As the Claws of the Wild are supernaturally enhanced and inflict aggravated damage, mundane objects are always considered durability 0 vs the claws (Core Rules, p 135, under ‘Durability’). While it would be reasonable to expect this to have some combat effect, White Wolf neglected to explicitly assign an AP rating to the claws, and this has yet to be errata’d. This devotion integrates the Claws of the Wild into the AP mechanic and adds a bit of covenant flavor.

It should be noted that in some cases, it may be more effective to attack and destroy the armor, and then proceed to target the person wearing it. Worn armor is likely to have a Structure rating within a point or two of it’s Size (less for flexible armor, more for rigid protection).

[would like to box the above 2 grafs, not sure how to do that]

Nomads: multiple names, usually in the form “Claws of the [Wolf]”
Protean •••, Vigor •, BP 2 or more
Cost: 1 vitae per scene (Claws of the wild must already be active)
Dice pool: none
Action: Reflexive

This devotion grants the Claws of the Wild an AP rating equal to the character’s dots in Vigor.

This version of the devotion is commonly known by Nomad Gangrel, any Gangrel will be able to find a teacher with a bit of looking- although payment will be expected.

Several Covenants have developed variations on this devotion.

Carthians: multiple names, usually in the form “[Iron] Claws”
Protean •••, Vigor ••, BP 2 or more
Cost: 1 vitae per scene (Claws of the wild must already be active)
Dice pool: none
Action: Reflexive

18 xp

The Carthian variant adds an additional die to the attack rating of the claws in addition to granting an AP rating equal to Vigor dots.

There are rumors of Carthians who have taken the devotion literally, and know versions of the devotion that will actually transform the claws into metal. Other Carthians dismiss these rumors as wild tales. If true, this effect is strictly cosmetic and has no effect on game mechanics, the claws do aggravated damage regardless of their composition.

Crone: Claws of Fenris
Protean •••, Vigor •••, BP 2 or more
Cost: 1 vitae per scene (Claws of the wild must already be active)
Dice pool: none
Action: Reflexive

21 xp

The Crone variant adds one automatic success so long as at least one success is rolled. Learning this devotion requires the character to have ingested Lupine blood that was within the body of a living Lupine within one minute prior to ingestion- yes, it is acceptable to kill the lupine and then feed on it’s corpse.

Sanctified: Claws of the Ishim
Protean •••, Vigor ••, BP 2 or more
Cost: 1 vitae per scene (Claws of the wild must already be active)
Dice pool: none
Action: Reflexive

18 xp

The Sanctified variant grants the Claws of the Wild the ability to inflict harm on insubstantial twilight entities. The Sanctified must use some other power (normally Auspex) to detect and locate the entity. This devotion is quite rare, requiring one non-Clan discipline to learn and a second to use effectively.

The Ordo Dracul variations are somewhat different from the other covenants- they are not devotions per se, but enhancements to the basic devotion caused by infusing the vampiric form with energy from a Wyrm’s Nest via a crucible ritual. The process is known as ‘integration’, and refers to how the devotion produces additional effects depending on which Coils the Dragon has. While it might be possible to achieve similar results without drawing on the crucibles, this approach suits the Dragons, as it allows members of the covenant to be enhanced without the one enhanced being able to share the details of how it was done with outsiders. The rituals necessary to achieve these effects are usually known to the Kogaion and senior Sworn of the Axe. Unlike the Coil rituals, sharing this knowledge with outsiders is not an automatic death sentence, but it is cause for exceptionally unpleasant punishments.

Drake’s Talons
Protean •••, Vigor •, Resolve ••, BP 2 or more,
Cost: 1
Dice pool: none
Action: Reflexive

The basic effect is identical to the nomad devotion- the claws gain an AP rating equal to the character’s dots in Vigor.

Additional effects may be purchased based on which Coils the character has.

Coil of Blood: By integrating Blood Seeps Slowly with the Drake’s Talons, the vitae spent to activate the Claws of the Wild is used efficiently enough to also activate the Drake’s Talons- if the Claws are active, they gain the AP rating with no additional expenditure of vitae. +3 xp.

Coil of the Beast: By integrating Chastise the Beast with the Drake’s Talons, the character can downgrade the damage inflicted by the Claws of the Wild from Aggravated to Lethal for the scene by spending a point of willpower. If the character wishes to revert to Aggravated damage, he must end the Claws of the Wild and re-activate the power at the usual cost. +3 xp

Invictus: generally consider fighting with claws uncouth at best and have not developed a covenant-specific refinement. Some have discreetly learned the nomad variant, and a very few have either learned a covenant variation before becoming Invictus, or have blackmailed members of other covenants into teaching them their secrets.

Brood
Aeshma’s Blessing
Protean •••, Vigor ••, BP 2 or more, special
Cost: 1 vitae per scene (Claws of the wild must already be active)
Dice pool: none
Action: Reflexive
18 xp

Nomads who joined the brood brought their knowledge with them, and one of the demons saw an opportunity to bind his servants even more tightly while increasing the mayhem and chaos they create.

A brood may spend a willpower point to cause their claws to visibly burn with the flames of the inferno for the scene. Kindred struck by the burning claws must check Rötschreck at a penalty equal to wound levels inflicted by the attack. If the attack misses, the Rötschreck check must still be made, at a -0 penalty. These flames do not harm the brood, nor do they inspire Rötschreck in anyone other than the person attacked that turn.

It is rumored that this devotion requires the vampire to have consumed the ichor of a demon that embodies Wrath. The truth of this rumor is unknown, as are the effects of ingesting demonic ichor on kindred.