DOCSLIB.ORG

Mage: the Ascension CYOA Jumpchain Revised Edition 'And Trust Me That You Can Do Something. You Are Not As Helpless, As Much A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Mage: the Ascension CYOA Jumpchain Revised Edition 'And Trust Me That You Can Do Something. You Are Not As Helpless, As Much A Mage: The Ascension CYOA JumpChain Revised Edition v1.2 by (a) Poor Dick Revised by The Vale Introduction ‘And trust me that you can do something. You are not as helpless, as much a pawn, as they would have you believe. Each of us can effect change... You can move the world.’ An Edge in My Voice, Installment #10 Welcome to the World of Darkness It is a world very much like your home world, but viewed through smoke-tinted glass. On the surface, everything seems much the same; but bleaker and more cynical. Gothic style buildings loom ominously over rain slick streets. Gruesome and violent crimes seem to happen on a daily basis in every poorly lit alley, and people seem to turn a blind eye to it. However, if you dive under the surface of this world, you will find true darkness. Vampires, werewolves, and far worse lurk in every shadow. They wage ancient wars and weave elaborate conspiracies to the woe of humankind. If this world is left to its own devices, it will inevitably spiral down into Oblivion; torn apart by petty, secret power struggles and long forgotten antediluvian horrors reawakened. I offer you power to change the fate of worlds. ​ Unlike the humans of your home reality, the humans of the World of Darkness are special. Almost each and every one of them contains within themselves the potential to bend and shape reality to their will. In fact, to one degree or another, they are constantly, subtly, and unconsciously shaping the world around them. But some of them... some of them can consciously change the world by will alone. And you are now one of them. It's dangerous to go alone! For the next ten years, you will be living in the World of Darkness. It is a huge place full of powerful beings and factions fighting for control of the world from the shadows. Among Enlightened will workers alone, at least five major factions struggle for power. And that isn’t even beginning to scratch the surface on all the other supernatural entities lurking in the shadows, such as vampires, werewolves, ghosts, fairies, demons, and more. Enjoy. +1000cp True Magick In the World of Darkness, both science and mysticism function under the same operating principles: because people believe it works. There is no fundamental difference between a wizard throwing fireballs and a scientist wielding a flamethrower, other than aesthetics and the number of people who believe it is possible. Almost every human being (and a few human-made constructs) have the capacity to warp reality. However, most have no conscious ability to do so. Instead, their unconscious minds quietly push reality to resemble their desires. These people are known as Sleepers, and are ignorant of this effect. On their own, individual Sleepers can’t do much to reality. In large groups, Sleepers’ collective unconscious consensus of what reality should act like will reshape reality to reflect those desires. However, some individuals are different. They’ve started to Awaken to the their ability warp reality and begin to do so consciously. Initially, these individuals channel their ability through the lense of their preconceived beliefs, or paradigm. When an Awakened individual needs to heal someone, an occultist may cast a spell, an animist may invoke spirits, a martial artist may manipulate chi, and a scientist may utilize advanced medical techniques; but they are all doing the same thing, even if they believe they are all doing different things. They are all warping reality to heal the person in need. Over time, some Awakened individuals come to realize that they themselves are directly changing reality by force of will, instead of using magic spells or advanced technology. These individuals can drop the tools and trappings they previously used, and change reality by Enlightened will alone. While being able to change reality at will may sound great, there is one little snag: Paradox. While an Awakened will worker may want to change reality to fit her desires, there is the collective weight of the unconscious beliefs of the other seven billion people on Earth working against her. If an Awakened will worker changes reality in a way that is conducive to the prevailing belief of the surrounding area, the unconscious minds of the surrounding Sleepers are generally accepting of the change and it typically occurs without incident. If an Awakened will worker attempts to perform a feat that violates the collective belief of surrounding Sleepers however, the collective disbelief in what the Awakened will worker is doing makes the change significantly harder to enact. Further, regardless of her success, the local consensus may reject her and her change. This is typically called Paradox and can be expressed in a wide variety of ways. They include, but are not limited to, the following: ● The complete reversal or unmaking of the Awakened individual’s change ● Negligible to life threatening physical damage ● A temporary or permanent alteration to the Awakened individual’s body, mind, and/or surroundings (such as glowing eyes, sudden dyslexia, or a chilling aura) ● Mild to complete temporary or permanent disconnection of personal reality from consensual reality ● A visit from, and potential punishment by, a disgruntled embodiment of an aspect of consensual reality that was violated ● Confinement in an extra-dimensional prison/hell for a variable or indefinite period of time, and/or until a particular task or puzzle is completed ● Ejection from consensual reality entirely There is no way for an Awakened individual to know what form Paradox will take (if any) whenever she warps reality. Typically, the more acceptable the change being made is to the local consensus of sleepers; the lower the chance of Paradox, and likely the lower intensity of any Paradox effect if it occurs. However, even when acting subtly, Awakened will workers should be careful to avoid Paradox. A long series of believable changes to reality may end up being rejected by local sleeper consensus for being unbelievably convenient. Time Period Roll 1d8, or pay 50cp to select your time period. Unless otherwise noted, you may pick any specific date in the time period. 1 Any year of your choice before 1980. 2 1980s 3 1990s 4 2000s 5 2010s 6 Any year of your choice after 2019. 7 J-Day - You jump into the World of Darkness at the exact year, month, day, hour, minute, second you left your home world for your first jump. 8 Free Choice from the above Location Roll 1d8, or pay 1 FP to select your location. You may pick any specific area within that location. 1 North America 2 South America 3 Europe 4 Africa 5 Asia 6 Australia 7 Any Off-World Location of your choice 8 Free Choice from the above Origin Awakened Drop In (Free) ​ ​ Arete 1 ​: ​ Starting Spheres: 5 ranks ​ ​ ​ Want to reshape reality at will without having any memories of a life in the World of Darkness cluttering your mindscape? This option is for you! You enter with no new memories of this world, no identification or government records, no social network, and no other in-world assets. Further, you are literally dropped in from a height sufficient to cause minor injury. For your paradigm, pick the the set of beliefs (or worldview) in which you most deeply believe (or adhere). This could be your religion, science, high magick, esoteric philosophy, etc. The important part is that you, jumper, truly believe in it. Sleeper Drop In (+200cp) ​ ​ Arete: 0 ​ Want to experience the World of Darkness without any memories of the world or any of the hope and change of Enlightened will working? This option is for you! You enter with no memories of this world, no identification or government records, no social network, and no other in-world assets. Further, you are literally dropped in from a height sufficient to cause minor injury. Apprentice Will Worker (-200cp) ​ ​ Arete: 1 ​ Starting Spheres: 5 ranks (+1 rank in each of your Affinity Spheres) ​ Someone(s) belonging to a faction of your choice raised you, triggered your Awakening, or approached your shortly after you Awakened on your own. This person (or persons) took you on as an apprentice, inducted you into their social order, and provided you with a thorough education on the nature of Enlightened will working as seen through the lense of their paradigm. Additionally, you may select one (Affinity) Sphere with which will working comes to you more easily than the others. This will typically be associated with your mentor’s faction and paradigm. However, you do owe your mentor(s) a deep debt for providing such an education to you. The debt may be monetary or moral, but eventually you will be called upon to make good on what you owe. Orphan Will Worker (-100) ​ Arete: 1 ​ Starting Spheres: 5 ranks (+1 rank in your Affinity Sphere) ​ Unfortunately for you, you Awoke alone. No one noticed your potential ahead of time, and you had to figure out your abilities mostly through trial and error with only the aid of your Avatar, and possibly other Orphans like yourself. You may cobble together any sort of patchwork paradigm that you want and would make sense given your background. Pop-culture magic and/or deeply held religious believes are likely to be common components. You may select any one Sphere with which will working comes to you more easily than the others. Sleeper Mortal (+200) ​ Starting Arete: 0 ​ Want to experience the World of Darkness without any of the hope and change of Enlightened will working? This option is for you! You get a mundane, slightly below median identity of your choosing, complete with all the records, memories, and social connections you need to function.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Character Creation Guidelines.Pages
    The Giovanni Chronicles Vampire 20th Anniversary Player Characters Create a vampire from any of the clans listed below. This chronicle starts off in medieval times so I’d like to keep it as pure as possible, therefore please consider not using Bloodlines. If you are adamant that you want to play a bloodline character please make sure it fits into the time frame and explain why you have to play it. I’m interested in telling a fun and a good story that starts at the inception of some major changes in vampire lore. I don’t want to have any comebacks because your bloodline gives you major advantages in the meta. Assamite , Brujah, Followers of Set, Gangrel, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Ravnos, Toreador, Tremere, Tzimisce, Ventrue If you want to research real life history to get a better feel for how your character lives then the year is 1444 and the place is Romania. Basically the Turks are taking over everything as the Ottoman Empire expands. Your average serf would know little outside of their village and some wouldn’t know much outside of their father’s pig farm. You are probably Christian, or Pagan, the Muslims are terrorising lands headed West. It’s basically their time to shine as Western terrorism has been failing recently. Sounds familiar somehow. I would recommend you do not research Kindred history, your characters will start off as humans and so aside from things that go bump in the night, vampire activities are very much concealed under the masquerade. You will be writing or at the very least witnessing Kindred history as part of this Chronicle so much of what you read could very well be science fiction by the time you encounter it.
    [Show full text]
  • WOD CHI ADV.Indd
    To Frankie that quarter-moon sky looked darker and all the iron apparatus of the El taller than ever. The artificial tenement light sweeping across the tracks made even the snow seem artificial, like snow off a dime-store counter. Only the rails seemed real, and to move a bit with terrible intent. — Nelson Algren, The Man With The Golden Arm An adventure for the World of Darkness using the Storytelling Adventure System Written by: Will Hindmarch Additional Writing: Ken Hite, Bill Bridges Layout: matt milberger Art: sam araya World of Darkness created by Mark Rein•Hagen STORYTELLING ADVENTURE SYSTEM SCENES MENTAL OOOOO XP LEVEL PHYSICAL OOOOO White Wolf Publishing, Inc. 8 SOCIAL OOOOO 0-34 1554 Litton Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 To Frankie that quarter-moon sky looked darker and all the iron apparatus of the El taller than ever. The artificial tenement light sweeping across the tracks made even the snow seem artificial, like snow off a dime-store counter. Only the rails seemed real, and to move a bit with terrible intent. — Nelson Algren, The Man With The Golden Arm An adventure for the World of Darkness using the Storytelling Adventure System Written by: Will Hindmarch Additional Writing: Ken Hite, Bill Bridges Layout: matt milberger Art: sam araya World of Darkness created by Mark Rein•Hagen STORYTELLING ADVENTURE SYSTEM SCENES MENTAL OOOOO XP LEVEL PHYSICAL OOOOO 8 SOCIAL OOOOO 0-34 White Wolf Publishing, Inc. 1554 Litton Drive © 2006 White Wolf, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and for blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for personal use only.
    [Show full text]
  • Time of Judgement: Vampire. Gehenna: the Final Night
    A Race Against Armageddon For millennia, vampires have fed on the living, hidden in the shadows of mortal society. Legends say the undead descend from Caine, the first murderer portrayed in the Bible, who passed on his curse through his blood. Those same legends speak of a final reckoning, when Caine and his mad children will rise from slumber and consume all the undead. Vampires call this time Gehenna. For the vampire Beckett, a researcher among the undead, it means one last shot at understanding the mysteries of the get of Caine—and at outrunning his own sins. Vampire: Gehenna, the Final Night is the first act of the Time of Judgment, telling the story of a wide-ranging Armageddon among the supernatural entities of the World of Darkness®. Act One of Three dark fantasy ISBN 1-58846-855-0 $7.99 U.S WW11910 A Race Against Armageddon For millennia, vampires have fed on the living, hidden in the shadows of mortal society. Legends say the undead descend from Caine, the first murderer portrayed in the Bible, who passed on his curse through his blood. Those same legends speak of a final reckoning, when Caine and his mad children will rise from slumber and consume all the undead. Vampires call this time Gehenna. For the vampire Beckett, a researcher among the undead, it means one last shot at understanding the mysteries of the get of Caine—and at outrunning his own sins. Vampire: Gehenna, the Final Night is the first act of the Time of Judgment, telling the story of a wide-ranging Armageddon among the supernatural entities of the World of Darkness®.
    [Show full text]
  • SAS Falling Scales.Indd
    Civility must be rewarded. If it isn’t rewarded, there’s no use for it. There’s just no use for it at all. — Dr. Logan, Day of the Dead An adventure for the World of Darkness using the Storytelling Adventure System Sample file STORYTELLING ADVENTURE SYSTEM SCENES MENTAL OOOOO XP LEVEL PHYSICAL OOOOO 10 SOCIAL OOOOO 0-34 Civility must be rewarded. If it isn’t rewarded, there’s no use for it. There’s just no use for it at all. — Dr. Logan, Day of the Dead An adventure for the World of Darkness using the Storytelling Adventure System Sample file Written by Matt McFarland Developed by Chuck Wendig Edited by Michelle Lyons Layout by Mike Chaney Art: Brian Leblanc and Eric Kolbek © 2012 CCP hf. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and one printed copy which may be reproduced for personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire and World of Darkness are registered trademarks of CCP hf. All rights reserved. Vampire the Requiem, Werewolf the Forsaken, Mage the Awakening, Promethean the Created, Changeling the Lost, Hunter the Vigil, Geist the Sin-Eaters, Storytelling System and Parlor Games are trademarks of CCP hf. All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text herein are copyrighted by CCP hf. CCP North America Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CCP hf. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters and themes.
    [Show full text]
  • Wonders by Type
    Wonders by Type LevelWonder Title Page Number Talisman Unique Khalil aba-Malek, The Iron Satan Infernalism: The Path of Screams 92 1 Digital Online Package Digital Web 100 Fencing Square Mage: The Sorcerers Crusade 285 Hare's-foot Ward Mage: The Sorcerers Crusade 286 Spirit Goggles Mage: The Ascension 294 Spirit Goggles Mage: The Ascension, 2nd Ed. 286 Spy-Glass Artisans Handbook 89 Time-Divider Artisans Handbook 89 Truth-Seeing Stones Artisans Handbook 89 Tsu-Ti (Divine Bamboo) Book of Crafts, The 120 Witchward Infernalism: The Path of Screams 89 Woodblock of Auspicious Formulae Mage: The Ascension, 2nd Ed. 286 2 Abh-t Dagger Book of Crafts, The 59 Adze Unparalleled Artisans Handbook 88 Anulus Vigil (the Watchful Guardian Ring) Mage: The Sorcerers Crusade 286 Bangles of Infinite Acceptance Dragons of the East 129 Bird of Reason Artisans Handbook 87 Body-Forger's Arm Artisans Handbook 89 Bond of Ibn Daud, The Artisans Handbook 83 Brittany's Music Box Mage: The Ascension, 2nd Ed. 286 Classic of the Plain Lady Book of Crafts, The 120 Clockwork Sycamore Artisans Handbook 87 Endless Ammo Clips Book of Crafts, The 103 Fix-Sea Staff Dragons of the East 132 Flying Unguent Infernalism: The Path of Screams 89 Golden Walnut Book of Shadows, The 149 Grimoires Infernalism: The Path of Screams 90 Hephaistos' Tables Artisans Handbook 88 Jonah's Chariot Artisans Handbook 87 Juk Ak Book of Crafts, The 121 Lycanthroscope Book of Shadows, The 149 Magick Sword Coin Akashic Brotherhood Tradition Book 64 Master Joro's Sash Mage: The Ascension, 2nd Ed. 286
    [Show full text]
  • Backgrounds by Game Line
    Backgrounds by Game Line Background Title Page Number Changeling: The Dreaming Allies Enchanted, The 72 Auspicious Treasure (Treasures) Land of Eight Million Dreams 90 Ceremonial Tattoo Kithbook: Eshu 82 Chimera Changeling: The Dreaming 175 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 146 Chimera Companion Enchanted, The 69 Companion Changeling Players Guide 57 Contacts Changeling: The Dreaming 175 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 147 Destiny Denizens of the Dreaming 72 Dragon Nest (Holdings) Land of Eight Million Dreams 91 Dreamers Changeling: The Dreaming 176 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 147 Dross Enchanted, The 70 Faerie Blood Enchanted, The 71 Faerie Mentor Enchanted, The 71 Fame Enchanted, The 73 Feth Fiada Enchanted, The 72 Golem Kithbook: Nockers 55 Gremayre Changeling: The Dreaming 176 Holdings Changeling: The Dreaming 176 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 148 Household Changeling Players Guide 144 Husk Inanimae: The Secret Way 67 Influence Enchanted, The 73 Jade Talisman: True Jade Land of Eight Million Dreams 91 Kenning Enchanted, The 72 Kinain Fool's Luck: The Way of the Commoner 74 Mentor Changeling: The Dreaming 176 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 148 Orisha Bond Kithbook: Eshu 84 Pakua Land of Eight Million Dreams 92 Patron Nobles: The Shining Host 74 Political Connections Nobles: The Shining Host 74 Prestige Shadow Court, The 76 Regard Inanimae: The Secret Way 67 Remembrance Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 148 Land of Eight Million Dreams 92 Resources Changeling: The Dreaming 176 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 148 Retinue Changeling: The Dreaming 177 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed. 148 Land of Eight Million Dreams 92 Royal Lineage Kithbook: Eshu 84 Friday, September 28, 2001 Page 1 of 10 Background Title Page Number Scathach Status Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming 111 Spirit Companion Changeling Players Guide 144 Title Changeling: The Dreaming 177 Changeling: The Dreaming, 2nd Ed.
    [Show full text]
  • Talents, Skills & Knowledges
    Talents, Skills & Knowledges Collected Abilites: Talents|Skills|Knowledges for World of Darkness 20 th Anniversary Edition Version 2.0 Table of Contents OVERVIEW 3 Categorization 3 Systems 3 Skill Key 5 Altered Nomenclature 5 STANDARD ABILITIES 6 Standard Talents 6 Standard Skills 7 Standard Knowledges 9 SPECIALIST ABILITIES 11 Specialist Talents 11 Specialist Skills 13 Specialist Knowledges 17 Redactions & Changes 20 INDEX: GENERAL ABILITIES 21 APPENDIX: SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES 22 Key 22 Supernatural Talents 22 Supernatural Skills 24 Supernatural Knowledges 25 Redactions and Changes 25 INDEX: SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES 26 CREDITS & CONTACT 27 2 | P a g e Overview Overview Biotech skill. Some of these abilities (Particularly those associated with Mage) may not be exclusive Across the various World of Darkness Game Lines, to these Supernaturals, but are generally associated rules and approaches can vary significantly. In almost exclusively with them. particular, the Abilities traits that are supposedly universal across all game lines can vary enormously Systems in definition and function. While this is no issue for The systems associated with Abilities may have games constrained to a particular game line, this changed many times since the inception of World can create issues for games set in a mixed of Darkness, but certain things have remained cosmology – Different lines often define abilities in universal. Most notably, the role and availability of different ways, assign them different categories, Specialties has changed several times through the and even introduce entirely new ways of handling editions and lines; see the section below for more Specialties. information. In this document, Players and Storytellers will find Dice Systems my own interpretation and house rulings for the When a character is called upon to use their Abilities in White Wolf and Onyx Path’s Classic abilities in a field, an ability roll is made.
    [Show full text]
  • Vtm - Whitewolf: Genealogy Genealogy of the Vampires in the World of Darkness
    VtM - WhiteWolf: Genealogy Genealogy of the Vampires in the World of Darkness This is the list of 2615 known vampires. Of course, all this is alleged in White Wolf's books. Feel free to consider this file as a list of what they want us to believe... Your Storyteller may or should have his own view of the World of Darkness. You can send me updates... I added some information from non White Wolf sources that can be found on the web. Those are in dark green. The acronyms used to make references to the books can be seen on this list. About Caine and his progeny, about the Antediluvians. A table, chronologically sorted. The biggest genealogy trees. Of course many undeads are missing on this list : look at the expected numbers. The rationale for the classification of clans and bloodlines below. Clan by clan 1 Assamites 112 vampires (Haqim 3°) 2 True Brujah 10 vampires (Brujah 3°) 2a Brujah 240 vampires (Troile 3°) 3 Cappadocians 31 vampires (Ashur/Cappadocius 3°) -- Harbingers of Skulls and Lamia included 3a Samedi 13 vampires (Baron Samedi 5°) 3b Giovanni 67 vampires (Augustus Giovanni 3°) 4 Gangrel 185 vampires (Ennoia 3°) -- Ahrimanes included 4a Lhiannan 0 vampires 4b Laibon 4 vampires (Fakir Al Sidi 4°) 4c Anda 7 vampires (Dobrul the Brave 4° or 5°) http://vampirerpg.free.fr/WhiteWolf/Genealogy/ (1 of 3) [6/1/2002 12:19:51 AM] VtM - WhiteWolf: Genealogy 5 Lasombra 108 vampires (Lasombra 3°) 5a Kiasyd, aka. Nocturnae 3 vampires (Marconius 5°) 6 Malkavians 203 vampires (Malkav 3°) 7 Nosferatus 201 vampires (Absimilliard 3°) 8 Ravnos 83 vampires
    [Show full text]
  • Different Tales
    For release 24 July 2020, 6:00 PST/15:00 CEST DIFFERENT TALES 1. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest is coming to PC in Q4 2020 2. Rage gets things done! New Werewolf: the Apocalypse PC game in Q4 2020 3. New narrative Werewolf: the Apocalypse adventure is coming to PC in Q4 2020 Werewolf: The Apocalypse Narrative Adventure Gameplay and Key Art Reveal Warsaw, Poland, July 24, 2020 - Rage gets things done ​ ​ KEY ART REVEAL The new adventure game of savage horror within the legendary World of Darkness is clawing its way to PC. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest, from the makers of Wanderlust: Travel Stories and The Witcher 1, will let you share the deep secrets of the last primeval forest in Europe. Heart of the Forest is a narrative adventure game based on the legendary role-playing game Werewolf: The Apocalypse. You play as Maia, a young woman looking to uncover her family’s history. In the pursuit of past mysteries, she arrives at the Białowieża Forest, an ancient wilderness full of ancient and dangerous secrets. WATCH THE REVEAL TRAILER The game’s mechanics are based around three main resources: Rage, Willpower, and Personality. They determine the choices available to Maia and influence the overall presentation of every scene. “Heart of the Forest is one of the few video games that actually represent the traditional pen-and-paper role-playing mechanics. The game assumes the role of the game master and guides us through the adventure. It’s one of the best renditions of traditional RPG I’ve ever seen in gaming,” s​aid Piotr Gnyp, Head of BizDev at Walkabout Games and a long-standing fan of tabletop RPGs.
    [Show full text]
  • Underworld Vs the World of Darkness: Players and Filmgoers Respond to a Legal Battle
    Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network, Vol 2, No 1 (2009) ARTICLE Underworld vs the World of Darkness: Players and Filmgoers Respond to a Legal Battle RACHEL MIZSEI WARD, University of East Anglia ABSTRACT Even before its release, Underworld (2003) had proved controversial following a legal action for copyright infringement from White Wolf, a games publisher, and Nancy A Collins, a horror writer. Reaction was marked among White Wolf fans who debated the case in forums on both gaming and film sites. A significant number of fans were deeply critical of the actions of White Wolf, and they were more concerned about being able to see ‘their’ World of Darkness on screen than demonstrating loyalty to the company. This paper will explain the case and examine the reactions of fans at the time. KEYWORDS Role-playing; film; audiences; response; Internet. In September 2003 Sony Pictures released the film Underworld. Even before its release, the film had proved controversial following a legal action for copyright infringement from White Wolf, a games publisher, and Nancy A Collins, one of their fantasy writers. White Wolf alleged that Sony had used unique elements that they had developed for their World of Darkness line of role-playing games. It was also alleged that Love Among Monsters, a short story by Nancy A Collins and written for White Wolf’s game line, had been plagiarised in the film’s plot. This paper will explain the background to this case, including an examination of fans, Gothic and the World of Darkness. Henry Jenkins argues that ‘fandom … is born of a balance between fascination and frustration: if media content didn’t fascinate us, there would be no desire to engage with it; but if it didn’t frustrate us on some level, there would be no desire to rewrite or remake it’ (Jenkins 2006: 247).
    [Show full text]
  • Vampire Prince of the City Rules
    cosmopolitan coteries 1 chapter one by Mike Nudd Vampire created by Mark Rein•Hagen 1. Introduction ways unique, but all use their powers to prey on the unsus- Welcome to the World of Darkness. It seems a modern world pecting, and all do their best to hide from mortal society. just like our own, but if you peel back the veneer, you find a second, hidden world of crime, dark passion and unfathom- Centuries ago, the Kindred participated in a society and able monsters. The World of Darkness is like a warped reflec- shadow-empire called the Camarilla. Tonight, that unity has tion in a broken mirror, where everything is stained and dirty, been lost. The vampiric world has fragmented into a number crumbling on the outside and rotting on the inside. Missing- of covenants that vary greatly in practices, beliefs and goals. persons cases are more numerous, and violent crime is more One social tradition remains commonplace throughout, how- widespread. Corruption of mortal institutions is rife, and su- ever — that the Kindred of a city should be ruled by the most pernatural beings pull strings from behind the scenes. powerful and most cunning among them, the Prince. Within a city, the Prince’s authority is absolute and his word is invio- At the top of the ecological, social and political food chain late. are the Kindred, a race of undead, a society of blood-sucking vampires that have existed alongside us for centuries, perhaps Few dare to challenge the Prince directly or openly, but millennia. Some of them claim they’re descended from a dark many covet his power for themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • For Every Secret's Answer...Another Riddle Arises
    For Every Secret’s Answer... Who killed Baba Yaga? How has the Succubus Club fared after the war with the Chicago Lupines? What have the hunters wrought on Kindred society? How goes the Kuei-jin invasion of the American West Coast? These mysteries and others await you. ...Another Riddle Arises A compendium of stories, Nights of Prophecy updates the numerous plotlines currently running through Vampire’s World of Darkness. Whether the Storyteller chooses to integrate one of these five tales into his troupe’s chronicle or simply use the book as a timeline update is up to him. In the end, every troupe affects the Final Nights. Nights of Prophecy includes: • Hidden secrets of the World of Darkness, including five stories and a fully explicated timeline of modern Kindred history • Stories suitable for any troupe, from neonates to elders • A chance for your characters to shape the future of the World of Darkness Sample file Sample file CREDITS SPECIAL T HANKS Authors: Justin Achilli (The Return of the Succubus Charles “Jobber” Bailey, for arriving and leaving before Club), Geoffrey C. Grabowski (Walking After Midnight), everyone else. Matthew McFarland (To Grandmother’s House), Joshua Aaron “Undercard” Voss, for fi lling in at the last minute. Mosqueira-Asheim and Lucien Soulban (House of Lies), Brian “Venis Envy” Glass, for being there and having Rebecca Aaron Rosenberg (The Hunters Hunted) and Dean Shom- tape the show. shak (Introduction) Jeff “Luchador” Holt, for being the short guy who rounds Additional Character Designs: Eamon Hohnen out the roster. Developer: Justin Achilli Justin “Y2J-Compliant” Achilli, for getting shafted by the Editor: James Stewart booking of his stable.
    [Show full text]