Page 229 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER FOUR: SPECIAL RULES AND SYSTEMS
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Once the secondary actors have collected their data, the Action: Instant.
primary actor rolls Intelligence + Academics to synthesize Description: The iconic monster-hunter image, per-
the information and develop the profi le. Someone in the cell haps, is the impassioned vampire-killer driving a stake into
needs to have Investigation 2, and someone needs Computer the undead fiend’s heart. Over the years, hunter organiza-
2 in order to assist with this task (if the primary actor has all tions have experimented with crossbows, wooden “bul-
these traits, he can assemble the profile without further assis- lets” and other methods, but nothing works quite as well

tance). Once the profile is assembled, the cell has a valuable as holding the bloodsucker down and putting a sharpened
tool for tracking down the monster. stick between his ribs or clean through his breastplate.
Organizations: Network Zero is more interested in expo- This Tactic works on other creatures besides vampires, of
sure than combat, and this Tactic allows it to “out” prominent course, but it tends to have more permanent effects.
monsters in their area. Task Force: VALKYRIE, beholden as The secondary actors tackle the target and hold it down

it is to official protocols, needs to know who a target really is (Strength + Brawl, creature’s Defense does apply). One sec-
before it moves in for neutralization. ondary actor then rolls Wits + Medicine, indicating to the
Potential Modifi ers: A member of the cell has Contacts: primary actor where to strike (if the primary actor has Medi-
Police or Government (+2 to primary actor); the monster has cine 2 or more, this part of the Tactic can be skipped, as the

a paper trail — birth certificate, credit history, etc. (+2 to stake-wielder knows where to aim the point). The primary
primary actor); someone in the cell has Computer 3 or high- actor then positions the stake over the heart and hammers
er (+1 to primary actor); monster isn’t native to the region it home.
(-1 to primary actor); monster doesn’t photograph (-2 to all Organizations: Ashwood Abbey has a long history of
participants); monster isn’t native to the country (-2 to all drinking vampire blood, and its members enjoy the Victorian
participants); monster wasn’t born human or has no official feel of this Tactic, anyway. Some cells will stake a vampire

documentation (-4 to the primary actor). and then leave it, paralyzed, in a perverse form of “count-

Roll Results: ing coup.” The Malleus Maleficarum also makes frequent use

Dramatic Failure: The primary actor misidentifies the of this tactic, but usually follow it up with decapitation and

monster, but believes he has a positive lock. The cell might stuffing the vampire’s head with garlic (if the head doesn’t
attack the wrong target, or might simply begin researching immediately dissolve into ash).
him and waste a great deal of time, depending on how trigger- Potential Modifi ers: Stake is tempered or made of sturdy

happy they are. wood (+2 to primary actor); stake is rotted or flimsy (-2 to
Failure: The profile is faulty and misleading. Using it as primary actor); secondary actor(s) has a lower Initiative than

a research aid produces no bonus, and increases the time re- the primary actor (-3 to all participants); Wits + Medicine
quired for research by half (45 minutes per roll rather than roll fails (-3 to primary actor); monster’s heart has shifted
30). within its body (-3 to primary actor).
Success: The primary actor assembles a working pro- Roll Results:

file. The cell can then begin a Research task (see p. 55 of Dramatic Failure: The monster shifts and the
the World of Darkness Rulebook) into who the monster is point of the stake winds up aimed at another hunter.
and what history is available, applying a bonus equal to the The primary actor rolls a normal attack (without the
successes on the Tactic roll. Note that this doesn’t allow the extra dice from the secondary actors) against another

hunters to find information that doesn’t exist; a prominent hunter, applying the hunter’s armor but ignoring De-
local businessperson might be a spirit-possessed cannibal, but fense. Damage is applied normally. Alternatively, the
if that’s never been written down anywhere, the characters Storyteller might rule that the monster has snatched
can’t fi nd it by research alone. the stake out of the primary actor’s hand and can make
Exceptional Success: In addition to the hefty bonus to a reflexive attack on a hunter, or can bite one of the
the Research roll, the time required for research is reduced by hunters and drink his blood.
one third (20 minutes per roll rather than 30). Failure: The hunter fails to penetrate the monster’s
To Purchase: 14 Practical Experience, 11 for Network chest. The hunter can try again next turn, but the monster
Zero, 9 for Task Force: VALKYRIE. can, of course, attempt to escape the grapple in the meantime
(see p. 158 of the World of Darkness Rulebook).
Staking Success: The monster suffers one level of damage per
Prerequisites: All: Strength 2, Brawl 2. Partial (1): success (lethal to vampires, but aggravated to living things
Strength 3, Weaponry 2 (primary actor). Partial (1): Medi- — a stake in the heart is usually fatal!). A vampire, of course,
cine 1 (secondary actor). becomes paralyzed until the stake is removed.
Requires: 3 or more; 4 or more bestows +1 to secondary Exceptional Success: No bonus other than the extra
actors, more than 5 imposes a -1 penalty to the primary actor. damage.
Dice Pool: Primary: Strength + Weaponry. Secondary: To Purchase: 14 Practical Experience, 11 for Ashwood
Strength + Brawl; Wits + Medicine (secondary actor with Abbey, 9 for the Malleus Malefi carum.
Medicine 1).
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