In order for this system to work, players need to work together. They have to educate each other on the rules and agree on what Traits can be used in a challenge. Compromise and cooperation are the bywords of the game. Arguments over whether or not a particular Trait bid is appropriate wreck both the momentum and the mood of a game.

 

Using Traits

Before you can begin to learn how challenges work, you must first understand what defines a character’s capabilities. A character is created by choosing a number of adjectives that describe and define that person as an individual. These adjectives are called Traits, and they are described fully in the Creation pages of this Website.

These Traits are used to declare challenges against other characters or against static forces represented by a Narrator.

 

Initial Bid

A challenge begins with a player “bidding” one of her Traits against her opponent. At the same time, she must declare what the conditions of the challenge are — like firing a gun, attacking with a knife or using Dominate. The defender must then decide how she will respond. She can either relent immediately or bid one of her own Traits in response. When players bid Traits against one another, they may only use Traits that could sensibly be used in that situation. Essentially, this restriction means that a player can usually use only those Traits from the same category as her opponent’s Traits. Most challenges are categorized as Physical, Social or Mental, and all Traits used in a challenge must be from the same category. Experienced players may offer each other more creative leeway, but only by mutual agreement. If the defender relents, she loses the challenge automatically. For example, if she were being attacked, she would suffer a wound. If she matches the challenger’s bid, the two immediately go to a test. Those Traits bid are put at risk, as the loser of the test not only loses the challenge, but the Trait she bid as well for the rest of the evening. 

 

Testing

Once both parties involved in a challenge have bid a Trait, they engage in a test immediately. The test itself is not what you may think — the outcome is random, but no cards or dice are used. The two players face off against one another by playing Rock-Paper-Scissors.

If you lose the test, you lose the Trait you bid for the duration of the session (usually the rest of the evening). Essentially, you have lost some confidence in your own capabilities and can’t call on them for a while. You can no longer use that Trait effectively, at least until you regain confidence in your Traits. 

The test works like the moment in poker when the cards are turned over and the winner is declared. The test produces one of two possible outcomes — either one player is the victor, or the result is a tie. In the case of a tie, the players must then reveal the number of Traits that they currently have available in the category used (Physical, Social or Mental). The player with the least number of Traits loses the test and therefore loses the challenge. Note that the number of Traits you’ve lost in previous challenges, or lost for any other reason, reduces the maximum number of Traits you can bid in ties. You may lie about the number of Traits you possess, but only by declaring fewer Traits than you actually have — you may never say that you have more Traits than you actually do. Doing so allows you to keep the actual number of Traits you possess a secret, although doing so may be risky. The challenger is always the first to declare his number of Traits. If both players declare the same number of Traits, then the challenge is a draw, and both players lose the Traits they bid.

 

Example of Play: Sam, Brujah musician, is caught in a battle with Juan, a fearsome assassin. Knowing his only hope is to come out swinging, Sam begins with an aggressive Trait for his initial bid (“I take a Ferocious swipe at you with my guitar!”), and the Assamite

responds in kind (“Feel the power of my Brutal strike, infidel!”). The two test — both shoot Rock, a tie. Now they have to declare their total number of Traits to resolve the tie. Sam knows he’ll need all he’s got, so he declares all nine Traits he has available. Juan has only 

eight traits, and so he loses the challenge. The Assamite loses the Trait he bid, suffers a health level of damage and begins to wonder if this is really such a mismatch after all.

 

Rock-Paper-Scissors

What we mean by Rock-Paper-Scissors is the following: You and another person face off, and, on the count of three, you show one of three hand gestures. “Rock” is a basic fist. “Paper” is just a flat hand. “Scissors” is represented by sticking out two fingers. You then

compare the two gestures to determine the winner. Rock crushes Scissors. Scissors cuts Paper. Paper covers Rock. Identical signs indicate a tie. Certain advanced powers allow some characters to use gestures other than Rock, Paper and Scissors. Before players can use the gestures in a test, however, they must explain what they are and how they are used.

 

Adjudication

If you have question or argument about the rules or the conditions of a challenge, you need to find a Narrator to make a judgment. Try to remain in character while you look for a Narrator. Any interruption in the progress of the story should be avoided if at all possible, so work problems out with other players if you can. If you do not know the correct application of a certain rule, it’s usually better to wing it rather than interrupt the flow of the game.

It should be noted that a challenger who fails on a Social or Mental Challenge must wait at least five real-time minutes (and not spend them arguing over the results of the previous challenge — you can’t protest a ruling with a Narrator for 4:58, then drop your argument and say, “Oh look, time’s up,”) before repeating the failed challenge. This rule includes supernatural powers that use Mental or

Social Challenges unless they specify otherwise — a character cannot continue attempting one Mesmerism after another until he finally succeeds. This stricture does not include trials that are failed but then redeemed through retests or overbids.

 

Complications

There are a number of ways in which a challenge can be made more complicated.The basic rules are enough to resolve most disputes, but the following rules add a few bells and whistles.

 

  -  Negative Traits

Many characters have Negative Traits, Traits that can be used against a character by his opponent. During the initial bid of any challenge, after you have each bid one Trait, you can call out a Negative Trait that you believe your opponent possesses. If he does indeed possess the Negative Trait, your opponent is forced to bid an additional Trait, although you must still risk your one Trait as usual. If he does not possess that Negative Trait, you must risk an additional Trait. You may call out as many Negative Traits as you wish during the initial bid phase of a challenge, as long as you can pay the price for being wrong. If your opponent does not have additional Traits to bid, then your Trait is not at risk during the challenge. Additionally if you guess more than one Negative

Trait that your opponent cannot match, you gain that many additional Traits in the case of a tie or an overbid (see below). The same works in reverse, favoring your opponent if you do not have additional Traits remaining to match incorrect Negative Trait guesses. It is considered very cheap to list off which Negative Traits a player might possess, if you have no valid reason to suspect as much in-game.

Example of Play: Joshua the Gangrel is attacking Marsilio, a Toreador socialite. He begins with his initial bid (“I make a Ferocious attack with my claws!”) while Marsilio attempts to escape (“I’m too Quick for you to catch so easily”). Joshua then suggests that Marsilio possesses the Negative Trait Lethargic (“All those Elysium parties have made you too Lethargic to get away”). If Marsilio did indeed possess that Negative Trait, he would have to bid an additional Trait to have continue the challenge. However, the Toreador does

not possess the Lethargic Trait, and now Joshua — having underestimated his opposition — is the one who has to bid an extra Trait if he wishes to continue trying to capture his prey. It can be risky to bid Negative Traits, but if you’re sure about what you’re doing, you can raise the stakes for your opponent, possibly even to the point where she relents rather than risking additional Traits.

 

  -  Overbidding

Overbidding is the system by which powerful characters may prevail in a challenge, even if they lose the initial test. Armand the elder with 16 Physical Traits should be able to crush Phil the neonate who has only three. This system is designed to make that possible.

Once a test has been made, the loser has the option of calling for an “overbid.” In order to call an overbid, you must risk a new Trait; the original one has already been lost. At this point, the two players must reveal the number of applicable Traits they possess in the appropriate category, starting with the player who called for the overbid. If you have double the number of Traits as your opponent in that category, you may attempt another test. As with a tie, you may state a number of Traits less than the actual number you have and keep your true power secret. Overbidding can be dangerous unless you are confident in your estimation of your opponent’s abilities.

 

Example of Play: Favian, Setite manipulator, is attempting to coax information from his pawn Endora. He begins with flattery (“My praise is so Beguiling that you have no choice but to tell me what I want to know”), but she resists (“I’m too Dignified to be so easily won over”).They test and Endora wins, but Favian is far from thwarted. Gambling that he has more social aptitude than the studious Tremere, Favian bids an additional Trait (“I’m ever so Seductive when it comes to getting what I want”) and calls for an overbid. Endora, being the defender, does not need to risk an additional trait. Favian announces all 14 of his Social Traits, while Endora

admits that she has only five, and so the overbid proceeds. They test again, and this time Favian wins. Endora loses the Dignified Trait she bid, and Favian still loses his initial Beguiling Trait, but he has won the final challenge and so she must divulge the information he was seeking.

 

  -  Static Challenges

Sometimes you may have to undergo a challenge against a Narrator rather than against another player. For example, a hacker may use a Static Mental Challenge with the Computer Ability to break into another computer system. In such circumstances, you bid a Trait that would be appropriate, then perform a test against the Narrator. Before the test is made, the Narrator decides on the difficulty of the task which you are attempting — this is the number of Traits you are bidding against, which is used to compare in the event of a tie. The test proceeds exactly as it would if you were testing against another character. Of course, you may attempt to overbid in a Static Challenge,

but beware, because the Narrator can overbid as well. The number of Traits attached to the challenge should represent the difficulty and danger inherent in the challenge. Sometimes Narrators may leave notes on objects, such as books, doors or even magical items. These notes indicate the type of challenges that must be won for something to occur (such as deciphering a tome or picking a lock).

 

  -  Simple Tests

Simple Tests are used to determine if you can do something successfully when there is no real opposition. Simple Tests are often used when using Disciplines. Most Simple Tests do not require you to risk or bid Traits, though some may. When a Simple Test is called, a test (Rock-Paper-Scissors) is performed against a Narrator. In most cases, the player succeeds on a win or a tie, although in some cases, it may be necessary for the player to win for him to receive any benefit from the challenge.

 

  -  Retests

Certain Traits allow a character to retest. A retest allows a character to ignore the results of the first test and test again for a new result. Retests are most commonly gained through Abilities, but other Traits may also provide them; such Traits are noted in their descriptions.

Generally, expending one level of an appropriate Ability allows for one retest. Multiple retests are possible on a single challenge, but each retest must come from a different source. A character may retest a challenge once using a level of Brawl and then retest again through the Merit: Lucky, but he may not gain multiple retests with the Brawl Ability on the same challenge. Retests may be canceled (“blocked”) by a character who is capable of matching the conditions of the retest. Thus, if a player uses Firearms to retest when

firing a gun, the opponent may expend a level of Dodge to block the retest and force the attacker to accept the results of the original test.

 

Example of Play: Michael, a Sabbat recruiter, is holding Daron hostage and subjecting her to an earful of sect propaganda. Reacting with typical Brujah composure, Daron pulls a hidden pistol and attacks (“I use the advantage my Wily plan has given me to shoot you in the chest!”) Michael responds by trying to take cover (“I use my Quick reflexes to spring behind the couch.”). They perform a test, and Daron loses. However, Daron is an excellent shot (“I am too skilled at Firearms to let you get away that easily!”), and she calls for a retest. The two test again, and Daron wins. Michael suffers damage from the gunshot wound. Michael tries to recover by knocking Daron’s gun away (“Dexterous as ever, I yank the gun from your grasp.”). Daron responds by backing away, the better to set up another shot (“I’m too Nimble for you to get a hold of!”), and the two perform another test. Michael loses and immediately calls for a retest with Brawl (“My Brawl skill is good enough to grab a gun at close range!”). Daron blocks the retest with Dodge (“I Dodge out of the way before you have a chance!”), and no retest is performed. Daron is now out of Michael’s reach and ready to shoot again.