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| HUNGER SYSTEM |
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Hunger replaces the traditional Blood Pool in V5. It represents the vampire's
desperation for blood and the closeness of the Beast.
HUNGER SCALE (0-5):
Hunger 0 - Sated
- No Hunger dice
- Rare and temporary - the vampire is fully fed
Hunger 1-2 - Peckish / Hungry
- 1-2 Hunger dice replace normal dice in rolls
- Manageable but noticeable urge to feed
Hunger 3-4 - Ravenous / Famished
- 3-4 Hunger dice in rolls
- Strong compulsion to feed
- May trigger frenzy in stressful situations
Hunger 5 - Starving
- All dice are Hunger dice
- Critical state - frenzy tests at difficulty +2
- Cannot reduce Hunger below 1 without special circumstances
HUNGER DICE MECHANICS:
When you roll dice, normal dice are replaced by Hunger dice based on
your current Hunger level.
Example: You have Dexterity 3 + Stealth 2 = 5 dice pool, Hunger 2
- You roll 3 normal dice + 2 Hunger dice
Successes: Both normal and Hunger dice count successes (6+)
Criticals (10s): Hunger dice rolling 10 create Messy Criticals
Bestial Failure: Total failure with Hunger dice present triggers the Beast
MESSY CRITICAL:
When a critical success (pair of 10s) includes at least one Hunger die:
- You succeed spectacularly
- BUT the Beast feeds on your success
- Violent, dramatic, or obvious supernatural display
- May threaten the Masquerade or create complications
BESTIAL FAILURE:
When you fail a roll (0 successes) and rolled Hunger dice:
- You fail the task
- Your clan Compulsion activates
- The Beast asserts control temporarily
- Roleplayed as character acting on their vice
INCREASING HUNGER:
Hunger increases when you:
- Fail a Rouse check (rolling discipline powers)
- Wake for the night (sometimes)
- Use certain high-level powers
- Sustain significant damage
Command: Your current Hunger is shown on your +sheet
DECREASING HUNGER (FEEDING):
Hunger decreases by feeding on:
- Mortals - Most effective, but risks Masquerade breach
- Animals - Only works at low Blood Potency
- Blood bags - Only works at low Blood Potency
- Other vampires - Creates blood bonds, politically dangerous
Feeding is roleplayed - use +feed command to mechanically reduce Hunger
after describing your feeding scene.
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See also: help rouse, help disciplines, help frenzy, help compulsion