The Gentleman's Guide to Vampires: Clan Giovanni

[@claimhsolais3466]

"The Giovanni, the Tremere say, are therefore incapable of any true magic, otherwise they wouldn’t waste their time chasing ghosts. Interestingly enough, while the clan openly derides the Necromancers, they watch their movements with a cautiousness that borders on outright fear." Blood Magic: Secrets of thaumaturgy - page 46. So much for their thaumaturgy!

[@josephmassaro]

I don't play this game (outside the Bloodlines video game), but your videos are like watching half my college history professors giving a lecture. Very entertaining.

[@joshuakruebbe3762]

Is it though?

[@Skullkan6]

0:12 reminding you that he licked the book.

[@anarisg2210]

spaghuetti and corpses

[@aoneko6813]

boss

[@baconburgerboy1583]

@@aoneko6813 Do they have new york Italian actcent?

[@hunpo1]

@@aoneko6813 Give 'em hell for me.

[@MalakiaLaGattaNera]

As an Italian, it's quite entertaining to listen to your pronunciation of the various names of the family branches :D Again, must be because of my nationality but I absolutely love this Clan and I always play as one when the Narrator allows me to. It's quite intriguing to witness the other clans arguing over how something must be accomplished (with or without my own contribution) while I can just slouch on my comfy leather chair and think "keep on arguing lads, one day we'll enslave you all

[@krispalermo8133]

Years ago we had a two story game shop in my city, street level & basement. Some nights we could have over four dozen people play. One night a group of seven people came into play wearing sheets & blankets with full cover veil masks, with sticker name tags saying Wraith. Everyone in the shop pretended not to notice us, they were all " In Character," then there were those new to the game that get not get the in house joke. The five wraiths walked up to one of the new player, surround him and thew dice which most of them rolled high enough, they pick the new guy up by lifting his chair up above table level. Half the shop player were tripping cause this was a new stunt. New guy was on the edge of panic. Then the wraiths " Boo !" him with a scary pull out mask. Which cause everyone to burst out into manic laughter. After the chair was put back onto the floor all of the other players " In character " started asking him how he got up in the air like that ? All the while pretending not to " notice " the five wraiths. New guys," Are you F**king with me or do you all Really not seeing those Five People in Sheets ?!" Old players," What five people in sheets.?" ( A few other people/ players politely removed themselves like they really need to be " somewhere else." A few others just ran out fast. Since we have been spreading rumors that the shop is haunted for the pass year.) Then two other players sitting in the back waved and tap their clan name tags. And the Five Wraiths just bolted out at top speed. New guy left," Why did the Five Wraiths, and what the hell is a wraith just run out.?" Older player in a dimissive tone ," Those two guys, one is Termere, the other is Giovanni." New guy," How does that explain what happen ?"

[@krispalermo8133]

Few note on the so called history of Giovanni, Disciplines 1.) Cappadocian : Auspex, Fortitude, Mortis 2.) Giovanni : Potence , Dominate , Necromancy 3.) " Lasombra " : Potence, Dominate, Obtenebration " Giovanni is a Caitiff of the Lasombra , .... " caitiff have no clan weakness and they can create blood lines of their own, with their own flaws base on the blood line found's personal character flaws. So this is the reason nearly all the Giovanni do not look like walking corpses. " The Old Man Giova " was/ is a ruthless brutal attacker that enjoy knocking pitchers of wine back in his mortal days. Known for taking a hard bite out of everything he could, " If you can not bite into a coin, it is not worth it's silver." As for the incest, that was normal in his " families, " even before he was born. Just read on Rome's aristocrat families and their "parties/ orgies." Get drunk, get your hands onto anything they could. Regarding Magic,.. Giovanni and their connected families were known Spirit Talker with old Roman pagan magic. Mage Traditions of Dreamspeakers/ necromancers & Verbane/ Hecata. With the Old WoD, kindred vita just burns away within a mages body and they can't be ghouled. So like the Termere who look for human/ mortal hedge mages practicing Sorcery so they can teach them Blood Magic through being ghouled, then later brought in to the Clan fully through the Embrace. So I would put The Old Man as a merchant/ diplomat " hidden Sorcerer " of some decent ability and was a ghoul to a member of clan Lasombra. And Venice, Italy was under Lasombra control. As for Cappado embracing him, I think the was just a myth Giova created as a bull crap story to impress someone. As to how many years Giova was a ghoul working for the Lasombra play off against the Camarilla is unknown.

[@krispalermo8133]

As an Italian I hope you appreciate Italian history ! The history of Venice and its surrounding land cities is nuts, and how they were " involve " in the Fall of the Eastern Roman Empire. A campaign Saga of the " Sons of Venice " of Giovanni kindred, Fianna Garou, and local Mages driving out the Lasombra. Along with all the wraiths that were there before the clan Giovanni took full control the the location. I would consider the Shadowlands of Venice to resemble the slender of full Carnival ! Few more notes regarding the clan books of the Termere and a few others. When Elder kindred enter the Slumber, some of them are really just " Astral Projecting " into the Mental realm of the Weave or into the Shadowlands as mention in the Mage & Werewolf chapters on the Spirit/ Mental Planes. The scary parts is, those two books covers how Banes & demons/ unclean spirits strip the soul from some mortal and feed off of their victim's willpower. " Most idle mind homeless nuts jobs you see on the street or under bridges didn't get there from drug abuse. But by spirit feeding. " I say The Old Man Giova is a Spirit Eater. And is fully active in the Shadowlands of Venice and anywhere else he wants to be at a given moment. Please watch the movie " The Order," aka The Sin Eater , regarding the tradition of Sin Eaters. The leader star was Heath Ledger, the Joker from Nolan's Batman: The Dark Knight.

[@GirlWhoLovesTurtles]

Ah the Giovanni, I'll always remember my groups first encounter with them. Mostly because none of us had ever even heard of them before that point and of course because everyone die, it was a great tragedy and a huge blood bath.

[@claimhsolais3466]

Happy 571th anniversary family! It was back in 4th of April 1444 when uncle Augustus repaid mr Ashur for the gift of immortality.

[@QueenoftheUniverse222]

🥂🩷☠️

[@SaudiLindsey4]

These clan reviews have been great. From the summations of their history to the subtle story teller approach you take in your presentation they have been very enjoyable. Watching these I can tell you must make a great game master. I'd definitely listen to a further elaboration on the bloodlines if you ever decided you wanted to make a series on them.

[@derkrischa3720]

Recently there was a certain family reunion...

[@edwardpurcell82]

I adore these videos. A testament to the power of style, creativity and acting to deliver a stellar experience, even with a single take on a half-decent camera, with little editing.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

That's very kind of you! If you enjoy my work, please check out my current Kickstarter for They Came from Beyond the Grave!, an RPG of 1970s horror! kck.st/2OGbDvU

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

The Giovanni have many enemies. It's fortunate for them that none of their enemies know the true extent of their power or indeed their aims.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

And of course, the Giovanni were accomplished necromancers in life as well...

[@robertallen2720]

ok so after reading the comments for a while i have a couple of things to say. revisiting these vids has given me a much greater understanding of the clans from a vampires point of view!!! also, i am an american civil war reinactor (yes i know that most ppl will find this odd since im obviously English), so the referance to Ghettisburg was a very cool thing for me. u mentioned recently that u would be going back to this series of vids, i can't wait to see wot u do with them

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Thank you and your group for watching!

[@Razz1024]

Thanks for all these videos. My playgroup will be happy that now all the clans are covered they have been very helpful for both storyteller and players alike. I love how whenever you make every one these videos you take the stance of a clan member and this helps give insight into the clans should be roleplayed. Good job and much appreciated.

[@GraveHaunter92]

This is extremely well done! Not only was this very informative, but the way you presented it made me feel that I was learning this all from some kind of expert occultist or vampire hunter. Really entertaining!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

The Samedi, Nosferatu and Assamites are generally quite reliable as guns-for-hire, and go to ground quickly. They rarely reveal their employers. It'd be bad business.

[@perasturiaadastra]

who knows if cappadocia isn't dwilling in augustus giovanni as Saulot did to Tremere

[@insanehippiehippieinsane3828]

Claudius failed to bring back the True Vessel from Aerisies.......

[@ObatongoSensei]

You're welcome. Glad to be of use. On the other hand, I'm learning a lot about english pronunciation from your videos and those of your fellows from the Brigade, so I'm glad I can return the favour occasionally. ;)

[@Komeister]

Thanks for this Gentleman. Was off KZbin for some while, but it's nice to see you finished this awesome series! I take my hat off, sir!

[@inventedthenight]

Thanks for putting this interesting series together. I happen to be running my first Vampire the Masquerade chronicle now and would be eager to see you do more related videos.

[@ambria_sornia49]

We are starting a new BNS chron in our org and I posted this to our Gio group. I love your speaking style!

[@TheDerangedBlood]

I want to play in one of your games! :) Wonderful videos!

[@wadewilson2100]

Wow this was incredibly good. Thanks for making videos about clan lores

[@tubelemming]

I think I would like to see you cover the clan bloodlines of the Victorian era, such as the kyasyd, draughters of cacaphony/sons of discord, and others that can be found. Also, covering the samedi would be a great complement to your Giovanni video guide. Thank you for making these videos, and keep doing what you do.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

They're one of my favourites.

[@Hadrian134]

Your videos are both fascinating and insightful, please continue them.

[@MasterAsra]

These are always enlightening when it comes to learning about the clans I never really gave much thought to.

[@chumasu1]

Ahhh my favorite clan of all. They are so fun to play especially if you play a Giovanni who goes against the clan. :) Definitely one of my favorite of your clan videos.

[@krispalermo8133]

Problem, as a human child or just before your embrace, they cut off both your little toes. One to use as a tracker and the other to call and raise your wraith/ghost from in case you get ash. If the clan elders wants to get you, they will.

[@faust13301]

Please. Never faux lick the books again.

[@arbaazshaw8123]

+faust rexinis agreed

[@ruanvitor513]

What does faux lick means?

[@ImrazorZodd]

Don't listen to these people. The lick was what best conveyed the unease we should feel when discussing the Giovanni.

[@faytleingod4848]

@Eyepatch guy that he faked the lick ;)

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Nope. They access the Abyss. Not the Shadowlands.

[@Sly005]

I'd love to see a similar series of videos on the other World Of Darkness lines. I've only played New World of Darkness (mostly Changeling), but I have to admit, the old WoD clans sound much cooler and I love the rich backgrounds they have.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

They are somewhat monstrous, yes.

[@Hellberch1]

As someone who plays in a larp system that is based in the world of darkness I seriously love these vids (especially as I'm planning on my next character being from Clan Giovanni)

[@Shyster099]

I miss the good old days when the Giovanni were cool.

[@SeraphimRoad]

Tribe Glasswalkers are occasionally working with Clan Giovanni in business terms. You first have to go through your own kin first before touching the Clan ;)

[@Vermin141]

I've been into VtM for a good four years now and I started with the Bloodlines video game (got it on a whim too haha) But I never understood clan Giovanni much. I didn't even realise they WERE a clan til I got the rulebook. Thanks for posting these awesome, entertaining videos that are really helpful for me as well :)

[@ArphenMaethor]

I did enjoy your videos A LOT they are great. Thanks for doingn them. On Giovanni - pride becomes for the fall. After all there are a lot of factions who could help or stop the giovanni plans. The Nephandi, maybe Baali could become allies while werewolfs, mages of most traditions + technocracy and maybe the tremere are potent enough to stop them and could also banish the wraiths and reinforce the shroud (as happened to the gauntlet)

[@darthsleipnes]

Great video! I would love to see some bloodlines videos. A guide to the Salubri would be great. Keep up the good work. The Guide to Vampires videos has been really inspiring!

[@felipe1gojira]

Thank you for these videos. I know that when I begin to play Vampire, I will have a swath of information and knowledge to help me along.

[@RCN2820]

Tremere looks at Gio and says; Dude, chill.

[@herkles1]

good video on one of my favorite clans; I love necromancy. Necromancy is a subtle discipline but it can do so much for you, and of course you can torture souls with it. I would like to see bloodlines as well, especially if this includes the anti-tribu; I really want to see you cover the antitribu.

[@bretrooker3785]

My favorite Clan.

[@DramaDisputer]

Seeing you cover the bloodlines would definitely be a good thing. I especially would be interested in the Baali.

[@TheZombieboyRoy]

Great stuff as always good sir! Now that the Clans have been completed perhaps you can indulge us adepts into the traditions of the mages.

[@Marioshrooms]

I believe you should delve into the bloodlines. You made each of the clans sound wonderful (in their own way.) After watching your video on malkavians, I actually wanted to make one despite my history of hating the clan. But yes, some of the bloodlines, I find, are more interesting than their parent clans. It would be a treat if you could explain stuff like the Norvegi, or the Salubri. Anyway, great video and great job on finally wrapping up the masquerade clans.

[@Onionkid99]

I loved the Self Fulfilling Prophecy of the Capadocians and Giovanni. Hubris isn't just for Mages and Shakespearean tragedies! I like Tremere and all but the magic of the Giovanni made the most sense in Vampire. Would not the kings and queens of undead be powerful necromancers? I also loved the necromancer's ability to threaten people beyond death. They can literally shoot first and ask questions later...

[@DashedLine09]

As someone you just picked up all the books from the HumbleBundle these videos are invaluable

[@Brettbren]

*This sounds like the vampiric pseudo equivalent of The Godfather, in many respects.*

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

***** I'm pleased to hear my videos made your day! I hope you've revisited them.

[@hastur1234]

Thanks for doing these as they were all very interesting and I learned a thing or two which is never a bad thing. Cheers P.S Bloodlines thumbs up.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

The compliments are rushing in... Thank you!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

I would recommend going to a shop in London called the Orc's Nest or maybe even Leisure Games. They will point you in the direction of local gaming groups.

[@RudeAlert]

Congratulations on completing your review of the Clans (and beating Ander to it)!!! Now do Mage Traditions!!!! :D Bloodlines would be good too though.

[@TheMarg0r]

Cover the bloodlines as well? Please do. You are an amazing speaker, and there can never be enough Vampire lore around.

[@rockleegarra]

0:11 lmao

[@ObatongoSensei]

A really wonderful series of videos. I enjoyed them even if I do not play Vampires. I really like your "documentarist" style. :) A small note on the pronunciation of "Giovanni", which is one of the most common italian names and the equivalent of Johnny or John: you pronounce it "Jee-oh-VAH-nee", but it is more "Joe-VAH-NNee", with no "ee" sound after the "G" and a very strong "n" sound (double consonants are always strong in italian words, single one are never). Hope it will be useful. :)

[@krispalermo8133]

Years ago I seen a video in Naples Italy, this guy pronounce Palermo like seven different ways depending on the context it was being used, be that the City or as a family name to that of The Family Name.

[@DaRush-The_Soviet_Gamer]

Response to poster. Excellent work on a very entertaining and engaging commentary. 1 Thing that could make this even more awesome is using a montage of slideshows of the vampires in question and perhaps footage from videogame in order to show off visually what they are capable of. Perhaps when all is vampires in WOD are covered you could do a feature length edit like a documentary. I know it's extra work, but so far this is better than reading Wiki pages by far. Keep up the good work. :-D

[@Burori1]

It'd be awesome to see a new VTM video game come out. Bloodlines is a game that I play on a near constant basis @ w @

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Thanks for saying so!

[@87Julius]

By all means, I'll take anything from you that is Vampire-related. I'd like to hear more about the Sabbat, as I feel I know very little about them. More game recaps would also be great

[@ZeMalta]

I’m really hoping for a great return of the Giovanni (the whole Hecata group) in the Vampire 5th Edition.

[@ZigCopasetic]

Great video. You read The Last Supper? It is an essential story to the Giovanni becoming a clan. It helps explain their position in kindred society as well. Very well written too.

[@ArphenMaethor]

Maybe? DO THEM ^^ Your explanations of the clans are really great and give much insight...thats needed for traditions as well =)

[@darwinpelphrey7484]

Giovanni Walk near and close to my factions here recently one of them actually managed to take over the mind of one of my faction clan members

[@Einarr1989]

Pisha was a Nagaraja.

[@BaldPolishBiotechnol]

Great series. You must be grand GN indeed. Thank you for the Clan's videos, they have been quite enlightening. As for covering Bloodlines, I am totally in favor of the idea.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Beating Ander is the greatest satisfaction a man can have.

[@andrasfischer3778]

I am the only one whom like to see a Giovanni VS Dreamspeakers fight ? XD

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

I will undoubtedly cover the Anarchs at some juncture.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

I bow to your superior knowledge. you should do all the tribes.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Lots of calls for the Salubri!

[@chumasu1]

That has primarily to due with the Embrace of Augustus Giovanni Before he was embraced Japath Cappadocious placed a curse onto the Vitae feed to him and that curse was "He who partakes of this book shall forever be judged by this blood and the will of god. Color this vitae with the deeds of its drinker. Let him sup with his soul he feeds. Deliver this blight unto him as the founder delivers this blight unto us." The other origin is the Giovanni weakness being a mutation of the Lamia's.

[@RudeAlert]

Oh and thank you for all these great reviews. :)

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

The Norvegi are in Requiem whereas the Salubri are in Masquerade. I'll stick to the Masquerade clans and bloodlines for the time being, but may move on to Requiem ones at a later point.

[@Demolitiondude]

Speaking of which we had suggestions for Obsucrus Lupa, for Radu of Clan Nosferatu. I also threw in Derek the Bard, who does have a legit Vampire character.

[@callan351]

If the Giovanni are descended from Cappadocians. why aren't they corpses.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Glad to hear it!

[@blaid177]

The Unmod Giovanni Chron Digs these. Keep up the good work

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Only in the Gehenna scenario. And that was optional. And the Withering had started.

[@CatroiOz]

Me: "you're a bunch of interbred" Giovani-dude: "hey! first cousin mariage is legal! you hear me? LEGAL!"

[@krispalermo8133]

" Adams Family " values ...

[@Xamarth1]

My kind of clan!

[@Tengoshi]

For those claiming the clans are finished - Clan Salubri remains, and I imagine will make an appearance.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

I doubt I'll go into the realm of Mage.. The Salubri were never a playable clan, although they were of course a bloodline. I may cover them!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Garou spend so long fighting each other they couldn't stop a tap from leaking.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

The technocracy got to him...

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Sometimes they are, yes.

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Good lord, there's a tall order! I will see what I can do.

[@Clarevoyant_Witch]

Just getting into the Vampire the Masquerade lore. Your videos are immensely helpful, and interesting. Thanks for making them. There's a lot to learn, have any tips on where to start? You've mentioned an awful lot of events/wars by name throughout the series, and I have no idea what happened in any of them.

[@Buttaredtoast]

I would like to hear you cover the bloodlines. I love the Malkavian. I love them good.

[@TheWhitmore]

Oh, man. I've loved these. Bloodlines would be cool indeed! Especially the ones that have a bit more depth to them. You ought to do the Salubri, too. Seems like the whole oWoD plot is based around Saulot. Ander once told me that Saulot was the most evil character of all, but he never elaborated. Super interested.

[@Burori1]

These vids were superbly entertaining 8D

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

I shall have a ponder.

[@Demolitiondude]

Definitely gonna be more in depth than my guide.

[@BR4IN1N4J4R]

Clan Giovanni. Honestly, a clan of cynics, a clan of manipulators, and a clan of very very very dangerous Kindred. If I ever get to do NWoD, I will plead with my storyteller to allow a Giovanni (Vampire Translation Guide) of bloodline Sangiovanni (Bloodlines the Chosen. A normally Mekhet bloodline, but since Giovanni lacks any, maybe it would be fair to ask for Sangiovanni?).

[@TheGentlemanGamer]

Oh it does. It really does.

[@fostar817]

In a game right now as a 7th gen Tremere Primigon, trying to balance wheeling and dealing with the current head of the city (a powerful 6th generation brujah anarch) and the outlying Giovanni presence. Currently the Giovanni are trying to resurrect the soul of their Antediluvian into the body of a thin blood, and I'm not sure how to deal with them. Any suggestions?