Expression
| Category: | Abilities |
| Subcategory: | Secondary Talent |
| Prerequisites: | None |
| Reference: | Vampire (Revised edition/WW2300), page 121. |
Expression is the art of getting your point across and inspiring with language and words, no matter what the medium. With a high Expression score, your email is just as eloquent as your carefully planned oration, and whether the information is true or not, people sit up and take notice of your words. Expression covers the creation of speeches, poetry, and other writing; it also governs the actual delivery of speeches (oratory), although for singing, music, and the like, a character needs Performance. Character with high Expression are a joy to listen to; their writing is a joy to read. Expression is often combined with Charisma or Wits for powerful effect.
Note: Expression is about language, be it verbal, body language, gestures, or other modes. It is the eloquence and grace of transmitting meaning and wonder through language to another person in a way that is captivating and compelling. It is not, however, about putting on a show — that would be in the realm of Performance. When a politician stands up to speak, it could be considered a performance of a kind; however, the aim is not usually to entertain, but rather to efficiently and persuasively transmit information.
x Untalented: You tend to stutter or stall when it comes to verbal expression, and have a lot of blocks when it comes to written. You are not incapable of Expressing yourself, but you have no talent or knack for doing it well. • Novice: Your talent has matured past crude poetry on notebook paper. •• Practiced: Fast-paced debates and word contests are not a problem. ••• Competent: You could make an easy living as a successful journalist or novelist. •••• Expert: Your writing could win international awards. ••••• Master: Peers everywhere praise the beauty and flow of your words, especially when you speak them aloud.
| Possessed by: | Storytellers, Writers, Poets, Politicians, Journalists, Instructors, Rabble-Rousers. |
| Example Specialties: | Rhetoric, Journalism, Writing, Poetry, Debate, Fast-Talk, Inspiring Speeches, Political Doubletalk, Public Speaking. |