Crowded Chessboard: An Anarch Toronto Vampire Story
Form a group of like-minded vampires and establish your turf, either claiming a barren wasteland or taking prime ground from others.
About the adventure
Becoming undead was like throwing a curtain back to a world you never knew existed (or having it thrown back *on* you, depending on how things went that fateful night when you became what you are). Eternity yawns before you, but what do you *do* with all that time? Luckily, there are plenty of others like you who are trying to figure out the same thing. There are groups of like-minded blood-suckers who walk among the mortals they used to be, and then there are the *real* blood-suckers, the ones who sit in their towers, lording their vampiric might over the riff-raff in the streets below, but keeping to the shadows so the mortals never know the true extent of how much their lives are being controlled. So what *will* you do with all that time? It's up to you, but watch where you step, for fates worse than death await those who don't think three moves ahead on this crowded chessboard. ___________________ This game is one of a pair of Vampire games, both set in Toronto: the other game is a Camarilla setting. The events of both campaigns will have an impact on the other.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Theater of the Mind
Game themes
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Wednesday – 12:30 AM UTC
Jul 16 / Session 2
2 Hour Duration
4 / 5 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
Rob
he/him
5.0
(59)
Schedule
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(59)
3 years on StartPlaying
415 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Creativity
About me
I have been playing and running roleplaying games for over 20 years. I started with LARP (Live Action Role Play) and moved into tabletop gaming within about a year or so. I love storytelling, roleplay and evoking emotional highs and lows within my games. My two main systems are Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and Vampire: the Masquerade 5th Edition (though I started with 3rd Edition for both). If you like what you've read here, I hope to see you at one of my events soon!
View Profile →Reviews (59)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Inclusive
Storytelling
Creativity
Maviz
Played 204 sessions
Rob is an excellent storyteller. He dedicates time and effort to ensure that all players have a safe and enjoyable experience in his games, while also providing immersive and engaging gameplay. I couldn’t have asked for a better storyteller for my first campaign. I look forward to participating in many more of his adventures.
Matt
Played 161 sessions
Rob is a great ST. He provides freedom of choice and encourages character creativity. Players can explore their own stories with plenty of ST plots to fill the gaps. Calm, polite, creative, and excited to tell a good story all describe Rob as an ST. I always look forward to playing in his games and I’m confident you will as well.
Michael
Played 92 sessions
Best role play gm I’ve ever gamed with.
Leon
Played 77 sessions
I'm honestly quite shocked I have not until now thought to write Rob a review, considering I have played in likely over fifty games total with him. No other GM on Startplaying has been capable of retaining me past six or seven. Why? My standards are high, and I'm very busy. Rob puts an incredible amount of effort into storytelling, both on the mechanical and narrative side. I have seen people come out of their shells in big ways with him as their facilitator, and as a seasoned player I am right at home. It's a delicate balance between inclusivity and managing to challenge your players enough so things are interesting. Rob has an ability to strike this balance in a way that is very impressive. He will take a plot point you create and run with it, he does not railroad, but still the story feels cohesive. I could go on, but I'll simply end this by saying Rob is an exceptional storyteller, and more then capable of delivering on the service he offers. If you find yourself at his table, you've made a good decision, full stop.
Liam
Played 75 sessions
Rob is an amazing storyteller. He creates a believable, living world with minor points established coming back up months later as it would in real life. He is also great at managing tables, checking in with players when emotions seem to run high, and ensuring everyone has a chance to shine.
Derek
Played 62 sessions
Rob is a fantastic Storyteller with every session being engaging. He encourages great roleplay and has a very interesting overarching narrative.
Character creation
Creating your character
Use the Neonate character creation rules in the Core Rulebook, except that you will receive 30 XP instead of 15. A Demiplane group will be available so you can share my digital library of Vampire books. The following clans will be permitted: Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, and Ventrue. Banu Haqim, Lasombra, Ministry, Ravnos, Tzimisce, Caitiff, and Thin-Blood are also options, but these are considered Hard-Mode clans and vampire types, since the local political climate is hostile to these clans. Please note that I limit Discipline Amalgams to certain clans. There will be a document detailing these limitations on the Discord server once you join. If are joining the Chronicle after our group Session 0, I will have a one-on-one Session 0 with you to on-board you.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need a mic and a Discord account. Cameras are optional. It is recommended, but not required, that you read the rules of Vampire ahead of time. Important pages are noted in the Game Resources channel on the Discord server.
What Rob brings to the table
The following resources are available on the Discord server: * Access to my digital library on Demiplane * Dice-Roller bot with built-in character database that references your stats for dice rolls * Blank copy of the Vampire character sheet * Ambient Music and Sound I will also provide: * A full story that can be tailored to reflect the actions you and your fellow players take * A rich, immersive game world set in and inspired by the real-world City of Toronto
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Rob creates a safe table
Vampire: the Masquerade is a storytelling game game of personal evil and horror. You depict a vampire eking out an existence in a dark reflection of our modern world. As such, the game can get intense. With that said, My #1 Concern is Player Safety and Comfort. I work as hard as I can to ensure that everyone at the table feels okay with what they are experiencing. Accommodations can be made for many of the listed tags, including, but not limited to: * Use of safety tools such as X, N, and O, Lines and Veils, and Open Door. * Bans or limits on particular content as discussed in Session 0, on the Content Discussion Discord channel, or privately with me * Softening or avoiding graphic description of certain types of content, relegating these scenarios to dice rolls only if they must occur at all * The ability to deafen the chat while a description is happening * Excusing yourself from certain scenes with a summary of any story-important points given to you by me Please note that certain aspects of the game, such as Blood, Mind Control/Alteration and Death, are an intrinsic part of Vampire: the Masquerade that cannot easily be removed from the experience. If this is a concern, I would be more than happy to have you at a table for another gaming system.
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