To collect the data below, I started with a "stock" Malkavian character, which starts with this character sheet:
| Strength 1 | Charisma 1 | Perception 2 |
| Dexterity 1 | Manipulation 2 | Intelligence 1 |
| Stamina 1 | Appearance 1 | Wits 2 |
|
| Brawl 1 | Firearms 0 | Computer 1 |
| Dodge 0 | Melee 1 | Finance 0 |
| Intimidation 0 | Security 0 | Investigation 1 |
| Subterfuge 0 | Stealth 1 | Scholarship 1 |
|
| Auspex 1 | Dementation 2 | Obfuscate 1 |
Then, I played the game normally, completing every possible side quest for the maximum number of XP. I turned off the Auto Level feature until I saved up a few XP, took off my armor and dropped any occult items that affect the character's stats (like the Fae Charm), then flipped the autolevel feature on and off and made a note of the changes made to the character sheet. Here's the autolevel scheme:
| Purchased | XP Cost | XP Spent |
| Obfuscate 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Auspex 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Firearms 1 | 3 | 13 |
| Dementation 3 | 10 | 23 |
| Charisma 2 | 4 | 27 |
| Perception 3 | 8 | 35 |
| Firearms 2 | 3 | 38 |
| Wits 3 | 8 | 46 |
| Scholarship 2 | 3 | 49 |
| Computer 2 | 3 | 52 |
| Intelligence 2 | 4 | 56 |
| Obfuscate 3 | 10 | 66 |
| Dexterity 2 | 4 | 70 |
| Auspex 3 | 10 | 80 |
| Dementation 4 | 15 | 95 |
| Charisma 3 | 8 | 103 |
| Wits 4 | 12 | 115 |
| Perception 4 | 12 | 127 |
| Firearms 3 | 6 | 133 |
| Obfuscate 4 | 15 | 148 |
| Intelligence 3 | 8 | 156 |
| Scholarship 3 | 6 | 162 |
| Auspex 4 | 15 | 177 |
| Computer 3 | 6 | 183 |
| Dementation 5 | 20 | 203 |
| Charisma 4 | 12 | 215 |
| Wits 5 | 16 | 231 |
| Firearms 4 | 9 | 240 |
| Perception 5 | 16 | 256*** |
| Dexterity 3 | 8 | 264 |
| Intelligence 4 | 12 | 276 |
| Obfuscate 5 | 20 | 296 |
| Auspex 5 | 20 | 316 |
| Scholarship 4 | 9 | 325 |
| Computer 4 | 9 | 334 |
| Firearms 5 | 12 | 346 |
***NOTE: Even if you finish every sidequest, you will probably not be able to get past this point on the autolevel scheme. However, you should have a few XP left for customization.
Here's the advice: Leave the auto-level feature turned off at first. Spend your first 3 XP to buy the second dot in Scholarship. This will let you learn a dot in Computer and two dots in Firearms by reading books, which will save you 9 XP. Spend 3 XP to buy at least one dot in Security to make it easier to complete all side-quests.
If you learn as much as you can from books and NPCs, your character sheet will look something like this before your final encounter with the prince, not including any modifiers for armor or occult items. This sheet DOES reflect:
- One free dot in Dodge, learned from a book.
- One free dot in Stealth, learned from a book.
- One free dot in Computer, learned from a book.
- One free dot in Firearms, learned from a book.
- One free dot in Firearms, learned from a book.
- One free dot in Firearms, taught by Romero.
- One free dot in Brawl, taught by Nines.
- One free dot in Brawl, learned from a book.
| Strength 1 | Charisma 4 | Perception 5 |
| Dexterity 2 | Manipulation 2 | Intelligence 3 |
| Stamina 1 | Appearance 1 | Wits 5 |
|
| Brawl 3 | Firearms 4 | Computer 3 |
| Dodge 1 | Melee 1 | Finance 0 |
| Intimidation 0 | Security 1 | Investigation 1 |
| Subterfuge 0 | Stealth 2 | Scholarship 3 |
|
| Auspex 4 | Dementation 5 | Obfuscate 4 |
ANALYSIS: In terms of combat, this character has a low Brawl and Melee skill, but it can use its excellent skill in ranged weapons and Dementation 3 (Vision of Death) to get past most of the enemies in the game.
Socially, this character has a good Persuasion skill, and when it can't persuade someone, you can always Dementate them into doing what you want, if you're willing to spend the blood points.
The character's Stealth skill isn't that high, but it makes up for it with Obfuscate 4, and with such a high Perception (and the bonuses for being Malkavian), you aren't going to miss any of the secret passages. It isn't good at picking locks, but it is very good at hacking.
Autolevel information provided by Marcus Spears.
