Night Watch and MCWoD

[Erekose]

I've just started reading Night Watch and have been struck by how it would make a great setting for Monte Cook's World of Darkness (MCWoD).

While not a perfect fit, there are lots of similarities with the "Others" from the book and the MCWoD classes. The only real divergence is that the Others are a catch all for all non-humans and so no direct equivalent for the Chosen.

I just wondered if anyone had tried to use the books as a basis for a MCWoD campaign (transporting the action from Moscow to Chicago to make the most of the MCWoD book!)?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I wish I had ever used my McWoD books. It is pretty cool, and I like the idea of "races as classes". But I've never found time to try it.

Night Watch would also be cool to use, though I think I'd like a system that is a little closer to that world. But the game certainly fits into White Wolfs World of Darkness themes.
(But how would you title it? Night: The Watch? Watch: The Night? )

 

[MrFilthyIke]

(But how would you title it? Night: The Watch? Watch: The Night? )

I'd call it Nightwatch: The Chalk of Destiny.


Because who doesn't love the Chalk of Destiny?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'd call it Nightwatch: The Chalk of Destiny.


Because who doesn't love the Chalk of Destiny?

This somehow gives me the inspiration for this title: Night Watch - The Others. Or should it be: Others: The Watch?

Sorry, Erekose. I am not helpful. Maybe someone else has actual suggestions and advice...

 

[Erekose]

This somehow gives me the inspiration for this title: Night Watch - The Others. Or should it be: Others: The Watch?

Sorry, Erekose. I am not helpful. Maybe someone else has actual suggestions and advice...

Just glad you thought it was a reasonable idea

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

I've read all the books, but I'm not familiar with McWoD. What are the Chosen?

It seems like it would be a good fit. For that matter, you could probably cobble something together with regular D20 as well. It already has rules for vampires, wizards, lycanthropes, etc. It would just be a question of how to balance the different races (if that's a concern).

Another possibility would be to focus more on the magic, using something like Elements of Magic for D20 Modern. Don't know how far you are in the books, but mages are the main focus of the Watches- vampires, werewolves, etc are in the minority. So you could just take a D20 magic system and put together list of powers that were "vampire-like".

 

[Erekose]

I've read all the books, but I'm not familiar with McWoD. What are the Chosen?

It seems like it would be a good fit. For that matter, you could probably cobble something together with regular D20 as well. It already has rules for vampires, wizards, lycanthropes, etc. It would just be a question of how to balance the different races (if that's a concern).

Another possibility would be to focus more on the magic, using something like Elements of Magic for D20 Modern. Don't know how far you are in the books, but mages are the main focus of the Watches- vampires, werewolves, etc are in the minority. So you could just take a D20 magic system and put together list of powers that were "vampire-like".

The Awakened (which I mistakenly called the Chosen) are essentially very powerful humans (in game terms think of a class with lots of bonus skills and feats) and very like the Others in flavour but they don't have magical abilities.

All classes start at the equivalent of 4th level in regular D&D and this allows the mages, demons, werewolves and vampires to be balanced at "1st level".

The magic in McWoD is entirely freeform with limits placed on the power (i.e. level) of the magician - quite a good fit for the novel IMHO

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Later in the books (I think it's the end of Book 1) there's a reference to people called Devona, who are basically gifted humans who serve the Others (think oWoD apprentices or kinfolk). They don't have supernatural powers, but are aware of the supernatural and tend to be healthier and luckier than regular humans. They sound like a good fit.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

The magic in McWoD is entirely freeform with limits placed on the power (i.e. level) of the magician - quite a good fit for the novel IMHO

Actually, I am not sure - the books seem to mentioning established spell names, so there are at least a few "rotes" in the world. BUt that would still mesh well with MCWoD.

 

[Erekose]

Actually, I am not sure - the books seem to mentioning established spell names, so there are at least a few "rotes" in the world. BUt that would still mesh well with MCWoD.

I didn't want to get too much into the detail of the MCWoD but as it deals with improvised and rote spells it does seem like quite a good fit. Althyough I agree the Night Watch book at least seems to imply that rote is the norm