Rule Revisements

[Matt]

The ST staff will be starting an in-depth look at the rules within the game. If there are any mechanics you feel aren't flowing well or need clarification on, please email an ST so we can take a look at it.

~ Matt

[dustin]

lethal damage not being lethal/ only agg killing vamps

[Matt]

Lethal Damage Per Faith and Fire Pg 235

As the name suggests, lethal damage is far more serious, and it has the potential to kill or maim, especially if the victim is mortal. Most bladed weapons inflict lethal damage, as might some blunt weapons (noted in their individual descriptions). Unlike bashing damage, lethal damage has a much more immediate effect on
mortals. Any mortal reduced below Incapacitated by lethal damage is dying. A Cainite in a similar position is simply driven into torpor, but he does not reach Final Death as a result. Such injuries still make the vampire vulnerable to Final Death through subsequent aggravated damage, though.

Aggravated Damage per Faith and Fire pg 235

Although Cainites are far more resilient in general than mortals, some forms of injury are dire even to them. Largely elemental or supernatural in origin (e.g., fire, sunlight, the teeth and claws of other vampires, or any other source the Narrator deems sufficient due to circumstances), these sources of injury are hard
to resist and equally hard to heal. Mortals suffer lethal damage from those things that would cause a Cainite to take aggravated damage (except sunlight, of course). There are some specific instances in which a mortal may receive aggravated damage, however, and they typically require supernatural means to heal them. These are explained on a case-by-case basis.

Per Laws of the Night Page 199

"Final Death - Kindred Injured Beyond Incapacitated by aggravated damage not enter Torpor but are permanently destroyed instead"

Per Faith & Fire Page 234

"Final Death - Cainites injured beyond Incapacitated by aggravated damage do not remain in Torpor - they are permanently destroyed.
At the storyteller's discretion significant quantities of bashing/lethal damage (enough to cause dismemberment or destroy the body) may be considered enough to cause Final Death"

ST Note:
Lethal damage in most cases will be insufficient to kill a Vampire. It will be considered in the future but will require alot to make up for the lack of agg.

[Kosen]

Generally, I've defined bashing/lethal damage sufficient to kill a vampire when you physically separate the heart from the brain ... Generally done through decapitation or heart removal ...