Revisiting VtM: Bloodlines

[NecroLord]

Did you miss the part where LaCroix was clearly going to execute you together with your sire and was massively humiliated by Nines when he stood up for you and made the Prince back down? Also, he's the game's main antagonist ffs, why should he be sympathetic. He's a very memorable villain, petty, vindictive, insecure, massively in over his head, and increasingly desperate by the end of the game because he puts all his eggs in one basket (that's full of dynamite).

Seeing him defeated in various ways in every ending is very satisfying.

He also collaborated with the eastern invaders.

I have to wonder how the hell did that escape the notice of the Camarilla Elders?
Perhaps they allowed that just to see what would've happened?
Lacroix forgot that in WOD there is "always a bigger fish"...
As in there are literally ancient vampires asleep in their coffins and tombs playing and manipulating the younger vampires like puppets in a ruthless and inhuman game of power.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

Lacroix forgot that in WOD there is "always a bigger fish"...

He was basically a sacrificial pawn in his own right if I recall correctly. Him being appointed prince wasn't much of a promotion given the history of the city. Which somewhat mirrors what he himself does with you (i.e. appoints you as his errand boy waiting for you to fuck up which in your case translates to getting yourself killed). Desperate man, desperate measures.

 

[Storyfag]

Did you miss the part where LaCroix was clearly going to execute you together with your sire and was massively humiliated by Nines when he stood up for you and made the Prince back down? Also, he's the game's main antagonist ffs, why should he be sympathetic. He's a very memorable villain, petty, vindictive, insecure, massively in over his head, and increasingly desperate by the end of the game because he puts all his eggs in one basket (that's full of dynamite).

Seeing him defeated in various ways in every ending is very satisfying.

He also collaborated with the eastern invaders.

I have to wonder how the hell did that escape the notice of the Camarilla Elders?
Perhaps they allowed that just to see what would've happened?

Firstly, the Inner Circle is usually content to let a Prince run his city however he likes. They send in their Archons and Justicars only in the most dire of situations.
Secondly, this case was pretty fresh, the alliance spanning months at most. The Inner Circle might not have yet learned of it.
Thirdly, the Camarilla has nothing againts the Kuei-jin. It is the other way around: the Cathayans see the Kindred as spiritual abominations. A peaceful co-existence would be welcomed by the Camarilla, if only to best study the Kuei-jin weaknesses.

 

[NecroLord]

Did you miss the part where LaCroix was clearly going to execute you together with your sire and was massively humiliated by Nines when he stood up for you and made the Prince back down? Also, he's the game's main antagonist ffs, why should he be sympathetic. He's a very memorable villain, petty, vindictive, insecure, massively in over his head, and increasingly desperate by the end of the game because he puts all his eggs in one basket (that's full of dynamite).

Seeing him defeated in various ways in every ending is very satisfying.

He also collaborated with the eastern invaders.

I have to wonder how the hell did that escape the notice of the Camarilla Elders?
Perhaps they allowed that just to see what would've happened?

Firstly, the Inner Circle is usually content to let a Prince run his city however he likes. They send in their Archons and Justicars only in the most dire of situations.
Secondly, this case was pretty fresh, the alliance spanning months at most. The Inner Circle might not have yet learned of it.
Thirdly, the Camarilla has nothing againts the Kuei-jin. It is the other way around: the Cathayans see the Kindred as spiritual abominations. A peaceful co-existence would be welcomed by the Camarilla, if only to best study the Kuei-jin weaknesses.

Well the Camarilla is quite pragmatic.
As much as a blood drinking, power hungry creature of the night can be...

 

[Skinwalker]

.

Lacroix forgot that in WOD there is "always a bigger fish"...

No, he knew this very well. That's the whole reason for his sarcophagus gambit. LaCroix knew he was sent to be the prince of a regime that might very well crumble within months, no matter what he does, and sought an outside power source to free himself from the Camarilla.

 

[Wesp5]

In case you want to experience how some of us imagine the storyline of Bloodlines was started, the Prelude II Early Access is out: https://www.moddb.com/mods/vtmb-prelude/downloads/bloodlines-prelude-ii-early-access/

 

[Vincente]

In case you want to experience how some of us imagine the storyline of Bloodlines was started, the Prelude II Early Access is out: https://www.moddb.com/mods/vtmb-prelude/downloads/bloodlines-prelude-ii-early-access/

We did not have enough time to finish all the content planned for Prelude II, so some areas are inaccessible in this version. However, they will be added in later releases. Please also note that Malkavians and Nosferatu aren't playable, as well.

Should have taken a few notes from Bloodlines 2 and delayed it to early 2025.

 

[Zariusz]

In case you want to experience how some of us imagine the storyline of Bloodlines was started, the Prelude II Early Access is out: https://www.moddb.com/mods/vtmb-prelude/downloads/bloodlines-prelude-ii-early-access/

Im using HD textures mod and combined with Prelude... results are quite interesting. Is there a way i can set the textures to work properly for Prelude or should i just go back to vanilla textures?

 

[Vulpes]

In case you want to experience how some of us imagine the storyline of Bloodlines was started, the Prelude II Early Access is out: https://www.moddb.com/mods/vtmb-prelude/downloads/bloodlines-prelude-ii-early-access/

Do I need save from Prelude I or can I jump straight into the second part?

 

[Wesp5]

Im using HD textures mod and combined with Prelude... results are quite interesting. Is there a way i can set the textures to work properly for Prelude or should i just go back to vanilla textures?

You better go back to vanilla because the Prelude might use textures that the HD mod does not include yet.

 

[Wesp5]

Do I need save from Prelude I or can I jump straight into the second part?

You don't need a save from Prelude I, you can create a new character.

 

[Vincente]

 

[Zariusz]

Im using HD textures mod and combined with Prelude... results are quite interesting. Is there a way i can set the textures to work properly for Prelude or should i just go back to vanilla textures?

You better go back to vanilla because the Prelude might use textures that the HD mod does not include yet.

I just got to the sewer level quest and i think im stuck, unlock valve command doesn't seem to be doing anything and two valves in neighbouring tunnels aren't interactable.

Also some thoughts:


- It would be better if power box in our church base would be placed near the stairs or in a room at basement level, crypt would work better as something optional related to previous locator. Malkavian killed by Kuei jin? That is a perfect occasion for some early exploration and finding hidden journals etc; that red book besides being a hint regarding the secret crypt seemed like its author (i assume its that malkavian) also pondered matters of God and being a vampire, this could serve as an interesting paralel for our former hunter and maybe finding more secret notes could lead us to something, for example for the reason why was he killed by kuei jin, some secret research? A dangerous artifact? Maybe some items that could serve as an opening for a later quest chain that would put us against Kuei Jin? Just few ideas, besides that stuffing something as basic as power box in a secret chamber in a crypt seems like quite a bizzare choice.

- I think it would be better if our character had some dialogue options where he would avoid revealing being a former hunter, its quite weird for me that he would just reveal that to Bill, literally the second vampire that he speaks with (of course he could probably still find about that himself if he wanted, he is a Nosferatu hacker after all, information is part of his job). It just doesn't seem right for me that a character with a background related to secret work behind the scenes would just reveal informations like that, he is a part of the vampire world since like 2 days, from his perspective some vampires could just attack him for revenge or smt.
Also that line about rethinking vampire's being evil is just weird, at this point our character had whole life of vampire hunting (and seeing some morbid and evil shit) and after being turned into a vampire he meets Jack, possibly that ghoul in petrol station and Bill, one ghoul, 2 vampires and 2 nights of being a vampire, in my opinion its far too early for such worldview change, even if we choose doubting dialogue options in Prelude 1 such change would be far too fast imo.
Also after first night books vanished from Bill's store.

- Regarding the plot until this moment, hmm im not sure if such early introduction to Caine is right, maybe it would be better if we met him first as a driver when Jack sends us to some location outside hub but proper introduction could be made after that? Also it could be only me but i feel like Jack is impressed far to easily by us, tbh i alway thought that his part in Sarcophagus plan was larger and Caine supported it because that would work in favour of his plans or smt but here it feels like most of the planning was Caine's. Yeah Caine is father of all vampires etc. but i always thought that there was more to Jack than just a pirate loving some good action and chaos, after all he survived for a pretty long time, he has to have some clever brain in that skull of his.

 

[almondblight]

You can literally join forces with him in one of the endings. It's the Sabbat that you can never get on your side no matter what, and Andrzej is always trying to kill you for some vague reason (maybe he just wants to diablerize you, idk).

Yeah, but it's idiotic for the player to go back to him after he tried to have him killed, framed him, and sent the entire society of vampires out to hunt him. It would be like the player deciding at the end of the game to go to the vampire hunters and asking if they'll be his friend.

Also pretty silly that the game forces you go give the sarcophagus to the prince even when every one tells you not to, then forces you to give him the ability to open it, then has you stop him from opening it. You have to fight through an army of vampires to get the prince the sarcophagus, then fight through an army of vampire hunters to help him open it, then you have to fight through an army of vampires to get the sarcophagus back away from the prince and stop him from opening it, and when you're finally there you change your mind again and just let him open up the sarcophagus. There's actually no point to anything you do the entire game, you're just screwing around and not actually changing anything.

The writing was simply atrocious in a lot of places.

 

[jackofshadows]

What if the protag is stupid though?

 

[Wesp5]

I just got to the sewer level quest and i think im stuck, unlock valve command doesn't seem to be doing anything and two valves in neighbouring tunnels aren't interactable.

Are you already in the control room and can't unlock the valve?

- It would be better if power box in our church base would be placed near the stairs or in a room at basement level, crypt would work better as something optional related to previous locator.

I imagine thist wasn't done by the former occopant but is a left over from the time the church itself was still in use and this was the nearest access point. But I might forward your ideas to EntenSchreck.

- I think it would be better if our character had some dialogue options where he would avoid revealing being a former hunter, its quite weird for me that he would just reveal that to Bill, literally the second vampire that he speaks with...

I agree with you, also it annoyed me quite a lot how easy the ghouls and vampires themselves reveal everything about their masters and plans to a former hunter. But in my opinion the dialogues are the weak point of the mod and have to be trimmed a lot!

Also after first night books vanished from Bill's store.

Arrggh, I had fixed that, but forgot to send it to EntenSchreck.

- Regarding the plot until this moment, hmm im not sure if such early introduction to Caine is right, maybe it would be better if we met him first as a driver when Jack sends us to some location outside hub but proper introduction could be made after that?

Maybe, but I guess he thought that any player of the Prelude already knows who the cabbie is.

 

[Zariusz]

I just got to the sewer level quest and i think im stuck, unlock valve command doesn't seem to be doing anything and two valves in neighbouring tunnels aren't interactable.

Are you already in the control room and can't unlock the valve?

Yes and there is no interaction, unless i keep missing something im stuck since that first gate closed.

 

[Baron Dupek]

who asked
for this?
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/vamp...ines-rtx-remix-remaster-alpha-0-0-1-released/

Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines fans, here is something for you today. Modder ‘Safemilk’ has just released an alpha version of his RTX Remix Mod for this classic RPG.

As with all the RTX Remix Mods, this one will add Full Ray Tracing/Path Tracing to Bloodlines. However, since this is an alpha release, it may have numerous visual glitches. Also, it’s not representative of what RTX Remix can achieve. At least in its current state. I mean, even the modder calls it a “rough” release.

For instance, VTM:B uses the alpha channel as an emissive mask for many textures in the game. So, the modder did a rough pass of converting these to emissive maps and applying them to their corresponding textures. So now the things that should light up, should light up.

In short, you should temper your expectations. This mod is still in a very early dev stage. So, don’t expect it to look as polished as some of the other Path Tracing Mods we’ve shared. Still, this is a start.

like a bloom back then - fancy, useless effect

 

[NecroLord]

who asked
for this?
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/vamp...ines-rtx-remix-remaster-alpha-0-0-1-released/

Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines fans, here is something for you today. Modder ‘Safemilk’ has just released an alpha version of his RTX Remix Mod for this classic RPG.

As with all the RTX Remix Mods, this one will add Full Ray Tracing/Path Tracing to Bloodlines. However, since this is an alpha release, it may have numerous visual glitches. Also, it’s not representative of what RTX Remix can achieve. At least in its current state. I mean, even the modder calls it a “rough” release.

For instance, VTM:B uses the alpha channel as an emissive mask for many textures in the game. So, the modder did a rough pass of converting these to emissive maps and applying them to their corresponding textures. So now the things that should light up, should light up.

In short, you should temper your expectations. This mod is still in a very early dev stage. So, don’t expect it to look as polished as some of the other Path Tracing Mods we’ve shared. Still, this is a start.

like a bloom back then - fancy, useless effect

They ruined Jeanette's boobs.

 

[Wesp5]

Yes and there is no interaction, unless i keep missing something im stuck since that first gate closed.

The one that should have unlocked is under water. Maybe the next update should make that more clear...

 

[Zariusz]

Yes and there is no interaction, unless i keep missing something im stuck since that first gate closed.

The one that should have unlocked is under water. Maybe the next update should make that more clear...

Spoiler

Ok now i feel like a fucking retard, for whatever reason i forgot that you can swim in this game and i thought that water will instakill you XD. This stupidity aside after using valve i got stuck in the whirpool, i've reloaded few times and it always ended with me stuck levitating above that opened gate. In the end noclip fixed this, next certain vamp looks like he lost his texture (and no that isn't my fault since i did fresh reinstall, at least i hope so) and after the final fight asking Jack about Tzimisce ended the conversation and to progress normally you had to ignore that question.

 

[jakkis]

Might this be fixed now, since we have voice-generating AI available?

Theoretically yes, but as far as I know burgermeister quit modding Bloodlines long ago...

Meanwhile you'll still be releasing patch updates when you're in your twilight years))

After he's gone, AI-Wesp5 will continue to create patches for infinity.

 

[Vulpes]

Just finished Prelude II and I like it so far even if it's a bit shorter than what I expected it to be. The only bugs I've encountered so far were that the game wouldn't let me turn in the Caitiff quest after I persuaded him to leave peacefully, which in turn caused him to spawn at the Empire Hotel and bug that quest out as well (the quest log didn't update after I dealt with everyone).

 

[NecroLord]

Yes and there is no interaction, unless i keep missing something im stuck since that first gate closed.

The one that should have unlocked is under water. Maybe the next update should make that more clear...

Spoiler

Ok now i feel like a fucking retard, for whatever reason i forgot that you can swim in this game and i thought that water will instakill you XD. This stupidity aside after using valve i got stuck in the whirpool, i've reloaded few times and it always ended with me stuck levitating above that opened gate. In the end noclip fixed this, next certain vamp looks like he lost his texture (and no that isn't my fault since i did fresh reinstall, at least i hope so) and after the final fight asking Jack about Tzimisce ended the conversation and to progress normally you had to ignore that question.

What a pathetic excuse for a Tzimisce.
He should turn in his Vicissitude card.

 

[Vulpes]

But that's actually a Malkavian...