How to Create a Character for Vampire: The Masquerade

Choose a clan from which to create your character, or choose a character idea and then choose a clan that matches that character. The order will be up to you and your own preference.

Add a more personal touch to your character by choosing a nature and demeanor. This will dictate how your character behaves, and help you to regain willpower points.

Select a primary and secondary type of attribute. You get seven dots in your primary attribute, five in your secondary, and three in your tertiary. With some exceptions (like Nosferatu), you get one free dot in each attribute.

Choose a primary and secondary set of abilities. You will get 13 dots in your primary, nine in your secondary, and five in your tertiary. No one ability can be raised above three dots yet.

Choose your backgrounds. You get five dots in backgrounds of your choice with no limits except character (for example, a beggar would not have dots in resources).

Choose your disciplines. You may put three dots into any of the three clan disciplines listed in the book. Each clan has a different set of disciplines, and some disciplines are only available to members of certain clans.

Place dots in your virtues. Each virtue begins with one free dot, and you get to allocate seven additional dots as you choose.

Add your Confidence and Self-Control ratings to get your humanity. Your Willpower is equal to your Courage rating.

Spend your 15 freebie points. You can spend a single dot to get a point in any background, in humanity, or in willpower, two dots to raise a virtue or an ability, and five dots to raise an attribute. You can also buy an additional point in disciplines at the rate of seven points per dot.