Secondary Abilities

[WoDBerlin]

As you know, the character sheet template on the board has a "secondary ability" section.
Secondary skills/talents/knowledges are abilities that are subsets of the more general abilities on the character sheet. A student might decide they have 3 points in science. But if they're really specialised, they might decide to take the 3 points in chemistry instead. A character with 3 points in chemistry obviously knows more than someone with 3 points in science, but knows nothing about the other sciences unless they buy up a points science as well.
This will give them a difficulty bonus on specific rolls for chemistry.
These abilities cost half as much at character creation (1 freebie point buys 1 level in a secondary ability). They cost the same to raise with xp as other abilities, however.

[WoDBerlin]

Types of Lore

Also use this as a clarification on what your character knows. Sure, you've read Umbra, the Velvet Shadow, but there's no such book for Garou, remember!

Garou Lore:
* You know about the war of rage, a basic history of your people and some of their grudges. You can recite the Litany. You understand the basics of the Triat.
** Your understanding of our histories has deepened. You know of some of the legendary artifacts and prominent ancestors. You are fit to teach our cubs about what it is our people do.
*** People have begun seeking you out for my wisdom on Garou. If there's a legend, you've heard about it. If there's a lost fetish, you know where it could possibly be. You know what tribes have done what to each other and the significance behind it.
**** Your knowledge of our kind is known throughout the nation. Elders seek you out for your wisdom and reminders of the old ways.
***** You want to know the exact progression of the war of rage? Sit down by the fire, this could take a while.

Umbra Lore: Knowledge about umbral realms.
* You can name each of the near realms... but not much about them.
** You are aware of the local umbrascape and can develop hypotheses as to why it is the way it is.
*** You are very familiar with all of the near realms, their purpose, their dangers, and their laws.
**** If you happen upon a pocket realm, you can figure out how it works and what it is almost immediately. It holds no secrets to me.
***** You've navigated the far and deep umbra on a regular basis.

Spirit Lore (Wyld Lore):
* You can name a few common spirits when you see them and maybe a bit about them.
** You can tell you the kinds of things they are interested in, their purpose, and some of their abilities. You can name all of the Celestines and what they govern too.
*** If it's in the penumbra, you can probably tell what it is and does in entirety.
**** Not even the near realm's denizens hold mysteries for you.
***** If it's a spirit, you know it's why, what, and how.

Weaver Lore:
* You know that the weaver has fomori too, and that they're called drones.
** You can name many of the weaver's spirits and their functions.
*** You know even more of her brood's powers, and can even tell about how a drone is created as well as their... uh... physiology. You know what DNA is.
**** You've traversed Her webs and have gotten away with its secrets.
***** You've heard the call of the One Song and have been united with it.

Wyrm Lore:
* You've fought against the Wyrm on a regular enough basis to know a bit about it.
** You can name many of its spirits, their function, what they represent, and their powers.
*** You know about Pentex and some of its subsidiaries.
**** You know about the Wyrm realms, Wyrm anchorheads, and what a Wyrm caern is capable of. Minions of the Wyrm hunt you down constantly because you know too much.
***** You've danced all the circles of the Black Spiral and have been elightened more than most.



What does my character know?

With no points in lore, your character can fall back on rituals, at higher difficulty depending on the specific type of lore.

House Rule: All Cliath start with one point of Garou lore. This is free and you don't have to pay for it. (Yes I'm that nice)

I am most likely not going to allow any Cliath to start with more than 2 or 3 points in lore all together. These are things that take a lot of time and effort to learn.
Besides, twinking on knowledges is twinking too!

Other things:
Mage Lore, Vampire Lore, Demon Lore, fairy lore (etc) can fall back on occult. I'm most likely not going to allow any characters to buy up any of these lores anyway.