World of Darkness Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 from Hardsuit Labs

[TrueNeutralPaladin]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books. VtM is more-or-less a compilation of vampire tropes from Western literature and film - it's not particularly original, but that's not a problem because its strength lies in weaving all of those tropes into a cohesive setting. I don't like it because it makes vampires new and different - it doesn't - I like it because it takes those familiar and beloved staples of the genre and spins a world in which we can play with them. That said, for whatever reason (perhaps an impulse to inject some originality into the mix), the writers chose to fly in the face of the long line of works in which vampires are very sexual creatures. I prefer to just house rule it into "fledglings are occupied with their hunger and don't think about much else until they've become neonates, after which they might (or might not) indulge in sex again", so ultimately I don't mind if they muddy this aspect a bit.

 

[Lacrymas]

Using eroticism to lure victims =/= sex drive. No vampire in classical literature pre-Anne Rice has had sex with their victims or anyone. Sure, the scene where Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood is rape-y, but it's not actual rape. Many characters in Dracula point out that the rejuvenated Dracula and his progeny are strangely erotic and sexually attractive, but Van Helsing explains numerous times that they are such for the purpose of preying, not that they have a sex drive.

 

[Love]

Shit developer of countless shit games, with the review scores and user scores to prove it, won't magically make a good game, no matter how much writing talent you throw in there, which isn't much considering the shit dialogue that plagues dead state.

It's not like there are studios out there I would trust more with this and everybody has to get a start somehow.

With the previous games they have hopefully acquired knowledge that they can now put to good use. The guys at Paradox seem to have been pleasently surprised by their pitch, but I don't know in which league this game is intended to compete in. Paradox doesn't strike me as a major publisher for AAA titles.

Having big name creatives is not bad, but what has that brought us in the last years? Somebody who can assess the scope of a project and has the technical side down would be nice for a change. Paradox seems to think the same way, since they also acquired Harebrained Schemes, which had no problems with overreach with their Kickstarter games.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Using eroticism to lure victims =/= sex drive. No vampire in classical literature pre-Anne Rice has had sex with their victims or anyone. Sure, the scene where Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood is rape-y, but it's not actual rape. Many characters in Dracula point out that the rejuvenated Dracula and his progeny are strangely erotic and sexually attractive, but Van Helsing explains numerous times that they are such for the purpose of preying, not that they have a sex drive.

You're judging a book that faced 19th century UK censors based on 2019 USA standards. e.g., the entire part of having Mina drink blood from his chest was one giant sexual innuendo.

That isn't to say I support the revisionist idea of it essentially being an erotic novel pushed by modern day academics.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Paradox uploaded the full reveal interview

You can tell Brian really loves public speaking.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

"I goof off and Brian tells me off."
"I'm trying to test the limits of what Brian will let me do."
"I was a journalist and wrote a lot about Bloodlines."
"Shipping"

 

[TrueNeutralPaladin]

Using eroticism to lure victims =/= sex drive. No vampire in classical literature pre-Anne Rice has had sex with their victims or anyone. Sure, the scene where Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood is rape-y, but it's not actual rape.

But it's not only classical literature from which VtM draws - vampires in film are often quite sexual, and movies are important in shaping our modern vampire tropes, too. There's also an argument to be made that Dracula, Carmilla, etc imply sexuality rather than make it overt because it was not acceptable to the culture of the times and places in which the stories were written.

VtM is a setting which accommodates many vampire archetypes, and ultimately I prefer it be that much more flexible in this regard. The "no sex drive" thing can be interesting, but that type of character can be made without a universal rule.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

 

[Fedora Master]

I'd be perfectly happy with no sex in the game if that meant no gay shit but that ain't gonna happen.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

Blush of Life, very easy for high humanity vampires.

 

[111111111]

Dev response to if parkour will be in the game

 

[Fedora Master]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

Blush of Life, very easy for high humanity vampires.

The question isn't whether they can or can not have sex, it's whether they want or need to and the answer remains "no they don't" for the same reason they don't take drugs or indulge in other things humans find pleasurable.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

Blush of Life, very easy for high humanity vampires.

The question isn't whether they can or can not have sex, it's whether they want or need to and the answer remains "no they don't" for the same reason they don't take drugs or indulge in other things humans find pleasurable.

Did you read his post? He was arguing against vampires physically being able to have sex.

 

[Gorn]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

You could argue having a sex drive would make it easier for them to fake sexual interest in their prey. Being good in bed, a Casanova, would give one easy access to fresh meat. Besides, VTMB vampires could fake heartbeat etc. by controlling their bloodflow, no reason why they couldn't force an erection (in fact they should be able make it 'last' as long as they wish).

 

[frajaq]

https://www.dualshockers.com/vampire-masquerade-bloodlines-2-preview-gdc/

LA is out and Seattle is in, and it is also the home of developers Hardsuit Labs which gives them a great opportunity to fully realize the city, its history, and adapt the current issues with a vampiric edge. Character customization and a tutorial were not shown, though the developer said players will be choosing a background for their character, deciding things like what their career was when they were human. Players no longer assign attribute points to determine their abilities; instead, you are capable of handling any weapon you come across. In the demo this included a shotgun and pipe to take out a few enemies who were set on killing you.

 

[TrueNeutralPaladin]

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

Well, obviously it doesn't make logical sense - we are talking about vampires here after all.

If the body is dead and its components no longer function, it doesn't make sense to be able to do anything - walk, talk, etc. But that's part of what a vampire is - a contradiction, an animated corpse, life beyond death, and all that.

 

[111111111]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

You could argue having a sex drive would make it easier for them to fake sexual interest in their prey. Being good in bed, a Casanova, would give one easy access to fresh meat. Besides, VTMB vampires could fake heartbeat etc. by controlling their bloodflow, no reason why they couldn't force an erection (in fact they should be able make it 'last' as long as they wish).

I wonder if vampires can ejaciculate blood.
Then they might be able to turn people by human sex

 

[111111111]

https://www.dualshockers.com/vampire-masquerade-bloodlines-2-preview-gdc/

LA is out and Seattle is in, and it is also the home of developers Hardsuit Labs which gives them a great opportunity to fully realize the city, its history, and adapt the current issues with a vampiric edge. Character customization and a tutorial were not shown, though the developer said players will be choosing a background for their character, deciding things like what their career was when they were human. Players no longer assign attribute points to determine their abilities; instead, you are capable of handling any weapon you come across. In the demo this included a shotgun and pipe to take out a few enemies who were set on killing you.

man this is some skyrim shit

 

[Fedora Master]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

Blush of Life, very easy for high humanity vampires.

The question isn't whether they can or can not have sex, it's whether they want or need to and the answer remains "no they don't" for the same reason they don't take drugs or indulge in other things humans find pleasurable.

Did you read his post? He was arguing against vampires physically being able to have sex.

I don't see what Blush of Life has got to do with it then, since the mere illusion of being alive doesn't bring back human urges.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Then they might be able to turn people by human sex

It'd be pretty pointless. You'd still need to drain their blood first.

 

[Fedora Master]

https://www.dualshockers.com/vampire-masquerade-bloodlines-2-preview-gdc/

LA is out and Seattle is in, and it is also the home of developers Hardsuit Labs which gives them a great opportunity to fully realize the city, its history, and adapt the current issues with a vampiric edge. Character customization and a tutorial were not shown, though the developer said players will be choosing a background for their character, deciding things like what their career was when they were human. Players no longer assign attribute points to determine their abilities; instead, you are capable of handling any weapon you come across. In the demo this included a shotgun and pipe to take out a few enemies who were set on killing you.

man this is some skyrim shit

American RPGs: Where everyone can handle guns at zero skill but driving stick requires two dots in Driving.

 

[Storyfag]

Further to this, the Kiss is vastly more pleasurable than sex, both to the victim and to the vampire

Then they might be able to turn people by human sex

It'd be pretty pointless. You'd still need to drain their blood first.

That, and the blood has to be consumed by the dying human to become a vampire. So throat it is.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

https://www.dualshockers.com/vampire-masquerade-bloodlines-2-preview-gdc/

LA is out and Seattle is in, and it is also the home of developers Hardsuit Labs which gives them a great opportunity to fully realize the city, its history, and adapt the current issues with a vampiric edge. Character customization and a tutorial were not shown, though the developer said players will be choosing a background for their character, deciding things like what their career was when they were human. Players no longer assign attribute points to determine their abilities; instead, you are capable of handling any weapon you come across. In the demo this included a shotgun and pipe to take out a few enemies who were set on killing you.

Even Skyrim had a bow skill, didn't it?

Eh, it really depends on how they are implementing this for me. 90% of the time, FPS/RPGs have their RPG elements ruined by their FPS elements and vice versa. I've long been a proponent of making action RPGs more actiony and turn-based games more hardcore. This weird blend of the two has never worked. Even the few RPG elements in Skyrim are poorly done and just get in the way more often than not.

Bloodlines 1 didn't even require you to invest in guns for them to be useful, it just made you suck less at them. IIRC, my first time through, I brought a bunch along to take out the chink boss. You don't need to know how to aim when your opponent is the size of a house.

 

[111111111]

i dunno about preveiw but mitsoda directly contridicts that website statement

 

[rusty_shackleford]

"Vampires don't have a sex drive" is probably the third most stupid thing in the WoD books.

They're undead though. This isn't Blade where vampirism is a simple virus. Their bodies are dead. They are cold lumps of flesh. The very things that make you aroused or even able to get an erection no longer function.

People who are sterilized and some elderly people lose all sex drive. When the body stops working, so does your dick. At most, it's just one of the many old human feelings you might miss, but it's no longer a desire for those whose flesh no longer functions.

If anything, the idea that undead vampires would have a sex drive when they don't even have a drive to eat is what's stupid.

Blush of Life, very easy for high humanity vampires.

The question isn't whether they can or can not have sex, it's whether they want or need to and the answer remains "no they don't" for the same reason they don't take drugs or indulge in other things humans find pleasurable.

Did you read his post? He was arguing against vampires physically being able to have sex.

I don't see what Blush of Life has got to do with it then, since the mere illusion of being alive doesn't bring back human urges.

Because Blush of Life isn't an illusion?

By spending a variable number ofblood points, a vampire may will himself to appear more human for a scene: flushing his skin, drawing breath, even becoming capable of engag- ing in sexual intercourse (this last, while helpful in certain types of feeding, in no way means that the vampire may inseminate a mortal or become pregnant; a corpse is still a corpse, after all). Performing these actions for a scene requires an expenditure of blood points equal to (8 minus Humanity); thus, Kindred with Humanity scores of 8 or higher may accomplish these feats automatically, while vampires with low Humanity find the process exceedingly arduous.

Engaging in sexual intercourse is in the rulebook.