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Protean is a Discipline that gives vampires the ability to change form, from growing feral claws to evaporating into a cloud of mist.

Overview[]

Protean is part of God's curse upon Caine in the aspect that it peels away the facade of humanity every vampire has to uphold, revealing the Beast within his soul.[1] Advanced users sometimes find their bodies shifting without their consent, reacting directly to their emotions, bringing them into embarrassing situations.[2]

Protean is the signature Discipline of the Gangrel, and many of its powers are geared towards surviving in the wild or evoking the strengths of natural predators. It is also used by the Ministry to take on the shape or characteristics of snakes, as they once did using Serpentis; as well as the Tzimisce, which in concert with Dominate is used to enable their terrible art of fleshcrafting known as Vicissitude.

Official Abilities[]

Included below are the official powers described in supplements for Vampire: The Masquerade and Dark Ages: Vampire. Sources are described below in the order they were printed.

Standard Powers (Classic)[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [1]
    • Eyes of the Beast: See in the dark. Usage of the power turns the eyes into a glowing red
    • Dolphin's Unsight: Use sonar-like abilities to orientate yourself underwater
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [2]
    • Feral Claws: Turn one's hands into dangerous claws
    • Phocidaean Webbing: Create webbing between your fingers that allow for faster swimming
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [3]
    • Earth Meld: Melt into the earth to hide and rest
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [4]
    • Shape of the Beast: Transform into two types of animals
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet [5]
    • Mist Form/Body of Spirit: Turn yourself into mist

Advanced Powers[]

V5ProteanAdvanced
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [6]
    • Adaptability: Attune oneself to survive in extreme environments
    • Adaptation: Adapt oneself to avoid harm from the vampire's environment
    • Blissful Slumber: Hibernate during the day as nearly indestructible mist
    • Earth Control: Travel beneath the earth
    • Flesh of Marble: Damage from physical attacks is halved
    • Loki's Gift: Change into the shape of a creature whose blood you have tasted
    • Shape Mastery: Cause shapeshifters to revert to their natural form
    • Smoke and Mirrors: When attacked, turn into mist instantly
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [7]
    • Animal Swarm: Transform into a swarm of small creatures
    • Death's Hidden Crawl: Slowly move while in torpor
    • Homunculus: Create a miniature version of yourself to act as a servant
    • Restore the Mortal Visage: Temporarily appear as one did while mortal
    • Shape of the Beast's Wrath: Transform into a powerful man-beast abomination
    • Spectral Body: Become incorporeal while retaining one's forms and nonphysical abilities
    • Turnabout: Quickly change positions by moving through the earth
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [8]
    • Movement of the Slowed Body: Very slowly move while in torpor
    • Mythic Form: Transform into a specific mythic creature
    • Purify the Impaled Breast: Violently expel foreign objects from your body, including stakes
    • Shape of the Inner Beast: Enter Frenzy and transform into a monstrous killing machine
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [9]
    • Adaptation: Your body instinctively shifts to provide maximum protection
    • Draught of Phoenix Blood: A number of days equal to the vampire's generation after Final Death, they will reincarnate in a new body, one generation higher, retaining this power but with an incomplete picture of who they were and losing any other Attributes, Abilities, Backgrounds, and Disciplines above the new generational trait cap.
    • Dual Form: Split into two weaker versions of oneself 
    • Inward Focus: Drastically improve one's combat abilities
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet [10]
    • Body of the Sun: Transform your body into blazing indestructible fire
    • Plot Device

Standard Powers (V5)[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [11]
    • Eyes of the Beast: The vampire can will a supernatural red gleam into their eyes, giving them sight even in the total absence of light.
    • Weight of the Feather: The vampire can reduce their effective mass and density, making themselves almost weightless. This allows them to avoid triggering pressure sensors as well as avoiding major damage from falls, collisions, or being thrown. The power cannot be used for longer leaps, as the vampire’s strength is proportionally reduced.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [12]
    • Feral Weapons: The vampire can extend their natural weapons to monstrous proportions. This usually takes the form of fingernails extending into wicked talons but can also come in other forms such as fangs elongating into veritable daggers, as from a gigantic serpent.
    • Vicissitude: The vampire reshapes one's own skin, muscles, and bone at will. Amalgam: Dominate 2.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [13]
    • Earth Meld: Becoming one with the soil, the vampire sinks into the earth. Unless in torpor, the vampire rises again the following night.
    • Shapechange: The vampire can assume the shape of an animal roughly the same size as their original mass. The vampire can only change into one type of animal (usually a wolf, sometimes a large feline or a giant snake), usually one associated with their clan or the type of prey they most commonly feed on. The animal, while usually a spectacular example of their species, shows no signs to a mundane observer of being supernatural.
    • Fleshcrafting: Reshape the physical form of others. Amalgam: Dominate 2. Requires Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Vicissitude.
    • Visceral Absorption: The vampire's body turns into a semi-permeable vacuum that can absorb inert blood and viscera in the environment. Amalgam: Blood Sorcery 2.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [14]
    • Metamorphosis: This power grants an additional animal form to the user, this time also enabling them to change their size. Vampires most commonly metamorphose into bats, rats, unusually large insects, or snakes. Requires Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Shapechange.
    • Horrid Form: The vampires takes on a truly monstrous form. Amalgam: Dominate 2. Requires Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Vicissitude.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet [15]
    • Mist Form: The vampire gains the legendary power to turn into a cloud of mist, perceivable to the eye but untouchable by anything save fire, sunlight, and supernatural aggression. They can fit through pipes, crevices, and cracks. While strong winds might buffet them, no natural force can disperse the cloud.
    • The Unfettered Heart: Having mastered the power of Protean, the very insides of the user become malleable, almost viscous. The heart, seat of the vitae and unlife of the vampire, detaches and moves freely, if sluggishly, within the chest. This makes the vampire exceedingly hard to stake as the position of their heart changes nightly, and can even allow the user to free themselves from paralysis.
    • One with the Land: While melded to the earth, the vampire takes on a preternatural awareness of people, creatures, things, and events across the domain. Amalgam: Animalism 2. Requires Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Earth Meld.
    • The Heart of Darkness: this power enables a vampire to remove their own heart and store it outside their body. For as long as it is removed, the vampire is immune to staking attempts, unless a stake is driven through the removed heart. Amalgam: Fortitude 2

Gallery[]

VTES cards[]

References[]

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^  Level 1

Gleam of Red Eyes Vampire: The Masquerade Rulebook Pg. 102
Gleam of Red Eyes Vampire: The Masquerade Second Edition Pg. 167
Witness of Darkness Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 160
Eyes of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 173
Dolphin's Unsight Blood-Dimmed Tides Pg. 36
Witness of Darkness Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 205
Gleam of Red Eyes Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Eyes of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 199
Eyes of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 269
Weight of the Feather Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 269-270

^  Level 2

Wolf's Claws Vampire: The Masquerade Rulebook Pg. 102
Wolf Claws Vampire: The Masquerade Second Edition Pg. 167
Talons of the Beast Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 160
Feral Claws

Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition

Pg. 173
Phocidaean Webbing Blood-Dimmed Tides Pg. 36
Talons of the Beast Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 205
Feral Claws Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Feral Claws Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 199
Feral Weapons Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 270
Vicissitude Vampire: The Masquerade Companion Pg. 27

^  Level 3

Earth Meld

Vampire: The Masquerade Rulebook

Pg. 102
Earth Meld Vampire: The Masquerade Second Edition Pg. 167
Interred in the Earth Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 160
Earth Meld Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 173
Interred in the Earth Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 206
Will of the Wolf Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Earth Meld Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 199
Earth Meld Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 270
Shapechange Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 270-271
Fleshcrafting Vampire: The Masquerade Companion Pg. 27-28
Visceral Absorption Sabbat: The Black Hand

^  Level 4

Shadow of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade Rulebook Pg. 102
Shadow of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade Second Edition Pg. 168
Form of the Beast Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 160
Shape of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 174
Shape of the Beast Clanbook: Gangrel Revised Pg. 67
Form of the Beast Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 206
Hunter of Night Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Shape of the Beast Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 200
Metamorphosis Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 271
Horrid Form Vampire: The Masquerade Companion Pg. 28

^  Level 5

Mist Vampire: The Masquerade Rulebook Pg. 102
Form of Mist Vampire: The Masquerade Second Edition Pg. 168
Body of Spirit Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 161
Mist Form Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 174
Body of Spirit Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 206
War Form Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Mist Form Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 200
Mist Form Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 271
The Unfettered Heart Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook Pg. 271
One with the Land Vampire: The Masquerade Companion Pg. 28
The Heart of Darkness Cults of the Blood Gods Pg. 85

^  Level 6

Earth Control VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Flesh of Marble VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Fleash of Marble Laws of Elysium Pg. 70
Earth Control The Players Guide Second Edition Pg. 80
Flesh of Marble The Players Guide Second Edition Pg. 80
Adaptability Clanbook: Gangrel Pg. 37
Blissful Slumber Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 161
Mastery of the Earth Dark Ages Companion Pg. 90
Loki's Gift Libellus Sanguinis 3: Wolves at the Door Pg. 28
Earth Control Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 96
Flesh of Marble Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 97
Shape Mastery Clanbook: Gangrel Revised Pg. 69
Blissful Slumber Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 207
Proteus' Bane Players Guide to Low Clans Pg. 152
Earth Control Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 200
Flesh of Marble Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 201
Adaptation Vampire: The Dark Ages 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 242
Ephemeral Slumber Vampire: The Dark Ages 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 242
Lok's Gift Vampire: The Dark Ages 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 242
Reversion to the True Form Vampire: The Dark Ages 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 243
Blissful Slumber Lore of the Clans Pg. 87
Shape Mastery Lore of the Clans Pg. 87
Smoke and Mirrors Lore of the Clans Pg. 88

^  Level 7

Form of the Ghost VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Form of the Ghost Laws of Elysium Pg. 70
Homunculus VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Form of the Ghost

The Players Guide Second Edition

Pg. 80
Homunculus The Players Guide Second Edition Pg. 80
The Mantle of Bestial Majesty Dark Ages Companion Pg. 90
Revert the Beast Libellus Sanguinis 3: Wolves at the Door Pg. 28
Restore the Mortal Visage Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 97
Shape of the Beast's Wrath Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 98
Spectral Body Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 98
Animal Swarm Clanbook: Gangrel Revised Pg. 70
Turnabout Guide to the Anarchs Pg. 164
Form of the Bloodswarm Players Guide to Low Clans Pg. 152
Restore the Mortal Visage Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 201
Shape of the Beast's Wrath Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 202
Spectral Body Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 202
Death's Hidden Crawl

Vampire: The Dark Ages 20th Anniversary Edition

Pg. 243
Animal Swarm Lore of the Clans Pg. 88

^  Level 8

Movement of the Slowed Body VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Movement of the Slowed Body The Players Guide Second Edition Pg. 80
Purify the Body Dark Ages Companion Pg. 90
Purify the Impaled Breast Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 98
Mythic Form Clanbook: Gangrel Revised Pg. 71
Shape of the Inner Beast Players Guide to Low Clans Pg. 153
Purify the Impaled Beast Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 203
Mythic Form Lore of the Clans Pg. 88

^  Level 9

Dual Form VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Dual Form The Players Guide Second Edition Pg. 80
Inward Focus Guide to the Camarilla Pg. 98
Adaptation Players Guide to Low Clans Pg. 154
Inward Focus Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 203
Draught of Phoenix Blood Vampire: The Dark Ages 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 243

^  Level 10

Body of the Sun VTM: The Players Guide Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print! Pg. 84
Body of the Sun The Players Guide Second Edition Pg. 81
Plot Device Gehenna Pg. 182


Vampire: The Masquerade Disciplines
Animalism · Auspex · Blood Sorcery · Celerity · Dominate · Fortitude · Obfuscate · Oblivion · Potence · Presence · Protean · Thin-Blood Alchemy
Amalgams Chimerstry · Dementation · Obeah · Serpentis · Valeren · Vicissitude
Legacy Abombwe · Bardo · Chimerstry · Daimonion · Deimos · Dementation · Flight · Kai · Kineticism · Maleficia · Melpominee · Mytherceria · Nihilistics · Obeah · Obtenebration · Quietus · Rift · Sanguinus · Serpentis · Spiritus · Striga · Temporis · Thanatosis · Valeren · Vicissitude · Visceratika
Legacy Blood Magic Abyss Mysticism · Akhu · Thaumaturgical Countermagic · Dur-An-Ki · Mortis · Nahuallotl · Voudoun Necromancy · Western Necromancy · Ogham · Sadhana · Sihr · Thaumaturgy · Dark Thaumaturgy · Sielanic Thaumaturgy · Assamite Sorcery · Anarch Sorcery · Koldunic Sorcery · Setite Sorcery · Wanga
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