Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

[IanW]

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition is now available!

At the moment, you can get it at worldofdarkness.com.

Damsel gets brief mention. The Voerman sisters are much more prominent, and even have their own dedicated Loresheet (a mechanic that allows your PC to become connected to some element of the VTM setting). The Asylum now has two main locations: the original in Santa Monica run by Therese, and another in Hollywood run by Jeanette. Aside from the main locations, there are Asylum franchises popping up all across America.

Rulebooks for the Camarilla and Anarchs are following soon.

Other news from Gen Con:

• Geek & Sundry will be streaming an LA by Night game series, so get ready to see more of your favourite Bloodlines characters (and given how many voice actors typically make guest appearances on G&S, I wouldn't be surprised if they got some of the original cast to play them)
• Nice Game Publishing are making VTM - Heritage, a legacy game spanning 700 years of vampire history
• Belladonna's Cupboard are making Vampire: The Masquerade makeup sets
• Rusted Icon Designs are making World of Darkness merch
• Onyx Path has announced we'll be doing the Chicago by Night book for V5

[Gurkhal]

Hurray for Bloodlines references in V5!

[Gurkhal]

Is it just me, or is the new fluff much more useful in actual games as opposed to fluff cool to read about, but that has very limited use in actual games?

I mean that since total Elder control don't seem to be a thing anymore the players' actions may have some meanings and there's a point in doing stuff since it won't all just be manipulated for the benefit of some Elder.

[Valamyr]

Not a huge fan. I read it for fun. Its sort of a hybrid between VtM and VtR with a lot more room open for the storyteller to make his own story and less preset lore, which is ok.

Mechanics arent quite good enough, too many things are left unwritten for example the equipment section is woefully lacking. The hybrid of BP and Generation is nice. But really the big new thing is the hunger system and I think its weird. Blood points made more sense than constantly rolling to see if hunger increments, and its silly that everyone essentially just have 5 hunger levels max, its a really small bloodpool that makes for hungry vampires all the time. Which may be thematic but I know it would get annoying in real play and tries to fix a problem that didnt quite exist. Changes to humanity are generally in the wrong direction again, would be fine for a short game or a high humanity game, but overly punishing for long campaigns, characters would not be likely to stabilize at a reasonable humanity anymore but rather likely to eventually plummet all the way down. Disciplines are generally weaker than ever to boot with a lot of effects bumped up one level.

V20 remains the best edition IMO.

[deicide]

Dude, that shit is wack (c)

[The Shadow Man]

I've seen ads on Facebook for LA by Night but have no idea what it is.

[deicide]

I have no idea either, if they're trolling or trying to put an end to the setting. I don't even know from where to begin.

With the new Humanity system, anything below 6 is unplayable due to penalties (including social). On the other hand, high Humanity vamps are now able to get a kick from, yeah, you've guessed what, like a mortals. And less damage from the sunlight.
Ravnos were (probably) nuked. Tremere chantry in Vienna was nuked as well. Assamites and Lasombra joined the Camarilla, Followers of Set joined the Anarchs. Guess they lost the philosophy that defined them.
My next bet, Tzimisce would be toned down into something that will put Disney villains into shame. To sum it up, the Sabbat makes no sense from now on.

And that's only a beginning...

[IanW]

LA by Night is Geek & Sundry's streamed Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition show. It's Critical Role, but for VTM instead of D&D.

Season 2 just wrapped, and there'll be a few epilogue episodes, and then it'll join Season 1 on YouTube.

[The Shadow Man]

LA by Night is Geek & Sundry's streamed Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition show. It's Critical Role, but for VTM instead of D&D.

Season 2 just wrapped, and there'll be a few epilogue episodes, and then it'll join Season 1 on YouTube.

So its a recording of them playing or like LARP or a dramatisation?

[Radical21]

LA by Night is Geek & Sundry's streamed Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition show. It's Critical Role, but for VTM instead of D&D.

Season 2 just wrapped, and there'll be a few epilogue episodes, and then it'll join Season 1 on YouTube.

So its a recording of them playing or like LARP or a dramatisation?

its kind of Vampire Critical role ...  a live (or recorded)  table top session with guest actors and cosplay.

[The Shadow Man]

its kind of Vampire Critical role ...  a live (or recorded)  table top session with guest actors and cosplay.

Right I gotta be honest I'm not familiar with Critical Play but I think I get what you mean.

[El_Gostro]

On the other hand, high Humanity vamps are now able to get a kick from, yeah, you've guessed what, like a mortals.

Does that means they booted that OWOD thing of the sexed up glamour of some vampires being bait and an empty facade as their only physical pleasure was derived from feeding?

[deicide]

No fooling.

Humanity 8

You still feel pain for the hurts you and your kind inflict. Your human guise remains passable; the memories remain fresh, or new instincts for community spring up like green shoots from your long-dead soul.

Humanity 8 vampires can appear human in other regards:
 - You can roll two dice for the Rouse Check to use Blush of Life and take the highest result.
 - Blush of Life allows you to have sexual intercourse and perhaps even enjoy it.
 - Blush of Life allows you to digest and taste wine.
 - You can rise from day-sleep up to an hour before
sunset if you wish.

Humanity 7
...
 - You cannot have sexual intercourse per se, but you can fake it by winning a Dexterity + Charisma test if you wish (Difficulty equals your partner’s Composure or Wits).
...

Humanity 10

Humans with this score are rare, and the vampires who have achieved it even more so. At this level, mortals and Kindred alike lead a saintly, veritably ascetic life, tightly controlled by ethics and principles supporting this fragile condition. The merest selfish deed or thought is enough to topple this state of grace.

Humanity 10 vampires can appear human in otherregards:
 - Blush of Life is not necessary, because you appear as a pale mortal in good health.
 - You heal Superficial damage as a mortal, in addition to vampiric mending.
 - You can taste, eat, and digest food as if human.
 - You can stay awake during the day as if human, though you do not lose your normal need for sleep.
 - The rate of sunlight damage you take is halved.

[El_Gostro]

Uh doesn't that kill the whole personal horror and damnation exploring thing?

As it is described, a humanity 10 vampire is a twilight Buffy lawful good super powered paladin published by Archie comics!

[deicide]

Exactly, this is one, only one of the reasons I consider V5 wack. And I haven't quoted the low humanity section yet...