiced: It takes silver tongue to pull the wool over your eyes.\\ 
-•••• Expert: Regardless of the dispute, you often get your way+••• CompetentAnyone who can slip one past you is a highly skilled con artist.\\ 
-••••• Master: You could forge lasting peace between old enemies, and leave them happy to have followed your lead+•••• Expert: You could make a living screening people for security.\\ 
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 21)+••••• Master: People whisper behind your back, and many are nervous talking to youYour ability is almost supernatural.\\ 
 +(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 26)
  
-Newspeak: Language is your playground. In a brave new age, you coin brave new words. Why? Because language is the gatekeeper of status and initiation. Obfuscatory miscourse is keycode. Disinfotech relegates the bleaters to Sidelinedia. Coprosperity sails on neochopand so you bait the beespeakers and decompartmentalize linguiblocks. What the hell are you saying, anyway? Whatever the hell you want it to mean! +=== Ventriloquism === 
-Essentially, this Talent helps you spin and juggle buzzwords, either existing or original. Beyond the roleplaying fun you can have with this Trait, Newspeak provides a verbal arsenal for social entanglements. By pairing Social Attributes with this Ability, you can excite, incite or inspire your audience (Charisma + Newspeak); dazzle, befuddle or intimidate opponents (Manipulation + Newspeak); or blast holes in Preconceptionsville by pairing beauty with brains (Appearance + Newspeak). Intelligence + Newspeak may help you decipher or deconstruct someone else’s wordstorm, while Perception or Wits might help you keep track of a slogan-spitting raconteur… or beat her at her own game! +You have the ability to throw your voicemaking it appear to come from somewhere else. This Talent can be used for entertainment - or deception.\\ 
-(Ideally, this Talent should be roleplayed outRelegating it to a simple roll of dice is no fun at all.) +• Novice: You could do a ventriloquist act at a children's party.\\ 
-• Novice: Lol +•• Practiced: You could get a spot with a local amateur vaudeville club. You can make someone standing next to you appear to speak.\\ 
-•• Practiced: u mad, bro? +••• CompetentYou could almost make a living from your talent, with occasional TV variety shows breaking up the round of cheap clubs and theatresYou can make someone (or something) within five yards of you appear to speak.\\ 
-••• SkillfulYour neologic metaphases into commcom+•••• Expert: You could take your act to VegasYou can make your voice appear to come from any spot within 30 feet of you.\\ 
-•••• Expert: Masspeak is youspeakYouspeak is allspeak+••••• Master: Young hopefuls bombard you with questions, and Variety calls you the savior of a lost vaudeville artYou can make your voice appear to come from anywhere within earshot.\\ 
-••••• Master: That whirring sound you hear is Orwell’s grave+(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 26)
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 21)+
  
-Panhandling: You are a skilled beggar. You are able to get people to give you money just by asking for it. The art of panhandling is performed through a subtle blend of Manipulation, Empathy, Intimidation, Streetwise and Subterfuge. You know whom to ask, how to approach them, what to say, and how to avoid police. This is a useful Talent for picking up quick cash or for creating a cover. +---- 
-• Novice: You can tell a good hard-luck story. +===== Secondary Skills ===== 
-•• Practiced: You can gain sympathy from most people. +(Of the one offered, below are the Secondary Skills available to Vampires, with corresponding rolls, requirements and results.)\\
-••• Competent: Real smooth. You can hit even the hardhearted for a few bucks. +
-•••• Expert: People want to take you home and feed and clothe you. +
-••••• Master: You can get whatever you want (within reason) for free. +
-(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24)+
  
-Public Speaking: You are able to mold the emotions of a crowd by making speechThis might be at a political rallyin a courtroom, at a lecture or even at the barricades once the revolution is underway. Whatever you want your audience to feel is what it feels+Artillery: You may operate and shoot artillery of all varieties - anything from mortar to howitzerAdditionallyyour knowledge of the weapons includes the ability to repair them
-• Novice: Entertaining speaker +• Novice: Young recruit 
-•• Practiced: Compelling speaker +•• Practiced: Operator 
-••• Competent: Inspiring speaker +••• Competent: Forward observer 
-•••• Expert: Popular champion +•••• Expert: Gun captain 
-••••• Master: Demosthenes +••••• Master: Can fire the thing by yourself if need be 
-(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 25)+(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 27)
  
-ScanYour quick eyes spot things other people miss. Darting your gaze across place or situationyou can catch a quick appraisal that would take most people a while to observe. Generally combined with Perception, this Talent helps your character scope out potential targets, threats, clues, faces, escape routes, and other vital details. He might not always know just what it is he sees, and he has to actually think about scanning an area in order to use this Ability. Given time for a fast glance or two, however, he’ll probably snag enough material to work with once he’s got the chance to process what he’s seen+Boat HandlingYou know your way around boatand can operate effectively in any crew position
-• Novice: You catch the obvious hints. +• Novice: Weekend sailor 
-•• Practiced: You’re good at noticing the little stuff. +•• Practiced: Serious enthusiast 
-••• SkillfulQuick appraisals are your specialty. +••• CompetentCompetitor or semi-skilled professional 
-•••• Expert: Few details escape your gaze. +•••• Expert: Professional or Olympic standard 
-••••• Master: Sherlock Holmes wishes he were you. +••••• Master: Instructor or Olympic gold medallist 
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 21)+(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 27)
  
-ScroungingDude! Where’d you find that? You’re pretty good at spotting goodies in the oddest placesA skilled scavengeryou can discover all kinds of unlikely stuff+Brewing/Distilling: You are skilled in the manufacture of alcohol and alcoholic beveragesYou are familiar with the equipment used in brewing and distillingand can maintain, operate and repair such equipment
-• Novice: You and Macklemore hit thrift shops together. +• Novice: Brew -kit user 
-•• Practiced: You are Macklemore. +•• Practiced: Home winemaker 
-••• SkillfulYou scrounge most of what you need from society’s cast-offs. +••• CompetentMoonshiner 
-•••• Expert: Given enough time and trash, you could find almost anything you need. +•••• Expert: Commercial winemaker 
-••••• Master: Money-wise, you live off little or nothing. +••••• Master: Chateau of repute 
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 21)+(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 27)
  
-SearchGiven time and motivation, you know how to toss room or comb the woodsYou’ve honed an eye for cluesmastered the classic hiding spaces (and puzzled out some new ones)and learned how to follow your instinctsIf there’s something to be found, you’re likely to find it… +BriberyYou know how, when and where to grease palms. Coupled with Streetwise or Politicsthis Ability could buy you a very easy lifeHoweveryou still need to decide whom to approach and whom to leave alone - remembernot everyone turns a blind eye
-• Novice: You’re good at finding lost stuff+• Novice: Get a bouncer to overlook the dress code
-•• Practiced: Clues seem to jump out at you+•• Practiced: Get the building inspector off your back
-••• SkillfulThe last place to look is the first place you try+••• CompetentA policeman won't write you tickets
-•••• Expert: The pros consult you when something or someone needs to be found+•••• Expert: The inspector from the EPA leaves you alone
-••••• Master: Your gift for detections seems downright supernatural… and probably is+••••• Master: State politicians and local CEOs scratch your back
-(Source: M20 Core Book, page 294f)+(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 27)
  
-Seduction: You’re good at being bad. A master of attraction, you can draw people into engagements they might otherwise ignore or avoid. This Talent reflects the combination of carnal allure and emotional manipulation that can wind people around your fingers (or other parts of your anatomy…) whenever you want their attention. 
-Seduction isn’t always sexual.It does, however, play off the target’s desires. Note that you don’t have to be gorgeous to use this Ability; many seducers, in fact, seem unremarkable until they put this gift to work. 
-• Novice: You can score desperate drunks. 
-•• Practiced: You can have almost anyone you want. 
-••• Skillful: You’re good enough to get people to go against their better natures. 
-•••• Expert: Turn on the charm, turn off their brains. 
-••••• Master: Vows, homes, hearts, and marriages are yours to break at will. 
-(Source: M20 Core Book, page 295) 
  
-Sense Deception: Over the years, you have developed the ability to know instinctively when people are not telling you the truth or not telling you the whole truth. There is a way they look, a tone of voice, a movem ent of the eyes - you can't analyze it, but it's always there and your instincts rarely let you down. 
-• Novice: Sometimes you can tell, hut you still get suckered - though more rarely than the average person does. 
-•• Practiced: It takes a silver tongue to pull the wool over your eyes. 
-••• Competent: Anyone who can slip one past you is a highly skilled con artist. 
-•••• Expert: You could make a living screening people for security. 
-••••• Master: People whisper behind your back, and many are nervous talking to you. Your ability is almost supernatural. 
-(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 26) 
  
-Style: You may not have been born good -looking, or possessed of a natural charm, but you know how to dress and make the most of your appearance. Even if you are not physically attractive, heads turn because of your dress sense and style. Note that this Talent only applies to people's reactions to your appearance; once you get closer, it's up to you. 
-• Novice: Good taste 
-•• Practiced: Socialite 
-••• Competent: Celebrity 
-•••• Expert: Celebrity advisor 
-••••• Master: International model 
-(Source: M20 Book of Secrets, page 22) 
- 
-Ventriloquism: You have the ability to throw your voice, making it appear to come from somewhere else. This Talent can be used for entertainment - or deception. 
-• Novice: You could do a ventriloquist act at a children's party. 
-•• Practiced: You could get a spot with a local amateur vaudeville club. You can make someone standing next to you appear to speak. 
-••• Competent: You could almost make a living from your talent, with occasional TV variety shows breaking up the round of cheap clubs and theatres. You can make someone (or something) within five yards of you appear to speak. 
-•••• Expert: You could take your act to Vegas. You can make your voice appear to come from any spot within 30 feet of you. 
-••••• Master: Young hopefuls bombard you with questions, and Variety calls you the savior of a lost vaudeville art. You can make your voice appear to come from anywhere within earshot. 
-(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 26) 
  
setting/vampire_traits.1773275501.txt.gz · Last modified: 2026/Mar/12 00:31 by ramona