{Vampire: The Masquerade - OOC} New York by Night

[KitanaVorr]

Originally posted by reapersaurus 1) I am totally blanking on the rules for making a human.Why do they get 21 freebie points?

I don't know, I just follow what Ash and Shalimar tell me. I know nothing.

Originally posted by reapersaurus And Kitana, are you going to change the whole point structure once you're Embraced? That's kind of tough to have to create a human, with their points, and no powers, etc, then make a Vampire later.

Well I'd have to work that out with Ash but I think it will just be new stuff will open up to me and I get a few points to stick in there? I'm not sure how it will change.

Originally posted by reapersaurus do you WANT to be a Toreador? It sounds to me that your character is most like that clan - have you gotten to read up on the different clans? If so, do you WANT Vychtorya to bite you?

I've been talking with Jemal outside the forums (gasp i know, shocking isn't it?) and I like going with his idea, but there's no reason that Vych wouldn't be looking to try and recruit Cate for her clan before that happens. I agree that Cate would fit in perfectly with the Toreador clan (now that I've read the V:tM pdf) but I like the idea of Jemal sinking his teeth in first. It could be a sort of fun contention between the two of them, add some conflict and something interesting to the group dynamic.

I'm all for conflict, drama, and idiosyncrasies anyday! More conflict the better...especially the subtle, mental conflicts...they are the best...the battle of the wits. I do love playing chess...

 

[reapersaurus]

I've been talking with Jemal outside the forums (gasp i know, shocking isn't it?) and I like going with his idea, but there's no reason that Vych wouldn't be looking to try and recruit Cate for her clan before that happens.

I've re-read the last few pages of this thread, and the Rogue's Gallery, and damned if I'm missing completely any connection between Caitlyn and Jemal's vamp.
What is this idea he has of Embracing Caitlyn? (it might be there, somewhere - just point me to it and I can try to understand)

- Also, why woudn't you talking to Jemal outside of the Forums be shocking?
Do you know him IRL, or something? I'm ignorant of it...

- Caitlyn's Demeanor : would perhaps Competitor or Perfectionist be a match?

-[edit] Replying to Kitana's earlier comment:
I am not having Nikolai know of Vychtorya at all before this starts.
I am strongly against using her character as a love interest - she is a story element to in the future hopefully start to bring him back from the dark side.
The reason they are named the same (different spelling) is that my wife really wanted to name her character Vychtorya (complete with spelling ), while the inspiration for my character (as linked on my webpage) is Dream Theater's incredible album, Scenes From a Memory. The main character in the story is Nicholas, and his past-life soul-spirit that was murdered in a jealous brotherly tryst is named.. you guessed it.. Victoria.
I even included sound-bytes of the songs on Nik's story page that closely illustrate the events of Nik's life.
(I'm curious what people think of the multimedia-story)

- Ashrem -
For Nikolai, I think he'd be most involved with Qadir al-Asmai, the Sheriff, and of course Aisling Sturbridge, High Regent of the Chantry.
He'd have spoke with Qadir about his background (Nikolai spent many years in the Middle East while Hunting and researching ancient tomes) and whether he's heard or seen The Heartsbane during his Hunts in the City.

And I'd love to place 5 dots in Thaumaturgy, but have you seen the 5th level Discipline for Path of Blood?!
It's close to useless - it would be great, except that Thaumaturgy powers require a blood point and a Willpower roll with a Difficulty of Power +3. (Difficulty 8 for level 5 ability)
So even with Nikolai's 10 Willpower maxed out, Cauldron of Blood would at most gain on average around 1 or 2 successes.
It also requires a 'touch attack' (which I'm not sure exactly what that means, mechanically) AND they can still soak the damage!

Any ideas how to make Cauldron of Blood a useable power?
I've never actually used any Vampire powers in combat, though I think it would be really fun to.

- Are we even going to be having any combat, Ashrem?
I know that Vampire is a political game, but looking at our characters, I think we've all kind of neglected any physical threat aspect to our PC's.
I know that I have somewhat meta-gamed it, knowing that V:tM is notoriously social, so I've suffered Nik's physical stats and spent them on Social attributes.
But to a point, wouldn't most of us be dog food if we couldn't protect ourselves in a Predatory big city, especially one that is so relatively Lawless, lacking the strong Tradition and heirarchy of more mature vampire cities?

-Everyone -
Do you think it would be a good idea to copy-n-paste the Q&A into the Rogue's Gallery thread?
Kinda keep em all in one place, for easy reference.

Sorry there's a lot of thoughts in this post, guys, but I think there's a lot of stuff to cover and talk about this game in addition to just roleplaying it - that's part of why I'm excited about this game.
I'm curious what everyone's responses to some of these comments are.

 

[Jemal]

No, Kitana and I don't know each other IRL (Though most of you guys/gals are pretty kewl and I wouldn't mind knowing you IRL). I think what she meant by the 'shocking' comment was us actually being somewhere besides on the boards.

As for the connection, well, it has something to do with Jemals earlier life and his Ventrue "one type of victim only" choice.

Combat? Why would any of us need to fight when there are other ways you can... 'convince' them that you don't need to fight? Or you can have your retainers/allies/animals/followers/slaves etc help you out. OR you can curse them or cast spells at them (I think one of the disciplines lets you do that stuff). Lots of alternatives to fighting.

 

[KitanaVorr]

Originally posted by reapersaurus I've re-read the last few pages of this thread, and the Rogue's Gallery, and damned if I'm missing completely any connection between Caitlyn and Jemal's vamp.What is this idea he has of Embracing Caitlyn? (it might be there, somewhere - just point me to it and I can try to understand)

What Jemal said.

Originally posted by reapersaurus - Also, why woudn't you talking to Jemal outside of the Forums be shocking?Do you know him IRL, or something? I'm ignorant of it...

What Jemal said again. The only person on the boards that I know IRL is Krizzel.

Originally posted by reapersaurus - Caitlyn's Demeanor : would perhaps Competitor or Perfectionist be a match?

You know...perfectionist would be a match. That's a good idea. She does have a strong desire for parental approval, or just approval for her choices in life as well. I don't know where that would fit.

Originally posted by reapersaurus I am strongly against using her character as a love interest -

Why? I thought it might be cute. Someone reawakening your heart again after the horror that was inflicted on it. Obviously not right away, but later on in the story when many things have passed and she's rewakened you to humanity. If she's the one you plan on having you return to humanity, I would think you'd have a strong bond with her.

Originally posted by reapersaurus But to a point, wouldn't most of us be dog food if we couldn't protect ourselves in a Predatory big city, especially one that is so relatively Lawless, lacking the strong Tradition and heirarchy of more mature vampire cities?

I'm sure there could be some combat, but I'd like to dwell more on the mind games in the story. Besides my character is even more toast. She's not even a vamp.

Originally posted by reapersaurus Do you think it would be a good idea to copy-n-paste the Q&A into the Rogue's Gallery thread?Kinda keep em all in one place, for easy reference.

I agree in fact I was going to do that myself anyway. Also where is your character? He's not posted in the rogue gallery.

 

[Ashrem Bayle [Home]]

Wow. A lot was said. I'll try to hit some of those points.

Human to Vampire: I seem to remember the storyteller's guide mentioning this. I'll either use it's advice or make up my own system.

Fighting? There may be some. Probably with humans. Depends on how you feed and how well you stay out of trouble.

Cauldron of Blood: I love this power. First of all, it is instant death to a mortal. No save, no health levels, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Second, it is one of VERY few ways to inflict aggravated damage makes at least a few blood points unusable. Remember, you can only soak agg damage with Fortitude. So unless you are fighting someone with Fortitude, you will be able to deal out an average of 2 points of agg damage per round. Now remember, you can also spend a willpower point for an automatic success, so you will average at least 3 then. If by chance you luck up and do 4 or 5 levels, any vampire with any brains is going to get out of Dodge.

Rituels: If you have Thaumaturgy 5....
Level 1: 5
Level 2: 4
Level 3: 3
Level 4: 2
Level 5: 1

Notice a pattern? If you decide on Level 4 instead, use that same pattern (Level 1: 4, Level 2: 3, etc.)

You can have rituels from any source, but I reserve the right to veto them.

As far as I know, the biggest hold up is Timothy.

Got to go now, the wife is calling me to dinner. Will check back in later.

 

[KitanaVorr]

Originally posted by reapersaurus So at this point in his life, he's a rather nasty, amoral, do-anything kind of guy. Though his motives are basically pure, the means by which he acquires the power could be rather grisly. Thus he has rather low Humanity score, but over the course of the Chronicle, would become more Human if he can be reminded of what Love was like.

I just thought of something about that. You said something about Vych reminding you of your lost love.

Well that could be interesting in itself. Think about how you are a vampire, now, your whole life has been devoted to revenge. What if you met her and she is so much like your Victoria? What if you found yourself drawn to her despite it all? You'll be angry with yourself, no doubt, angry at her for disrupting your lifes plan, but you can't help it. First you say its lust, but what if it wasn't? What if you don't want it to be, but it is actually love? Ah, amore.

Well what if falling in love again, being in love just like with your Victoria although it gives you back your humanity...what if it brings Heartsbane back to you. So ironically you found the monster you sought so ferverently for at the moment when you stopped looking?

I think that would be an interesting story arc, a good side story to the whole campaign.

 

[reapersaurus]

wow.
That's a prety cool idea, Kitana.
I hadn't thought of the Heartsbane coming back.
But actually, the 'love' that Vampires can summon, in my eyes, is a pale shadow of the flame that burns within humans.

In my view (and understanding) of vampires, anything they can possibly do creatively, emotionally, etc, can't even compare to the simplest mortal expression of the same.

It's the reason why many Toreador, in my opinion, would sommit suicide -
once they realize that their greatest creative work doesn't have the spark that any human can create, they more than any other clan, eould probably have enough passion left to see the real picture, and give up this sham of a "life".

So that's the problem with Nikolai finding love as a vampire.
But Vych was just going to remind him of his Victoria - I was going to have Victoria appear to Nik in a dream at a masquerade ball, then have her shape blur away and reveal Vychtorya.
Then that event would actually happen, since Vych holds balls all the time - it's a passion of hers. (joke intended)

But the funny thing is - Vych doesn't sing - Caitlyn DOES.

 

[reapersaurus]

Fighting? There may be some. Probably with humans. Depends on how you feed and how well you stay out of trouble.

Cauldron of Blood: I love this power.

Thanks for your input.
edit: I guess it is at least agg damage, but compare it to the 2nd level power (Blood Rage) which might cause the subject to spend almost as much vitae. (Avg number: 5 or 6 points of blood spent)

Path of Flames is lots of agg damage, but it doesn't match my idea of Nikolai at all.

Mastery of the Mortal Shell, from Blood MAgic, is a very close match to Nikolai's personality (he'd love to hold the Heartsbane against his will, like it did to him), but
a) it's a secondary path
b) the higher level powers are just too weak...

It's too bad we won't be fighting some vampires - I would guess that this setting, more than any other, lends itself to skirmishes with Sabbat and violent encounters with contenders for power from the Camarilla.

Then again, doesn't the fact that we have pretty social-specialized vampires dictate that we _can't_ have a combat scene or 2?
(also, in your experience, are humans a real threat in combat to vampires?
I don't see how they could be...)

 

[KitanaVorr]

But the funny thing is - Vych doesn't sing - Caitlyn DOES.

OoooH. I thought the "enchanting voice" merit thing was for singing or something for vampires. I don't mind if she reminds him of Victoria but he's pretty scary looking and at first sight she is going to be freaked out, Mr. Low-Humanity. LOL okay that just had a Phantom of the Opera feel to it there.

Vampires have pale versions of love you say? Yes, then after her transformation Cate will be pretty distraught, but I don't really want her embraced right away or anything. I want to experience her as a human on the edge of their world before throwing her in outright.

 

[Shalimar]

Enchanting Voice gives your voice a quality that is hard to resist, it makes you better at giving orders, seduction, and persuasion. I gave Sabrina's voice a more singsong quality to set it apart from everyone else's, thats why I choose it.