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Vampire: The Masquerade · Official

Animal Ken

Interpreting animal behavior and handling animals.

Overview

Animal Ken is practical understanding of animal behavior, handling, and training. It helps assess an animal’s likely response and approach it appropriately. Vampires may provoke fear or hostility in animals; this Skill supports handling that reaction without itself granting supernatural communication.

Using the ratings

The examples below are original illustrations of relative capability, not automatic successes or new Difficulty rules. The pool, opposition, equipment, and circumstances still matter.

Ratings

RatingExample of capability
1 dot

Recognize basic signs of an animal’s discomfort.

2 dots

Handle a familiar domestic animal competently.

3 dots

Establish a reliable working rapport.

4 dots

Manage a difficult or aggressive animal expertly.

5 dots

Interpret subtle behavior with exceptional accuracy.

Specialties

  • Attack Training

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Cats

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Dogs

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Falconry

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Horses

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Pacification

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Rats

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Snakes

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Stunt Training

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Wolves

    Animal Ken specialty listed in the Corebook.

References

VTM Wiki: Character creation · Open source ↗
Skills · Verified: name, trait scope, rating scale, original illustrative examples
Vampire: The Masquerade Corebook · p. 164–164 (PDF p. 166–166)
Animal Ken · Verified: name, trait scope, rating scale, original illustrative examples