Nosferatu: Twice Cursed

Such horrible, twisted things lurk in the darkness, slinking around in the depths and hidden places of the city. The Nosferatu are among them, and they bear not only the curse of vampirism, but also the curse of a horrid and grotesque appearance that reveals them for what they really are.

Because of their state of being outcasts and haunts, they often learn of secrets that were not meant to be known, the whispers of torrid affairs and conspiracies reach their ears, and while sifting through garbage they come across documents and proof of things that others wish to keep buried. Nosferatu are renown information brokers, selling the things they have uncovered for a price. They delight in forcing the genteel and proper individuals seeking their assistance to wade through the muck and filth, and in making them uncomfortable.

Costuming

Nosferatu are by far the most interesting and intensive Clan to costume for.

Clothing for your costume is easily obtained, through a quick trip to your local thrift store. Buy some clothing that is mismatched and poorly fits, or something that looks like it was from the 70's. Next you'll want to tear it up a little, a few small holes here and there, maybe a burn mark or two. You can weather jeans by rubbing sandpaper over the knees, and cut the bottom hem off to give that ragged look. Get your hands on some dark clothes dye and some bleach, and you can permanently discolor the clothes.

Even though other places suggest application of fake blood and such, it is best to have the clothing permanently stained, so that you don't make a mess at the game site.

The makeup for Nosferatu can get interesting, but remember that it's something you're going to have to do before every game, so simple is always better. Interesting effects can be had with eyeliner pencil, concealer sticks, rubber cement, a bit of foundation and other easily obtained items. You don't need to be a makeup artist to have interesting effects.

Role Playing

Slinking around, and sticking to the fringes of conversations keep you wealthy in little tidbits of information you manage to pick up. It also plays up the "outcast" aspect and stigma that is attached to the Nosferatu.

When talking with someone, do things that make them uncomfortable. Steadily increase your volume as you speak to them, hiss your words, lick your lips while eyeballing their neck, scratch at a vermin infestation that your character picked up in the sewers, pick at fake scabs you made with wood glue or latex, get too close to them and invade their personal space... there are a wide variety of techniques you can use in order to creep someone out.

Always leave before the end of the night, and if you can arrange it with your clan mates, you should all disappear together within a ten minute time frame. Effectively done, nobody notices the Nosferatu have left, until they realize that every single one of them seem to have disappeared... and then they start getting nervous.

Act like you happen to know every dirty little secret and dark conspiracy going on. Don't act surprised when people tell you a secret, instead nod and say "Yes, we know." People also like to talk about themselves, practice a few inquisitive statements, and once you get the ball rolling, you can sit back, smile, and nod as they spill the beans.

One of the best investments a Nosferatu player can make is a small digital recording device. Slip it in the breast pocket of whatever cast-off shirt you happen to be wearing, and let it record all night long. Later you can edit out the irrelevant parts and keep the good bits. Additionally, you can leave the recorder hidden in one of the locations often used for private meetings and retrieve it later. This method also removes the problem of some people curtailing their conversations when they know that someone is eavesdropping.

City Positions

Nosferatu make excellent Sheriffs and Scourges, as their information network allows them to know who is coming into the city, and the combination of Obfuscate and Potence allows for a very effective combatant when they must take out the trash.

Disciplines

Animalism

Often overlooked, the various levels of Animalism are useful if you know how to utilize them. Feral Whispers can give you a little bit of spying power, or a temporary ally. Beckoning allows you to summon creatures to you, which is useful when you need to feed.

The ability to snap someone out of Frenzy, via Quell the Beast is highly useful, and can save your Clan mates from doing something detrimental while in the throes of Frenzy. Subsume the Spirit gives you a disguise that allows you to walk around unremarked as "just another animal", and even works against video recordings (while Obfuscate does not).

Obfuscate

Being able to travel about unseen is invaluable to a group of creatures so hideously deformed as the Nosferatu, as it not only protects the Masquerade, but it also makes it easier to slip in to guarded places without being noticed.

Additionally, Mask of a Thousand Faces allows for all sorts of dirty tricks, especially when dealing with a target's Influences or Retainers.

Potence

Ever need to lift that sewer lid or heavy grating? Need to rip a door down? Want to make an impression why someone shouldn't fuck with you?

Influence Focus

Street

All Nosferatu should have rudimentary sway with the homeless people and gangs, if nothing more than to use for information gathering. Of course, a homeless person going missing every now and then wouldn't be missed much...

Transportation

Nothing is more important to a Nosferatu than the ability to travel about quickly and unmolested.

Limitations

Your true appearance is your only real limitation, and once you find ways of dealing with it, through Mask of a Thousand Faces or simply working through third party Retainers, you've largely overcome your main weakness.

Unfortunately, you will always be on the lower rung of Kindred society... that's quite alright, because everything eventually floats to the surface.

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Toreador: Of Rose and Thorns

Oh what beautiful monsters we are. Toreador are the Clan most focused on perception and presentation. If a Toreador is not being talked about, they might as well not even exist.

Everyone else exists to please and entertain you. You won't forget this fact, and neither should anyone else. Your tongue should become a surgeons scalpel, leaving quick, stinging cuts. Lesser Kindred fight with their fists and fangs, when you can destroy people with your words. Existence is about enjoying yourself, and exerting your influence to ensure that you are always one of the most important people. If people think you are important, they will bend over backwards to do what you want. Without you, they are nothing.

Costuming

Of course, a Toreador should always look fashionable. Look at the latest issue of Vogue or Glamour, find an outfit you think you can pull off, and wear something similar. If you have problems with makeup, there are thousands of online tutorials. Remember, appearance is everything amongst the Clan of Artists.

Don't worry if you're strapped for cash, you can always go to a thrift store and pick up something that can fool others. The guys have it easy, all they need is a pair of slacks, a clean undershirt, and wear a half-buttoned dress shirt over it. Girls can get away with a cute skirt and heels. Remember, it's never "out of style", it's simply "retro".

Always go with dark clothes, and just say "No" to stripes. Dark clothing is slimming, and contrasts well with your pale skin (if it's not pale, you should invest in some foundation and maybe a concealer stick). A good shade of lipstick is worth it's weight in gold, and the "smokey eye" goes the distance.

Want to be a little mysterious? Apply a temporary tattoo to a bit of flesh where it will be partly hidden under clothing. People will be too busy paying attention to it, and they'll ignore any other fashion mistakes.

Role Playing

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?" - Jane Austen

Always make an entrance, and if you have an entrouge, make sure they either come in with you, or they flock to you when you arrive. Without your attendance, any event just isn't as noteworthy, for you turn gatherings from droll tea parties to celebrations which will be talked about. Be loud and boisterous as you enter, just to make sure everyone knows that you have arrived and things may begin.

Slowly make your way over to the host, and thank them for their efforts. Even if their party is crap, you can always be sarcastic.

Always leave early, because the people that stick around after a party is over are losers. Plan to leave the game at least a half-hour before it ends.

If someone interrupts you, make sure to give them a withering stare. If they still don't understand their faux pas, make some ridiculous excuse to remove yourself ("Excuse me, there's something interesting over there" always works). Put them on your list of people that need to be snubbed, and ignore them for a month.

Make sure people flock to you. Choose your location carefully, and make sure it's approachable. Place yourself just out of the way of the common traffic patterns, or within a few steps of the refreshment table. To seem really interesting, make up a few stories that involve your character, and practice telling them. Make sure you speak loud enough, and learn how to fake a laugh. Learn how to segue anything into one of your stories. Be careful though, and only tell one of your stories per game session, or else people grow bored with you. Don't worry if you can't come up with more than a handful, just retell the old ones.

Remember, Boons are your stock in trade, give them freely and accept them freely. Carry around a small book or notepad that lists everyone that owes you and everyone you owe. If someone is brash enough to kill you, they inherit all your debts, which is a surefire method to ensure that people don't attempt to kill your character out of hand. Smooth over ruffled feathers with a Trivial Boon if someone really gets bent out of shape by your words or insults.

Of course, if you find yourself a little bored, it's always fun to insinuate that someone is doing something scandalous, even when they aren't. Find someone who has less status than you, and spread the word that you "Heard a rumor" or that you suspect them of doing something. Often times, all it takes is a gentle nudge, and your target finds they are the target of an investigation, or that your insinuation takes on a life of it's own. If someone ever asks you about where you recieved your information, tell them that you don't exactly recall. Sometimes, your remarks will actually turn something over that the target is really involved in, and your statement will be ignored in the light of this new dirt.

The Art is in the Blood

Toreador are artists. If your character is a painter, don't worry too much about your inability to paint, you can buy a cheap canvas and paint, and randomly draw splotches and shapes. If someone questions your methods, say it is impressionist or neo-expressionist artwork, and begin talking about Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol.

If the character is more of a poet, feel free to steal some obscure works, only to recite them in the middle of gatherings. Don't claim that they are your own, so that other Toreador can smear you.

The most difficult types of artist to pull off are singers and musicians. Generally if you are unable to sing or play an instrument, it is best not to play a Toreador focused on those arts. You want people to remember your character's contributions and artistic ability, and you want them talking about you.

Remember, a tiny bit of research into art and artists goes a long way.

City Positions

Being that they are the advocators of fashion and etiquette, the Toreador should always look to be among the Harpies. Of course, a good Seneschal to the Prince can keep them well informed and impressionable.

Disciplines

Auspex

The ability to discern slight imperfections in a work, or eavesdrop on someone to see if they are talking about you makes Heightened Senses very useful. Aura Perception can give you insight to a person's true intentions (and you can always blackmail them with boons to keep quiet on their lies). Spirit's Touch is useful for investigative work, if someone comes to you and pays well enough for your assistance.

Being able to read someone's mind and find out their dirty secrets via Telepathy is always useful. Of course, they should always pay you to keep quiet. And lastly Psychic Projection helps you find out who is talking about you when you're not around.

Celerity

The best use for Celerity is escaping a situation in which you've enraged the peasants, and they can't think of any avenue other than violence.

Presence

The one Discipline all Toreador should focus on, Presence is often worth more than any other power of the blood. Awe immediately makes you the center of attention for only a single point of blood. Dread Gaze gives you yet another ability to disrupt any attack by someone who seems to be unable to handle criticism.

Entrancement gives you the immediate attention of a subject. Do you want someone to fawn over you, listen to your every word and be unable to break away? This power is perfect for that application.

The use of Summon on people just before you arrive at an event ensures that you have a massive welcoming party, and your arrival overshadows anything else going on at the gathering at that time.

If you want an immediate audience, use Majesty in the middle of a gathering, and then begin speaking once all the challenges have calmed down. This is an excellent way for a poet to begin their work.

Influence Focus

High Society

The main use of this Influence is to be seen and to be thought of as important. If your name is on the lips of local celebrities, and you find yourself on the list of the hottest clubs, people will desire you, and will do anything for your attention.

Media

If a new club or event isn't advertised, it might as well be dead. In addition, keeping glorious failures of other vampires out of the news is a surefire way to make sure that someone owes you.

Limitations

The only limitations you have are what you place upon yourself. Of course, only gauche Toreador find themselves engaged in actual physical violence, you have other people to fight for you.

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Ventrue: Power and Stability

The aristocracy of the night, Lords of the Ivory Tower, looking down upon the cities they rule from their boardroom balconies, the Ventrue hold it as their duty to lead. A Ventrue uses all power available to them to ensure that they retain such lofty positions, and woe be to those that draw their ire.

The Ventrue are stoic and resourceful, able to withstand the assault of time, weathering the tides that would destroy lesser Kindred. Their minions are legion, and many are unaware of how their strings are being pulled by unseen masters.

Costuming

Dress for success. A nice suit is always a must, although if you don't have one, or cannot afford one, drop by your local thrift store. If that isn't a possibility, a nice pair of dark pants or slacks and a dress shirt are passable.

Colors should be used sparingly. The majority of your costume should be monochromatic, with a single splash of color. Shirts should be dark primary colors if not black or white, a strong blue or crimson preferred. If you choose to wear a tie, use it as your color statement, although stark white is also a bold statement.

Jewelry and accoutrements should be tasteful. Leave the giant medallions and occult symbols to the Tremere. A simple pin on your lapel speaks volumes more than a half dozen gold chains.

You want to look like someone that deserves respect, you don't want to look like a gamer scrub that is dismissed out of turn.

Role Playing

Speak clearly, loud and directly. Make strong, affirmative statements, and don't speak just for the sake of filling the silence. Look people directly in the eyes (it also helps you Dominate them).

Always offer a firm handshake, with your palm facing downward, as it is a sign of dominance. Clasp their hand with your other hand, as a sign of trust. Such simple gestures automatically put people in a position to follow you.

If you act like you know what you're doing, people will follow you. If someone brings up the potential for failure, dismiss it, but take it into private consideration and plan for it.

Never allow a slight to linger, as you allow people to believe that the Ventrue will tolerate such. Make sure that insults meet with immediate retribution. If someone stands in your way, destroy them.

City Positions

There should always be a Ventrue in charge, and if not, a stable Ventrue Seneschal that effectively holds the Prince's leash is just as effective. If you should end up in a city where the Ventrue are not in charge, it is your duty to rectify the situation.

Ventrue also make very good Keepers of Elysium. Their sense of decorum and tradition allows them to correctly organize entertainment for the evening. Even better, their powers of Dominate and Presence often allows them to stop a fight before it really begins.

Disciplines

Dominate

The ability to force your will upon others is the pinnacle power of the Ventrue, and being able to back it up with a Discipline only makes it more potent. Setting up programmed instructions with Mesmerism makes others putty in your hands. Completely rewriting events with Forgetful Mind allows you to get away with heinous machinations (especially if you hide a Mesmerism in there). Lastly, Possession is paramount in being able to ignore assassination attempts, or personally getting your hands dirty without leaving a trace of your involvement.

Fortitude

Owing to the reputation that makes Ventrue seem like unassailable fortresses unto themselves, the entire Discipline allows you to withstand damage that would leave lesser vampires running or reduced to ashes. Endurance allows you to ignore wound penalties (which is something you need to bring up during a fight to ensure that your opponents are making sure they can still function despite wound penalties). Further powers of the discipline strips away the damage from incoming sources, until Aegis largely puts you beyond harm from most mundane sources and those assailants that don't have Potence.

Presence

When simple reasoning and Dominate doesn't seem to be working, sometimes you need to resort to Presence.

Awe grants you the ability to draw attention during a fight, and allows you to soak up damage that would otherwise have been directed at your minions.

Dread Gaze immediately removes one aggressor in a fight. If you only have a single attacker, you can end a fight with a single Social Challenge.

Entrancement gains you a loyal follower for a scene (or hour), which can also immediately grant you an ally in a fight (so long as they don't start taking too much damage).

All Ventrue with the power should use Summon often, to bring others to you, asserting your dominance over lesser Clans. This also cuts down on the perception that the power is only used for ambushes, so that when you finally need to use it for that purpose, it isn't as obvious.

Majesty immediately revokes an ambush, or can quell a rowdy crowd of Kindred. 

Influence Focus

Ventrue are masters of the Downtime game, and if you ignore such, you're missing out on much of the power that the Ventrue are capable of wielding. Destroy rivals, and have lesser individuals offer prestation for you to cease.

Combined with your Resources Background, focusing on financial influences is a method to guarantee your capabilities, as money always equals power. A wise Ventrue has considerable stock in this Influence, and uses it to set up a number of shell corporations to move wealth around and get a foothold in other Influences.

Influence in legal fields are also a good choice for Ventrue, as it gives them considerable power to support their other Influences, for instance it can be used to keep legal matters involving their shell corporations tied up long enough for the corporations to dissolve and resources allocated elsewhere, or effectively the negate a rival's ability to use influence among the police force.

Manipulation of politics is almost second nature to most Ventrue, use it to modify city projects and put pressure on other institutions. For example, if someone uses influence in the police force to begin an investigation into your holdings, political pressure from the City Government can easily disrupt the process, or string it out indefinitely as the Police Chief reassigns department resources.

Limitations

You have none, act like it. The scepter of command is your to wield.

Promotion

Of course, if you haven't read through our Clanbooks, you're operating at a disadvantage.

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Brujah: The Sound and the Fury

A Clan so widely varied, yet so easily defined, the Brujah are often seen as rabble and thugs, thinking with their fists and resorting to violence as the first resort. Because of such, some people either shun them or tiptoe around them. These reactions are quite alright, because you can use them to your advantage. Sometimes the threat of violence is far more effective than the actual application of such.

Of course, not every Brujah needs to be a hard hitting thug. The Clan does play up an interesting mix of personas, and there is a place for the socialite. Many Brujah like to consider themselves individuals and free thinkers, and solving a problem without resorting to the obvious is often worth merit. At the other end of the spectrum are the violent rebellious individuals who want nothing more than to live their unlives to the soundtrack of a Sex Pistols album. That's the joy of the Clan, in that there are so many ways you can play an individual.

Costuming

The stereotypical outfit for Brujah is jeans and a leather jacket, and if you are wanting to wear your Clan on your sleeve, most certainly that route works well. It also connects you to other rabble, and will often have Gangrel and Caitiff hanging around you, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you're going the leather jacket route, put some individuality into it, pick up some buttons, spikes, chains, or some sort of flourish to make your jacket easily distinguished.

Alternatively, some people are put off by well dressed Brujah, and are at odds with a Brujah that shows up to gatherings wearing a suit. Some elder Brujah wear formal clothing, as a method of distinguishing their age, however, it is often a sign to younger members of the Clan that someone is a "sellout" the moment they throw on a suit jacket and slacks.

Cheap clothing that looks "lived in" is readily available at any local thrift shop. To give jeans an appearance that they've been worn for a long time and endured the hard life on the road, you can simply take sandpaper to the knee area and to the hems. Add a little dark paint to simulate road grime or old dried blood, and you get the appropriate appearance.

Role Playing

As Brujah tend to be very straightforward and "in your face", often guided by their emotions, feel free to take the first plan you come up with and simply go with it, regardless of it being a bad idea. Action is better than stagnation. Sure, you may end up failing, but you were actually going out and doing things while the cronies that hang around Elysium were still trying to get their heads out of their asses and figure things out. Be proactive.

Be loud. Speak from your stomach. People react to loud noises, some people will flinch back from your noise and intensity, and they will give in to your demands. Practice the difference between speaking loud and shouting, as it takes skill to make your voice carry, but any idiot can shout unintelligible phrases. If you can make yourself loud enough to be understood across a large room, you're doing it correctly.

Don't hesitate to suggest that you're willing to use violence to accomplish what you want. As the Brujah have two of the three physical disciplines inherent to them, and are known for violence, there's no harm in playing off the stereotype. While violence may not sway some Elder characters, younger characters are much more willing to give ground than to risk being beaten into torpor.

Wear your Negative Status like a badge, because you're sure to offend someone's sensibilities. A Harpy or Prince is sure to give you a label such as "Brash" or "Malcontent". Polish it and let everyone know about it, hold it high above your normal status traits, because it is what really defines you as an individual. Plus, it pisses off the people who thought it would be a social snub, but instead you've made it a point of pride.

City Positions

Brujah often end up as the Scourge and/or Sheriff in the city, simply due to their martial capabilities. If these positions are already taken, offering your services as a deputy isn't a bad idea. Sure, some people may claim that you've "sold out", but you're actually just looking out for yourself and your fellow Brujah. After all, if you're the one helping to deliver the beat down on someone that made the Prince's shit list, you can make sure that they don't end up as a pile of ashes due to some "accident".

Disciplines

Celerity

Most of the advantages of Celerity that you want to focus on is the extra actions that are granted. In combination with Potence, it increases the amount of damage you can dish out every round. Celerity is also effective in avoiding a fight, allowing you to outrun your enemies.

Potence

The advantages of Potence are many, but are almost entirely regulated to combat. Certainly crushing a table in a demonstration of your physical power can certainly intimidate people, and a locked door is rarely a barrier to a Kindred with a significant amount of Potence.

Presence

Some Brujah completely ignore Presence, as they believe it isn't as effective as loading up on the Physical Disciplines of Potence and Celerity. While this may be partly true, Presence has a great deal more utility than the other two, and can often either end a fight or prevent it from happening in the first place.

Awe is perhaps one of the most useful powers for you, when you want people to listen. Not only is it effective in that regards, but it is also the one Discipline power you should try and trade to members of other Clans. Use this opportunity to cash in and pick up a few other Disciplines that compliment what your character already has, or give them a surprising edge that no one expects.

Dread Gaze can effectively end a fight if things seem to be going against you. Entrancement can end a fight before it really starts, get someone to agree with your point of view, or even get them trusting you enough to follow you into an ambush.

While it's an obvious choice for bringing someone to an ambush (a.k.a. The Boot Party), it's overuse of such ensures that people will be looking for ways to avoid or nullify your Summon. Therefore, use the power without impunity. Want to talk to Bob, Summon his ass. Heard that Jane has a cute ass, Summon her and check it out for yourself. Once you've gotten everyone used to the fact that you use the power all the time, they won't question when you finally use it to drag someone into a fight.

Lastly, Majesty is the deal breaker. Find yourself in the midst of a well orchestrated ambush? Use Majesty and walk out of it like a pimp. Your fellow Brujah getting a little too rowdy and about to do something really stupid? Majesty them all and quiet them down long enough so you can talk sense into them.

Influence Focus

If there are enough Brujah in a Domain with decent levels of Underworld Influence, they can effectively control the Influence and keep others from gaining a foothold. It's also effective at assisting you with various criminal enterprise, and getting your hands on illegal or unregistered weapons (or preventing others from doing the same).

Additionally, the influence gets you in touch with the prostitutes and homeless people, and when you're in a real pinch, nobody notices if one of them goes missing. 

Limitations

Always remember the Brujah's greatest weakness, in that you are much more prone to Frenzy, as your enemies certainly will not. All it takes is beating down the wrong person, or hulking out in front of mortals, and the Prince sets everyone against you in a Bloodhunt. 

Shameless Promotion

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Stop Thinking Like a Human

...or "You Are Not Playing Yourself With Supernatural Powers"

Most players are still stuck in a mindset of being human. Whereas many neonate vampires would also be of the same mindset, anyone playing a PC that is more than a lifetime old would quickly become accustomed to a completely different way of thinking.

If you're still thinking like a human when you're playing Masquerade, you're only putting yourself at a disadvantage. There are those people that have immersed themselves in character, and they view weaker people as prey.

First off, separate yourself from your character. It's perhaps the most difficult task to master, but you're playing with friends, and it's all just a game. You may have the inclination to be nice to them In Character, and do things for them because you're friends Out of Character. Resist those temptations, as not only does it cheapen the venue, but it also makes your character look weak.

You are playing a predator, a creature that hunts prey. Your character is in a society of other predators, creatures that are competing for food, and each one is dangerous, and seeks nothing more than to take what you have, or to eat you. Even if they don't willingly admit to such, all vampires have that little whisper in the back of their mind, that they can eat you and take your power.

Any time someone asks your character for a favor, ask yourself what you can gain from it. If they don't offer tangible recompense, and they don't offer boons, there's little reason to assist. Why would a vampire risk their unlives without any gain?

If such predators are so dangerous, why do they gather together? Simple, they have egos. They have an innate desire to one-up one another, and to size up the competition. They seek to socially maneuver to positions of power over lesser predators. Vampires are the pinnacle of selfishness, and never act with altruistic intentions. Never let other players sway you with phrases like "for the betterment of Kindred society", they are simply playing at your emotions and hoping that you give in and give up what power you have, so that lesser predators don't have to try as hard.

Vampire: the Masquerade is about being an antagonist in a sea of antagonists. Each vampire has their own motivations, and while they may coincide with the motivations of others for a time, conflict always happens, and should happen. It is conflict that drives stories.

Power Games

...or "How to Gain and Maintain Respect"

"You want some respect? Go out there and get it for yourself."  -Don Draper, 'Mad Men'

All too often I hear people complaining that their characters that are high Status, or who are in positions that should command respect, simply aren't given the respect they should be afforded. As respect is earned, and not given freely, the only person responsible for a character not having respect is the person who is playing them. All too often the person that wishes for respect is the same person that shows up to game wearing the same clothes they sit around the house in, doesn't understand the rules or setting, and is busy talking Out-of-Character (OOC) most of the game. The characters of such players don't garner respect, nor do people have any particular fear of eliminating their characters, as they are seen as little more than an inconvenience.

This post contains a number of ways to sharpen your character, making them an individual to be looked up to, admired, and as a valuable individual in a chronicle. This information is merely a small fraction of tips and methods for attaining respect, culminated from a number of sources, including famous authors, speech-writers, and psychologists.

Only you can make your character important and respected, through their active portrayal. No amount of background, or well-written material can be used as a replacement for how your character is viewed when you enter a live action game.

Dressing the Part

"Clothes make the man." - Mark Twain

There is a world of difference between the stoic character wearing a suit and tie and the gamer wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sandals; the first commands respect, while the second means that he isn't fully committed and would rather be lounging. Cheeto stains and a neckbeard do not command respect from people, nor does informing everyone that your PC happens to be wearing an impeccably tailored suit, while you are wearing khaki shorts and Crocs.

Similarly, a thug in armor, while may look interesting, doesn't quite command the respect of someone wearing utilitarian clothing. The armor makes you look like you're in a costume, while a motorcycle jacket and boots makes you look prepared for action. There's a line between what looks cool at a boffer larp, and what works well for a grim modern-day setting.

If you're unsure of what to wear for a character, leaf through a fashion magazine at a local convenience store, get an idea of what your character would wear. Understandably, gamers are often on a budget, however, the amount of thrift stores in existence means that you don't have to spend a fortune on a costume that accurately reflects the character. Your character might wear Armani or something from McQueen's Spring collection, however, you don't need to spend a fortune to look good enough to gain respect.

Regardless of the Fourth Wall, appearance is something that weighs heavily in people's minds, regardless of whether they admit it or not. Showing to a game looking good makes a good impression, and commands respect and attention. Who can respect someone that doesn't appear to have self-respect?

Acting the Part

"Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much."  - John Wayne

Your words should be clear, well enunciated and spoken slow enough for people to hear. Speak from the stomach, making sure that you are well heard and received. Humans are like all other animals, and react to loud noises.

When you speak, use absolutes, don't give people the ability to misinterpret what you state. Even though gamers are generally better educated individuals, small words are easier to comprehend, and less likely to be misinterpreted. When you do use a big word, restate your previous sentence with smaller words to ensure there is no miscommunication. Don't waffle about on topics. Make sure your views and desires are effectively conveyed and don't change your mind in mid-speech. Don't use words that convey that your mind is still processing, such as "uh" and "um", and only speak when you have something to state, not simply to fill the silent parts in a conversation.

Give pause and breathe in between sentences. This not only makes people hang on your words, but also gives them a short time to digest and process what you just said. Don't give too much of a pause, as people will think that your statement is done, and will begin their response.

Body language is also a large part in commanding respect. Proper posture with shoulders back and head high garners more respect than someone with hunched shoulders and stares at the floor when speaking. Practice your body language in a mirror, and see what works for you and what appears silly when viewed by others. Body language is as important punctuation about your statements as the content of your words. Avoid making silly gestures. These only serve to make people familiar and comfortable in your presence while you are in-character, which means they take you less seriously.

Read a book or two about speeches and body language. Watch speeches from such historic and charismatic leaders as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Adolf Hitler. Massive numbers of papers have been written about the effectiveness of their public speaking.

Knowledge is Power

Never volunteer information if you can avoid it. Many people are all too willing to converse about various aspects of their own personal agendas, which gives everyone insight to what they are doing, and how to thwart them. Don't give anyone pertinent information to your schemes or manipulations unless absolutely necessary.

One method to prevent from divulging such information is to write a small list of a half-dozen subjects that are conversation filler. Talk about local news articles and current events that you are uninvolved in, but seem interesting. Instead of giving a declarative statement, ask questions in a manner that almost makes you appear to have a stance on a subject, and let your conversation partner(s) debate and attempt to inform you. Let people talk about themselves, everyone is a narcissist at heart, and willing to give you ammo for you to use later.

Never appear surprised at a piece of information given. Quirk an eyebrow, give a sly grin, or say something along the lines of how such information is interesting. Doing so makes people believe that you know more than you actually do.

Be on Top of the Game

Learn the rules. You don't need to be a rules lawyer, but knowing and understanding the rules and how they relate to your character goes quite a distance. You're much more likely to garner respect when you are able to quickly locate things on your character sheet, or show your capability in using the abilities inherent to your character.

One method to assist in this aspect is the creation of a "supplementary sheet", an additional sheet attached to your character that has a list of the pools that you are likely to use, as well as a summary of your Disciplines and Merits and what they do. Writing the sheet also gives you insight into your character's strengths and what they should improve upon.

Always appear to have something going on behind the scenes, something that makes you busy, even if you don't. This makes people respect you, as they fear the unknown, and they want to get close to you to find out what nefarious plot you have brewing.

Make them Wait

When in a position of importance, you can take your time. However, there is a downside to taking too long to arrive at a gathering, in that if people wait too long, they may begin to move forward without you.

Showing up to a game an hour late, as long as you arrive fully prepared not only implies that you had more important business elsewhere, but also stymies the rare assassination attempt from a party of assailants (also termed as a 'boot squad'). If the assailants are forced to wait for an hour or two before getting their plans in motion, several of their key members may decide to abdicate their plans to go get involved in something else, thus possibly causing them to be less than effective in their attempt.

Arriving late to a personal request for your presence is a double edged sword. If you have judged incorrectly about the temperament and importance of the person requesting your presence, you run the risk of their punishment. However, if used on a person that is incapable or unwilling of bringing their ire down upon you , you have removed some of their power.

Can the OOC Chatter

Nothing makes you lose character quicker than OOC chatter, even your body posture will change, showing that you're less of a threat, and thus erode the foundation of respect that you've managed to construct. You can relax and act friendly during afters, or social events, and reiterate to people that you are not your character.

The less people that break down into OOC chatter and conversation means the more people actively pushing the game along. Avoid the temptation, and maintain character, because once character is broken, you have to overcome inertia to jump back in. 

 

Good to be King

...or "How to be Prince and Not Get Murdered"

Congratulations, you've taken the throne and put on the shirt with concentric circles. Now, you have to hold onto the crown, which is the hard part. Regardless of your Clan there are quite a few tips and policies that you should put in place to both appease the masses and keep them on their toes.

Opening Moves

First off, appoint a single Elysium. Declare this place sacrosanct and free from violence. Find your biggest detractor or opponent to your throne, and appoint them as Keeper of Elysium. Not only will this completely befuddle them and possibly change their attitude, but it also keeps them busy trying to police the Elysium. It gives them a modicum of power to strip status for those that would transgress. Also, inform everyone that if they wish to have an Elysium declared or to hold a gathering, they have to get the Master of Elysium's permission first before you sign off on it. This makes the new Master have to deal with added work, and gives you a degree of separation from the masses.

Second, grant one of your supporters the position of Seneschal. This is effectively your secretary and gatekeeper. Anyone wishing to speak with you on a matter should go through your Seneschal first. This gives you a degree of separation, and makes people jump through another layer of bureaucracy in order to bother you with what may be an insignificant issue.

Next, inform everyone that you will be entertaining notions for Primogen. Require that any Clan wishing to have a Primogen must have three Acknowledged residents of the city, to avoid the problem of solitary Clan members having power (it also prevents people making new characters just for the position). Give the Clans a month to come to your Seneschal with their requests of Primogen. This gives you a good month while everyone politics amongst themselves and their eyes are off the throne.

The Prince's Thug, also known as the Sheriff, is the guy that always enjoys jumping into combat, and has tweaked his character sheet to be able to pummel heads and beat ass. You want to make sure to get this guy on your payroll, to help neutralize anyone in recruiting him to oppose you. Don't ever hesitate to let him off the leash, it keeps some of the populace in check, because they're worried that you'll send him after any dissenters, and without your guidance, he'd be even more of a loose cannon. Encourage him to choose a deputy or two in order to shore up any of his shortcomings, such as the ability to investigate, or to just add more muscle to your payroll.

After the first month, take a look at the prospective Primogen. Approach each of them in turn, in private, and tell them that you have some reservations about lending them your support, however, you are willing to overlook such if they offer prestation. That way, right off the bat you have a Boon from every Primogen, something that will come in handy later.

The Rules: Edicts of a Prince

Simple. Enforce the Traditions, and the sanctity of Elysium, and let everything else go. If a vampire is the target of violence, does it really concern you? Let your citizens tear into one another freely, and they will be more oft to go after one another, and less likely to attempt a bloody coup. Only when vampires are killed should you step in, at which point, the removal of status is the first punishment, and make them recompense you for violating the Tradition of Destruction.

Feeding Territory and the Blood Tithe

Divide your domain up into a dozen sections. Seven of these go to the Camarilla loyal Clans. The other five should be buffers between the Clan territories, and the Rack, where all may feed without consequence. Next, have the Primogen come to you, each one in private, and reveal to them their Clan's territory, and ask them what they are offering for the sections immediately abutting their territories. Inform them that you will weigh their offer, and make your decision after all the Primogen have been spoken with.

If members of the Independent Clans come to you through appropriate channels (going to the Seneschal first), offer them some sliver of land in between two of the largest Clans of the city. This will keep them busy defending their territory, and the two largest Clans from keeping the independents as allies.

Never allow the Anarchs to have territories. Doing so immediately gives them the impression that they matter and that they have turf where they can ignore your rule.

After you have the offers on the table, consider them and draw up the territorial map. Each Clan is given exclusive feeding rights within their territory, and are responsible for any issues that arise within. Reiterate that such territories are privileges. Encourage your Storyteller to give bonus Blood traits on Feeding Challenges to members of those Clans that have Feeding Territories (a one or two Trait bump is sufficient).

The next thing is to announce that each Clan owes a yearly Blood Tithe. This means that each Clan must offer a tithe in Blood, which allows you to call in a favor of feeding for your hungry subordinates (such as deputies that have just returned from a fight). Never drink from such yourself, as there's always someone attempting to sway you with tainted blood.

Praise and Punishment

Be free with praise, but only award Status after much consideration. Make someone go out of their way to do something for you or the city, and reward them thus. Be careful, as you could be rewarding someone that will use the granted status against you when an attempt at your Praxis occurs.

Keep track of the status of everyone in the city, and when they were granted status. If someone is reaching six months of being Acknowledged within the city, grant them a status. This makes them feel noteworthy, and encourages players to keep from dumping characters.

Another trick for diverting the ire of an individual is to grant an individual status, and have the Harpy immediately revoke status. This makes them think highly of you, and dislike the Harpy.

Never hesitate to strip status when someone steps on a Tradition, or if you get wind that they are planning on making political moves against you. Never hesitate to trump up charges or make it appear that they are anathema, to support a strip. Inform everyone that your first inclination was to call a Bloodhunt, however, you feel that a simple removal of status is sufficient.

When you have an individual that is only Acknowledged, and you don't want to kill them off, due to whatever infraction they commit or appear to have committed, give them a choice of punishment. They can either be Bloodhunted, or they can suffer whatever punishment you deem necessary. This gives them the illusion of choice, and most would rather undergo punishment rather than exile under pain of death.

For public punishment of an infraction, ask those present who wishes to carry forth the sentence. The target of your wrath should be beaten into torpor, and put them under a two-step Vinculum. This should alter their role play so that they are favorable toward you without making them the mindless minion that many people view of the Blood Bond, and makes them wary of doing something that makes them take that third drink.

It Rolls Downhill

If someone screws up in your city, have their Primogen fetch them, and take them both aside for a stern lecture. Make the Primogen responsible for their Clan members, and they will often police themselves. Threaten revocation of areas of their Feeding Territory, threaten to remove status from the Primogen, or to have them replaced. Call in the boons you have collected from their Primogen to have them administer punishment. This will cause strife within that Covenant, thus causing them to hammer out their own issues and be too busy to be a threat to the throne.

"The Prince is my Problem Solver"

The Prince should be the last person anyone turns to in order to solve their problems, and never solve their problem for free. Always levy at least a Minor Boon out of them. The first few people should be taxed a Major Boon for your troubles, which should make everyone reconsider their course of action, and instead of coming to you, they will seek to fix their own problems.

Another problem that precipitates the dependent mindset is punishing people for their involvement in plot. After being burned once or twice, players become hesitant to think on their own and become involved in plot. Since you're the Prince, you shouldn't be gassing up the Mystery Machine and running off to solve the latest plot. Let other people do that, and focus more on political aspects. If you would rather be off chasing plot, perhaps the throne is not for you.