New Game?

[Nigama]

So... I noticed this place was kinda inactive, and I was also kinda thinking I'd like to try to run a PbP game.

So I'm thinking pretty small group of people (max 3 or 4), that can post regularly on M/W/F's.  I'm open to debate about weekends because I work on them and for others it's their day off and they make plans to go do things, but, like I said, I'm open.

So I was brainstorming ideas and this is what seems like it could be interesting for me to run:

1) A Neonate Lasombra game - Vampire 20th - There's a great thread on Abyssal Mysticism over on the White Wolf forums.  Lot of great ideas and concepts and I'd love to do a game centered around this.  The magic systems have been flushed out so it's nearly as robust as Thaumaturgy.  New Paths.  New everything viewed through the twisted looking glass of Abyssal Mysticism.

2) A Neonate Vampire game - Vampire 20th - I've always liked the idea of turning the tables on the Kuei-jin and doing back to them what they have done to us... namely, get a foothold in their territory. Essentially a group of powerful American Kindred hatch a plan to form a coterie in Tokyo.  The name of the game is to stay hidden.  Enemies are everywhere.  You have few "friends."  But if you survive long enough, one of you may be the first Prince of Tokyo.

3) A Wraith Game - Wraith (Revised) - A group of rebels have managed to take over Stygia and crown a new ruler.  Now they plot to weaken the Shroud and have declared that contact with the Quick is no longer a crime.  Long forgotten guilds return.  Where will the players stand?  Will they help or hinder the new ruler of Stygia?  A new threat to the rebels rises from the land of the living.  What side will the players take?


If enough people show interest, I'm down to run it.

Nigama

[Rick Gentle]

My groups have sort of collapsed on me (especially since I got kicked off WoDNews.net), so I have plenty of time to join a game.
Option 2 intrigues me the most, but I like Option 1 as well (but they don't have formal rules for Abyss Mysticism in V20, even though they have Koldunic Sorcery this time... I was a bit disappointed on that aspect.)
I can getcha neonate character concepts for either, so it depends on which others would like to play.

[Nigama]

My groups have sort of collapsed on me (especially since I got kicked off WoDNews.net), so I have plenty of time to join a game.

lol what you get kicked for?

Option 2 intrigues me the most, but I like Option 1 as well (but they don't have formal rules for Abyss Mysticism in V20, even though they have Koldunic[/I[ Sorcery this time... I was a bit disappointed on that aspect.)
I can getcha neonate character concepts for either, so it depends on which others would like to play.

I'll count that as a vote for 1 or 2, then.  I guess I should really list #1 as more of a Homerules Vampire game than V20 since Abyss Mysticism isn't in V20, but for the most part we'll be using the V20 rulesets.

Nigama

[Rick Gentle]

I talked back to Donovan three or four times too many. (To be honest, I didn't lose much, since there's little solid news to report on. I did like writing the weekly blogs, though.)

I'm fine with home-rules for things not covered in the books. I've had to do that for Abyss Mysticism before, and a few other things like Setite Sorcery and more esoteric Koldunic Ways. I even made up a Native American Medicine Discipline that's basically Thaumaturgy for New World Gangrel. (I'm also now taking a lot of inspiration from Gifts in W20.)

[Radical21]

I hate House rules, especially twinked up disciplines and imbalance that typically follows these things.
I can't say I care much for abyss mysticism, the core Lasombra has plenty to work with as it is.

I'm not that much of a fan of the theme of Kindred of the Easy vs Kindred of the West.

But that's probably me crossing my fingers for a Vampire sandbox simulator game again with minimum rule lawyering if possible(all rules declared so no one can challenge them).

No real interest in plot because chances are I will end up going against it as a point of this being a Role-playing game and not a book or a film. I prefer scenario as background settings a character can exploit or ignore at their own peril and for the rest carve up a character story into the settings and the Storyteller is more of an Arbiter that advocate the rules for the rest, 'tis how I should have started with my game at the time but I thought the players wouldn't like it so I went with Story-driven crap.

[Friktion]

I'd be up for option 2, personally.  I like campaigns that involve stealth and manipulation, making and breaking alliances, and so forth.  I'd be down for option 1 as well, but that wouldn't be my first choice.  Unfortunately, I simply do not know enough about Wraith to make an informed decision about option 3.

[Nigama]

I hate House rules, especially twinked up disciplines and imbalance that typically follows these things.
I can't say I care much for abyss mysticism, the core Lasombra has plenty to work with as it is.

I'm not that much of a fan of the theme of Kindred of the Easy vs Kindred of the West.

But that's probably me crossing my fingers for a Vampire sandbox simulator game again with minimum rule lawyering if possible(all rules declared so no one can challenge them).

No real interest in plot because chances are I will end up going against it as a point of this being a Role-playing game and not a book or a film. I prefer scenario as background settings a character can exploit or ignore at their own peril and for the rest carve up a character story into the settings and the Storyteller is more of an Arbiter that advocate the rules for the rest, 'tis how I should have started with my game at the time but I thought the players wouldn't like it so I went with Story-driven crap.

Some of the homerule games and LARPs were the MOST fun games I've ever played in and I say that truly and honestly from the heart. If you don't like them, I understand, and I think you have valid reasons, but I assure you I'll nip any power gaming or rules lawyering in the bud.  Other than that, I'm sorry that new ideas seem to turn you off.  I frequently like to play outside of canon and explore new areas of play. It's a hallmark of mine you'll see again and again.

Sorry you don't think #2 is appealing.  I think it'd be a lot of fun to be on the other side of that coin, since every game I've ever played involving the Keui-jin, I was either a western kindred in the west fighting against them, or one of them in the East.  The one scenario I've never been in, is being a western vampire trying to make it in the East.  Again, I get that not everything will appeal to everyone, which was the reason I put up three choices.

There's also going to be Story.  Period.  It's absolutely fine with me if player characters want to ignore the story, I will adapt and roll with the punches.  But the last thing I want is the players thinking they are the center of the universe and that NPC's wait to take action based on what they do.  On the other hand, I never want to railroad my PC's.  If they take the bait great, if not, well.. the NPC is still going to do what they were going to do and it is probably going to affect the PC's or environment the PC's are in in some major way, but they are free to ignore the enemy or side with him or whatever they choose for how they want their character to develop.

So I'll just put you down for the Wraith game. You've got more than enough Angst to go around. 

I'd be up for option 2, personally.  I like campaigns that involve stealth and manipulation, making and breaking alliances, and so forth.  I'd be down for option 1 as well, but that wouldn't be my first choice.  Unfortunately, I simply do not know enough about Wraith to make an informed decision about option 3.

Alright, cool.  So let's say that's:

Option 1:  1 vote
Option 2:  2 votes
Option 3:  1 vote

I think I'll just wait until the end of this week to see if anyone else is interested.  Ideally, we should get one more person, but I could run it with just two of us.  Smaller means less complications and faster movement, which would be good for my first time running a PbP game, although I think I'd prefer 3 for the character diversity.

Nigama

[Radical21]

But the last thing I want is the players thinking they are the center of the universe and that NPC's wait to take action based on what they do.

I'll just say that regardless of the structure of the game a character sees themselves as the center of the universe or at least as the POV of their own evolving story (same goes for NPCs and their POV).

Some house rules are ok but it really depends, even some stuff by White-wolf can make me *facepalm* sometimes, for example some of the absurd powers in Guide to the Camarilla or the somewhat unreliable VTM to VTR conversion guide. Generally I've been scarred by games that turned VTM to high fantasy or highly unbalanced or both.

[Nigama]

But the last thing I want is the players thinking they are the center of the universe and that NPC's wait to take action based on what they do.

I'll just say that regardless of the structure of the game a character sees themselves as the center of the universe or at least as the POV of their own evolving story (same goes for NPCs and their POV).

Sure, I'd agree with that, with that caveat of stressing *from their own perspective*.  PC's shouldn't be surprised that NPC's continue their lives without the PC's.  But that doesn't mean the game isn't focused on the PC's and their choices.  It absolutely is, and their choices dictate where the game goes.  If they wanna head to France and avoid the plot altogether, that's completely an option. If they ever return, tho, they will find the area changed.  So I guess it's a balance. 

I feel we'll be alright.  Then again, this is my first PbP, maybe it'll crash and burn, but it should be fun!

Some house rules are ok but it really depends, even some stuff by White-wolf can make me *facepalm* sometimes, for example some of the absurd powers in Guide to the Camarilla or the somewhat unreliable VTM to VTR conversion guide. Generally I've been scarred by games that turned VTM to high fantasy or highly unbalanced or both.

I think again it's a matter of balance.  I'd agree, I don't wanna go too far into high fantasy, but eventually an Abyssal Mysticism game would get to some weird places, I'm sure, but we could avoid "high fantasy" and "highly unbalanced." 

Nigama

[Radical21]

Sure, I'd agree with that, with that caveat of stressing *from their own perspective*.  PC's shouldn't be surprised that NPC's continue their lives without the PC's.  But that doesn't mean the game isn't focused on the PC's and their choices.  It absolutely is, and their choices dictate where the game goes.  If they wanna head to France and avoid the plot altogether, that's completely an option. If they ever return, tho, they will find the area changed.  So I guess it's a balance. 

Yes exactly, I can live with that.
What I meant initially was more towards games where there is a party that must stay together no matter what, where they go is guided exclusively by the storyteller with a little wiggle room as long as they remain in the confine of the story the Storyteller laid out for them but as long as you don't advocate that approach and don't exploit on the golden rule as a punishing mechanism whenever someone goes the "wrong way" I'm fine with that.

For the rest I'm willing to give it a try, even the house rules so long as they are declared and I know what I'm getting into

[Nigama]

Alrighty...  choice 2 it is. 

Let's start making characters and think of a name.  Characters can be from any of the Camarilla clans.  All characters should be Japanese or of Japanese descent.  You can make your backgrounds independently or collaborate (you can play a family that's been turned, if you like).  You will start the game as Kindred, newly arrived at your "home" in Tokyo, so please describe your sire and embrace.  Where was it?  How did it happen?  What did your sire tell you before he sent you off to Tokyo?  The truth?  Lies?

Any questions about character creation, please post in this thread for now.

As far as a name goes, lemme throw two out there, both pretty cliche, but sometimes simple is best:

Tokyo by Night
Kuei-jin of the West (see what I did there?)


Nigama

[Rick Gentle]

Oh... I thought we had freedom for ethnicity:

Essentially a group of powerful American Kindred hatch a plan to form a coterie in Tokyo.

So this group of "powerful American Kindred" are our bosses, not our characters, then? I don't know so much about Japanese culture "from the inside"... I guess Japanese and Japanese-American characters would fit in a hell of a lot better (I can always dye my character's hair bright pink... On that note, don't the Kuei-Jin HATE Nosferatu and Gangrel?) Just don't expect me to actually speak Japanese.
I don't have any characters that would fit this in my repertoire already... I will have to ponder this. All I have so far is Clan: Brujah... I first thought Malkavian, but then I thought that would just get incredibly goofy.

[Nigama]

Oh... I thought we had freedom for ethnicity:

Essentially a group of powerful American Kindred hatch a plan to form a coterie in Tokyo.

So this group of "powerful American Kindred" are our bosses, not our characters, then?

Correct!  Happy Neonates!

I don't know so much about Japanese culture "from the inside"... I guess Japanese and Japanese-American characters would fit in a hell of a lot better (I can always dye my character's hair bright pink... On that note, don't the Kuei-Jin HATE Nosferatu and Gangrel?) Just don't expect me to actually speak Japanese.

I will explain some basics about Japanese culture, but I don't want to get caught up in that to an extreme.  If you feel what you know is "American" then make an American character whose parents (or parent) is Japanese.  Also, the Japanese have spread out to other places, so you could be from Guam or American Samoa (pacific island "states" that are American related). That should give quite a bit of freedom.  Speaking Japanese OOC is certainly not required, although if your character wishes to include bilingualism as part of their character that wouldn't be inappropriate.

I don't have any characters that would fit this in my repertoire already... I will have to ponder this. All I have so far is Clan: Brujah... I first thought Malkavian, but then I thought that would just get incredibly goofy.

Great!  Making new characters and character concepts is better than pulling one out of a folder or a mental folder, even.  Maybe think about what might be most low key and useful, or think about how you might plan your takeover.. or how you might run away... or whatever your character wants to do in such a situation.

Nigama
EDIT: Japanese diaspora link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_diaspora  Looks like Brazil has a high Japanese population along with America.
basically where in the world you can find high concentrations of Japanese people...  the incredibly important part is that your character looks Japanese and can blend in from appearances.

[Radical21]

I don't know so much about Japanese culture "from the inside"

If you want some reference here is Japan from the point of view of a gaijin language teacher blogger called Victor : https://www.youtube.com/user/Gimmeabreakman who also blogs about Japanese culture, and you can also read criticisms about his experience of Japanese culture to get the flip side of things and get a more authentic picture.
technically it is not all like they portray it in manga or anime, so if you or anyone else assume it is I would suggest doing some research and looking for testimonies of people who actually live there to try and get a more authentic sense of the underside of the culture.

[Friktion]

Would an American of Japanese descent who was turned while visiting relatives in Tokyo be acceptable?  This character would have limited knowledge of Japanese culture outside of the acculturated American version he or she is used to.  However, the character still appears Japanese and may even speak some of the language, albeit with an accent and limited vocabulary.