Dallas by Night Game Summary and FAQ

The setting is Dallas, current day, current time. If it was in the news occurring in Dallas this morning, we pretty much assumed it happened in Dallas by Night. It works well for operas, visiting dignitaries, etc.

But of course, being in the World of Darkness, this is only the surface of the city. Underneath is the sinister intrigue, monsters, and unreal horrors of WoD. Vampires are real, and manipulate much of the cities politics, art, technology, police, and finance. The Prince of the city is Hanson Blake of Clan Ventrue. He has been prince for roughly 100 years. He is the first and only prince the city has ever had, being a relatively young city by vampiric standards. He is at the height of his power, with substantial influence in both mortal and kindred society. His rule is stern, but not harsh, and has kept the city relatively free of Anarch uprisings (unless he finds a way to permit it in order for them to let off their steam.) 

Still, there are and will always be external and internal threats to the city. In the past, an anarch by the name of Tad McBean had grown in so much power that he was able to begin rallying the anarchs into a major threat. He and the Malkavian Primogen, Benedict Jones, flaunted their powers openly at Elysium, tormenting any who did not join them. Both were ordered to report to the Prince and Primogen Council. Two days later, Benedict arrived with a package - a staked Tad McBean. Tad was executed by the Tremere Primogen after a public trial, and Benedict was banished from the city for breaking Elysium.

Not long after that threat had calmed, the Tremere began to mutter about a powerful mage who was responsible for disappearances in the city, and who could bring about 'utter chaos.' With substantial representation from all of the clans, this threat was brought to an end in a confrontation at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, in which a strange blood/fire ritual was discovered and destroyed. There are still many unanswered questions, but all who were there have daymares of the faces in the flames.

Presently, a madness seems to be spreading around the city.  Ryk Oakwine, the then Brujah Primogen, is missing.  Damienne has taken up the reigns in his absence. 

More recently, the Seneschal of Dallas, Rebecca Martin and her Ghoul Eric were killed.  The House of Joseph Tudor, the Tremere Primogen, was burned to the foundation on the same day, November 1st, 1999.  The Justicar Marcelle and his two archons came to help oversee the questioning of the cities kindred in these events. Joseph Tudor found still unliving on the night of November 1st 1999 emerging from an escape tunnel from his home and held in custody until the trial.  In the trial, then Ventrue Bastian Thorne admitted that he forced Eric to jeopardize Ms. Martin during the daylight hours. It was ruled that, acting alone, Bastian Thorne plotted and carried out the demise of Rebecca Martin and her ghoul.   The Justicar announced the final justice of Sebastian and then departed the city with his archons.

Most recently, the anarchs seem to be turning terroristic.  Many have fallen prey to their acts of violence and mayhem.

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Well, that is just a summary. Now for a bit of out of character information:

All characters start as one of the seven Camarilla Clans, from 8-13th generation. Caitiff may be accepted, but would be of 14th generation. One may also play a human. Only clan disciplines are allowed at character creation, but non-clan disciplines may be learned from an NPC or a PC after joining the game. 

Experience points are awarded at the rate of 1 per in-character story posted on the newsgroup, and 1 per chat session, with a maximum of three per week. The chat is held every Saturday night at 10pm CST <Dallas Time :)> and are considered to occur in the Church, an Elysium of Dallas. It is a Goth-club, and is owned by Hanson Blake, the Prince of Dallas. The sessions are held in a chat room on the server chat.role-play.net and the room is called #Vampire_SuccubusClub. If you have MS Chat, the following link should work for you: mic://chat.role-play.net/#Vampire_SuccubusClub  I allow most of the merits and flaws in the players guide, if you have it. I have included a blank character sheet and instructions. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. If you would like to come and watch the chat tonight, as well as discuss some possible character concepts, you are most welcome.

As for how the game works, although we use table top rules for characters, much of the storyline is driven by free-form role-playing style. Much inspiration comes from the chats for characters, where they may mingle and write stories together about their characters interacting. There are times when I do not throw plots at people, for there is so much intrigue to be had with one-another. So, it is motivation of what one is, and how you involve yourself with mortals and your fellow kindred that is often the driving force of the game. But, don't get too comfy.... ::evil grin:::

Vampire DbN FAQ

Q : What is this place?

A : This is a role playing game. This is not real. Any semblance to actual events or persons, living or dead in real life are simply coincidental and obviously the workings of a deranged mind. This is a game set in the city of Dallas and uses the rules for Vampire the Masquerade, created by White Wolf games

Q : What type of character can I play?

A : You may play a 0 XP mortal human or vampire created with the WW2300 Vampire the Masquerade main rule book. If you have the players guide, you may use the merits, flaws, archetypes and additional skills found therein.

Q : Are there any merits not allowed?

A : Yes. Iron will, blase, and unbondable. If in doubt, ask. :)

Q : What clans are allowed to be played?

A : The seven original clans are allowed:. Brujah, Malkavian, Gangrel, Nosferatu, Tremere, Toreador, Ventrue. Caitiff is not considered a clan in DbN.

Q : What disciplines can I have?

A : When you create a character you may only open clan disciplines. In the game you may open non-clan disciplines through experience and training. You may never pass level one in any non-clan discipline.

Q : What NPC's/PC's can I use in my story?

A : Player Characters (characters played by other people) may only be used if you have cleared it with that player or the storyteller beforehand. Non-player characters,that are normally controlled by the storyteller may not be used. This includes any supernatural beings such as vampires and werewolves, persons of above average mortal power within the city and large groups of people. Basically anything that is not human average needs to be coordinated with the storyteller or the Primogen of the NPC. Non-player characters that may be used are street people, common workers, faceless socialites, etc.  All emails are on the Cast page.

Q : What is a large group of people?

A : If it would attract the passing eye then it is too large.

Q : Can I have an apache attack helicopter?

A : No. Riskard already asked. *evil grin* Any special equipment or money acquisitions must be cleared through the storyteller to ensure you have the resources and contacts to acquire such things.

Q : How does my character get experience?

A : Writing or co-writing stories or transcribing chats gains experience for those involved. A general rule of thumb is a post that is at least a page of writing to gain an experience point.

Q : What should I write my story about?

A : Have your stories affect the city or other kindred in some way. This is a group game, playing with yourself in public is rude. *grin* There is of course nothing wrong with working up to a story, but writing posts over and over again about things a character did 100 years ago without linking it to modern day or modern plot goes nowhere.

Q : Jack just staked Jill, could I have been there to stop it?

A : Email the players writing the story or the storyteller to get in on situation before you try to affect them.

Q : How many XP can I get a week?

A : 3 is the maximum unless the storyteller feels a player deserves extra for good writing or Role-Playing.

Q: What is the power level of the game?

A:  DbN may seem a  lower power level than most other games.  To be realistic in what mortals and kindred can achieve and learn in this real time setting, character experience gain is halted at 250, and at that point the Storyteller begins awarding skills as they are developed.  That level of power is many years work if one starts at zero.  Needless to say, this is merely a guideline for how reasonably quickly a character can learn and develop, and not a hard fast rule. Backgrounds and virtues are always in flux, regardless of character age or experience.

Q : What constitutes a staking?

A : You must use a wooden stake that is at least 1ft long and 1 inch diameter. The staker must wield the stake in his hands and therefore the stake may not be thrown or shot to stake a vampire. One must accumulate one success, difficulty 9 and must inflict three damage levels against the target in order for the stake to penetrate the heart

Q : Are you all a bunch of freaks?

A : Yes, of course, and if you're reading this, then you are as well.

Q : Can that obfuscated Nos sneak up and stake me without me even knowing, just because I don't have Auspex?

A; As a house rule, the obfuscated player would make a wits + stealth roll against the defenders alertness + perception. The number of dice the obfuscator is also decreased if the defender has such abilities as acute hearing, heightened senses, etc.

Q: "That Tremere is trying to dominate me! I am never going to look them in the eye!" That'll work, right?

A: The character trying to avoid dominate in this way would need to roll their wits + dodge against the dominator's wits + subterfuge in order to not be drawn in to their gaze at the wrong moment. <eg>

Q:  There is the 'Blah Blah, make a Million$$$ on the NG!  I am gonna flame them!

A: Um, no.  I will send it in to get deleted. No worries.   We can just hex them in the meantime... off the NG.   No need to add spam to spam. :)

Q: I want to hang out with some Brujah or Tremere NPC, who do I contact to role-play them?

A: Email the Primogen of that clan.  They will be glad to role-play the NPC for you.  All emails are on the Cast page.

Q: I want to kill, hurt, plot against or do something nasty to another player or NPC.  Who do I contact?

A: In this case you would to post to the newsgroup to mediate the situation and allow the conflict to remain secret for as long as possible if that is needed.

Q: Can I post on the board without being a player?

A: Certainly. Our players are quite exhibitionistic, and quite love to hear from voyeurs, er, um fans.  It is customary to precede such post with ooc (out of character).

Q: I am done with lurking! How do I join?

A: See the Join DbN Page (http://www.role-play.net/whitewolf/dbn/game.htm). The steps are outlined there.

Q: I have a question. How do I ask?

A: You just did, silly. <s> And, if you have more, post them on this newsgroup, post to the newsgroup, and maybe you, too, can get on the DbN FAQ page of fame.