World of Darkness Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 - VTMB sequel from The Chinese Room - coming early 2025

[Heroic Liberator]

I think that it being ambiguous whether he's Caine or not works for the best. Adds to the broader foreboding vibe of whether the end is nigh or not.

It works for the best within the broader WoD framework. Having him present in the game works best within the confines of the game itself.

Again I must reiterate: Bloodlines is WoD in a can. The setting's basic essentials condensed into one package, and presented to the player almost without flaw. Caine being in it is just necessary.

Eh, wouldn't go as far as to say that he's necessary, but he's a nice wink with the way that they've implemented him. Question is whether Troika had originally intended to do more with him before WW told them not to include him officially.

Him being fundamental to the setting, his appearence allows the game to be a completely self-contained experience.

It's a completely self-contained experience anyway. Plenty of other stuff that they could've included if they so desired (from other antediluvians to other WoD settings since they've already included werewolf stuff, hunter stuff and arguably wraith stuff with the hotel I guess). Taxi man works fine whether he's Caine, some Malk who thinks that he's Caine or neither.

 

[Storyfag]

But him being Caine makes it a complete experience. I feel I am not expressing things properly, and, perhaps, I will fail to do so. He is the foundation of the Vampire part of the setting. Ergo he should be in the setting's complete computer experience. Try to look at it imagining you don't know the setting at all. Isn't having the ultimate progenitor in the game really, really rewarding? The cherry on the top.

 

[Harthwain]

Isn't having the ultimate progenitor in the game really, really rewarding? The cherry on the top.

It depends. I wouldn't mind having Caine as a blend of myth and history, kind of how it's done in Redemption. That way he is still there, even though he never makes an official appearance. This also has the added advantage of not screwing up his image if things go wrong with the reception.

 

[Caim]

What's the appeal of Caine being the cab driver? This is an honest question, because I personally dislike this and don't consider it canon simply because I find it dumb, but I'm willing to hear the arguments for why this is a good portrayal of Caine.

My theory is this: Caine is not working as a cab driver just for fun, he is doing it in LA because the whole setting of Bloodlines is a huge test. Gehenna is about to happen and Caine wants to observe his children to know what to do with them. So he chose Jack and the sarcophagus to see how the different factions will behave, and he chose the player, to see how a single individual vampire will react to be tempted by power.

My theory is: Caine went to LA to become a movie star, but he hasn't been getting picked for the castings, and he is running out of money for rent. So he started doing a job driving taxis at night, until he gets his big role and breaksthrough to stardom.

Caine's too poor to afford a Bentley.

 

[Storyfag]

Isn't having the ultimate progenitor in the game really, really rewarding? The cherry on the top.

It depends. I wouldn't mind having Caine as a blend of myth and history, kind of how it's done in Redemption. That way he is still there, even though he never makes an official appearance. This also has the added advantage of not screwing up his image if things go wrong with the reception.

Fortunately things did not go wrong in that regard in Bloodlines.

 

[Semiurge]

Caine in Bloodlines is like seeing Elminster in Baldur's Gate, a nice wink and a nod.

A game about vampires in L.A wouldn't be complete without a superstar like Caine. It's a mythical place where you can bump into strangers and go "Holy shit, is that Him?!"