Disciplines are supernatural powers granted by the Embrace, which vampires cultivate to bring to bear against their foes and prey. These powers separate the Damned from mortals, providing an incomparable mystical edge over those who would stand against them. With Disciplines, a vampire can exert the strength of a dozen men, force an enemy into thrall, ignite a fire with a glance, or take the mantle of a beast. Even the youngest Kindred, with a few token powers at his command, has an advantage over most threats, while the elders, who have often mastered a fearsome breadth of these potent gifts, can seem almost unassailable.
The origin of Disciplines is a Kindred mystery. Are they a form of dark Biblical justice, bestowed upon Caine and his get as a damnation-scourge? Are they the wiles of a twisted natural world, taught by Lilith, the mother of monsters? Are they simply predatory advantages, intrinsic to the state of being Kindred? Whatever the answer, learning and honing these supernatural powers is paramount to being able to face undeath on a vampire’s own terms. After all, the other forces at play in the Jyhad will be cultivating theirs….
Like other Traits, Disciplines are rated in progressive dots. A rating of one dot indicates that the Discipline in question has barely been awakened, while a rating of six dots or higher indicates mastery beyond the capacity of most neonates and even ancillae. As a character increases her rating in a Discipline, she gains access to the powers listed next to the appropriate number of dots, as well as retaining access to lesser powers. As with other Traits, Discipline levels of higher than five dots are available only to those Kindred of Generations seven and lower.
Advancing Disciplines
Players begin the game with three dots to spend on their characters’ Clan Disciplines, which are listed with each Clan description in Chapter Two. Caitiff may place their three dots on any Disciplines they like, subject to the Storyteller’s discretion. Characters may also acquire Disciplines other than those commonly taught by their Clan, provided they spend the proper freebie or experience points and have access to a vampiric teacher (again, subject to the Storyteller’s discretion). Learning a new out-of-clan Discipline requires that the teacher feeds the student a point of their blood before instruction begins, to start the mystical tie to the Discipline being taught. Improving knowledge of a Discipline already known does not require such a transfer (although some unscrupulous teachers may claim that it’s still necessary).
- All characters can lean the physical disciplines (Celerity, Fortitude, and Potence) independent of a teacher as long as they devote the time and experience required.
- Common disciplines (Animalism, Auspex, Dominate, Presence, and Obfuscate) must be taught by a teacher after giving the student one point of blood, along with the required experience expenditure. The student may only learn to the level their teacher currently knows.
- Rare/Clan-Specific disciplines (Chimestry, Dementation, Obtenebration, Protean, Quietus, Serpentis, Vicissitude, and Bloodline Specific Disciplines) must earn Storyteller approval before being taught to a character who is not of the clan that uses this discipline primarily.
- Any type of blood sorcery must be taken at character creation any may not be taught to any other character unless they already have the discpline. (Ex. Tremere can share paths, but can't teach anyone else Thaumaturgy.)