Damage
in the
World of Darkness 
These are official White Wolf
rules according to Phil Brucato and the books (2nd Editions).
This page probably needed to
go to the crossover
section, but it didn't.
-
On the question of soaking Standard damage:
-
Vampires soak with Stamina (+ Fortitude, if present).
-
Werewolves soak with Stamina (+ Gift, if any).
-
Mages and other humans (Changelings and Ghouls included) soak with Stamina
(+ Fortitude, if present).
-
All Disciplines, Gifts, and Magick Effects are soaked with Stamina (+ special
power, if any).
-
On the question of soaking Aggravated damage:
-
Vampires may soak only if they possess Fortitude.
-
Werewolves soak with Stamina (+ Gift, if any).
-
Exception: Silver may not be soaked without the proper Gift.
-
Mages and humans may not soak aggravated damage, except for Mages
with Life 3 (they can 'toughen' up).
-
This is finally clarified in “The Book of Mirrors”, pages 47-48. House
rules can allow the players to soak (I highly encourage this practice).
-
What causes aggravated damage?
-
Claws (Vampiric and Lupine).
-
Bites (Vampiric and Lupine).
-
Fire to Vampires and Werewolves.
-
Werewolf page 196 clearly states that fire causes aggravated wounds to
the Garou.
“Dark Ages” now has Vampires
rolling Stamina + Fortitude to soak fire, instead of merely Fortitude (pg.
200).
“Sorcerer's Crusade”
now has fire doing aggravated damage to everybody (pp. 194 and 206)
-
Sunlight to Vampires.
“Dark Ages” now has
Vampires rolling Stamina + Fortitude to soak sunlight, instead of merely
Fortitude (pg. 200).
-
Silver to Garou.
-
Particularly nasty substances (toxic waste, radiation, acid, etc.) may
cause them (ST discretion). Read “Werewolf” for radiation's effects.
-
Some other Power which specifically states that it does cause aggravated
wounds.
-
Vulgar Life Magicks which rip patterns.*
-
Vulgar Prime attacks or attacks charged with Prime.** / ***
-
Vulgar Entropy attacks on a living body.**
-
Spirit Magicks that summon spirits to attack a living being.**
Mage 2nd Edition,
page 166 states that “Vulgar acts of pure magick, which attack a pattern
on a purely mystickal level - transformations, Rip the Man-Body,
Flames of Purification, etc. - cannot be soaked...”
All of the
Magickal Effects are soakable as per the Aggravated Damage section
above according to White Wolf E-Mail.
* = To heal/harm Vampires requires a conjunctional Life 3, Matter 2 Effect
(“Book of Mirrors” last page and “Sorcerer's Crusade” pg. 241).
** = These affect Vampires as well as any living thing.
*** = These do not include Effects merely created with Prime 2.
Notes
-
The term “humans” applies to Mages, Changelings, Ghouls, and Mummies as
well as normal people.
-
In order for Mages to soak, they must use a Life 3 Effect on themselves.
This lasts as long as the Mage wants it to.
-
I have not taken armor into account. This page assumes fighting with regular
street clothes.
-
Items with a '
' indicate
some type of rules change, conflict, and/or contradiction.
