The backgrounds and their effects are:

This represents a measure of how well known you are. While it can be inconvenient at times, it allows you access to places you might not otherwise be allowed. It makes you harder to get rid of without "official" investigation as you are well known, and subtracts 5 minutes for each point from hunt time. If you posses more than 3 Fame, then your first Blood Trait is gathered in effectively no time and you can gain a second after 10 minutes (4 Fame) or 5 minutes (5 Fame). This Background can be bought up after creation with appropriate role-playing and 1 experience point per Fame Trait raised. It cannot be bought higher than 5 Traits.

This represents a group of mortals from whom you may feed without fear. They also protect you and can perform a number of different services. They are not as loyal as Retainers are nor as powerful as your influences, however. Each Herd Trait you have allows you to gain 1 Blood Trait each evening with no potential for complications; however, it still takes 15 minutes per Blood Trait taken. This Background may be increased during play with appropriate role-playing and costs 1 experience point per Trait increase. There is an upper limit of 10 to this background.

This describes an elder (possibly your sire, but not necessarily) who takes an active interest in you well being and affairs. This can occasionally mean he will require you to do something, but does allow you to draw upon his resources for things you want done, such as training, money, and ghouls. This is not a carte blanche ticket to do with, as you will, as your mentor will still require an accounting but generally, he is very tolerant of you. Each level of this trait makes your Mentor a more powerful individual, but it is up to the Storytellers to say exactly how powerful. This Trait generally does not go up during game play, but can with extraordinary role-playing and 1 experience point per Trait increase. It cannot be bought higher than 5 Traits.

This gives you one servant or assistant for every point (Ghoul, Dominated Human, Blackmailed or otherwise chosen at character generation) to help and who are extraordinarily loyal to you. Storytellers create the character (if you have a PC playing one of your retainers you do not need to buy this background, however they may not be as loyal as those NPCs created with this background). This Trait can be increased with role-playing and 1 experience point per level increased. It cannot be increased beyond 10 Traits.

This represents non-liquid assets such as houses, cars, etc. Each point gives the character the equivalent to a small apartment. You can combine points to make larger or more expensive holdings. This can be increased by appropriate role-playing and 1 experience point per level. There is no upper level limit for this background.

This costs two points per generation lowered. It can only be lowered after character generation through Diablerie. There will be a generation cap enforced for PCs. These caps are:

• 8th Generation (3)
• 9th Generation (6)
• 10th Generation (9)
• 11th Generation + (infinite)

This costs 1 point per Status trait bought. Choose appropriate Traits from Laws of the Night. It can only be increased after character generation through role-play as the Prince or Primogen gives it out.