Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

chapter one: sample society derangements
of the damned 271
can seem dangerously crazed when it takes over a character’s existence. Delusional obsession
might be dismissed as fanaticism, but it is even more extreme.
Effect: A Willpower point must be spent to resist whenever an opportunity arises to act in
accordance with the character’s obsession, or whenever he must act in direct opposition to
his obsession. For instance, a gardening fanatic might have to expend Willpower to stay out
of a fl orist’s shop. A Kindred who believes that every instance of a crescent or lunar reference
indicates Lupine activity might need to expend a Willpower point to step into an Islamic
cultural center or to stay in the same room as someone named Moon.
Dependent-Personality Disorder (severe; follows Irrationality): This emotional derangement
most often affl icts ghouls or blood-bound Kindred. The character becomes utterly
dependent on his regnant or domitor. He resists making even the most trivial decision for
himself. This disorder might arise from fear of abandonment (especially strong in the case of
ghouls who know that sudden aging or death awaits them if they lose their supply of Vitae).
It might also grow from an exaggerated fear of displeasing a harsh or demanding master.
Effect: If a character has this derangement, the player does not include Resolve in contested
test pools when the domitor attempts to Dominate him (although Blood Potency still applies).
Indeed, the character often follows up on any statement that might be construed as a request
for the character to do something.
Phobia (mild): A person who suffers from a phobia has an unreasoning fear of something.
A phobia can result from a traumatic experience associated with an object or condition, or
might be a purely neurotic way of hiding from a real source of anxiety. Common phobias
include a fear of open spaces, leaving one’s home, of enclosed spaces or germs, but nearly
anything can become the focus of a phobia. Kindred are especially prone to phobias of fi re,
sunlight or hunger. A phobic vampire might avoid going outdoors for fear of sunlight, even
if she knows dawn is hours away.
Effect: Your character moves away from the object of her phobia. If she must be near it,
she can tolerate being no closer than her Acting Speed in steps. If it approaches her, she
must move away at least her Acting Speed in distance in her next action. She cannot easily
target the trigger with close combat or ranged attacks. Such attacks suffer a -5 penalty as your
character shakes just looking at it. If space or circumstances don’t allow her to maintain her
distance, she freezes like a deer in headlights until she fi nds an opening by which to escape.
(Her Defense still applies if attacked and she can choose to dodge and can take cover from
Firearms attacks, but she can take no other actions while “frozen.”)
A successful Resolve + Composure draw must be made for a phobic Kindred to simply
approach the subject of her fear. Any sort of shock or surprise associated with the subject of
the phobia can cause Rötschreck. Draw normally for the character to resist, suitably modifi ed
by the degree of exposure.
Hysteria (severe; follows Phobia): Kindred hysteria operates much like that of mortals,
except it rises to new heights, as would be expected for a mental ailment of the undead. The
vampire’s emotions run high and stressful situations can cause fi ts of rage, weeping, fainting
or other emotional displays.
Effect: This condition operates as a phobia, but on a failed Resolve + Composure draw
your character cannot be in the same room with the object of her fear. She must run away
from it immediately, and cannot tolerate being within sensory range (sight, sound, smell) of
it. If the trigger comes within sensory range, she must move away at full running speed as
soon as she can take an action. She cannot target it for an attack under any circumstance. If
it touches her, make another Resolve + Composure draw for her to not freak out and run as
far away as she can, thinking of nothing else until she’s left the subject far behind. (Even if