Awareness (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)
Definition
Awareness is perception under conditions that reward it: catching the person following you, noticing the parked car that has been there both nights, feeling that a room is wrong before you can say why. It is the skill Storytellers roll against most often without asking, because it decides what your character gets told. For Kindred it is also the first line against the supernatural. A ward, a hidden vampire, or a Dominated servant produces small wrong signals, and Awareness is what registers them. The Oblivious flaw is defined as a penalty to exactly this, which is a good indication of how central the skill is to staying alive in this game.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Is Awareness the same as Investigation?
No. Awareness notices something without looking for it. Investigation is deliberate work on a question you already have, usually with more time and a scene to search.
Do I roll Awareness or does the Storyteller?
Most Storytellers roll it hidden, since telling a player they failed a perception check is itself information. Assume your rating is working in the background.
Does Auspex make Awareness unnecessary?
No. Auspex costs a Rouse Check and is not always active, while Awareness is always on. The Discipline is a deliberate scan, the skill is your baseline.