With this merit, you may teach up to your current level of any Attribute, Skill, Discipline, or Merit your character possesses to other characters with Storyteller approval. To get storyteller approval, you and your student will need to submit a scene (write ups, chat log, or e-mail conversations work) describing the learning process. Additionally, the teacher cannot pass on a higher level of the subject than her level of Instruction.

Every downtime (up to two) spent Instructing a pupil allows the instructor to make a Intelligence, Manipulation, Presence, or Wits + Instruction roll. In order for the student to benefit from this tutelage, the instructor must first get a number of successes equal to 5 - student's Intelligence. Once that number has been reached, she starts reducing the cost by 1xp per additional success for her student towards the purchase. At the end of each month, the student can purchase the Trait they are being trained in at the reduced cost (if applicable).

Once a trait is learned, if the student wishes to learn the next level of the trait, then the Instructor must start from scratch. For example, if the student learns Occult 3 from his Instructor, and then wants to learn Occult 4, the Instructor must meet the requirements, and then begin the rolls again, including overcoming the students 5 - intelligence barrier again.

The cost of purchasing a Trait can never be reduced by more than half of the actual cost, rounded down if necessary, by this Merit.

Studies require a substantial amount of downtime, and so you can only benefit from one Instructor per month. Instructors may benefit a total number of students per downtime equal to their Composure, and a number of subjects equal to their Resolve. Please note, you can teach any number of students, but they will not get the benefit from the Instruction xp cost reduction if you are teaching too many people at the same time. In short, Instruction represents private tutoring.

Having a qualified instructor (ie with the merit at or above the level of the discipline being taught) reduces the amount of time it takes to learn the discipline by 1 DT, to a minimum of 1 DT. For example, if you are learning a Auspex 3 Out of Clan from an Instructor, then it will take you only 3 downtimes to learn instead of the normal 4. Similarly, if you are learning Dominate 4 In Clan from an Instructor, then it will take you 3 downtimes to learn instead of the usual 4.

No willpower may be expended on this roll when learning from a mentor (though willpower may used when teaching other PCs).

Please note, you can only learn from one instructor (and gain bonuses) at a time. Also, you don't need to have Instruction to teach another character something, but having Instruction gives them a bonus.

The cost for instruction is negotiated between the student and teacher, but a basic layout for pricing can be found here: http://www.venturebynight.com/boons.shtml.

Mentors are assumed to have this merit, but you must ask if they can teach you something. For example, you cannot assume your Mentor has level 5 Majesty, you have to ask them for their assistance in before you begin training. In such cases, you should submit the request as "I request that Mentor X teach me Level Y of Z." For example, "Mason requests that Bishop Cathar teach him Level 4 of Theban Sorcery." My ST would then decide whether Bishop Cathar had Theban Sorcery 4, and what cost Mason will have to pay.

You can also try to negotiate with your Mentor on the cost. To do so, include the price you want to pay (which can only ever be one step lower than the actual cost). Your ST will roll (Wits or Manipulation + Persuasion + Equipment) for you and your Mentor, and the first person to achieve 10 successes sets the price one level lower (if you win) or one level higher (if your mentor wins). Your ST then tells you what the price will be.

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