SECONDARY ABILITIES

Secondary Abilities are often more specialized than the basic abilities thus enabling a player to define her character more exactly.
Each dot costs 2 pt for secondary abilities. You pay for those dots with your freebie points.
In Freebie points you get:
Vampire: 15
Elders: 20
Mortals/etc: 21

Knowledges

Accounting (VPG)
You can set up and keep accounts in the commercially approved, conventional manner. You can also interpret accounts and find errors, tricks and embezzlement.
* Novice: Night school
** Practiced: Junior clerk
*** Competent: Senior clerk or junior partner
**** Expert: Senior partner
***** Master: Nothing escapes you.

Alchemy (VPG)
You are familiar with the writings of the classical and medieval alchemists, and you also have some practical experience. This Ability is indirectly related to the Knowledge of Chemistry, in a manner similar to the relationship between Astronomy and Astrology.
* Novice: A mere dabbler
** Practiced: Apprentice, probably still dependent on a master for instruction
*** Competent: Journeyman, capable of making your own way, but with a long road still to travel
**** Expert: Experienced alchemist, within reach of the greatest secrets
***** Master: Maybe that lead into gold thing can really work.
Anthropology (VPG)
You have studied the human phenomenon of society in many of its forms, and understand its basic rules and structures on a theoretical level, You also have some specific knowledge about one or more contemporary preindustrial societies.
* Novice: Student
** Practiced: Grad student or research assistant
*** Competent: Professor or veteran fieldworker
**** Expert: Head of department in major university
***** Master: Leading light of the field; your work shapes the future of the subject

Archaeology (VPG)
You have studied the remains of the past and the processes by which they are preserved and discovered. You can interpret archaeological remains and identify the likely origin of ancient artifacts; you also know a fair amount about one or more ancient cultures.
* Novice: Undergrad or amateur
** Practiced: Graduate student or research assistant
*** Competent: Professor
**** Expert: Research fellow
***** Master: Doyen

Architecture (VPG)
You are trained in the design of buildings, from both functional and aesthetic points of view. You can judge where the load-bearing elements of a building are and interpret architectural plans. You instinctively know where the safest places are in the event of an explosion or earthquake.
* Novice: Student
** Practiced: Office junior
*** Competent: Junior partner
**** Expert: Senior partner
***** Master: Frank Lloyd Wright

Area Knowledge (VPG)
You are familiar with an area usually a city — and know a fair amount about its structure, history, geography and mortal politics. This Knowledge does not include Kindred affairs, which are covered by the Knowledges of Kindred Lore and City Secrets.
* Novice: You know a fair amount for an outsider.
** Practiced: You may have lived there for a year or two.
*** Competent: You may have lived there for 5-10 years.
**** Expert: You’re native born, and never left.
***** Master: You could write the definitive book on the area.

Art History (VPG)
You have studied art as an academic rather than practical subject, and know a great deal about its history. By looking at a piece of art, you have a good chance of identifying its place and period of origin, and in most cases you can name the artist without looking for a signature. You also have a fair idea of a piece’s current market price.
* Novice: Student or amateur
** Practiced: Grad student or enthusiastic amateur
*** Competent: Professor or auction house bigwig
**** Expert: Research fellow or auction house chief
***** Master: Head of a museum

Astrology (VPG)
You know how to compile and interpret a horoscope. Whether you actually believe these revelations is a matter of personal taste, but you can present them in a convincing and pleasing manner to those who do believe.
* Novice: You merely dabble.
** Practiced: Friends ask you to make horoscopes for them.
*** Competent: You could run a small astrology business.
**** Expert: You could have a syndicated newspaper column.
***** Master: You could work for celebrities and politicians.

Astronomy (VPG)
You study the heavens and their movements from a scientific rather than a mystical standpoint. You can identify most constellations, operate an astronomical telescope, predict sunspots, eclipses and comets, and identify most heavenly phenomena.
* Novice: Student or amateur
** Practiced: Grad student or enthusiastic amateur
*** Competent: Professor or Doyen of local society
**** Expert: Research fellow, TV host or NASA hotshot
**** Master: Renowned scholar or NASA team leader

Biology (VPG)
You know about the nature of life, the forms it takes, and the way living organisms work. You have a reasonable chance of identifying a plant or creature, even from a fragment. You must have at least one dot in Science before you can acquire this Knowledge.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Research fellow

Black Hand Lore

Bureaucracy

Camarilla Lore (VPG)
You know information about the Camarilla. You know who many of the princes are, who many of the real rulers are, details about the Masquerade, Camarilla history, legend and propaganda.
* Novice: What just about all Camarilla Kindred know
** Practiced: What most Ventrue know
*** Competent: What most Nosferatu or Tremere know
**** Expert: What most princes know
***** Master: What most Methuselahs know

Chemistry (VPG)
You have studied the nature of substances and their interactions, and know how to prepare various chemical compounds. You also know how to deal with various hazardous substances. You must have at least one dot in Science before you can acquire this Knowledge. * Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Research fellow

City Secrets (VPG)
This Knowledge describes a character’s knowledge of a particular city (you choose which); who is who, who has power, how its vampires relate to one another and what is going on. This Knowledge cannot be taken during character generation; it can only be obtained through direct experience. Knowing about the Kindred of Chicago gives character no information about the Kindred of Los Angeles.
* Novice: Whelp
** Practiced: Naive or inexperienced
*** Competent: You have an ear to the ground
**** Expert: Well-informed
***** Master: Seasoned intriguer

Clan Knowledge (VPG)
You know information pertaining to a clan (generally, but not always, your own). This information is not privy to most and it may have taken years for you to discover any useful information.
* Novice: What some clan members know
** Practiced: What most ancillae know
*** Competent: What most elders know
**** Expert: What most Methuselahs know
***** Master: What only the clan leader knows

Computer

Computer Hacking (VPG)
The player must have at least two dots in Computer before purchasing this Knowledge. Hacking allows the computer user to break the rules. *Novice: You are a computer geek who knows a few tricks, such as changing your grades in the university computer network.
** Practiced: You have great “luck” in guessing computer passwords.
*** Competent: You thought your electric bill was too high last month, but you can fix that with a few keystrokes.
**** Expert: Now that you have cracked the bank codes, which is it: Rio or Bermuda?
***** Master: The European Community was pretty annoyed about that thermonuclear incident, but you know they can never trace it back to you.

Criminology (VPG)
You have studied the nature of crime when, where, how and why it is committed, the nature of the criminal mind and the history of famous cases. You are an expert on crime and law enforcement.
* Novice: Amateur
** Practiced: Enthusiast
*** Competent: Scholar or detective
**** Expert: Criminal historian or senior detective
***** Master: The Shadow

Cryptography (VPG)
You may skillfully compose and interpret codes and ciphers. *Novice: Grade-school spy fan
** Practiced: Word puzzle buff, military signals officer
*** Competent: Intelligence officer
**** Expert: Intelligence cipher specialist
***** Master: James Bond

Economics (VPG)
You know what an economy is and how one works. Coupled with Area Knowledge, this Ability enables you to determine the origin and destination of every penny in the city. You can study a city or country and gain a fair understanding of its economic condition and the reasons for such.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student or business journalist
**** Expert: Professor or economic consultant
***** Master: Research fellow or presidential advisor

Electronics (VPG)
You are familiar with the construction and operation of electronic devices. You can identify the function of an unknown electronic device, and diagnose and repair a malfunctioning or broken device given time and equip ment. Note that electronic devices are not the same as electrically powered mechanical devices a hair dryer is mechanical, a radio is electronic.
* Novice: Tinkerer
** Practiced: Ham radio operator
*** Competent: TV repairman
**** Expert: Computer engineer
***** Master: Computer hardware designer

Engineering (VPG)
You can understand, design and diagnose faults in mechanical systems of all kinds. You can design a set of plans from which a skilled mechanic can build almost anything from a toaster to an airplane.
* Novice: Amateur
** Practiced: Student
*** Competent: Junior engineer
**** Expert: Chief engineer
***** Master: Ace inventor

Enigmas

Expert Knowledge

Faerie Lore (VPG)
You possess information pertaining to the Seelie and Unseelie faeries, and know something of their great kingdom: Arcadia. Because Kindred ate unable to travel to this realm, most of your knowledge is hearsay, and thus difficult to verify.
* Novice: Your knowledge is largely speculation and hearsay.
** Practiced: You know some relevant facts.
*** Competent: You possess a general knowledge of their ways.
**** Expert: You possess expansive knowledge.
***** Master: You think you know the secrets of these creatures.

Forensics (VPG)
You are trained in the recognition and interpretation of physical clues. You can examine the scene of a crime, for instance, and find out the race, sex, build, hair color, clothing type and probable social class of everyone who was there in the last three to four days.
* Novice: Amateur sleuth
** Practiced: Detective, FBI agent
*** Competent: Police specialist
**** Expert: FBI specialist
*****Master: Sherlock who?

Geology (VPG)
You have studied the physical composition of the earth. You know something about the physics and chemistry of rock, the formation of landscape features, and other related topics. One dot Science is necessary to take this Knowledge.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student or oilman
**** Expert: Professor or prospecting consultant
***** Master: Research fellow

Heraldry (VPG)
You have studied the art and language of heraldry, and can interpret a heraldic device such as a coat of arms or a Japanese mon. You can also design a new one that the ruling authorities of heraldry would find acceptable.
* Novice: Amateur
** Practiced: Enthusiast or historian
*** Competent: Grad student or genealogist
**** Expert: Professor or junior herald
***** Master: Research fellow or king of arms

History (VPG)
You have studied the history of the world or of a specific area or period, and understand what happened, when, why, and who was involved. Note that in the case of vampires, this Knowledge relates only to times and places that are outside their direct experience. For instance, a vampire born in ancient Rome would rely on memory for knowledge of Roman history and culture, but would use History to uncover information about classical Greece, which was before his time, or about Tokugawa Japan, which was outside his experience.

* Novice: Amateur or high school
** Practiced: Enthusiast or college student
*** Competent: Grad student or author
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Research fellow

Kindred Lore (VPG)
This Knowledge cannot be taken during character generation; it can only be obtained through direct experience. Kindred Lore reflects a character’s knowledge of the great secrets of the Kindred: the Jyhad, Gehenna, the Antediluvians, Methuselahs, Inconnu and the Book of Nod.
* Novice: But a whelp
** Practiced: Still mostly unfamiliar
*** Competent: Broad familiarity with the legends
**** Expert: Knows a few of the great secrets
***** Master: Possessor of some of the great secrets

Koldunism

Literature (VPG)
You are familiar with the literature of one or more nations or historical periods, and know something of the general style and structure of literature the things that set literature apart from mere fiction or entertainment.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student or struggling author
*** Competent: Grad student or critic
**** Expert: Professor or recognized author
***** Master: Research fellow or celebrated author

Lupine Lore (VPG)
You possess information pertaining to werewolves — what they eat, when they gather, their strengths and their weaknesses.
* Novice: Your knowledge is largely speculation and hearsay.
** Practiced: You know some relevant facts.
*** Competent: You possess a general understanding of your subject.
**** Expert: You possess expansive knowledge.
***** Master: You know as much about them as they do themselves.

Mage Lore (VPG)
You are familiar with the lore of magic and witchcraft. You know of the ancient orders of wizards: their cabals, covenants, and secret rituals. More importantly, you also know about their modern counterparts.
* Novice: Your knowledge is largely speculation and hearsay.
** Practiced: You know some relevant facts.
*** Competent: You possess basic knowledge of the mystic ways.
**** Expert: You possess expansive knowledge.
***** Master: You understand the theory of magic.

Mathematics (VPG)
You have studied the science of numbers; you are able to perform complex calculations and understand mathematical concepts beyond basic arithmetic.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student or scientist
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Research fellow

Metallurgy (VPG)
You know about the properties and behavior of metals and alloys. You know the melting points, stress limits and other characteristics of most common metals and alloys. You must have at least one dot in Science to take this Knowledge.
* Novice: Student
** Practiced: Grad student or apprentice
*** Competent: Professor or engineer
**** Expert: Engineer
*****Master: Chief engineer

Meteorology (VPG)
Either through study or experience, you know a thing or two about weather.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College, weekend camper or TV weatherman
*** Competent: Grad student or outdoor enthusiast
**** Expert: Professor or farmer
***** Master: God calls you up and tells you.

Military Science (VPG)
Though intensive study or actual battle experience, you are familiar with the techniques needed to conduct a military campaign.
* Novice: Citadel graduate
** Practiced: NCO
*** Competent: Brigadier general
**** Expert: Julius Caesar
***** Master: Sun Tzu

Naturalist (VPG)
You are a student of animal behavior. Through study or experience, you know when and where to find certain animals, how to watch them without provoking them to run away or attack you, and how they react to certain things.
* Novice: Boy Scout
** Practiced: Outdoors type
*** Competent: TV nature show host
**** Expert: Seasoned fieldworker
***** Master: David Attenborough

Physics (VPG)
You have studied the science of matter, its composition and its behavior. You can calculate masses and velocities without even thinking about so doing, you know a little about why the universe is the way it is, and you might even understand the Theory of Relativity. You must have at least one dot in Science to take this Knowledge.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Research fellow

Psychology (VPG)
You have a formal education in the science of human nature. You know the modern theories of emotion, cognitive development, personality, perception and learning. Though this is largely a scholarly understanding of the human psyche, it can be used practically, to understand those around you.
* Novice: High school
** Practiced: College student
*** Competent: Grad student
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Theorist

Research

Sabbat Lore (VPG)
You know information available only to members of the Sabbat. If you are not Sabbat and you possess this Knowledge, you had better keep it a secret. If the Sabbat were to find out, your unlife expectancy would plummet.
0• * Novice: What almost all Sabbat know
** Practiced: What most Sabbat priests know
*** Competent: What most Sabbat bishops know
**** Expert: What most Sabbat archbishops know
***** Master: What the prisci, cardinals and Regent know

Setite Lore
(Cbk Set Rev)

The average Setite must study, travel and speak to other Setites for decades before he knows the difference between House of the Eclipse and Red Temple liturgy--let alone any of the real secrets. Few vampires from other clans ever acquire Setite Lore. The serpents guard their secrets well. Any non-Setite who achieves more than a single dot in Setite Lore must hide her knowledge well, or Setites are sure to target her for conversion or assassination.
* Student: You know that you assist the Dark God in opposing the Aeons, and you can assist in your cult's liturgy
** College: You can discuss broad differences in cult theology and practice, and know much of Set's mythology
*** Masters: You can analyze Theophidian theology in detail, know the names of most Hierophants and are privy to many secrets
**** Doctorate: You know the specific goals of Hierophants and Eternals and have read many of the most sacred texts and grimoires. The secrets of the Setites have scarred your soul
***** Scholar: After such knowledge, what forgiveness?

Sewer Lore (VPG)
You know much about sewers in general and a great deal about the sewer system in your own city. You know where the havens of the Nosferatu are, and you know where the city’s Giovanni meet. You also have enough general knowledge to navigate through unfamiliar sewers and emerge close to your destination.
* Novice: You are a real tunnel rat.
** Practiced: What a city worker might know
*** Competent: What a Nosferatu or Giovanni would know
**** Expert: What older Nosferatu would know
***** Master: What a Nosferatu elder might know

Spirit Lore (VPG)
You know of the spirit world, and its structure and forms. Though you may not necessarily have the ability to travel astrally, you understand how the process works. The world of ghosts is also known to you.
* Novice: Watched one of those bad TV shows.
** Practiced: Got scared in a haunted house.
*** Competent: You know where they are.
**** Expert: You know what they are.
***** Master: You know why they are.

Steward

Theology (VPG)
Religion is a familiar aspect of human endeavor for you, and you fully understand its place in the world. Possession of this Knowledge in no way requires personal belief in the tenets of any specific religion.
* Novice: Participant
** Practiced: Altar boy
*** Competent: Priest
**** Expert: Professor
***** Master: Theologian

Toxicology (VPG)
You have a working knowledge of poisons, their effects and antidotes. You must have at least one dot in either Chemistry or Biology to acquire this Knowledge.
* Novice: Dabbler
** Practiced: Detective; mystery reader
*** Competent: Pharmacist; mystery writer
**** Expert: Forensic scientist; emergency room doctor
***** Master: Assassin

Underworld Lore

Vampire Lore

Wyrm Lore (VPG)
Some vampires delve into the lore of the Lupines’ enemy the Wyrm. This is dangerous; for every bit of information they gain, they risk destruction or corruption.
* Novice: You are aware of and can name many Wyrm creatures.
** Practiced: You know there are many Wyrm manifestations (Triatic Wyrms, Urge Wyrms). You may know some of the Black Spiral Dancers’ pictograms.
*** Competent: You know something of the geography and people of Malfeas.
**** Expert: You know of the Black Spiral Labyrinth and some of its secrets.
***** Master: You are a danger to the Wyrm and yourself.