Merits and Flaws are optional Traits that a Storyteller may choose to include (or prohibit) in his chronicle. Merits are special abilities or advantages that give the character an edge in certain situations or endow her with some remarkable quality that sets her apart as notable. Flaws, on the other hand, represent weaknesses that make the character more vulnerable in some way. Like Merits, Flaws add distinction to a character, but in a detrimental rather than a beneficial manner. Both Merits and Flaws can provide player characters with added depth and personality, but Storytellers should be careful to ensure that any Traits (or combination of Traits) chosen will not adversely influence the course of the chronicle or give one character an unfair advantage over the rest.

Merits and Flaws can be selected only during character creation and are purchased using bonus points (although existing Merits and Flaws can be removed or new ones added by the Storyteller during the course of the chronicle). Each Merit has its own point cost, while each Flaw has a point value which adds to the amount of bonus points a player can spend during the creation process. A character may take as many Merits as the player can afford, but no character may have more than seven points’ worth of Flaws. The seven possible bonus points earned through taking Flaws (when combined with the 21 bonus points from character creation) can give a character a total of up to 28 bonus points to spend in other areas.

Merits and Flaws are divided into four categories: physical, mental, social, and inspirational. The physical category describes Merits or Flaws that deal with a character’s physical stature or abilities, while the mental category addresses intellectual abilities or patterns of behavior. The social category comprises relationships and status within the character’s co whole, or with human society, and

Storytellers are encouraged not only to restrict or disallow any Merits and Flaws that don’t fit with their chronicles or for specific characters, but also to create their own to reflect unique elements of their games. Some example suggestions and restrictions are given in the text of individual Merits and Flaws, but Storytellers can allow any variations or combinations, or disallow those that don’t make sense for their games.

Physical Merits and Flaws

Social Merits and Flaws

Mental Merits and Flaws

Inspirational Merits and Flaws