The visage of a monster
February 24th, 2012
It's been coming up a lot in conversation and I remembered that there was a source that I liked a ton on how vampires on paths (including humanity) interacted with mortals. The Book was Vampire the Masquerade Revised, and within it detailed physical changes that vampires experience at low levels of humanity.
To put it simply, the lower one's humanity was, the paler they were, the more sunken in their eyes were and the more their face might take on predatory expressions. (Like baring fangs and hissing). As of now this will begin applying to how things work in Hartford (Individuals may actually look more humane than others, noticable with Kindred Lore). Make up, acting etc can cover this but it certainly happens.
In a MET conversion the change starts at Humanity 3
Humanity 3: The character has a bit of a meaner look as eyes get slightly more sunken in and they may come across as a biut predatory.
Humanity 2: The individual is clearly a vampire to those who know what to look for. Their skin is pale, their eyes are dark and a bit sunken in. They blink only when they remember too and are still when not actively moving.
Humanity 1: It is difficult for anyone with a clear look at them to mistake this individual for human. They make people concerned with the way that they stare hungrily and tend to have an aggressive look about them.
For vampires on Paths it's rather simple. Your appearance is equal to your path rating or 2, whichever is higher.
ie, a Sabbat savage on path of Caine 1 looks like a Humanity 1 savage on the above scale. (It is also as likely to kill). A "heroic" Knight on path of Chivalry 5 will appear as a Humanity 2 character no matter how "heroic" they might be.
There is a number of common methods vampires use to cover these things up (make up, cigarette smoke in the winter, or even blood to blush the cheeks.) However, it shoud be noted that you are creatures of the night. You're cold to the touch. Someone laying in bed with yu may notice the lack of body heat coming from you etc and this should be an aspect of the way you play your characters. Enjoy it. Describe the way you look at someone hungrily when you mean to look longingly. Tell them they they notice sparkls when you are touched by sunlight. This is Cam vampire. love it.
Your HST
Lex
