By Ron Poirier (rpoirier@nyx.cs.du.edu), with comments by Coranth Gryphon (gryphon@msgi.com)
I was in a discussion with a friend last night about how nifty V:tM was, and he flipped through the discipline section of my book and asked, "What about the ability of vampires to fly?" I thought about it, and realized that there was a whole discipline worth of vampire lore left unmentioned in the original game (and, to my meager knowledge, the expansions as well). The discipline would have to to with flight, levitation, wind control, telekineses, etc - all things that vampires can and do do in certain folktales and modern cinematic endeavors. I have no clue what it should be named. Here are some ideas.
I called it "Levitus".
* Deny Earth's Somber Grasp: The vampire can levitate up to 10' per success on a roll of (Name This Discipline) + Stamina. Does she have to expend a willpower point? A blood point? The world may never know.
Costs one Willpower.
** Ride the Wind: The vampire is able to alter her body structure in such a way that she becomes one with the winds about her. While still maintaining a physical for that may be harmed normally, she will travel at the same speed and direction of the prevailing wind conditions if she also employs Deny Earth's Somber Grasp. This ability effectively renders the vampire weightless, so she may walk across pitfall traps, across quicksand, etc. without falling in (actually, level one could probably do this, anyway). A vampire could achieve a degree of control over her flight speed and direction by fashioning a pair of "wings" from an appropriate material, but she will look silly ("And A-Cuckoo, And A-Cuckoo.."). Flight speed would be Strength+AthleticsX2 in MPH.
Can move horizontally, at normal walking pace, othewise as per Level 1. Ignore the other rules about silly wings. *grin*
They can float with the wind, or ignore it, at will.
*** Turbulent Gust: The vampire can command winds to blow at a speed of Levitus+StaminaX10 in MPH. This can be very effective is combined with the previous two powers in this discipline. It can also blow out fires, knock over furniture (and opponents), distract people, etc. It is quite effective against hunters armed with bows and arrows! The gust may blow in any direction towards or away from the vampire, and will last as long as she maintains concentration (halving her dice pool for all other actions).
Not relevant. See Paths of "Weather Control" and "Movement of the Mind".
*** Great Leap: The vampire burns one blood and can leap a distance of 10' per success. Roll (Levitus + Strength), target 6.
**** Night Bird: The vampire has acquired the power of true flight. She may fly at a speed equal to her Levitus+StrengthX20 MPH. This type of flight burns approximately one blood point per hour.
Flight speed equals (Levitus + Strength) meters per round (or L+S * 20 MPH sustained long distance). Make it one blood per activation per scene, or one blood per hour for long distance.
***** Blessing of the Wind Dukes: The vampire may use levels one, two, and four of Levitus on others as well as herself. Levels one and two require a successful roll of (Name This Discipline)+Stamina at difficulty 2, or the target's willpower if the target is unwilling. Use of Night Bird on others is limited in that the vampire must hold their hands (maximum of two others, unless the vampire has several arms...) and burn an extra blood point/hour for each "passenger." Individuals led this way may not control the vampire's flight, although they may attempt to break free of her grasp (most unwise at the higher altitudes...)
Sounds good. But can be used on all levels. Range is touch.
At level 6, allow range to be line of sight. At level 7, allow supersonic speeds.
What say you? I don't like Ride the Wind as it is -- I might knock it off, bump the others down one, and add in a level ***** that permits something similar to level ***** Protean (Gaseous Form). Any comments? What would the clan possessing this have as other disciplines (probably a bloodline, actually). I'm thinking Fortitude and Celerity.
I based it off of Forever Knight, so gave them Celerity and Dominate. I never did come up with a clan name, though *grin*.