V20: The Dark Ages | Constantinople by Night

Creating your character

Character creation will take place during **Session 0**, where we'll build the coterie together and establish relationships between the characters before the chronicle begins. This ensures everyone has a reason to work together and creates personal connections to the city, its factions, and its politics. Characters will be created using **V20 Dark Ages** rules. All official clans from the core rulebook are available, and additional options from approved supplements may be permitted with Storyteller approval. New players are absolutely welcome—no prior knowledge of Vampire: The Masquerade or the World of Darkness is required, and I'll guide you through every step of the process. Characters begin as newly established or relatively young Cainites with the standard starting experience and creation rules from the core book. During Session 0, we'll also determine your sire, Road, mortal ties, ambitions, and how your character became entangled in the immortal politics of Constantinople. I encourage characters with strong personal goals, convictions, and flaws. This is a character-driven chronicle where your choices, relationships, and ambitions will shape both your story and the future of the Queen of Cities.

Preparing for the session

Before Session 1, players should: • Create a free Discord account. • Join the campaign Discord server. • Have a reliable internet connection and a quality microphone/headset. • Create or have access to a Roll20 account. • Review the v20 Dark Ages core rules (no prior experience required). • Read any campaign primers, setting information, or handouts provided before the game. • Come to Session 0 with a few character concepts, even if they are only a rough idea.

What Ashley brings to the table

As your Storyteller, I strive to create a world that feels alive. You'll encounter memorable NPCs with distinct personalities and motivations, political factions that react intelligently to your actions, and a setting that evolves naturally as your decisions shape the chronicle. I enjoy giving every important character a unique voice and mannerism, using ambient music to reinforce the mood, and bringing the world to life through immersive descriptions. You'll receive a well-organized Roll20 game complete with custom, handouts, reference documents, relationship charts, and setting guides designed to help both new and veteran players navigate the World of Darkness. Between sessions, I regularly expand the campaign with new lore, journals, and resources as the story develops. My games emphasize roleplaying, investigation, political intrigue, and meaningful player choice. Combat is fast, dangerous, and story-driven rather than constant, and many conflicts can be resolved through diplomacy, manipulation, or clever planning. I generally follow the rules as written but will always prioritize maintaining the pace, drama, and consistency of the story over stopping the game to debate a rule. Most importantly, this is a collaborative chronicle. Your backstory, ambitions, allies, rivals, and decisions will become part of the ongoing narrative. Rather than telling a predetermined story, my goal is to create a living world where your characters leave a lasting mark on history.

Homebrew rules

I keep house rules to a minimum and aim to preserve the intended feel of V20 Dark Ages. Any optional or clarifying rulings will be explained before they become relevant, and consistency is more important to me than making ad hoc rulings.

How Ashley creates a safe table

Player comfort is my highest priority. Before the campaign begins, every player will complete an anonymous **Lines & Veils** form so I can identify subjects that should be excluded or handled off-screen. During **Session 0**, we'll review expectations, discuss the tone of the chronicle, establish character connections, and make sure everyone is comfortable with the game's themes before play begins. During sessions, we use a **digital X, N, & O Card** system through Roll20 and private messages. You never need to explain why you're using a safety tool—if something makes you uncomfortable, we'll immediately pause, adjust, or skip the scene and continue without drawing attention to anyone involved. After each session, I reserve time for questions, feedback, and debriefing. I encourage players to let me know privately if there's anything they'd like to see more of, less of, or avoid entirely. My goal is to create a welcoming, respectful environment where everyone can enjoy the tension and horror of Vampire while feeling safe and supported at the table.