Games - Clans in Vampire: The Requiem

Home > Listing Index > Games > Clans in Vampire: The Requiem

	Games - Clans in Vampire: The Requiem

In the role-playing game Vampire: The Requiem
by White Wolf Game Studio, vampire characters belong to one of five fictional clans, each of which is representative of an archetype in vampire literature. It is assumed that each clan descended from a single progenitor, who passed to each of his descendents, or childer, his unique gifts and flaws.

The origins of the vampire species are mysterious. The idea of single source is not certain. Common theories include that the Roman soldier Longinus became a vampire after piercing the side of Christ on the cross, or that the first vampire was Dracula or a mysterious figure called the Crone. Some have even suggested that each of the five main clans had a different origin.

Since Requiem was a reboot and reimagining of White Wolf's previous game line, Vampire: The Masquerade
, some of the clans and their traits are similar to clans that appeared in the previous line, though there are differences. In Requiem also, bloodlines play a more important role, with many vampires belonging to a minor bloodline that branched away from a major clan. Unlike the previous game, even members of bloodlines can be said to belong to the parent clan also.

Each clan is particularly gifted in three of the vampiric Disciplines. In terms of game mechanics, this translates as a reduced experience point cost to learn them. Each clan also possesses a specific weakness that is unique to them.

Daeva

The Daeva are meant to be representatives of the deceitful, seductive vampire. Nicknamed "Succubi" by the other clans, Daeva are envied for the ease with which they move among mortals. Politically, the Invictus covenant is popular among Daeva.

Daeva are especially gifted in the vampiric Disciplines of Celerity (superhuman speed), Vigor (superhuman strength), and Majesty (the ability to attract, sway, and control the emotions of others). The clan weakness of the Daeva is that they find it very difficult to resist indulging themselves. A Daeva who has an opportunity to indulge his favorite vice and fails to do so finds his resolve weakened (reflected in the game mechanics as lost Willpower points). In this way, they can be seen as a successor to the Toreador from The Masquerade, which have similar behavior and similar weakness.

The symbol of the Daeva is a thorny rose entwining an ornamental dagger.

Gangrel

The Gangrel
clan from Vampire: The Masquerade was recreated for Vampire: The Requiem
as one of the five major clans. In Vampire: The Requiem, their close connection with the Beast has left some members becoming animalistic and barbaric, to the point where some are unable to interact with mortals other than to feed. These members have left members of the other clans as viewing them as dim-witted and coarse.

Gangrel favor the Disciplines of Animalism (control over the beasts of nature and the Beast within a vampire's soul), Resilience (supernatural toughness), and Protean (shapeshifting). Gangrels have a unique weakness caused by their close connection to the Beast; their animalistic instincts are drawn close to their surface, clouding more reasoned thought. This is represented mechanically by preventing Gangrel characters from re-rolling tens on rolls requiring Mental atribues, and subtracting ones from the total successes rolled.

While the stereotypical Gangrel is savage and socially unsophisticated, there have been many upstanding and respectable Gangrels in Vampire society, who resist the touch of the beast through self-discipline. This is represented mechanicaly by placing several dots in the Gangrel character's Resolve and Compose stats to compensate for their inability to re-roll 10s.

As indicated by their preferred disciplines, Gangrels tend to be more physically oriented than other clans.

Unlike the Gangrel of the Masquerade, Requiem's Gangrel have no ties at all to Werewolves, and are not "in touch with nature" any deeper than being in touch with their inner Beast.

One of the Gangrel's bloodlines is the Bruja, a collection of bikers and thugs loosely based on Vampire: The Masquerade's Brujah.

The symbol of the Gangrel is a stylized brush-stroke rendition of a predator's eye, seemingly made up of various animal parts.

Mekhet

The Mekhet embody the idea of the shadowy vampire lord, omniscient and unseen. Nicknamed "Shadows" by the other clans, Mekhet are known for the large number of secrets that they keep, and for knowing the secrets of others. In order to garner rank or respect within the clan, a shadow must demonstrate a greater ease and familiarity with some knowledge. If a Mekhet's knowledge about a specific subject surpasses that of the others, he is considered more capable and respected than a Jack of all trades. Their uncanny ability for knowing that which they shouldn't is based on the ease of which they master the Disciplines of Auspex (enhanced senses), Celerity (superhuman speed), and Obfuscate (supernatural stealth). However, as suits their nickname, the Mekhet are even more vulnerable to the ravages of sunlight and fire than other vampires, suffering an additional point of agravated damage when burned. In this way, they can be seen as sucessor to Followers of Set from The Masquerade, which has similar behavior, goals, and weakness.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Clans in Vampire: The Requiem ]

Searches on eBay

clans in vampire: the requiem