Vampire Character Creator (Masquerade, Dark Ages, V20 Dark Ages)
Giovanni Clan Guide (V5)
Giovanni, Gilded bones, counted coin; is one of the lineages players reach for when a chronicle needs a specific tone on the very first night. In Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition, clan defines your in-clan Disciplines (Auspex, Fortitude, Oblivion), the bane that never stops reminding you that the Embrace was a curse, and the compulsion that surfaces when the Beast pushes back. Giovanni, Gilded bones, counted coin. This guide is written for Storytellers planning Session Zero and players comparing clans before opening the Darkness Weaver character creator. If your table runs 20th Anniversary rules instead, read the Giovanni V20 clan guide for classic Discipline spreads and clan weakness wording.
Lore and chronicle tone
Giovanni in the chronicle
Kindred society reads clan before name. A neonate's lineage tells princes whom to invite, whom to suspect, and which boons feel plausible. Giovanni culture is not a costume: elders expect certain postures, rivals exploit known reputations, and coteries notice when you break stereotype. Use published lore as pressure, not a straitjacket. A gentle Giovanni or a ruthless one can both be valid if the table agrees on the emotional cost. Sect matters as much as clan: Camarilla politeness, Anarch grudges, and independent feeding grounds change how your curse shows up in play.
Personal horror and the Requiem
V5 treats clan as ongoing personal horror. Your bane is not a footnote on the sheet; it is a scene generator. The Painful Kiss: Hecata Family Reunion: feeding deals blood loss only; mortals recoil unless Sta + Resolve Diff 2 + Bane Severity. Compulsions arrive when Hunger rises or when the story hits the clan's nerve. Build toward moments where the lineage makes the character smaller, not larger: the feeding restriction that ruins a truce, the obsession that freezes you at the wrong time, the mark on the body that whispers Masquerade risk. Giovanni players who lean into the curse often find richer stories than players who treat Disciplines as a combat loadout alone.
Rules and creation flow
In-clan Disciplines at creation
Giovanni grants Auspex, Fortitude, Oblivion as in-clan Disciplines. At character creation you choose two of the three, assign two dots to one Discipline and one dot to the other, and pick one power per dot from those Disciplines. Powers with amalgam prerequisites may require dots in a second in-clan Discipline first; the Darkness Weaver wizard validates spreads against your clan and flags illegal picks before export. For your first five sessions, prioritize Disciplines that solve social problems, investigation, or escape; not only damage; unless the chronicle is explicitly combat-forward.
Bane, compulsion, and sheet export
Your clan bane: The Painful Kiss: Hecata Family Reunion: feeding deals blood loss only; mortals recoil unless Sta + Resolve Diff 2 + Bane Severity. The compulsion is the behavioral trigger tied to your Beast; expect it more often than your third Discipline option. Record both on the dossier so your Storyteller can call for rolls or narrative beats when the curse fits. Predator type, Touchstones, and Convictions still drive nightly play, but clan tells the table which disasters feel on-theme. Export a sheet-aligned PDF after creation so chronicle packets stay synchronized with the wizard.
Storyteller and player tips
Storyteller and player tips
At Session Zero, read the Giovanni bane aloud and name one elder who expects clan loyalty. Players: if you are torn between two clans, pick the compulsion you want to roleplay. Storytellers: offer one scene where Giovanni reputation opens a door and one where it closes it. Link to the full Vampire V5 clans guide for coterie-wide comparisons, then return here when a player locks Giovanni.
Frequently asked questions
What Disciplines do Giovanni have in V5?
Giovanni has Auspex, Fortitude, Oblivion as in-clan Disciplines in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition.
What is the Giovanni clan bane in V5?
The Painful Kiss: Hecata Family Reunion: feeding deals blood loss only; mortals recoil unless Sta + Resolve Diff 2 + Bane Severity.
Is Giovanni good for new players in V5?
Giovanni works for newcomers if the player wants the compulsion and bane in play. Read the chronicle tone first: political tables, action tables, and personal horror tables all stress different clans.
Can I create a Giovanni character in Darkness Weaver?
Yes. Open the Vampire V5 character creator, select Giovanni, and export a sheet-aligned PDF with validated Disciplines, bane, and compulsion fields.