Strategy: The Order To Get Powers In

As one might expect, there's a specific order powers should be gotten in to maximize your vampire's further power-gaining efficiency. The following is, to the best of my knowledge, exactly that order. (Note that not all clans in the city (e.g. the Splinters of Dusk's Eventide sub-clan) will allow you to aspire to this order).

1. Thievery - It may seem so insignificant, but the first real power you have to aquire in the game under no circumstances should be anything but Thievery. Financing yourself solely via mugged humans is beyond insufficient to gain powers... in several months of playing, my vampire gained 30 000 coins via humans, which was just enough to pay for Suction and Surprise,... instead, invested in Thievery, I made 30 000 coins in less than three weeks back in 2005. The gain has nearly halfed since I last played, but it's still essential. [spent: 17 000 coins]

(Historic note: Back in 2005, Surprise was #2. These days, it's really not that important anymore, much less essential. Sadface.)

2. Stamina
and
3. Suction - Deplete your blood as much as you can with Stamina (at this point, you will likely be able to afford both Stamina(1) and Stamina(2) - 1 500 bloodpoints worth), and then go to get Suction. The Immolators Guilds are pretty self-sufficient this way, as once you've gotten Suction the easy way because of your depleted bloodpoints, you can bite your way up to the remaining 1 500 bloodpoints needed (if applicable!) at double the previous speed. (Well, just under double, really, but that's details.) [spent: 33 000 coins, 3 000 blood]

(Historic note: Before the triad of Sprint Potions, Scrolls of Succour and Scrolls of Displacement made it a senseless investment of time, Charisma used to be here to let you buy Scrolls of Teleportation as cheaply as possible (and get directions to the nearest shop as cheaply as possible, too) in case your Celerity quest was hard on you.)

4. Celerity - Celerity is the worst quest in Ravenblack City. Let your actionpoints recharge to the point where your Stamina'ed AP gauge is full, and then buy the power with a mass of action point reserves, and you're likely good to go. Oh, and, Surprise's pricelessness is rather clear at this point. [spent: 62 500 (+21) coins, 3 000 blood]

5. (Second-Sight - if you've not donated yet, do it here, the amount of times you'll stumble into the 120 page limit with Celerity and Stamina maxed out is insanely annoying. Let's not mention the cash that'll be stolen off you if you can't cleanse out your cookies for some reason... [spent: 62 500 (+21) coins, 3 000 blood, 5 dollars])

6+. Charisma, Locate, Shadows, Telepathy, Neutrality, Surprise... eh, anything else you want. It's irrelevant add-ons that need no order. Warring clans will probably give you an order to get Charisma, Shadows and Locate in, since they are useful, but it depends entirely on how you play your character and/or how your clan is structured.

Note that Shadows should not be gotten with Thievery as many people will suggest to you (unless you need the Garlic Spray Shadows(3) bonus rite nao, chum). Gaining both Shadows and Thievery together is good for the veterans who accumulated a lot of cash prior to having considered any powers at all - but as a newbie swiftly wanting to ascend to full powers, it'll just slow you down.