heya i justs started the game
I answered the questions and surprisingly enough I came out as a Brujah. Its alright i suppose. But i can't access the computers or pick the locks or pretty much anything but fighting people it seems. I am where i picked up the explosives (after what seemed an easy fight) and i walked around the hospital and stuff but i can't get further (I am looking for drugs for the wounded guy). In the rpg game you can use presence to make people like you so I took two points of that but it seems to me that in this game it is just another fight power?
I am looking more for a jack-of-all-trades. What clan is best for newbies? I'll play anything but Nosferatu.
Can you never learn the disciplines of other clan. like my Brujah picking up dominate or something? It doesn't say anywhere but i don't see the option on the character sheet...
Newbie questions
Well,
If you want a charachter that can talk with people and persuade them to give items,I would suggest you use a Ventrue , because it can use domination while talking and when it comes to fighting you will be surprised to see it can handle himself quiye well also.
A lot of people who write to this forum seems to prefer the Malkavian, I guess you could also give that a try.
If you want a charachter that can talk with people and persuade them to give items,I would suggest you use a Ventrue , because it can use domination while talking and when it comes to fighting you will be surprised to see it can handle himself quiye well also.
A lot of people who write to this forum seems to prefer the Malkavian, I guess you could also give that a try.
clans
brujah - had no trouble but the fighting side is strong with this clan. spending XP can make brujah capable of most things.
tremere - the thaum range of powers is excellent - I often ended up using little else.
ventrue - more of a talker than most, but not poor in combat either IF you spend your XP wisely. give me guns.
gangrel - very strong in the melee and the animalism powers are a bit like thaum. the ability to see in the dark is very handy indeed.
malkavian - fun but can be irritating to try to work out which dialogue options to take to get what you want. looks silly, which is half the charm.
nosferatu - the limitations close off many options.
toreador - seem to remember this as being a good all-round clan.
brujah - had no trouble but the fighting side is strong with this clan. spending XP can make brujah capable of most things.
tremere - the thaum range of powers is excellent - I often ended up using little else.
ventrue - more of a talker than most, but not poor in combat either IF you spend your XP wisely. give me guns.
gangrel - very strong in the melee and the animalism powers are a bit like thaum. the ability to see in the dark is very handy indeed.
malkavian - fun but can be irritating to try to work out which dialogue options to take to get what you want. looks silly, which is half the charm.
nosferatu - the limitations close off many options.
toreador - seem to remember this as being a good all-round clan.
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players"
[QUOTE=Celacena]brujah - had no trouble but the fighting side is strong with this clan. spending XP can make brujah capable of most things.[/QUOTE]
Alrighty. Nice. I deal with hand given to me and start to practice my skills then I guess
I still don't understand why I can't buy Dominate or Obfuscate for my Brujah (for extra XP costs as the paper game of course). That just seems like a really, really pointless limitation.
Frede
Alrighty. Nice. I deal with hand given to me and start to practice my skills then I guess
I still don't understand why I can't buy Dominate or Obfuscate for my Brujah (for extra XP costs as the paper game of course). That just seems like a really, really pointless limitation.
Frede
clans
the game's designers wanted a way of lengthening the game-play experience - if all clans could have all powers, then there would be only one way to do the game at maximum effectiveness - by splitting the powers and making certain ways of solving the problems unavailable, it then becomes more worthwhile to play it as the different clans for a different experience.
for example, my gangrel is getting into a whole load of melees that the other characters have avoided - Glaze nightclub in Chinatown for example - I would normally try to complete it with sneaking, but when you can scrap your way through effectively, why not vary the game and do it that way?
it is artificial like most RPG charcter classes.
the game's designers wanted a way of lengthening the game-play experience - if all clans could have all powers, then there would be only one way to do the game at maximum effectiveness - by splitting the powers and making certain ways of solving the problems unavailable, it then becomes more worthwhile to play it as the different clans for a different experience.
for example, my gangrel is getting into a whole load of melees that the other characters have avoided - Glaze nightclub in Chinatown for example - I would normally try to complete it with sneaking, but when you can scrap your way through effectively, why not vary the game and do it that way?
it is artificial like most RPG charcter classes.
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players"
yeah i suppose...
Bear with me as i drift somewhat...
The game should just limit the XP so that you couldn't buy everything.
I think - all other things being equal - that expanding the discipline combinations would increase replayability.
Now you have seven combinations of advantages/disadvantages and three disciplines.
A brujah with Dominate, Celerity, Potence adds one
A brujah with Dominate, Presence, Celerity adds one
A Ventru with Dominate, Presence, Celerity even adds one
and so on...
In other words, a VASTLY greater amount of varitions (= replayabilty)
I don't know the game that well... but even if you could power play some abomination of a discipline combination so what? People who enjoy that sort of thing usually... well... enjoy themselves.
I am also sure that many, many players will only complete the thing once in any case. Replayability is mostly about the player NOT choosing to power play it. Roleplaying and power playing shares one thing: they are about choices, and it rubs me the wrong way to have them unnecessarily removed. Anyone could just CHOOSE to stick with his clan disciplines and expand his or her experience from that afterwards right? f.ex. by trying another clan with matching disciplines.
Now that sounds all wrong. I like the game. It is just a little thing.
In any case, I appreciate your advice. Now I can play the damn thing with the clan given to me by those questions... dunno why that is important but hey...
Bear with me as i drift somewhat...
The game should just limit the XP so that you couldn't buy everything.
I think - all other things being equal - that expanding the discipline combinations would increase replayability.
Now you have seven combinations of advantages/disadvantages and three disciplines.
A brujah with Dominate, Celerity, Potence adds one
A brujah with Dominate, Presence, Celerity adds one
A Ventru with Dominate, Presence, Celerity even adds one
and so on...
In other words, a VASTLY greater amount of varitions (= replayabilty)
I don't know the game that well... but even if you could power play some abomination of a discipline combination so what? People who enjoy that sort of thing usually... well... enjoy themselves.
I am also sure that many, many players will only complete the thing once in any case. Replayability is mostly about the player NOT choosing to power play it. Roleplaying and power playing shares one thing: they are about choices, and it rubs me the wrong way to have them unnecessarily removed. Anyone could just CHOOSE to stick with his clan disciplines and expand his or her experience from that afterwards right? f.ex. by trying another clan with matching disciplines.
Now that sounds all wrong. I like the game. It is just a little thing.
In any case, I appreciate your advice. Now I can play the damn thing with the clan given to me by those questions... dunno why that is important but hey...
Honestly, a Brujah is about as versatile as any other clan. Pick locks is based on security and dexterity. Any clan member can focus on those skills and become good at those skills. Likewise, Computer hacking is based on your computer skill and wits. Any clan can focus on those skills. Persuasion is based on charisma and scholarship, any clan can focus on those skills. So, with that said, its really more about where you invest your skill and attribute points (and what you invest in as the game goes on), than anything else.
So, my major suggestion would be to pick a clan you like, and then just focus on the skills you want to be good in (i.e. persuade, hacking, lock picking). Any clan can become skilled in any area.
In terms of Disciplines, Brujah and Toreador have celerity which is probably the most powerful discipline in the game. If you're looking for "stealthier" or more non-combat types of disciplines then the only real one is obfuscate, which both the Malkavian and Nosferatu clans have. It will allow you to move invisibly at high levels. I honestly don't recommend either of these clans playing for the first time, though. Malkavians are wild fun, but really a second time through experience, if you ask me.
Honestly, if you like moving really fast and devestating your foes with your fists and guns, you can't beat a Toreador or Brujah. However, if you prefer more subtle styles of combat a Ventrue is a pretty good choice. Dominate and Fortitude both give you some interesting combat options. Likewise, Thaumaturgy is a fairly versatile discipline and combined with dominate, make Tremere an interesting clan to play.
So, my major suggestion would be to pick a clan you like, and then just focus on the skills you want to be good in (i.e. persuade, hacking, lock picking). Any clan can become skilled in any area.
In terms of Disciplines, Brujah and Toreador have celerity which is probably the most powerful discipline in the game. If you're looking for "stealthier" or more non-combat types of disciplines then the only real one is obfuscate, which both the Malkavian and Nosferatu clans have. It will allow you to move invisibly at high levels. I honestly don't recommend either of these clans playing for the first time, though. Malkavians are wild fun, but really a second time through experience, if you ask me.
Honestly, if you like moving really fast and devestating your foes with your fists and guns, you can't beat a Toreador or Brujah. However, if you prefer more subtle styles of combat a Ventrue is a pretty good choice. Dominate and Fortitude both give you some interesting combat options. Likewise, Thaumaturgy is a fairly versatile discipline and combined with dominate, make Tremere an interesting clan to play.
Faust is completly right, I'm playing Brujah, and I invested some exp in persuasion, lock pick, and stuff like that, and I come around pretty well with that.
I mostly keep some exp that I don't use yet, for if I should need it for a quest to add to persuasion or something like that.
In battle I totally own, with celerity lvl 5 you are almost undefeatable, and with potence added to that you are god lol..
In my opinion Brujah is the best clan because they have celerity, Toreador has celerity too, but in stead of potence they have auspex, and I really can't see the use of auspex but whatever...
Brujah might be a little cliché to play with, but I think it's the best to start with, as long as you invest a little in persuasion etc. also.
I don't think Brujah is the most fun clan to play with however, altho celerity is really cool
I mean, you hit someone, he falls on the floor, you run to the other side of the building, hit someone there, then come running back to the one you hit before, and you can hit him again even before he gets up lol.
Thats really cool, but I think Malkavian is the most fun.
I mostly keep some exp that I don't use yet, for if I should need it for a quest to add to persuasion or something like that.
In battle I totally own, with celerity lvl 5 you are almost undefeatable, and with potence added to that you are god lol..
In my opinion Brujah is the best clan because they have celerity, Toreador has celerity too, but in stead of potence they have auspex, and I really can't see the use of auspex but whatever...
Brujah might be a little cliché to play with, but I think it's the best to start with, as long as you invest a little in persuasion etc. also.
I don't think Brujah is the most fun clan to play with however, altho celerity is really cool
I mean, you hit someone, he falls on the floor, you run to the other side of the building, hit someone there, then come running back to the one you hit before, and you can hit him again even before he gets up lol.
Thats really cool, but I think Malkavian is the most fun.
I'd say Tremere are overpowered actually, especially against large groups. I've been picking fights with 10+ goons with guns to see how easy they are and the answer is: very easy.
If I can't kill them all right away, I can Blood Salvo a huge group, top off my Blood tanks, run a little ways, then Blood Boil the front guy, Trance the guy next to him and wait a few seconds for them all to die at once.
The one downside is that fighting other supernatural beings can be hard if I can't find a good sniper spot, but that hasn't been a problem so far.
If I can't kill them all right away, I can Blood Salvo a huge group, top off my Blood tanks, run a little ways, then Blood Boil the front guy, Trance the guy next to him and wait a few seconds for them all to die at once.
The one downside is that fighting other supernatural beings can be hard if I can't find a good sniper spot, but that hasn't been a problem so far.
The Malkavian may be a tad weak at combat. You can't always obfuscate past challenges (esp bosses). The Dementia discipline has some passable debuffing abilities, but I didn't notice a great deal (but then again I never maxed out this discipline). Maxing wits, dodge and melee will still give you a kickass vampire no matter what clan you are, so this isn't too bad.
The Gangrel is a pretty easy class to play because their disciplines are straightforward. Protean gives you powerful damage, Fortitude gives you powerful damage resistance - turn them on and hack away.
Tremere can be pretty damn powerful when used right. Purge will incapacitate your foes in melee, and Bloodshield is a great defense. Bloodstrike can defeat bosses easily if you fire it off like a machine gun (though it'll cost you a lot of blood). It takes skill and careful management of blood (invest in brawl so you can feed on foes).
The Gangrel is a pretty easy class to play because their disciplines are straightforward. Protean gives you powerful damage, Fortitude gives you powerful damage resistance - turn them on and hack away.
Tremere can be pretty damn powerful when used right. Purge will incapacitate your foes in melee, and Bloodshield is a great defense. Bloodstrike can defeat bosses easily if you fire it off like a machine gun (though it'll cost you a lot of blood). It takes skill and careful management of blood (invest in brawl so you can feed on foes).
"Even the most powerful wizards will respect cold steel once it's shoved down their throats."
In my opinion, there is no best clan. Each clan has individual advantages. This is why I whole heartedly disagree with the poster who wanted to give you the ability to pick and chose disciplines. Quite frankly, there are some really powerful disciplines - i.e. such as thaumaturgy and celerity, and some weaker disciplines - i.e. auspex, presence (though, both of those can be extremely potent on the right build). If one could chose their disciplines, it could drastically unbalance the game (for instance, imagine if you had celerity, thaumaturgy, and fortitude, the game would be quite easy...). It seems that the developers decided to balance the game/clans in terms of the combined abilities of a clan, rather than in terms of individual disciplines. This is fairly true to the pnp version, in my estimate.
Still, it's difficult to say one clan is better than any other. The Brujah are great brawlers. For hand to hand combat they are the best offensive character (potence + celerity). Similarly, Toreador are the best in ranged offensive combat (auspex + celerity). Meanwhile, for stealth based characters Nosferatu and Malkavian have distinct advantages (though both are a bit weaker in physical combat, by virtue of their stealth abilities. Still, Nosferatu are good in brawls with potence, and Dementation for Malkavians has comparable abilites to dominate, making it effective against human opponents). Tremere are the best against multiple foes (Thaumaturgy + Dominate). Gangrel are, theoretically, the best against bosses with their aggravated damange based Protean + Fortitude (though, I really feel Protean is an incomplete and poorly implemented discipline). Ventrue are probably the most "balanced clans," and are debatably the most powerful defensive clan (Presence + Fortitude). Anyway, I think the clans are fairly balanced and each has an edge over another in certain areas.
Still, it's difficult to say one clan is better than any other. The Brujah are great brawlers. For hand to hand combat they are the best offensive character (potence + celerity). Similarly, Toreador are the best in ranged offensive combat (auspex + celerity). Meanwhile, for stealth based characters Nosferatu and Malkavian have distinct advantages (though both are a bit weaker in physical combat, by virtue of their stealth abilities. Still, Nosferatu are good in brawls with potence, and Dementation for Malkavians has comparable abilites to dominate, making it effective against human opponents). Tremere are the best against multiple foes (Thaumaturgy + Dominate). Gangrel are, theoretically, the best against bosses with their aggravated damange based Protean + Fortitude (though, I really feel Protean is an incomplete and poorly implemented discipline). Ventrue are probably the most "balanced clans," and are debatably the most powerful defensive clan (Presence + Fortitude). Anyway, I think the clans are fairly balanced and each has an edge over another in certain areas.
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silver_frost
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Yes. There is no best clan. The major differences between them are the disciplines and starting attributes. If you play the game right, exp is not a problem to make any clan character a solid fighter. Though disciplines help a lot, its the stats that are important really. High defense, the +soak occult item and a little into stamina lets you walk into battle with your eyes closed. Besides, its how you want to play the game. Instead of running straight into battle, a malk or nos can just obfuscate again and again and stealth kill everyone. A tremere can put loads into unarmed to keep blood up for more devastating spells. Its how you want your experience to be. Its an rpg for god's sake! Not an mmo where you need the best strategies for competing with others. Just make sure you spend your exp properly. Though I wish Whitewolf made some aspects of the game more important instead of just combat. Intimidate and seduction don't seem to be highly useful. Its better to go for intelligence which increases research and persuasion. Oh, look at me ramble. Anyway, its the clans that give the game a high replay value
Cleaving to the flesh
Encumbering the steps
Around the flawed is where is lies
Weakening the reason
Shackles on the strong
All of hate has come to pass
Look behind
Look broad
All has come to nought
Leave the weary to their thoughts
Encumbering the steps
Around the flawed is where is lies
Weakening the reason
Shackles on the strong
All of hate has come to pass
Look behind
Look broad
All has come to nought
Leave the weary to their thoughts
replay
absolutely!
the challange of the various abilities makes it worth playing again as a different clan to see how the tactics change.
I like sneaking games like Thief & Splinter Cell, and VtMB is good for sneaking too, but with a brujah or a gangrel, the tank-like possibilities suggest it is more efficient to battle openly rather than sneak though some areas. the need to accommodate the different efficiencies does make it interesting.
I didn't think I'd particularly enjoy gangrel but it is just as much fun as tremere/toreador. malkavian is a mixture of funny and annoying and the nos...well who wants to be THAT ugly?
absolutely!
the challange of the various abilities makes it worth playing again as a different clan to see how the tactics change.
I like sneaking games like Thief & Splinter Cell, and VtMB is good for sneaking too, but with a brujah or a gangrel, the tank-like possibilities suggest it is more efficient to battle openly rather than sneak though some areas. the need to accommodate the different efficiencies does make it interesting.
I didn't think I'd particularly enjoy gangrel but it is just as much fun as tremere/toreador. malkavian is a mixture of funny and annoying and the nos...well who wants to be THAT ugly?
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players"
I am progressing nicely with my Brujah and after a few missions i can indeed work the social and sneaky sides of the game with at least some success.
I guess I overestimated the importance of disciplines, my bad for blabbering on a game i haven't played.
That haunted hotel really spooked me! Great stuff! (I am lost in there in the VERY DARK basement but I am trying to do this without too much outside assistance, at least the first time. I think from this thread I will try again with a Malkavian if the game continues to impress me)
I guess I overestimated the importance of disciplines, my bad for blabbering on a game i haven't played.
That haunted hotel really spooked me! Great stuff! (I am lost in there in the VERY DARK basement but I am trying to do this without too much outside assistance, at least the first time. I think from this thread I will try again with a Malkavian if the game continues to impress me)
[QUOTE=Celacena]
I didn't think I'd particularly enjoy gangrel but it is just as much fun as tremere/toreador. malkavian is a mixture of funny and annoying and the nos...well who wants to be THAT ugly?[/QUOTE]
Nosferatu actually can make an interesting play experience. Next to Malkavian, they have the most things different that afflict them in the game. So, it makes a good clan to play through the game with to get a slightly different flavor. I can't imagine playing a Nosferatu the first time though, though.
I didn't think I'd particularly enjoy gangrel but it is just as much fun as tremere/toreador. malkavian is a mixture of funny and annoying and the nos...well who wants to be THAT ugly?[/QUOTE]
Nosferatu actually can make an interesting play experience. Next to Malkavian, they have the most things different that afflict them in the game. So, it makes a good clan to play through the game with to get a slightly different flavor. I can't imagine playing a Nosferatu the first time though, though.
Just a question, auspex what's it really for? What use you got with that?
I never really maxed out auspex, because I didn't really understood what it did the first 2 levels...
And yeh, is it me or does the Protean seem a little bugged? When you use it to kill enemies, the first punch is a hit, then the 2nd always misses (because the enemy flew behind of the first punch), and then the 3th punch would be a hit again, but before you can land it the enemy hits you first...
Do you guys have that too?
I never really maxed out auspex, because I didn't really understood what it did the first 2 levels...
And yeh, is it me or does the Protean seem a little bugged? When you use it to kill enemies, the first punch is a hit, then the 2nd always misses (because the enemy flew behind of the first punch), and then the 3th punch would be a hit again, but before you can land it the enemy hits you first...
Do you guys have that too?
[QUOTE=B0r4n]Just a question, auspex what's it really for? What use you got with that?
I never really maxed out auspex, because I didn't really understood what it did the first 2 levels...
And yeh, is it me or does the Protean seem a little bugged? When you use it to kill enemies, the first punch is a hit, then the 2nd always misses (because the enemy flew behind of the first punch), and then the 3th punch would be a hit again, but before you can land it the enemy hits you first...
Do you guys have that too?[/QUOTE]
In many ways, Auspex serves the same function as changing your gamma bar does.... Oh wait. Well, it does give you some "sight" advantages, more significantly, its good for raising your wits and perception. Hence, it can be very potent when you're attempting to play a ranged character or just want an extra boost to your defense ranking. It does allow you to exceed the 10 cap on ranged weapons, I've been told. As such, its a nice compliment to celerity for Toreardor ranged characters in particular.
And, yeah, Protean does seem bugged to me. It's very unwieldy and slow. Some people swear by it, though. I suppose if you have a top tier computer and a really high brawl rating, it might be suprisingly effective. In my estimate, its underpowered as a key disciplines (which its obviously suppose to be for Gangrel).
I never really maxed out auspex, because I didn't really understood what it did the first 2 levels...
And yeh, is it me or does the Protean seem a little bugged? When you use it to kill enemies, the first punch is a hit, then the 2nd always misses (because the enemy flew behind of the first punch), and then the 3th punch would be a hit again, but before you can land it the enemy hits you first...
Do you guys have that too?[/QUOTE]
In many ways, Auspex serves the same function as changing your gamma bar does.... Oh wait. Well, it does give you some "sight" advantages, more significantly, its good for raising your wits and perception. Hence, it can be very potent when you're attempting to play a ranged character or just want an extra boost to your defense ranking. It does allow you to exceed the 10 cap on ranged weapons, I've been told. As such, its a nice compliment to celerity for Toreardor ranged characters in particular.
And, yeah, Protean does seem bugged to me. It's very unwieldy and slow. Some people swear by it, though. I suppose if you have a top tier computer and a really high brawl rating, it might be suprisingly effective. In my estimate, its underpowered as a key disciplines (which its obviously suppose to be for Gangrel).
Maxed Auspex lets you see the auras of everyone around you, through any walls or floors that might be between you. Auras are also color-coded in various ways so you can see who's human, who's not, and who's aggressive. Also, if you are a Ranged weapons type, it lets you do quite a lot of damage with a good ranged weapon.
Hehe, me bump and old thread again
Better then starting a new one i guess
Ifs its still on-topic, whats best for a Tremere, Brawl, Melee, or Ranged? Im guessing brawl as its easier to feed in battle
Also, a little off-topic, why do people love malkavians? everyone says there funny?
I dont really find em funny... or perhaps its just me
Better then starting a new one i guess
Ifs its still on-topic, whats best for a Tremere, Brawl, Melee, or Ranged? Im guessing brawl as its easier to feed in battle
Also, a little off-topic, why do people love malkavians? everyone says there funny?
I dont really find em funny... or perhaps its just me
Auspex can be the Blood Buff for Hacking
The one thing that I used Auspex for that I haven't seen posted is Auspex makes a great "buff" for your Hacking skill; much like Blood Buff for Lockpicking.
With my Tremere character I found a few times (about 4 times) that I can recall that my hacking skill was always 1-2 off, and I always had the level of Auspex to counter that.
The other thing I would imagine (I haven't tested) is that with a maxed out Auspex (5) and Ranged skill (10) the Zoom option of the sniper-rifle would hopefully stop swaying... that was the only thing that really bugged me with the combat system; I understand why they did it... but it still bugged me.
The one thing that I used Auspex for that I haven't seen posted is Auspex makes a great "buff" for your Hacking skill; much like Blood Buff for Lockpicking.
With my Tremere character I found a few times (about 4 times) that I can recall that my hacking skill was always 1-2 off, and I always had the level of Auspex to counter that.
The other thing I would imagine (I haven't tested) is that with a maxed out Auspex (5) and Ranged skill (10) the Zoom option of the sniper-rifle would hopefully stop swaying... that was the only thing that really bugged me with the combat system; I understand why they did it... but it still bugged me.