Maximizing Your Potential

There are a lot of questions new players have regarding what they can do with abilities, disciplines, paths, etc.

Every month I plan on writing a little something to teach new players that may not be familiar with the finer parts of the rules a new trick or three, that will make things about more exciting, and also more dangerous.

Kindred Blood

As you all know, the properties of Kindred Blood is what set Vampires apart from werewolves, mortals, mages, changelings, wraiths, and any other type of supernatural creature in the White Wolf world.

The blood of a vampire is not only what makes vampires immortal, but also is the "power source" behind all of their supernatural abilities. It allows them to use Disciplines, create more vampires, heal damage, and it times of need, can be used to draw upon additional strength.

"Draw upon more strength, what do you mean??"

Well, to be blunt, you can use your own blood to create additional Physical Traits in a conflict. How this works is quite easy.

Just prior to a Physical Test (during bidding), you may "burn blood" to gain additional Physical Traits to use during a conflict. According to Laws o/t Night, a Vampire may expend a number of Blood Traits to use in any Physical challenge. Blood used in this way do not immediately go away after the challenge is over, but rather after the actual physical conflict is over. The blood will not be completely spent until 5 minutes after the last Physical Challenge is over. (L o/t N p37)

"So what is the catch?"

Okay, you got me. Yes, there is a catch. Once these points a gone you will be down the number of points you used until you feed to regain your blood pool. Now happen to bring several bloodbags with you to a gathering, you may be ok, but if you reach that 1 blood point mark you may also have to make a Hunger Frenzy check with a ST, to see if you either hold off the hunger for a few more minutes, or freak out and try and take some from one of the people around you. For those of you running around at 13th - 12th Gen, you've got either 3 or 4 blood points to use for the evening, and if you get into a particularly nasty fight with Gangrel using Wolf's Claws, you're gonna need every point just to heal 1 ag-wound.

The Conclusion

Basically, this kind'a evens out the Physical vs. non-physical characters, and makes Elders a little more scary because they can store quite a bit of blood (they're not Elders for nothin'!).

Happy Hunting!

- James -

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