New Character!

(This is a post describing my new character for Vampire. The story starts wed, but i want to get a head start on stepping into my characters shoes. Bellow i'll describe a little bit about who my character is, and what the dots mean.)

Name - James Crawford / James comes from a small family based out of New York. Most of his relatives and close family live in new York, and both his mother and father are buried there. He had one brother, but he died the year before James was embraced, killed by an unlucky car accident.

Concept - Ace Detective / Became a police officer right out of high school. Even as a rookie he had an edge and intelligence to him that made him a cut above the rest. He's well respected among his peers for getting promoted to Detective instead of having it handed to him due to a college degree. He's known as a bit of a hot head, and more than a few people think he's nothing but a sexist asshole, but no one he works with would deny him the credit of being an outstanding detective, doing whatever it takes to give his cases some form of closure.

Defining Virtue - Justice / Its what prompted him to be an officer in the first place. To get the bad guys. "Getting" the bad guys takes on a whole new aspect these days, but the reasons and practices are the same. People suffer. Someone has to pay.

Defining Vice - Wrath / Although he's use to getting called out, shot at, and verbally assaulted, James has a fairly high tolerance for the standard bullshit. Unfortunately, when his threshold is reached people have been known to take extended visitations to local hospitals.

Clan - Gangrel / As a vampire James has a whole new set of issues to deal with. At one time he could stare at a crime scene for hours on end trying to find out what was missing. These days his thoughts wander more, he can grow bored or angry if he's confined for too long, and his concentration has suffered. One thing he's noted however, is that his gut instincts seem to be getting better. Being a vampire hasnt hurt his abilities as a detective yet, but ever so slowly he's finding gaps in his abilities that werent there before. Where his vampiric life takes the remnants of his mortal life is still a question that he cant answer, though he still clings to his mortal contacts and job, using it to ground himself so that underlying voice and menace in his new soul doesnt overwhelm him.

Statistics - Dots and what they mean - Attributes
-Mentally James is not exactly a powerhouse. He's not dumb, he's not slow minded, he's just average. His mental resolve however carries him through. Even if he's not always the fastest thinker, or sharpest mind in the room, he is the most patient, and he will stay until he gets his answers.
-Physically James is pretty impressive. He's not as fast as he used to be, but he still keeps himself in shape. He's no hulk, but he's got natural strength and fortitude that take him well above the standard soft fat citizen of his city.
-Socially he's neither better nor worse than the next guy. He has his brilliant social moments, like his first wedding, as well as his brilliant social cluster fucks, like his first divorce. One thing he does have a bit above the rest is his ability to keep his cool. He has a fairly good cushion for bullshit, and doesnt get flustered or frightened easily, however, when he does lose his cool, thats another story completely.

Statistics - What the Dots mean - Skills
-He has very little in the way of mental skills, not really paying attention in school, and learning most of his lessons the old fashioned way. One thing he has a nack for, and something that is both trained and learned, is his ability to investigate crimes, puzzles, or most things clue related. His mind is great at putting pieces together, not only in crimes, but things as simple as puzzles or games. Although many think its due to nothing but talent, truth be told he took classes in criminology and various other classes on forensic and criminal investigation to get to the point he is today. In a crime scene, there are few more experienced or professional.
-His physical skills are a bit more practiced than his mental ones. He grew up in areas just close enough to the bad neighborhoods that he had to fight on a weekly basis, but just far enough away that he never got shot. He learned to punch, and he was pretty competent and powerful body shots or hay makers that could take someone down, or at least fuck him up enough to give james and his friends long enough to run. As he got older he kept himself in pretty good physical health, running regularly and lifting weights when he could. As a police officer he also trained himself to use various fire arms, at least to some proficiency. He hasnt been in too many fire fights, but he keeps himself well trained for those rare instances when theres no other way, and a strong arm just isnt enough.
-Socially James has a couple of suprises. One, he's good with animals, one of his first assignments was to be part of a Canine unit. This stint didnt last too long, but he learned enough to love the critters, buying his first Canine partner when it was ready to retire. He buys retired dogs from the department from time to time, and currently has two of them in his apartment that he cares for. Not suprisingly is his ability to handle people on the streets. He knows the lingo, knows the bullshit, and knows hot to cut the chase and get right to business. Growing up around some of the seedier streets of the city has given him a healthy understanding of the people he tends to investigate. His biggest asset is his ability of sheer intimidation. He carries himself well, he's got the no bullshit attitude, and he has a short temper when pressed, plus he's not afraid to muscle a guy up a bit to get some answers. This last ability has helped him on investigations, and its something he's gotten down to a near science.

Statistics - What the dots mean - Merits
- James has an amazing amount of clout in the department. Most people know his name, and the people in higher power are so impressed by his progress that they tend to overlook or bury some of the seedier aspects of him getting the job done. People owe him favors, lots of people. He can call for reinforcements, a quick background check, and basic equipment with a simple phone call, but if he really pulls some favors he could bring hell down on some poor bastard, or at least get himself out of some serious shit. Most other detectives know him as well, and they never mind when he comes poking his nose around a crime scene or case, even if it isnt his.
- James actually does pretty well with his money. Alot of it is due to his friends in the force knowing more about investing than he does. Regardless he can afford a pretty nice apartment, up to date clothes and peripherals, and still have a good handfull of cash for a night on the town.
-James knows people besides the police, he can lean on the right punks or thugs to find out some information about the bigger fish. He's cultivated these contacts over the years, but it will never be the information net that gangs and criminals themselves can get there hands on, still, its a nice way to get a quick lead.

Statistics - What the dots mean - Disciplines
James is pretty new to the whole vampire thing, but is finally put his mind around it. Being a vampire also means he's dealing with a whole new set of assholes. Some of these guys are nothing but hidden monsters, some of them are visible monsters, and some of them are just pretending not to be monsters. Following his desires, his blood created ways to make him feel safe, secure, and capable of protecting himself, and defending others in this entirely new and horrific world. He found himself capable of intimidating his peers, and when those around him cowered at the sight of some of these more powerful monsters, he was capable of steeling himself, and looking at these creatures without one shred fear. Almost as a reflex his blood allowed him to meld with dirt or earth around him, this was probably due in part to the fact that his mentor and creator was pretty much worthless as far as a teacher went, and his blood devoloped a way to protect him on its own. Finally, his blood and will developed a weapon known and feared by other clans. Black, glassy claws that were about the sharpest and deadliest weapons James had ever seen. He hasnt used them, but he feels safe now that he has them, knowing that he can harm his enemies, and defend his allies.


Ok, thats my basic profile. I'll post more, but not some of the most detailed information, as this is a vampire game, which means secrets are everything. =)