We’re coming down to the end of open development for Lore of the Clans. As a note, Brujah is running late, so I’ll get that up as soon as I get it and review it.
But today we present the Nosferatu, written by Andrew Peregrine. Andrew is pretty much right on for his wordcount. I have some thoughts, but I’d like to hear what you have to say. I’ll close comments on this one on Wednesday, September 17th, right before Nashville By Night. I’ll put a big note on the document and this post when I close it so it’s clear.
Before I give you the link, a few things to keep in mind as you read:
Discuss, but be polite: A few people are confusing “expressing concern” with “insulting other people.” If you are concerned about something, please express those concerns concretely — I do want to hear them. If you veer into insulting the writer, Onyx Path Publishing, or other commentators, I’ll ask you politely to stop (which, so far, is all I’ve needed to do). Anything after that, I’ll shut the conversation down and move on.
Keep calm and carry on: This is a preliminary draft. Things will likely change between this draft and the final book. If you see something weird or that you don’t agree with, don’t freak out. Just comment on the concerning area, and I’ll look into it. That’s exactly what this process is for.
Comments only, please: Everyone (except me) is restricted to comments only and suggestions. Please use comments only, and do not write your opinions into the draft text. Don’t resolve someone else’s comments or mine, either.
Substance over style: I’m focusing purely on the content, not punctuation or grammar. That kind of refinement of the material will happen in a later draft. Don’t worry too much about commenting on those concerns, unless such an error makes the material confusing to understand.
Cards close to my chest: Because I don’t want to bias the discussion, I’m keeping my thoughts on how I want to redline this chapter to myself. I’ll certainly answer questions and help steer conversation away from unproductive avenues, but in general I want to see what you think, not tell you what I think.
And now, here’s the link to the Google Doc:
Edit: Link removed now that open development is closed. Thank you!
Comments
9 responses to “Loathsome Creature: The Nosferatu”
I’m still in the process of reading this, but for bringing back Lizard Limbs alone I love it
That Forbidden Zone combo discipline makes zero sense. Obfuscate doesn’t affect the physical world, it’s a mental power. It doesn’t make sense, even with potence (that enhances already physical traits within ones body). Having a strength check to pass the barrier means it’s a literal force field. Also, a Creep with 5 Strength 5 Potence would leave a success requirement of 10. Crazy.
Also, Nightmare Form using Auspex as the fuel for a derangement is really stepping all over Demention’s toes, especially as Auspex can’t be used to do anything like that until dot 8 when you lash out psychically. Dementation is far more suited to manipulating fears.
In addition to all of that, it seems like a lot of the character content is focused on giving the Nosferatu a lot of Gangrel aspects. Why? I know they have Animalism, but so do Ventrue and Ravnos, and we haven’t seen such a drastic shift with them if I remember correctly. And the powers are too “wild nature.” That’s not what Nosferatu have usually been, thematically. They’re corrupted nature. Vermin and strays. Even an insect swarm or something would be a great twist. I just can’t understand why they’re moving away from the haunted rejects of nature to “nature spirits” and saying they sometimes suffer from the Gangrel curse.
“…they have Animalism, but so do Ventrue and Ravnos…”
The Ventrue do not have Animalism in this version, They have Fortitude, Dominate, and Presence.
I agree that many of these merits and combos infringe on Gangrel ‘animal’ territory. Spirits should be left to shamans and Kolduns. I’ve often wondered why the flavor text talks so much about information, but the merits and flaws rarely support that as the primary theme. These are mostly about animals and physical deformity. As a player or GM, I’d like to see more things that focus on information gathering and espionage than on animals and especially ‘spirits’.
That’s an incredibly good point, Mark. I’d never really thought about that. It is very odd that so few game mechanics give credence to their flavor as spies and Warren dwellers.
One thing i’ve always missed is a deep look into warrens. I know that the wordcount couldn’t possibly allow for the in-depth description that i’m looking for (unless we can have more words from, for example, kickstarter strechgoals. But its a thought for another book. Maybe a strechgoal could be a series of short essays on how to build awesome clan specific enviroments (warrens for the nos, chantrys for tremere, salons for Toreador and Ventrue etc, debate/rant locales for the Brujah etc. Maybe this could be a whole supplent on its own. A book on worldbuiling. Don’t think that VtM has had such a supplement yet. Just food for thoughts.
weren’t the antedilluvians cursed after they killed the second generation? yet the first story says absimiliard was cursed long before.
IIRC the Nosferatu and Malkavian Antediluvians were cursed earlier, Malkav for asking questions Caine didn’t like, and Absimiliard for being spectacularly cruel and vain even by 3rd generation vampire standards.
IIRC the Nosferatu and Malkavian Antediluvians were cursed earlier.