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[OOC] Vampire: The Masquerade - Pyramid Scheme [PBP]

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Posts

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    So..
    There aren't any other people are in the pawn shop, are there.

    Nope.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    edited April 2022
    Is there any penalty to retrying Dominate and just nibbling this guy a bit.
    Cause I do need to make him Forget now, and Gurstag is getting a bit sick of getting pushed around, especially by someone who is tasty.

    discrider on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    Is there any penalty to retrying Dominate and just nibbling this guy a bit.
    Cause I do need to make him Forget now, and Gurstag is getting a bit sick of getting pushed around, especially by someone who is tasty.

    There will be a penalty since it's a successive effort. Given the time, he's likely better off cutting his losses.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    edited April 2022
    Based on that earlier roll, what was the split between the Wiccans and Tremere about, and how would that have changed the Wiccan's use of Thaumaturgy/magic? What do they specialise in now, if not blood magic?

    And on the way back, on a similar tack, Gurstag is going to leaf through this book and try to ascertain what might have piqued Jonathon's interest with an Intel (+Occult or Investigation I guess) roll.

    discrider on
  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    Yeah, after discrider learns whatever he can, I'm good skipping ahead to our meet with the Regentia to keep things moving. Feeling like we've finally got the "first chapter" out of the way, so to speak

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    Based on that earlier roll, what was the split between the Wiccans and Tremere about, and how would that have changed the Wiccan's use of Thaumaturgy/magic? What do they specialise in now, if not blood magic?

    And on the way back, on a similar tack, Gurstag is going to leaf through this book and try to ascertain what might have piqued Jonathon's interest with an Intel (+Occult or Investigation I guess) roll.

    The Wiccans effectively established their own House, and have gone a more naturalistic route, from what you can surmise. More in tune with earth and the spirits, or as some might disparagingly call them, tree hugging hippies.
    mrpaku wrote: »
    Yeah, after discrider learns whatever he can, I'm good skipping ahead to our meet with the Regentia to keep things moving. Feeling like we've finally got the "first chapter" out of the way, so to speak

    Yes, it was a long night. :P I mean to account for that when it (finally) ends.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    So..
    Is it worth rolling to delve into this book for Wiccan magick or Johnathon intent, or is it not useful (beside potential Wiccan locations) as far as Gurstag can tell.

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    So..
    Is it worth rolling to delve into this book for Wiccan magick or Johnathon intent, or is it not useful (beside potential Wiccan locations) as far as Gurstag can tell.

    He can try, but he'll likely benefit more from it over prolonged study. He can do a roll to study it prior to the next night and glean better knowledge from it then.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    ....
    It looks like we maybe should have been spending Willpower points for successes at some point.

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    ....
    It looks like we maybe should have been spending Willpower points for successes at some point.

    I forgot that was an option.

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  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    So you just spend one a piece for an insta-sucess on a skill check, and they regenerate each new evening?

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    mrpaku wrote: »
    So you just spend one a piece for an insta-sucess on a skill check, and they regenerate each new evening?

    Essentially, but you can't use them all at once.

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  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    In case it was missed, she had asked Louie to elaborate about Liana.

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  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    I gather the general preference is to resolve the night on that note.

    Given how (absurdly) long that night was, 10XP for each seems fair.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    Pretty sure Gurstag just drops all that into Dominate 2.
    Because tonight was embarrassing.

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    Pretty sure Gurstag just drops all that into Dominate 2.
    Because tonight was embarrassing.

    I expected some Auspex gets.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    edited May 2022
    Since when has having no Auspex hurt yet.
    Aside not seeing those other vamps.
    And not being freaked out about Liana.

    discrider on
  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    Can anyone point me at a good resource for spending XP?

  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    https://digilander.libero.it/diservizio/vtm/vtm05.html
    Right down the bottom of the page (search for experience point)

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    Since when has having no Auspex hurt yet.
    Aside not seeing those other vamps.
    And not being freaked out about Liana.

    Well, it is considered a big Tremere thing, but I guess it's not mandatory per se... though it has several uses.

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  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    OK, thanks for your patience guys- busy several days!

    For spending our XP based on tonight's events, I'm thinking thematically Louie should either: get better at a lot of the little stuff he did throughout the evening (a point in Acting and Streetwise for all the games within games that got played; a point in Driving from all the time on the road and the encounter with the Nos), or that his experience seering Liana forced open up his third eye a bit, and I subsequently dump all 10 points into bumping up his Auspex

    As someone who's never leveled in one of these before, what do you guys think? Which choice will probably be more useful in the long run?

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    I'm a little biased, but Auspex has a wide variety of uses, even the first level allows you to keep tabs on things that might otherwise go unnoticed, but putting points towards lesser things is fine too.

    That said, you can't just jump straight to, say, Aura Perception in one night, it would take time.

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  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    cj iwakura wrote: »
    I'm a little biased, but Auspex has a wide variety of uses, even the first level allows you to keep tabs on things that might otherwise go unnoticed, but putting points towards lesser things is fine too.

    That said, you can't just jump straight to, say, Aura Perception in one night, it would take time.

    Yeah, I think I'll go with Auspex then. Sort of got the vibe from tonight's events that Louie is making an evolution from "disgraced good time party-boy no one takes seriously seeks any way back to the Tremere's good graces" to "defensively-cocky vampire with deep-seated imposter syndrome gets in too deep, but then finds out he's better at this stuff than he'd thought"

  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    (Sounds good. I've never played this system before so, I'm just leveling things because it seems appropriate and strengthens strengths more than anything)

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    Just let me know when your changes are finalized, ideally by editing and reposting the initial sheets, and we can go from there.

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  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    edited June 2022
    xwo4gvimvhw5.png

    Name: "Loony" Louie Lehran

    Player: mrpaku

    Chronicle: Pyramid Scheme

    Demeanor: Outgoing; Charming; Pragmatic; Rough around the edges, but mostly in a playful sort of manner. Flirtatious, but not boorishly-so. Moody when he feels threatened or left out of the loop. Rarely shuts up, but always listening

    Nature: Social Climber; Inferiority Complex; Bitter; more than a little bit of a mean streak. Now: becoming increasingly curious about the world of the dark, beyond the allures of endless youth and simple pleasures...

    Generation: 13th

    Haven: A hovel of a studio apartment near Hyde Park, top floor of the building, jammed wall to celing with velvet curtains, vinyl records, burning candles, and old photographs. The leathery vampire has recently cleared a space for meditation, as well

    Concept: A former band manager to a world famous rock group; turned homeless addict/petty criminal; turned national recovery/success story, best-selling author and "Morning Zoo" radio co-host; finally, turned national pariah when his fellow co-host wound up brutally murdered with him the chief suspect

    He is trying to finally renenter "polite" Vampire society, but is increasingly finding that the Regentia has put him in far over his head. However, he's been surprised to find that his confident swagger and long-neglected vampiric discipline is carrying him further than he'd ever thought possible

    ATTRIBUTES:

    Physical: 3

    Strength: 1
    Dexterity: 1
    Stamina: 1

    SOCIAL: 5

    Charisma: 2
    Manipulation: 2
    Appearance: 1

    MENTAL: 4

    Perception: 1
    Intelligence: 1
    Wits: 2

    ABILITIES:

    Talents: 11
    -Acting: 2
    -Streetwise: 2
    -Empathy: 2
    -Alertness: 1
    -Dodge: 1
    -Leadership: 1
    -Intimidation:1
    -Subterfuge: 1

    Skills: 7
    -Survival: 2
    -Drive: 1
    -Firearms: 1
    -Music: 1
    -Stealth: 1
    -Repair: 1
    -Melee: 1

    Knowledge: 4
    -Law: 1
    -Finance: 1
    -Medicine: 1
    -Occult: 1

    DISCIPLINES:
    -Auspex: 3
    -Dominate: 1
    -Thaumaturgy: 1

    Backgrounds:
    -Contacts: 1
    -Fame/Notoriety: 1
    -Herd: 1
    -Resources: 1
    -Influence (Media): 1

    VIRTUES:

    -Conscience: 2
    -Self-Control: 3
    -Courage: 3

    WILLPOWER: 3

    HUMANITY: 7

    BLOOD POOL:
    4/4

    mrpaku on
  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    edited June 2022
    I was trying to remember..
    Did we have 5XP banked from some other thing?
    Otherwise I would have thought that Auspex 3 would cost 15 XP

    Maybe I'm misreading 'current level of the discipline x5' so level 2 Dominate should be level 1x5XP and I should have 5XP left

    discrider on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    The only caveat is that you can't jump multiple ranks in a discipline in one night. I'll have to go back and run the numbers on the XP costs and see what's left, beyond that.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    Oof
    And I missed this in the OP:
    Experience point costs(for future reference: Disciplines(7*new level), Attributes(5), Abilities/Virtues/Willpower(2), Humanity/Backgrounds(1, storyteller approval needed).

    As opposed to the reference I provided, where it was
    Experience point costs(for future reference: Disciplines(7,5*old lvl), Attributes(4*old lvl), Abilities/Virtues/Willpower(2*old lvl), Humanity/Backgrounds(1, storyteller approval needed).

  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    Alright...yeah, still a bit confused. So, am I right in reading it that, with 10 XP, I could currently: place 7XP to advance my Auspex level from 2 to 3, spend 2XP to boost my Willpower, and 1XP to add something new to my Background?

    Otherwise, if those are multipliers, it seems my best bet is either the original plan (of pumping up several little skills), or simply sitting on the points until tomorrow night to save up for something big and shiny

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    The reference I went by was a multiplier for each new level, so I'll double check to verify when I run the numbers.

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  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    Oof
    And I missed this in the OP:
    Experience point costs(for future reference: Disciplines(7*new level), Attributes(5), Abilities/Virtues/Willpower(2), Humanity/Backgrounds(1, storyteller approval needed).

    As opposed to the reference I provided, where it was
    Experience point costs(for future reference: Disciplines(7,5*old lvl), Attributes(4*old lvl), Abilities/Virtues/Willpower(2*old lvl), Humanity/Backgrounds(1, storyteller approval needed).

    In lieu of having a reason to be against this, we'll say that's fine. And yes, I believe you each have 5XP banked as well.

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  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    Just a question of what Gurstag's changes are, which you can apply whenever feasible, though they will have to be before he officially rouses.
    (Each character may be tempted to conduct feeding, but they could always wait for Elysium to see if the party includes any... refreshment.)

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    edited June 2022
    I'm really unclear on what XP I have.
    So assuming I have 15xp, then I'm just going Dominate 2 for 10 or 5 I guess.

    Might be tempted to level a skill in some social thing.
    Like say Etiquette 2.


    Also unsure of blood level.
    Gurstag has awakened thrice so, I'm probably down 3 up 2 from feeding on a herd member.

    Which puts him at five.
    He'll want to feed, as the whole council thing seems plenty dangerous.
    Unsure if we have time though.

    discrider on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    I'm really unclear on what XP I have.
    So assuming I have 15xp, then I'm just going Dominate 2 for 10 or 5 I guess.

    Might be tempted to level a skill in some social thing.
    Like say Etiquette 2.


    Also unsure of blood level.
    Gurstag has awakened thrice so, I'm probably down 3 up 2 from feeding on a herd member.

    Which puts him at five.
    He'll want to feed, as the whole council thing seems plenty dangerous.
    Unsure if we have time though.

    Yes, you should be at 15. You could feed since you're at about average, and you will have time, you just may be fashionably late depending on your effort.

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    See
    Unsure if that would be
    Dominate 2 = 10 XP and Etiquette 2 = 4 XP
    Or 5 XP and 2 XP

    Depends on if current level means the level before or after adding the pip.

  • mrpakumrpaku Registered User regular
    Spend all 15XP to bump Auspex up from 2 to 3, please!

    Louie has a blood pool of 4 and has Awakened twice, so he would definitely want to feed before Elysium!

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    They'll have several options, since Elysium isn't far from downtown, or they could just peruse the campus.
    (They could get a free blood point at Elysium itself, if they aren't too proud to exploit charity.)

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  • discriderdiscrider Registered User regular
    How likely is Elysium blood to come with strings attached though.
    Just wind up enthralled to both Tremere and some other random vamps

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    discrider wrote: »
    How likely is Elysium blood to come with strings attached though.
    Just wind up enthralled to both Tremere and some other random vamps

    It's a giant red flag to anyone, especially Tremere. But hey, it's there!

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