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Merits and Flaws

Actor
2 Point Flaw; Requires Music 1 and Performance 2; Grants -3 Temporary Status and Music (One Additional)
The character has been a performer for some time. Performers are required to be able to do many different kinds of performance, from traditional Greek Tragedies (which women can't take part in) to comic pantomimes and mimes to musical performances at private parties. Those who had appeared on stage were forbidden from holding public office, this was a profession of the middle and (especially) lower classes. As such the character is likely not educated formally.

Artisan
1 Point Flaw; Requires Crafts 2; Grants -1 Temporary Status and Crafts (One Additional)
The character has been a craftsmen for some time. Though the character may be quite good at what they do, art is seen as merely decorative in the Roman age, not as an important element of culture. So a skilled artist may be in demand to decorate the finest houses, but their employers would never dream of actually speaking to them.

Centurion
2 Point Merit; Requires Intimidation 1, Leadership 2 and Melee (Gladius) 2; Grants +1 Temporary Status and Melee (Javelin)
The character has served in the legions for long enough, or has a powerful enough family, that he has been made a Centurion. A Centurion actually commands more than 100 men, around 200, and they are the most important non-aristocratic officer in the army. The rank is probably equiviilant to the United States Army's rank of Major. A very few Centurions can rise up the ranks to lead a legion. Despite their low birth they are accorded some respect by the martially oriented aristocratic class. There is basically no way a woman could hold this role. Because of their low birth, a character with this merit would not be formally educated.

Cult Initiate
1 Point Merit; Requirements Cult Specific; Grants Occult, [Specific Religion] Lore
The character has been a member of a cult. This generic merit should be made more specific by collaboration between the player and storyteller. See the Mithrean Initiate Merit for an example. It is quite possible that the character's membership extends into their unlife, and is represented by some combination of Allies, Contacts, Influence and Resources, as well as a high Occult and [Specific Religion] Lore score.

Engineer
1 Point Merit; Requires Intelligence 2; Grants Natural Philosophy and Crafts (Stonework)
The character has worked with some Roman engineering projects in the past, either as an assistant or a leader. This is obviously the intellectual parts of engineering, not the stone lifting parts that slaves do. Someone with the Greek Education merit could fill the same practical role, this merit represents training that occurred on the job, without any formal background. Typical Roman engineering projects include building and repairing roads, aqueducts, amphitheaters, theaters, and baths. The work can be funded privately or by the state, but there is always work to be done.

Gladiator
1 Point Merit; Requires Melee (Gladius) 3; Grants -1 Temporary Status and Melee (All)
The character has been a gladiator for some time. A gladiator learns to fight with all sorts of weapons, from dire necessity. The gladiator theoretically suffers from the same sort of social stigma that an actor does, but the great popularity of the games mitigates this to a large degree, even with the aristocracy and the vampires. A gladiator likely has some Fame, and they automatically gain the Slave flaw for no points, though it does not effect their Status anymore than it is already reduced by this merit.

Greek Education
3 Point Merit; Requires Academics 1, Music (Lyre) 1 and Performance 2; Grants +1 Temporary Status, Academics, Chirurgy, Etiquette, Finance, Law, Natural Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics, and Music (Flute)
The character was formally educated in the Greek style. The character was likely educated in a public school in a Greek city-state, of which there are many all over the Mediterranian. This education is based on the teachings of Homer, as well as learning rhetoric and the lyre. Characters educated in this style will likely have an Academics and Performance of 3, and have eight or more points in the Abilities this merit grants. A character educated in this style cannot also be educated in the Roman style.

Freed Gladiator
3 Point Merit, Requires Fame 3 and Melee (Gladius) 3; Grants +1 Temporary Status and Melee (All)
The character has been a gladiator, and won his or her freedom. Like an ordinary gladiator, they have extensive experience with all sorts of weapons. The gladiator is subject to the same restrictive laws that an actor is, but their popularity mitigates this to a large degree. With this merit the Gladiator is considered to have the Formal Freeman flaw for no points, though it does not effect their Status. A freed gladiator may continue to fight in the games if he or she desires, this becomes difficult after the embrace though.

Legionnaire
1 Point Merit; Requires Melee (Gladius) 2; Grants Melee (Javelin)
The character has served in a legion as a common soldier. They would have been extensively trained with the gladius and shield in addition to the thrown javelin. The character is definitely from the lower classes, and so would not be formally educated. A woman could not have been a legionare. In the strictest definition, a Legionare would have the Roman Citizenship merit, a character that did not would have served in the auxiliary legions.

Mithrean Initiate
1 Point Merit; Requires Strength 2, Stamina 2 and Courage 3; Grants Mithrean Lore, Occult
The character has been a member of the Cult of Mithras. This serves as an example of an expansion of the Cult Initiate merit. It is quite possible that the character's membership extends into their unlife, and is represented by some combination of Allies, Contacts, Influence and Resources, as well as a high Occult and Mithrean Lore score.

Roman Education
3 Point Merit; Requires Academics 1, Melee (Mounted Spear) 2, Performance 2 and Ride 2; Grants +2 Temporary Status, Academics, Etiquette, Finance, Law, Philosophy, Politics, Melee (Gladius), and Melee (Javelin)
The character was formally educated in the Roman style. The character was likely educated by a private tutor at home. It is quite likely this tutor was Greek, but he or she would have been teaching in the Roman style. This education is based on the learning rhetoric and the great works of Greek and Roman literature. Characters educated in this style will likely have a Performance of 3, and have six or more points in the Abilities this merit grants. The character certainly has the Roman Citizenship merit. A character educated in this style cannot also be educated in the Greek style.

Specialist
2 Point Merit; Requires a rating of 2 in the Ability the specialization will be in; Grants an additional specialization in one ability.
For whatever reason, the character has an extra specialization in an ability. Come up with a story reason for why this is the case. This merit may be taken multiple times. Power gamers should note that this merit is always more expensive than purchasing a specialization in a preexisting package.

State Priest
2 Point Merit; Requires Academics 2; Grants +2 Temporary Status, Occult and State Religion Lore
The character has been appointed to some local priestly position

Unusual Ability
2 Point Merit; Requires nothing; Grants freedom to advance in any one Ability.
For whatever reason, the character can advance in an Ability he or she normally would not be able to. Come up with a story reason for why this is the case. This merit may be taken multiple times. Power gamers should note that this merit is always more expensive than purchasing advancement in an Ability in a preexisting package.

Well Traveled
1 Point Merit; Requires Linguistics 1; Grants Etiquette (One Additional)
The character has traveled to one area extensively. As such, he or she is familiar with local customs. Certain Etiquette specializations cannot be gained by this merit without storyteller approval, like Etiquette (Carthage) (as Carthage has been destroyed). It should go without saying that the Linguistics requirement is meant to force the character to know the local tounge before taking this merit.

Formal Freedman
1 Point Flaw
The character was a slave in life, and was formally manumuted by his or her master. Formal manumision means the master payed a modest fee and filled out some paperwork for the government. The children of a formally manumuted freedman will be citizens. Characters who were slaves until their embrace should take the slave flaw, the vampiric community knows how easy it is to force a master to free a supernatural "slave".

Illiterate
2 Point Flaw
Unlike most people in the Romanized world, the character can not read or write. This can make interacting with Roman bueracracy difficult, and means the character will not be as aware of local events, which are often advertised with graffiti. This can be bought off with a year or two of study and 5 experience points.

Informal Freedman
2 Point Flaw
The character was a slave in life, and was informally manumuted by his or her master. Informally manumission means the master freed the slave at a small gathering of friends, in front of a certain number of witnesses. The children of an informally manumuted freedman will be slaves of the former master. Characters who were slaves until their embrace should take the slave flaw, the vampiric community knows how easy it is to force a master to free a supernatural "slave".

Roman Citizenship
2 Point Merit
The character was born or made a roman citizen during his or her life. Most characters are born Roman citizens. At this period that means they were the child of Italians or the child of those who gained citizenship later in life. There are only a few ways to gain citizenship. Service to the army for a long period of time can often mean that, when they are released, the legionares are granted citizenship as well. The native leaders of locally governed towns in Roman Provinces are also granted citizenship. Finally a person may gain the special favor of the emperor or the senate who can grant citizenship.

Slave
3 Point Flaw
The character was a slave in life, and was never freed before their embrace. Slaves are most commonly captured in battle, either as a direct result of Roman campaigns, or those who are captured by other governments and sold to Roman buyers. Most slaves serve as common laborers, but Greek educated slaves are in high demand as teachers, scribes, or seneshals. Someone who is a slave may also have been born into the role, if their mother was an informal freedwoman or a slave. Slavery is the bottom or the Roman social ladder, and slaves are generally not considered fit to become Kindred.

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