Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines [System] [Closed: Players selected!]

[Orange Marmalade]

@Orange Marmalade According to the beliefs of plenty of Lasombra (at least according to the older books anyway) then the Abyss was actually a thing they were aware of or actively tried studying or even manipulating. And regarding the Blood Magic there was a bloodline of Lasombra or followers of a certain path (can't recall the specifics) that actually had some rituals involving it.

Yep, very aware of both of those things :) But that doesn't change my reasoning for why they were likely left out of game mechanics that affect dice rolling.

[Amaris]

It's set in the US though and it's not nearly as common for us to be able to speak more than English. We might know basic words from school, but it's not something that's expected here.

Also, I feel like if something were out of place in a character sheet that Bly would find it when he went through them to choose the group and point them out...

[Kayrax]

@Orange Marmalade Ah, okay I get what you're saying now.

In most games the developers usually limit and restrict features they might deem overpowered, overly used or broken for whatever other reasons.

Specialties: Kindred Lore, Rituals, Infernalism, Witches, Noddist Lore

These are the current specialties for Occult taken from the v20 corebook. Since the notion of the Abyss is known to the Lasombra and under different names other clans too (Giovanni comes to mind) then it might fall under Kindred Lore. If considering the diablerie of the Lasombra Antediluvian then it might vaguely work for Noddist Lore too (albeit I admit it's a stretch). Infernalism might work too since some demons believe the Abyss is the actual hell. Same for Blood Magic possibly working under both Kindred Lore and maybe Rituals too. Maybe even witches if we consider curses and possible components such as blood or hair or whatever else? These specialties seem more allowing and forgiving if anything else.

@Amaris The action is indeed set in Los Angeles but the participants are not limited to US citizens. So even if the US education system lacks a mandatory secondary language I already mentioned plenty of regions around the world where such a requirement exists.

And yes, as ST it would all fall unto Bly anyway.

[Orange Marmalade]

@Orange Marmalade Ah, okay I get what you're saying now.

In most games the developers usually limit and restrict features they might deem overpowered, overly used or broken for whatever other reasons.These are the current specialties for Occult taken from the v20 corebook. Since the notion of the Abyss is known to the Lasombra and under different names other clans too (Giovanni comes to mind) then it might fall under Kindred Lore. If considering the diablerie of the Lasombra Antediluvian then it might vaguely work for Noddist Lore too (albeit I admit it's a stretch). Infernalism might work too since some demons believe the Abyss is the actual hell. Same for Blood Magic possibly working under both Kindred Lore and maybe Rituals too. Maybe even witches if we consider curses and possible components such as blood or hair or whatever else? These specialties seem more allowing and forgiving if anything else.

Yeah that's exactly what I meant :) In the past I have taken Abyss Ritualism as a specialty, similar to the Rituals one listed in the book, with the side effect of being useful for Abyss lore related subjects as well. Then again, I've also had GMs who allowed it to affect Obtenebration as well, so send gifts to Bly and see!

[Amaris]

I guess I'm just disagreeing with you. I don't find it odd to take a language as a merit. Being bilingual is still merit worthy. I think if you didn't take the merit there are plenty of ways to explain not being bilingual. Maybe you've been out of school to long and it faded away. Maybe you didn't speak it enough and lost the fluency making it hard for you to carry on a conversation/fully be able to communicate with another language. Maybe you did poorly in the class or cheated your way through.

So, yea, I guess it's just a difference of opinion there.

[Kayrax]

Orange Marmalade You mean like getting an extra die or rather a decrease in difficulty? Because Occult and Manipulation rolls are already used for most powers in that discipline. If so I wasn't actually gunning for such specific benefits. It's just that the "Abyss" would've made more sense in the concept I'm fleshing out - a Lasombra intrigued, obsessed and also fearful of the possible origin of his powers.

@Amaris I understood where you're coming from and I respect your opinion. It would apparently make sense for places where being bilingual isn't the norm. Hopefully you'll at least understand that the reason I brought it up is that in other regions of the world being bilingual is actually the norm. You're expected to know that second language either from all the way in middle school or at the latest during high school. And it's mandatory as in you'd have to be the one odd out if you wouldn't follow that norm. I totally and completely agree it's impressive (and I'm not talking just in game mechanics here) knowing even more though.

[Geeklet]

The way I see it... its a 1 pt merit. Super easy to get. Is that 1 point so important to argue about?

[Hades]

Except Andrei isn't from the European part of Russia.

And ultimately the game system has to create an equal basis to go from, and in the V20 system they went with languages being a merit now instead of an ability.  I liked it better in 3rd edition, but that's neither here nor there.  A game system will never be able to account for the variability that is reality, so we just work within the framework we have.

[Kayrax]

To answer your question:

I don't really mind as it's just a puny 1 point merit but I do find the necessity of taking it weird under such conditions.

The reason I did decide to bring it up in the first place though is this:

The Golden Rule
After twenty years, this is still the most important rule of all, and the only real rule worth following: The rules are what you make of them. You should fashion this game into whatever you need it to be. Whether you’re running a nearly diceless chronicle of in-character socialization or a long-running tactical campaign with each player controlling a small coterie of vampires, if the rules in this book interfere with your enjoyment of the game, change them. The world is far too big — it can’t be reflected accurately in any set of inflexible rules. This book is nothing more than a collection of guidelines, suggested but not mandatory ways of capturing the World of Darkness in the format of a game. You’re the arbiter of what works best in your game — mutually determined in play with the Storyteller and other players — and you’re free to use, alter, abuse, or ignore these rules at your leisure. Besides, there are scores of fan communities online that delight in tinkering with the rules to get just the experience they want, and the exact rule you’re looking for may be just a Google search away.

@Hades Outstanding comeback. I tip my hat to you. And that might be why I never really considered this issue before. Either that or all the previous STs didn't notice or particularly cared.

[Hades]

Happy to help out with that.

[Blythe]

And yes, as ST it would all fall unto Bly anyway.

Yes, it would. I appreciate the attempts to be helpful (goodness knows VtM has a lot of moving and subjective parts), but please leave official clarifications on how mechanical aspects work to me when it comes to my game. And my intent for asking players to post their sheet drafts here was not to have them criqitued by other players, but so people could have possible backstory collaboration chances, so I'd ask that you hold off debating about choices folks made in their sheets unless a player asks you directly for feedback for now. Thank you. 

Rulesy clarifications on things that have been asked will get answers from me tomorrow! (Edit: well assuming the local storms let my internet remain up by tomorrow >_> )

[Love And Submission]

Name:		Samuel Newhard		Player:		Love And Submission
Clan:		Malkavian		Chronicle:		? ? ?
Nature:		Deviant		Haven:		? ? ?
Demeanor:		Scientist		Concept:		Paranoid Programmer
Generation:		? ? ?		EXP Spent:		? ? ?

Physical				Social				Mental
Strength:		●○○○○		Charisma:		●○○○○		Perception:	●●○○○
Dexterity :		●●●●○		Manipulation:		●●●○○		Intelligence:	●●●●●
Stamina:		●●●●●		Appearance:		●●○○○		Wits:	●○○○○

Specialities: Tough As Nails (Stamina),Precise (Dexterity),Book Knowledge (Intelligence)

Talents				Skills				Knowledges
Alertness:		●●●○○		Animal Ken:		○○○○○		Academics:	○○○○○
Athletics:		●○○○○		Crafts:		○○○○○		Computer:	●●●●●
Awareness:		●●●○○		Drive:		●●○○○		Finance:	○○○○○
Brawl:		○○○○○		Etiquette:		○○○○○		Investigation:	○○○○○
Empathy:		○○○○○		Firearms:		●●○○○		Law:	○○○○○
Expression:		○○○○○		Larceny:		○○○○○		Medicine:	○○○○○
Intimidation:		○○○○○		Melee:		●○○○○		Occult:	○○○○○
Leadership:		○○○○○		Performance:		○○○○○		Politics:	○○○○○
Streetwise:		●●●○○		Stealth:		○○○○○		Science:	●●●○○
Subterfuge:		●●●○○		Survival:		○○○○○		Technology:	●●●○○

Specialities: Internet (Computers)

Backgrounds				Disciplines				Virtues
Resources:		●●●○○		Auspex:		○○○○○		Conscience/Conviction:	●○○○○
Allies:		●●○○○		Dementation:		●●●○○		Self-Control/Instinct:	●●●●○
Fame:		●○○○○		Obfuscate:		○○○○○		Courage:	●●●●●

Humanity/Path:

●●●●● ○○○○○

Willpower:

●●●●● ○○○○○

Blood Pool:

? ? ?

Health:

Merits & Flaws

Merits
- Computer Aptitude (2 Pts)

Flaws
-

Biography

Samuel Newhard has loved technology since his father bought him an Atari 2600 for his seventh birthday. At age sixteen, Newhard programmed his first video game on the Macintosh ll.

Six years later, he would graduate from the Oregon Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in computer science.  After a short internship in Japan, Newhard founded Hastur Industries, a software publisher in Modesto, California alongside his college roommate Bill Wright. It was here that Newhard would serve as the lead developer of Annihilation 1 and Annihilation 2: Terrible Fate, two revolutionary first-person shooters for MS-DOS. Annihilation 1 was not released without controversy however as the gore and brutality in the game would cause a stir among the news media of the time.
Despite the controversy, The Annihilation series was a massive financial success and it made Newhard an industry superstar though he would leave Hastur Industries in 1997 after the release of the  Wild West RPG Badlands.

The reason for Newhard's departure is shrouded in mystery. While Newhard has publicly stated he left the company because he had accomplished all he wanted to do in the industry, rumors about his eccentric behavior and cantankerous attitude have led to the idea that he was bought out by Wright who wanted to take the company in a less controversial direction. Newhard's retirement wouldn't last long however as he soon began investing in several web startup companies with the money he received from his buyout.

[Kayrax]

@Bly Sure thing, not a problem. I for one am actually curious what others think of my concept - whether they feel it makes sense or if it is something they'd be interested interacting with or even if they have any ideas or suggestions to further improve upon. More often than not I find such feedback useful and constructive so if anyone other than you bothers going over it and finds something strange or interesting (not necessarily mechanically) then I'd love to hear about it.

And it seems the only clan yet untouched is Gangrel...

[SilkenVenom]

.
And it seems the only clan yet untouched is Gangrel...

There has been no Gangrel and no Tremere posted so far.

I’m working on a Tremere, but I’m not counting it because I haven’t put anything up yet.

[Suiko]

I'm torn between a couple of concepts. Any opinions would be welcome!

Case One: a Tremere detective/investigator, I could imagine it being interesting for a newly-turned Tremere to be a bit reluctant to use Blood Sorcery all that much - because it can do so much damage compared to his old trusty firearm, which then has him deciding to hone their other Disciplines, which would be Auspex and Dominate. I think. A good battle against the Beast to try and stay as human as he can.

Case Two: a Malkavian - definitely seems like it'd be fun - I'm feeling lots of paranoia and hints of megalomania for a Malkavian character who wants to see and know everything about everyone. Everyone is a suspect, you know? Also for his Demention he could have a noir-style narration in his head, and occasionally see the world in grainy black and white like in old-fashioned detective films he loves so much.

[Orange Marmalade]

I'm torn between a couple of concepts. Any opinions would be welcome!

Case One: a Tremere detective/investigator, I could imagine it being interesting for a newly-turned Tremere to be a bit reluctant to use Blood Sorcery all that much - because it can do so much damage compared to his old trusty firearm, which then has him deciding to hone their other Disciplines, which would be Auspex and Dominate. I think. A good battle against the Beast to try and stay as human as he can.

Case Two: a Malkavian - definitely seems like it'd be fun - I'm feeling lots of paranoia and hints of megalomania for a Malkavian character who wants to see and know everything about everyone. Everyone is a suspect, you know? Also for his Demention he could have a noir-style narration in his head, and occasionally see the world in grainy black and white like in old-fashioned detective films he loves so much.

My Toreador isn't a detective, but he'll be quite decent at some related things - could be interesting to work together with a Tremere! (Or even a Malk if he goes anywhere towards the sneaky auspex route)

[Suiko]

My Toreador isn't a detective, but he'll be quite decent at some related things - could be interesting to work together with a Tremere! (Or even a Malk if he goes anywhere towards the sneaky auspex route)

That's definitely a boost for the Tremere case ^^

[Suiko]

I've done my best with this. It's my first time making a character sheet independently, so there might be some mistakes I need to iron out. Still a WIP though. Any thoughts or criticims are more than welcome!

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Name:		Charles Layton 'Charlie'		Player:		Khoraz
Clan:		Tremere		Chronicle:		Bloodlines
Nature:		Perfectionist		Haven:		Box Apartment-come-Office
Demeanor:		Judge		Concept:		Downbeat Detective
Generation:		12th		EXP Spent:		0

Physical				Social				Mental
Strength:		●●○○○		Charisma:		●●○○○		Perception:	●●●○○
Dexterity:		●●●●● (Quick Fingers)		Manipulation:		●●●○○		Intelligence:	●●●○○
Stamina:		●●○○○		Appearance:		●●○○○		Wits:	●●●●○ (Always on-the-clock)

Talents				Skills				Knowledges
Alertness:		○○○○○		Animal Ken:		○○○○○		Academics:	●●○○○
Athletics:		○○○○○		Crafts:		○○○○○		Computer:	●●○○○
Awareness:		●●○○○		Drive:		●○○○○		Finance:	●○○○○
Brawl:		●○○○○		Etiquette:		○○○○○		Investigation:	●●●●● (An Eye for Detail)
Empathy:		○○○○○		Firearms:		●●●○○		Law:	●●○○○
Expression:		○○○○○		Larceny:		○○○○○		Medicine:	○○○○○
Intimidation:		●●○○○		Melee:		●○○○○		Occult:	○○○○○
Leadership:		○○○○○		Performance:		○○○○○		Politics:	●●○○○
Streetwise:		●●●○○		Stealth:		○○○○○		Science:	○○○○○
Subterfuge:		●○○○○		Survival:		○○○○○		Technology:	●○○○○

Backgrounds				Disciplines				Virtues
Allies:		●●○○○		Dominate:		●●○○○		Conscience/Conviction:	●●●●○
Resources:		●●○○○		Auspex:		●○○○○		Self-Control/Instinct:	●●○○○
Contacts:		●●○○○		Thaumaturgy:		○○○○○		Courage:	●●●●○
Domain:		●○○○○

Humanity/Path: Humanity

●●●●● ●○○○○

Willpower:

●●●●○ ○○○○○

Blood Pool:

11

Health:  ? ? ?

Merits & Flaws

Merits
Ambidextrous - 1pt
Eidetic Memory - 2pt

Flaws
Tic/Twitch (Neck-cracking) - 1pt
Unconvinced - 1pt
Prey Exclusion (Law Enforcement) - 1pt

Character Bio

Determined | By-the-book | Critic | Lawful

Charlie loves his job as a detective; being a lawyer really wasn't right for him. Too many hours spent at a desk and not enough out on the streets, meeting people and doing the real leg-work. He prides himself on doing his best for whatever client walks through his door, though he would sooner give up the proverbial badge entirely than defend someone he thought was guilty.

He has a profound sense of justice, and will do everything he can to try and maintain order in his own way... a task that has become increasingly more difficult after his Embrace. His world was turned upside down that fateful night as all the rules of humanity were tossed aside like so much garbage. Suddenly there was a new set of rules to try and grapple with, and they didn't entirely fit with his old views of justice and honour.

He remains unconvinced by the pomp of the Camarilla, and by extension the Tremere. He would rather have nothing to do with vampire society if he could avoid it, but unfortunately that simply isn't an option. He's had many-a visit from Mr. Strauss, who tries to bend him to the Tremere way of thinking. Blood magic and horrendous injuries it can cause... No. That isn't for Charlie.

He wants to find his own way; to navigate this cruel and terrifying new world while holding onto what he believes is right. He won't give up his Humanity for anything - not even when the Beast begins to growl...

[SilkenVenom]

Name:		Camille Murphy		Player:		SilkenVenom
Clan:		Tremere		Chronicle:		Bloodlines
Nature:		Judge		Haven:		TBD
Demeanor:		Visionary		Concept:		FBI Profiler
Generation:		7th		EXP Spent:		0

Physical				Social				Mental
Strength:		●●○○○		Charisma:		●●○○○		Perception:	●●○○○
Dexterity:		●●○○○		Manipulation:		●●●○○		Intelligence:	●●●●○
Stamina:		●●○○○		Appearance:		●●●○○		Wits:	●●●●○

Specialities: Intelligence (Logical), Wits (One Step Ahead)

Talents				Skills				Knowledges
Alertness:		●○○○○		Animal Ken:		○○○○○		Academics:	●●○○○
Athletics:		●○○○○		Crafts:		○○○○○		Computer:	●○○○○
Awareness:		●○○○○		Drive:		●○○○○		Finance:	●○○○○
Brawl:		○○○○○		Etiquette:		●○○○○		Investigation:	●●●○○
Empathy:		●○○○○		Firearms:		●●●○○		Law:	●○○○○
Expression:		○○○○○		Larceny:		●○○○○		Medicine:	○○○○○
Intimidation:		●○○○○		Melee:		●○○○○		Occult:	●●●○○
Leadership:		○○○○○		Performance:		○○○○○		Politics:	●○○○○
Streetwise:		○○○○○		Stealth:		●○○○○		Science:	●○○○○
Subterfuge:		○○○○○		Survival:		●○○○○		Technology:	○○○○○

Backgrounds				Disciplines				Virtues
Generation:		●●●●●		Dominate:		●○○○○		Conscience:	●●○○○
Domain:		●●●●○		Auspex:		●○○○○		Self-Control:	●●●○○
Resources:		●●○○○		Thaumaturgy (Path of Blood):		●●○○○		Courage:	●●●●●
Allies:		●○○○○		Thaumaturgy (Lure of Flame):		●○○○○

Thaumaturgy Rituals

Level 1:
-Defense of the Sacred Haven

Humanity:

●●●●● ○○○○○

Willpower:

●●●●● ●●●○○

Blood Pool:

??/20 (4/turn max)

Health: Uninjured

Merits & Flaws

Merits
- Coldly Logical (1pt)
Flaws
- Unconvinced (1pt)
- Vengeful (2pt) (Arturo Giovanni)
- Sleeping with the Enemy (3pt) (Damsel)

Freebie Points Spending

15 base points
+ 6 Flaws
- 3 for Willpower
- 14 for Thaumaturgy
- 2 for Resources
- 1 for Allies
- 1 for Merit

Personality Words:  Calculating. Studious. Cold. Knowledge-seeking

History

Camille was born in Marseille, France to an Irish businessman and a French model. They moved to the United States when she was very young where she grew up with a normal, if somewhat upper-middle class lifestyle. For the most part, Camille’s life was uneventful. She studied hard, participated in extra curricular activities, but always had a hard time making friends. And those she did make, she had difficulty maintaining them. She was harsh with the truth, which most people didn’t like, and many saw her as cold and uncaring. It wasn’t so much she didn’t care, just often had trouble expressing it. Her parents had always been strict with high expectations and she fought tooth and nail to meet them. Sometimes it meant stepping on some necks, even if she didn’t want to.

Her life’s path was chosen for her in high school when she found her mother murdered in their home. There was little evidence to the culprit and though her father was accused at first, he was eventually released. In the end, the police gave up. Camille felt that was unacceptable. She was determined to find the monster no matter what. Little did she know at the time just how accurate that description would turn out to be.

After graduating high school, she attended collage and studied criminal justice and psychology, wanting to betting understand her pray. She spent two years after graduation as an officer for the Baltimore Police before being accepted into the FBI and training at Quantico. As she went, she formed what connections she could and gaining access to her mother’s case. The trail led her through a web of organized crime, which she later discovered to be the motive. Her father had been involved with less than reputable people in order to keep his businesses afloat. When he couldn’t give them their cut, they made an example out of her mother as a warning. It turned out to be more complicated than just that; a string of similar murders drew her interest. Bodies drained of blood, but no apparent wounds. It sounded like something out of a novel. Camille had always been a bit eccentric, believing in aliens and ghosts, but her mind had a hard time processing it. And her superiors didn’t believe her, even going so far as sanctioning her for, in their eyes, a ridiculous idea. She would do it herself if they weren’t going to help her.

After years of investigation and hard work, the trail led her directly to her mother’s killer, a man who was supposed to have died 50 years ago, Arturo Giovanni. Her confrontation with him changed her life; vampire’s were real and they were even more frightening than the stories made them. She didn’t know what she was thinking, but tried to stop him anyway. It had proved to be a futile effort. Arturo mortally wounded her, taunting her, saying she wasn’t even worth feeding off. He left her on the ground for death. However, a friend she had made in her hunt had been watching. His name was Gregor and he did not let her go into the light. Instead, he took her from one world and into another.

She handled her transition into the Clan better than expected, though her Embrace outside the Pyramid, as it was called, caused problems. She wasn’t treated badly, but she could tell they weren’t exactly thrilled with the idea of having her around. Despite that, just like in life, she would work to earn their respect. The more she learned about the Tremere and the new life she had been brought into though, she started to see cracks in the glass. Questioning or trying to debate with her elders caused problems and they seemed unwilling to listen, even going so far as to threaten her. It would all amount to nothing when the blood bonds of all those at the Chantry were suddenly broken, sending the Clan members into a panic. Shortly after, the Chantry was attacked by a small force of the Sabbat accompanied by the Assamite, Vizers brought in to counteract the Tremere’s own magic. What started as a Sabbat plot turned into a massacre. Only Gregor and Camille survived, though not by chance or skill. Gregor had betrayed the Clan and used their destruction to in turn eliminate a portion of the local Sabbat and their allies. Gregor had grown tired of the politics, the backstabbing, the fear, the endless hatred. The only way he saw a way out was drastic measures. He ask one last favor of his childe; kill him and take his power; become better than he was. She refused at first, but he made a logical point she couldn’t argue with. The only way to protect herself was to kill the traitor.

She relented and granted his wish by diablerizing him. To this day, she hates him for making her do it. At the same time, it granted her some insight into his thought process.

Camille took what books and texts she could from the Chantry before setting it aflame, destroying whatever secrets the clan had left there to keep them out of the hands of those that shouldn’t have them. She traveled to Los Angeles in order to start over. It has been two years since her arrival and already has managed to turn a few heads.

[Kayrax]

Any thoughts or criticims are more than welcome!

I promised Bly a few posts up I'd stay out of mechanical aspects (which point allocation would sort of fall into). I will instead simply suggest using a small section to keep track of freebie points as everyone else apparently has already done. It helps both the ST and yourself keep track of everything. I'd be happy to provide more information but only if so specifically desired.

In regards to the concept itself, assuming we both get chosen and then seeing as you've got Auspex as well as a focus on investigation then you might be able to see certain monstrous auras covered by swirling darkness Also interested in a bit of infiltrating/investigating/interrogating myself so a co-op effort would be fun - at least OOC if not necessarily IC as well. Just a thrown idea for your consideration...

@SilkenVenom I meant interest has been shown in everything save Gangrel. A question for you as I believe you're similarly going for a PoE given the Conviction/Instinct combo - what path are you interested in?

[SilkenVenom]

@SilkenVenom I meant interest has been shown in everything save Gangrel. A question for you as I believe you're similarly going for a PoE given the Conviction/Instinct combo - what path are you interested in?

I'll be honest, I just grabbed Hades sheet as a starting off point. I was having trouble working the code from a blank one, so I used someone else's as a guide and made alterations. I have to go back and change those to the Humanity versions.

Thanks for mentioning it though. Completely missed it.

[Amaris]

I love the sheets that popped up overnight!

I'm glad you went with the detective, Kho, he looks great. Oh the shenanigans Nika is thinking up

[Hades]

I'm glad to see you went the Tremere route as well Khoraz.  One, because I enjoy the Tremere but mostly for the second reason, which is before I changed my mind and went Tzimisce I was going to make a Tremere that was a paranormal investigator in his mortal life.  He went around debunking things like "ghost hunters" and such that you see on TV so much in the US these days, until he got on the trail of mystery that wasn't so easily debunked that lead to him finding his sire at the end of the trail.

If my Tzimisce is approved, I promise to play nice with the Tremere of the group....mostly.  >.> 

[Amaris]

If my Tzimisce is approved, I promise to play nice with the Tremere of the group....mostly.  >.>

Nika makes no such promises

[Hades]

Of course not.  Because Nika is gonna Nika.