Rules reference

Advancement in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

How progression works and how to track it. Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition is a modern gothic horror tabletop roleplaying game where you play as a Kindred—a vampire struggling to maintain their humanity while navigating the complex politics of the Camarilla. Set in a dark reflection of our world, VTM5e combines personal horror with political intrigue, as players balance their Beast against their fading Humanity.

Key points

Advancement is about tracking change over time and keeping it transparent to the table.

Copyable facts
  • 7 Camarilla clans: Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue
  • 10 Predator Types: Alleycat, Bagger, Blood Leech, Cleaver, Consensualist, Farmer, Osiris, Sandman, Scene Queen, Siren
  • Discipline system: In-clan Disciplines cost less XP than out-of-clan
  • Hunger dice system: Replaces health, can cause messy criticals or bestial failures
  • Humanity tracking: Starts at 7, decreases with immoral actions
  • Blood Potency: Increases with age, affects feeding and Discipline power
Advancement workflow
  • Record XP gains (and why) after each session.
  • Spend XP intentionally toward concept.
  • Keep history so changes are auditable.
Examples
Example: Avoid XP drift

Record XP gains/spends right after sessions and keep a short history so the table can audit decisions later.

Example: Buy toward concept

Spend to reinforce what you want to do in scenes, not to chase every niche option.

Common mistakes (smallest fix)
  • Mistake: XP drift (nobody remembers what changed). Fix: Record gains/spends right after sessions and keep a short history.
  • Mistake: Buying upgrades that don’t show up in play. Fix: Spend toward your concept and the scenes you actually get.
Character creation
Step-by-step checklist.
Cheat sheets
Quick lookup while you play.

Vampire FAQ

What are the Camarilla clans in Vampire: The Masquerade V5?
What are Predator Types in VTM5e?
How does the Hunger system work in V5?
How do Disciplines work in Vampire: The Masquerade V5?
What is Humanity in VTM5e?

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