Milwaukee by Night (Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ Welcome)

Creating your character

Character creation begins during Session 0, where players will brainstorm and discuss character concepts together with the Storyteller. Once concepts are approved, players will use an ST-guided tutorial to build their characters directly in Roll20 prior to Session 1. The Storyteller will answer any questions as they arise. Players joining after Session 0 will first complete onboarding, which includes reviewing campaign materials and meeting the other players. After onboarding, they will discuss their concept with the Storyteller and then complete character creation using the same ST-guided Roll20 tutorial. As noted, the Storyteller will provide any additional guidance needed. Characters are created using Vampire: the Masquerade 5th Edition rules. Additional guidance regarding permitted books, clans, and character options will be provided during onboarding/Session 0.

Preparing for the session

Since this is an online game, players will need an internet connection, a Discord account, and Roll20 account. Players will also need a mic; webcams are encouraged but not required.

What Byrne Baby Byrne brings to the table

_________________________________________________________ A World, Dark & Horrifying _________________________________________________________ At their core, my games are horror stories... Even within heavily political chronicles, players should expect psychological horror, supernatural/liminal horror, personal degeneration, and the uncanny. Psychologically complex NPCs, complete with fears, ambitions, contradictions, and blind spots, are a hallmark of my campaigns. All the better for psychological horror. I use immersive narration and eerie visual references, punctuated with ambient audio and music, to set the scene. Occasionally, I might use a battlemap when positioning matters, but I generally prefer moody visuals and lush descriptions over highly tactical presentation. _________________________________________________________ RAW or ROC? _________________________________________________________ When it comes to rules, I generally aim for Rules as Intended rather than strict Rules as Written or pure Rule of Cool. Vampire: the Masquerade is a game with a lot of ambiguous mechanics and gappy rules. Given this, I try to interpret the spirit of the rule and make rulings that preserve both game balance and the intended fantasy of the setting. When appropriate, I use older editions of VtM to fill in gaps or clarify ambiguities. That said, I prefer that everyone at the table have a clear understanding of how the game will work, from the moment we sit down to the end of the session. In my opinion, this produces confident players who feel empowered to take risks because they know exactly what to expect. I also use a consistent set of rules across all of my games, so players never have to guess how their powers will work from one game or session to the next. _________________________________________________________ Goodies _________________________________________________________ Players are provided with read-only access to the core rulebooks and several supplemental resources used throughout the chronicle. Currently available materials include the Vampire: the Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook, Player’s Guide, Anarch, Camarilla, Sabbat: The Black Hand, Blood Sigils, and Gehenna War. Additional onboarding materials, faction primers, setting documents, and in-world handouts are also provided to help players navigate the chronicle and its ongoing storylines.

How Byrne Baby Byrne creates a safe table

Session 0 includes a dedicated safety discussion covering content warnings, Lines & Veils, PvP expectations, Bleed, and strategies for managing emotionally intense roleplay safely and collaboratively. I also utilize Roll20’s built-in safety tools, allowing players to anonymously signal discomfort, pause scenes, or stop play entirely if needed. Players joining after Session 0 are still taken through the campaign’s safety procedures before play begins. This gives them the opportunity to discuss boundaries, add to the Lines & Veils document, ask questions, and clarify expectations before entering the chronicle. Because my games frequently explore horror themes, I also try to give players advance warning when especially intense or potentially upsetting material is approaching. Finally, I make a point to check in with players after sessions, particularly emotionally heavy ones, to ensure everyone is feeling alright and to give players space to decompress or discuss concerns if necessary.