Vampire: the Masquerade - How to play a Lasombra

Thank you very much to ectogod, my new editor for putting this video together! You did an amazing job!
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In the World of Darkness, few vampires are as ruthless and calculating as the shadowy Lasombra, the founders of the Sabbat and the eternal rivals of the Ventrue.
If you're new to Vampire: the Masquerade, or are looking for further inspiration on how to play a Lasombra, hopefully this video will provide what you're looking for.
The Sabbat was founded on the principles of freedom. Freedom from the tyranny of elders. Freedom from the Jyhad of their founders. Freedom from the yoke of slavery. The Sabbat is a warmachine, founded to bring destruction upon those very elders who oppose them, and the Lasombra have led them for hundreds of years, the Magisters skillful tacticians and wise leaders.
Yet the Lasombra, who long laid claim to have slain their Antediluvian, have now come crawling to the Camarilla, requesting membership in their long-time enemy's sect. With their acceptance, the inter-clan dynamics of the Ivory Tower has now changed drastically.
In this video we will look at some of the common phenomena of Lasombra unlife, discuss their relationship with other clans, and of course take a look at how their Disciplines may help them survive the World of Darkness.
This video focuses on being a Lasombra in the Camarilla, meaning it does not discuss the Sabbat or Anarchs.
Thank you for watching!
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★ / theprimogen ★
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★ / theprimogen ★
Follow me on Twitter where I'll post quick little updates, thoughts on the games I'm covering and the occasional thinking out loud about editions and lore.
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Music from:
Vampire: the Masquerade Prelude
Vampire: the Masquerade Coteries of New York
Vampire: the Masquerade Shadows of New York
“Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Entertainment AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit white-wolf.com.”

[@dalton7057]

I cannot wait for "How to Play Tzimisce"

[@Cerplains6]

"wow this lady is really cute! I cannot wait to turn her into a chair" This is how I saw them xD

[@rfc1526]

@@Cerplains6 You aren't wrong.

[@manuelserena8526]

Is like to play «medics and nurses» but going to far

[@oscarlove4394]

​@@Cerplains6 vicissitude is cool, but the whole possessive dragon aspect is much cooler. "this is mine, that is mine, *you* are mine"

[@shilohwehrmacht2947]

That was a great video too

[@PatchesMalone]

Some good content right here. Was hoping this would be discussed next. Love the dynamics of this clan. The Lasombra are the epitome of the best and worse of the human condition. They just don't give a F, and I love em for it. 🤣

[@Chann223]

Now I understand why the Lasombra love Bruce Lee- " Be like water my friends". This adaptability and Darwinist mindset of the clan is very akin to the nature of water, so it's no wonder why they love it and the sea so much. They move and operate like this element of nature - they take whatever form they need to, act in whatever way is necessary for the situation, in order to survive, in order to rise, and in or to gain ultimate victory. Makes perfect sense. They personify water so well, dark and deep water at that.

[@magnus7153]

Bonus that they have connection to the sea (strong seafaring tradition) and the Abyss (which is said to be located in the deepest, darkest ocean of Earth)

[@sturmdragomir8716]

Funny how the replica of the castle or shadows is in the middle of the desert. Bruce Lee was the greatest at what he did. He excelled beyond anyone before him in his field. (Not just martial arts). This is of course if you mean the original Bruce Lee. Not the nos pack leader living in the sewers of Budapest with his pack of dogs and his street urchin children. We don’t really admire him just find him interesting

[@barrymcballs9031]

My body is quivering with excitement

[@coletrain41]

"Your welcome, by the way" Nice touch. You really know how to write these characters :)

[@JoeStoryteller]

good video; helped me to see the Lasombra mindset in V5, I hope to see more of these covering the evolving clan philosophies of 5e

[@DesertofShadows]

A very cool video. Well done! The Lasombra propaganda gets a little thin when they try to knock the Ventrue, who have built a larger Sect to be parasites on than the Lasombra. :p

[@thibautisserant]

Lasombra and Ventrue are pretty much two faces of the same burnt coin.

[@Ms_Machiavella]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you for posting! You have a really nice cadence that makes you a pleasure to listen to and this really had the feel of reading the old source books, complete with a PoV in-character story at the beginning. I've also really missed the little "opinions about other clans" boxes from Requiem, so I really liked getting a feel for the general approach a Lasombra would have to the different clans. I've just started playing a Lasombra for my first VtM campaign and I love my sociopathic trash baby who can't stop lying -I mean, my mistress of darkness -and this has given me some great insight into how to further develop her.

[@ThePrimogen]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!! And yes I agree, Lasombra are amazing and easily one of my fav clans!

[@Cerplains6]

Ho this is great! It will be really useful for roleplaying my lasombra ^^

[@trickyagent127]

Glad to see this just as I was starting to get into Lasombra

[@commandergalendereco339]

While all of us night lords have the disciplines to directly inflict terror into our enemies with the shortest distance, a true and wise Lasombra never takes the straight and short path. When you come out at night you are already in our trap.

[@TheCrowFairyTale]

I think I'm beginning to understand why many of my players think I'm a Lasombra now, Instructor!

[@skeletonking4119]

This gonna be truly hard! But it’s awesome!!

[@omerro11]

It's really cool, but I had hoped it will also cover how to play lasombra in the v20 metaplot nights. Like the tremere video

[@horiavelciu31]

I loved the little insertion of music from shadows of new york

[@asafardaleventeli695]

my vampire the masquerade quiz said that i am a lasombra and i agree with everything you said in the begginning. except family if i had a brother in the game that would change everything but except that it all fittable and makes a lot of sense

[@asafardaleventeli695]

and of course i believe as a lasombra, i could hid my brother from the world so maybe it wouldnt make a problem

[@bradleyhall1815]

Feels like interactions between Lasombra and Tremere would be very interesting.

[@adznz11]

So basically the lasombra are the shadow lords of vtm. The ventrue are the silver fangs. The gangrel the red talons. Nosferatu the bone gnawes. Ravanos the silent striders. Tremere the Uktena. Toradore the Fianna. Bujah the Get of fenris. Etc etc. Seems like they had a bit of template here.

[@berserkereuw3640]

Great content! I’ve just started watching. Will you explore all bloodlines in the Hecata?

[@mathiasikit]

Great video once again man. I can't get enough of V5 Lasombra, damn I love them.

[@LloydSkyLion]

As much as I like the Lasombra (which is a lot), I can't help feeling how redundant they are in the Camarilla. There really is no role in it that another clan wouldn't be better suited to fulfill. The Ventrue make more charismatic leaders, the Tremere have always played as the power behind the throne, the Banu Haquim make better enforcers and Toreador better harpies. I suppose that's the whole point, right? How adaptable the Lasombra could potentially be in a Sect that really doesn't need them at all and won't have any reason to trust them nor support them. Of all the decisions V5 has taken with the current metaplot, I feel the most conflicted about this one. I get why the Lasombra wanted to join the Camarilla. I understand that the Antediluvian threat is THAT dire for them to throw everything out the window, but I don't get why the Camarilla would let them join anyway, being how they have been bitter rivals of the Ventrue and the outspoken opposition to both the path of Humanity and the Masquerade. I would get it if it were only a handful of woke Lasombra joining individually, but pledging as the Clan as a whole, that to me seems like an odd choice from the writing perspective. If you ask me I would say that by the time they were writing CbN, they were planning on phaseing out the Sabbat from the setting and so they decided to put the Lasombra in the Ivory Tower. Luckily, because the fans have been very vocal about wanting the Sabbat to make a comeback for V5, the writting direction has changed and they have now reconsidered. Of course, that's just my humble baseless opinion. Btw. I'm really enjoying this series and I can't wait to see one on the Banu Haqim, because that's the Clan that I have the hardest time grasping how to play and what to do with them.

[@ThePrimogen]

You bring up a lot of solid, good points. To me, I feel the Lasombra are the ultimate underdogs in the Camarilla now, and I feel like they might have also joined to further strengthen the fact that the Camarilla are by no stretch the "good guys", but just the old hierarchy and the Sabbat actually fit neatly into that niche once you throw sect politics out the window. It drives home the point that the Camarilla are run by monsters as well, to me at least. I think Shadows of NY hit home on a lot of these topics as well; you really are quite superfluous, so now it's about winning despite having the odds stacked against you.

[@GuilhermeLima-hc6zp]

I think it isn't about the role, the V5 camarilla is about balance, the lasombra serves as the other side to the Ventrue, the dynamic in the court shift with the presence of the lasombra, now there is more cainites that can challenge the ventrue leadership.

[@LloydSkyLion]

@@GuilhermeLima-hc6zp I don't agree. I think if anything I'm going with Primogen's take where they are the underdogs in the Camarilla. They don't provide a counterweight to the Ventrue here because they're not in equal standing and the Lasombra have no status in the Sect and if anything matters to the Ivory Towers that's status. Plus, the Ventrue have always been contested by the other clans especially by the Tremere, the Toreador and historically the Brujah. And yes, I do think purpose matters and clans do specialize in whatever they bring to the table this is even mentioned in the core book as one of the reasons they accepted the Banu Haqim is that they needed the muscle now that the Brujah and Gangrel left. So, if the Lasombra are staying in the Camarilla they have bring in something of value to the Sect, so far they have sold out some Sabbat red listers and they bargained with the influence they have over the Catholic Church, which I may say, aside from a few assets in Church Property, it's not very useful for the Cam or theAshirra because most Cam countries are secular and even in Catholic Countries like in Latin America, the church has never struggled this much to influence people these days. One niche I see the Lasombra filling in the Cam tho, is the one of spiritual advisors or counsel now that the Camarilla is starting to embrace cults and superficial practices now that Pieterzoom is gone. I can see the Lasombra running clandestine backroom meetings about Noddism and philosophical discussions about the pragmatism of the paths over humanity.

[@GuilhermeLima-hc6zp]

@@LloydSkyLion Status is important but the dynamic is more nuanced than the status sistem alone. Just considerating the point that you brought of the religious leadership that they represent, that is diferent type of leadership comparing to the ventrue, but I don't think that the camarilla Lasombra are defined by their religiosity alone, they have the ventrue potential to be a big player asset wise. (sorry for the bad english)

[@LloydSkyLion]

@@GuilhermeLima-hc6zp I think we're coming from two angles. Out of character, yes dynamics and balance are crucial to a better game experience overall, but I was taking about things just from the Lore alone, in character if you will. Sure, the Lasombra have been leaders like the Ventrue, but I feel V5 is trying to give the Lasombra a different narrative to them than just being the "evil Ventrue but with shadow powers" vibe they had in previous editions. For now, at least in the Camarilla, they are banned from taking leadership roles like Prince or Primogen, unless you're one of those elder Lasombra Antitribu (very unlikely these nights because of the Beckoning). This is why the Primogen's video is so good, the Lasombra shape their surroundings and will do anything to win (it's even their compulsion) if the deck is stacked against them they'll hide an ace under the sleeve. If they were less individualistic they might be a threat to the Ventrue and would end up usurping them, but Lasombra don't make friends and they complete amongst each other as much as against others.

[@Inquisitor_Lelouch]

Can you do a "how to play the ministry/setite?" I find them one of the more difficult ones to play tbh.

[@lordkelvin666]

I am waiting on Gangrel. My favorite Clan. Arigatou.

[@omidmehrjoo8438]

Come on! Give us how to play a Tzimisce!

[@battyrae1398]

these in character intros have me fucking bewitched. say more fucked up shit vampire man! its great!

[@TheZenDruid_OftheMist]

Does "madam La Estela Theodora Ire." Sound like a good lasombra sire?

[@clairestark9024]

I find v5 lasombra impossible to play due to the fluff making them look incompetent and their being poorly suited to their previous style (aggression all in) any tips?

[@killcat1971]

Focus on Dominate, you're a highly functional sociopath, you'll kill without remorse but not thoughtlessly, build networks of Dominated thralls, you need 3, 4 Dominate is better, try and pick up Presence, Obfuscate and Auspex, find out WHO you can control without stepping on others toes. Make a lot of money, by Dominating those with it, parlay it into control of business and organizations.

[@clairestark9024]

@@killcat1971 isn't that just a ventrue with less self awareness?

[@killcat1971]

@@clairestark9024 Umm more really, Ventrue will "play" at being human, they will be the cosmopolitan corporate leader, the Lasombra will play it more like the mafia. But you have to remember that you are in the Masquerade, literally you need to wear a mask. TBF it's a compromise as the rule set and setting make it VERY hard to play the "monster", at least at first, the other way to look at it is that there really isn't any need to terrify or threaten, kine especially, when you can simple overwhelm and enslave. So embrace THAT side of being a monster, everyone in you immediate circle (who isn't a kindred, at least unless you can get away with it) is either a ghoul or Dominated. You have "employees" but they are really slaves.

[@canpeksoylu9789]

I'm sorry to say this, but why does the guy on the thumbnail looks like a less buff Billy Herrington?

[@rodroinrainbows9929]

Lasombra for V5 are even better.

[@treacherousjslither6920]

So these Lasombra must all be sociopaths because no normal person is gonna wanna be embraced by the monster that killed their kids.

[@jakobrenner2230]

The simple anwser would be: no because their general attitudes is their clan stereotype but not every single Lasombra is going to be a total and complete self-absorbed psycho, because there would be no fun in that. I would say that the social darwinism so many of their Elders develop is thanks to Obtenebration making them dettached from the world. That too, however, doesn't have to apply to every single Lasombra. In fact, their singature character, as I recall, is quite "ok" for vtm standards.

[@GarmrsBarking]

Laugh in artist.._ Used to find thrash and make art out of it.._

[@Shotta0202]

Is it possible for a lasombra to still watch T.v. ?

[@muhammadedwards8425]

I just want to point out this is only half of Lasombra follow the culture of Darwinist pragmatism. Catholic and Muslim Lasombra instead follow the Path of Abyss' more shame feeling redemption side, the Road of Night. The Via Noctis

[@marcosmoskorz9077]

Really, Shane Defreest as thumb?

[@ThePrimogen]

Ah that's my bad, I just took the picture in the PDF I had, I'll replace it actually. Thank you for the catch! (I made this thumbnail back when I started out doing my How to Plays last year and I forgot to change it.)

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

=D

[@Cerplains6]

Guys can you tel me if a anti tribute lasombra share this way of thinking ? Or only the kaÏnite raise inside their clan think like this ?

[@Chann223]

Good question.

[@sturmdragomir8716]

Any lasombra older than 14th generation has now had to hold both viewpoints at least publicly.

[@Chann223]

Not survivalist? Hmph, such hypocrites you are Lasombra, but do you know when to march forth, and when to retreat. The worship of self and all things in praise of selfishness, that is the Lasombra way. I come first, my interests and my goals before everyone and everything else. It is weakness to regard others as having equal, and especially greater value than oneself. If you do not have the strength of will, the drive, and the vision to realize your own ambitions, than you are no more fit for true power than any of the other weak-minded simpletons of the world. Only the strong do survive, and not only survive, but flourish. Strength is not only physical power, but greatness of one's intellect, and the skills enough to use it well in all situations. This is the Lasombra way.

[@Luckmann]

V5 and the gWoD setting are utter garbage.