Or: Looking for that special someone

Vampires, like humans, are creatures of habit. Whether it’s staying home and tending to the Ghouls, or wandering the fringes of the city patrolling for excitement, eventually all Kindred are going to develop patterns for their nightly survival. Paramount to this is the attainment of blood, which 9 times out of 10, will be coming from human beings.

So a big question you should be asking yourself is: what’s my character’s M.O.?

Modus Operandi

Your “mode of operation.” Thieves have it. Serial killers have it. Joe Normal has it (“I jog 2 miles every day!”). And Vampires have it in spades.

Often I’ve been involved in feeding scenes wherein the hungry Vampire shows up on the corner of Blah Street and Somewhere Avenue, and asks something to the effect of:

“Who do I see to feed on??”

The better question to ask yourself beforehand is “what does my character look for?”

For a pickpocket, an easy mark is someone who flashes cash too easily, or a woman who doesn’t wear her purse cross-ways.

What would a Vampire look for? What would your Vampire look for? Here are some things to consider:

Vulnerability

Physical weakness is always a plus when deciding on a victim. If they can’t effectively fight back, you’ll have a much easier time if your choice method is feeding via physical violence. And even if your character isn’t a powerhouse, preying on the physically weak is an inherent predatory instinct (think bullies, serial killers, and the UFC).

Isolation is also a big plus. Catching someone when they’re alone, or “guiding” them into being alone, allows for fewer chances of being seen, as well as fewer ears to hear any screams you might end up causing.

But vulnerability could also mean social vulnerability: wallflower at the local club? I little Presence and a few flattering words could turn that “shrinking violet” into one hot blood doll. Hello Herd background!

Location

Where’s a good place to find a victim? Unless you’re looking for trouble, the first answer should be “Either in The Rack or my Clan’s Domain.” /nudge

But in general, victims are everywhere: clubs, grocery stores, street corners, churches, etc. The trick isn’t so much where you find them, but where you go to feed from them.

Feeding from a mugging victim (either yours or someone else’s) in a dark alley might work once in a while, but that’s still very much out in the open, and a very big risk.

Luring someone into the back of your limo with the fully tinted windows, and being able to pass off any appearance of “attack” as just “lust” makes the situation far less risky.

“Better safe than sorry” is a credo that should always be on the mind of the Kindred wary of Masquerade breaches, if not their very existence in the long run.

Personal Preference

On this subject, the Ventrue don’t need to think about it: what they feed on is all they can feed on. But even if you’re not playing a Clan with such a restriction, and/or possess no Flaws that would impart something similar, that doesn’t mean your character doesn’t have a favorite target:

- Maybe your character first looks out for overweight persons, on the thinking that they’ve got more than enough blood in them than “regular” people, a little loss won’t be as apparent

- Maybe the elderly are something you try and avoid, mainly because of the risk of overwhelming their frail hearts with The Kiss, and leaving lots of dead Grandmas lying around

- Maybe the elderly are a group you prefer: if something does go wrong, and they do pass away, it might be easier to your sense of Humanity that “well, they lived a full life; they were going to die soon anyway…”

- Maybe you see a particular group as “deserving of the pleasure of the Kiss,” and you “benevolently” give it to them. Conversely, maybe there’s a subset of the population your character sees as “deserving of victimization,” and thus you prey upon them. Look to your character’s background for things that might justify those kinds of choices

And there are countless other options that may arise with your character. Consider your character’s concept, their Nature/Demeanor, and the reality of their situation as to what types of people they might consider giving “most favored dinner” status to.

Final Thoughts

In the end, whether you’re trying to get from one side of town to the other, prepare for an earthquake, or arrange a wedding, (un)life becomes far easier if you go into the situation with a plan.

This might sound boring or tedious to do, but it doesn’t have to be at all.

Have fun with it; make it a part of your character. The “where’s” and “how’s” of your character’s feeding and hunting habits are just as much a reflection of your character as is their political leanings.

Leaping from the shadows at a passing jogger, like some lion upon an antelope? Or seducing the hottie at the club to spend some time with you in the bathroom stall?

What kind of Vampire are you, anyway?