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Vampire: The Masquerade · Official

Melee

Fighting with a weapon held in the hand.

Overview

Melee covers fighting with a weapon held in the hand. Knives, clubs, improvised weapons, and stakes all fall within it. The weapon’s properties and the chosen maneuver still matter; a high Skill rating does not remove the circumstances of the fight.

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

Use a simple weapon without losing control.

2 dots

Apply competent attacks and defensive movements.

3 dots

Hold your own as an experienced armed combatant.

4 dots

Adapt advanced weapon techniques under pressure.

5 dots

Teach exceptional weapon use to accomplished fighters.

Specialties

  • Axes

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Chains

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Clubs

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Disarming Blows

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Fencing

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Garrotes

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Improvised Weapons

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Knives

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Stakes

    Melee specialty listed in the Corebook.

  • Swords

    Melee 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. 163–164 (PDF p. 165–166)
Melee · Verified: name, trait scope, rating scale, original illustrative examples