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

[Infinitron]

There's going to be 6 streams apparently, one for each clan

Weekly streams!

 

[GloomFrost]

Thinbloods are not a clan are they??

 

[Infinitron]

Archived:



Next stream is next Thursday.

 

[santino27]

Email from Paradox that I assume links to the above video and thinblood clan pages:

Clan Introductions
THINBLOODS

In Bloodlines 2, you will wake as a Thinblood - learning about the playable clans and political factions of Seattle - before joining one of the ancient clans.

Thinbloods are a recent, weaker strain of vampire who face a constant struggle to survive in the World of Darkness. While they are often treated as second-class citizens by full-blood Kindred, Seattle’s leadership has been uncharacteristically tolerant of Thinbloods. As Seattle has only relatively recently come under Camarilla control, it remains a city of opportunity where Thinbloods can navigate their way into the higher circles of vampire society; however, they are rarely shown the same respect or legal standing that full-blood clan members enjoy.

Read more on Bloodlines2.com and make sure to check in for more clan introductions.



Watch Now
'Born A Crime'



Thinblood Disciplines

Chiropteran
This Thinblood discipline calls on the vampire’s strong affinity to bats, allowing her to move through the air and summon swarms.

Mentalism
This Thinblood discipline allows the vampire to manipulate objects through telekinesis - allowing them to even pull weapons from enemies’ hands.

Nebulation
This Thinblood discipline allow the vampire to call on her affinity to mist, allowing her to summon and command it.

Learn more about each discipline on Bloodlines2.com

 

[hajro]

wow 2 second snippet.

 

[Sergiu64]

Maybe this was discussed already but: how the hell do you switch from a Thinblood to a member of a clan? They just let you diablerie some member of their clan as a reward for something??? Or is the Thinblood bit a tutorial and you get to make a new character when you actually start playing?

 

[Infinitron]

The • • • • and • • • • • slots grow this power

What's with the dots?

Or is the Thinblood bit a tutorial and you get to make a new character when you actually start playing?

No, he even specifically said you get to keep your selected thinblood powers when you join the clan.

 

[Delterius]

wow 2 second snippet.

and I RELISHED EVERY SECOND

 

[Sergiu64]

Or is the Thinblood bit a tutorial and you get to make a new character when you actually start playing?

No, he even specifically said you get to keep your selected thinblood powers when you join the clan.

This makes no sense to me from my understanding of how White Wolf stuff worked, but I guess I haven't kept up with their changes. Or are they just tossing the rules out because they want to?

 

[Kyl Von Kull]

Or is the Thinblood bit a tutorial and you get to make a new character when you actually start playing?

No, he even specifically said you get to keep your selected thinblood powers when you join the clan.

This makes no sense to me from my understanding of how White Wolf stuff worked, but I guess I haven't kept up with their changes. Or are they just tossing the rules out because they want to?

They cite rule 0 in the stream: whatever the DM (I know, “storyteller”) says, goes. In this case it’s Brian Mitsoda’s story and they’re letting him run with it.

This made me very happy. Rule 0 is the most important rule. The pedantic RAW crowd can eat a dick.

 

[Raziel]

Or is the Thinblood bit a tutorial and you get to make a new character when you actually start playing?

No, he even specifically said you get to keep your selected thinblood powers when you join the clan.

This makes no sense to me from my understanding of how White Wolf stuff worked, but I guess I haven't kept up with their changes. Or are they just tossing the rules out because they want to?

They cite rule 0 in the stream: whatever the DM (I know, “storyteller”) says, goes. In this case it’s Brian Mitsoda’s story and they’re letting him run with it.

This made me very happy. Rule 0 is the most important rule. The pedantic RAW crowd can eat a dick.

Rule 0 being used with Mitsoda at the helm is very reassuring. They also mentioned that parts of V20 are being used over V5, sounds promising. Adapting tabletop rules to video games format is tricky business anyway, how many games did it well? TOEE maybe.

 

[Sailor Woedica]

Ban Sailor Woedica

And remove one of the last remaining rays of sunlight falling upon this here pile of festering compost? Nay, I say. Nay!

Thanks so much Junta! Btw I never said this before but I legit started watching ContraPoints because of you posting about her and she is so funny and knowledgable and amazing, sis! She's one of my favourite Youtubers right now!

 

[Sergiu64]

Oooookay... rule 0 is cool and all - but if you're going to toss out the rules - make sure the end result is something better. We'll see if "join our clan, get cool powers" twist ends up being better.

 

[deuxhero]

It's telling that "levitate every enemy at once" is a power but the nearest thing to actually levitating yourself is one that clearly can only be used in designated areas.

 

[Wesp5]

We'll see if "join our clan, get cool powers" twist ends up being better.

FYI, in the Thinblood chapter of "Beckett's Jyhad Diary" several thinbloods are mentioned who spontaneously got their clan disciplines after a time, without diablerizing anyone...

 

[Wesp5]

it's missing Blink

To me none of these three Thinblood disciplines is as overpowered as Blink, so there is still hope !

 

[Zombra]

It's telling that "levitate every enemy at once" is a power but the nearest thing to actually levitating yourself is one that clearly can only be used in designated areas.

Do we really want them to build a Seattle where you can fly to the top of every skyscraper or float into any of its million windows? I don't like "SHOOT CLIMBING ARROW HERE " school of design either, buuuuuuuuuuut in the context of this game I'm actually fine with its expected uses being scripted as long as they don't blatantly leave out a ton of places where I would naturally want to use it but can't. I honestly don't expect or want this game to be a sandbox full of physics tools that allow me to creatively solve problems a la Underworld Ascendant.

 

[fantadomat]

Ban Sailor Woedica

And remove one of the last remaining rays of sunlight falling upon this here pile of festering compost? Nay, I say. Nay!

Thanks so much Junta! Btw I never said this before but I legit started watching ContraPoints because of you posting about her and she is so funny and knowledgable and amazing, sis! She's one of my favourite Youtubers right now!

Ohhh Prime Junta ,you sneaky bastard. I see you are trying to change the old Persian slave for a young black tanzboy from Greece.

 

[Delterius]

It's telling that "levitate every enemy at once" is a power but the nearest thing to actually levitating yourself is one that clearly can only be used in designated areas.

Do we really want them to build a Seattle where you can fly to the top of every skyscraper or float into any of its million windows? I don't like "SHOOT CLIMBING ARROW HERE " school of design either, buuuuuuuuuuut in the context of this game I'm actually fine with its expected uses being scripted as long as they don't blatantly leave out a ton of places where I would naturally want to use it but can't. I honestly don't expect or want this game to be a sandbox full of physics tools that allow me to creatively solve problems a la Underworld Ascendant.

guize its levitate, not flight -- yer just throwing people around

 

[Kyl Von Kull]

It's telling that "levitate every enemy at once" is a power but the nearest thing to actually levitating yourself is one that clearly can only be used in designated areas.

Do we really want them to build a Seattle where you can fly to the top of every skyscraper or float into any of its million windows? I don't like "SHOOT CLIMBING ARROW HERE " school of design either, buuuuuuuuuuut in the context of this game I'm actually fine with its expected uses being scripted as long as they don't blatantly leave out a ton of places where I would naturally want to use it but can't. I honestly don't expect or want this game to be a sandbox full of physics tools that allow me to creatively solve problems a la Underworld Ascendant.

I mean, isn't that just the mentalism discipline? If you want to fly at any time, you should probably take the power that lets you turn into a bat. I'd be very surprised if you can only use that in designated areas.

 

[Zombra]

guize its levitate, not flight -- yer just throwing people around

deuxhero may be talking about the "bat flying/gliding" power.

 

[Chippy]

Oh man I am so hype for this game that is a year away, I hope they keep trickling out information across that whole year so I will be even more hype. Hype is me.

Game isn't coming out for a year?! WTF am I doing reading this thread? Let me know in a years time if Sweden hasn't burned to the ground, and then I might be slightly hyped for the following year whne I can buy it in a steam sale...

 

[Zombra]

I mean, isn't that just the mentalism discipline? If you want to fly at any time, you should probably take the power that lets you turn into a bat. I'd be very surprised if you can only use that in designated areas.

You might be able to jump around at random, but reading back the powers description it does kinda sound like there will be DXHR-style "here is a ledge you can fly to" or "here is a door with a keyhole you can mist through". Though it would be nice, I don't expect to be able to use these "organically". Which again, to me is fine honestly.

 

[Lambach]

You might be able to jump around at random, but reading back the powers description it does kinda sound like there will be DXHR-style "here is a ledge you can fly to" or "here is a door with a keyhole you can mist through". Though it would be nice, I don't expect to be able to use these "organically". Which again, to me is fine honestly.

DXHR did (sometimes) allow you to use augs "organically", though. One of my favorites was moving around heavy objects to use as portable covers and throw them at attackers when I'm done. Also, a neat little combo is to hack a turret, then carry it around with you as a portable death-dispenser.

Honestly, I would be perfectly OK even with the admittedly mediocre levels of freedom and organic use of power such as in Dishonored or DXHR, you can hardly realistically expect much better these days.

 

[Wesp5]

The description for the bat discipline doesn't sound as if you can actively fly, rather float if the level includes the option: "Glide greatly lowers the weight of the vampire’s skeleton and muscle mass to allow them to float on updrafts, reaching otherwise inaccessible areas."