This is the list of acceptable abilities, and their function.
This list is not considered exhausted. We allow many different sorts of custom abilities in particular when the base system would make it confusing to do otherwise. For example, a scientist may have three or four different abilities related to lab work to reflect his specializations beyond just having Science and Academics.
Unless specifically stated otherwise these abilities are available for purchase up to rating 3 without specific ST approval and scrutiny. You can simply report that you're buying them rather than request approval first.
Although LotN:R treats the meaning of 1 through 5 as being an exponential increase in ability, in game mechanics terms they usually only represent one more retest. For abilities like this, approvals for up to 5 are much easier to get. For example, Brawl x5 requires substantially less justification than Crafts: Painting x5 because that step of Brawl only mechanically represents one more test in a game but Crafts x5 can be a whole different world of role-playing opportunities.
Academics
As per LotN:R page 87.
Animal Ken
As per LotN:R page 87.
Archery
As per Dark Epics page 50. It requires three static challenges (win or tie) to stake another vampire from range.
Athletics
As per LotN:R page 87. This is the appropriate retest for spitting.
Awareness
As per LotN:R page 87. Only capable of detecting single-target powers if they are used on you directly. Does not indicate who did or from where it came, just that something has happened. The retest on an Awareness challenge is Occult.
Blindfighting
As per Dark Epics page 51. Obtenebration does not fall into the category of 'natural darkness'. In such a case, blindfighting may be expended only to negate the retest of Shroud of Night. It will not negate the two-trait penalty.
Brawl
As per LotN:R page 87.
Bureaucracy
The appropriate retest when navigating bureaucratic systems. Most useful when mimicking the Bureaucratic influence through direct actions or using said influence it complicated plans.
Computer
As per LotN:R page 88. Players should make good role-playing decisions for whether or not their character needs the Computer ability in order to simply use a computer. A Vampire embraced in the last ten years obviously wouldn't whereas one from the 6th century obviously would.
Crafts
As per LotN:R page 88. When a crafted work's quality is better represented by Mental challenge one may use that instead.
Demolition
As per Dark Epics page 51. This ability requires Storyteller approval for any levels purchased.
Dodge
As per LotN:R page 88. Dodge may be used as a retest against any physical attack whether your character is aware it's coming or not.
Drive
As per LotN:R page 88.
Empathy
As per LotN:R page 88. It takes about ten minutes of interaction to be able to use Empathy to determine somebody's current Demeanor. This answer should reflect how they are acting, not necessarily what their sheet says.
Enigmas
As per Dark Epics page 51. You may expend an Enigmas to test for more clarity on visions received for Storytellers or Narrators.
Etiquette
As per LotN:R page 88. This ability must be expended within five seconds of your faux pas when in person. You have a few minutes during online interactions. In email threads on local lists, other players and STs may call for a temporary time stop within an hour of an email to clarify statements that seem to deserve a usage of Etiquette. Any other lists are subject to the rules of those games. One may list a character's Etiquette rating with an email to help guide other's reactions, but they are not obligated to respect it in extreme cases.
Expression
As per LotN:R page 89.
Finance
As per LotN:R page 89. Finance ability may be expended to raise 250$ per dot during game.
Firearms
As per LotN:R page 89.
Fortune telling
As per LotN:SG page 69.
Gambling
As per LotWW page 75.
Herbalism
As per tLN page 51.
Hobby/professional/expert
As per LotN:R page 89. The focus of this ability must be specified at the time this ability is purchased. This ability requires Storyteller approval.
Hunting
As per LotN:CG page 24. This is the retest for your blood test at the beginning of game.
Instruction
Please see the section on teaching and learning.
Intimidation
As per LotN:R. This is the retest for Dread Gaze.
Investigation
As per LotN:R. This is the retest for Auspex.
Law
As per LotN:R.
Leadership
As per LotN:R. This is the retest for all Presence powers except Dread Gaze.
Linguistics
As per LotN:R. If studying the underlying principles of language, the typical limits of abilities apply. If each point of linguistics represents a different language, the limits do not apply.
Lore
As per Dark Epics. The focus of this ability must be specified at the time this ability is purchased. This ability requires Storyteller approval. Please see the lore section of the house rules.
MaLk-TiMe
Part of the Malkavian Clan advantage, and available only to them. A level of MaLk-TiMe may be expent to locate congregating Malkavians.
Medicine
As per LotN:R.
Meditation
As per Dark Epics.
Melee
As per LotN:R.
Occult
As per LotN:R. This is the retest for Thaumaturgy, Necromancy, Obtenebration, and all forms of Sorcery.
Performance
As per LotN:R. The focus of this ability must be specified at the time this ability is purchased.
Politics
As per LotN:R.
Psychology
As per LotN:CG. This ability requires at least an hour's worth of roleplay.
Repair
As per LotN:R.
Riding
As per LotWW.
Rituals
As per LotN:SG. This ability is only available to Sabbat characters.
Seduction
Used to seduce others and gain insight into their sexual preferences. Commonly a retest for Social actions to compel Mortals into a situation where they can be fed on subtly.
Science
As per LotN:R. The focus of this ability must be specified at the time this ability is purchased.
Security
As per LotN:R.
Scrounge
As per LotN:R.
Stealth
As per LotN:R. This is the retest for Obfuscate.
Streetwise
As per LotN:R.
Subterfuge
As per LotN:R.
Survival
As per LotN:R. This is the retest for Fortitude Challenges.
Tactics
Used for evaluating and coordinating the application of plans in combat or other specialized situations. One must describe a plan to the storytellers or narrator and then make a simple test against a static difficulty with the retest being Tactics. If successful, you may add an additional retest to others involved in your plan by expending your Tactics ability. You may also expend a dot of Tactics as a sort of "Combat Etiquette" to reverse a course of action that was obviously foolish in light of the situation. This is intended to resolve discrepancies between the description of a scene and the player's understanding and cannot be used to reverse an action based on knowledge the character didn't have previously.
Theology
As per LotH:R.
Throwing
As per Dark Epics.
Torture
As per LotH:R.
Vamp
As per LotN:SG. This is a retest for the feeding test at the beginning of game.