Derangements

How they work

• Every derangement is a 2-point flaw. You may take the same derangement more than once if each instance has a different trigger.
• A trigger is a situation, object, or condition that sets the derangement off. Storytellers should refuse extremely rare triggers and derangements that do not meaningfully impact the character.
• If you voluntarily take a very common trigger, or extend the penalties, the Storyteller may treat it as a 3-point flaw (1 extra XP). If you are not playing that extra liability, the Storyteller can remove the extra XP at any time.
• A character with Science: Psychology may spend 10 minutes talking to someone with a derangement, then make a static challenge (Mental + Science: Psychology, difficulty 10). Success lowers the target’s current Derangement traits by 1. Limit: one successful application per target per game. You cannot use this on yourself. Malkavians may never be reduced below 1 Derangement trait.

Derangement traits

1. Mild, obvious response — day-to-day dysfunction, clearly roleplayed. No trait gain or loss.
2. Resist — show no obvious sign. Mark 1 Derangement trait.
3. Severe response — the frightening, unstable depths of the derangement, lasting five minutes. Clears all Derangement traits (reset to 0).
4. At 3 Derangement traits you are on the edge of a psychotic break. The next trigger must be a severe response, which then resets traits to 0.
5. Multiple derangements share one trait pool. Any trigger can add traits; whichever derangement fires next at 3 traits causes the break and clears the pool.
6. Malkavians always have 1 Derangement trait. Resetting a Malkavian places her at 1, not 0.