Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition merit
Safe Place
Safe Place is a merit in Vampire V5: you a hidden bolt-hole separate from your main haven.
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Overview
Safe Place is a second, secret refuge: a storage unit, a sealed cellar, a trusted mortal's spare room. Nobody knows about it except you. When your haven is compromised, it is where you go to ground. It is not a luxurious second home. It is small, anonymous, and secure enough to survive one day of sunlight.
How it works
Effect: You have a fallback location that is unknown to your enemies and to Kindred society. Rolls to locate you while you hide there suffer a penalty or fail outright at Storyteller discretion. Limits: Using it repeatedly or bringing others there risks exposing it and losing the merit. Cost: A single merit on the RPG Stack sheet; buy it after creation at the new dot times 3 XP rate. Synergies: Complements the Haven background rather than replacing it, and pairs with Obfuscate for characters who expect to be hunted.
Tips and playstyle
Character concepts: Paranoid Nosferatu, ex-spy, Anarch on the run, thin-blood dodging the Camarilla, survivor of a coup. When to take: Take it if you have the Enemy or Secret flaw, or if your Storyteller likes haven raids.
Frequently asked questions
How is Safe Place different from the Haven background?
Haven is your known, regular resting place with a dot rating for size and security. Safe Place is a secret backup with no amenities, valued only for staying hidden.
Can my coterie share a Safe Place?
Yes, but every person who knows about it is a way for it to leak. Some tables require each member to buy the merit.