Who's the puppet, and who's pulling the strings?

Trying to play a Malkavian character is a very tricky thing. Portraying someone whose mindset is extremely different from your own presents a number of problems. Fortunately, we're here to help. And remember: have a little fun while you're at it.

You may wish to take a look at the Malkavian Nature page or the Storytelling Malkavians page.

Some possible derangements for your character.

Some Malkavian Templates. Also, a word from Daniel Greenberg about why the templates in the Clanbook don't have Derangements.

From Visitant, a list of Merits and Flaws from the White Wolf literature which are particularly applicable to Malkavians.

How to Play Malkavians

• Focus on other sides than the derangement
• Frenzy
• General hints on playing Malkavians.
  • by Pavel R.
  • by Marie Terese
  • by Anonymi (LARP-oriented)
• Malkavians and syphillis, by Visitant
• Malkavians as Tragedy, not Comic Relief
• On The Purpose of Malkavians
  • Thunderfoot
  • Brendan T. Morgan
  • Christopher Beatiie
  • merlin*
  • Justin T. Calvaneso
• Playing a Malkavian with subtlety
• Playing a Malkavian neonate (and survival tips for those who didn't listen)
• An online quiz that can help you figure out how you map to the archetypes in the Second Edition Clanbook.
• Concepts for Malkavian dueling, from Visitant

  Getting Insanity Right

  • Imagine, which probably wasn't meant as a role-playing guide, but serves as one anyway.
  • Malkavian 'subtle wrongness': a Tabletop Guide
  • Playing MPD
  • Borrowing an idea from Wraith
  • A thread from alt.games.whitewolf about playing an insane character:
    • Part 1
    • Part 2
    • Part 3

  LARP-specific

  • Jason's Not-So-Stupid LARP Tricks for Clan Malkavian
  • Language Lessons for LARPs. Highly recommended for anyone concerned with keeping the Masquerade.
  • Malkavian 'subtle wrongness': a LARP guide

  The Malkavian Madness Network

  • Thoughts from Mr. Badger
  • Marauders and the Madness Network
  • The Network and Malkav's Curse
  • Peg Leg Pete's House Rules
  • Merits and Flaws related to the Cobweb
  • Thoughts on Malkavian Time

  Stupid Discipline Tricks

  • Dementation
  • Mosquitoes: A stupid Animalism trick.
  • Ideograms for low-level Dementation. Very odd. It makes sense when you read it, though.
  • Vicissitude

Dealing With Poorly Played Malkavians

• Fluffy Malkavian Playing, thoughts on
  • Cliff Goodman
  • Jason Corley
  • Geoffrey Brent
  • Andrew Lucas
  • Christopher Landmark
• How to Pick an Inappropriate Derangement
• The Malkavian Misconception, by The MPD Malk.
• Munchkins: Avoid the trait.
• A Use for FishMalks (FishMalks being the type of Malkavian who think that insanity involves hitting people with trout.)

An ASCII V:TM Character Sheet. Personally, I recommend the PDF version.

Is it viable to play a Malkavian in a story, where the malk's random desires can end up pulling the group completely off track?

• Elizabeth
• The Livewire

Recuiting for the Sabbat (Doesn't really belong here, but I can't think of anywhere else it would fit better.)

What to do when your DM's a prick

A word on the game and generation