How to Play

  A role-playing game is one in which players take on the role of characters to create a story. A live action role playing game is one in which the players do not sit at a table rolling dice, but instead immerse themselves in acting the parts of their characters (as if they were in a play). A troupe game is one that exists for the enjoyment of its players and does not belong to any larger organization (in this case, for example, the Camarilla Fan Club or One World By Night). “Guerrilla” gaming takes place in a venue that is not mainly for the purpose of gaming (in this case, the mall). It is important when playing in this style that all the participants take care to avoid antagonizing the public and follow all rules of the hosting venue without creating any problems.  

1. It’s just a game. If it makes you miserable, talk to staff, take a break, or stop. It’s supposed to be fun. Experience points are not actually worth money.
2. The players and storytellers are cooperating to tell a fun and interesting story. Don’t let character conflicts define your relations with other players. If your character murders somebody else’s character, buy them a snack or a drink. Give kudos for great role playing, especially to the players of your character’s enemies.
3. No touching! No touching - of anyone by anyone. No subtle acts of violence. No blurred lines about groping. Cosplay is not consent. Consent is consent. With clear consent, handshakes, hugs, and kisses on the cheek are allowed. This is mostly a game of “let’s pretend.” Don’t make it weird.
4. No real weapons or realistic prop weapons are allowed. We are playing in public spaces. If you feel silly threatening to blow somebody away with an index card that says “shotgun,” I’m fine with that. If our game gets disbanded because you showed off with a realistic looking katana, I am not fine with that.
5. No alcohol or restricted drug use during a game session. Tobacco and vape use must follow the rules of the venue. What you do not at a game session isn’t my business.
6. This is a game of personal horror set in the World of Darkness. No minors under age 18 are allowed. The game is likely to touch on themes of murder, torture, addiction, sexual violence, racial persecution, and other adult topics. If any participants (including storytellers!) become uncomfortable due to the graphic or triggering nature of a scene, the concern should be discussed and addressed out-of-character as adults. Remedies may include the use of “fade to black” or the alteration of some content. We will try to strike the right balance between horror and fun.
7. Characters are going to die. It would be a terribly boring vampire game if that didn’t happen. Experience points go with the character, not the player. However, if your story was awesome, the storytellers MAY provide you with up to half your old character’s XP as a bonus for your new character and open interesting secret options. That brings us to the Inigo Montoya Clause. After your character dies, you may not make a character to avenge your previous character’s death. Do something new. (If you don’t know, Inigo Montoya is a character in the cult classic The Princess Bride. His most famous line is “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”). When your character bites the dust, see rule #1 This is a game of personal horror, and we hope your story was a great one!

  We are using the ByNight Studios Laws of the Night as our basic rule set.  It is the most recent rules and has many advantages over previous rules, including a very streamlined challenge system and a great mechanical portrayal of why being a vampire sucks.  However, we are modifying with the following House Rules, and reserve the right to add more.

Although a player may portray a vampire of any generation 9-16, we've added mechanical benefits and drawbacks to make the choice more interesting.  See the character creation section.

  In addition to any usage of Willpower detailed in rules, Willpower can do the following:

• Burn one Willpower to resist a frenzy for one round. If the stimulus is still present, the character automatically frenzies the following round.
• Burn one Willpower to ignore a condition that is primarily mental or social for one combat round or one minute out of combat.
• Burn one Willpower to automatically succeed at a static challenge.
• Burn one Willpower to automatically succeed at one Defiance check vs a Blood Bond 

In addition to any Merit or Flaw listed in the book, players can use any Merit or Flaw from a published or made-up source, with Storyteller approval.  Note well:  we aren't going to approve overpowered nonsense: don't even ask about True Faith.  Also, we will not generally approve Merits and Flaws that override current rules, for example, the Thin-Blood flaw.  A good resource is:   https://saligia.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Character_Creation

Every vampire clan has a traditional advantage.  These are largely role-play based and have been play tested over 30 or so years of LARPs. Every vampire clan also gets a "cookie" - a free thing detailed on the clan page and in the game word document.  Non-vampire characters get MORE free points. 

Upon purchasing a level of a discipline, a character must learn a power of the blood.  It can be any power that the character can use which includes the discipline just learned.  Learning the first level of a discipline that is out-of-clan requires having tasted the blood of a vampire who possesses that discipline in-clan.  Learning Blood Sorcery, Oblivion, or any power that is not printed in the rule book (hint: those exist!) requires a teacher.  A character can learn levels of a discipline beyond 5, at the standard cost increase.  In this way, you can collect all the powers - eventually.

Heart of Darkness is an amalgam power requiring Protean 4 Obfuscate 2.  This makes it available to Ministry characters (I think this one was an actual mistake, since this is a Ministry signature power).

In order to receive mechanical benefits from belonging to a Coterie, it must be registered with the Storytellers.  You may not join, leave, or create a Coterie more than once per session.  Note: this is an out-of-character requirement.  In-character consequences are what they are.