Page 67 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER TWO: CHARACTER CREATION
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Benefi ts of Risk
WHY SHOULD HUNTERS When a player risks Willpower on a roll, he
HAVE ALL THE FUN? can choose one of three possible benefi ts:
• The roll gains three dice, as usual. The
• The roll gains three dice, as usual. The
If you’ve played other World of Darkness
benefit is best used if the hunter is rolling
benefit is best used if the hunter is rolling
games, you might wonder why other types
a small dice pool and is low on Willpower.
a small dice pool and is low on Willpower.
of characters can’t risk Willpower. After

all, while a werewolf’s hunt isn’t by • The roll gains the 9-again benefit (see p.
Hunter
any means the same as that of a Hunter 134 of the World of Darkness Rulebook)

character’s, it’s no less important to on the roll. This is a good benefit if the dice
her. Why not let the player risk Willpower pool is large enough to count on a success,
on, say, rolls to bar a spirit from but the roll is one in which multiple suc-
possessing a human? cesses matter.
The arguments against doing so run
• The roll is counted as an exceptional suc-
• The roll is counted as an exceptional suc-
this way: supernatural characters have
cess on three successes, rather than fi ve. This
cess on three successes, rather than fi ve. This
far more advantages than hunters, but
t
benefit cannot be used on any roll in which

benefi t cannot be used on any roll in which
that also splits their focus. A werewolf
successes are counted as damage, or infl ict any
successes are counted as damage, or infl ict any
has to contend with her desire to rage
other kind of loss to a target. It can, however,
other kind of loss to a target. It can, however,
and feast, and this makes the kind of
be used on a contested action. For instance,
be used on a contested action. For instance,
bloody-minded focus that hunters achieve
if the hunter is shadowing a monster back to
if the hunter is shadowing a monster back to
diffi cult. Thematically, the other World
its lair (see p. 76 of the World of Darkness
its lair (see p. 76 of the World of Darkness
of Darkness games haven’t been designed
Rulebook), an exceptional success would al-
Rulebook), an exceptional success would al-
with this kind of focus in mind, and
low the hunter to tail the monster with no
low the hunter to tail the monster with no
so the Willpower risk might not be
further rolls necessary. Normally, this requires
further rolls necessary. Normally, this requires
appropriate. It’s present in HunterHunter not
that the player rolls more successes than the
that the player rolls more successes than the
only to reinforce the “all-or-nothing”
Storyteller (or whoever is controlling the mon-
Storyteller (or whoever is controlling the mon-
feel of the game, but to give hunters a
ster) and rolls at least five successes. By using
ster) and rolls at least fi ve successes. By using
d
bit of bite, as it were.
this benefit, the number of successes required
this benefi t, the number of successes required

That said, if you and your Storyteller
for an exceptional success drops to three (the
for an exceptional success drops to three (the
feel it’s appropriate, nothing stops you
requirement for rolling more successes than
requirement for rolling more successes than
from implementing it. Just be aware: where
the monster still stands, obviously).
the monster still stands, obviously).
there’s risk, there follows a fall. Dramatic
failures are dangerous, and if you use these Regaining
rules, you’ll see them more often.
Willpower
• Rolls made to activate or empower an Endowment are
• Ro ll s ma d e to activate or em p ower an En d owment a re Hunters can regain Willpower in all the ways available
n o t t eligible. Using a piece of equipment, however , counts , to World of Darkness characters. Pursuing the Vigil, how-
not eligible. Using a piece of equipment, however, counts,
ui
ven if the e
e
q
p
resented by an Endowment
.
p
ment is re
even if the equipment is represented by an Endowment. ever, allows them a few more options.
For instance, if a Task Force: VALKYRIE character fi res an • Hunters can regain Willpower by fulfilling the condi--
For instance, if a Task Force: VALKYRIE character fi res an
lling the condi
• Hunters can regain W

illpower by fulfi

Etheric Round at a ghost, the player can risk Willpower on
Etheric Round at a ghost, the player can risk Willpower on tions of their Vices or Virtues. See Chapter Four of the
ter Four of the
ices or V
p
irtues. See Cha
t
ions of their V
the Firearms roll. Rolls to activate Castigations and Bene- World of Darkness Rulebook for more details.
the Firearms roll. Rolls to activate Castigations and Bene-
e
l
d
ness Ru
k
etai
l
W
oo
b
of Dar
for more
k
ld
or
s.
dictions or to create Elixirs, however, are not eligible.
dictions or to create Elixirs, however, are not eligible.
• A character may regain a point of Willpower after she
• Rolls made as part of a Tactic are eligible.
has had a full night’s rest or the equivalent opportunity
When a player wishes to risk Willpower, he simply states this before to recharge her batteries and redouble her efforts. This
rolling the dice. If the roll succeeds, the character regains the point of assumes that the character rests or relaxes and does not
spent Willpower and an additional point on top of that (for a net gain of engage in strenuous activities.
one Willpower), though this can never go beyond the character’s pool • If the character achieves a signifi cant goal or performs
h
or performs
e c
cant goa
aracter ac
h
ieves a signifi
• If t
h
l

limit. The character feels a flush of exhilaration and a sense of invin- a particularly impressive act that affirms her sense of f

rms her sense o
a particularly impressive act that affi

cibility. This might feel like a runner’s high, like the touch of God, or confidence, the Storyteller may choose to award a Will-
dence, the Storyteller may choose to award a Will-
confi

just like plain old-fashioned good luck, but the character knows he did power point.
power point.
something right, everything fell into place, and the Vigil continues. Suc-
cessful risks have benefits for the rest of the hunter’s cell, too (see Modi- • The character regains all spent Willpower points at

fiers to Risked Rolls, below). the end of a story (not a single game session).

If the roll fails, however, the world comes crashing down • A hunter can regain Willpower by risking a point on
• A hunter can regain Willpower by risking a point on
around the hunter. The roll is considered a dramatic failure, no an appropriate action, as described above (and she gains
an appropriate action, as described above (and she gains
matter how many dice were rolled. an additional Willpower point atop what is reclaimed).
an additional Willpower point atop what is reclaimed).
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