How to Get Started

STEP ONE: Is this setting right for you?

This is the simplest step. Take a moment, right now, to consider if you can handle this. Vampire: the Masquerade is not an escape into a life better than what you have now. It is not a heroic hack and slash roleplaying game. We, at Sanguinus, do our very best to keep utterly true to the World of Darkness. It is a game about personal horror, about damned monsters struggling with humanity -- or shunning it entirely to embrace the heartless Beast within. The World of Darkness is a brutal, dark place. There will be blood. There will be gore. There will be violence. There will be screams and the slaughter of innocents. It may even be your character being tormented and, perhaps, slaughtered. Can you handle that?

If you’ve answered “yes,” then continue on. You’ve been warned.

STEP TWO: Do your homework

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

* 3rd Edition Vampire: the Masquerade Corebook and/or Vampire the Masquerade: 20th Anniversary Edition

* 2nd Edition Player’s Guide (For setting reference only)

These two resource books will be your bread and butter. There is no better way to become acclimated to the World of Darkness than through pure, simple reading.

Here on Sanguinus, we play according to the 2nd Edition story, but our rules (with a few exceptions) are directly from the 3rd Edition and the 20th Anniversary Edition. It’s important, for our ease of storytelling and for your ease of play, that you’re at least somewhat familiar with the dice, discipline, and combat systems as well as the setting we’ll all be playing in. We don’t expect you to be an expert, but we do expect all players to do their part to participate with us and others in the game.

STEP THREE: Make a character and get it approved

Under the “Rules” tab, you’ll see “Character Creation.” Read and follow the extensive guide there and use the character sheet we provide, along with the guidelines provided by the corebook, to create your character. Try to keep it balanced and rational to ensure approval and experience in the game, but feel free to add little quirks to make it unique.

Don’t know something?

This game has a lot of rules, both official and house. It has even more metaplot, fiction, and lore to it. It’s not expected that you’re going to know everything right off the bat. But we have lots of resources to go by. You can find most of the basic information on the main site. Fleshed-out information about clans, packs, characters, settings, etc., can be found on the wiki page. Feel free to set one up for your character. Or don’t! It’s not required. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The #help channel exists for your benefit and Storytellers are happy to help.

Make sure you register for the forums. There’s a wealth of information located there, as well as regular Storyteller Announcements and both In Character and Out of Character forums.

Setting Information

Take some time to read the setting information on the website. Cape Glory is a different city, a city you may not understand or be used to. This is an urban environment, but your average technological marvels, smart phones, Iphones, and camera phones and Ipads and such will not be available. This serves as both a setting piece and mechanical rules. Cell phones in the game have no texting capability, cameras, or internet.

We’re also a true VtM chronicle, with multiple Storytellers, storylines, and an ever-evolving plot.. Remember, when going through the approval process, to ask as many questions as necessary to know what you’re walking into. Storyline information, for the most part, will come to you during play via interaction in private or at The Temple, on the boards, or just plain out of chance.