Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition flaw
Secret
Secret is a flaw in Vampire V5: knowledge about you that would destroy you if it surfaced.
Last reviewed
Overview
Secret (often called Dark Secret) means you are hiding something that could end you: diablerie, a murdered sire, hunter contacts, feeding on your own family, an alliance with the Sabbat. Someone may already suspect. The flaw gives the Storyteller a fuse. Blackmail, investigation, and the slow leak of evidence all follow from it.
How it works
Effect: The Storyteller controls when the secret is threatened. Exposure means serious consequences: loss of Status, a blood hunt, or destruction, depending on the secret. Story hook: This system's Cleaver Predator Type carries Dark Secret (domestic predation) as its characteristic flaw. Benefit: Grants creation experience points or story leverage, like every flaw on the RPG Stack sheet.
Tips and playstyle
Character concepts: Cleaver feeding on their own family, secret diablerist, Camarilla informant among Anarchs, thin-blood passing as full Kindred. When to take: Take it if you want intrigue aimed at you personally and are willing to lose big when it comes out.
Frequently asked questions
Can other players know my Secret?
That is between you and the table. Some groups play it open with the players and hidden from the characters; others keep it fully hidden.
What happens when the secret is revealed?
The flaw ends and its consequences begin. Depending on the secret, that may mean a new Enemy, lost Status, or flight from the city.