CAMARILLA STATUS PACKET
2015 REVISION
Table of Contents An Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Status: An Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 2 Gaining Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Starting Under the Accounting .................................................................................................................................. 3 Starting With Acknowledgement .............................................................................................................................. 3 Stripping Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Second Accountings .................................................................................................................................................. 4
The Public Nature of Status ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Status Announcements ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Posting Status ............................................................................................................................................................ 5
Loaned Status ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Status and Positions....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Positional Status for the Camarilla Stations .............................................................................................................. 6 Other Positions .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 A Harpy's Positional Status ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Assistants................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Ghouls ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Non-Camarilla Clans and Status ................................................................................................................................ 7
Granting and Stripping Status ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Granting Status.......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Stripping Status ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Visiting ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Politics (The Ability) ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Blood Hunts (Lex Talionis) ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Praxis Disputes ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Overturning a Blood Hunt ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Global Bloodhunts (formerly Character Regulation Bylaw 11) ............................................................................... 11
Status Modifiers........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Status Modifier Rules .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Merits & Flaws: ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Prestigious/Infamous Lineage ................................................................................................................................. 13 Probationary Sect Member Flaw............................................................................................................................. 14 Long Term Prince Merit........................................................................................................................................... 14
Boons ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Earning Boons.......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Appeasement .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Registering Boons .................................................................................................................................................... 15 Being in Debt ........................................................................................................................................................... 15 Trading Boons.......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Combining Boons .................................................................................................................................................... 15 Dividing Boons ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Defaulting ................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Boons Outside of the Camarilla ............................................................................................................................... 16 Levels of Boons........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Adjustments ............................................................................................................................................................ 17 The Waiting Game ................................................................................................................................................... 17 House Rules, Traits & Challenges ............................................................................................................................ 17 Inter-Chronicle Disputes.......................................................................................................................................... 17
Primary Sources: .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Credits:......................................................................................................................................................................... 18
An Introduction In the height of the Inquisition, as Elder Kindred were being murdered during the day by peasants who
were resistant to their powers, and at night by angry childer, resentful to being bred as slaves, a group
of Kindred realized that if the Kindred race was to survive they would need to band together what had
been previously a solitary and isolationist society.
They created the system of Prestation in those early nights of the Camarilla to try and curb the violence
and hostility that was the currency of the beast within. It is a system of traded favors based on the name
and reputation of the Kindred that requires all members of the Camarilla to buy into it; otherwise the
system fails and a new Inquisition is likely to appear with bombs and flamethrowers replacing pitchforks
and torches.
It’s easy to say that Prestation and Status is broken. Anyone with a keyboard and anonymity can ignore
it and do what they want as their PC. Unlike Aegis, or Deflection of Wooden Doom, the rules are vaguer,
and more open to interpretation. Where in the WW Genre, Kindred who flaunt their disregard of the
system find themselves isolated and banned from polite society, on a Friday night, it’s hard to tell a
player no one will play with him because he told the harpy that he’d kill her when she asked him to be
quiet while the Prince was speaking, and so the stick of status is ignored and the game suffers for it.
In the refresh of the status packet, we hope to remind OWbN that MET: Laws of the Night is a game of
social intrigue, and Status and Boons are the weapons and scorecard in the Elysium.
Status: An Introduction Status defines the level of respect or social renown within Camarilla society. It determines the weight
with which a Kindred's word should be regarded, their position in the social hierarchy, and measure of
their accomplishments and character in the eyes of the Sect. The ebb and flow of one’s reputation has a
serious effect on a character’s life even in modern nights. Within the game, Status takes the form of a
résumé of adjectives that define character, rank, and standing in the Camarilla.
Functionally, those with more Status are considered higher ranked. They can demand respect from, or
openly ignore, those with less. If there is a dispute between Kindred and there is no specific evidence,
Status is usually the deciding factor to determine who is right and who is wrong – or at least, who gets
the last word.
Common Camarilla Status Traits: Acknowledged, Admired, Adored, Cherished, Esteemed, Exalted,
Famous, Faultless, Feared, Honorable, Influential, Just, Praised, Respected, Revered, Trustworthy, Well-
Connected, and Well-Known. Other adjectives may be used but players should avoid being too silly:
“Spiffy” and “Mxyzptlkian” are not appropriate Status Traits. Curse-words and common slang are not
appropriate for Status Traits.
Gaining Acknowledgement Acknowledgement is always the first Status Trait given to a member of the Camarilla, and it is always the
last Status Trait stripped. A Kindred is usually only Acknowledged once, unless they suffer the extreme
humiliation of having that Status stripped away for a mistake. Acknowledgement is not to be confused
with the Tradition of Hospitality, which each Kindred must receive from the Prince of any Domain they
enter. Without Hospitality, Kindred cannot claim any of the Status they hold while in said Domain, and
few Princes will want to offer Hospitality to one who has lost her Acknowledgement somehow. A
Kindred who loses her Acknowledgement is at the mercy of the Scourge. Until a vampire gains
Acknowledgment in the Camarilla, she has no Status. A Prince may decide how to administer
Acknowledgement in her own Domain as she sees fit, within the general format of the Tradition of
Accounting.
The Tradition of Accounting - during the Accounting, any crimes committed by the Childe fall on the
Sire’s head, he must answer for his progeny’s misdeeds. The childe has no rights while under the
Accounting – the Sire may slay the childe at will, without suffering penalty unless a Prince has made
specific rules to the contrary. Until the childe is Acknowledged, she is not considered a real person
within the Camarilla. A childe is held under the Accounting until her Sire feels she is ready to be
presented, at which point a meeting with the local clan Primogen may be arranged so that the neonate
may be evaluated and tested. If satisfied that the childe is ready, the Primogen may then arrange a
meeting with the Prince for a final presentation. The Prince may choose to set his own tests, or he may
accept the Primogen’s word as sufficient. If there is no Clan Primogen, the Sire would first bring the
childe to the Seneschal, who would then arrange the meeting with the Prince. The specifics of
presentation may vary by Domain.
Once the vampire is Acknowledged, she has her first Status Trait, and is responsible for her own actions
and expected to uphold the Traditions of the Camarilla. Because it is central to a character’s
understanding of the Traditions, players should consider what sort of Accounting the character had and
what the character’s relationship is with his or her Sire.
Starting Under the Accounting
Some players may choose to begin under the Accounting, and in-game Embraces should always include
an Accounting as a matter of course. The Accounting for an in-game Embrace should be role-played out
between the Sire and Childe over substantial period of time – at least 6 months of real-time play.
Starting With Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement is free upon character creation. Additional Status may be purchased in accordance
with the house rules of the chronicle, to a maximum of three, including Acknowledgement. Status
Modifiers such as Reputation or Prestigious Sire do not affect this cap, but must be logged and/or
approved by the Camarilla Coordinator before entering play. (See: Status Modifiers)
Storytellers and players are strongly encouraged to have characters earn their Status during the course
of active play. The restrictions outlined above are intended to prevent abuses, not to recommend the
purchase of Status at character creation.
Stripping Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement can be stripped just like any other Personal Status Trait, though the repercussions
are severe. Usually only Princes strip Acknowledgement, and once the Status is lost, the unfortunate
Kindred is at the mercy of the Scourge until she can find another Prince to Acknowledge her again. Many
Princes will consider an outsider stripping someone in their domains of Acknowledgement to be a
breach of the Tradition of Domain and react accordingly. Acknowledgement must always be the last
Status Trait removed. If the offending Kindred holds a Position, the related Status Trait should be
temporarily stripped before moving on to permanently remove the Acknowledgement. Once
Acknowledgement is lost, no Camarilla Positions may be held until Acknowledgement is regained.
Second Accountings
The Camarilla isn’t known for being generous with second chances. Placing any Kindred who was once
Acknowledged back under the Accounting is a serious disgrace to both childe and Sire and frankly, they
should kill themselves as they have clearly ignored the Traditions, thereby insulting the Sect as a whole.
The Prince who originally released the Kindred from the accounting should feel great anger at the
offending Kindred. It should not be a usual practice and it could result in the Notoriety Flaw being
attached to Kindred who has lost their acknowledgement (assuming they get it back and are once again
re-welcomed to the Camarilla) and the shame of it should be well-nigh unbearable. The Accounting is
one of the Traditions, after all, and if you're under a "Second Accounting", you've probably broken one
(you're lucky to be alive!). If players are newer, before stuff like this can happen, Storytellers should
possibly step in to give a refresher (or even an initial) course on what the Vampire game is about and
what a Kindred should be expected to know and believe upon leaving the accounting.
The Public Nature of Status Players should keep track of their personal status on their character sheets. Information such as who
gave the Trait, why it was given and what the descriptive word is are commonly requested via the use of
the Politics Ability. Anyone playing a Harpy may wish to either keep some sort of record (via whatever
means their character would use) or buy up a lot of the Politics Ability so that they can produce
information about the members of their domain on request.
Status Announcements
Any announcements of the granting or loss of Status must be made publicly, either at an assembled
gathering (such as a live game) or in an email announcement to a public list (national or local game list).
This must always be logged with the Harpy of the home Domain of the individual who is gaining or losing
the Status.
If the motives for the granting/stripping of Status Traits come into question, the Harpy may initiate an
investigation. The Harpy has the power to strip the granted Status Trait as well as a Status Trait from the
one who has granted it, if the exchange is viewed as a Scandal. Such an action is likely to deeply offend
both Kindred, but if the Harpy thinks the Status award is unwarranted, she can disrupt the process and
punish everyone involved.
Posting Status
Posting Status within email or in a letter should follow one of the following two formats:
Jane Doe Sheriff of Ft. Wayne Status: Acknowledged, Admired, Feared
OR
Jane Doe Sheriff of Ft. Wayne Acknowledged by Prince Blah, Admired by Primogen Joe, Feared by
Position
(Putting just the number of status you have is tacky.)
You should also include a note about any Status Modifiers (see below).
Loaned Status There are two ways to loan Status to another Kindred.
1) A Kindred may loan a single Trait of her Status to another to show favor or to empower her for a
period of time. (“Jane Doe may use my Respected name until Sunrise on Friday, the 15th of
November”). Note: this period of time shall not exceed 1 month and 1 day, max.
2) A Kindred may loan a Trait to another for a specific task.(“Jane Doe may use my Respected name
in order to gain an audience with the Prince of Chicago”). See the Politics Ability Section for rules
on Loaned Status.
In all cases of loaned Status:
Loaned Status is returned immediately to its owner upon demand.
A loaned status Trait may only be used in one Challenge in any given evening (“I am Jane Doe,
speaking with the Respected name of Elder Joe.”)
Only one Status Trait may be loaned at a time from any single Kindred. (Joe Brujah cannot loan
both Cherished and Respected to Jane Gangrel, but Jane may borrow a Cherished from Joe and
a Respected from Valerie Ventrue.)
You cannot loan Status which has been loaned to you; you can only loan your own. You CAN call
in Boons or favors from your allies to convince them to loan Status to someone you support, but
that exchange should be role-played out.
Loaning Status is risky. If you loan a Status trait to another Kindred and that Kindred finds themselves in
Scandal, you will also probably be permanently stripped of the Status Trait you loaned as a punishment
for your bad judgment.
Kindred who have lost their Acknowledgement cannot be loaned status.
There is no limit to the amount of Status which can be loaned to you, but for the purposes of comparing
standing, no more than twice your own Status can be used. You may carry the banner of many, but
when a challenge or offense occurs, you must stand largely upon your own name. (Phantom status traits
do not increase this loan cap; Reputation does increase it, however.) Harpies, while doing their duties,
are exempt from this rule.
Status and Positions A Kindred holding an Office in a Camarilla Domain that carries Positional Status Traits adds those Status
Traits to her Personal status. These Traits may not be permanently stripped as long as she holds the
position, though they may be stripped temporarily. Though it is possible to hold multiple Camarilla
positions at once, it should be unusual. In that case, a Kindred may only claim the Status inherent to one
of the offices, usually whichever is greater.
Positional Status is valid in any Domain that the possessor visits, though their positional authority is
confined to the Domain where they hold that position. A Justicar’s power is absolute, globally.
Therefore, they may grant or strip Status as they see fit, no matter where the specified Kindred lives.
Positional Status for the Camarilla Stations
Justicar: Faultless, Just, Feared, Respected
Alastor: Sanctioned, Feared
Archon: Empowered, Feared
Seneschal: Cherished, Esteemed
Prince: Exalted, Famous, Well-Known
Harpy: Influential
Primogen: Revered
Keeper of Elysium: Honorable
Sheriff: Feared
Scourge: Feared
Herald to the Lasombra: Cherished
Other Positions
Princes or Justicars may choose to add titled positions such as Warlord or Lord Arcanum, but such
positions do not carry official Positional Status as do those listed above. Invented positions do not reflect
the norm of Camarilla society. While they may carry a customary granting of Status in a Domain or for a
project, these invented positions may not take a character over the OWBN Status maximum, and
whatever powers they have are part of the Tradition of the Domain and do not necessarily carry any
social weight, respect, or benefits outside of it. If the Prince or Justicar wishes the position to raise a
character in esteem, he or she may loan Status to the individual, using the rules outlined above.
Whips have the same powers as the Primogen in their Primogen’s absence, but they do not gain a
Positional Status Trait. A Primogen will often loan one of his Status to the Whip when he knows in
advance he will be out of the Domain.
A Harpy's Positional Status
Harpies are Influential by position. They are appointed by the Primogen Council, not by the Prince. Upon
being selected, a Harpy is customarily shown support with a Loaned Status Trait from each of the
Primogen. The Primogen, in turn, list this Trait as loaned out for as long as they support the Harpy.
Though these Traits are Loaned Status, they may not be used by the Harpy when comparing Status Traits
in a regular (personal) debate.
The Harpy can call upon the Traits when performing Harpy business (i.e. stripping Status, mediating a
Boon dispute, etc.). Should a Primogen feel that the Harpy is not properly doing her job, they can
temporarily, or in extreme cases, permanently remove their support from her. In this situation, the
Harpy would not be able to call upon that Primogen’s Status during the course of her business.
Therefore, the Harpy should be careful not to incur the wrath of the Primogen Council while in her
position: they can take away her position as easily as they gave it to her.
There is a fine line between a good Harpy and a power hungry Harpy. The Harpy provides a considerable
amount power to the Primogen, and vice versa. It takes a majority of Primogen to name a Harpy. There
is never more than one Harpy, though she may select Kindred to assist her as Lesser Harpies, much as a
Primogen appoints a Whip.
Assistants
Harpies, Sheriffs, Scourges, and Keepers of Elysia are allowed to create lesser versions of their positions.
These positions are the Lesser Harpy and the Deputy (Scourge, Sheriff, Keeper). In order to appoint a
Vampire to this position, the holder of the parent position must loan one of her own Personal Status
Traits to the recipient and declare the appointment to the rest of the Domain.
There is no such thing as a “Deputy” Seneschal, Prince, Archon, or Justicar. While such characters may
have assistants of various kinds, (particularly Archons, who may have multiple Servires working for them
at once), the title “Deputy” is not appropriate.
Ghouls
Ghouls are considered to be property. They are servants who perform functions that are usually below
the station of most Kindred. When a Prince recognizes a ghoul in her Domain, that ghoul becomes
Recognized (as per Liber des Goules), which is similar to a Status Trait but only for the purpose of
confirming presentation to the Prince. It may not be used in any other manner related to Status, and
does not make the ghoul an Acknowledged member of the Camarilla. Some traditional Princes refuse
even to allow ghouls to speak at gatherings unless first invited to do so by an Acknowledged Kindred.
Ghouls are almost never allowed to speak in public. It is at the Prince’s discretion on whether or not
killing a ghoul violates the Tradition of Destruction. However, because ghouls are valuable property, any
Kindred who destroys or poaches someone else’s ghoul may find himself owing sizeable Boons to the
original Regnant.
Non-Camarilla Clans and Status
Kindred who are not members of one of the seven (eight? okay, nine?) Camarilla clans have a difficult
time acquiring credibility and political weight within the Camarilla. These members should have an
extremely difficult time getting and holding onto Status Traits. Where the Harpies might overlook a
slight error or faux pas by a Ventrue, every step out of line that an Acknowledged Ravnos makes should
bring a quick and harsh punishment. Caitiff in particular should never have much Personal Status, and it
is rare for a Caitiff to be given a major Office such as Sheriff or Scourge.
Kindred who are not Acknowledged members of the Camarilla cannot hold other Camarilla Status.
Therefore, Camarilla Status cannot be granted to an Independent or to a member of the Sabbat.
Granting and Stripping Status Status should always be difficult to gain and easy to lose. All transactions involving Status should be role-
played out to the best ability of the players involved. Status and Prestation are deliberately gray areas
that invite in-character manipulation and subterfuge.
Granting Status
In order to grant someone a new Status, one of the following conditions must apply:
If they are of the same Clan, a Camarilla Kindred may grant a Personal status trait to another
Kindred if the Kindred awarding the status has more than double the Personal Status of the
individual receiving the status award, not including loaned and positional status of the awardee.
This costs the Kindred doing the granting one Temporary Status and the award must be made
publicly. This is the only manner in which a Kindred can grant Status to someone who is in
another Domain at the time of the award. Some Princes may consider this a Breach of Domain
and try to punish the offender in some fashion, usually by attempting to remove a Status Trait.
Thus, Kindred choosing to affect the reputations of those outside their Domains are warned to
tread carefully.
Justicars may grant Status to any member of the Camarilla, in any Domain, at any time. If they
give more than 5 Status Traits per evening, additional awards will cost the Justicar Personal
status, so it is rare that many Kindred are honored at once by the same Justicar. Justicars are
able to delegate the ability to grant Status to their Archons. (Archons may grant status,
assuming they have permission of their Justicar to do so.)
Princes and Seneschals may grant Personal Status at the cost of one temporary Status for each
award. Seneschals may only grant Status in the absence of the Prince. In such a case, which
name should be associated with the award (Prince or Seneschal) may be a topic for in-character
debate.
Primogen and Whips may award Personal Status to a member of their clan at the cost of one
Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait awarded. As with Seneschals, Whips may only act in
this manner in the absence of their Primogen.
Stripping Status
In order to strip someone of Status, one of the following conditions must apply:
Justicars may strip Status from any member of the Camarilla, in any Domain, at any time.
Justicars are able to delegate the ability to remove status to their Archons. (For clarity’s sake:
Archons can strip status for interfering with an investigation.)
Alastors may remove Status from any Kindred that hinders their official missions.
Princes and Seneschals may strip Personal status at the cost of one temporary Status for each
removal. Seneschals may only strip Status in the absence of the Prince.
Primogen and Whips may Strip Personal status to a member of their clan at the cost of one
Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait removed. As with Seneschals, Whips may only act in
this manner in the absence of their Primogen.
Harpies may remove one Personal status Trait from any Kindred who has backed out of a Boon
or been involved in a Scandal. This removal costs nothing, although there has to be some truth
to the Scandal. The Harpy must produce evidence at a gathering of Kindred when the Status
Trait is removed. Harpies may restore Status they themselves have stripped at the cost of one
Temporary Status Trait per Trait restored. Harpies do not have the power to grant Status.
The Primogen Council may remove one Status Trait from their Prince by collectively expending
Permanent Personal status Traits equal to the Prince’s total Personal status Traits. Note: This
may require one or more Primogen to expend more than one Personal status Trait. Who loses
what is a subject for role-play.
Keepers of Elysium may remove a Personal status Trait from any Kindred they catch breaking
the Masquerade within their own city. This removal costs nothing. It was also decided at the
2010 Conclave that Keepers of Elysium may remove standing from another Kindred for violating
Elysium. Only the Sheriff is immune from the Keeper’s Power.
Sheriffs may remove one Personal status Trait from anyone who refuses to accompany them for
questioning or judgment while they are within their own city. This removal costs nothing. Some
Princes use their Sheriffs for additional duties, under the Tradition of Domain.
Scourges may remove a Personal status Trait from any Kindred that is discovered to be
harboring or abetting vampires created without the Prince's permission or who have not gained
Hospitality in that Domain. This removal costs nothing. However, a Prince can return the
stripped Status should she be find insufficient evidence to back the Scourge's decision or be
convinced to counteract it.
Any Kindred of higher Status may remove Personal status from Kindred of lower Status at the
cost of one Permanent Personal Status Trait per Trait removed. Status may be temporarily
removed in the same fashion by expending Temporary Status Traits. This is the only manner in
which a Kindred can always remove Status from someone who is in another Domain at the time
of the removal. Some Princes may consider this a breach of Domain, so Kindred choosing to
exercise this option are warned to tread carefully. Kindred may not attempt to use Positional
Status to enact a Status removal of this type, they must sacrifice one of their own Permanent
Personal standing.
A Clan may remove one Status Trait from an elder of the same clan by collectively expending
Personal status Traits equal to the elder’s Personal status Traits. Note: This may require one or
more members of that clan to expend more than one Personal status Trait. Who loses what is a
subject for role-play.
Visiting
When a Kindred is visiting another Domain (not his home), he is subject to the will and laws of that
Prince and the other Officers of the Domain, for good for ill. If he misbehaves or earns the ire of his
hosts, he may be punished in any fashion the hosting Officers see fit, within their roles. By the same
token, an outstanding visitor may be honored with an award of Status before he leaves. While in general
a host’s power over his guests is limited to the duration of the visit, it is neither impossible nor unheard
for a Harpy to attempt to strip Status from a visitor after he or she departs for something he did during
his visit. For example, if a Harpy discovers that the visiting Kindred was involved in some great Scandal
or Crime while in her jurisdiction, she may seek to punish him for it after the fact. It is much more
difficult to strip Status after the offender is home again, as the Harpy of that Domain may have his own
opinions about the Scandal. In that case, negotiations should be role-played out.
Politics (The Ability) A Kindred is not required to post their Status publicly, indeed, doing so is the social equivalent of
stamping one’s foot – it draws attention to name and rank, demanding recognition. If the Kindred does
not include her Status, anyone who sees the letter and has the Politics Ability may expend a level, as per
LotNR, to determine her Status.
In terms of in-character mechanic, using the Politics Ability represents checking with your Harpy or
remembering something you heard of years before, it isn’t a magic encyclopedia in your brain. It
represents the knowledge that some characters have by working to stay ‘in the know’ in terms of
keeping up with the social whirl.
The Politics Ability in OWBN gains you the following types of information:
Number of Status Traits (“Joe Brujah has 4 Status”)
Names of Status Traits (“Joe Brujah is Acknowledged, Respected, Feared, Loyal)
Kindred who gave the Traits (“Joe Brujah was Acknowledged by John Ventrue, etc)
Reason the Trait was given (“Joe Brujah is Respected for not dropping my dry cleaning in a
puddle”)
Dead Characters have no status. Use Lore.
Blood Hunts (Lex Talionis) A Prince may call a Blood Hunt if an individual in his Domain has committed a great crime (or even just
sufficiently roused his ire). A Blood Hunt authorizes all Kindred within a domain to destroy the quarry
and forbids them to aid the criminal in any manner. Sometimes a Prince may even order all citizens to
actively participate in the hunt. As the name implies, customarily a Blood Hunt includes tacit permission
to Diablerize the hunted unless the Prince expressly forbids it. In the Camarilla, the practice of
Diablerizing a duly convicted criminal is known as Amaranth, and while it may be permitted under
certain circumstances, many Kindred are uncomfortable around those that are known to have destroyed
someone in that manner. (For additional information on the gravity and significance of Blood Hunts,
please refer to Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide, pages 106-111).
Praxis Disputes
If your Praxis is under Contestation, you have no authority as Prince. Therefore, trying to Blood Hunt
someone while they are contesting your Praxis is not allowed.
Overturning a Blood Hunt
In OWBN, a Prince may recall any Blood Hunt she herself has called, but such wishy-washy behavior
represents a Scandal of epic proportions and costs the Prince two of her own Personal status Traits. Only
the Prince who called the original Hunt may revoke it in this manner. A Prince may not revoke hunts
called by her predecessors.
The Primogen Council can overturn any Blood Hunt called by their Prince, provided that they collectively
expend enough Permanent Personal status Traits to equal that of the Prince’s total Status (Personal plus
Positional). Furthermore, this action must be taken within one month of the Blood Hunt being called. By
employing it, the Primogen Council strips two Personal status Traits from their Prince and causes him a
massive loss of face in front of the entire Camarilla. Note: This may require one or more Primogen to
expend more than one Personal status Trait. Who loses what is a subject for role-play.
A Justicar can overturn any Blood Hunt at his or her discretion. It should be noted that killing the Prince
that declares the Blood Hunt does not end the Hunt. Instead, it forces the Hunt to stand until a Justicar
reviews and rules upon the case.
Global Bloodhunts (formerly Character Regulation Bylaw 11)
If a PC is considered dangerous enough, and the Princes of OWBN extend a blood hunt far enough, a PC
can be considered continentally, universally, and globally bloodhunted throughout OWBN. The
mechanics of such are listed below.
1) Continental bloodhunts would require a 75% majority of the Princes of that continent extending
a bloodhunt to their Domain.
2) Universal bloodhunts occur when a Prince from every continent existing in OWBN declares such.
Continents will be regarded, for this purpose, as Europe, South America, North America, and the
South Pacific region.
3) Global bloodhunts require a proper Conclave, a Justicar calling it, and 2 other Justicars agreeing
to it. Justicar Coordinators who feel that this will be necessary should bring the appropriate
proposal to Council at least 2 weeks in advance.
Status Modifiers Status Modifiers represent the way in which a character’s reputation is influenced by her actions to the
point where the perception of those around her is noticeably altered. A character’s own actions may
speak loudly enough to impact how others perceive her Status. In some cases the actions of another
member of the lineage, usually the Sire, may also come into play. The following section outlines how
these Modifiers work in OWBN.
The Basics of Status (formerly Character Bylaw 10.A-E: Status Regulation)
1) Characters are limited to possessing only six permanent Camarilla status traits from other
characters and NPCs, plus the highest status bonus from offices held.
2) Council must vote upon each and any award of personal Camarilla status traits beyond the six
personal Camarilla status traits limit. Positional status is not considered "personal Camarilla
status".
3) All Non Player Characters (NPCs) are limited to possessing only seven permanent Camarilla
status traits, plus the highest status bonus from offices held.
4) The Camarilla Coordinator must approve every personal Camarilla status trait above the seven
personal Camarilla status limit for Non-Player Characters (NPCs). Positional status is not
considered "personal Camarilla status."
5) Player Characters may only hold Domain related Camarilla positions which grant additional
status in areas that are controlled by Chronicles, not Coordinator controlled areas. The
exception to this is the position of Archon, being a non-Domain related position. Domain related
positions being: Prince, Seneschal, Sheriff, Keeper of Elysium, Scourge, Primogen and Harpy.
Status Modifier Rules
The Camarilla Coordinator must approve all Prestigious or Infamous Sire Merits and Flaws, as well as the
related Lineage Merits and Flaws, in order to maintain OWBN continuity. All Reputation and Notoriety
Merits must be logged with the Camarilla Coordinator, for the same reason. The Camarilla Coordinator
will in turn make the appropriate information available to the OWBN Archivist.
Note: The Merit: Reputation cannot be bought at character creation, but must rather be earned through
the role-play of the character.
You may not take multiple versions of the same Modifier Merit or Flaw to stack the effect. For example,
you may not take two Reputation Merits simultaneously, even if your character is known for two
different skills. The nature of the reputation (the description) may change slowly over time through the
course of story, at the discretion of the storyteller.
No individually created (house rule) Modifier may take an OWBN character over any of the OWBN-
enforced caps for Status, real or perceived. Storytellers are free to disallow any Merit or Flaw that
modifies a character’s Status (real or perceived) in the event that the character signs into their game and
is subject to their house rules.
Status-Modifying Merits and Flaws, (including Probationary Sect Member) should always be included in
email posts, players should put a little ooc tag beneath the character’s signature: (OOC: Notoriety Flaw:
Caused a big Scandal in Milan.)
Merits & Flaws:
Consider these Merits and Flaws to be notes about the character that should be taken in character. If
your PC considers a Sire to be prestigious, roleplay it. If your PC considers a sire to be infamous, roleplay
it.
When emailing on the lists, you should put an OOC note that you have one of the Merits or Flaws listed
below (Prestigious Sire/Infamous Sire/etc) and a short note as to why they are Prestigious/Infamous.
Example: Marie the Ventrue (Prestigious Sire: Andrew, New York City Defender).
Prestigious Sire
The Prestigious Sire Merit does not act as a “phantom” Status Trait. Characters with this Merit will gain a
bit more respect in some social situations, dependent on how the Sire is perceived. An example, Babs
the Brujah is considered to be a prestigious sire amongst Brujah but is hated by Prince Andrew,
therefore Prince Andrew does not see the childer of Babs in a better light.
The Sire is a well-known or important Camarilla figure, one whose good reputation helps boost that of
the childe. Note: just as it is possible to become Prestigious and well known, it is possible for childer to
eclipse their Prestigious Sire, or for the Sire to fall into disfavor, thus removing the Merit.
In the event that the Childe character becomes famous in his own right and earns the Reputation Merit
(see below), the character’s Storyteller or the Camarilla Coordinator may remove the Prestigious Sire
Merit, as it may no longer be appropriate for the character to lean on their Sire’s prestige. This is
especially true if the Sire in question is deceased or no longer holding a prestigious position.
Infamous Sire
By the same token the Flaw Infamous Sire works the same way, only it lowers the perceived reputation
of the Kindred rather than raising it. Infamous Sire does not act as a negative “phantom” status. These
Flaws may be handed out or bought off through role-play at the discretion of the Storyteller.
The Sire is a notorious or infamous figure in the Camarilla, a diablerist, perhaps, or someone who has
committed a crime against the Ivory Tower. The unfortunate childe is tarnished by the misdeeds of his
Sire and suffers the stigma of this bad reputation.
Prestigious/Infamous Lineage
This merit no longer conveys phantom status, as this should be a roleplay based advantage. Being in a
powerful and well-known family of Kindred is its own advantage. Occasionally a group of related
characters with a shared surname becomes so well known that the name itself begins to be more
recognizable than any single member. A majority of the members of the lineage must be able to meet
the requirements for Reputation or Prestigious Sire on their own merit as individuals before they can be
considered as a group. Generally, there will be at least four characters involved, either in a vertical line
(Sire, Childe, Grandchilde, Great-Grandchilde), horizontally (Sire, Childe, Broodmate, broodmate), or
some combination of both. Other role-play mechanics developed through story (such as adoptions) may
be considered.
Lineage-related Modifiers (Merits or Flaws) cost and operate exactly the same way as the Sire Modifiers
(Merits or Flaws) per this packet and the house rules of whatever game the character is based in.
Lineage-related Modifiers must be approved by the Camarilla Coordinator the same way as Sire-related
Modifiers. Storytellers are free to ignore the Lineage mechanic, in which case characters claiming the
Merit or Flaw under “Lineage” would be considered to have Prestigious or Infamous Sire as appropriate.
Note: Lineage does not stack on top of Prestigious or Infamous Sire – it replaces it. This modifier
represents an OWBN phenomenon created through the course of org-wide role-play over the last
decade and can be gained and lost in exactly the same manner as the Sire-related modifiers. Indeed, in
some cases Lineage is more fragile, for the line is so well known that major mistakes from any member
can affect all those who carry the name.
Reputation
A character with the Reputation Merit has done something to get himself or herself known in a positive
way through Camarilla circles. They may be known as a Sabbat hunter or great protector of humanity,
individual stories may vary. Wherever possible the Reputation Merit should be purchased in-game, in
consultation with local STs, the Camarilla Coordinator and the appropriate Clan Coordinator. Often,
someone very well known in a small area will not be known at all outside the region. If a player is
interested in purchasing Reputation through role-play, the Storytellers and appropriate Coordinators
should help the player set goals in the pursuit of the desired Merit.
Reputations should be role-played out consistently. A character should be constantly reinforcing their
Reputations through their actions within the context of the story, and Storytellers should feel free to
remove Reputations that are not being supported through role-play. Reputation will also no longer grant
“titles” such as “Knight of the Camarilla” or “Unseen Hand of Justice”.
Notoriety
As with Reputation, Notoriety can be gained through role-play, though it is always much easier to be
reviled than to be celebrated. Characters may gain or lose Notoriety through their actions within story.
Just as it is possible to buy off the Flaw through appropriate good behavior in-character, it is very
possible to gain it through Scandal or misdeeds. Storytellers should feel free to give out this Flaw where
appropriate and simply notify the Camarilla Coordinator of the change and circumstances.
Lasombra Antitribu
The Lasombra Clan Advantage IS A PHANTOM STATUS TRAIT.
Probationary Sect Member Flaw
This Flaw may be assigned by Storytellers to any character in their chronicle that they feel should carry
it, though it is most frequently applied to Kindred that come from a non-Camarilla Clan. It may be
bought off through the course of story at the discretion of the Storyteller in accordance with that
chronicle’s rules.
Per the 2015 Conclave in Baltimore, certain individuals either must take this flaw, or are exempt from
this flaw, as detailed below (formerly Character Bylaws 10.F and 10.F.i):
1) Kindred who do not go through the Accounting as a part of the Camarilla who seek to join it
shall be given the flaw Probationary Sect Member. This Flaw may only be removed by either
their resident Prince after they have held their Acknowledgement for at least a year and a day or
sooner by a Justicar with the sponsorship of their Prince.
a. Kindred who go through the Accounting as part of the Camarilla or who are already
members of the Camarilla are not required to serve a period of Probation.
Long Term Prince Merit
Characters who have held the position of Prince for at least three consecutive years are eligible for a 1
point merit “Long Term Prince”. This merit will grant the additional positional Status of “Venerated” and
the right to bear the title of “Sovereign Prince”. The additional Status of “Venerated” will function the
same as a positional status trait. If the position of Prince is lost, so is the merit and the Status bonus.
Gaining the Merit: The Long Term Prince Merit requires approval from the Camarilla Coordinator in
addition to the approval of the home chronicle’s STs. Once a PC has held Praxis continuously for at least
three years in an OWbN chronicle, the player may request approval for this merit. If approved, the
Camarilla Coordinator will then see that an appropriate IC announcement is made.
Three years is a long time to be Prince when looking at it OOC, however, it is a very short time from a
tradition Camarilla point of view. In order to help with the willing suspension of disbelief, the three year
time requirement will not be stated IC. The merit is for Princes who have “proved their ability to hold
Praxis through many trials, thus reaffirming the stability and order inherent within the Camarilla
structure.”
Boons Boons are something like currency among Kindred, and they are taken very seriously. Whenever
someone does a favor beyond that individual’s expected duty or station, she is expected to repay the
debt. In the event that a Kindred feels that another owes him a Boon for some reason, he may demand a
Boon from that Kindred and any negotiations must be settled between the two, usually in consultation
with the Harpy. As always, the relative Status of the parties involved plays a major part in who comes
out on top.
The mechanics of Prestation are deliberately vague so as to allow for maximum Role-Play among the
characters involved. Players are encouraged to role-play the machinations and intrigues of Prestation
whenever possible.
Earning Boons
Doing things that are expected of a Kindred will usually not lead to a Boon being bestowed, particularly
when that Kindred has some kind of Position like Sheriff or Scourge. The Harpy is charged with the
responsibility of adjudicating the worthiness of Boons.
Appeasement
Boons are often offered or demanded as an apology for a social misstep of some kind. Be aware that it is
dangerous to offer someone a Boon, especially to those of lower Status. You never know when or how it
might be called in – once the Boon is in the Harpy’s records, there is no way out of paying it off without
damaging one’s reputation. Moreover, once the Boon is given, the granter has no say in what will be
requested in return, within the limits of the Boon level.
Registering Boons
Kindred who agree upon a Boon must register it with the Harpy if they want it to be official and
enforceable. If they do not inform the Harpy of the existence of the Boon, it is unofficial and there is no
guarantee that the Harpy will enforce it, even if a complaint is brought up later.
Being in Debt
In terms of the Status system, if you owe someone a Boon, they have a hold over you, regardless of how
much Status you have personally. It is not wise to throw the weight of your reputation at someone you
owe, especially if you owe them something especially serious, such as your life.
Trading Boons
Once properly registered with the Harpy, Boons may be traded between Kindred, bought and sold or
given away at the pleasure of the one who holds the Boon. Such a transfer must be registered with a
Harpy in order to be acknowledged, though the reason for the transfer need not be registered. The
value of the Boon does not change, all parties have to agree on the value at the outset (p.220 LotN) but
one can, in effect, demand that someone pay a Boon to you by service to a third party. Obviously, there
is a great deal of room for role-play in such transactions.
Combining Boons
You cannot add multiple small Boons up and get a Major, Blood, or Life Boon without the agreement of
the Kindred doing the owing. The values are established at the time the debt is put on the books, so to
speak, and cannot be changed thereafter without everyone involved agreeing to it. Please note however
that how the characters convince each other to agree to changes is entirely up to role-play. Vampires
are extremely sneaky and crafty, and not generally too interested in being ‘fair’.
Dividing Boons
Boons are not actual money, and every transaction of Prestation is a complicated give-and-take as
characters try to get the most power for the least work. If someone owes you a Major Boon, you cannot
arbitrarily decide to break it into several Minor Boons and pass them out to your friends, not without
the debtor’s approval and agreement. As stated above, the values are established at the time the debt is
put on the books, so to speak, and cannot be changed thereafter without everyone involved agreeing to
it. That said, sometimes Boons may be paid back piecemeal or it may be arranged that someone will do
several small tasks in order to repay a larger one. Such negotiations are part of the role-play of
Prestation and should be settled in character.
Defaulting
If a Kindred defaults on a Boon, she may be stripped of a sizeable portion of her Status, depending on
the size of the Boon. A Trivial Boon might only cost her a Temporary reduction, or at worst a loss of one
Personal status Trait. Defaulting on a Life Boon, however, could knock someone from the pinnacle of the
Camarilla social scene right back down to bare Acknowledgement, depending on the temper of the
Harpy involved. Furthermore, Kindred who default on Boons will soon begin to get a very negative
reputation (Notoriety Flaw) and will find themselves with few who are willing to deal with them at all.
Boons Outside of the Camarilla
Non-Camarilla Kindred have no official onus on them to repay Boons that they may owe, and they have
no voice or standing in the Camarilla with which to secure that debt. The Harpy does not care about
Independents. Therefore, Camarilla Kindred deal in Boons with non-Camarilla Kindred at their own risk.
Levels of Boons
Trivial Boon: A small task. One-time favors, unsolicited information, watching over someone for an
evening, aiding someone with a common Discipline, supporting someone’s minor political move, helping
with a plan, etc., are all examples of Trivial Boons.
Minor Boon: The task performed can last more than one evening and generally requires some sort
inconvenience. Examples include: providing needed information of some value, instruction in an unusual
Ability, using Influences or Resources to aid another, some types of political support, acting as a
bodyguard for multiple nights, facilitating passage through a hostile territory, disposing of a minor
threat, helping carry out a plan, important advice, etc.
Major Boon: Great expenditure of time or resources, instruction in a Discipline, purchasing a location to
serve as someone’s Haven, exchange of controversial or very valuable information, major political
maneuvering, helping someone get out of trouble with the Prince, etc.
Blood Boon: Examples include: coming to someone’s aid and suffering injury. Being willing to shed
blood, saving the life of a Kindred’s immediate kin, instruction in a clan-specific discipline, etc.
Life Boon: Saving another from certain death when one’s own life is in peril.
Extremis Boon: No PC is valuable enough to owe a boon of this size, and as such, should not be used.
Adjustments
The listed values of Boons can be adjusted at the time a Boon is given based on the individual characters
involved. Regardless of the facts in the case, traditional Camarilla thinking would find a neonate saving
an elder’s life to be virtually impossible, as the elder was probably not in as much danger as the neonate
thought he was. On the other side of the coin, a powerful elder may pull a neonate from harm’s way
with little effort on her part, therein reducing the literal value of a Boon. These complicated
adjudications make the job of the Harpy difficult at best, as he is under constant scrutiny to make the
choice that pleases the ‘authorities.’ Sorting out the appropriate levels of Boons is a major part of the
role-play that surrounds Prestation.
The Waiting Game
It is technically possible for a character to owe a high level Boon, (Major, Blood, or Life) even if that
character has very low Status. They have less social standing to lose, but in many ways that simply
makes their position worse, for they may be asked to use Influence or Resources or some other means
to secure the debt. Being of low Status in no way gets one off the hook in terms of owing Boons -
Camarilla Kindred are patient creatures who are good at coming up with unpleasant consequences for
those who do not pay their debts. A canny Elder may hold onto a Boon for century just waiting for the
debtor to become useful before demanding repayment.
House Rules, Traits & Challenges
All interactions wherein Status Traits are factors in a Challenge of any kind fall under the house rules of
the chronicle where the interaction is taking place. Storytellers are strongly encouraged to consider and
include addressing the following issues in the house rules for their individual chronicles:
• Which Modifiers are permitted in the chronicle
• Status and Modifiers as they apply to character creation
• When Status can be added to other Traits in any Challenge
• Mechanics (and penalties, if any) for ignoring Status Traits in any Challenges
• What supervision is required for any Challenges (ST, Narrator, Player Consent, etc)
• What rules apply for any scene that plays out anywhere other than an official live game
with storytellers present, including email scenes and online chat-program interaction.
Please remember that while Status and Prestation do not have a direct physical impact on characters,
the effects of their use can be just as devastating and far-reaching if not more so.
Inter-Chronicle Disputes
Players and Storytellers are encouraged to remember that in the event of an irreconcilable Status
and/or Prestation related dispute, the Camarilla Coordinator is an available resource for resolution of
disagreements.
Primary Sources: Minds Eye Theatre Laws of the Night: Revised
Minds Eye Theatre Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide
Counsel of Primogen
Guide to the Camarilla
Credits: Revisions 2015 by LA Reger and Jeff Cauley
Revisions 2010 by Rojir McCrady II, Alan Pursell and Monica Ann and Team Camarilla
Special Thanks to: Original contributors, Abigail Graham, Stefanie Pursell, and many devoted storytellers
and players from throughout OWBN.
Special Thanks to our copy editor for making us sound good: Kyle N.
Special Cryptic Note: Page XX with monkeys.
This document is an entirely unofficial use of the “Vampire: The Masquerade” and “A World of
Darkness” gaming materials published by White Wolf Game Studios and not intended as an official or
profit making venture in any way, shape or form. Although the use of these concepts, rules, etc., is
unauthorized, no infringement is intended. The creators of this document are not affiliated with White
Wolf Games Studios in any way.