Though vampirism is a curse, the Blood of Caine grants great mystical powers
to those with the insight and dedication to pursue them. These powers are known
as Disciplines.
Following is a list of the more common disciplines
wielded by Vampires and other supernatural creatures. Rare Vampires and stranger
creatures may not have powers on the list, as there are mysteries that remain
hidden in the world of darkness. Each clan possesses Disciplines that are common
among their ranks. However, it has been whispered that Vampires can learn
Disciplines outside their clan’s strength but at a much greater cost
The use of any disciplines, successes are not always automatic particularly in room where dice rolls are not used. Just because you slam somebody with such and such, level so and so, does not mean that person will be fully effected. You may have to use the power over several turns or posts especially if the level requires successes. Keep that in mind and play fair, especially when the discipline you are using has serious effects. Your victim may become aware of what is happening and be able to respond with either a counter attack or running away. Also keep in mind that some of the disciplines are exceedingly rare and you can't just come up with one and have it in the middle of game play.
While it may seem simple to solve all one's problems with supernatural
powers, the repercussions of the matter go simply beyond achieving a goal. Sure,
a vampire Elder with potence Level 6 could simply smash anyone who stood before
him. A coterie of Brujah can summon their rival until she ran out of willpower
to ignore it. It's not that things aren't possible, they just aren't
done.
Many vampires regard disciplines as vulgar ways to achieve one's goals.
A lazy vampire dominates a subject into doing something for him, while a crafty
vampire subtly influences his intended mark. This latter practice also leaves
less trace of the vampire's presence, an individual acting of his own free will
isn't going to have Kindred up in arms by talking about mind control and other
threats to the Masquerade. Vampires do not use their powers ostentatiously or
recklessly without good reason.
Obviously this is truer of some disciplines
than others. Thaumaturgy makes no attempts to be something other than what it
is: magic. Celerity is literally inhuman speed. Disciplines are, by their very
nature, edges that the Kindred can use when their own faculties fail. A Prince
who dominates the city's Kindred into submission will not have much respect, as
the other vampires don't choose to respect her, they are forced to.
Vampires
often harbor antipathy for others who use disciplines on them. Kindred who take
cavalier attitudes towards discipline use Dominating vampires into telling the
truth before their peers, cultivating false support through Presence, etc will
be received poorly by other vampires. Our above mentioned Prince would quickly
find herself snubbed by primogen and harpies if she used such heavy-handed
tactics. This is also the reason disciplines are verboten at Elysium. Even Aura
Perception requires a scrutiny of the individual whose aura the vampire reads;
is the Kindred going to stand by the door and stare intently at everyone who
enters the Nightclub?
Disciplines are used largely for "when the shit goes
down", not as crutches for nightly existence