Revisiting VtM: Bloodlines

[AetherVagrant]

This thread nailed me. Only played a Malkavian, twice, when it first came out. Going Toreador this time with all noncombat skills and clan quest mod. Trying to see as much dialogue content I may have missed as a malk. Maybe next time someone mentions the game and I reinstall it ill get around to that Nosferatu run. Right now im enjoying it again, but the idea of replaying the combat and long walks and inskippable scenes once passed them right away sounds terrible.

 

[Zanzoken]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

 

[Prime Junta]

I would vomit all over someones carpet if i saw a vampire game with dungeon siege 3 combat.

If they were making a Bloodlines sequel, it would not be like DSIII, but the melee and shooting aspects would feel more competent.

Well it would be hard to make them feel less competent. Would "actually enjoyable" be too much to hope for though?

(Haven't played DSIII.)

 

[RK47]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

Just play with god mode on.

 

[Prime Junta]

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

(1) No. It has some intensely stupid and unskippable boss-fights. Many of these are past the halfway point in the game, so if you make a noncombat build, you will almost certainly ragequit at that point.
(2) There have been pretty good pointers about OP combat builds ITT already.

Thaumaturgy (Tremere) is a bit of a cheat code which will get you through most things without much effort.

For most other clans, the progression is melee -> guns. With melee, make sure you have it at or past the weapon's feat requirement when fighting supernatural enemies, otherwise it'll seriously cut into your damage. Just put points into the relevant stats and make full use of your Disciplines -- there are both offensive and defensive ones.

 

[Doma]

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

The setting is way too cool to let it fade.

I would *assume* they would use the New World of Darkness setting, which is quite a bit different. I am still reading the sourcebooks now, and it is quite different. But you could tell a really good story with this new setting.

Paradox / White Wolf confirms here the use of the classic WoD setting in the "modern age".



So if we are getting anything new from them, it will be in the classic WoD. And thats fantastic imo.

 

[Excidium II]

They're making a 4th edition for VtM atm. There's just more demand for the original games as proven by the success of the anniversary editions kickstarters.

(speaking of which, I got the Deluxe Mage 20th anniversary book and it's fuckin' sweet, looks like a fancy bible)

 

[ghostdog]

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

Well at least you can skip almost all combat except for the bosses. All XP is granted from quests and most of them don't require any combat. To increase stealth don't put any points initially, search the apparent building for a stealth manual, don't read it, sell it to the vendor and buy it twice to increase stealth to 3. You could choose a clan with obfuscate to make avoiding things even easier, but both Malkavian and Nosferatu are clans best reserved for a second playthrough.

I would also advise to put 2 points in brawl and 2 in melee in the char creation. Brawl helps you feed and melee is much better than firearms in the first half of the game. You'll raise them both to 3 from the skill bonuses found in the game.

 

[Grunker]

I would vomit all over someones carpet if i saw a vampire game with dungeon siege 3 combat.

If they were making a Bloodlines sequel, it would not be like DSIII, but the melee and shooting aspects would feel more competent.

bitch have u played alpha protocol, it's worse than even bloodlines in terms of combat which is quite the feat

 

[Excidium II]

If X sucked in one game it's gonna suck in all of them. It's like games are made by some abstract entity called Obsidian and not by a whole lot of different people working there over the years.

Also, it's not worse in AP. Though it might just be that the combat is more dynamic.

 

[ArchAngel]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

And people on Codex wonder why developers are adding Story mode into the games :D :D

 

[Prime Junta]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

And people on Codex wonder why developers are adding Story mode into the games :D :D

A story mode needed because you can't be arsed to figure out the mechanics is not quite the same thing as a story mode needed because you can't or don't want to learn how to mash buttons the right way though, don't you think?

 

[ArchAngel]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

And people on Codex wonder why developers are adding Story mode into the games :D :D

A story mode needed because you can't be arsed to figure out the mechanics is not quite the same thing as a story mode needed because you can't or don't want to learn how to mash buttons the right way though, don't you think?

Nope. Both is gameplay but for different people. People enjoy different things and are good at different things. If one kind of gameplay needs Story mode so does all the others.

 

[Durandal]

I always do the tutorial, because Jack is awesome <3

I always do the tutorial because that way I get the lockpicks for free

 

[Prime Junta]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

And people on Codex wonder why developers are adding Story mode into the games :D :D

A story mode needed because you can't be arsed to figure out the mechanics is not quite the same thing as a story mode needed because you can't or don't want to learn how to mash buttons the right way though, don't you think?

Nope. Both is gameplay but for different people. People enjoy different things and are good at different things. If one kind of gameplay needs Story mode so does all the others.

Surely it's not altogether surprising that a site named RPGCodex would have different views on them?

 

[Excidium II]

CYOA Codex

 

[ArchAngel]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character? Or if not, what are the most overpowered faceroll builds that will allow me to ROFLstomp through combat as quickly as possible?

I have no interest in perfecting my ability to mash buttons, but the writing and world design seem like they might be engaging enough to suffer through the popamole.

And people on Codex wonder why developers are adding Story mode into the games :D :D

A story mode needed because you can't be arsed to figure out the mechanics is not quite the same thing as a story mode needed because you can't or don't want to learn how to mash buttons the right way though, don't you think?

Nope. Both is gameplay but for different people. People enjoy different things and are good at different things. If one kind of gameplay needs Story mode so does all the others.

Surely it's not altogether surprising that a site named RPGCodex would have different views on them?

Speak for yourself. Everyone here decides differently on many topics, it is why we all argue all the time about everything.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Wesp changed it a bit.

I know but I usually play without restored disciplines and derpy hand animations for casting. Restored content is fine but I've found those two options to change gameplay a bit too much for my taste.

And I don't know about you, but after slapstick Celerity all other characters are weak by comparison.

Celerity has always been OP, especially if you're a gun user and go Max Payne on their asses. That said I never felt other disciplines are weak sauce or something, in Bloodlines you eventually become a killing machine regardless of the clan/discipline choice (every power makes you a super hero so to speak). I remember when I played a melee Toreador that only used Presence for example, no one could harm him after some point in the game (save for the tentacle monster and maybe the Wereshark), I didn't need Celerity to dodge bullets/melee attacks when I drained their stats so much that the attacks bounced right off me.

 

[Lilura]

but both Malkavian and Nosferatu are clans best reserved for a second playthrough.

No way, Malk should be 1st.

 

[Starwars]

They're talking about you again Celerity (I hope this joke has not already been made.

 

[Multidirectional]

He's married to an SJW

Oh, so is that why she stopped posting here?

 

[Tacgnol]

He's married to an SJW

Oh, so is that why she stopped posting here?

Pretty much. Annie is a hardcore SJW thesedays.

 

[Multidirectional]

I attempted to play this awhile back based on how high it ranks in the Codex Top 70, but couldn't stomach the god-awful gameplay. Real-time ARPG combat is and always will be the drizzling shits.

However, reading the first few pages of this thread has inspired me to give it another go. So here's my question: is it possible to complete VtMB as a purely non-combat character?

No, it's an action RPG. Thing is, as bad as combat is it doesn't really bother me because how easy it is to make your character combat GOD by the time the more action heavy parts start. You can always make a char that has great combat skills and good diplomacy. Pick one weapon skill ( I always take firearms and raise unarmed up to 5 total for feeding during combat) then choose two disciplines, max one of them and put some points into another. I usually end up with 8-9 Persuasion too, did an Intimidation run couple times, both combined with some Haggle, which can be useful. I'm not sure how Haggle works with Intimidation, but I got good results combining it with Persuasion. Seduction can be cool but generally much less useful. More useful if you are playing a chick. And you can easily raise your Hacking skill up to 7 or so which I don't think I ever found I needed more. Then put some points into Sneaking if you don't have Obfuscate discipline, 5-6 is already pretty useful. Of course raising Research once in a while is worth it too, for those skill books.
I fucked up my character plenty on my first run, but generally the char system in this game easily allows to make a char that has easy time with combat and raise plenty of non combat skills to satisfying effect.
Toreador with Firearms and Celerity is the one I'd generally recommend for first run. My first was Malkavian though.

 

[Roguey]

bitch have u played alpha protocol, it's worse than even bloodlines in terms of combat which is quite the feat

I actually disagree (it does have worse stealth though), but Alpha Protocol was made by a different, far more inept Obsidian that no longer exists. New Vegas, Dungeon Siege III, and South Park don't have anything close to the best combat ever by any means, but they're still better-executed than both AP and Bloodlines (I feel the same may be true for Pillars, of course I haven't played it yet).

 

[baturinsky]

Finished Toreador.

Toreador was interesting, but "unique Downtown haven" turned out to be "no Downtown haven until too late". Getting it requires doing specific side quest in specific somewhat counter-intuitive way, so if you want it, read walkthrough.

Now playing as Malk and to add replayability it's a girl with Seduction, and I switched to Unoffcial Patch 9.5 which changes a lot.

Combat-wise, Malk is similar to Toreador so far: Dementation is mostly same as Domination, Auspex is shared, only real difference is Obfuscation instead of Thaumaturgy. Blood Guard in picture gallery was way hard, until I Hysteri-d and backstabbed it.

Seduction instead of Persuasion means she usually get to have extra blood snack on top of persuasion result. This includes drinking that fat Chunk guard - yuck.