Predator Types are a gameplay mechanic from Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. It represents the habitual preference of the individual Kindred towards how and when they feed, and although it does not bind them to these ways alone. Additionally, they do give certain bonuses, often in the form of Skills, specialties, and Disciplines; as well as Advantages and Flaws, that one gains.[1]
The first ten predator types were introduced in the 5th Edition Corebook.[1] One more, Roadside Killer, is introduced in Let the Streets Run Red[2] two more, Extortionist and Graverobber are introduced in Cults of the Blood Gods[3] and four more, Grim Reaper, Montero, Pursuer and Trapdoor are introduced in the Players Guide.
Predator Types[]
Alleycat[]
An assault-feeder, this Kindred chooses to stalk, overpower, feed and escape from their prey.[1]
- Add specialty: Intimidation (Stickups) or Brawl (Grappling)
- Gain one dot of Celerity or Potence
- Lose one dot of Humanity
- Gain three dots of criminal Contacts
- Feeding Pool: Strength + Brawl (for feeding by force) / Wits + Streetwise (for stalking criminals)
Bagger[]
This Kindred prefers to drink procured cold blood to feeding from a live victim. Ventrue are not allowed to pick this type.[1]
- Add specialty: Larceny (Lockpicking) or Streetwise (Black Market)
- Gain one dot of Blood Sorcery (Tremere or Banu Haqim only), Obfuscate, or Oblivion
- Gain the Feeding Merit: Iron Gullet (
) - Gain the Enemy Flaw: ( ) Either someone believes you owe them, or there is another reason you keep off the streets.
- Predator Pool: Intelligence + Streetwise.
Blood Leech[]
This Kindred drinks from other Kindred by hunting, coercion, or by taking blood as payment.[1]
- Add a specialty: Brawl (Kindred) or Stealth (against Kindred)
- Gain one dot of Celerity or Protean
- Lose one dot of Humanity
- Increase Blood Potency by one
- Gain the Dark Secret Flaw: ( ) Diablerist, or the Shunned Flaw: ( )
- Gain the Feeding Flaw: ( ) Prey Exclusion (mortals)
Cleaver[]
This Kindred feeds covertly from a mortal family and friends, often their own.[1]
- Add a specialty: Persuasion (Gaslighting) or Subterfuge (Cover-ups)
- Gain one dot of Dominate or Animalism
- Gain the Dark Secret Flaw: ( ) Cleaver
- Gain the Herd Advantage: ( )
- Predator Pool: Manipulation + Subterfuge
Consensualist[]
This Kindred never feeds against their victim's will. This may or may not include breaking the Masquerade by disclosing to them that they are a vampire.[1]
- Add specialty: Medicine (Phlebotomy) or Persuasion (Vessels)
- Gain one dot of Auspex or Fortitude
- Gain one dot of Humanity
- Gain the Dark Secret Flaw: ( ) Masquerade Breacher
- Gain the Feeding Flaw: ( ) Prey Exclusion (non-consenting)
- Predator Pool: Manipulation + Persuasion
Extortionist[]
This Kindred acquires blood in exchange for services rendered.[3]
- Add a specialty: Intimidation (Coercion) or Larceny (Security)
- Gain one dot of Dominate or Potence
- Spend three dots between Contacts and Resources Backgrounds
- Gain the Enemy Flaw: ( ) The police, or a victim who escaped you and now wants revenge.
- Predator Pool: Strength or Manipulation + Intimidation
Farmer[]
This Kindred only feeds from animals. Those of Blood Potency of 3 or more cannot pick this type. Also Ventrue are not allowed to pick this type.[1]
- Add specialty: Animal Ken (Specific Animal) or Survival (Hunting)
- Gain one dot of Animalism or Protean
- Gain one dot of Humanity
- Gain the Feeding Flaw: ( ) Farmer
- Predator Pool: Composure + Animal Ken
Graverobber[]
Graverobbers often feed from fresh corpses, though they actually prefer feeding from living mourners in cemeteries or mentally agitated visitors and patients in hospitals. Ventrue are not allowed to pick this type as they are not allowed to take the Iron Gullet merit.[3]
- Add specialty: Occult (Grave Rituals) or Medicine (Cadavers)
- Gain one dot of Fortitude or Oblivion
- Gain the Feeding Merit: Iron Gullet ( )
- Gain the Haven Advantage: ( )
- Gain the Herd Flaw: ( ) Obvious Predator (your cold nature makes you act in a deeply unsettling manner when hunting)
- Predator Pool: Resolve + Medicine (for feeding on corpses) or Manipulation + Insight (for feeding on the vulnerable)
Grim Reaper[]
Known as plague-rats, these Kindred feed exclusively on the dying. They find their targets in hospitals, assisted living homes and places where end of life care is provided. Constantly on the lookout for new victims, they often have difficulties settling in one place. [4]
- Add specialty: Awareness (Death) or Larceny (Forgery)
- Gain one dot of Auspex or Oblivion
- Gain one dot of the Allies or Influence Background in the medical community
- Gain one dot of Humanity
- Gain the Feeding Flaw: ( ) Prey Exclusion: Healthy Mortals
- Predator Pool: Intelligence + Awareness or Medicine.
Montero[]
A Spanish loanword, the montería were mounted deer hunts where a set of beater drive the prey unto the weapons of the huntsman (The Montero). These Kindred carry on this tradition, using their retainers to herd prey into their awaiting maw for the kill. This can be in the form of flash mobs, an endless bureaucratic shuffle, a criminal pursuit or a long con.[4]
- Add a specialty: Leadership (Hunting Pack) or Stealth (Stakeout)
- Gain one dot of Dominate or Obfuscate
- Gain two dots of Retainers
- Lose one dot of Humanity
- Predator Pool: Planning (Intelligence + Stealth). With well-practiced plan (Resolve + Stealth).
Osiris[]
This Kindred is a celebrity among mortals, or a cult figure of some type, feeding from fans or worshippers.[1]
- Add specialty: Occult (specific tradition) or Performance (specific entertainment field)
- The Skill for which you’re famous may be Performance, Science, Craft, Academics, Politics, or something else.
- Gain one dot of Blood Sorcery (Tremere or Banu Haqim only) or Presence
- Spend three dots between Fame and Herd Backgrounds
- Spend two dots between Enemies and Mythic Flaws
- Predator Pool: Manipulation + Subterfuge (to flatter) / Intimidation + Fame (to bully)
Pursuer[]
The pursuer hunts targets that will never be missed. Studying their victims, learning their schedules and finding the right moment to make them disappear in a way that seems believable to the world at large. The pursuer stalks their victims, only striking when their hunger and planning reaches their climax.[4]
- Add a specialty: Investigation (Profiling) or Stealth (Shadowing)
- Gain one dot of Animalism or Auspex
- Gain the Merit: Bloodhound ( )
- Gain one dot of Contacts from among the morally flexible habitués of your hunting ground: club bouncers, homeless watchers, night vendors, street dealers, etc. Someone who answers when you ask “which way did she go?”
- Lose one dot of Humanity
- Predator Pool: Intelligence + Investigation to find someone nobody misses or Stamina + Stealth for a long pursuit.
Roadside Killer[]
This Kindred feeds exclusively from the transient population. From the Truckers, Tourists and Travelers of the world[2]
- Add specialty: Survival (The Road) or Investigation (Vampire Cant)
- Gain one dot of Fortitude or Protean
- Gain the Herd Advantage: ( )
- Gain the Feeding Flaw: ( ) Prey Exclusion (Locals)
- Predator Pool: Dexterity or Charisma + Drive
Sandman[]
This Kindred prefers to feed from sleeping victims using stealth or Disciplines.[1]
- Add specialty: Medicine (Anesthetics) or Stealth (Break-in)
- Gain one dot of Auspex or Obfuscate
- Gain one dot of Resources
- Predator Pool: Dexterity + Stealth
Scene Queen[]
The Kindred is an active member of a subculture, maintaining status and respect that assists them in finding willing victims.[1]
- Add specialty Etiquette (specific scene), Leadership (specific scene), or Streetwise (specific scene)
- Gain one dot of Dominate or Potence
- Gain the Fame Advantage: ( )
- Gain the Contact Advantage: ( )
- Gain either the Influence Flaw: ( ) Disliked (outside your subculture) or the Feeding Flaw: ( ) Prey Exclusion (a different subculture than yours)
- Predator Pool: Manipulation + Persuasion
Siren[]
The Kindred feeds almost exclusively during (or while feigning) sex, relying on Disciplines, seduction skills, or the appetites of others to conceal their nature.[1]
- Add specialty: Persuasion (Seduction) or Subterfuge (Seduction)
- Gain one dot of Fortitude or Presence
- Gain the Looks Merit: ( ) Beautiful
- Gain the Enemy Flaw: ( ) A spurned lover or jealous partner
- Predator Pool: Charisma + Subterfuge
Trapdoor[]
The Kindred builds a trap, in the form of their haven, and lures their prey into it. They might be there for the thrill, for a good time or just to explore, but regardless the trapdoor gets their fill.[4]
- Add a specialty: Persuasion (Marketing) or Stealth (Ambushes or Traps)
- Gain one dot of Protean or Obfuscate
- Gain one dot of the Haven Background
- Gain one dot of either Retainers (your roper, major-domo, etc.) or Herd (steady visitors for whatever reason), or a second Haven dot
- Gain one Haven Flaw: Creepy ( ) or Haunted ( )
- Predator Pool: Charisma + Stealth (if your victims enter your killing ground anticipating a fun night) or Dexterity + Stealth (if you feed on trespassers, urban explorers, or other passersby.)
