Armchair generals: Vampire Hunting

[weemadando]

I'm about to start running a Vampire Hunter game for V:tM.

So, tell me people, if you were placed in charge of an organisation with a budget of 1,000,000 and 8 hunters, with the role of cleaning up a low grade "infestation" of V:tM vampires (say 10 Vampires in a city of 100,000 people)... Who do you get, what do you use, and how do you go about it?

[SirNitram]

I'm about to start running a Vampire Hunter game for V:tM.

So, tell me people, if you were placed in charge of an organisation with a budget of 1,000,000 and 8 hunters, with the role of cleaning up a low grade "infestation" of V:tM vampires (say 10 Vampires in a city of 100,000 people)... Who do you get, what do you use, and how do you go about it?

I don't even get Resources 5?

Uh... I dunno. Pray an Aberrant's in town and will work cheap?

[Agent Fisher]

um I have never heard of V:tM, but I would try and do a thing like Blade from the movie.

[weemadando]

I'm about to start running a Vampire Hunter game for V:tM.

So, tell me people, if you were placed in charge of an organisation with a budget of 1,000,000 and 8 hunters, with the role of cleaning up a low grade "infestation" of V:tM vampires (say 10 Vampires in a city of 100,000 people)... Who do you get, what do you use, and how do you go about it?

I don't even get Resources 5?

Uh... I dunno. Pray an Aberrant's in town and will work cheap?

OK, more details for you:

Vampires:

13th Gen Gangrel
13th Gen Gangrel
11th Gen Brujah
12th Gen Ravnos
13th Gen Ravnos
13th Gen Toreador
13th Gen Nosferatu
10th Gen Nosferatu
12th Gen Ventrue
9th Gen Ventrue

Assume for a moment that they all have their standard clan disciplines and are a Camarilla associated group.

And just because I'm nice, I'll bolster the money to 1,000,000 a month and say that the Vampires start off unaware of your presence. Also, the hunters are just normal hunters, this "imbued" shit from Hunter: The Reckoning.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Hope my character I made in Call of Cthutlu is in town.

I took murderous advantage of the fact that CoC and Stormbringer (a White Wolf/Choasium Joint Pub) were in an interlinked system, and used the Rogue Mistress rules and brought over a Melibonean and an Agent of Law. Since the conversions hold out, my Melnibonean my be time stranded, but she can still elementalize any common piece of equipment (Summoning things from the Horizon realms is much more difficult in WoD.

However the Agent of law can do it, 1 shot 1 kill for the price of .44 cal ball & cartage ammo. (Immortality, and six shooters that kill all minions of Choas/Mythos/the Wyrm 95% of the time with one shot.....

[neoolong]

um I have never heard of V:tM, but I would try and do a thing like Blade from the movie.

Use actual guns?

Oh, and rob the people you hunt.

[Agent Fisher]

Use everything he had. From the modified MAC 10's to the katanna with silver edge.

[Agent Fisher]

Oh and I forgot the Shades With the shades they would be unbeatable.

[Stravo]

Stalk the kindred, get to know them. Kindred are creatures of habit. When they're isolated and alone try ot take one down, alone, with numbers and fire and if your group knows kindred society well enough, plant some evidence that either

Points to another Cammie member in the city (kindred LOVE that intrigur crap and they will always assume one of their own did this and not kine)

Points to the sabbat. It gets them edgy and looking in the wrong direction.

[Stormbringer]

I'd recruit some hard nasty special forces types. Some thing like Spetnaz or other less touchy feely organizations. Hard bastards whoever they might be.

For equipment I'd go with the best sort of anti-Kindred weapons, shotguns. Of course I'd also stock some incendiary grenades, a flamethrower or two and some antimaterial rifles. Maxium damage in the minimum package.

Then you stalk them, find out their habits weaknesses. If at all possible exploit existing rivalries to turn them on each other. If not simply hit them when they're vulnerable.

And I'd make sure to hit them during the day. Seal their haven and then just torch it and wait for them to emerge and die. If necessary I'll kill them when they try to make a break.

[weemadando]

I forgot to mention also that though you start with a basic knowledge of Vampire physiology and abilities, you have no knowlege of vampiric society, which means that playing the Cam and Sabbat off each other and the Anarchs ain't gonna happen until you figure it out.

[Darth_Shinji]

Use all that money to hire a Shih from Japan....Why waste men and resources when you can call in a asskicker of all asses?

[Tatterdemalion]

Simple. Blow most of the money on occult research in order to gain the knowledge necessary to summon and bind an Earthbound demon. Then betray my hunters by pledging their immortal souls to said Demon. Watch as Demon breaks out Lore of Flames and purges the city. (Oh, and then live a life of servitude and suffuring for the greater glory of my new master.)

Sorry, just been reading Demon: Earthbound. Guess it got to my head.

[Smiling Bandit]

The problem is that that's too many vampires for a town of that size. Not enough prey.

Regardless, the bigger problem is finding them all. Vampires also hide all the time. In this case they are fairly weak, and killable, but actually finding them may be the most difficult part. Depending on their resources you may be screwed.

[Stormbringer]

The problem is that that's too many vampires for a town of that size. Not enough prey.

It is a little high. But that only make the hunter's job easier.

Regardless, the bigger problem is finding them all. Vampires also hide all the time. In this case they are fairly weak, and killable, but actually finding them may be the most difficult part. Depending on their resources you may be screwed.

True, but there are tell tale ways of finding them. They have to have havens and hunting grounds and all that. It's a matter of finding those and backtracking.

[consequences]

Any sort of time limit? If I can spend a few months setting up a spy-cam network in likely hunting areas, it becomes much simpler to ID my targets, and then track who they have influence with.

[Captain Cyran]

I don't even get Resources 5?

Uh... I dunno. Pray an Aberrant's in town and will work cheap?

I was talking to my brother about the different levels of the general characters of WoD, like what Gen vampire would be required to defeat...a werewolf, a mage, a wraith, stuff like that. Then I asked about Aberrant, my brothers responce.

"There's a reason Aberrant is not in World of Darkness."

But anyway, a weak Aberrant would probably slaughter all 10 of the vampires...too bad there are none in WoD (Of course it could always be that WoD was created by a high-level Nova )

Besides that, get the Mages...that should do the trick nicely.

[Mark S]

I would fill my team with professional assassins and special ops types. People who hunt people for a living. People who know how to track others and not be noticed doing it, know how to stick to a timeline, and won't get phased in freaky situations. All team members must be experts in hand to hand combat, preferably styles that use the opponents strength against them, as well as staff and bladed weapon combat.

I would equip them with:

Automatic weapons for human guardians

The most highly powered sniper rifles available for long range attacks and shotguns for short range combat. Ammunition for both guns would be whatever the hell causes the biggest hole.

Flamethrowers, incindiary grenades and whichever chemicals burn hottest for burnin'

UV lights for daylight at night

Big-ass knives and good old-fashioned stakes for close encounters and finishing the job.

As much occult knowledge on vampires as possible. Any tricks or wards that can be found to actually work would be put to use.

What to do:

Lay low until the vampires are spotted and can be targeted
Track their movements, learn their routines, find where they sleep, try not to be seen while doing this
Attack lone vampires during the day en mass
Stake them, cut their heads off, drag them into the sun, make sure anything that might be left is burned
Use heavy machinery during the day to dig into any structures they may be hiding in
Take the last one back alive to the lab for further investigation and interigation. The lab would of course need to be very heavily re-enforced.

[SirNitram]

I don't even get Resources 5?

Uh... I dunno. Pray an Aberrant's in town and will work cheap?

I was talking to my brother about the different levels of the general characters of WoD, like what Gen vampire would be required to defeat...a werewolf, a mage, a wraith, stuff like that. Then I asked about Aberrant, my brothers responce.

"There's a reason Aberrant is not in World of Darkness."

But anyway, a weak Aberrant would probably slaughter all 10 of the vampires...too bad there are none in WoD (Of course it could always be that WoD was created by a high-level Nova )

Besides that, get the Mages...that should do the trick nicely.

Not to go off topic, but a Nova could easily travel to WoD...

Player's Handhook, Crosstime Travel...

I swear that would so shake up a game of Vampire. A bunch of well-dug-in Vampire's and the Abberant who just showed up.

[Kon_El]

Not much to add but a large quantity of Flash Bang grenades would be usefull for storming lairs.

[neoolong]

Not much to add but a large quantity of Flash Bang grenades would be usefull for storming lairs.

Would that work? Or would you have to use special flash bangs like in Blade.

[Smiling Bandit]

True, but there are tell tale ways of finding them. They have to have havens and hunting grounds and all that. It's a matter of finding those and backtracking.

If you have an indefinite amount of time, you have a loyal and dedicated cadre of trained men, who know what they are doing regarding vampire hunting, and you have the equipment access you need, then yes, its possible.

But think about this: Vampires are not stupid, either. You have a choice of discovering them all and attacking all of them at once, or taking them out as you find them.

In the former, you have the porblem of discovery because they will likely notice that a bunch of suspicious characters are keeping up constant surveilance. 100,000 people isn't very large population to hide in, but by the same token you have no cover. There are not going to be big crowds in the night to hide in as you tail them; you cannot easily and anonymously blend in, unless thios place has a high rate of visitors and travelers.

In some ways, the latter option is worse, though. See, If one of the Vampires abruptly dissappears, his pals are going to get together, be on their guard, and try and figure out who did it. Step one involves looking at his local enemies (the other Vampires). Those bloodsuckers will probably figure out what is going on, however, and they'll take additional precautions.

I will also state that trying to track a Gangrel on his native turf is just asking for trouble. Its like trying to hunt a Garou on a foggy night in the woods.

[Knife]

Okey dokey, I am not familar with 'the Masqurade' per say so I'll go with the ususal 'vampire' archtype and usual habbits.

First off, the size of the group is too small. After arriving in the city and finding a suitable base of operations (perferable a moving base such as moving van or couple minivans or so) I would use a part of my cash to hire some researchers and computer geeks.

After initial set up, my support staff starts collecting info on target city. Focus on newspapers crime page and other such sorces. Using defining specifics such as crimes with massive blood loss, unknown animal attack, and other wierd shit, I start plotting on a map where some of this stuff happens.

After and if a pattern emerges using such techniques, I start daylight intel gathering. Basicly my operators (original eight) go out durring the day and press flesh and slip money in peoples pockets for info. Start general, like "Have you seen wierd shit around here?" and go from there.

Follow up with original research by calling the reporters or cops and ask specifics on cases and try to narrow down the area where it is likely the vamps are operating in.

After an area is narrowed down where possible Vampire activity is located, start night time reconnasance. Being careful to set up blinds that are defensible, and having a four man team on station at any given time to ensure saftey, start scouting for the blood suckers.

When and if the vamps are seen, continue discrete recon up until you can narrow down the actual locations of where they are at. Keep a large distance and never close on them until a specific location can be determined.

After finding a habitate, comence with raid. Both teams execute a raid on the establishment and destroy the vamps. What kind of raid would depend on the building or structure.

Something along the lines of two four man teams, one acting as support and security and the other as an assult unit. Support team sets up a perimeter around the target to ensure that it is sealed off. The assult team goes in and either burns the building down or seeks and destroys with weapons.

Again, I don't know the specifics of the Vampires in V:tM but weapon load outs would go hand in hand with their abilities. I guess that bullets with garlic or silver or something of the sort as in Blade. Same treatment on combat knives for close up work. Flash bangs and termite gernades as well as some illum and flares. SMG's with whatever ammo needed would be used in an urban enviroment. Support teams with rifles and perhaps a SAW. All raids should be done in daylight to extend some security around the teams.

After raid, get the hell out of the city to avoid police and any remaining support structure of the vampires.