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[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

A Dreamspeaker victory would look like the cultures and nations of native people around the world, before conquest and destruction. A Hermetic victory would look like They of Forgotten Realms, or possibly the monks of Leng....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

The victory of any faction would be unpleasant, as they would impose their flaws on the world and call them virtues. A world run by the Verbena would look a lot like the bloodiest parts of European history; Vikings, wickerman burning druids, and so forth. An unpleasant place to be if you were not one of the elite.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

For whatever reason, Genevra is not gone so much as hanging around inside the head of Francis Milliner (in a similar way to Mithras and Monty Coven, and Michael and Mary the Black). Neither Francis nor Genevra have any reason to love Clan Giovanni. Francis has resources and power, and a physical presence. Genevra has knowledge on the inner working of the clan, its actual goal, and information about her former contacts outside of the clan.

The idea that things run smoothly for the Johns is dull.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

Outright preventing violence from the start, by the player, would limit options and choices for the character. That would limit the character development of the character, limit the story.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I have often thought the longest ongoing prank by the entire clan is to pretend to be insane in a comicbook, or old-TV show style, when the norms are around. But they are not that insane and act as normal around each other as they can be....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

The Dunsirn probably back golf courses and vacation resorts in Ireland, Scotland and so forth...

Sawney at Dunwich: This five-stars golf course and resort hotel is located north of Edinburgh. The location has a somewhat sinister reputation from old wives tales about the local caves - but that is from centuries past. Sawney at Dunwich itself caters to movers and shakers in political and economic circles - if not actual heads of state, then at least the people who make the heads of state possible. Backpackers are advised to avoid the area.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I got your back. Last night I was reading up on the lhiannan and thinking House Carna should not so much be a bloodline as a micro-sect of blood magic using vampire women. Sexy optional, but welcome....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

And how well did that work out for them? Menele is apparently dead, and Critias something of a broken man. And Critias is sexist, refusing to allow girl into his boys school, where he teaches a 2,500 year old retrodyne philosophy of personal responsibility and toxic masculinity. What social activism is present in vampire community is carcinogenic.

Also, at this point we don't know much about the game's characters or themes. Except the POV chases a Nosferatu around, some woman in pearls swings OO-Neg like its going out of style, and a blue nose in a suit likes the view out of a skyscraper....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

Vampires are sociopathic assholes. Kindred society is the society of supernatural monster sociopathic assholes. There are no "good" vampires, or at least none that survive and succeed - take a look at Saulot and the Salubri for reference. In that context, Rudi feels naive.

Edit: This is not to say Rudi cannot be gay, or Muslim. Both qualities exist among Vampires. It's just that the social activism and community organizer aspects should not have survived becoming a vampire. Rudi would make for an interesting PC, as the player and character grappled with their world falling...

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I keep wanting to read "Hardsuit Labs" as "Hardestadt Labs."



It is probably easier to explain the Blood Trade, and to keep the relevant violent melodrama contained to Seattle, than it would be for the Beckoning or the SI. I mean, why should the PC care if a bunch of pissy elders shuffle off to the Middle East? And if the SI is coming to town, a reasonable PC would want to leave town - which means it stops being in Seattle....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

There is, in the real world, a mortuary franchise company; SereniCare Funeral Home.

The Giovanni could have arranged for something similar in the WoD. The Johns are probably also involved in the perfectly legal and not at all creepy and disturbing trade in organs, body parts, bodies and so forth. For legitimate medical reasons and not at all cannibalism and/or necromancy....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople! Why did Constantinople get the works?...

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

So, the game is set in Seattle?

Well, clearly it is going to involve fights over coffee dominion - over who controls the WoD analog of Starbucks. And Magicians of the Bay (the WotC analog) will be very important to vampires as well. I fully expect a Ventrue to start cackling when he gets to make more changes to Forgotten Realms, while drinking from someone drinking some Starbuck's coffee.

The game might also depict rain in Seattle. Maybe.

And possibly some other bits of business like clans, generations, thin bloods, and the like....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I want something that is not too much of a do-over of the original Bloodlines.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

While mowing the lawn today it occurred to me that the big hole in down town Chicago might be the start of a Baali well. And none of the locals realize it yet.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

Ritual

Level 5

Essential Salts

This ritual permits the recreation of a caster from their ashes (i.e. “saltes”) following a cremation. The primary caster must perform half the ritual before death and rely on another (supporting) caster to complete the second half.

Ingredients: The remains of the caster set for recreation.

Process: There is no time limit on this ritual. The primary caster must designate themselves in part of this ritual prior to their death – this involves arrangements with dire alien powers. Someone else (i.e. a supporting...

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

On the one hand it is interesting to think the latest Gehenna cycle is the same thing as the latest Baali war. On the other, I am skeptical that there is that much hidden planning ticking along on the part of the writers. Lastly, even if there is that much planning going on, how much does it matter to the average game or PC?

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

What a load of crap.

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

It's not just the Harbingers.

In terms of Boston, the Giovanni have gone to a lot of work to make mortal enemies of the Milliners. The Milliners are described as proud, grudge holding, effective, vengeful, and good at what they do. And the Giovanni insult the leaders of the family. All it would take to flip the Milliners is some flattery and promises of power. Once that is done, the Giovanni have lost their stranglehold on Bean Town.

Edit: Giovanni trying to make a comeback could be interesting. Maybe they are behind "urban renewal" in Gary....

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I could not think of a better term - and in any case, the character is immortal and nearly indestructible. Following the rules of being an Evil Overlord (you put the phylactery in a bank vault) and the PC becomes one of the most powerful characters in the part....