Ten Tips for running Thin-Bloods in V5

 V5 Chronicle Tips

1. The Social Satire of Vampire: The Masquerade
2. An analysis of Anarchs in Vampire: The Masquerade
3. Ten Tips to Running the Anarchs in V5 
4. Ten Tips to Running the Second Inquisition in V5 
5. Ten Tips to Running the Sabbat in V5 
6. Ten Chronicles for Sabbat PCs in V5 
7. Ten Tips to Running the Camarilla in V5 
8. Ten Tips to Running the Thin-Bloods in V5 
9. Ten Tips to Running the Tremere in V5  
10. Ten Real Life-Inspired Chronicles for V5
11. V5 NPC Update: Sullivan Dane  
12. 101 Mundane Details for V:TM Games   
13. 101 Street Crime and Personal Horror Scenarios  
14. The Judas Compact or "How the Sabbat got their groove stolen" 
15. How much should Vampire PCs and NPCs know? 
16. Ten Tips to using Touchstones in V5 
17. Why metaplot matters in the World of Darkness

    Hey folks, I'm pleased to say I'm returning to these Top Ten Lists now that I've managed to get some more work done on my recent novels. I encourage people to check out the omnibus of my Red Room series that was just released and pre-order my upcoming Psycho Killers in Love book if you love slashers as well as humor. With that out of the way, I'm pleased to say that I've decided to do a piece on an underrated piece of Vampire: The Masquerade media: Thin-Bloods!

    The Thin-Bloods (or Duskborn as they now like to style themselves) are a group that was updated heavily for the newest edition of vampire. I thought I'd share some of these elements and give my thoughts to incorporating them into games.

1. The Thin-Bloods are now a power

    The Thin-Bloods only started occuring en masse during the Time of Thin-Blood circa 1999. While previous examples of 14th and 15th generation (or even 16th) may have existed, it was only then that they became a matter of proper concern. Initially, they were scorned by all factions and the Camarilla re-instituted the Scourge as a weapon to destroy them. The past twenty years have benefited the Duskborn, however. They have reached enough numbers and made enough alliances that they can no longer be dismissed as a force. Thin-Blooded alchemy, their ability to better blend in with Kine, organization by individuals like Jenna Cross, social media, and reasonably progressive Kindred allies have made them stronger than any Bloodline if not as powerful as a Clan.

2. Thin-Bloods are unwelcome in the Camarilla

    The Camarilla remains as disgusted by the Duskborn as ever. The Beckoning, Gehenna War, Week of Nightmares, and other events have resulted in the Ivory Tower abandoning their previous secular stance. Gehenna is upon us and the Duskborn are considered one of the most visible signs of the End Times. No Thin-Blood can truly be considered a member of the Camarilla despite some wielding vast wealth like Noah "Flyboy" Grewal (Chicago by Night 5E) or official position like Robert Larson the Thin-Blood "Primogen" (Coteries of New York). Scourges still hunt and exterminate the Duskborn when they cannot make themselves useful to an Elder or threatening enough to be left alone. A handful might be accepted among the elite but only at the suffering of the Harpies. But then again, hasn't that always been the case for the young?

3. Thin-Bloods are tolerated by the Anarchs

    Somewhat more welcoming than the Camarilla are the Anarchs that the vast majority of organized Thin-Bloods are members of by default. The Anarchs theoretically defend the freedom of all Kindred and welcome any allies against the Elders but most have little use for the Duskborn. Some even defend the rights of Thin-Bloods to have families despite their danger to the Masquerade, though. The Anarchs' brutality and reliance on raw power to determine pecking order means that few Thin-Bloods will rise high in their ranks. Thin-Blood organization, willingness to use modern tech, and the addition of Thin-Blood Alchemy means they have plenty to contribute to the Movement, though. Smart Thin-Bloods will never trust the charity of the Anarchs and rely on each other primarily.

4. Thin-Bloods are cursed but not damned

    Thin-Bloods have a fundamentally different relationship to both the Curse of Caine in general as well as the Beast in particular. Barring the use of Disciplines or other direct event, most will never suffer the horror of frenzy. This dramatically changes Thin-Bloods relationship to Kine as they can effectively live among them safely. Even the kindest "true" vampire is a danger to his loved ones as a frenzy from Hunger or rage is always possible. Thin-Bloods are always considered to be using the Blush of Life so have far less to fear from Hunters or modern technology. They also not crippled by the sun, even though most cannot tolerate it for long. While tasteless, Thin-Bloods are also capable of surviving on animal blood or blood bags that other Kindred need Disciples or a very high generation to enjoy.

5. Thin-Blooded Alchemy is powerful

    The biggest change to Thin-Bloods in recent years is the discovery of Thin-Blood alchemy. In simple terms, if a Thin-Blood mixes their blood as well as the blood of regular humans of a specific resonance with everyday common household products then SOMETHING will happen. Usually, this will result in the imitation of a pre-existing Kindred discipline. It is very much an art in development with the most advanced powers requiring months of refinement as well as Walter White-esque set ups. However, the simple fact that Thin-Bloods often freely share information and have the sole access to this resource means they have gone from complete weaklings to genuine threats.

6. There are traitors to Caine and Lilith among the Dustborn

    Not all Thin-Bloods identify more with their undead cousins than with regular humanity. The undead, after all, persecute them every bit as much as Hunters would be inclined to. As such, there are Thin-Bloods who have decided to fully side with the Second Inquisition against the Sons and Daughters of Nod. These are not a large group of Cainites, probably, but Thin-Bloods like Noah "Flyboy" Grewal and Gabrielle Ellis (The Fall of London) are Thin-Bloods accepted by their governments as agents.

7. Daywalkers exist

    One of the greatest examples of the Duskborn escaping the Curse of Caine is the fact a small number of them have the ability to survive the Sun. While all Thin-Bloods are more resistant to the sun's ways, some can walk as mortals do. This provides a profound advantage for those few Kindred who possess the power and serves as a source of great envy. Those possessing the gift will exploit it against Kindred restricted during the day while more occult or scientifically minded vampires will attempt to divine its secrets.

8. Thin-Bloods cannot reliably pass on their condition

    Thin-Bloods, for all of their advantages, have a serious one in that they cannot reliably Embrace new vampires. A vampire Embraced by a Thin-Blood will as often as not die and even if they do transform, it may be hours or even days later. Thin-Bloods also cannot create ghouls, though they can perhaps make one for a single day. This means that Thin-Blooded alliances must be tighter and more closely aligned than other vampire coteries. They cannot build the kind of empires of minions that other vampires can or create their own allies. Thin-Bloods can sire and theoretically bear children but this is not a reliable way to create soldiers.

9. The only cure for being a Thin-Blood is diablerie

    Thin-Bloods are easy to view as the underdogs of Kindred society and sympathetic victims of an oppressive Kindred society. This is a misleading view as Thin-Bloods are still vampires and while their Beast is muted, it still exists. Thin-Bloods who crave the power, influence, and pleasure of more powerful Kindred have only one recourse: the heart's blood of true Kindred. This will turn them into a 13th generation of whatever Clan they have hunted down and murdered. Many Thin-Bloods have learned of this "rumor" and see no reason they should spare their oppressors or even friends if it means the power of Caine is their's. The fact they have committed the sin once also means that they have little reason not to do it again and again.

10. The Ashfinders are a rising power among the Duskborn

    Thin-Blood Alchemy's origins remain nebulous but it seems very possible it's related to the mysterious Doctor Mortius of Clan Tremere and his relationship to the Ashfinder Blood Cult. The Ashfinders are Thin-Bloods who are tech-savvy and extraordinarily rich. They do not need Dominate, Presence, or Revenant families to have billionaire empires stretching from Silicon Valley to Dubai. They have also begun transforming the ash of Kindred Elders into a drug that bestows even more power than traditional Thin-Blood Alchemy. The Gehenna War, Second Inquisition, and ongoing wars have provided their numbers all the Elder ash they can want without hunting but their hunger for such thing grows with every dose. It soon may be as much a need among Thin-Bloods as the heart's blood.