A new gameplay trailer for Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong did indeed appear during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase event yesterday. This trailer focused specifically on the game's RPG mechanics, which are basically an evolution of the system from Big Bad Wolf's previous title The Council. Each of the three protagonists will have their own upgradable vampiric disciplines as well a set of general skills, the latter requiring willpower to use and the former requiring blood. Further bonuses will be provided by traits, which are gained by achieving objectives and making decisions, and talents, which are rewarded for sticking to particular playstyles. In Swansong, non-player characters will have their own fully-fledged character sheets that the protagonists will have to contend against during dialogue confrontations.


It seems like a promising expansion of Big Bad Wolf's vision. Hopefully they'll be able to balance this system and make resource management a little more interesting than just combing areas for jars of royal jelly.