Vampire Character Creation

As you all are playing with characters whom have character's sheets, this is probably the most important topic of the Rules section. Before we start creating your vampire let’s review the forum’s Policies for Character Creation. Those landmarks are very important to fully comprehend the character creation process and concept.

There are two ways you can create a character, the most simple and indirect way is to create a human character that will in a short time become a vampire. The other way is direct and complex at the same time. It  is to make a Vampire character sheet. Both are going to get the exact amount of points, however, the first will have a different system of distributing points when compared to the handbook rules about character creation. Regardless of the system you choose to create your character there are some things that are equally important to human and vampire characters.

First of all let’s think of your character Concept, this means what is her role in life: soldier, entertainer, child, intellectual or criminal? These are just a few examples, the whole idea is to choose one word to define "What your character does in her life/unlife?" This is her present which is, of course, a consequence of her past and a cause for what may come in the future.

Secondly, still in the present, lets think about your character's Nature and Demeanor, her Nature refers to what is she like on the inside. One word to describe her inner self, her True Nature which is the cause of her Demeanor the outer reflection. A word that defines her social (or antisocial) behavior. What is she like in front of others? The answer is the demeanor.

Now that you know the kind of character you want to play lets go way back into the past, think of a background story for her, why is she like that? How did she get that Nature and that Demeanor? And how did she end up with that Concept? Imagine how that person lived her life, her virtues and flaws... what's special about her? All these details should be written down in your character's Background.

Also as a consequence of her life, her activities and doings in the world, your character developed many Talents, Skills and Knowledges. Think about that before creating the character sheet.

CHARACTER'S BASE INFO

BACKGROUND STORYLINE

Example of a character creation:

This character's name is Marcus (Mark for his friends), Tombstone for his enemies. I want to roleplay a character that embodies the concept of resilience against adversity, someone who had grown in a difficult environment, away from tenderness and love and still he had survive it and overcome every difficulty in his life.

The driving nature behind of this character is the Survivor archetype since it represents what he’s, deep down, what he has become after the life he had to live. His mask to people, the way he portraits and behave before others it’s full of resentment, he bares a shield, an armour of hostility to defend against those trying to approach and harm him, also those trying to help him, yelling to the world I'm stronger than you, don't you dare harming me, that's why I've chosen Bravo archetype as demeanour.

I'd like to created a Salubri AT vampire, so I'll build a background pointing to a particular ability that I consider would be of interest for his pretended Sire, since Salubri AT love combat and feed from fighting preys I'll point to a violent character that can fit both in Salubri and Sabbat as a Sect.

Due to his violent behaviour, Mark has gotten into trouble several times in his life, having a police record for street fighting and violence in general, resistance to authority among other felonies. He's use to drinking and hard work, usually being employed as construction worker and many other physical based jobs.

I imagine this character to be a black big guy, bad ass to the bone, someone that will not tolerate a single insult from anyone, willing to fight and struggle as much he needs to survive. Someone with a hard childhood with abusive parents, parents in substance abuse and probably too young to handle the responsibility of parenthood, however, Mark had a strong paternal figure from his grandfather, war veteran from Vietnam, a man of discipline and honour but too old to handle rising a young man like Marcus.

As a child Marcus was kicked out of school several times, he had no support from his parents whom spent all their money in food and drugs, so there was nothing left for books or handbooks. Marcus had three other brothers and two sisters, all living inside a small house in New Orleans, two of his brothers were already messed up, full grown drug dealers in town, his younger sister already pregnant from an unknown male was the headache of this week, a whore in Mark’s words, she had it coming and much likely she’d have AIDS as well. He really didn’t care about them; he reserved all his love and need to protect over his two younger siblings a girl and a boy, Mika and Mike.

In order to give to his younger siblings a chance in life, Mark worked since a very young age, from car washing to construction even as a underage worker, he paid for his dearest studies and dedicated to give them enough food and everything he could. At the age of fourteen his mother died from an OD leaving his alcoholic father Tom, alone. Few years after Tom became violent, once he came drunk to his house, found Mika in the living room making her homework in pyjamas and raped her, Mark was out of the house and when he came back and found out of his father doing took an aluminium bat he held in his room went to his father’s room an started to smash his head while he was sleeping. The police found out and put him to jail, all his older brothers were already out of the house so no one could take care of the younger two, because of that they were giving in adoption while Mark was sent to trial as an adult and found guilty of murderer.

Five years later Mark got released from jail, his days there were very tough, fighting for survival and for peace being bullied by prisoners and guards alike, transforming him into a full grown boggler. Without family, without a house and without education he went directly to the streets, working from time to time as construction and wandering in the streets, surviving as he could, finding money wherever it was.

One rainy night, he was sleeping in a dark alley, covering himself with newspapers and boxes under the protection of an improvised roof over his head. A man walked through the alley and stood in front of Mark, he looked up to confront the intruder but it was not a normal man, it was a monster, bright red eyes and feral fangs showing out of his mouth. Most man would have terrified and ran but not Mark, he stood up with a knife that he kept close for protection and finding money once in a while, and started to attack the mysterious monster, the thing was resilient and strong, none of Mark’s slashes could cut through the thing’s thick skin, still Mark fought and tried again and again while the creature punched him, and kick him to the brink of unconsciousness.

Defeated, on the ground, under the cold rain and bleeding to death, Mark could not fight anymore. The monster got close to his ear and said.
“I’ll preserve that fighting spirit forever”

…and that day Mark became a monster, a creature of the night, a vampire from Salubri Antitribe blood.

His Sire “Asis” Thomson took care of him, training him about both vampire existence and survival as a kindred, he taught him how to fight, about the war against the Camarilla, the Antedilluvians and the secrets of the night, after a year he was ready to join a Pack, he had matured as a vampire, now he was ready to fulfil his destiny as he was given a new beginning in his existence a new goal to achieve, The Calling.

His Sire instructed him to go to New York City, there the Sabbat was planning to strike against the Camarilla’s stronghold and he will be given a chance to partake in a Pack. He knew few about the city, only that he should go to an address in Queens and find a vampire named Mawclaim.

Now let’s simplify, the background as it’s contains all the information needed, but for the readers I’ll formally answer the questions for all to notice.

Character Name: Mark Tombstone
Player Name: Malakiel

Nature: Survival
Demeanor: Bravo
Concept: Shield
These are some questions that may help you as guidelines:
1. How old are you?
25 years old (1 year as a vampire)

2. What was unique about your childhood?
Mark childhood was hard uniquely hard, made him develop a strong personality and survival skill that were crucial for being chosen as a vampire of Salubri AT Clan.
3. What kind of person were you?
As a young person Mark was a good man standing for his dearest, his two younger siblings Mika and Mike, after a harsh life and really life changing experiences he became a new man, merciless and tough, bad to the bone.

4. What was your first brush with the supernatural?
During his embrace, when he met his Sire.

5. How did you get to New York City and what are your businesses there?
By Mark’ Sire’s recommendation, he went there to find a Pact to partake with.

6. Do you retain any human conections? such as family, friends, couple or even childrens.
Mark still have his younger sister and brother in his heart, they’re lost to him but he wishes to find them, may be, some day he will be able to.

7. What motivates you?
Mark’s Sire taught him that his ability to endure and resist all that had happened in his life was a Calling for a higher purpose, now that he is kindred, he believes himself to be invulnerable, he has disciplined to resist everything, even more Asis taught his Childe, seed him with his hate against the Tremere and their magic.

VAMPIRE CHARACTER SHEET
_______________________________________
This section its for directly creating a vampire character sheet.

Complete the following questions.
1. How did the Embrace change you?
Now that he’s immortal he believe himself to be invincible as well, he’s not longer afraid of anything, will face all dangers without doubt.

2. Who was your Sire and how did he treat you?
Asis, he was like the father that Mark never had, very similar to his grandfather a warrior with a strong heart, he treated him as a Soldier.

3. What are your habitual feeding grounds?
Queens, Sabbat territory.

Sire: Asis
Generation: 8th
Age: 25 years old.
Apparent Age: 24
Clan: Salubri AT
Sect: Sabbat

ATTRIBUTES (begin with 1 in each then 7/5/3 points to distribute)

*Physical*
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 4 (Hard as steel specialization)


*Social*
Charisma: 2
Manipulation: 2
Appearance: 2

*Mental*
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 2
Wits: 4 (Jumping on others)

ABILITIES (13/9/5 points to distribute. You cannot raise any trait over three dots)

*Talents*
Alertness: 2
Athletics: 2
Brawl: 3
Dodge: 2
Empathy:
Expression:
Intimidation: 3
Leadership:
Streetwise: 1
Subterfuge:

*Skills*
Animal Ken:
Crafts: 2
Drive:
Etiquette:
Firearms:
Melee: 2
Performance:
Security: 2
Stealth: 2
Survival: 1

*Knowledges*
Academics:
Computer:
Finance:
Investigation: 1
Law:
Linguistics:
Lore (Sabbat) 2
Medicine:
Occult: 2
Politics:
Science:

ADVANTAGES

*Backgrounds* (0 points to distribute)
Allies:
Contacts:
Fame:
Generation: 5 * (Freebie)
Herd:
Influence:
Mentor:
Resources:
Status:

*Disciplines* (4 points to distribute)
- Valeren 1
- Fortitude 4 * (Freebie)
- Auxpex 0

*Virtues* (1 in each then 5 points to distribute)
Conscience: 1
Self Control: 2
Courage: 5

Humanity (equal to the characters Conscience+Self Control):
3

Willpower (equal to the characters Courage):
5

*Merits and Flaws* (No more than 7 points gained/spent/ on merits/flaws)
Magic Resistance (-2)
Huge Size (-4)
Prestigious Sire (-1)

Glowing Eyes (+3)
Impatient (+1)

Now let's consider the character sheet as a representation of the background. You can see that each point in it it's a product of his background reflecting how the character is, since he developed all the skills that he needed to live as he did.

Even the merits and flaws are reflected in the background, and as important as that there is a whole-coherence of all parts involved. Glowing eyes from his Sire, a Prestigious Sire since his 7th generation, Impatient to reflect Mark's personallity and Magic Resistance since the teaching of his Sire about Magic to put his will against it effectively.

Willpower 5 as a strong, really strong willed man who had survived through a lot, Humanity 3 since he's now a cold blood killer as reflected in the background.

Disciplines were distributed 3 to fortitude +1 by freebie point due to Mark's disciplined personality as a Shield, he is not longer afraid of anything since he's invulnerable and immortal. Valeren reflects his understanding of war and fight, now that he's a soldier its very logical.

Check attributes and abilities and the reader will find the same level of coherence.