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

[Wesp5]

Not that VTMB story was complicated, it's garden variety MacGuffin chase but the moment to moment dialogue and the characterisation must be good and flow with the setting, expecting that from inexperienced writers is borderline delusional.

It seems you didn't read the postings right on this page, so does the name Brian Mitsoda say anything to you ?

 

[FreeKaner]

Not that VTMB story was complicated, it's garden variety MacGuffin chase but the moment to moment dialogue and the characterisation must be good and flow with the setting, expecting that from inexperienced writers is borderline delusional.

It seems you didn't read the postings right on this page, so does the name Brian Mitsoda say anything to you ?

I am a fan of Tolstoy, doesn't mean I could write Anne Karenina. It's good that they are enthusiastic and know what they are aiming for but again in a vacuum it doesn't mean much.

 

[Vincente]

Not that VTMB story was complicated, it's garden variety MacGuffin chase but the moment to moment dialogue and the characterisation must be good and flow with the setting, expecting that from inexperienced writers is borderline delusional.

It seems you didn't read the postings right on this page, so does the name Brian Mitsoda say anything to you ?

I am a fan of Tolstoy, doesn't mean I could write Anne Karenina.

Word on the street is that Mitsoda himself might be involved in person in the project.

 

[Infinitron]

So, as long as we're talking about Seattle-based studios that are owned by Paradox...

Any sign that HAREBRAINED SCHEMES are doing anything these days besides working on BattleTech DLC?

Hardsuit-Harebrained co-development would make a remarkable amount of sense.

 

[Delterius]

How can someone expect them to do something good?

Expectation is for noobs. I have HOPES and DREAMS.

 

[Cael]

So, as long as we're talking about Seattle-based studios that are owned by Paradox...

Any sign that HAREBRAINED SCHEMES are doing anything these days besides working on BattleTech DLC?

Hardsuit-Harebrained co-development would make a remarkable amount of sense.

The result would be something that will make Life is Tumblr's cuckery look like blatant amateurism...

Not satisfied with killing the horse and beating it, VtM fanbois are now demanding that we behead the corpse, cremate it and scatter the ashes at sea.

 

[Leorgrium]

Is Seattle a Camarilla or Sabbat town?

Seattle wasn't really a big thing in VtM,all I can remember about it is that Petrodon the Nosferatu Justicar lived there until he was killed of course so it was a Camarilla city.If they are using Seattle then it will probably be because it will be mostly a blank slate

I think that it depends on what it happened on metaplot of vtm 5h edition

 

[Space Satan]

Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment

 

[Roguey]

Seattle seems like a strange choice to me. Why would they want a blank slate in this context? Wouldn’t the entire point of buying an IP like WoD be to use the extensive and tried-and-tested setting so they don’t have to create everything on their own, from scratch? I mean, what is Seattle famous for? Rain, grunge, hipsters, tech companies, and...Shadowrun? It might, in fact, be the least “gothic” place on the planet.

I would much prefer San Francisco as the game’s backdrop, being more iconic and richer in history. Yes, the town is full of degenerates and subversives, but to me that’s actually fitting for a VtM game. It’s not like Paradox would have a problem with ramming their politics down the player’s throat in any setting, and in SF it might actually feel slightly less forced.

I doubt much thought went into it other than "Well, we live here so this will be the easiest for us to do."

My first night in Seattle, a bit over ten years ago, I heard Skinny Puppy's Far Too Frail on a local college station so they do have their edgy scene though one of our resident Seattleites had difficulty finding it years later https://rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?members/jaesun.1761/&page=8#profile-post-8414.

 

[Space Nugget]

So, as long as we're talking about Seattle-based studios that are owned by Paradox...

Any sign that HAREBRAINED SCHEMES are doing anything these days besides working on BattleTech DLC?

Hardsuit-Harebrained co-development would make a remarkable amount of sense.

Lead Writer/Narrative Designer

Harebrained Schemes seeks an experienced game writer for a new project! We’re looking for someone who can sketch characters quickly with screenplay efficiency, has a good ear for dialogue, and the ability to write bon mots that are both witty and reveal subtext.

This is a full-time, onsite position in our Kirkland WA studio.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with the project’s Game Director and design team in order to design and deliver concise, engaging game dialogue and writing.
• Collaborate with the Game Director, art team and audio team to create gripping stories that draw the player into the game world.
• Bring characters to life and make them memorable with short bursts of dialogue, designed to effectively convey context and attitude.
• Tell impactful, character-driven stories.
• Write additional in-game material such as briefings, found narrative items, and background descriptions.

Required XP

• 5 or more years professional writing experience in games, film, or comics - including at least one released commercial project as a writer or narrative designer. You MUST include a link to your released commercial project as part of your application to be considered for this role.
• Outstanding talent for crafting snappy, engaging dialogue. Character conversations flow quickly with good diction and grammar.
• Ability to conceive of interesting situations and character motivations as context for game play and combat.
• Ability to craft nonlinear narrative experiences, and an understanding of the differences between nonlinear storytelling and the linear storytelling found in scripts and novels.
• Attention to detail - high accuracy with grammar, spelling, and punctuation is critical.
• Able to match writing style and tone to the needs of a project.
• Strong creative collaboration and communication skills - game writing takes iteration.
• High-energy, self-motivated, flexible-thinker.

Source: https://hbsstudios.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=35

 

[Space Nugget]

Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment

Get thee behind me, (Space) Satan!

 

[Infinitron]

Source: https://hbsstudios.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=35

Yeah we've seen that one. It doesn't sound like much of an RPG though ("short bursts", "concise"). More like dialogue in a turn-based tactics game or something. But who knows.

 

[LESS T_T]

So, as long as we're talking about Seattle-based studios that are owned by Paradox...

Any sign that HAREBRAINED SCHEMES are doing anything these days besides working on BattleTech DLC?

Hardsuit-Harebrained co-development would make a remarkable amount of sense.

I thought about that while digging around Hardsuit Labs, but nothing came out of it.

One interesting thing is, a concept artist who worked on CCP's WoD MMORPG joined Harebrained August last year: https://www.artstation.com/marcomazzoni

WoD MMO concept art:
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lmJDG
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/R2PyW

He also contributed art to tabletop products for Shadowrun and Battletech as well as While Wolf before. Interesting guy.

 

[Infinitron]

Reminder of Bloodlines 2 interview with Paradox back in May 2018: https://rpgcodex.net/article.php?id=10908

The future of the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 franchise will rely on the implementation of a “seven-to-ten year cycle,” according to Paradox Interactive’s CEO. In an interview with PCGamesN at PDXCon this weekend, Fred Wester said the company were considering ongoing possibilities for the franchise.

Wester says “we are experimenting with a couple of the White Wolf brands right now,” but are aware that a new franchise can’t be immediately started from scratch ("if you’re going to build a big franchise you need to think in a seven-to-ten year cycle”) and that if the Vampire IP was to receive that kind of attention, “we need to know what the next ten years are going to look like.”

A new Vampire game does seem to be something relatively high on Paradox’s list - Wester acknowledges that a second Vampire game “is an obvious choice” - but it’s not something they can begin yet - “it needs to feel right, it needs to be the right team [...] for the game.”

Wester also suggests it’s unlikely that a new Vampire game would be Bloodlines 2, but that it could be “something Vampire RPG.” However, he also states that “the first game [in the new franchise] is probably going to be the worst game from us that they ever see in this franchise, because the [second] one will improve on the first one.” If any of that sounds familiar, it’s because this isn’t the first time Paradox have discussed the possibility of a new Vampire game - at last year’s PDXCon, they said they said they’ll make a Bloodlines sequel “when the time is right.” That’s definitely good news, even if there’s nothing to say when that time could possibly be just yet.

This was after they acquired 33% of Hardsuit.

 

[vota DC]

It's a studio that only did multiplayer FPS with no writing whatsoever. How can someone expect them to do something good? Now all the new hires they have for this might accidentally and surprisingly sprout into creative burst and make something good, but that's a far fetched idea. Not that VTMB story was complicated, it's garden variety MacGuffin chase but the moment to moment dialogue and the characterisation must be good and flow with the setting, expecting that from inexperienced writers is borderline delusional. Even if fresh talent they hire is really good, enthusiastic and nuanced and they won't get it right on their first game.

This is not going to be good, it might be witcher 2 quality at best but a lot more baggage most likely.

Anyone expecting any new vampire game to be as good as Bloodlines (or better) is setting themselves up for disappointment. Games like Bloodlines (or Fallout) are not planned, they happen.
When Cain was asked how he was able to make Fallout such a good game with cult following he said: "We had no idea what we were doing."

Nomen omen. Most game made by people without any idea were failures too, but since Cain did a great Fallout game the new vampire game should be made by someone named Aradesh.

 

[Space Nugget]

Reminder of Bloodlines 2 interview with Paradox back in May 2018: https://rpgcodex.net/article.php?id=10908

Wester also suggests it’s unlikely that a new Vampire game would be Bloodlines 2, but that it could be “something Vampire RPG.”

I'm reading that like "it's not a direct sequel to Troika's Bloodlines, but a new game in the Vampire: The Masquerade franchise".

The future of the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 franchise

The awkward and inaccurate wording seems to come from PCGamesN side.

 

[Delterius]

ITS HAPPENING.

 

[JBro]

What pronouns are y'all gonna choose?

 

[Wesp5]

I'm reading that like "it's not a direct sequel to Troika's Bloodlines, but a new game in the Vampire: The Masquerade franchise".

If a remake is not possible because of Activision owning rights to much of Bloodlines' content, a direct sequel should be out of the question too, as any non-cannon characters, events and places could not be used without their permission. Also Bloodlines has multiple endings which were quite different, and as the Deus Ex sequels showed, it's never good to try to make a sequel out of something like this...

 

[Infinitron]

It would be stupid to make a direct sequel to such an old and niche game. Spiritual sequel with the same style of gameplay, vibe and a few references/shoutouts is the obvious way to go.

 

[Space Nugget]

Spiritual sequel with the same style of gameplay, vibe and a few references/shoutouts is the obvious way to go.

...and (hopefully) with the same savvy lead writer.

*all fingers crossed*

 

[Azalin]

Is Seattle a Camarilla or Sabbat town?

Seattle wasn't really a big thing in VtM,all I can remember about it is that Petrodon the Nosferatu Justicar lived there until he was killed of course so it was a Camarilla city.If they are using Seattle then it will probably be because it will be mostly a blank slate

Seattle seems like a strange choice to me. Why would they want a blank slate in this context? Wouldn’t the entire point of buying an IP like WoD be to use the extensive and tried-and-tested setting so they don’t have to create everything on their own, from scratch? I mean, what is Seattle famous for? Rain, grunge, hipsters, tech companies, and...Shadowrun? It might, in fact, be the least “gothic” place on the planet.

I would much prefer San Francisco as the game’s backdrop, being more iconic and richer in history. Yes, the town is full of degenerates and subversives, but to me that’s actually fitting for a VtM game. It’s not like Paradox would have a problem with ramming their politics down the player’s throat in any setting, and in SF it might actually feel slightly less forced.

They want a blank slate so that you, the player, can be the deciding factor in whether it becomes a Camarilla or Sabbat city... or some other faction!

I think it would be more about the liberty of creating their own characters and telling their own story,if they use Chicago for example and the plot is about the Helena/Menelaus conflict it would be more of an adaptation of Chicago by night and not their own game.Most people want to have some creative freedom and not be so restricted.
Of course they could use an established city and just throw most of the stuff out the window like Troika did with LA,I Smiling Jack was the only thing that made it from the pnp LA by night to the game

 

[Life of the Party]

I kinda hoped for New Orleans.

 

[Lacrymas]

What would a direct sequel be about, though? It will be the same sorry excuse like PoE2, i.e. not a sequel and dumb. The same MC would be even worse.

 

[Space Nugget]

Brian Mitsoda:

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-mitsoda-a2b6b43/

(I don't know why I couldn't find his (Brian's) profile earlier. )

Chris Avellone:

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisavellone/