There are 2 ways to learn disciplines.
- INNATE POWERS are disciplines innate to a vampire's Blood. These innate powers can optionally emerge spontaneously or be developed by training and teaching, depending on your preferences.
- Alternate Powers, Power-levels beyond your age-category and Out-Clan Disciplines must be taught by a teacher and include drinking the teacher’s Blood.
What is an innate Power?
Powers are innate ("in your Blood") when they are (1) Clan Disciplines AND (2) within your Age category AND (3) typical for your Bloodline. Please find specifications for each condition below:
1. Clan Disciplines
Every Clan has 3 Clan Disciplines (All disciplines are Out-Clan Disciplines for Caitiff):
2. Age Category
| Age | Innate |
| Mortals | None |
| Ghouls | Potence 1 |
| Neonates | Clan-powers up to level 3 |
| Ancillae | Clan powers up to level 4 |
| Elders | Clan powers up to level 5 |
3. Bloodlines: Innate vs Alternate Powers
Most vampires learn common mainstream powers. However, some bloodlines seem to have developed deviating powers, which are passed on from Sire to Childe. In addition it is rumored that as vampires grow older they are able to shape their to-be-learned higher level disciplines to fit their individual needs.
This is reflected by the list of powers accessible via +news lores/power lore. Mainstream powers are those preceeded by full numbers 1-5. Powers appended with a, b, c, etc. are more uncommon forms.
In principle you can choose what power you would like your character to have. Your first choice of a discipline-level is considered innate to your Bloodline. But, if you wish to learn an alternate (second) power on the same level you need to be taught.
Requirements & Costs for Learning Powers
| Disciplines & Powers | XP Costs | |||||
| Power Type | Requirement | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
| Innate Powers | Innate powers can optionally emerge spontaneously or be developed by training and teaching, depending on the story you would like to tell for your character. | 10 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| Alternate Powers | Alternate powers must be taught by a teacher and require the student to drink the teacher's Blood. You may be taught by: 1. Any vampire that mastered this particular power-level already, provided they have it innate to their Blood. 2. Any vampire who is (a) aware of the power’s existence (i.e. has the required Lore) AND (b) who’s discipline-level is at least 1 level above the to-be-taught-power AND (c) has the discipline (not necessarily the power) "in their blood". Example: An Ancilla with level 4 can teach a level 3 alternate discipline, and an Elder with level 5 can teach a level 4 alternate discipline. |
15 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 30 |
| Power-levels beyond your age category | In order to learn a level of a discipline beyond their age-category, a vampire must be taught by someone who has that discipline at a higher level, and has that discipline "in their blood." It also requires drinking a point of blood from the teacher for every level learned. A vampire has a discipline in their blood (and thus can teach it) if it is a clan discipline, or if they have it to level 5 or higher. | 20 | 30 | 20-30 | 30-45 | 40-60 |
| Out-clan Disciplines | In order to learn a level of a out-clan discipline, a vampire must be taught by someone who has that discipline at a higher level, and has that discipline "in their blood." It also requires drinking a point of blood from the teacher for every level learned. A vampire has a discipline in their blood (and thus can teach it) if it is a clan discipline, or if they have it to level 5 or higher. Teaching a Out-Clan discipline costs the teacher 1/3 of the student's XP cost. Eg, if a Malkavian teaches a Gangrel Auspex 1, the Gangrel pays 25XP, and the Malkavian 8XP (rounding is to the nearest XP). Costs may be reduced by instruction. |
20 | 25 | 30 | 45 | 60 |
| Caitiff and Out-Clans | Caitiff have no disciplines in their blood. All disciplines (other than their starting disciplines) are Out-clan disciplines to them. This means they cannot learn new disciplines without a teacher at all. However, caitiff have such weak blood that learning new disciplines only requires a drink of 1 blood point of blood from someone who has the discipline to a higher level - it does not require that the teacher has the discipline as a clan discipline or to level 5. Caitiffs' weak blood makes them extremely adaptable, can learn disciplines from anyone, even each other. Teachers do not need to pay XP for teaching Out-Clan disciplines to Caitiff |
10 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 |
| Thaumaturgical Paths | You need to have Thaumaturgy to the level of the Path you wish to buy. You can only purchase Paths that originate within your tradition of Thaumaturgy using these costs. Other Paths must be purchased as non-clan disciplines, and suitably justified. Almost all available paths, however, are Tremere Tradition paths. Path of Blood is gained free with Thaumaturgy to Tremere. | 7 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
Restrictions
IC restrictions
Elders frown on blood-mixing, and clan leaders may shun or otherwise discipline members who have shamed themselves by taking another clan's blood-power. Elders are very aware that gaining out-clan disciplines requires accepting steps toward a blood bond with a person outside the clan. Moreso, Gangrel and Tremere hoard their exclusive clan disciplines (Protean and Thaumaturgy) jealously, and the few students outside of these clans who learn those disciplines have inevitably met fatal accidents for taking these clan secrets for their own.
OOC restrictions
Your Architects reserve the right to deny without prejudice any request for a out-clan discipline or discipline beyond your age-category. The approval of the Core Architect Team is required.
As a result it is wise to +feedback your intent to buy an out-clan or high-level power before you arrange or even roleplay teachings.
Further, except in extreme cases, it is a core policy of this MUSH to exclude combinations of the combat disciplines (Celerity, Potence, and Fortitude). In particular, staff will not generally entertain Gangrel learning Celerity, Brujah learning Fortitude, or Nosferatu learning Celerity. Please accept that we have applied the same tremendous resistance to this on other characters and if they have it they have an astonishingly good reason.
