Tips for Role-Playing a Ventrue in Vampire: The Masquerade

Highlights

  • Ventrue prioritize mental stats, focusing on intelligence, manipulation, and charisma to make the most of their manipulative disciplines.
  • Ventrue must maintain a luxurious and refined appearance, as their reputation and personal pride are tied to their wealth and elegance.
  • While Ventrue see themselves as leaders, they understand the importance of respecting authority and carrying out the Prince’s orders in court, avoiding challenges that could lead to punishment.


The Ventrue are by far one of the most popular and strongest clans of the modern nights in Vampire: The Masquerade. They fulfill the roles of leaders and aristocrats, not shying away from the responsibilities of leadership and willingly seeking it out instead. It is certainly not unusual to find a Ventrue holding the title of Prince in any Camarilla domain, as being at the top is where they feel they belong.

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For those who are deciding to dye their blood blue for the tabletop game, there are a few tips and tricks to help bring their Ventrue to unlife at the table, thus allowing players to fully immerse themselves in role-playing a member of the clan.


7 Choosing Stats

Brains Over Brawn

Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Clan Ventrue has access to two manipulative disciplines: Dominate and Presence. Dominate is useful for completely overriding the will of another and enforcing the players, and Presence can be used to tempt or strike fear into any around them. As such, Ventrue aren’t going to be a punch-first-ask-questions-later kind of clan, and this should be reflected when creating a character, the first but most crucial step in role-playing games.

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When deciding what dots to put where on the character sheet, Ventrue players should definitely prioritize their mental stats, putting dots into intelligence, manipulation, and charisma above all else. This will be of benefit to them later in the game when attempting to use their mental clan disciplines.

6 Dress To Impress

Ventrue Always Have To Look The Part

Vampire the Masquerade Bloodhunt Ventrue Enforcer

The Blue Bloods aren’t merely called that for fun. Ventrue are always the elite in society, even before their embrace, and, as such, are accustomed to refinery. They are expected to surround themselves with luxury and wear, live in, and drive their ludicrous amounts of wealth.

Fine cars, luxury penthouses, and tailored suits are all expected of Ventrue, and if they are seen in rags or driving buckets of rust held together by duct tape, this will actually do harm to their reputation in court. Not only that, but it will be a hit to the Ventrue’s personal pride. Players should take this opportunity to live out the fantasy of being the 1% and kit out their vampire in everything that looks elegant and has a hefty price tag attached.

5 Remember Who’s In Charge

Even Proud Ventrue Are Loyal To Their Prince

Bloodlines Prince La Croix

Ventrue are a proud sort and believe that their words should be law in the eyes of lesser licks, but they also realize there is a hierarchy, particularly in Camarilla domains. The Prince is in charge, and the kindred living in that city must abide by their rule.

So, even though Ventrue see themselves as leaders, they also know to respect authority and carry out the Prince’s edicts when given to them. Challenging authority is a good way to get punished, even upon pain of death, and no Ventrue proud of the blood in their veins would dare to do so. They can be the self-appointed ruler of the roost when it comes to the coterie all they want, but when in court, they should remember who is in charge.

4 Knowledge Is Power

Every Ventrue Must Pass Their Agoge

Galeb sitting on a chair, blood falling from his fingers in Vampire the Masquerade Swansong

Kindred sires, at least the good ones, always impart knowledge of the world of darkness upon their childe when they embrace them. They teach them about other clans, powers, feeding, domains, factions, and everything a newly blooded vampire needs to know before they go their own way. The Ventrue take this a step further, imposing a very stringent and detailed education on their childe, called the agoge.

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Their sire imparts the wisdom and knowledge they have, including their vampire family tree, and then they are sent to other Ventrue to learn what they have to offer before they are considered ready to be presented to kindred society. One presented before the Prince, the Prince and the rest of the Ventrue will view and critique the new vampire’s presentation and decide if they are worthy to carry their blood. As such, every Ventrue is well-educated in all manners vampiric, which is something players should bear in mind when navigating kindred politics.

3 Be Proud But Graceful

Pride And Arrogance Are A Fine Line

Fortitude - Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Disciplines Explained

As blue bloods, royals, nobles, and CEOs, the Ventrue are going to act a certain way because they know they are a cut above most clans. This will show in how they carry themselves, the words they use, their clothes, havens, cars, and their treatment towards others.

But this doesn’t mean Ventrue should swagger into every court meeting or party like they are the Prince, as this will just label them as arrogant brats who need to be put in their place. So, Ventrue players need to remember not to be too proud, as this will do nothing for their reputation and standing.

2 Forge Alliances

No One Can Survive The Nights Alone

Boston Camarilla gathered together for a court picture in Vampire the Masquerade Swansong

Hunters, rival factions, old enemies, and other supernatural creatures – there are many threats vampires face, and the only way to ensure one can survive them is by sticking with others. Being part of a sect in a city does come with protections, but players ought to take this a step further, and this includes the haughty Ventrue.

Despite their pride and independence, no Ventrue should balk at the idea of forging alliances, as they are also pragmatic, and should realize there is safety in numbers. As such, Ventrue players should do what they do best and mingle and negotiate with other vampires. This way, they are sticking to the businessman-like stereotype with the Ventrue while securing allies that can help with threats both inside and outside court. That said, it’s important to be mindful, as most vampires would stab even their own grandmother in the back if it benefited them.

1 Play Political Games

Ventrue Do Not Back Away From Court Intrigue

Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 2

As leaders and politicians in their mortal lives, these characteristics carry on to the immortal life. This means Ventrue players should definitely not shy away from playing political games and instead embrace these moments, as this will serve as their time to shine.

For those who are wondering how to go about this, it will depend on the court in question, the sect, and the character themselves. Well-established Ventrue could wield their influence to oust vampires they think are a threat to their status, while newer kindred should research and learn all about the big power players in the court to see for any weaknesses or try to get in their good graces. Devious players could even extend a hand of friendship while the other hides a knife, waiting for an opportunity where a strike would benefit them.

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