Page 75 - Chronicles of Darkness

breaking point simply means that what a character has done be customized. Modifiers are cumulative, but the total modifier
or seen has outstripped his ability to rationalize or handle it. from circumstances should not exceed +/– five dice.
A breaking point can fall into one of the following
categories:
• The character performs an action that either violates Breaking Point Modifiers
his personal moral code or that is considered unac- Breaking Point Modifier
ceptable in society.
Character is protecting himself +1
• The character witnesses something traumatic, terrify- Character is acting in accordance +1
ing, or that rattles his understanding of the world.
with his Virtue
• The character is the victim of a supernatural attack, Character is protecting a loved one +2
whether physical, emotional, or mental.
Character is acting in accordance –1
Breaking points are somewhat subjective, obviously. A with his Vice
homicide detective with 30 years of experience seeing dead Witnessing the supernatural –1
bodies and hearing confessions of killers has a somewhat higher (nonviolent)
tolerance for human depravity than a sheltered 20-something
in a middle-class liberal arts college. During character creation, Witnessing the supernatural (violent) –2
it is advisable for the Storyteller to come up with several hypo- Witnessing an accidental death –2
thetical situations so that the player can determine if, in her Witnessing a murder –3
judgment, those situations would be breaking points.
Note that a breaking point is not necessarily something Committing premeditated murder –5
that the character considers wrong. A character might kill Killing in self-defense –4
someone in a clear-cut, unambiguous case of self-defense, but Killing by accident (car wreck, e.g.) –4
the experience is probably still a breaking point, even if the
player (and the character) feels the act was entirely justified. Causing visible serious injury to a –2
Actions take a toll on the psyche, regardless of whether the person
actions were righteous. Torture –3
Determining a Breaking Point Enduring physical torture –2
Enduring mental/emotional super- –2
The Storyteller should determine whether a given action natural attack
or occurrence counts as a breaking point for a character. If
the character is player-controlled, then obviously the player Enduring physical supernatural –2
attack
should have some input into this process
Witnessing a supernatural –1 to –5,
System occurrence depending
on severity
When a character experiences a breaking point, the player
or Storyteller rolls Resolve + Composure with a modifier Roll Results
based on the character’s Integrity rating: Dramatic Failure: The character’s worldview has been
damaged, perhaps beyond repair. The character suffers from
Current Rating Modifiers traumatic stress. Lose a dot of Integrity and choose from the
following Conditions (or create a new one with Storyteller
Integrity Modifier approval): Broken, Fugue, or Madness. Also, take a Beat.
8–10 +2 Failure: The character’s worldview has been shaken and he
probably questions his sense of self, his ability to relate to people,
7–6 +1 his own moral worth, or his sanity. Lose a dot of Integrity and
5–4 0 choose one of the following Conditions (or create a new one
3–2 -1 with Storyteller approval): Guilty, Shaken, or Spooked.
Success: The character has come through the break-
1–2 -2 ing point intact. He might feel guilty or upset about what

happened, but he can cope. Choose one of the following
The Storyteller can also impose modifiers based on how hei- Conditions (or create a new one with Storyteller approval):
nous the breaking point is, relative to the character’s experience. Guilty, Shaken, or Spooked.
The chart below gives some suggestions, but again, the Storyteller Exceptional Success: The character somehow manages to
and the player are encouraged to develop the character’s moral not only survive the breaking point but to also find meaning
framework and life experience to the point that modifiers can in it, to reaffirm his own self-worth, or to pass through fire

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infernal engines -dramatic systems