V5 Chronicle Tips
- The Social Satire of Vampire: The Masquerade
- An analysis of Anarchs in Vampire: The Masquerade
- Ten Tips to Running the Anarchs in V5
- Ten Tips to Running the Second Inquisition in V5
- Ten Tips to Running the Sabbat in V5
- Ten Chronicles for Sabbat PCs in V5
- Ten Tips to Running the Camarilla in V5
- Ten Tips to Running the Thin-Bloods in V5
- Ten Tips to Running the Tremere in V5
- Ten Real Life-Inspired Chronicles for V5
- V5 NPC Update: Sullivan Dane
- 101 Mundane Details for V:TM Games
- 101 Street Crime and Personal Horror Scenarios
- The Judas Compact or "How the Sabbat got their groove stolen"
- How much should Vampire PCs and NPCs know?
- Ten Tips to using Touchstones in V5
- Why metaplot matters in the World of Darkness
Anarchs are my favorite faction in Vampire: The Masquerade. They are the rabble, the street gangs, and the revolutionaries of the Kindred world. While the Sabbat cling to occult mysteries and the Camarilla to the wealth of the upper class, the Anarchs are the boots on the ground railing at the inequities of undead life.
However, the Anarchs are one of the most misunderstood factions. Many gamers, either Storyteller or Player, don't understand why they are rebelling or what their appeal is. For some years, they were ignored in favor of the Sabbat or Kuei-Jin. However, in part because of such excellent portrayals in Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines and LA By Night, they have broadened their appeal. Now, they are close to, if not the, most popular factions.
Having always been a fan of the Anarchs, here is a collection of ten tips I've picked up to running them in my games. These apply to both Storytellers who want to use them in their games as well as players who want to create a character allied to the Movement.
1:] Anarchs are not the good guys
An important thing to understanding the appeal of the Anarchs in a Gothic Punk world is that it is shades of gray and black, never white (at least among vampires). The first Anarch ever introduced was Forged in Steel's Juggler. Juggler was a hypocrite to the Anarch cause who manipulated, lied, and cheated Neonates in much the same way as his Camarilla counterpart Modius. He even had his own Blood Bound female minion, Evelyn, exactly like the Prince. The Anarchs are not the Rebel Alliance and whenever they do take over a territory like Los Angeles or Berlin, it's a crapshot whether that territory will become better or worse for their influence. Being an Anarch means you're against the city's Elders and Prince, nothing more or less.
2:] Anarchs think they're the good guys
Contradicting number 1# is the fact that many anarchs believe themselves to be the good guys or, at least, the lesser evil. Everything is relative in Cainite society and the fury over past injustices is a major reason why the Movement has not died in six hundred years. There are many idealistic voices among the Anarchs like Maldavis, Anita Wainwright, Jeremy MacNeil, Nines, and Salvador Garcia. Don't get me wrong, they're still ****ing vampires but they have legitimate greviances motivating them as well as a passionate belief things can get better. It's the presence of these individuals that prevents the entire Anarch experiment from being written off as just another bunch of Kindred warring for territory.
3:] Why do Anarchs rebel?
Every Anarch has a reason why they've joined the Movement and they're often as varied as a Gangrel's deformities. For some vampires, it's a matter of blood. Caitiff, Thin Bloods, Brujah, Gangrel, and now the Ministry are all people who have a natural inclination to join the Movement. Other Clans could have sires or other ancestors who were Anarchs dating back to the original 15th century Revolt. Nothing prevents a Ventrue or Tremere from being Embraced into the Movement, other than the occasional assassin. Other vampires have a very personal story about how the Camarilla has wronged them. Others may join the Anarchs because they've screwed up and have literally nowhere else to go. Maybe you were an illegal Embrace or your mortal parents were killed because you told them you were a vampire during a particularly desperate moment. Finally, a few actually join the Anarchs for power. Gordon Keaton the yuppie Caitiff wanted to rule over vampires but had neither the pedigree or age to do it. Determining the motivation of each Kindred in a local Anarch sect will help you tremendously.
4:] Anarchs want to be free (to do anything)
Anarchs have no discerning ideological unity other than their commitment to freedom. However, freedom for vampires is a very different thing than freedom for humans. Anarchs want to be able to Embrace, feed, and kill whenever or wherever they want. They're smart enough to keep the Masquerade but this is the only Tradition they respect. While many Anarchs have higher Humanity scores than your typical Elders, others are almost fully consumed by their Beasts. These Anarchs believe undeath means they have the freedom to do whatever they want to others. In this respect, the Camarilla's hold on younger undead seems justified. Knowing what kind of freedom an Anarch fights for is as important as knowing why they rebel.
5:] There is safety in numbers
The coterie is more important to Anarchs than it is to the Camarilla, if not as important as the pack is to Sabbat. This is because Anarchs tend not to have the same level of raw power as an Elder, let alone resources. That means most Anarchs have a practical reason for joining the Movement and, more specifically, a local gang of them: survival. If the Sheriff comes a knocking, he's less likely to go after you while you're standing next to your several friends. Many Anarchs who normally wouldn't raise a finger to help another person will do so simply because it means they might draw on the same support themselves one day. This can lead to surprising allies of convenience among Kindred who might otherwise hate each other.
6:] Every Anarch gang is different
If you ever watched the introduction of the cult classic The Warriors, you'd be in for a treat. You'd see baseball themed bad guys, mimes, black gangs, white gangs, and the Lizziers (which are either lesbians or Lizzie Borden themed gangsters--or both). The Anarchs are closer to these guys than real street gangs. If you assembled a national meeting you might find Antifa, hippies, Neo-Nazis, Neo-Confederates, Crips, Bloods, intellectual socialists, communists, and Native American warriors. People who would gladly tear each other apart if they had the chance. They are united by the cause, though, and may lend each other aid at least until tomorrow. Determine what your local Anarchs are like and whether any breakaway or independent groups might exist.
7:] Anarch politics are still politics
Just because the Anarch equivalent of Elysium is the local DQ parking lot doesn't mean that they aren't every bit as obsessed with prestige as the average vampire. An Anarch Baron controls his territory by the grace of his subordinates the same way that a Prince does his Primogen. It's just his "Primogen" is usually the entirety of his gang. This means that Anarch leaders play the same sort of petty power games as Elders. Kindred plot against each other and while an Anarch you may be asked to do impossible missions, eliminate a rival Anarch, or form alliances. It's just it's more likely to directly involve curb-stomping someone than sending the Sheriff to do it.
8:] Money isn't everything [but it helps]
Anarchs can be rich, most aren't. Isaac Abrams, Therese, Louis Fortier, Victor Temple, and others show that there can be Anarchs with oodles of wealth as well as influence. However, some Anarchs, like Chicago's Gengis, actually hide how wealthy they are. This is because the Anarchs were formed of the bottom of the Kindred hierarchy. There's a pride in being of the "people" that also means money is a different currency (no pun intended) than in Elysium. The wealthy and influential are both useful to the Movement as well as something they're suspicious of. Elon Musk probably could buy his way into a Barony with sufficient bribes but others rule by brute force or populist rhetoric. Violence and prestige are the other currencies that Anarchs use to determine who is the leader among them. A rich debutante with city hall connections may be liked by everyone but a hardened survivor is more likely to be leader. Keeping in mind the "slobs vs. snobs" element of the conflict with Anarchs vs. the Camarilla.
9:] Anarchs do hold territory
One of the mistakes made both in-universe and out-of-universe is the idea the Anarchs were just a faction within Camarilla cities. At least until V5. In fact, Anarchs can and have always had fairly large swaths of territory. Aside from enormous locations like California and the Soviet Union (and Russian Federation now), the Anarchs have always controlled smaller territories outside of the major cities under Sabbat or Camarilla control. These territories tend to only be controlled by a single Anarch gang but since that gang is likely to be 10-12 vampires, they are a decent sized group of warriors protecting their turf. They may also be possessed of an elaborate set of dictatorial rules or a place of near complete freedom. It pays to research when moving through Anarch territory, even more so than the Camarilla.
10:] My enemy of my enemy is my enemy
Anarchs hate the Camarilla more than anything other than their other enemies. This is because a familiar enemy is as good as a friend in Kindred society. Anarchs will usually side with the Camarilla against the Sabbat, work together to preserve the Masquerade, and even fight against each other with Ivory Tower support if they can justify the other Anarchs being "traitors." This is actually applicable to the Camarilla as well since they have often preferred to bribe, co-opt, or undermine the Anarchs than actually destroy them. There are also plenty of cross-sect friendships [or at least alliances] among Anarchs and Camarilla vampires unlike both organizations' members with the Sabbat. Victor Temple has a "friendship" of sorts with Fiorenza for example, their Clan Ventrue ties trumping sect allegiance. Until recently, most Anarchs were considered part of the Camarilla even if it was only nominally so. More cynical vampires also point out that Barons and Princes are two variations on the same word. Just not within earshot of either. Most Anarchs are long on rhetoric but only big on action that benefits them personally.
However, the Anarchs are one of the most misunderstood factions. Many gamers, either Storyteller or Player, don't understand why they are rebelling or what their appeal is. For some years, they were ignored in favor of the Sabbat or Kuei-Jin. However, in part because of such excellent portrayals in Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines and LA By Night, they have broadened their appeal. Now, they are close to, if not the, most popular factions.
Having always been a fan of the Anarchs, here is a collection of ten tips I've picked up to running them in my games. These apply to both Storytellers who want to use them in their games as well as players who want to create a character allied to the Movement.
 |
| An Anarch. |
1:] Anarchs are not the good guys
An important thing to understanding the appeal of the Anarchs in a Gothic Punk world is that it is shades of gray and black, never white (at least among vampires). The first Anarch ever introduced was Forged in Steel's Juggler. Juggler was a hypocrite to the Anarch cause who manipulated, lied, and cheated Neonates in much the same way as his Camarilla counterpart Modius. He even had his own Blood Bound female minion, Evelyn, exactly like the Prince. The Anarchs are not the Rebel Alliance and whenever they do take over a territory like Los Angeles or Berlin, it's a crapshot whether that territory will become better or worse for their influence. Being an Anarch means you're against the city's Elders and Prince, nothing more or less.
2:] Anarchs think they're the good guys
Contradicting number 1# is the fact that many anarchs believe themselves to be the good guys or, at least, the lesser evil. Everything is relative in Cainite society and the fury over past injustices is a major reason why the Movement has not died in six hundred years. There are many idealistic voices among the Anarchs like Maldavis, Anita Wainwright, Jeremy MacNeil, Nines, and Salvador Garcia. Don't get me wrong, they're still ****ing vampires but they have legitimate greviances motivating them as well as a passionate belief things can get better. It's the presence of these individuals that prevents the entire Anarch experiment from being written off as just another bunch of Kindred warring for territory.
3:] Why do Anarchs rebel?
Every Anarch has a reason why they've joined the Movement and they're often as varied as a Gangrel's deformities. For some vampires, it's a matter of blood. Caitiff, Thin Bloods, Brujah, Gangrel, and now the Ministry are all people who have a natural inclination to join the Movement. Other Clans could have sires or other ancestors who were Anarchs dating back to the original 15th century Revolt. Nothing prevents a Ventrue or Tremere from being Embraced into the Movement, other than the occasional assassin. Other vampires have a very personal story about how the Camarilla has wronged them. Others may join the Anarchs because they've screwed up and have literally nowhere else to go. Maybe you were an illegal Embrace or your mortal parents were killed because you told them you were a vampire during a particularly desperate moment. Finally, a few actually join the Anarchs for power. Gordon Keaton the yuppie Caitiff wanted to rule over vampires but had neither the pedigree or age to do it. Determining the motivation of each Kindred in a local Anarch sect will help you tremendously.
4:] Anarchs want to be free (to do anything)
Anarchs have no discerning ideological unity other than their commitment to freedom. However, freedom for vampires is a very different thing than freedom for humans. Anarchs want to be able to Embrace, feed, and kill whenever or wherever they want. They're smart enough to keep the Masquerade but this is the only Tradition they respect. While many Anarchs have higher Humanity scores than your typical Elders, others are almost fully consumed by their Beasts. These Anarchs believe undeath means they have the freedom to do whatever they want to others. In this respect, the Camarilla's hold on younger undead seems justified. Knowing what kind of freedom an Anarch fights for is as important as knowing why they rebel.
 |
| Also an Anarch. |
The coterie is more important to Anarchs than it is to the Camarilla, if not as important as the pack is to Sabbat. This is because Anarchs tend not to have the same level of raw power as an Elder, let alone resources. That means most Anarchs have a practical reason for joining the Movement and, more specifically, a local gang of them: survival. If the Sheriff comes a knocking, he's less likely to go after you while you're standing next to your several friends. Many Anarchs who normally wouldn't raise a finger to help another person will do so simply because it means they might draw on the same support themselves one day. This can lead to surprising allies of convenience among Kindred who might otherwise hate each other.
6:] Every Anarch gang is different
If you ever watched the introduction of the cult classic The Warriors, you'd be in for a treat. You'd see baseball themed bad guys, mimes, black gangs, white gangs, and the Lizziers (which are either lesbians or Lizzie Borden themed gangsters--or both). The Anarchs are closer to these guys than real street gangs. If you assembled a national meeting you might find Antifa, hippies, Neo-Nazis, Neo-Confederates, Crips, Bloods, intellectual socialists, communists, and Native American warriors. People who would gladly tear each other apart if they had the chance. They are united by the cause, though, and may lend each other aid at least until tomorrow. Determine what your local Anarchs are like and whether any breakaway or independent groups might exist.
7:] Anarch politics are still politics
Just because the Anarch equivalent of Elysium is the local DQ parking lot doesn't mean that they aren't every bit as obsessed with prestige as the average vampire. An Anarch Baron controls his territory by the grace of his subordinates the same way that a Prince does his Primogen. It's just his "Primogen" is usually the entirety of his gang. This means that Anarch leaders play the same sort of petty power games as Elders. Kindred plot against each other and while an Anarch you may be asked to do impossible missions, eliminate a rival Anarch, or form alliances. It's just it's more likely to directly involve curb-stomping someone than sending the Sheriff to do it.
8:] Money isn't everything [but it helps]
Anarchs can be rich, most aren't. Isaac Abrams, Therese, Louis Fortier, Victor Temple, and others show that there can be Anarchs with oodles of wealth as well as influence. However, some Anarchs, like Chicago's Gengis, actually hide how wealthy they are. This is because the Anarchs were formed of the bottom of the Kindred hierarchy. There's a pride in being of the "people" that also means money is a different currency (no pun intended) than in Elysium. The wealthy and influential are both useful to the Movement as well as something they're suspicious of. Elon Musk probably could buy his way into a Barony with sufficient bribes but others rule by brute force or populist rhetoric. Violence and prestige are the other currencies that Anarchs use to determine who is the leader among them. A rich debutante with city hall connections may be liked by everyone but a hardened survivor is more likely to be leader. Keeping in mind the "slobs vs. snobs" element of the conflict with Anarchs vs. the Camarilla.
 |
| So is she. |
9:] Anarchs do hold territory
One of the mistakes made both in-universe and out-of-universe is the idea the Anarchs were just a faction within Camarilla cities. At least until V5. In fact, Anarchs can and have always had fairly large swaths of territory. Aside from enormous locations like California and the Soviet Union (and Russian Federation now), the Anarchs have always controlled smaller territories outside of the major cities under Sabbat or Camarilla control. These territories tend to only be controlled by a single Anarch gang but since that gang is likely to be 10-12 vampires, they are a decent sized group of warriors protecting their turf. They may also be possessed of an elaborate set of dictatorial rules or a place of near complete freedom. It pays to research when moving through Anarch territory, even more so than the Camarilla.
10:] My enemy of my enemy is my enemy
Anarchs hate the Camarilla more than anything other than their other enemies. This is because a familiar enemy is as good as a friend in Kindred society. Anarchs will usually side with the Camarilla against the Sabbat, work together to preserve the Masquerade, and even fight against each other with Ivory Tower support if they can justify the other Anarchs being "traitors." This is actually applicable to the Camarilla as well since they have often preferred to bribe, co-opt, or undermine the Anarchs than actually destroy them. There are also plenty of cross-sect friendships [or at least alliances] among Anarchs and Camarilla vampires unlike both organizations' members with the Sabbat. Victor Temple has a "friendship" of sorts with Fiorenza for example, their Clan Ventrue ties trumping sect allegiance. Until recently, most Anarchs were considered part of the Camarilla even if it was only nominally so. More cynical vampires also point out that Barons and Princes are two variations on the same word. Just not within earshot of either. Most Anarchs are long on rhetoric but only big on action that benefits them personally.
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