sbloyd
Supporter
WHAT! A human in a Precursor service vehicle?!
Posts: 2,762
Preferred Game Systems: Storyteller; Dresden; Mage
Favorite Species of Monkey: Goddamnit, Curious George is a CHIMP not a monkey! Stop teaching my daughter improper classification!
|
Post by sbloyd on Dec 7, 2016 7:40:23 GMT -8
Found this today...
|
|
|
Post by Probie Tim on Dec 7, 2016 7:50:16 GMT -8
HOLY HELL.
That... is exactly how I envisioned Skully. The skin tight around his head, the visible veins, the un-retracted fangs.
World? Meet Skully Wallace.
|
|
|
Post by Stu Venable on Dec 7, 2016 8:05:52 GMT -8
But a stand-up comedian.
|
|
|
Post by Probie Tim on Dec 7, 2016 8:08:07 GMT -8
Only when he Masks as an Uncle Fester wannabe.
|
|
|
Mote 20
Dec 7, 2016 15:28:20 GMT -8
Post by chronovore on Dec 7, 2016 15:28:20 GMT -8
Sure! That's Skully's "deadpan" face for when he's waiting on the audience's reaction. And waiting... And waiting...
|
|
sbloyd
Supporter
WHAT! A human in a Precursor service vehicle?!
Posts: 2,762
Preferred Game Systems: Storyteller; Dresden; Mage
Favorite Species of Monkey: Goddamnit, Curious George is a CHIMP not a monkey! Stop teaching my daughter improper classification!
|
Post by sbloyd on Dec 9, 2016 7:26:16 GMT -8
chronovoreMoving the talk about O'Malley to here, so we avoid spoilers in Mote 19. It's less being Ghouled and more being Blood Bound - having drunk the blood of a particular vampire three times. That kind of thing is slavery, obsession, addiction, and twisted love all bound up in a knot. The issue with O'Malley is/was probably a couple things - neglect, or perceived neglect, from his domitor Adriann being primary, combined with the good Father maybe not being the most stable person in the world to start with. Mechanics-wise, I think it's because he wasn't "paid for" with a point of Retainer. Though I have doubts that Stu Venable would be a stickler for things like that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 2:19:50 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 2:19:50 GMT -8
chronovore Moving the talk about O'Malley to here, so we avoid spoilers in Mote 19. It's less being Ghouled and more being Blood Bound - having drunk the blood of a particular vampire three times. That kind of thing is slavery, obsession, addiction, and twisted love all bound up in a knot. The issue with O'Malley is/was probably a couple things - neglect, or perceived neglect, from his domitor Adriann being primary, combined with the good Father maybe not being the most stable person in the world to start with. Mechanics-wise, I think it's because he wasn't "paid for" with a point of Retainer. Though I have doubts that Stu Venable would be a stickler for things like that. Backgrounds aren't paid for after character creation in VtM. You essentially gain them as you do things in game which would grant them to you. If a 3 step blood bonded ghoul isn't a retainer, I don't know what is.
|
|
sbloyd
Supporter
WHAT! A human in a Precursor service vehicle?!
Posts: 2,762
Preferred Game Systems: Storyteller; Dresden; Mage
Favorite Species of Monkey: Goddamnit, Curious George is a CHIMP not a monkey! Stop teaching my daughter improper classification!
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 5:02:54 GMT -8
Post by sbloyd on Dec 10, 2016 5:02:54 GMT -8
The thing is, he wasn't thrice bound during play, but rather during the time skip. I would say that in that case, yes, you need to pay for it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 5:24:02 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 5:24:02 GMT -8
The thing is, he wasn't thrice bound during play, but rather during the time skip. I would say that in that case, yes, you need to pay for it. Pay for it with what? There is no cost listed for backgrounds. You can buy them with freebies at character creation only. Also, wether done on camera or not, it was done by the character. If you do it then you get it. This is no different than if she built up her buisness empire and thus had a rise in resources. If it was allowed to happen and is a part of the story then it should be listed via dots on her sheet. I imagine the same happened when she rose in status by becoming Prince of the island. Backgrounds are subsumed into merits in NWoD/Chronicles of Darkness, which are paid for with XP. It's one of the big differences between the systems.
|
|
sbloyd
Supporter
WHAT! A human in a Precursor service vehicle?!
Posts: 2,762
Preferred Game Systems: Storyteller; Dresden; Mage
Favorite Species of Monkey: Goddamnit, Curious George is a CHIMP not a monkey! Stop teaching my daughter improper classification!
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 6:34:43 GMT -8
Post by sbloyd on Dec 10, 2016 6:34:43 GMT -8
It would be a house rule thing, @stevensw. So you can just ignore the whole idea, since by including a house rule I'm not really playing Vampire anymore.
For anyone actually interested, though, I'd charge on a 1 xp=1 freebie rate.
|
|
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 6:39:37 GMT -8
Post by Probie Tim on Dec 10, 2016 6:39:37 GMT -8
It is an AMAZINGLY common house rule to allow background purchases after character creation. It's the only way you can mechanically represent permanent changes to things like status, domain, resources, retainers, etc.
In fact, I've never played in a V:tM game that *doesn't* allow background purchases after character creation. Assuming the RP/narrative supports it, of course.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 16:16:44 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 16:16:44 GMT -8
It is an AMAZINGLY common house rule to allow background purchases after character creation. It's the only way you can mechanically represent permanent changes to things like status, domain, resources, retainers, etc. In fact, I've never played in a V:tM game that *doesn't* allow background purchases after character creation. Assuming the RP/narrative supports it, of course. Um, no. The only way to gain them is through play. I've never played in a vtm game that allowed you to buy backgrounds outside of creation. Part of the reward of playing was increases to backgrounds when you earned them in character. It as also part of what motivated the players. Part of the reward of something like high finance was the ability to parlay it into an increase in resources. Make house rules if you want (lord knows I'm not against paying for merits as I like chronicles of darkness). Just be aware that you are changing certain dynamics of tha game.
|
|
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 17:06:41 GMT -8
Post by Probie Tim on Dec 10, 2016 17:06:41 GMT -8
Um, no. The only way to gain them is through play. It seems like you missed a big part of what I said, or you're once again only hearing what you want to hear. Let me say it again, and this time I'll emphasize the important parts: As a vampire I can go around ghouling everyone I see (as long as my blood lasts), but the only way to mechanically represent that those ghouls I created are my actual retainers is via an increase to the Retainers background. The GM can either give you the extra dots out of the kindness of their heart, or they can make you pay for them with earned experience. But without those dots - that mechanical construct to record the permanent changes, they really aren't my retainers even though I created them in play.
|
|
sbloyd
Supporter
WHAT! A human in a Precursor service vehicle?!
Posts: 2,762
Preferred Game Systems: Storyteller; Dresden; Mage
Favorite Species of Monkey: Goddamnit, Curious George is a CHIMP not a monkey! Stop teaching my daughter improper classification!
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 17:37:30 GMT -8
Post by sbloyd on Dec 10, 2016 17:37:30 GMT -8
Werewolf 20 lets you advance Backgrounds with XP, as does Mage 20. So it's not just Chronicles that incorporates that idea. (Off the top of my head, Mage charges 3x current cost; I don't recall what Werewolf mandates). So there's precedent.
(EDIT: Wraith 2d Edition presents it as an optional rule, with the first dot cost set at 4, and 3x per dot thereafter.)
(EDIT again: Demon the Fallen has increasing Backgrounds in the main experience costs.)
I'm thinking the absence of at least an optional rule for increasing Backgrounds via XP in VtM20 is an oversight rather than intentional.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Mote 20
Dec 10, 2016 22:26:48 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 22:26:48 GMT -8
Um, no. The only way to gain them is through play. It seems like you missed a big part of what I said, or you're once again only hearing what you want to hear. Let me say it again, and this time I'll emphasize the important parts: As a vampire I can go around ghouling everyone I see (as long as my blood lasts), but the only way to mechanically represent that those ghouls I created are my actual retainers is via an increase to the Retainers background. The GM can either give you the extra dots out of the kindness of their heart, or they can make you pay for them with earned experience. But without those dots - that mechanical construct to record the permanent changes, they really aren't my retainers even though I created them in play. No, you don't understand. The GM gives you dots of backgrounds when you earn them. I understood that you don't get it and I tried to tell you. You still didn't get it. Here, let me quote the rulebook for you: " Backgrounds may not be purchased through experience points, though they may be acquired through roleplaying if, for example, the character makes a new friend, acquires a windfall, or commits diablerie." Not only is there no listed price, the book tells you flat out that Backgrounds may not be purchased through experience points. Aka, it wasn't an accident. Your houserule (which I'm not actually against), is directly in opposition with the printed rules in the book. It wasn't an oversight, they meant for it to be this way. Further, there is no kindness of his heart BS. If the GM is telling you that you got no dots of retainer on what you think is your blood bonded ghoul, maybe you have a big issue on your hands. Do you know for sure no one beat you to the 3rd step punch? Because by denying you the dots of retainer, by RAW, the GM is telling you they are not your loyal servant. And a 3 step blood bond is beyond loyal. I listen very well. I read excellently. The point, is on your head sir.
|
|