Camarilla Rules Addendum (Last Updated 07/2008)
This addendum provides the rules for the Camarilla’s live-action chronicle and provides a level playing-field throughout the organization. Storytellers are not permitted to change or ignore approval requirements or take more than reasonable leeway to bend the rules to develop stories. Rules from this supplement and sanctioned White Wolf books must be particularly strictly observed when character death is a likely possibility.
The MST’s office maintains a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ( camarilla.white-wolf.com/rules ) document built in response to questions asked on the cam-rules email list. The FAQ contains explanations of misunderstood mechanics, not official rules changes.
This document is the property of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All trademarked terms within are used with permission. This document may be freely distributed for use by members of White Wolf’s official fan club, the Camarilla. Any other use of this document in whole or in part requires written permission from the Camarilla’s Club Director.
Errata for published materials are treated separately from the materials they reference. If published material is sanctioned in whole or in part or if is not sanctioned has no bearing on the sanctioning of the commensurate errata.
The latest updates to the Addendum are highlighted in red.
Older updates are highlighted in blue.
This Addendum is effective as of July 1, 2008 or when it is posted on the Master Storyteller’s website, whichever is later.
CHAPTER ONE: UNIVERSAL [U.0.00]
This chapter provides general rules that apply to all venues and incorporates Mind’s Eye Theatre (WW50000) into the Camarilla’s live-action chronicle.
The Optional Rules from Mind’s Eye Theatre are not used in the sanctioned chronicle, with the exception of Morality Derangements (p103) and A Matter of Resolve (p174), which are universally applied.
APPROVALS [U.1.00]
These rules supplement information in membership materials regarding approvals.
How Approvals Work [U.1.01]
All character sheets are Low Approval for creation and updating. Anything from sanctioned material that can be applied to a character sheet is Low Approval unless otherwise specified in this document.
Notifications [U.1.02]
Notifications require an acknowledgement from certain Storytellers and are usually used for tracking purposes. They don’t require standard approval, although they should be added to the Camarilla’s approvals database (where available) as usual. Any additional information requested by a Storyteller in a comment on the notification must be supplied.
Universal Approval Lexicon [U.1.03]
CHARACTER CLASS – groups or classifications that are optional to join (e.g. orders or covenants).
CHARACTER TYPE – the inherent (and usually unchangeable) classifications for supernatural beings (e.g. clan), or classifications that become unchangeable once made (e.g. bloodline). Characters are automatically assigned to the venue specific to their character type. Mundane mortal characters can be assigned to any venue at creation (but must be assigned to one venue).
PLACE OF POWER – a location where the power or presence of the supernatural is especially strong in some way (e.g. Loci, Hallows, Wyrm’s Nests, Demesne, Keyed Gateway to the Hedge, etc.).
PLAYER CHARACTER – a character portrayed by a player
POWER STAT – the measure of a supernatural creature’s inner strength and affinity. In Requiem this is Blood Potency, in Forsaken it is Primal Urge, in Awakening it is Gnosis,in Created it is Azoth, and in Lost it is Wyrd.
STORYTELLER CHARACTER (NPC) – a character created by a Storyteller as part of his venue storyline
VENUE – a World of Darkness game based around a type of supernatural (e.g. Forsaken).
Weaknesses and Dramatic Failures
Some character types or classes described in White Wolf material have a weakness or flaw that relies on the "dramatic failure" system. In live play these characters treats automatic failures (i.e. drawing an Ace) as a dramatic failure when that is relevant to their weakness or flaw. This is an exception to Mind’s Eye Theatre not using dramatic failures.
Probability
Several combinations of effects deny a character the 10-again rule but allow for the 8-again or 9-again. In the instance of a 9-again, but no 10-again, the effects cancel and treat the draw with the standard 10-again rules. In the instance of an 8-again but no 10-again, treat it as a 9-again.
Power Stats
Storytellers are encouraged to require extensive waiting periods (e.g. 6 months) between buying each dot of a power stat, but this is not mandatory. Characters with power stats of 6 or higher must have a background of reasonable length on file with their direct Storyteller or be removed from play. Power stats of 9 or 10 require Top Approval. See the relevant venue sections for further requirements.
Modifier Categories [U.1.04]
In the Camarilla, a pool to take an action is separated into the ‘base pool’ and the ‘modifiers’. A ‘base pool’ is the unmodified Attribute + Skill + Equipment + Specialization, or the relevant pool listed in the power description. E.g. ‘base pool’ for fighting with an axe is unmodified Strength + Weaponry + Axe + Specialization (if any); ‘base pool’ for Dominate 1: Command is unmodified Intelligence + Intimidation + Dominate + Specialization (if any).
Any adjustments beyond this base are considered ‘modifiers’. The maximum adjustment (positive or negative) from modifiers is 15 or the ‘base pool’, whichever is higher. Exceptions to this limit are identified in this document.
For the purposes of this rule, Defense is considered a pool whose base is comprised of the unmodified Attribute + unmodified Equipment + appropriate merit such as Fighting Styles. Taking a Dodge action increases the base pool for Defense. Initiative is considered a pool whose base is comprised of the unmodified Dexterity + unmodified Composure + appropriate merits such as Fast Reflexes. Health is considered a pool whose base is comprised of unmodified Size + unmodified Stamina.
Mundane items used in play may provide up to a +5 bonus to non-combat test pools (see MET p193). Mundane items may not provide bonuses to supernatural challenges. Any other mechanics require Global Approval.
General Approval Limitations [U.1.05]
Low Approval
Mid Approval
High Approval
Top Approval
Global Approval
Unless otherwise specified in this document or appendices, characters may never have access to supernatural mechanics or benefits inherent to another character type or class (e.g. only True Members of the Carthian Movement may learn supernatural powers from the Carthians book). An exception is powers that are activated by one character that bestow benefits on another character (e.g. a member of the Invictus being given an item enhanced by Lancea Sanctum powers). These rules are often superseded by venue-specific details in this document’s Appendices for items and mechanics that are commonly shared.
Altered Levels of Approval
Becoming a character type or character class that a character usually wouldn’t have access to requires an approval two steps higher than normal (e.g. a non-Invictus vampire character joining a bloodline from the Invictus book would require Global Approval rather than High Approval).
If your character resided (as a supernatural) for more than a year, or impacted on local affairs (as mortal or supernatural) in any area, you must get written approval from the local Storyteller of that area.
Performing in-character actions affecting a large area requires approval of the principal Storyteller with the lowest approval authority over that area (e.g. affecting New York City would require approval from the city’s Domain Storyteller, affecting parts of Scotland and England would require approval from the UK National Storyteller).
The cross venue settings document on the MST website explains other types of cross-venue interaction, and must be followed.
Grandfathering [U.1.06]
If something was listed as a specific approval level in previous rules document has increased in approval requirement here, it will be "grandfathered". In order to keep the approval, a notification must be sent to the same level as the item’s new approval level. This section will change with each addendum update to address specific changes between versions.
The following items are not grandfathered;
Affiliates Without Global Approval Database Access [U.1.07]
If a player is from an affiliate that does not use the approvals database they are responsible for confirmation of items requiring special approval or notification when attending a game other than their home game. The confirmation (written or electronic) must be from the highest approval Storyteller for each item. This is in addition to any other Venue Style Sheet requirements at the game being visited.
Global Setting Review Guidelines [U.1.08]
The following guidelines have been established to be not acceptable for Custom Mechanics. Those items already approved by the Global Setting Review that may contradict these guidelines remain in play as approved.
EXPERIENCE POINTS [U.2.00]
Player characters are either ‘Primary’ or ‘Secondary’ characters, created according to sanctioned material. Each player can have one Primary character in each venue, and can have a second Primary character in a single venue.
Any number of Secondary characters can be created. Players can voluntarily take fewer than the allocated starting dots.
Primary characters add experience points (xp) based on the Membership Class (MC) of their player;
They add 30 xp plus 20 xp per MC at creation. A bonus of 40 xp is given at MC 3, 6, 9, 12 and 14. E.g. at MC 5 a Primary character receives 170 xp – (30 + 5 * 20) + 40 = 170 xp.
Secondary characters add 50 xp only, as if created at MC 1.
These xp are added after normal character creation is complete, before entering play (i.e. they cannot be spent on "creation only" merits). A maximum of 50% of this xp can be spent in a single area; Attributes, Skills, Supernatural Advantage, Merits or supernatural powers (e.g. Disciplines). The 50% rule doesn’t apply to characters created at MC 1 or mundane characters in the Mortals venue.
Up to ten xp can be left unspent and saved; other unspent xp is lost when the character enters play.
When a player gains new MC levels, all their Primary characters add 20 xp per level gained (plus 40 xp gained at the MC milestones mentioned above). If a player loses MC levels, all their Primary characters lose xp equal to the worth of the MC. This may cause characters to go into "xp debt" (they do not lose dots from their sheet), which must be paid off before anything else is bought for that character.
Experience Point Earning [U.2.01]
After entering play a character can earn a maximum of 10 xp per month (exceptions noted in U.2.02]
A maximum of 5 xp per game may be awarded. Storytellers can use the "After a Chapter" and "After a Story" systems described in MET if this is noted in the game’s Venue Style Sheet.
A player’s direct Storyteller can award up to 5 xp per month for activities not related to a game. E.g. bonuses for written downtimes, character journals, end-of-story bonuses, etc. No more than 3 xp per month may be awarded for a single activity.
Over-Cap Experience Points [U.2.02]
Each of the following awards can be earned in excess of the usual 10 xp monthly maximum. Multiple over-cap awards are cumulative unless noted, but may not exceed 20 over-cap xp per year on any character.
Unless otherwise specified, all such awards must be entered on the approvals database (where available) at Low Approval. If players have portrayed multiple characters in the same game session they can split the over-cap xp between the characters (the full bonus is not applied to both characters) as they see fit.
PLAYER CHARACTERS [U.3.00]
Character Sanctioning and Records [U.3.01]
The player’s direct Storyteller must approve all their characters for that particular venue. Any time there is a discrepancy between the player’s copy and the copy on record, the Storyteller’s copy is considered accurate.
A complete character record includes: character sheet, verification of any special approvals, and an experience point log. The experience point log details how starting dots were spent at creation and how xp was spent afterwards. It will list games attended and xp awards. All xp awards must be dated.
Retirement [U.3.02]
A player can choose to retire a character. Once retired, the character becomes an NPC under the control of the player’s direct Storyteller (or the temporary supervision of the supervising Storyteller of a particular game or convention). The character’s activities are then limited to resolving unfinished business with other player characters or story elements, unless both the player and the Storyteller have agreed the character can become a recurring NPC.
Dead characters may not be resurrected.
Character History [U.3.03]
Players should create well-researched background with tie-ins with other player characters. Player characters cannot genuinely have been major historical figures or fictional characters. No character can be made to engage in activities that would immediately set off real-world alarm bells (avoid IRA bombers, Nazi torturers, etc). Storytellers are strongly encouraged to deny any backgrounds that may lead to conflict with real world authorities or civic organizations. Any references to real world terrorist organizations in emails or other communications must include a clear disclaimer that the communication is a prop for entertainment.
Avoid reusing names from current or prior White Wolf works or other copyrighted fiction.
Character Knowledge [U.3.04]
Characters have access to in-character (IC) information applicable to their venue and type. E.g. a Forsaken character would usually have access to casual knowledge from Werewolf: The Forsaken and from books or portions of books specific to her character type and class.
Characters who have had contact with or studied another type of creature or supernatural society, and can produce specialized knowledge on the topic, require special approval. They must have a minimum of 1 dot of the Occult skill, with a speciality in their area of expertise.
Common sense should be applied. Information stated in published material to be commonly known does not require a specialty. Information stated in published material to be particularly secret or rare may be unavailable even with a specialty. This rule is not intended to affect knowledge acquired "in game". See the document "Thoughts on Character Knowledge" on the Master Storyteller website.
STORYTELLER CHARACTERS (ANTAGONISTS) [U.4.00]
Each NPC must be approved by a principal Storyteller. NPCs are created like player characters but are not subject to approval limitations that specify "player characters".
Storyteller characters can be built with xp equating to MC 10 (or the Storyteller’s own MC if higher). Additional xp can be added, up to 20 xp per month since January 2005.
Spirits and Ghosts [U.4.01]
Spirits and ghosts can spend a maximum of 50% of their normal Essence pool per turn. Spending Essence to increase pools is an exception to [U.1.04]. The bonus derived from Essence does not count as part of the +/- 15 limit.
SYSTEMS [U.5.00]
Testing for all venues is performed using systems presented in Mind’s Eye Theatre. Dice pools equate to draw bonuses (with the exception of "multi-draws" detailed below). If a tabletop source book calls for a system permutation, use the live-action version (MET p181-184).
All Morality draws (including creature type versions such as Humanity, Harmony and Wisdom) use the "multi-draw" system of pulling multiple cards (MET p101-102). Bonuses or penalties add or remove draws.
There is conflicting text regarding the maximum number of characters that can attack a target at the same time. MET p26 is correct – four attackers maximum.
There is conflicting text regarding Willpower being spent to bolster a draw. A Willpower point adds +2 to a Resistance Attribute during a resisted test or to Defense (when the Willpower user is not making a draw). When used to bolster the spender’s draw, including a contested resistance draw, it adds +3.
Limitations to One-Shot-Kills [U.5.01]
Any powers or mechanics that would incapacitate or completely paralyze a character are modified for sanctioned play. Any single test that would deny a target their Defense for subsequent attacks now allows them to retain their Defense. It takes High Approval to bypass this restriction, with the exception of vampiric staking which requires no special approval. The grappling maneuver "immobilize" does not place a character in a killing blow situation.
Poisons and Toxins [U.5.02]
No poison or toxin inflicts its damage all at once. A minimum of one turn passes before a toxin begins to take effect. Damage is inflicted at the rate of no faster than one per turn, minute or hour, depending on substance. A resistance draw is made each time damage would be imposed until a number of tests equal to the poison’s toxicity have been made. Multiple applications of a toxin add virulence to the total number of draws made; they do not mean multiple draws at a time.
Weapons and Equipment [U.5.03]
New weapons and armor are allowed if their mechanics are identical to existing standard weapons, or if the mechanics make those statistics worse.
The range of a derringer is 10 yards.
Bulletproof armor does not downgrade crossbow bolt/arrow damage to bashing. Attacks from non-firearms projectile weapons (e.g. crossbows) are made using the attacker’s choice of Firearms or Athletics, and do not deny the target their Defense.
Storytellers may allow player characters to occasionally use improvised weaponry to inflict aggravated damage, but these will not be common or part of a planned attack. This does not apply to other means of inflicting aggravated damage as per sanctioned material. Storyline effects that inflict aggravated damage to supernaturals require no special approvals but should be carefully monitored.
Proxy Play [U.5.04]
"Proxy" refers to sending your character sheet to a Storyteller other than your own, to portray a character without your physical presence. 48 hours must be given to the Storyteller supervising the scene, unless they give an exception. A Low Storyteller email approving a proxy to commence is sufficient.
To proxy a character the player must provide a character sheet, a brief description of intentions, motivations, personality and reactions to possible situations.
When proxying, a player grants the Storyteller all rights to the character for the duration of the proxy. Storytellers may modify proxy rules further in their Venue Style Sheets.
Storytellers must keep players informed of proxy progress, providing updates at least on a weekly basis, and must portray proxied characters to the best of their ability and in keeping with the player’s proxy instructions.
Economies of Scale in Venue Style Sheets [U.5.05]
Storytellers can set up their own guidelines for monitoring commodities that fuel supernatural creatures, e.g. Vitae, Essence etc. These must be recorded in the Venue Style Sheet.
Exceeding Limits [U.5.06]
No effect allows a character to exceed normal expenditure limits of vitae, essence, mana, pyros, glamour or willpower unless otherwise stated in this addendum or a White Wolf book.
Pre-Game Effects [U.5.07]
Activation of pre-game powers that take significant time to implement (e.g. Coil of Blood 3, specific rituals) should be worked out with the ST, who can use their judgment regarding timings and other practicalities.
MERITS [U.6.00]
All venues use the simple or graduated Merit cost described in MET p32. Simple cost merits have a single rating or an "or" separating listed ratings. E.g. Fast Reflexes is a simple cost merit as it is rated "1 or 2" rather than "1 to 2".
Gaining and Losing Merits [U.6.01]
If a player character acquires ownership or access to something in-game that would normally be represented by Merit dots, they must pay the requisite xp after a one month period and the new Merit dots be added to their character sheet. This can result in xp debt. This cannot be avoided by passing ownership of items back and forth or leaving them in convenient locations where they are not "owned" but access is easy.
Merit dots are lost permanently when the things they represent are lost or destroyed (e.g. a fetish is broken, a retainer is killed). A player’s direct Storyteller decides if attempts to destroy Merit dots are permanent or temporarily successful. Note such changes in a character’s experience log. Storytellers may temporarily remove or reduce Merits as part of a story if those Merits are later recoverable without xp expenditure.
If a character loses dots in a shared Merit such as Haven or Totem the Storyteller should give the remaining invested characters the chance to cover the loss themselves with xp expenditure.
Specific Item Merits [U.6.02]
Characters can possess multiple versions of Merits that represent specific items, people or places. Allies, Haven, Herd, Retainers, Sanctum, Hollow, Status are not cumulative when determining the maximum rating for a Merit. E.g. a character can have a dozen 3-dot Retainers without exceeding the Merit rating (1 to 5).
Magic Item Merits [U.6.03]
Merits for magic items are simple-cost Merits. These items are not considered custom items if built strictly according to existing creation rules. All such items must be entered on the database (where available) for tracking purposes. 5 dot items and above are High Approval unless different levels are defined elsewhere.
Merit-based Storyteller Characters [U.6.04]
The Large Scale Game mechanics option is used to create Retainers (MET p146). Allies, Mentors, Retainers and similar Merit-based NPCs are created and portrayed by the Storyteller.
Such NPCs that represent or interact with government agencies require the special approval of the Storyteller with jurisdiction over that level of agency or body. E.g. Having contacts in the FBI requires Top Approval from the US National Storyteller, to influence the Red Cross would require Global Approval).
Retainers can have lesser templates specific to the character’s venue (e.g. ghouls in Requiem, sleepwalker in Awakening, etc) at Low Approval and supernatural templates native to the character’s venue at High Approval. Retainers cannot be any type of supernatural creature from another venue unless specifically allowed in this supplement. Vampire regnants must pay the monthly Willpower costs to upkeep their ghoul Retainers.
Fighting Style Merits [U.6.05]
Boxing, Kung-Fu and Two-Weapon Fighting may not be used with any form of shapeshifting power, whether that is natural claws and teeth, Feeding the Crone, supernatural claws or any effects that transform the user into inhuman shapes. The Werewolf Dalu form is an exception to this.
Society Status Merits (Generic Rules) [U.6.06]
Some source material books equate status to organizational positions. Unless otherwise noted in this document, Status levels are not requirements for in-character organizational positions described in source material as city-wide in scope. This refers to specific character type organizations (e.g. Covenant, Order) and not Storyteller run NPC groups such as City Hall, local Police etc.
The Status Merit in the Mind’s Eye Theatre book is not available for supernatural organizations. Any status in a supernatural group not specifically detailed in the relevant venue book is not sanctioned for play. Player attempts to develop large scale in-character supernatural groups/organizations which might warrant a formal status system are advised to contact their relevant venue AMST.
Fame (Generic Rules] [U.6.07]
The Merit Fame is renown and recognition within the Mortal world. Fame in a supernatural community is not sanctioned for play.
Multipliers and Speed [U.6.08]
When a multiplier is given, e.g. for Speed, animal forms or Celerity, or something gives "double" or "best of two" abilities, these add and do not multiply. E.g. the Gunslinger Merit and Time 2 "Glimpse of the Future" both provide the better of two draws, and if used together would provide the best of three draws, not the best of four.
CHAPTER TWO – REQUIEM [R.0.00]
This chapter incorporates Mind’s Eye Theatre Requiem (WW50001) into the Camarilla chronicle.
Only the following optional rules are used; True Covenant Status (p135), Deceitful Creatures (p162), Soul Shards (p224), Travel and Vampiric Gatherings (p18). Storytellers may use the Price of Blood (p327) if described in their Venue Style Sheet. The Fourth Tradition (p21) is available if approved in the Venue Style Sheet.
CHARACTERS [R.1.00]
Backgrounds [R.1.01]
It is High Approval to have existed prior to 1650AD. It is Top Approval to have existed prior to 1000AD. It is Global Approval to be a Pre-Longinian character and not usually permissible.
Having sired children in background (before the character enters play) does not require expenditure of a Willpower dot.
Ghouls [R.1.02]
Player character ghouls may have vampire merits with High Approval. They may learn their regnant’s covenant specific powers with Top Approval. They cannot learn Coils of the Dragon.
Blood Potency [R.1.03]
Physical augmentation with Vitae is limited. When a character spends vitae to add to physical test pools the applied bonus from those Vitae can be no higher than the natural unmodified Attribute or +5, whichever is higher. Physical augmentation from Vitae to increase physical test pools is an exception to [U.1.04]. The bonus derived from physical augmentation does not count as part of the +/- 15 limit.
Player characters who must feed from vampires must feed from other player characters (not storyteller characters or other mechanisms).
Any character whose regnant becomes inactive (though retirement, permanent staking, etc.) has any previously established viniculum end a year after the last taste.
Humanity [R.1.04]
It is Top Approval to make a step towards Golconda (just buying Humanity does not count). Achieving Golconda is Global Approval.
Diablerie [R.1.05]
If a player character diablerizes it must be logged as a High Notification in the approvals database (where available). The notification must include information on all players and characters involved, and what was gained from the diablerie. Diablerising NPCs provides no benefits to the diablerist but they do give the usual downsides. Background diablerie does not require tracking.
ORGANIZATIONS [R.2.00]
Bloodline [R.2.01]
It is High Approval for player characters to join Bloodlines from sanctioned material. It should not be particularly difficult to join a bloodline in game if recruited by another player character. Storytellers should hesitate to approve bloodlines specific to a geographical area, it may be better to create a custom bloodline with a similar theme rather than write a canon-bending story to justify the sanctioned bloodline.
Characters creating or joining bloodlines before entering play must satisfy the Blood Potency requirements at the time they enter play, despite any background description of torpor after achieving the bloodline in the character’s history. When applying for a custom bloodline a character may "rediscover" a bloodline created in history (rather than "create" a new one ICly) but must still meet the same requirements as a bloodline founder. For player-created custom bloodlines that no longer have active characters in play, it is Top Approval to rediscover them.
Custom bloodlines that add Animalism, Celerity, Obfuscate, Resilience or Vigor to the existing discipline set and are only for a single clan require High Approval to create (despite the presence of custom mechanics for the bloodline weakness).
Custom bloodlines that meet one of the following criteria are Top Approval:
Custom bloodlines cannot duplicate Unique Disciplines in whole or in part (e.g. a Daeva bloodline with Obtenbration is not allowed). No bloodline may have two custom disciplines.
To enter play as part of a custom bloodline requires agreement from the player of the most senior character in that bloodline (usually the bloodline founder). This is not required for characters who find a way to join in game.
MERITS [R.3.00]
Society Status Merits (Clan and Covenant) [R.3.01]
Please also refer to Appendix 3 – Requiem Status Guidelines
Clan
It is Top Approval for ghouls to have Clan Status. They may have Covenant status 1 with High, 2 with Top and 3 or more with Global Approval.
Clan or Covenant Status 3 is Mid Approval, 4 is High Approval and 5 is Top Approval. A character cannot enter play with more than 2 dots of Clan or Covenant status. Characters must wait a number of months equal to twice the dots of status they are gaining between increases in Clan or Covenant status dots, including regaining dots stripped in game. (e.g., if a character gained Crone Status 4 in January, ten months would have to pass before they can apply for Crone status 5).
Clan and Covenant status is free. All xp spent on Clan or Covenant status will be refunded (this includes xp spent on status which was subsequently stripped). Merit dots spent at character creation on Clan or Covenant status may be reassigned to other Merits, with the exception of Blood Potency or Merits specified as Creation Only.
It is High Approval to have status in a different Clan than the character’s real clan. It is Top Approval to hold status in a second Clan. If a character holds status in more than one clan they are limited to a total of 3 status across those Clans.
Covenant
Changing True Covenant status is Top Approval. This applies if a character has ever previously held True Covenant status – i.e. if they are changing Covenant directly or have spent time Unaligned.
Covenant specific powers are derived, in part, from the mutually shared respect and belief in the tenets of one’s covenant. If one leaves that covenant, through any means, the mutual belief is no longer present and the character loses their faction-specific powers. It is a separate Top Approval for a character to keep Covenant specific benefits of their previous Covenant if they change Covenant or become Unaligned. If the benefits are lost no xp is refunded.
It is Global Approval to hold True Covenant Status in two Covenants; existing applications are Grandfathered but may be reviewed by the MST staff for appropriateness. It is not possible to hold True Covenant Status in more than two Covenants simultaneously.
A character must have True Covenant Status and at least a single dot of status to utilize Covenant specific benefits.
It is High Approval for a character to purchase status in a Covenant that they do not have True Covenant Status in.
If a character has status in more than one Covenant they are limited to a total of 5 status across those Covenants. It is Top Approval to hold status 3 or 4 in one Covenant if the character also holds status in another.
Outside the nation that a status level was approved in, Clan or Covenant status is considered to be one lower. This limitation can be removed with Global Approval.
Publicly giving up membership in a Covenant leads to an immediate loss of all dots in that Covenant’s status and removal from Covenant specific groups, lists etc.
Covenant Positions
There is no status requirement to hold Covenant positions. Some positions may require an approval to hold.
Status Stripping and Expulsion
The Storyteller must inform the affected player when the declaration to strip status or expel from the covenant is made public.
Stripping status requires 10 x the level of status of the character being stripped. Expulsion from a covenant requires 20 x the level of status of the character being expelled. There is no requirement to have support from characters of the same status level (e.g. 50 status 1 characters may strip a status 5).
A public in-character censure of the target character must be made. This must have a clear out-of-character note explaining the attempt to strip status or expel from the covenant, list all characters (and their status) supporting the attempt, and the total status in support. The note must give contact details of the supervising Storyteller.
Characters may defend themselves by getting support from other characters opposed to the strip/expulsion. They have 14 days to gather support, from when the supervising Storyteller tells them of the attempted strip. The strip is cancelled if equal or more status dots oppose the attempted strip than support it. If a character who previously supported the strip changes their mind and opposes it, they must do so publicly and in-character.
50% of the minimum support for a strip must come from within the nation of the character being stripped. If there is not enough status in a nation to make 50% achievable, that nation’s NST shall use their own judgment to decide if national support warrants a successful strip.
If a character fails to strip their target they may not attempt to strip the same target for 90 days. Only the Invictus and Lancea Sanctum Covenants may expel members per Mind's Eye Theatre: Requiem. All Covenants may make use of the status stripping mechanics.
Loaned Status
A character can loan their status to another character. The character receiving the loan is considered to have the same status as the character making the loan, in specified situations. The conditions that the status can be used in should be detailed, and the supervising Storyteller of the scene has final call on whether loaned status can be used in that situation. Loaned status is not cumulative with a character’s existing status. Loaning status is "all or nothing", a character cannot loan part of their status. You cannot loan status outside Clan or Covenant (e.g. a member of the Lancea Sanctum cannot loan their Covenant status to a member of the Invictus).
To use loaned status a player must provide an item card or other proof from the player whose character is loaning the status. This must provide; the name of the character loaning the status, their domain and region, their supervising ST contact details, verification of any approvals related to the status, and a short description of the situation the status may be used in.
Loaned status is subject to normal status restrictions, based on the approval jurisdiction of the character loaning the status.
Kindred Legend [R.3.02]
The Kindred Legend merit is a vampire-specific equivalent of Fame, including mechanical benefits. See MET p142.
Kindred Legend is a 5 dot merit. Kindred Legend 1-3 is Global Approval. Kindred Legend 4-5 is reserved for use by the Master Storyteller.
The Kindred Legend merit can be specified as relating to a small set or subculture. These are limited to; Clan, Covenant, Nation, Bloodline. Approval levels for these subcultures are unchanged. More limited supernatural subcultures should be reflected in character background and through roleplay.
Kindred Legend doesn’t need to mean positive standing. It does not require a character to be respected or obeyed. The positive modifier (as per Fame) to social interaction does not benefit pools for supernatural powers. A character who has the Kindred Legend based on negative standing or infamy gains +1 to Intimidation.
Kindred Legend costs xp as per normal Merit costs. It cannot be purchased at character creation. Approval may be removed by members of the character’s ST chain.
DISCIPLINES, DEVOTIONS AND RITUALS [R.4.00]
Disciplines at level 6 and above are not available (and cannot artificially be made available by any power).
Only player characters can teach Disciplines that require teachers as per MET Requiem. The basic Disciplines (those described in Mind’s Eye Theatre: Requiem) are Low Approval to learn, regardless of clan. Unique Disciplines cannot be taught to any character not of that bloodline, including ghouls.
Devotions from sanctioned material are Low Approval to learn provided the character has the prerequisites. Devotions associated with a bloodline cannot be learned by those who are not members of that bloodline.
It is Global Approval to develop custom devotions as per MET Requiem. It is High Approval to learn a custom devotion from a player character teacher. Custom devotions cannot be taught by NPCs. Custom devotions can’t be learned in background unless they are part of a custom bloodline application (maximum of two devotions).
A character can only have one pending custom power application at any time, and can only be approved for one custom power which they developed themselves every 6 months of in-game time. E.g. as of August 2007 a chronicle length character should have no more than 5 custom powers they developed themselves. Characters with more than five custom powers should consider these grandfathered, but can’t develop more until the age of the chronicle "catches up".
The xp cost for custom devotions is usually three times the total number of Discipline dots needed (e.g. a devotion requiring Dominate 2 and Resilience 3 would cost 15 xp). The creation must know all the required Discipline dots before the devotion can be approved.
A character must spend a number of months studying and developing, equal to whichever Discipline has the highest number of dots in the devotion. This waiting period starts when the devotion is approved.
Custom devotions can never banish the banes of vampiric existence (e.g. a custom devotion using Resilience could not make a vampire less vulnerable to sunlight).
Custom devotions cannot significant modify existing Discipline powers or overcome their limitations, although some book published devotions do this. E.g. a devotion to make a Discipline power reflexive instead of instant would not normally be allowed.
Custom devotions can’t replicate existing Discipline powers, devotions or sorcery, even in a weaker form. The same limitation, in broader terms, applies to the powers of other supernatural creatures.
Clash of Wills (Auspex) [R.4.01]
There is an editing error in MET Requiem p159. Use this system instead;
A character with Auspex that encounters a use of Obfuscate can draw Wits + Investigation + Auspex to establish a number of Clash of Wills successes. These successes last for an hour and are compared to activation successes for Obfuscate to see if the Auspex user can pierce them. The Auspex user needs more successes than the Obfuscate user, unless the Obfuscate power was activated under their direct observation, in which case they need equal successes to pierce the Obfuscate.
Obfuscate users must record the number of successes gained on activation of Obfuscate powers.
Players cannot redraw Clash of Wills or reactivate Obfuscate to achieve more successes. It is the players, not the characters, who know the number of successes.
Clash of Wills can pierce the effects of Obfuscate based devotions or, at Storyteller discretion, other illusory effects.
Twilight Projection (Auspex) [R.4.02]
A character in Twilight Projection can use the Auspex powers Heightened Senses, Aura Perception and Spirit’s Touch. No other powers will function, including Auspex based Devotions unless specified in their description.
A character whose body is destroyed while in Twilight Projection needs Top Approval to continue its existence.
Sovereignty (Majesty) [R.4.03]
Ignore the MET Requiem text describing this power being used against repeated aggressions. Sovereignty is only tested against any one character once per scene. The Majesty loses ties in a contested draw. The test result dictates if a character can attack the Sovereignty user for the rest of the scene. An attempt to break Sovereignty doesn’t count towards the maximum number of characters who can attack the Sovereign vampire in a turn.
Haven of Soil (Protean) [R.4.04]
Characters cannot move while interred in the earth with this Discipline.
Shape of the Beast (Protean) [R.4.05]
Different animal shapes provide different mechanical benefits. The form’s size must be appropriate to the animal shape.
Four of the following options can be taken for each animal form. Each option can be taken once only unless otherwise specified:
A character’s base Attributes remain unchanged in the new form. Reduced Size reduces Strength and Health level bonuses to a minimum of 1 but doesn’t count as an Advantage.
Primarily aquatic forms have swimming as their primary movement type. Ground based movement is dropped to Speed 1, air-based movement is impossible.
Vigor [R.4.06]
Vigor adds to Athletics tests for jumping. It does not allow "flight like" leaps. Vigor applies to holding on and breaking free of grappling, but not to initiating a grapple.
Dominate [R.4.07]
A subject unable to act because of use of Dominate can defend themselves normally if attacked.
Rituals [R.4.08]
Ignore the Extended Actions and Sorcery sidebar, MET Requiem p97. All costs and expenditures for a ritual are paid on the first turn of casting (unless the ritual description says costs are paid over multiple turns). The ritual is completed on the turn when as many successes as the ritual’s level are accrued. Only the final draw is used when opposing a resistance draw or determining the effectiveness of a ritual based on its description.
E.g. A character casts Blood Scourge, a level 1 ritual. On the first turn they pay the Willpower point inherent to Theban Sorcery, and the Vitae required for the specific ritual. The player draws 3 successes. The target number of 1 success is met, the ritual is completed that turn. That was also the final draw of an extended test, so 3 successes are used to determine the ritual’s particulars (the weapon lasts for three turns).
CHAPTER THREE: FORSAKEN [F.0.00]
This chapter incorporates Werewolf: The Forsaken (WW30000) into the Camarilla chronicle.
CHARACTERS [F.1.00]
Enhanced Form Bonuses [F.1.01]
The physical attribute bonuses for Uratha alternate forms are doubled. This also affects derived Advantages (e.g. Speed). Storytellers have the option to not make use of this rule if specified in their Venue Style Sheet. The enhanced form bonuses rule is always used in cross-venue interaction. The physical attribute bonuses for Uratha alternate forms are an exception to [U.1.04]. The bonus derived from alternative forms does not count as part of the + / - 15 limit.
Bale Hounds and Pure [F.1.02]
Bale Hounds and Pure are Global Approval as player characters. Ex-Pure are Top Approval as player characters and cannot have an Auspice. Idigam are Top Approval. Spider Hosts (Azlu) and Rat Hosts (Beshilu) are Low Approval. Crow Hosts (Halaku) and Locust Hosts (Srizaku) are High Approval. Snake Hosts (Razilu) and other Hosts require Global Approval.
Background [F.1.03]
It is High Approval to have existed since 1905AD or earlier, Top Approval to have existed since 1885AD or earlier, Global Approval to have existed since 1850AD or earlier.
ORGANIZATIONS [F.2.00]
Lodge [F.2.01]
Standard published Lodges are High Approval to join in character background or by induction from an NPC. They are High Notification if a player character member indoctrinates the character in game. Storytellers should hesitate to approve Lodges that are specific to other geographical areas, which would require elaborate canon-bending justifications.
Characters can only ever gain mechanical benefits from a single Lodge (with which they have "True Lodge Status"). E.g. a character leaving the Lodge of Garm can still purchase Athletics, Brawl, Persuasion and Weaponry at reduced cost. If the character joins another Lodge they gain no mechanical benefits.
It is Top Approval to have membership in a non-Forsaken Lodge either in game or in background.
MERITS [F.3.00]
Fetishes [F.3.01]
It is Low Approval but must be logged on the database (where available) to create a new Fetish. Use the Fetish Creation Mechanics in Lore of the Forsaken (p144-149). It is a level 2 power (+20 Fetish points) to make a Fetish useable by wolf-blooded. 5 dot Fetishes are High Approval; this is not grandfathered.
Totem [F.3.02]
Totems cannot make use of more than 25 of the Totem Merit points invested in them. If changes to the Totem negate a Totem cost discount, the additional Merit point cost must be covered at the time of change.
GIFTS [F.4.00]
Attunement (Full Moon) [F.4.01]
Defense ignored is equal to the user’s Primal Urge, not half of the user’s Primal Urge.
Death Grip (Full Moon) [F.4.02]
Ignore the sentence "Once a hold is achieved and maintained, the character gains an additional six dice to rolls for overpowering maneuvers to bite the target are doubled." The rest of the text is applicable.
Feet of Mist (Stealth) [F.4.03]
The cost to activate this Gift is one Essence, not one Willpower.
Rage Armor (Full moon) [F.4.04]
Rage Armor receives one level per success, not per two successes.
CHAPTER FOUR: AWAKENING [A.0.00]
This chapter incorporates Minds Eye Theatre Awakening (WW50003) into the Camarilla chronicle.
Only the following optional rules are used; Mana Bleed (p 64), Order Expulsion (p 123), Tie to the Land (p 133), Modifying Spell Factors (p 147), Don’t Point That Thing at My Planet (p 150), Relinquishing Control of Spells (p 151), Special Spell Factors (p 152-155), Paradox Mitigation (p 158), Creative Thaumaturgy (p 194-198), Permanently Altering Fates (p 229), Influences Numina and The Forsaken (p 419).
For the purposes of the Camarilla Awakening chronicle, a ‘Chapter’ is defined as one calendar week.
CHARACTERS [A.1.00]
Backgrounds [A.1.01]
Player characters require High Approval to have existed since 1905 or earlier, Top Approval to have existed since 1855 or earlier, or Global Approval to have existed since 1805 or earlier.
Storyteller Characters [A.1.02]
Ananke and The Bound require Top Approval for Storytellers to use.
ORGANIZATIONS [A.2.00]
Order [A.2.01]
Player characters have "True Order Status" and are only members of a single order for the purposes of learning Rotes, accessing Merits etc. It is High Approval to hold status dots in multiple Orders. A character may never have more than three dots total in Order Status among multiple orders. True Order Status in multiple Orders is available at Top Approval.
If a character learns basic mechanical advantages of an Order (e.g. Order specific Rotes or Legacy) or type-specific items such as Merits it is High Approval to change True Order Status. Characters that change their True Order Status to join an Order (other than their first) do not learn new Rote specialties and retain the Rote Mudras of their initial Order.
Order Status reflects a large scale system for a global game. Status 1 characters are well-established members of their order. Status 2 comes with long-term recognition and indicates a high level of importance within a city or interconnected multi-city area. Status 3 (High Approval) indicates significant prominence within a state, province, or other large regional area. Status 4 (Top Approval) represents a national influence, and Status 5 (Global Approval) indicates multi-national or truly global recognition.
The Camarilla does not require use of the mechanical rules for Increasing Order Status, including the caps on number of characters at a particular level and the requirement for numerical support to raise Status. The use of praiseworthy deeds and status support, however, may serve as a guide to approving Storytellers. For purposes of Stripping Order Status, the Camarilla chronicle requires a number of points in Order Status (after subtracting blocking dots) equal to ten times the character’s Order Status, and therefore equal to twenty times the character’s Order Status for Order Expulsion. If there is not enough status in a nation to make these numbers achievable, that nation’s NST shall use their own judgment to decide if national support warrants a successful strip/expulsion.
Characters may not begin play with more than 2 dots of Order Status.
Legacy [A.2.02]
It is Mid Approval for player characters to join a Legacy if recruited by a player character in game. It is High Approval for player characters to join otherwise. Storytellers should hesitate to approve Legacies that are specific to other geographical areas, or whose membership is supposed to be rare or restricted. It is Top Approval to join Left-Handed or antagonist Legacies. A character may be mentored into a Legacy at two approval levels higher if they don’t meet parent Path/Order requirements.
Custom Legacies don’t require the applicant’s character to be the creator, but the character must fulfil the Gnosis requirements. To enter play as part of a custom Legacy, the player of the active character most senior in that Legacy must agree. This requirement is waived if characters find a way to join in-game. The approval level to join an approved custom legacy is the same as a canon legacy.
REALMS [A.3.00]
With the exception of a single Awakening per Mage, characters cannot access the Supernal World or other unique areas such as the Underworld. It is High Approval for characters to access the Abyss. Abyssal verges require High Approval.
MERITS [A.4.00]
Artifact [A.4.01]
Artifacts require High Approval. Artifacts listed in the source books are unique but can serve as examples for Storytellers who are creating their own.
Enhanced Item [A.4.02]
Enhanced Items can be created in game by spells of indefinite Duration. Matter spells can make "Special Property" alterations. Specific listed alterations require:
Several Enhanced Items cannot be combined (e.g. a self repairing engine cannot be placed inside a car with bulletproof windows). Enhanced Items can be treated as Imbued, e.g. a 3 dot spell and two 2 dot spells would create a 5 dot Enhanced Item.
The Mana capacity cannot exceed the Enhanced Item Merit rating.
Any effect used to improve an item makes that item an Enhanced Item equal to the level of the effect used. E.g. Self Repairing Machines are 5 dot effects and items with such an improvement are 5 dot Enhanced Items. This is only used where another method doesn’t already apply.
Imbued Item [A.4.03]
Replace the sentence “Lasting Duration spells are considered persistent powers, but all other effects are considered contingent that require a trigger” with “Indefinite Duration spells are considered persistent powers, but all other effects are considered contingent that require a trigger”.
Imbued Items rated higher than five can only be made in-game.
If an item is both Enhanced and Imbued, calculate the rating limitations as though it were two separate items, one Enhanced and one Imbued.
When creating Imbued Items, Top approval may allow for a mage to increase the number of successes allowed for an extended cast spell (p 148.) These may not be increased by more than 50%.
Imbued Items of 6 dots or higher are High Approval.
Fetish [A.4.04]
Fetishes in the Awakening venue must conform to the rules presented for “Create Fetish” (p 368-369) and not the rules for the Fetish merit in Forsaken, save that they may use sanctioned Numina from other sources as well as the Numina on pages 423-425 of MET Awakening.
They have a merit cost equal to the bound Spirit’s Rank plus each Numina accessible beyond the first. For example a bound Rank 2 spirit with the Blast and Terrify numina would be a 3 dot Fetish. The numina which can be accessed through the Fetish are fixed at the time of casting and may not be changed later without re-casting the spell. The bound spirit must conform with all rules governing creating spirits.
The user takes an instant action of Gnosis + Spirit to awaken the spirit within the Fetish, and uses Gnosis + the bound spirit’s Rank to activate the Numina instead of Power + Finessse. For the purposes of Damage Limits on any attack Numina, use the creator’s dots in Spirit.
Fetishes of 1-4 dots are Mid Approval and 5 dot Fetishes are High Approval. Fetishes greater than 5 dots are not available for play.
ARCANUM [A.5.00]
Arcana at levels 6 and above are not available in the chronicle. Archmasters and the Imperial Mysteries are reserved for the use of the Master Storyteller.
Arcana Mastery [A.5.01]
The sentence on page 62 that says “Two of his highest three Arcana must always be from his Path’s Ruling Arcana” is replaced with “Two of his first three Arcana must be from his Path’s Ruling Arcana”.
Supreme Augmentation (Mind) [A.5.02]
The rote pool for Supreme Augmentation (p 319) uses the Mind Arcanum, not Life.
Wards and Bans (Space) [A.5.03]
Objects and creatures cannot be the target of a Ward, but are protected within a Ward’s area. Once a banned phenomenon is within the Ban’s area, it is unaffected (i.e. spells can be freely cast within a Prime based Ban area, and are only affected when crossing the threshold of the Ban.)
Rewrite History (Time) [A.5.04]
Dots cannot be shifted into anything that requires a special approval or a notification in the approvals database.
Grant Familiar (Spirit) [A.5.05]
This spell’s Duration is Lasting (the Familiar Merit does not disappear at the spell’s end.)
Spells to Employ Spirits (Spirit) [A.5.06]
Rank 3 spirits cannot be called, bound or otherwise controlled using the advanced Prolonged Duration factors. When calling, binding or otherwise controlling Rank 4 spirits, Prolonged Duration spells are considered Transitory. Spirits of Rank 5 cannot be called, bound or otherwise controlled short of Archmastery.
A Willpower point is spent for each spirit called, bound or otherwise controlled. This cannot be recovered until the spell ends or a Willpower dot is spent to release it. Each such spell can only affect a single spirit.
These restrictions don’t apply if a spell is used simply to justify the purchase of a Merit such as a Fetish, Familiar or Guardian Spirit. They do not apply to spells that just awaken spirits or make them more favourably disposed to the caster, e.g. Rouse Spirit.
SPELLCASTING [A.6.00]
Rotes [A.6.01]
If a rote title includes an Order name, assume the rote is common, with versions available to all mages. If an alternate test system is allowed for another Order, only that Order may learn the test system without High Approval. This includes Rotes presented in Order books.
When a rote title includes the name of a Legacy, Tradition, faction or other group that isn’t an Order, there is no common version. It is High Approval to learn the rote if a character is not a member of the relevant Legacy, Tradition, faction or other group.
Rotes for antagonistic groups, such as Banishers, Seers of the Throne, etc., do not have a common version available. It is Top Approval to learn the rote if a character is not a member of the relevant antagonistic group.
Improvised Spells that duplicate the effects of existing rotes requiring an approval also require that level of approval.
Approved custom rotes are Low Approval to learn in game from another player character.
The following bullet point from MET Awakening p 198 is not used in the Camarilla chronicle: “Spells with multiple effects require each effect to be learned as a separate rote. For example, ‘Telekinetic Strike’ can be cast in Forces 3, 4, and 5 versions; each version is a separate rote”.
Characters that purchase the base Rote gain access to additional effects as their Arcana mastery increases.
Instant Spellcasting [A.6.02]
Penalties taken when using the Modifying Spell Factors optional rule may not reduce the caster’s draw pool below 1. Any further penalties (aiming penalties, resistance, etc.) applied after Imago creation may reduce this further.
Extended Spellcasting [A.6.03]
For purposes of the “Damage and Success Limits” rules, the only bonuses to the caster’s base spell casting pool that count are those from High Speech, Willpower, and an appropriate Demense.
Spells with an action listed as Extended may increas