Venom & Vice |W20 Changing Breeds| New Players Welcome!!

Creating your character

Character creation can happen before the first session or during Session Zero, depending on player preference and comfort level. If you already know what you want to play, I’m happy to help you build your character ahead of time. If not, we can make characters together at the start so everyone feels grounded in the setting and the rules. Characters will be created using the Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition, Changing Breeds 20th Anniversary Edition, and the 2nd Edition Ananasi Breedbook. Those are the main books players should refer to for this game. I may allow a few additional options on a case-by-case basis, but I want to keep things focused and fitting for the story. All characters will begin at Rank 1. Depending on the needs of the chronicle, I may award some additional starting points to help round out the group or better support the themes of the game. Stats will be determined through the standard character creation rules from those books, with my guidance available throughout the process.

Preparing for the session

Players should plan to join the Gamers & Goths Discord server for scheduling, updates, and general off-game communication. That will be the main hub for staying in touch between sessions. For actual play, we will primarily use Roll20, though Alchemy is also a possibility depending on what works best for the group. Because of that, players should be prepared to make a free account on at least Roll20, and possibly Alchemy if we decide to go that route. No major downloads should be necessary beyond whatever you normally use for voice, chat, and web browsing, since these platforms are generally browser-based. As long as you have access to Discord and the chosen VTT, you should be good to go.

What Jonathan Milton brings to the table

I do my best to provide a strong atmosphere at the table, and that often includes ambient music or a soundtrack, though how much I can use depends on the virtual tabletop we settle on. I also like to bring in plenty of visuals, maps, and other scene-setting tools, especially if we use Roll20 or Alchemy, since both make that easier to support. For combat, I can absolutely run things in a more tactical way when the scene calls for it. I have maps and visual resources ready for fights where positioning and clarity matter, but I also know when to keep things moving and focus on the drama of the moment. As for rules, I generally lean toward Rules as Written. I like consistency and want players to understand how the game works. That said, if a rule is slowing the game down, getting in the way of the story, or creating a less fun experience, I’m willing to make a reasonable call in the moment.

How Jonathan Milton creates a safe table

I’ll provide a Monte Cook Consent in Gaming form before we begin so everyone can establish boundaries and expectations early. That gives us a shared baseline for Lines, Veils, and general comfort levels before the story gets underway. In Session 0, we’ll go over character concepts, the tone of the chronicle, group expectations, table etiquette, and any content concerns players want noted up front. We’ll also talk about how the Ananasi fit into the setting, what kind of game this will be, and how to make sure everyone is on the same page before the first major mission begins. For safety tools, I’m happy to handle them digitally through chat or private message, which tends to work well for online play. Players can always message me directly during or after a session if something needs to be adjusted. I also try to check in after intense scenes when needed, especially if a session leans heavier emotionally or thematically. In general, I keep my games in the PG-13 to R range. Players should expect blood, violence, body horror, dark themes, and definitely spiders. The goal is horror and tension, not shock for its own sake, so I want everyone to feel informed, comfortable, and able to speak up if something crosses a line.