Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition background
Mask
Mask is a background in Vampire V5: a manufactured mortal identity with the paperwork to survive scrutiny.
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Overview
Mask is the identity you show the daylight world: a name, documents, a credit history, a job title. Vampires cannot exist legally as who they were, so a Mask is what lets you rent a haven, cross a border, or answer a police officer's questions. Higher ratings mean the identity survives deeper checks. Low ratings pass a glance and fall apart under investigation.
How it works
Dot ratings: One dot is a plausible name with thin paperwork; two dots pass a routine background check; three or more survive determined investigation and include employment and financial history. Effect: Bonus dice or automatic success when your identity is checked at a level your Mask covers. Identities are burned if exposed and must be rebuilt. Cost: Drawn from the 7 Background dots at creation (typical cap 3 per Background, Storyteller may allow more); after creation each new dot costs 3 times the new rating in XP. Interaction: Fame makes a Mask harder to maintain; Resources make it easier to buy a new one.
Tips and playstyle
Character concepts: Corporate Ventrue with a spotless record, Anarch with three fake passports, thin-blood still using their real name, elder whose papers are forged every twenty years. When to take: Take it in modern chronicles with police, banks, and airports in play. Many groups treat one dot as a near necessity.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have more than one Mask?
Yes. Some Storytellers let you split dots across identities or buy the background twice. Each identity is a separate liability.
What happens when a Mask is exposed?
The identity is burned and the dots are lost until you build a new one, usually with money, contacts, and time.