Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition background
Retainers
Retainers is a background in Vampire V5: servants and staff who work for you and follow orders.
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Overview
Retainers are people in your employ: a driver, a ghoul bodyguard, a lawyer on retainer, a daytime property manager. They act when you are asleep, handle mortal errands, and stand between you and threats. They are dependents. They need pay, protection, and (if ghouled) your blood, and their loyalty must be maintained.
How it works
Dot ratings: Rate each retainer by competence. One dot is a loyal but unskilled helper; three dots a professional with useful skills; five dots an exceptional operative or a small trained staff. Effect: Retainers follow reasonable instructions without a roll and act on your behalf during the day. The Storyteller runs them as NPCs with their own limits. 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: Ghoul retainers require regular vitae and become blood bound to you.
Tips and playstyle
Character concepts: Ventrue executive with a personal assistant, Nosferatu with a network of ghoul messengers, Toreador with a devoted driver, elder with generations of family servants. When to take: Take it if you want reliable daytime action. Take Allies instead if you prefer helpers with independence.
Frequently asked questions
Must retainers be ghouls?
No. Many are paid mortals who know nothing, or who know and are loyal anyway. Ghouls are stronger and bound, but cost blood and can breach the Masquerade.
What if a retainer dies?
You lose the dots until you recruit a replacement. The Storyteller may make finding and training a new retainer a story.