The "Cursed" flaw allows for a wide variety of traditional weaknesses to be simulated in Vampire. Under the guidelines for this flaw (VRev, 301), how many points would you give for the inability to enter a building without the invitation or express permission of the owner? Upvotes for "showing your work" — that is, explaining why you believe your version to be correctly priced.
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\$\begingroup\$ "Building" or "dwelling?" In other words, would this prohibit the vampire from entering a Wal Mart unless asked to enter? If the latter, would a dwelling include the common area of an apartment building? \$\endgroup\$– AceCalhoonCommented Apr 10, 2011 at 16:11
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2\$\begingroup\$ I think "dwelling" is the meaning I want; the inability to enter any structure at all would be a flaw beyond the scope of the traditional limit. As for apartment buildings, I think that the lobby and the elevators should be fine, but an individual flat should be off-limits. But I'm open to arguments on that. \$\endgroup\$– JadascCommented Apr 10, 2011 at 16:20
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3 Answers
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A version of this flaw already exists in one of the sourcebooks. In clanbook Tzimisce on pg. 43 there is a 3-Point flaw named "Privacy Obsession" with two effects:
- Must make a Willpower Roll (Difficult 6) to enter into a dwelling uninvited.
- When disturbed by an uninvited guest in your own home, you must pass a Self-Control check (Difficulty 7) or frenzy.
If you're not interested in having that second effect, but wanted to make it impossible to enter a home uninvited, rather than simply requiring a Willpower check, it would probably be balanced to have that as a 3-Point flaw as well. You're losing one specific hindrance and making one a bit more strict.
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Assuming the vampire has to be invited in by someone with the authority to do so (i.e. not houseguests of the residents and certainly not one of the vampire's own cohorts) I'd place it at a 2-point flaw... A bit weaker than "Can't Cross Running Water" and "Repelled by Crosses."
When restricted to dwellings it becomes a powerful but situational weakness. There are times (or entire campaigns) where it can be a true thorn in the vampire's side. But in most cases it will be irrelevant (a lot of play takes place in public and semi-public spaces, such as city streets or Elysium).
It loses a point from the other two "vampiric" drawbacks because it is easily circumventable by many disciplines. Both dominate ("Invite me in." "I will invite you in.") and presence ("Hey buddy, why don't you let me in?") have easy routes around this.
Bump the value of the flaw down to one point if ANYONE inside the building can invite the vampiare inside. Bump it back up to three if the invitation has to be particularly explicit/formal, or if the restrictions are particularly strict (i.e. no breaking into public spaces that are closed, or storage lockers).
Of course, as with any custom merit/flaw, you may want to tilt it a bit if the particular campaign you're in is particularly unusual in some way.
answered Apr 10, 2011 at 16:48
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\$\begingroup\$ Regarding your third paragraph: what if the invitation couldn't be supernaturally compelled? "Freely and of your own will," so to speak. \$\endgroup\$– JadascCommented Apr 10, 2011 at 22:27
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\$\begingroup\$ @Jadasc Then I'd bump it back to three points like the "can't cross running water" or "Repelled by Crosses." However, that is based purely on the core book, and @Rain's post suggests that a somewhat higher value might be appropriate... I'd consider this flaw strictly more powerful than the one he cites. So if that one is reasonable, I'd put this one at four points. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Apr 10, 2011 at 22:31
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There is a flaw on Time of Thin Blood, Flaws of Superstition, on page 79. This flaw is a catch-all for the various myths and legends about vampires, that the inflicted believe so much that the embrace has enforced them as a flaw.
As for the value of such a flaw, it would be advisable to look at the other superstition based flaws, as pointed out by others, 2 points 'feels' appropriate.
