Choosing your Disciplines

Disciplines are vampiric powers that allow vampires to do special supernatural things. Basic System-information on power-use can be found here.

We identify 3 different types of Disciplines: Clan Disciplines, Alternate Powers and Non Clan Disciplines:

Clan Disciplines

Clan Disciplines are powers your character has access to because they are innate to his/her Blood due to your characters clan.

Every Clan has 3 Clan Disciplines:

Brujah	Celerity, Potence, Presence
Gangrel	Animalism, Fortitude, Protean
Malkavian	Auspex, Dominate, Obfuscate
Nosferatu	Animalism, Obfuscate, Potence
Toreador	Auspex, Celerity, Presence
Tremere	Auspex, Dominate, Thaumaturgy
Ventrue	Dominate, Fortitude, Presence

Even though a discipline may be innate to your Blood as a Clan-discipline, the higher levels do not become accessible before you reached a certain age. The following levels are locked to the following ages-categories:

AGE CATEGORY	CLAN DISCIPLINE LEVEL
Senior Elder	1-5
Elder	1-5
Senior Ancilla	1-4
Ancilla	1-4
Senior Neonate	1-3
Neonate	1-3
Childe	1-2

During CharGen you may only buy Clan Disciplines within your age-range; i.e. 1-3 for Neonates, 1-4 for Ancilla etc. Disciplines are extremely powerful on LA, so that should be more than enough.
The exception to the above are Caitiff. All disciplines are Non Clan Disciplines for Caitiff, but they may start with their choice of Clan Disciplines (except Thaumaturgy).
Buying discipline-levels above your age-category limit requires a significant amount of effort (if it is possible at all) and only possible during the course of the game. Please find more information on buying discipline-levels above your age category limit here.

Alternate Powers

Alternate powers are just that - alternate powers to normal Clan Disciplines, which may be bought instead of, or in addition to normal clan powers. Knowledge of and access to alternate powers is restricted however. You may only buy them with XP and some may require a teacher. A special lore file details which powers your character is aware of at which lore level: When logged in to LAmush type: +news lores/power lore.

Non-Clan Disciplines

Non Clan Disciplines are powers not innate to your Blood. You may only learn them during the course of the game. You can find more detail on learning non-clan disciplines here.
Similarly Tremere may only purchase Paths that originate within their tradition of Thaumaturgy. Other Paths must be purchased as non-clan disciplines, and suitably justified.

A few additional don'ts and do's to choosing disciplines in CharGen:

• Please don't stack combat]-focused powers such as Celerity, Fortitude and Potence.
• Please don't min-max the attributes that go with your Clan Disciplines.
• Nosferatu may want to consider obfuscate 3, as only this offers them the possibility to use Maskings and appear normal.

List of Disciplines available to PC Clans

Animalism

This discipline communicates with and controls the Beast that is within animals, and within us all. It represents a supernatural affinity for the primal, the savage.
The powers of Animalism are believed to be roughly as follows (probably less accurately on the higher powers):

1. The power to talk to animals
2. The power to summon animals
3. The power to calm the beast in others
4. The power to summon animal spirits
5. The power to induce frenzy

You can read more on Animalism here.

Auspex

This discipline gives supernatural perception, what might be thought of as psychic powers.
The powers of Auspex are believed to be roughly as follows (probably less accurately on the higher powers):

1. The power of heightened awareness of the physical world
2. The power to see "auras."
3. The power to read psychic impressions from objects
4. The power to read minds, both mortal and vampire
5. The power to send the mind into the spirit world

You can read more on Auspex here.

Celerity

This discipline gives supernatural quickness and speed, allowing a vampire to move faster than a human ever could.
The powers of Celerity are believed to simply increase in effectiveness as the level of the power increases.
You can read more on Celerity here.

Dominate

This discipline allows a vampire to control the conscious mind of another. It generally requires eye contact.
The powers of Dominate are believed to be roughly as follows (probably less accurately on the higher powers):

1. The power to issue simple commands
2. The power to give complex commands
3. The power to erase memory
4. The power to instill loyalty in mortals
5. The power to take complete control of other minds

You can read more on Dominate here.

Fortitude

This discipline gives a vampire supernatural resistance to harm, perhaps allowing it to survive even fire and sunlight.
The powers of Fortitude are believed to simply increase in effectiveness as the level of the power increases.
You can read more on Fortitude here.

Obfuscate

This discipline allows a vampire to cloud the minds of others so that they cannot see her. It operates on the subconscious mind.
Auspex is known to be somewhat effective in penetrating Obfuscate.
The powers of Obfuscate are believed to be roughly as follows (probably less accurately on the higher powers):

1. The power to remain hidden, while not moving
2. The power to move about unseen
3. The power to alter one's appearance
4. The power to vanish in an instant
5. The power to alter one's aura at will

You can read more on Obfuscate here.

Potence

This discipline gives supernatural strength and vigor.
The powers of Potence are believed to simply increase in effectiveness as the level of the power increases.
You can read more on Potence here.

Presence

This discipline gives the vampire supernatural charisma, the ability to control the emotions of others. It normally requires that the victim can see the vampire.
The powers of Presence are believed to be roughly as follows (probably less accurately on the higher powers):

1. The power to command the attention and respect of others
2. The power to bring fear to others
3. The power to command love from others
4. The power to summon others from a distance
5. The power to demand universal respect from all others

You can read more on Presence here.

Protean

This discipline allows the vampire to shapeshift in various ways, beginning with small changes.
The powers of Protean are believed to be roughly as follows (probably less accurately on the higher powers):

1. The power to see in even total darkness
2. The power to grow wicked claws on your fingertips
3. The power to meld into the earth
4. The power to shapechange into certain animals
5. The power to change into mist

You can read more on Protean here.

Thaumaturgy

This discipline allows the vampire to call on the power of his blood to perform magic. It allows the learning of Paths and Rituals.
This allows a wide range of powers, including controlling weather, fire, telekinesis, controlling water, and others. It is suspected that all Tremere have access to a common path, the Path of Blood (q.v.).
You can read more on Thaumaturgy here.