Due to the limitations of game mechanics, it is hard to convey the subjectivity of art. In spite of this, the following system provides for the creation of art. The system gives the Storyteller a fairly accurate interpretation of the quality of a work, which she can then relate through the criticism and praise of supporting characters. As with all systems, this method is optional. Storytellers who do not like it should not feel obligated to use it.

First off, there is a New Trait which all Toreador, and only Toreador, should have: Creativity. The Storyteller will know the character's rating, but she does not have to tell the player.

This makes knowing if a character's art is good enough to make her an Artiste harder. Creativity is used whenever a character is developing a concept for an art project, no matter what the art form.

A character's creativity is left to chance. To determine the Creativity score, roll one die and subtract three. If the score comes up zero or less, then the effective score is zero. Whenever a character wishes to create a work of art, be it a dance, a new martial arts move, a painting, a piece of prose or anything else, she must make an Intelligence + Creativity roll to develop the concept.

The Storyteller has the option of keeping these die rolls secret. The player describes what his character is attempting to create, and the difficulty for each roll is based on the complexity of the work. Compare the number of successes to the following chart to determine the originality of the work:

Botch	The concept is so simple you are amazed no one has thought of it before. You are truly brilliant. (Of course, everyone else will see you for the fool you are.)
0 successes	Think again. The idea is stupid.
1-2 successes	It's derivative, but a few people might not notice.
3-4 successes	New concept, but nothing outstanding. Maybe that's why nobody's used it yet.
5 successes	Really neat idea. People will notice.
6 successes	Everybody will wonder where you get your ideas. Very interesting.
7+ successes	If you pull this off, it will be a true master piece.

Once you know how good the idea is, move on to the production of the work itself. You do not have to tell the player how good the idea is, but you can throw out some hints, especially if the character (or the player) is experienced in her field. If the player wants to proceed, then move on to the production stage.

Producing art or staging a performance requires a Dexterity, Charisma, Manipulation, Intelligence or Wits (Storyteller's Choice) + Expression roll against a difficulty equal to the complexity of the work. Complexity can be arbitrarily set by the Storyteller based on the description of the work or by some random method, such as adding three to half the result of a die roll. After rolling against the complexity of the project, the number of successes gained should be compared to the following chart:

Botch	While you think it is a masterpiece, every body else laughs at it-- and you.
0 successes	Better start over. This work sucks.
1-2 successes	It's okay, but only a few people will really notice it and like it.
3-4 successes	It's a quality work, but nothing extraordinary.
5 successes	It's better than average.
6 successes	It is an outstanding piece.
7+ successes	If the work was based on a brilliant idea, it is a masterpiece.

You will notice that Creativity and the actual creation of the work have little to do with one another. This is because there a ie many good ideas that are never carried out well, and there are many wonderfully-executed works based on mediocre ideas. Coming to some balance near the upper end of the scale is the main objective.

After a work is completed, it must be critiqued. Most Toreador know how to critique at least one form of art. A character may critique the work of others, but it is almost impossible to objectively appraise one's own. It is assumed the character has already gone through a process of revision and self-criticism while creating the work.

Critiquing requires a roll against Perception + Art Appreciation (difficulty 7). The resulting number of successes can be referenced on the following chart:

Botch	You utterly condemn a masterpiece or praise a piece of crap.
0 successes	You have no clue. You simply do not understand the work.
1-2 successes	You know within a range of two successes (higher or lower) the originality of the work and quality of the work (as determined by the earlier charts).
3-4 successes	You know within a range of one success (higher or lower) the originality and quality of the work.
5 successes	You know exactly the originality and quality of the work.
6 successes	Same as five, but you can add amazing insight into the work.
7+ successes	Same as six, but you can add insight even the artist missed.

All the information presented in this section is totally useless unless a Storyteller plays up the Toreador attraction to art. Storytellers should not limit themselves to the mechanics explained here. Feel free to alter any of the rules to make the game more realistic and enjoyable.