Vampire: the Masquerade has become a very popular TTRPG. It delves into a world where vampires must live in secrecy among humans while dealing with supernatural threats and politics and finding ways to survive and thrive in the afterlife.
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Donning the fangs of a newly fledged vampire or a vampire that has existed for a century or two can be daunting to those new to the scene, especially when trying to navigate the thick and extremely detailed players’ handbook. However, there are tips and tricks new players can use to make their integration into the world of darkness seamless and simple.
1
Create Character Alongside The Group
Session 0 Can Help All New Players Ease Into The Game
When starting any TTRPG for the first time, Session 0 is essential so everyone involved can help one another get to grips with the rules, themes, and how to successfully and correctly create their characters. A game like VtM is a more intimate experience that requires a lot more trust and teamwork, so this becomes even more important.
Players should talk openly about the ideas they have so that they know how well it will work alongside their other players, and within the Storyteller chronicles. The Storyteller might decide they want everyone to be fledglings and certain clans may be off-limits, so all limitations and ideas must be discussed before the game begins. The player should also take this opportunity to discover safety tools, as there might be elements that they would not be comfortable exploring in a game.
2
Read The Players Guide For Essential Information
The Player Guide Is A More Streamlined Version Of The Players Handbook
Currently, there are two VtM sourcebooks geared toward the bare necessities for learning to play VtM, and these are the Players Handbook and the Players Guide. The handbook was the first book created for the 5th edition, and it was very detailed, but the layout was not very user-friendly. The Players Guide is more condensed, and makes it all the easier for newcomers to navigate, with all the information they need simple to find.
As such, any new players should take the time to familiarize themselves with the book, so they can get to grips with the basics of the lore and the mechanics of the game, including the various clans that are available to play, as well as the three clans that were reintroduced in the free downloadable PDF.
3
Decide On A Clan
This Will Be The Most Important Decision For The Player
When getting ready to create a character, the clan is the most important choice. This establishes the sort of vampire they will be playing for the length of the one-shot or the chronicle, whether it is the noble Ventrue who relishes in positions of power, or the reclusive Nosferatu cursed with a deformed appearance. It also determines the powers they have access to, as every clan has a selection of disciplines.
Players can either simply read through each clan description and choose the one that speaks to them or take the official clan quiz on the Paradox site to see which clan aligns most with their personality. That way, they play a character who truly reflects their values and personality traits.
4
Take In The Lore
Learning More About The Setting Helps Immersion
There is so much rich lore in the world of VtM, from the various clans and factions, alliances forged and made, Gehenna and the beckoning, and how each city is run. While they don’t need to learn every single piece of lore, especially around locations that hold no relevance to the game they are playing, they should at least know key pieces of lore such as the time of the thinned blood, and the defection of the Lasombra from the Sabbat to the Camarilla, to mention just a few.
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The Storyteller might cover some things that will feature in the chronicle, but it can help players be more immersed in the world if they know more about the fictional world they will soon be a part of. While players should avoid using this information to intentionally meta-game, they should still learn a few things to become better players to avoid stopping the game and constantly quiz the ST about buzzwords they may use in RP or descriptions.
5
Consider Playing A New Vampire
New Players Can More Naturally RP A New Vampire
In the game, there are guidelines given to creating a fledgling, a neonate, or an ancilla, which are the oldest vampires players can play, with no official character creation rules for elders. But this might be for the best, as the creation of older characters could be a little too complex for new players to create and to effectively RP.
As such, it might be best for new fans to play a new character, as then they are playing a character who is a little more like them. This way, if they otherwise forget the mechanics of their character, it can be played off in character, as the characters themselves would be trying to learn and understand everything.
6
Know Thy Disciplines
Memorize Or Have Quick Access To Basic Information
Disciplines are one of the core parts of any vampire’s kit, as they are an essential part of making it through the night, whether it is using Potence to pack an almighty punch, or Auspex to supernaturally read their surroundings. Most sessions see the player using at least one of their disciplines at least once, and so it is a good idea that players get to know their disciplines, what they can do, and what rolls are necessary for them and the Storyteller, or other players.
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If players struggle to memorize all the information, which could very easily be all too much for a new player, they could create some cue cards that include the name, a very brief summary of what the power does, and what dice rolls are required, if any, so that they can quickly reference it during play to avoid stopping and starting the game while they scramble for the handbook to refresh their memory.
7
Establish Boundaries
Players Must Take Care Of Their Mental Health
VtM is a game that directly involves the player character, their backstory, and other characters connected to their fears, hopes, and dreams…it is much more of a personal journey than other TTRPGs, such as D&D. While these other games do incorporate the character and their story, VtM does it in a lot more depth and detail, which is why it is so important that the player makes sure they are with people they trust, and they feel safe and comfortable within the game.
As such, they should ensure the Storyteller and other characters know if some themes or topics are off-limits, such as spiders, or the current political climate. At the end of the day, games should be fun, and not harmful to the players’ mental well-being. And if that means asking the Storyteller to implement safety tools, then that is definitely what they should do.
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