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Return to the Merits page Jump to Archetypes Effect: Your character has an assistant, aide, indentured servant or fanatical follower on whom she can rely. You need to establish how this trusty companion was acquired. He may be paid exorbitant amounts of money that buy his unwavering loyalty. He might owe his life to your character (or to your character's predecessors). Your character might blackmail this person or threaten his family with harm if services are not rendered. Or your character might have a supernatural hold over this poor person. Regardless of the circumstances, this person is constantly loyal and follows almost any order without question. A retainer can be called upon to perform many duties without fail. A bodyguard might be willing to hurt other people on a mere command. A dedicated street kid might hang on your character's every word and get her information or contacts without being asked. Unless your character has direct control over a retainer's mind, however, this person can't be made to perform any task. He might not risk his own life unduly or perform a task that violates his own morals. You or the Storyteller should detail your retainer with an identity, background and character sheet of his own. The Storyteller usually plays your character's retainer. Each acquisition of this Merit grants your character one follower. Dots spent in the trait indicate the training, capability or flexibility of the aide. Retainer is different from Allies in that no roll is ever made to get results from an aide. He performs the task requested, unless subjected to repeated abuse or an utterly intolerable assignment (as decided by the Storyteller based on the assistant's personality). Drawback: If your retainer is ever hurt he may be incapable of service while recovering. If he is killed, he's lost forever unless supernatural in origin. A retainer who possesses his own will and who is forced to perform a duty that offends his sensibilities or defies his morals may abandon your character, temporarily or permanently. Points spent to acquire a retainer who is killed or driven off are lost. Retainers have statistics of their own, which are based according to their level. Retainers have 5 "archetypes" which may be chosen to use as the base stats for your retainer. When you create your retainer, you should reference which base stats you have chosen for it. Keep in mind your retainer doesn't have to actually be one of these types (they could be a Politician, a Thug or whatever), just use the base stats you want to start with to create their sheet. If you aren't happy with any of the archetype options, then you may submit a custom base by creating a mortal according to the WoD core rulebook. All Retainer stats must be approved by your Storyteller. The "base" stats are considered to be Level 1 retainers for that archetype. At each level, a Retainer gets an additional +10xp to spend. Level 3 Retainers may have 1 Discipline, which must be a Physical from the Domitor's clan. Level 4 retainers may have 2 Disciplines, one of which must be a Physical from the Domitor's clan - the other may be from the Domitor's spread (except Bloodlines). Retainers 5 may have 3 Discipline dots, one of which must be a Physical from the Domitor's clan - the others may be from the Domitor's spread (except Bloodlines). Disciplines must be purchased with xp. Animal Retainers use statistics based on books or Storyteller creation. Some restrictions apply: |