Rules Questions

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TheAlex
Posts: 160
Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2021 1:00 pm

Rules Questions

Post by TheAlex »

Have some questions about Ordo coils and Frenzy and figured I'd start a thread here for any other questions other players might have.

Question 1 - Coil of the Wyrm
Looking to get some insight into Coil of the Wyrm. Level 1 - Stir The Beast says that with a WP expenditure the Kindred can enter a frenzy on the spot as a reflexive action even pre-empting an actual triggered frenzy (say from hunger). This frenzy allows them to pick a target or goal of the frenzy at the onset, and otherwise functions normally. Level 3 - Leash the Beast makes it so when you entered an unprompted frenzy you can Ride the Wave easier. The main advantage I can see to Ride the Wave is that you can determine the goals or target of your beast at the onset of your frenzy.

So what is the difference between Coil of the Wyrm 1 and 3 then? It seems like Stir the Beast is insta Ride the Wave Frenzy where you spend a WP and don't have to roll, whereas level 3 Leash the Beast forgoes the WP cost, but makes it so you still have to roll Ride the Wave (albeit with a nice Coil rating boost) to achieve essentially the same thing - A frenzy in which you choose the target / goal of the Frenzy at the onset?

Question 2 - Frenzy
How "dumb" or feral are vampires in Frenzy? Are they still able to use melee weapons and firearms? Are they able to activate physical disciplines? Can they use "violent" disciplines like Nightmare, or "non-violent" ones like Majesty or Obfuscate? A lot of this is not specified in the books which I think means it's mostly ST latitude so I was curious how do you interpret this Dagda?

Thanks for your help with this.
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TheDagda
Posts: 947
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:53 pm

Re: Rules Questions

Post by TheDagda »

Sorry this took a while.

Frenzy normally requires a trigger to engage - something must set the Beast off. The first level of the Coil of the Wyrm allows this to be bypassed, or to let the Kindred change focus - a hunter waves a flaming torch in his face, risking Fear, but the Dragon could instead spend a WP to enter Frenzy with the goal of 'murder this jackass with the torch' and thus be rendered immune to Fear from the torch. However, this would still require Riding the Wave to properly control - which is where Level 3 comes into play; it also helps with the limit of 1 WP being spent per turn.

In the state of Frenzy, the Beast loses all restraint - it has an objective, and will stop at nothing to achieve it.
While frenzied, the vampire does everything in her power
to accomplish the Beast’s desires. She does so with immediate,
forceful, and destructive abandon. If there’s someone in the
way, she throws him or decks him. If she’s hungry, she bites the
closest thing to her mouth. That said, the Beast isn’t stupid.
It’s capable of doing the kinds of things an enraged, terrified,
or starving animal predator is, and it will lash out with the
predatory aura if that will help sate it.
Riding the Wave allows slightly more nuance and subtlety in actions. It also allows the Frenzy to be ended once a selected goal is achieved, versus the usual exhaustion at the end of the scene.

As for actions and Disciplines, the Beast is not truly feral, but for example, trying to use Dominate or subtler aspects of Nightmare or Majesty (or anything with Obfuscate, really) is more than the Beast is going to manage.
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