Talents, Skills & Knowledges Collected Abilites: Talents|Skills|Knowledges for World of Darkness 20 th Anniversary Edition Version 2.0

Table of Contents

OVERVIEW 3

Categorization 3

Systems 3

Skill Key 5

Altered Nomenclature 5

STANDARD ABILITIES 6

Standard Talents 6

Standard Skills 7

Standard Knowledges 9

SPECIALIST ABILITIES 11

Specialist Talents 11

Specialist Skills 13

Specialist Knowledges 17

Redactions & Changes 20

INDEX: GENERAL ABILITIES 21

APPENDIX: SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES 22

Key 22

Supernatural Talents 22

Supernatural Skills 24

Supernatural Knowledges 25

Redactions and Changes 25

INDEX: SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES 26

CREDITS & CONTACT 27

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Overview

Overview Biotech skill. Some of these abilities (Particularly those associated with Mage) may not be exclusive Across the various World of Darkness Game Lines, to these Supernaturals, but are generally associated rules and approaches can vary significantly. In almost exclusively with them. particular, the Abilities traits that are supposedly universal across all game lines can vary enormously Systems in definition and function. While this is no issue for The systems associated with Abilities may have games constrained to a particular game line, this changed many times since the inception of World can create issues for games set in a mixed of Darkness, but certain things have remained cosmology – Different lines often define abilities in universal. Most notably, the role and availability of different ways, assign them different categories, Specialties has changed several times through the and even introduce entirely new ways of handling editions and lines; see the section below for more Specialties. information.

In this document, Players and Storytellers will find Dice Systems my own interpretation and house rulings for the When a character is called upon to use their Abilities in White Wolf and Onyx Path’s Classic abilities in a field, an ability roll is made. The nature World of Darkness RPG. These abilities are of this roll is set by the storyteller, however all condensed fro Demon: The Fallen, Hunter: The Ability Rolls function as follows: Reckoning, Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th - The Storyteller instructs the player on the roll Anniversary Edition, Vampire: The Masquerade and difficulty. An Ability Roll always has a Dice 20th Anniversary Edition, and Mage: The Ascension Pool consisting of the relevant Skill + relevant 20th Anniversary Edition. This document is by no Attribute; e.g. spotting danger generally has a means an absolute authority – Notably, Wraith and dice pool of Alertness + Perception. Unlike many Mummy are not represented in this book, as I have other systems, these combinations are fluid – A never used them in my games; Changeling: The character may pick a lock with Dexterity + Dreaming is also not represented, as the original Security, but examining said lock may instead Changeling Books are extremely depreciated, and I require a Perception + Security or Intelligence + have decided to await CTD20 before integrating Security roll instead. those rules. - The Difficulty of a roll is set by the Storyteller Categorization based on how difficult a particular action is. The In order to make this book simpler to use, Abilities standard difficulty of a roll is six, however the are categorized according to availability. Storyteller may raise or lower the difficulty Specifically, Abilities will be divided into Standard, based on the difficulty of the action performed – Specialized, and Unnatural abilities. Generally, Difficulties range from 5-7 Inclusive, however may be as low as 2 or as high as 10[V20, Standard Abilities represent those abilities that any 249]. For actions that a Storyteller rules go given person could possess –Skills like Drive, beyond the Difficulty 9 Thresholds, an optional Talents such as Empathy and Alertness, or Threshold Rule suggests that instead of having Knowledges such as Academics and Computer. Difficulties of 10, the Storyteller instead require Likewise, Specialized abilities represent abilities multiple successes – i.e. a Difficulty 11 roll would usually only seen in specialized fields – Your local in fact be a Difficulty 9 Roll where at least 3 drive-thru cashier is not likely to possess successes must be scored to pass.[M20, 387] Demolitions or Pilot just as a middle-class office - Certain factors (Supernatural Abilities, drone is not terribly likely to possess the Subculture particularly fine tools, adverse conditions, etc.) Knowledge. Finally, Unnatural abilities represent may modify the difficulty of a roll up or down. those only held by Supernatural Creatures – Talents - If a character does not have the ability required such as the Fera’s Primal-Urge talent, or the Mage’s for a roll, the difficulty is increased by 2. E.g, if a

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Overview

character must dodge a sword blow from a the local firing range to increase their Firearms frenzied Brujah (Dexterity + Dodge, Difficulty 6), Skill. Skills must be justified with proper practice but does not possess the Dodge Talent, they and training – One afternoon of auto repair is instead roll just the attribute with +2 difficulty not going to be enough to show a marked (Dexterity flat, Difficulty 8) increase in Crafts. Ratings - Knowledges represent knowledge gathered from lengthy study and comprehension of a Conventionally, A Character’s Rating in an ability subject. Increasing knowledge requires a ranges from 0 (Untrained) to 5 (Master). Certain character to spend a long period – weeks, supernatural influences (Such as the immense months, sometimes even years – to power and knowledge of an Elder Vampire) allow comprehend and understand a subject. Just abilities to go beyond the 5-dot Maximum, reading a book will not increase a character’s however as a rule 5 is the absolute maximum. Science Knowledge, but completing a degree in During Character Creation, a character cannot Physics certainly will. purchase dots above 3 in any Ability unless they use Skill Ratings Freebie Points, limiting the skill of “Level 1” • Novice/Dabbler – A hobby, Beginner characters. Further, a character cannot obtain a •• Practiced/Student – Entry level job Specialty in an ability until they have reached 4 ••• Skilled/Scholar – You’re a professional Dots of proficiency, with the exception of abilities •••• Expert/Professor – Respected teacher that utilize the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule below. ••••• Master – Peerless, the human peak

During character creation, a character receives a number of points to spend in ability categories Specialties & the Well-Skilled based on their type (13/9/5 for Supernaturals, Craftsman 11/7/4 for Mundanes), and may purchase The function of Specialties has changed several additional dots for 2 Freebie Points (flat) each. times across the World of Darkness versions and Abilities may also be raised with Experience Points game lines. Below are the Specialty Systems I at an exponential rate – A new Ability costs 3 flat recommend, drawn both from the books and house Experience, and each dot above the first costs (2 x rules I have played under; Rating) to purchase – i.e. purchasing the 3rd dot in - A character’s Specialty causes any 10s on a Alertness will cost 2x3 XP – thus, 6xp. relevant Skill Roll to count as double successes – Increasing Abilities after Character Creation, i.e. on a roll of 10,8,8,3,3,4 for a Difficulty 7 Roll, however, requires the character to have a justified a character with a relevant Specialty would reason – A character cannot simply save up 6xp score 4 Successes, not 2. This rule is common over a session of reading in the library, then expend throughout the 20th Anniversary Lines released it to increase their Brawl talent. As a rule; thus far[M20 274, V20 96, W20 123] - A character’s Specialty allows a player to have - Talents are innate abilities, and a character may any 10’s “Explode” – Each 10 rolled allows the justify an XP Expenditure on a Talent any time player to roll another dice and add the result to they have used the relevant talent – e.g. a the dice pool, ignoring any Botch Results on the character may increase their Brawl after a extra dice. This version of the rule is less particularly big fight, or their Alertness and powerful than the double-10’s method above, Intuition after becoming more paranoid in the and is common in books that use the Pre-20th wake of an ambush. Anniversary version of the Revised rules.[DTF 136, - Skills require training and practice to increase. A HTR 101], however this rule may also result in a character may spend a few weeks working on more powerful roll, as any additional 10’s rolled their car, or attend a few workshops to practice may also explode. their Crafts skill, or attend training sessions at

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Overview

- A House-Rule that some Storytellers instead use times representing different skill groupings. Take is to simply allow a Specialty to grant one single for example the City Secrets skill – The character automatic success to the relevant rolls – does not actually take City Secrets on their sheet; Effectively allowing a character to get 2 free rather they take a separate skill for any given city successes by spending willpower, or to increase (Seattle Secrets, Perth Secrets, London Secrets). In the minimal success from a Dice Pool higher the case of Grouped Skills that also use the Well- than the Difficulty Rating. Skilled Craftsman rule, this may show knowledges that branch out. For example, Seattle Secrets would As of Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary then have the WSC Specialties of Vampires, Edition, a name and clarification has been given Werewolves, Changelings, etc. to a specialty rule previously mentioned in older editions but limited to the Crafts and Academics [C] – This ability is a “Core” ability. In our games, we skills, occasionally attached to the Science skill as utilize a character sheet that has empty lines where well. The Well-Skilled Craftsman rule allows for Abilities are added as relevant to the character – If characters to master a range of different skills a player never intends to take, say, Martial Arts as a that all fall under one related umbrella; a skill, they don’t need to use up space on the character with sufficiently high Academics character sheet with the redundant trait. Core knowledge can apply that knowledge to multiple Abilities, however, are abilities that are fields of understanding. fundamental or ubiquitous to the World of Darkness setting or the Storyteller System, and Mechanically, the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule thus should be on the character sheet even if a requires a player to denote a specialty in the character does not possess them – for example, marked skills as soon as they obtain them. Instead Alertness, Intuition, Occult, etc. of offering the normal Specialty bonuses, the specialty simply denotes the field of [P] – This denotes a skill that has a prerequisite. For understanding the character is focused upon – example, the Mage Skill Hypertech cannot be Craft[Automotive], Academics[German History], higher than the character’s Technology skill. etc. Once the character achieves 4 dots in the [X] – This denotes a skill that behaves differently for Well-Skilled Craftsman ability, however, they may certain supernatural creatures. Notably, Esoterica begin to purchase additional specialties – and, by simply represents hokey new-age beliefs for most, extension, additional fields of proficiency – for but for a Mage it may be an integral part of their 4xp. For example, a character with 4 dots in Craft Magical Paradigm. Similarly, while Carousing is a with an [Automotive] Specialty may purchase character’s ability to have a good time and drink, [Electronics] for only 4xp, leveraging on their prior for a Vampire it is instead the ability to feign eating understanding. Of course, the character must still and drinking. be able to justify this increase. Abilities that utilize the Well-Skilled Craftsman Skill will have a [V] – This denotes a skill that has conflicting rules in [W] marker in their title. different versions, whether this be by Edition or Skill Key Game Line. Certain skills have special rules attached, and will [H] – This denotes a skill with heavy Houseruling be marked as such. Below is the key for these markers, and the associated rulings. Altered Nomenclature In order to reduce confusion and conflicts, [W] – Well-Skilled Craftsman, this ability uses the certain Abilities with similar names and abilities th WSC Rule introduced in Mage: The Ascension 20 with different names across versions are Anniversary Edition and detailed above. renamed. These Abilities will have a note at the [G] – This ability denotes a Skill Group, rather than end of their description explaining the change, an individual skill. This ability may be taken multiple as well as why.

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Standard Abilities

Standard Abilities surroundings – The ability to hear floorboards creak or smell a smoking gun – Arcane Awareness instead The following abilities are “Standard”, and can be represents the inspiration, hunches or sudden considered to be possessed by most Humans. On dread associated with the instinctive recognition of an average street, selecting individuals at random, the wrong. This insight is purely subconscious – most will have at least one of these abilities. As Awareness won’t let you smell a Vampire, but it will such, most of the following should be present on a let you know that guy in the cloak with the big character sheet even if a character does not collar just isn’t right. possess the ability in question. Standard Talents Skill Ratings • Sometimes, you feel like something Alertness [C] isn’t quite right. This represents how alert a character is, and how •• Sometimes you get strange vibes from quickly they notice things that go on around them a particular direction or vague area even when not actively looking for them. Alertness ••• You know if something strange is represents the attention a character pays to their happening when you enter a room surroundings, and is generally paired with •••• If you really concentrate, you can sense whether someone or something Perception for detecting physical stimuli (Smelling in a group is supernatural. Gas in that old house, or spotting that Zombie ••••• You instinctively know if something or reaching for the Lighter…) someone is mundane or supernatural Skill Ratings Note on Nomenclature: This Talent exists in the • You’re alert to odd sights and sounds various rulebooks just as Awareness, however I •• You overhear lots of gossip at parties have found new players often get confused at the ••• You keep a sharp eye out around you difference between Alertness/Awareness and •••• You’re almost paranoid appended the name. For groups desiring a less ••••• You spot the wolf before it spots you. diverse name, appropriate synonyms include Cognizance, Discernment or Insight Athletics [C] Brawl [C] This talent represents a character’s basic athletic This talent represents a character’s ability to fight, ability, as well as training in any sports and, paired plain and simple – How well you throw a punch, with Stamina, the character’s overall fitness. swing a claw or dig your teeth into a foe. This talent Athletics covers all forms of running, jumping, can represent everything from formal training to throwing, swimming or sports and the like, just plain hanging out in awful pubs. however it does not cover athletic feats covered in other abilities such as Martial Arts, Brawl or Melee. Skill Ratings • You were picked on a lot as a kid Skill Ratings •• You’ve been in a bar fight or two • You were pretty active as a kid ••• You get into a lot of fights, and usually •• You were an athlete in high-school leave looking better than the other guy ••• You never skip leg day •••• You could be a serious MMA fighter •••• You’re a professional athlete ••••• Agent Coulson ••••• You could place in the Olympics

Dodge [C] (Arcane) Awareness [C] Dodge represents a character’s ability to get the Arcane Awareness represents a characters hell out of the way. All manner of objects may be instinctual reaction to the presence of the dodged, within reason – From bullets and fists to Supernatural and strange. While Alertness subway trains and falling buildings. The ability to represents a characters attunement to their dodge should of course be justified – You can’t

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Standard Abilities

“dodge” a spray of bullets, but you may be able to Subterfuge [C] dive into cover just in time. This talent represents a character’s ability to lie and get away with it (when paired with Manipulate), as Skill Ratings well as spot when others are lying (when paired • You usually avoid getting slapped for with Perception). A character with Subterfuge is your puns •• You’re usually the last man standing in good at concealing their true motives and a round of dodgeball. projecting what they wish. ••• You’ve come out of food fights clean Skill Ratings •••• You seem to instinctively know where • You tell the occasional white lie a blow will hit •• You could get away with an affair for a ••••• You’re near untouchable while ••• You’re a successful lawyer Empathy [C] •••• You could be a career politician This talent represents a character’s ability to ••••• People believe truth and lies are whatever you tell them they are. empathize with others and sympathize with, feign sympathy for, or play on such emotions as you see fit. A character with high empathy is good at Standard Skills detecting lies (paired with perception), or just plain Drive [C] good conversation (paired with Charisma). This skill represents a character’s ability to operate Skill Ratings motor vehicles of various types; from Cars to • You’re a good shoulder to cry on Motorbikes and even Armoured Personnel Carriers. •• You can sometimes feel others suffer This skill does not automatically entail familiarity ••• You have a keen insight into what with such vehicles, and difficulties may vary based people want from you on your experience with different vehicles. •••• You’re a human polygraph (Except you actually work) The scope of this skill varies between game lines ••••• You can discern intimate emotions at a and editions; in some editions, Zero dots in drive glance means a character Can drive, however only an automatic and +1 difficulty is levied[HTR 111], however Intuition [C] other editions instead place the operation of an Automatic at 1 dot, with 0 dots holding the This talent represents a character’s innate sense for standard Untrained penalty for all vehicles. correct choices and possibilities. Where Alertness is a character’s ability to spot things in their Skill Ratings environment, and Awareness is a character’s ability • You can’t drive stick, but you can drive to recognize Supernatural goings-on, Intuition is •• You can handle a manual transmission simply a character’s gut feeling about certain things ••• You’re a professional trucker – That nagging something that tells you something •••• You’re a talented NASCAR racer or daredevil, you could pilot a tank bad is about to go down, or that this is the right ••••• You can use a car in place of an choice. elevator Skill Ratings • You breeze through multiple-choice Etiquette [V] exams This skill represents a character’s ability to •• You’d make a good stock trader ••• Your gut prepares you for unpleasant recognize and behave within the formal behaviours situations of their society, and the local customs of cultures •••• The things you “know” are uncanny other than their own. This first impression can ••••• You’d be burned as a witch in Salem grant the important edge in negotiations, seduction

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Standard Abilities or diplomatic manoeuvring, as well as helping purview of Alertness), but also the ability to characters get into places they do not rightly recognize and follow up on clues, perform the belong. appropriate research and make the right connections between leads and suspects. Skill Ratings • You’re not a total embarrassment at a Skill Ratings fine restaurant • Your google-fu is strong •• You’ve got some impressive manners, •• You could be a police officer and you can be seen at a charity dinner ••• You could be a good detective ••• You know your way around a •••• You could work for the Feds. conversation with the affluent ••••• No shit, Sherlock •••• You know what all those god damn spoons are used for Melee [C] ••••• You could be seen scolding the queen Note on version differences: In M20, Etiquette is Sometimes a semi-automatic assault rifle isn’t on noted as functioning for all cultures and societies, hand, other times you’re looking for something that however in Hunter: The Reckoning the skill instead packs a little less than 140-decibels of street- claims to only function for the society the character waking hell. Melee represents a character’s originates from. Storytellers wishing to use the competency with everything from swords and latter definition may pair this skill with the Well- wooden stakes to barstools and broken bottles, Skilled Craftsman rule in order to make it more ranging even to Polearms and Chainsaws. sensible. Skill Ratings Firearms [C, W] • You practice a lot with that cheap While Vampires and Werewolves hold stock in katana you bought at a convention ripping claws and gnashing fangs, and Warlocks •• Running out of ammo doesn’t leave you helpless. Guns are heavy, right? wield devastating Arcane Fire, some folks see the ••• You prefer the grace of a rapier to a value in a plain and simple shooter. The firearms gun skill represents proficiency with a range of different •••• You could be an Olympic fencer. weapons, however the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule ••••• When your Mosin runs out of ammo, applies, requiring a character specify exactly what that is when they should start running. kind of firearm they can wield. WSC Specialties: Handguns, Rifles, Assault, Stealth [C] Shotguns, Sniper, Artillery, Mortar, Flintlocks, Stealth represents a character’s ability to avoid Cybernetic Weaponry, SMG, Military Hardware being detected, whether it means pressing yourself into a dark corner or slipping through a creaky old Skill Ratings • You’ve been to the firing range a few house. Stealth is generally an opposed roll, taken times against someone else’s Perception + Alertness, and •• You’re a decent hunter is used both to hide yourself and to hide items on ••• You’ve been in a firefight or two and your person or in the environment. lived Skill Ratings •••• Your friends call you a crack shot • You can hide in a dark room ••••• Frank Castle •• You manage to keep out of the

streetlights when shadowing someone Investigation [C] ••• You’d be a great cat burglar This skill represents a character’s ability to actively •••• You can move quietly over dry leaves seek details and follow leads regarding a puzzle. It ••••• All you need is an orange box. does not just represent a good eye (that’s more the

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Standard Abilities

Technology [C, V] WSC Specialties: Teaching, Liberal Arts, Specific This skill represents a character’s knowledge of field of study(Folklore, Language, History, Politics, modern technology and associated devices, relative Architecture, etc.) to the setting. Most modern, urban characters have Skill Ratings at least one dot in this skill; after all, this is the 21st • You managed to finish high school century – you probably know how a toaster works. •• You can write to an academic standard Note that this skill only covers the use of simple ••• You could get a paper published in a technology, simple repairs, modifications and respectable journal maintenance. For complex repair and •••• You could be a tenured professor manufacturing, see Crafts. For software, see ••••• You’re a leading authority in your field Computer, and for the strange and esoteric, see Esoterica, Energy Weapons, and Hypertech. Bureaucracy [C] WSC Specialties*: Telecom, Computers, Security, This skill represents a character’s understanding of Communications, Improvised Solutions, Industrial The System, and their ability to navigate and abuse Espionage, Electronics, Vehicles, Media Tech it. This knowledge is useful for bypassing (or creating) red tape, ensuring important things are Skill Ratings “misfiled”, and just plain simplifying ordinary life – • You can load a dishwasher. Properly. •• Basic household, IT and automotive Bureaucracy will help you get in and out of the maintenance are manageable DMV at record speeds. ••• You can work almost anything thrown Skill Ratings at you. • You keep a daily planner •••• You can whip up some impressive •• You could work for the local council improvised gadgets ••• You know who to see for the right ••••• You can program a VCR favours *Note on Versions: In V20, Technology alludes to •••• You can keep track of an impressive the Well-Skilled craftsman rule and required a quantity of paperwork [V20 110] specialization be selected , however in M20 ••••• You make all your friends and relations the Technology skill is not tagged as a Well-Skilled file long applications Crasftsman Skill. A list of WSC Specialties is provided for Storytellers who wish to use this as a Computer [C] WSC Skill. This knowledge represents a character’s understanding of modern computing and Standard Knowledges Information Technology. A single dot provides a character with proficiency in whatever Basic Academics [C, W] Computer Use is for the setting of the chronicle, This knowledge represents your overall academic while higher points represent deeper understanding – Language skills, maths, history, understanding of hardware, software, interface, etc., as well as your area of academic expertise as the internet and IT Culture in difficulty. per the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule. Even outside the specialized knowledge, however, this Skill Ratings represents a character’s general competence in • You know basic computer skills for scholastic subjects – A character with 3 dots in your time and place •• You’ve studied programming basics Academics[History] is considered to have ••• You could build custom software completed at least a certain level of schooling in •••• You’re a respected professional addition to their focus. ••••• SHODAN was your fault

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Standard Abilities

Enigmas [C*, X] Occult [C] This talent represents a character’s ability to think This knowledge represents a working laterally and solve complex riddles, esoteric secrets comprehension of the World of Darkness as most and philosophical problems. Effectively, this is a people understand it – This knowledge can be character’s problem solving and philosophy misleading or outright wrong. Three dots or higher knowledge. in this knowledge are required to actually sort truth from falsehood, but this ability still gives a decent Skill Ratings overview of mystic practices, philosophies, lore, • You know basic computer skills for history and supernatural culture. your time and place •• You’ve studied programming basics Skill Ratings ••• You could build custom software • You read Tarot Cards sometimes •••• You’re a respected professional •• You’ve read some horror novels and ••••• SHODAN was your fault pseudoscientific nonsense that had a *Werwolf: The Apocalypse: Fera use the Enigmas grim ring of truth to it Knowledge when meditating to regain Gnosis in a ••• You’ve got some first-hand experience Caern, Node or Wellspring. As such, this Knowledge with the world of Shadows, if fleeting is marked as [C], but is only core for Shape- •••• You know various legends about Changing Supernaturals and certain spirit folk such monsters, their purported strengths as Fomori and Drones. and weaknesses ••••• You’ve gazed into the Abyss – And it Linguistics [C*] gazed back. This talent represents a character’s mastery of languages beyond their native tongue, as well as Science [C, W, X] understanding of language structure. A character This knowledge represents a character’s with high Linguistics can improvise languages they understanding of scientific principles, history and don’t know, and often knows many languages applications. The Well-Skilled craftsman rule themselves. In addition, each dot in Linguistics applies, and a character must take a specific field in allows the character to learn a new language which their knowledge is applied. In the modern (though this of course must be justified – Just world, most people should have at least one dot in because you take the third dot in Linguistics, science, assuming a first-world education. Mages doesn’t mean you can take a course on German may use specialized Science Fields as Foci. and come out knowing Japanese as well! WSC Specialties: Aeronautics, Astronomy, Biology, Skill Ratings Biopsychology, Psychology, Chemistry, Electronics, • You know one extra language Engineering, Forensics, Genetics, Geology, •• You know two extra languages Psychopharmacology, Hypermathematics, etc. ••• You know Four extra languages •••• You know Eight extra languages Skill Ratings ••••• You know Sixteen extra languages! • You’ve got a high school education and *Core Ability: In the standard World of Darkness understand the basic principles of your North American setting, Linguistics is far less useful field as a skill – In a place where English is ubiquitous •• You possess a more advanced science and almost nobody speaks solely another language, education and understand major it is easy to write off Linguistics as unimportant. paradigms and theories However, if running a game set in Europe or Asia, ••• You could work in a think tank other languages become more important. Many •••• Your papers are frequently seen in respectable journals regions of Europe in particular have multiple ethnic ••••• One of the leading minds of your time, groups that may not speak the common language. your research will shape the world.

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Specialist Abilities

Specialist Abilities Expression [V, W] The work of poets, musicians and playwrights, the The following abilities are those “Specialized” Expression Talent covers all manner of getting your abilities, possessed by only select humans or point across and understood – From poetry and supernaturals. Very few individuals have more than song to political discourse and information bytes. A a couple of these abilities – A Cashier may have character with high expression makes for both an Haggling, but is not likely to have Diplomacy or excellent performer and negotiator. Boat Handling. Specialist Talents WSC Specialties: Acting, Poetry, Fiction, Conversation, Social Media, Singing, Preaching, Carousing [X] Tactical Rhetoric, Command, Mimicry, Seduction This talent represents a character’s ability to have a good time. Though this doesn’t immediately imply Skill Ratings drinking and debauchery, it usually is the case. A • When you speak, folks notice •• Your passions can captivate others character with high carousing can throw one hell of interest a party, or just make themselves popular at the ••• You could be a successful writer pub. •••• Your work is Pulitzer material Skill Ratings ••••• 140 Characters to start a riot • You go drinking on the weekend Version Differences: Hunter: The Reckoning implies •• You go out dancing whenever you can that Expression also covers visual art; however this ••• You drift from party to party skill is treated separately in 20th Anniversary. •••• You’ve seen the inside of a few cells Instruction [P] ••••• Party Gorilla Vampire: The Masquerade: Vampires do not eat or This talent represents a character’s knack for drink; as such they cannot participate in drunken imparting information. Possessed by teachers, sect debauchery. For a Vampire, the Carousing Talent leaders or others in educative positions, this skill instead represents their ability to feign such actions allows a character to teach other characters the – pretending to eat food and drink beer. Skills and Knowledges they possess, though only to the level you possess – i.e. you cannot teach Science 4 if you only possess Science 3. For each Diplomacy month of instruction, roll Manipulation + Instruction; the number of successes rolled is the This talent represents a characters ability to amount of Experience the pupil may apply towards negotiate and navigate around touchy subjects, as the relevant trait. With storyteller’s approval, well as mediate disputes. Unlike Empathy or certain Talents such as Brawl or Dodge may also be Expression, Diplomacy is the subtle art of getting imparted this way – However, talents such as along with others without overt manipulation or Empathy or Alertness must be learned the “hard” putting aside your own goals. way. The prerequisite of the talent is that a Skill Ratings character must possess skills and knowledge to • You can iron out schoolyard disputes share in the first place. •• Friends ask you to help them with break-ups Skill Ratings ••• You would be a great manager or HR • You can teach simple concepts in an Rep interesting and digestible manner •••• You could be a professional union •• You can make moderately complex negotiator things straightforward and interesting ••••• You could make ISIS chill out a little ••• You can make Calculus sound simple •••• You can explain String Theory to almost anybody ••••• “Do, or do not. There is no try.”

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Specialist Abilities

Interrogation Search This talent represents a characters ability to extract This talent represents a character’s ability to look information from people through trickery, threats for and find something or someone in a small area and persistent questioning. It differs from torture in where they can concentrate. Unlike Alertness, that it does not involve any actual harm – Just which is a measure of a character’s passive careful and persistent psychological manipulation. reaction, Search represents a character actively seeking something or someone in an area they Skill Ratings know (or at least think) it is located. • Nosy neighbour •• Bad Cop Skill Ratings ••• Talk-show host • You’re good at finding lost belts •••• Investigative Journalist, Detective •• Tell-tale signs (broken plants) are ••••• You have trouble convincing people apparent to you you *didn’t* torture the perp. ••• You always know just where to look •••• Nothing escapes your discerning eye Intimidation ••••• Hans Landa

You can control others through fear, whether through force of personality or raw presence. Streetwise Maybe you have a way with social cues and cutting This talent represents a characters ability to words, showing off your skills, or perhaps you’re assimilate themselves into the local scene, pick up just big, mean and tough. contraband and gossip and keep themselves out of the trouble (Most of the time…) Streetwise is also Skill Ratings important for knowing back routes, side streets and • Playground bully indirect paths across a city – Essential for fleeing •• High School clique leader ••• People tend to call you “Sir” pursuers and evading arrest. •••• You discourage muggers with a frown Skill Ratings ••••• You frighten serial killers with a laugh • Rock Musician •• Suburban drug dealer Leadership ••• Gang banger •••• Gang Lieutenant You have the ability to motivate people through the ••••• Gang Lord force of your personality. Whether you direct by example, fear, excellent planning or sheer confidence, you rarely need to deceive people into Visual Art [W,H] following you – Your raw personality is often Also known as Art or Artistic Expression, this talent enough. This talent is generally paired with reflects your ability with visual artworks – Drawing, Charisma rather than manipulation, even though it painting, sculpture, 3D Modelling, Web Design, etc. is focused on controlling people. Given such talents, you can work with your chosen medium to produce works that get their message Skill Ratings across meaningfully and powerfully, without • Head Cheerleader needing to resort to length explanation and •• The guy at the office that always takes charge analysis. This differs from the Expression talent ••• You’d make a pretty decent CEO above in that it focuses on the visual component, •••• It’s not hard to make people respect more than the social component – Where your authority Expression is more about the spoken and written ••••• Nick Fury word, the nuance of artistic language or understanding, Visual Art is more focused on symbolism, artistic design and colour theory.

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Specialist Abilities

WSC Specialties: Painting, Video, Mixed Media, Skill Ratings CGI, Model-Making, Classic Art, Primitive • You were on the Archery Team in high techniques, visual design, web design, SFX Makeup school •• You go hunting with the bow every Skill Ratings now and again • You did a lot of sketching in math class ••• You could have been a medieval •• Your friends ask you to do artwork ranger ••• You manage to sell most of your work •••• You can usually hit the bullseye •••• You’re a renowned artist ••••• William Tell ••••• Please don’t cut your ear off Houserule: Throughout the various books, Blind Fighting Expression, Art and Performance have been ill- defined and often flow into each other in difficult to This skill represents a character’s ability to fight reconcile ways. As a solution, I have turned when unable to see their foes, utilizing their Expression into a purely social/charismatic talent – hearing and special sense to reduce the penalty to Singing, writing, etc. – with Visual Art serving a their brawl or melee (but not Firearms) rolls. Each more structured – Drawing, Sculpture, SFX, etc. – point in this skill reduces the penalty of performing discipline. Performance, as the third aspect, covers actions while blind by one, however it can never be more the captivating side of art otherwise reduced below its unhindered equivalent. Note that considered under the umbrella of Expression. this does not reflect any ability to see better in the dark – Rather, a character with Blind Fighting can Specialist Skills judge from sound, intuition and rote how to go Animal Ken about tasks without visual input. This skill represents a character’s ability to speak Skill Ratings and move in such a way as to gain an animals trust, • You don’t stub your toe in the dark as well as their ability to understand animal •• You can pinpoint where sound comes behaviour and train them. For characters with the from Animal Companion background, their companion ••• You can fight and predict enemy also starts the game knowing a number of tricks position at the same time equal to the character’s starting Animal Ken skill. •••• You can almost “feel” where enemies are Skill Ratings ••••• Matt Murdock • You can behave around tame animals •• You’ve housebroken a few puppies ••• You could train police attack dogs Boat Handling •••• You can teach complex tricks The maritime equivalent to the Drive skill, this ••••• You can train wild animals easily represents your understanding of operating seaworthy vessels and sailing. A character with this Archery [W] skill can control a boat or similar aquatic vehicle; This skill represents a character’s ability to wield however possessing this skill does not necessarily bows, crossbows and similar archaic projectile mean familiarity with a variety of vessels. weapons. Unlike firearms, which covers weapons Skill Ratings based on combustion mechanisms and similar • You know how to row quite well principles, Archery covers the use of tension-based •• You can navigate a motor boat firing mechanisms and arc-firing. Many modern properly bows are much more complex and powerful than ••• You understand how to set up and their archaic counterparts. control a sail •••• You could have been a dread pirate in WSC Specialties: Crossbows, Compound, Longbow, the 18th Century Repeating Crossbow, Ballistae ••••• Knight Boat

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Specialist Abilities

Crafts [W, C*] restraints. Unlike Security, Escapology won’t help a This skill represents a character’s ability to create character pick a lock to break out of a cell – But it and repair things, pursuing a particular trade. It will help them wiggle out of ropes, handcuffs and reflects proficiency with the necessary concepts even a straitjacket. and tools associated with the trade (Which is Skill Ratings chosen as per the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule). • Children’s Entertainer, you can escape Crafts is quite an overarching skill, as the principles a badly-tied skipping rope from one craft can be easily linked to the principles •• You can escape from decently-tied of another, making it easy for a character to apply bonds, scouts beware like knowledge towards the other fields. ••• You can escape from handcuffs and chains WSC Specialties: Armor, Gunsmith, Blacksmith, •••• You could escape a straitjacket when Carpentry, Tailoring, Automotive, Renovation, you don’t want to take your medicine Leatherwork, Electronics, Tailor, Fletcher, ••••• Harry Houdini would be proud Clockwork, robotics, Demolitions, etc. Skill Ratings Falconry • You have some idea of what you’re Once the sport of Lords and Nobles, Falconry is now doing – Simple things will work. practiced by only a few enthusiasts and renaissance •• You’re good with general repair, your faire types. Combined with supernatural powers work has that “Home-made” charm ••• You do nearly all of your own repairs such as Vampiric Animalism or Life Sphere Magick, •••• You’re a known and respected this skill can achieve fantastic feats. Note: craftsman Technically should be covered under Animal Ken, ••••• You could probably build a person with but I decided it was too cool to leave out. the right equipment. Skill Ratings

• The bird might actually come back Disguise •• You can do small displays that impress This skill represents a character’s ability to conceal ••• You could work at the medieval fair their appearance, and even make themselves look •••• Once, Lords would have admired your like another specific person through the use of great skill in the craft ••••• Once, you could have been the King’s clothes and makeup. Essential for spies or other own Falconer. criminals in the Post 9-11 world of Cameras and endless security, Disguise can be instrumental in protecting the masquerade, getting away with less- Fast-Draw than-legal plans, or just plain breaking the This skill allows a character to ready a weapon masquerade without it being pinned on you. almost instantly. By making a Dexterity + Fast Draw roll, a character scoring 3 or more successes can Skill Ratings draw a weapon and have it ready as a free action. • You can pull off a convincing blackface The difficulty is dependent on the holster and •• You can fool people sometimes ••• You can usually pass yourself off as complexity of the weapon. someone else Skill Ratings •••• Your disguises hold up to all but • You have pretty good reflexes rigorous scrutiny •• You’re good, but not great ••••• AKU! Shapeshifting master of darkness ••• You would have survived a wild west movie Escapology •••• You could headline your own act as a This skill represents a character’s proficiency in fast-shooter various techniques used to escape bonds and ••••• Who needs Celerity?

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Specialist Abilities

Martial Arts Performance [H] This skill represents the pursuit of one or more The Performance skill governs a character’s ability martial art, making a character’s fighting to perform more artistic performance endeavours. techniques more effective than simple punches and It differs from Expression despite sharing a lot of kicks. In game terms, this grants access to a variety common ground – A singer may use Expression to of special combat manoeuvres, detailed in various deliver a powerful message, or Performance to books. Martial Arts may also be used as a Focus by captivate and amaze an audience. Similarly, an Mage Characters, and also paired with various actor may present a deep and meaningful satire of supernatural abilities for devastating affect – Kung- discourse using Expression, or an impressive Garou, anyone? character play with a Performance roll.

Skill Ratings WSC Specialties: Dancing, Singing, Rock and Roll, • You spend weekends getting your ass Acting, Guitar Solos, Drunken Karaoke, Opera, kicked by a black belt Howling •• You’re an experienced student ••• You’re devoted to the art, it’s more Skill Ratings than just a hobby for you. • You could be in the church choir •••• You’re an accomplished fighter – you •• You’re a regular on the club circuit, could win medals. and you could be Youtube famous ••••• Shredder ••• You can book a gig most nights; you’ve probably been offered a contract •••• You could be a regional celebrity, Meditation [X] bordering on national. This skill represents a character’s ability to enter a ••••• Beethoven trance-like state at will, focusing their mind inward and dealing with mental and physical problems Pilot [W,H] through deep contemplation and body control. A The aerospace equivalent to Drive or Boat character can enter such a trance with a successful Handling, this skill represents a character’s ability meditation roll (Difficulty 7), and every hour may to operate flying machines. As per the Well-Skilled take a Difficulty 9 Roll to regain one point of Craftsman rule, a character must take a particular willpower per success, however a botch will result type of vehicle to specialize in, as unlike Boats or in a point being lost. Certain supernatural beings Cars, Air Vehicles often have significantly different have special uses for Meditation, such as Mages. methods of propulsion and ways of traversing the Note, however, that Shape-Changers, Possessed sky. and Kinfolk use Enigmas for their meditation in order to regain Gnosis, representing a deep WSC Specialties: Gliders, Personal Planes, Personal understanding of the Spirit World they are attuning VTOL, Jets, Military VTOL, Commercial Planes, themselves to. Parachutes, Mass-Transit VTOL

Skill Ratings Skill Ratings • You read a book on it once, man • You won’t crash, as long as there’s an •• You can relieve the stresses of life experienced co-pilot or the vehicle is through meditation simple (Hang Gliders, Parachutes) ••• You have studied under a master, and •• You can fly simpler vehicles (Hang are beginning to learn incredible things Gliders, Parachutes) unsupervised, and •••• You could run de-stress workshops with a good co-pilot can handle real ••••• You are an island of calm in a hurricane aircraft. ••• You could fly commercial flights •••• You could be in the Air Force ••••• I am a leaf on the wind

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Specialist Abilities

proficient in this skill has a good chance of getting Psychoanalysis/CBT where they want to go without being thrown off, This skill represents aptitude at diagnosing and trampled, and possibly even eaten by a more exotic treating mental ailments such as Derangements steed. Exotic mounts require at least riding 3 to without resorting to the use of behaviour-altering stay astride; under challenging circumstances a drugs. During a session of analysis, you may roll character may need to roll Dexterity + Riding. Intelligence + Psychoanalysis (Difficulty of target’s Charisma + Riding helps the rider control and bond intelligence + 3). Keep track of your net successes; with their mount, while Intelligence + Riding helps a the storyteller will decide how many successes are character know how to take care of it, maintain needed to remove the derangement. riding equipment, and puzzle out another’s riding techniques. Treating an unwilling patient is more difficulty; the roll instead is the subject’s willpower + 3. No Skill Ratings amount of Psychoanalysis or Cognitive Behaviour • You rode a horse at a tourist ranch Therapy can cure a Malkavian’s Initial •• You’re a practiced equestrian derangement, a Virtue 7+ Hunter’s Derangement, ••• You pass as a professional rider •••• You could be a show jumping champ or similar afflictions of Supernatural origin – These ••••• Ride the Tiger! maladies are not caused by deep-seated psychological issues or cycles of repetitive negative behaviour, but rather by Arcane means beyond the Security (Larceny) [P, H] scope of conventional psychology This skill represents a character’s familiarity with security systems, as well as the tools and Skill Ratings techniques associated with criminal activity. Picking • You’re a good shoulder to cry on locks, safecracking, hotwiring vehicles and various •• You could be a volunteer counsellor ••• You may offer professional counselling forms of breaking and entering all fall under this •••• You could be a qualified Cognitive skill’s purview. This skill can also be used as a Behavioural Therapist or Psychoanalyst counter – Applying one’s security knowledge to ••••• Hannibal Lector devise an unbeatable system, or discern a thief’s method of entry. Note that some systems will require pre-requisite skills – Hotwiring a car Research requires at least Technology 2, cracking a computer This skill represents a character’s aptitude at based lock will require enough points in the finding information through conventional research Computer knowledge, arcane or mystical locking means. Given enough time and a good library, this systems that don’t require outright mystical skill allows you to accumulate knowledge on any knowledge may require Occult, Cosmology or topic, so long as that knowledge is available to you Esoterica in order to outwit. in some form. Skill Ratings Skill Ratings • You can pick a simple lock • Undergrad Student •• You can hot-wire a car •• Grad Student or Research Assistant ••• You can open a locked window from ••• Professor outside •••• Researcher •••• You can outwit an alarm system ••••• Human Database ••••• Danny Ocean Note on Nomenclature: Though all other books Riding refer to this skill as “Security”, W20 instead refers to This skill represents the knowledge of how to this skill as “Larceny” and includes pickpocketing saddle, care for and ride some form of animal. In and forging under its purview. As a house ruling, I combination with the Animal Ken skill, a character consider Security to cover the mechanical effects

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Specialist Abilities above, and treat Pickpocketing as either a Dexterity Specialist Knowledges + Stealth or Dexterity + Subterfuge roll, and City Secrets [G,W] similarly place Forgery under the WSC Crafts Skill. This knowledge represents a character’s knowledge YMMV. of Supernatural power structures within a Survival particular city. Both the Group and Well-Skilled A combination of learned knowledge and animal Craftsman rules apply to this knowledge. The group instinct helps you find sources of food, water, is the city in question (Berlin Secrets, Moscow shelter and relative safety. A character probably Secrets), and the knowledge must be taken entirely find their way through the wilderness or urban anew for each new city. The Well-Skilled Craftsman wastelands, puzzling out local hazards long enough rule applies to the Supernatural Group in question to keep them alive. Very basic survival skills apply (Garou, Mage), as knowledge of one group (and its to any situation, though you may require specialties allies and enemies) can lead to knowledge of the for particularly harsh environments. Further, a other factions of the city. variant of this skill – Urban Survival – may be taken, Suggested Groups: (City Name) Secrets; i.e. Berlin which gives the expertise to live on the streets. Secrets, Perth Secrets, Sydney Secrets, Los Angeles Secrets, London Secrets, Moscow Secrets, etc. Skill Ratings WSC Specialties: Garou, Fera, Kindred, Mage, • A few camping trips with the kids / Sabbat, Camarilla, Anarchs, Technocratic, Passed out drunk a few times Traditions, Disparates, Pentex, Raveners, Faustians, •• You can identify edible berries and etc. mushrooms / You know where to Examples: Berlin Secrets[Pentex], London scavenge the fresher chuckout food Secrets[Garou], Madrid Secrets[Sabbat] ••• You can live off the land, make traps Skill Ratings and spot obvious hazards / You can • You’re a Newcomer who pays find decent shelter and avoid the more attention violent dregs of society •• You’re naïve or inexperienced •••• You’re happy living months at a time in ••• You have an ear to the ground the wilderness / You can generally find •••• You’re well-informed an abandoned place that’s got ••••• You flit between the political comfortable amenities machinations like a ghost in the ••••• Who needs society? / King of the machine streets

Cosmology/Subdimensions (H,X) Torture Known to most supernatural beings as Cosmology, This skill represents a proficiency in inflicting pain many Technomagi instead refer to this field of and suffering on prisoners and victims, prolonging learning as Subdimensions. This trait represents a their suffering and keeping them alive while still character’s knowledge of otherworlds beyond the causing the most pain possible in order to extract earthly plane, notably the Umbral Realms, and how information from them. This skill differs from to traverse them, spot hazards, deal with entities Interrogation in that, while Interrogation is mostly and recognize opportunities and threats as you about threat and grandstanding, Torture just skips encounter them. to carving folks up. Skill Ratings Skill Ratings • You’re a student of the mysteries • Playground Bully •• You’ve made the occasional voyage •• Really, really bad cop ••• You’re an experienced traveller ••• Fucked-up dominatrix •••• You’re a seasoned explorer •••• Covert Ops interrogator ••••• I watched C-Beams glitter in the dark ••••• High Inquisitor near the Tannhäuser Gate…

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Specialist Abilities

Houserule: In a game of Mixed Cosmology, Finance is essential for characters who work with particularly involving Demon: The Fallen, large quantities of money and resources – Or those Storytellers may wish to allow characters that do that wish to keep such monies hidden from the not otherwise interact with the Umbra a way to proper authorities. gain access to it, allowing Demon or Vampire Skill Ratings characters to keep pace with Mages and Shape- • You’ve taken some business classes Changers who more easily jump between worlds. As •• You have some practical experience; a house rule we utilize, any Demon Character with your bookkeeping is pretty neat the Lore of Realms and/or Lore of the Spirit that ••• You’d make a fine stock broker learns 2 or more dots in Cosmology may begin to •••• You can advise corporations in apply those lores to the Umbra and its denizens. financial matters Esoterica [W,X] ••••• Syndicate hasn’t got shit on you.

Esoterica represents a character’s knowledge of arcane peculiarities, pseudoscience and new-age Law practices. While Occult represents a form of This represents a character’s knowledge of the legal “cultural” knowledge – Who Alistair Crowley or system and its workings, covering everything from Frankenstein was, knowledge of Armenian police procedures to the nuances of local laws, Werewolf Legends – Esoterica represents practical legislation, rights and criminal punishments. applications of unnatural knowledge, from Skill Ratings Crystalmancy to Yoga and Acupuncture. While • Beat Cop Esoterica does not grant magickal powers to the •• Police Sergeant mundane, it may still have mundane function. ••• Police Chief Further, Esoterica can be used for Mages as their •••• Federal Official focus. ••••• Attorney General

WSC Specialties: Yoga, Tantra, Herbalism, Fortune- Telling, Hypnosis, Astrology, Celestiography, Local Area Knowledge [G] Demonology, Sacred Geometry, Prophecies, Similar to City Secrets, this knowledge represents Omens, T’ai Chi, Alchemy, Symbolism, familiar with the mundane aspects of an area – Transhumanist Theory, Esoteric Musicology, usually a city – and knowledge about its structure, Crystalmancy, Voodoo, Tarot, Other Specific Arcane history, geography and mundane politics. The fields knowledge does not include supernatural affairs – That is covered under the City Secrets knowledge Skill Ratings above. Likewise, this knowledge denotes a Skill • You’ve skimmed some new-age books •• You’ve devoted time and energy to Group, and knowledge for each city must be taken Esoteric Subjects as a new skill. ••• You’ve spent years building up a Suggested Groups: Berlin Area Knowledge, working knowledge of odd subjects Moscow Area Knowledge, Perth Area Knowledge •••• You understand the interconnected patterns of Arcane Disciplines Skill Ratings ••••• You’re a wizard, Harry. • You read the tour guide – properly. •• You probably lived here a year or two Finance ••• You’ve lived here 5-10 years •••• You’re native born and never left This knowledge represents a character’s ••••• Inspector Butterman understanding of commerce, economics and trade, and covers evaluation of an item’s worth as well as knowledge of exchange rates and the stock market.

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Specialist Abilities

equipment and medications, other knowledges Lore/RD Data [G,W,H] such as Science[Chemistry] may be needed to fill in This trait represents knowledge of a particular the gaps. Supernatural subset, such as Garou, Vampires, Skill Ratings Mages or Demons. You are familiar with the lore, • You’ve learned first aid and CPR strengths and weaknesses, legends and histories. •• You can treat minor trauma or illness Unlike the Occult knowledge, much of what you ••• You have proper medical training know is in fact true. This knowledge denotes a •••• You have an advanced medical degree Group, with the group being the Supernatural ••••• Dr. House Archetype in question (Garou, Vampires, etc.), and also utilizes the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule to Politics [W] denote the sect your understanding is drawn from This knowledge represents familiarity with current – Kindred Lore according to the Camarilla is rather politics, including who is in charge and how they different from the lore espoused by the Sabbat, and got there. The well-skilled craftsman rule applies, similarly Fera Lore as told by the Gurahl will have and a character should take a specialty either differences as told by the Kitsune. Technocratic relating to a particular political ideology Mages instead refer to this knowledge as Reality (Communism, Conservative Libertarianism), or a Deviant Data, or RD Data. political part local to their region (Progressive Suggested Groups: Fera Lore, Garou Lore, Kindred National Fascist Party, Socialist Isocratic Party). This Lore, Mage Lore, Technocratic Lore, Demon Lore, knowledge can aid a character in dealing with or Pentex Lore, etc. influencing mundane politicians, and combined WSC Specialties: [Particular sect], i.e. Bone with other insights may even offer some Gnawers, Camarilla, Black Spiral Dancers, Sabbat, understanding of local Supernatural power Camarilla, Traditions, Disparates structures. Examples: Kindred Lore[Camarilla], Mage RD Data[Disparates], Garou Lore[Wendigo], Kindred WSC Specialties: [Particular party], I.e. Republican, Lore[Nodism], etc. Democrat, Nazi Party, Tory Party, [Ideology] I.e. Communism, Fascism, Nationalism, Conservativism Skill Ratings • You know some speculation and Skill Ratings hearsay • You’re an activist, you annoy your •• You know a lot of relevant facts friends ••• You know what most knowledgeable •• You’re a political science major individuals know ••• Campaign manager or talk show host •••• You know what most of the Leaders •••• Senator or influential politician know ••••• Machiavelli would be proud ••••• You know all but the deeply-held secrets of the sect. Subculture [W]

This knowledge represents insight into a particular Medicine mundane subculture, its behaviours and beliefs, This knowledge represents a character’s knowledge fashion and media tastes, as well as likely places of of medicine and surgical practice. While usually gathering and how to get in the door. Covering exclusive to university-educated doctors, not all everything from local music scenes to gang culture medicine is constrained by such petty things as or church congregations, this knowledge is “Formal Training” and “Licencing.” With sufficient essential to blend in with local groups. proficiency in Medicine, a character knows how to WSC Specialties: Goth, Hipster, Metalheads, diagnose injuries and illnesses, as well as treat yuppies, Catholic Youths, [Local group], i.e. Russian them, however without a ready supply of medical Mafia, Yakuza, KKK, Westside Rollerz

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Specialist Abilities

Skill Ratings Fishing has been culled and is considered a function • You hang out with the local pot dealer of the Survival Skill. •• You’re a regular at a local gang’s watering hole Cryptography has been culled and should be ••• You’re a member of a local gang considered a Specialty of either Science or •••• You know what it means to be a Academics. member of the local gang Poisons has been culled and should instead be ••••• Tyler Durden considered a specialty of Crafts or Science Redactions & Changes Lore(Sect) and Lore(Archetype) has been condensed into one Lore Knowledge and Skill group Since the 1.0 version of this document, we have using the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule, where the played several games and been through various Archetype is the group and the Sect or subgroup rules. As a result, we’ve come to the conclusion serves as Specialty, i.e. Garou Lore and Wyrm Lore that certain abilities available in the previous would become Garou Lore[Wyrm]. This also allows version of this document were unnecessary, while for characters to have lore more specific to their others that were previously culled were required origin – Rather than just Wyrm Lore, a character either to prevent certain skills being “Overloaded” can take Garou Lore[Wyrm], representing the or to preserve the mechanical integrity of certain Garou’s lore of the Wyrm, or Hengeyokai game lines. Below is a summary of the redactions Lore[Wyrm] to represent the Beast Courts of Asia’s and changes between this and version 1.0 take on the lore. Categories Changed Altered Traits The Lucid Dreaming skill has been moved to the Archery now applies the Well-Skilled Craftsman Supernatural Category. The Supernatural Category rule, similar to Firearms. Suggested specialties has been streamlined into one category, with include Crossbows, Compound Bows, Repeating annotation as to what archetypes each trait is Crossbows and Ballistae. available to, in order to make it clearer for traits that are nominally associated with one archetype but can be shared in certain circumstances – e.g. Energy Weapons, Jetpack. Added Traits Expression, which in the previous version was an overloaded talent covering all forms of artistic pursuit, has been broken into its original three component parts. This was done both to make it fit a better thematic – Singing and Painting, it was felt, are not close enough in practice to use the Well- Skilled Craftsman approach – and to preserve mechanical integrity, notably of Vampire and Werewolf that treat Expression and Performance as separate skills and use both in rather specific forms as part of Disciplines and Gifts. Culled Traits Mimicry and Seduction have been culled, and should be considered instead as Specialties of Expression. Mimicry could also be considered for use as a specialty of Performance.

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Index: General Abilities

Index: General Abilities STANDARD TALENTS...... 6 Research ...... 16 Alertness [C] ...... 6 Riding ...... 16 Athletics [C] ...... 6 Security (Larceny) [P, H] ...... 16 (Arcane) Awareness [C] ...... 6 Survival ...... 17 Brawl [C] ...... 6 Torture ...... 17 Dodge [C] ...... 6 SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGES ...... 17 Empathy [C] ...... 7 City Secrets [G,W] ...... 17 Intuition [C] ...... 7 Cosmology/Subdimensions (H,X) ...... 17 Subterfuge [C] ...... 7 Esoterica [W,X] ...... 18 STANDARD SKILLS ...... 7 Finance ...... 18 Drive [C] ...... 7 Law ...... 18 Etiquette [V] ...... 7 Local Area Knowledge [G] ...... 18 Firearms [C, W] ...... 8 Lore/RD Data [G,W,H] ...... 19 Investigation [C] ...... 8 Medicine ...... 19 Melee [C] ...... 8 Politics [W] ...... 19 Stealth [C] ...... 8 Subculture [W] ...... 19 Technology [C, V] ...... 9 REDACTIONS & CHANGES ...... 20 STANDARD KNOWLEDGES ...... 9 Categories Changed ...... 20 Academics [C, W] ...... 9 Added Traits ...... 20 Bureaucracy [C] ...... 9 Culled Traits ...... 20 Computer [C] ...... 9 Altered Traits ...... 20 Enigmas [C*, X] ...... 10 Linguistics [C*] ...... 10 Occult [C] ...... 10 Science [C, W, X] ...... 10 SPECIALIST TALENTS ...... 11 Carousing [X] ...... 11 Diplomacy ...... 11 Expression [V, W] ...... 11 Instruction [P] ...... 11 Interrogation ...... 12 Intimidation ...... 12 Leadership ...... 12 Search...... 12 Streetwise ...... 12 Visual Art [W,H] ...... 12 SPECIALIST SKILLS ...... 13 Animal Ken ...... 13 Archery [W] ...... 13 Blind Fighting ...... 13 Boat Handling ...... 13 Crafts [W, C*] ...... 14 Disguise ...... 14 Escapology ...... 14 Falconry ...... 14 Fast-Draw ...... 14 Martial Arts ...... 15 Meditation [X] ...... 15 Performance [H] ...... 15 Pilot [W,H] ...... 15 Psychoanalysis/CBT ...... 16

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Appendix: Supernatural Abilities

Appendix: Supernatural Do [M,P] Not a mere martial art, Do is a devotion and way of Abilities life mostly unique to the Mages of the Akashic The following chapter is an appendix of Abilities Brotherhood. A specialized martial arts reflected by associated with Supernatural Creatures, as well as a unique collection of combat maneuvers and those that can be learned by mundane humans but Magickal techniques, Do requires a highly simply aren’t normal. While most of these abilities disciplined state of being – Diet, philosophy, cover core Supernatural Abilities or the strange meditation, internal and external reflection, and a knowledges of Mages and Technomancers, some refined sense of one’s place in the cosmos all apply to knowledge a mundane character may characterize the study of Do. A character who does learn from a Supernatural Being that cares to teach. not pursue each element of that study cannot master Do. Key In game terms, Do is more a way of being than a In addition to the standard key found in the learned skill – A character cannot just “learn Do.” It Overview, several other denominations are requires the aforementioned state of being and added to categorize these abnormal abilities. mind, and can only be learned from an Akashic [M] – Mage/Technomancer Archetype Mage – An optional rule suggests making the talent Akashic Exclusive, at the storyteller’s discretion. A [K] – Kindred (Vampire) Archetype starting character may begin the game with no [S] – Shapechanger (Garou, Fera) Archetype more than two dots in Do; all other dots must come through in-game experience. Further, a character [D] – Demon Archetype must have 2 dots of abilities related to Limbs Other [I] – Imbued (Hunter) Archetype than Dharmarmukti for each dot in do – Before another dot can be learned, the character must [T] – Though this trait is centred on a particular meet the preresequite (i.e. 2 dots for the 1st dot, 4 archetype, others may learn it. I.e. the Energy dots for the 2nd, etc.) Weapons skill for Mages may be taught to Non- Mages, allowing them to effectively use certain Eight limbs of Do: applicable Enchanted Devices created by a Dharmamukti (Combat): Alertness, Athletics, Do Dhyana (Meditation): Awareness, Enigmas, Technomancer. Meditation Jivahasta: Life: Esoterica[Bodywork, Herbalism, Supernatural Talents Yoga], Medicine, Survival Karma (Place in Cosmos): Art(all kinds), Crafts(non- Blatancy [M] martial only), Etiquette This talent represents a Mage character’s ability to, Prajna (Ethics): Academics[Philosophy], Belief through theatrical flair, audience appraisal or raw Systems, Cosmology audacity, disguise blatant acts of magic by Shastamarga (Weapons): Academics[Strategy], disguising them as falsehoods – Pretending as if Crafts[Weapon-related], Melee they’re magic Tricks, film special effects or other Sunyakaya (Body): Meditation, Stealth, Subterfuge Tricanmarga (Struggle): Acrobatics, Athletics, such “Believable” unrealities. Esoterica[Body Control, Yoga] Skill Ratings • No seriously, we’re making a video Skill Ratings •• It took me years to learn that trick… • Insect (Ant, Grasshopper, roach, etc.) ••• All the explanations are on our website •• Crawler(Lizard, Snake, Toad, etc.) •••• You could fool Mythbusters ••• Four-Footed (Horse, Dog, Cat, etc.) ••••• Nothing to see here, move along. •••• Bipedal (Monkey, Bear, Ape, etc.) ••••• True Humanity, Master of the Way

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Appendix: Supernatural Abilities

Flight [M,S,T,K,C] Malkavian Time [K] This talent represents a Shape-Changer or other An ability unique to Malkavian Vampires, this creature’s ability to fly, using the natural aptitude represents a Lunatic’s ability to tap into the of a bestial form. Used by Shape-Shifting Mages, Madness Network and filter out the cacophony of Corax and other winged Fera, as well as Gangrel deranged voices. Generally, a Storyteller should and other Shape-Changing Supernaturals, this make the rolls for this talent for the player one talent is available to any creature with the ability to week before an important gathering. With one fly without Technological Means. Note that this success, the lunatic will receive an impulse to talent is a Core Talent to Corax and Camazotz. immediately head to a specific locale, but only as the meeting is already starting. Three grants a night Skill Ratings or two of warning, and a general idea of the • You fell out of a tree once and didn’t meeting’s purpose, Five give a full week’s warning die •• Awkward Angel and clear visions of the meetings purpose. Six ••• Quidditch Player become a hazard to the Lunatic’s health, risking •••• Winged Avenger shadows of Elder’s derangements this deep in. ••••• Wind-Dancer Lunatics may also make a Difficulty 9

Wits+Malkavian Time roll, each success allowing Lucid Dreaming [M,T*,H] the Malkavian to send two words to a fellow This talent reflects a character’s control of their Malkavian within the city. Lunatics with 3 or more internal mindscape and dreamlands, and their dots in this talent may also hear Clanmates’ death ability to assert themselves and shift the tone of screams in the same city area. their dream, change locations, confront nightmares Skill Ratings head-on or even construct dreams of their own • It’s surprising you make the meetings choosing. •• You get the occasional call In game terms, this Talent allows you to manipulate ••• You hear the odd echo, not for you… your surroundings in a dream (Perception + LD, •••• When a Clanmate dies, you feel it ••••• You know what is needed. Difficulty 6), Shape new structures (Difficulty 8), or take complete control over that dream and your place in it (Difficulty 9). This talent can also direct Primal-Urge [S,C] conscious meditations (Difficulties 5, 7, and 8 This talent represents a Shape-Changer’s respectively), which can be used to gain insights, connection to their bestial nature. This unravel riddles and achieve a state of calm or understanding makes transitioning between forms resolution. If meditating or dreaming on a easier, and can help a Shape-Changer instinctively particular enigma, Lucid Dreaming may be used in recognize Supernatural Activity, though rarely place of an Enigmas roll. beyond hairs standing on end or a chill down the spine – For more specific detection, one needs the Skill Ratings Awareness Talent. • You’re aware of your dreams, and remember those that you wish Skill Ratings •• You can try to dream a certain dream • A pup, the urge is there but not honed ••• You have some control over your •• Your instincts often keep you safe dreams ••• You know when something strange is •••• You know how to influence and read going on dreams as aspects of the inners self •••• The Wolf guides you, and is seldom ••••• Inception wrong House Rule: As a House Rule, Non-Mage Characters ••••• You have a most intimate may utilize this talent. Storytellers may limit its understanding of what it means to be utility against Psychic Invaders however. of Gaia’s Chosen

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Appendix: Supernatural Abilities

Energy Weapon they are specialized in, as per the Supernatural Skills Well-Skilled Craftsman rule and similar to Firearms.

Biotech [M, T] WSC Specialties: Laser, Plasma, Sonic, Tesla, This skill represents an understanding of the Raygun, Transdimensional, etc. connections between Organic and Mechanical experience, and where they interface. Biotech gives Skill Ratings your character hands-on experience with • Imperial Stormtrooper •• You can usually hit the target Cybernetic Technology. Appropriate Science and ••• Tecchnocratic Field Operative Hypertech knowledges, along with Sphere Magick, •••• Brotherhood of Steel Paladin are required to invent and install such technology, ••••• Han shot first however this skill represents practical application to back that up. Hypertech [M, P] Non-Mages might learn this skill in order to The awakened counterpart to the Technology skill, maintain and use Biotech Enhancements added to this skill represents understanding and proficiency them by Mage allies and benefactors. in the advanced principles employed by the Skill Ratings Technocracy, Virtual Adepts, Sons of Ether and • You might be able to make simple other Technomancers. These advanced repairs technologies, such as Trinary Computing, •• You can design and install small Extradimensional Travel or Nanotech are within machines and make basic repairs your understanding. ••• Your skill is honed by Study, field work and lab experimentation At ranks 1 or 2, the Technomancer can only •••• You can create, install and maintain understand principles that conform to their radical designs and major overhauls, Paradigm; An Iteration-X Macrotechnician cannot and can employ almost any biotech understand an Ethrite’s Ethric Transmutation device or procedure in your field. Device. At rank 3 or higher, a Technomancer can ••••• I’m Iron Man. decipher the odd perversions of scientific “truth” behind such alien devices, and thus use or modify Energy Weapons [M,T,W] them. A successful Hypertech roll may allow a This skill represents understanding and ability to Technomancer to employ a tool or device that use and maintain Energy Weapons, from the would not usually work for them due to their steampunk artworks of the Etherite Rayguns to the paradigm. Chrome-Plated High-Tech Plasma Guns crafted by Prerequisite: The Hypertech rating cannot exceed a Technocratic Scientists. Any grunt can use a character’s Technology Skill. Rating. powder-and-slug weapon, but it takes specially trained personnel to operate such advanced Skill Ratings weaponry. • You understand the basics of Alternative Sciences This skill covers the basic understanding of Energy •• You have a good comprehension of Weapon technology – Being able to turn it on, point your paradigm’s Hypertech it in the right direction, not get blown up – and all ••• You can wrap your head around the the essential skills involved in handling and technological perversions of other maintenance of such equipment. This skill can be groups •••• You are proficient with the taken by non-awakened characters – They cannot technologies of your foes and rivals make the weapons, nor understand the intricacies ••••• Few technologies elude your of their functions, but they can point, aim, fire and Command reload. A character should define the form of

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Appendix: Supernatural Abilities

Jetpack [M,T] (Gaian) Rituals [S,T*,H] This skill represents the ability to control body- Rituals are an important part of Werewolf life. mounted flying gadgets. As with other such tech Ritual behaviour helps a werewolf control the rage abilities, success depends a lot on the character’s within. This knowedge lets a character know about familiarity – or lack thereof – with the technology in traditions, mysteries and ceremonies of the Garou, question. A Void Engineer Space Marine would find including how to participate in common rites and an Etherite’s Aetherpack extremely alien and how to behave properly towards elders and difficult to use, and likewise a Virtual Adept would leaders. Some Werewolf rituals are more than likely be confused by an Iterator’s Ion Pack. formalized behaviour: They call upon ancient spirit magics to powerful effect. A character cannot learn Skill Ratings a Rite of a higher rank than their Rituals rating. • ABORT ABORT •• You can fall at high speed in the Skill Ratings direction you want to go (usually) • You’ve watched a number of rites ••• Experienced and in control closely. •••• Aerial Combat isn’t complete terror •• You know how to carry yourself at ••••• To infinity – AND BEYOND tribal moots ••• Other tribes invite you to attend their Supernatural Knowledges moots •••• Even Black Spiral Dancers know and Belief Systems [M,D] respect your knowledge This skill represents your knowledge of what people ••••• You’ve quested into the Umbra to believe, how they believe it, why they believe it, develop new rites. and where people hold such beliefs. As a trait, this *House Rules: Though this knowledge is intended knowledge covers general ideological, religious and for Shape-Changers, Storytellers may elect to allow philosophical beliefs throughout the modern world, other characters to learn this Knowledge in order to and how these matters apply to crafting use the parts on Shape-Changer etiquette. coincidental magick. This knowledge also allows a Storytellers may also allow Spirit and Prime mages of sufficient power to use this knowledge and aid in Mage to appeal to local traditions, cultivate good Gaian Rites. impressions or shift beliefs in their favour. For a Note on Nomenclature: Renamed to Gaian Rituals, more mundane form of this Knowledge, see Politics to more clearly distinguish it when Cosmology- and Subculture. This knowledge is also of great Mixing as a Shapechanger-Associated trait. benefit to Demons, who study the world’s Religions, enhancing their ability to reap faith, as Redactions and Changes well as helping in the influencing and garnering of followers. As with the Standard and Specialist abilities, several traits in this section have been revised for this Skill Ratings version of the Document. • You’ve gleaned some stuff from Wikipedia binges Modifications •• You have a decent understanding of Energy Weapons has been updated along with current religious and cultural beliefs Archery to match Firearms in its behaviour, and is ••• You’ve got a deep comprehension of now a Well-Skilled Craftsman skill. worldwide dominant belief systems Additions •••• You’re a noted authority on comparative religions and political Lucid Dreaming has been added, and removed from philosophies the Specialist Abilities. ••••• You could give L. Ron Hubbard a run Gaian Rituals has been added, an oversight caused for his money. it to be omitted from the previous book.

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Index: Supernatural Abilities

Index: Supernatural Abilities

SUPERNATURAL TALENTS 22

Blatancy [M] ...... 22

Do [M,P] ...... 22

Flight [M,S,T,K,C] ...... 23

Lucid Dreaming [M,T*,H] ...... 23

Malkavian Time [K] ...... 23

Primal-Urge [S,C] ...... 23

SUPERNATURAL SKILLS 24

Biotech [M, T] ...... 24

Energy Weapons [M,T,W] ...... 24

Hypertech [M, P] ...... 24

Jetpack [M,T] ...... 25

SUPERNATURAL KNOWLEDGES 25

Belief Systems [M,D] ...... 25

(Gaian) Rituals [S,T*,H] ...... 25

REDACTIONS AND CHANGES 25

Modifications ...... 25

Additions ...... 25

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Master Index

Talents Skills Knowledges CORE TALENTS Pg. CORE SKILLS Pg. CORE KNOWLEDGES Pg. Alertness [C] 6 Drive [C] 7 Academics [C,W] 9 Athletics [C] 6 Firearms [C,W] 8 Bureaucracy [C] 9 (Arcane) Awareness [C] 6 Investigation[C] 8 Computer [C] 9 Brawl [C] 6 Melee [C] 8 Enigmas [C,X] 10 Dodge [C] 6 Stealth [C] 8 Linguistics [C] 10 Empathy [C] 7 Technology [C] 9 Occult [C] 10 Intuition [C] 7 Crafts [W,C] 14 Science [C,W,X] 10 Subterfuge [C] 7 †Gaian Rituals [S,T] 25 †Flight [M,S,T,K,C] 23 †Primal-Urge [S,C] 23 Auxiliary Talents Auxiliary Skills Auxiliary Knowledges †Blatancy [M] 22 Animal Ken 13 †Belief Systems[M,D] 25 Carousing [X] 11 Archery 13 City Secrets [G,W] 17 †Do[M,P] 22 †Biotech [M,T] 24 Cosmology/Subdim. [X] 17 Diplomacy 11 Blind Fighting 13 Esoterica [X] 18 Expression [W] 11 Boat Handling 13 Finance 18 Instruction [P] 11 Disguise 14 Law 18 Interrogation 12 Escapology 14 Local Area Knowledge [G] 18 Intimidation 12 Etiquette 7 Lore/RD Date [G,W] 19 Leadership 12 †Energy Weapons[M,T,W] 24 Medicine 19 †Lucid Dreaming[M,T] 23 Falconry 14 Politics[W] 19 †Malkavian Time[K] 23 Fast-Draw 14 Subculture[W] 19 Search 12 †Hypertech[M,P] 24 † - Denotes a Supernatural Ability Streetwise 12 †Jetpack[M,T] 25 [C] – Denotes a Core Ability Visual Art [W] 12 Martial Arts 15 [W] – Denotes an ability that [M] – Denotes Mage-Specific Meditation[X] 15 utilizes the Well Skilled Abilities Performance 15 Craftsman rule. [K] – Denotes Kindred (Vampire)- Pilot[W] 15 [G] – Denotes a group of Skills Specific Abilities Psychoanalysis/CBT 16 that are separate but similar [S] – Denotes Shapechanger Research 16 [X] – Denotes an ability that (Garou, Fera)-specific abilities Riding 16 behaves differently for some [D] – Denotes Demon-Specific Security (Larceny) [P] 16 supernatural creatures. [P] – Denotes an ability with a Abilities Survival 17 Prerequisite [T] – Indicates specific abilities Torture 17 that can still be obtained by

outsiders. Credits & Contact To White Wolf and Onyx Path publishing, for creating World of Darkness, WoD 20th Anniversary, and everything in between – Without which, I’d probably be wasting my time on something far more antisocial.

To my players, for putting up with all my shit and helping me reconcile the rules for mixed cosmology games.

Title Font is BrushGrunge byMax Infield.

This document is a compilation & resource, intended for use with the World of Darkness 20th Anniversary Edition like of Pen & Paper RPG’s, I claim no ownership or rights to the content herein.

You can contact me via my email: [email protected]

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