Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines: 2 - I want to believe, but...

[z0mb0]

"Don't be ridiculous. This is the pinnacle of technology."
"Yeah, in 1500 back when kindred and kine were living in stone castles and wooden huts. Do you really think that the people living behind the stone walls of the projects are a bunch of noblemen and their retainers, and the people living on the outskirts of the city in wooden houses poor-as-fuck peasants?"
"Are you saying project houses are castles then?"
*facepalm*

there have been instances of gangs welding all but on set of doors shut and barring the windows, knocking down walls between apartments effectively making them a fortress against swat and other gangs

 

[Snekposter]

there have been instances of gangs welding all but on set of doors shut and barring the windows, knocking down walls between apartments effectively making them a fortress against swat and other gangs

Why do you think I made that analogy in the first place? I'm well aware of what a deathtrap for assaulters project housing can be with just a little work. The point was to joke about an Elder being so out of touch he doesn't realize the paradigms have shifted so much, and unironically considers those reinforced "stone" (as in concrete) structures actual castles.

 

[Corn Flakes]

Why do you think I made that analogy in the first place? I'm well aware of what a deathtrap for assaulters project housing can be with just a little work.

Those also make for fantastic deathtraps when something goes wrong. I don't know if it made national news but a "fortified" house (read: meth lab) around my area burned down a few years ago, and none of the guys inside made it out.

 

[z0mb0]

Why do you think I made that analogy in the first place? I'm well aware of what a deathtrap for assaulters project housing can be with just a little work. The point was to joke about an Elder being so out of touch he doesn't realize the paradigms have shifted so much, and unironically considers those reinforced "stone" (as in concrete) structures actual castles.

I think some like say the Tzimisce or Nosferatu would see it go yes actually this is in fact what i want for my needs. a fortress of suitable build against the kine and plenty of food and resources. to make it a death trap.

 

[Snekposter]

Those also make for fantastic deathtraps when something went wrong. I don't know if it made national news but a "fortified" house (read: meth lab) around my area burned down a few years ago, and none of the guys inside made it out.

And nothing of value was lost...

I think some like say the Tzimisce or Nosferatu would see it go yes actually this is in fact what i want for my needs. a fortress of suitable build against the kine and plenty of food and resources. to make it a death trap.

Sure. But that doesn't change the fact your average rich person doesn't live there. Just because it meets the criteria of an effective castle that doesn't mean it has the expense or status associated with one.

 

[Jet Fuel Johnny]

I think some like say the Tzimisce or Nosferatu would see it go yes actually this is in fact what i want for my needs. a fortress of suitable build against the kine and plenty of food and resources. to make it a death trap.

A Nosferatu slum lord who keeps all these poor people in the slum charing them their Sec-8 housing vouchers and a single pint of blood each week.

That might be kind of interesting.

 

[z0mb0]

A Nosferatu slum lord who keeps all these poor people in the slum charing them their Sec-8 housing vouchers and a single pint of blood each week.

That might be kind of interesting.

while my inital reaction is that's more a Ventrue move it is an interesting build. all the buildings rodent infestation get used in spawning pools, they already look like scarred up homeless people.

And nothing of value was lost...

Sure. But that doesn't change the fact your average rich person doesn't live there. Just because it meets the criteria of an effective castle that doesn't mean it has the expense or status associated with one.

This might just be me reading into it too deep but if the losambra, Toreador . Tremere. Ventrue or giovani decide to set up shop there it'll probally end up a place the rich want to be just through the resources they have set up when they pick a location. Having vamps there is an indicator things will be on the upswing because they like stability rather than them working their way up to a station and getting a fancy spot.

 

[Snekposter]

This might just be me reading into it too deep but if the losambra, Toreador . Tremere. Ventrue or giovani decide to set up shop there it'll probally end up a place the rich want to be just through the resources they have set up when they pick a location. Having vamps there is an indicator things will be on the upswing because they like stability rather than them working their way up to a station and getting a fancy spot.

Giovanni aside because they're mob bosses, what the fuck are any of those doing setting up shop in a project? You can't claim to be nobility when you're slumming it with a bunch of gangbangers and drug dealers. The Torries might move into some of those places post-gentrification as they get turned into Bohemian artsy places for them to prowl around in, but Tremere, Ventrue, Lasombra? They'd stay as far away from actually living there as possible.

 

[z0mb0]

Giovanni aside because they're mob bosses, what the fuck are any of those doing setting up shop in a project? You can't claim to be nobility when you're slumming it with a bunch of gangbangers and drug dealers. The Torries might move into some of those places post-gentrification as they get turned into Bohemian artsy places for them to prowl around in, but Tremere, Ventrue, Lasombra? They'd stay as far away from actually living there as possible.

Long term investing for the ventrue. they pick a spot to buy cheap and use their influence to prime conditions towards whatever project they want which since ventrue does equal profit in this case. Lasombra would be a similar deal but less competently done, plus it would be a literal fiefdom to build plenty of people nobody would miss to shovel head to fill ranks then start building. the Tremere.....well i'll admit they're just greeks and inherently untrustworthy but they have the tendency to stay near the other big dogs in the cam's but like their own power base and a dilapidated stone area would be perfect for the gargoyles they totally aren't making . Ironicly the Giovanni would be the most typical because besides being mobsters their one branch the durstins i think it was own banks, they'd just use the realestate as holdings and be the least invasive. these are beings who effectively have unlimited time and interest is a powerful force. They may not like living there but it's an easy great hub for a powerbase.

 

[Corn Flakes]

Sure. But that doesn't change the fact your average rich person doesn't live there. Just because it meets the criteria of an effective castle that doesn't mean it has the expense or status associated with one.

In fairness, a wealthy vampire in a penthouse with their own private elevator, lording over a ton of low-income bloodbags tenants, is a very World of Darkness thing.

Particularly keeping in mind one's haven isn't really supposed to be something other vampires should be visiting, or even aware of. Sure, the city's Primogen will run gatherings, meetings and even parties at their mansions, but even powerful bloodsuckers would otherwise stay out of sight.

 

[z0mb0]

In fairness, a wealthy vampire in a penthouse with their own private elevator, lording over a ton of low-income bloodbags tenants, is a very World of Darkness thing.

Particularly keeping in mind one's haven isn't really supposed to be something other vampires should be visiting, or even aware of. Sure, the city's Primogen will run gatherings, meetings and even parties at their mansions, but even powerful bloodsuckers would otherwise stay out of sight.

The exception being the Nosferatu right? don't they generally squad up in sewer fortresses to hide from the few Niktuku? a high rise project block with sewer entrances would be their wet dream

 

[Snekposter]

In fairness, a wealthy vampire in a penthouse with their own private elevator, lording over a ton of low-income bloodbags tenants, is a very World of Darkness thing.

Particularly keeping in mind one's haven isn't really supposed to be something other vampires should be visiting, or even aware of. Sure, the city's Primogen will run gatherings, meetings and even parties at their mansions, but even powerful bloodsuckers would otherwise stay out of sight.

Not really sure he'd be in the same building as them though, as @z0mb0 seems to be implying. A few buildings over on the same block, sure, with a lovely hidden tunnel connecting their basements, but the actual project building itself? Slumlords tend not to live anywhere near the same conditions their tenants do. That said, a wealthy man building some low-income housing blocks somewhat close by his public residence is a lovely way to dodge taxes and gin up public support.

 

[z0mb0]

Not really sure he'd be in the same building as them though, as @z0mb0 seems to be implying. A few buildings over on the same block, sure, with a lovely hidden tunnel connecting their basements, but the actual project building itself? Slumlords tend not to live anywhere near the same conditions their tenants do. That said, a wealthy man building some low-income housing blocks somewhat close by his public residence is a lovely way to dodge taxes and gin up public support.

Essentially yes, but hey could always actually fix up one of the places inside and let the outside look like shit. The vamps pick an area and over time make a sustainable (for them) fiefdom to snipe at each other in and build up resources. That nice Cam holding firm just opened up an art house after clinic burned down (ventrue owned and insured) with the backing of that super charismatic mayor (ghoul). It really doesn't take a lot for them to shape their surroundings.

 

[Corn Flakes]

Not really sure he'd be in the same building as them though, as @z0mb0 seems to be implying. A few buildings over on the same block, sure, with a lovely hidden tunnel connecting their basements, but the actual project building itself? Slumlords tend not to live anywhere near the same conditions their tenants do. That said, a wealthy man building some low-income housing blocks somewhat close by his public residence is a lovely way to dodge taxes and gin up public support.

See, that makes sense in the real world, but the World of Darkness is supposed to be this almost cartoonishly dark, exaggerated version of reality. The sort of contrast between someone obscenely wealthy deliberately and literally living above the plebs would definitely tickle a lot of sadistic leeches' fancy.

It's like a more extreme version of these photos of slums in South America: huge fucking shantytowns right next to swanky high-income skyscrapers. Poverty isn't a problem when you're so completely insulated from it.

 

[z0mb0]

See, that makes sense in the real world, but the World of Darkness is supposed to be this almost cartoonishly dark, exaggerated version of reality. The sort of contrast between someone obscenely wealthy deliberately and literally living above the plebs would definitely tickle a lot of sadistic leeches' fancy.

View attachment 2909646

It's like a more extreme version of these photos of slums in South America: huge fucking shantytowns right next to swanky high-income skyscrapers. Poverty isn't a problem when you're so completely insulated from it.

some elder torry would love to make an art piece out of slaughtered bums. Brujah street gangs roaming around attacking people. the ravnos being in your city. truly dark stuff

 

[Adamska]

See, that makes sense in the real world, but the World of Darkness is supposed to be this almost cartoonishly dark, exaggerated version of reality. The sort of contrast between someone obscenely wealthy deliberately and literally living above the plebs would definitely tickle a lot of sadistic leeches' fancy.

I kinda ignore that every single possible time I read any of the WoD books honestly. I get told this by the books and by buddies of mine but without fail but my brain just goes "It's the real world anyway ignore all of that". Like I'm never not going to accept stupid snuff parlor film plot they had for the Black Furies in my brain, because my brain intrinsically rejects that premise.

It's like trying to treat Malkavian Jim Carrey of his bipolar disorder; it ain't happenin' chief my brain can't intrinsically wire itself to acknowledge it.

 

[Snekposter]

See, that makes sense in the real world, but the World of Darkness is supposed to be this almost cartoonishly dark, exaggerated version of reality. The sort of contrast between someone obscenely wealthy deliberately and literally living above the plebs would definitely tickle a lot of sadistic leeches' fancy.

View attachment 2909646

It's like a more extreme version of these photos of slums in South America: huge fucking shantytowns right next to swanky high-income skyscrapers. Poverty isn't a problem when you're so completely insulated from it.

We seem to be in agreement then.

 

[Corn Flakes]

I kinda ignore that every single possible time I read any of the WoD books honestly. I get told this by the books and by buddies of mine but without fail but my brain just goes "It's the real world anyway ignore all of that". Like I'm never not going to accept stupid snuff parlor film plot they had for the Black Furies in my brain, because my brain intrinsically rejects that premise.

It's like trying to treat Malkavian Jim Carrey of his bipolar disorder; it ain't happenin' chief my brain can't intrinsically wire itself to acknowledge it.

Suit yourself, man. I'm just going to tell you this: the World of Darkness makes a lot more sense once you realize how fucking dumb it is. It's ridiculously, joyously and unremittingly stupid.

It's a world where werewolf ecoterrorists, masterminding vampires, literal wizards, celtic fairies, mummies, demons, three other different kinds of demons, hypertech cyborgs, men in black, starship troopers, eldritch abominations, Frankenstein monsters and Captain Planet-tier megacorporations all exist at the same time, all backstopped by at least eight separate all-powerful entities from beyond the veil of reality. And the mortals don't know about any of it. Taking it seriously is just a very quick way to develop an aneurysm. Embracing the stupidity and treating it like an 80s dystopian action movie makes everything much easier to understand.

 

[z0mb0]

Suit yourself, man. I'm just going to tell you this: the World of Darkness makes a lot more sense once you realize how fucking dumb it is. It's ridiculously, joyously and unremittingly stupid.

It's a world where werewolf ecoterrorists, masterminding vampires, literal wizards, celtic fairies, mummies, demons, three other different kinds of demons, hypertech cyborgs, men in black, starship troopers, eldritch abominations, Frankenstein monsters and Captain Planet-tier megacorporations all exist at the same time, all backstopped by at least eight separate all-powerful entities from beyond the veil of reality. And the mortals don't know about any of it. Taking it seriously is just a very quick way to develop an aneurysm. Embracing the stupidity and treating it like an 80s dystopian action movie makes everything much easier to understand.

I went with over the top slacker comedy rather than action flick but yeah. the level of retardation lends itself to parody.

 

[Adamska]

Suit yourself, man. I'm just going to tell you this: the World of Darkness makes a lot more sense once you realize how fucking dumb it is. It's ridiculously, joyously and unremittingly stupid.

It's a world where werewolf ecoterrorists, masterminding vampires, literal wizards, celtic fairies, mummies, demons, three other different kinds of demons, hypertech cyborgs, men in black, starship troopers, eldritch abominations, Frankenstein monsters and Captain Planet-tier megacorporations all exist at the same time, all backstopped by at least eight separate all-powerful entities from beyond the veil of reality. And the mortals don't know about any of it. Taking it seriously is just a very quick way to develop an aneurysm. Embracing the stupidity and treating it like an 80s dystopian action movie makes everything much easier to understand.

Eh.

I do the same thing, but my brain just says "It's the real world rather than a shittier version, since reality itself is funny". I'm not above stupid; one of the most noted incidents I had happen was when the gang escaped from an assassination effort at a Sears between an Assamite v. a fairly high ranking guy in the local Sabbat. It became a sort of Noodle Incident with the group until it broke apart.

Also Prometheans are from Chronicles, not World.