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New to RPG's

This forum is to be used for all discussions pertaining to Troika Games' Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.
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Sp@z
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New to RPG's

Post by Sp@z »

HI all I am new to VTM, and the forums. I was just looking through here and trying to find some graphics tweek through the game. I have found very little TBH.

This game is made with the HLSource engine if I am correct? I have tweeked HL2 and CSS source to roughly 70-80 FPS while I can't get above 40 FPS in VTM. I understand the makers of the game prolly arent as efficent with the engine as Valve is, but are there any tweeks to be found not mentioned on these forums? Or am I wasting my time? I am happy with 40 FPS well around 12 in the rain :( .

Will autoexec.cfg file work like they do in CSS and HL2?

Also I am new to RPG games (I guess that is what VTM is, I bought the game because I am almost obessive about Vampires and thought the girl on the box cover was pretty hot TBH) and was wondering if using a walkthrough is considered cheating? I am from the First person shooter gaming world and terrible so far at this game. LOL I have read through the hints and tips and posted in one thread before this one. But I wanted to stop in and say hi and ask my questions. :)

I will visit often I am sure especially since I am so new to RPG games and really clueless. LOL

Tank you in advance for your help.
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CaptRory
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Post by CaptRory »

The Rules of RPGs:

1) Thou Shalt Not Read Any Walkthrough Unless Ye Be Stuck or On a Second Playthrough

2) Thou Shalt Talk to Everyone Many Times

3) Thou Must Consider the Consequences of Your Actions

4) Thou Shalt Pay Attention to the Story

5) It Is Not Cheating If You Take Advantage of In Game Systems

6) Thou Shalt Complete Any and All Side Quests

7) When Dialogue Repeats Ye Can Ignore That NPC Til Your Next Visit

8) Thou Shalt Treat the Words of Great Individuals With Suspicion

9) The More You Love a Character the Greater the Chance Harm Will Befall Them

10) Combat is Not Only Necessary but the Least Important Part of an RPG

I know #10 sounds like a contradiction but it isn't.
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mr_sir
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Post by mr_sir »

i wouldn't class using a walkthrough as cheating but i do think that doing so, unless you are really stuck, spoils an rpg type game. part of the fun for me in games like this is discovering things about enemies and the story and all the various characters for myself. thats just my own personal opinion though but knowing too much of the story beforehand can really spoil it.

as for the other question i haven;t got a clue, sorry :)
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mr_sir
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Post by mr_sir »

oh, i also like to try to develop the character to suit their clan or class too. this of course can make it hard at times, but say with a tremere (my fave clan) i like to develop the skills i think that they would be more likely to develop, in favour of combat skills at time. this can cause problems in battles but i like the challenge of that. i like hard battles lol
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pennypincher
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Post by pennypincher »

Cheating? Yes it is. But you don't have to tell anyone, and nobody will scream at you for doing it... It's a single player game after all, doesn't effect anyone else. However:

Remember that walk throughs are mostly A-B fastest way possable write ups, meaning you can often miss the most fun, exciting and interesting parts of the game by following them to the letter. Sometimes, making a mistake, doing things the hard way, or just trying something new leads to the best parts of the game.
I was Diablorised once. I got better.
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Sp@z
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Post by Sp@z »

Thanx for the heads up. I am boring through this without a walk through and am having fun with it. Thanx for the advice and I am hardcore against cheating (Mostly because I am a multiplayer first person shooter at heart) even if it is a "little Bit and doesn't hurt anyone" to each his own, but not for me. Thanx again!
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TonyMontana1638
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Post by TonyMontana1638 »

Really the biggest problem with walkthroughs or game guides is that, if you're playing through for the first time, they spoil the story and any surprising events or twists the story takes. As I believe story to be the most important part of an RPG, I highly suggest against it. I do, however, use them when I get stuck and can't find an item or place, are unable to beat a certain foe, or have already played the game before and are going back through and want to skip certain areas. It's not cheating per se, you're just cheating yourself of a phenominal gaming experience.

As for you bein' new to Gamebanshee, I'd like to say welcome and hope you stick around for awhile :D .
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Sp@z
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Post by Sp@z »

Thanx man! I will be around for a bit, still have to go through the other forums, as this is the only one I joined. I will look into them more later tonight, got a couple matches in UT2K4 tonight!!!!!!!! :D :D
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yrthwyndandfyre
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Post by yrthwyndandfyre »

Play the character, not the game

[QUOTE=mr_sir]oh, i also like to try to develop the character to suit their clan or class too. this of course can make it hard at times, but say with a tremere (my fave clan) i like to develop the skills i think that they would be more likely to develop, in favour of combat skills at time. this can cause problems in battles but i like the challenge of that. i like hard battles lol[/QUOTE]
I fully concur. I came to VTMB from the FPS world as well and played it like a straight-up FPS. I was having the Devil's Own Time with it, too. I'd get barbecued 20-30 times in the Sabbat Warehouse, even by the guys out front with the tire irons, and I had no hope of completing the higher level quests without going into God Mode (I'm talking from the Nos Warrens on).
I then got the clue about *why* this is classified as an RPG rather than an FPS. My character is a Vampire, not Sgt. Rock. So I started playing the game from that perspective: If I were this Vampire, how would I handle this situation?
As soon as I made that mental shift, parts of the game that had been all but impossible became almost laughably easy. Now, with a few notable exceptions (the Chiropteran Behemoth, for example) I can go through the game start to finish and never have to draw a weapon of any kind short of a blade for the odd bit of wet-work, and ranged weapons for specific situations where it is obviously the tool of choice.
The basic rule being this: If you were a vampire, would you *choose* a blade or ranged weapon to take this foe on, or would you go in unarmed and just use your innate abilities? You'd be surprised how often the answer to that question is 'unarmed'.
Sic gorgiamos allos subjectatos nunc
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mr_sir
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Post by mr_sir »

same thing happened to me. the first time i played i did it as a tremere and focussed on combat skills etc. and found battles so tough. the warehouse was near impossible at times yet this time i got through it with practically no use of weapons. at the moment, after playing as a malkavian and learning to use their abilities, i am playing as a tremere again and i admit knowing what bad guys are where helps, but i have been relying on my blood magic and domination abilities a lot more and finding it not only a lot more fun but i am getting through so many combat situations without even drawing a weapon. i only resort to melee or guns now if i desperately need to. using a clan's skills and abilities rather than just relying on brute force not only makes life interesting but a lot easier at times too. for example, i never really appreciated the early level stuff like blood strike, auspex and trance the first time i played. and the more advanced stuff like suicide and bloodshield are so effective for not only avoiding as much damage but also for getting rid of guards so you can focus on only a few in melee or to feed.
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yrthwyndandfyre
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Post by yrthwyndandfyre »

[QUOTE=mr_sir]
example, i never really appreciated the early level stuff like blood strike, auspex and trance the first time i played. and the more advanced stuff like suicide and bloodshield are so effective for not only avoiding as much damage but also for getting rid of guards so you can focus on only a few in melee or to feed.[/QUOTE]
Thus having the "Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie flu". Rock on!
Sic gorgiamos allos subjectatos nunc
(The Addams family motto: Gladly we feast on those who would subdue us)

Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with Ketchup.
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