Rumination Analysis on Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines

[@TeutonicKnight92]

To Diablerized an antediluvian… there would be no greater prize. Needless to say in my first play through I was exploded by Jack’s surprise for my greed

[@jebes909090]

Its so wierd how divergent peoples choices can be. I chose to lock it away in the basement. It was basically drummed into you the whole game that basically no good would come from taking that power.

[@jimbob3332]

A minor note, but vampire fiction does exist in the the World of Darkness. It's even brought up several times with Jack debunking myths that the Fledgeling probably had about vampires, several references to the stereotypical image of Dracula, and a side quest about someone writing a vampire film script "like if they were really real" using the term vampire like it's commonplace.

[@YuriPRIMErpg]

Mechanically the game was flawed due to extremely rushed schedule and cut development time. Story wise, it's still my favorite RPG - perhaps because of what I look for in RPGs. So many are about grand scheme of things, saving the world and so on, while the most interesting part for me is the feeling you get while getting into the stories of common folks, little stories of characters, their lives, griefs, conflicts. A street gang having a beef with with a shop owner, all have their little plots grounded in the reality of the setting and it's through those small steps that you get to learn about it. The best part of Mass Effect in my opinion was getting to know those unique and sometimes exotic characters, have a laugh, go through moments of dread, etc. I never cared about saving the world from the Reapers or other grand threat who wants to destroy the world cliche... This is game is that exactly in a nutshell, but stuffed with little life stories of supernatural beings. A thin-blood vampire on the run turned into juicebag by some local deviant i working in a hospital, politics and struggle for power, an old flesh-eating vampiress who's temporary home is being harassed by some fools shooting a spooky show. Little things... which make you feel like you interact with people as a person who's in the same pickle as everyone else, but a person... not a huge hero. And this carries such an impact. And canon wise, this has been based on Los Angeles by Night campaign. Of course, a bit transformed, but it's roughly the same thing. I think that ever since the CCP released it's grasp on the IP, they have revived the world, cause technically the Gehenna never happened. They had the 'end of the world' coming, but it was for Players and GMs to actually make their own 'apocalypse'. Fans of the Original WoD or Classic WoD (including myself) simply preferred to stay with the classic and the new setting just didn't click. Onyx Path Publishing which takes care of Classic WoD has been bringing the original game back to life. Also, you might be overthinking Jack a bit ;) he didn't played everyone. He just played the naive. Try allying yourself with Tremere and see their ending. Whereas everyone fights for power (which is obvious in any society... replace Sarcophagus with oil in some small middle eastern country and see the world powers jump on it like it's a bone to a starved dog), those with more clear vision , those with actual tangible long term plan for the future, care not for ancient tales. The Tremere in the end win, cause they play the same game for power, they just do it calm, smart and with great patience.

[@thant0s]

I'll be 100% honest man, if someone ever got the rights to do a remaster of this game on a modern engine, with combat engine refinements, missing story beats fleshed out and perhaps an official "Sire System" added (with some additional content elements to take advantage of it), I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'm still real salty that the World of Darkness MMO isn't gonna happen. >.

[@jebes909090]

@@thant0s guys, they just dropped the trailer for vampire the masquerade bloodlines 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ArbiterLibera]

I'm sure you know this, but to put Masquerade in context for someone not really familiar with WoD in general you have to keep in mind vampires, and other supernaturals to a degree, got wrecked hard by the Inquisition centuries ago. And that was back in the day without modern technologies, globe-spanning organizations, etc.

[@thant0s]

This does also go hand-in-hand with Arche's observation that, should humanity as a whole be turned on to the idea of the vampire threat, the bloodbags would crush them like _bugs_. I've always enjoyed that dynamic, as it applies tangible weight and consequence for being "stupid" within the setting as a vampire, and explains pretty easily why any mundane with intimate knowledge of the World of Darkness instantly becomes a MASSIVE target for everyone in it. It also places humans in somewhat of a position of their own power, provided they are appropriately connected, such as the Inquisition, for example, or other suitably "prepared" (read: informed, armed and/or funded) groups.

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Considering the Generation of our character in VtM:B is never once mentioned or listed,it's only a theory that our Generation go down, to explain why LaCroix fail to dominate us the last time... But that can also be explained with our character spending a will, or him being so nervous and on edge he botched his roll

[@CerpinTxt87]

I've never read a title and clicked a video so quickly in my life.

[@forfail]

Just discovered the channel, excellent stuff. Love the ambient rain in the background, very fitting for Bloodlines--but it could've been a tad lower in volume.

[@Crensler]

Personally I think that vampires are very, very human. They exemplify what a lot of people would do when handed the sort of power the Kindred have at their disposal and how classist the Generations, Bloodlines and different organizations would become as a result. Also Caine being the cab driver just sorta blew my mind as a concept, so thanks for that XD

[@unregisteredassaultbutterk1185]

In a way the vampires in VTM are more human than the actual humans. They're humans unrestrained and putting the worst qualities of humanity on display. Addiction, fulfilling animalistic desires at the expense of others, manipulation, deception and betrayal. Most of all a shortsighted desperate hunger for wealth and power, which is funny given that being potentially immortal you think most of them would come to understand the dissatisfaction of material pursuits and the meaninglessness of temporary political influence.

[@KarbinCry]

I think you missed one important distinction in terms of the "lure" of the sarcophagus. For it is certainly a positive bait, i.e. some people (vampires) do want to posses this power to further their own ends, but a huge part of this, IMO, is *negative* bait. The feeling that if you don't get it, someone else will. That fear, dread, paranoia. This is a significant miss in your analysis, since your conclusion is - or at least seems to be - that Masquerade lead to pride and greed, which is very reductive. After all, if a character's motivation to go after the sarcofagus is just greed, that's shallow and not relatable; it's an act of villainy. However, seeing as that motivation can be fear as well (or a blend), and fear is always related to something one has (including friends, a cause (anarchs) - qualities which can be positive), it makes the matter more ambiguous, and shows the *true* corruption f the vampire society. It's not that people who fall into the pit of prideful greed have that pride and greed nurtured by it, it's that *good* people (relatively), people who just want to (un)live, that those too, are pushed into those sorts of actions (for which pride by itself cannot account, not without paranoia to keep it company) - that is the problem. Not everyone will or can, be arrogant glutton. But everyone can be afraid. (which is why I consider Bloodlines a surprisingly apt tool for achieving understanding of Cold War international politics)

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Euh... That's false, people in the World of Darkness know what vampire are. They fought them in the Middle Age that's part of why the Inquisition happened in that setting. Now they are tought as Myth, but those Myth are based on truth, and if they see a Vampire, they will think "Heh! That's a Vampire, that's why they don't call themselves vampire, but Kindred it's part of maintaining the Masquerade

[@Adamwofford]

I think the princes is a Pawn, and Cain is using you as the player and the princes to see how it plays out

[@MalakiaLaGattaNera]

It is REALLY difficult to find good larpers of any setting that doesn't revolve around swinging big swords at each other. heck, even finding good player to do pen and paper sessions with is hard. And Malkavians are a HUGE part of the problem considering that people just use them as an excuse to do silly stuff instead of building interesting characters :/

[@bojalil]

Yuppp I agree....I use to play a lot but pen and paper...and we tried to at least act and talk like the characters, but sitting comfortably in a table with coffee..lol...but yeah, finding serious players is hard

[@unregisteredassaultbutterk1185]

So do malkavians pretty much get used in the same way chaotic neutrals do?

[@1stCainite]

I loved this basic walk through of what the game is. but I do think it is good enough that it deserves a thorough walk through.

[@thant0s]

Small bit of feedback: the ambient storm in the background might be a tad loud at times with the thunder crashing. Not ear-splitting, though.

[@devinscott8680]

Ahhhh man Arcanum. Off topic, but your mentioning of it makes me want to reinstall it. What an under appreciated game that was.

[@unregisteredassaultbutterk1185]

The one game I know of where you can literally engage the main antagonist in a philisophical debate, win him over and convince him to commit suicide.

[@GwydoStClair]

If you weren't so busy, I would absolutely invite you to play in my World of Darkness game Lorerunner.

[@Mrityugata]

Cab driver being Caine is pretty clearly confirmed by the fact that his sound files have "Caine" in the name.

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Mrtyugata that was the dev intent. But White Wolf said no he’s not

[@InnsannaStories]

@@oliviawilliams6204 and White Wolf is dead now, so who gives a crap what they say? They butchered the narrative constantly, the Bloodlines canon for Caine is more interesting and will probably be canon for VTM under Paradox.

[@kappa731]

@@InnsannaStories true, I like what Troika did with this game, fuck White Wolf

[@royaalewcheese]

Thanks Arch, your rumination will make for excellent inspiration for Vampire games I run in the future.

[@Master10k2]

The point you brought up 15:05, on the whole Humans vs Fantastical beings argument, reminded me of the fairly recent Japanese anime GATE... In particular the scenario in the youtube video entitled "GATE - How to deal with Dragons".

[@evad4you]

Every time you drop a reference to Arcanum I want to beg for a rumination.

[@soapmode]

Theoretically you could get a likeminded group of V:tM LARPers together to make it work but that would be an Olympic-level team whose energies would be better directed elsewhere. When politics is the focus it gets messy fast, people act out and egos get bruised. You make some great points in this rumination, particularly the last one: V:BL is a comment on the stagnation of human society in the grip of an aging population of entrenched elites. Without the agency of youth to actively reinterpret culture and tradition, society becomes an undead revenant, shuffling towards its final nights.

[@TheMarcHicks]

I like to imagine an alternate dimension, where Activision actually gave the developers of this game the proper amount of time they required to properly finish the game. Hopefully Paradox will be the people to achieve that reality in *this* dimension!!!

[@Nagasakevideo]

You can actually take "generation" as a background in VTM to lower your generation, and after running the math, the player chatacter from bloodlines is a generation 8 vampire, the lowest Gen a PC can be. Which makes sense considering they have nothing else really from their background.

[@EnvisionerWill]

I'm pretty sure you meant to say that this was a "night in the unlife", @Lorerunner....

[@MollyGermek]

We're pretty likely to get a new one of these soon. Paradox bought the IP and Obsidian's just finishing up their development of Tyranny.

[@thant0s]

I'm really trying not to get too wound up over the potential for a GREAT game there, 'cause that'd be a crushing disappointment if it didn't turn out so well. I'm actually hoping Paradox takes their time and gets the _right_ people to work on the team for that IP.

[@MollyGermek]

TheDeaconErudite It's more than likely going to be Obsidian, and they've got some of the Troika guys working for them now. So if past performance is any indication, it'll be a rushed, buggy mess with incredible writing. A fitting sequel.

[@thant0s]

"So if past performance is any indication, it'll be a rushed, buggy mess with incredible writing." XD Don't do that to me! I don't know whether to chuckle or mope!

[@eff-google]

if any dev can do it justice, now that Troika is a fossil, it's Obsidian. Cautious optimist here.

[@LuckeeStrikee]

Not anytime soon, sadly. Cain and Boyarsky are working on a different project right now, and Obsidian in general is kinda set for the next few years with PoE2 and Sawyer's historical game. Hope they already scheduled it at least.

[@oliviawilliams6204]

There's actually very little evidence we change generation in the game, the stat max ever increase, our blood pool only increase trough artefacts. Not because we get more powerful and those are the most obvious difference between Generation

[@JuhaStrauss]

In the World of Darkness humans have the same amount of ficction about vampires as we do. The Mascarade promote that so humans bealive that vampires are just that, ficction, so is easier to discredit someone who clamis that Vampires exists

[@margisama]

As for the cab driver....Troika implied that he was Cain (and indeed the folder containing his voice files is labeled Cain), but the official Gehenna novel retconned it actually being Caine. The real Caine by canon was in Kaymakli all this time (the underground city where Cappadocius sealed the 'failed' members of his clan), the cab driver turned out to be an ancient Malkavian whose brand of insanity was thinking he was Caine.

[@jimbob3332]

On the other hand, he's Caine. Caine can do pretty much whatever he wants. He has power oh so many times greater than that of even the Antedeluvians. Being in two places at once, or even just appearing so, would be easy for him.

[@CarrieSatan02]

Oh shoot, you actually took my request

[@Mrityugata]

Why do you say that player character's generation changes during the game? Because of LaCroix's domination attempts working at first, but not at the end? My first reaction was that you might be confusing Bloodlines with Redemption, which actually displays generation in character sheet and allows player to change it.

[@Lorerunner]

It's an assumption, since by my own understanding if we stayed at our current Generation all the way through we never would have been able to pull off anything we can by the end of the game, in terms of stats, levels, abilities, etc.

[@Mrityugata]

Lorerunner Wouldn't it be a safer option to assume that we start at a relatively old generation (as the game never states what that generation is), and that it just takes time and practice to master the power inherent in the blood? Like you said, generation determines only the potential, after all.

[@Lorerunner]

I... guess? I mean I always assumed that, being such a new vampire, we were very high numbered generation because of how that works.

[@nejiharuno]

Except we are practically leaping through power levels within a few nights, so much so that the in-game characters (except Jack) are surprised of us accomplishing what are clearly suicide missions to them, without fail.

[@LowResCatExplosion]

Lorerunner I'd think you were older, too. 'Cause at the beginning, when 2 Camarilla stake you and the sire, the Sheriff is standing in the door way. If your sire wasn't that low on the generational totem pole, I don't think Lacroix would risk the masquerade endangering, elephant leather wearing, behemoth going into an apartment complex habited by humans.

[@Fatfit2]

Arch pulled out that glorious Kingdom Hearts jacket!! looking good man!! hehehe, someone bit you. I spat my drink out.

[@Fatfit2]

so funny that I spat my drink out*

[@AndyPanayiotou27]

Nice rumination. I was wondering if you've seen The Strain (tv show or read the books). I think it portrays a secret vampire race taking over very well. Also, the way you talk about the Masquerade made me think of the Great Game in Dragon Age. Because it doesn't really fit, it lead to me thinking if something similar would happen if mages in that setting would retreat from society and then slowly become legend and then myth. Obviously, the fact that the somewhat random hereditary nature of magic in that setting would make it hard, but it's food for thought.

[@thant0s]

: ( I'd enjoy The Strain a lot more if it wasn't so darned goofy at times. Given the transmission vector of the strigoi and the behavior of both them and the humans, it's hard for me to sit through a single episode without groaning and rolling my eyes at how very convenient a lot of the clashes are between them. The Born is fascinating though, likely the best part of the series.

[@AndyPanayiotou27]

Yeah. It definitely falls under the guilty pleasure category for me. The reason I still watch it that it offers some interesting food for thought. That and I like the people involved, from Guillermo Del Toro and Ramin Djawadi to a lot of the cast.

[@inkrahek3802]

Dragon Age are bad games and cater to political correctness. Bloodlines was way better.

[@Akut324]

I remember I had a ton of fun playing this game as a Nosferatu. I am kind of curious though, what exactly was so bad about your LARPing group?

[@7ha70n3guy]

A guy did bite someone, so there's one thing.

[@Akut324]

Pavvs Sounds like a Malkavian player.

[@thant0s]

+Akut324 While that did make me chuckle a bit, I would venture to guess that a large problem was that some members within the RP group had issues with understanding boundaries and limitations, points where one should emulate the actions of the narrative, and where they should refrain from physically representing. As a most base and easy to understand example: there's loads of combat and graphic violence within many (if not all) White Wolf campaigns; you won't see (MOST REASONABLE!) RP groups _literally stabbing, shooting and/or maiming one another_. While some people may say, "Oh, it was just a little bite!" or, "It's just a joke!" not everyone will want to associate with people who cannot perceive that fine line, for one reason or another. From my personal experience and perspective, it has a LOT to do with how individuals like that will keep going further and further with little infractions like that, until someone is "accidentally" _seriously_ harmed, physically or emotionally. For some people, such extremes are fine, but what's _not_ fine is not having all players "on the same page" regarding that behavior. If real violence or other destructive themes are not only going to be represented, but actually enacted upon the players, what matters most is collective consent and transparency _before_ it happens.

[@djblaklite]

ive loved this rumination. i really want to play this now.

[@YuriPRIMErpg]

Also, after giving it some thought... I think your evaluation of the Vampire society is a bit off. The most corrupt and degraded, is not LaCroix, but Jack. He is the depraved and deranged symbol of everything wrong with vampyric society. Think about it. Ever since dark ages, the Masquarade caused the vampires to actually grow and mix with the mortals. Do they act superior? Yes, because they have the edge they are obviously aware of, it would be foolish to pretend they are not. But in Dark Ages, before the Masquerade, and in Ancient times it was *FAAAR* worse. (With one exception of Carthage, but even that got wiped off the face of the Earth) Mortals used like cattle, sometimes literary, made to worship them, being played with by the Vampires left and right, wars started because of ancient politics and what not, even going as far back as to times of Caine, Vampires were cruel and cold, using mortals as their pawns and playthings. Ever since we take first step into LA however, we meet for the first time 'dudes'... just Vampire folk who go about their life as mundane and far from Elder God figures their ancestors used to be. In Santa Monica we meet Berthram Tung, who's just a street-wise helpful guy. We meet Voreman twins, but they crazy, so it's a bit different story. We meet Lily and E, who are just poor lost thin-bloods trying to cope with their condition. In Holywood, we have VV who is doing what? Dancing for people in a strip club, friendly with mortals, taking care of her business. We have the Baron who's just... another reasonable person, taking care for his neighborhood. Strauss and Gary Golden are just... another two sensible types, who play their own politics in LA. And speaking of Politics, including LaCroix, well, yeah, you have your politics. Big and influential, just like mortals. Vampire society has never been as CLOSE to mortal one. And the fact they went after sarcophagus is even more an emphasis of how close to human society they got. It was reasonable. The Sarcophagus, and antediluvian is a big threat in their own culture. If someone in our world has bragged before some influential groups that he's hidden a nuclear warhead somewhere in town or something of similar power, why would you NOT try to get your hands on it? Even for safety's sake. You should get it, so that your rivals won't and vice versa. That's why in face of oil shortage, global powers fight over small countries, donating terrorist groups or the like, just to get their hands on the resources, as for what happens over last decade in Middle East and Northern Africa. The real evil is Jack... Jack who'd for his own amusement, like the ANCIENTS of old times, would gladly start a shitstorm no matter how many lives it consumes in the end. The events he started are despicable, and he knew well what he was doing, acting like a true Old One who uses his brethren like his playthings. That's corruption. Comming back to LaCroix for a seccond, you said he's nobody, the little guy pretending to be wearing big pants. Well, you say that from player's perspective, but LaCroix actually did nearly everything right. Seriously, he spared the character's life for political gain, he sends you on a suicide mission, obviously to get rid of you - an unknown Vampire not aligned with anyone to blow up Sabbath warehouse, enough time and talent to make it in and place the explosive, not enough to leg it. Everything in this decision was smart - he get's rid of the new blood who is a troublesome case without mentor or parent to keep a tap on him, there's no real way to control you or have any leverage. Technically you have a clan in your bloodline, but you don't belong to any, so if Sabbath captures you, you're the one looking like an Anarch not Camarilla, after all, you're not know for being someone's childe. If they learn however and you potentially screwed up, the blame falls also on Nines - he was the one who protested your execution and wanted you were given a chance to prove yourself, true Anarch style. The thing is, you as a player succeeded in impossible task. You are statistical anomaly. You are used this way several times, every time LaCroix tries to eliminate you, you succeed against impossible odds! Like the werewolf fight! Knowing Lore you should be turned into bloody paste! But... luckily you escape. The only reason why LaCroix's plans don't work is because of plot designed around Player's agency.

[@Lorerunner]

I would also add onto this that it's not just the Player Character agency but, in universe, Jack's own manipulations, thus putting even more of the blame on him.

[@YuriPRIMErpg]

You're right, Gary Golden in Chinatown section mentioned his suspicions about the sources about the Sarcophagus. It makes sense it could come from Jack as he's far better connected then we're lead to believe. Beckett also sounds surprised that he hasn't heard about the content from wherever he arrived, yet the 'myths' were already out in LA. In the source book, LA by Night, the character of Smiling Jack is also a scheming plotter under a guile of simple biker/bum. He's quite a character, just emphasizing the amount of good writing that went into this game.

[@MisterAAnderson]

Alternatively an idea I saw around russian sources - the evil manipulative dude would be Nines, he is ultimately the emotional crook, the protest in public is another show, just as LaCroix does it. Remember how in the end he says "We could *use* someone like you." Among all the chaos he shows himself for what he is. A fake bravado and mytho of a fighter. Jack? Sure he probably manipulated it all. But it probably happened with Caine's stamp of approval. Therefore they probably made sure to keep as many real innocent people away from the carnage as much as possible. Also as a way to test you and LaCroix and maybe even if Nines is as sincere as he seems. Also test the Tremere? Who knows.

[@LuckeeStrikee]

Andrei Turcan - A fake bravado and mytho of a fighter who rips a warewolf's head off?

[@Ike_of_pyke]

The Cabbie/Caine also was potentially helping out Jack as well, meaning he could have been the co-mastermind of all this, maybe it was a wager

[@EnvisionerWill]

It was a B5 rumi that brought me here, but I completely don't get why you compare the vampires to the Martians of all things.

[@khatack]

14th and 15th generations are thinbloods, the guys you meet at the beach, so the PC neonate is at the very least 13th generation. It can be argued however, that he's actually higher gen, due to the fact that even Max senses an unusual power within you and the size of your blood-pool would indicate an 8th gen vampire (this could obviously be simply a case of convenient number from design perspective and nothing to do with the actual generation). Still, the case can be made for the PC to be of a lower generation. And no, your generation doesn't change during the game, you just gain more xp and thus get to spend them on stats as you would in the PnP game. The maximum trait score of 5 applies to even 13th gen vampires, and there's nothing preventing a 13th gen vampire from getting the fifth dot in all his stats and disciplines.

[@RorytheRomulan]

What qualifies for me as "human" is very simple: are they or were they of the human race? Perhaps a new vampire's attitude and way of thinking changes when they are turned, but that has to do with their new outlook and how they cope with the change, and because this is different for every vampire, this makes them equally human in "death" as they were in life.The inner struggle with their demons becomes literal, that is the only truly universal change for a human mind when becoming a vampire. To say that this alone makes them another race entirely is akin to alienating people who see/hear and/or talk to people/voices that are not real, who can influence their decisions if they let them. You have to mentally be of a different biological race with all your faculties intact before I consider you no longer *a* human. Someone who used to be human but is now a different race but has become mentally unstable in some way shape or form is just iffy, and you can't be sure whether they are an unstable X race or an unstable human being. I normally don't count werewolves, but in the case of White Wolf gaming, biologically werewolves are a race unto themselves with supernatural qualities. A human with both human parents cannot become a werewolf. You're either born a werewolf or you aren't and you cannot gain or lose the "curse". They're otherwise on the same level mentally as humans and possess the same rational thought and sentience etc, but that has been true of many scifi races before. I would be doing them a disservice not to consider White Wolf werewolves of a different race. However, I tend to gloss over a race's "race" if they show a satisfying amount of reciprocation of of what we consider "humanity" or common human morality. You have to be _monstrous_ before I start considering the needs of myself before your own . The latter is literally possible when you become a vampire, if you listen to the Beast a little too closely. La Croix...he's evil. He's corrupt, he's greedy, he's willing to sacrifice pawns with no emotional or moral attachment, he's a schemer, he's even willing to Dominate you: mentally give you an order you can't refuse, to enslave you to his employ. Nevermind that he's pathetic and stupid, that doesn't determine whether someone is wicked. I picked Camarilla at the end of my first play. As an Anarchist, I would seek to topple the Camarilla and leave no stone unturned in their defeat. But as someone on the inside, with the respect and companionship of a man who truly wishes to see the Camarilla change from the inside that both we and the Anarchists could appreciate, I can shift the political balance toward peace and remove the corruption, at least bringing about the start of it in Las Angeles. That is what I thought was preferable. Maybe I was just played for a sucker, oh well. In that ending, I believed I had prevented the rise of the antediluvian and therefore prevented the beginning of the apocalypse, or delayed it depending on who you ask. It's clear that the latter is the case though, and it's clear that the developers nudged players toward an ending in which the sarcophagus was opened. And even then, I saw the antediluvian chilling and relaxed, and thought that perhaps Jack was seeking to prevent diablerie, and that Cain looked down on this too. I like to think of in-game world-ending apocalypses as on an open schedule.

[@Nagasakevideo]

"it's very simple" >Proceeds to write was novel.

[@jamindower]

Have you ever tried tabletop roleplaying in Vampire the Masquerade?

[@MollyGermek]

Every single time I've heard someone's Vampire LARP stories most of the group have been more interested in, uh, _that_ aspect of the game.

[@thant0s]

It's inevitable that there will be a relatively higher concentration of folks using scenarios like that as a means to vicariously express themselves where they otherwise would not be able / comfortable enough to do so, and unfortunately it can get quite uncomfortable for people who aren't on the same wavelength so to speak. I mean, at least it's a step or two removed from legit socio- / psychopathy, but it's not as if the more disruptive (and ultimately destructive to the group) members are going to say up front, "Hey, these are the things I'm into and look forward to doing in this group. Anyone have a problem with that?" A LOT of groups could have been saved so many compromising and uncomfortable scenarios if those folks did.

[@shadow8928]

I found it very enjoyable that the game literally says to the player many times: "Don't open it" XD

[@Mord12gp]

Hey Arch I wrote a couple short stories. It's cyberpunkish and I was wondering if you could read it and see what you think of it?

[@permeus2nd]

this game makes me sad its so clunky to play but the setting is amazing, it also makes me sad that WOD the MMO never made it to the light of day. i dont know about the game but in the Pen and paper depending on the GM you can push it to been 8th gen with a skill, 13th gen is pretty much a human if i remember rightly (it has been10 years since i looked at the rules) i never got to play the game as the GM that was going to run the game never got round to running it, which was a shame after me and several others spent weeks making our characters and im my case 3 months learning the setting so ied RP my Toreador properly.

[@fossilfern]

absolutely love this game. it's one of favorite RPGs ever and I'll never forget 2004. what a great year.

[@lukadubak7476]

Just having a concept about a fantastic thing doesn't mean that you could fight it in real life. In fact you couldn't since that same thing exist only in stories and folklore. Having a real problem is different since you can't identify the solution on how to fight it and thats basicaly why we humans consider something a threat. Because it's unknown!

[@George_M_]

I tended to side with the Anarchs for the simple reason that the other factions were consistently disrespectful. They were fellow asses, instead of a superiority complex.

[@zeboswalt1131]

Cool vid. Yep the game was awesome. but, what elder do you fight? The Chinese Vamp? I just thought she was way more powerful since their vamps were done different. Also you'd be 12 or 13 to start. The half Vamps you meet near the water are 14th. And way to weak to do any thing. I've played this game so many times it's in real. I'm guessing the prince was 8th at most. I am shocked to hear Jack was only a 10th gen, but cool. Yeah I think the cabbie was Cain too. Most of my play threws I left Max in charge and seems I became Sheriff. I made Jeanette become her sister Therese...since she saw her self as a Ventrue there. Even if she is so Malkavian it's not funny. Not thinking them being 2 in 1 would have got her for my power base. Well Max's Power base. Which shows how little I thought of trusting the Prince LaCroix that I replaced him with a Tremere. And she'd side with the Camerilla. I don't trust Nines . Saw him as a Cam with a new name. Same power base different name. Not buying his for the people stick. I mostly played as a Brujah , Toreador. or Gangrel found the Gangreal I had the easiest time beating Ming-Xiao. Bullets , bullets. Turn into a Ware wolf like form slash and pumble till it wares off Bullets. Turn form kill Cathula's Step child. I like this game a lot more than Redemption. I did do all the endings. Sadly I didn't have the fan edit companion add on. So I couldn't get Damsel as my guys gal. And didn't want Janette. Cause no that's not the type of crazy you want in your un life. I have played all the endings, but I keep the first one as the one I call mine. Sad you have to Dump Heather or watch the Sabot kill her. And yeah other than the main guy. I think their all new Shovel heads. Well, you can up grade in the pen and paper V.T.M. just like D&D just not your generation with out Diablerie. As in life you become better at stuff as you learn. This game is awesome. I played a Tremere once and named her Sabrina. Cause I'm warped. I heard Max tells you more if your a Tremere and he does. The game was awesome. Every so once in a while I re load it and ply it again. The Gargoyle fight was fun.

[@thraciantendency1255]

My favorite game ever, nice!

[@elixxon]

What happens when you are facing a vampire IRL? You are fucked.... ;P

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Our generation is never ever given in Bloodlines, not once. And really there’s no real evidence it ever change, our blood pool remains the same and we never get to pas the 5 dots cap. People assume we do because LaCroix fail his doninate on you in end game but that can be explained other ways, our character might have spent a will point, or LaCroix, who’s obviously distressed at the moment, might have failed his check

[@Yura-Sensei]

Didn't expect you to like edgy angsty game like bloodlines, considering the fact that you love Mario and hate SMT

[@KedViper]

I think I was in the same position except just with D&D. I don't think I was a great roleplayer or anything, yet similarly it was up my alley, but the other people were just bad at it (minus my one friend) and one DM simply did not support or even really allow a RPing environment... and I just have to wonder how you can play D&D and have that attitude. What is people's obsession with combat and minmaxing? That's the antithesis of the spirit of RPing from my point of view. Btw, I'm just going to go out on a limb and guess that the other players you played with were more interested in the 'mature' aspects. Am I wrong? Haha

[@Ike_of_pyke]

Gangrel?

[@AdamX21198]

I played Tremere, and I swear the combat is too easy.. it's almost broken. Is it just me?

[@AdamX21198]

Also all the late-game disciplines you get are so disappointing. What is the most under-powered clan?

[@MisterAAnderson]

Depends how you spend your skills. If you spend them on non-combat skills or on ranged firearms - there might start to be problems, at least early in the game. In this sense if you want to keep it civil with firearms, the weakest might be malavian, venture, toreador - if you don't invest at all in the strong points such as celerity, feeding skills and all that jazz.

[@Mrityugata]

I think this requires a bit more complex spoiler warning, seeing as it is possible to play through the game twice (getting different endings) without learning what's in the sarcophagus (and the extent of Jack's involvement in the plot).

[@Threesixtyci]

Thunderstorm = annoying.

[@syncmonism]

Once you start obsessing over questions about what "really is the case" in a fictional world, you've probably taken a wrong turn somewhere. It's a fantasy universe, it doesn't make perfect sense, and not even the original creators have authority over how you interpret it. What's far more interesting than what you think the "truth" of the fictional world is, is what you think it shows you or helps to show you about the real world. Spending a lot of time thinking about worlds which don't actually exist can become an unhealthy distraction from the real one.

[@bakeojiisan7626]

Arche, why has the Rumination system changed for the worse? This is all I ever watched from you so I can't comment on the other content. But I remember the simple days when it was just you sitting in front of the camera and talking. I liked following your facial expressions - it felt like an actual conversation. Since then, you've made yourself tiny and filled up the screen with a bunch of nonsense, like some parody of a reaction video where nothing is happening. It less engaging and a lot more impersonal. . But okay, I got over that, and treated these videos like a kind of podcast. But now you've started adding all these sound effects that make it so I can barely hear you. Like - just why? If I wanted to add rain or some other sound effect, I'd add my own, and tune it to my liking. However, the reason I liked watching these videos was because I could pay attention to them and still be alert to phone calls or something else in real life due to the breaks during speech. Now I have to turn you to a minimum if I want to hear what's going on around me, and then I have to focus on hearing you over the unwanted sound of rain. It's like straining to hear what a friend is saying at a club or concert. I know this sounds very negative, but the loud storming in this video was so unbearable that I just stopped the video a few minutes in. It seems odd that you - a person who praises options - would inflict this so arbitrarily.

[@Lorerunner]

I know this sounds weird, but thank you for the feedback. I've heard a couple people say the audio background is fine, some say it's too soft, some say it's too loud. I've already done and uploaded the next several Ruminations so it might take a bit for this feedback to manifest but I've taken it to heart and decided to remove the music/audio background. I was trying to, for lack of a better phrase, increase production values of the videos (almost every other major KZbinr I watch does a background music thing, for example) which is also why I do the greenscreen and other effects now days.

[@bakeojiisan7626]

Thanks for hearing me (us?) out. I really do look forward to these videos every week. You could probably do one every day and I'd still listen to it! As for the rest, I respect your opinion and what you're trying to do; though, personally, I'll always prefer the homey, our-private-video-chat feel of the older videos - but that won't stop me from tuning in by any means.

[@starwarsgamer3000]

1st

[@jamesgokux]

Why are u wearing gloves... dude..... u give us players a bad rep...

[@d.o.a7552]

Lol the head writer of bloodlines wears gloves to help with his social anxiety but that's just a fun fact