Area Knowledge [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 28 ]

You are familiar with the geography and mortal residents and politics of an area, usually a city. This Knowledge does not include Kindred affairs, which are covered by Camarilla and Sabbat Lore and City Secrets, below. It does include nightspots, hiding places, hospitals, gang turf, local celebrities and special events.

Possessed by: City Planners, Locals, Reporters, Cops, Tour Guides.
Specialties: Celebrations, Customs, Geography, History, Law, Politics, Transportation

Dots - Description
1 - You've read Fodor's.
2 - You may have lived in the area for a couple of years.
3 - You've been a resident for a decade or so.
4 - You're a native and have lived in the region your whole life -- or unlife.
5 - You could write the definitive book on the city, and may have spent several lifetimes there.




Black Hand Lore [ Guide To The Sabbat -- Page 90 ]

You have learned information about the Black Hand -- which may or may not be true since this information is known to few outside the organization. You have heard rumors and legends about the history, strategies, intrigue and rituals of the Hand. Additionally, you may be able to recognize numerous agents of the Hand within your own city and the surrounding area.

Possessed by: Assamite Antitribu, Assamites, Black Hand Members, Nosferatu Antitribu, The Order of St. Blaise, Sabbat Leaders.
Specialties: Famous Leaders, History, Local Members, Rituals, Secrets, Strategies, Tactics.

Dots - Description
1 - You know mostly rumor and hearsay.
2 - You have decent second-hand information.
3 - You have a steady -- and reliable -- source for second-hand information.
4 - You have numerous steady and reliable sources that provide you a great deal of information.
5 - You have a powerful contact within the Hand, along with other sources within the group who provide you intricate and detailed information that only an experienced member could know.




Bureaucracy [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 28 ]

Bureaucracy represents your ability to get what you want out of "the system," whether through paperwork, phone calls or bribery. This Knowledge is useful for manipulating city officials, navigating the political system or even operating a bureaucracy of your own design. Those with high Bureaucracy are among the most organized people in existence.

Possessed by: Bankers, Government Employees, Journalists, Lawyers, Office Workers, Politicians.
Specialties: Bluffing, Bribery, Diplomacy, Government, Military, Negotiation, Stalling.

Dots - Description
1 - You can keep a small company organized.
2 - You understand the real basics of power structures.
3 - You can perform stalling tactics for as long as it takes.
4 - When you talk, your senator listens.
5 - When you talk, the IRS listens.




Camarilla Lore [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 28 ]

You know about the Camarilla. You are familiar with its leaders, both the real ones and the figureheads. You know history, the names of archons and justicars, the decisions of past conclaves, legends, the current "Most Wanted" list and the political stances of the major players. Not all Camarilla members have this Knowledge; many do not concern themselves with the night-to-night affairs of the political entity to which they belong. It is difficult for an outsider to have more than two dots in this Knowledge, and only the best-informed mortals will have even one.

Possessed by: Camarilla Members, Sabbat Spies and Paladins, Wise Members of the Independent Clans.
Specialties: Current Affairs, High-Level Politics, History, Justicars, Laws and Conclave Decisions, Legends, Princes.

Dots - Description
1 - What any member would know if she bothered to ask.
2 - What most Ventrue know.
3 - What most Nosferatu or Tremere know.
4 - What most princes and archons know.
5 - What only the justicars and Inner Circle representatives know.




Church History [ The Inquisition -- Page 55 ]

You know the history of the Church through the ages, from its inception to the modern day. You understand ecclesiastical history within the context of secular, political and intellectual history. This skill can be chosen for the history of other religions or traditions as well. The name "Church" need not be limiting: It can refer to the history of Islam, Buddhism or Judaism as easily as Christianity.

Possessed by: Enthusiasts, Priests, Scholars, Seminary Students.
Specialties: Biblical, Early Christian, Enlightenment, Medieval, Modern, Post-Biblical, Reformation.

Dots - Description
1 - Amateur or high school.
2 - College student or equivalent.
3 - Graduate student.
4 - Professor or Researcher.
5 - Undisputed authority.




Church Lore [ The Inquisition -- Page 55 ]

You know the real nitty-gritty about how the Church operates: Who bosses around whom, who to avoid, who is in favor, and how to bend the right ear. If you are not in the proper circles of power, then you know where they are. Getting access to them, or getting heard, is another matter entirely.

Possessed by: Bishops, Church Politicos, Priests, Witch-Hunters.
Specialties: American Church, College of Cardinals, Opus Dei, Vatican.

Dots - Description
1 - You know only a little more than the average priest or layman.
2 - You read 30 Days and the Osservatore Romano.
3 - You've had your experiences and encounters.
4 - Little escapes your attention and less surprises you.
5 - You can predict trends. Nothing surprises you.




Clan Knowledge (Clan) [ Guide To The Camarilla -- Page 70 ]

Note: This knowledge only grants information about one particular clan. Clan Knowledge must be purchased separately for each clan of expertise.

You have knowledge about a particular clan of vampires that no outsider should possess. You are aware of the clan's practices, rituals and secrets, and can put that knowledge to good use. However, members of the clan in question may not like the fact that an outsider has a handle on proprietary information, and may act to plug any such security leaks.

Possessed by: Ambitious Ghouls, Arcanum Scholars, Hunters, Kindred.
Specialties: Chain of Command, Movers and Shakers, Power Structure, Secrets.

Dots - Description
1 - You can spot a member of the clan with reasonably accuracy.
2 - You know how the clan is set up, and can separate myth from fact.
3 - Most of the clan's basic layout and procedure is known to you.
4 - You know the clan's secrets as well as anyone.
5 - You know more about the clan than most of its members do.




City Secrets (City) [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 29 ]

You know things. City Secrets is a measure of how much a character knows of the hidden affairs of a city, the local intrigues and power plays and social structures and nightly double-dealings (not necessarily of the Kindred, either -- "I remember a priest who said this place was cursed back when they built this building"). City Secrets cannot be acquired during character generation, but only through direct experience. It is suggested that the Storyteller award separate experience points for City Secrets at the end of every game session during which the characters increase their familiarity with the local Kindred world. Information about Kindred affairs in different cities can give a character multiple City Secrets ratings: A Camarilla courier might have City Secrets (Boston) 4, City Secrets (D.C.) 2, and City Secrets (Baltimore) 3 while knowing nothing about the Kindred of New York.

Possessed by: Ghouls, Kindred, Local Reporters, Very Lucky Hunters.
Specialties: Coteries/Packs, High Society, Historical Rivalries, Masquerade, The Opposition, Political Mistakes, Primogen/Prisci, Prince/Archbishop, Where the Power Lies, Who's Screwing Who.

Dots - Description
1 - A mere childe, not even presented to the prince; you don't even bother to keep up with the local television news.
2 - A naive young leech, you have barely begun your descent; occasionally, you make a connection between appearances and realities.
3 - You know what not to do, which can be even more important than what to do.
4 - You may be an advisor to the mayor or the prince.
5 - Only the prince and the elder of the local Nosferatu might know more than you.




Computer Hacking [ Guide To The Camarilla -- Page 71 ]

You can use your computer to insert your virtual presence into systems where you don't belong. With this knowledge, you can crack computer security and some forms of encryption and otherwise perform feats of data piracy and sabotage that would win the approbation of other hackers as well as an arrest warrant from the FBI. Best of all, you can do this while covering your tracks.

Possessed by: Hackers, NSA Agents, Phone Phreaks, Security Specialists.
Specialties: Back Doors, Encryption, Financials, Military Security, Password Theft, Phone Phreaking, Viruses.

Dots - Description
1 - You can guess others' passwords .
2 - You know all of the basic back doors to popular operating systems.
3 - You know how to get yourself root access on a fair number of systems.
4 - You can find security loopholes and exploit them within days of a software package's release.
5 - You can cut through military security or tap into Wall Street.




Cryptography [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 29 ]

You are skilled at both creating and breaking codes and ciphers. With an Intelligence + Cryptography roll (base difficulty 7, but harder for extremely complex or technical messages), you can construct a code that can be read only by someone who scores as many successes as you on the same roll. You can also break a code in the same manner. Some codes require specialized equipment and a corresponding level of Computer, and government ciphers may take weeks or may be literally unbreakable.

Possessed by: Computer Programmers, Mathematicians, Military Intelligence Officers, NSA Technicians, Spies.
Specialties: Alphabetical Encryption, Commercial Protocols, Data Compression, Mathematical Encryption, Radio Communications, Specific Nation's Ciphers.

Dots - Description
1 - Crossword puzzle master: Simple word transpositions and the like.
2 - Military signals officer: Simple mathematical formulae.
3 - Intelligence analyst: PGP or other commercial ciphers.
4 - CIA cipher specialist: Low-security military communications.
5 - The NSA's finest: Top-secret burn-before-reading codes.




Economics [ Guide To The Camarilla -- Page 71 ]

Economics is the study of how money moves and its effects. You can predict, with reasonable accuracy, financial trends and patterns, and you have a leg up on others in matters of investment. You are well-aware of the effects of the Kindred on world markets, and can estimate what sort of effects vampiric dabblings can have on whole industries or nations.

Possessed by: Brokers, Corporate Raiders, Economists, Financial Advisors, Ventrue.
Specialties: Game Theory, High Finance, Investment, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics.

Dots - Description
1 - You have a notion of what a capitalist economy is.
2 - You know that "the invisible hand" isn't part of an Obfuscated Nosferatu.
3 - The Financial News Network makes sense to you.
4 - You can spot trends and accurately predict recessions with ease.
5 - You know how the world economy works -- all of it.




Enigmas [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 29 ]

Enigmas allows you to pull together information for puzzles of all shapes and sizes. With this Knowledge, you can piece together relevant facts and details and combine them into a coherent whole. Enigmas is also useful for piercing the multiple veils of deception that Kindred and kine alike surround themselves with on a nightly basis.

Possessed by: Detectives, Garners, Intelligence Analysts, Metaphysicians, New Age Mystics, Philosophy Professors, Sages.
Specialties: Chaos Theory, Conspiracies, Dream Interpretation, Quantum Physics, Riddles.

Dots - Description
1 - You can put together a large jigsaw puzzle or solve simple riddles from mythology.
2 - Magazine logic problems are a snap.
3 - Your powers of deduction cast a blinding light on the dark schemes of lesser minds.
4 - Chaos or conspiracy theories are your mental toys.
5 - You understand some higher power's designs on the inner workings of the universe.




History [ Guide To The Camarilla -- Page 72 ]

You are familiar with the record of events, mortal and immortal. You can place events in historical context, and even detect Kindred influence on the stream of mortal history. Your expertise may well allow you to uncover evidence of vampiric activity, ranging from resting places of elders to evidence of specific individuals' involvement in affairs.

Possessed by: Academics, Documentary Filmmakers, Elders, Historians, Recreationists.
Specialties:Kindred History, Military History, National or Ethnic Histories, Social History.

Dots - Description
1 - You know the basics of history without knowing many of the specifics.
2 - You can pick out historical errors on television programs and in movies.
3 - You have a solid grasp on the field, and have specialized in a particular area.
4 - You are a recognized expert in the field; grad students footnote your works.
5 - All of the past is an open book to you.




Inquisition Lore [ The Inquisition -- Page 55 ]

You know about the history of the witch-hunters, from the early days of the Inquisition to the current activities of the Society of Leopold. You are well-versed in issues of Society leadership, activities, history and beliefs. It is recommended that all members of the Society of Leopold have a minimum rating of 1 in this Ability.

Possessed by: Inquisitors, Vampires.
Specialties: History, Organization, Politics, Regulations

Dots - Description
1 - You know the basic facts.
2 - You have learned a few unusual derails of interest.
3 - You are well-grounded in the lore of the Inquisition.
4 - You know as much as most-learned Inquisitors.
5 - You are privy to the secrets of the Society of Leopold.




Koldunism

This new Knowledge measures a Kindred's familiarity with the philosophies of Eastern European animism. A koldun's player rolls this Ability with one of five possible Attributes when invoking the power of the magic. Each level also bestows a more in-depth understanding of this spiritual magic and the manipulation of the natural elements.

Possessed by: A few young Sabbat; Tzimisce (and old ones at that).
Specialties: Lore, Relations with Spirits, Philosophy, Ritual.

Dots - Description
1 - Knowledge of major spirits and placations.
2 - You know much of the old ways and are recognized as a koldun.
3 - You rank among the most powerful of the present-night koldun.
4 - The spirits quake when you are angry.
5 - A potent and eldritch master of the spirits of the land.




Psychology [ Guide To The Camarilla -- Page 72 ]

You have a knowledge of psychology in both theory and practice. You are familiar with psychological approaches, counseling techniques and so on. You are also conversant with the pathology of the mind, and can make a diagnosis of a subject's dysfunction given sufficient time to observe him.

Possessed by: Counselors, Empowerment Gurus, Marketing Executives, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers.
Specialties: Freudian, Jungian, Lacanian, Mob Psychology, Neuropsychology, Pop Psychology, Psychopathology.

Dots - Description
1 - You've read the classics of the field.
2 - You can separate what Freud actually said from what people think Freud said.
3 - You could set up a practice and do reasonably well with it.
4 - You are an expert on psychological theory -- and know when and how to apply it.
5 - You can understand others' thought patterns, motivations and Psychological Flaws from just a few short conversations.




Research [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 30 ]

Anyone who wants to find a specific piece of information needs this Knowledge. Research and the right materials can help you find almost anything that anyone's ever written down. Many Research projects involve extended rolls and several nights' work, and some things may not be in the most accessible of libraries.

Possessed by: Professors, Writers, Journalists, Librarians, Detectives, Scholars.
Specialties: Online, Arcane and Occult, Oral Traditions, Folklore, Specific Knowledge, Interviews, Speed Reading, Keeping Your Search Quiet.

Dots - Description
1 - You are familiar with public libraries and Web search engines.
2 - You may work part-time as a research assistant. You know how to use Gopher and FTP systems, as well as several obscure hardcopy filing methods.
3 - You are familiar with some private archives in your areas of study.
4 - With time, you can find almost anything you need to know.
5 - You are virtually a walking cross-reference library, and know where to start looking before the question has been fully phrased.




Rites [ The Inquisition -- Page 55 ]

You know the appropriate pomp and circumstance requisite for the completion of churchly duties (of your chosen religion). Even more important than the average liturgical knowledge, you have knowledge of religious rituals and invocations that have been formulated to be effective against the supernatural, e.g., the Roman rite of Exorcism. You do not need to have memorized these rituals; they can be in your breviary (or similar handbook).

Possessed by: Exorcists, Priests, Witch-Hunters.
Specialties: Benedictions, Daily Mass, Exorcism, Ordinations

Dots - Description
1 - Altar server.
2 - Lay minister.
3 - Ordained priest.
4 - Bishop.
5 - Cardinal.




Sabbat Lore [ Vampire Storytellers Companion -- Page 30 ]

You know about the Sabbat. You know who holds power where, which faction is in ascendance in various areas, where the war against the Camarilla is going well and where it's failing, history, the tenets of various belief systems and the reputations of famous (or infamous) packs. Not all Sabbat members have this Knowledge; the Creation Rites do not always allow time to give new members a detailed briefing. It is almost impossible for an outsider to have more than two dots in this Knowledge, and very few mortals survive long enough to have even one. Sabbat Lore may not be acquired during character creation.

Possessed by: Camarilla Spies and Archons, Sabbat Members.
Specialties: Auctoritas Ritae, Current Affairs, High-Level Politics, History, Leadership, Legends, The Sabbat Inquisition.

Dots - Description
1 - What most members who live long enough to ask know.
2 - What most pack priests and leaders members know.
3 - What most bishops and Lasombra know.
4 - What the archbishops and paladins know.
5 - What only the prisci, cardinals and regent know.




Scripture [ The Inquisition -- Page 55 ]

You have studied religious scriptures extensively; based upon your particular inclination, you may have studied them in their historical context, or as direct divine revelation.

Possessed by: Believers, Debunkers, Ministers, Priests, Scholars, Witch-Hunters.
Specialties: Apocrypha, New Testament), Christian (Old Testament, Islamic (Quran), Jewish (Hebrew Scriptures).

Dots - Description
1 - You quote freely, but not accurately.
2 - You can answer most questions.
3 - You are not just well-read in the scriptures, but their context and history as well.
4 - You possess a wide body of knowledge, from the common to the obscure.
5 - You have read meanings never before considered or discovered.




Setite Lore [ Followers Of Set (Revised) -- Page 61 ]

This Ability measures a character's knowledge of the Serpents' vast corpus of history, mythology, theology, sub-cults, and rituals. Even when this information is not actually secret, it may be hard to learn. The average Setite must study, travel, and speak to other clan members for decades before he knows the differences between House of the Eclipse and Red Temple liturgy -- let alone any of the real secrets. Many Setite texts employ complex allusions to mythology and philosophy. Interpreting them may require success at a roll of intelligence + Setite Lore.

Few vampires from other clans ever acquire Setite lore. The SErpents guard their secrets well. Any non-Setite character 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.

Possessed by: Setites

Dots - Description
1 - You know that you assist the Dark God in opposing Aeons, and you can assist in your cult's liturgy.
2 - You can discuss broad differences in cult theology and practice, and know much of Set's mythology.
3 - You can analyze Theophidian theology in detail, know the names of most Hierophants, and are privy to many secrets. You've probably received initiation into the higher grades of one or more cults.
4 - You know the specific goals of Hierophants and Eternals and have read many of the most secret texts and grimoires. The secrets of the Setites have scarred your soul.
5 - After such knowledge, what forgiveness?