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[Lions and Hyenas] -- Boot Camp pt. 1
May. 21st, 2007 09:23 amHi,
( more background stuff for Lions and Hyenas in which I cover some fundamentals about Vampires in the game )
So with all the changes, I'm thinking of skipping out on the WoD ruleset. It's not that I don't like it, but I've stripped away a lot of stuff that WoD has baked in. There aren't any covenants or bloodlines or the like. I've traded it all in for a more freeform method of picking powers. I'm thinking I'd like to use FATE for the system and supplement the Fate Tokens with "Blood Tokens" that you spend to activate/enhance powers and the like. The Fate tokens would be for total re-rolls or director-stance fact-making. It'll need a bit more percolating.
later
Tom
( more background stuff for Lions and Hyenas in which I cover some fundamentals about Vampires in the game )
So with all the changes, I'm thinking of skipping out on the WoD ruleset. It's not that I don't like it, but I've stripped away a lot of stuff that WoD has baked in. There aren't any covenants or bloodlines or the like. I've traded it all in for a more freeform method of picking powers. I'm thinking I'd like to use FATE for the system and supplement the Fate Tokens with "Blood Tokens" that you spend to activate/enhance powers and the like. The Fate tokens would be for total re-rolls or director-stance fact-making. It'll need a bit more percolating.
later
Tom
[Lions and Hyenas] -- Boot Camp pt. 1
May. 21st, 2007 09:23 amHi,
( more background stuff for Lions and Hyenas in which I cover some fundamentals about Vampires in the game )
So with all the changes, I'm thinking of skipping out on the WoD ruleset. It's not that I don't like it, but I've stripped away a lot of stuff that WoD has baked in. There aren't any covenants or bloodlines or the like. I've traded it all in for a more freeform method of picking powers. I'm thinking I'd like to use FATE for the system and supplement the Fate Tokens with "Blood Tokens" that you spend to activate/enhance powers and the like. The Fate tokens would be for total re-rolls or director-stance fact-making. It'll need a bit more percolating.
later
Tom
( more background stuff for Lions and Hyenas in which I cover some fundamentals about Vampires in the game )
So with all the changes, I'm thinking of skipping out on the WoD ruleset. It's not that I don't like it, but I've stripped away a lot of stuff that WoD has baked in. There aren't any covenants or bloodlines or the like. I've traded it all in for a more freeform method of picking powers. I'm thinking I'd like to use FATE for the system and supplement the Fate Tokens with "Blood Tokens" that you spend to activate/enhance powers and the like. The Fate tokens would be for total re-rolls or director-stance fact-making. It'll need a bit more percolating.
later
Tom
[Lions and Hyenas] -- Creation Myths
May. 14th, 2007 11:06 amHi,
Some background stuff for the Lions and Hyenas game I'm planning:
( Creation Myths )
Note -- I like this origin story for Vampires and Ghouls (and it pretty much popped into my head fully-formed), but it's really just background. The game itself isn't likely to focus heavily on Judeo-Christian symbolism/imagery unless the players have a real yen for it. For the most part, Vampires are the ultimate Athiests ("there is no god, because we killed him -- and we'll do it again if we have to") and ghouls know that all human religions are just shams to fool people while they have the one true faith ("our god is real because we have magical powers"). Various NPCs on both sides of the fence may use religion to further their plans, but for the PCs, rooting out the schemes of the ghouls and putting a stop to them are all that's required.
Oh, which reminds me that sometimes PCs may be asked to help out in some Vampire project designed to help improve humanity. Mostly their job will be to prevent Ghoul disruption, but there could be other tasks. Ambitious PCs might have a pet project of their own to work on between investigations.
fun stuff
Tom
Some background stuff for the Lions and Hyenas game I'm planning:
( Creation Myths )
Note -- I like this origin story for Vampires and Ghouls (and it pretty much popped into my head fully-formed), but it's really just background. The game itself isn't likely to focus heavily on Judeo-Christian symbolism/imagery unless the players have a real yen for it. For the most part, Vampires are the ultimate Athiests ("there is no god, because we killed him -- and we'll do it again if we have to") and ghouls know that all human religions are just shams to fool people while they have the one true faith ("our god is real because we have magical powers"). Various NPCs on both sides of the fence may use religion to further their plans, but for the PCs, rooting out the schemes of the ghouls and putting a stop to them are all that's required.
Oh, which reminds me that sometimes PCs may be asked to help out in some Vampire project designed to help improve humanity. Mostly their job will be to prevent Ghoul disruption, but there could be other tasks. Ambitious PCs might have a pet project of their own to work on between investigations.
fun stuff
Tom
[Lions and Hyenas] -- Creation Myths
May. 14th, 2007 11:06 amHi,
Some background stuff for the Lions and Hyenas game I'm planning:
( Creation Myths )
Note -- I like this origin story for Vampires and Ghouls (and it pretty much popped into my head fully-formed), but it's really just background. The game itself isn't likely to focus heavily on Judeo-Christian symbolism/imagery unless the players have a real yen for it. For the most part, Vampires are the ultimate Athiests ("there is no god, because we killed him -- and we'll do it again if we have to") and ghouls know that all human religions are just shams to fool people while they have the one true faith ("our god is real because we have magical powers"). Various NPCs on both sides of the fence may use religion to further their plans, but for the PCs, rooting out the schemes of the ghouls and putting a stop to them are all that's required.
Oh, which reminds me that sometimes PCs may be asked to help out in some Vampire project designed to help improve humanity. Mostly their job will be to prevent Ghoul disruption, but there could be other tasks. Ambitious PCs might have a pet project of their own to work on between investigations.
fun stuff
Tom
Some background stuff for the Lions and Hyenas game I'm planning:
( Creation Myths )
Note -- I like this origin story for Vampires and Ghouls (and it pretty much popped into my head fully-formed), but it's really just background. The game itself isn't likely to focus heavily on Judeo-Christian symbolism/imagery unless the players have a real yen for it. For the most part, Vampires are the ultimate Athiests ("there is no god, because we killed him -- and we'll do it again if we have to") and ghouls know that all human religions are just shams to fool people while they have the one true faith ("our god is real because we have magical powers"). Various NPCs on both sides of the fence may use religion to further their plans, but for the PCs, rooting out the schemes of the ghouls and putting a stop to them are all that's required.
Oh, which reminds me that sometimes PCs may be asked to help out in some Vampire project designed to help improve humanity. Mostly their job will be to prevent Ghoul disruption, but there could be other tasks. Ambitious PCs might have a pet project of their own to work on between investigations.
fun stuff
Tom
Lions and Hyenas
May. 8th, 2007 01:05 pmIn the shadowy jungle of the city there are many dangerous predators, but the two greatest threats are both completely inhuman.
The first of these are the Vampires. They are the lions of the night who stalk their prey with cunning deceit and terrifying power. But even as they bring death and ruin to individuals, they have a great interest in the welfare of humanity as a whole. Without their unsuspecting herds of humanity, the Vampires would soon wither and starve. So like any good shepherd, they nurture and maintain their vast flocks as best they can. They spur on and encourage human development to ensure a steady supply of food. More importantly, they work hard to shut the door on even greater, more alien monstrosities that would engulf this small planet and lay waste to everything. Given their hard work defending the very reality of this world, they say, what's the life of a few insignificant people?
The second great predators are the Ghuls. They are the hyenas of the night who feast upon the flesh of the dead. They aren't as powerful as a Vampire, nor are they truly immortal, but there are more of them and they have sworn their service to dread powers from beyond the stars. From their underground barrows, through slow, insidious ritual and though their changeling agents, they work hard to ferment death in every guise and keep their larders full. They dream of a day when when the whole world is a charnel house and their dark masters return to reward them. The only thing that stands between them and their dreams are the Vampires who cling to their foolish illusions of a rational world.
And so, the Lions and Hyenas are locked in their endless battles for control of their prey.
So yeah, I want to run a game that's one part Vampire, one part Call of Cthulhu and one part Esoterrorists. I'd probably use White Wolf for the ruleset (since I feel like the latest iteration is pretty good). I'd use Vampire the Requiem as a sourcebook, but I'll probably tweak out a bunch of stuff so that it fits the above model a bit better. Ghuls would be based heavily on the ghouls from Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green and the book Daughter of Hounds by Caitlin R. Kiernan. Other WoD types (Werewolves, Mages, Promethians, etc.) won't exist. There may be a mage or two, but they'll be in the Call of Cthulhu mode (slow, ritual spellcasting) and not the Mage mode. Quite probably there will be some strange monsters here and there, but you can expect that Vampires and Ghuls are going to be the most common supernatural beastie encountered.
The usual high school social climbing and angsting that's a hallmark of Vampire games will be seriously toned down. Keeping the world safe from Azathoth tends to keep you from going all emo about how you have to hurt people to survive. Still, there will be some measure of politics. I'm thinking of playing up the Vampiric feudal system a bit and addressing the duty/honor/love issues that a "dark knight" might run into. This all being a strong "B-plot" to the main "investigate and halt terrible evil" stuff that's normally going on.
I currently estimate that there will be 3 groups of 8-12 sessions with the last group being a lot more action-oriented than the first two. I have no time or place in mind, although it would be nice to host it at my house once we move in.
So, does being a Vampiric investigator of the occult and parasitic defender of humanity appeal to anyone?
later
Tom
The first of these are the Vampires. They are the lions of the night who stalk their prey with cunning deceit and terrifying power. But even as they bring death and ruin to individuals, they have a great interest in the welfare of humanity as a whole. Without their unsuspecting herds of humanity, the Vampires would soon wither and starve. So like any good shepherd, they nurture and maintain their vast flocks as best they can. They spur on and encourage human development to ensure a steady supply of food. More importantly, they work hard to shut the door on even greater, more alien monstrosities that would engulf this small planet and lay waste to everything. Given their hard work defending the very reality of this world, they say, what's the life of a few insignificant people?
The second great predators are the Ghuls. They are the hyenas of the night who feast upon the flesh of the dead. They aren't as powerful as a Vampire, nor are they truly immortal, but there are more of them and they have sworn their service to dread powers from beyond the stars. From their underground barrows, through slow, insidious ritual and though their changeling agents, they work hard to ferment death in every guise and keep their larders full. They dream of a day when when the whole world is a charnel house and their dark masters return to reward them. The only thing that stands between them and their dreams are the Vampires who cling to their foolish illusions of a rational world.
And so, the Lions and Hyenas are locked in their endless battles for control of their prey.
So yeah, I want to run a game that's one part Vampire, one part Call of Cthulhu and one part Esoterrorists. I'd probably use White Wolf for the ruleset (since I feel like the latest iteration is pretty good). I'd use Vampire the Requiem as a sourcebook, but I'll probably tweak out a bunch of stuff so that it fits the above model a bit better. Ghuls would be based heavily on the ghouls from Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green and the book Daughter of Hounds by Caitlin R. Kiernan. Other WoD types (Werewolves, Mages, Promethians, etc.) won't exist. There may be a mage or two, but they'll be in the Call of Cthulhu mode (slow, ritual spellcasting) and not the Mage mode. Quite probably there will be some strange monsters here and there, but you can expect that Vampires and Ghuls are going to be the most common supernatural beastie encountered.
The usual high school social climbing and angsting that's a hallmark of Vampire games will be seriously toned down. Keeping the world safe from Azathoth tends to keep you from going all emo about how you have to hurt people to survive. Still, there will be some measure of politics. I'm thinking of playing up the Vampiric feudal system a bit and addressing the duty/honor/love issues that a "dark knight" might run into. This all being a strong "B-plot" to the main "investigate and halt terrible evil" stuff that's normally going on.
I currently estimate that there will be 3 groups of 8-12 sessions with the last group being a lot more action-oriented than the first two. I have no time or place in mind, although it would be nice to host it at my house once we move in.
So, does being a Vampiric investigator of the occult and parasitic defender of humanity appeal to anyone?
later
Tom
Lions and Hyenas
May. 8th, 2007 01:05 pmIn the shadowy jungle of the city there are many dangerous predators, but the two greatest threats are both completely inhuman.
The first of these are the Vampires. They are the lions of the night who stalk their prey with cunning deceit and terrifying power. But even as they bring death and ruin to individuals, they have a great interest in the welfare of humanity as a whole. Without their unsuspecting herds of humanity, the Vampires would soon wither and starve. So like any good shepherd, they nurture and maintain their vast flocks as best they can. They spur on and encourage human development to ensure a steady supply of food. More importantly, they work hard to shut the door on even greater, more alien monstrosities that would engulf this small planet and lay waste to everything. Given their hard work defending the very reality of this world, they say, what's the life of a few insignificant people?
The second great predators are the Ghuls. They are the hyenas of the night who feast upon the flesh of the dead. They aren't as powerful as a Vampire, nor are they truly immortal, but there are more of them and they have sworn their service to dread powers from beyond the stars. From their underground barrows, through slow, insidious ritual and though their changeling agents, they work hard to ferment death in every guise and keep their larders full. They dream of a day when when the whole world is a charnel house and their dark masters return to reward them. The only thing that stands between them and their dreams are the Vampires who cling to their foolish illusions of a rational world.
And so, the Lions and Hyenas are locked in their endless battles for control of their prey.
So yeah, I want to run a game that's one part Vampire, one part Call of Cthulhu and one part Esoterrorists. I'd probably use White Wolf for the ruleset (since I feel like the latest iteration is pretty good). I'd use Vampire the Requiem as a sourcebook, but I'll probably tweak out a bunch of stuff so that it fits the above model a bit better. Ghuls would be based heavily on the ghouls from Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green and the book Daughter of Hounds by Caitlin R. Kiernan. Other WoD types (Werewolves, Mages, Promethians, etc.) won't exist. There may be a mage or two, but they'll be in the Call of Cthulhu mode (slow, ritual spellcasting) and not the Mage mode. Quite probably there will be some strange monsters here and there, but you can expect that Vampires and Ghuls are going to be the most common supernatural beastie encountered.
The usual high school social climbing and angsting that's a hallmark of Vampire games will be seriously toned down. Keeping the world safe from Azathoth tends to keep you from going all emo about how you have to hurt people to survive. Still, there will be some measure of politics. I'm thinking of playing up the Vampiric feudal system a bit and addressing the duty/honor/love issues that a "dark knight" might run into. This all being a strong "B-plot" to the main "investigate and halt terrible evil" stuff that's normally going on.
I currently estimate that there will be 3 groups of 8-12 sessions with the last group being a lot more action-oriented than the first two. I have no time or place in mind, although it would be nice to host it at my house once we move in.
So, does being a Vampiric investigator of the occult and parasitic defender of humanity appeal to anyone?
later
Tom
The first of these are the Vampires. They are the lions of the night who stalk their prey with cunning deceit and terrifying power. But even as they bring death and ruin to individuals, they have a great interest in the welfare of humanity as a whole. Without their unsuspecting herds of humanity, the Vampires would soon wither and starve. So like any good shepherd, they nurture and maintain their vast flocks as best they can. They spur on and encourage human development to ensure a steady supply of food. More importantly, they work hard to shut the door on even greater, more alien monstrosities that would engulf this small planet and lay waste to everything. Given their hard work defending the very reality of this world, they say, what's the life of a few insignificant people?
The second great predators are the Ghuls. They are the hyenas of the night who feast upon the flesh of the dead. They aren't as powerful as a Vampire, nor are they truly immortal, but there are more of them and they have sworn their service to dread powers from beyond the stars. From their underground barrows, through slow, insidious ritual and though their changeling agents, they work hard to ferment death in every guise and keep their larders full. They dream of a day when when the whole world is a charnel house and their dark masters return to reward them. The only thing that stands between them and their dreams are the Vampires who cling to their foolish illusions of a rational world.
And so, the Lions and Hyenas are locked in their endless battles for control of their prey.
So yeah, I want to run a game that's one part Vampire, one part Call of Cthulhu and one part Esoterrorists. I'd probably use White Wolf for the ruleset (since I feel like the latest iteration is pretty good). I'd use Vampire the Requiem as a sourcebook, but I'll probably tweak out a bunch of stuff so that it fits the above model a bit better. Ghuls would be based heavily on the ghouls from Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green and the book Daughter of Hounds by Caitlin R. Kiernan. Other WoD types (Werewolves, Mages, Promethians, etc.) won't exist. There may be a mage or two, but they'll be in the Call of Cthulhu mode (slow, ritual spellcasting) and not the Mage mode. Quite probably there will be some strange monsters here and there, but you can expect that Vampires and Ghuls are going to be the most common supernatural beastie encountered.
The usual high school social climbing and angsting that's a hallmark of Vampire games will be seriously toned down. Keeping the world safe from Azathoth tends to keep you from going all emo about how you have to hurt people to survive. Still, there will be some measure of politics. I'm thinking of playing up the Vampiric feudal system a bit and addressing the duty/honor/love issues that a "dark knight" might run into. This all being a strong "B-plot" to the main "investigate and halt terrible evil" stuff that's normally going on.
I currently estimate that there will be 3 groups of 8-12 sessions with the last group being a lot more action-oriented than the first two. I have no time or place in mind, although it would be nice to host it at my house once we move in.
So, does being a Vampiric investigator of the occult and parasitic defender of humanity appeal to anyone?
later
Tom
