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[Shawarbaaz]

Golconda is a state of grace that free the vampire from the shackles of their curse, they either become ascended predators or saints, but it's mostly rumors and hearsay whether such a thing exists. I wouldn't apply any mechanics to it, and let the ST decide what Golconda means.

As for rivaling Antes, I wouldn't say so. Being free from all the curses of vampirism and having raw power to match the ancients are mutually exclusive.

[Shawarbaaz]

You sure you don't want to throw Hermes in the mix? I'm pretty sure Hermes and Loki are dating (or dated and are now just amicable exes)

[Shawarbaaz]

Alessio Rinaldi, he is just so interesting but all we get about him is a profile in the Malkavian Clanbook.

Edit: I very much like to hear more about Italian Kindred Society that isn't narrowed down to "Giovanni here, keep out."

[Shawarbaaz]

Anyway, I might talk a lot of hate about BL2 but you guys make some good arguments on why a game being "woke" has nothing to do with whether it flops or not, and how internet forums like 4Chan draw connections out of nowhere. Some of which I couldn't phrase myself. Thanks and carry on the good work.

Also to those who hold tight to the "Get woke: go broke" philosophy I'd like you to play one of the newer Night Dogs games and tell me whether being "woke" has soiled their quality and enjoyability, or enhanced them.

[Shawarbaaz]

Excuse me? Requiem and V5 did the exact opposite of that. They actually made the mechanics more in tune with the personal horror themes. I dont understand why the direct media adaptation of Vampire wouldn't try to be faithful to the source material, why they need to make it into a shallow power fantasy. They probably lack artistic integrity and has their eyes on the money maker, which is that lifeless gamers want an empty escape from their lives than engage any thoughtful or mind provoking themes. Video games are the death of art....

[Shawarbaaz]

Let them think that they are right, the more delusional they are the less likely it is for them to go on a rampage to try to "fix" the world....

[Shawarbaaz]

Ah yes, safe and shallow moral choices that has little to none personal horror elements in fear of soiling the player's escapist power fantasy. Thank you, next.

When the video game adaptation actually focuses on the horror rather "kewl vampire powers" and makes a sliver of an effort to be close to the source material in a way that is not skin deep, you can call me....

[Shawarbaaz]

That's an issue with Bloodlines trying to appeal to a broader audience by reducing the source material to a shallow power fantasy. If it was any faithful to the source material it would be different, having to suffer the consequences and question the morality of your actions is the antithesis of power fantasy, and the tabletop is all about that. Unfortunately the mainstream gaming community arent ready for that sort of introspective story (and with the way things are going I doubt they will ever be at all)....

[Shawarbaaz]

I think gone are the days for when Clans look for very specific archetypes of people to Embrace, that's a very old VTM mindset that ended up in cookie cutter stereotypes and "THAT'S NOT HOW A VENTRUE WOULD ACT" shenanigans....

[Shawarbaaz]

Do you usually simulate it by roleplay? Since there is no hard and fast rules for drug intoxication in core....

[Shawarbaaz]

Metaplot. I absolutely despise VTM's metaplot and I revise it, tweak it, change it, abuse it, and more often than not straight up remove it. And I always imply in my games (whenever its
it's brought up) that Caine might just be a mere myth, and Kindred origin is far more obscure and shrouded in mystery than they like to think.

[Shawarbaaz]

I'm not sure if Requiem counts but this is by far the most memorable (and funny) moment I've ever had in a game, so much that I can't stop quoting it:

Discarding all possibility for being subtle with his interaction, Matteo approached a group of chattering kindred enjoying refreshments, breaking up their conversation by throwing the most cliched line possible, "Enjoying your drinks?"

The knot of Kindred turned in almost perfect synchronicity, and the one at its heart stepped forward. Dressed in crushed velvet suit of forest green with a crisp purple tie and...

[Shawarbaaz]

I think it could be possible with the recent change of focus for the Anarchs, which makes them more like the Carthians of VTR than the previously established vampire punk rebels.

[Shawarbaaz]

Tremere ARE sexist, make no mistake. Arguably the most sexist Clans in the Camarilla are Ventrue and Tremere, and the latter even outclass the former. It took truly exceptional women to raise among their ranks, like Sturbridge and Marissa and others, because most of the time they need to do twice as good as their male counterparts to gain any recognition at all, and that makes them formidable indeed....