Merits and Flaws

 Merits and Flaws are two new classes of Traits. Merits provide the character with an advantage, while Flaws give the character a disadvantage. Merits and Flaws allow you to describe your character in more detail than that provided by the basic character creation process, but these new rules are optional. If you do not take Merits and Flaws for your character, you will not suffer; your character is simply different from who she might otherwise be.

When you create a character in Vampire, you are given 15 'freebie' points to assign to whatever Traits you like in order to give your character the finishing touches that make her unique. The optional system of Merits and Flaws expands on this idea, and further allows you to personalize your character.

Merits may only be bought with freebie points. Flaws give you extra freebie points to spend on Merits or anything else. You can purchase as many Merits as you wish, up to the full amount of your freebie points ( though that would leave you weak in your other areas). Each Merit has a different cost, which is described in terms of freebie points - if you wish to take it you must spend that number of freebie points. 

Each Flaw you purchase gives you additional freebie points. The amount gained is listed with the Flaw. Thus, buying Flaws can allow you to buy more Merits. For instance, the Flaw "Light-Sensitive" gives you five additional freebie points, while the Merit "Daredevil" costs three freebie points. However, you can only take up to seven points of Flaws (which makes it impossible for any character to have or speed more than 22 freebie points). Additionally, Merits and Flaws can only be bought when the character is first generated (unless the Storyteller makes an exception for someone who missed the opportunity earlier). 

In some chronicles, especially those in which horror is emphasized, Merits and Flaws may not be permitted, or may be restricted in some way. Make sure you have the Storyteller's permission before you start using these Traits. Keep in mind that this system was not created to allow you to "minimax." It was designed to let you create a more fully realized character. The more you misuse the Merits and Flaws to create a super-character, the less likely it is that you will be allowed to take them when you design your next character.