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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

Biotech skill. Some of these abilities (Particularly


Overview 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.
- Knowledges represent knowledge gathered
Ratings
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
Game Line.
Skill Key
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
WSC Rule introduced in Mage: The Ascension 20th 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

surroundings – The ability to hear floorboards creak


Standard Abilities 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.
Skill Ratings
Standard Talents • 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
other editions instead place the operation of an
Intuition [C] 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
••••• You could be seen scolding the queen Melee [C]
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
specialization be selected[V20 110], 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
WSC Skill.
Computer [C]
This knowledge represents a character’s
understanding of modern computing and
Information Technology. A single dot provides a
Standard Knowledges 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

Expression [V, W]
Specialist Abilities 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.
WSC Specialties: Acting, Poetry, Fiction,
Specialist Talents 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
••••• Party Gorilla
Instruction [P]
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
month of instruction, roll Manipulation +
Diplomacy
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
••••• Hans Landa
Intimidation
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.

12 | P a g e
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,
Expression, Art and Performance have been ill- Blind Fighting
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

13 | P a g e
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?

14 | P a g e
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

15 | P a g e
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

16 | P a g e
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…

17 | P a g e
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
••••• Syndicate hasn’t got shit on you.
Esoterica [W,X]
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
••• You’ve lived here 5-10 years
Finance
•••• 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.

18 | P a g e
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

19 | P a g e
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
••••• Tyler Durden Poisons has been culled and should instead be
considered a specialty of Crafts or Science

Lore(Sect) and Lore(Archetype) has been


Redactions & Changes
condensed into one Lore Knowledge and Skill group
Since the 1.0 version of this document, we have
played several games and been through various using the Well-Skilled Craftsman rule, where the
rules. As a result, we’ve come to the conclusion Archetype is the group and the Sect or subgroup
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
others that were previously culled were required for characters to have lore more specific to their
either to prevent certain skills being “Overloaded” origin – Rather than just Wyrm Lore, a character
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
The Lucid Dreaming skill has been moved to the Altered Traits
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
annotation as to what archetypes each trait is include Crossbows, Compound Bows, Repeating
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

Do [M,P]
Appendix: Supernatural 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,
Yoga], Medicine, Survival
Supernatural Talents 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

23 | P a g e
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
moots
Supernatural Knowledges •••• 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
well as helping in the influencing and garnering of Redactions and Changes
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
•••• You’re a noted authority on Additions
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.
Abilities [P] – Denotes an ability with a
Survival 17
[T] – Indicates specific abilities Prerequisite
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: bonegnawergalliard@gmail.com

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