• Wits: Your number of Dots in Wits limits how many splat-specific powers (e.g. Disciplines, Spheres, Lores, etc.) you can increase in one expenditure of XP. For example, if you have Wits 2, you may buy one dot in two Disicplines at once, but cannot buy a third until at least one of the other dots' completion date has been reached. Please note that even if a high number of dots in Wits allows you to learn three, four, or even five at once, keep in mind that time is finite; if you're studying that many different complicated fields at once, please don't then participate in a million scenes, otherwise your ST is granted the right to refuse one or more of the purchases even after approving it. (This is a SOtS universal rule)

It is an unfortunate reality that no two splats within the classic World of Darkness feature exactly the same list of abilities, which is of course a problem in a multi-splat game. To alleviate this issue we make use of the following lists of primary and secondary abilities for all splats.

• Technology is a Skill, in all system types.
• Research is a Knowledge, in all system types.
• Martial Arts are no longer hard OR soft style. All styles are both. This is covered in depth in Combat System House Rules.
• Religion has been subsumed in the more general Belief Systems.
• We allow Dual Specializations, but they can only be purchased after character creation, never during. For the mechanics behind this, please see Page 277 of Mage 20th Anniversary Edition corebook, specifically the section titled 'The Well-Skilled Craftsman.'
• While most abilities receive a specialisation at four dots, there are some exceptions: Academics, Art, Belief Systems, Crafts, Esoterica, Hunting, Performance and Science receive a specialisation at the first dot.
• Since the following abilities are defined differently in different game lines, the following compromise shall apply to all splats:
  • Art is a talent and applies to visual art forms: Drawing, painting, sculpting, flower arrangement, etc.
  • Performance is a skill that applies to performance arts: Dancing, singing, acting, etc.
  • Expression governs activities that involve the effective use of language, including writing novels or poetry.
  • Crafts encompasses abilities for the creation of primarily functional objects, like tailoring, carpentering, forging, etc.
  • Technology refers to the building, operation, and maintenance of electronics and electromechanical devices.
  • Computers is the software side to Technology's hardware. Writing, operating, and maintaining computer programs is handled by this ability.

(Of the one offered, below are the Secondary Talents available to Vampires, with corresponding rolls, requirements and results.)

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)(Vampire roll: Manipulation)

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 •• Practiced: Market trader ••• Competent: Horse trader •••• Expert: Con artist ••••• Master: Marco Polo (Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 23)

You are able to extract information from people by fair means or foul. Using a mixture of threats, trickery and persistent questioning, you ultimately unearth the truth.
• Novice: Nosy neighbor
•• Practiced: Movie cop
••• Competent: Talk-show host
•••• Expert: Investigative journalist
••••• Master: Spymaster
(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 24)(Roll: Manipulation)

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)

This Talent cannot be taken during character generation, and is available only to vampires. Masquerade reflects how skilled a 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)

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.
•• Practiced: You can gain sympathy from most people.
••• 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)

You are able to mold the emotions of a crowd by making a speech. This might be at a political rally, in 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.
• Novice: Entertaining speaker
•• Practiced: Compelling speaker
••• Competent: Inspiring speaker
•••• Expert: Popular champion
••••• Master: Demosthenes
(Source: Vampire Players Guide (2nd Edition), page 25)

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)

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)