Vampire Ancestry

[opal lantern]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CzT_yBWnwC8elPN2_Sszd2ZAc3LFiDOd2somLL072gE/edit?usp=sharing

Hi folks, this version of the vampire is updated to the latest backer packet ancestry rules and I'm still homing in on whether this is a more generalist vampire ancestry or a more specific instantiation. Feedback welcome.

[south moon]

Very cool looking! I like the framing fiction as well. For the mechanics, my gut says that Natural Telepath should be a 1-point ability, and then you could split the edge on read person out into its own thing? The 2-point ancestry abilities seem to be all hefty combat benefits, so having a non-combat focused 2-pointer feels odd. For some possible additions, something mobility focused might be cool. I know you said you're not sure exactly what kind of vampire it should be but climbing, flight (using the wings trait though not necessarily with actual wings) and just a flat speed boost all seem like flavourful possibilities.

[low tundra]

This looks great! If I can shameless plug, but this would be a great match with my Crimson Embrace Shadow (aka, Vampire Shadow) https://discord.com/channels/332362513368875008/1338373266879811624

[low tundra]

I will say - how much you want to steal from things like Vampire the Masqurade?

[opal lantern]

Plug away, I remember thinking the CE Shadow was cool as hell!

[opal lantern]

I’d say not particularly? I imagine VtM vampires are quite distinct from each other, whereas this version is kind of a generalist. What were you thinking though?

[opal lantern]

Hmm you could be right, I’ll have another look at it and compare to other 2 costs. I did have bonus speed, a sort of misty-disengage, and bonus recoveries too, but after rereading the fiction I wanted to capture the telepath angle and there are so so many vampire strengths that I could have had twenty options. I tried to focus on the most quintessential vampire abilities.

With the Previous Life options, you can actually build in traits from another ancestry such as flying, speed, disengage etc. Do you think that’s enough or do you think it’s not obvious enough?

[south moon]

Maybe, but my gut instinct says no because then your features don't come from the fact that you're a vampire. On a broader note, you and any prospective players may obviously have different opinions but I wonder if you could do without the Previous Life options. It feels to me that becoming a vampire is more of a transformation than becoming a revenant - which is just a dead version of another ancestry - which might justify why you don't have previous features. This could then give you a bit more room to put in 2-3 other features to let the player build their preferred vampire fantasy.

[low tundra]

Oh, just thinking vaguely of the houses and the extent of powers they had. Blood magic, shadow Magic I could see just a tiny sliver of abilities like the time raider could be cool. But, there is not a lot of real estate to work with in an ancestry