V20 Dark Ages: Character Creation

Last time, I had a few requests for the character creation chapter. It’s not through editing yet, but it does what it’s supposed to do. Here’s almost 8,000 words of character creation. This doesn’t have the extended traits section afterward, explaining every Attribute, Ability, Background, et cetera. But, it’s got all your basic creation rules.

I’ll note, this probably changed the least of anything in the book. This is very close to Dark Ages: Vampire, with a little V20 influence here and there. There’s some new framing ideas and phrasing, but it should be very familiar to long-time fans.

Since I’m in full gear getting everything ready to send to layout, what do you want to see next? You may or may not know, but the content developer usually doesn’t have a bunch of contact with the art side of things. But I’ve spent a bit of time this week discussing art notes for the 13 (14?) clan art pieces and the splat spread art.

This comes courtesy the brilliant Tristan Tarwater. I picked her because of her wonderful Valley of the Ten Crescents novel series. If you want to read some amazing fiction, check her out.


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14 responses to “V20 Dark Ages: Character Creation”

  1. Daniel P Avatar
    Daniel P

    I have quickly browsed the text but the impression I get is that its very well done with good and clear directions. The actual creation is not different from how it was in Dark Ages Vampire unless I have missed something important, this makes it easy to create new characters on the spot for all previous users of the dark Ages line. Finally the relatively simplicity of the actual system makes it ideal for creating a character both fast and easy, both for new players to roleplaying or just the Dark Ages-line in question.

    The only thing Ive found so far in the text that might be wrong is the mention of the Antideluvians as Cains own Childer when they in fact are his grand childer since Cain is the first vampire and the Antideluvians are of the 3rd generation.

    If I could choose, id want to see the disciplines of Daimoinon or Viscissitude as the next information revealed. Really happy with how the book is progressing and how you guys as developers are listening to the demands and feedback of the community at large. Looking forward to see whats posted next!!

    1. machineiv Avatar
      machineiv

      I’ll check on the wording of the third generation. That could have just been a slip or clarity issue.

      And noted on the Disciplines. I’ll see if I can’t make one or both the next preview.

      1. Daniel P Avatar
        Daniel P

        Awesome, Im really looking forward to read the new version of these disciplines and see how the are presented in the book, I will also try to give some positive feedback if needed and gametest the preview rules with my troupe in order to make sure they are balanced, both individually and in comparison to each other.

        Finally, Id like to thank all of you developers that is making this game a reality, everytime a news is posted regarding the development of V20 Dark Ages im reading through the new content and the replies of the community with great interest and think that my day just became a little brighter because of it 🙂 .

        Thanks!!

        ~Daniel P

  2. felipe moulim Avatar
    felipe moulim

    In the section backgrounds you forgotten generation! BTW no system to creat elders?

  3. machineiv Avatar
    machineiv

    “Generation: A measurement of how far removed your character is from Caine, the first vampire. The lower the generation, the closer to Caine and the greater the potential within your undead body. All characters start at 12th generation, unless you buy the Generation Background.”

    I didn’t actually provide the full Background list there. But Generation is identical as a Merit to Dark Ages: Vampire.

    1. Aldo Montoya Avatar
      Aldo Montoya

      I always find very odd that Dark Age Vampires start at 12th Gen, since first Vampire the Dark Aves (AD 1198). That means that for 800 years the 12th gen NEVER embrace or that they did and were kill.
      If you could change the starting gen to 10 or 9 that would make more sense (i think) for the reason of the 500+ years of difference between games V20 and this one.

      Btw i love all the stuff, you have release. Although i like the older Cappadocian weakness more (as High Clan idea, if they look like a rotting corpse in 1400 inquisition rampage)

  4. Andrew Maddock Avatar

    In the OWoD Dark Ages there were special rules for experience gained during downtime, getting like one point every so often, with the time periods getting bigger and bigger as you accrued points, so that there were diminishing returns to just taking a break to get experience, and there were special rules on how it got spent, entirely separate from how you’d spend freebies or normal experience. Is the CWoD version of Dark Ages going to have something similar?

    1. machineiv Avatar
      machineiv

      A maturation system is like… 75% likely to be in there. I’m trying to make space for it now, in fact.

      However, if I did it, it’d be compatible with normal experience, since adding a third type of character point would just make for even more confusion and loopholes.

      If I can’t put it in there, it’s a high priority for supplement content.

  5. John D (Telgar) Avatar

    It’d be nice to finally see a listed, official freebie cost for Secondary Paths of blood magic and an optional cost or at least clearer rules for purchasing Rituals with freebies at character creation.

    1. machineiv Avatar
      machineiv

      I will absolutely add those. For secondary Paths, maybe 5 Freebies, and for Rituals, 1 Freebie per level?

      Thoughts?

      1. Olivier Jobin Avatar
        Olivier Jobin

        Albeit situational, rituals can be very strong (they are a new power in themselves). 2 Freebie per level would be a minimum, in my mind.

  6. Joe B. Avatar
    Joe B.

    You, Mr. Hill, are a machine of creativity. Your updates really show your love, dedication and discipline to delivering quality work. Whatever OPP is paying you is not enough.

    You are really setting the bar high with these updates.

    1. machineiv Avatar
      machineiv

      Why thank you!

  7. Mu Avatar

    One thing that works well in my table is to have inhuman virtues starting at 0 just like in the Masquerade. I understand (or I think I do) why in Dark Ages those virtues start at 1 (since inhuman moralities seems to be more natural to vampires at that time, as well as vampire training is “better”), but starting those virtues at 0 makes some balancing, since egoistical roads are almost always easier for players to follow without degenerating.