Let's Play: Vampire: Bloodlines

[Odjn]

Originally Posted by Krylo

Don't make me download the server pack just so I can shoot the crap outta you with a Toreador with an SMG.

Seriously--best combat clan ever.

If we're talking PvP, then a properly built Brujah would be more effective. Dodge the bullets, punch with potent/melee weapons, which send people flying, and eventually get them into a wall where celerity also you to juggle them indefinitely.

[Kepor]

Concerning the game alone. Say if Helen had become a Toreador, would she be stronger then she is now?

Assuming the same personality and all -- I rather doubt that Toreadors recruit war profiteers.

[BitVyper]

Say if Helen had become a Toreador, would she be stronger then she is now?

It depends what you mean by "stronger." In terms of plot, no. In terms of game mechanics, probably.

[Mirai Gen]

I'm sure we covered this before but it's also worth noting that vampires that PCs take control of actively go out and do shit, which causes them to become more powerful very quickly. You can get it by aging but it takes entire generations and then you're just more powerful than the newer generations.

Helen - like all VTM:B characters - is actively going out and doing things and performing tasks, and that tends to advance your power creep by a lot. The same way a soldier in the local military versus a trained fighter adventurer in DND.

As for character balance, yeah, Bloodlines made everything much much simpler. Toreador is pretty outstandingly fantastic and Brujah does incredible damage in melee. Other than that I don't know how powerful the other clans are, but I know Gangrel (despite being my favorite) isn't too hot.

[Youwantmilliondollar?!]

I dunno. I started playing rescently and I'm loving the Gangrel. Slicing those huge mutant sewer freaksup in a few hits is oooohhh so satisfying.

ANd Spectral Wolf one shotting any idiot human is fun as all get out.

[BitVyper]

The proper tag is spoiler, not spoil. ["spoiler"]["/spoiler"] - without the quotes, of course

Edit: And the most fun I had playing a Gangrel in that game is when the first one of those Tzimisce chick monster things dropped in on me from the ceiling, and hit me once, causing me to frenzy and rip it to shreds before I even realised I was in a boss fight.

Edit:

I'm sure we covered this before but it's also worth noting that vampires that PCs take control of actively go out and do shit, which causes them to become more powerful very quickly.

We did go over that, and the PC is still pretty atrociously powerful for being in a phase that you generally don't even create VtM characters, instead relegating those first weeks or months to a prelude where no rolling is done. That's according to the books of course, and you are encouraged to do whatever you want in your game, but it's still a fact of the setting as far as White Wolf is concerned. That said, there ARE good explanations for the PC's rise in power as we discussed before, but just being on the front lines doesn't justify having five dot disciplines after a few months. Possibly being given power by Caine, on the other hand... Anyway, I wasn't trying to bring the topic up again, just mentioning it in response to the question of whether or not Helen could handle VV.

Also most of those centuries old vampires went through their own phases of being more active, which is how they got where they are.

[Vo_OD00]

It's such a shame Troika has been closed down. They might've shed some light on the case. The most obvious and logical explanation would still be that they just made the PC more powerful so the game would be more playable/enjoyable. In terms of plot, though, we'll never come farther than speculation, as there is no evidence that really debunks any of the theories.

[Mirai Gen]

Gangrel is a complete blast if you use the combat stance right, but given the ease at which you can just Celerity and Auspex and mow fuckers down Gangrel definitely qualifies as tricky to play, since their strategy consists of 'run to enemy, while getting shot, and hit them to death.' I remember having to try a few times at Fat Larry's briefcase pickup.

It is, however, intensely satisfying to mow through entire swarms of enemies beating them to death while getting shot to absolutely no effect. Plus it was funny to use Protean to make my Hacking skill better.

PROTIP: Fighting with Gangrel is much easier if you just straight-punch repeatedly. Click, wait, click, wait, click, wait.

[Youwantmilliondollar?!]

I remember having to try a few times at Fat Larry's briefcase pickup.

God I hated that. Died like eighty times cause my stealth isn't high enough. Now I'm so strong I could probably walts in to the place, let them wail on me for a while, and then just cut em up with my claws.

I just got War Form. Anyone got a good pic or screenshot of it? IT's hard to get a good look at the thing. <<

[DFM]

Have you tried looking at the character screen while you're transformed? I've never really played Gangrel but that might let you get a good look at it.

Oh hey everyone I'm back.