Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition skill
Etiquette
Etiquette is a skill in Vampire V5: Knowing the forms: how to behave in court, at a gala, or in front of a prince.
Last reviewed
Key facts
- Category
- social
Overview
Etiquette is knowing the correct behavior for a room and being able to produce it on demand. Mortal high society has rules, corporate culture has rules, and Kindred society has an elaborate set of them that nobody will explain to you: who is addressed first, when boons are mentioned, what it means to be offered hospitality and what it costs to refuse it. In a political chronicle this is a survival skill. Elysium runs on protocol, and a neonate who breaks it has insulted someone with centuries of grudge-holding practice. Etiquette does not make people like you, which is Persuasion or Presence. It stops them having a legitimate reason to move against you.
How it works
Common Rolls:
- Charisma + Etiquette: Making good impressions
- Manipulation + Etiquette: Navigating political situations
- Intelligence + Etiquette: Understanding proper protocols Context: A specialty covers one setting. Camarilla court forms will not carry you through an Anarch barony meeting, and neither will get you through a corporate dinner. Specialties: Kindred Court, High Society, Corporate, Camarilla, Anarch, Specific Cultures
Tips and playstyle
Character Concepts: Diplomat, concierge, old-money heir, sect functionary, a Ventrue childe drilled in the forms before they were allowed to speak. Synergies: Politics tells you who matters, Etiquette tells you how to address them, and Presence makes them want to agree. Status is far easier to hold with Etiquette behind it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Etiquette the same as Persuasion?
No. Etiquette is knowing the correct form. Persuasion is changing someone's mind. You can be flawlessly correct and still be refused, which happens constantly in court.
Do Anarchs need Etiquette?
Yes, with a different specialty. Baronies have their own protocol about respect, territory, and who speaks for a gang, and getting it wrong is just as dangerous.
What happens if I fail an Etiquette roll?
Usually a social consequence rather than a mechanical one: an insult given without meaning to, a Harpy with a story to tell, or an elder who decides you are not worth their time.