I have modified many aspects of character creation. Below are the house rules and modifications, if it is not discussed below then it is the same as written in "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition".

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Clans:

Players may only choose from one of the seven standard Camarilla clans (Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere or Ventrue) or play a Caitiff. No other clans or bloodlines (Sabbat or Independent) will be allowed and odds are the majority of the players will have little or no knowledge of the other clans and/or bloodlines beyond the seven Camarilla clans (unless they have the ability Kindred Lore). See the various clan descriptions in the "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition" for advantages, disadvantages, disciplines, etc.

Positions:

The following positions will be open for characters to fill at character creation.

• Primogen Seats & their Whips for each clan
• Sheriff & Deputies (I would like to see at least 2 Deputies)
• Lead Harpy & Assistant Harpies (I would like to see at least 2 Assistant Harpies)
• Keeper of Elysium & Assistant Keeper

Anyone can try for any of these positions and all players are encouraged to do so. The final decisions will be made by the storytellers based on character concept and background.

Archetypes (aka Nature and Demeanor):

All those listed in "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition" are allowable (Page 73) as well as the four new ones listed in the "Camarilla Guide" (Page 23). Those listed in the "Sabbat Guide" (Page 60) may also be possible, but you should have a good reason in your character background since these are more Sabbat-oriented.

Morality Paths:

All vampires of 9th generation or higher automatically default to the Path of Humanity. Elders (8th generation or lower) have the possibility to be on another Path if they have a good reason for it in their background. Of course exceptions can be made with storyteller approval. The ten point Path scale will be used in this game (instead of the five point scale). To determine your starting Path Rating, add your Conscience/Conviction virtue and Self-Control/Instinct virtue together. You can also choose to loose up to two Path Traits at character creation in exchange for one Free Point per trait lost.

Generation:

This will be handled differently then in past games. Characters who hold positions in the city (i.e. Primogen, Sheriff, etc.) at the beginning of the game will start off at either 8th, 9th or 10th generation at no cost (the storyteller will perform a test with the player to determine exactly which they are - win 8th, tie 9th, lose 10th). See the section titled "Positions" above for more on this.

For the average Kindred of the city (and those that hold assisting positions such as whip, deputy, etc), they will have three different methods to choose from to determine their generation.

• Method #1:

  If you decide to play a 13th generation character and do not want to have a lower generation you will have more Free Points than other generations.

• Method #2:

  You can perform a test against the storyteller to start off with a generation of 10th, 11th or 12th at no cost (if you win your 10th, tie 11th, lose 12th).

• Method #3:

  If you have a concept that calls for a specific generation please talk to the storytellers and we should be able to work something out. But please keep in mind the ratio of neonates to elders/ancilla. If you are dead set on starting at a lower generation you should try for one of the positions in the city first (remember, the better your background... the better your chances of getting a position).

Players who choose to play Caitiff will start at 13th generation and receive an additional 2 bonus Free Points.

There will also be Elder characters in the game , 3 will be Player Characters and any others encountered will be Storyteller Characters. These players will have Narrator status (so they will have the ability to oversee combat mainly) but will not be privy to any special "inside" information concerning plot lines (unless it is something they dig up "in character"). Their main purpose is to advance the agendas of their individual clans as well as to guide, advise, and assist their fellow clan members (not abuse them). While they do start off the game more powerful, they will be hindered in other ways that will not be visible to most in the game (for one, they cannot hold ANY positions within the city... after all they are Elders). Certain individuals will be offered the chance to play these characters. But be forewarned that if you are playing one of these individuals, abusing it will be dealt with harshly by the storytellers.

Attributes/Traits:

The starting number of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Traits each character will begin with to allocate to their Physical, Social and Mental Attributes depends directly upon their generation.

All allowable Traits are listed below. You will notice that each Attribute has three sub-categories, this is for certain discipline powers that call for specific types of Traits.

Abilities:

The starting number of points that a character may allocate to abilities depends directly upon their generation.

Abilities (and Ability Specializations) are explained in detail in "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition" (Page 85). If you choose some of the more obscure and/or highly specialized abilities you should explain why you have them in your background.

The new abilities Hunting and Psychology from the "Camarilla Guide" (Page 24) as well as the abilities of Blindfighting, Fortune-Telling and Torture from the "Sabbat Guide" (Page 69) are also available for player characters to learn.

Two abilities that did not seem to make the transition into the new edition of the rules are Archery and Throwing. Treat these just like the Firearms ability when using bows and crossbows (for Archery) or when throwing knives and the like (for Throwing).

As far as Lore abilities are concerned, I do not like the way they are handled in past editions of the rules. Lore abilities are highly specialized knowledge, so if you decide that you want to have a Lore ability remember that it is subject to storyteller approval and that they are typically only known by Kindred who have been around for quite a while or are scholars in a specific area. There are 7 Lore abilities (Kindred, Camarilla, Hunter, Lupine, Wraith, Spirit, and Changeling). See the Lore Abilities section for more on this.

(Errata/Clarification - For non-combat related challenges (including Discipline use) the defender may expend one level of the same ability (in most cases) to negate a retest by the person initiating the challenge. The challenge must be effecting them directly. So if Dean Oddly tries to "Entrance" Hector and fails the intial challenge and then tries to retest by expending the Leadership ability, Hector can negate the retest if he has a level of Leadership himself and decides to expend it.)

(Errata/Clarification - The ability "Vamp" on page 69 of "Laws of the Night: Sabbat Guide" will be allowed as a player character ability.)

(Errata/Clarification - The number of languages known depends on how many levels of "Linguistics" are taken. One level [Total Languages = 1], two levels [Total Languages = 2], three levels [Total Languages = 4], four levels [Total Languages = 8] and five levels [Total Languages = 16].)

(Errata/Clarification: 4/8/01 - You must have the "Medicine" ability in order to properly collect [without injuring the target] and/or store blood [or an appropriate level of Health Influence or Occult Ability].)

(Errata/Clarification: 4/8/01 - You can expend the "Awareness" ability to perform a static mental test against unseen observers [using Obfuscate, the Stealth Ability or Psychically Projected] or potential dangers [walking into an ambush or about to trigger a trap]. If you win you get a "gut feeling" that something isn't right and can then act accordingly [such as activating Heightened Senses to detect hidden observers]. The Occult ability CAN NOT be used to retest this ability [you get one chance and one chance only to sense if something is amiss])

Disciplines:

The starting number of levels that a character may allocate to disciplines depends directly upon their generation.

Use the following guidelines for purchasing disciplines at the time of character creation, these are dependent upon the characters generation. These are just guidelines and exceptions can be made with storyteller approval. See the Disciplines section for modifications on how they will be played.

• 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Generation

  May start off with basic level "in-clan" disciplines only.

• 9th and 10th Generation

  May start off with basic and intermediate level "in-clan" disciplines. With storyteller approval may also start with basic level "out of clan" disciplines.

• 8th Generation

  No restrictions with storyteller approval.

Backgrounds:

The starting number of points that a character may allocate to backgrounds depends directly upon their generation.

Below are the modifications to the various backgrounds, if any. All references to specific pages, unless stated otherwise, are from "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition". Players should give reasons why they would have these various backgrounds and should give as much detail about them as possible. Of course final approval is at the storytellers discretion.

• Allies:

  Remains the same as in the book (Page 93). Maximum Rating is 5.

• Contacts:

  Remains the same as in the book (Page 94). Maximum Rating is 5 (Nosferatu characters may have higher levels of this background, please see the storytellers if you are playing a Nosferatu for more on this). Please remember that contacts can only be used as influence to gain information, not to actually effect things.

• Fame:

  Remains the same as in the book (Page 94). Maximum Rating is 5.

• Generation:

  This is no longer considered a background. See the beginning of the character creation rules for more on how this will be handled in the game.

• Havens:

  This is a variation on the "Holdings" Merit in "Laws of Elysium". Each character will start off the game with one haven at no cost and should give a location and description of it. For each point of this background taken the character will have 1 additional haven. Most, if not all, have been modified to provide you with escape routes, shelter from the day, and protection. Locations and descriptions are required for each. Maximum Rating is 5 to start with, but it is possible to go higher if additional havens are constructed/purchased during the course of the game.

• Herd:

  Each point of herd gives you 2 Blood Points instead of 1, otherwise it remains the same as in the book (Page 96). There is not a maximum rating for this background.

• Influence:

  During the initial character creation session only... players will gain two points for every one they spend on influence (maximum of 10 points, all points after this are on a one-for-one basis). This is in addition to bonus influence points gained for being of a specific clan (which are not doubled). See the Influence section for more on how this will be played in the game.

  (Errata/Clarification - Players can spend a maximum of 10 points to get 20 points of influence, all points spent after this are on a "one for one" basis and are not doubled)

  (Errata/Clarification - Most clans are granted free levels of influence during character creation [usually giving you 2 or 3 specific types to choose from]. The choices listed are the "typical" ones for the clan, players will be allowed to choose other types instead of those listed if they better suit their characters personality and interests.)

• Mentor:

  Remains the same as in the book (Page 104). Maximum Rating is 5.

• Resources:

  Remains the same as in the book (Page 104). Maximum Rating is 5.

• Retainers:

  If the character is to have any ghouls, this must be bought. Each point counts as on Retainer/Ghoul. See page 105 for the description of this. Their is not a maximum rating for this particular background.

• Status:

  Additional status may be purchased at the start of the game on a one for one basis (the maximum number of points that may be spent this way is 14 minus the characters generation). The requirement is that the player should have very good reasons for having additional status (explained in your character background). The Storytellers have final say on this background.

Free Points:

The starting number of free points that a character will have available is directly dependent upon their generation.

Additional Free Points can be gained by taking Negative Traits, Derangements, Flaws (see "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition" starting on Page 70 for restrictions and how many points you may gain through each of these three methods) or lowering your Path Rating (See Morality Path near the top of this Page). The combined total amount of Free Points you may gain through these four methods depends on the generation of the character.

You can spend your Free Points in a multitude of ways. Below is a list everything (and it's cost) you can spend Free Points on during character creation (unspent Free Points are lost once you begin playing your character).

• One Free Point can be spent to take an additional Attribute Trait.
• One Free Point converts to an additional Ability Point.
• One Free Point allows you to gain a specialization in one Ability you already know. Remember that each Ability can only have one specialization.
• One Free Point converts to an additional Background Point.
• One Free Point can raise your Morality Path Rating by one.
• Two Free Points can be used for an extra Virtue Trait. Raising Virtues in this manner DOES affect you Morality Path Rating.
• Two Free Points can be used to gain an additional Willpower Point, subject to generational limits.
• Two Free Points can be used to purchase one (regardless if it is Basic, Intermediate or Advanced) Thaumaturgical Ritual, Ward, Glyph or Sigil.
• Three Free Points can be used to purchase one level (regardless if it is Basic, Intermediate or Advanced) of an "in-clan" Discipline.
• Four Free Points can be used to purchase one level (regardless if it is Basic, Intermediate or Advanced) of an "out of clan" Discipline.
• Merits, depending on what they are, have a variable cost in Free Points.

Any Merits and Flaws listed in "Laws of the Night, 3rd Edition" (Pages 112-122), "Camarilla Guide" (Pages 24-26) and "Laws of Elysium" (Pages 31-34) are available at character creation. The only exceptions to this are the Merits "Iron Will" and "Lucky", neither of which can be taken by player characters. All others will have to be approved by the storytellers and you should explain the reasons why you have various Flaws and Merits in your character background. You are expected to role play any Flaws you take to the best of your ability. Those that do not will be handled on a case by case basis.

(Errata/Clarification - The following merits/flaws WILL NOT be allowed in the game;

• Smell of the Grave
• Iron Will
• Probationary Sect Member
• Lucky
• True Faith
• Cast No Reflection
• Touch of Frost
• Eerie Presence
• Grip of the Damned
• Infertile Vitae
• Cold Breeze

The only way you may be able to have one of these is if a storyteller likes your background and offers you the chance to take one of these [DO NOT ask to have them or the answer WILL BE NO]).