Downtime and Projects
Downtime is the time between sessions and major events. It is when vampires rest, feed, plan, and prepare. Downtime is not wasted time — it is essential time. A vampire who ignores downtime is a vampire who is unprepared for what comes next.
How to use this chapter
The Storyteller may offer downtime between sessions, after major events, or during pauses in the action. Downtime activities may be resolved quickly or played out in scenes, depending on the group's preference.
Downtime activities
Rest and recovery
A vampire may spend downtime resting and recovering:
- Heal wounds: Roll Stamina + Fortitude to heal 1 Health point per dot of Stamina. Aggravated damage requires more time and may require supernatural assistance.
- Recover Willpower: Spend a scene in a quiet, safe location. Restore 1 Willpower.
- Recover Humanity: Spend a scene in a meaningful restorative act. Restore 1 Humanity if the act is significant enough.
- Remove conditions: Spend a scene in a quiet, safe location. Remove one condition.
Feeding
A vampire may spend downtime feeding:
- Feed from a herd: Roll the appropriate feeding pool. Reduce Hunger by 1–2.
- Feed from a contact: Roll the appropriate feeding pool. Reduce Hunger by 1.
- Feed from a blood bank: Roll Intelligence + Larceny. Reduce Hunger by 1.
- Feed from an animal: Roll Wits + Animal Ken. Reduce Hunger by 1.
Training
A vampire may spend downtime training:
- Raise a Skill: Spend XP equal to the new rating × 3. Roll Intelligence + Academics to train.
- Raise a Specialty: Spend 3 XP. Roll Intelligence + Academics to train.
- Raise a Discipline: Spend XP equal to the new rating × 5. Roll Intelligence + Occult to train.
- Learn a new power: Spend 10 XP. Roll Intelligence + Occult to learn.
Socializing
A vampire may spend downtime socializing:
- Build a contact: Roll Charisma + Persuasion. Create a new contact or improve an existing one.
- Build an ally: Roll Charisma + Persuasion. Create a new ally or improve an existing one.
- Build influence: Roll Manipulation + Subterfuge. Increase your Influence in one area.
- Build status: Roll Charisma + Leadership. Increase your Status in one group.
Research
A vampire may spend downtime researching:
- Investigate a mystery: Roll Intelligence + Investigation. Uncover clues and information.
- Study a topic: Roll Intelligence + Academics. Learn new information or techniques.
- Research a person: Roll Intelligence + Investigation. Learn about a target.
- Research a place: Roll Intelligence + Streetwise. Learn about a location.
Planning
A vampire may spend downtime planning:
- Plan an attack: Roll Intelligence + Tactics. Create a plan of attack.
- Plan a defense: Roll Intelligence + Tactics. Create a plan of defense.
- Plan a heist: Roll Intelligence + Larceny. Create a plan for a heist.
- Plan a social event: Roll Intelligence + Politics. Create a plan for a social event.
Projects
Projects are long-term activities that require multiple scenes or sessions to complete. Projects may be:
- Personal: A quest for a lost Touchstone, a search for a missing ally, a plan for revenge
- Coterie: A bid for territory, a plan for a heist, a campaign against an enemy
- Political: A campaign for office, a bid for Status, a plan for a coup
- Supernatural: A research project, a ritual, a plan for a power
Project structure
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Goal | What are you trying to achieve? |
| Method | How are you trying to achieve it? |
| Cost | What does it cost to pursue this project? |
| Roll | What pool do you roll to make progress? |
| Difficulty | How hard is each roll? |
| Progress | How many successes do you need? |
| Time | How long does it take? |
| Complications | What can go wrong? |
Project rolls
To make progress on a project, roll the appropriate pool at the project's difficulty. Each success advances the project by one step. When you have enough successes, the project is complete.
Project complications
Projects create complications:
- Enemies: Your rivals may interfere with your project
- Cost: The project may require resources you don't have
- Time: The project may take longer than expected
- Risk: The project may attract unwanted attention
- Failure: The project may fail, causing a setback or consequence
Project examples
| Project | Goal | Method | Roll | Difficulty | Progress | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build a Haven | Create a safe place to rest | Find, secure, and fortify a location | Intelligence + Streetwise | 3 | 5 successes | 1–2 weeks |
| Build a Contact | Create a new information source | Meet, build trust, and establish a relationship | Charisma + Persuasion | 2 | 3 successes | 1–3 sessions |
| Build an Ally | Create a new helper | Meet, build trust, and establish a relationship | Charisma + Persuasion | 3 | 5 successes | 2–4 sessions |
| Research a Topic | Learn new information | Study, investigate, and analyze | Intelligence + Academics | 3 | 5 successes | 1–2 weeks |
| Plan an Attack | Create a plan of attack | Scout, plan, and prepare | Intelligence + Tactics | 4 | 7 successes | 1–2 weeks |
| Build Influence | Increase your power in an area | Network, bribe, and manipulate | Manipulation + Subterfuge | 3 | 5 successes | 2–4 sessions |
| Build Status | Increase your standing in a group | Network, serve, and lead | Charisma + Leadership | 3 | 5 successes | 2–4 sessions |
| Learn a Discipline | Gain a new power | Study, practice, and master | Intelligence + Occult | 4 | 7 successes | 1–2 months |
| Build a Mask | Create a new identity | Research, forge, and maintain | Intelligence + Larceny | 3 | 5 successes | 1–2 weeks |
Downtime and the city
Downtime activities should be connected to the city. A vampire who ignores the city's politics, people, and places is a vampire who is unprepared for what comes next.
City downtime
Downtime in the city may involve:
- Feeding: Finding food in the city's streets, bars, and clubs
- Socializing: Building relationships in the city's communities
- Researching: Investigating the city's mysteries and secrets
- Planning: Preparing for the city's challenges and opportunities
City complications
Downtime in the city creates complications:
- Enemies: The city's rivals may interfere with your downtime activities
- Masquerade: The city's mortals may discover your secrets
- Resources: The city's costs may exceed your Resources
- Time: The city's pace may not match your plans
Downtime and the Chronicle
Downtime should advance the Chronicle. A downtime that doesn't move the story forward is a downtime that wastes time.
Chronicle downtime
Downtime in the Chronicle may involve:
- Advancing a plot: Preparing for a major event or confrontation
- Developing a character: Exploring a character's goals, fears, and relationships
- Building a resource: Creating an ally, a contact, or a Haven
- Resolving a conflict: Making amends, building trust, or resolving a dispute
Chronicle complications
Downtime in the Chronicle creates complications:
- Time pressure: The Chronicle may not allow enough downtime
- Resource pressure: The Chronicle may demand resources you don't have
- Social pressure: The Chronicle may demand relationships you don't have
- Supernatural pressure: The Chronicle may demand powers you don't have