A nice game of Vampire:TM?

[General Zod]

Lasombra don't vamp random guys especially antitribu. You want a "some guy" embrace Caitiff, Gangrel, Brujah, and Toreodor are good choices . The picky clans are picky and there is no one more picky than the Lasombra antitribu. You want to play a Malk, play a Malk. And schizophrenia is not a multiple personality disorder. Being insane is bad. Vampires with serious mental disorders have difficulty maintaining the Masquerade. Malkavians have the clan disciplines to help with that and the disfunctional ones never get out from being managed by their sires.

No one is starting as a Primogen. Primogen don't need to hang around an ally with young vampires. Guys who want to be Primogen, on the other hand, have all sorts of reasons for being around guys they otherwise wouldn't associate, like say the rest of the PCs.

I'll start rolling out setting and character creation briefs in the next couple of days. Not everything is set in stone yet.

One thing I'd recommend to prevent munchkinism, is if somebody wants to play a Caitiff, then limit them only to the physical disciplines. Since they're clanless you could reason that they've never had any form of instruction in their sire's special disciplines, so they don't have any knowledge on how to access and use them. On the other hand the physical disciplines could be seen as extensions of simply boosting your physical capabilities, which are mostly instinctive.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Bah... caitiff, a bunch of useless mutt vampires who don't know their place, nothing good can come of them...

[The Grim Squeaker]

Lasombra don't vamp random guys especially antitribu. You want a "some guy" embrace Caitiff, Gangrel, Brujah, and Toreodor are good choices . The picky clans are picky and there is no one more picky than the Lasombra antitribu. You want to play a Malk, play a Malk. And schizophrenia is not a multiple personality disorder. Being insane is bad. Vampires with serious mental disorders have difficulty maintaining the Masquerade. Malkavians have the clan disciplines to help with that and the disfunctional ones never get out from being managed by their sires.

No one is starting as a Primogen. Primogen don't need to hang around an ally with young vampires. Guys who want to be Primogen, on the other hand, have all sorts of reasons for being around guys they otherwise wouldn't associate, like say the rest of the PCs.

I'll start rolling out setting and character creation briefs in the next couple of days. Not everything is set in stone yet.

One thing I'd recommend to prevent munchkinism, is if somebody wants to play a Caitiff, then limit them only to the physical disciplines. Since they're clanless you could reason that they've never had any form of instruction in their sire's special disciplines, so they don't have any knowledge on how to access and use them. On the other hand the physical disciplines could be seen as extensions of simply boosting your physical capabilities, which are mostly instinctive.

The best way to prevent Caitiff munchkinism is either to forbid the "Generation" background or give them only 2 "Favoured/Clan" disciplines (In my experience). A better way is to play up the discrimination and fact that they don't have anyone who'll care if they get vamped (Even a loner Brujah without a sire will be able to hide in a clan Bar, a Caitiff lacks even something as simple as that)

[Imperial Overlord]

I'm not worried about Caitiff munchkinism. The huge social hole non-Sabbat Caitiff are in (Panders are only in a large social hole) means your either a glutton for punishment and an rper or a dumb munchkin to play one. Fortitude, Potence, and Presence are their most common Disciplines.

I'm far more concerned about having a group of all 8th Generation vampires that any munchkinized Caitiff.

[Ritterin Sophia]

I'm far more concerned about having a group of all 8th Generation vampires that any munchkinized Caitiff.

Damn... you caught me!

[Imperial Overlord]

So here we go with setting background.

Vancouver in the World of Darkness

Canada's Pacific port city boasts a population of over 2,000,000 people in the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District, Vancouver and all the surrounding municipalities). Known for having a milder and wetter climate than most of the rest of the country the city shares a lot in common with its cousin in the south, Seattle.

Scratch the underbelly and you will find the nasty side of Lotus Land. A large importer of heroin and an exporter of marijuana, illegal drugs are a huge clandestine industry. The smuggling is not confined to drugs but includes stolen goods and human beings shipped as chattel by men with cold hearts and dead eyes. Members of the transient homeless population can disappear without ever being noticed by the authorities and predators besides the human ones sometimes cull the herd of prostitutes.

The city is not without its challenges. The current prince is an usurper who moved in with his childer and allies to displace the previous inhabitants and bitterness festers to this day. The Lupines remain an infrequent, but potentially deadly menace. A potentially greater menace, the Eastern Kindred, are also rumoured to be establishing footholds in a city with a large East Indian and Asian population to blend in to. And as always on the West Coast, there are those Vampires who consider themselves Anarchs and beyond the reach of ancient undead tyranny.

The scope of these problems has lead Prince Richard Wright to name Vancouver a city free from the Jyhad and bring in several foreign vampires of dubious antecedents to reinforce his position. Clandestine warfare has yet to break out on the city's streets, but many think this is merely a matter of time. As tensions climb, Kindred from out of town who have worn out their welcome in other domains slink into Vancouver, realizing they have one more chance in this city as long as the prince sees them as assets and not liabilities.

[Imperial Overlord]

I'm far more concerned about having a group of all 8th Generation vampires that any munchkinized Caitiff.

Damn... you caught me!

Please, this isn't the first Vampire game I've run. Everyone (and that includes me) feels the siren song of a maxing out the Generation score.

As for the background material, I'll come up with a little more about the city's more prominent Kindred soon and will reiterate that this is just the stuff a somewhat ignorant Vampire will know about the city and its secrets.

[Imperial Overlord]

Character Creation:

As standard plus

1 free clan Discipline point, can't take a Discipine above four.

1 free Discipline point, common or clan Discipline, not above four.

5 bonus freebe points.

Please restrain you inner munchkin. There's nothing wrong with having a character who has some combat skills, given the nature of unlife, but maxing out combat skills, Disciplines, and having large arsenals still won't make you more powerful than the Storyteller and won't help you out as much as you might think. Remember, interacting with your fellow supernaturals and getting enough to drink while maintaining the Masquerade is a nightly challenge and combat is not. One final point on this subject, the most effective way of killing someone in any campaign I've run or played in was to talk a 5th Generation Elder Vampire into kicking someone's ass.

Enough said on that topic.

My apologies for not getting to the hellhound question earlier. Ghouls technically count as a retainer each, but a pair of hellhounds, being less versatile than humans, can be had for a single point.

Rumours that syncophatic commentary on my fanfics will net bonus points are utterly and completely untrue.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Please restrain you inner munchkin. There's nothing wrong with having a character who has some combat skills, given the nature of unlife, but maxing out combat skills, Disciplines, and having large arsenals still won't make you more powerful than the Storyteller and won't help you out as much as you might think. Remember, interacting with your fellow supernaturals and getting enough to drink while maintaining the Masquerade is a nightly challenge and combat is not. One final point on this subject, the most effective way of killing someone in any campaign I've run or played in was to talk a 5th Generation Elder Vampire into kicking someone's ass.

No need to worry about this, in fact the only combat skills she has is maybe a 2 in firearms. Do you still want me to send my stuff to you, I've already got the stuff for her on here.

[Prozac the Robert]

1 free Discipline point, common or clan Discipline, not above four.

Is there a list of common disciplines somewhere? Or do you just mean to avoid clan specific stuff like thaumaturgy, obteneration, etc. ?

[Imperial Overlord]

1 free Discipline point, common or clan Discipline, not above four.

Is there a list of common disciplines somewhere? Or do you just mean to avoid clan specific stuff like thaumaturgy, obteneration, etc. ?

The common ones, not the clan specific ones. Basically Animalism, Auspex, Celerity, Dominate, Obfuscate, Potence, and Presence are the "common" disciplines. Comparatively easy to learn and widely practiced by vamps.

[Dahak]

1 free Discipline point, common or clan Discipline, not above four.

Is there a list of common disciplines somewhere? Or do you just mean to avoid clan specific stuff like thaumaturgy, obteneration, etc. ?

The common ones, not the clan specific ones. Basically Animalism, Auspex, Celerity, Dominate, Obfuscate, Potence, and Presence are the "common" disciplines. Comparatively easy to learn and widely practiced by vamps.

Meaning you can take a fourth one, not directly one's clan's?

[Imperial Overlord]

Meaning you can take a fourth one, not directly one's clan's?

Yes, basically it goes like this:

3 points on clan disciplines

1 point clan discipline, can't take a discipline above four.

1 point any clan or common discipline, can't take a discipline above four.

7 freebe points, any discipline allowed by GM. Permission needed for exotic-non clan disciplines.

[Prozac the Robert]

Heh: Vancouver is the world's best place to live, a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found.

[LadyTevar]

Rumours that syncophatic commentary on my fanfics will net bonus points are utterly and completely untrue.

*snicker* Good thing too, I doubt my commentary counts as syncophatic.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Meaning you can take a fourth one, not directly one's clan's?

7 freebe points, any discipline allowed by GM. Permission needed for exotic-non clan disciplines.

So seven extra freebies or is this a typo and it's still five? Or do you mean we only get 5/7 freebie points instead of the normal 15?

[Mark S]

Well, since the Overlord gave the background a 'permissible' I figured I would post it:

“Brother” Devon


Devon has always been a spiritual, introspective man. He spent most of his adult life travelling the world from one monastery to the next, be it Franciscan or Zen Buddhist, searching for the meaning of life, the human condition, and the nature of the human spirit. He has sought out mystics, gurus, swamis, and shaman of all kinds in an attempt to learn as much as he could and gain a better understanding of himself and the universe as a whole.

He is a definite philosopher at heart, but that is not to say that his body has been neglected for total focus on the mind or soul. Monasteries do not give room and board for prayers alone and little of his travel have been powered by anything but his own feet. Years of hard manual labour and wandering have left his body hardened and strong. Martial arts conditioning from eastern masters, along with bitter street experience, have left him more than capable of defending it. Even in undeath, he still practices the katta taught to him to focus his mind, body and spirit as one.

It was while in solitary meditation in the forests around the ‘Twin Lions’ peaks above Vancouver that Devon was first confronted by the man he would come to call Sire. Intent on draining the strange, lone man, sitting in the crisp autumn air of the mountains, Laurance Davinshire’s curiousity had gotten the better of him. Even with his small fire, this kine surely could not be comfortable, yet there he sat, as still as the root of one of the towering pines. Perhaps he would not take this one by surprise. Perhaps the cat would play with the mouse this night.

“You’ve come to share my fire, Brother?” Devon had said, using the honourific he was known to give to everyone. It made no difference to him who this man, seemingly born of the very night, was or where he had come from.“What little I have is yours to take.”

A smile could not help but cross the vampire’s lips at the statement. “Do not be so quick to offer what you are not prepared to give, Boy. What if it’s your life I have come to take?”

The man merely shrugged, not moving from his meditative position. “If you are the one to take it than I can only give thanks for the opportunity I have had in my limited time and look forward to what lays beyond. Though, if you were so intent, surely you would have done so already.”

“Than you don’t fear me? Though I come to you in the dead of night and threaten your life? Are you mad?”

“Fear is an emotional response to the unknown. I would rather try to understand.”

Davinshire was taken aback by his unusual victim and they began speak. They spoke and did not stop until the night had been spent and the vampire disappeared into the forest with the rising sun. The next night the unknown visitor returned and again their conversation brought them to the dawn. Six nights they continued this way, sharing stories of their lives and thoughts on all manner of subjects. On the seventh night Devon went willingly into undeath. His thirst for knowledge and curiousity would not allow him to pass up the opportunity to walk through the gates of death and return to probe the workings of the soul for all time.

Devon spent the next several years wandering at his Sire’s side, learning all he could about his condition and the new phase of existence his soul had been born into. When he finally set out on his own, their paths parted as two friends who had no doubt that they would see each other again. Devon has now returned to Vancouver where he lives in a small home on the North Shore immersing himself in vampire lore and the study of the abilities of vampiric blood.

He is an average man in appearance but for one feature. Middling height with a well kept body, his eyes are a dark blue and his hair a shaggy main of dirty blonde. His ears, however, have been elongated into noticeable points, the result of a frenzy he willingly brought himself to, to better understand the nature of the beast. This feature he hides with his hair or in a hood when walking among humans, though little of his time is spent with them.

It is that unrestrained curiousity and willingness to ‘poke the beast’ that has earned a nervous eye put on him. Many vampires feel that Devon will risk the Masquerade with his foolish pursuits of the spirit. Others yet feel that his quest into the nature of their blood will lead him on a path ending only in diablery. To date there have been no direct accusations, but even those closest to the monkish vampire known to all as simply Brother Devon, would not put it past him.


Brother Devon
Clan: Gangrel
Generation: 8
Sire: Laurance Davinshire
Embraced: 1962
Apparent Age: 35

Strength: 3
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 4 (tough as nails)

Charisma: 3
Manipulation: 3
Appearance: 3

Perception: 2
Intelligence: 2
Wit: 3

Talents
Alertness: 3
Athletics: 2
Brawl: 2
Dodge: 3
Empathy: 3

Skills
Melee: 3
Herbalism: 1
Hunting: 2
Meditation: 3
Survival: 2

Knowledge
Occult: 2
Cam Lore: 1
Sabbat Lore: 1
Vampire Lore: 1

Disciplines
Animalism 1
Fortitude 1
Protean 3

Virtues
Conscience: 3
Self Control: 4
Courage: 3

Willpower 4
Humanity 6

Possessions: Small home, meagre furnishings and clothes, a few books on various religions, pieces of The Book of Nod, a lionhead sword.

[Imperial Overlord]

Most vampires who have been in Vancouver for a while will be familiar with the following

Elysiums

The Prince's Court

Located not to far from the business district on Howe Street in Vancouver's downtown core, this appears to be little more than a private club or offices with underground parking. Inside are well appointed rooms and salons for private meetings and public gatherings.

The Vancouver Art Gallery
-widely used meeting place

Vancouver Museum
-irregularily used, under Tremere jurisdiction.

The Museum of Anthropology
-almost no one goes there.


Office Holders

Richard Wright, Prince of Vancouver

Wright is tall, well built man who dresses in dark, conservative suits and wears a gold signet ring on his right hand. His demeanor is cold and patient. Wright rules Vancouver as a lord rules his fief, with an iron fist and the aid of his faithful knights.

Charles Tanner, Seneshal

A smiling glad hander vaguely remenescent of a used car salesman, Charles Tanner is a red headed man of about height with streaks of white in his hair. He is personable and charismatic and can usually finesse solutions to minor matters and disagreements. He presides as a host over the Elysium when he is present, which is often.

Katrin, Sherrif

A muscular, brown haired Kindred whose reflective eye, perhaps too sharp teeth, and earthy musk give away her Gangrel heritage. She came to the city with Wright and typically dresses in rough, practical cloathing. She rarely speaks more than a few words.

Eric Stapleton, Scourge

Darkly handsome, moody, and quite the Scourge can be found searching the outer bounds of the city for illegals and trouble. He is rumoured to have killed a Garou in single combat, although he is almost always accompanied by at least one ghoul.

Kindred of Note

Janenelle, Harpy

-Blonde, beautiful and caustic Janelee's razor edged tongue is one of the most dangerous instruments in Elysium.

Regent David Windholm

-Quiet, short and slim, the regent is an easy man to overlook. He is polite, but rarely initiates conversation unless dealing with matters of importance.

Fingers, Nosferatu Primogen

-With disproportionately long, spiderlike fingers from which his name derives, this hairless Nosferatu is the one that most often interacts with other Kindred.

Tony Chin, Anarch

-A tall, muscular Chinese Kindred and the sort of leader of the anarchs.

Elizabeth Deveroux, Ventrue Primogen

-A stately woman that appears just shy of middle age, she leads the faction of the Kindred most involved in the city's businesses.

Mad Mary, Malkavian Primogen

-An usually calm Malkavian who acts as leader of the three ring circus and representative of the Malkavians.

Jacob "Jake" Silverstone, Brujah Primogen

-A big, beefy man with a will of steel and strong ties to the union and environmental movements that give him a formidable resource base.

Madame Tierny, Toreodor Primogen

-Rumoured to be a survivor of the French Revolution's bloody Reign of Terror, the cool and witty woman stands tall on the Kindred social scene.

James "Lucky Jim" McDonald, Elysium regular

-A man found all over the Kindred social scene and very active in the trading of low level debts and favors.

[LadyTevar]

The Museum of Anthropology
-almost no one goes there.

Innnnteresting. It makes me wonder why no one goes there.

I've got an idea for a Venture 'Rook', as they call their more physical members.

[Civil War Man]

Since my character's been approved, I thought I'd give a general basic outline to the other players.

My character's called Jack Griffin. What's generally known about him among the Camarilla is that he was an outlaw in the late 1800s. He shifted to more organized crime when the Wild West was tamed, though he spent some time in torpor due to a distillery fire during Prohibition.

In general, he's a Brujah, and a real bruiser. He's not quite strong enough to be able to throw someone through a brick wall, but if someone pisses him off enough, he'd be willing to give it a shot anyway. Luckily he's a pretty level-headed guy (for a Brujah), so you'd have to do a lot to get him that pissed off.

And if you want to know more about him, you're just going to have to interact with him in such a way that it would give you pertinent information.

[Imperial Overlord]

The Museum of Anthropology
-almost no one goes there.

Innnnteresting. It makes me wonder why no one goes there.

I've got an idea for a Venture 'Rook', as they call their more physical members.

That would certainly work. The Prince's faction within the Ventrue tends towards that.

[The Yosemite Bear]

BTW after talking, I'm working on a blues musician. no major physical threat, more of the plaing the blues, former roady ghoul, some occult skill. Basically a college student blues musician who went down to missisippi to find out about Hoodoo legends, and blues/rock roots. Getting really drunk one night he decided to play his guitar at the crossroads at midnight. He didn't succeed in summoning the devil, but he did find a Toreodore, who felt he had raw ability, but hadn't suffered or experineced anything yet.

[Dahak]

Then I'll give an outline of my character, too

Lord Kyle DeWitt is the member of a very old and noble House, but he always felt different. Somehow he stumbled into a new world, and was embraced in 1621 by a powerful Ventrue of high standing who saw something in him which he thought was useful.
He learned quite well and fast, but during the Great Fire in London something happened that forced him into torpor for the next centuries undiscovered. He doesn't like to talk much about this incident and will give mostly cryptic answers when asked. Only thing known to most is that his Sire died in that incident.
One of his family members, out to research the family legend of a dark creature in their family, excavated him and was stupid enough to get him revived. He needed years to recover from his initial shock of the new world. Once he was sure of himself and the world again, he made plans to regain his family wealth. It took him years, until he manipulated and maneuvred enough to get what was rightfully his.
His fellow Ventrue were less than thrilled to have him back, they thought it would have been best if he had died with his sire. But, over time, he managed to claim some status of his own.
He is exceptionally polite and (almost always) best mannered, though, occasionally, he shows a darker side of himself.
His came to Vancouver, where he settled down for the moment, for some business of his own.

[LadyTevar]

You know what's really pissing me off? I can't find the Ventrue Clanbook anywhere! I know the Rooks have traded Dominate for another Disclipine, but I can't remember which one. *growls*

[Eris]

Hrm, embarassingly enough, I actually can find my copy, but I can't find any mention of Rooks, let alone what disciplines they might possess. Bets on whether I have the wrong edition, or am just suffering from a bout of blindness?