Protean 4 Additional Shapes

[Aahz]

Hi, I was wandering were there in any edition of Vampire ever rules about acquiring additional shapes for Protean 4 on top of the two you are getting with the power?

[Quatar]

Quite the opposite, there's a merit for Gangrel in Lore of the Clans that even allows them to change it every time they change. So I think learning more over time, or changing your animal form is quite possible.

[Tubect]

I would house rule it that new shapes can be bought with XP. Maybe 3xp per shape? Protean is a pretty weak discipline so I don’t think it breaks much.

[Aahz]

Quite the opposite, there's a merit for Gangrel in Lore of the Clans that even allows them to change it every time they change. So I think learning more over time, or changing your animal form is quite possible.

I know, but it is a pretty expensive merit and it is imo not that great to buy a merit at the character generation for power you are only getting much later.

[Nosimplehiway]

Aahz

While it could be bought at chagen, I don't see any reason it couldn't be allowed later. It seems like a reasonable use of xp, even if technically not allowed. I think most STs would allow it if there is a good in-story reason.

It's not really that expensive when you consider some of the possibilities. It allows adaptation to nearly any environment or situation. The power becomes, in effect, a few extra dots in physical attributes which can be shifted around at will. There are also a lot of animal abilities that count as "superpowers" in their own right.

[Gonsolar]

V20 Lore of the Clans Gangrel section has a bit about Gangrel hunting down and consuming completely an animal to gain its form for Protean purposes.

[Theodrim]

As an ST, I generally allow it but I don't charge experience for it in a vacuum -- I prefer keeping those things narrative, by having the character spend time observing, hunting, and communing with the animal(s) whose shapes they wish to adapt. That means the ability is gated behind Animalism and a healthy Animal Ken score, which is enough of a limiting factor that promotes holistic character building and development as a matter of course.

[Nosimplehiway]

I'm wondering what everyone thinks about non-predators for primary forms? Some prey animals are nearly totemic for certain cultures. It seems wrong there aren't Gangrel from Pennsylvania who become a white-tailed deer, from Wyoming who become a buffalo, from Canada who become a moose or beaver, and from Australia who become a kangaroo.

Theodrim

Would an animal in a zoo work? A wildlife refuge? "Hunting" in a motor vehicle? How about a biologist Gangrel who launches a study of the species?

[Illithid]

I'm wondering what everyone thinks about non-predators for primary forms? Some prey animals are nearly totemic for certain cultures. It seems wrong there aren't Gangrel from Pennsylvania who become a white-tailed deer, from Wyoming who become a buffalo, from Canada who become a moose or beaver, and from Australia who become a kangaroo.

Theodrim

Would an animal in a zoo work? A wildlife refuge? "Hunting" in a motor vehicle? How about a biologist Gangrel who launches a study of the species?

As Always, negotiate with a GM. I think it depends on the concepts and feel that the game goes for. If the spirituality is important, then totem animals work, but I'd give normally prey animals a suggestion that they are now predators, teeth changing so they can feed, predator's eyes or something.
If you're trying to maintain the "Gothic" feel, then only go for traditional animals that vampires in that kind of literature can turn in to.