Merits and Flaws are narrative advantages and pressures. They are not a point-buy storefront — they are story hooks, character depth, and dramatic tension. A Merit should make your vampire more interesting, not just more powerful. A Flaw should create problems that matter.
How to use this chapter
During character creation, choose Merits and Flaws with the Storyteller. The number and type of Merits and Flaws depends on your Chronicle's rules. A common approach is 5 Merit dots and 5 Flaw dots, but the Storyteller may adjust this. A Flaw may grant a corresponding Merit dot or a background dot.
Merits
Background Merits
| Merit | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Allies | 1–5 | A person or group who will help you. Each dot represents a more powerful or reliable ally. |
| Contacts | 1–5 | A person or group who provides information. Each dot represents a more useful or well-connected contact. |
| Fame | 1–5 | Mortals know your face. Each dot represents a wider or more intense recognition. |
| Haven | 1–5 | A safe place to rest. Each dot represents a more secure or well-hidden haven. |
| Herd | 1–5 | A group of willing mortal donors. Each dot represents a larger or more reliable herd. |
| Influence | 1–5 | Power in mortal institutions. Each dot represents a wider or deeper sphere of influence. |
| Mask | 1–5 | A convincing mortal identity. Each dot represents a more detailed or harder-to-discover identity. |
| Mawla | 1–5 | A powerful supernatural ally. Each dot represents a more powerful or reliable mawla. |
| Resources | 1–5 | Wealth and material goods. Each dot represents a higher income or more valuable assets. |
| Retainers | 1–5 | A loyal servant or ghoul. Each dot represents a more capable or dedicated retainer. |
| Status | 1–5 | Standing in vampire society. Each dot represents a higher or more influential position. |
Social Merits
| Merit | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Beautiful | 1–2 | +1 die to Social rolls involving appearance |
| Eloquent | 1–2 | +1 die to Social rolls involving speech |
| Compelling | 1–2 | +1 die to Social rolls involving persuasion |
| Iron Will | 1–2 | +1 die to resist supernatural influence |
| Eidetic Memory | 2 | Recall any detail you have experienced |
| Language | 1 | Speak and write one additional language fluently |
Physical Merits
| Merit | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Brawny | 1–2 | +1 die to Physical rolls involving strength |
| Fleet of Foot | 1–2 | +1 die to Physical rolls involving speed |
| Dexterous | 1–2 | +1 die to Physical rolls involving agility |
| Tough | 1–2 | +1 die to Physical rolls involving endurance |
| Acute Sense | 1–2 | +1 die to rolls involving one specific sense |
Mental Merits
| Merit | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Analytical Mind | 1–2 | +1 die to Mental rolls involving analysis |
| Danger Sense | 1–2 | +1 die to rolls to detect ambush or danger |
| Intuition | 1–2 | +1 die to rolls to read people or situations |
| Encyclopedic Knowledge | 2 | +1 die to rolls involving obscure information |
| Common Sense | 2 | The Storyteller may warn you before a catastrophic mistake |
Supernatural Merits
| Merit | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Unawakened | 0 | You have latent supernatural ability that may emerge during play |
| Alchemical Prodigy | 2 | +1 die to Thin-Blood Alchemy rolls |
| Blood Potency | 1–3 | Your blood is unusually potent; each dot raises your Blood Potency by 1 |
| Discipline | 1–3 | You have dots in a Discipline outside your Clan's normal list |
Vampire Merits
| Merit | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Night Stalker | 1 | +1 die to Stealth rolls at night |
| Pack Leader | 1 | +1 die to Leadership rolls with your coterie |
| Polyglot | 1 | You speak three additional languages fluently |
| Preternatural Charm | 2 | +1 die to all Social rolls |
Flaws
Background Flaws
| Flaw | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Enemy | 1–5 | A person or group who actively works against you |
| Known Creature | 1–5 | Mortals know what you are |
| Lost Haven | 1–5 | Your haven is compromised or destroyed |
| No Haven | 3 | You have no safe place to rest |
| No Retainer | 1 | Your retainer is dead, missing, or has betrayed you |
| Enemy | 1–5 | A person or group who actively works against you |
| Red List | 5 | You are marked for destruction by the Camarilla |
| Shunned | 1–5 | You are excluded from vampire society |
Social Flaws
| Flaw | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Infamous | 1–5 | Your reputation precedes you in negative ways |
| Dark Secret | 1–5 | You have a secret that would destroy you if revealed |
| Bound | 1–5 | You are bound to a supernatural entity or force |
| Feeding Frenzy | 1–5 | You cannot control yourself when feeding |
| Nightmares | 1–2 | You suffer supernatural nightmares that prevent rest |
| Tainted Blood | 1–5 | Your blood has an unpleasant or dangerous effect on others |
Physical Flaws
| Flaw | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Lame | 2 | You cannot walk without assistance |
| One Eye | 1 | You are blind in one eye |
| Crippled | 3 | You have a permanent physical disability |
| Disfigured | 1–2 | You are supernaturally ugly or disturbing |
| Haunted | 1–3 | You are haunted by a supernatural presence |
Mental Flaws
| Flaw | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Amnesia | 1–5 | You have lost significant memories |
| Confused | 1–5 | You have difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy |
| Curious | 1–2 | You are drawn to dangerous knowledge |
| Haunted | 1–3 | You are haunted by a supernatural presence |
| Obsessive | 1–3 | You are fixated on a person, object, or idea |
| Phobia | 1–3 | You suffer from an irrational fear |
Supernatural Flaws
| Flaw | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Clumsy Thaumaturgy | 1–5 | Your Blood Sorcery is unreliable |
| Cold Blood | 1–5 | Your blood is supernaturally cold or dead |
| Compulsion | 1–5 | You suffer from a supernatural compulsion |
| Diablerie | 1–5 | You have committed diablerie and it shows |
| Hollow | 1–5 | You are supernaturally empty or void |
| Near Dead | 1–5 | You are barely alive; your body is failing |
Vampire Flaws
| Flaw | Dots | Effect |
|---|
| Beast Within | 1–5 | The Beast is unusually active and aggressive |
| Blood Bond | 1–5 | You are bound to another vampire through blood |
| Cursed | 1–5 | You suffer from a supernatural curse |
| Diablerist | 1–5 | You have committed diablerie and are known for it |
| Hunted | 1–5 | You are being hunted by another vampire |
| Infamous | 1–5 | Your reputation precedes you in negative ways |