World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20020627035020/http://machno.hbi-stuttgart....

Arcanum Information Misc. Errata FAQs Library of Links Publications

World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

Version 2.5 (23. September 1998) Attention: this is the first of at least two or three major reworks of the WoD-X-Over-FAQ, so even those familiar with older versions should look carefully as there have been some big changes (with more coming as the secrets of the East unfold and the Vampire Universe is being "rebooted" 1. General 1.1. Why is this FAQ neccessary ? 1.2. Where can I get this FAQ ? 1.3. How do I balance the various WoD Characters ? 1.4. What do I do if I got a question that is not answered here ? 1.5. I need help QUICK, my players just detected a new trick... 1.6. I have to roll against a value the target doesn't possess. What to do ? 1.7. I cannot possess the neccesary means to work against my foes abilites. What can I do ? 1.8. Is there a quick damage/healing... overview ? 2. Vampire 2.1. What happens if I embrace a ... 2.1.1. Lupine ? 2.1.2. Mage ? 2.1.3. Wraith ? 2.1.4. Changeling ? 2.2. What happens if I drink the vitae of a ... 2.2.1. Lupine ? 2.2.2. Mage ? 2.2.3. Wraith ? 2.2.4. Changeling ? 3. Werewolf 3.1. What types of creatures can I detect with SENSE WYRM ? 3.2. Who is affected by the Delirium ? 4. Mage 4.1. How can I gain Quintessence from magical beings ? 4.2. How can I use the Garous' spirit Talismans ? 4.3. Is Magick powerless against the magical powers of other Supernaturals ? 4.4. What Magick do I need to harm ... 4.4.1. Vampires ? 4.4.2. Werewolves ? 4.4.3. Wraiths ? 4.4.4. Changelings ? 5. Wraith 5.1. How can I interact with (un-)living WoD Characters ? 5.2. What happens if a vampire tries to drink from me ?

1 of 6

7/21/2012 4:02 AM

World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20020627035020/http://machno.hbi-stuttgart....

6. 6.1. 6.2. 6.3. 7. 7.1.

Changeling How do I affect Vampires, Garou... with Cantrips ? How can I use Glamour versus Magick ? Who can see the Kith seeming of a Changeling ? Others "Crossover" characters

1. General Here are informations concerning the whole WoD. Specific questions are listed under the respective genre. Questions relating to multiple groups will be listed more than once but will usually be answered only the first time. I will try to trace all rulings back to the supplements from which the rules had come from, but don't count on it happening anytime soon (unless someone volunteers to do help). 1.1. Why is this FAQ neccessary ? Many questions are relating to more than one setting of the WoD. These could not be answered by people owning only one rulebook. Some questions are anwered in the rules, some only in some supplements. As many people (even the line developers at White Wolf) pointed out, the systems are NOT designedto work together easily, but there are people (like me) who like to puzzle together all parts of (officially published or selfmade) material and come up with a working solution for (at leasttheir version of) the World of Darkness. Therefore I put up with the task of collecting all major rules published by White Wolf, updating to newer versions of rulebooks, ignoring (mostly) optional rules (like WoD: Combat) and trying to compile the easiest crossover infos. 1.2. Where can I get this FAQ? I used to post this FAQ to alt.games.whitewolf and rec.games.frp.storyteller, but since I rarely browse through the newsgroupsin the last months, I will only put a notice of updated to the five major WoD mailing lists (which I still read). If someone wants to post this FAQ to the newsgroups, please feel free to do so, provided you still mention me as its compiler. It is also available at The Digital Arcanum (German Chapter) at:http://machno.hbi-stuttgart.de/Arcanum/xovrfaq.htm 1.3. How do I balance the various WoD Characters ? You don't. It is a matter of fact that Werewolves are com bat monsters, while mages can do things noone else can do. The rules are designed that way to keep a certain "flavor" not to balance characters. If you absolutely have to put characters of different settings together, just remember that the s ystems/settings are designed with specific goals in mind, so don't even hope to dream of Kindred eco-terrorists, Garou reality benders. It's hard to keep the systems compatible, but it's even harder to keep a group of Kindred, Garou and Mages from killing themselves over (little) political viewpoints. 1.4. What do I do if I got a question that is not answered here ? Post them to alt.games.whitewolf or rec.games.frp.storyteller or to the relevant mailing list (For more inf o about the Mailing lists and Newsgroups see the info text at the Digital Arcanum. MANY people are just waiting to answer these questions (with sometimes conflicting answers). Although I read the major mailing lists (and sometimes the Newsgroups), I mi ght not see this question, so if you want an answer from me just write to the Digital Arcanum (arcanum@deathsdoor.com). 1.5. I need help QUICK, my players just detected a new trick... "It's your game, you decide what's right/wrong". This is the only rule you have to think of. But try to think what would happen to your campaign if Werewolves may be Mages AND Vampires in addition to their "native" abiliti es. If you absolutely HAVE to include a Garou-Vampire-Mage either constructsome obscure (and hopefully unique) reasons why this thing will work for your "target", but not for someone else who tries, or better yet try to keep your players (as wel l as the characters) in the dark about the real reasons behind the power. 1.6. I have to roll against a value the target doesn't possess. What to do ? (Personal Suggestion) Try to find out what this value would be if the target in question had it. (Like giving an Akashic Brotherhood Mage a Courage and Self-Control of 4 or 5) If in doubt try to use 6 as a basic target number, modified as you see fit. 1.7. I cannot possess the neccesary means to work against my foes abilites. What can I do ?

2 of 6

7/21/2012 4:02 AM

World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20020627035020/http://machno.hbi-stuttgart....

Try to compare: Discipline Level (Vampire) Rank (Werewolf) Highest Sphere (Mage) Arcanos (Wraith) Art (Changeling) If you got a higher ratin g in your value than you target in his you would have the chance (i.e. may roll) to try to overcome your foe. This roll is a simple roll for a higher rating and a resisted roll for equal ratings. EXAMPLE: Ianus, a Nosferatu tries to hide from a lupi ne using Cloak of Shadows (Obfuscate 1). Dances-the-shadows (Rank 1) tries to detect him usingHeightened Senses. Since they got equal ratings BOTH roll (Per+Alert orWits+Stealth). Whoever has more successes wins (detects him/remains unseen). Were the Werewolf Rank 2 only HE would have to roll, even one success wouldsuffice. 1.8 Is there a quick damage/healing... overview ? Being Aggravated Damage from All vulgar Prime, Life or Entropy attacks, natural weaponry of Superna turals, Prime-powered Force Mortals Vampire + Sunlight + Fire Werewolf Mage Wraith Changeling 2. Vampire 2.1. What happens if I embrace a ... 2.1.1. Lupine ? Most of them die, but some return as Abominations. System: Werewolf rolls Gnosis (diff. 6). If he BOTCHES he turns into an Abomination. While this might seem to be great for a Munchkin, he should be aware that the spirit side of the Garou getsa crippling blow with this "death", so he exists in a permanent state of Harano (big depression), which causes him to halve ALL Dice rolls. Besides the few advantages of being undead, he loses almost all advantages he had for being a living spirit and might NEVER increase in his spirit-based powers (should he retain them). For more information on the Subject see WPG2. 2.1.2. Mage ? He changes to a "normal" Vampire but looses ALL ability to use Magick. Oth erwise it's the same as if you embrace a "normal" human. 2.1.3. Wraith ? Usually you may not embrace a Wraith as it will enter Oblivion if all it's corpus is lost to Aggravated damage. 2.1.4. Changeling ? The BoLD tells about the Embrace-survival chances of the faerie soul. The embraced Changelinghas to score at least one success on a Glamour roll (diff. embracing Kindred's Banality+2)to survive the Embrace, otherwise the fa erie soul is forever destroyed. If the character survives the Embrace, he is immediately claimed by the Mists and forgets EVERYTHING about + Silver (+1 level if not in breed form) + Paradox backlashes + Stygian Steel + Barrow flames

Soak versus

Healing/Regeneration

Fall Damage (D:8) sunlight ONLY with Fortitude, all else with Sta+Fortitude. Agg. only if Fortitude all damage except silver (no soak) may soak silver in breed form all , Agg. only with Life 3 all all if in Kith seeming, none if not

1 BP/level, 5 BP for Agg., +1 WP if more than 1 Agg./day 1 level/turn, 1 Agg./day

1 pathos/corp., 3 pathos/agg + 8h slumber

3 of 6

7/21/2012 4:02 AM

World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20020627035020/http://machno.hbi-stuttgart....

himever being Faerie (and also loses access to ANY Faerie powers/birthrights/frailties/...). If he is enchanted, he will regain his memory to being faerie, but NOT the access to the powers ofa fae... The Fae soul is kept from being reborn until the Kindred dies.The Kyasid Bloodline (see STGS) was created with the help of Faerie Blood, but not directly from Fae. < P>2.2. What happens if I drink the vitae of a ... 2.2.1. Lupine ? You might be stronger or quicker (Potence/Celerity) but only with POTENTWerewolf blood. Otherwise it is twice as potent a s "normal" blood (2 BP per BP drunk) and you have more problems containing your Beast (+1 diff/BP). Werewolves also contain "more" blood than normal humans (25 BP) 2.2.2. Mage ? Usually nothing, but some MIGHT have some of their magick stored in their blood, so expect everything. 2.2.3. Wraith ? Usually it's impossible since they are on another world. If you have Nihilistics 2 you may drink from them, with Nihilistics 6 you may even G houl or Blood Bond them. Blood drunk from a materialized Wraith will not nourish a vampire. 2.2.4. Changeling ? You are now able to see all the "faerie-stuff", but it will now be able to hurt you too. You may bec ome mad if you don't succeed in a Courage roll (diff. 3+BP drunk). Malkavians need not roll (they are already mad). 3. Werewolf 3.1. What types of creatures can I detect with SENSE WYRM ? Near ly all Fomori, most Vampires (Humanity 6-) but rarely Mages, Wraiths (only with Permanent Angst 7+) or Changelings. 3.2. Who is affected by the Delirium ? The Delirium usually affects only "normal" humans, whic h excludes Kinfolk, most Fomori, Ghouls, Vampires, Mages and other types of Supernaturals. Changelings in human form ARE affected by the Delirium. Mortals of high Willpower or some humans with other "supernatural" abilities (3+ level in a ny one Thaumaturgy Path, Numina, Faith...) are usually NOTaffected. 4. Mage 4.1. How can I gain Quintessence from magical beings ? You may use Prime 5 to drain the Quintessence of Vampires or Garou. An easier (at least magickally) way is draining a Caern or Freehold (Werewolf/Changeling Node), you only need a Prime of 3 (plus Spirit 4 for powerful (Level 4+) Caerns). 4.2. How can I use the Garous' spirit Talismans ?< /A> Werewolf fetishes have Gnosis instead of Arete but otherwise are just the same as nomal Talimans. (Roll Arete vs. Gnosis to activate, spend Quintessence) 4.3. Is Magick powerless against the magical powers of other Supernatur als ? If a Vampire attacks you, you may use countermagick as usual against his effects. But this Countermagick only works on direct attacks/uses versus you, NOT someone else.If a Garou is using his spirit-magic against you, you may use counterm agick with your Spirit sphere.The same goes for the supernatural abilities of Wraiths.You may try to resist Cantrips with a Willpower roll Diff. 7, or by rolling Arete vs. (Art of Cantrip +3). 4.4. What Magick do I need to harm ... 4.4.1. Vampires ? Life + Matter 4.4.2. Werewolves ? Life

4 of 6

7/21/2012 4:02 AM

World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20020627035020/http://machno.hbi-stuttgart....

4.4.3. Wraiths ? Prime+Entropy (Spirit works as Life for mortals). 4.4.4. Changelings ? Life (Spirit may be used by Enchanted mages on Chimera) 5. Wraith 5.1. How can I interact with (un-)living WoD Characters ? Some Supernatuals beings are NOT affected by the Shroud and it is therefore not neccesary to employ the Embody Arcanos needed for everyone else.There are rumors about some Wraiths who are able to "repossess" their old bodies and return to the Shadowlands (If only for a short time...) 5.2. What happens if a Vampire tries to drink from me ? Normally the Vampire won't be able to drink your corpus, except for some rare vampires who can pierce the Shroud, but the bite will hurt hard (aggrava ted). 6. Changeling 6.1. How do I affect Vampires, Garou... with Cantrips ? All non-Fae are affected by Actor (even Garou, as they aren't fae anymore). 6.2. How c an I use Glamour versus Magick ? You may try to cancel a spell cast on you with your Glamour by rolling Glamour vs. (Highest Sphere+4). BUT you gain a temporary Banality for "removing a bit of magic from this world". 6.3. Who can see the Kith seeming of a Changeling ? Normally only other Changelings may see Kith seemings, but other may also be able to notice something. These poeple include young children, drunk or drugged people, some mad people, in s hort those who don't have a too defined view of reality.Supernaturals may be able to do so with tricks like (but not exclusively): Mytherceria Discipline Certain Gifts related to Fae and Dreams Spirit/Prime (or Mind/Prime) Magick Phant asm Arcanos Fae Affinity 7. Others This section is reserved for other beings in the WoD, who don't fit into a specific system, like the Year of the Hunter/Ally people, gypsies, mummies, Shih, ... I am not yet su re if I should put the KotE (who are crossover beings of a kind) here or start anotherdocument handling only those people, so please let me know what you think of it. 7.1. "Crossover" characters To this date man y people can be called some sort of crossover characters, i.e. people "claimed" by more than one group in the WoD. Minor examples include: Mithras: Ventrue and Celestian Chorus Mage (WoD, WoD2, Tra:CC) < B>Aleister Crowley: Malkavian and Cult of Ecstasy or Hermetic Mage (WoD, Tra:CX, Tra:OH) If you find another one please send them to: arcanum@deathsdoor.com The two best (or least) known characters are Rasputin and Sam Haight. Rasputin has yet appeared as: Malkavian(CB:Ma p. 61) Nosferatu(BbN, p. 52) Setite(CB:Se, p.65) Ventrue(CB:Ve, p. 23) Shadow Lord(TriSL, p. 67)

5 of 6

7/21/2012 4:02 AM

World of Darkness Crossover FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20020627035020/http://machno.hbi-stuttgart....

Cultist of Ecstasy(TraCX, p. 54) Stamina 5 Benchmark(W:tO2, p. 117) Rabbit Pooka(C:tD, IE1-3) (just kidding) Puppeteer (GB:PP, p. 67) The best know (and most hated) character in the World of Darkness was (yes, was) Sam Haight. WARNING: spoilers for all stories containing Sam Haight following !!! He originally appeared in the story Skins (VF, p. 45), where a pack of Garou noticed a hunter killing some Garou, taking the skin of the slain beasts. He used these skins totransform himself (a Children of Gaia Kinfolk, who has already learned some Thaumaturgy) to a full G arou. As the pack tries to follow his escape into the Umbra he is protected by some Wyrm spirits. He is next seen in the story A quest beyond death (STHS, p. 129), where a packof Sabbat stumble over a Kindred's plan to open a gatew ay beyond death, but only reaches into the realm, where an Incarna has trapped Sam Haight, who is able to escape through the opened gate. His next appearance, after acquiring a powerful artifact, is in the Amazon, in the story In dreams and nightmar es (RaA, p. 73), where he kills the powerful mage El Dorado and steals his magick. After that he is flung into the Umbra by some Wyld spirits. From this time on Haight thinks of himself as the first of the Skin Changer tribe. After his artificial Awakening, Haight returns to earth in the story Harvest time (BoC, p. 151), where he steals the heartwood of the central power source of a cabal of Verbena, who have refused to teach Haight before he began his job as a hunt er. By taking a staff outof this tree he destroyed the entire cabal. Somewhen around this time (before or after) he also showed a caring side as he rescued a White Howler (the son of an old friend) from some Black Spiral Dancers, who wanted to "conve rt" the boy. (When will you rage, p. 297). Faced with lots of power but an (always faster) aging body, Haight tries to discover the secrets ofthe (vampiric) immortality. He visits New Orleans in the story D'Jabbic (NObN, p. 97) and discovers that an usual Embrace will likely kill him (because of his Garou status) and also remove his ability to work Magick. So he tries to go for the jackpot, an Antediluvian, who rests in Mexico City The Chaos Factor (C F). But before he can complete his plan the Antediluvian, who turned out to be "only" a Methuselah who awakened just beforecould do what he intended to do. In the resulting combat the magickal staffoverloaded and the resulting Paradox Bla st left only the skeleton of Haightwhich quickly turned to dust. What happened to Shaitan is not yet discovered.Haight, unwilling to die that easily, entered the Shadowlands rather thanpassing on and was caught by a Hierarchy patrol to be soulforged to an ashtraywhich now rests on the desk of a high Hierachy official. There are however rumors that the clone the Progenitors built for him isnow active... This page was last updated: Friday, 13-Nov-1998 14:56:05 CET To contact the maintainer of this pages try: arcanum@deathsdoor.com. Errata FAQs Library of Links Publications Arcanum Information Misc.

6 of 6

7/21/2012 4:02 AM