Post by Barnaby Cuthbert on Aug 4, 2014 0:40:32 GMT -8
Hi folks,
To help make things a little more transparent, I'm going to be putting up a series of posts explaining a few differences regarding V20 and what you might be used to and linking to various resources. Feel free to ask questions here and in person next game of any of our staff.
This post is about the books we'll be using for V20. If you are not aware, V20 books are available on PDF or printed copies from www.drivethrurpg.com
ECC uses Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition rules. (V20)
The current books that are available for V20 - Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition are as follows:
V20 Corebook - Definitely read this. It's long, but there are a lot of subtle changes from Revised to V20. We're all learning those changes together, so we would love feedback and questions. Right now, as we have a lot to get out there from 'scratch' please bear with us if some of the answers may be - we'll get back to you on that. But we'll do our best. Keep in mind everything is more or less in playtest mode for some V20 mechanics at the moment. If a mechanic doesn't work for us, it may change based on your feedback. The plan is to limit house rules though.
V20 Companion - This has some important side-systems in it, like Titles (they work sort of like the Positional Status of old) and Prestation (boons). These will likely get used in game right out of the gate, so it's a good idea to read this fairly short supplement. There are a few changes from Revised in how those works, and in future updates we'll point out the differences.
Anarchs Unbound - Most of this book is still under review. For now, we're looking at using the Communal Haven and Anarch Info Backgrounds, (Anarch Info will work as the Nos Info Network, FYI) but not the Armory background, which is a bit silly since Rank 5 Armory can arm a platoon of 60 men with military hardware and armor. If we were running a siege warfare Anarch game vs the Cam it would make sense, but we're looking to be a little more low key. Our Anarchs will still 'fight the power' but not with SWAT tanks is all. We'll likely offer some merits and flaws from that book, and may look at the technology aspects soonish. It's a good read if you are interested in an Anarch concept. It mentions the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle as a canon event, which will be one of our vignettes.
Children of the Revolution - This is just a book full of V20 canon NPCs. Interesting for ST's perhaps, but not that useful for players.
Rites of the Blood (Not Used at the moment, but may be in the future). It's brand new. We plan to work mostly from the core book. It's too early to pour over this when things like getting feeding set up are a higher priority. Down the line when everyone is comfortable with the core rules it may come into play, but for now, if you plan to play a sorcerer class, the V20 core is where you should be looking. It's definitely canon and definitely on our radar. We're looking at (ballpark) 6 months, but we'll see how it goes.
Dust to Dust - This is just an 'adventure module' that was run at the Grand Masquerade last year. It's got some things the STs might use, like a handy way to diagram out the scenes and plots associated with a story and a neat rating system for 'challenge levels'. Other than that, it's mostly just a little one-shot story. Not super useful for players.
The Hunter's Hunted II (Non-PC) We won't be using much from this book. Most of it is for specific Hunter organizations in terms of it's unique powers and backgrounds. It would be a rare concept that would have to really be starting from a rough position.
In addition to the books above, there will be a number of other books released in the next year or two. We'll update this book list as new things are approved for play at ECC.
In general, the flavor of the Revised Clanbooks will be considered as well until the V20 Clans book is published.
The vast majority of the flavor and rules from the Core v20 book is what we'll be focusing on at the outset, and then more and more of some of the other books may get used.
Once again, most of these books may be purchased via Print on Demand (PoD) for hard copy or in .pdf format from the good folks over at www.DriveThruRPG.com
What to take away:
1. We're on V20!
2. Read the V20 Core book and the V20 Companion and maaaaaybe Anarchs Unbound first. Any other books are not going to be that important at the moment to gameplay.
3. Eventually other books mentioned above will get phased in, but not for awhile.
4. Profit!
To help make things a little more transparent, I'm going to be putting up a series of posts explaining a few differences regarding V20 and what you might be used to and linking to various resources. Feel free to ask questions here and in person next game of any of our staff.
This post is about the books we'll be using for V20. If you are not aware, V20 books are available on PDF or printed copies from www.drivethrurpg.com
ECC uses Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition rules. (V20)
The current books that are available for V20 - Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition are as follows:
V20 Corebook - Definitely read this. It's long, but there are a lot of subtle changes from Revised to V20. We're all learning those changes together, so we would love feedback and questions. Right now, as we have a lot to get out there from 'scratch' please bear with us if some of the answers may be - we'll get back to you on that. But we'll do our best. Keep in mind everything is more or less in playtest mode for some V20 mechanics at the moment. If a mechanic doesn't work for us, it may change based on your feedback. The plan is to limit house rules though.
V20 Companion - This has some important side-systems in it, like Titles (they work sort of like the Positional Status of old) and Prestation (boons). These will likely get used in game right out of the gate, so it's a good idea to read this fairly short supplement. There are a few changes from Revised in how those works, and in future updates we'll point out the differences.
Anarchs Unbound - Most of this book is still under review. For now, we're looking at using the Communal Haven and Anarch Info Backgrounds, (Anarch Info will work as the Nos Info Network, FYI) but not the Armory background, which is a bit silly since Rank 5 Armory can arm a platoon of 60 men with military hardware and armor. If we were running a siege warfare Anarch game vs the Cam it would make sense, but we're looking to be a little more low key. Our Anarchs will still 'fight the power' but not with SWAT tanks is all. We'll likely offer some merits and flaws from that book, and may look at the technology aspects soonish. It's a good read if you are interested in an Anarch concept. It mentions the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle as a canon event, which will be one of our vignettes.
Children of the Revolution - This is just a book full of V20 canon NPCs. Interesting for ST's perhaps, but not that useful for players.
Rites of the Blood (Not Used at the moment, but may be in the future). It's brand new. We plan to work mostly from the core book. It's too early to pour over this when things like getting feeding set up are a higher priority. Down the line when everyone is comfortable with the core rules it may come into play, but for now, if you plan to play a sorcerer class, the V20 core is where you should be looking. It's definitely canon and definitely on our radar. We're looking at (ballpark) 6 months, but we'll see how it goes.
Dust to Dust - This is just an 'adventure module' that was run at the Grand Masquerade last year. It's got some things the STs might use, like a handy way to diagram out the scenes and plots associated with a story and a neat rating system for 'challenge levels'. Other than that, it's mostly just a little one-shot story. Not super useful for players.
The Hunter's Hunted II (Non-PC) We won't be using much from this book. Most of it is for specific Hunter organizations in terms of it's unique powers and backgrounds. It would be a rare concept that would have to really be starting from a rough position.
In addition to the books above, there will be a number of other books released in the next year or two. We'll update this book list as new things are approved for play at ECC.
In general, the flavor of the Revised Clanbooks will be considered as well until the V20 Clans book is published.
The vast majority of the flavor and rules from the Core v20 book is what we'll be focusing on at the outset, and then more and more of some of the other books may get used.
Once again, most of these books may be purchased via Print on Demand (PoD) for hard copy or in .pdf format from the good folks over at www.DriveThruRPG.com
What to take away:
1. We're on V20!
2. Read the V20 Core book and the V20 Companion and maaaaaybe Anarchs Unbound first. Any other books are not going to be that important at the moment to gameplay.
3. Eventually other books mentioned above will get phased in, but not for awhile.
4. Profit!