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

game mechanics • standard chapter one: models society for of disciplines the damned 379
• What subjects does a power affect? Some Disciplines, such as Celerity, Resilience and
Vigor, affect the user herself. Others affect a single person, a number of people or everyone in
an area. Still others might change a Kindred’s surroundings in some way. See the following for
a set of standard tables that relate a Discipline’s effect to the number of successes drawn.
• Does the power cost Vitae? Many powers of the standard Disciplines do not cost Vitae
to use, or one Vitae fuels the power for a full scene. Disciplines that only one faction favors,
such as Crúac or unique bloodline Disciplines, generally cost Vitae to use. The powers of a
novel Discipline should probably cost Vitae, too, to refl ect their lack of development. Only
the most lethal or effi cacious powers, or powers that never fail to have full effect should cost
Willpower points.
STANDARD MODELS FOR DISCIPLINES
As a convenience, we offer some of the more common design models for Discipline powers.
These tables can help a new Discipline stay roughly equal to the “old standards.” The
successes drawn indicate a character’s degree of success.
The effects of a power can vary in several ways. Most simply, they can cause damage in
proportion to successes drawn, just like a mundane attack. Discipline powers can also vary
in duration, the number of targets they affect, and their area of effect.
DIRECT, SINGLE-TARGET ATTACKS
Discipline powers that infl ict actual points of damage work just like mundane combat. The player
draws for the character to strike the target, which determines the amount of damage dealt.
Disciplines, however, can employ traits other than the Strength or Dexterity used in
mundane combat, and can call upon various traits for the subject’s protection. For instance,
a “psychic attack” power might use Intelligence + Skill + Discipline dots for the “attack” or
invocation draw, with the target’s Resolve for the Resistance modifi er. The invocation draw
may succeed, fail or yield disaster, with appropriate effects.
Failure: The power doesn’t activate, or it doesn’t affect the target.
Success: The power causes damage normally.
If the attack succeeds, each success indicates one point of damage.
The ability to infl ict aggravated damage should never be less than a three-dot power.
You can also use this system for attacks that reduce a target’s combat abilities in some way
other than Health. A power might reduce one of a character’s Attributes for a time or strike
him blind. Dominate and Majesty are examples of “attacks” that do not cause harm at all
— they just change the target’s thoughts or emotions.
DURATION
Duration can be a factor for a power in one of two ways. The invocation draw of a power
might indicate a duration. Alternatively, the player can modify an invocation draw. Attempting
a longer duration than normal means subtracting from the pool. Sacrifi cing duration
may add to the pool.
A.1 — TYPICAL DISCIPLINE EFFECT DURATIONS
Successes Normal Duration Subtle Duration
1 two turns two turns
2 fi ve turns one hour or scene
3 fi ve minutes one chapter
4 10 minutes one month
5+ one hour or scene one month