r/WhiteWolfRPG • u/DolanMcRoland • 3d ago

VTM5 How does the merit Sympathetic Bond work?

I'm creating my first character ever and I stumbled upon the merit Sympathetic Bond. For the low low price of 5 points, I read my character develops their blood bonds two ways, effectively binding the vampire they're regnant to to themselves. Question is? What then?

I separately read about blood bonds and they look like a pretty heavy obligation, if not a plain burden. So, what happens when two vampires are bound to each other? Who has the upper hand in controlling who? Do they constantly seek each other because of the bond?

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19

u/remithemonkey 3d ago

Toxic interdependance with fangs and a habbit for murder.

Yeah, its not great. But it beats being a one way bond slave !

9

u/JadeLens 3d ago

It's a forced supernatural love.

They would likely seek each other out indeed.

7

u/hangedman1984 3d ago

Imagine the most toxic, codependent relationship ever to exit, that's what two vamps mutually blood-bonded to each other looks like.

6

u/CraftyAd6333 3d ago

Behold codependency!

6

u/Orpheus_D 3d ago

This is a strictly Malkavian merit, please note. Unless V5 generalised it for some bizzare reason.

I am saying that because it seems to have some connection to the Malkavian's general weirdness.

In short; if both have all the information, the person with the higher willpower does simply by the fact that they can resist for longer. But in general, they are much more pleasant than onesided bonds as there's a lot less manipulation.

4

u/ArtymisMartin 3d ago

Thanks for clarifying: I couldn't find it anywhere in VtM5 and thought I was going mad ... which in context is kinda accurate I guess.