Revisiting VtM: Bloodlines

[Seaking4]

I played a Bruja fighter so it wasn't that the fights were hard. It's just that it was the same thing over and over again. It's as though someone accidentally copy pasted the entire area and never noticed it. It was boring.

 

[Excidium II]

At least with that character you can just rush through it.

 

[Prime Junta]

Well if you tried to say no at least once you'd figure he can, Lacroix has zero subtlety about his dominate usage.

Regardless, I'd rather gain points with Lacroix than risk him finding out I omitted the information. Gratitude to some random stranger who antagonizes the guy giving your orders is not worth it.

Good on you.

The criticism is that that was the only option on offer though. Can't help feeling that they cut the other ones; it's not like they would've had to make a completely different game because of that, just add a bunch of dialog to Strauss or the Anarchs, depending on who you'd turn to as an alternative.

 

[Zero Credibility]

The problem with being forced to tell LaCroix you saw Nines at Grout's mansion isn't because of any debt, it's because Nine was basically wearing a T-shirt saying 'I've been mind-controlled/glamoured/shapeshifted into'.

Yeah, lying about seeing Nines there wouldn't work because the prince already knows it and is ready to pull it out of you. But saying that something was off about him and it's possible it wasn't him but someone stirring up trouble between the Anarchs and the Camarilla, that could work nicely. And the best part is, it is completely true, so LaCroix can't do anything to you because of it. Seriously, that chinese chick is a terrible actress. A vampire shapeshifter who knows how many centuries old, and she knew you would be there so she had all the time to prepare, and that was the best performance she could give? Even the PC just goes WTF? Shamefur dispray.

 

[Jaesun]

Every time I consider re-playing this I always remember that GAWD DAMED Werewolf encounter....

Never played a Tremere or Gangrel (JUST so you can get a few extra lines from Beckett IIRC) yet.

 

[Black]

Tremere master race.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Every time I consider re-playing this I always remember that GAWD DAMED Werewolf encounter....

One of my favourite setpieces in any action RPG. The timing of it is perfect, right after you grow so much powerful in gameplay terms that you feel you can take on anything. I played the game too many times so it's a bit routine for me by now but I still like it.

Never played a Tremere or Gangrel (JUST so you can get a few extra lines from Beckett IIRC) yet.

Gangrel gets a few extra lines here and there (Beckett and the serial killer) but Protean is disappointing. Tremere on the other hand are awesome, with Blood Magic (great fun to use and one of the most powerful disciplines in the game) and Dominate you don't even have to get your hands dirty during the combat (though really anything works with Tremere, even melee despite their physical stats being limited to 4). You also get a slick pad in the Tremere Chantry from Strauss.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Seriously, that chinese chick is a terrible actress. A vampire shapeshifter who knows how many centuries old, and she knew you would be there so she had all the time to prepare, and that was the best performance she could give? Even the PC just goes WTF? Shamefur dispray.

Yeah, Ming Xiao is another missed opportunity. She's supposed to be manipulative and seductive enough to turn you against your own kind yet she flatly reveals right away how much she despises the Kindred. Her feeling of superiority should have been subtle or only hinted at, not in your face right off the bat.

As it stands, I have no idea why joining up with her is even a choice at the end, the PC would have had to be borderline retarded to even consider it. Also the ending where the juggernaut your PC has become is brought to its knees by a couple of mooks with guns (that can barely hurt you at that point even if you're not playing a clan with Fortitude) is beyond stupid, completely inconsistent with the feats player achieved throughout the game.

 

[laclongquan]

Tremere is on my list to play the next VTMB

As for the Grout's Nine thing, you are missing one important factor.

We the PC are the only other-than-Nine character left there alive. It's important to establish that. We are not the single suspect of killing a major player and burn his mansion down to ground, uh uh, no no. It's vitally important to our health and safetu

 

[Prime Junta]

Tremere is on my list to play the next VTMB

As for the Grout's Nine thing, you are missing one important factor.

We the PC are the only other-than-Nine character left there alive. It's important to establish that. We are not the single suspect of killing a major player and burn his mansion down to ground, uh uh, no no. It's vitally important to our health and safetu

We are also a neonate. It's just about inconceivable that someone that fresh could've done away with a primarch. Nines OTOH is a certified badass so it's at least remotely plausible.

Edit: also, LaCroix appeared to be perfectly willing to believe he was dun in by Bach in order to get at him.

 

[Krivol]

For Malk Independent ending is a go - it just fits the character. Well... everything fits this character.

My first playthrough was with Malk and it was awesome - those dialogues with TV or STOP sing, and also that feeling that you really don't care about all this political shit around.

Second plythrough was with Ventrue, just to see his manipulation skills (also my one and only character in WoD - which I hate - was Ventrue).

Third was with nosferatu - never ended, got bored after 2 earlier playthrougs. But it didn't feel that great - a lot of forced sneaking and sewers to the death.

I believe this game has most interesting characters in gaming industry, has awesome atmosphere and is just fun to play - maybe except for this shit with werewolf (I usually cheat and squzee it with godmode on).

Now I'm reinstalling. Thank you, Codex .

 

[ArchAngel]

I played it first with Tremere, then with Gangrel. Then I wanted to be a chaotic bastard and played with Brujah (but never finished that one). But I had fun using speed to slash enemies with a sword.
Then I came back to it a few years later when some unofficial patches were available and played it some more with Malkavian and then with Nosferatu (this playthrough was all about stealth and avoiding battle if possible). Loved it every time!

 

[The Nameless Pun]

I'm at the beginning but, until now, I'm not liking it. I don't know why...what's wrong with me?

 

[Grunker]

This thread is pretty great. Loads of interesting discussion and some good new spins/points on an old favourite I haven't played for ages. Even some legitimate criticsm that picks on the crusty nostalgia many of us have for the game.

Good reminder that this place isn't all SJW and 1200-page Dragon Age: Inquisition threads

 

[Prime Junta]

I'm at the beginning but, until now, I'm not liking it. I don't know why...what's wrong with me?

I dunno. Low tolerance for clunky movement and bad gameplay? Dislike vampires? Generally poor taste?

 

[The Nameless Pun]

I'm at the beginning but, until now, I'm not liking it. I don't know why...what's wrong with me?

I dunno. Low tolerance for clunky movement and bad gameplay? Dislike vampires? Generally poor taste?

Maybe it's poor taste, yes.

 

[Bumvelcrow]

I played it first with Tremere, then with Gangrel. Then I wanted to be a chaotic bastard and played with Brujah (but never finished that one). But I had fun using speed to slash enemies with a sword.
Then I came back to it a few years later when some unofficial patches were available and played it some more with Malkavian and then with Nosferatu (this playthrough was all about stealth and avoiding battle if possible). Loved it every time!

Okay, after resisting for a while I really need to play it again now. First time was when I was young and rebellious and played a Tremere, which I never really had any sympathy for. Then a Gangrel and of course a Malkavian, which is hilarious. Time for another Tremere playthough with my new super-smooth, mature and cynical persona! Strauss ending and a tasty flat in the Tremere chantry.

 

[Prime Junta]

I'm at the beginning but, until now, I'm not liking it. I don't know why...what's wrong with me?

I dunno. Low tolerance for clunky movement and bad gameplay? Dislike vampires? Generally poor taste?

Maybe it's poor taste, yes.

Eh, there are lots of legit reasons to dislike this. The gameplay is bad, character-development is thin on the ground, the story is linear and gets frankly railroady towards the end, and the whole World of Darkness schtick ... well, you either like it or you don't.

But assuming none of those are showstoppers and you're a storyfag, there are precious few better ones out there.

 

[The Nameless Pun]

I'm at the beginning but, until now, I'm not liking it. I don't know why...what's wrong with me?

I dunno. Low tolerance for clunky movement and bad gameplay? Dislike vampires? Generally poor taste?

Maybe it's poor taste, yes.

Eh, there are lots of legit reasons to dislike this. The gameplay is bad, character-development is thin on the ground, the story is linear and gets frankly railroady towards the end, and the whole World of Darkness schtick ... well, you either like it or you don't.

But assuming none of those are showstoppers and you're a storyfag, there are precious few better ones out there.

Why is character development thin on the ground? I found it pretty good. My problem is more with the fact that I still need to understand the mechanics of the game and not liking the atmosphere all that much, although this is because I approached vtm with very high expectations, so not really a fault of the game. I mean, I've always heard of the great atmosphere of the game but the linearity of the first hub was a little of a letdown for me. Maybe I'm just biased.

 

[Prime Junta]

Why is character development thin on the ground? I found it pretty good.

It's Storyteller. There's not a whole lot of depth to it compared to many other systems, and not all that much differentiation between the characters you can make with it. It's not bad by any means, it's just unlikely to appeal to hardcore number-crunching character-builder types.

My problem is more with the fact that I still need to understand the mechanics of the game and not liking the atmosphere all that much, although this is because I approached vtm with very high expectations, so not really a fault of the game. I mean, I've always heard of the great atmosphere of the game but the linearity of the first hub was a little of a letdown for me. Maybe I'm just biased.

I can understand not liking the atmosphere; if you find goth/emo types intensely irritating you'll probably not care for this either. Or if you dislike linearity.

Do poke around for sidequests though. There are a couple of pretty big ones which go through several of the hubs, especially in Santa Monica and Downtown.

As to liking/disliking, there are IMO far more reasons to dislike the game than like it. I like it because of the writing -- especially the characters -- voice acting, and atmosphere; IMO it really is a sterling example of how a lore-heavy setting should be handled in a RPG where you can't expect the players to be familiar with it. It's all in the environment, the interactions, and the quests, with very few massive infodumps (past the opening sequence and the tutorial). If you value such things highly, you will very likely love the game despite its failings in other areas; if you don't, you'll probably just be turned off by the failings.

 

[Roguey]

She's supposed to be manipulative and seductive enough to turn you against your own kind yet she flatly reveals right away how much she despises the Kindred. Her feeling of superiority should have been subtle or only hinted at, not in your face right off the bat.

OTOH this accurately describes Lesi who tells people every day how much she hates westerners yet has hundreds of them fawning all over her.

 

[Doma]

I just finished my Tremere playthrough. Had not played this game in 10 years. And reading this thread makes me want to start up another run!
God damn this game is fantastic.

I do hope we get something out of the Paradox/Obsidian thing.

The setting is way too cool to let it fade.

 

[Ninja Destroyer]

Tremere is on my list to play the next VTMB

Same here. Already finished Brujah, Malkavian, Nosferatu. Anyone tried Ventrue ?

 

[laclongquan]

I did. your basic corporate schlomo. Hipster~

 

[Ninja Destroyer]

Are there any extra dialogues or quests to do ?